Colossians 3:1-4 / Where Christ Is
Notes
Transcript
Handout
Know what to seek.
Know what to seek.
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.
“Seek things that are above”,
(YOU) Seek … Set your mind on”
Seek - present active imperative
You. seek. now.
You need to take the initiative!
You need to take the initiative!
Every moment of every day…you get to make that choice.
You continually have a decision on what you seek out.
We are not passive Christians!
What do you want out of life?
“I’m seeking the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hans of God.”
What are you making a priority in your life.
Paul is urging you to
Paul is urging you to
Be careful about what you desire.
Be careful about what you desire.
“Things that are above, where Christ is”
So it’s not just “good things” it things that are above.
But James 4 tells us why this can be a problem
3 You ask and do not receive, because you ask wrongly, to spend it on your passions.
we naturally desire what is sinful.
desires are driven by our own pleasure.
We need to be intentional on what we seek
We need to bump our focus off of ourselves.
Here is were we start losing some Christians
Here is were we start losing some Christians
(hint) In verse 2, contrast with earthly things….
It’s not that we will not do that.
Will be make a practice of it?
Is that what we will make our life about?
Let’s be real....Here is the problem...
Paul is asking you to
Paul is asking you to
Seek the things that are not tangible.
Seek the things that are not tangible.
I love d my old ‘79 Trans Am
Take the t-tops out
Would drive out in the country
Just so I could feel the curves
Stomp on the gas (get pushed into my seat)
Seek Heavenly things
Spiritual things that originate from Heaven (from God)
Things that we fully enjoy later?
Enjoy them physically/ emotionally
but don’t originate spiritually
Understand REAL vs AUTHENTIC
seek what is authentic
Don’t settle for some cheap knockoff.
We are surrounded with things that promise
but cannot deliver
How do you know when you are seeking what is above?
Yes you will “feel” right about
More importantly
It will align with what you know about Jesus in scripture.
Feelings alone can deceive (New Age, cult)
“where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God”
Is Seated - present tense!!!
Where Christ IS….NOW
We don’t seek a fairy tale
We don’t seek a concept.
We seek Christ.
Where Jesus is should remind you of what He is doing.
“I go to prepare a place for you.”
Focus on the mission!!!
Know who you are.
Know who you are.
3 For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God.
For you have died...
You are not a slave to desires of your past life!
fame
pleasures of the flesh
money
You no longer live for your own purposes.
“You have been bought with a price.”
You will have moments when you are going to have to stop and ask yourself,
What am I here.
Why am I doing this?
You life is hidden in Christ.
This is what makes it ok.
Although the old you has died
The new you LIVES for something Bigger, Eternal
You live with a security the world cannot offer you.
Our earthly bound life is so fragile.
Imagine how easily you can be ruined!
Your life is HIDDEN WITH CHRIST!!!
Hidden = protected
With Christ = John 10:28, “I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand.”
Know the promise.
Know the promise.
4 When Christ who is your life appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.
We look up but we also look forward!
We look up but we also look forward!
Live as one who has hope.
Hope in an incredible promise.
From the one who IS ON HIS THRONE!
Because when Christ appears...
We will be with Him in Glory.
Illustration: Max Lucado “It’s not about me”
Boy building a sand castle.
He spent all day carrying sand,
shaping his castle
building a moat
Carefully shaping the crown.
Finding stick and rock to use and terrain.
Evening came and the Tide rolled on.
All the boy worked was washed away in a few moments.
The boy gets up grabs his fathers hand
and goes home.
Evening is approaching for all of us.
Seek the things that are from above. Where Christ is.
And one day when you day here is done,
You can take our father’s and go home, happy of a life well lived.