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2023 is officially here today.
We are going to take some time to look back on the year that has ended and look forward to the year that is beginning .
With this message, we’re going to also take time to do an inventory of our walk with the Lord.
We need to examine ourselves and see where we have been, where we are and where the Lord wants us to be.
The last couple of weeks, we have finally taken the opportunity to do some purging and some organizing, with the help of Maria and Mindy.
We found ourselves dealing with a lot of things that were no longer needed.
Of course, there were a few things that just needed to be relocated.
In the process of our reorganization, we uncovered a few things that caused us to take a walk down memory lane.
As we organized, there were some things that were retained, some things that were released and some things that were remembered.
As we read these verses from Colossians 3, I find that they challenge us, as God’s children, to do exactly the same thing.
As we look at our lives, we are challenged to retain some things, to release others and to remember the rest.
Colossians 3:1–4 (NASB95)
Therefore if you have been raised up with Christ, keep seeking the things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God.
Set your mind on the things above, not on the things that are on earth.
For you have died and your life is hidden with Christ in God.
When Christ, who is our life, is revealed, then you also will be revealed with Him in glory.
Some things must be Retained
As we began the process, we found several items that were important to us.
We did not throw these items away but we kept them because they would be of use to us.
In a spiritual sense, Paul is telling us that there are a couple of precious spiritual possessions we would do well to hang on to.
Have An awareness of our Foundation
Paul tells us that we are “risen with Christ”.
The word “if” is not a statement of possibility, it’s a declaration of a spiritual reality.
Paul is saying “…Since you have risen with Christ…” – Paul is discussing our spiritual position.
When Jesus Christ died on Calvary, every person who would ever place their faith in Him also died that day.
In a spiritual sense, we died to the penalty and the power of sin when Jesus died on the cross.
Because I am dead, I do not have to worry about being punished for my sins.
The price has been paid and I have already died.
Because I have died with Christ I have also been set free from the power of sin in my life.
In verse 1, Paul reminds us that we have also been raised up with Jesus.
When He died, we died.
When He rose from the dead, we rose from the dead as well.
We must never forget that we are dead to sin and alive to a new life in Jesus!
This knowledge will help us live upright lives to the glory of God.
Give Attention to our Focus
Since we have been raised to a new life in Jesus, we are told to set [our] mind on the things above.
The verb “set” is in the Present Tense – Imperative Mode.
In other words, we are told that we must continually be seeking those things which are above.
We are told here to focus our thoughts on heavenly things, not earthly things.
We are to set our minds on the things of God and on the things that bring glory to Him.
A quick look at some of the verses following verse 2, gives a little insight into what Paul is talking about here.
We are to pursue:
A deeper knowledge of Jesus, (Colossians 3:10)
A clean, holy life, (Colossians 3:5-9)
Godly virtues, (Colossians 3:12-17)
Holiness in our domestic life, (Colossians 3:18-21)
Holiness in our social life, (Colossians 3:22-4:1)
An effective prayer life – (Colossians 4:2)
A fruitful witness – (Colossians 4:3-6)
In other words, we are to live like Jesus lived.
We are to live out the fruit of the Spirit in our lives every day.
We are challenged to live out our lives with genuine spiritual values and not the values of a fallen world.
As we focus our attention to these spiritual and heavenly things, we are enabled to live a holy, God-honoring life in this world.
We are to allow a heavenly perspective to govern our earthly walk!
Every decision, every activity, every plan, and every purpose is to be considered in the light of eternity.
Everything is to be laid out before the Lord and not considered from an earthly, fleshly perspective, but from the viewpoint of Heaven.
God’s people are called upon to become heavenly minded.
This is possible because of our Lord’s presence in Heaven.
From His place at the Father’s right hand, Jesus makes intercession for us and He gives us all that we need to live for Him in this world.
As we enter a New Year, may the Lord help us to realize who we are and what we have in Jesus.
May that realization change our walk for His glory!
Some things must be Released
As we continued in our organization at home, we came across several items that just had to go.
We really didn’t have room for some of it and some of it was just plain trash.
While we retained some things, other things had to be released.
In our spiritual lives, the same thing is true.
Some things have to be let go.
There are some things that try to attach themselves to our lives that are just plain trash.
Those things need to be kicked out of our lives.
Other things simply no longer have a place in our lives and those things need to be let go.
Paul tells us in verse 2, that we are to focus our thoughts on Heavenly things.
While we do that, we are to avoid getting caught up in all the things in this world that would flood our minds and hinder our walk.
If we allowed our mind to focus on this world, it would have no time to give itself to the things of God.
Here in Colossians, Paul mentions some dangerous distractions that would hinder our walk if we allow it.
Let me show you what he says we need to avoid.
Watch out for False Doctrine
In Colossians 2:8, Paul warns these believers about those who would carry them off into false doctrinal beliefs.
The phrase “takes you captive,” is a great picture to describe this.
The enemy would love nothing better than for God’s people to get themselves trapped in some false system of belief that takes the emphasis off Jesus.
Paul tells us that the enemy does this through:
Philosophies – This refers to the wisdom of men.
Man has invented some strange belief systems over the years, and every single manmade belief system is at odds with Jesus Christ.
If what a person teaches is not backed up by the Word of God; that system is to be avoided by the believer.
Empty Deception – This phrase means “empty tricks”.
It refers to those who deceive through trickery or through a slick message.
Again, if the message is not Jesus, it is not of God.
If the focus is not on Jesus and His shed blood and His resurrection, it is not of God.
Traditions of Men – Believers are warned to be careful of long-held man-made beliefs.
Just because people have believed something to be true and have been taught that something is true, does not make it true.
We are not to base our faith and our walk on the traditions of men, no matter how godly or worthy of respect the man may seem.
We are to base our belief system on the Word of God alone.
The Elementary Principles of the World – Again believers are warned against falling away from a mature faith in order to accept a simplistic doctrine.
This phrase refers to an alphabet or things in a row.
It speaks of simple things in contrast to a deeper truth.
We are to stay with the Bible and examine every teaching against the clear Word of God.
If you listen to certain high profile preachers in our day you hear the very things Paul warned the Colossians about being taught in many pulpits.
We are to avoid false doctrine at all costs.
We are to run from it, regardless of the package in which it is presented.
Watch out for Foolish Demands
In Colossians 2:16-17; 21-23, Paul also warns believers to watch out for people who would place them back under the Law.
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