Yesterday was a wonderful day here at Joy. We had a picnic lunch outside. The Lord gave us amazing weather. It was great to fellowship together with brothers and sisters in Christ Jesus.
Lord willing if the weather is good, on Memorial Day Sunday, May 25th we will have our entire service outside in front of the Heart as we celebrate 47 Years as Joy Fellowship Church. Following service we will also have a picnic lunch on the grounds.
This past Thursday was the National Day of Prayer. This was my third year participating in this event. We gathered in front of the City Hall and the Courthouse in Ashford Civic Plaza to pray to the Almighty God. We prayed for our schools, we prayed for our military, we prayed for our government, we prayed for our healthcare workers and many other things. It was an hour of unity.
My friends this has not been a good week for the City. The effects of sin have been on full display this week with multiple acts of violence, hate, fear and strife, all in full public view. By the time I went to bed last night I was in desperate need of a word of the Lord.
I want you to know that the world is full of people in distress and there is only one thing that will bring peace and comfort to their hearts and minds and that is a word from the Lord!
My friends I want you to know that God is faithful and this morning he gave me a word that brought me comfort, peace and direction.
It was 5:30 this morning when the Lord woke me up with this scripture:
Colossians 3:2
2 Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth.
I love the imagery that Paul the Apostle uses here in this passage of scripture to talk about what we should focus on in life. This greek word: Phroneo (fron-eh'-o)
Transliteration
phroneō (Key)
Pronunciation
fron-eh'-o
King James bible translates it to “set your affection”. It is also translated in other parts of scripture as to savor, or savourest. what thou thinkest, or what you regard.
***On the last men’s night we studied this scripture from Philippians 2:5 that uses this same greek word, Phroneo (fron-eh'-o)
Let G5426 ➔ this mind be G5426 in you, which was also in Christ Jesus:
Colossians 3:2
2 Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth.
My friends the Lord is asking you and me a question this morning………..
What do you savor?
What do you set your mind on?
What is the focus of your affection?
***The 1st point of the Message today: The focus of our affection and attention will determine our destination.
Romans 8:6-8
6 For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.
7 Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be.
8 So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God.
Matthew 16:21-26
21 From that time forth began Jesus to shew unto his disciples, how that he must go unto Jerusalem, and suffer many things of the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and be raised again the third day.
22 Then Peter took him, and began to rebuke him, saying, Be it far from thee, Lord: this shall not be unto thee.
23 But he turned, and said unto Peter, Get thee behind me, Satan: thou art an offence unto me: for thou savourest not the things that be of God, but those that be of men.
24 Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.
25 For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it.
26 For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?
***So we understand the importance of what we set our affection on. We understand the importance of what we savor…….But let’s go back to the context of Colossians 3 and dig into what Paul is writing to the Church.
**When we look at Colossians 3:1 we see an “if-then” statement. When you see one of these in your bible you need to understand the “IF” in order to understand the “Then”. So to make it plan lets read was Paul says:
Colossians 3:1
1 If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God.
“If statement” If ye then be risen with Christ
“Then statement” seek those things which are above
I want you to see there is an order and there is a purpose. There is an event and there is an action.
The question we have to ask ourselves is: What does it mean “to be risen with Christ”?
***Let’s go back to the previous Chapter and uncover what Paul is speaking of when he says we are “Risen with Christ”
Colossians 2:8
8 Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ.
9 For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily.
10 And ye are complete in him, which is the head of all principality and power:
11 In whom also ye are circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, in putting off the body of the sins of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ:
***Paul is giving a strong warning to the Colossians. He must have been hearing about this religious spirit that was trying to spread into the New Testament Church. My friends do not be mistaken this religious spirit continues to spread today. It is a poison and kills spiritual grow and effectiveness for winning souls for Jesus Christ. Paul calls it for what it is, religious traditions of men. I pray this morning the Lord will deliver us from the traditions of men.
***Point #2 of the Message today: We are complete in Christ Jesus and not in religious actions or outward holiness.
12 Buried with him in baptism, wherein also ye are risen with him through the faith of the operation of God, who hath raised him from the dead.
*** I want to pause and talk about this scripture, verse 12. I saw this phrase for the 1st time this morning: Faith of the operation of God. This is a greek word Energeia.
Transliteration
energeia (Key)
Pronunciation
en-erg'-i-ah
What is means in the superhuman or supernatural strength. Something that is beyond our ability to do as a mortal.
Let me share with you some additional scriptures that use this same word:
Speaking of the resurrection and transformational power of Jesus Christ:
Who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body, according to the working G1753 whereby he is able even to subdue all things unto himself.
And what is the exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward who believe, according to the working G1753 of his mighty power,
Whereof I was made a minister, according to the gift of the grace of God given unto me by the effectual working G1753 of his power.
***continuing in Colossians 2:13
13 And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses;
Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with G4806 Christ, (by grace ye are saved;)
- to make one alive together
- of Christians, with Christ
*****Do you see this morning that you have been made alive together with Christ Jesus. God has quickened you together with Christ Jesus. Not separately. God did not use some special power only for Jesus and some lessor, or weaker power for you…..We have been quickened together with Christ! We were buried with him in baptism, and we have been raised together with him by the power of the Holy Spirit.
Romans 8:10-11
10 And if Christ be in you, the body is dead because of sin; but the Spirit is life because of righteousness.
11 But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you.
***continuing in Colossians 2:14- Jesus
14 Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross;
15 And having spoiled principalities and powers, he made a shew of them openly, triumphing over them in it.
***Point #3 of the Message: Your identification with Christ is through death in baptism and resurrection by the power of the Holy Spirit.
16 Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of an holyday, or of the new moon, or of the sabbath days:
17 Which are a shadow of things to come; but the body is of Christ.
18 Let no man beguile you of your reward in a voluntary humility and worshipping of angels, intruding into those things which he hath not seen, vainly puffed up by his fleshly mind,
19 And not holding the Head, from which all the body by joints and bands having nourishment ministered, and knit together, increaseth with the increase of God.
20 Wherefore if ye be dead with Christ from the rudiments of the world, why, as though living in the world, are ye subject to ordinances,
21 (Touch not; taste not; handle not;
22 Which all are to perish with the using;) after the commandments and doctrines of men?
23 Which things have indeed a shew of wisdom in will worship, and humility, and neglecting of the body: not in any honour to the satisfying of the flesh.
****Point #4 of the Message today: There is freedom when you live risen with Christ and not by religious rules of man.
Romans 8:1-4
1 There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.
2 For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death.
3 For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh:
4 That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.
Galatians 3:1-3
1 O foolish Galatians, who hath bewitched you, that ye should not obey the truth, before whose eyes Jesus Christ hath been evidently set forth, crucified among you?
2 This only would I learn of you, Received ye the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith?
3 Are ye so foolish? having begun in the Spirit, are ye now made perfect by the flesh?
Galatians 5:1-4
1 Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage.
2 Behold, I Paul say unto you, that if ye be circumcised, Christ shall profit you nothing.
3 For I testify again to every man that is circumcised, that he is a debtor to do the whole law.
4 Christ is become of no effect unto you, whosoever of you are justified by the law; ye are fallen from grace.
***The 1st point of the Message today: The focus of our affection and attention will determine our destination.
***Point #2 of the Message today: We are complete in Christ Jesus and not in religious actions or outward holiness.
***Point #3 of the Message: Your identification with Christ is through death in baptism and resurrection by the power of the Holy Spirit.
****Point #4 of the Message today: There is freedom when you live risen with Christ and not by religious rules of man.
***In Closing I want to go back to where we started*** Colossians 3:1
So this brings us back to our “If’ – “Then” Statement found in
“If statement” If ye then be risen with Christ
“Then statement” seek those things which are above
Colossians 3
King James Version
1 If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God.
2 Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth.
**Savor, set your gaze, day dream about, make it the focus of your life**
3 For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God.
4 When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory.
***Point #5 of the message today: Your life may seem hid for now but your debut with Christ Jesus will be unforgettable.
Galatians 2:19-21
19 For I through the law am dead to the law, that I might live unto God.
20 I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.
21 I do not frustrate the grace of God: for if righteousness come by the law, then Christ is dead in vain.
Colossians 3:15-17
15 And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful.
16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.
17 And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him.