Priori(T)ies - (T)houghts

 Intro: The bible says in Proverbs 23:7a (NKJV)  For as person thinks in his heart so is he. Matthew 9:4 (NKJV) But Jesus, knowing their (scribes) thoughts, said, "Why do you think evil in your hearts? What we think is very important according to Solomon and Jesus. God has given us all a free will. We are able to choose our thoughts. Our thoughts determine our lifestyle. We are what we think! We will rise no higher than our thoughts!

I. We must set our (thoughts) on what we have in Christ. (Col. 3:1)

  a. New Life: The believer has a new life that is raised with Christ to live eternally.

 It is His resurrection that allows us to be "raised with Christ." Remember: we actually take    part and participate in the resurrection of Christ when we are saved.

 This is our positional relationship to God. It is because of this glorious position which God has given us that we should seek the things above.  Seek means to make every effort to find.

Christ’s seat at God’s right hand reveals his power, authority, and position as both judge and advocate. All believers have already been raised with Christ; so we need to set our sights there so that we can live out our lives on earth as citizens of heaven as we pass through this world.

II. We are to set our minds (thoughts) on things above, not on things of the earth. (Col.3:2)

1. The things of Christ and of heaven are to consume the believer's life and mind. We don’t belong to the world anymore. We were dead because of our sin, but now we are alive to God.

Ephesians 2:5-6 (NKJV) ⁵ even when we were dead in trespasses, God made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved),
⁶ and raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus,

We are seated together with Christ and we are indebted to Him, to live for Him and serve Him.

 III. Reasons why are we to set our mind (think on) things above? (Col. 3:3)

   a. Because we have died to the old man. (Col. 3:3)

   b. The new life we now have is hidden from the world. Our new life is now with Christ     in God.

   b. Because when we were baptized into Christ’s death, we died with Him. 

      Romans 6:3 (NKJV) Or do you not know that as many of us as were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death? 

    1. We were buried with Christ. Romans 6:4 (NKJV) Therefore we were buried with Him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. 

    2. Also as Christ was raised, believers also will be raised from death to eternal life with God.

    3. We are to no longer be controlled by sin. Romans 6:6 (NKJV)  knowing this, that our old man was crucified with Him, that the body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves of sin. 

      4. We have been freed from sin and it’s dominion over us. 
         Romans 6:7 (NKJV) For he who has died has been freed from sin. 

      5. If we have died with Christ, we shall also live with Him eternally. 
Romans 6:8 Now if we died with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with Him, 

IV. The things above that should consume our (thoughts).  (Matt.6:33)

  a. For the believer to keep his mind upon the things above he must know what those things are. Therefore, the question naturally arises: What are the things above and the things of heaven where Christ sits at God’s right hand which are to consume our thoughts?

     Matthew 6:33 (NKJV) But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you. The things above are God’s kingdom and righteousness.

      The believer's life is not to be preoccupied with material things, as necessary as some things are. The believer is first of all to be seeking after the kingdom of God and His righteousness. That means we make the things of God our priority.

Conclusion:

Put God’s Priorities for your life into practice everyday! God’s priorities for us is to (P)ray, (R)ead His word, (I)nventory your spiritual growth, (O)rder Your life according to God’s will found in His word, (R)esist the devil’s attempts to hinder you and (I)vite the Holy Spirit to fill and lead you. This is how we set our (T)houghts on things above where Christ sits at the right hand of God.

Doing all these things will help bring God’s Kingdom to earth in your life and those around you.

 Invitation: Have you thought about your relationship with God lately? Do you know for sure you have a personal relationship with God? If not confess your sins to Jesu Christ and ask Him to forgive your sins against God and invite Him into your life. Have you taken inventory of your spiritual growth? How often do you have thoughts about the things of Christ, God, His Kingdom and righteousness? Do these things have priority in your life?

If not now is the time to make things right with God while you still have a chance and if you want to live the overcoming lifestyle!

PRIOR(I)TIES For 2015

 INTRO: As we determine to live God’s priorities for us, He has given us the provisions we need to live this year according to His will for our lives. We have been given the Holy Spirit and we must invite Him to take charge of our lives. He is co-equal with God the Father and Jesus the Son. Jesus promised to send the Holy Spirit when He was taken up to Heaven.  Jesus said He would be our Comforter, Counselor, Teacher and the power of God in our lives to live for Him.

I. When we invite Jesus to save us we are baptized by the Spirit.  

A.  Into the body of Christ. 1 Corinthians 12:13 (NKJV)  For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body--whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free--and have all been made to drink into one Spirit.

The baptism of the Spirit is experienced by all who believe, at the moment of salvation. In that baptism, believers, regardless of nationality (whether Jews or Greeks) or station of life (slave or free), are identified with Christ (baptized... into one body) and are indwelt by the Spirit - given the one Spirit to drink.  

    B. We are sealed by the Holy Spirit. Ephesians 1:13-14 (NKJV)
¹³ In Him you also trusted, after you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation; in whom also, having believed, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise,
¹⁴ who is the guarantee of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, to the praise of His glory.

      1. As our assurance of salvation.

      2. Till the redemption of our bodies.

II. We are to invite the Spirit to lead us daily.

  A.  Proves we are children of God. Romans 8:14 (NKJV)  For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God.

  B. To help put to death the deeds of the body. Romans 8:13 (NKJV)
¹³ For if you live according to the flesh you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live.

III. We are to invite the Holy Spirit to fill us. Ephesians 5:18 (NKJV)
¹⁸ And do not be drunk with wine, in which is dissipation; but be filled with the Spirit,

  A. In obedience to God’s command.

Getting drunk with wine was associated with the old way of life and its selfish desires and will ultimately end in ruin. Paul contrasted getting drunk with wine, which produces a temporary “high,” to being filled with the Spirit, which produces lasting joy. When a person is drunk, everyone can tell. His or her actions make it obvious. In like manner, our lives should be so completely under the Spirit’s control that our actions and words show beyond a doubt that we are filled with the presence of God’s Holy Spirit. He is urging that we continually be filled by and live in the Spirit. Being filled with the Spirit means we are submitted to Him and He controls us.

B. Invite the Holy Spirit for the anointing to accomplish His will for us.

  1. Jesus is our example.  Acts 10:38 (NKJV)  God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power, who went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with Him. If Jesus needed the anointing to do God’s will, we certainly do!

       C. For witnessing.

  Acts 1:8 (NKJV) ⁸ But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth."

       D. For bearing the fruit of the Spirit. Galatians 5:22-23 (NKJV) ²² But the fruit of the           Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, ²³ gentleness,           self-control. Against such there is no law.

      Fruit is a by-product of our salvation; it takes time to grow and requires care and cultivation. The Spirit produces the fruit; our job is to get in tune with the Spirit. Believers exhibit the fruit of the Spirit, not because they work at it, but simply because the Holy Spirit controls their lives. The fruit of the Spirit separates Christians from a godless, evil world, reveals a power within them, and helps them become more Christ like in their daily lives.

    Invitation: Have you invited Jesus to forgive your sins against God and save you from Hell? If not today is the day, now is the time. Do you invite the Holy Spirit of God to fill you with His power daily to enable you to live God’s priorities and serve Him? Are you being led by His Spirit daily. It’s the only way to the abundant, joy filled, and victorious lifestyle.