Lesson 18: The Focus of Our Faith
Colossians: Knowing Christ • Sermon • Submitted
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Lesson 18: The Focus of Our Faith
Colossians 3:1-4
An Equation: IF - THEN
An Equation: IF - THEN
Wee have an IF - THEN Equation here. God makes it quite simple for all of us. Man complicates things, religion distorts. Cults add and subtract at will - but God tell is straight and simple.
The first two chapters we see Paul addressing the Judaizers, those who put burdens and requirements upon new Believers - trying to get them to serve the Law, making it part of salvation. Paul spend the first half of the book disputing these things. Now, at the second half of the book, we see Him changing the focus - off of error and back on truth - which is back on Christ.
Do you belong to Christ? The Lord asks this question here - it is something that distinguishes you from this world.
If you are a believer, saved, only your way to heaven, these thins are for you to impiment in your life.
I. Seek
I. Seek
The thing of heaven
A. Seek means desire
A. Seek means desire
The word “Seek”, is the word, “Zeteo”, which means to desire. We who are risen with Christ, should have a burning desire for the things of God.
Illus: There are some today who profess to know the Lord, but you have to beg them:
• To come to church
• To pray
• To read their Bible
• To witness for Christ
Listen, something is wrong here! When we desire something, we do not have to be PUMPED and PRIMED. It comes natural!
Illus: Suppose you love strawberry ice cream, and you walk by the table, and see some delicious strawberry ice cream. Automatically, your taste buds would get cranked up, and you would start DESIRING it.
We who are risen with Christ, have a natural DESIRE for the things of God. We spend our lives SEEKING THE THINGS OF GOD!
So we are to seek or desire what?
B. Things in heaven
B. Things in heaven
C. The place where Christ is
C. The place where Christ is
“…where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God.”
That is a wonderful place. God refers to us that there, when our affections are there that there is a certain help to us. It is where Christ sits, it is where the power of God is wielded from.
1. On the Right Hand is the place of power
1. On the Right Hand is the place of power
Jesus saith unto him, Thou hast said: nevertheless I say unto you, Hereafter shall ye see the Son of man sitting on the right hand of power, and coming in the clouds of heaven.
2. On the Right Hand is the place of friendship
2. On the Right Hand is the place of friendship
And when James, Cephas, and John, who seemed to be pillars, perceived the grace that was given unto me, they gave to me and Barnabas the right hands of fellowship; that we should go unto the heathen, and they unto the circumcision.
3. On the right hand is the place of authority
3. On the right hand is the place of authority
Thy throne, O God, is for ever and ever: the sceptre of thy kingdom is a right sceptre.
Exodus 48:17-19 Mannaseh & Ephraim
4. On the right hand is the place of promise
4. On the right hand is the place of promise
But he, being full of the Holy Ghost, looked up stedfastly into heaven, and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing on the right hand of God,
5. On the right hand is the place of blessing
Thou wilt shew me the path of life: in thy presence is fulness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore.
And it is much more than that - lets keep seeking those things above, more than that, let’s do what is says next:
II. Set
II. Set
God says we are to,“SET OUR AFFECTION
The word “set”, is the word which means “to exercise the mind.”
The reason a lot of folks do not exercise, is because it requires discipline.
The reason we do not learn a language or instrument is because we don’t want to put in the time to practice it.
So we are not set something or placing something simply, we are setting our minds to do something, we are exercising the mind - we to be careful and regarding something
The affection has to be set where
A. Mind the things above
A. Mind the things above
We, who are RISEN WITH CHRIST, discipline our minds to think in the direction of Christ.
Did you know that you can be happily married today, but if you allow yourself to watch the “Slop operas” on television, you soon will start having wrong desires, and become discontented in your marriage?
Illus: The way to keep that from happening, is to discipline your mind, and set your affection on your spouse only.
B. Not on things down here
B. Not on things down here
The same thing can happen to us spiritually. The way we keep from committing spiritual adultery, is by keeping our minds on the THINGS ABOVE, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of the Father.
Once we build our lives on Christ, we are to ever be cutting the strings of our affection for the things of the world.
One morning a farmer told his wife that he was going out to pluck the ripen fruits from his field.
He got off to an early start so he could warm up the truck. He needed more petrol, so he went to the store to get it. On the way to the store he noticed the pigs weren’t fed. So he proceeded to the corn crib, where he found some sacks of feed. Beside the sacks were potatoes that were sprouting. Then when he started for the potato pit, he passed the wood pile and remembered that his wife wanted wood in the house. As he picked up a few sticks, an ailing chicken passed by. He dropped the wood and picked up the chicken.
When noon arrived, the frustrated farmer had not even gotten to the truck, let alone to the field. By now, it is very hot. Some ripen fruits have dropped.
Have you ever intended to do something you knew was very important, but found yourself in a similar situation - distracted by many other seemingly important tasks, which kept you from accomplishing your main objective?
III. Stay
III. Stay
There are a lot of verses of the Word of God that infer for us to “Stay.”
Rest in the LORD, and wait patiently for him: fret not thyself because of him who prospereth in his way, because of the man who bringeth wicked devices to pass.
Be still, and know that I am God: I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth.
Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.
Let integrity and uprightness preserve me; for I wait on thee.
A. Stay Dead
A. Stay Dead
Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death? Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection: Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin.
I have found this to be true often, but man
B. Stay Hidden
B. Stay Hidden
We are with Him and we are Hidden there.
That is a sweet hidden place.
It is a place that is hidden from the pressures, expectations, and troubles of life. It is a wonderful place because it is where He is.
He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.
I like what this next verse tells us:
Sing aloud unto God our strength: make a joyful noise unto the God of Jacob.
Thou art my hiding place; thou shalt preserve me from trouble; thou shalt compass me about with songs of deliverance. Selah.
Keep me as the apple of the eye, hide me under the shadow of thy wings,
IV. Show-Up
IV. Show-Up
When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory.
Listen, He will show up one day - and we will show up in the air with Him. What a wonderful day that will be. What an exciting joyful time it will be. He will appear then we will meet Him and ever be with Him.
V. Status
V. Status
in our generation with various social media outlets, everyone is trying to let their status be known. They need to show who they are and what they like to be called, Facebook of this last year has a place for your preferred pronoun.
We also are know by who we Like or what follow. By the way, that is quite telling. Sometime back, a young Christian adult lady I know got engaged to someone I had never heard of, she put the announcement of sorts of facebook - and I clicked on the guy and you can see what they like or followed within a click and he was following all of these women that looked like strippers, honestly.
What are you known for, what is your status - Here is what every believer ought to seek to be known for - this simple Phrase - Christ Who Is Our Life!
Lesson 18: The Focus of Our Faith
Colossians 3:1-4