SET YOUR MINDS ON THINGS ABOVE

I was at Walmart the other day - observing all the stuff

Multiply by the all the Walmarts plus all the other stores

All of our homes with stuff, all the vehicles and buildings

I could not help but think about the books 1st and 2nd Peter (tell about Peter / then describe the books) “grace and peace be multiplied in knowledge of Christ” “we were eyewitnesses”

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Books of 1st and 2nd Peter

*grace / peace multiplied- knowledge of Christ

*granted us everything - life / godliness

*escaped corruption of the world

*moral excellence / self control

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Books of 1st and 2nd Peter (cont’d)

*godly qualities increasing - prevent stumbling

*all truth - Peter as eyewitness of the Lord

*warning - false prophets / false teachers / ungodly among us

*mockers of the promise of the Lord’s coming

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Books of 1st and 2nd Peter (cont’d)

*judgement ungodly men - present heaven / earth reserved for fire

*Lord is not slow about His promise / He is patient

*None would perish / all come to repentance

*heavens / earth /elements - burned up / intense heat

*promise - new heaven / earth / righteousness dwells

*untaught / unstable / no understanding - own destruction

Now I’m like thinking about this all the time as I look around “it will just burn up some day”

Because I am thinking about all this, what is God showing me or preparing me for as well as talking to us all about today? what is my response, my actions, my heart, my focus the Lord wants out of the majority of the time?

This focus should come in a response of almost every situation we are in throughout our day

And here is that focus Paul gives us in Scripture and amazing it lines up with Peter’s writings (who was Paul?)

Lets look what Paul is saying in Colossians

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Colossians 3:1 NASB95

1 Therefore if you have been raised up with Christ, keep seeking the things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God.

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Colossians 3:2 NASB95

2 Set your mind on the things above, not on the things that are on earth.

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Colossians 3:3 NASB95

3 For you have died and your life is hidden with Christ in God.

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Colossians 3:4 NASB95

4 When Christ, who is our life, is revealed, then you also will be revealed with Him in glory.

Paul goes on to say in verses 5 - consider our earthly bodies as dead to these things

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IN CHRIST / DIED TO THESE THINGS

*Immorality / impurity

*passion / evil desire

*greed / idolatry

Paul goes on that the wrath of God come upon the sons of disobedience

But quick to also say we all once “walked in” and “lived in” these things

But see now I must dwell on things above / not on this earth / i Have died and now I’m hidden in Christ / all this will be revealed in glory

Paul now tells us of other things and says for us to put all these things aside

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IN CHRIST / PUT THESE ASIDE

*anger / wrath

*malice / slander / abusive speech

*do not lie / lay aside old self (evil)

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IN CHRIST / PUT ON NEW SELF

*being renewed - in knowledge / The One, our Creator

*renewal in which is no distinction

*put on - heart of compassion / kindness

*put on - humility / gentleness / patience

*bearing with one another / forgiving

*beyond all - put on love (perfect bond of unity)

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IN CHRIST / “Let”

*Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts - thankful

*Let the word of Christ richly dwell in you - teaching / singing

Let (brabeuo / Grk) - to be an umpire, to decide, control, rule

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IN CHRIST / “Whatever you do in word and deed”

*Do all in the name of the Lord Jesus

*Give thanks through Him to God the Father

Anytime we “put on” or “let” these things dwell in us - these are eternal things

These things will not burn up

Set our minds on things above, not on things of the earth

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SET (phroneo / Grk) - judge one’s opinion

to be wise

to have understanding

Paul also says in Philippians “conduct yourselves worthy of the gospel”

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“Conduct ourselves worthy of the gospel”

(Paul / book of Philippians 1:27)

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Philippians 4:8 NASB95

8 Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, dwell on these things.

WORSHIP TEAM / COMMUNION

SLIDE 17 “SET YOUR MINDS ON THINGS ABOVE” image slide

CLOSE / PRAYER