Colossians Part 3

I. Introduction

A. What length’s would you go to prepare your legacy for deception and calamities? What would you tell them to keep them grounded in faith so they could not only endure but grow?

B. Read Colossians 3:1-4

C. Jesus’ supremacy changes our mindsets! When we have Christ not only prominent but preeminent in our life it changes the way we see circumstances, the way we interpret reality around us.

D. Paul ends chapter 2 with false spiritual formation. The Colossians were trying to fake it until they made it with faith.

False teachers had attempted to seduce believers into thinking that genuine spirituality is to be found in obtaining more knowledge and keeping more rules. These never work to grow your faith.

In other words they were trying to will there way into faith. Faith formation doesn’t start with your will but instead your mindset.

Repent - metanoeo - turning your mindset so your attitude and behaviour follows.

Paul urges the young to church to keep their head up with Jesus instead of down in the world to persevere.

II. Head Up! (Seek, Set, Hide)

A. Seek.. the things above. (1)

“seek”- to attempt to find and obtain the truth of God.

Do you have a holy hunger. Are you a truth and growth seeking individual? A holy hunger is fueled by a holy dissatisfaction with the “already but not yet.”

We are either a seeker or a settler. Some settle when it’s enough. In the material world we are content, but never with the kingdom. We want more! There is always more of God and His kingdom to experience.

Jeremiah 29:13 (NIV) 13 “You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.”

We have to share this holy hunger with a generation of seekers who will never settle for enough of God.

“above” - not a place but a position without accusation and blame. Our position with our Father through Jesus is one without blame or shame.

Blame and shame cloud reality. It’s based in insecurity instead of the security of being in Christ with God.

Seek out truths in the position with God that is above your circumstance and above your insecurity.

B. Set ..you mind on those things. (2)

“set your mind” - to hold a certain worldview of life and as a result your attitude of life.

This doesn’t mean we stick our heads in the sand about the affairs of the world. But we don’t concern ourselves with the trivial of the temporal.

Heavenly values capture our imaginations, emotions, thoughts, feelings, ideas, and actions. We then come with eternal solutions to earthly obstacles. Only the eternal will impact the temporal.

Philippians 4:8 (NIV)8 “Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.”

C. Hide..in Christ (3)

“hidden” - made invisible for safekeeping. Not in the sense of protection but really in power. There is a time to display the power of God in us and a time to conceal. Jesus lived in that world and so do we.

We are most powerful when people don’t see us, but Jesus. Are people seeing you or Jesus? Hide more in Jesus.

Yet there is a time of hiding to bring forth in the right time and in the right way. We will all be revealed in glory with Christ at the second coming, yet sometimes even before. Don’t reveal yourself, let Christ in His time, His way! (Think hiding your children away to an appointed time to release them into the world.)

Mark 4:22 (NIV) 22 “For whatever is hidden is meant to be disclosed, and whatever is concealed is meant to be brought out into the open.”

There is only one way fear of exposure and vulnerability is overcome: Being hidden in Christ. It’s Him not me.

There is always a refuge, a sanctuary for me; the presence of my Lord. So I can be courageous and risk.

III. Conclusion and Invitation

A. What will our descendants have to face in the future? What will we have to face tomorrow? If we keep our head up by seek, set, and hide and it’s all going to better than ok!

B. Seek prayer for your life, your friends, and your family to keep our head above instead of below.