Set Your Mind

Scripture Text

Colossians 3:1-17

Intro: There is an old saying that says “He's so heavenly minded, he's no earthly good.” That is in total opposition to what God says in His word. We are commanded by the Father to set our minds on things above where Christ is. Only then can we be of any earthly good.

I. We are to think on heavenly things. Colossians 3:1-2 (NKJV) ¹  If then you were raised with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God. ²  Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth.

a. We are in control of what we think. Proverbs 23:7a (NKJV)  For as he thinks in his heart, so is he. A person will become what they set their mind on. We have an obligation to fix our minds on the things of heaven. That's where all our blessings come from. James 1:16-17 says ¹⁶  Do not be deceived, my beloved brethren. ¹⁷  Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning. Things of the earth are where sin, worries, doubts and problems come from. Heaven has the answer for all our needs. We set our minds by reading God's word and communicating with Him in prayer and meditation. We hide God's word in our hearts and use it throughout the day. We use God's word as the path for our lives.

II. We have died to the things of earth. Colossians 3:2-4 (NKJV) ²  Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth. ³  For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. ⁴  When Christ who is our life appears, then you also will appear with Him in glory.

a. For you died means that we died when Christ died. It happened at a point in history. In Christ’s death, all believers died (2:20). Colossians 2:20 (NKJV) ²⁰  Therefore, if you died with Christ from the basic principles of the world, why, as though living in the world, do you subject yourselves to regulations. Then, like a seed buried in the earth, a believer’s real life is hidden from the world, just as Christ’s glory is hidden, only to be revealed when he returns. Our spiritual lives are hidden in union with Christ who has brought us to be with Him in God.

One day, when Christ is revealed in his glory, we believers will also share in all his glory. Then the divine life of Christ will be revealed fully and will glorify us by revealing our true potential as children of God. We Christians look forward to the new heaven and new earth that God has promised, and we wait for God to free us of sin, sickness, evil and death. In the meantime, we go with Christ into the world, where we help heal people’s bodies and souls and fight the evil effects of sin. That's what the church is all about. Christ gives us power to live for Him now, and He gives us hope for the future when He will return.

III. We are to put to death the old sinful nature. Colossians 3:5-9 (NKJV)
⁵  Therefore put to death your members which are on the earth: fornication, uncleanness, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry. ⁶  Because of these things the wrath of God is coming upon the sons of disobedience, ⁷  in which you yourselves once walked when you lived in them. ⁸  But now you yourselves are to put off all these: anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy language out of your mouth. ⁹  Do not lie to one another, since you have put off the old man with his deeds,

a. If we believers are to live as examples of Christ, we are to put to death certain aspects of the sinful earthly things lurking within us—the sinful nature, the old self. Although we have died with Christ and have been raised with Him, we are still susceptible to temptation and the evils of the sinful nature, so we daily must put these things to death. In other words, stop doing them. The Spirit of God within us gives us the power to crucify our fleshly deeds. These sins will bring God's judgment upon mankind.

IV. We are to put on our new nature. [vs:10-17]Colossians 3:10-17 (NKJV) ¹⁰  and have put on the new man who is renewed in knowledge according to the image of Him who created him, ¹¹  where there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcised nor uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave nor free, but Christ is all and in all. ¹²  Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, put on tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, longsuffering; ¹³  bearing with one another, and forgiving one another, if anyone has a complaint against another; even as Christ forgave you, so you also must do. ¹⁴  But above all these things put on love, which is the bond of perfection. ¹⁵  And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to which also you were called in one body; and be thankful. ¹⁶  Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord. ¹⁷  And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.

a. Our new nature leads us to live in the likeness of Christ. Paul was appealing to the commitment the Colossians and we as believers have made, he urges us all to remain true to our confession of faith. Every Christian is in a continuing work in progress. Renewal is constantly needed in the believer’s battle against sin and the old nature. What we learn is personal knowledge of Christ who created this new nature within us. The goal of the learning is Christ likeness. The more we believers know of Christ and his work, the more we are being changed to be like him a little at a time. 2 Corinthians 3:18 (NKJV)  But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as we are being led by the Spirit of the Lord. Because this process is lifelong, we must never stop learning the things of God and obeying.

Therefore we must set or fix our minds on the things of God.

Invitation: Have you been born again with this new nature that only Christ can give? If not, now is the perfect time to confess your sins to Christ and ask Him to forgive you. Then invite Him to take control of your life and live in you until God takes you to glory to be with Him. Be baptized to bring glory to His name!

Does God Know, Does He Care?

Scripture Texts 

Matt. 10:29-31

Psalm 139:1-7, 16-18

Intro: Have you ever wondered if God had lost your address, or that He has forgotten you, or He doesn't care about you or your situation? Have you honestly ever had those thoughts? If you think God has forgotten you or He doesn't know or care about you or what's going on in your life, then His word to you is no, you are not forgotten or lost from God, and He does care.

I. Does God care about you? Matthew 10:29-31 (NKJV) ²⁹  Are not two sparrows sold for a copper coin? And not one of them falls to the ground apart from your Father's will. ³⁰  But the very hairs of your head are all numbered. ³¹  Do not fear therefore; you are of more value than many sparrows. There are over 7½ billion people on earth and yet God has His eyes on you and His eye is on the sparrow!

a. If you feel estranged from God, you have gotten away from Him and His care. Verse 30 says that God knows so much about you He has every hair on your head counted. So does God know and does He care? Jesus asks a question in verse 29 and then He answers that question in verse 31. You are very valuable to God and He delights in you. He gave His Son for you because you are priceless to Him.

II. Does God know about you? Psalm 139:1-7 (NKJV) ¹  For the Chief Musician. A Psalm of David. O LORD, You have searched me and known me. ²  You know my sitting down and my rising up; You understand my thought afar off. ³  You comprehend my path and my lying down, And are acquainted with all my ways. ⁴  For there is not a word on my tongue, But behold, O LORD, You know it altogether. ⁵  You have hedged me behind and before, And laid Your hand upon me. ⁶  Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; It is high, I cannot attain it. ⁷  Where can I go from Your Spirit? Or where can I flee from Your presence?

a. King David answers that question in verse 1 of Ps. 139. It was revealed to him that God has a thorough and infinite knowledge of mankind. He not only knows you, He knows what you are experiencing right now at this stage in your life. He knows everything about you and He does care. In verse 2 look what it says! God knows your every thought. He knows your every move. Even if you are not aware of His presence, He's not only by your side if you are a christian, He lives in you by His Spirit. If you are not a Christian, I will tell you how you can be at the end of this message.

In verse 3 God has laid out a path for your life. He will help you through the hard times and the good times. God sometimes has us to stop and rest. Psalms 23:2-3 (NKJV) ² He makes me to lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside the still waters. ³ He restores my soul; He leads me in the paths of righteousness For His name's sake. Does God know? Every moment God knows where you are.

In verse 4 God knows what you are going to say even before you say it. He knows what's on your mind and in your heart at all times.

In verse 5 God precedes and follows you. You are constantly surrounded by His Spirit. His Spirit is not only in us, His Spirit also surrounds us. His hand of blessing is on your head. Yes God knows and He cares. Do you recognize His hand of blessing on you? In verse 6 All of this is to wonderful and glorious to believe and yet it is all true.

In verse 7 you can not ever be lost to God's Spirit and you can never get away from God's presence. No matter where you go, God is there! Does God know about you?Psalm 139:15-18 (NKJV) ¹⁵  My frame was not hidden from You, When I was made in secret, And skillfully wrought in the lowest parts of the earth. ¹⁶  Your eyes saw my substance, being yet unformed. And in Your book they all were written, The days fashioned for me, When as yet there were none of them. ¹⁷  How precious also are Your thoughts to me, O God! How great is the sum of them! ¹⁸  If I should count them, they would be more in number than the sand; When I awake, I am still with You.

In verse 15 God formed your inward parts and covered you in your mother's womb.

In verse 16 God saw you before you were born and scheduled every day of your life before you took your first breath. Every day of your life is recorded in His book.

In verse 17 God thinks about you constantly. How precious that is to know. He knows what's going on in your life every moment. Does know and does He care?

In verse 18 God's thoughts toward you each day can't even be counted. His thoughts are continually toward you and you never leave His thoughts 24/7's. He watches over you while you sleep protecting you from all harm.

When you wake up in the morning God is still thinking of you, charting your path for the day.

Conclusion: Yes God knows and God cares for you. Turn to Him each day in bible reading, meditate on His word, and commune with Him in prayer. You will find strength, comfort, and rest for your soul that you didn't know you could have.

Won't you put God first in your life right now! Make a determination to keep your focus on Him rather than worry. It will change your life and you will never be the same.

Invitation: Does God personally know you as His child? John 3:16 says “God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life.” confess your sins to Jesus and ask Him to forgive you and invite Him into your life to take charge of you and you will have eternal life and you will know His power and presence in your life.

Christians, let's make a new determination right now to live the rest of our lives in the power of Christ to be able to overcome everything that comes our way. Let's be aware of His presence in us and around us each day and night.