WEBVTT 00:00:00.400 --> 00:00:05.100 Amen. If you would open up your Bibles to Colossians chapter 3, I'd like to excuse the 00:00:05.100 --> 00:00:16.600 children to go to their King's Kids class. In your pew Bible, it's page 1169. I'm going 00:00:16.600 --> 00:00:25.900 to be preaching on four verses this morning, Colossians 3, 1 through 4. Hear God's Word. 00:00:30.000 --> 00:00:43.179 If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above. Where Christ 00:00:43.179 --> 00:00:51.280 is seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things that are above, not on things 00:00:51.280 --> 00:00:59.840 that are on earth. For you have died. And your life is hidden with Christ in God. 00:00:59.840 --> 00:01:08.659 When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with Him in glory. May 00:01:08.659 --> 00:01:15.659 God bless the reading, hearing, and now preaching of His Word. In the fall of 2013, Jenny and 00:01:15.659 --> 00:01:20.740 I purchased the house we're living in, and we got it for a song because it was a fixer-upper. 00:01:22.280 --> 00:01:26.939 And one of the first things that we did was we replaced the old fuse box with a new and 00:01:26.939 --> 00:01:33.799 updated circuit breaker box. That box is what the electricity in the house comes into and 00:01:33.799 --> 00:01:39.920 distributes it. And so this is like the electrical life of the house comes in and out of that box, 00:01:39.980 --> 00:01:50.400 and we upgraded it. New ownership, new box, and some rewiring. With that new box, we had to do a bunch 00:01:50.400 --> 00:01:56.760 of rewiring in that house. If you're a Christian, the moment you believed in Christ, you were 00:01:56.760 --> 00:02:03.100 purchased by Christ, new ownership, and you were delivered from the domain of darkness and 00:02:03.100 --> 00:02:07.460 transferred into His kingdom, the kingdom of the beloved Son, in whom you have redemption, 00:02:07.620 --> 00:02:15.759 the forgiveness of sins. And as part of that redemption, He swapped out your box. 00:02:15.759 --> 00:02:24.219 According to the Old Testament, the new covenant would be marked by people whose hearts of stone 00:02:24.219 --> 00:02:33.379 would be replaced with a heart of flesh in order to live for God. And so when Christ purchased you 00:02:33.379 --> 00:02:42.180 for Himself, He replaced your heart, that box in you, with a heart for God. And He regenerated you 00:02:42.180 --> 00:02:50.159 by His Spirit. And with that new heart comes a new life. You're a new creation, Christian. The old is 00:02:50.159 --> 00:02:59.700 gone. The new has come. You've got a new heart. And now God is rewiring our thinking. He's helping us to 00:02:59.700 --> 00:03:09.860 think His thoughts. This new way of living is called sanctification. Sanctification is the process of 00:03:09.860 --> 00:03:15.940 becoming more like Christ in your thinking, and in your character, and in your conduct. It's what the 00:03:15.940 --> 00:03:22.680 Apostle Paul talks about in terms of walking in a manner worthy of the Lord, worthy of our calling. 00:03:23.300 --> 00:03:29.840 And so as we are walking more and more worthy, we are being sanctified more and more like Christ. 00:03:29.840 --> 00:03:39.960 becoming like Him. We're living more and more with Christ as the controlling center of our lives. 00:03:42.080 --> 00:03:49.840 What's essential to Christ-centered living is Christ-central thinking. 00:03:49.840 --> 00:04:02.500 What you think matters to God. And in Colossians 2, 8-23, a couple weeks ago, we were told how not to walk, 00:04:02.599 --> 00:04:11.080 how not to think. We're not to be taken captive by the Christ-less philosophies and practices of this 00:04:11.080 --> 00:04:18.579 world. But in Colossians 3, Paul turns the corner and he starts to instruct us how we are to walk, 00:04:18.579 --> 00:04:25.379 how we are to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord. And it begins with this Christ-central way of thinking. 00:04:25.539 --> 00:04:27.079 It's a new thinking. 00:04:29.699 --> 00:04:32.219 And what is absolutely essential to 00:04:32.219 --> 00:04:38.799 living for Christ is adopting a Christ-central mindset. 00:04:40.879 --> 00:04:42.599 And so this morning, I want to point to 00:04:42.600 --> 00:04:46.760 three new ways of thinking from Colossians 3, 1-4. 00:04:47.400 --> 00:04:49.320 A new way of thinking about your identity. 00:04:50.120 --> 00:04:50.640 Who you are. 00:04:51.840 --> 00:04:54.360 A new way of thinking about your aim. 00:04:55.000 --> 00:04:55.780 Your purpose. 00:04:56.340 --> 00:04:57.460 Your orientation. 00:04:58.460 --> 00:05:00.960 From the things on earth to the things above. 00:05:03.040 --> 00:05:04.280 And a new time frame. 00:05:05.640 --> 00:05:07.040 Christ-King Church, what time is it? 00:05:07.040 --> 00:05:09.760 It's Christ time. 00:05:11.260 --> 00:05:17.400 These three elements of a Christian mindset are essential to Christian living. 00:05:17.560 --> 00:05:18.860 So let's dig in. 00:05:19.780 --> 00:05:21.580 Verse 1, we're told, 00:05:22.140 --> 00:05:24.660 if then you've been raised with Christ. 00:05:26.020 --> 00:05:30.439 God is actively rewiring the way we think about ourselves. 00:05:30.840 --> 00:05:31.600 Our identity. 00:05:31.600 --> 00:05:36.879 God wants you to live out who you are in Christ 00:05:36.879 --> 00:05:40.320 with a Christ-shaped identity. 00:05:40.640 --> 00:05:41.379 It's a new way of thinking. 00:05:41.520 --> 00:05:43.460 It's who you are now. 00:05:45.939 --> 00:05:46.460 Identity. 00:05:47.120 --> 00:05:48.420 What I mean by that is, 00:05:48.939 --> 00:05:50.080 what is true about you? 00:05:51.920 --> 00:05:53.500 What defines you? 00:05:53.580 --> 00:05:55.320 The truth that defines you. 00:05:56.420 --> 00:05:58.760 For many people, that is a political party. 00:05:59.320 --> 00:06:00.980 Others, that's a last name. 00:06:00.980 --> 00:06:04.319 That is one's maleness or femaleness. 00:06:04.560 --> 00:06:06.420 Youngness, oldness, skinniness. 00:06:07.300 --> 00:06:08.420 Heavy setness. 00:06:10.060 --> 00:06:11.180 One's job. 00:06:11.420 --> 00:06:13.259 It's not infrequent in conversations. 00:06:13.460 --> 00:06:14.080 Hey, what do you do? 00:06:14.460 --> 00:06:16.060 Because it defines you. 00:06:18.080 --> 00:06:19.400 Are you a creative? 00:06:21.340 --> 00:06:22.640 Or are you pragmatic? 00:06:23.439 --> 00:06:24.860 These are the things that define us. 00:06:27.040 --> 00:06:28.939 What's interesting in our day and age 00:06:28.939 --> 00:06:30.620 is that Christians and non-Christians alike 00:06:30.620 --> 00:06:32.980 are wrestling to find the answer 00:06:32.980 --> 00:06:35.840 to a very basic question in life. 00:06:35.959 --> 00:06:36.680 It's this question. 00:06:36.840 --> 00:06:37.439 Who am I? 00:06:40.180 --> 00:06:40.699 Christian, 00:06:41.100 --> 00:06:43.180 who are you? 00:06:45.060 --> 00:06:47.699 When you look in the mirror every morning, 00:06:48.199 --> 00:06:49.959 who are you looking at? 00:06:49.959 --> 00:06:53.639 God has a very definitive answer. 00:06:53.639 --> 00:06:56.779 Who God says you are 00:06:56.779 --> 00:06:57.979 is very different than 00:06:57.979 --> 00:07:00.199 who the world says you are. 00:07:00.339 --> 00:07:03.799 Even what you say you are. 00:07:06.019 --> 00:07:08.219 If you look up at chapter 2, verse 20, 00:07:08.859 --> 00:07:09.899 we read this. 00:07:09.899 --> 00:07:16.279 If with Christ you die to the elemental spirits 00:07:16.279 --> 00:07:17.000 of the world. 00:07:17.959 --> 00:07:20.019 Now look at chapter 3, verse 1. 00:07:20.919 --> 00:07:24.039 If then you have been raised with Christ, 00:07:24.579 --> 00:07:26.819 seek the things that are above. 00:07:27.000 --> 00:07:29.299 Both of those statements start with the word 00:07:29.299 --> 00:07:30.259 if. 00:07:31.120 --> 00:07:32.500 And they sound iffy. 00:07:32.939 --> 00:07:34.099 But they're not iffy. 00:07:35.080 --> 00:07:37.120 Those are statements that are called 00:07:37.120 --> 00:07:38.720 conditions of fact. 00:07:40.020 --> 00:07:41.280 It's as though the apostle Paul 00:07:41.280 --> 00:07:42.100 is saying like this. 00:07:43.260 --> 00:07:45.420 If with Christ you die to the elemental spirits 00:07:45.420 --> 00:07:45.900 of the world, 00:07:46.100 --> 00:07:46.879 and you have. 00:07:48.040 --> 00:07:49.340 Or in 3.1, 00:07:49.460 --> 00:07:51.220 if then you've been raised with Christ, 00:07:51.320 --> 00:07:52.000 and you have. 00:07:52.200 --> 00:07:53.640 So what you can do is you can replace 00:07:53.640 --> 00:07:54.660 the if with a since. 00:07:57.000 --> 00:07:58.400 Since with Christ you've died 00:07:58.400 --> 00:08:00.000 to the elemental spirits of the world. 00:08:00.000 --> 00:08:03.779 Since then you have been raised with Christ. 00:08:04.060 --> 00:08:05.759 And what these statements are, 00:08:05.839 --> 00:08:08.259 are statements of who you are in Christ. 00:08:09.160 --> 00:08:10.199 Your identity. 00:08:13.600 --> 00:08:14.180 What is getting, 00:08:15.620 --> 00:08:16.980 what we're seeing here 00:08:16.980 --> 00:08:20.699 is what people call our union with Christ. 00:08:22.980 --> 00:08:25.439 Did you notice the with Christ language? 00:08:25.439 --> 00:08:30.680 If with Christ you die to the elemental spirits. 00:08:31.000 --> 00:08:32.179 Verse chapter 3.1, 00:08:32.299 --> 00:08:35.740 if then you have been raised with Christ. 00:08:35.820 --> 00:08:39.179 It's describing our union with Christ. 00:08:42.299 --> 00:08:44.539 Your conversion to Christ, Christian, 00:08:45.820 --> 00:08:50.460 is vodically linked to you being united to Christ. 00:08:50.460 --> 00:08:55.840 Because you've been united to Christ in his death, 00:08:56.560 --> 00:08:58.780 that means you've been forgiven of all of your sin. 00:08:59.920 --> 00:09:00.940 Sin does no longer, 00:09:01.019 --> 00:09:02.720 has no longer mastery over you. 00:09:02.820 --> 00:09:04.000 The penalty's been paid. 00:09:04.540 --> 00:09:07.100 Because you've been united with Christ in his death, 00:09:07.379 --> 00:09:10.040 the world no longer has mastery over you. 00:09:10.220 --> 00:09:12.420 Death has no longer mastery over you. 00:09:13.560 --> 00:09:14.920 It's because you've been united with 00:09:14.920 --> 00:09:17.480 the work of Christ on the cross. 00:09:17.480 --> 00:09:21.659 your identity is tied 00:09:21.659 --> 00:09:24.580 powerfully 00:09:24.580 --> 00:09:28.259 to the cross work of Jesus. 00:09:28.639 --> 00:09:31.779 But it doesn't end with being united to his death. 00:09:32.639 --> 00:09:35.120 We've also been united with his resurrection. 00:09:36.899 --> 00:09:39.159 If then you've been raised with Christ. 00:09:40.600 --> 00:09:42.259 What that means is this. 00:09:42.360 --> 00:09:44.320 Because you've been raised with Christ, 00:09:44.480 --> 00:09:46.560 you no longer are ruled by sin, 00:09:46.559 --> 00:09:48.099 but now you can live for God. 00:09:50.459 --> 00:09:53.059 You can obey him with joy. 00:09:55.819 --> 00:09:57.879 And now you live for the things of God. 00:09:59.500 --> 00:10:01.759 Your union with Christ in his death 00:10:01.759 --> 00:10:03.299 delivered you from something. 00:10:04.019 --> 00:10:06.179 And your union with Christ in his resurrection 00:10:06.179 --> 00:10:07.639 delivered you to something. 00:10:09.219 --> 00:10:10.739 From sin in this world, 00:10:11.199 --> 00:10:12.139 to God, 00:10:13.599 --> 00:10:15.559 and living according to his kingdom. 00:10:15.559 --> 00:10:18.839 This shows up in Romans chapter 6. 00:10:19.979 --> 00:10:22.819 Your union with Christ results in you being dead to sin 00:10:22.819 --> 00:10:24.359 and alive to God in Christ Jesus. 00:10:24.919 --> 00:10:26.039 And here in Colossians, 00:10:26.159 --> 00:10:27.299 your union with Christ, 00:10:27.879 --> 00:10:29.000 with his death, 00:10:29.159 --> 00:10:31.299 means you're no longer held captive 00:10:31.299 --> 00:10:34.899 by the Christless philosophies 00:10:34.899 --> 00:10:37.459 and practices of this world. 00:10:37.460 --> 00:10:38.940 You've been freed from that. 00:10:38.940 --> 00:10:40.820 You've been redeemed from that. 00:10:40.900 --> 00:10:42.160 You've been delivered from that. 00:10:42.800 --> 00:10:43.759 It's not who you are anymore. 00:10:46.680 --> 00:10:47.660 And in Colossians, 00:10:47.780 --> 00:10:50.060 your union with Christ in his resurrection 00:10:50.060 --> 00:10:53.860 means you've been freed to now 00:10:53.860 --> 00:10:56.639 seek the things above where Christ is, 00:10:56.720 --> 00:10:58.240 to set your mind on the things above, 00:10:58.360 --> 00:11:01.220 not in the things on the earth. 00:11:01.220 --> 00:11:04.580 So having been purchased by Christ, 00:11:05.420 --> 00:11:10.100 you now have a Christ-shaped identity, 00:11:10.519 --> 00:11:11.340 gospel identity. 00:11:11.980 --> 00:11:13.000 You've been united with Christ 00:11:13.000 --> 00:11:14.980 and his death and his resurrection. 00:11:16.080 --> 00:11:17.620 That's who you are. 00:11:18.120 --> 00:11:19.200 You know what the application is 00:11:19.200 --> 00:11:20.379 from this part of the sermon? 00:11:22.060 --> 00:11:22.620 Believe. 00:11:24.200 --> 00:11:24.680 Trust. 00:11:24.679 --> 00:11:27.979 define yourself this way. 00:11:30.099 --> 00:11:32.879 It's a Christ-shaped identity. 00:11:34.299 --> 00:11:36.599 It's who you are now. 00:11:37.799 --> 00:11:38.979 And this is a new way of thinking 00:11:38.979 --> 00:11:39.839 for many of us. 00:11:41.879 --> 00:11:43.839 We tend to let our circumstances 00:11:43.839 --> 00:11:45.120 define who we are. 00:11:47.259 --> 00:11:48.620 But God has changed that. 00:11:50.099 --> 00:11:52.319 Believer, you need to be convinced of this. 00:11:52.320 --> 00:11:54.940 You are united with Christ 00:11:54.940 --> 00:11:56.220 in his death and resurrection 00:11:56.220 --> 00:11:58.660 regardless of how you feel. 00:12:00.240 --> 00:12:01.460 It's true. 00:12:02.560 --> 00:12:04.080 It's true of you. 00:12:06.500 --> 00:12:08.260 Your union with Christ, 00:12:08.879 --> 00:12:11.180 it's not just a truth 00:12:11.180 --> 00:12:12.940 that defines you. 00:12:13.680 --> 00:12:15.860 It is the truth 00:12:15.860 --> 00:12:18.380 that defines you 00:12:18.379 --> 00:12:20.500 in every aspect 00:12:20.500 --> 00:12:22.700 of your life. 00:12:23.879 --> 00:12:25.120 So brother, sister in Christ, 00:12:25.179 --> 00:12:25.939 when you look in the mirror, 00:12:26.059 --> 00:12:26.980 who do you see? 00:12:29.919 --> 00:12:31.220 You know, the real question is, 00:12:32.220 --> 00:12:33.700 who does God see? 00:12:36.200 --> 00:12:37.419 In the book of James, 00:12:37.799 --> 00:12:39.480 the book of James talks about the Bible 00:12:39.480 --> 00:12:41.860 as a mirror. 00:12:41.860 --> 00:12:46.060 And when you look into the mirror 00:12:46.060 --> 00:12:47.720 of God's Word, Christian, 00:12:48.440 --> 00:12:49.879 do you know who's looking back at you? 00:12:51.560 --> 00:12:53.600 A sinner that's been united to Christ 00:12:53.600 --> 00:12:54.759 in his death and resurrection, 00:12:55.019 --> 00:12:56.240 and you are now a saint. 00:13:00.240 --> 00:13:01.639 Do you need to grow in this area? 00:13:03.539 --> 00:13:04.960 Do you need to grow in 00:13:04.960 --> 00:13:07.279 how you think about yourself? 00:13:07.279 --> 00:13:10.339 The way you do that 00:13:10.339 --> 00:13:11.919 is by getting God's Word 00:13:11.919 --> 00:13:12.480 on your mind. 00:13:12.879 --> 00:13:14.379 Just a simple verse 00:13:14.379 --> 00:13:15.819 like Romans 6.11, 00:13:16.600 --> 00:13:18.439 so consider yourself 00:13:18.439 --> 00:13:20.439 dead to sin 00:13:20.439 --> 00:13:21.579 and alive 00:13:21.579 --> 00:13:23.860 to God in Christ Jesus 00:13:23.860 --> 00:13:25.539 because you've been united to Him. 00:13:25.980 --> 00:13:27.659 If you get that on your mind, 00:13:27.759 --> 00:13:28.500 you know what happens? 00:13:29.639 --> 00:13:30.819 You walk through your day 00:13:30.819 --> 00:13:31.419 a little differently. 00:13:32.919 --> 00:13:34.360 You walk through your day 00:13:34.360 --> 00:13:36.399 tempted to things, 00:13:36.519 --> 00:13:36.959 and you're like, no. 00:13:37.279 --> 00:13:38.740 That's not who I am anymore. 00:13:41.339 --> 00:13:42.339 That's not me. 00:13:43.819 --> 00:13:45.279 I live for Christ now. 00:13:47.419 --> 00:13:49.879 God is actively rewiring 00:13:49.879 --> 00:13:51.500 how we think about ourselves, 00:13:51.699 --> 00:13:52.419 our identities, 00:13:53.059 --> 00:13:54.980 into this more and more 00:13:54.980 --> 00:13:57.059 Christ-shaped identity. 00:13:57.799 --> 00:13:58.839 It's who you are, 00:13:59.459 --> 00:14:00.620 regardless of how you feel. 00:14:01.100 --> 00:14:03.559 And this Christ-centered mindset 00:14:03.559 --> 00:14:04.959 about you yourself 00:14:04.959 --> 00:14:06.259 tied to Christ 00:14:06.259 --> 00:14:08.759 is absolutely crucial 00:14:08.759 --> 00:14:11.620 to Christ-centered living. 00:14:14.319 --> 00:14:16.279 Now we move from identity 00:14:16.279 --> 00:14:18.860 to aim. 00:14:18.860 --> 00:14:22.919 in verses 1 and 2, 00:14:23.620 --> 00:14:25.539 the Apostle Paul starts talking about, 00:14:26.820 --> 00:14:28.320 he starts using above language. 00:14:29.080 --> 00:14:29.639 He starts using 00:14:29.639 --> 00:14:31.680 what you're aimed at language. 00:14:32.300 --> 00:14:33.039 Your purpose. 00:14:34.440 --> 00:14:35.100 If then you see, 00:14:35.419 --> 00:14:36.919 if you have been raised with Christ, 00:14:37.019 --> 00:14:37.919 united with Christ, 00:14:38.919 --> 00:14:41.100 seek the things that are above 00:14:41.100 --> 00:14:41.879 where Christ is, 00:14:41.919 --> 00:14:43.000 seated at the right hand of God. 00:14:43.000 --> 00:14:44.740 set your minds on things 00:14:44.740 --> 00:14:45.620 that are above, 00:14:46.500 --> 00:14:47.759 not on things that are on earth. 00:14:49.139 --> 00:14:52.080 When we come across words like this, 00:14:52.179 --> 00:14:53.659 like strong words, 00:14:54.120 --> 00:14:54.740 seek, 00:14:55.460 --> 00:14:56.860 set your minds, 00:14:57.220 --> 00:14:59.000 this is God urging us 00:14:59.600 --> 00:15:01.379 to think a certain way, 00:15:02.539 --> 00:15:05.460 to have a certain mindset, 00:15:05.639 --> 00:15:06.919 to have a certain posture. 00:15:06.919 --> 00:15:12.539 If you've got a Christ-shaped identity, 00:15:13.419 --> 00:15:14.919 you must have 00:15:15.479 --> 00:15:19.299 a Christ above aim. 00:15:21.879 --> 00:15:22.979 That word seek 00:15:22.979 --> 00:15:24.620 is a wonderful word 00:15:24.620 --> 00:15:26.019 and it shows up a lot 00:15:26.019 --> 00:15:26.679 in your Bible. 00:15:26.819 --> 00:15:27.719 It shows up a lot 00:15:27.719 --> 00:15:29.139 actually in the Psalms. 00:15:29.259 --> 00:15:30.980 Let me just orient you 00:15:30.980 --> 00:15:32.199 to a couple Psalms 00:15:32.200 --> 00:15:35.180 where there's this seek language. 00:15:36.400 --> 00:15:37.460 Psalm 27, 4. 00:15:38.680 --> 00:15:40.759 One thing have I asked of the Lord 00:15:40.759 --> 00:15:43.620 that will I seek after 00:15:43.620 --> 00:15:45.140 that I may dwell in the house of the Lord 00:15:45.140 --> 00:15:46.200 all the days of my life 00:15:46.200 --> 00:15:49.040 to gaze upon the beauty of the Lord 00:15:49.040 --> 00:15:51.720 and inquire in His temple. 00:15:52.460 --> 00:15:54.040 Verse 8, Psalm 27. 00:15:54.560 --> 00:15:55.140 You have said, 00:15:55.240 --> 00:15:55.800 God has said, 00:15:55.920 --> 00:15:56.720 seek my face. 00:15:56.840 --> 00:15:57.379 David says, 00:15:57.440 --> 00:15:58.840 my heart says to you, God, 00:15:59.780 --> 00:16:01.240 your face, Lord, do I seek. 00:16:02.019 --> 00:16:02.500 It's beautiful. 00:16:04.299 --> 00:16:05.639 Les read something this morning 00:16:05.639 --> 00:16:07.700 from Psalm 34 to open us up. 00:16:08.340 --> 00:16:09.940 The young lions suffer want and hunger, 00:16:10.139 --> 00:16:11.500 but those who seek the Lord 00:16:11.500 --> 00:16:12.740 lack no good thing. 00:16:13.419 --> 00:16:14.980 Psalm 63, verse 1. 00:16:15.100 --> 00:16:16.180 Many of you know this one. 00:16:16.899 --> 00:16:18.060 Oh God, you are my God. 00:16:18.159 --> 00:16:19.180 Earnestly I seek you. 00:16:19.240 --> 00:16:20.279 My soul thirsts for you. 00:16:20.360 --> 00:16:21.620 My flesh faints for you 00:16:21.620 --> 00:16:23.299 as in a dry and weary land 00:16:23.299 --> 00:16:24.220 where there is no water. 00:16:24.320 --> 00:16:25.620 So I have looked upon you 00:16:25.620 --> 00:16:26.879 in the sanctuary, 00:16:27.019 --> 00:16:28.080 beholding your power 00:16:28.080 --> 00:16:29.200 and your glory. 00:16:29.200 --> 00:16:31.700 David in these Psalms 00:16:31.700 --> 00:16:34.080 is talking about seeking the Lord 00:16:34.080 --> 00:16:36.180 in the sanctuary, 00:16:36.640 --> 00:16:38.100 the temple on earth. 00:16:39.200 --> 00:16:42.240 Paul is urging us 00:16:42.240 --> 00:16:44.140 to seek the Lord 00:16:44.140 --> 00:16:47.140 in the heavenly sanctuary. 00:16:49.040 --> 00:16:51.640 To seek the things that are above. 00:16:51.639 --> 00:16:55.100 where Christ is. 00:16:56.419 --> 00:16:57.059 Right now. 00:16:59.000 --> 00:17:00.879 Seated at the right hand of God. 00:17:03.159 --> 00:17:03.740 Now you, 00:17:04.579 --> 00:17:05.460 if you've been around the block, 00:17:05.579 --> 00:17:06.259 you hear that phrase, 00:17:06.339 --> 00:17:07.319 seated at the right hand of God, 00:17:07.379 --> 00:17:07.639 and you're like, 00:17:07.940 --> 00:17:08.660 yeah, I know that verse. 00:17:11.460 --> 00:17:12.279 It's more about, 00:17:13.019 --> 00:17:14.740 more than just who Christ is, 00:17:14.839 --> 00:17:16.139 it's where He's at 00:17:16.139 --> 00:17:16.980 and what He's doing. 00:17:17.480 --> 00:17:19.440 It's a reference to Psalm 110. 00:17:20.420 --> 00:17:21.700 And if you want to turn in your Bibles 00:17:21.700 --> 00:17:22.839 to Psalm 110, 00:17:23.519 --> 00:17:24.599 Psalm 110.1 00:17:24.599 --> 00:17:27.140 is one of those Old Testament verses 00:17:27.140 --> 00:17:30.460 that is one of the most frequently quoted 00:17:30.460 --> 00:17:31.839 Old Testament verses 00:17:31.839 --> 00:17:32.860 in the New Testament. 00:17:33.259 --> 00:17:34.480 And the reason why, 00:17:34.819 --> 00:17:36.940 it's because Jesus Christ fulfills it. 00:17:36.940 --> 00:17:37.019 But, 00:17:37.019 --> 00:17:38.500 David, 00:17:40.920 --> 00:17:42.319 saying to God, 00:17:42.559 --> 00:17:42.900 says, 00:17:43.279 --> 00:17:44.779 the Lord says to my Lord, 00:17:44.779 --> 00:17:45.940 sit at my right hand 00:17:45.940 --> 00:17:47.079 until I make your enemies 00:17:47.079 --> 00:17:47.879 your footstool. 00:17:49.519 --> 00:17:50.759 Fulfilled in Christ, 00:17:51.759 --> 00:17:53.660 Jesus is known as David's greater son. 00:17:55.680 --> 00:17:57.379 That the Lord God 00:17:57.379 --> 00:17:59.220 has set all things 00:17:59.220 --> 00:18:00.359 as a footstool 00:18:00.359 --> 00:18:01.759 under the feet 00:18:01.759 --> 00:18:03.899 of Jesus Christ, 00:18:04.379 --> 00:18:05.180 David's Lord. 00:18:07.359 --> 00:18:09.200 And so what we're being told to do here 00:18:09.200 --> 00:18:11.759 is seek Christ above 00:18:11.759 --> 00:18:13.019 on His throne 00:18:13.019 --> 00:18:16.660 who's reigning over everything. 00:18:18.759 --> 00:18:20.619 And what this is to do 00:18:20.619 --> 00:18:24.339 is to reorient ourselves 00:18:24.339 --> 00:18:26.940 off this present earth 00:18:26.940 --> 00:18:29.879 and onto Christ's reign 00:18:29.879 --> 00:18:30.940 in heaven. 00:18:33.319 --> 00:18:34.559 His throne room 00:18:34.559 --> 00:18:37.460 where He is carrying out 00:18:37.460 --> 00:18:39.000 His new creation work 00:18:39.000 --> 00:18:42.059 on this fallen old earth. 00:18:42.059 --> 00:18:45.839 this is the one whom we seek 00:18:45.839 --> 00:18:48.379 and where we seek Him. 00:18:49.740 --> 00:18:51.139 We seek Him where He's at. 00:18:51.879 --> 00:18:52.359 Above. 00:18:54.539 --> 00:18:55.940 Sitting on His heavenly throne. 00:18:58.740 --> 00:18:59.940 He's reigning over all. 00:19:02.079 --> 00:19:03.200 It's contested 00:19:03.200 --> 00:19:05.099 now, 00:19:05.720 --> 00:19:07.559 but He's reigning over all. 00:19:07.720 --> 00:19:09.039 It reorients us 00:19:09.039 --> 00:19:11.259 to Christ's rule in heaven. 00:19:11.720 --> 00:19:12.720 There's this phrase 00:19:12.720 --> 00:19:15.099 in Daniel chapter 4 and 5. 00:19:15.659 --> 00:19:17.200 It's heaven rules. 00:19:18.859 --> 00:19:20.079 Jesus is ruling 00:19:20.079 --> 00:19:21.839 from heaven now. 00:19:22.480 --> 00:19:23.859 It's one of these truths 00:19:23.859 --> 00:19:24.899 that we need to get 00:19:24.899 --> 00:19:26.039 our minds on. 00:19:28.039 --> 00:19:29.180 Set your minds 00:19:29.180 --> 00:19:30.139 on the things above. 00:19:30.379 --> 00:19:31.440 Chapter 3, verse 2. 00:19:31.440 --> 00:19:34.519 What the Apostle Paul is doing. 00:19:34.620 --> 00:19:34.799 He says, 00:19:35.039 --> 00:19:35.960 Seek the things above. 00:19:36.160 --> 00:19:37.160 And then he says, 00:19:37.640 --> 00:19:39.580 By setting your mind 00:19:39.580 --> 00:19:41.480 on the things above. 00:19:41.660 --> 00:19:42.539 On Christ. 00:19:42.740 --> 00:19:44.120 We seek the things above 00:19:44.120 --> 00:19:45.000 by setting our minds 00:19:45.000 --> 00:19:45.680 on the things above. 00:19:45.799 --> 00:19:47.080 We renew our minds 00:19:47.080 --> 00:19:47.759 on the truth 00:19:47.759 --> 00:19:48.580 of who Jesus is 00:19:48.580 --> 00:19:49.380 and where He's at. 00:19:49.660 --> 00:19:50.279 Heaven rules. 00:19:52.039 --> 00:19:52.779 Jesus is reigning. 00:19:55.500 --> 00:19:56.660 Imagine you are working 00:19:56.660 --> 00:19:57.480 for a company 00:19:57.480 --> 00:19:59.279 whose headquarters 00:19:59.279 --> 00:20:01.279 are in Sydney, Australia. 00:20:01.680 --> 00:20:02.640 And you are living 00:20:02.640 --> 00:20:03.599 in Sydney, Australia. 00:20:06.240 --> 00:20:07.079 Down under. 00:20:08.819 --> 00:20:10.400 But that headquarters 00:20:10.400 --> 00:20:12.160 moves to Chicago, Illinois. 00:20:12.360 --> 00:20:13.839 But you're still in Sydney. 00:20:14.599 --> 00:20:15.079 You know what's going 00:20:15.079 --> 00:20:15.660 to need to happen. 00:20:16.799 --> 00:20:17.900 Your thinking is going 00:20:17.900 --> 00:20:19.480 to get reoriented. 00:20:20.720 --> 00:20:21.500 You're going to go 00:20:21.500 --> 00:20:23.039 from below thinking 00:20:23.039 --> 00:20:24.180 to above thinking 00:20:24.180 --> 00:20:25.039 in terms of 00:20:25.039 --> 00:20:26.740 your headquarters. 00:20:27.480 --> 00:20:28.700 Brothers and sisters, 00:20:28.880 --> 00:20:29.640 our headquarters 00:20:29.640 --> 00:20:33.059 is not on earth, 00:20:33.960 --> 00:20:37.539 but in heaven. 00:20:38.740 --> 00:20:40.079 Let me say that again. 00:20:42.259 --> 00:20:43.360 Our headquarters 00:20:43.360 --> 00:20:45.079 is not on earth. 00:20:45.160 --> 00:20:45.720 It's in heaven 00:20:45.720 --> 00:20:47.180 where Christ is. 00:20:47.360 --> 00:20:48.559 And so we need to 00:20:48.559 --> 00:20:50.299 learn to think 00:20:50.299 --> 00:20:52.660 oriented to heaven 00:20:52.660 --> 00:20:54.279 and where Jesus is. 00:20:55.140 --> 00:20:56.680 Not on the things of earth. 00:20:57.480 --> 00:20:58.400 We're to think 00:20:58.400 --> 00:20:59.120 of where Christ is. 00:20:59.200 --> 00:20:59.799 What He's doing. 00:20:59.960 --> 00:21:02.480 His work of a new creation. 00:21:02.640 --> 00:21:03.640 Making new creatures. 00:21:05.579 --> 00:21:06.019 Paul says, 00:21:06.200 --> 00:21:07.559 think on that. 00:21:07.900 --> 00:21:09.039 Not on the things 00:21:09.039 --> 00:21:09.819 that are on earth. 00:21:09.960 --> 00:21:11.599 And before you start thinking 00:21:11.599 --> 00:21:13.140 about particular material things, 00:21:13.420 --> 00:21:14.519 remember the context. 00:21:16.519 --> 00:21:17.920 In Colossians 2, 00:21:18.960 --> 00:21:20.799 8-23, 00:21:20.799 --> 00:21:22.799 the Apostle Paul 00:21:22.799 --> 00:21:23.419 has been talking 00:21:23.419 --> 00:21:24.059 about the things 00:21:24.059 --> 00:21:24.700 of earth 00:21:24.700 --> 00:21:26.680 as philosophies, 00:21:27.279 --> 00:21:29.419 as lifestyles, 00:21:29.480 --> 00:21:30.180 as practices. 00:21:33.019 --> 00:21:34.919 Don't set your mind 00:21:34.919 --> 00:21:35.779 on those things. 00:21:36.500 --> 00:21:37.440 On all the isms. 00:21:38.000 --> 00:21:39.579 Expressive individualism, 00:21:40.599 --> 00:21:41.379 scientism, 00:21:42.059 --> 00:21:42.919 materialism, 00:21:43.599 --> 00:21:44.720 Christian nationalism. 00:21:44.720 --> 00:21:48.319 Don't set your mind 00:21:48.319 --> 00:21:48.920 on those. 00:21:49.720 --> 00:21:50.880 Set your minds above 00:21:50.880 --> 00:21:52.180 where Christ is. 00:21:53.640 --> 00:21:55.860 Think those thoughts. 00:21:58.360 --> 00:22:00.160 And with that reorientation 00:22:00.160 --> 00:22:01.299 of where Christ is, 00:22:01.620 --> 00:22:02.980 you align yourself 00:22:02.980 --> 00:22:03.779 with not just 00:22:03.779 --> 00:22:04.700 who Christ is 00:22:04.700 --> 00:22:05.880 and where He's at, 00:22:06.140 --> 00:22:07.299 but what He's doing. 00:22:07.579 --> 00:22:08.299 You're positioned 00:22:08.299 --> 00:22:09.360 to walk in a manner 00:22:09.360 --> 00:22:10.539 worthy of the Lord 00:22:10.539 --> 00:22:12.720 in the fallen earth. 00:22:12.720 --> 00:22:16.380 this is essential. 00:22:17.000 --> 00:22:17.819 This mindset, 00:22:18.180 --> 00:22:20.940 this Christ above aim 00:22:20.940 --> 00:22:22.059 and orientation, 00:22:22.380 --> 00:22:23.839 it's essential 00:22:23.839 --> 00:22:28.339 to a Christ-centered walk 00:22:28.339 --> 00:22:30.720 on earth. 00:22:33.279 --> 00:22:34.779 This is unseen, right? 00:22:37.960 --> 00:22:40.100 Christ at the right hand of God, 00:22:41.259 --> 00:22:42.380 ruling on high, 00:22:42.380 --> 00:22:43.380 it's unseen. 00:22:44.860 --> 00:22:46.600 Because we walk by faith, 00:22:46.800 --> 00:22:48.620 not by sight. 00:22:51.400 --> 00:22:52.720 We are inundated 00:22:52.720 --> 00:22:54.060 with thousands of claims 00:22:54.060 --> 00:22:54.800 every day 00:22:54.800 --> 00:22:55.740 through a variety 00:22:55.740 --> 00:22:56.980 of different screens 00:22:56.980 --> 00:22:58.360 and voices 00:22:58.360 --> 00:23:02.120 that are making the case daily 00:23:02.120 --> 00:23:03.780 that this world 00:23:03.780 --> 00:23:05.280 is all that there is. 00:23:05.279 --> 00:23:10.460 we must be vigilant 00:23:10.460 --> 00:23:14.759 in reminding ourselves, 00:23:15.039 --> 00:23:16.440 renewing our minds, 00:23:16.579 --> 00:23:17.680 setting our minds 00:23:17.680 --> 00:23:19.240 on Christ above 00:23:19.240 --> 00:23:23.339 to fight back, 00:23:23.420 --> 00:23:24.519 to push back, 00:23:24.700 --> 00:23:25.720 to remember, 00:23:25.960 --> 00:23:26.539 no, no, no, no, 00:23:26.980 --> 00:23:27.460 no, no, no. 00:23:27.460 --> 00:23:31.660 This season we're in, 00:23:31.779 --> 00:23:32.920 it's not just a presidential 00:23:32.920 --> 00:23:33.960 election cycle. 00:23:35.000 --> 00:23:35.220 No, no, 00:23:35.279 --> 00:23:37.160 there's other things, 00:23:37.299 --> 00:23:38.380 there's greater things 00:23:38.380 --> 00:23:39.000 going on. 00:23:39.759 --> 00:23:40.539 Christ's reign. 00:23:41.720 --> 00:23:42.579 So let me urge you 00:23:42.579 --> 00:23:44.140 to consider something. 00:23:45.579 --> 00:23:47.519 If you tend to get focused 00:23:47.519 --> 00:23:48.559 on this earth 00:23:48.559 --> 00:23:50.700 and you're realizing, 00:23:50.860 --> 00:23:50.940 man, 00:23:50.980 --> 00:23:51.880 I can take some ground 00:23:51.880 --> 00:23:53.220 and setting my mind 00:23:53.220 --> 00:23:54.019 on things above, 00:23:54.019 --> 00:23:56.200 you want to get Bible 00:23:56.200 --> 00:23:56.879 on your mind. 00:23:57.740 --> 00:23:58.839 You want to get Scripture 00:23:58.839 --> 00:23:59.440 in your heart. 00:24:00.119 --> 00:24:01.519 You want to allow Scripture 00:24:01.519 --> 00:24:02.759 to aim your soul. 00:24:03.139 --> 00:24:03.700 And one of the things 00:24:03.700 --> 00:24:04.240 you can do is 00:24:04.240 --> 00:24:05.579 write out of Colossians 3.1. 00:24:05.660 --> 00:24:06.839 They're just seven words. 00:24:07.879 --> 00:24:08.660 Write them somewhere. 00:24:10.200 --> 00:24:11.079 Write them on their heart, 00:24:11.440 --> 00:24:12.139 on your heart. 00:24:12.639 --> 00:24:14.660 Seek the things above 00:24:14.660 --> 00:24:16.200 where Christ is. 00:24:16.960 --> 00:24:17.819 Seek the things above 00:24:17.819 --> 00:24:18.379 where Christ is. 00:24:18.480 --> 00:24:19.180 Could you imagine 00:24:19.180 --> 00:24:20.379 popping out of bed? 00:24:21.319 --> 00:24:21.980 Seek the things above 00:24:21.980 --> 00:24:22.579 where Christ is. 00:24:22.579 --> 00:24:23.799 What a great way 00:24:23.799 --> 00:24:24.379 to start your day. 00:24:24.980 --> 00:24:25.879 And then you walk 00:24:25.879 --> 00:24:26.799 through the day 00:24:26.799 --> 00:24:28.240 with those seven words 00:24:28.240 --> 00:24:29.559 rolling around in your mind. 00:24:29.679 --> 00:24:30.960 It will aim you 00:24:30.960 --> 00:24:31.759 throughout the day. 00:24:33.779 --> 00:24:34.559 Seek the things above 00:24:34.559 --> 00:24:35.319 where Christ is. 00:24:38.539 --> 00:24:40.039 God is rewiring 00:24:40.039 --> 00:24:41.699 our priorities. 00:24:43.159 --> 00:24:44.199 He's rewiring 00:24:44.199 --> 00:24:44.960 the thinking 00:24:44.960 --> 00:24:46.480 of what we're aimed at 00:24:46.480 --> 00:24:47.539 day in and day out. 00:24:47.919 --> 00:24:49.839 It's absolutely essential, 00:24:50.399 --> 00:24:52.039 this way of thinking, 00:24:52.039 --> 00:24:53.079 meaning this aim 00:24:53.079 --> 00:24:56.159 as we walk 00:24:56.159 --> 00:24:57.519 on this earth 00:24:57.519 --> 00:25:00.220 day in and day out. 00:25:00.839 --> 00:25:03.759 We live for unseen things now. 00:25:07.339 --> 00:25:08.440 Things above, 00:25:08.700 --> 00:25:10.019 not things below. 00:25:10.159 --> 00:25:13.359 Things that are eternal. 00:25:14.319 --> 00:25:15.240 Things that are lasting. 00:25:16.139 --> 00:25:17.039 Not things that are 00:25:18.639 --> 00:25:19.819 temporary and passing. 00:25:19.819 --> 00:25:19.919 Nothing. 00:25:22.179 --> 00:25:23.519 Who you are in Christ, 00:25:23.619 --> 00:25:24.220 your identity, 00:25:25.319 --> 00:25:26.519 is to aim you 00:25:26.519 --> 00:25:27.659 at things above 00:25:27.659 --> 00:25:29.859 as we live 00:25:29.859 --> 00:25:31.500 in a certain time frame. 00:25:32.200 --> 00:25:32.700 And this is where 00:25:32.700 --> 00:25:33.460 we want to land 00:25:33.460 --> 00:25:34.119 the sermon. 00:25:34.379 --> 00:25:35.119 We're going to close it 00:25:35.119 --> 00:25:36.019 with these points, 00:25:36.659 --> 00:25:37.439 this last point. 00:25:38.839 --> 00:25:40.000 In verses 3 and 4, 00:25:40.319 --> 00:25:40.879 God is seeking 00:25:40.879 --> 00:25:43.039 to rewire our minds 00:25:43.039 --> 00:25:45.879 in a certain time. 00:25:47.019 --> 00:25:47.359 Church, 00:25:47.420 --> 00:25:48.200 what time is it? 00:25:50.099 --> 00:25:51.000 Let me show you. 00:25:54.859 --> 00:25:55.519 Right now, 00:25:55.619 --> 00:25:56.420 you woke up today, 00:25:56.700 --> 00:25:57.440 how did you frame 00:25:57.440 --> 00:25:57.899 your life, 00:25:58.019 --> 00:25:58.740 time frame wise? 00:25:59.559 --> 00:25:59.740 Well, 00:25:59.799 --> 00:26:01.039 I got to get to church, 00:26:01.379 --> 00:26:01.559 you know, 00:26:01.639 --> 00:26:02.819 we've got lunch afterwards. 00:26:03.159 --> 00:26:03.759 You kind of frame 00:26:03.759 --> 00:26:04.539 your life 00:26:04.539 --> 00:26:05.539 in terms of the day. 00:26:06.500 --> 00:26:07.599 Or maybe you frame 00:26:07.599 --> 00:26:08.519 your life in terms 00:26:08.519 --> 00:26:09.359 of your birth 00:26:09.359 --> 00:26:10.139 and your death. 00:26:10.140 --> 00:26:11.220 Maybe you frame 00:26:11.220 --> 00:26:11.780 your life 00:26:11.780 --> 00:26:13.000 in terms of your marriage, 00:26:13.120 --> 00:26:14.080 in terms of a season 00:26:14.080 --> 00:26:14.700 of parenting, 00:26:14.900 --> 00:26:16.060 or maybe you're framing 00:26:16.060 --> 00:26:16.920 your life in terms 00:26:16.920 --> 00:26:18.240 of your work life 00:26:18.240 --> 00:26:19.820 when you start work 00:26:19.820 --> 00:26:20.360 and when you will 00:26:20.360 --> 00:26:21.360 one day retire. 00:26:21.520 --> 00:26:22.400 Maybe you are framing 00:26:22.400 --> 00:26:23.320 your life in terms 00:26:23.320 --> 00:26:23.940 of a presidential 00:26:23.940 --> 00:26:25.060 election cycle. 00:26:30.540 --> 00:26:32.140 Paul starts verse 3 00:26:32.140 --> 00:26:33.980 with reason language. 00:26:34.240 --> 00:26:36.060 For you have died. 00:26:36.600 --> 00:26:38.480 So we set our minds 00:26:38.480 --> 00:26:39.520 on the things above, 00:26:39.519 --> 00:26:40.519 not on the earth 00:26:40.519 --> 00:26:41.339 because we've died 00:26:41.339 --> 00:26:41.960 with Christ. 00:26:42.059 --> 00:26:42.579 We've been raised 00:26:42.579 --> 00:26:43.420 with Christ. 00:26:47.160 --> 00:26:48.359 And we're ushered 00:26:48.359 --> 00:26:52.559 into a Christ-framed life. 00:26:55.799 --> 00:26:57.460 We, brothers and sisters, 00:26:58.619 --> 00:26:59.920 live in between 00:26:59.920 --> 00:27:02.579 the already of Christ's 00:27:02.579 --> 00:27:03.480 inaugurated reign 00:27:03.480 --> 00:27:05.819 and the not yet 00:27:05.819 --> 00:27:07.379 of the fulfillment 00:27:07.379 --> 00:27:08.099 of that reign. 00:27:08.099 --> 00:27:10.659 We live in between 00:27:10.659 --> 00:27:11.879 the first coming 00:27:11.879 --> 00:27:12.419 of Christ 00:27:12.419 --> 00:27:14.319 where He died, 00:27:14.500 --> 00:27:15.159 He was raised, 00:27:15.259 --> 00:27:16.079 and 40 days later 00:27:16.079 --> 00:27:16.919 He was ascended 00:27:16.919 --> 00:27:17.659 to the right hand 00:27:17.659 --> 00:27:18.099 of God 00:27:18.099 --> 00:27:19.240 where He's been reigning 00:27:19.240 --> 00:27:19.959 ever since, 00:27:20.099 --> 00:27:21.159 up until this point, 00:27:21.599 --> 00:27:24.000 until the second coming. 00:27:24.779 --> 00:27:25.659 His appearing 00:27:25.659 --> 00:27:28.119 when He returns. 00:27:28.719 --> 00:27:30.319 And at that point, 00:27:30.619 --> 00:27:32.719 He makes everything new. 00:27:32.720 --> 00:27:34.960 He judges all 00:27:34.960 --> 00:27:36.819 and recreates 00:27:36.819 --> 00:27:37.799 the heaven and the earth. 00:27:39.940 --> 00:27:41.480 So we live now 00:27:41.480 --> 00:27:42.720 between the already 00:27:42.720 --> 00:27:43.960 and the not yet. 00:27:44.120 --> 00:27:46.299 The beginning of Christ's reign 00:27:46.299 --> 00:27:47.100 and the fulfillment 00:27:47.100 --> 00:27:48.460 of Christ's reign. 00:27:48.680 --> 00:27:50.620 What time do we live on? 00:27:50.880 --> 00:27:51.860 How do we synchronize 00:27:51.860 --> 00:27:53.059 our watches together? 00:27:53.279 --> 00:27:54.600 We synchronize them together 00:27:54.600 --> 00:27:55.240 to Christ. 00:27:55.360 --> 00:27:55.900 Christ time. 00:27:56.640 --> 00:27:57.620 We live in between 00:27:57.620 --> 00:28:00.039 Christ's present reign 00:28:00.039 --> 00:28:01.379 and the fulfillment 00:28:01.379 --> 00:28:02.399 of His reign. 00:28:03.379 --> 00:28:04.059 Let me just show you 00:28:04.059 --> 00:28:04.680 from the text. 00:28:07.299 --> 00:28:08.920 In 3.3, 00:28:09.139 --> 00:28:09.480 we're said, 00:28:09.680 --> 00:28:11.980 for you have died 00:28:11.980 --> 00:28:12.779 and your life 00:28:12.779 --> 00:28:13.519 is hidden 00:28:13.519 --> 00:28:14.859 with Christ in God. 00:28:14.920 --> 00:28:15.180 Do you remember 00:28:15.180 --> 00:28:16.279 where Christ is right now? 00:28:16.279 --> 00:28:19.259 He's above in heaven. 00:28:20.039 --> 00:28:20.940 So when we're talking 00:28:20.940 --> 00:28:22.839 about our hiddenness, 00:28:23.000 --> 00:28:24.359 our out-of-sightness 00:28:24.359 --> 00:28:26.420 with Christ in God, 00:28:26.660 --> 00:28:27.440 it's located. 00:28:29.259 --> 00:28:31.559 Just like in Ephesians 2.6, 00:28:31.639 --> 00:28:32.319 the Apostle Paul 00:28:32.319 --> 00:28:33.220 talks about that 00:28:33.220 --> 00:28:35.339 Christians are seated 00:28:35.339 --> 00:28:36.619 in the heavenly places. 00:28:36.859 --> 00:28:37.119 Now, 00:28:37.839 --> 00:28:39.460 we have a spiritual place 00:28:39.460 --> 00:28:40.539 with Christ 00:28:40.539 --> 00:28:42.579 in the heavenly realm. 00:28:42.579 --> 00:28:46.539 And why that's important 00:28:46.539 --> 00:28:47.839 is what comes with that. 00:28:49.419 --> 00:28:50.939 Sometimes Christians think 00:28:50.939 --> 00:28:51.639 that because 00:28:51.639 --> 00:28:53.899 Jesus is in heaven, 00:28:54.699 --> 00:28:56.439 He leaves us exposed 00:28:56.439 --> 00:28:57.519 on earth. 00:29:01.000 --> 00:29:03.960 Exposed to demonic attacks. 00:29:04.599 --> 00:29:07.259 Exposed to wrongs 00:29:07.259 --> 00:29:09.199 that are outside of His reign. 00:29:10.480 --> 00:29:10.879 No. 00:29:10.879 --> 00:29:10.939 No. 00:29:12.579 --> 00:29:13.220 Believe it, 00:29:13.240 --> 00:29:13.659 you're hidden 00:29:13.659 --> 00:29:15.319 with Christ in God. 00:29:16.399 --> 00:29:17.039 Scholars think 00:29:17.039 --> 00:29:17.639 this is a reference 00:29:17.639 --> 00:29:18.419 to Psalm 27 00:29:18.419 --> 00:29:19.699 and I tend to agree with them. 00:29:20.079 --> 00:29:20.859 If you want to turn back 00:29:20.859 --> 00:29:21.039 to, 00:29:21.399 --> 00:29:22.579 if you want to look 00:29:22.579 --> 00:29:24.240 at Psalm 27, 5, and 6, 00:29:24.419 --> 00:29:25.720 hear what David says. 00:29:27.159 --> 00:29:28.559 For He will hide me 00:29:28.559 --> 00:29:29.179 in His shelter 00:29:29.179 --> 00:29:31.199 in the day of trouble. 00:29:31.980 --> 00:29:33.099 He will conceal me 00:29:33.099 --> 00:29:33.879 under the cover 00:29:33.879 --> 00:29:34.480 of His tent. 00:29:34.559 --> 00:29:35.220 He will lift me 00:29:35.220 --> 00:29:36.199 high upon a rock. 00:29:36.579 --> 00:29:37.299 And now my head 00:29:37.299 --> 00:29:38.299 shall be lifted up 00:29:38.299 --> 00:29:39.259 above my enemies 00:29:39.259 --> 00:29:40.079 all around me. 00:29:40.079 --> 00:29:41.139 And I will offer 00:29:41.139 --> 00:29:41.919 in His tent 00:29:41.920 --> 00:29:42.660 sacrifices 00:29:42.660 --> 00:29:43.680 with shouts of joy. 00:29:44.000 --> 00:29:44.660 I will sing 00:29:44.660 --> 00:29:45.360 and make melody 00:29:45.360 --> 00:29:46.140 to the Lord. 00:29:46.200 --> 00:29:47.539 Again, this is the temple 00:29:47.539 --> 00:29:48.200 on earth. 00:29:48.560 --> 00:29:49.140 We are hidden 00:29:49.140 --> 00:29:49.960 with Christ 00:29:49.960 --> 00:29:51.700 in the heavenly temple. 00:29:52.140 --> 00:29:52.900 We've got a place 00:29:52.900 --> 00:29:53.320 with Him. 00:29:53.660 --> 00:29:54.240 It's a picture 00:29:54.240 --> 00:29:56.220 of protection, 00:29:58.019 --> 00:29:58.840 guardedness, 00:29:59.880 --> 00:30:00.560 sheltering, 00:30:01.259 --> 00:30:01.980 concealment 00:30:01.980 --> 00:30:02.980 in the day of trouble. 00:30:04.380 --> 00:30:04.580 Oh, 00:30:05.380 --> 00:30:06.340 brother and sister, 00:30:06.420 --> 00:30:06.920 you've been hidden 00:30:06.920 --> 00:30:07.680 with Christ. 00:30:07.680 --> 00:30:09.340 Christ in God. 00:30:10.019 --> 00:30:11.620 You are not exposed. 00:30:13.019 --> 00:30:14.220 You're not in danger. 00:30:15.820 --> 00:30:17.380 You're protected in Him. 00:30:18.539 --> 00:30:19.080 In fact, 00:30:19.840 --> 00:30:21.519 you're defined by Him. 00:30:22.720 --> 00:30:24.000 You're united to Him. 00:30:28.060 --> 00:30:28.840 We are hidden 00:30:28.840 --> 00:30:29.900 with Christ in God 00:30:29.900 --> 00:30:32.440 as He reigns on high. 00:30:32.440 --> 00:30:35.240 This is the already 00:30:35.240 --> 00:30:36.180 of His present reign. 00:30:36.259 --> 00:30:36.740 We are hidden 00:30:36.740 --> 00:30:37.660 with Christ in God. 00:30:37.980 --> 00:30:38.340 Nothing 00:30:38.340 --> 00:30:39.580 and no one 00:30:39.580 --> 00:30:40.759 can separate us 00:30:40.759 --> 00:30:41.539 from the love of God 00:30:41.539 --> 00:30:42.140 in Christ Jesus. 00:30:44.700 --> 00:30:45.500 But there's also 00:30:45.500 --> 00:30:46.059 the not yet. 00:30:49.180 --> 00:30:49.880 We're hidden 00:30:49.880 --> 00:30:50.900 with Christ in God, 00:30:51.580 --> 00:30:53.559 but when He appears, 00:30:54.759 --> 00:30:55.299 verse 4, 00:30:55.299 --> 00:30:58.339 when Christ 00:30:58.339 --> 00:30:59.200 who is your life 00:30:59.200 --> 00:30:59.619 appears, 00:30:59.859 --> 00:31:00.579 then you also 00:31:00.579 --> 00:31:01.139 will appear 00:31:01.139 --> 00:31:01.879 with Him in glory. 00:31:03.799 --> 00:31:05.220 What we're talking about 00:31:05.220 --> 00:31:09.159 is a heavenly mindset, 00:31:09.339 --> 00:31:10.419 a heavenly framework 00:31:10.419 --> 00:31:13.059 of Christ's present reign 00:31:13.059 --> 00:31:14.319 and Christ's future 00:31:14.319 --> 00:31:15.279 fulfilling reign. 00:31:15.680 --> 00:31:17.419 One reign is hidden 00:31:17.419 --> 00:31:18.299 and unseen, 00:31:18.799 --> 00:31:19.859 but when He comes, 00:31:20.019 --> 00:31:20.859 it appears 00:31:20.859 --> 00:31:23.940 with fullness of glory. 00:31:23.940 --> 00:31:24.000 glory. 00:31:26.519 --> 00:31:28.440 Paul is pointing 00:31:28.440 --> 00:31:29.340 to the promise 00:31:29.340 --> 00:31:30.640 that Jesus has made 00:31:30.640 --> 00:31:31.880 that He Himself 00:31:31.880 --> 00:31:33.080 will come back 00:31:33.080 --> 00:31:33.700 in glory. 00:31:33.840 --> 00:31:34.980 That's Matthew 24, 00:31:35.380 --> 00:31:36.740 36-51, 00:31:37.120 --> 00:31:38.059 where Jesus talks 00:31:38.059 --> 00:31:39.340 about His second coming 00:31:39.340 --> 00:31:40.480 will be like a thief. 00:31:44.279 --> 00:31:44.900 In fact, 00:31:45.000 --> 00:31:46.140 it shows up so much 00:31:46.140 --> 00:31:46.820 in the New Testament. 00:31:47.039 --> 00:31:48.559 1 Thessalonians 4 and 5, 00:31:48.940 --> 00:31:49.900 the Thessalonians 00:31:49.900 --> 00:31:51.220 were to encourage 00:31:51.220 --> 00:31:52.019 one another 00:31:52.019 --> 00:31:54.160 with the promised return 00:31:54.160 --> 00:31:55.920 of Jesus Christ. 00:31:57.420 --> 00:31:59.119 1 Corinthians 15, 00:31:59.420 --> 00:32:00.119 there's going to be 00:32:00.119 --> 00:32:00.759 a blast 00:32:00.759 --> 00:32:01.759 of a trumpet 00:32:01.759 --> 00:32:03.160 of an archangel 00:32:03.160 --> 00:32:04.519 and Christ will return. 00:32:05.660 --> 00:32:06.460 Don't lose heart. 00:32:08.359 --> 00:32:09.279 Titus 2, 00:32:09.359 --> 00:32:10.019 11-15, 00:32:10.359 --> 00:32:11.579 we are all 00:32:11.579 --> 00:32:12.139 waiting 00:32:12.139 --> 00:32:13.059 for the glorious 00:32:13.059 --> 00:32:13.599 appearing 00:32:13.599 --> 00:32:14.960 of our God and Savior, 00:32:15.379 --> 00:32:16.299 Jesus Christ. 00:32:17.220 --> 00:32:18.460 And so we press on, 00:32:19.460 --> 00:32:21.200 growing in self-control, 00:32:22.019 --> 00:32:24.440 Revelation 19, 00:32:24.539 --> 00:32:25.339 11-16, 00:32:25.900 --> 00:32:27.000 Jesus is pictured 00:32:27.000 --> 00:32:28.639 as a returning 00:32:28.639 --> 00:32:32.079 victor 00:32:32.079 --> 00:32:34.779 on a white war horse 00:32:34.779 --> 00:32:37.960 with a number of titles. 00:32:41.160 --> 00:32:42.539 When we read here, 00:32:42.660 --> 00:32:43.119 when Christ, 00:32:43.240 --> 00:32:44.160 who is your life, 00:32:44.819 --> 00:32:45.339 appears, 00:32:45.819 --> 00:32:47.000 then He will also appear 00:32:47.000 --> 00:32:47.900 with Him in glory. 00:32:48.400 --> 00:32:48.900 Jesus, 00:32:49.379 --> 00:32:50.379 we're one day closer, 00:32:51.180 --> 00:32:51.879 brothers and sisters, 00:32:52.019 --> 00:32:54.339 to this 00:32:54.339 --> 00:32:56.839 surprise return 00:32:56.839 --> 00:32:57.440 of Jesus. 00:33:00.000 --> 00:33:00.519 Glorious 00:33:00.519 --> 00:33:01.379 and awesome 00:33:01.379 --> 00:33:02.359 and for those 00:33:02.359 --> 00:33:03.220 who don't believe, 00:33:03.940 --> 00:33:04.579 terrifying. 00:33:06.680 --> 00:33:07.559 He's no longer 00:33:07.559 --> 00:33:07.900 hidden. 00:33:09.579 --> 00:33:10.500 He appears 00:33:10.500 --> 00:33:11.480 fully for all 00:33:11.480 --> 00:33:11.960 to see. 00:33:12.940 --> 00:33:13.599 And we, 00:33:13.960 --> 00:33:14.539 who have been 00:33:14.539 --> 00:33:15.440 united with Him 00:33:15.440 --> 00:33:15.879 in His death 00:33:15.879 --> 00:33:16.519 and resurrection, 00:33:17.220 --> 00:33:17.680 we, 00:33:17.960 --> 00:33:18.619 who have been 00:33:18.619 --> 00:33:19.700 hidden with Him 00:33:19.700 --> 00:33:20.259 in God 00:33:20.259 --> 00:33:21.379 during His present reign, 00:33:21.380 --> 00:33:23.320 we will appear 00:33:23.320 --> 00:33:24.080 with Him 00:33:24.080 --> 00:33:25.580 in glory 00:33:25.580 --> 00:33:26.640 when He returns. 00:33:28.640 --> 00:33:29.740 This promise 00:33:29.740 --> 00:33:30.580 of glorious, 00:33:30.700 --> 00:33:31.540 His glorious appearing, 00:33:31.740 --> 00:33:32.000 it, 00:33:32.000 --> 00:33:33.620 it puts hope 00:33:33.620 --> 00:33:34.260 in our hearts. 00:33:35.700 --> 00:33:35.820 It, 00:33:35.900 --> 00:33:38.480 it gets a time frame 00:33:38.480 --> 00:33:39.060 in place. 00:33:41.560 --> 00:33:42.180 It's a, 00:33:42.180 --> 00:33:42.820 it's a Christ 00:33:42.820 --> 00:33:43.900 frame way 00:33:43.900 --> 00:33:44.580 of thinking 00:33:44.580 --> 00:33:45.160 and living. 00:33:45.880 --> 00:33:46.360 We, 00:33:46.420 --> 00:33:47.180 we live in between 00:33:47.180 --> 00:33:48.120 the first coming 00:33:48.119 --> 00:33:49.079 and the second coming. 00:33:49.079 --> 00:33:50.359 We live in between 00:33:50.359 --> 00:33:51.119 His hidden, 00:33:51.519 --> 00:33:52.239 present reign 00:33:52.239 --> 00:33:54.139 and His appearing 00:33:54.139 --> 00:33:55.339 when He returns 00:33:55.339 --> 00:33:55.939 and makes 00:33:55.939 --> 00:33:57.179 all things 00:33:57.179 --> 00:33:58.319 right. 00:33:59.439 --> 00:34:00.699 And this kind of 00:34:00.699 --> 00:34:02.059 Christ-framed 00:34:02.059 --> 00:34:03.099 time frame 00:34:03.099 --> 00:34:05.779 is absolutely 00:34:05.779 --> 00:34:06.439 essential 00:34:06.439 --> 00:34:08.759 to living 00:34:08.759 --> 00:34:09.719 a Christ-central 00:34:09.719 --> 00:34:10.279 life 00:34:10.279 --> 00:34:11.380 on earth. 00:34:11.380 --> 00:34:23.920 What time 00:34:23.920 --> 00:34:24.160 is it, 00:34:24.240 --> 00:34:24.460 church? 00:34:27.340 --> 00:34:28.180 Who you are 00:34:28.180 --> 00:34:28.760 in Christ 00:34:28.760 --> 00:34:29.720 aims you 00:34:29.720 --> 00:34:30.340 at where 00:34:30.340 --> 00:34:31.300 Christ is 00:34:31.300 --> 00:34:32.360 in between 00:34:32.360 --> 00:34:33.119 the already 00:34:33.119 --> 00:34:34.019 and not yet 00:34:34.019 --> 00:34:34.900 of Christ's 00:34:34.900 --> 00:34:35.300 appearing. 00:34:35.760 --> 00:34:36.660 Who you are, 00:34:37.220 --> 00:34:37.500 you, 00:34:37.640 --> 00:34:37.920 Christian, 00:34:38.320 --> 00:34:40.280 have a Christ-shaped 00:34:40.280 --> 00:34:40.980 identity. 00:34:42.200 --> 00:34:43.380 What's your aim? 00:34:44.200 --> 00:34:45.240 Christ above 00:34:45.240 --> 00:34:45.900 aim. 00:34:47.220 --> 00:34:48.720 When you live, 00:34:50.059 --> 00:34:50.940 you live 00:34:50.940 --> 00:34:51.740 as I do 00:34:51.740 --> 00:34:52.960 between Christ's 00:34:52.960 --> 00:34:54.000 first coming 00:34:54.000 --> 00:34:54.860 and His second. 00:34:55.380 --> 00:34:56.280 Between the already 00:34:56.280 --> 00:34:57.539 and the not yet 00:34:57.539 --> 00:34:59.160 in these three 00:34:59.160 --> 00:34:59.880 elements, 00:35:00.500 --> 00:35:01.340 they shape 00:35:01.340 --> 00:35:02.240 our minds 00:35:02.240 --> 00:35:03.099 so that we can 00:35:03.099 --> 00:35:04.240 live for Christ 00:35:04.240 --> 00:35:05.680 on earth 00:35:05.680 --> 00:35:07.320 by faith. 00:35:08.800 --> 00:35:09.000 Now, 00:35:09.039 --> 00:35:09.440 I just want to 00:35:09.440 --> 00:35:10.180 point you to something. 00:35:11.380 --> 00:35:12.320 because this 00:35:12.320 --> 00:35:12.840 isn't just 00:35:12.840 --> 00:35:13.460 kind of a little 00:35:13.460 --> 00:35:13.940 deposit 00:35:13.940 --> 00:35:14.420 and Paul 00:35:14.420 --> 00:35:15.119 moves on. 00:35:16.760 --> 00:35:17.700 He tells us 00:35:17.700 --> 00:35:18.300 these things 00:35:18.300 --> 00:35:19.079 here in 3, 00:35:19.180 --> 00:35:20.180 1 through 4 00:35:20.180 --> 00:35:21.660 because in 3, 00:35:21.820 --> 00:35:22.140 5, 00:35:22.200 --> 00:35:22.840 and through 11, 00:35:23.059 --> 00:35:23.720 he gets into 00:35:23.720 --> 00:35:23.980 this. 00:35:24.119 --> 00:35:24.220 He says, 00:35:24.460 --> 00:35:25.119 who you are, 00:35:25.840 --> 00:35:27.599 it requires you, 00:35:27.700 --> 00:35:28.140 who you are 00:35:28.140 --> 00:35:28.680 in Christ 00:35:28.680 --> 00:35:29.680 will now require 00:35:29.680 --> 00:35:31.000 you to put 00:35:31.000 --> 00:35:31.980 your sin 00:35:31.980 --> 00:35:32.619 to death, 00:35:33.380 --> 00:35:34.119 to put it 00:35:34.119 --> 00:35:34.480 off 00:35:34.480 --> 00:35:35.700 on earth. 00:35:35.699 --> 00:35:36.699 Christ. 00:35:36.699 --> 00:35:37.579 And then in 00:35:37.579 --> 00:35:38.579 12 through 17, 00:35:38.859 --> 00:35:39.480 who you are 00:35:39.480 --> 00:35:39.960 in Christ, 00:35:40.099 --> 00:35:40.519 your identity 00:35:40.519 --> 00:35:41.239 with Him 00:35:41.239 --> 00:35:42.239 requires you 00:35:42.239 --> 00:35:43.419 to put on 00:35:43.419 --> 00:35:45.259 Christ-like 00:35:45.259 --> 00:35:46.019 character 00:35:46.019 --> 00:35:46.919 and conduct. 00:35:48.279 --> 00:35:49.179 And then he 00:35:49.179 --> 00:35:50.259 takes that way 00:35:50.259 --> 00:35:50.699 of thinking 00:35:50.699 --> 00:35:51.819 of putting off 00:35:51.819 --> 00:35:52.679 sin and putting 00:35:52.679 --> 00:35:54.259 on Christ-likeness, 00:35:54.899 --> 00:35:55.779 he brings it 00:35:55.779 --> 00:35:56.559 into our 00:35:56.559 --> 00:35:57.579 everyday lives. 00:35:58.679 --> 00:35:59.359 In verses 00:35:59.359 --> 00:36:00.339 18 and 19, 00:36:01.140 --> 00:36:02.059 we live out 00:36:02.059 --> 00:36:03.180 our identity 00:36:03.180 --> 00:36:04.140 in Christ 00:36:04.140 --> 00:36:05.620 in our marriages, 00:36:06.700 --> 00:36:08.600 wives and husbands. 00:36:09.420 --> 00:36:10.260 We live out 00:36:10.260 --> 00:36:10.960 this identity 00:36:10.960 --> 00:36:11.880 in Christ, 00:36:12.420 --> 00:36:13.420 verses 20 and 21 00:36:13.420 --> 00:36:14.260 of chapter 3, 00:36:15.260 --> 00:36:16.600 in our families, 00:36:17.740 --> 00:36:18.840 children and parents. 00:36:21.000 --> 00:36:21.500 And then in 00:36:21.500 --> 00:36:22.559 chapter 3, 00:36:22.600 --> 00:36:23.780 verses 22 through 4, 00:36:23.840 --> 00:36:24.039 1, 00:36:24.120 --> 00:36:24.940 we live out 00:36:24.940 --> 00:36:25.780 this identity 00:36:25.780 --> 00:36:26.579 in Christ 00:36:26.579 --> 00:36:27.320 with this 00:36:27.320 --> 00:36:28.160 aim 00:36:28.160 --> 00:36:30.320 and time frame 00:36:30.320 --> 00:36:33.700 in our workplaces. 00:36:34.500 --> 00:36:35.880 Whether we have 00:36:35.880 --> 00:36:37.920 a subordinate 00:36:37.920 --> 00:36:38.820 role or a 00:36:38.820 --> 00:36:39.900 supervisory role, 00:36:41.140 --> 00:36:41.660 we're living 00:36:41.660 --> 00:36:42.280 for Christ. 00:36:42.640 --> 00:36:43.940 And this kind 00:36:43.940 --> 00:36:44.300 of thinking 00:36:44.300 --> 00:36:45.059 is absolutely 00:36:45.059 --> 00:36:45.960 crucial to that. 00:36:47.100 --> 00:36:47.800 Your identity 00:36:47.800 --> 00:36:48.500 in Christ 00:36:48.500 --> 00:36:50.160 informs all 00:36:50.160 --> 00:36:51.120 of who you are. 00:36:52.840 --> 00:36:53.780 All of who 00:36:53.780 --> 00:36:54.200 you are. 00:36:55.720 --> 00:36:56.480 When you 00:36:56.480 --> 00:36:57.200 became a Christian, 00:36:58.720 --> 00:37:00.160 Christ 00:37:00.159 --> 00:37:01.059 purchased you 00:37:01.059 --> 00:37:01.739 with his blood 00:37:01.739 --> 00:37:02.440 for himself. 00:37:03.299 --> 00:37:04.159 Change of ownership. 00:37:06.000 --> 00:37:06.799 And he swapped 00:37:06.799 --> 00:37:07.559 out your box. 00:37:09.000 --> 00:37:09.759 He took out 00:37:09.759 --> 00:37:10.519 that heart of stone 00:37:10.519 --> 00:37:10.980 and put in 00:37:10.980 --> 00:37:12.319 a fleshly, 00:37:12.579 --> 00:37:13.420 soft heart 00:37:13.420 --> 00:37:14.839 to live 00:37:14.839 --> 00:37:15.539 for him. 00:37:16.500 --> 00:37:17.440 And he is 00:37:17.440 --> 00:37:18.099 rewiring 00:37:18.099 --> 00:37:18.799 our thinking. 00:37:19.119 --> 00:37:19.480 How we think 00:37:19.480 --> 00:37:20.179 about ourselves, 00:37:21.179 --> 00:37:22.719 what our aim is, 00:37:22.819 --> 00:37:24.019 even the time frame 00:37:24.019 --> 00:37:24.539 that we're on. 00:37:24.819 --> 00:37:25.399 Christ the King 00:37:25.399 --> 00:37:25.619 Church, 00:37:25.719 --> 00:37:26.719 what time are we on? 00:37:26.899 --> 00:37:27.500 One more time. 00:37:27.500 --> 00:37:29.760 Christ's time. 00:37:32.760 --> 00:37:34.320 Do you know why? 00:37:37.800 --> 00:37:38.780 Christ 00:37:38.780 --> 00:37:40.659 is 00:37:40.659 --> 00:37:42.360 our 00:37:42.360 --> 00:37:43.900 life. 00:37:43.900 --> 00:37:48.460 God in heaven, 00:37:48.539 --> 00:37:49.539 we thank you so much 00:37:49.539 --> 00:37:51.059 for your word. 00:37:52.860 --> 00:37:53.820 Would you use 00:37:53.820 --> 00:37:54.700 your word 00:37:54.700 --> 00:37:55.480 to form 00:37:55.480 --> 00:37:56.519 our thinking 00:37:56.519 --> 00:37:57.519 so that 00:37:57.519 --> 00:37:58.380 we can live 00:37:58.380 --> 00:37:59.440 faithfully 00:37:59.440 --> 00:38:01.180 with you 00:38:01.180 --> 00:38:02.039 as the center 00:38:02.039 --> 00:38:02.720 of all 00:38:02.720 --> 00:38:03.559 that there is. 00:38:05.059 --> 00:38:05.720 Bring us 00:38:05.720 --> 00:38:06.599 into that reality 00:38:06.599 --> 00:38:07.240 more and more. 00:38:07.240 --> 00:38:08.760 It is reality. 00:38:10.720 --> 00:38:11.200 Father, 00:38:11.300 --> 00:38:11.800 would you pour out 00:38:11.800 --> 00:38:12.360 your spirit? 00:38:12.360 --> 00:38:13.200 Would you press 00:38:13.200 --> 00:38:14.220 these truths 00:38:14.220 --> 00:38:15.320 into our being 00:38:15.320 --> 00:38:16.300 and that, 00:38:16.519 --> 00:38:16.660 God, 00:38:16.720 --> 00:38:17.980 you would set us free? 00:38:19.840 --> 00:38:20.620 We pray this 00:38:20.620 --> 00:38:21.280 in Jesus' name. 00:38:22.240 --> 00:38:22.539 Amen.