Live Different!

Introduction

(Previous Messages in the Colossians Series)

‘For the Faithfulness of Epaphras’ - Col. 1:1-8

In that message, we looked at how because Epaphras was Faithful to serve the LORD, the gentiles there at Colosse gained:

Faith in Christ

Fellowship with each other

A Future home in Heaven

Fruit for their Labor

And Friends - that would be there & pray for them

‘Paul’s Prayer for the Colossians’ - Col. 1:9-12

Our next message dealt with v9-12 and it focused on Paul’s Prayer for the Colossians.

Paul Prayed for a Filling - of His Will, Godly Wisdom & Biblical Watchfulness

Paul then Prayed for Faithfulness - in their Manner of Life & the Mark to Strive for

Paul then prayed for Fruitfulness - Testifying of who they were in Christ

Then Paul Prayed for Favor - For God to give them Strength & Satisfaction

Lastly Paul Prayed for Focus - Upon God and His Grace

‘The Incredible Christ’ - Col. 1:12-22

Then as Paul began to get into the meat of the letter, we preached a message titled ‘The Incredible Christ’ focused on v13-22 and in it Paul is just bragging about Jesus!

He spoke of the Performance of Christ

The Pardon of Christ

The Picture of Christ

The Power of Christ

The Preeminence of Christ

The Peace of Christ

The Presentation of Christ

‘A Presentation Without Regret’ - Col. 1:20-29

Paul Spoke of:

The Peace through His Cross (v20-22)

The Presentation Desired (v22; 28; 23)

Paul spoke of the fact that everyone was going to stand before God and give account.

The Person God Utilized

Then Paul made clear that God was using him to communicate truth

Now that Paul has laid this ground work, he speaks of himself for the purpose that they would take heed unto what he had to say.

‘A Call to Stand’ - Col. 2:1-10

Paul spoke of:

A Knowledge Imparted

A Course Implored

A Fulfillment Identified

‘Understanding Our Position in Christ’ - Col. 2:11-15

Paul spoke of:

The Circumcision of the Believer (v11)

The Comparison in Baptism (v12)

The Culmination of the Work of Christ (v13)

The Canceling of Our Debt (v14)

The Conquering of Christ (v15)

Given Complete Victory - and He is a Commander to Follow

‘Beware, Lest Ye Be Spoiled!’ - Col. 2:16-23

Beware the Philosophy of the Jews

Beware the False Doctrines of the Gentiles

Be Mindful of What You Are

I. Seek Out Heavenly Things (v1)

Put your mindset on Godly things

The Initiative Required

Seeking Requires Initiative. You can’t seek without intentionally doing so.

(Ill.) Sometimes we’ll misplace our keys at home. And one of us will say ‘Have you found my keys’. Well, the implication is that that person is actually looking for them.

There’s not a Christian who’s mindset is upon Godly things that got there by accident. It must happen on purpose.

(Ill.) It’s just like Salvation. No one gets saved by accident, no they understand their condition and make a purposeful choice to place their faith in Christ.

We need (as Christians) to make it a point to seek out Heavenly Things. And the way we do that is to be mindful of it continually - and that’s the idea presented.

The Idea Presented

What Paul is speaking of is where our mind is at. What do we think of, what are we pondering on? Where does our mind dwell ?

‘Those things which are above’ is a broad statement concerning Godly / Spiritual Things. We need to consider HOW we view these things & how we approach them.

(Ill.) It’s Sunday, and many of you might be thinking ‘Man, I got to go to work tomorrow. And if you’re like me ‘I got to put the summer clothes up & get the tree out & decorate it’ And we are looking at these chores or tasks that we’re burdened with as curses. Let me give you a different perspective - a Heavenly perspective if you will: Well, I get to go to work tomorrow. Thank God for providing me a job so I can pay my bills & give unto the work of the LORD. My boss is a pain in my neck, but it’s probably because they don’t know Jesus. I pray God opens a door for me to share the Gospel with him! I will treat Him how Christ desires for me to so that maybe he’ll see Christ in me!

I don’t particularly care for shuffling around boxes and storing the summer clothes, but thank God He has provided for me so that I have that problem! And the exercise will actually do me good, and I just thank God that He’s given me another year to do this & the health to see it gets done!

What does it mean to ‘seek those things which are above’?

Having the mindset of God.

Desiring to Magnify God in all we do

Having that ‘Attitude of Gratitude’

And get rid of the ‘stinkin thinkin’.

Paul implores the church to Seek Out heavenly Things. Secondly, to Set Affection on Spiritual Things

II. Set Affection on Spiritual Things (v2)

Care for / Love Spiritual Things

The Cause being Advocated

Some will look on v1 & v2 and see the same principle. However, I see a distinction. In v1 Paul is advocating them to ‘seek out’ the things of God, in v2 Paul is advocating that they LOVE the things of God.

Some can seek something out & not love it, while others can love something & not seek it out.

(Ill.) I think of the alcoholic. I dare say that most alcoholics - if not all - do not love alcohol. Many love the (fleeting) escape from the real world that it gives them. Some love the way it helps them forget about the real world for a time. Many do not care for the alcohol itself, but what it does for them. So they will seek out the alcohol, but not necessarily love it.

On the other hand, I thought of the story of the prodigal son. (Synopsis) There’s no doubt that the father loved the son - but he knew that it would do him no good to seek out the son, the son had to make up his own mind to come home. So the Father loved, yet did not seek.

Now these are instances, but they are the exceptions - not necessarily the rule. Typically, what we love we will seek - and what we’re seeking, it’s because we love.

This is the reason Paul advocates for both.

We see the Cause being Advocated

The Contrast that is Given

Above - NOT on the things on the earth. This is the dividing line. What he’s talking about is the distinction between the Carnal (things on the earth) and the Spiritual (things above).

This is not the only contrast - nor warning - between the Carnal and the Spiritual.

John told us: 1Jn. 2:15-17 “Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever.”

In these verses, we see the Holy Spirit through John draws the contrast between the carnal & the Spiritual

Paul spoke to the church in Rome: Rom. 8:4-9 “That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit. For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be. So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God. But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his.”

A good practice for us Christians to do would be to as we go about our daily lives, examine what it is we’re spending time on and judge whether they be carnal or Spiritual.

Some might wonder ‘well what about my job - is it carnal or Spiritual? Good question. Not all jobs are Spiritual in nature. (Ill.) Consider the work of a janitor. Not a glamorous job, nor is it necessarily a Spiritual job. But what would determine whether it is carnal or Spiritual is the way you approach / view it. If you approach your job in a way that will honor God and make sure to keep it in it’s proper place, then it’s a Spiritual matter.

(Ill.) The job of a pastor is by nature a Spiritual job - however, not everyone with the title views it as a Spiritual position. They are in it purely for carnal purposes. The Joel Osteen’s, Benny Hinn’s, Creflo Dollar’s of the world are not approaching their job Spiritually, and they are perverting the position to one of carnality.

We see the Contrast Given

Paul implores the church to Seek Out heavenly Things. Then to Set Affection on Spiritual Things. Next we see Paul advocates they Surrender their Life

III. Surrender Your Life (v3-4)

A Principle Recognized

As Christians, we are dead. Not physically dead (yet), but we’re dead to the:

Power of Sin, & to the Punishment we Deserve.

Penalty of Sin - Rom. 6:7 “For he that is dead is freed from sin.”

Ignorance of God & His Righteousness & Requirements

Things of this world

We are dead Christians. It’s not something to lament, it’s something to enjoy!

Paul said:

Gal. 2:19-20 “For I through the law am dead to the law, that I might live unto God. I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.”

2Ti. 2:11 “It is a faithful saying: For if we be dead with him, we shall also live with him:”

It’s amazing to think - we know that when we die here (as Christians) physically, we will be better off in Heaven, right? Consider this: when we die to the flesh Spiritually - we’ll be better off as well!

We see a Principle Realized

A Powerful Realization

Then Paul lays something out that is a wonderful thought to consider.

(Ill.) I looked up and saw that getting premium seating to a NY Yankee baseball ticket will cost $1,200 / ea. That is amazing to me! But you know what, it’s just a baseball game! That’s all it is. But guess what? I’ve got an even better ticket. I get front row show of the LORD Jesus’ return! You talk about an event for the ages! You and I will be there! And it didn’t cost me $1,200 per… my ticket was bought & paid for by Christ alone!

So Paul calls on them to Surrender their life and l

Paul implores the church to Seek Out heavenly Things. Then to Set Affection on Spiritual Things. Then that they Surrender their Life & lastly, to Subdue your flesh

IV. Subdue your Flesh (v5-11)

Our Ungodly Nature Revealed (v5-9)

In v5 & v8 we see some of the ‘fruits of the flesh’ listed. (Read them) - these are wicked things! But we also see Paul’s instruction

‘Mortify therefore’… (v5)

Mortify (def) to deaden; . To subdue or bring into subjection

‘Put off all these’… (v8) - Get rid of them!

These speak to specific actions that we are to take. The reason we need to take them is because YES we are DEAD positionally, but not necessarily in practicality. (Rom. 6 - if time)

And the reason we need to do this is because we’re not good. We have the Adamic seed & it’s ungodly by nature.

The Understood Transformation (v10)

‘Renewed in Knowledge’ - in other words, we must KNOW God in order to ACT like God.

This is what God desires, what the Scriptures advocate & what we need to do to be like Him. That being said, we must know what we’re transforming into...

The Understood Transformation

The Unifying Power of Christ (v11)

In Christ we are one. Christ unites

Conclusion