WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:09.599 Well, before I reflect on God's word, let's pray and ask God to help us as we consider what he has said. 00:00:10.240 --> 00:00:13.500 Father, we thank you for the gift of your living word. 00:00:13.919 --> 00:00:17.460 We thank you for the gift of the Lord Jesus in our midst now. 00:00:18.280 --> 00:00:21.780 And Father, we ask that you will show Jesus to us. 00:00:22.379 --> 00:00:28.320 That the hearts, each of our hearts will be open wide to your truth. 00:00:28.320 --> 00:00:33.340 That we will receive with humility the truth of your word. 00:00:33.460 --> 00:00:39.320 That we might be strengthened and guided to be your faithful servants in this world. 00:00:39.700 --> 00:00:41.980 In Jesus' name we pray. Amen. 00:00:43.719 --> 00:00:49.219 Well, I want to say what a joy it is to be with you here today at Messiah West. 00:00:49.700 --> 00:00:52.320 And this is my first time in this place here. 00:00:52.460 --> 00:00:57.620 And it sounds like you guys might be a little disoriented because it sounds like you were switched around for quite a while. 00:00:57.619 --> 00:01:00.659 And for some reason you decided to go this way. 00:01:00.799 --> 00:01:01.339 It fits more people. 00:01:01.539 --> 00:01:02.579 It fits more people. 00:01:02.679 --> 00:01:03.679 Well, that's a very good thing. 00:01:04.379 --> 00:01:07.679 And it is certainly a bigger congregation than the last time I was here. 00:01:08.140 --> 00:01:12.599 God is doing a work among you for which I am very grateful. 00:01:12.819 --> 00:01:16.640 And I pray for you as a congregation regularly. 00:01:16.640 --> 00:01:21.420 I have moved to Ontario a year and a half ago. 00:01:21.500 --> 00:01:25.239 I think the last time I was here we had literally moved two days before. 00:01:26.040 --> 00:01:29.939 And so I was feeling a bit disoriented myself on that day. 00:01:30.359 --> 00:01:32.040 And I feel much more settled. 00:01:32.819 --> 00:01:40.260 And it's a time where I just feel very grateful to be visiting churches in this part of the country. 00:01:40.260 --> 00:01:45.020 And seeing God's work in people's lives in very powerful ways. 00:01:45.700 --> 00:01:50.120 It's so encouraging when I come to churches and visit and see God's work. 00:01:51.260 --> 00:01:53.680 So Daniel said, you guys were in a sermon series. 00:01:53.780 --> 00:01:55.000 There's a break right now. 00:01:55.280 --> 00:01:57.180 You can choose whatever you want to preach on. 00:01:57.780 --> 00:02:00.660 So I'm going to choose Colossians chapter 3. 00:02:00.780 --> 00:02:03.500 If you turn in your Bibles, it's just four verses. 00:02:03.500 --> 00:02:07.099 Although I'm going to be looking at other parts of this beautiful letter. 00:02:08.139 --> 00:02:12.819 And if you can turn to Colossians 3, that will be very, very helpful indeed. 00:02:14.900 --> 00:02:19.560 And I want to begin by saying, Alleluia, Christ is risen. 00:02:20.240 --> 00:02:23.039 Now when I say that, what would you say in response? 00:02:25.340 --> 00:02:27.099 Very good. Very good. 00:02:27.560 --> 00:02:31.560 And let's say that a little bit enthusiastically right now. 00:02:31.560 --> 00:02:33.719 Alleluia, Christ is risen. 00:02:34.060 --> 00:02:35.420 He is risen indeed. 00:02:35.719 --> 00:02:36.479 Alleluia. 00:02:36.680 --> 00:02:37.199 Fantastic. 00:02:38.340 --> 00:02:39.879 That's the core of our faith. 00:02:40.780 --> 00:02:45.259 That is what everything that we are about as Christians is based on. 00:02:45.580 --> 00:02:46.620 That's our bedrock. 00:02:46.759 --> 00:02:48.840 That's our foundation as well. 00:02:49.480 --> 00:02:53.159 And I love the way, how earthy it is, 00:02:53.259 --> 00:02:55.460 that we have something called the 39 Articles, 00:02:55.560 --> 00:02:58.920 that if you were holding a prayer book, you would see at the very end of it. 00:02:58.919 --> 00:03:01.579 By the way, I used to, when I was Renaud's age, 00:03:01.679 --> 00:03:04.959 sometimes I'd get bored by the sermon and I'd read the 39 Articles, 00:03:05.479 --> 00:03:07.719 which probably meant the sermon was really boring. 00:03:07.719 --> 00:03:11.879 But in there, I love what it says about the resurrection. 00:03:12.459 --> 00:03:13.379 It's very earthy. 00:03:13.379 --> 00:03:23.519 It says, Christ did truly rise again from death and took again his body with flesh and bones 00:03:23.519 --> 00:03:27.680 and all things pertaining to the perfection of man's nature, 00:03:28.299 --> 00:03:32.740 wherewith he ascended into heaven and there he sits. 00:03:32.780 --> 00:03:37.340 In other words, he reigns, he rules until he comes again in glory. 00:03:38.280 --> 00:03:39.680 Well, that's the faith of Easter. 00:03:39.680 --> 00:03:45.480 It is an earthy, real rising from the dead. 00:03:46.240 --> 00:03:51.740 And it's an event that historians have a hard time with if they don't believe in miracles, 00:03:51.980 --> 00:03:53.740 which most don't, of course. 00:03:54.540 --> 00:04:01.180 But every good historian today knows that very soon after Jesus was crucified, 00:04:01.540 --> 00:04:04.840 and there's no doubt of that, historians will say, 00:04:04.840 --> 00:04:10.340 but very soon after, people who were followers of this Jesus, 00:04:11.400 --> 00:04:12.900 their lives were changed. 00:04:14.099 --> 00:04:20.519 And they were willing to die for the fact that Jesus rose from the dead bodily 00:04:20.519 --> 00:04:21.819 and that they saw him. 00:04:22.699 --> 00:04:25.199 And that up to 500 people at one time saw him. 00:04:25.980 --> 00:04:28.180 And it utterly transformed their lives. 00:04:28.180 --> 00:04:33.180 And this faith spread very, very quickly right away. 00:04:33.879 --> 00:04:38.780 And in a sense, there's this God-shaped hole in history 00:04:38.780 --> 00:04:43.400 that says we can't explain why these people changed so much overnight. 00:04:44.420 --> 00:04:46.060 Something happened to them. 00:04:46.060 --> 00:04:52.360 And the thing that happened is they saw this real, live, resurrected Lord Jesus. 00:04:52.740 --> 00:04:54.019 And they would say this, 00:04:54.439 --> 00:04:58.980 that which we have seen and heard and touched with our hands, 00:04:59.379 --> 00:05:00.519 this is what we proclaim. 00:05:01.259 --> 00:05:02.240 This is what we proclaim. 00:05:02.819 --> 00:05:04.319 This is what we're willing to die for. 00:05:04.420 --> 00:05:05.639 This is what we give our lives for. 00:05:05.680 --> 00:05:07.399 We're willing to lose our jobs for, 00:05:07.800 --> 00:05:10.540 is that Jesus truly rose from the dead. 00:05:10.540 --> 00:05:16.200 And I want to say that the great thing is that our service, 00:05:16.300 --> 00:05:17.960 as we always say in every service, 00:05:18.100 --> 00:05:20.120 I believe in the resurrection of the body. 00:05:21.020 --> 00:05:25.060 Well, what that means is that you believe not only that Jesus rose again, 00:05:25.960 --> 00:05:31.040 but that it affects you, it changes your life today completely. 00:05:31.820 --> 00:05:38.240 That his bodily resurrection will be like your resurrection one day. 00:05:38.240 --> 00:05:40.620 That this is what is before us. 00:05:41.019 --> 00:05:44.300 It is what we have as the sure and certain hope. 00:05:44.819 --> 00:05:48.280 It is the resurrection of the body, the resurrection of the dead. 00:05:49.360 --> 00:05:58.120 And every day of our life as Christians depends on the fact that Jesus did this, 00:05:58.300 --> 00:06:03.000 that he rose in such power on that Easter day last week. 00:06:03.000 --> 00:06:14.360 And what it tells us too is that you and I have a changed relationship with God because of that resurrection. 00:06:15.319 --> 00:06:20.560 Because the point of Holy Week and Easter, which you all experienced last week, 00:06:21.120 --> 00:06:27.439 is that Jesus' mission to bring peace with you and God was accomplished. 00:06:27.439 --> 00:06:29.660 That's the point of why he came. 00:06:30.120 --> 00:06:33.040 That you are in a forever relationship with the Lord Jesus. 00:06:33.519 --> 00:06:36.899 That you are adopted by grace. 00:06:37.639 --> 00:06:42.439 I have a friend in ministry who is adopting a little girl right now. 00:06:42.500 --> 00:06:43.379 It's in the process. 00:06:43.720 --> 00:06:47.319 Which is quite a, it's quite an involved and difficult process. 00:06:47.800 --> 00:06:49.800 But they know who this little girl is. 00:06:50.180 --> 00:06:51.920 She's only about two months old. 00:06:51.920 --> 00:06:59.660 And her life is forever changed because she will be adopted by this Christian family. 00:07:00.439 --> 00:07:04.360 There is a complete change that she will experience the rest of her life. 00:07:04.800 --> 00:07:06.920 And it will, it is great, great blessing. 00:07:07.100 --> 00:07:07.800 Let me tell you. 00:07:08.500 --> 00:07:13.240 That is true for each of us if we have placed our faith in the risen Lord Jesus. 00:07:13.240 --> 00:07:18.740 You have been adopted by grace into this new family of God. 00:07:18.840 --> 00:07:20.379 And it's a done deal. 00:07:20.520 --> 00:07:21.180 It's forever. 00:07:21.920 --> 00:07:23.079 And nothing can change it. 00:07:23.720 --> 00:07:25.920 And that is what is at the heart of your life now. 00:07:26.000 --> 00:07:30.100 That is the heart of your identity. 00:07:31.139 --> 00:07:32.800 And identity is big in our culture. 00:07:33.400 --> 00:07:36.019 But that is what is at the very center of your life. 00:07:36.860 --> 00:07:39.840 And that's what our reading from Colossians is all about. 00:07:39.980 --> 00:07:41.960 In those verses that I want to go through you with. 00:07:42.639 --> 00:07:46.079 These little verses are about your identity. 00:07:46.920 --> 00:07:50.139 About what it means that Jesus rose from the dead for you. 00:07:50.139 --> 00:07:58.240 And it's part of a very loving letter that Paul wrote to this group of believers in Colossi. 00:07:58.659 --> 00:08:01.219 He probably never met those believers, by the way. 00:08:01.220 --> 00:08:04.000 But he knew about them. 00:08:04.000 --> 00:08:05.300 He heard about them. 00:08:05.400 --> 00:08:09.220 And he said that in his heart, he held them close. 00:08:09.640 --> 00:08:10.860 He prayed for them constantly. 00:08:10.860 --> 00:08:16.220 And at the very beginning of the letter, he says, I pray for you every day. 00:08:16.879 --> 00:08:19.139 And then he tells them exactly what he prays for. 00:08:19.240 --> 00:08:23.500 So if you were to flip over to chapter 1, verse 9. 00:08:23.500 --> 00:08:28.660 He is praying that they will be filled with the knowledge of Jesus. 00:08:29.939 --> 00:08:35.240 And so that they will walk in a manner pleasing to God. 00:08:35.700 --> 00:08:42.600 So if you want to boil down the letter of Colossians, it's saying, know who Jesus is and who you are in Jesus. 00:08:43.220 --> 00:08:47.120 And because of that, walk in a way that's pleasing to God. 00:08:47.120 --> 00:08:53.560 And I do invite you to read this little letter because it is an extraordinary letter. 00:08:54.139 --> 00:08:57.740 It tells us about what the Christian faith and life is all about. 00:08:58.419 --> 00:09:05.639 And we know what it means to know Jesus and to walk in a manner that's pleasing to God. 00:09:05.759 --> 00:09:11.259 Because in the next verse at the end, he says, keep on bearing fruit in every good work. 00:09:11.340 --> 00:09:12.299 That's what I'm praying for. 00:09:12.299 --> 00:09:16.279 And I'm praying that you will increase in the knowledge of God. 00:09:16.919 --> 00:09:25.339 And then finally, that you will be strengthened with all power to have endurance and patience as you walk with Jesus. 00:09:25.339 --> 00:09:28.620 And all the challenges of life that you experience. 00:09:29.240 --> 00:09:30.879 In all the challenges of life. 00:09:33.059 --> 00:09:35.779 So God calls each of us to be changed. 00:09:36.259 --> 00:09:38.099 And to be transformed every day. 00:09:38.579 --> 00:09:41.899 I'm going to pray for Renaud in just a few minutes. 00:09:41.899 --> 00:09:43.120 If I don't preach too long. 00:09:43.919 --> 00:09:49.299 I'm going to pray that he will daily increase in the Holy Spirit. 00:09:50.299 --> 00:09:56.879 And that's because God brings his growth into you and me every day. 00:09:56.879 --> 00:10:01.319 If we are not growing, then we are actually dying spiritually. 00:10:02.199 --> 00:10:05.559 And God's work in you is to change you. 00:10:05.559 --> 00:10:14.939 And so whether you are eight years old or 98, God's great priority is that you will mature in the Lord Jesus. 00:10:15.659 --> 00:10:18.439 That his change will take place day by day. 00:10:19.319 --> 00:10:21.719 It's sometimes a very slow growth, but it happens. 00:10:21.839 --> 00:10:27.359 And so whether you're somebody who's preparing for a career in the midst of a very busy work life. 00:10:27.360 --> 00:10:29.580 Or you have a full-on family life. 00:10:29.580 --> 00:10:32.240 Or you are retired. 00:10:32.580 --> 00:10:36.039 If you're not growing with Christ, you are spiritually dying. 00:10:36.759 --> 00:10:40.639 And so the question that Paul is helping us with is, 00:10:41.320 --> 00:10:47.820 How practically can I work with God in his transformation that he is doing in you? 00:10:48.100 --> 00:10:52.480 How can I cooperate with the powerful work of the Holy Spirit in us? 00:10:52.480 --> 00:10:58.360 Well, if we want to summarize it up, how do I cooperate with God in this? 00:10:58.920 --> 00:11:02.399 The answer would be, hold fast to Christ. 00:11:03.200 --> 00:11:05.019 Hold fast to Christ. 00:11:05.860 --> 00:11:08.019 I think that's a good thing to put up on your refrigerator. 00:11:08.580 --> 00:11:14.120 If you have magnets, if you have whatever, take them all down and just put one thing up there that says, 00:11:14.800 --> 00:11:16.399 Hold fast to Christ. 00:11:16.399 --> 00:11:19.620 Because it is saying that the only way to this growth, 00:11:19.620 --> 00:11:24.299 this growth that comes from God, is if we abide in the Lord Jesus. 00:11:24.700 --> 00:11:27.159 It's like him being a vine and us being branches. 00:11:28.120 --> 00:11:30.879 And I think that sometimes this is difficult work. 00:11:31.340 --> 00:11:34.580 It actually can be difficult to hold fast to the Lord Jesus. 00:11:35.659 --> 00:11:39.019 When I was 11 years old, which is Renaud's age, 00:11:39.720 --> 00:11:41.740 or not when I was, when my son was 11, 00:11:42.480 --> 00:11:45.360 he and I went to a father-son camp. 00:11:45.620 --> 00:11:46.980 And it was fantastic. 00:11:46.980 --> 00:11:51.899 And one of the things we did, it was on an island off the coast of British Columbia, 00:11:52.100 --> 00:11:55.200 and we went on an inner tube behind a boat. 00:11:55.620 --> 00:11:57.379 And the guy who was driving the boat said, 00:11:57.759 --> 00:11:59.700 so my son and I were on the inner tube, he says, 00:12:00.200 --> 00:12:03.840 Do you want to have a relaxing ride or a challenging ride? 00:12:04.600 --> 00:12:07.800 And of course my son Alexander said, I'll have a challenging ride. 00:12:07.799 --> 00:12:12.500 So that means that they did circles in the boat and made you, 00:12:12.759 --> 00:12:17.019 you know, with inertia, whip around corners with the expressed intent 00:12:17.019 --> 00:12:20.120 of throwing you off the inner tube. 00:12:20.919 --> 00:12:24.179 And so he and I were next to each other, holding on with white knuckles 00:12:24.179 --> 00:12:26.039 as we went through this. 00:12:26.579 --> 00:12:28.639 It's kind of like going through a gauntlet in a way. 00:12:28.639 --> 00:12:36.279 And I think in a way that that can be what we experience in holding fast to Christ. 00:12:36.960 --> 00:12:42.539 And it's not a bad picture because in our society right now, 00:12:42.620 --> 00:12:45.639 there are lots of forces that pull us away, 00:12:45.639 --> 00:12:47.939 like that inertia on that boat, 00:12:48.720 --> 00:12:50.899 away from holding fast to Christ. 00:12:51.419 --> 00:12:56.100 A lot of things that are pushing us to not hold fast. 00:12:56.100 --> 00:13:02.340 And so here's the question that Paul is actually addressing. 00:13:02.560 --> 00:13:04.279 And he says there's three parts to what we do. 00:13:04.700 --> 00:13:06.080 And I'm only going to look at the first one. 00:13:06.700 --> 00:13:10.980 The first thing is to be really familiar with your identity in Christ. 00:13:11.899 --> 00:13:13.019 God's grace to you. 00:13:14.180 --> 00:13:18.240 And then secondly, he'll talk about throwing off sin. 00:13:18.960 --> 00:13:23.440 You know, things that have to do with the old life. 00:13:23.980 --> 00:13:25.600 What it means to be separated from God. 00:13:25.600 --> 00:13:26.920 And throw those things off. 00:13:27.240 --> 00:13:30.540 Whether it's anger or malice or immorality 00:13:30.540 --> 00:13:35.700 or a way of talking that tears people down. 00:13:36.040 --> 00:13:38.320 Throw those things off in verses 5 through 11. 00:13:38.320 --> 00:13:43.279 And then 12 through 17, it talks about putting on the things of God. 00:13:43.800 --> 00:13:45.940 Putting on the things of Christ every day. 00:13:46.899 --> 00:13:49.100 And we're not going to be able to get into those second two. 00:13:49.180 --> 00:13:51.899 But I want to talk about being familiar with your new identity. 00:13:51.899 --> 00:13:55.600 And the thing that's wonderful about that beginning 00:13:55.600 --> 00:14:00.019 is that Paul says this about holding fast to Christ. 00:14:00.980 --> 00:14:02.079 This is about his own life. 00:14:02.159 --> 00:14:02.399 He says, 00:14:02.399 --> 00:14:17.079 And that's the extraordinary thing about knowing Jesus. 00:14:17.080 --> 00:14:19.660 is that in our holding on to him, 00:14:20.480 --> 00:14:24.020 we know that Christ first holds on to us. 00:14:24.700 --> 00:14:26.620 He holds fast to us. 00:14:27.180 --> 00:14:30.020 And that's this insight of verses 1 through 4. 00:14:30.019 --> 00:14:36.500 is that Jesus has united himself to us forever. 00:14:37.220 --> 00:14:40.559 And that union is him holding fast to us. 00:14:40.919 --> 00:14:43.240 It's the fundamental reality of our life 00:14:43.240 --> 00:14:45.860 that influences everything about us. 00:14:45.860 --> 00:14:48.940 I like reading biographies. 00:14:49.580 --> 00:14:53.159 And I love reading Christian biographies 00:14:53.159 --> 00:14:57.259 because I get encouraged to see how God has worked in their life 00:14:57.259 --> 00:15:00.419 through sometimes incredibly difficult things that they've gone through. 00:15:00.759 --> 00:15:05.700 And I love reading books about secular people as well. 00:15:05.820 --> 00:15:07.879 And seeing what made them tick 00:15:07.879 --> 00:15:13.019 and what made them the influence that they were in the society. 00:15:13.019 --> 00:15:17.939 And recently I read a biography of Albert Einstein. 00:15:18.759 --> 00:15:20.799 So Walter Isaacson, the famous biographer, 00:15:20.939 --> 00:15:22.559 wrote a great biography on him. 00:15:23.460 --> 00:15:28.360 And he tells the story about what Einstein talks about in his own life. 00:15:28.480 --> 00:15:32.279 This profound experience that he had when he was 5 years old. 00:15:33.579 --> 00:15:36.439 What happened was that he was sick in bed one day 00:15:36.439 --> 00:15:39.539 and his father bought him a compass. 00:15:40.240 --> 00:15:41.939 So that's what you do when your kid is sick, right? 00:15:41.939 --> 00:15:42.980 You buy him a compass. 00:15:43.019 --> 00:15:47.159 But this was a life-altering experience for him 00:15:47.159 --> 00:15:50.759 because the fact that the magnetic needle 00:15:50.759 --> 00:15:54.299 was influenced by something that was unseen, 00:15:54.500 --> 00:15:56.340 like he didn't have to touch it or anything, 00:15:56.679 --> 00:15:59.079 and this needle is influenced, 00:15:59.620 --> 00:16:01.759 gave him a sense of wonder 00:16:01.759 --> 00:16:05.179 that motivated him for the rest of his life. 00:16:06.480 --> 00:16:07.659 And here's what he said. 00:16:07.720 --> 00:16:07.980 He said, 00:16:07.980 --> 00:16:11.420 this experience made a deep and lasting impression on me. 00:16:11.980 --> 00:16:12.379 He said, 00:16:12.440 --> 00:16:17.120 something deeply hidden had to be behind all things. 00:16:17.779 --> 00:16:18.840 And as a result, 00:16:18.960 --> 00:16:21.300 Einstein would spend his life 00:16:21.300 --> 00:16:24.300 working through field theories 00:16:24.300 --> 00:16:27.120 and how to describe nature, 00:16:27.800 --> 00:16:29.180 how the universe is working. 00:16:29.179 --> 00:16:31.459 And I think this is a helpful story 00:16:31.459 --> 00:16:35.500 because the truth that you are raised with Jesus 00:16:35.500 --> 00:16:38.979 is deeply hidden to the world, 00:16:38.979 --> 00:16:43.359 yet it influences absolutely everything about you. 00:16:44.259 --> 00:16:46.000 The risen and exalted Jesus 00:16:46.000 --> 00:16:51.399 is this source that is behind everything about us 00:16:51.399 --> 00:16:52.620 in our new life. 00:16:52.620 --> 00:16:53.500 And in a way, 00:16:55.360 --> 00:16:59.139 he is like that force 00:16:59.139 --> 00:17:01.240 that is influencing the compass 00:17:01.240 --> 00:17:04.460 in our life of who we are. 00:17:05.359 --> 00:17:07.099 He alone changes us. 00:17:07.359 --> 00:17:08.680 He alone gives us strength 00:17:08.680 --> 00:17:10.180 and resurrection power 00:17:10.180 --> 00:17:12.940 to be truly human, 00:17:13.339 --> 00:17:15.519 to be what God made us to be. 00:17:16.519 --> 00:17:18.539 The force of his resurrection, 00:17:18.779 --> 00:17:21.119 the reality of Jesus in your life 00:17:21.119 --> 00:17:23.759 is shaping you all the time, 00:17:23.799 --> 00:17:25.000 but the world does not see it. 00:17:25.119 --> 00:17:26.259 We do not see it either. 00:17:27.960 --> 00:17:29.460 And the gift of that 00:17:29.460 --> 00:17:31.039 is that we often think 00:17:31.039 --> 00:17:33.200 that the new life of Jesus 00:17:33.200 --> 00:17:34.579 that we are living 00:17:34.579 --> 00:17:37.359 is the result of us 00:17:37.359 --> 00:17:39.839 really holding fast to Christ, 00:17:40.059 --> 00:17:42.920 of fighting against sin in our life. 00:17:43.519 --> 00:17:44.619 But Paul says, 00:17:44.619 --> 00:17:47.539 we begin our battle against sin 00:17:47.539 --> 00:17:51.679 with the fact of Jesus rising 00:17:51.679 --> 00:17:54.599 and we rising with him, 00:17:54.939 --> 00:17:57.399 with this fact that we've been raised with Christ. 00:17:57.819 --> 00:18:01.279 So I put off that sin of verses 5 through 11 00:18:01.279 --> 00:18:05.239 because I've been raised with Christ. 00:18:05.919 --> 00:18:08.379 And then we put on the beautiful clothes 00:18:08.379 --> 00:18:11.000 in that passage 12 through 17, 00:18:11.000 --> 00:18:15.000 which is often read at a wedding, by the way. 00:18:15.619 --> 00:18:18.660 But it's saying it to the whole church. 00:18:19.180 --> 00:18:19.660 You know, he's saying, 00:18:20.000 --> 00:18:22.460 put on then as God's chosen ones, 00:18:22.859 --> 00:18:24.519 as those who have been raised with Jesus, 00:18:24.980 --> 00:18:26.380 this is what you are putting on. 00:18:27.380 --> 00:18:28.420 Compassionate hearts, 00:18:28.880 --> 00:18:30.119 kindness, humility, 00:18:30.440 --> 00:18:31.539 meekness, and patience, 00:18:32.059 --> 00:18:33.259 bearing with one another, 00:18:33.259 --> 00:18:35.519 and if one has a complaint with another, 00:18:35.799 --> 00:18:36.759 forgiving each other, 00:18:37.079 --> 00:18:38.619 as the Lord has forgiven you. 00:18:38.740 --> 00:18:40.140 So you also must forgive. 00:18:40.779 --> 00:18:41.640 And above all, 00:18:42.420 --> 00:18:43.839 put on love. 00:18:44.879 --> 00:18:46.259 Well, he's saying you do that 00:18:46.259 --> 00:18:47.400 because you are holy 00:18:47.400 --> 00:18:48.680 and you are beloved. 00:18:49.119 --> 00:18:50.519 You have been loved first. 00:18:51.240 --> 00:18:53.039 You have been made chosen ones. 00:18:54.000 --> 00:18:55.379 And so, therefore, 00:18:56.220 --> 00:18:57.839 because you are raised with Jesus, 00:18:57.839 --> 00:19:02.199 Paul says there's two very practical things to do. 00:19:02.759 --> 00:19:04.379 Two practical things to do. 00:19:05.099 --> 00:19:06.699 First is at the end of verse 1. 00:19:08.059 --> 00:19:11.779 Seek the things that are above where Christ is. 00:19:13.199 --> 00:19:14.299 Where is Christ? 00:19:14.399 --> 00:19:15.139 He is in heaven. 00:19:16.539 --> 00:19:19.559 And heaven is all about joyfully serving Jesus, 00:19:19.699 --> 00:19:20.399 who is Lord, 00:19:20.839 --> 00:19:22.519 and who we worship together. 00:19:22.639 --> 00:19:24.740 There is an adventure about this 00:19:24.740 --> 00:19:26.759 that heaven will involve. 00:19:26.759 --> 00:19:29.839 It's this life of self-sacrificing love for others 00:19:29.839 --> 00:19:32.700 because of what Jesus has done for you. 00:19:32.819 --> 00:19:34.079 There is a joy in this 00:19:34.079 --> 00:19:36.759 that we cannot possibly take in. 00:19:37.500 --> 00:19:39.359 And we can seek these things above, 00:19:39.480 --> 00:19:41.759 not just in church ministry, 00:19:42.599 --> 00:19:43.960 but in your place of work, 00:19:44.460 --> 00:19:45.319 in your family, 00:19:46.000 --> 00:19:47.720 with the friends who are in your life. 00:19:48.019 --> 00:19:50.180 There is this practicing for heaven 00:19:50.180 --> 00:19:54.539 that is involved in seeking Jesus, 00:19:54.940 --> 00:19:56.140 who is in heaven. 00:19:56.759 --> 00:19:57.680 Seeking him. 00:19:58.680 --> 00:19:59.359 And secondly, 00:20:00.140 --> 00:20:01.480 verse 2 says, 00:20:01.879 --> 00:20:03.960 set your minds on the things that are above, 00:20:04.379 --> 00:20:06.140 not on the things that are on earth. 00:20:06.519 --> 00:20:07.079 So he's saying, 00:20:07.319 --> 00:20:09.039 the way that you experience 00:20:09.039 --> 00:20:11.019 God's transforming work in your life 00:20:11.019 --> 00:20:13.379 is to fill your minds 00:20:13.379 --> 00:20:16.339 with the things that are of Jesus Christ. 00:20:17.119 --> 00:20:18.759 Now we live in a culture 00:20:18.759 --> 00:20:21.160 that fills our minds 00:20:21.160 --> 00:20:22.379 with all kinds of things, 00:20:22.380 --> 00:20:25.540 maybe more than any other time in history. 00:20:25.540 --> 00:20:28.580 The information that's coming at us 00:20:28.580 --> 00:20:29.540 is incredible. 00:20:30.380 --> 00:20:32.440 This continual access to the internet 00:20:32.440 --> 00:20:34.260 means that Netflix 00:20:34.260 --> 00:20:37.700 or the constant news feeds 00:20:37.700 --> 00:20:41.180 or the storylines on social media 00:20:41.180 --> 00:20:42.780 fill our minds. 00:20:43.340 --> 00:20:44.440 They fill our minds. 00:20:44.440 --> 00:20:45.860 But Paul says, 00:20:46.140 --> 00:20:47.620 don't set your minds on those things. 00:20:47.880 --> 00:20:49.320 Don't take on those values. 00:20:50.059 --> 00:20:52.759 There's a pessimism of self-focus 00:20:52.759 --> 00:20:54.340 because he says, 00:20:54.860 --> 00:20:55.680 you yourself 00:20:55.680 --> 00:20:57.860 need to be conformed 00:20:57.860 --> 00:20:59.680 to the values and thinkings 00:20:59.680 --> 00:21:01.059 that are very different. 00:21:01.480 --> 00:21:03.420 Very different from the thinking of the world. 00:21:04.240 --> 00:21:05.840 May your aims and your ambitions 00:21:05.840 --> 00:21:07.700 and life orientation 00:21:07.700 --> 00:21:10.080 be about the things of heaven. 00:21:10.079 --> 00:21:12.859 And that's why Romans 12 says this, 00:21:12.980 --> 00:21:14.099 that the good transformation 00:21:14.099 --> 00:21:15.980 that God does in your life 00:21:15.980 --> 00:21:19.279 happens through the renewal of your mind 00:21:19.279 --> 00:21:21.899 as God changes your mind. 00:21:21.980 --> 00:21:22.939 How does that happen? 00:21:23.960 --> 00:21:27.579 Well, the gift of times of quiet with God 00:21:27.579 --> 00:21:30.199 are an incredible treasure 00:21:30.199 --> 00:21:32.359 in this society that we're in right now. 00:21:33.439 --> 00:21:36.059 To have what used to be called quiet times, 00:21:36.379 --> 00:21:38.099 which are few and far between, 00:21:38.099 --> 00:21:42.339 are incredibly important for us now. 00:21:43.019 --> 00:21:45.079 Times of actually reading God's word 00:21:45.079 --> 00:21:46.939 and meditating on it. 00:21:47.039 --> 00:21:47.939 Really thinking about 00:21:47.939 --> 00:21:49.339 what does this mean for me? 00:21:50.019 --> 00:21:51.719 God, open your word to me. 00:21:52.559 --> 00:21:54.679 Times of prayer as well 00:21:54.679 --> 00:21:57.519 where we are actually praying about 00:21:57.519 --> 00:21:59.719 what did God say in that word to me today? 00:22:00.799 --> 00:22:02.980 And to consider his goodness for you. 00:22:03.299 --> 00:22:04.779 The beauty and goodness of God. 00:22:05.319 --> 00:22:06.599 Praying with the Psalms 00:22:06.599 --> 00:22:09.699 that are people who are praying 00:22:09.699 --> 00:22:10.879 that help you to pray, 00:22:11.439 --> 00:22:12.799 who know and understand 00:22:12.799 --> 00:22:14.779 the gift of God saving you, 00:22:15.419 --> 00:22:17.740 of God's hope that is certain, 00:22:17.980 --> 00:22:19.000 that is before us. 00:22:19.679 --> 00:22:21.439 When we pray for the needs of others 00:22:21.439 --> 00:22:22.179 in our lives, 00:22:22.199 --> 00:22:25.939 we are also setting our minds on heaven. 00:22:26.519 --> 00:22:28.939 Because we're praying that God's goodness, 00:22:29.259 --> 00:22:30.419 the goodness of heaven, 00:22:30.619 --> 00:22:31.539 what he is all about, 00:22:31.839 --> 00:22:34.399 will be brought into those people's lives 00:22:34.400 --> 00:22:36.300 that are going through challenge. 00:22:38.000 --> 00:22:40.080 And now you might be saying today, 00:22:40.640 --> 00:22:44.980 I don't feel much like I have been raised with Christ. 00:22:45.820 --> 00:22:49.580 I don't really feel like I have the life of heaven right now. 00:22:49.579 --> 00:22:54.419 And I want to end this little sermon 00:22:54.419 --> 00:22:56.899 by saying that chapter, 00:22:57.099 --> 00:22:57.960 verse 3, 00:22:58.720 --> 00:22:59.799 tells us something 00:22:59.799 --> 00:23:02.099 that is, 00:23:02.220 --> 00:23:04.720 that is very, very helpful for us. 00:23:05.539 --> 00:23:07.619 It says to us that we have died 00:23:07.619 --> 00:23:10.759 and that our life is hidden with Christ in God. 00:23:11.439 --> 00:23:13.839 It is hidden in Christ with God. 00:23:14.179 --> 00:23:15.399 Whatever does that mean? 00:23:15.400 --> 00:23:19.840 Well, it means that even in the worst kind of day, 00:23:20.780 --> 00:23:23.000 and you all may have heard of this book, 00:23:23.140 --> 00:23:25.420 which my son Alexander loved, 00:23:26.120 --> 00:23:28.740 called Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, 00:23:28.940 --> 00:23:31.500 No Good, Very Bad Day. 00:23:32.240 --> 00:23:34.420 And you all have experienced those days. 00:23:35.140 --> 00:23:36.519 And those are days when you think, 00:23:37.360 --> 00:23:38.620 am I raised with Christ? 00:23:39.340 --> 00:23:41.580 How do I seek the things of heaven, 00:23:42.080 --> 00:23:43.040 the things of Christ? 00:23:43.039 --> 00:23:46.259 And he gives us very helpful things here 00:23:46.259 --> 00:23:48.240 in saying that we are hidden with Christ. 00:23:48.539 --> 00:23:51.220 Because being hidden with Christ means three things. 00:23:52.079 --> 00:23:54.839 Number one, it means that you have actually died 00:23:54.839 --> 00:23:56.399 to an old life, 00:23:56.779 --> 00:23:58.240 and you have entered a new one. 00:23:58.960 --> 00:24:00.519 When Jesus forgives your sins, 00:24:00.619 --> 00:24:02.420 he doesn't just clean the slate. 00:24:02.980 --> 00:24:06.279 He actually brings you from darkness into light. 00:24:07.139 --> 00:24:09.879 And we don't live a life for ourselves now 00:24:09.879 --> 00:24:11.859 that's controlled by sin, that old life. 00:24:11.859 --> 00:24:14.259 We actually belong to the Lord Jesus 00:24:14.259 --> 00:24:17.000 in that very, very bad day. 00:24:17.259 --> 00:24:18.500 We have been adopted by him. 00:24:18.899 --> 00:24:20.740 There's a new life and a new orientation 00:24:20.740 --> 00:24:22.839 which doesn't change with bad days. 00:24:23.559 --> 00:24:25.259 And the second thing he says 00:24:25.259 --> 00:24:27.279 is that we are safe with him 00:24:27.279 --> 00:24:29.659 in those very bad days, 00:24:29.659 --> 00:24:30.939 as well as the good days. 00:24:32.119 --> 00:24:34.279 Being hidden in the Bible 00:24:34.279 --> 00:24:36.679 talks about being protected. 00:24:36.680 --> 00:24:39.539 So, Psalm 17, 00:24:39.660 --> 00:24:40.519 David asks God, 00:24:40.660 --> 00:24:42.500 keep me as the apple of your eye, 00:24:42.759 --> 00:24:44.519 hide me as the shadow, 00:24:44.660 --> 00:24:46.140 in the shadow of your wings. 00:24:46.960 --> 00:24:48.500 He's saying, hide me from 00:24:48.500 --> 00:24:51.120 the heat of the sun, 00:24:52.120 --> 00:24:55.100 hide me from those predators 00:24:55.100 --> 00:24:57.080 that would attack me as well. 00:24:57.799 --> 00:24:58.779 And what he says, 00:24:58.840 --> 00:24:59.820 what he's saying there 00:24:59.820 --> 00:25:01.600 is that God's salvation, 00:25:02.680 --> 00:25:04.140 his eternal relationship 00:25:04.140 --> 00:25:06.000 that he's created with you, 00:25:06.259 --> 00:25:07.240 is secure. 00:25:07.900 --> 00:25:09.560 No matter what feeling of danger 00:25:09.560 --> 00:25:10.600 you might experience, 00:25:11.500 --> 00:25:13.140 no matter what sense of hopelessness 00:25:13.780 --> 00:25:16.300 might come into your mind and heart, 00:25:17.340 --> 00:25:19.060 nothing in all creation 00:25:19.060 --> 00:25:20.660 can separate you 00:25:20.660 --> 00:25:22.100 from the love of God 00:25:22.100 --> 00:25:23.660 that is in the Lord Jesus Christ. 00:25:24.460 --> 00:25:25.460 That's what it means 00:25:25.460 --> 00:25:27.300 to be hidden in the Lord Jesus. 00:25:27.299 --> 00:25:30.579 Your salvation is secure. 00:25:31.539 --> 00:25:33.419 And the last aspect of hiddenness 00:25:33.419 --> 00:25:37.200 is that you are a new creation 00:25:37.200 --> 00:25:40.379 in that very, very bad day. 00:25:40.779 --> 00:25:42.079 The world doesn't see this. 00:25:42.159 --> 00:25:42.859 You might not see 00:25:42.859 --> 00:25:44.419 this incredible miracle as well. 00:25:44.899 --> 00:25:46.159 You only get a glimpse 00:25:46.159 --> 00:25:48.440 of what you are in Christ. 00:25:49.119 --> 00:25:51.700 I love the way that C.S. Lewis put it 00:25:51.700 --> 00:25:53.940 in his famous sermon 00:25:53.940 --> 00:25:55.039 called The Weight of Glory. 00:25:55.139 --> 00:25:55.500 He said, 00:25:55.500 --> 00:25:56.980 if you were to see 00:25:56.980 --> 00:25:58.319 what you will look like 00:25:58.319 --> 00:26:00.119 in your glorified body, 00:26:00.720 --> 00:26:01.839 the resurrection body, 00:26:02.299 --> 00:26:03.720 you would be tempted 00:26:03.720 --> 00:26:05.200 to worship one another 00:26:05.200 --> 00:26:08.019 if you were to see that today. 00:26:09.059 --> 00:26:11.099 He is talking about the gift 00:26:11.099 --> 00:26:12.839 of the resurrection of the body. 00:26:13.640 --> 00:26:14.779 And verse 4 says 00:26:14.779 --> 00:26:15.720 that one day 00:26:15.720 --> 00:26:18.200 when Christ who is your life appears, 00:26:18.819 --> 00:26:19.019 you know, 00:26:19.079 --> 00:26:19.880 when he's revealed 00:26:19.880 --> 00:26:21.779 in all glory 00:26:21.779 --> 00:26:23.019 to the whole world, 00:26:23.160 --> 00:26:24.480 which is hidden right now, 00:26:24.480 --> 00:26:26.460 when Jesus appears, 00:26:26.460 --> 00:26:29.980 you will appear with him in glory. 00:26:31.000 --> 00:26:31.860 John says, 00:26:32.299 --> 00:26:33.160 when we see him, 00:26:33.259 --> 00:26:34.900 we will be like him. 00:26:35.400 --> 00:26:37.160 That is an awesome thing. 00:26:37.740 --> 00:26:39.120 This is the gift of Easter. 00:26:39.720 --> 00:26:41.259 This is what is ahead 00:26:41.259 --> 00:26:42.660 of all of us as well. 00:26:43.220 --> 00:26:44.200 You will be revealed 00:26:44.200 --> 00:26:46.180 and you will be like the Lord Jesus. 00:26:47.000 --> 00:26:48.779 We do not see that completely now. 00:26:48.779 --> 00:26:51.359 But the hidden truth is 00:26:51.359 --> 00:26:53.059 that Jesus' righteousness 00:26:53.059 --> 00:26:54.339 covers you. 00:26:55.299 --> 00:26:57.000 That you are looked upon 00:26:57.000 --> 00:26:58.460 as the beloved daughter 00:26:58.460 --> 00:26:59.519 or son of God 00:26:59.519 --> 00:27:00.420 every day 00:27:00.420 --> 00:27:02.399 by God the Father. 00:27:03.259 --> 00:27:04.559 And that one day 00:27:04.559 --> 00:27:06.759 you will be seen 00:27:06.759 --> 00:27:08.119 in all your glory 00:27:08.119 --> 00:27:09.180 as well 00:27:09.180 --> 00:27:10.720 when you see Jesus. 00:27:10.720 --> 00:27:12.420 So you see 00:27:12.420 --> 00:27:13.440 that holding fast 00:27:13.440 --> 00:27:14.100 to Jesus 00:27:14.100 --> 00:27:16.640 means that we set 00:27:16.640 --> 00:27:17.500 our mind 00:27:17.500 --> 00:27:18.240 on that day 00:27:18.240 --> 00:27:19.339 that we seek after 00:27:19.339 --> 00:27:20.299 those things 00:27:20.299 --> 00:27:21.000 that have to do 00:27:21.000 --> 00:27:21.740 with that day. 00:27:22.100 --> 00:27:22.940 It means 00:27:22.940 --> 00:27:24.480 seeking his life 00:27:24.480 --> 00:27:25.140 for you. 00:27:25.900 --> 00:27:26.860 And wonderfully 00:27:26.860 --> 00:27:27.680 it means 00:27:27.680 --> 00:27:29.500 that every day 00:27:29.500 --> 00:27:31.900 you are actually 00:27:31.900 --> 00:27:33.100 living for him, 00:27:33.579 --> 00:27:34.360 holding fast 00:27:34.360 --> 00:27:34.960 to him 00:27:34.960 --> 00:27:36.579 with the immense 00:27:36.579 --> 00:27:37.960 resurrection power 00:27:37.960 --> 00:27:38.700 of Jesus 00:27:38.700 --> 00:27:40.480 at work in you. 00:27:41.340 --> 00:27:42.180 May he 00:27:42.180 --> 00:27:43.140 by his power 00:27:43.140 --> 00:27:44.400 help you 00:27:44.400 --> 00:27:45.840 to walk in a way 00:27:45.840 --> 00:27:47.080 that is pleasing 00:27:47.080 --> 00:27:48.539 to God the Father 00:27:48.539 --> 00:27:49.700 to whom 00:27:49.700 --> 00:27:50.360 belongs 00:27:50.360 --> 00:27:51.400 all glory 00:27:51.400 --> 00:27:52.240 honor 00:27:52.240 --> 00:27:53.100 and praise 00:27:53.100 --> 00:27:54.039 the glory 00:27:54.039 --> 00:27:54.779 of the Lord Jesus 00:27:54.779 --> 00:27:55.600 the glory 00:27:55.600 --> 00:27:56.740 that you will share 00:27:56.740 --> 00:27:57.799 one day. 00:27:58.480 --> 00:27:58.819 Amen.