Set Your Minds on Things Above
Resurrection Living • Sermon • Submitted • Presented
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New things are great. A new phone, a new mattress, new car, new clothes, new furniture. New things are just wonderful.
New things are great but in order to get something new, the old needs to leave otherwise our life and our world will be full of clutter.
Jesus came to give us new life. We celebrated the resurrection of Jesus a few weeks ago and according to the calendar we are in that waiting season, between Easter and Pentecost. Jesus was still walking the earth in HIS resurrected state teaching HIS disciples about HIS Kingdom just before the Holy Spirit was poured out upon them.
What does the resurrection of Jesus mean for us? How should the resurrection of Jesus impact us as apprentices of Jesus?
In Colossians 3:1-4, Paul urges believers to seek and set their minds on the things above, emphasizing the transformative power of keeping Christ at the center of our lives.
As Followers of Jesus we must redirect our focus from earthly concerns to heavenly priorities. It reminds us that true fulfillment comes from our identity in Christ, helping us cope with life's struggles and distractions.
1 If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. 2 Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. 3 For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. 4 When Christ who is your life appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.
PRAY
Resurrection Living starts when we set our minds on things above.
Our transformation in Christ empowers us to set our minds on eternal truths, freeing us from the burdens of this world.
We will learn here that as believers, our lives are hidden with Christ in God, and we should live in a way that reflects our new identity. It calls us to prioritize spiritual matters over worldly ones, fostering a deeper relationship with God.
This happens because we are being raised with Christ everyday. The overarching biblical theme of resurrection and new life, shows us that Jesus' victory over sin and death is vital and necessary to our daily living and spiritual journey.
Our transformation in Christ empowers us to set our minds on eternal truths, freeing us from the burdens of this world.
How does that happen? What do we need to do to make resurrection living a reality?
1. Shift Your Focus
1. Shift Your Focus
Whatever you focus on is where you will go. I’ve never driven a motorcycle but I’ve heard that when you are driving a motorcycle wherever you focus on, there you will go. So… If you are driving with your wife on the back of your bike and she says, look at that deer… watch that pot hole… beautiful view… flowers on the side of the road, don’t get distracted. Wherever your head turns, there you will go.
Here Paul reminds us to do the same thing.
1 If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God.
As believers we have been raised with Christ, which calls for a change in mindset—away from worldly concerns and setting our focus towards heavenly priorities. As we shift our focus on resurrection living, this sets the foundation for a transformed life, grounded in our identity in Christ and empowering us to transcend earthly struggles.
To “set your mind on things above” means to look at life from God’s perspective and to seek what HE desires.
As believers we have received new life from God through the power of the Holy Spirit. We do not need to struggle and work to attain that new life… because we already have new life because of the resurrection power of Jesus!
We now just need to work this into our daily life by focusing on the reality that we have now been raised and have a clear responsibility to Christ, who had raised us up with HIM.
The Greek word for “seek” (zeteo) means to seek something out with a desire to possess it.
Seeking after what is above (in the spiritual, eternal world) in contrast to what is below (in the earthly, temporary or transitory world)
As believers we must take our focus off the world and turn it to Christ, who is seated at the right hand of God.
Jesus is seated at the right hand of God!
In Luke 22:69, Jesus told His accusers…
69 But from now on the Son of Man shall be seated at the right hand of the power of God.”
Even David saw the coming Messiah and HIS position:
1 The Lord says to my Lord: “Sit at my right hand, until I make your enemies your footstool.”
Jesus is now seated at God’s right hand revealing HIS power, authority, and position as both judge and advocate.
Because of the resurrection power of Jesus, we are now resurrected with Christ.
6 For he raised us from the dead along with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms because we are united with Christ Jesus.
Paul is says that as believers we have already experienced this exaltation; we just need to set our hearts and treasures on the things above. WE must live our lives on earth as citizens of heaven.
We are to both love God with our heart and soul and love our neighbor as ourselves.
We can do that by shifting our Focus from being citizens of this world to citizens of heaven.
2. Seek Heavenly Treasures
2. Seek Heavenly Treasures
2 Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth.
As believers we are urged to actively set our hearts and minds on things above, rather than the trivial pursuits of this world. Even though we are saved, and Jesus did the work so we can experience resurrection life, we must be intentional about setting our minds in the right direction.
This intentional redirection fosters spiritual growth and ensures our actions align with our eternal identity in Christ. Knowing and living out our identity in Christ requires setting our minds on things above so that we can have the strength and perspective to face our daily challenges.
Setting our “minds on things above” (3:1) meant “striving” to put heaven’s priorities into our daily practice.
Setting our minds on things above meant “concentrating” on the eternal rather than the temporary. Letting our thoughts dwell in the realm of Christ by focusing on the Lord Jesus.
The Bible uses many illustrations to teach us what happens when we choose to fully trust the Lord Jesus and to practice resurrection living. WE go from Death to Life…
Because of what Jesus did for us, we have been crucified with HIM. (Rom 6:2-13; 7:4-6, 2 Cor 5:14, Gal 2:20; 5:24, 6:14, Col 2:20; 3:3-5, 1 Pet 2:24)
Our Old, rebellious nature died with Christ. (Rom 6:6; 7:4-6, Col 3:9-10)
Christ’s resurrection guarantees our new life now and our eternal life with HIM later. (Rom 6:4, 11, Col 2:12-13; 3:1,3)
Because of what Jesus did for us, we have been crucified with HIM.
20 I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.
24 He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. By his wounds you have been healed.
Our Old, rebellious nature died with Christ.
6 We know that our old self was crucified with him in order that the body of sin might be brought to nothing, so that we would no longer be enslaved to sin.
9 Do not lie to one another, seeing that you have put off the old self with its practices 10 and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge after the image of its creator.
Christ’s resurrection guarantees our new life now and our eternal life with HIM later.
4 We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life.
11 So you also must consider yourselves dead to sin and alive to God in Christ Jesus.
This is depicted and illustrated through baptism (Col 2:12)
(1) the old sinful nature dies (crucified), (2) we are ready to receive a new life (buried), and (3) Christ gives us new life (resurrected).
Baptism illustrates this but we must set our mind but we must continue to set our minds on things above if we are going to make resurrection living a reality.
8 Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.
Paul was saying that, by setting our hearts and minds on things above then our lives on this earth would be pleasing to God and would help accomplish Christ’s work.
We must seek heavenly Treasures.
3. Securely Hidden In Christ
3. Securely Hidden In Christ
It takes work and effort to find something that is hidden but some things are hidden for a good reason. Look at the seed that is planted, it’s buried under the soil so the roots can grow deep, the plant comes through the soil and then as a healthy plant is produced, it will begin to bear good healthy fruit.
But, it all starts from a seed that is hidden.
3 For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God.
The Greek tense in the phrase, “for you have died” suggests that we died when Christ died. In Christ’s death, all believers died.
We are therefore like a seed buried in the earth where as believers, our real lives are hidden from the world, just as Christ’s glory is hidden, only to be revealed when HE returns.
The spiritual lives of believers are hidden inner lives that are in union with Christ who has provided all humankind an invitation and opportunity to be with God. This new life is a mystery, it’s a secret.
Our lives are now hidden with Christ in God, therefore our salvation is securely anchored in Christ which promises that our spiritual renewal is anchored in the resurrection power of Jesus. This concept of being hidden with Christ offers us an assurance and a hope that this world cannot give.
As believers we must learn to embrace our hiddenness in Christ and live victoriously through HIS resurrection power.
“For you died” means that our desire for worldly pleasures will become like that of a dead person. A dead person has no desire for worldly pleasure anymore.
We are securely hidden in Christ.
4. Glorious Future Awaiting
4. Glorious Future Awaiting
4 When Christ who is your life appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.
Jesus makes a promise, HE will come back again giving us our ultimate hope. This should be a huge motivation for us to never give up. This glorious future reminds us that our earthly struggles are only temporary and that our efforts to live a Christ-centered life will empower us to be able to share His glory, offering purpose and strength.
Christ himself gives to believers a new and a divine life. Jesus is the source of that new and divine life so that we now have the power to pursue the goal of spiritual growth.
Remember that this life we live is “hidden” in Christ. Even though as believers we are safe and raised with HIM, our full potential is yet to be revealed. One day, when Christ appears in HIS glory, we will also appear with HIM in glory.
The divine life of Christ will be revealed fully and will glorify us as we see our true potential as children of God. This is why we should orient ourselves to heaven, not to earth because our true glory will come from heaven.
Earthly glory is transitory and temporary; only heaven’s glory will last.
We will be transformed at Christ is coming back and we must be ready for HIS return.
19 For the creation waits with eager longing for the revealing of the sons of God.
23 And not only the creation, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies.
2 Beloved, we are God’s children now, and what we will be has not yet appeared; but we know that when he appears we shall be like him, because we shall see him as he is.
16 For the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a cry of command, with the voice of an archangel, and with the sound of the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. 17 Then we who are alive, who are left, will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we will always be with the Lord.
WE must await Jesus’ glorious future return. WE must look forward to the new heaven and new earth that God has promised, and wait for God’s new order that will free the world of sin, sickness, and evil.
20 But our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ.
In the meantime, we are to go with Christ into the world where the people need healing. Where we have the resurrection power, the same power that rose Jesus from the dead now lives in us. Jesus gave us the power to heal people’s bodies and souls and fight the evil effects of sin. Christ gives us power to live for him now, and he gives us hope for the future—he will return.
In the rest of this chapter Paul explains how Christians should act now in order to be prepared for Christ’s return.
Take Away:
Are you setting your mind on things above or on earthly things?
Are you living as a citizen of heaven?
Are you living as if Jesus is coming back quickly?
