Sunday Morning, August 24th, 2003
Let us pray
Welcome....thanks for your prayers while we were away at The West
Middle-sex Camp Meeting......we had a wonderful camp
meeting.....elaborate.. Thanks to Bro. Casimere......During the camp
meeting, I experienced what it means to take the time and truly worship the
Lord. I want to encourage everyone who truly loves the Lord to take the time
and truly worhip the Lord. If God has truly done something for you, then you
should take the time and worship him. We are here today because of the
grace and mercy of God We are not here because of our great strength and
our goodness; but we are here because of God. What has God done for you
lately? Who open doors for you?.....elaborate...
I do trust over the past seven months our theme for the year is holding true for
each of us, that with God all things are possible or with God nothing shall be
impossible.....elaborate..
As we look at the Word of God today, using the title, "Heaven Minded," I
would like to ask three questions: 1. How many of you here today are heaven
bound? 2. How many of you have decided that this world is not your home?
3. How many of you are willing to go all out for the L:ord? Thank you...
Please turn with me to page 5 of your bulletin or in yout Bibles to Colossians
3 verses 1 through17. Let’s all stand and read together. Please tell someone:
this world is not my home. Do you believe what you have just said?
.................elaborate...
If I should tell you that the money you have in the bank you wont need it
anymore, just give it to a friend or give it to the church, somebody would say,
pastor is not thinking straight today. If I should say, that new car you are
driving, and that new home you are living in, you can get rid of them,
somebody would truly say what’s wrong with pastor today, I wonder what is
the point he is trying to make. Maybe not needing money; not needing a car;
not needing a place to live, is not true now, but one day it willl, when our
material things will no longer matter. With this idea in mind, let’s look at
verse 1 of our text.
Verse 1 - If ye then be risen with Christ. Notice the word if. That word
"if" means, in case, in the event that. So the apostle Paul is saying, in case or
in the event that a change has taken place; in case or in the event that you
have been transformed; in case or in the event that the old man has been
crucified, then and only then you are called upon to seek those things which
are above. There are too many people whose lives have not been changed ,
who are trying to seek after heavenly things We cannot seek after heavenly
things until a change has taken place in our lives..................
In Verse 2 we are called upon to set our affection on things above. That word
affection means, tender feelings, feelings of attach-ment. Our tender
feelings, our feelings of attach-ment should be on things above, and not on
things that are on the earth. As Christians we can’t get too attached with
earthly things; these earthly things will not last forever. Someone might ask
the question, pastor Thompson why shouldn’t I set my affection on earthly
things, and verse 3 of our text gives the answer loud and clear, because you
are dead.
Verse 3- when you are dead nothing can bother you. When you are dead it
does not matter how much people talk about you. When you are dead you
are unmoved and un-affected by your surroundings. As Christians we are
dead to sin, and our life is hid with Christ. The life of a Christian, the life of a
child of God is hid with Christ, and we are heavenly minded, bound for
heaven.
Because we are heavenly minded; because we have been risen with Christ;
because our affection are on things above in-stead of things on the earth ,
there are certain things we are called upon to do. We are called upon to
mortify the flesh. That word mortify means to subdue bodily desires; to
hurt or wound the feelings. As Christians we cannot do the things that the
world is doing. Paul list certain things in verse 5 of our text that we are called
upon to mortify (read verse 5) As Christians we should have nothing to do
with sexual sins; impurity; lust; evil passions, covetiousness. We are called
upon to mortify sins, becuase if we do not kill them, they will kill us. Since
we are heavenly minded we have to keep our mind on heavenly things. Too
much of those late movies is not keeping our mind on heavenly things. Too
much running around with the wrong crowd is not keeping our mind on
heavenly things.
The wrath of God comes upon all the children of disobedience. These things
the apostle Paul mentions in verse 5 that we should mortify, he mentions in
verse 7 of our text that is the way we used to be. We are looking good right
now, we know how to walk, we know how to talk, but before we were
changed, we used to be different. Out there partying on a Saturday night, and
in church early on Sunday morning. Out there drinking and gossipping, doing
all kind of evil things, that was our old way of living, but now we have been
changed, we have been risen with Christ, and now we are heaven
bound....elaborate..
Yes we have been saved, yes we are heaven bound; yes with God’s help we
are mortifying the flesh, but even though that is the case, in verses 8 and 9 of
our text there are certain things we are called upon to put off. When we were
in the world our lifestyle was doing evil things, and we are warned not to go
back to the old life style. We are called upon to put away, cast off, throw
away all the rotten garments of anger, hatred, cursing, and dirty language.
When someone says something to you that you don’t like, how do you react?
When someone walk all over you and curse you out, what do you do? Do
you go on a strike and walk out on the saints? When the saints are not around
to observe you, what can others say about you? When things are not going
your way, do you still want to have it your way?............elaborate..... I
believe it is time for us to truly stand up for the Lord, if we are really
heavenly minded. It is time to let our light shine in those dark places that we
might find ourselves.....................
Do not lie to each other, that was the old lifestyle, but now it is dead and
gone. The old man has been crucified, there is a new man on the block, I have
a new daddy now.. O thank God, things are different now, since I gave my
heart to Jesus..........elaborate...yes, sometimes it is not easy, but I have to
know how to govern my tongue and keep my mouth closed. I have to remind
myself that I am dead to sin, and my life is hid with Christ in God. I have a
friend who loves me; I have a friend who cares for me, and his name is
Jesus...........
In verses 8 and 9 we are called upon to put away evil, but in verses 10
through 14 there are certain things we are called upon to put on. Let’s look at
verses 10 through 14 (read)
Now that you are living a brand new life, now that your status in life is not the
important thing. It does not matter if you are a Jew or a Gentile. It does not
matter if you are circumcised or un-circumcised. It does not matter if you are
a slave or you have been set free, all that matters is that you are a child of
God. If you are a Child of God, then you can say with the Assurance, I am a
child of God, I am a child of God, I have washed my robes in the
cleansing fountain, I am a child of God. If you are a child of God, please
sing this chorus with me, I am a child of God (sing)
As a child of God we are called upon to put on bowels of mercies, kindness,
humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering. As a child of God who is
heaven bound, how kind are you? How meek are you? How long are you
willing to suffer? At our Camp Meeting one of the speakers used as a sub
-topic, "Gifted but Mean." Have you ever seen a mean Christian? always
fussing; always fighting; having nothing good to say about any one; gifted
but mean. Faithful churchgoer, but mean. Knows how to quote the Bible,
but mean............
As Christians who are heavenly minded, we are called upon to put off anger
and wrath, but put on compassion and kindness. We are called upon to stop
doing evil, but learn to do well. We are called upon to hurt no one, but do
what good we can to all..
Verse 13 of our text talks about forbearing one another. That word forbear
means, to be tolerant or patient in the face of provacation. We are not
perfect, we all have something that we need someone to be tolerant with, and
so we have to be tolerant with others. We also have to learn how to forgive
each other. As a child of God who is heavenly minded, as a child of God
who is heaven bound, we have to know how to forgive each other, in the
same way Christ has forgiven us. It is time to stop bearing grudges; it is time
to stop fighting and fussing, it is time to learn how to forgive. In ourselves we
cannot forgive any one, and so we are called upon to clothe ourselves with
love, that is spiritual love. Let’s look at verses 14 & 15 of our text (read) As
a child of God who is heaven bound, is the peace of God dwelling in you?
Do yu have sweet peace? Let’s turn to St. John 14: 27 (read) St. John 16: 33
(read)
We close with verses 16 and 17 of our text (read) If we are heaven bound,
the word of Christ must dwell in us richly, so that we will be able to share it
with others; teaching and admonishing each other.........
Whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus. If you
are a doctor or a lawyer, do your work in the name of the Lord Jesus. If you
are a cook or a baker, do your work in the name of the Lord Jesus. If you are
a janitor or a home maker, do your work in the name of the Lord Jesus.
Whatever you do, whether in word or in deed do it all in the name of the
Lord Jesus........elaborate...
If you then be risen with Christ seek those things which are above. If your life
has been changed seek those things which are above. If you intend to make
heaven your home some day, seek those things which are above. Don’t place
your affection on earthly things, but on heavnely things. Remember you are
dead, and because you are dead you are unaffected by your surroundings.
Mortify the flesh, put away evil things and put on your spiritual clothing. Be
kind to each other, love each other, and allow the word of God to dwell in
you richly, and share that love with others.
Is your mind set on heavenly things? Are you heaven bound? If you are not
heaven bound, today you can change directions......................elaborate....
If you are heaven bound, then start to thank God and tell someone where you
are going, and invite them to go with you. By the grace of God, I mean to
make heaven my home someday, I am heaven bound. Trials yes, but I am
heaven bound. Problems yes, but I am heaven bound. Sufferings yes, but I
am heaven bound. Sickness yes, but I am heaven bound. On Tuesday
morning, I will have a pro-ce-dure taken, but I don’t have to worry because I
am heaven bound. I close with the words of this song that I love so
much, I’m heaven Bound............I hear the joybells (read from song
sheet)
Let us all stand
Call to discipleship
Closing song/prayer
