Let Go and Let Christ

Read Colossians 3:15–17 “And 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 dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God. And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.”

Introduction

Have you ever heard of the phrase, ‘let go and let God?’ Raise your hand!

What do people mean when they say, ‘let go and let God?’

People usually mean be completely still: do nothing, say nothing, and let life’s circumstances just happen.

And that sounds very attractive!

With all the conflict that’s going on around the world, and the conflict between what we believe

and what the world believes in our day-to-day lives in school and among our non-Christian friends,

don’t we want to just escape?

Wouldn’t it be nice to take a break from the storm of problems in our lives, by letting someone like God, completely take over our lives, while we just sit back and relax?

But, is that biblical?

Is that what the Bible teaches?

Today we are going to find out whether ‘let go and let God’ is biblical or not.

Which is why our sermon title today is, Let Go and Let Christ.

So you can see ‘let go and let God’ in a more biblical light.

1. Let Christ bring you _______ (v.15)

1. Let Christ bring you peace (v.15)

This is what Paul talks about in v.15 when he writes, ‘and let the peace of God’.

Let’s talk about the peace of God.

When we talk about the peace of God, it implies that there are other kinds of peace.

In Jeremiah 6:14 we see an example of other kinds of peace,

Jeremiah 6:14 (ESV)

They have healed the wound of my people lightly,

saying, ‘Peace, peace,’

when there is no peace.

What kind of peace do we see in Jer 6:14?

We see a worldly peace.

A false peace.

The leaders in Israel’s day were proclaiming peace to the people, but God said there isn’t any.

There was a temporary, circumstantial peace, but no lasting peace.

Jesus also talks about this in John 14:27

John 14:27 (ESV)

Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.

As we see here, Jesus is also teaching about different kinds of peace.

His peace vs. the world’s peace.

The world gives a false sense of peace, through sinful pleasures, temporary circumstances, and lies.

But the peace that Jesus gives is not like that He says.

If you want to know what the peace of God is, it’s the complete opposite of worldly peace.

And so instead of sinful pleasure, it’s rightful pleasures.

Instead of temporary circumstances, it’s an eternal reality.

And instead of a peace built upon lies, it’s peace built upon truth.

Adding these up, Jesus is talking about a peace that comes from the gift of salvation,

and the continued supernatural peace of walking in Him.

That you have this amazing and unexplainable peace about you because of what Christ has done for you!

That’s the peace of God and that’s why He says, ‘let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid’.

And Paul is also saying ‘let Christ’ by saying back in v.15, ‘and let the peace of God rule in your hearts’.

And what the word rule means, is let the peace of God be the final judge in your life.

Another way to see it like the umpire in a baseball game. (show picture)

umpire picture

Baseball can be such a fast game, that in order to determine whether a player is safe or out, the umpire will make the final judgement, the final call to determine the outcome of the play.

And no matter how many people in the crowd screaming and booing, and all the players staring with excitement or animosty,

It’s the umpire who decides whether you’re out, or you’re safe, and no one else.

Likewise, no matter how many troubling things going in your life: anxieties and fears screaming at you, temptations pulling you in a different direction, school continuously beating you down,

if you’re a Christian, Jesus is the umpire declaring, ‘peace’!

Now there’s an interesting word Paul uses here, and that’s the word ‘let’.

Meaning that while the peace of God is there and real, just like Jesus the umpire and final judge says it is,

You have to let Christ’s peace be the final judge.

Now we come to see the difference of let go and let God, and Let go and Let Christ!

Letting go and letting Christ is not at all passive, where you do nothing and wait for the power of God to suddenly overwhelm you.

It’s an active choice.

You can either agree with His peace and be settled with it, or you can scream and boo at Him when the game is not going exactly how you want it.

That’s what it means to let go and Let Christ.

Because the flesh doesn’t want to let Christ’s peace rule in your hearts.

It wants to argue and fight like fans in a crowd that don’t like the umpires rule.

That’s why it’s an active battle with our flesh.

If you want to have the incredible peace that Christ promises you have to Let Christ Bring you peace.

That when you have all these worries and distractions that are troubling you, you focus on the realities that Christ has made for you: eternal life and never-ending hope that He is coming back.

When you focus on those things over all your problems, that’s how you Let Christ Bring you peace.

And when you Let Christ bring you peace, it has a widespread effect.

Paul writes, ‘to which you were called in one body’.

When Christian’s are ruled by Christ’s peace, we become united.

Christ’s peace spreads from the individual to the community of the church.

You become able to make peace when there’s conflict between you and another person at church.

And this leads us to ‘be thankful’ as Paul writes.

When there’s peace in our hearts, peace between us and others at church, we can’t help but be thankful.

Because when a church is united through Christ’s peace, there is no place in the world like it.

The world, whether it’s at school or at work, or even on the streets, is full of conflict and division, disunity, and false peace.

So remember, Let Christ bring you peace.

2. Let Christ’s _____ make itself at home in you (v.16)

2. Let Christ’s word make itself at home in you (v.16)

This is what Paul writes when he says, ‘let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom’.

And what dwell means is to live.

Paul is saying, let Christ’s word, scripture dwell in you.

As you can see yourself get comfortable at home, you must also let the word of Christ be comfortable in you as well.

That Scripture is getting cozy, making hot cocoa, and lounging on the sofa in you.

But the key is that you have to let God’s word make itself at home in you.

If someone lives in the house, it means that that person is not just a visitor but a master of the house.

But since you live with your parents, you might not think that you are master of the house.

But whenever you are home alone, you take on some responsibility for the home.

Because you live there.

And if the word of Christ is dwelling in you and living in you that means it is your master.

And you have to let Christ’s word be at home in you.

Some people treat God’s word merely as a visitor.

They hear it, let it go in one ear and out the other.

Don’t do that students.

Let God’s word take root in you.

Let His word make itself at home in you, by listening to it, paying attention to it, and meditating upon it.

By obeying it.

And when you do this you become wise, as Paul writes, ‘let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom.’

That Scripture makes you wise.

That you become a living and walking book of Proverbs.

Not sure what the next step or phase in your life is?

If Christ’s word is at home in you, then you will eventually figure it out, because Christ will guide you through His Word.

So just ask yourself, ‘am I making Christ’s word at home in me?

How much do I prioritize God’s Word in my life?

Is reading the Bible daily a part of my routine?

Do I try to remember what is being taught, maybe by taking notes, or asking questions?

You might make someone cozy at your home by taking their coat and offering a comfy chair and water.

And you can take the coat and offer a glass of water to Christ’s word when you take special attention to it by listening to it, remembering it, taking notes, and any way that works for you.

And speaking of living and walking, Paul writes, ‘teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs’.

That when God’s words make itself at home in you, that you sing about Him not just on Sundays,

but throughout the week because it becomes a part of your life.

But notice, how I said, sing but Paul doesn’t.

He says, ‘teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs.’

What Paul is saying, is that when we sing Christian songs together, that we are teaching, meaning explaining God’s word

and admonishing, meaning warning one another of the truths from God’s word.

The last thing you probably thought you were doing when singing Christian songs is that, ‘I am teaching and warning others about the gospel when I sing Christian songs’.

But that is in fact what you are doing.

And that’s why when I choose songs for worship on Sunday, I choose songs that are deeper in thought.

There are some Christian songs that just make you feel good.

I call those Christian radio songs.

And that’s good, I’m not saying that, that’s bad.

But we need songs that teach and admonish as well as warm our hearts.

That’s what Scripture says.

And when we do this it again leads to thankfulness.

While the NKJV says, ‘singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord’, I like this translation better,

Colossians 3:16 (ESV)

singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God.

That again, when Scripture is at home in you, you can’t help but be grateful.

Because previously before Christ, what was at home in you was sin, but Christ’s Word has come and dethroned you and sin from your life.

That’s what happens when you Let Christ’s Word Make Itself at Home in You.

3. Let Christ’s _____ be your guide (v.17)

3. Let Christ’s name be your guide (v.17)

We see this in v.17, when Paul writes, ‘and whatever you do in word or deed’.

This means everything that we do.

Everything from the words that comes out of our mouths

to every action that we make.

They are all to be tied and guided by one thing.

Paul writes, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus.

Doing something in the name of a person means that you are doing something that is backed up and supported by a person with great authority.

That what you are doing has authority and power because of the person’s power and authority that you are representing.

In Paul’s day, a Roman official might say before he does something, ‘in the name of the emperor’, to declare that he has authority and power because it came from the emperor.

That if you don’t obey what I say, do it because the emperor ordered it.

Names are so important, that even demons responded to it.

In the early church, there were people who saw the power and miracles the apostles and disciples were doing such as instantly healing people and casting out demons.

So some people tried to imitate them, but the demons said in Acts 19:15,

Acts 19:15 (ESV)

But the evil spirit answered them, “Jesus I know, and Paul I recognize, but who are you?”

The demons did not recognize these people doing it, because they only recognized names of authority: Paul and Jesus.

That’s how powerful it is to live your life in the name of the Lord Jesus.

Now this doesn’t mean that the phrase, ‘in the name of the Lord Jesus’ is a magical phrase,

that you can just say to make anything you wish to happen,

which some people do.

That’s wrong, and that’s exactly what the people trying to imitate the apostles did.

But what it means is that you Let Christ’s name be your guide.

I’ll give you an example.

Some people will say, ‘I’m a Christian but I don’t like organized religion’.

And while the dislike for ‘organization’ or ‘church’ is unbiblical, there is a little truth to that phrase.

What they like about being a Christian, is that they don’t have to live a life by strict rules.

And that is a beautiful thing about following Christ, is that we don’t live by rules.

How freeing is that?

Life itself is not always black and white.

Life is full of color.

And while rules can be helpful, forcing rules on every life situation is like forcing a colorful world to be black and white.

But by we live by principles.

Principles don’t force a situation to fit it’s demands, instead they flow and adjust to the situation.

And so what’s the principle for you as a Christian?

The name of the Lord.

An easy way to do this, is when you’re in a situation that you’re not sure, ask, ‘what would Jesus do?’

Think of what He would do in this situation, and if you’re not sure what Jesus would do, check the Bible and learn about Him.

Because you see, this method only works for Christians.

Back then people would wear ‘WWJD bracelets’ wwjd picture

And back then, it was so popular, that non-Christians would wear them.

And when a non-Christian tries to answer the question, ‘what would Jesus do’, it becomes useless, and even blasphemous, when they do something that Jesus would never do.

But thank God, that if you’re a Christian you know what Jesus would do, and are learning more over time what He would do, so that His name would guide you in life.

That’s why Paul writes, ‘giving thanks to God the Father through Him.’

You might be wondering, ‘thanksgiving is over why are we still talking about it?’

And the answer is, just because thanksgiving the holiday is over, doesn’t mean we stop giving thanks.

Gratefulness is so powerful that it enables you to be content and joyful in any situation.

And it comes from Letting go and Letting Christ in your life.

Gospel/conclusion

If you’re listening today, and you no longer feel the need to give thanks to God.

Or you refuse to Let Go and Let Christ.

It’s because you don’t know Him.

I urge you to come to Jesus today, and recognize that He is the only way to be saved.

Because of your sin that could never be paid off, He decided to pay it for you on the cross if you believe in Him.

That none of your works can save you, but only His work can.

All you have to do is put your faith alone in Him, and you will be saved today.

If you’re still unsure, please talk to me and I’d love to explain more to you.

Let’s pray!