INTRODUCTION
• SLIDE #1
• One of the things most of us dread the most is one of the things that life is all about; change!
• We resist change, we fight change, we complain and about change.
• Life is really about change, particularly when it comes to our life in Christ.
• 2 Corinthians 3:18 reminds us of this fact.
• SLIDE #2
• 2 Corinthians 3:18 (ESV) And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit.
• We are called to be transformed into the image of Jesus, for that to happen we need to be able to allow God to work in our lives so that the transformation can take place.
• It is my belief that our resistance to change flows from issues of trust.
• We trust what we know and we do not trust what we do not yet know.
• This is one of the reasons I used to struggle with opening up to people. I was always afraid of what people would think of me if I let them into my “circle of trust.”
• I was afraid to open myself up to being vulnerable to those around me because if you open up, you risk getting hurt.
• The root of this was trust. Those you trust, you tend to open yourself up to.
• What about you, do you have trouble opening up?
• There are risks involved in opening up, but there are also great rewards.
• Now let us take this to our relationship with Jesus.
• Have you been afraid to open yourself up to Him? Are you afraid He will not love you or accept you? Are you afraid He would be ashamed of you?
• I used to really struggle with being able to accept God’s love for me even after I gave my life to Christ.
• Over time I learned I could trust Him enough to open myself up to Him, to allow Him to lead my life and to allow Him to work in my life.
• We have to trust Jesus enough to allow Him to help us grow in our faith.
• In our text today we are given three things that will allow us to enjoy our life in Christ.
• These three areas of life will show us a New Way To Live!
• SLIDE #3
• Colossians 3:15 (ESV) And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful.
• SLIDE #4
SERMON
I. Allow the peace of Christ to be the referee of your heart.
• How many of us are stressed out with lives that seem to be in turmoil all the time. Does it seem that EVERY time we turn around that we are in the midst of some crisis?
• Do you feel tension around you all the time? Are you stressed out by you children, your spouse and your job?
• It is hard to enjoy a transformed life if we are living in constant stress about things in life.
• In the context of our passage it would seem like there were some issues in the church that was causing problems. There were people complaining against one another (verse 13) and it was causing problems.
• What is it that gets your blood boiling? Where do you lose your patience? For me it us a stop lights and in the long lines at the stores. Those situations seem to set something off in me if I am not careful. I really have to guard against getting all worked up over nothing.
• Why does this happen to us?
• It is because we have not opened ourselves up to the peace of Christ. We are trying to live life on our own power.
• We are trying to deal with things in our own power and as a result we stress over things we cannot control.
• What are you allowing to RULE your heart?
• Do you think that Jesus wants us to live in turmoil, chaos and crisis? NO
• God has a solution for you!
• SLIDE #5
• John 14:27 (ESV) Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.
• Peace is an inner state of tranquility that comes from knowing that you are right with God. We are able to have this inner state of tranquility because we feel secure in our position with God. We feel safe in Christ.
• Jesus wants us to have this inner tranquility.
• When we are at war with God, we will not have the inner peace He desires us to have because we do not feel secure in our salvation.
• If we realize who we are and what we are in Christ, then we will be able to deal with whatever the world throws at us because we know who we are in Christ.
• When we put on Christ, one of the blessings is peace.
• Having peace means to be under God’s control as we make courageous moral decisions for the truth.
• This peace that God offers to us has a purpose. The purpose is that the peace is to rule our hearts.
• This word translated “rule” means to umpire or referee.
• It was used to describe the activity of an umpire in deciding the outcome of an athletic contest. The peace of Christ guides believers in making decisions.
• We have to make sure what we do is in line with being at peace with God and being at peace with one another.
• Can you imagine playing a major league baseball game or an NFL game without referees and umpires?
• The games would be chaos. Can you imagine having a life without peace?
• When I was a kid we used to play basketball, baseball and football in the neighborhood without referees.
• In basketball we had to call our own fouls. I bet you could see what would happen.
• CHAOS.
• When you do not allow the PEACE OF CHRIST TO REFEREE YOUR HEART, YOU TOO WILL LIVE IN CHAOS.
• If you do not believe me, examine your life if you are not allowing the peace of Christ to rule your heart. Or look at the chaos those around you are living in.
• SLIDE #6
• Colossians 3:16 (ESV) Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God.
• SLIDE #7
II. Strive to let the Word of God take residence inside of you.
• What is living within us? What really guides what we think and do?
• What needs to guide us so that we can experience the joy of transformation?
• Paul gives us the answer; allow the Word of Christ dwell in us richly!
• How do you think this happens? It only happens when we allow the Word to penetrate our lives.
• Spending time in God’s word, listening to music that contains God’s Word, studying together are but a few ways in which we can put ourselves in the position to be able to allow the Word to dwell in us.
• When we know and understand God’s word, it fills our hearts, it shapes our thoughts and feelings, and it guides our lives.
• By the way, God doesn’t us to have a poor supply of God’s Word living in us, He want the Word to RICHLY dwell in us! This tells us He wants it to reside in you in abundant quantities.
• If Christians are to be transformed into the character of Christ, the word of Christ should find a home in our hearts.
• It should not come and go, show up occasionally, or be something we visit like a vacation spot.
• As Eugene Peterson translates this phrase, "Let the Word of Christ—the Message—have the run of the house. Give it plenty of room in your lives" (Peterson, 504). Holman New Testament Commentary - Holman New Testament Commentary – Galatians, Ephesians, Philippians & Colossians.
• To dwell means to permanently reside. When we study God’s word, it resides within us permanently!
• Our lives should be the place where God’s Word resides, it should be a home for God’s Word.
• SLIDE #8
• Psalm 119:11 (ESV) I have stored up your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you.
• When the Word resides in us, it will change us.
• Do you want to win the battle of temptation in your life? SPEND TIME IN THE WORD.
• We are told on verse 16 to teach and admonish.
• When the Word of God dwells within us, we will be able to help other people when they are struggling.
• Teaching is communicating positive truth.
• When the word of God is within us we will also be able to admonish people when needed.
• Admonishing is the negative side of teaching. It means to warn people of the consequences of their behavior. Both are the result of a life overflowing with the Word of Christ. (John McArthur Jr.)
• SLIDE #9
• Colossians 3:17 (ESV) 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.
• SLIDE #10
III. Do all that you do with a new purpose.
• This is an area in which we all need to check ourselves at times. Why do we do what we do?
• DO we do it so we can receive pats on the back or do we do what we do for JESUS?
• Everything we say and everything we do should be done in the name of the Lord Jesus, realizing his constant presence and bringing honor and glory to him in every aspect and activity of daily living.
• This should not just be the case in what we do at church; it should translate into every area of life.
• When we give our lives to Christ that is when we are to excel in all we do. Christians should be the hardest working, most reliable employees a company has.
• When we serve, we are to do it as if we are directly serving Jesus.
• We are to give God our best, not the leftovers.
• I want you to think for a moment about your service to God’s church.
• Are you giving it your best?
• Now, if Jesus Himself were standing here today, what would He think about how you are serving Him?
• If Jesus were standing next to you as you served, would you do it different, with a different attitude and with different energy?
• If you knew Jesus was standing next to you at work, would you do anything different?
• I know there are some members here who have NO ministry in the church. If Jesus were standing next to you would that motivate you to serve?
• Guess what? Jesus is with you, He does know what you are doing or not doing for Him.
• When we do something in the name of Christ, we are to do it as if Jesus Himself were doing it.
• We are to do things in such a way that we bring glory and honor to Him.
• When we do what we do so WE get the glory that is all we get out of it.
• SLIDE #11
• Matthew 6:16–18 (ESV) “And when you fast, do not look gloomy like the hypocrites, for they disfigure their faces that their fasting may be seen by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward. But when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face, that your fasting may not be seen by others but by your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you.
• Whatever we do, do it for the right reason!
• SLIDE #12
• 1 Corinthians 10:31 (ESV) So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.
• I would like you to take note of something in verses 15,16,17.
• In each of these verses you see a thought that is woven in each passage. It is a key for us to understand.
• Verse 15- and be thankful
• Verse 16- singing with thankfulness in your hearts
• Verse 17- giving thanks through Him to God the Father.
• I believe the key to finding joy in your faith is by trusting God enough to allow Him to do a work in your life.
CONCLUSION
• What impression do people have of Christ when they see or talk with you? What changes would you make in your life in order to honor Christ?
• Are you ready to take the challenge to seek “A New Way To Live!”
