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!