What walking in Jesus looks like

Read Colossians 2:6-7Read Colossians 2:6-7 Introduction “As you therefore have received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him, rooted and built up in Him and established in the faith, as you have been taught, abounding in it with thanksgiving.” Introduction

There are 4 learning styles.

Visual, auditory, reading/writing, hands-on.

If you’re visual, raise your hand (do each style)

So if you’re visual you learn better if you see pictures right? (do each style)

Well there was a study conducted to show whether if this is actually true.

To find out whether or not people actually have a learning style.

The study showed that when giving a learner a matching style that does not match their preference, for example, giving a visual learner audio information, or an auditory learner visual information, there was no difference in study scores.

The reason why is because we need both.

You see in many churches, they either teach solely auditory, or solely visual style.

They teach solely auditory, in that they may teach the Bible, but give little explanation on how to actually live it out.

Or they teach solely visually, which I don’t mean a church that just shows movies all day, although they do exist unfortunately!

But they teach solely visually by teaching Christians how to live the Christian life, but not why to live the Christian life.

Few churches do both.

And when few churches do both, you end up with Christians who read the Bible purely auditory, purely for knowledge and information.

Or Christians who approach the Bible purely visually, and only read it to know what to do.

Do you read the Bible like that?

Because you can’t read the Bible like that, you need both the why and the how!

Last week we talked about how to walk in Jesus.

We talked about it from an auditory perspective.

But today, we’re going to learn What walking in Jesus looks like and tackle it from a visual perspective. Because if we truly want to learn about walking in Jesus we must not only hear it, but we must also see it.

1. Stay plugged in to Jesus

We see this when Paul writes, ‘rooted and built up in Him’.

Whenever we think of the word rooted we automatically think of trees and that’s exactly the image Paul wants us to see here.

He’s referring to OT passages such as Psalm 1:3

Psalm 1:3 (LSB)

And he will be like a tree firmly planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in its season, and its leaf does not wither; and in whatever he does, he prospers.

Jeremiah 17:8 (LSB)

“And he will be like a tree planted by the water, that sends forth its roots by a stream and will not fear when the heat comes; but its leaves will be green, and it will not be anxious in a year of drought nor refrain from yielding fruit.

Trees are strong, living organisms that exist for hundreds of years, the oldest tree in existence dated to be around 5000 years.

In other words, walking in Jesus looks like being a tree.

No matter the circumstance, no matter the trial being fruitful, not afraid or worried, but strong and vibrant like a tree.

There’s another image Paul gives us, and that’s built up.

Built up gives us an illustration of a building.

1 Peter 2:5 (LSB)

you also, as living stones, are being built up as a spiritual house for a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.

As Christians, together we are united together like stones or bricks that form a building that is immovable.

A few weeks ago, there was a vicious storm that took out the power from my apartment for over 8 hours.

It was so bad that the main road in Westminster had electric poles that fell on the road like Dominoes.

And as the thunder rang across the sky, and the rain beating down, the only saving grace was that I had was a roof over my head.

I was in a building that was completely immovable and unshaken by the storm.

And that’s what it looks like to walk in Christ.

We become strong like a tree.

When we get ridiculed for our faith, instead of compromising and joining unbelievers in cursing, we stand firm.

We become immovable like a building.

When loved ones pass away, when injuries occur, our faith in Christ has not moved.

But at the end of the day, no tree is strong, no building is immovable, without deep roots or a solid foundation.

You see both the Psalm and Jeremiah describe the tree as sending its roots by the water and being planted by the water.

Peter says as stones, we are built upon the Cornerstone, 1 Peter 2:6

1 Peter 2:6 (LSB)

For this is contained in Scripture: “BEHOLD, I LAY IN ZION A CHOICE STONE, A PRECIOUS CORNER stone, AND HE WHO BELIEVES UPON HIM WILL NOT BE PUT TO SHAME.”

The source the tree draws from, the Cornerstone the stone is built upon is Jesus Christ.

It is impossible to be strong or immovable unless we trust in Christ.

Jesus said in John 15:5

John 15:5 (LSB)

“I am the vine, you are the branches; he who abides in Me and I in him, he bears much fruit, for apart from Me you can do nothing.

Jesus is saying, if you are connected to me, like branches connected to a vine, you will bear much fruit but if you are not connected you can do nothing, you become useless.

Walking in Christ is all or nothing.

Walking in Christ looks like staying connected to Jesus.

Walking in Christ looks like staying plugged in to Jesus.

Young people today are always plugged in.

They’re always plugged in to social media, staying connected with their friends.

They’re always plugged in and connected to WiFi so that information and entertainment is instantly acceptable.

And they’re always plugged in to music, wearing AirPods half the time they’re awake.

But are you always plugged in to Jesus?

Do you stay connected to Him?

Do you pray every day?

Do you read His Word every day?

Is your mind thinking about the Lord, and others?

Or is your mind filled with random things?

Christians who are mature are plugged in to Jesus.

Christians who stick around and finish the race are always plugged in to Jesus.

All the mature Christians I have ever met, pastors and non-pastors, love talking about Jesus.

They don’t shy away from it!

They don’t care where they are too, whether they are at work, school, at church, not at church, they love talking about Jesus because they are just plugged in to Him.

What are you plugged in to?

2. Stick to what you learned about Jesus

This is what Paul is saying when he writes, and established in the faith.

Established refers to a document that guaranteed something.

Like a high school diploma guarantees that you indeed graduated from high school.

Some of you are taking driving lessons so that you can get a driver’s license.

A driver’s license guarantees that you are legally able to drive.

Walking in Jesus looks like one who is guaranteed in their faith.

They are certain about what they believe in and certain about their salvation.

Because their faith is set in stone just like one’s graduation is set in stone when they receive their diploma.

For Christians, our diploma of our salvation is the Holy Spirit.

2 Corinthians 5:5 (NKJV)

Now He who has prepared us for this very thing is God, who also has given us the Spirit as a guarantee.

Paul is writing about how God has prepared us for the ressurection, that we will for certain rise again into eternal life because God gave is the Holy Spirit as our guarantee or certificate of salvation.

If you have the Holy Spirit, you are certain that you have eternal life.

No driver who has a driver’s license worries about being able to drive.

No high schooler who has their diploma is concerned about completing high school classes anymore.

Likewise, Christians should have no doubt about their salvation because they have the Holy Sprit.

But this is no hidden truth.

This is no new truth.

You already know this.

That’s why Paul writes, ‘as you have been taught’.

The Colossians already knew this, because their pastor already taught them this!

You already know your salvation is secure because you have already been taught this!

And so if you want to know what walking in Jesus looks like, stick to what you already know!

Don’t seek after new teachings.

As it has been said, ‘new teaching, is old heresy’!

The temptation that we often face today is not staying glued to fundamental teaching.

It’s exploring.

It’s ‘discovering’ new things.

We always want new things in our modern culture.

We don’t want a PS4 we want a PS5.

We don’t want an old car we want a new car.

The iPhone 15 is about to come out.

That’s what we want.

We want the iPhone 15, 16, 17.

Not the iPhone 8.

But when it comes to the Bible, when it comes to Jesus,

There is nothing new.

There is no Bible 15, 16, 17.

There is no Jesus 15, 16, 17.

The Bible, Jesus Christ is perfect and complete!

There is nothing to improve!

So don’t change or add new things about Jesus!

Don’t be moved by trendy ideas about the Bible or Jesus.

I was walking around Columbia mall with my wife about a month ago and was approached by two well dressed gentleman about the Bible.

And I already knew where this was going.

And they first open with, ‘did you know God is a mother?’

And while there is a Bible verse that describes God nurturing like a mother.

Nowhere does the Bible call God the mother.

They argued that because we have fathers and mothers, therefore God must also be a father and mother.

None of this is in the Bible.

This is all new.

This teaching is from a Korean cult that believe that Jesus and the Holy Spirit is an old Korean woman.

Whenever you encounter something new about Jesus, don’t be lured by it.

Don’t be fascinated by it.

Stick to what you already know from the pastors who already taught you.

Because walking in Jesus looks like sticking to what you already know.

3. Always give thanks to Jesus

Let’s look at the final part of the verse where Paul writes, ‘abounding in it with thanksgiving’.

Another translation says, Col 2:7

Colossians 2:7 (NASB95)

and overflowing with gratitude.

And that’s what abounding means, it simply means to be overflowing.

When you fill a cup more than it can hold, liquid overflows and spills over.

So what Paul is saying is that because we have been supremely blessed by the teaching of God’s Word, we give thanks.

We naturally give thanks always because we are overflowing with praise.

Because God doesn’t just bless us and fill us to the brim.

No, when God blesses us he pours into us past the brim and more than what we could imagine.

Ephesians 3:20 (LSB)

Now to Him who is able to do far more abundantly beyond all that we ask or understand, according to the power that works within us,

And when we are overflowing with God’s blessings of salvation, peace, fellowship, and joy, we can’t help but give thanks!

Philippians 4:4 (LSB)

Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice!

So what do you give thanks for?

Do you only thank God for when he gives you food, a safe ride home, and good health?

Do you give thanks to God for tough times?

James 1:2 (LSB)

Consider it all joy, my brothers, when you encounter various trials,

James taught us to rejoice when we encounter, what?

Trials!

James is writing, give thanks when God gives you a trial!

And not just a small trial, but James says various trials, meaning small, medium, and even big ones!

Because there is a reason.

James 1:3 (LSB)

knowing that the testing of your faith brings about perseverance.

The reason why we can give thanks even in difficult times, is because trials are really a blessing in disguise.

Because trials are a test to make you become stronger.

I know many of you like to go to the gym.

And it’s the same idea of going to the gym, using heavier weights in order to increase strength.

And I’m not saying there is zero pain.

There is.

But there is also hope.

Psalm 30:5 (LSB)

For His anger is but for a moment, His favor is for a lifetime;

Weeping may last for the night, But a shout of joy comes in the morning.

Some of you are experiencing real pain.

Hard pain.

But God’s Word says, ‘His anger is but for a moment, His favor is for a lifetime’.

‘Weeping may last for the night, but a shout of joy comes in the morning’.

If you know the Lord, I want you to have hope, because the pain you are feeling is only for a moment.

There will be joy in the morning.

Spurgeon said this about this Psalm,

Tears clear the eyes for the sight of God in his grace; and make the vision of his favor more precious. A night of sorrow supplies those shades of the picture by which the high lights are brought out with distinctness.

If you want to know what walking in Jesus looks like, always give thanks to Him.

Gospel

However, if you are listening today and you don’t know the Lord.

Then that pain you are experiencing, is not temporary.

There will not be joy in the morning.

But more pain.

Eternal pain.

But still there is hope for you too.

Because Christ offers His salvation to all.

Put your faith and your faith alone in His sacrifice on the cross, and resurrection so that you may experience joy, not just tomorrow but today!

The Lord’s Supper

Going back to tears at night and joy in the morning, there was One who experienced this more than anyone who ever existed.

And that is the Lord Jesus Christ.

In the Garden of Gethsemane, He sweat blood in anticipation of the wrath of God that was to be poured out on Him as He became sin for us, who knew no sin so that we would have joy in the morning and forever.

And so that we would always give thanks to Him, He gave us a memorial for us to remember Him: The Lord’s Supper.

As we prepare to pass out the elements, I want to encourage that if you don’t know Christ as your savior today, or if you are in rebellion against God with a sin you won’t let go of, then do not take any of the elements today but instead watch and observe.

And so let’s pass the elements out.

Let’s now open the elements, and follow me.

Luke 22:19 (LSB)

And when He had taken some bread and given thanks, He broke it and gave it to them, saying, “This is My body which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of Me.”

Let’s eat the bread.

Luke 22:20 LSB

And in the same way He took the cup after they had eaten, saying, “This cup which is poured out for you is the new covenant in My blood.

Let’s drink the cup.

Let’s pray!