Colossians Chapter 3 Verses 8 – 11

•Verses 1 – 4 revealed to us what we need to do as Christians. What we yearn to do even though our flesh somehow blinds us to it day in and day out. As our logic and finite reasoning calls out to us to get ours and to take care of number 1…yet our spirit cries out simply to be near to God and to set our hope and minds and affections upon true reality, heaven!

•Then verses 5 – 7 give us a glimpse of what sowing to the spirit in Biblical talk, or in more practical terms, allowing God to lead not just your life but your days, man…verse 5 – 7 show us what that does in our hearts as we walk with Jesus! Idolatry gets dealt a death sentence! Still there, the fallen nature still always there until Christ our life appears…but it’s been sentenced, we have resolved and its locked up and so there yes but now it’s in constant appeal mode! Big whiner all the time! HA!

•Now, the rest of this chapter is entirely up to you! This is our part in the deal! Our role in the movie of our life that is playing out and unfolding each day! Paul says in verse 8, “But now YOU!” Do you know what that word in the Greek for “you” literally means? YOU! HA! This is your job, your role, your part…what we are to “put off” in verses 8 – 11 and what we are to “put on” in verses 12 – 17 and even to the end of the chapter.

•First, Paul says there are some things we are to put off…lay aside, lay down, cast off, put away…festering anger, humor and delight in the hardship of others…any way, habit or thing that denies the love and mercy and truth of God, and look at this…filthy language. Literally this means, “Low speech.” It is shocking to me when I hear a Christian cuss…just shocking…I am shocked at the weakness and unintelligence of profanity…but the connotation here is not only that but “low speech,” and man just being open with you this morning, the longer I walk with God the more stunning and shocking it is to hear a Christian talk just like the world…or just like hell…both are low, compared to heaven!

•I’ve heard folks say this and I’ve even said this…, “When I got saved, God just cleaned up my mouth!” And you know what, I’m not too sure I buy that any longer…this was and is my job…oh I may not explode at the mouth when I get cut off in traffic any longer but I know to this day when my adrenaline pump starts cranking and my fists ball up and my head starts to boil for some reason…Not that often anymore for sure…I don’t go to the places of the world that excite my aggression like I used to but when I’m out and folks around me are just talking a mess and I know my wife hears it….I still get that tingly tongue!

•Don’t wait for God to clean up your mouth and certainly don’t blame it on Him when you can’t hold your tongue…that’s your job. Time to grow up and put it off. It’s like God’s varsity jacket! And He wants you to letter in godliness! 1 Timothy 6:6 says that, “Godliness with contentment is great gain!” Know what that means? WINNER!

•You ever put your highschool letter jacket on after 10 or 15 or 20 years…maybe in your closet right? And you feel like an absolute idiot! Well I want you to wear yours to the mall this week or to work or to your college class…HA! How dumb would you feel? Why? Because that person is gone man! Those days are gone. (If coach would have just put me in!) You’ve grown! Now that jacket is just kind of silly…when you used to wear that wool thing in 90 degree weather! HA! Well this is just like that! Time to put off these things and put on Christ…(Link loves his suit!), and Paul says by doing this…YOU doing this…YOUR part…you will find this constant renewal process just churning in your heart, mind and life!

•Literally that phrase is you are causing growth…you are engaging new strength and vigor…moving from corrupt to capacity…inability to capability…as you move from lip service to life service at the cross of Christ! Your job!

Colossians Chapter 3 Verses 12 – 15

•Earlier Paul told of us putting on the new man and now we see what that outfit looks like…tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, longsuffering…to bear with one another, to forgive one another, to be ultra loving and constantly thankful…do you know what that sounds like to me? Right near impossible! And it is for sure if you’re not raised with Christ and seeking those things which are above…mind and heart trained by the Spirit and fueled by the hidden treasures of knowledge and wisdom!

•But Paul exhorts us, hooks us up, and says “put it on…” This idea of put on is somewhat like playing a part. Each of us are characters in a story…in your story, in others’ stories, in the story of your family, in the story of this church, we are all playing a role man…which one have you put on? Casting call has come and you have assumed a role, chosen a role…Paul says here is yours Christian…what it is supposed to be, what you need it to be…

•And you know what, it sometimes will fill/feel like you’re just acting…but let me encourage you…OF COURSE IT WILL! You are violating your own fleshly desires when you’re tender, kind, humble and meek! Welcome to the world of obedience and faith! But the more you choose life over death, love over lust, Christ over everything…the more you become exactly who you ought to be…the more you’re put on, stays on. And the cool thing about sanctification…is that your heart’s desire learns strength and truth as the hidden treasures of Christ are unlocked to you…Paul describes them once again in one word…peace…

Colossians Chapter 3 Verses 15 – 17

•(Let the peace of God dwell, let the word of God rule...) That word peace is so very important. Literally it is to be exempt from rage and the havoc of war…all of the destruction caused by the flesh…not only do you cease being the origination point but somehow you are even safeguarded from the shrapnel of the foolishness of others…as Christ is your all in all. Man I want that. That is the state of untouchable. That is to walk out of the boat onto the water with Jesus. The impossible becomes the common place and effectivity for the kingdom surges!

•But there’s another most important word included here by Paul…, “let.” It’s really your choice in the matter Christian. All you are doing in word and in deed…man let God…unleash His love in your life…we must Christians…We must C4! This world needs strong Christians…anyone can find fault in someone but only those filled with Christ can take up their cross for others…and my what God could do, could be doing for you and in you and through you in your life if you would simply allow Him to….