Living On Earth With Heaven On Your Mind!

Picture with me please a 5 year old sitting down at the table and there before him was a bowl of spinach and a nice big piece of chocolate cake…show pictures…and now momma says choose which one you want…do you think that 5 year old boy is going to find it easy to eat that bowl of spinach when there is this huge piece of cake in front of him…

This morning we're going to move into chapter 3 of the book of Colossians and we see this very important word at the beginning of verse 1…THEREFORE…why is this word so important?

Colossians.

The more you read Scripture, the more you recognize that Paul typically follows a particular pattern in his letters…

convinced I am

- the American church in general

- and our church in particular

- and especially my own heart...

- needs the message of this book.

- I can't think of many things that would be more relevant and practical

for you and I to be studying (and challenging one another about) than

Paul typically begins with an exposition of Christ and the gospel...doctrine…we can look at that portion of his letters as positional truths…or gospel indicatives...

the message of this book.

- I want to especially thank those of you who have worked at being

faithful to SS -- and have done some study in this book on your own

during the week

- because surely this is important business.

He then follows that up with an explanation as to how we live consistently with what he just expounded…we would call this practical truth…or gospel imperatives

The more you read Scripture, the more you recognize that Paul typically follows a particular pattern in his letters…Paul typically begins with an exposition of Christ and the gospel...doctrine (positional truths/indicatives) and then follows that up with an explanation as to how we live consistently with what he just expounded, practical application (practical truth/imperatives) of that doctrine…Paul follows that pattern in Romans (1-11 doctrine, 12 Therefore…) Ephesians (1-3 doctrine, 4 Therefore…), here in Colossians...

Paul follows that pattern in Romans (1-11 doctrine, 12 Therefore…)

to many of Paul's other letters

Paul spends a great deal of time in Romans laying down doctrinal truth…then in

Romans 12:1 NASB95

Therefore I urge you, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship.

He does this in Ephesians…first three chapters are doctrinal truth…then

Ephesians 4:1 NASB95

Therefore I, the prisoner of the Lord, implore you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling with which you have been called,

Ephesians (1-3 doctrine, 4 Therefore…), here in Colossians...

- in that the first half speaks of doctrinal truths, or positional

So what we have from is one large exhortation to the church of a practical Christianity…he starts with doctrine and transitions to the practical…Paul always believed in a faith that functions…Lord willing in the weeks ahead we will examine it more closely...

So what we have from is one large exhortation to the church of a practical Christianity…he starts with doctrine and moves to the practical…Paul always believed in a faith that functions…Lord willing in the weeks ahead we will examine it more closely...

here in Colossians...

Without the light of the standards of Christian belief, Christian behavior will quickly fade into the shadows.

What we face today is a desire to hold on to external standards of what is called “Christian” without holding to Christian belief…without that truly biblical understanding of God through Christ standards for Christian behavior disappear.

With those thoughts in mind lets consider our text… but first we need to remember the Colossian Context...

Remembering the Colossian Context

Doctrinal Confusion

False teachers abounded here with all sorts of damaging teaching that was focused on a man-made religion of externals…which lead to...

Moral Chaos

All sorts of thoughts and practices also abounded that did not fit within the framework of what God desired for His people…

Paul was concerned these Colossian believers would fall prey to the false teachers who were selling a man-made religion as a means of attaining spirituality...

Paul’s conclusion to them was none of those man-made religions will help you fight sin…why submit yourself to all those rules and regulations that are powerless to help you overcome the sins that plague you...

What sins were plaguing them? we haven’t examined that section yet, but look ahead to …Read …

Colossians 3:5 NASB95

Therefore consider the members of your earthly body as dead to immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and greed, which amounts to idolatry.

So if a man-made religion of externals won’t help me find victory over sin, what will? How can I be holy? How can I win the battle over impure thoughts…how can I face a world whose hallmark of daily existence is immorality and lust…how can I deal with a culture that is governed by greed?

Sin may be conquered as a result of being united to Christ…without a union with Christ, the new life in Him does not exist in you, and therefore, if the new life doesn’t exist in you, you cannot know it and you surely cannot live it.

Read

Two things were happening here…there was doctrinal confusion

Read

truths

- and the second half talks about the practical applications of those

truths to specific areas of life.

So as we focus on this text Paul exhorts us, that if we want victory then...

So as we focus on this text Paul exhorts us all to...

the bridge between what we've studied so far, and what the Lord has

Preoccupy Yourself With Christ, Not the World!

So you are going to have to make a choice here this morning…

- you could title these verses--What Is Your Relationship To The World?

Are you going to buy in to the philosophies and pursuits of the world, are you going to get sucked in to allowing the world to shape you and trying to make you think and act like them...

...or are you going to accept the truth of Scripture… and are you going to allow that truth to mold your thinking and behavior?

These four verses are going to provide the foundation for gaining victory over sin that is not found in man-made religions, it is found in what we have in Christ...

In light of the call for a high level of spiritual discernment, this then is how you ought to live...

relate to the world around us.

- we're not going to take time to fully develop that theme--but here's a

some passages to get our minds thinking in that direction:

1) - (our Lord said) - "As thou didst send me into the

These four verses are going to provide the foundation for the specific ways the truth of Christ ought to impact us on a daily basis...

world, I also have sent them into the world."

Let’s examine these three truths...

2) - "Go therefore and make disciples of all

nations..."

Believers Have A New Position

the gospel even "to the remotest part of the earth."

- so there's no question that God does not want us to extract ourselves

from the world. (the world of people)

- if someone said, we're going to build a city out in the desert

somewhere -- and only believers are going to be allowed in --

that's the last place I'd want to live.

when he says, "Paradoxically, before Christians can reach the world,

they must first leave it."

Colossians 3:1 NASB95

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

- thats why the Scripture says things like:

1) (Christ) gave "Himself for our sins, that He might deliver us out

of this present age."

2) Believers are of Christ's kingdom, which is not of this world (John

18:36.

3) We have overcome the world because of our faith in Christ (I John

5:4-5).

- now again, we could develop that topic a lot more, getting into

different ways the Scripture uses the word "world" and so on--but

we've made the point we need to make in order to move into chapter 3,

Two phrases describe our new position...

and that is that you and I must be regularly asking the question:

- what is my relationship with the world?

You Are Raised With Christ

- and how does that stack up with what the Bible says about my

- with those thoughts in mind, let's read 3:1-4

when he begins that phrase with "if", he's not questioning whether its happened...it's a first class condition and is best translated as "since."

- we said earlier that these verses are a transition between what we

studied last week and what we are going to study in the weeks ahead.

it's a first class condition and is best translated as "since."

- thats especially true in the first part of verse 1, where Paul says:

I. Believers Have A New Position

You Are Raised With Christ

Positional truth = who I am in Christ…gospel indicative

When we place our faith in Jesus Christ a myriad of things happen to us simultaneously…which are related to your position before God…you’re forgiven, you’re adopted, you’re justified, you’re sealed with the Holy Spirit until the Day of promise…

Practical truth = what I am to become…gospel imperative

Positional truth = a person becomes a Christian, or a follower of Christ…at a specific point in time…that’s why God uses metaphors like birth and marriage to describe the process…events like that happen at specific points in time…you recognize your sin and how that has separated you from a holy God…you come to an understanding that you cannot earn your way to heaven on your own merit…and then you repent…you turn around…and you place your faith in the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ…you accept salvation as a free and complete gift of grace…

- that’s why God uses metaphors like birth and marriage to describe the process…

Ephesians 2:8–9 NASB95

For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not as a result of works, so that no one may boast.

Eph 28-9

- events like that happen at specific points in time…

and when that occurs, literally hundreds of things happen to you…related to your position before God…you’re forgiven, you’re adopted, you’re justified, you’re sealed with the Holy Spirit until the Day of promise…who you are in Christ…your identity in Christ

- so you recognize your sin and how that has separated you from a holy God…you come to an understanding that you cannot earn your way to heaven on your own merit…

- and then you repent…you turn around…and you place your faith in the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ…you accept salvation as a free and complete gift of grace…

- - For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not as a result of works, so that no one may boast.

holy, a holy priesthood, a holy nation, declared righteous..even though we know we still sin, God chooses to look at us through the lens of the righteousness of His Son...

- and when that occurs, literally hundreds of things happen to you…related to your position before God…

Practical truth, what we do because we are in Christ…yes it is His strength, it is His power, but it is still our responsibility...

- you’re forgiven, you’re adopted, you’re justified, you’re sealed with the Holy Spirit until the Day of promise…

Ephesians 2:10 NASB95

For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them.

what we see here in this text are both positional truths and practical truths...because we’re at a transition point in the book from one to the other…from doctrine to practice...

in His strength…in His power…but still as our responsibility…which is why when you layer into the conversation – you say the balance… - For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not as a result of works, so that no one may boast. For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them.

- how could that be so based on the fact that we all know we still sin?...well, in those cases the Lord is talking about our position…he chooses to look at us now through the lens of the righteousness of Hid Son…

- but in plenty of other places…the Bible is talking about our practice…our lifestyle…the gospel imperatives…what we do because of who we are in Christ…in His strength…in His power…but still as our responsibility…which is why when you layer into the conversation – you say the balance… - For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not as a result of works, so that no one may boast. For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them.

Notice what Paul emphasizes here regarding your position...

- here’s the point – studying the Word of God will be very frustrating to you unless you regularly ask the question – is the Lord speaking here about my position, or my practice…what’s He’s done for me fully and completely in Christ, or what I’m to do in response to His grace…an indicative or an imperative?...but once you start thinking about Scripture in this way….a lot of things fall into place…

- now, in the verses we just read [as is often the case], you see an interchange…there are several key ideas about our position mixed together with other key ideas about our practice…because we’re at a transition point in the book from one to the other…

You’re united with Christ.

- read

- it’s pretty obvious when you look at it that way, isn’t it?...

- so again…3 realities to help you live out your faith.

- the first one being…I. Your Present Position

- what’s emphasized throughout the verses is how…A. You’re united with Christ.

Four times Paul brings this out in just four verses...

3:1 - …raised up with Christ, where Christ is

· 3:1 - …where Christ is

3:3 - …hidden with Christ

3:4 –... with Him in glory

when he begins that phrase with "if", he's not questioning whether its happened.

- literally dozens and dozens of things immediately become true of a

person when they repent of their sin and accept the free gift of

salvation in Christ.

- Paul says that one of those things is that you are "risen with

You are given a new nature that is holy, you died with Him and you are raised with Him…your position with God changes radically...

Christ."

- when he begins that phrase with "if", he's not questioning whether

Ephesians 2:6 NASB95

and raised us up with Him, and seated us with Him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus,

its happened.

before that we are in a different realm…we now have experienced a radical change by being transferred to new realm…we are now in the realm of life, not death…we are in a whole new sphere of existence of light and life being transferred from the realm of darkness and death…everything about you is new!

it's a first class condition and is best translated as "since."

We are now delivered from bondage to sin to freedom in Christ, we have been rescued from a lifestyle that is characterized by this world…we have been made new...

2 Corinthians 5:17 NASB95

Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come.

every person who is genuinely saved is united with Christ…all these words speak of an identity with Christ

If we are going to grow in our ability to live in this world without being sucked in to it, we've got to become more skilled at thinking on who we are in Christ (or what our position is in Christ).

You’re risen with Christ

now this sounds very familiar to what we've already studied in ... remember that when a person trusts Christ, they are brought into "union with him."

positional truth comes up again in verse 3 when he says what?

(you are dead)

now this sounds very familiar to what we've already studied in ... remember that when a person trusts Christ, they are brought into "union with him."

- Where have these concepts already been mentioned?

- verses 11-15

- remember, we said last week, that when a person trusts Christ, they

To the unbeliever this is very strange…but if you’re a believer you understand what it means to be transferred into a whole new realm of existence…this is not some Star Trek kind of thinking like “Beam me up Scotty...”

are brought into "union with him."

we are identified with his death, burial, and resurrection

we die to sin and self...

You realize that you no longer live in the sphere of darkness and death, you have been raised with Christ to live in the sphere of life and light...

we are raised to a new life in Christ

If we are going to grow in our ability to live in this world without being sucked in to it, we've got to become more skilled at thinking on who we are in Christ (or what our position is in Christ).

Now the second phrase is...

- but if you and I are going to develop the right relationship to the

world, we've got to become more skilled at thinking on who we are

Your life is hidden in Him

in Christ (or what our position is in Christ).

The moment you place your faith and trust in Christ…there’s a death and a resurrection…there’s the creation of a new person and a new union…

- let's take a small "vignette" for the purpose of seeing how positional

- now, you might say – I would have thought that would have been stated in reverse order…and that’s true…but for whatever reason…Paul stated it in the order he did without explaining why…

truth can change the way we handle life.

- but we know this…the moment you place your faith and trust in Christ…there’s a death and a resurrection…there’s the creation of a new person and a new union…

- Frank and Mary have been married 15 years.

you die to sin and you’re raised to new life in Him…

- both have been saved in the last 5 years.

Colossians 3:3 NASB95

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

you die to your self-righteousness and you’re clothed in the righteousness of Christ…

- marriage is good in a lot of ways but Mary does some things that

Colossians 1:13 NASB95

For He rescued us from the domain of darkness, and transferred us to the kingdom of His beloved Son,

really bother Frank.

- For He rescued us from the domain of darkness, and transferred us to the kingdom of His beloved Son…

Romans 6:3–4 NASB95

Or do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus have been baptized into His death? Therefore we have been buried with Him through baptism into death, so that as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, so we too might walk in newness of life.

- I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself up for me.

- one of them is--she doesn't always record the checks she's written

- and this is taught in some very pivotal places in Scripture… - Or do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus have been baptized into His death? Therefore we have been buried with Him through baptism into death, so that as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, so we too might walk in newness of life.

Galatians 2:20 NASB95

“I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself up for me.

- Or do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus have been baptized into His death? Therefore we have been buried with Him through baptism into death, so that as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, so we too might walk in newness of life.

in the checkbook register.

- - I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself up for me.

- Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come.

2 Corinthians 5:17 NASB95

Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come.

- Frank's habit is to blow up when that happens, and stomp around, and

These Colossian Christians would have understood what this means…because it was pictured in their baptism…

The Bible Exposition Commentary Chapter Eight: Heaven on Earth (Colossians 3:1–11)

Years ago I heard a story about two sisters who enjoyed attending dances and wild parties. Then they were converted and found new life in Christ. They received an invitation to a party and sent their RSVP in these words: “We regret that we cannot attend because we recently died.”

- - Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come.

call names, and act as if the world is coming to an end.

Your life is hidden in Him

- now, Paul makes one other observation about your position in verse 3…what is it?...

- on this day, Frank is at Wal-Mart, and he writes check #953, and he

Your life is hidden in Him

they would have gone down into the baptismal waters of the rivers in their area…they would have been placed underneath the water and then raised up out of the water...

D. Your life is hidden.

looks in the checkbook register and the last check recorded in the

...they would have gone into the water wearing their daily garments and when they came up out of the water, they would have removed their outer clothes and be given a new white robe to wear the rest of the day...

They would have understood the symbolism…they understood that going down into the water was a picture of them dying with Christ…

They understood what had happened to them in an invisible way was now being portrayed in a visible way...Having been raised with Christ they were now saying no to their old life and yes to their new life…walking with Christ...

- what Frank does, and what Frank thinks, is going to reveal a lot

Having been raised with Christ they were now saying no their old life and yes to their new life…walking with Christ...

This phrase reminds us that our union with Christ is a heavenly union…

How is our life hidden?

It is hidden from man’s observation.

1 Corinthians 2:14 NASB95

But a natural man does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually appraised.

1 Corinthians 2:14 NASB95

But a natural man does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually appraised.

If you ask someone outside the church “what is a Christian” you will find an abundance of different answers…

How does the world define a Christian?

someone who goes to church…kind and good, and then they proceed to give a whole list of externals…which are true and part of the total package of being a Christian…but none of them get to the heart of Christianity

…the heart of Christianity is being united with Christ…having a relationship with Him, being raised to new life in Him, having our life hidden in Him…having a life that is wrapped up in Him...

Our life hidden in Him means that the entirety of who we are is Christ.

…when people see us, they need to see and think Jesus Christ…this becomes the grounds of our eternal security...

The world doesn’t understand why do we not forsake Christ…many people do understand why we stay a Christian…even in a time when some who have claimed Christ are now turning their backs on Him or states their faith is on “incredibly shaky ground”… a life wrapped up in Christ finds great security...

The world doesn’t understand why do we not forsake Christ…why do we stay a Christian…because

The Bible clearly teaches that the believer is eternally held in the hand of God…no one, including you can take you out of God’s hand…

John 10:29 NASB95

“My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all; and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father’s hand.

Our eternal security in Christ goes back a long way to the eternal purpose of God…

and it is very interesting to note that no where in the Bible is it presented without linking it to the lives we lead…in other words, eternal security is never spoken of in isolation to how the proof of that eternal relationship with Christ is evidenced!

Colossians 1:22 NASB95

yet He has now reconciled you in His fleshly body through death, in order to present you before Him holy and blameless and beyond reproach—

Colossians 1:23 NASB95

if indeed you continue in the faith firmly established and steadfast, and not moved away from the hope of the gospel that you have heard, which was proclaimed in all creation under heaven, and of which I, Paul, was made a minister.

He has reconciled you…for what purpose…to present you holy…the ground of our faith is the completed work of Christ on the cross and the evidence of that reality is seen in our continuance in that reality…

The more we stay connected to Christ the more evidence we give of the truth that genuine conversion as taken place…as time progresses we either give evidence of genuine faith or evidence of fake faith…which is what John says in his letter to the church…

1 John 2:18–19 NASB95

Children, it is the last hour; and just as you heard that antichrist is coming, even now many antichrists have appeared; from this we know that it is the last hour. They went out from us, but they were not really of us; for if they had been of us, they would have remained with us; but they went out, so that it would be shown that they all are not of us.

1 John

There are some who simply give a mental assent to faith but are no where near Christ… Our continuance in the faith gives evidence that our lives are wrapped up in Christ…

...yes, at times we are like the prodigal son and wander off, yes we slip, yes we have seasons of life where we don’t walk like we once did...

But within the heart of every genuine believer is a desire to return to that place of real forgiveness, to be in fellowship with Him.

Paul wants them to understand that God, in Christ, has worked the miracle of regeneration in their life and by doing so they were to not be intimidated by man’s vain ideas of how to experience the fulness of God...

He wants them to reach into the recesses of God’s eternal purpose and recognize that God has marvelously and miraculously taken you who were dead and made you alive and has given you a completely new sphere of eternal existence…your life is hidden, wrapped up in Him, not the externals...

What is your position?

- in what sense is that true?...John MacArthur offers three answers to that question…

about his spiritual maturity.

1. You share a common life with the Father and Son.

- the issue of his position in Christ can be a great benefit to

1 Corinthians 6:17 NASB95

But the one who joins himself to the Lord is one spirit with Him.

- But the one who joins himself to the Lord is one spirit with Him.

him.

1) By recognizing that he's died to sin--therefore he isn't

2 Peter 1:4 NASB95

For by these He has granted to us His precious and magnificent promises, so that by them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world by lust.

· - …you may become partakers of the divine nature…

INPUT - how?

so you are hidden with Christ in God…you share a common life…

1) By recognizing that he's died to sin--therefore he isn't

a slave to sinful habits

2. This new life is concealed from the world.

- he doesn't have to respond to this in the same

Paul says clearly – this is hidden… what that means is that the unbeliever has no concept of what it means to live for God…to have a mind that is focused on God’s plan and purposes…to be motivated by the truth of seeing our Savior face to face...

old sinful way

1 Corinthians 2:14 NASB95

But a natural man does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually appraised.

- But a natural man does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually appraised.

2) he also need to recognize that he's died to self--

- Beloved, now we are children of God, and it has not appeared as yet what we will be…

1 John 3:2 NASB95

Beloved, now we are children of God, and it has not appeared as yet what we will be. We know that when He appears, we will be like Him, because we will see Him just as He is.

therefore he ought to be wondering--what is God's

· - Beloved, now we are children of God, and it has not appeared as yet what we will be…

3. Christians are eternally secure, hidden protectively from all spiritual foes.

purpose here?

- and also that…

3) he also needs to mull over the fact that he is now a new

John 10:28 NASB95

and I give eternal life to them, and they will never perish; and no one will snatch them out of My hand.

man in Christ--and that perhaps God has given him this

3. Christians are eternally secure, hidden protectively from all spiritual foes.

situation as an opportunity to react differently than

good question to ask is -- are we benefiting from all the truth God has revealed to us about our position in Christ?

- …and I give eternal life to them, and they will never perish; and no one will snatch them out of My hand.

he ever has before.

- good question to ask is -- are we benefitting from all the truth God

has revealed to us about our position in Christ?

Are you in church this morning? Duh…you see me sitting here right?…I didn’t ask if you were in the building…are you in THE church…yeah, I came in the front door and I’m sitting here…I’m in church…no, this is just a building, we just meet here…

ought to be happening.

The church is those who have their life hidden in Christ…so I ask you again are you in the church…there is only one way for you to be in the church…Jesus Christ…

the rest of verse one says, "seek those things which are above, where Christ sits at the right hand of God."

secondly

Christ sits at the right hand of God."

Believers Have New Priorities

Colossians 3:1 NASB95

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

Colossians 3:2 NASB95

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

Summarized in two phrases...

Set Your Heart on Things Above

Colossians 3:1 NASB95

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

When we are taking about the heart, we are talking about that deepest part of you that controls everything you do…it is the control center…we are to told to guard our heart...

Proverbs 6:24 NASB95

To keep you from the evil woman, From the smooth tongue of the adulteress.

Proverbs 4:26 NASB95

Watch the path of your feet And all your ways will be established.

Proverbs 4:23 NASB95

Watch over your heart with all diligence, For from it flow the springs of life.

seeking = this is not a passing glance for something (like the casual look out of our periphery to assure ourselves something or someone is still there)… it is a persevering effort...

...nor is it trying to find something that was lost, but seeking to obtain something…present imperative…meaning continual pursuit… we would say going after it… pursuing it with all we have…

What this means spiritually is to hold fast to Christ as the center of our life, our source of joy…to recognize that my greatest joy on earth is nothing compared to the joy I discover in focusing on my Savior...

Do you know what it really means to set your heart on Christ…do you really know what it means to make Christ the center of your life and source of joy…?

Do you know what it really means to set your heart on Christ…do you really know what it means to make Christ the center of your life and source of joy…

To fix ones attention on...

Our dog Stryker…I don’t have to look at the clock to know when it is time for him to eat… he stares…when it is snack time in our house…jar of peanut butter…he stares…why...his heart is set on food…he wants what we have…

That is where we need to be with our relationship with Christ…that when we are in His Word…that when we hear His Word being taught…our eyes are fixed on Jesus…our hearts are intent to hear from him...

… I’d Rather Have Jesus…we sing it, but do we mean it?

Please listen carefully and know that I am saying this lovingly…

Please listen here and know that I am saying this lovingly…

if our hearts were truly fixed on Jesus and set on things above, then the times we gather for corporate prayer would be larger than any other time of gathering…

we take the last Sunday evening of the summer months and we simply gather for fellowship and food…which is something we need to do and intend to keep doing…but do you know that we have more people come to those gatherings than we do Wednesday night for corporate prayer…if the outside world looked at that what would they conclude...

When we spend time in corporate prayer we are seeking, as a community of covenant people, to align our hearts with God’s heart…to plead that His will be done in our lives and in our church…we seeking to set our hearts on things above…

if our heart was truly fixed on Jesus and set on things above, then the times we gather for learning from His Word would not be viewed from finding contentment in just getting a passing glance of the Scripture…

Our lack of faithfulness and commitment to gather for instruction in His Word is indicative of a heart that says “I don’t need it this week”… I’m good to go… It is indicative of a heart that doesn’t want to gather to encourage someone else or to be encouraged……

Again I say this lovingly…from one Sunday to the next we typically have 25-30 different people gone for one reason or another…those 25-30 people who missed last week might be here this week, but then 25-30 different people will be gone this week

…please don’t misunderstand me…I am not saying we don’t need vacations, etc. … I know that things come up and sometimes absence from gathering with God’s people is unavoidable…

I know that things come up and sometimes absence from gathering with God’s people is unavoidable…but when we take the time of gathering with God’s people for fellowship, worship and learning from His Word as an “I don’t need it right now proposition” we are communicating our hearts are set somewhere else than on things above.

but when we take the time of gathering with God’s people for fellowship, worship and learning from His Word as an “I don’t need it right now proposition”, that I’ve got nothing else going on today so I guess I ought to go to church, we are communicating our hearts are set somewhere else than on things above.

What priority have you set for your heart to keep seeking the things above?

...where Christ is seated...

Where Christ is seated is a place of holiness…where Christ is seated is a place of intercession…where Christ is seated is a place of power...

So when your heart is set on things above, your heart is set on growing in holiness, it is set on going deeper in prayer, it is set on progressing in spiritual power...

Secondly...

Set Your Mind On Things Above

Colossians 3:2 NASB95

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

Talking about having a mindset…don’t let your minds be focused on things that are temporal…your minds are to be focused on that which has an eternal perspective…

When the allurements of the world are enticing you with treasures that will no doubt make life on earth more comfortable, you need to weigh those treasures with the incomparable riches you have in Christ that last for eternity…

If the acquisition of those earthly treasures interferes with or takes you away from the place where you are to be learning from God and serving your Savior, the mind set on things above will weigh all that out and make a conclusion that best fits with God’s perspective and priorities.

Psalm 37:4 NASB95

Delight yourself in the Lord; And He will give you the desires of your heart.

This is not having your head in the clouds with no idea of your present reality...Paul is simply saying we need to learn to see people and events in the way God sees them…

Paul is simply saying we need to learn to see people and events in the way God sees them...

Think with me about Nehemiah’s response when he heard the walls of Jerusalem were broken down...

Nehemiah 1:3–4 NASB95

They said to me, “The remnant there in the province who survived the captivity are in great distress and reproach, and the wall of Jerusalem is broken down and its gates are burned with fire.” When I heard these words, I sat down and wept and mourned for days; and I was fasting and praying before the God of heaven.

Neh 1:

Why? because he set his mind on things above…he was concerned for the glory of God...

Nehemiah 1:7–9 NASB95

“We have acted very corruptly against You and have not kept the commandments, nor the statutes, nor the ordinances which You commanded Your servant Moses. “Remember the word which You commanded Your servant Moses, saying, ‘If you are unfaithful I will scatter you among the peoples; but if you return to Me and keep My commandments and do them, though those of you who have been scattered were in the most remote part of the heavens, I will gather them from there and will bring them to the place where I have chosen to cause My name to dwell.’

The longer the city of Jerusalem lay in ruins, the longer God was being robbed of His glory for Israel was His chosen nation…his mind was set by heaven.

Many believers struggle to tell others about their heavenly dimension because they don’t know it well enough…

The problem is not that we are so heavenly minded we are no earthly good, the problem is we are often so earthly minded we are no heavenly good.

Colossians 3:1 NASB95

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

The word for seeking here is the Greek word zeteo…and Paul uses the form of the word that means continuous action – keep seeking…remember what Jesus says...

A. Keep seeking things that are above.

The word for seeking here is the Greek word zeteo…and Paul uses the form of the word that means continuous action – keep seeking…remember what Jesus says...

Matthew 6:33 NASB95

“But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.

- zeteo – continuous action – keep seeking

not like, seeking something that is lost…it is "seeking to obtain something."

What are you pursuing, what are you going after…this speaks to our goals, our motivations...

This is present tense so it is seek and keep on seeking...

Believers ought always to be progressing…moving closer to Christ…closing the gap that exists between our position and our practice…but if you are pursuing the things that of this earth, you are moving in the wrong direction...

- but more like "seeking to obtain something."

What are “the things above”?

- the answer comes in the rest of the verse:

The answer: where Christ sits on the right hand of God

"where Christ sits on the right hand of God."

This the place of God's authority, the place of God's plan and program…meaning it is about His agenda for our lives, not ours…Jesus rightfully sits on the throne of authority and...

right hand of God?"

- the place of God's authority

- so what does that look like?...well, you can wake up in the morning and start seeking the things that are on earth…or the things that are in heaven…

- the place of God's plan and program

This is what the heavenly Father is wanting to see accomplished

Being preoccupied with heaven is about developing the desire and the ability to go after (to seek, to want to obtain) the same thing that God and Jesus wants in every situation.

- we're talking about developing the desire and the ability to go

after (to seek, to want to obtain) the same thing in a given

What does God want?

Romans 8:28–29 NASB95

And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose. For those whom He foreknew, He also predestined to become conformed to the image of His Son, so that He would be the firstborn among many brethren;

God wants us to be like Jesus...

What does Jesus want?

situation that our heavenly Father wants to see obtained in that

Matthew 5:16 NASB95

“Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven.

situation.

Jesus wants us to glorify the Father…so together they are working in our life to accomplish this...

Does this define your speech, your thoughts, your actions...preoccupied with heaven?

behavior rightly be characterized as having a heavenly pre-

We need to see there are things that God wants to happen in our life and we need to pursue that…we need to be making sure we are focused on that...If we are focused on things of this earth, the desires of God and Jesus for us get quickly pushed aside.

occupation?

Everything God brings into our life, big and small, has a purpose…from the heavenly perspective we need to see there are things that God wants to happen in our life and we need to pursue that…we need to be making sure we are focused on that...

a purpose

- From the perspective of the throne of heaven, He wants

something accomplished as a result of everything that

If we are focused on things of this earth, the desires of God for us get quickly pushed aside.

happens to you and me.

- you and I ought to ask, on an average day, how concerned am I

about that?

Every morning you have two choices to make…you have this conversation with yourself that says “Today I am going to pursue the things of earth…or “I am going to pursue the things of heaven...

obsessed with the temporal that we are ignorant of the eternal."

Every morning you have two choices to make…you have this conversation with yourself that says “Today I am going to pursue the things of earth…or “I am going to pursue the things of heaven...

- so what does that look like?...well, you can wake up in the morning and start seeking the things that are on earth…or the things that are in heaven…

In other words…are your purposes, your pursuits, your pleasures going to line up more with what your sovereign God desires to accomplish in and through you…or what you desire to accomplish through you...

in other words…your purposes,your pursuits, your pleasures…or what your sovereign God desires to accomplish in and through you…

This has a direct impact on your parenting...

Unless your children are perfect little angels (remember demons are fallen angels) you are going to encounter moments of selfishness from your kids…and if you are pursuing the things of earth, that outburst of sinful anger becomes easily justifiable…you conclude in your mind that they violated some expectation or preference and you want them to know that...you are going to pursue the fastest path possible to get your point across...

- and you’re tempted to try to manipulate them through explosions of sinful anger…or other parenting short-cuts…whatever works fastest on earth this very moment…

but if you seek things that are above…you are going to prepare your heart before they open their eyes by spending time with God in His Word and in prayer…you ask Him to help you mold their hearts to Him…you want them to know what they have in Christ and that Jesus wants them to think and act like Him...

or, you seek things that are above…which is why you got up before them so you could spend some time in the Word and prayer asking the Person to whom you’re united for help and strength for the day…and you asked the Lord to help you to rejoice in those weaknesses in your children because of the opportunities they would provide to try to get at issues of the heart…conversations that could have eternal consequences…the reason the One seated at the right hand of God gave them to begin with…

It also has a direct impact on your marriage, and other relationships...

- and you asked the Lord to help you to rejoice in those weaknesses in your children because of the opportunities they would provide to try to get at issues of the heart…conversations that could have eternal consequences…the reason the One seated at the right hand of God gave them to begin with…

If you are seeking things of this earth…its all about you and your pursuits…and when there is conflict in the relationships your words and actions are more about getting revenge instead of showing grace…

Something to think about before you post something or share something on the Antisocial network of Facebook…Does your purpose for sharing this line up with God’s purpose…does it line up with conformity to Christ’s character and does it bring glory to Your Father…if you can’t answer both questions with yes, then that is a path you need to get off of…you need to run the other direction...

I have seen so much verbal vomit on Facebook from believers that quite frankly saddens me...I think they should change their name to “InYourFaceBook” because many people, including believers, use it to air their grievances about someone else to people who know nothing and can do nothing about it…

Facebook should change its name to “InYourFaceBook” because many people, including believers, use it to air their grievances about someone else to people who know nothing and can do nothing about it.

it’s like “I’ll show you, I’ll post this vague comment that you will surely see and you’ll know what you did to me… or I’ll post this meme that will communicate how I really feel, but it’s funny and that’s okay because it won’t hurt… “I’ll share what someone else posted so God won’t think it was me, as if God turns a blind eye to it...”

It has an impact on your job…

if you are seeking things of this earth, your boss easily becomes the buffoon who doesn’t deserve to be your boss, instead of someone who needs Christ and needs to see who people who are united with Christ really work for...your co-workers become targets of gossip and ridicule…instead of people with real problems who need the help and hope that only God can give them...

a great question for all of us to ask is – are you seeking what’s above right now?...is that what’s leading to choices you’re making, and the words you’re speaking…

the second command is similar…

Set your mind on things above

Colossians 3:2 NASB95

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

The word for mind here is the word phroneo – think – have this inner disposition (MacArthur, p. 129)

this is a present imperative...commanded by God to do this…so if we don’t we are violating God’s commands and we call that what?…sin

Paul is bridging the gap of all he taught about the sufficiency in Christ to the everyday life of His people...

For you who worry a lot...

- in other words, if because of the power of your union with Christ…you were more consistent at…

So often the way we go about living our lives on a daily basis makes it difficult for the unbelieving world to see the difference our heavenly relationship makes on us...

- seeking the things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God…

- and setting your mind on the things above, not on the things of earth…

- what if anything would be different…

- in fact, can I give you a homework assignment?...find a time in the next seven days and turn off all your electronic devices…your TV, your phone, your sound system, your I-Pad, everything…

it is impossible to do what this passage of Scripture is commanding and sinfully worry at the same time…your thoughts are focused on what may or may not happen without considering the Sovereignty of God in that situation…you are thinking earthly things, not heavenly…that situation that you are worried about right now is an opportunity for you to focus on things of heaven instead and trust God for the outcome...

- and honestly meditate on these verses and that question…and then put an action plan together to specifically change whatever needs to be changed…

- how about this – how many would say, I need to worry less…

Philippians 4:6 NASB95

Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.

- it is impossible to do what this passage of Scripture is commanding and sinfully worry at the same time…

- and some of those things I had sinfully worried about…which must be pretty offensive to our Savior who is seated…seated at the right hand of God…

Those of you struggling to be content…you need to filter into your thinking ...

Philippians 2:14 NASB95

Do all things without grumbling or disputing;

- it is impossible to do what this passage of Scripture is commanding and sinfully worry at the same time…

It doesn’t get any clearer…complaining reveals a heart that at the moment is more concerned with things of this earth, than things of heaven...

what about the matter of contentment?...you know the Scripture says… - Do all things without grumbling or disputing;

- Do all things without grumbling or disputing;

- what about the matter of contentment?...you know the Scripture says… - Do all things without grumbling or disputing;

We need to acknowledge God’s sovereignty – and His right to give us whatever He wants us to have, whenever He wants us to have it, however He wants us to have it – looking for whatever purpose He might have at the time)…so are we seeking the things that are above…

- that’s pretty straightforward, isn’t it?...

- so when we’re complaining – are we seeking the things that are above (acknowledging God’s sovereignty – and His right to give us whatever He wants us to have, whenever He wants us to have it, however He wants us to have it – looking for whatever purpose He might have at the time)…so are we seeking the things that are above…

complaining and being preoccupied with heaven are incompatible...

- are we setting on minds on the things above…or the things that are on earth?...

- complaining and heavenly mindedness don’t go together very well, do they?...

Paul is about to move into specific, practical areas of the Christian life where you and I often struggle, but he knows that we're not going to be able to change in those practical areas if we're pre-occupied with the world.

practice in line with their position.

we don’t let it impact our marriages…our parenting…our work…our leisure...

The easy way is to make ourselves different by the external characteristics…

- there's always a gap between who were are positionally in heaven,

...the hard way is to have our thinking molded by the Word of God and then letting that impact everything we do… that is God’s way.

and what God wants us to be here on earth.

The Believer Has A New Prospect

- we ought to constantly be seeking to close that gap.

Colossians 3:4 NASB95

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

- Paul is very clear in these verses about what that ought to look

The world today does not see that our citizenship is in heaven…that we are seated in heaven with Him… our life is hidden...

like.

The day is coming when Jesus will be completely revealed to the entire world…God’s plan is not finished… the very same Jesus that was born in Bethlehem will come a second time for those who are ready to meet Him…

- he says, I need to talk to you about what you're "seeking"

Who is your life…Christ is my life…he is my love, my future, my hope, my security in the face of death… the believer does not fear death…

When Jesus appears in glory…we will appear… like those billboards on Broadway… “SCHEDULED TO APPEAR: JESUS CHRIST and HIS PEOPLE”...

- but more like "seeking to obtain something."

The people of this world can look around and be fearful…the people of the heavenly world look around and are comforted…why because this world is not our life… He is our life…LOOK UP!

- today, we would say it more like, what are you going after?, what are

When the things of this world have us depressed, discouraged and defeated we are looking in the wrong place…LOOK UP!

In 1991 a Gallup poll showed that 78 percent of Americans expect to go to heaven when they die. However, many of them hardly ever pray, read the Bible, or attend church. They admit that they live to please themselves instead of God. I wonder why these people would want to go to heaven.

you trying to achieve?, what is your direction?

In an article title, "Are We Ready for Heaven?" Maurice R. Irwin points out that only 34 percent of the American people who call themselves Christians attend church at least once a week. He says, "We sing, 'When all my labors and trials are o'er, and I am safe on that beautiful shore, just to be near the dear Lord I adore will through the ages be glory for me.' However, unless our attitudes toward the Lord and our appreciation of Him change greatly, heaven may be more of a shock than a glory."

- so this has everything to do with goals and motivation and drive.

Where is Your Heart?

God establish us in our position…convict us in our priorities…remind us of our prospect that we will see Jesus and be like Him...

- by the way, it's a present tense verb, you could rightly

translate it, "seek and keep on seeking"

- or, "go after, and keep on going after"

- now let's put a couple of other things along side of this from this

verse and then think about some applications:

- INPUT - what does the verse say should be the direction of what I'm

seeking, or trying to obtain.

- (the things that are above)

- obvious question is - "what are those things?"

- the answer comes in the rest of the verse:

"where Christ sits on the right hand of God."

- INPUT - what do you think of when you think of the phrase, "the

right hand of God?"

- the place of God's authority

- the place of God's plan and program

- what the heavenly Father is wanting to see accomplished

- we're talking about a "heavenly preoccupation"

- we're talking about developing the desire and the ability to go

after (to seek, to want to obtain) the same thing in a given

situation that our heavenly Father wants to see obtained in that

situation.

- a key question this morning is -- could your speech and your

behavior rightly be characterized as having a heavenly pre-

occupation?

- in everything God brings into our life, big and small, He has

a purpose

- From the perspective of the throne of heaven, He wants

something accomplished as a result of everything that

happens to you and me.

- you and I ought to ask, on an average day, how concerned am I

about that?

- Vance Havner once said, "The tragedy of the times is that we are so

obsessed with the temporal that we are ignorant of the eternal."

- think of the child who's mom gives him five dollars and asks him to

go to the store and buy mild, eggs, and bread.

- the mom has a definite goals in mind for what that child is to do.

- but she has trusted him to make her goals--his goals.

- but we all know what very well may happen (probably because some

of us did this at one time or another)

Paul gives us one last admonition...

- the boy gets to the store with the five dollars--and doesn't

get past the candy rack.

- he's heading home, mouth bulging with candy, happy as a lark,

completely unconcerned or unaware of the trouble that's about

to face.

- thats the kind of lifestyle that Paul is trying to argue you and me out

of.

- how many believers become so preoccupied with the things of this

earth that what God wants to see accomplished is swept aside.

- now, let's work together at thinking about different areas of life that

this truth might affect.

- how would you fill in this blank?

- Your _______ reveals what you're seeking after. Or, your ________

reveals your level of "heavenly preoccupation."

(Jeff Baker - I know You have this under control)

- now, this thought is developed further in verse 2: (READ)

Paul is about to move into specific, practical areas of the Christian

verse one is especially talking about speech and behavior what we do with our outer bodies

- what we do with our outer bodies

Scripture tells us that what we do is a result of what we think.

here that our behavior is determined by our thinking.

the new direction (goals) of verse 1 are made possible by the new mindset of verse 2

mindset of verse 2

set your affection, or set your mind

scroll

- INPUT - what are our thoughts supposed to be set on?

(the things above--i.e. the same things we were talking about

under verse 1)

- see, do you have a heavenly mindset?

- if we could scroll through your thoughts (the way we scroll

through a document on our computer screens) would we see clear

evidence of heavenly mindedness?

- that's why the Scripture makes such an emphasis of the fact that we are

not citizens of this earth.

1) - "we are strangers and exiles on the earth."

2) - "here we do not have a lasting city, but we are

seeking the city which is to come."

3) - "Our citizenship is in heaven, from also we eagerly

wait for a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ."

- see, you and I need to ask ourselves, are we heavenly minded?

- now, I realize, someone might say:

"well, it's possible to be so heavenly minded you're no earthly good."

- I think we would have two responses to that:

1) then thats not genuine heavenly mindedness

- genuine heavenly mindedness always results in earthly good

- thats the argument of the book

- Paul is about to move into specific, practical areas of the Christian

life where you and I often struggle

- but he knows that we're not going to be able to change in those

practical areas if we're pre-occupied with the world.

Believers Have A Wonderful Prospect

2) Most of us are not in any danger of being too heavenly minded.

- this statement might have some value in pointing out a possible

ditch, but most of us are no where near it!

- Paul concludes this section with some truths that we can organize

around the fact that:

A. Your life is hidden with Christ

- In what sense is this true?

1) when you're saved, you're no longer on your own.

- the one who joins Himself to the Lord is one

spirit with Him."

in Christ, we are "partakers of the divine nature" - II

Peter 1:4

- that ought to give us great hope because we're not

talking about having a "complete life reorientation" on

our own.

2) it is concealed from the world

- the more you and I live in a way that is consistent with

what these verses are teaching, the more those around who

don't know Christ are going to be mystified.

- a person who wants to life for God is not going to make

sense to a person who wants to live for this world.

He is Your Life

Christ is our life…this is not "let go and let God" -- or "just let Jesus do it through you", nor is this "pulling ourselves up by our own spiritual bootstraps."

- we're not talking about some sort of spooky "let go and let

God" -- or "just let Jesus do it through you" kind of a thing

- but nor are we talking about "pulling ourselves up by our own

spiritual bootstraps."

this is not trusting in our abilities or relying on our power...the fact that Jesus Christ is risen encourages us for many reasons--and one of them is

ourselves

- the fact that Jesus Christ is risen encourages us for many

Jesus is not someone we add to our life, He is our life…He is the center by whom all things have meaning...He stands ready to help, and bless, and strengthen the man or woman who wants to live for Him.

reasons--and one of them is that He stands ready to help, and

bless, and strengthen the man or woman who wants to live for

Him.

Some day, these truths will be revealed.

the world considers it foolish to live for a God we cannot see…so being preoccupied with heaven means we have set our minds and focused our behavior on pleasing Him, by faith...

see

We can live in this world and not be of this world because we accept by faith that our Savior is coming in glory and on that day all will be revealed…God’s plan, God’s purposes, God’s people...

must take by faith.

- but the day is coming when glory of God's Person, and plan, and program

will be revealed.

When that day happens you and I will have no regrets that we tried to set our affection on things above, and not on the things of this earth.

affection on things above, and not on the things of this earth.

Bridging the Gap

Paul knew this was difficult and that’s why he was praying that this church would have spiritual understanding in chapter 1.

- thats why Paul was praying that this church would have spiritual

understanding in chapter 1.

that’s why Paul has been emphasizing the preeminence of Christ

that’s why he exposed the three wrong approaches to spiritual maturity...legalism, mysticism, and asceticism

legalism, mysticism, and asceticism

these approaches will leave you empty every time… they are nothing more than a simplistic substitution for Christian growth

Christian growth

Spiritual maturity is a process that begins the moment you receive a new position in Christ at salvation, and requires a mind preoccupied with pursuing His thoughts, His desires and His goals for everyday life.

It is not always easy, He will empower you to do it…and you will not be disappointed...

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