Christ is Your Life

Christ is Your Life

Colossians 3:1-9

Pastor Miles

2/7/2015

1. Keep your focus on Christ.

We have spiritual ADD.

There is too much going on in our lives. We lose sight of the most important thing.

Paul tells us to keep focused on Christ.

Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory. (‭Colossians‬ ‭3‬:‭1-4‬ NIV)

We know that we have been raised with Christ, no question about that.

We have been raised from spiritual death into new life with Him.

Set our minds on eternal (heavenly) things not temporary (earthly) things.

We are to be subject to His authority.

Live in a manner worthy of His Name.

Why? Because we died to our earthly self, so we should be seeking the things that matter the most in our new life.

When Jesus comes He will be fully manifested in His glory.

Christ is our life, and our lives will also be manifested in His glory.

When we envision that glorious day, how does that spur us on to live our lives now?

The more that you believe that your life is secure in Him, the more that you will set your mind and focus on Him.

2. Put away the things that hinder the life of Christ flowing through you.

Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry. Because of these, the wrath of God is coming. You used to walk in these ways, in the life you once lived. (‭Colossians‬ ‭3‬:‭5-7‬ NIV)

Eliminate the sinful behaviors that don't bring honor to Christ.

But now you must also rid yourselves of all such things as these: anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language from your lips. Do not lie to each other, since you have taken off your old self with its practices (‭Colossians‬ ‭3‬:‭8-9‬ NIV)

What comes out of our mouths comes from our hearts.

What goes into someone's mouth does not defile them, but what comes out of their mouth, that is what defiles them." (‭Matthew‬ ‭15‬:‭11‬ NIV)

Acid in the cup illustration: acid that spills out of our cup md burns others when we're jostled. It's not because we are jostled that leads to the acid hurting the other person, but that fact that we carry acid in our cups.

Let us get rid of the acid!