Untitled Sermon (11)

SEEK THE THINGS ABOVE

Colossians 3:1-4

Proposition: Christians should live victoriously in Christ by dwelling on heavenly things.

Motivation:

Keeping perspective during contentious election year (week)

Read Colossians 3:1-4

Look Up - Colossians 3:1-2

What do verses 1-2 tell us to do?

Victorious Christian living begins by setting our hearts and minds on things above - looking up!

How does Paul say this will be accomplished?

Paul qualifies this statement by stating the necessity of being in Christ to do this

Colossians 1:29

many out there today - secular and religious - preaching a message of positive self esteem and brighter days are coming

but reality is brighter days may not be coming in this life

but Christ does promise brighter days in Him

If you confess Christ as Lord and Savior then Paul says to look up to Him

The Message

So if you’re serious about living this new resurrection life with Christ, act like it. Pursue the things over which Christ presides. Don=t shuffle along, eyes to the ground, absorbed with the things right in front of you. Look up, and be alert to what is going on around ChristCthat=s where the action is. See things from his perspective.

How do you keep looking up?

How do we do this?

set your minds on things above

a matter of wisdom and will

a matter of knowing and doing

Act like Christ has called you to act

sometimes we have to willfully choose to do something before it becomes natural and normal to us

learning a new habit

Think like Christ has called you to think

if you dwell on the negative, you will be negative

if you dwell on the positive you will be positive

does not mean you do not recognize or acknowledge the negative

but that you see beyond the haze of negative

to see the beauty of the positive

Paul said it best, while writing from prison

Philippians 4:4-9

Be Ready! - Colossians 3:3-4

Victorious Christian living is sustained by anticipating Christ’s return for His own - looking out!

As a Christian, you can lead a victorious life when you understand your past, present, and future

Past = you died with Christ - Col. 2:20

Present = you are hidden in Christ - Col. 3:3-4

The Message

Your old life is dead. Your new life, which is your real life-even though invisible to spectators-is with Christ in God. He is your life. When Christ (your real life, remember) shows up again on this earth, you’ll show up, too-the real you, the glorious you. Meanwhile, be content with obscurity, like Christ.

Future = you will appear with Christ - 1 Thess. 4:13-18

Read Hebrews 11:13-16