Christmas in Colossians (4)

Let No One Disqualify You

We have studied the book of Colossians this weekend… and we have learned that:

1.) Jesus is Superior Over All

2.) That We Are Alive In Christ

3.) That We Are Called to Put on the New Self

This morning, I want to leave you with a simple challenge before we head back home…

It can be found in 1 Timothy 4:12-16 says,

“12 Let no one despise you for your youth, but set the believers an example in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith, in purity. 13 Until I come, devote yourself to the public reading of Scripture, to exhortation, to teaching. 14 Do not neglect the gift you have, which was given you by prophecy when the council of elders laid their hands on you. 15 Practice these things, immerse yourself in them, so that all may see your progress. 16 Keep a close watch on yourself and on the teaching. Persist in this, for by so doing you will save both yourself and your hearers.”

POINT #1) Your Age Does not Disqualify You

DESPISE = its a verb that means to look down on with contempt/disrespect

If you are here today, and you have accepted Jesus Christ as your savior… God wants to use you for his Kingdom today… You do not have to be a certain age, read your bible entirely, to Greek or Hebrew in College, or be a pastor at a church for God to use you…

The question is not, could God use me someone as young as I am? The question is, are you willing and ready for God to use you? No matter how old or young you are…

POINT #2) Be An Example

Verse 12 says, “but set the believers an example in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith, and in purity”…

The longer you live, the more you will experience the world trying to get you to comprise and turn away from how God calls you to live… You will feel pressure from friends, piers, social media, and sometimes even family to turn away from talking in a manner that is honoring to God, acting in a way that is pleasing to God, Loving others as God has loved you, and striving for purity…

Do not cave to this world… rather, be an example that the world can look at, that your friends can look at, that your family can look, and say, wow there is something different about him or her… man, there must be something real and true about this Jesus because he or she is living it out and being an example to all...

POINT #3) Stay CLOSE to God… Persist after Him

“Keep watch on yourself and on the teaching. Persist in this, for by so doing you will save both yourself and your hearers”…

Persist = to continue a certain state, condition, or activity.

See this same word being used in John 8:7, 7 And as they continued [Persist] to ask him, he stood up and said to them, “Let him who is without sin among you be the first to throw a stone at her.”

Following Christ and being devoted to his teaching is a daily devotion…

I can remember one time I was driving with my Mom to daycare… My mom worked for a daycare when I was a child so she would drop me off and work in the same building… but I can remember on the way to daycare that we were talking about Jesus and following God… and my mom, whom I have great respect, adoration, and love for looked at me and said, “Tanner, I choose… each and everyday to Follow Jesus Christ”… When I wake up in the morning, I have choice to make, and I am committed to following Jesus Christ everyday”…

And in that moment it clicked… Each day I have to persist and pursue God… Each day I have to choose Jesus over myself and what my flesh wants… Each day I have to follow Jesus Christ… And I have to follow Jesus Each day until he returns or he calls me home…

Stay close to God and Persist after Him until he returns or calls you home…