Be Changed

Colossians 3:1–17 (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. Therefore consider the members of your earthly body as dead to immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and greed, which amounts to idolatry. For it is because of these things that the wrath of God will come upon the sons of disobedience, and in them you also once walked, when you were living in them. But now you also, put them all aside: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and abusive speech from your mouth. Do not lie to one another, since you laid aside the old self with its evil practices, and have put on the new self who is being renewed to a true knowledge according to the image of the One who created him— a renewal in which there is no distinction between Greek and Jew, circumcised and uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave and freeman, but Christ is all, and in all. So, as those who have been chosen of God, holy and beloved, put on a heart of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience; bearing with one another, and forgiving each other, whoever has a complaint against anyone; just as the Lord forgave you, so also should you. Beyond all these things put on love, which is the perfect bond of unity. Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body; and be thankful. Let the word of Christ richly dwell within you, with all wisdom teaching and admonishing one another with psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with thankfulness in your hearts to God. Whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through Him to God the Father.

Galatians 2:20 NASB95

“I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself up for me.

although the old self is dead sin retains a foothold in our temporal flesh with its corrupted desires , We have been freed from bondage of sin, the captivity of sin the enslavement where there is no hope for our nature was sinful totally depraved to the Core in christ we have a new nature the nature of Christ we put off the old nature take up christ our life dies His life lives within, WE because we have been free by Christ we shall not continue as though we are still under its evil influence by shed every weight that snares us

Hebrews 12:1 NASB95

Therefore, since we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us also lay aside every encumbrance and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us,

We have a cloud of witnesses in heaven and on earth people are watching , God is watching friends are watching family is watching our enemies are watching the hopeless looking for hope is watching we have a cloud of witnesses So take care let the old self go Go you now by the power of Christ have authority over it to put it to death

he says let us run with endurance

Endurance......

That means its a marathon not a sprint, The christian walk is a long road a narrow road filled with trial and tears but its a worth road for by it is the only source of life its self no hope is found on the broad road only temporary please followed by eternal despair, but the narrow road leads to eternal joy eternal peace it leads to hope, He said run with endurance not as a sprint

Some have tried the church thing the sprinted and burned out

try not the church thing don't even try jesus out , No put Him on and never take him off run slow and steady for the prize is set just before you

The Prize is this just as Christ is Glorified so shall we be who have found faith in Christ we too will be made as He is perfect without a spot or blemish

Praise the Lord this morning there wont be anymore temptation , no more struggle with the flesh no You will be as he is Holy in Glory

Let us lay aside the flesh , let us put it off , put it to death that His life would fill our very hearts

Notice Paul's next wording Put on

This is a action , this is not something that just happens its not something that God just does on our behalf While these things are the fruit of the Spirit He tells us here to put it on , He is saying Christ has made you able now walk in the gifts that Christ has given you Paul gives us 13 things as believers we have the ability and the charge to be doing We must be intentional not just going through life hoping but being intentional He says so

Let us put on a heart of compassion

Compassion and empathy both refer to a caring response to someone else’s distress. While empathy refers to an active sharing in the emotional experience of the other person, compassion adds to that emotional experience a desire to alleviate the person’s distress.

Put on Kindness

Kindness Is Love In Action.

Kindness is all the different ways — both big and small — we express care, concern, and consideration for ourselves and those with whom we share the world.

Kindness shows up as a supportive smile, a comforting embrace, and a helping hand when we need it the most — but may expect it the least.

It exists as heartfelt words of encouragement, thoughtful gestures of affection, and compassionate acts of generosity so many of us witness, perform, and receive as we move through life.

In a world filled with struggle and pain, kindness is like a deep cleansing breath that rejuvenates us with its purity, refreshes us with its goodness, and gives us the strength to persevere despite our troubles.

Kindness is a reminder of why we’re here and how we can each use our lives to help others.

Kindness is a source of some of man’s greatest joys and a reason why life is beautiful, even though it’s challenging.

So be Kind

Put on humility

a modest or low view of one's own importance; humbleness:

put on gentleness

Galatians 5:22-23 says that the Holy Spirit works in us to be more like Christ (Ephesians 4:14-16), and part of the fruit, or results, of that work is gentleness. Gentleness, also translated “meekness,” does not mean weakness. Rather, it involves humility and thankfulness toward God, and polite, restrained behavior toward others. The opposites of gentleness are anger, a desire for revenge, and self-aggrandizement. It takes a strong person to be truly gentle. Henry Wadsworth Longfellow gives us a wonderful illustration of gentleness in “The Village Blacksmith.” In the poem, the main character is described thus: “The smith, a mighty man is he, With large and sinewy hands; And the muscles of his brawny arms Are strong as iron bands.” However, in church, as he hears his daughter singing a hymn, the smith is overcome with emotion, “And with his hard, rough hand he wipes / A tear out of his eyes.” This is gentleness. Might restrained. Humility and grace. God wants us to give Him control of our lives. Relying on our own logic, we have no impetus to submit to God’s leadership. With the wisdom given to us by the Holy Spirit, however, we begin to see why we should completely submit to God as Lord of our lives. Human power under human control is a half-broken weapon in the hands of a child. But gentleness places our strength under God’s guidance; it is a powerful tool for God’s kingdom.

When we are filled with the Spirit’s fruit of gentleness, we will correct others with easiness instead of arguing in resentment and anger, knowing that their salvation is far more important than our pride (2 Timothy 2:24-25). We will forgive readily, because any offense toward us is nothing compared to our offenses against God—offenses He’s already forgiven (Matthew 18:23-35). Competition and sectarianism will disappear, as the goal becomes less about ourselves and more about preaching the gospel

put on patience

Patience" implies suffering, enduring or waiting, as a determination of the will and not simply under necessity. As such it is an essential Christian virtue to the exercise of which there are many exhortations. We need to "wait patiently" for God, to endure uncomplainingly the various forms of sufferings, wrongs and evils that we meet with, and to bear patiently injustices which we cannot remedy and provocations we cannot remove.

The word "patience" does not occur in the Old Testament, but we have "patiently" in Psalms 40:1 as the translation of qawah, "to wait," "to expect," which word frequently expresses the idea, especially that of waiting on God; in Psalms 37:7, "patiently" ("wait patiently") is the translation of qul, one of the meanings of which is "to wait" or "to hope for" or "to expect"

bear with one another in love

Ephesians 4:2-6

Ephesians 4:2–6 NASB95

with all humility and gentleness, with patience, showing tolerance for one another in love, being diligent to preserve the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit, just as also you were called in one hope of your calling; one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all who is over all and through all and in all.

One of the traits of authentic Christian community is the humility that allows believers to “bear with one another in love.” This phrase carries with it the thought of holding oneself back in the spirit of love. What Paul is saying is that those who are spiritually mature should show patience and consideration toward those who are not as mature spiritually. As the more mature brother or sister in Christ, we must seek what is in the best interest of others. “Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way, you will fulfill the law of Christ.” (Galatians 6:2)

sometimes all we can do is put up with one another in love

forgiving each other, whoever has a complaint against anyone; just as the Lord forgave you, so also should you

Beyond all these things put on love, which is the perfect bond of unity

Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts

to which indeed you were called in one body; and be thankful

Let the word of Christ richly dwell within you

with all wisdom teaching and admonishing one another with psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with thankfulness in your hearts to God.

Whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through Him to God the Father.