Study the Word
Notes
Transcript
Handout
Intro:
I pray that this past week helped you to press deeper into your relationship with Jesus than ever before! I know for me it was a refreshing time with the Lord. I do want to take a moment to mention, if you have a testimony from your time of fasting this past week, send it to us at mystory@waymakerchurch.org.
Last week, as I shared with you about fasting and prayer I began by asking you a question. How many of you desire a stronger or better relationship with Jesus in 2025? The response by raised hand was the majority of the room. Over the past week, we have studied and practiced fasting and prayer, and I pray that is was helpful for you.
This morning, we will continue in our series by looking at another fundamental element of the Christian life. The study of God’s word.
A few weeks ago, I shared with you from the book Colossians 3, and I would like for you to again turn there in your bibles as we begin today.
Colossians 3:1–3 “If then you were raised with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God. Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth. For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God.”
The instruction here is to seek and set our minds on things above. How do we do that?
First, I think we need to understand seek and set. The concept of seeking here is characterized by diligent pursuit of someone, of information, or a hunger to obtain something. Setting ones mind on something is characterized by concentration and a direction of ones attention. It is an intentional focus.
So, to seek and set our mind on things above we must have intentional focus and hungry pursuit. These are mindsets that must be cultivated internally if we expect to obtain what we are seeking. Mindsets matter because mindsets create movement.
If we want to advance or deepen our relationship with Christ we must cultivate the proper mindset.
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Submit:
So, we understand that we need to have intentional focus and hungry pursuit of things above, but what exactly are we seeking? The life that is in Christ.
The key to understanding what we are seeking is found in verse three. “For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God.”
The word life mentioned in verse three is the greek word Zoe. This is the same word we studied this past fall, and it is referencing eternal life or the God-kind of life. The rich, abundant divine nature of God; His fullness of love, joy, power, and ability.
The power of this life is that it has the inherent capacity for producing (and maintaining) living beings; especially understood as a life characterized by healthiness, happiness, exuberance, energy, vitality, and the like. Remember, the life that is in Jesus brings illumination to the souls of man.
Once again, how do we seek and set our minds on the life that is in Christ?
The answer is found in Colossians 3:16 “Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.”
The way we set our minds on things above is through the study of God’s word.
Proverbs 4:20–23 “My son, give attention to my words; Incline your ear to my sayings. Do not let them depart from your eyes; Keep them in the midst of your heart; For they are life to those who find them, And health to all their flesh. Keep your heart with all diligence, For out of it spring the issues of life.”
Let me make a bold but true statement: There is no successful Christian life apart from the word of God.
Colossians 3:3 says, “For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God.” Your life is hidden with Christ. The word hidden here means concealed. Life not hidden from you, it is hidden for you.
The life that God has for you is hidden in the word. If we are to be successful in putting to death our evil worldly passions we will have to set our minds on the word of God.
According to Ephesians 5:26–27 God prepares His bride (the church) through the washing of the water by the word.
It says, “that He might sanctify and cleanse her with the washing of water by the word, that He might present her to Himself a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing, but that she should be holy and without blemish.”
God washes away the nature of the old man through the power of the word.
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Apply:
Turn with me to Psalm 19:7-14 .
Psalm 19:7–14 “The law of the Lord is perfect, converting the soul; The testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple; The statutes of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart; The commandment of the Lord is pure, enlightening the eyes; The fear of the Lord is clean, enduring forever; The judgments of the Lord are true and righteous altogether. More to be desired are they than gold, Yea, than much fine gold; Sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb. Moreover by them Your servant is warned, And in keeping them there is great reward. Who can understand his errors? Cleanse me from secret faults. Keep back Your servant also from presumptuous sins; Let them not have dominion over me. Then I shall be blameless, And I shall be innocent of great transgression. Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart Be acceptable in Your sight, O Lord, my strength and my Redeemer.”
The law (instruction) of the Lord is perfect (complete), converting (bringing back into original existence, use, function, or position) the soul (the inner man).
The testimony ( covenant) of the Lord is sure (faithful-you can trust it), making wise the simple (causing to exercise good judgment).
The statues (precepts) of the Lord are right (morally), rejoicing (to make happy or joyful) the heart (the mind-conscience).
The commandment (instruction) of the Lord is pure ( faultless), enlightening (giving spiritual insight) the eyes (visual capacity). Gives spiritual insight and vision.
The fear of the Lord ( profound respect), is clean (free from moral impurity), enduring forever (stands indefinitely).
The judgements (determination of right and wrong) of the Lord, are true (a truth statement) and righteous ( in conformance with justice, custom, law, or morality).
The word of God has the power to revert us back to original design. It helps us to realign with God’s design for man.
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Closing:
The study and application of the word of God in our lives helps us to set our focus on things above. It helps us to know God by revealing His character, plan, and attributes.
Moses prayed a remarkable prayer in Exodus 33:13 “Now therefore, I pray, if I have found grace in Your sight, show me now Your way, that I may know You and that I may find grace in Your sight. And consider that this nation is Your people.””
We gain perspective and understanding of who God is by learning His ways. The word of God reveals His ways. When we learn His ways, we will find wisdom, guidance, understanding, and transformation.
I will close with this final passage of scripture from Psalm 1:1–6 “Blessed is the man Who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly, Nor stands in the path of sinners, Nor sits in the seat of the scornful; But his delight is in the law of the Lord, And in His law he meditates day and night. He shall be like a tree Planted by the rivers of water, That brings forth its fruit in its season, Whose leaf also shall not wither; And whatever he does shall prosper. The ungodly are not so, But are like the chaff which the wind drives away. Therefore the ungodly shall not stand in the judgment, Nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous. For the Lord knows the way of the righteous, But the way of the ungodly shall perish.”
I want to challenge you today, set you mind on things above through the study of the word.
Let’s Pray!
Give us a hunger for the word of God.
Salvation.
