Colossians 3:17-25 /
Notes
Transcript
The Life of Worship
The Life of Worship
17 And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.
“Whatever you do…”
“Whatever you do…”
This sets the standard
The Standard is all encompassing (“whatever you do”)
You know this!
Christianity is a New & Fully Committed – Life
We know this because of verses like this one.
So this sermon today is about WHOLE LIFE CHANGE
“Do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus”
“Do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus”
(Illustration) Max Lucado –
Daughter of the CEO
Desire is to please the Lord
so it may be our goal everyday should be that which Peter spoke about
12 Keep your conduct among the Gentiles honorable, so that when they speak against you as evildoers, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day of visitation.
“giving thanks to God the father through Him” (Jesus)
“giving thanks to God the father through Him” (Jesus)
Is it your desire to show thankfulness to God?
Then live in such a way that you glorify the name of Christ.
The Depth of Our Worship
The Depth of Our Worship
18 Wives, submit to your husbands, as is fitting in the Lord. 19 Husbands, love your wives, and do not be harsh with them. 20 Children, obey your parents in everything, for this pleases the Lord. 21 Fathers, do not provoke your children, lest they become discouraged. 22 Bondservants, obey in everything those who are your earthly masters, not by way of eye-service, as people-pleasers, but with sincerity of heart, fearing the Lord.
(NOTE:) Most Bibles start a new section here… but it is one letter and the thought (I believe) is connected.
Paul has been talking about what you “Put On” – (the kind of character you have).
After giving some examples Paul moves out of the church and into daily life
Gets personal and specific.
Here is the key to understanding it…
Don’t get distracted with looking to heavily at the context of these relationships.
Paul is just told us to do:
“Everything in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ”
Now He is going to show us the depth of that kind of Christ focused life.
So the bases of our being a New Creation is:
We know we are to honor Jesus in the relationships in the church.
(Then Paul takes it out of the church context and into our Most Personal relationships)
Wives obey your husbands
Wives obey your husbands
Husbands love your wife & do not be harsh.
Husbands love your wife & do not be harsh.
Children obey your parents
Children obey your parents
Fathers do not provoke your children
Fathers do not provoke your children
Did you NOTICE???
The areas listed here are also the spiritual battle ground in the world we live in.
Even when the world expects resentment – We are called to honor Christ!
“Bondservants (slaves)obey in everything those who are your earthly masters”
“Bondservants (slaves)obey in everything those who are your earthly masters”
Seems some resentment is justified
But we are called to live differently!!!
Is this asking too much?
How do we possibly live like this?
Well, remember when I mentioned standards?
You need to firmly establish in your life some Christian Standards of Living. (v18b)
The second half of this sentence gives us instructions on how to do it.
1. Don’t salute the chair.
1. Don’t salute the chair.
“…not by way of eye service, as people pleasers…”
“…not by way of eye service, as people pleasers…”
Military we had to show honor to some people regardless of how you felt about them.
a.Sometimes you salute the man
Sometimes you salute the chair.
We are not called to salute the chair
That’s acceptable to the military world.
But in a Christian’s life, God expect more.
2. Get real
2. Get real
“…with sincerity of heart…”
“…with sincerity of heart…”
a. Actions come from the heart
i. Make everything a heart issue.
b. Prayerfully ask, “What do I REALLY feel about God
i. That dictates what you allow into your life
ii. Know that answer is NEVER disconnected to how you feel about people.
3. Fear the Lord
3. Fear the Lord
“…fearing the Lord”
“…fearing the Lord”
Be in awe of God
Some of you all will let a celebrity tell you how to look and act
But treat God like He is a troll – telling you how to live your life.
If you fear the Lord
You care about what pleases Him.
It would hurt you to think about dishonoring him.
God’s wrath is just as real as God’s love.
God’s wrath is just as real as God’s love.
Scripture doesn’t tell us to come to faith to have a peaceful life
It warns us to come to faith to avoid eternity in Hell.
The Life of Worship, The Depth of Our Worship …
Our Hope for the Future
Our Hope for the Future
23 Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, 24 knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Christ. 25 For the wrongdoer will be paid back for the wrong he has done, and there is no partiality.
Concluding sentence Paul repeats his charge:
“Whatever you do, work heartily , as for the Lord and not for men.”
“Whatever you do, work heartily , as for the Lord and not for men.”
Whatever you do…
Do it with heart
Do it for Christ
Illustration – “Planting seeds”
I opened by sharing about how farmers so skillfully plant a field of grain. How much care an attention was needed to keep the rows straight.
Can you imagine how it must have been before modern machinery?
You’re hooked up to this animal
You’re hot & tired
But you keep your eye on that standard (your goal)
You will face ups ad downs, rocks, other dangers
But you keep looking ahead looking forward to what is waiting there.
Why? Because
“our promise in this life is trustworthy”
“our promise in this life is trustworthy”
and even more...
“...knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward.”
“...knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward.”
This is why we have the hope that we do.
“For the wrong doer will be paid back for the wrong he has done.”