Title of sermon
1.LOOK UP
sermon text Col 3:1-15
The bible tells us, in 2nd Tim. 3:1-5 This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come.
2 For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy,
3 Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good,
4 Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God;
5 Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.
What are we to do, now that we are seeing all these things coming to pass?
WE can LOOK UP
Col. 3:1-15
( verses 1-2)
We are to set our minds on eternal things, spiritual things, things that last, not temporary things that will rust, and rot.
Think on Godly things.. Philippians 4:8 tells us ....Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things
Paul tells in in Philippians 4:11 11 Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content.
Paul had learned to be content in all circumstances.
WE can't be content, when we are daily comparing ourselves to what we have and what others have. We will always see others having more earthly things than us. We must learn to be content , with what we have.
(illustration) A middle-aged woman has a heart attack and is taken to the hospital. While on the operating table she has a near death experience. During that experience she sees God and asks if this is it. God says no and explains that she has another 30 years to live.
Upon her recovery she decides to just stay in the hospital and have a face lift, liposuction, breast augmentation, tummy tuck, etc. She even has someone come in and change her hair color. She figures since she’s got another 30 years she might as well make the most of it.
She walks out of the hospital after the last operation and is killed by an ambulance speeding by. She arrives in front of God and complains, “I thought you said I had another 30 years.”
God replies, I didn’t recognize you.”
We need to be content with what God gives us. and we do this by looking up.
2.PUT TO DEATH.
(verse 5) tells us to put to death these things...
1. fornication, that is sexual immorality.
2.uncleaness which is impurity.
3. inordinate affection , which is lust
(illustration) David Jeremiah tells this illustration, which I really like, regarding lust......
Up in the arctic circle there is tribe of Eskimo's who have learned to set
a very simple yet effective trap for wolves. First they sharpen a knife
razor sharp. Then they dip it in the blood of a seal they have killed.
(you see seals are fairly easy to trap but wolves are very dangerous).
After dipping the knife in blood they set it outside in the cold so the
blood freezes on the knife. After if freezes (a matter of minutes) they
dip it again into the seal blood and again take it out an let the blood
freeze. Layer after layer they make a blood popsicle. When they are done,
the knife's blade is hidden inside just like a popsicle stick. Now they
take the knife out into the wilderness where they think a wolf might be.
There the bury the handle of the knife in the snow leaving the blood
popsicle standing up and they leave.
Now after a while a wolf will come along guided by his sense of smell and
find the "bloodsicle". He will being licking it, enjoying every taste.
Over and over he licks the knife and soon his tongue is so cold he cannot
feel it any longer. It's numb. But his taste for blood is growing and he
is not getting as much as he wants - you see, popsicles are slow eating.
Finally his licking exposes the razor sharp edge of the knife. It cuts
into his tongue again and again but he does not even notice for his tongue
can no longer feel anything. The wolfs own blood now flows from his cut
tongue. The wolf is thrilled, blood is now more plentiful and he continues
to lick more and more.
Soon he notices something is wrong, he is getting weaker not stronger.
Since he knows blood as food he increases his efforts to feed on the ever
increasing flow of blood. His last thoughts are of how good the now warm
blood tastes. Within minutes he licks his last and collapse next to the
now fully exposed knife. Here the Eskimo knows he will find the wolfs
body the next morning.
Of course in this story we're the wolf and lust is the blood
We better be careful, we don't get caught up in ponography, and lust, because it can have you hooked, before you know it.
4. evil concupiscence ( evil desires and greed)
It is easy to get greedy. I have read a lot of stories of the old gold rushes of California, and alaska. People would become greedy, and kill for the gold.
5. covetousness ( wanting what someone else has)
3. Take off
verse 8 tells us some things to take off
1. anger
Be careful , not to get angry at people. Sometimes, we need to get angry at some of the things people do, especially if the mock God, or Jesus, but we have to separate anger from hate.
The bible says, be angry and sin not.
2. wrath (rage)
We hear all the time of people experiencing road rage. We need to take these things off, because anger can lead to bitterness, bitterness can lead to hatred, hatred can lead to rage, and rage can lead to murder, if it is not stopped.
3. malice (slander) Don't slander someone's reputation
4. blasphemy
5. filthy communication ( talking dirty, and telling dirty jokes.
We may not tell off color stories, but if we listen to dirty jokes, and laught, we are taking part in them.
6. lie not one to another
Always be truthflul.
4. Put on
(verses 10-14)
1. new man.....seeking the knowledge of Christ, trying to be like Jesus. WWJD
2. Bowels of mercy ( having compassion)
3. kindness
(illustration) the famous preacher Chuck Swindoll once said "kindness is a language that blind people can see.
4. humbleness of mind (being humble, recognizing that God is God, and I am not
5.Meekness ( gentleness) WE need to be gentle with our actions toward other people.
6. long suffering ( patience)
Did you hear about the man praying to the Lord, and said "Lord, I want patience, and I want it right now"
It is hard to be patient, but that is another trait of our Lord Jesus
7. forebaring one another ( bare eacy others burdens)
8. forgiving one another
One of the greatest quotes on forgiveness is from Lewis Smedes. He says " to forgive is to set a prisoner free- and that prisoner was you.
9. above all , put on love, which binds us together.
To love God, and to love people, are the greatest of the commandments
