INTRODUCTION
• SLIDE #1
• It is hard to make changes in our lives isn’t it? Sometimes it takes some dramatic issues to get us to want to make some substantive changes in life.
• When we are a new creation in Christ, everything changes.
• Last week we examined What Not To Wear.
• When God makes us a new creation it is time to take off the old life, the old ways of life.
• However, we need to replace them with something else, lest we go around naked.
• Change is difficult for us and I have always contended that we cannot change WHO we are outside of Christ.
• We cannot make ourselves a new creation, it takes an act of God and that act of God takes place when we put on Christ when one is immersed into Him.
• What we wear is important. If you were to go to a typical job interview, would you dress like a bum?
• Certain jobs require certain clothing.
• If you were to go to your auto mechanic would you find it strange if he greeted you in a tuxedo?
• If you went to the bank would it be odd to see the banker in swim suit? Speedo of course.
• When you are clothed with Christ you too will need to wear a different wardrobe that you did before.
• This week we will get to take a look at our new wardrobe!
• On the show MY WIFE watches, What Not To Wear, when the old clothes are thrown in the trash, they are given $5000 to replace the old with a whole new wardrobe!
• That is exciting! God does the same thing for us, when we rid ourselves of the old stuff we looked at last week; we too get a new wardrobe, one that reflects who we are in Christ.
• I know one of Rachel’s favorite parts of the job with Chase was purchasing a new wardrobe to reflect her new job.
• Let’s turn to Colossians 3:12-14, we will start with verse 12!
• SLIDE #2
• Colossians 3:12 (ESV) Put on then, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience,
• SLIDE #3
SERMON
I. God wants to take you shopping!
• That sounds awesome! God can take you shopping in the best place, He is not cheap!
• After being told we need to take off a bunch of stuff last week, verse 12 starts by saying PUT THEM ON. This implies that God has picked some things out for us to wear!
• Then we are reminded that we are special, we are God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved!
• This implies that we have a special calling. We are chosen by God for a special purpose and a special destiny.
• The word “holy” means to be set apart.
• Because we are chosen for special service, we are told to “put on” some special items.
• In life, special jobs require special clothing.
• In imagine an Astronaut going up in space in a smoking jacket. They have to wear a special suit lest they die in space.
• Athletes wear special clothing depending on the sport. You do not see football players on the field in swim suits or you do not see Olympic swimmers wear football pads in the pool. That would make it interesting though.
• Christians too are to wear special clothing in the figurative sense.
• If you join one of our great branches of the military you are given special clothing to wear that reflects your status
• With God it is a bit the same, we need to wear the wardrobe that God has picked for us.
• In verse 12 there are five staple items that God wants us to wear at all times.
• The first item God shows us is…
• A compassionate heart!
• Compassion is a sensitivity and sympathy for the needs of others.
• How many times have we been alerted to the needs of others only to just ignore the need? We think that someone else will take care of it.
• Christians need to be sympathetic to the NEEDS of others.
• A compassionate heart is one that can look at another person with love and concern for their well-being. It does not mean we just give people whatever they want, but rather we seek ways to REALLY help them.
• Most of what we do with good intentions does not HELP a person, it just enablers them to stay in their current state.
• It is easy to be callous toward others because we can think that people cause their own problems. Many times that is true. Did that affect how Jesus felt about those who were hurting and in need?
• Sometimes I can struggle with wearing this item of clothing because of being lied to so often by folks who just want a hand out instead of a hand.
• We are even called to have a compassionate heart toward those who have done evil, remember we too walked in the darkness.
• When we have compassion for others we will want to do whatever we can to HELP them to a better way of life. To help them to find the mercy and forgiveness that Jesus wants them to have!
• The heart represents the seat of emotions. Our compassionate hearts should lead us to action!
• SLIDE #4
• Matthew 9:36 (ESV) When he saw the crowds, he had compassion for them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd.
• We are told to put on KINDNESS!
• Kindness is acting charitably or being benevolent toward others.
• Kindness is closely related to compassion.
• John MacArthur says that kindness is a term that refers to the grace that pervades the whole person, mellowing all that might be harsh. Jesus used the word when he said, “My yoke is easy” (Matt. 11:30), not harsh or hard to bear. The kind person is as concerned about his neighbor’s good as he is about his own.
• Acts of kindness can change a person’s life.
• Jesus showed kindness in part by offering to lift the burdens of others.
• SLIDE #5
• Matthew 11:29–30 (ESV) 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.”
• We are told to wear humility.
• This is an attitude in which we do not look at ourselves as being “better” than other people.
• It is also an attitude in which we do not run ourselves down as being worthless.
• Jesus was the ultimate example of humility as He humbled Himself to the point of death on the cross.
• God wants us to put on meekness.
• Meekness is closely related to humility. It is a willingness to suffer injury rather than inflicting it on another.
• Another acceptable translation of the word as found in many English bibles is gentleness.
• When we think of meekness we may link it to weakness, but that is really not the case.
• It takes tons of inner strength not to lash out especially when we know we can have the upper hand.
• You know people who are gentle or meek. They are people who are a joy to be around.
• When we exhibit meekness we know we are a sinner among sinners and are willing to suffer the burdens others’ sin may impose on him.
• This meekness can only be produced by the Holy Spirit (cf. Gal. 5:22-23) and should mark the Christian’s behavior at all times, even when restoring a sinning brother (Gal. 6:1), or defending the faith against attacks from unbelievers. (MacArthur Jr.)
• The final item of clothing in our new wardrobe is patience!
• Oh no!
• OK. We are going to skip this one.
• Patience is putting up with people who irritate. It is a spirit that does not lose patience with His fellow man.
• THIS DOES NOT INCLUDE WHEN YOU ARE BEHIND THE WHEEL OR IN THE CHECKOUT LINE AT THE STORE.
• When we are exhibiting patience, we do not easily get angry with others.
• Patience is the opposite of resentment and revenge!
• Let’s look at verse 13!
• SLIDE #6
• Colossians 3:13 (ESV) bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive.
• SLIDE #7
II. Your new wardrobe can inspire a new way of life.
• When we put on the new wardrobe it will inspire us to a new way of living, a way that is more satisfying, less stressful and more pleasing to God!
• When we wear the five items God wants us to wear, it will affect how we treat others and it will give us a different outlook on life.
• One of the ways we will change is that we will BEAR with one another!
• Bearing with one another means that we will endure or hold out in spite of persecution, threats, injury, indifference, or complaints and not retaliate.
• We know that no matter what others do to us, it is not up to us to seek to “even the score.”
• We will bear with one another instead of tear up one another!
• Jesus by enduring the suffering He did in route to the cross showed us how we can do it.
• SLIDE #8
• 1 Corinthians 4:12 (ESV) and we labor, working with our own hands. When reviled, we bless; when persecuted, we endure;
• Another change that comes with the new way of life is we will forgive one another!
• We are not only to bear with one another; we are called to forgive one another.
• The passage tells us to forgive because Jesus forgave you! Jesus modeled what it means to forgive.
• We are to continually forgive one another.
• We are to forgive one another no matter what.
• Jesus forgave you NO MATTER WHAT!
• When we did not deserve it, God sent His Son to die so that we could have forgiveness.
• Forgiveness means that much to God. If we cannot extend that grace to others, we cannot expect to receive it ourselves.
• Let’s conclude with a great thought from verse 14!
• SLIDE #9
• Colossians 3:14 (ESV) And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony.
• SLIDE #10
III. Your new wardrobe needs some new bling to complete the look!
• Whenever you put on a nice outfit, you need something to finish off, something to bring it all together or make it complete.
• Some nice jewelry or for the ladies a nice scarf or belt can really set off the outfit.
• When I pick out a suit and shirt, I try to find a tie that will bring it all together!
• Love is what binds the whole ensemble together!
• We are told to PUT ON love, this implies effort. We are to strive to make sure all we do is bound in love!
• We are told that love is the perfect bond of unity
• Love will keep us in check, love will guide and direct our heart and actions, it will keep us bound to God!
• Love will keep us from being legalistic.
• If we try to live out the virtues we have looked at without love will lead us to legalism. Everything we do MUST flow from our love for God.
• SLIDE #11
• 1 Corinthians 13:1–3 (ESV) If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. And if I have prophetic powers, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. If I give away all I have, and if I deliver up my body to be burned, but have not love, I gain nothing.
• Love can and will make what you wear beautiful!
CONCLUSION
• When you cloth yourself with Christ, it will make a difference in your life.
• Are you ready to wear the new clothes the Lord has put in your closet?
