INTRODUCTION
• Last week we look at some things we need to rid ourselves of as we strive to live the new life we have in Christ.
• If I were to re-title that message to flow with this week, it would be called, “What Not To Wear.”
• SLIDE #1
• This week we are going to look at “What To Wear.”
• When we talk off the old life, the old ways of life, we need to replace them with something else, lest we go around naked.
• 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 a mechanic, you would not wear a business suit to the garage.
• When you are clothed with Christ, you are called to wear some special clothing.
• Today we will look at “What To Wear.”
• WE will be in Colossians 3:12-14 today.
• SLIDE #2-#3
• Read Colossians 3:12-14
• SLIDE #4
SERMON
I. THE WARDROBE GOD HAS PICKED. (12)
• Notice in our passage today that Paul calls us chosen of God, 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. Astronauts were special clothing, athletes wear special clothing, and Christians are to wear special clothing in the figurative sense.
• As we look at what to wear, we need to wear the wardrobe that God has picked for us. Let us take a look at five things that God wants us to wear at all times.
• SLIDE #5
1. Compassion
• 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.
• 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?
• I am guilty of lacking in compassion at times. This is something I need to work on. This is something we all need to work on.
• SLIDE #6
2. 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.
• I have a clip from the movie “Radio”.
• While Coach Jones high school football team is working out, Coach Joes looks over and sees Radio standing outside the fence watching the practice.
• START THE DVD.
• DVD Chapter: 8 Start Time: 0:21:26 End Time: 0:24:25
• Acts of kindness can change a person’s life.
• SLIDE #7
3. 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.
• SLIDE #8
4. Gentleness
• Gentleness is closely related to humility. It is a willingness to suffer injury rather than inflicting it on another.
• You know people who are gentle. They are people who are a joy to be around.
• The gentle person knows he is a sinner among sinners and is willing to suffer the burdens others’ sin may impose on him. This gentleness 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.)
• SLIDE #9
5. Patience
• 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.
• Have you ever wished you could push a button and change the red light to green so you don’t have to wait? Unfortunately, some people are buying such a device. Officials in several states are concerned over rising sales of a device that allows drivers to control an upcoming traffic light from as far away as 1500 feet. The mobile infrared transmitters are intended for emergency personnel, but Internet sales to civilians are making authorities nervous. When a signal changer on a traffic light detects a properly equipped emergency vehicle, the light responds. If it’s red, the changer gives vehicles in the other directions a yellow light, followed by a red light. If the light is green, the emergency vehicle is given a longer green light. Police and fire officials have been hearing reports of signal changers being used by civilians in some states.
• Usually the specialized devices cost more than $1,000, but some Web sites sell imitation units for a little as $200. Though the advertisements limit sales to emergency personnel, some broaden the definition to include volunteer fire departments, funeral homes, and private investigators. States such as Texas are seeking to pass laws that make it illegal for anyone except emergency personnel to possess a signal changer. Fort Worth Star-Telegram, U.S. Officials worry about civilians obtaining traffic-light changers, by Aman Batheja, March 16, 2005. Submitted by Jim Sandell
• SLIDE #10
II. THE CLOTHES MAKE THE MAN. (13)
• Have you heard this statement before?
• When you take it to what we are dealing with today, we find that putting on Christ affects how we treat other people.
• Clothing ourselves with Christ will make us different people.
• It is the ultimate make over!
• SLIDE #11
1. 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.”
• Jesus by enduring the suffering He did in route to the cross showed us how we can do it.
• SLIDE #12
• 1 Corinthians 4:12 (NASB) 12and we toil, working with our own hands; when we are reviled, we bless; when we are persecuted, we endure;
• SLIDE #13
2. We will forgive one another.
• We are not only ot bear wit hone 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.
• In the Corinthian church, brothers and sisters in Christ were taking one another to court to settle disputes. Paul writes in 1 Corinthians 6:7
• SLIDE #14
• 1 Corinthians 6:7 - 8 (GWT) 7You are already totally defeated because you have lawsuits against each other. Why don’t you accept the fact that you have been wronged? Why don’t you accept that you have been cheated? 8Instead, you do wrong and cheat, and you do this to other believers.
• SLIDE #15
3. Jesus extended special grace to us.
• 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.
• SLIDE #16
III. THE FINISHING TOUCH. (14)
• Whenever you put on a nice outfit, you need something to finish off, something to bring it all together or make it complete.
• SLIDE #17
1. Put on love.
• This is something that must drive everything we do.
• SLIDE #18
2. Love brings the outfit together.
• Love is the tie that binds.
• When I put outfits together, many times a tie will bring the suit and shirt together.
• Love is what brings the whole outfit together.
• We are told that love is the perfect bond of unity
• SLIDE #19
3. Love keeps 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 #20
• 1 Corinthians 13:1 - 3 (NASB) 1If I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but do not have love, I have become a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. 2If I have the gift of prophecy, and know all mysteries and all knowledge; and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. 3And if I give all my possessions £to feed the poor, and if I surrender my body to be burned, but do not have love, it profits me nothing.
CONCLUSION
• When you cloth yourself with Christ, it will make a difference in your life.
• Are you ready to cloth yourself with Christ?
