Sunday Sermon Colossians 3:12-17 Series (4)

We are so glad that you have joined us this Lord’s Day and I am confidant that the Lord has something for each one us, provided that we listen with our hearts.

So let us open our Bible’s or electronic Bible’s one our phones to:

Read Colossians 3:12-17

Review

We discovered early on in our study of Colossians who we are in Christ, that our identity is not of this world, nor will it ever be found in this world, but in Jesus Christ.

We learned that the Gnostics, the Legalists, the Mystics, the Philosophers, and the Ascetics were attempted to infiltrate the church at Colossae with saying Jesus is good, but it needs to be Jesus plus what we have to offer. Jesus plus nothing church, equals everything!

Over the last few weeks we have been looking at vices and virtues.

We have moved from belief to behavior and today we will continue our journey through the Character of the New Man.

Remember, Paul has called us to put of our graveclothes and put on our grace clothes of righteousness and holiness church!

Colossians 3:12 NKJV

Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, put on tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, longsuffering;

Since we are the elect of God, holy and beloved, Paul gives us an imperative to put on the grace clothes of righteousness and holiness.

I think it is important to remember that God is Sovereign, but man has responsibility.

Since Christ died for sinners like you and me, and we have surrendered our lives to him. we are to change our clothes.

We are no longer a slave to sin church, we are the children of God!

Therefore, must be change in our lives.

That means in order for that change to occur, we must be intentional at doing our part.

There must be motion, which means in order to put these on, we need to be spending time with Jesus.

We become what we hang out with! If you hang out with news programs that present constant fear, doom, and gloom. Then what kind of an individual do you think you will become??? If we live our lives through the TV set, do you think we will be people of contentment?

I am not saying we can’t watch TV and enjoy some good shows or movies, but these things should not control our lives.

We should not be a slave to anything but to Jesus Christ!

Romans 6:16 NKJV

Do you not know that to whom you present yourselves slaves to obey, you are that one’s slaves whom you obey, whether of sin leading to death, or of obedience leading to righteousness?

Proverbs 13:20 NLT

Walk with the wise and become wise; associate with fools and get in trouble.

If we do not know what putting on compassion and kindness looks like, let us get with the One that does.

Part of discipleship church is getting with others who are more mature.

We have looked at tender mercies and kindness, let take a look at the garment of humility.

Humility- Tapeinophrosunē n. — the disposition of valuing or assessing oneself appropriately; especially in light of one’s sinfulness or creatureliness. Lowliness of mind and without arrogance.

In my life, I had serval men share their definitions of humility with me and here are the two that stuck and were written on my heart:

Humility is the honest acceptance of oneself, both the good and the bad, your assets and liabilities.

Humility is simply the ability to follow direction.

For the Christian, humility is absolutely indispensable. Without it there can be no self-knowledge, no repentance, no faith and no salvation. ~Aiden Wilson Tozer~

Of all the things God hates, pride is at the top of His list church!

The pagan world of Paul’s day did not admire humility. In fact, there is no word for humility in classical Greek. They actually despised this virtue . Instead, they admired pride and domination.

Jesus Christ is the greatest example of humbleness of mind (Phil. 2:1ff).

Philippians 2:3–4 NKJV

Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself. Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others.

Philippians 2:5–8 NKJV

Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men. And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross.

Humility is not a character trait to develop, it's the natural by-product of being with Jesus.

Humility is not thinking poorly of oneself. Rather, it is having the proper estimate of oneself in the will of God .

Romans 12:3 NKJV

For I say, through the grace given to me, to everyone who is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think soberly, as God has dealt to each one a measure of faith.

The person with humbleness of mind thinks of others first and not of himself.

Soberly- sophroneo- v. — to think and live wisely in self-control over one’s passions and desires.

If we do not live wisely and have self- control over our passions and desires, we cannot think of others or place them above ourselves because we are a slave to our passion and desires, therefore, pride will reign and rule in our life church!

It is humility that not only brought us to the Cross, but it is humility church that will keep us there!

We do not pray, because of pride and the opposite of pride is humility!@

We do not spend time in the Word, because God is not on the throne of our hearts but self church!

Proverbs 16:18 NKJV

Pride goes before destruction, And a haughty spirit before a fall.

It is the pride of mankind that causes him to fall!

When Peter denied Jesus three times church, it was his pride rooted in the fear of man that caused him to say, I do not know that man!

It was not only Moses anger, but his pride that caused him to strike the Rock and the Rock was Jesus Christ!

It was King David’s lust and ultimately his pride that caused him to commit adultery with Bathsheba and kill her husband Uriah the Hittite.

Before Saul became Paul church he was driven by his intellectual pride until on that day Jesus showed up and said, “ Saul, Saul why are your persecuting me? Is it hard for you to kick against the goads?”

It was here that Paul was broken church, it was here that he was humble in the sight of God, and it was here that he looked up because his redemption had drawn nigh.

It was humility and trust in the Lord that caused Noah and his family to enter the Ark of their salvation, while many perished.

Church, the difference between heaven and hell, is the difference between humility and pride.

We cannot and will not come to Jesus without humility and it is humility that will keep us coming.

The virtues we are talking about are the remedy for having healthy relationships.

Colossians and Philemon—The Supremacy of Christ Putting on Saints’ Clothing (v. 12)

William Gladstone, the learned prime minister of England, once remarked to his scholarly peer John Morley: “It is a pathetic reflection that while humility is the sovereign grace of Christianity, the Greeks had no symbol in their language to denote it. Every word akin to it has in it some element of meanness, feebleness, or contempt.” But the gospel took this word of contempt and made it one of its chief graces. It was used to describe Christ’s humbling himself by becoming obedient to death (Philippians 2:8). Christians are called to serve God (Acts 20:19) and one another (Ephesians 4:2) with all humility and lowliness. Jesus himself invited his followers to learn from him, as he was lowly in heart (Matthew 11:29).

Without humility serving is simply not possible church for the only person we will serve is self.

When is the last time you washed the feet of another? When is the last time you gave of yourself?

John 15:13 NKJV

Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one’s life for his friends.

One cannot love the way the Lord desires without humility in our life!

The surest mark of true conversion is humility. ~J. C. Ryle~

Proverbs 22:4 NKJV

By humility and the fear of the Lord Are riches and honor and life.

Be humble or you'll stumble.~D.L. Moody.~

Humility is the precursor to freedom, because one cannot forgive without it!

Colossians and Philemon—The Supremacy of Christ Putting on Saints’ Clothing (v. 12)

The person who wears the garment of humility knows who God is, what man is, and who he or she is. Those who walk with awareness through a wheat field will notice that it is the drooping ears that are heavy with grain. Humility is a proper garment for every believer.

Here, Paul is combating the false humility of the false teachers here at Colossae.

Colossians 2:18–19 NKJV

Let no one cheat you of your reward, taking delight in false humility and worship of angels, intruding into those things which he has not seen, vainly puffed up by his fleshly mind, and not holding fast to the Head, from whom all the body, nourished and knit together by joints and ligaments, grows with the increase that is from God.

Colossians 2:23 NKJV

These things indeed have an appearance of wisdom in self-imposed religion, false humility, and neglect of the body, but are of no value against the indulgence of the flesh.

Meekness/ Gentleness-prautes- n. — acting in a manner that is gentle, mild, and even-tempered. Power and strength under control.

This word is closely related to humility.

It is not weakness or spinelessness, but rather the willingness to suffer injury instead of inflicting it.

The gentle person knows he is a sinner among sinners and is willing to suffer the burdens others’ sin may impose on him.

This gentleness can only be produced by the Holy Spirit :

Galatians 5:22–23 NKJV

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law.

And gentleness should mark the Christian’s behavior at all times!

Even when restoring a sinning brother:

Galatians 6:1 NKJV

Brethren, if a man is overtaken in any trespass, you who are spiritual restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness, considering yourself lest you also be tempted.

Or defending the faith against attacks from unbelievers :

2 Timothy 2:25 NKJV

in humility correcting those who are in opposition, if God perhaps will grant them repentance, so that they may know the truth,

1 Peter 3:15 NKJV

But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts, and always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear;

Matthew 11:28–30 NKJV

Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.”

Matthew 5:5 NKJV

Blessed are the meek, For they shall inherit the earth.

Psalm 37:11 NKJV

But the meek shall inherit the earth, And shall delight themselves in the abundance of peace.

Gentleness/meekness is strength under control.

Numbers 12:3 tells us that Moses was the most “meek” (kjv) man on earth, but at the same time Moses was a man who could act decisively, be as hard as nails, and rise in anger at the proper time. T

Those wearing the true garment of gentleness/meekness are immensely powerful people, for they are controlled by God.

By the way church this word was used to describe a soothing wind, a healing medicine, and a colt that had been broken. In each instance, there is power: a wind can become a storm; too much medicine can kill; a horse can break loose. But this power is under control. The meek person does not have to fly off the handle because he has everything under control.

According to the Puritan pastor Thomas Watson, Meekness toward other people consists of three things: the bearing of injuries, the forgiving of injuries, and the returning of good for evil.

A.W. Tozer once wrote, The meek man is not a human mouse afflicted with a sense of his own inferiority. Rather he may be in his moral life as bold as a lion and as strong as Samson; but he has stopped being fooled about himself. He has accepted God's estimate of his own life. He knows he is as weak and helpless as God declared him to be, but paradoxically, he knows at the same time that he is in the sight of God of more importance than angels. In himself, nothing; in God, everything. That is his motto."

As we close today, I wanted to share that the prodigal son would have not come home if he remained proud and in his sin.

Humility and meekness are two peas in the same pod, if you want healthy relationships with God and man we must embrace them and the only way to have these in our life is to spend time Jesus and those who exhibit these virtues.

How is you humility and meekness?

We must remember God resists the proud but gives grace to the humble church!

We can only serve one another through humility and meekness of mind.

There is somebody here today that the Lord has laid it upon your hearts to make a profession of faith to him and then to your church family in baptism.

Prayer

Let us bow our heads and close our eyes as we pray. Lord we have all fallen short of your glory because of the pride that exists in our hearts. You were humble, meek, and gentle and we desire to be like you, so please Lord forgive our pride and selfishness and teach us to place others higher than ourselves because it is only when we have true humility that we are willing and able to wash another’s feet and serve them. With head closed and eyes bowed, if there is anyone here today, that would like to surrender their life to Jesus for the first time, or who desires to make that commitment again, please raise your hand, and if there is anyone desiring to be baptized please raise your hand as well. Lord, you know the hearts of each one of us and if we were honest, we have all fallen short in our relationships with you and others. Please forgive us, please forgive our pride, and all of our sin. Please come into our hearts and be the Lord of our lives. Fill us with your Spirit and lead us in the way ever-lasting. Create in us a clean heart O God and grant us a hunger and thirst for you that we have never had! IJN

Announcements

Are there any announcements?

Over the next few weeks, we will be blessed to hear from the Gideons and Teen Challenge of Spokane

The Gideons will share about their ministry and the beginning of service

The following week Teen Challenge will share about their ministry and serve here at the church. They will also be giving testimonies. So please pray for each of these impactful ministries.

Also, there will be a time after these service to give a love offering to these ministries so come prepared to give as the Lord leads you!

We had a youth meeting this past week and there is a sign up sheet going around for this summer.

We need helpers, teachers, and families to donate snacks.

Also, please be praying for God to raise up and confirm who are new Youth Leader will be. This will be for the teens...

Teen Challenge meeting after church, for those that are willing to shepherds these men as they help beautify our tabernacle grounds.

Benediction

Isaiah 66:1–2 ESV

Thus says the Lord: “Heaven is my throne, and the earth is my footstool; what is the house that you would build for me, and what is the place of my rest? All these things my hand has made, and so all these things came to be, declares the Lord. But this is the one to whom I will look: he who is humble and contrite in spirit and trembles at my word.

The Lord Bless You!

Your Mission Stars Now!

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