Untitled Sermon (29)

Northside Church

Jun 4, 2023

Colossians #5

Jamey Mills

Thanks Karen,

Options has been a ministry that Northside has supported from day one… This year Northside started financially supporting them monthly and we also have done the baby bottle fundraiser… Life and sanctity of life is something we know to be near and dear to God’s heart.

My name is Jamey Mills, and I am the lead pastor here at Northside. It’s great to be with you.

If you missed it, last Sunday we celebrated the closing of Northside’s land and future home of Northside Church.20 acres that we were able to pay in cash for. The leadership is prayerfully working on next steps. I would love to ask you to pray along with us… that every inch of that ground would be set apart for the Lord… that God would lead us and give us the wisdom to follow His leadership…

We are in the middle of a sermon series we are calling Nothing more/Nothing Less (SLIDE) looking at the letter that the apostle Paul wrote to the church in Colossae that was losing its way… where culture… and popular ideology was sabotaging healthy doctrine and theology… causing them to see Christ differently… making Him out to be less than He really is.

ILL…

It’s supposed to change things…

Marriage… becoming a parent… getting a job…

Changes things… What’s changed your life the most?

That really is the point that Paul is making here…

Knowing the truth about Jesus…

Knowing Jesus the right way…

Should change things. In fact if it doesn't change things… it's concerning.

As we come to know Him more and grow in Him… more and more in changes the way our lives look, the way we think, the way we relate to others, what we stand for, and even the way we stand for it.

Jesus changes things… He didn’t come and do what He did, so that we might experience more of the same.

That’s what Paul is addressing in our passage today.

Colossians 3 starts off talking about how if we are in Christ, who is our life… We need to fix our sights on heavenly things… not earthly ones… because that’s where hope lives. Both for eternity… but also for our moments and our days…

Vs. 5 starts off with the word therefore… in the original language… Paul is saying…

Because that's true… because of who Jesus is and who Jesus is in me…

There are

Things we need to stop doing

Things we need to start doing

And things we need to do differently.

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And it would be easy to immediately see these things as “rules” or behavior modification… it’s actually more than that and it needs to be.

The issue is, for most of us… rules without relationship lead to rebellion…

We need to understand that God is not after “behavior modification” but real heart transformation… that comes knowing the truth about Jesus and knowing Him the right way.

There are some things that we stop doing.

Col 3:5-9 (SLIDE)

Colossians 3:5–9 NLT

So put to death the sinful, earthly things lurking within you. Have nothing to do with sexual immorality, impurity, lust, and evil desires. Don’t be greedy, for a greedy person is an idolater, worshiping the things of this world. Because of these sins, the anger of God is coming. You used to do these things when your life was still part of this world. But now is the time to get rid of anger, rage, malicious behavior, slander, and dirty language. Don’t lie to each other, for you have stripped off your old sinful nature and all its wicked deeds.

5 So (therefore) put to death the sinful, earthly things lurking within you. Have nothing to do with sexual immorality, impurity, lust, and evil desires. Don’t be greedy, for a greedy person is an idolater, worshiping the things of this world.6 Because of these sins, the anger of God is coming. 7 You used to do these things when your life was still part of this world.

8 But now (WHEN) is the time to get rid (PUT OFF) of anger, rage, malicious behavior, slander, and dirty language. 9 Don’t lie to each other, for you have stripped off your old sinful nature and all its wicked deeds

Paul uses two powerful illustrations to help us understand the importance of this; put to death and put off

Paul is saying… look this is a big deal… If we are alive in Christ, some things have to die… in us and for your own good. The language Paul uses… gives us a sense of finality… and resolution… commitment to it.

Paul says put off…

Anger, rage, malicious behavior, dirty language and dishonesty… like civilian clothing so that we can put on Christ.

Reminds me of James 3:11–12

James 3:11–12 NLT

Does a spring of water bubble out with both fresh water and bitter water? Does a fig tree produce olives, or a grapevine produce figs? No, and you can’t draw fresh water from a salty spring.

(NLT)

11 Does a spring of water bubble out with both freshwater and bitter water? 12 Does a fig tree produce olives, or a grapevine produce figs? No, and you can’t draw fresh water from a salty spring.

It wont work to try and wear both…

Paul says put to death those parts of our lives that are alive to sin…

He mentions things like sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed which is idolatry.

90% of what we often call entertainment… is found in these two lists. I’m just not sure that's the way it's supposed to be.

Greed/idolatry = allowing things to play too important of a role in our lives.

Evil desires = desiring things…or entertaining things that don’t honor God.

Impurity = Things that sort of contaminate your character

Lust = Desiring things that you shouldn't. more than God and more than His truth.

Sexual immorality… It's actually where we get our word for pornography and it has to do with sex outside of God's design.

So that would mean things like… sex outside of marriage, incest, homosexuality, adultery…. If you read the sermon on the mount in Matt 5 it probably would even include lusting in your heart

And yes… I realize that it’s not a popular topic but if we don’t talk about it… where will we hear about it… but we aren’t going to rewrite what the Bible says… it was never intended to cater to my or your desires…

The message of the Bible has always been about dying to ourselves… so that we might live in Jesus… that IS what it means to know Jesus the right way…

Every single one of us has desires that Paul says wage war against the very spirit of God within us.

Matt mentioned… struggling in your relationship with God doesn’t disqualify you from having a relationship with God…

A couple things that us put wordly things to death in our lives…

Take responsibility

This fight with sin… dying to it… putting it off is not a one time thing… The linguistics and experience tell us it is an everyday battle.

And so many Chrisitans fight it passively…

Within spiritual warfare… in your own life… there is a role that you play.

The spirit was given to you and even empowers you… so that you might engage…

Col 3:5 put to death earthly nature… who does this? We do

3:9 Rid yourself of these things… who does this?

1 Peter 2:11 run from the desires that wage war on your soul

Eph 6:11 Put on God’s armor to take your stand

Eph 4:25 Put off falsehood, speak truthly

1 Tim 6:12 Fight the good fight… take hold of eternal life…

2 tim 2:22 slay evil desires of your youth… pursue righteousness…

No one can do those things for you.

There is a role that you play in putting these things to death in your life.

I do believe that saying yes to sin… increases its power in your life… or its point of leverage. The more you say no… the more leverage you give God’s spirit…

Passage in EPH that talks about how our sinful nature and God’s spirit are always at war in us… and every choice is affected.

Years ago I heard a youth guy say it like this… it's like there are two dogs in us…. And whatever dog you feed becomes strong… and dominate in you.

2.

Run away from temptation

Every single one of us deal with temptation… and it sounds childish… but I honestly don't know anyone that has regretted it. I can share with you all kinds of folks that do regret not running from it.

It reminds me of when Potiphar's wife grabbed Joseph by his clothes… and demanded he sleep with her… he ran off… ripping his clothes right off… and in the end… was blessed for running.

If you know you are tempted… don’t put yourself in that position.

Yes… it is part of what we do… and yes it honors God.

3.

Work on the opposite virtue

Part of what we start doing…

Pray about it… and work on the virtue that leads you in a new direction.

For example if you struggle with Greed… pray for… work toward… becoming generous and giving.

If you struggle with lust… work on purity of your heart and mind

If you struggle with anger… pray for… work toward gratitude, peace, patience

Battling with sin is not a sign of failure, but it's the normal experience of every Christian… We won't always get it right… that’s a big part of why Jesus came… but God shapes us… molds us… draws us closer in the battle.

2. There are some things we need to start doing.

Colossians 3:10–14 NLT

Put on your new nature, and be renewed as you learn to know your Creator and become like him. In this new life, it doesn’t matter if you are a Jew or a Gentile, circumcised or uncircumcised, barbaric, uncivilized, slave, or free. Christ is all that matters, and he lives in all of us. Since God chose you to be the holy people he loves, you must clothe yourselves with tenderhearted mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience. Make allowance for each other’s faults, and forgive anyone who offends you. Remember, the Lord forgave you, so you must forgive others. Above all, clothe yourselves with love, which binds us all together in perfect harmony.

10 Put on your new nature, and be renewed as you learn to know your Creator and become like him. 11 In this new life, it doesn’t matter if you are a Jew or a Gentile, circumcised or uncircumcised, barbaric, uncivilized, slave, or free. Christ is all that matters, and he lives in all of us. 12 Since God chose you to be the holy people he loves, you must clothe yourselves with tenderhearted mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness (meekness), and patience. 13 Make allowance for each other’s faults, and forgive anyone who offends you. Remember, the Lord forgave you, so you must forgive others. 14 Above all, clothe yourselves with love, which binds us all together in perfect harmony.

This new nature… it says we are renewed… made new… as we learn to know our creator, Christ… and become more and more like Christ.

Paul reminds us that the ground before the cross and within His family is level…

There is nothing external… that separates you from Him… Ethnicity, popularity, ritual, education, economic standing… at one point they were considered insurmountable differences… The Gospel broke those barriers… Those who were far off from God have been brought near and Paul says Christ is all that matters. Nothing more and nothing less…

Paul tells us to seek Him and fix our sights on heavenly things… they are in the imperative… which means… they are continual commands… we are never done.

They carry with it the ideas of intentionality… putting to death the worldly things lurking within us… so that we can intentionally put on the things of Christ.

It's about allowing God to reshape your heart… through joyful obedience.

One author said it like this… choices become habits, habits form character…

And he reminds us that consecutive, consistent behavior can rewire our brain.

Changes the way we think… the way we see things.

Reminds me of Matthew 6:19–21 (NLT) (SLIDE)

Matthew 6:19–21 NLT

“Don’t store up treasures here on earth, where moths eat them and rust destroys them, and where thieves break in and steal. Store your treasures in heaven, where moths and rust cannot destroy, and thieves do not break in and steal. Wherever your treasure is, there the desires of your heart will also be.

19 “Don’t store up treasures here on earth, where moths eat them and rust destroys them, and where thieves break in and steal. 20 Store your treasures in heaven, where moths and rust cannot destroy, and thieves do not break in and steal. 21 Wherever your treasure is, there the desires of your heart will also be.

What we value… what we chase… what we fix our sights on… shapes our heart.

And there are outward signs of an inward change…

Some things we’ve died to…

And others we’ve become alive to…

Paul says put on

Tenderhearted mercy literally means heartfelt compassion.

A gut level response to those who are hurting, lost and alone. Jesus did that… and thats what becoming like Jesus means for us to.

Kindness means mellowing all that is harsh.

It's the same word Jesus used when He said… My yoke is easy, not harsh or hard to bear. Kindness is concerned about your neighbor's good… It’s HIS kindness toward you that leads you to repentance (Rom 2:4). The story of the good samaritan… is about undeserved Kindness and it helps us frame in the target of Kindness… it was the list from early… jew, greek, slave, free…

Humility… it's the antonym of pride and self idolatry… an accurate view of yourself in light of all that God is.

Gentleness… also translated as meekness. It’s not weakness but strength guided grace under control… but the willingness to suffer injury or even offer grace instead of inflicting it. It speaks the truth the right way.

Patience has to do with bearing with people… not easily agitated…

Making room for others faults… and forgiving each other

Paul’s goal is not an exhaustive list… but he’s giving examples of what knowing Jesus the right way looks like lived out.

3. There are things we need to do differently

Col 3:15-17 (SLIDE)

Colossians 3:15–17 NLT

And let the peace that comes from Christ rule in your hearts. For as members of one body you are called to live in peace. And always be thankful. Let the message about Christ, in all its richness, fill your lives. Teach and counsel each other with all the wisdom he gives. Sing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs to God with thankful hearts. And whatever you do or say, do it as a representative of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through him to God the Father.

15 And let the peace that comes from Christ rule in your hearts. For as members of one body you are called to live in peace. And always be thankful. 16 Let the message about Christ, in all its richness, fill your lives. Teach and counsel each other with all the wisdom he gives. Sing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs to God with thankful hearts. 17 And whatever you do or say, do it as a representative of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through him to God the Father.

Some of the things that we have been doing… don’t need to change, but the heart and intentionality and behind them do.

It’s easy… to go through motions…

It’s easy to make it about the wrong things…

Or to put ourselves on the throne… building our own Kingdom

Live at peace…

Be thankful

The message of Christ filling our lives

Praising God

Then pauls says…

Doing everything a representative of Christ

My life… family… marriage… singleness… attitude… relationships… money…

Paul is telling this struggling Church…

That Knowing the truth about Jesus… and knowing Jesus the right way…

Changed things… for you good and His glory

It’s not just about behavior modification… but heart and life and mind transformation.

When God talks about NEW life… about being born again… about being made new… He has something in mind.

And I hope you have the courage to answer this question…

As a representative of Christ…

What things do I need to stop doing?

What things to I need to start doing

What things do I need to do with a different heart

Pray

Communion with Karen