Finished Message Keep Seeking Christ — Colossians 1-3

0:01 Good morning. Good morning. Open your Bibles to Colossians chapter three. Colossians chapter three. Some reason, when when I heard that brother Abe was 30, I started thinking that I've been saved thirty eight years.

0:23 And it's been such a such a blessed experience knowing Jesus as savior and having new birth and even last night, my wife was asking me how the lord worked in my heart and I remember one day walking home from high school and I guess my walk was mediocre to to cold or something of that nature and as I was walking home, suddenly, I felt the lord speak to me right there as I was walking home alone and he says, I'm going to use you. That was it and it was clear as can be. I still remember it as it was right now and the lord just started to to do a work in my heart and the reason I'm saying is because of all of the messages that I heard growing up in church, all the teachings, suddenly, all of it like took place. It became active and alive and so, whenever you preach god's word, it seems as if at times, it doesn't do anything but god's word is powerful and it always accomplishes its purpose, doesn't it? Amen.

1:31 Alright, we're going to look at chapter three of Colossians. I don't know if you've been enjoying the study of Colossians but I have and I can honestly say that my walk has gotten deeper with the lord through studying the book and listening to some of the messages and I've learned to appreciate the lord Jesus even more through it. We're going to be looking at a a PowerPoint here and it's pretty basic but I I like to to to use it sometimes. I think it's effective. I'm a visual person.

2:01 I like to see. So, hopefully, this will this will help you a little bit. Why don't we look at the text first and then we'll we'll comment on on the verses. We're going look at chapter three verse one through four. Colossians three one through four.

2:17 If then, you have been raised up with Christ, keep seeking the things above. Where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your mind on the things above, not on the things that are on earth. For you have died and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ, who is your life, is revealed, then you also will be revealed with him in glory.

2:51 Wow, this is one of my favorite sections of of the scripture. It's just powerful. I'm going read it again but since we're going to tear it up right now and look at it in detail, we won't do that but there's four things I want you to look at. We're going to be looking at keep seeking. Number one, the four point outline if you will.

3:10 Keep seeking, keep thinking, your hiding place, and your life and your life. So, let's start out with the very first point. Verse one, if then you have been raised up with Christ, keep seeking the things above and so noticing, since you have he since he raised you, keep seeking. Now, some of your versions may say if better translated since because it's a fact. Alright.

3:41 Now, the the the this is very important because it's in the the continuous form. Don't just seek him but keep on seeking him and when when he says this, notice that it says that you have been raised up with Christ. This is a reality. Now, when when he says this statement, this particular statement, he's squeezing a lot of thoughts into it and so what I want to do is just kind of look at some of the verses we've been looking at through Colossians and some of the thoughts that are there and then try to make more sense out of this thought since you have been raised up with Christ, keep seeking the things above. So so let's go through this.

4:44 It was a mystery. It was something that wasn't taught in the Old Testament but it's now revealed and it's a reality that blesses us. Christ is in the believer and that is our hope. Amen. And notice also chapter one and verse 12.

4:59 Chapter one and verse 12. Giving thanks to the father who has qualified us to share in the inheritance of the saints and light. I know many of you have been in an interview. You bring your resume, you sit down with a person, they look at your resume, they ask you a few questions and you realize quickly, I'm not qualified. Some of you have probably been through that experience about a 100 times, right?

5:24 I have. Every time I go in there, you may as well walk out the door. Man, you didn't cut it. You're not qualified and and and one thing that's interesting is that the lord noticed not only is Christ in me, that's my hope but the lord qualified me for the inheritance. He's the one that does the qualifying.

5:44 I don't do anything. He qualifies me. Praise the lord for that truth. So, thanks to the father who has qualified us to share in the inheritance of the saints and light. Notice also, for he delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved son.

6:04 So, not only has Christ sent me and not only am I not qualified because the father did it but but he also transformed me from the kingdom of darkness to the kingdom of light. The theme of VBS. Everybody remember? Yes, that was an exciting time, wasn't it? But that is something again.

6:21 Notice that the father did it. It's everything that god is doing for us. You didn't do any of this. Notice verse 22, chapter one and verse 22. Yet, he has now reconciled you in his fleshly body through death in order to present you before him holy and blameless and beyond reproach.

6:43 So, he has reconciled you. He did the reconciling. We just by faith say, thank you lord and we take it but he also did that and notice also chapter two and verse 10, this is one of also one of my favorite verses and in him and Jesus, you have been made complete. So, Jesus completes me as a person in every way, shape, or form but in him, in Jesus, I'm made complete. Praise the lord for that truth and you notice chapter two then in verse 11 and in him, you were also circumcised with a circumcision made without hands in the removal of the body of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ.

7:33 In other words, what he's saying that people were were were teaching falsely that to be a believer isn't enough. You also needed to do a Jewish tradition which included circumcision and Paul saying, you know what? You don't need a physical surgery. You need a spiritual surgery. And when we come to Christ, he cleanses us from sin.

7:54 If you will, he does a surgery where he takes all that sin and removes it from your body. Praise god. Notice, he did it too. He did the surgery, the circumcision if you will in your heart I noticed the next verse, verse two, having been buried with him in baptism in which you were also, here here here's a clue right here, raised up with him through faith in the working of god who raised him from the dead. Now, Paul is drawing from this truth as he's explaining verse three, you have been raised up with Christ.

8:33 Now, here's a very important feature that the believers have to understand and just to shed a little light on on this thought, I'm going to give you. Go to Romans chapter six and look at verse three. Romans six and verse three. Since he has raised you, Romans six three, let let let well, yeah, let's start in verse three. Romans six three, or do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus have been baptized into his death.

9:39 Because baptism means exactly that to to plunge in, to submerge. And so the believer when when when the person turns to Christ for the salvation of his soul, the Bible says literally, when Christ went to the cross, he took you with him and so we're called crucified with Christ. So when we baptize someone and put him under water, that signifies who we were before Christ. And if you will, he buries the old man, he buries sin, and then we raise a person from the water and that symbolizes the resurrected life that we have in Christ. So, not only are we buried with him or crucified, co crucified with Christ but we're also raised, co resurrected with Christ.

10:26 Bringing the the next slide which we'll see right here. This is a a something that's true since he raised you since you are co crucified and co resurrected with Christ, then, it's a continuous action. Don't stop seeking the lord. You see what he's saying? This is a tremendous reality that the believer has to take the heart that you are co crucified with Christ.

10:50 You're no longer who you were and now you are raised up with Christ and because of this truth, don't stop seeking him but I've been saved five years. Don't stop seeking him. I've been saved twenty years. Keep seeking him. I've been saved forty.

11:05 Don't stop seeking them. Don't let that happen in your Christian walk because that is so easy for that to happen is that we stop seeking because I've already heard that if you will. I've been there and I done that. Well, no, no, no. When it comes to the Christian walk, you are raised with Jesus.

11:24 So, don't stop seeking him. Keep on. It's a continuous action. Let's continue in Colossians and I want to continue building upon what he has done. So, having been buried with him, crow crucified in baptism, it's symbolizing that truth in which you were also raised with him through faith in the working of god.

11:47 Notice, it's god doing this whole thing who raised him from the dead. He raised Jesus from the dead. So, god worked and co crucified us and co raised us with him and when you were dead, verse 13, two, two, and 13. When you were dead in your transgressions and in the uncircumcision of your flesh, notice, he made you alive together with him. So, notice that he's doing the whole thing.

12:15 He qualified you. He transferred you into his kingdom. He took you with him when he when he was crucified. He raised you up with him and also, it says that he made you alive together with him having forgiven us all of our transgressions, every one of them. It's important that we understand this truth and so Paul is still building.

12:55 All of us were lost and so there's this list if you will of all the sins we did and they were hostile against us. They accused us. They condemned us if you will to hell. We were separated from god and so, what does he do? He takes that certificate, he takes that list, and I'm going to add to it that Satan has it and he dangles it in front of god worthy of hell, worthy of punishment.

13:22 Look what he did and so Jesus takes that certificate which is the breaking of the law, and he nails it to the cross. Wow. And so he canceled it out. He nailed it to the cross, and notice what it says and he disarmed the rulers and authorities. He made a public display of them having triumphed over them in the cross and so here's what he did.

13:49 Here's Satan dangling that certificate that was against me. It was hostile towards me. And Jesus says, give me that. And he nailed it to the cross. And and the Bible says that he disarmed them which means he stripped them.

14:02 He stripped them. He he took away his arm. So that he is now with without any arm, any accusation against the believer because Jesus cancelled out that certificate of death. He can no longer accuse the believer. Hallelujah.

14:18 Isn't that a blessing? Alright. So he cancelled out the debt and he nailed it to the cross and it's no longer he disarmed them. He stripped them of all of his power. See, all of this is squeezed into the thought that we've been raised up with Christ but he's not done.

14:36 There's more. I want you to notice chapter two and verse 16 then, not only did he disarm the rulers and authorities which is Satan and all his demons but he made a public display of them having triumphed over them through him. So, apparently, somewhere between the death and resurrection of Christ, somewhere in that time, there was a a a parade if you will in heaven in in which Jesus the victor put Satan and all his demons and they had a big parade where the angels were all around and they publicly shamed them. And he was stripped and it's the idea of of when the Romans had a victory, they would get the defeated foe and they would have a parade and they would have the leader stripped and shamed and they would all mock him as he walked through. See, that's what Jesus did to Satan and his demons.

15:32 He stripped them and they made a public display of them. Every sin was paid for on the cross. Wow. And then he says, not only that but Jesus is a substance the the the substance of the Christian's life. He's a substance of Christian life.

16:24 And because this is true with all of the implications, then, keep on seeking. To raise you means that he you are co resurrected with the lord Jesus Christ. So, since this is true, keep seeking Christ and all that he gives to those that are his, keep feeding on him. He's so wise and he's so gracious and he has identified with you in every way, in death and resurrection. Jamacar to put it this way, the Christians enter into Christ's death and resurrection at the moment of their salvation.

17:00 Since he raised you means to be co resurrected with Christ. And so the text says, since you have been raised up with Christ, keep seeking him continually. Where is he at right now? Where Christ did, seated at the right hand of god. The place of honor and so the believer has to keep on seeking continuously the resurrected Christ because he resurrected you too.

17:27 Keep seeking him. Don't stop seeking. The next commandment which is the next slide is keep on thinking. Keep on thinking. Notice the text.

17:37 Verse two, set your mind or your Bible might say your affection but that's the idea of your mind, your thought life, set your mind on the things above, not on things that are on earth. Lightfoot said this, if you can put the the first slide up please. Listen to what he said, Lightfoot, love what he said. You must not only seek heaven, keep seeking the things above, but you must think heaven. So notice what he says, seek the things above, set your mind on the things above.

18:10 So don't just seek the things up there, think about them. And so, the next slide please. The things below. He said, don't do that. Don't keep your eyes on the things below because it's by sight.

18:22 It offers things which appeal to the eyes, to lust, to the pride of life and so, don't don't don't don't put those eyes down. Keep keep em up. Keep em up and notice the next one, the next slide please. Things above. Here's the thing, it's by faith.

18:39 It's by faith. You you live for an invisible kingdom. Has anyone here ever seen the lord Jesus? Have there anyone here ever seen with his eyes the kingdom of heaven been up there and seen it? No, we haven't and so the Bible is saying, keep on thinking about heaven even though you haven't seen it because your faith tells you that Jesus is real and that he's up there in the heavenly places exalted at the right hand of god.

19:07 So, keep on thinking about heaven. Don't don't let this world with with all of that it offers draw your attention. Notice the next slide. Both, both heaven and earth heaven, I'm sorry, and earth. Yes, I was correct.

19:26 The the world, the things below and heaven, both of them want your mind. They want your thoughts to dwell on them. See, that's the whole purpose of this world. That flashes all of these alluring things at us and it offers so much and and the things that appeals to us. And the Bible says, if you keep on looking pretty soon, it's going to start to to little by little, you're start gravitating towards it.

19:53 So, in order to avoid that, you keep your eyes up because this world is is physical and it's visual and it's going to keep drawing you. So, keep seeking the things above and and notice that both of them want your mind. Think about heaven. The Bible says, not on the earth and the and the world says, no, no, think about me. Look at all I have to offer.

20:13 They both want your thoughts to dwell on them. Notice and they offer promises and benefits. Here's the difference. The the promises of the world of the earth are are immediate. Yeah, if you go and sin, you can have immediate gratification.

20:29 Everything that is offered, that it offers us now and and by faith, we think, yeah, but heaven has all of these promises and he wants me to think about it and it's coming and it's going to be eternal. It lasts forever and and and the world's things are are temporal. And we have to keep these things in mind. We walk by by faith and not by sight. Walk by faith and not by sight.

20:54 And so, the Bible says then, keep seeking heaven. Keep thinking about heaven where Jesus is. Keep looking up there and notice then the next verse, we can switch over. No, notice this passage. See, it it takes it even deeper.

21:12 So, believer, not only are you co crucified with Christ, you're raised up with Christ. Wow. What a blessing in itself. So, keep seeking the lord. Keep thinking about the things above.

21:51 It's not possible to be more safe and more secure and this is one of those text for you have died that is tied to what? To who you were, to your old self, to sin. Remember, you're co crucified. As a matter of fact, go to Galatians chapter two and verse 20. You might even know this by memory.

22:09 Galatians two twenty, listen to what it says, for I have been crucified with Christ. That's what it means by you have died. You've been crucified with Christ and it's no longer I who live but Christ lives in me and the life which I now live in the flesh, I live by faith in the son of god who love me and delivered himself up for me. So, I am crucified with Christ. That's what it means by you have died.

22:36 It doesn't mean that I'm looking at a bunch of dead corpse because obviously, you're moving around so you're alive, right? He's talking about, I am crucified with Christ. Not only crucified but you are what? Resurrected too. You've been raised with him.

22:54 Co crucified, co resurrected, resurrected and so that's what he's he's stressing that truth again. So, you have died and your life is hidden with Christ in god. You you remember John? Just just listen. I'm going to read it to you.

23:10 John ten twenty eight and and nine. Listen to what it says. I give eternal life to them and they shall never perish and no one shall snatch them out of my hand. My father who has given them to me is greater than all and no one is able to snatch them out of the father's hand. Because I'm hidden with Christ in god.

23:39 Totally secure. Scriptures can't make it more plain that there's no one greater, more powerful than god the father and Christ has you. God the father has you and you're absolutely hidden and protected in him. Now, I'm going to read to you Psalm ninety ninety two and I want you to 91, I'm sorry and just listen to this beautiful Psalm. Maybe some of you know it and you've enjoyed it and and just rejoiced in it but Psalm 91, I want to read the first four verses.

24:08 He who dwells in the shelter of the most high will abide in the shadow of the almighty. I will say to the lord, my refuge and my fortress, my god in whom I trust, it it is he who delivers you from the snare of the trapper And from the deadly pestilence. He will cover you with his pinions. And under his wings, you may seek refuge. His faithfulness is a shield and a bulwark.

24:40 The next slide. You are safe in him. Next, he's your shelter and your refuge. One more. And a bulwark.

24:53 Believers, what a blessing. What a blessing to be hidden in Christ. And with this, I want you to listen to a song and I hope it blesses you and you enjoy it. That speaks of our our hiding place. These girls have prepared it and I think it'll it'll bring great comfort to your heart and great joy to your heart.

25:21 And just listen to it and as you're listening to it, think about these verses that we have been considering. So I thought this song would would bring to life the thought of we are hidden in Christ. You are my hiding place, a refuge. And notice, finally, thank you, growth. Notice finally the the next, thing is, you have died is a past tense.

29:36 Listen, the scriptures exhort us that Christ has to move from being just your savior to your very life. To to the very center of your life to to that which moves you, the center of your affections if you will. Because god knows that whoever has your heart has you. But not everybody calls him. He calls him your very life.

30:05 This is the reason we live. Life is pointless without him. Christ is my life. He's the reason I do what I do. Notice that the scriptures then are taking us to another level.

30:19 He wants you to realize that your relationship with Jesus is so intimate. It is so close. You're so identified with him in every way. In his death, in his resurrection, in his powerful life right now. You are hidden in Christ.

30:34 And so, the relationship that a believer has with Jesus is deeper than marriage. See, that's why he says that in heaven, there's not going to be any marriage. Why? Because you're going to know the lord and we're going know each other in such an intimate way that it's going to be more intimate than marriage because the point of marriage is my wife knows me and knows me well. Or my husband if you will.

31:00 If you're if you're a lady. And no one knows your spouse like you do, but in heaven, our relationship with God is going to be so intimate and so deep and with each other that we're not going to need marriage for that intimacy. But this is the level the Lord wants to take us to where you stop saying just Christ my savior to Christ my very life. Christ my very love. The reason I do what I do.

31:30 Notice also how identified we are with Christ, then you also will be revealed with him in glory. See, the lord when he took you and he saved you and he took you with him to the cross and he resurrected you and he says to keep seeking continuously. Keep thinking about him because you're hidden in Christ. Notice what he says. You're so associated with me that even when I return in in the in to to establish my kingdom and at that time, no longer by faith but everybody's going to see me and and when I'm revealed in all of my glory, you're to be right there with him.

32:06 Did you notice? Then, you also will be revealed with him in glory. Wow. No wonder Paul says keep seeking and keep thinking. The the Christian life is such a beautiful life where the the the believer is forgiven completely, is transferred into his kingdom, is loved, is hidden and protected, he's my refuge, and then he becomes my very life.

32:41 I like the way Paul said it, for for to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain. So I want you to notice also how deep this is, that he says, from verse one through four, you're with Christ where Christ is, with Christ, when Christ, with Christ. And so we are secure in him. So let's let's sum it up. Since then you have been raised up with him.

33:12 Hopefully, you know what it means by now. Keep seeking the things above where Christ is seated at the right hand of God in a place of honor, in a place of of glory. Set your mind on those things. It's going to be by faith. None of things on earth because the things on earth are by sight and they're now and they're temporal but everything in heaven is gonna be by faith but it'll be real one day but not yet.

33:39 Remember, you died with Christ. I am crucified with Christ. I no longer live for myself but now I live the life of Christ And my life is hidden. I am protected with Christ because of what he did for me on the cross. When Christ, who is your life, is revealed, then you also will be revealed with him in glory.

34:37 I I I'm your refuge and not only that but I wanna become your very life. And not only that when I come back, you're gonna come with me and you're gonna be glorified with me with all of the saints. Listen, have you turned to Jesus? Are are you seeking him continually? Where he's at?

34:55 Is your mind focused on this great blessings that are yours? Turn to Christ today. Turn to him. Turn to save you. There's no greater time to than to do it than now.

35:08 And for the believer, if this doesn't cause your heart to rejoice and to overflow with with gladness, nothing will. Do you know Christ as your savior? You could know about him, but not personally known in an intimate way. But when you know him, suddenly your heart changes and all of your affections are drawn towards the savior and no one else. So keep seeking, keep thinking in heaven.

35:42 You're hidden in Christ and you are also glorified in Christ. Christ, your very life. Let's pray. Father, what a beautiful portion where you have taken us to to depths that are hard to believe. You took us with you to the cross, Jesus, and we are co crucified, but you also raised us up with you unto newness of life.

36:13 You're up in heaven and we're seeking you. We're thinking about you. We're thinking about heaven, looking up. We're looking for that day when you're gonna be revealed. And we're gonna be with you for all eternity.

36:28 How can we praise you enough? You indeed are our hiding place. Thank you, Lord. Send us home with your blessing in Jesus name. Amen.

36:41 If you would like to know more about Christ, I'd be thrilled to talk to you.