May 29 | Genesis 4:25-26 | People Began to Call Upon the Name of the Lord

Then why I like that so much is because the church like weird. We have a community who we can, but we also support other people to go out and and they are an extension of Oak Grove. We support them serving the same, God and King and Sometimes, it's cool to hear what's going on and how we are connected with that this morning, when I introduced you to Aaron Copland, if you never met him before, he was with Navigators and Cedar, Rapids, and ministering to the local colleges in.

Elk Grove, it's so good to be here and get to visit with you all. I'm so thankful for you guys, and I remember many of you. Fondly. It's just a joy and a blessing to get to come and be here and share with you all what we've been doing this again. Thank you. You guys the church and many of you individually sponsor us and he'll make this ministry possible for us to be able to serve on the college campuses and Cedar Rapids, and it's just a real blessing that we get to do this Saturday. I was going to give you a little bit of update about what we're doing, what's been going on with God's been doing and just some of the things that were looking forward to for the summer and kind of next year. And the college campuses. We server Coe College, Mount Mercy University in Kirkwood Community College. So, uncool update. Is this your two people at Coe College decided to trust. Jesus is Lord, and that's just a really cool to see Goku. Actually been a place where it's been a little harder for us to get momentum there. And it's cool to see Atco where we have people coming to believe in Jesus. We have lots of people getting involved, many of our new student leaders for this coming year, are from Co. And so, guys, just doing a wonderful thing there, we've been able to be on all three campuses. This year. We started this new thing called nap connect. We're we're on campus, and we're doing our Bible studies there, so that we can be more available to be able to connect with the students that are there on campus. We've seen two of those studies growing without a little bit of trouble at Mount Mercy with getting that one to continue and grow. So, we'll be focusing their little bit more this next semester in the fall, but it's cool to see new students coming. If you saw all the people that are there like a year ago, All the fit. Many of the faces are there, her new? Which is cool. To just see all the new people are student leader team. Actually is a more than doubling this year, and it's cool to see that God is raising up students. I want to belabor so that want to be invested and 10 best in others and teach other people about, Jesus. That's what a student leader does. It's where they're taking the next step that they want to go to like, a no. I want to invest in other people. I want to Mentor students. I want to get involved with the vandalism. I want to lead a community service project that we do on campus and things like that. So like they're taking that next step and getting more involved, which is really need to see. But I want to tell you two stories, just about like what we do Navigators, we really believe in investing, in the individual. Are we have a motto where it's Noah Christ, make him known to help others do the same and we do that through discipleship and investing and want like a few p. And then building their relationship with God equipping on sending them out and then teaching them to invest in somebody else. And so I only tell you about two students that are doing that. So the first one is name is Thomas and he got involved through a friend of his, in his Bible study recommended him to get connected with us and he's had a hard time getting connected because he works a job to put himself through college at Kirkwood. But the cool thing is is I've been able to meet with Thomas individually and it's fun to see him grow a katchafire to share the gospel to lead Bible studies. So me and Thomas we've been able to meet together for like the last year and now he's one of our new student leaders and he's helping me lead. Our summer, Bible study for college students that are staying in town and it's just really cool to see him. Get excited about learning more about the Bible building skills and investing in other people wanting to be a leader. He's considering going to Bible College in the future. The summer, and has things actually a really important time because the other student that I want to tell you about, got involved in our summer nav program. It's a girl. I met at a church in Vinton. She got connected to our summer. NASA program coming out of high school. And then she is now like, one of our main student leaders at Kirkwood. She's our Kirkwood Club president. She's been inviting her friends and her class has to come to like Bible study and learn about Jesus. She is engaging in evangelism like once like a week with us and just things like that. So it's cool to just see how people are engaging with the message of Jesus and taking it and growing. And that's what we do with Navigators as we invest and focus on mentoring individuals and then teaching them how to go and share their faith with people and have their own kind of personal Ministry, and equip them. I want to tell you about a couple of opportunities that were looking forward. So my name kind of goal. This summer is working with Thomas. We're leading the Bible study. I'm over at our house. So they'd come students are coming to our house and we're sitting through the book of Isaiah and just kind of reading and seeing what I have to say about God's justice mercy, and hoping. So you can be praying for that. Just that guy would use our summer Bible study. Another opportunity that I get to do. This summer is I get to go on with call the survey trip to Namibia in Africa. God is always plan his gospel to go to the nation's and we believe that very strongly in The Navigators. And so we want to teach our students that that's always been God's plan. It's a one way that we do that is we get to send students overseas to get cross-cultural experience and see how the gospel is at work in other countries. And so we get to partner with local missionaries. I'm here in Namibia and then I got selected with another guy to go and do what's called a survey trip. So, we're going to go and we can figure out the logistics to send a group of college students next year to Namibia. And so, we're going to go and we're going to meet with the local missionaries. See how we can help them, encouraged them, learn from them and then talk about the logistics of like what is it going to look like if we bring like a team of like 10 students to your country and what can we do to help serve you? How can you teach them and help us grow and in work with our students and so get to do that here in June. So really excited about that, but that also comes our cost. And so one thing that we're doing this year is that we're trying to raise some money for one-time cost to cover the trip. So, if you'd be interested in helping us with that, I'd love to talk to you later afterwards. And also, we're still building our prayer and financial partner teams. So if you'd be interested in helping us to do that, we would love to talk to. You would love to meet with people and Talk about what's going on in your lives and pray with you, as well as just tell you what God is doing. In her Ministry. We're trying to cover about $1,200 a month and a monthly giving. So if you probably do to help you, consider helping us with that. We love to talk to you more. But as I said, just thank you for the opportunity to come and visit. It's a blessing just to share with you guys doing with The Navigators and will be in the back, will have some pictures and stuff. You can see of just our students and things. So I'm thank you guys.

Well, good morning church. We've not met but allow me to introduce myself briefly. My name is Eric rosener. I am one of the pastors that has the opportunity to serve at Faith Bible Church in Cedar Rapids. I've been there for about seven and a half years and it's an honor to be with you. This morning already, just be able to worship with you to meet many of you and to just celebrate and to Worship the Lord together. So I bring greetings to you from Pastor, Steve at Faith Bible and know that we have a kindred spirit with one another. And so it's an honor and a joy to be here today as we jump in. I want to ask if we just pray for God to bless our time in his word and that he would be present and that we would be able to respond to him. So join me as I pray and we jump into God's word this morning. father God, we have already been worshipping you through our words to our music, this morning and Father, you are the only one who is worthy of worship. And so we we give you all that praise and all that Glory, all that honor were grateful for the opportunity. We have to be together here today freely to gather. The warship to encourage one another and to hear from your word. Father, I pray that you would open our hearts. Open our minds to what you want to teach us. Pray that your spirit would be at work. Convicting us and guiding us as we move from this place into our everyday lives. We should pray all this in your name. Amen. Well, growing up. I never claimed to be a poet, nor do I have still have any gifts or experience in being one? But if you are one who likes poetry or maybe you studied poetry yourself, the name, Henry Wadsworth, Longfellow is probably on that list. Longfellow was no doubt. One of the prominent poets and Americans of his day. You might be familiar with some of his work that he's written. Paul Revere's ride is one example of. Did you know that? He also wrote a very well-known Christmas poem called. I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day. L was put to music and we sing it routinely every year around Christmas time. Maybe you've sung at yourself. I'm going to spare you missing it today. I don't want to be booed off the stage, read to you the, the first verse of the song. I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day. Their old familiar carols play, and wild and sweet. The world repeat of peace, on Earth, Goodwill to men. Although there were actually seven stanzas to that poem that Longfellow wrote. What maybe lesser-known is that when he originally wrote that poem, and when that was put to music three of the middle, stanzas were actually removed. And many of them are still not sung. Today. Will Longfellow wrote that poem on Christmas day in 1863. But the backstory of that poem started actually a few years prior to that. Back in 1861 Longfellow lost. His second wife of 18 years due to an accidental fire in their home. His wife's dress caught on fire and they were able to extinguish it quickly enough and as result of that Longfellow was so grieved. He pulled himself back from the public eye to deal with his grief and the loss for the next year. He really struggled through that loss. In fact on Christmas Day. 1862 Longfellow wrote this in his journal. A Merry Christmas says the children, but there is no more for me.

Just a few months later. After you wrote that in the march of 1863 and the height of the Civil War. He learned that his son. Charlie had secretly run off to enlist in the Union Army.

Fight for his country. Much to his father's dismay and disapproval. Charlie was later shot in the battle. Almost paralyzed and was returned home to be cared for by his father. And to be nursed on a long journey, back to health my nose during those days. And those trying experiences as a single father that Longfellow wrote this poem, as he heard the Christmas bells, tolling outside of his window. Although you might be familiar with many of the stands. I want to share with you some of the words from the stands as that. We don't often hear.

Then from each black, accursed mouth, the canon thundered in the South and what's the sound? The carols drowned of peace on Earth, Goodwill to men? And in despair, I bowed my head. There is no peace on Earth. I said for hate is strong and mocks the song of peace on Earth, Goodwill to men. Well, Henry, just kind of took a little bit of a left turn there. Now, why would I choose to introduce our time together by sharing with you, the backstory of this great poem and this poet? Well, maybe you've never had a Longfellow Christmas. But I think we've all personally live through some Longfellow times, haven't we? We've had quite a few challenging years as of late. We've weathered a lot. We've been, we've been stretched and pulled and challenged ways that we couldn't even imagine. I think it's safe to say we've all been impacted by the effects of the global pandemic that started back in 2020. Individually. Our normal routines are are, are patterns of life has been disrupted. They've been changed activities were cancelled and postponed and new procedures and checks got put into place some which are still in place. The list goes on. Oh, but wait, there's more summer of 2020 in August, if if, if you or any indicator, like, we were in Cedar Rapids as we're trying to figure out the pandemic and how to live we agreed by Dre show. Which left incredible amount of damage and loss, and devastation? Put on a greater level as a nation. Over the last few years, we've seen expressions of of ethnic tensions and, and an unrest, rising and riots and Wars among different people groups and countries and challenges with employment and, and finances and political issues and disagreements natural disasters damage. The world around us has changed. And it's impacted us. Some pretty significant ways. And From some of us, we may be moving through life with perhaps a bit more of a challenge and seeing the clarity. In the midst of all the chaos. I'm also certain that you're able to think of those in your own web of relationships who have walked or or maybe are currently walking through some challenging and dark situations. And that is a very real and difficult journey to be on. But despite all that is happening around us. The question. I want opposed us today. Is this, how will you and I choose to respond? And specifically as those who identify as Christ followers, Believers in the truth of who Jesus is, how should our lives be marked as we go through the stressful, the chaotic, and the challenging times that we're in. How do we bring clarity through the chaos? Why wouldn't you answer this question by looking at Colossians chapter 3, this morning, please? Open those up there and we're going to focus on that text together. Colossians 3 starting verse 1 to 16. We'll just by way of introduction. Colossians is viewed by many. Perhaps has the most Christ Centric book in Scripture. It's easy to see why when you begin to understand what Paul is looking to communicate through this letter. Apostle, Paul, he's writing this book, this letter to a body of Believers at the church in colossae, with a primary purpose of communicating, to them the supremacy and the sufficiency of Jesus, and the impact it should have on their lives. You see this theme of the supremacy and the sufficiency of Christ scattered all around these four chapters in and he's ninety-five versus most notably in chapters 1 and 2 and specifically in verses 18 to 20 of chapter 1 in I want to encourage you to maybe dig into that and and just mine all of the incredible truth of of those two Supremacy and sufficiency in there. Who Paul is communicating and reminding, his Believers of who Jesus is? His Supremacy in his authority and that because of his death, his life, and his resurrection. Jesus is 100% sufficient for all that. We need spiritually in our lives both now, but also in the Life to Come. But that's Supremacy insufficiency should also have an impact on how we choose to live our lives right now. Even if we're living through a worldwide pandemic or any other challenge that we face. See Paul was concerned about some false teaching that was starting to enter the Church of colossae, the teachings that were going on there. They were seeking to discredit and to devalue Jesus. Both of who he was but also what he did. During that time. That Paul wrote this letter, there's berries, teachers, and they were, they were going in, in their teaching, this Doctrine, which said that believe in. Jesus was okay. But he wasn't God and because he wasn't something else needed to be added to that in order to attain salvation. Will not only wear those who are tearing this false message, confused and, and, and being misled. But the message of the true gospel. Was being discredited. So Paul, and the typical style of the letters that he would ride. He would spend the first half of his letter, focusing on the theology on and in the message, in the understanding what the gospel isn't laying out. Why Christ is supreme insufficient. Then in the later, part of his letters, he bridge is over into the application of that Doctrine, and the impact that should have in one's life. And that is where I want to pick up in the first four verses of Colossians chapter 3. So, read with me Colossians 3, starting in verse 1. Since then you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is seated, at the right hand of God, set your mind on things above, not on Earthly things for you died. And your life, is now hidden with Christ in God. When Christ, who is your life appears? Then you also will appear with him in glory. Let's just stop right there for a moment, please first four verses are significant to see as making that bridge from Doctrine to application. Cuz if we don't acknowledge what Paul is communicating here in these first, four verses in and reminding us of we misunderstand. What the true gospel is. We dig into to read the rest of these verses in the knees chapters in this book. As as just a list of things that I must do in order to please God. Becomes a list of Behavioral modification techniques, if you will. And that we would use to try to earn our salvation and we start with the question will what must I do. Instead, Paul wants to remind us in these first four verses of what God has already done. First one Paul says, since then you have been raised with Christ. Pause remaining his readers, hear of their new identity of who they are and the position that they have in Christ. Why? Because of the work that Christ is already done in them. They've been raised with Christ and their life is now hidden with Christ in God. And this new identity comes with a new calling and a new purpose. And that is to set their hearts on things above Everest to to set their mind on things above. Maybe one way we could summarize this way would be to say that we as Believers are called not to sit and soak in the present but to seek and to set our Focus On Christ.

We Believers are called not to sit and soak but to seek and to set our Focus On Christ. Why does Paul mention two different times that were called to set our hearts and our minds on things above? Maybe it's the underscore, the and emphasise the importance of this command to see can decide. but more importantly, I think it says because that's for Christ is Seated at the right hand of God sitting at the right hand, communicates a position of Honor in a position of authority. And so we set our minds on things above on Christ. We spoke is on who Kiki is. Again, Paul draws on that Supremacy insufficiency of Christ here because Christ is supreme over all things. He is all I need in this life and in the life to come, my gaze is fixed solely on him.

You know, that word seek actually means to orient, your will to a specific Direction toward something. I know. Where is it? No matter. What is happening around me. I know I always have the choice to decide what I'm going to pursue and what I'm going to focus on and I'm going to pursue Christ and go. All in. Doesn't necessarily mean, he's going to be easy, doesn't necessarily mean that there's not going to be any tension or struggle, but it is a command given by God for us to follow with effort and intention. Because where we said our Focus determines our movement. Number of years ago. When I lived in the Chicagoland area took a group of college students down to a week-long conference in Atlanta, Georgia over Christmas, break member, we all met at the church and we put our luggage in the Vans and we had our GPS units of kind of that point when you could put them on the dashboard or, or in the front of your car and we plugged it in and headed down the wrong road, trip down to Atlanta and we are hitting the interstates. And I remember we were having a really good time in the van and we're looking forward to get down to Atlanta. We are going to check into our hotel and maybe grab a quick bite to eat before we headed over for the opening session on that first night. What were you just going through the Nashville, Tennessee area. And I began to hear some snickering in a little chatter by a couple of guys in the back of the van. And they had their cell phones with them and work talking to one another or maybe playing a game back and forth or comparing their scores or, or maybe they are checking out the sports core of their latest team in and having some conversation about it. So I didn't Focus much on it and just kept on driving and Eventually, I began to really notice a change in the scenery and we've driven most of the interstate to that point on our trip. And and I noticed just outside of Nashville, on the South Side, as we are continuing, our journey South is becoming really Pristine from a four-lane highway. We're kind of down to a two-lane Highway and it more Rolling Hills. And just a beautiful terrain around us is very different from, from the early part of the trip, but we eventually stopped at a gas station to fuel up and grab a couple snacks. And then again, I know, it's these two guys from the back, they were there kind of talking and, and they grabbed one of our cult leaders, who was on that trip with us and mentioned something to him. And what color then came over and and said, hey, Eric. The guys were actually tracking your direction on Google Maps on their phones. And they're trying to figure out why were we headed this direction? When Google Maps had us going that direction. And I said, well, I was, I was focusing on the GPS, right? Telling me to go. But it turned out that that Focus was in the wrong direction. And as a result, it took us 2 hours to get back onto the route that we were supposed to go on and get ourselves to Atlanta. Our Focus determines our movement. And in this case, my focus was on the GPS system, right? Later, putting a GPS system into the trash, but my folk is determined the path of our Direction. The same thing is true in our lives, isn't it? Our Focus determines our movement and tall is strongly. Commanding us to seek to orient. Our will toward the things about And a Focus On Christ. Did you notice how many times Christ is mentioned in these first four verses of 3:1? You have been raised with Christ. And one verse one, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is, first three for you died in your life, is now hidden with Christ in God. Verse for, when Christ, who is your life appears? Four different times. Paul references, Christ, Christ Christ Christ. It's all about him and Paul same height as your focus. As you focus your heart and your mind on Christ, Christ was raised you up from the dead has given you a new life, a new purpose, and a new identity and a new calling, your life is going to be markedly different. No longer, are you going to sit and soak in the present world and the situation that you're in? But you've given the invitation and the calling to seek and to set your Gaze on him? Learning how he wants you to live. Let me ask you this. What are you allowing your heart and your mind focus on right now? What is it that your heart and mind are seeking after? Some of us may be situations that are happening in the world right now, or in your own life have had put you in an unhealthy state of fear and anxiety. Did you listen or is you read The Daily News? You find yourself sitting too much, in the informational overload, that is coming into us. And it's affected where your heart and your mind are focused. Maybe it's other things. It's so easy for us to get sidetracked 222 recalculated from where our focus is meant to be. Like I was in my van, rijn. If for me, worry and anxiety is one area that I have battled a lot in my mind being back in middle school, high school. I really begin to find myself worrying about the unknown. Having anxiety about what may or may not happen or or or, or how the situation is going to work out. Well, what if it doesn't work out? What am I going to do in my future? How is this person going to respond to something that I do or say? I'm at worried, man. Anxiety, held my mind captive for a long time. Some of those worries and those fears that keep coming back over and over and over again. School, family job relationships, future plans, so on and so on, but I began to have some Godly friends and mentors who began to speak into my life, and it began to challenge my thinking and of the root issues. If some of those situations and what was causing that worried to creep up in the same time, I began to study to focus on versus like these from Colossians chapter 3 or or or I think of Roman. Well, the challenges me to to be transformed by the renewing of my mind or or Matthew 6, where we called, not to worry about things, right? Or or Philippians 4:6 and 7 do not be anxious about anything. But in every situation by prayer and petition with Thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God.

And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. And specifically in college. I remember typing, these verses in my computer and print them out or or riding them on little index cards and and I'll stick them on my wall or in the bathroom or my dork. We're really behind and beside my bed. So, every time I would go to bed before I hit my head on the pillow, I would I would read those verses and as soon as I woke up in the morning, I would read them again.

And a little by little, they began to become ingrained in me in to reorient my mind on the things above. Little by little seeking after God's word on a continual and consistent basis has helped me maintain my focus on things above and my perfect. Absolutely not. I still struggle at times. Sometimes I'm waking up at 1 or 2 or 3 in the morning and I have an anxious thought we're worried, right? But because I've had those versus so close to me and I've used them in the past. I have a tool at my disposal and I have a tool that I can begin to use to pull my focus back in to fix my mind to set my mind. Once again on the things of Christ. Why do I share that with you? Is because I've seen how God's word is powerful and true. It's brought me a perspective and a peace that I've needed to be reminded of it. One that I hope can serve you as well. Is it any surprise that Paul says later on in Colossians? 3:15. He says Let the Peace of Christ rule in your hearts. Since as members of one body, you were called to peace. Cuz that's exactly what I received. And I've sought to set my mind in my heart on things above. So I ask you again as a believer in Jesus. What are you allowing your heart and your mind to focus on right now? What is it that your heart and your mind are seeking after? Is it the things of this world that you believe are going to provide you with that sense of comfort and happiness. Your possessions are our status or our reputation in the eyes of other people are jobs relationships. Are we looking for comfort and peace? And our stock portfolios are retirement plans? None of those things are going to provide a lasting peace and comfort in our lives. Only a personal and permanent relationship with the god of the universe. Who knows? You? And knows me and sees us for who we are. Can provide that peace and comfort that we're looking for or encourage you to spend some time reflecting on these verses and maybe there's an area that that the Lord would have prompting you that you can focus and trust him more in, is where we set our Focus determines our movement. Parmesan In this passage and he begins to describe how someone who has chosen to seek and to set their Focus On Christ, should not live and it begins to outline. The areas are going to require putting some things to death or or taking some things off and putting some other things on. You know, if we're honest, many times, we just want to focus on changing our behavior and not think about changing our hearts and changing her mind, right? We think well, if if I do this, then I will change who I am. I gotta say, no. I've changed who you are, so that your behavior will change. Look at what Paul says, starting a 5. He says put to death there for whatever belongs to your Earthly nature, sexual immorality and Purity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry because of these the wrath of God is coming. You used to walk in these ways in the life you once lived, but now you must also rid yourselves of all such things as these anger, rage, malice slander filthy language from your lips. Do not lie to each other. Since you have taken off your old self with its practices and it put on the new self which is being renewed in the knowledge of the image of your creator. Here. There is no Gentile or Jew circumcised or uncircumcised Barbieri, the incipience, slave or free but Christ is all and is in all

What is a lot Paul is talking about in these verses and the bottom line of what we need to understand here is this once we decide where we are going that now decides what we will be wearing.

Once we decide where we are going that now decides what we will be wearing. Young couple years ago. I had the opportunity to lead a few Wilderness, backpacking trips with some students. We've taken students to Kentucky and to Montana specifically, and it's been a really fun treat for me to watch students, spend four days and three nights backpacking in some of our national parks and national forests. Everything that we needed. We had to take with us from sleeping gear in our tents, to our food, to our cooking supplies, even to our own personal things. Of course, we would hike approximately 70 miles every day. We find a spot to set up our camp. We cook our meals. We host our team time and our Bible study discussions and then head off to bed. Only to wake up. The next morning. I kept reciting like another 70 miles and do it all again. Yeah, I was a pretty incredible adventure for the students. And we have found that as you hike along, the trail provides an incredible opportunity for some pretty in-depth spiritual discussions in and discipleship, not to mention leadership development and some how to care for your team members and to encourage and support one another. But I can remember prepping for these experiences with the students students were briefed on what they should expect when they're in the wilderness. In terms of the length of time. We would hike and the food that they were supposed to bring and there weren't any showers. There's no modern plumbing. Then we're having an MRE type of food for four meals, and their eyes would just open so wide and their jaws would drop when we told them all those details, but we also told them that all of their belongings, including their sleeping mat, or sleeping bag or their pillow, whatever it was all had to fit inside a 30 lb backpack that they Carrie.

I'm a little concerning for them, right. It was incredible to see the struggle that students had in deciding. What do you take? And what do you leave? And he wants a pair and you prepare for an event or a trip with such as this an adventure in and they're certain gear that you need to have in and we provided them with that when they're told, they need to have adequate clothing to handle. The various weather conditions are going to encounter in the mornings a little bit more cool. And maybe a little damp and maybe a little Breezy in the afternoon. It's going to be hot and humid and very steamy. The lastly, we told the students that they were not allowed to bring any scented items. No lotions. No soaps and shampoos. No deodorant. No deodorant, all that God. Put your arms down. I know the guys were like, wait, we're supposed to be wearing deodorant this whole time and the girls on the trip, did not quite share the excitement that many of the guys did. They were like, are you serious? No deodorant. I don't know. I'm just going to work. Well, one rule in the backcountry Wilderness, as you are hiking around, is that you can have no send it items of any kind. Because of scent of any item of any nature, could be picked up Miles Away by a wild animal bears. And they will sniff you out and come and have you for their next lunch. And so we had to clarify and make sure they understood that there was no scented items. What do students learn in that moment was once they found out where they were going to determine what they're going to be wearing or not flip flops and sandals, not going to cut it. When you're hiking in the woods. You need a good sturdy pair of hiking boots. 6 sets of clothes a hair dryer. Curling iron deodorant. No, no, no.

Where you're going to termans, what you'll be wearing it in the same way. Paul uses. This next section by giving us a list of different items that Believers are called to leave out of their backpack. Or, or to put to death, or to take off. Why? Because those things no longer Define Who We Are, Galatians 2:20 says that I've been crucified with Christ. I no longer live but Christ lives in me. The life. I live in the body. I live by faith in the Son of God who loved me and gave himself for me. These things used to describe the actions that we would take the remember in verse 3 are old cells have died and we have been given a new life that is now hidden in God. We're not going to dive into all these things in detail. But but this first list of sins, that Paul describes in verse 5, primarily deals with sensual sins. Sexually related things that occur outside. The bounds of marriage is God's to find it. What's interesting? This list is how Paul methodically moves from outward, actions to internal motivation. Do you see that the outward actions of sexual immorality and Purity, they wreak havoc and they destroy the lives of everyone that's involved. But those external actions are driven by the internal passions of lust and evil desires for things that are not ours to have. And even those passions and less are rooted in a mindset. That is selfish and greedy. And only desires to worship themselves and what they want, and not what's best for other people. Or with, even Eternal Night again. It's like Paul's give me another example, of how our heart and our mental focus, determines our movement. Paul says, you used to walk in these ways in the life that she wants to live, but now is a follower of Christ, your focus and your direction is set and it's time to put those things. In verse eight. Paul begins a second list, but interesting leave this one focuses more on our relationships with other people. Anger rage malice slander filthy language in line. Notice in this list though, Paul draws the connections first from an internal mindset and then moves toward an external reality. May start by having some internal anger or frustration with somebody, write it. And if that's left unchecked, it can develop them begin to express himself externally as visible anger. Rage even malice rights intent to cause harm or pain to somebody else. And before, you know, it's going to be going to begin to use words. That's the land or somebody else. Talk behind their backs or categorize them in ways that are unhealthy and it's left unchecked. It can even lead to Filthy language coming out of your lips. Both of these list, Paul is wanting to us to see the importance of where is your heart focused? Who sings are rooted in selfishness? Regarding that first list. It says that you're saying I want something even though it isn't mine. Therefore, I'm going to do whatever I can and whatever it takes to get it for myself in the second list. I don't like you. I don't like something you've done to me and I'm upset. Therefore. I'm going to do whatever I can to harm you. And that it'll help me call like no not at all. You are being renewed in the knowledge in the image of its creator verse 10. So live in that way.

What would it look like instead of a response of anger or, or judgment, or ridicule towards your coworker, your your friend, or family member based on something that happened instead, paused and you responded in a manner that expressed Grace, love humidity. They have because of Christ. What would it look like if we put on with Paul describes for us and verses 12 to 15? Therefore as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved clothe yourselves with compassion kindness humility, gentleness and patience bear with each other. Forgive one. Another, if any of you has a grievance with against someone forgive as the Lord forgave you, and over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect Unity, Let the Peace of Christ rule in your hearts since as members of one body. You were called to peace and be thankful that we are called to put on. So let's walk that way. Where you're going to termans what you'll be wearing and if we're committing ourselves to speaking into setting our Focus On Christ. It's essential that we put on the characteristics in the qualities that reflect that none of the way to earn his love, none of the way for his approval. But as a response to the love and approval that we've already received the Christ. How do we do it over 16? I think you just me answer with a message of Christ. Dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish. One another with all wisdom through songs hymns and songs from the spirit singing to God with gratitude in your hearts. Another great verse. Let the word and a message of Christ. Dwell among you richly in God's word on your own and with a body of Believers. Go on walks, meditate on his word, find time to sit in to read a section of scripture completely uninterrupted. Turn off your phone. Silence the distractions? Let the truth of what is being said. Begin to transform and Lead, You. Maybe it kind Cruise you a little bit. Maybe you want to take these to the list of Paul. Give us in that previous section in and use them as a prayer. Prompt through these characteristics of the old and the new Ask God to show you. What do I need to put to death from this list? What what do I need to put on from this list? Ask God for the strength to obey. He longs to hear from you. He longs to to commune with you. When the credible opportunity, we have to approach the throne. But no reading scripture. Praying isn't just something that we do on our own. By there was a benefit. There's a blessing to talking about what God is teaching you and be able to pray with one another and Community, which is why I so love being gathered as the body of Believers become connected, with one, another encourage one another and the spur one another on with a goddess teaching you. Pray for one another. We need each other. God has designed us in a unique way where we can help each other in this journey of speaking and then studying our hearts and our minds on Christ. How do we get clarity through the chaos? We seek and set our Focus On Christ. And as a result, we take off and we put on what we're called to wear. Under the guidance of the Holy Spirit or we allow God's word to transform us to be more and more like his son to live differently in the midst of Chaos. You Henry, Wadsworth Longfellow, poem turned a little dark and an end. And I shared that last stanza with you. But as he continued writing that poem, he realize that those Christmas bells that he was hearing out his window. Didn't stop. It may have been difficulty and trials and Chaos all around and Longfellows wife, but he noticed that the bells pressed on and he closed with his final, stands on these words. Then ring the bells more loud and deep. God is not dead. Nor. Does he sleep the wrong, shall fail and the right Prevail with peace on Earth. Goodwill to men? What's Longfellows conclusion? When he said his focus on the things of this world, and the situations that were occurring around him. He was left with nothing but fear and worry and confusion. Not let him to a deeper longing and searching for something deeper. But when he sticks his eyes up or he was reminded of the truth, that God is not dead. He will prevail. Although Longfellow to the best of my knowledge, had a different spiritual belief than we do. He was correct in saying that right will prevail. Hope is present in the midst of the chaos. If we choose to seek and aset are focused on him following her yesterday. There's so much chaos and challenging our world morning. Chris, the take these words from Colossians 3:2. Heart. Let's commit to seeking and studying our eyes on the supremacy and the sufficiency of Christ for our lives and to live in a way that reflects that we can't have Clarity in the chaos, and it's found through that relationship that we can have in Jesus. Man, if you're here today, and and you're searching for that piece, and I hope that is deep and that won't fail. I want to encourage you to consider the person of Jesus. She's the reason why we're here. He's the reason why. We gather every Sunday morning, he came to this Earth as a reflection of his love that he has for us. So, we could be in a right relationship with him, but it starts by recognizing that we've sinned and soon as anything that we think say or do that is contrary to God. And his character, look means that he has for us. We've all fallen short. About expectation and there's nothing that we can do to change that or to earn back that relationship with God. But because of his great love for us, Jesus came to this Earth as a baby and later on, is he grew up? He took on the punishment, himself for our sin and he died on the cross in our place. And as a result, he offers us that free gift of salvation of forgiveness, M, no life, but we have to receive that two free gifts. We put our trust in what he's done and have questions about that. I want to talk to someone more love to encourage that you to meet with one of the elders or or Pastor Brian and and, and Matt when he returns, but it would be an honor to share more with you about the hope that we can have in Christ. What we prepare to transition to a time of communion this morning. We approach this time, remembering that sacrifice remembering what Christ has done on our behalf? And also remember that that was part of his eternal plan. Of reconciling and restoring us to himself. Because we are unable to do that ourselves. He willingly allowed his body to be broken, his blood to be shed. So we could be forgiven. Is that a real? Your scripture tells this isn't something we can do on our own? But only through putting our faith and trust in him a few dents to eight and nine that says it is by grace that you have been saved through faith. This is not from yourselves is the gift of God not by works with no one can boast. The free gift of Salvation that Jesus offers us and it's only available by grace through faith. So, and we want to remember the significance in the importance of that act like taking communion together. The time when we remember that Christ has done something for us that we cannot do for ourselves. The time that we celebrate that through his death, we actually have life. The time that we remember, because of his Supremacy and his deficiency. We can be with him. He made that personal commitment, that decision to follow Christ. We want to encourage you and invite you to participate in communion. You not have to be a member here at Oak, Grove Church to do that. But if you haven't made that personal commitment, and I just did not encourage you to do that today. Taking part in community does not confer salvation, but it is a time for us to remember the role that Christ has and restoring us to God. So there's four station invite you to come in and participate at your prompting when you are comfortable doing that, and maybe that's individually, maybe that's as a couple or as a family or small group. Paul tells us in 1st Corinthians 11:4. I received from the Lord, what I also passed on to you, Lord Jesus on the night that he was betrayed took bread. When he'd given things. He broke it. And said, this is my body which is for you. Do this in remembrance of me. I'm in the same way. After supper. He took the cup scene. This cup is the New Covenant in my blood. Do this whenever you drink it in remembrance of me for whenever you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord's that till he comes. Was the worship team leads us in our final song. Let's seek and set our Focus On Christ together. We pray for us. Father God, we are so grateful.