FBC Morning Light (12/14/2024)

Faith Baptist Church

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Good Saturday morning people of faith. This weekend's reading has for us the book of Colossians, the book of Philemon, and the book of James.

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And there's a myriad of things that we could talk about from any of those. I'm going to talk about the book of Colossians a little bit and not get too much into it, but look mostly at the end of chapter 2 and the beginning of chapter 3.

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Most of Paul's epistles, pretty much all of them except for the book of Galatians, follows a pretty particular pattern of talking about things that are true about the believer, and then because of certain things that are true about the believer in each book that Paul is emphasizing, he then applies that to that particular congregation that he is addressing to the believers, in this case in Colossae.

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Sitting in verse 20 of chapter 2, it says, 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?

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Do not touch, do not taste, do not handle, which all concern things which perish with the using, according to the commandments and doctrines of men.

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These things indeed have an appearance of wisdom in self -imposed religion, false humility, and neglect of the body, but are of no value against the indulgence of the flesh.

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In general here, Paul is talking about the manner in which the

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Christian chooses to live his life such that he gets some sort of satisfaction or internal gratification from following a man -made rule that, in some sense, seems to give some false humility or, you know, some looks, makes a person look wise, but ultimately has no real value, all right?

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And so, in light of that, Paul says then in chapter 3,

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If then you were raised with Christ, who was raised with Christ?

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The person who has placed their trust in Christ has been raised with Christ.

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See those things which are above where Christ is.

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Interesting to note that Christ is above, all right?

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That may seem kind of obvious, but this has implications in a number of things, but Christ is seated in the heavenlies with the

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Father and has sent his Holy Spirit to lead and to teach and direct and guide and those things.

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It would have implication for those that think that in the taking of communion that Christ's physical presence would be there.

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This would seemingly contradict that. It says, Sitting at the right hand of God, at the end of verse 1 in chapter 3, set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth.

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You may have heard it said, and it is a very common expression to say, that person is so heavenly -minded that they are no earthly good.

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And I would suggest to you that that statement is in bold contradiction to the

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Word of God in verse 2 of chapter 3 of the book of Colossians.

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We are commanded to set our minds on things above.

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What are some of the things above that this is talking about? Well, Christ is above.

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Set our mind on Christ, that our mindset would be for God's glory in Christ, that it wouldn't be about my achievements or accomplishments in this life.

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And I will tell you right now, as I look back over the last several years of my life,

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I must admit that there are times when I was interested in teaching for someone, for the purpose that someone would tell me, well done, that was a good job,

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I was so blessed by what you taught. And yet, that is not setting my mind on things that are above, that's setting my mind on things that are here.

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Yes, I want to do a good job in teaching. There's nothing wrong with that, but if I do it for the praise of men and not for the glory of God, then that is a problem.

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For you died, verse 3, and your life is hidden with Christ in God.

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My life is not my own, my life is hidden with Christ in God.

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When Christ, who is our life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.

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Let just that word stand by itself and think of our lives are not meant for the praise of one another, but for God's glory, and let it be that we live our lives starting this day, if not starting before, for his glory.

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Let's pray. Lord, thank you for your word. May it be that I do not live my life for my own glory and for my own self -satisfaction, for my accomplishments, but rather for your glory, that whatever is accomplished, however small or however great, would be for you and the purpose of your work and your gospel and your kingdom, and not for my own self -satisfaction.

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It's in your Son's name, Jesus, we pray. Amen. Have an excellent day, people of faith.