Renovating the Heart

The Supreme Life

Renovating the Heart

Colossians 3:1-17

I like watching restoration shows. You see the old car, rusted, falling apart, restored and renewed. Home shows. Take old run-down house, tear apart inside and make new. Amazing to watch. The old becomes new. The house I live in now was renovated. New floor plan and everything was new. Sometimes churches need Renovation. They get stuck in the rut of the same ol same ol and plateau or decline. Today’s Scriptures deal with renovating the heart. Jesus wants to renovate your heart. He wants to make all things new. Today’s passage challenges us to put off the old and put on the new.

Renovation requires a change in focus: Vs.1-4

A. Some shows have people pick different homes, put on computer, this is what this house can be. Don’t look at what is, think about what could be.

B. Paul writes, set your eyes on things above. Change your perspective.

C. Seek = aspirations, desires, passion – what are you seeking, looking for in life? Paul says look up to Jesus. When Jesus is your life, you’ll focus completely and totally on Him Mt.6:33

D. We are to look up toward the heavens which is where we will end up if we have a personal relationship with Jesus

E. When we come to know Jesus, we are dead to this world and alive in Christ. Our focus must change to experience all God has for us.

Renovation requires teardown: Vs.5-9

A. Once property selected, tear down begins. Maybe you have renovated a room in your home. The sledgehammers may come out. It difficult, not always easy. The tear down reveals what needs work. Often, things are revealed that didn’t know about.

B. Mortify = to put to death, to stop a state with lethal determination. Make it final, get rid of it forever. Look at the list Vs.5

a. Sexual sins – fornication (adultery, sex outside of marriage), uncleanness (Pornography), inordinate affection (sexual passions)

b. evil concupiscence – evil desires

c. Covetousness – desiring that which is not yours. It’s an all-consuming desire, it becomes an idol

C. These come with a warning in vs.6-7 – the wrath of God, when you walk in these things, God’s judgment will come.

D. The list continues Vs.8-9 Paul writes to put off – picture of changing the clothes. Work outside, come inside, you stink, go shower and change your clothes.

a. Verbal sins – Anger/ rage – continually seathing, smoldering, blows up Slander – saying false things about others Blaspheme – saying false things about God Filthy language – words with foul content that contaminate both speaker and hearer. Lies - lying breaks trust and harms relationships.

b. Malice – evil intent to cause hurt

E. These are things that need to be torn down in our lives.

Renovation requires building up: Vs.10-14

A. Paul switches to now what we are to put on. We tear down the old and build up the new

B. Our soul Is renewed – VS.10 – God renews us. The old is gone and the new is come. We are renewed in the image of God. No renovated home looks the same when completed.

C. Cultural biases are renewed – Vs.11 – Barbarians – anyone not speak Greek, considered uncultured. Scythians – people of northern Asia, little better than savages, a feared people

Bond or free – some were slaves, some were free. All the same in the Kingdom of God

D. Relationships are renewed – Look at how we are to treat one another. Direct opposite of the above. You are torn down to be built up in Christ.

a. We are to be merciful – deep sensitivity to needs of others

b. We are to be kind – Christlike attitude toward others

c. We are to humble ourselves with others – Christlike attitude of ourselves

d. We are to be meek – power under control

e. We are to be patient with one another – longsuffering

f. We are to put up with one another – forebear

g. We are to forgive one another – grace freely given as Christ forgives

h. We are to love one another – love as Jesus loved. Put others above ourselves. Bond – possibly outer garment or clasp put on to hold it all together

The Renovated life is a joyful life: Vs.15-17

A. There is joy when the life is renewed. Every person that completes a home renovation is joyful. When the big reveal comes, mouths drop, people go crazy, jumping up and down, there is joy. Look at what happens when our lives are renovated. Often there may be a house warming to celebrate the new home. Celebrate together

B. Picture of the new life in Christ

C. There is peace – true peace comes when you are right with God Vs.15 – rule = umpire

D. God’s Word brings life – When you put the Word in your life, you will experience new life in Christ

E. There is wise teaching in the renovated life – teaching of the Word brings life

F. There is admonition – encouragement, discipline..

G. There is celebration – psalms, hymns, spiritual songs – joy in the house. The renovated life will be a joyful life

H. All of this will lead to a life pleasing to God. Everything you do will bring glory to God.

I. It’s all because of God. God is the renovator. To Him we are to give the glory.

Are you experiencing the renovated life? Are there areas that need to be torn down and built up? Are you experiencing joy in your life? If so, share it with others. If not, come to Jesus, start the renovation, and experience new life in Christ.