What Defines You?

Colossians 3:1–10 NKJV

1 If then you were raised with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God. 2 Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth. 3 For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. 4 When Christ who is our life appears, then you also will appear with Him in glory. 5 Therefore put to death your members which are on the earth: fornication, uncleanness, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry. 6 Because of these things the wrath of God is coming upon the sons of disobedience, 7 in which you yourselves once walked when you lived in them. 8 But now you yourselves are to put off all these: anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy language out of your mouth. 9 Do not lie to one another, since you have put off the old man with his deeds, 10 and have put on the new man who is renewed in knowledge according to the image of Him who created him,

Everyone is defined by something and usually that is summed up by a motto or a slogan. See how many of these you recognize:

Company slogan - Brand or product name

Just Do It - Nike

Breakfast of Champions - Wheaties

The Best a Man Can Get - Gillette

There are some things money can’t buy. For everything else, there’s MasterCard. - MasterCard

Think Different - Apple

Betcha can’t eat just one - Lay’s

America Runs on Dunkin’ - Dunkin’ Donuts

I’m Lovin’ It - McDonald’s

Maybe she’s born with it. Maybe it’s Maybelline. - Maybelline

Like a good neighbor, State Farm is there. - State Farm

Think Outside the Bun - Taco Bell

Think Big - IMAX

Taste the rainbow - Skittles

Red Bull gives you wings - Red Bull

What’s in your wallet? - Capital One

The Quicker Picker Upper - Bounty

Fly the friendly skies - United Airlines

Have it your way - Burger King

All for Freedom. Freedom for All. - Harley Davidson

Quality never goes out of style. - Levi’s

Live in your world. Play in ours. - PlayStation

Eat Fresh - Subway

Belong Anywhere - Airbnb

Open happiness - Coca-Cola

Because you’re worth it - L’OREAL

Is it in you? - Gatorade

Can you hear me now? - Verizon

The snack that smiles back - Goldfish

Every kiss begins with Kay - Kay JewelersI

Diamonds are forever - De Beers

All the News That’s Fit to Print - The New York Times

Everywhere you want to be - Visa

It’s finger-lickin’ good - KFC

Easy, breezy, beautiful… - CoverGirl

Eat Mor Chikin - Chick-fil-A

Nothing runs like a Deere - John Deere

The Ultimate Driving Machine - BMW

You’re in good hands - Allstate

Save money. Live better. - Walmart

Good to the last drop. - Maxwell

Impossible is Nothing - Adidas

It keeps going, and going, and going… - Energizer

Go Further - Ford

When you care enough to send the very best - Hallmark

Obey your thirst - Sprite

Have a break. Have a KitKat. - KitKat

Where’s the beef? - Wendy’s

Don’t leave home without it - American Express

Let’s go places - Toyota

Snap! Crackle! Pop! - Rice Krispies

We try harder - Avis

In the heart of Holden with Holden in our heart or You Matter - Northside Assembly

We are defined by our faith and that means setting our minds on heavenly things. Sometimes we can find it really hard to set our minds on heavenly things when we live here. We have cares with this world. We are concerned about our families and their future. Sometimes we need to step back.

Ezekiel 37:1 NKJV

1 The hand of the Lord came upon me and brought me out in the Spirit of the Lord, and set me down in the midst of the valley; and it was full of bones.

We were all dead bones at one time.

Romans 6:23 NKJV

23 For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

This portion of Ezekiel is a vivid portrayal of what we really without Jesus Christ. We can dress ourselves in the latest fashion, but still be as dead as can be.

Through Jesus Christ, we are resurrected with Him unto new life. When we remember where God has brought us, then it is easier to set our mind on heavenly things. On the will of God.

We want to see this glory manifested in our lives. We know God wants to bless us. The bible tells us so.

Romans 8:32 NKJV

32 He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things?

We may think, I am ready, give it to me God. God knows so much better than us even though there are many times we think we know better than Him. If we were really honest, we would admit it.

When your child was born, did you hand them the keys to the car? How about when they turned five? Will Brandon give Chase the keys to his truck or better yet, the gun safe? Why not? Brandon must not love Chase. Oh, he is a hateful dad.

No, not at all. Brandon does not give Chase keys to the truck or access to the gun safe, not because he does not love Chase, but because he does love Chase.

Sometimes, we do not know what we do not know. We have not grown in the Lord to the point of realizing how much more we have to learn.

One thing really cool about God, the closer you get to God, the tighter you hold to His hand. You realize you do not know as much as you once thought you did. You become more humble by His Amazing Grace.

Jesus Christ is our life. He should define us. Not our name, not our job, not our country, not our culture, not our spouse, and not our children. We should be defined by Jesus Christ. We are going to be talking about what this definition actually looks like in the next few weeks.

Just like a well toned muscle, every aspect of us should show the work of Christ. There are many Christians today who resemble my muscles.

Look at these guns. Are they not impressive? I used to be stronger than I am today, but due to some injuries, I am not what I used to be. Sound familiar?

Someone calls themselves a Christian but their life does not resemble it. If I said I was a body builder, would you believe it? If you looked at me, you would say no, but if you could not see me and I talked about all the machines and protein powders that a true body builder would use, then you might believe me.

There are many who can talk a great talk, but can not walk the walk. They are not defined by Christ. We can look at those we see and make the evaluation.

What about you? Are you defined by Christ or is that definition sagging from lack of use?

Maybe there are things in your life that need to be executed, killed, put to death. They are sapping your strength.

Conclusion:

Romans 3:23 NKJV

23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,

Acts 16:31 NKJV

31 So they said, “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved, you and your household.”

Romans 10:9–10 NKJV

9 that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.