It's an honor and a privilege to be here with you once again.
For those of you who may not know me, my name is Jonathan Hoffman.
! I am a current graduate, or recent graduate, of the apprenticeship program that we have here at Christ Family Church.
And so, in part, that is a reason why I have been invited and given this privilege today.
So, it is quite an honor for me to be allowed this opportunity.
And, just to share something with you that has been in my heart.
I moved up here to North Georgia in order to go to Bible college.
I was converted, became a Christian about almost four years ago.
And, God has so powerfully moved in my life since then.
And, I moved up here with the mindset of, I want the rest of my life to revolve around these truths that I had found.
That my eyes had been open to.
And, so, I have come to feel the sense of calling into the ministry.
A burden to preach God's Word because I believe that it is the only thing, as Scripture says, that has the power to save.
And, so, it is a privilege to be given this opportunity.
But, at the same time, I moved up here and I left my dream career of law enforcement because it had become an idol.
And, I believe it was Calvin.
Calvin, I could be wrong.
But, a whole theologian once said that the heart is an idol factory.
We create gods by the dozens, by the thousands even, in our hearts.
And, so, while I was going through Bible college, Tripp McConnell, for about a year,
one of the greatest convictions that has come upon me of my own sin is my battle with my pride.
It is a tremendous, tremendous battle that I have to fight with my pride.
And, it is why I left law enforcement.
And, while I was going through Bible college, and even now, my pride is still an issue to where I felt like I am constantly in danger of giving myself over to my pride in my learning now.
You know, I am going through Bible college, and I am learning all these great things and these great truths.
And, my fear is that I am doing it for the wrong reasons.
I constantly keep that in check.
And, God has given me a lot of grace in battling that.
And, so, I tell you that because I believe that even preaching can be turned into an idol.
And, it is my greatest fear this morning and for my future that I will turn preaching into an idol.
Because I can write a good paper, or because I can use eloquent words, or so on and so forth.
And, so, that has been my greatest battle in preparing for this sermon is to make sure that my pride is at check.
So, that I will be able to preach in power through the Spirit.
That I would be as a clean vessel for His Word to come through me.
And, so, I pray this morning and I ask you, I ask every one of you to pray along with me.
That, that would be the case.
And, I ask that every one of you would pay attention.
Pay close attention because there are waiting matters at hand here this morning.
And, so, pray for yourselves as well.
That God would soften your hearts.
And, that we would be changed by what we learned today.
And, so, I hope that that is the case this morning.
If God would see it fit, that that would be the case.
So, please turn with me to the book of Colossians chapter 3.
Colossians chapter 3.
And, just to give you a quick review for those who have not been with us for the last few weeks.
We have been going verse by verse through the book of Colossians.
The book of Colossians is a letter that the Apostle Paul wrote to the church at Colossae.
And, now, Colossae was a city in modern day Turkey.
And, it was about 100 miles east of Ephesus, the city of Ephesus.
Now, Paul had never visited Colossae.
And, so, it is believed that the church there was started by a man by the name of Epaphras.
Epaphras, who was converted during a visit to Ephesus where Paul, the Apostle, was ministering there for three years.
And, Colossae was primarily a Gentile city but had a fairly large Jewish population.
And, so, as the gospel spread and the church at Colossae was established, it consisted of a mixture of Jews and Gentiles.
A dangerous heresy then arose in the church.
And, this heresy contained a mixture of Jewish mysticism and pagan, or Jewish legalism, I'm sorry, and pagan mysticism.
It began to cause division in the church.
And, Epaphras, being so concerned about the people of that church, made a journey to Rome to ask for Paul's help in combating this heresy.
Now, Paul was, at the time, in Rome in prison.
He was in a Roman prison.
And, it was around the same time that Paul wrote the letter to Philemon, the letter to the Ephesians, and the letter to the Philippians.
And, this one in particular was primarily for that initial purpose of combating this heresy.
And, so, in the last few weeks, we have been going through the book of Colossians, and we have now reached chapter 3.
And, in the first two chapters, we have seen that we have been given a lot of doctrine.
The first two chapters are a lot of doctrine.
And, this seems to be a pattern with Paul in his letters.
First, he gives us doctrine, and then he follows it by practical exhortations or application.
And, so, it is the case here.
And, one of the reasons for that is because good life application must be founded upon good doctrine.
And, so, our text this morning will be Colossians chapter 3, verses 1 through 4.
Colossians chapter 3, verses 1 through 4.
And, as we begin to look at the practical application portion of this letter, I would like to actually start reading from chapter 2, verse 20.
So, please look with me at chapter 2, verse 20 of the book of Colossians.
And, God's Word, which is inerrant, infallible, and sharper than any two-edged sword, reads,
If with Christ you died to the elemental spirits of the world, why, as if you were still alive in the world, do you submit to regulations?
Do not handle, do not taste, do not touch, referring to things that all perish as they are used, according to human precepts and teachings.
These have indeed an appearance of wisdom in promoting self-made religion and asceticism and severity to the body.
But they are of no value in stopping the indulgence of the flesh.
If, then, you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God.
Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth.
For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God.
When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with Him in glory.
Pray with me.
Father, we thank You this morning, Lord, for Your work, Lord, that You have achieved, accomplished.
Lord, for sending Christ to die for us on the cross, Lord, that we might be reconciled to You.
Lord, that we may receive of this free gift of salvation, conversion, Lord, where You give us a new heart,
with new desires and an ability to understand Your Word and to love You and follow Your ways.
Lord, I pray that Your Spirit will be at work within me this morning,
and within all of those who are in this building.
Lord, that You would bring about conviction.
Lord, that You would change hearts.
Please, Lord, we pray for that.
Illumine our minds, Lord.
Change us.
Please, change us.
Lord, we thank You, we praise You, and we love You.
In Jesus' name, amen.
Amen.
It was R.C. Sproul, who is currently a pastor for St. Andrew's Chapel in Sanford, Florida,
and the founder of Ligonier Ministries, who once said of modern Christianity,
and I quote,
It is a dangerous thing for the Christian's mind to be trapped within the confines of the terrestrial horizon.
Close quote.
It is a dangerous thing for the Christian's mind to be trapped within the confines of the terrestrial horizon,
to be earth-grounded instead of lifted up.
And it was, for example, for this reason,
that the Lord Jesus Christ rebukes Peter so harshly.
In Matthew 16, verse 23,
as He says to His beloved disciple,
Peter, who would become a giant contender of the faith,
a leader amongst Christians,
one whom the book of Revelation, in chapter 21, verse 14,
says that His name will be written on the foundation stones of the wall of the New Jerusalem.
It is to this apostle Peter
that Jesus rebukes by saying,
Get behind me, Satan.
Why?
Jesus goes on,
Because you are not setting your mind on the things of God,
but on the things of man.
Peter, a true Christian,
at that moment had his mind trapped within the confines of the terrestrial horizon,
and our Lord called him Satan for it.
It is a hindrance upon the believer to be effective in kingdom work.
It is a serious and dangerous place to be,
and from it arise many of our maladies today,
such as depression, covetousness,
pride, strife,
idolatry,
etc.
The Christian should have his mind set on the things that are above,
not on the things of the earth.
And in our text this morning,
we will see the difference between,
and the implications of,
earthly and heavenly mindedness.
And so I have divided this text into four sections,
or four headings.
And for our first heading,
I want you to notice the subject of the exhortations.
The subject of the exhortation.
Beginning in verse 1 of chapter 3.
If then you have been raised with Christ.
Now stop right there.
Who are the subjects of this exhortation?
If then you have been raised with Christ,
it's Christians.
It is true born again believers
that the Apostle Paul is addressing here.
Now it is the true condition of the church.
In our day,
as much as it was in Paul's day,
that not everyone who attends church services,
and not everyone who goes to Sunday school,
and not everyone who even becomes a member of a church,
or reads their Bible every day,
or does all sorts of activity in the name of Jesus,
is a true Christian.
And for the purpose of our text this morning,
this truth has massive implications.
Why?
Well, let's look first at the purpose of the exhortation.
What is the reason behind this text
that we are looking at this morning?
Verse 1.
If then.
The if then here can also be translated,
therefore, if.
The therefore is a conjunction
connecting the last paragraph of chapter 3,
or of chapter 2,
to the first paragraph of chapter 3.
And so that's why we started reading from chapter 2, verse 20.
So let's read that again,
starting in verse 20.
If with Christ you died to the elemental spirits of the world,
why, as if you were still alive in the world,
do you submit to regulations?
Do not handle, do not taste, do not touch,
referring to those things that all perish as they are used,
according to human precepts and teachings.
These have indeed an appearance of wisdom
in promoting self-made religion,
and asceticism and severity to the body.
But.
Now here is the purpose of the exhortation
that is to come in chapter 3.
They are of no value
in stopping the indulgence of the flesh.
The main purpose of this exhortation
is for the true Christian
to be given the key
to stopping the indulgence of the flesh.
And so it is important
to understand that Paul here,
first of all,
is saying that you must be
a Christian
if you are to attain
any degree of this
truth with any value.
Otherwise, all you have
is someone in the flesh
trying to stop
the indulgence of the flesh,
which kind of reminds me
of a saying of our Lord,
and if Satan cast out Satan,
he is divided against himself,
how then will his kingdom stand?
It is these people
who in the power of the flesh
try to stop the indulgence of the flesh
that Paul warns us of
and warns us against.
Those who try to mortify the flesh
through self-made religion,
asceticism,
and severity to the body.
And even Paul says
that these things
appear to be wise.
If you look at these people,
you might think to yourself,
wow,
how righteous they are,
what piety,
what discipline.
But behind the smoke and mirrors,
there is no true power.
Kyle taught us last week
some about this.
He said that these people
practice these things
to try to reach
a higher level of spirituality
by reducing earthly comforts.
But in reality,
it is a practice
of self-righteousness,
not self-denial.
And this,
at its core,
is idolatry.
These people
who try these
have created
a God
in their image,
in their own mind,
to suit
their own desires.
And they try
to gain God's favor
and even salvation
through their works.
Now,
these false doctrines
have been widespread
all throughout history.
And it is true
of just about
every religion
that is not Christian.
And it is also the case
in those who
entitle themselves
to be Christian,
but are not really
Christian.
I say that
of such
religions
as
such as Mormonism,
Jehovah's Witnesses,
and yes,
even the Catholic Church.
Now,
let me give you
just two quick examples
of this asceticism.
Now,
Paul wrote this letter
in about 60
to 62 A.D.
And in A.D. 52,
at the age of 16,
the historian Josephus
wrote about
three major sects
or philosophies
amongst the Jews.
Now,
Pastor Nathan
quoted this portion
a few weeks back
where Josephus says
that
the first
were the Pharisees,
then the Sadducees,
and the third
were the
Essenes.
Now,
the Essenes
were a group
that were
dedicated to
asceticism.
And Josephus
writes of them,
and I quote,
I contended myself
with hard fare
and underwent
great difficulties
and went through
them all,
nor did I contend
myself with these
trials only.
But when I was
informed that one
whose name was
Banus,
who was an
Esseni,
who lived in the
desert
and used
no other clothing
than that which
grew upon trees
and had no other
food than what
grew of its own
accord,
and bathed
himself in
cold water
frequently,
both by night
and by day,
in order to
preserve his
chastity.
I imitated
him in those
things and
continued with
him for three
years.
Did you catch
that?
That man,
Banus,
tortured himself
with cold water
multiple times a
day in order to
stop the indulgence
of the flesh.
But there was
no power.
There was no
true power.
And Josephus,
thinking this
lifestyle to be
wise,
imitated him for
three years.
Now here's
another example.
Historian Edward
Gibbon, in his
book, The
History of the
Decline and the
Fall of the
Roman Empire,
writes of a
Roman Catholic
monk, Dominic
Loricatus, and
how he tried to
gain God's
favor and
forgiveness of
sin.
And listen to
what he writes.
I quote,
It is a
maxim of the
civil law that
whosoever cannot
pay with his
purse must pay
with his body.
Now this law,
by the way,
came from the
Catholic Church.
In the practice
of flagellation,
that being the
practice of
whipping or
lashing oneself
for the purpose
of mortification,
asceticism or
penance,
was adopted
by the monks,
a cheap
though painful
equivalent.
He continues,
by fantastic
arithmetic,
a year of
penance was
taxed at
3,000
lashes.
And such
was the
skill and
patience of
a famous
hermit,
St.
Dominic of
the Iron
Curios,
that in
six days,
he could
discharge an
entire century
by a
whipping of
300,000
stripes.
His example
was followed
by many
penitents
of both
sexes.
And as a
vicarious
sacrifice
was accepted,
a sturdy
disciplinarian
might expiate
on his own
back the
sins of
his benefactors.
Close quote.
They thought
that they
could get
forgiveness
of sins
through these
works.
And even
worse,
they thought
that they
could get
forgiveness
of other
sins by
their own
works,
by whipping
themselves.
And many
looked up
to this
guy,
Dominic,
as a
saint.
They thought
it was wise
what he
was doing.
They thought
there was
power and
value behind
it.
And even
the Catholic
Church
venerated
him as a
saint.
This
has the
appearance
of wisdom
but there
is no
power.
It is
of no
value
in stopping
the indulgence
of the
flesh.
And so
in order
for there
to be
any value
in stopping
the indulgence
of the
flesh,
there must
be power
from on
high.
And so
in order
for there
to be
power,
you must
be a
true
Christian.
Now I'm
very thankful
for this
church and
for our
pastor because
the true
gospel is
preached here
on a
regular and
consistent
basis.
But I do
have a
fear that
some of
you may
believe
yourselves
to be
Christians
this morning
simply because
you come
to a very
biblical
church.
church,
you know
the terminology.
You know
what to say.
You know
how to act.
You know
how to answer
questions of
the faith.
You may
even know
your Bible,
but inside
you are
not truly
changed.
You have
not been
born again.
And so
you do
not know
Christ and
Christ does
not know
you.
And so
I ask
every one
of you
this morning
to please
examine
yourselves,
examine your
heart,
test your
heart,
make sure
that you
are truly
in the
faith.
Because my
biggest fear
is that some
of you are
comfortable in
your deception
and are just
playing church
and going
through the
motions.
And may
one day open
your eyes to
the torment
that is
hell for
eternity.
So please
examine
yourself.
There is
so much
at stake.
So much
at stake.
And so
in direct
correlation to
Paul warning
against heretical
teaching,
let's look at
some characteristics
of what a
true Christian
is.
If you would
turn with
me to
Philippians
chapter 3.
Philippians
chapter 3.
And look
at verse
2.
The
apostle Paul
says,
look out
for the
dogs,
look out
for the
evildoers,
look out
for those
who mutilate
the flesh.
Now in
this context,
one of the
major heretical
sects that
Paul was
combating here
were the
Judaizers,
who were
all about
works and
external things.
Do not
touch,
do not
handle,
do not
taste.
they clung
to ceremonial
laws and
insisted on
such things
as circumcision.
Paul is
saying here,
look at
verse 3,
now what he
says to
that,
for we
are the
circumcision.
Paul is
saying we
are the
true
circumcision.
Who
what?
Who
worship
by the
Spirit of
God and
glory in
Christ Jesus
and put
no confidence
in the
flesh.
And there
is a
characteristic
of a
true
Christian
who
worship
by the
Spirit of
God.
Who
worship
by the
Spirit of
God.
If you
are a
true
Christian,
if you
are a
born-again
believer of
the supernatural
working of
the Spirit
of God,
the rest
of your
life from
the moment
of conversion
will be
marked by
Spirit-drawn,
Spirit-filled,
Spirit-empowered
worship.
And what I
mean by this
is not that
you come to
church and
sing songs
and go to
Sunday school
or Bible
studies or
listen to the
Christian radio
on your way
here.
God
what I
mean by
this is
have your
eyes
truly been
opened
to the
reality of
what Christ
has done
to what
he has
accomplished
for you
to what
he has
saved you
from
to the
blessings and
promises that
have been
poured out
on you
that all
you desire
for the rest
of your life
from that
moment that
you were
converted is
to worship
him and
to order
the rest of
your life
in such a
way as best
to please
him.
It isn't
something that
you are
forced to
do for the
sake of
religion but
rather the
Spirit of
God within
you softens
your heart
that you
come to
love him
and thank
him and
want to
know more
about him
and long
for him
and you
long for
his return
and you
long for
him to be
honored
and for
his name
to be
glorified
and proclaimed
in all
the nations
is this
true of
you?
Do you
ever just
fall flat
on your
face
and worship
and weep
out of your
love for
him in
remembrance of
what he has
done for
you?
Are you
a true
Christian?
Here's
another
characteristic
of a
true
Christian.
Do you
have a
new
relationship
with sin?
Have
your
desires
changed?
Do you
now hate
your sin?
Do you
see it
more than
ever before?
Or do you
just hate
the thought
of people
finding out
about it?
Have you
in your
innermost
being
been
changed?
Spurgeon,
the prince
of preachers,
a British
pastor from
the 1800s,
used to
describe
conversion
with an
illustration
that went
something like
this.
Say you
have two
plates and
you set
them on
the ground
and on
one plate
you have
some of
the finest
cuisine of
the land
and on
the other
you have
a bag
or correction
you have
just a
contents
of a
bag
from a
household
trash can
and you
get a
pig
and you
let this
pig go
to eat
which
plate
is he
going to
go to?
The two
plates are
sitting
side by
side.
More
than likely
nine out
of ten
times
that pig
will go
to
the one
with the
trash.
It's a
pig.
It likes
trash.
Now say
that in
one
instance
while that
pig
is
pigging
out
to this
trash
you
by a
supernatural
working
are able
to convert
him
into a
man
what will
happen?
That man
who is
currently
eating
that
trash
will be
disgusted
by what
he's
eating
by what
he has
put in
his
mouth
and he
will spit
it out
and be
ashamed
that he
ever went
to that
plate.
His
relationship
with that
plate
will change
forever.
I promise
you he
will
hopefully
go
to the
fine
cuisine
from that
moment on.
But if he
ever were to
return to
that other
plate
that relationship
is different
though he
may have
enjoyed it
at one
time if he
tries to
eat of
that trash
this time
as time
progresses
he will be
more and
more repulsed
by it.
The
relationship
with it
is different
because he
has been
changed
and that
is an
illustration
of conversion.
It is a
powerful thing.
It is a
supernatural
work of
God.
God, have
you
experienced
this
change?
Friend, if
you do not
have some
measure of
this, it
could be
because you
are walking
the wrong
path.
You could
be on the
road that
is broad
that leads
to destruction.
And so I
urge you and
I beg you to
repent, to
put your
trust in
Christ for
he alone
can save
you.
There is
nothing in
and of
yourselves
that you
could ever
do, anything
that could
come out
of your
mouths to
justify you
before a
holy God.
Nothing.
Turn from
your sins.
Forsake those
things which
you love, that
you know are
wrong.
Because they
are going
against God.
Sin is
transgression of
the law.
It is a
crime against
God.
It is a
crime against
the one who
gave you
life, who
gave you
everything that
you have, who
cares for you,
who created
all things.
Flee from
the wrath to
come.
Please do
not harden
your hearts.
Do not
harden your
hearts.
Repent.
Trust in
Christ.
Believe the
gospel today.
Right now.
Repent.
And if you
are one who
has been
playing church,
please,
please let
someone know.
Let someone
know there is
so much at
stake here.
I promise you
that there would
be no
condemnation from
whoever you
go to.
If you
have not
experienced any
degree of
this, please,
what every
one of us
desire is
your salvation,
because we
love you and
care for you.
Please, let
someone know.
Now, I
don't want to
bring unnecessary
doubt to some
of you true
Christians.
Some of you
could simply be
struggling against
apathy.
and your
fire just
needs to be
rekindled.
Preach the
gospel to
yourself.
Remember,
cling to the
promises.
Remember what
He has done
for you.
Now, a
reason for
this apathy
and lack
of zeal
could be
the result
of earthly
mindedness.
So now, we
are looking at
this a little
backwards, but
our next
heading, our
second heading
for this
morning is
simply earthly
mindedness.
So if you
would look at
verse 2 of
Colossians
chapter 3,
verse 2 of
Colossians
chapter 3,
notice our
second heading,
earthly
mindedness.
Set your
minds on
things that
are above,
not on
things that
are on
earth.
Now, turn
back to
Philippians
chapter 3
with me for
a moment.
And look
at verses
17 through
19.
And Nathan
just read
this this
morning, so
good to hear
it again.
Paul writes,
beginning in
verse 17,
Brothers,
join in
imitating
me, and
keep your
eyes on
those who
walk according
to the
example you
have in
us.
For many
of whom I
have often
told you and
now tell you
with tears
walk as
enemies of
the cross
of Christ.
Their end
is destruction,
their God
is their
belly, and
they glory
in their
shame with
minds set
on earthly
things.
So what
is earthly
mindedness?
I have
defined it
as when
the actions
of the
will or
the affections
of the
soul are
anchored to
and driven
by the
things of
this world.
And by
things of
this world,
I mean
anything that
is of this
world,
material or
not.
It could
be pleasures,
it could
be comforts
or things
derived from
them,
honor,
power,
pride.
Now it is
important to
understand that
it is not
inherently sinful
to enjoy or
make use of
earthly things,
or even have
an abundance of
earthly things.
even God
himself knows
that we have
need of
things and
he provides
them for
us.
Now I
don't have
much time,
so just
quickly I'm
going to
give you
some
characteristics
of
earthly
mindedness
and we
will move
on.
So first,
you are
earthly minded
if you look
at earthly
things as
the greatest
things of
all and
believe that
happiness
will be
derived
from the
possession
of them.
So this
could be
anything,
relationships,
comforts,
homes,
cars,
money,
or anything
that makes
you think
to yourself,
if I just
had that
thing,
I would be
happy.
If I just
had that
thing,
this earthly
thing,
I would be
happy.
If that
is part
of the
state of
your mind,
then you
could be
earthly
minded.
Second,
you are
earthly
minded if
the sum
of or
the majority
of your
thoughts
revolve
around
earthly
things.
Proverbs
23,
7 says,
As a
man thinks
in his
heart,
so is
he.
And in
Matthew
15,
18 through
19,
Jesus
says,
What comes
out of the
mouth proceeds
from the
heart,
and this
defiles a
person?
For out of
the heart
come evil
thoughts,
murder,
adultery,
sexual
immorality,
theft,
false witness,
and slander,
and all of
these things
being indulgences
of the flesh.
So in
your
innermost
thoughts,
in the
secret
chambers
of your
heart,
what is
most
sweet
to you?
Where do
you find
your happiness?
If the
things of
earth reign
in your
heart in
this manner,
then you
are earthly
minded.
Third,
you are
earthly
minded
if your
purpose,
drive,
and goal
in life
is only
the
accomplishment
of
earthly
endeavors.
There is
no concept
of doing
what you
do for
the Lord.
You only
mind those
temporal
things which
will one
day perish,
and you are
even angry
or afraid
at the
thought of
losing
any of
these
worldly
things
that your
mind is
set on.
And
fourth and
last,
for the
sake of
time,
you are
earthly
minded
if you
are
predominantly
earthly
in
spiritual
things.
Meaning
all
spiritual
or
religious
activity
that you
partake
in
is
nothing
but a
means
to
earthly
ends.
The
intentions
behind
your
actions
are
simply
horizontal
in the
confines
of the
terrestrial
horizon.
They are
not
vertical
pointed
to the
things
above.
And so
I give
you those
four things
and from
that
the
opposite
could be
said
encompasses
what it
means to
be
heavenly
minded.
And so
for our
third
heading
heaven
mindedness
please
look at
the
second
half of
verse
one
to the
first
half of
verse
two
back in
Colossians
chapter
three.
So
Colossians
chapter
three
verse
one
second
half of
verse
one
notice
our
third
heading
heaven
mindedness.
Seek
the
things
that
are
above
where
Christ
is
seated
at
the
right
hand
of
God
set
your
minds
on
things
that
are
above.
And for
the sake
of time
as I
said
you can
probably
deduce
what
heaven
mindedness
is
just
by
applying
the
opposite
of
what
it
means
to
be
earthly
minded.
But
very
quickly
let's
just
look
at
a
few
things
and
implications
of
heaven
mindedness.
First
those
who are
heaven
minded
are
those
who
live
with
an
eternal
perspective
an
eternal
perspective.
It was
Jonathan
Edwards
an
American
preacher
from the
1700s
who is
widely
acknowledged
as one
of
America's
greatest
preachers
greatest
theologians
and greatest
intellectual
who
cried
out to
God
Lord
stamp
eternity
on
my
eyeballs.
And it
is from
a similar
disposition
that Paul
could cry
out in
Romans 9
that he
had
great
sorrow
and
unceasing
anguish
in his
heart
for lost
souls
because he
knew and
kept at
the forefront
of his
mind
the fact
that
multitudes
were on
their way
to
eternal
punishment.
And it
is from
this
disposition
of our
perspective
that love
and passion
to seek
out those
who are
lost
is birthed
from.
In 2 Corinthians
chapter 4
verses 16
and 18
Paul says
says,
for the
things that
are seen
are
transient
but the
things that
are unseen
are eternal.
The man
who can
say this
is heaven
minded
seeking
the things
above.
He does
what he does
for God
for the
kingdom
for souls.
So let me
ask you this
question.
What you do
where you
work
the life
decisions
that you
make
do you
make them
in light
of eternity?
Do you
make decisions
for the
service
of the
kingdom
of God?
Do you
have an
eternal
perspective?
Second,
heaven
mindedness
is pursuing
godliness.
Pursuing
godliness.
In 1 Timothy
chapter 4
verses 7
through 10
Paul says,
have nothing
to do
with worldly
fables
fit only
for old
women.
On the
other hand,
discipline
yourself
for the
purpose of
godliness.
For godliness
or for
bodily
discipline
is only
of little
profit,
but godliness
is profitable
for all
things since
it holds
promise for
the present
life and
also for
the life
to come.
It is a
trustworthy
statement
deserving
full acceptance
for it is
for this
we labor
and strive
because we
have fixed
our hope
on the
living God.
It does
take a
certain level
of discipline
and sometimes
hard work
to be godly,
to live
in righteousness.
But the
heaven-minded
Christian
learns that
alongside of
this discipline
there is a
fountain,
a fountain
of joy
and sweetness
unspeakable.
And it is
this Christian
who is
heaven-minded
that can
learn,
as 1 Timothy
6.6
says,
that godliness
with contentment
is great
gain.
it is
for this
reason that
the apostle
can say
in Philippians
4.11
I have
learned
in whatever
situation
I am
to be
content.
So this
leads us
to our
fourth and
final heading,
the reward
of things
above.
The reward
of the
things
above.
Starting in
verse 4,
when Christ,
who is your
life,
appears,
then you
also will
appear with
him in
glory.
Now what are
the things
above?
What is it
to seek
those things?
things?
It is
simply
this,
Christ.
It is
simply
Christ.
It is
to seek
him.
It is
to cling
to the
promises
that he
has given
us,
that we
will one
day appear
with him
in glory,
that one
day every
knee shall
bow,
and every
tongue
confess that
Jesus Christ
is Lord
to the glory
of the
Father.
Paul writes
in Philippians
3.20-21,
and actually
I think this
is what
Nathan read,
not in the
last text,
but Paul
writes,
for our
citizenship
is in
heaven,
from which
also we
eagerly
await for
a Savior,
the Lord
Jesus Christ,
who will
transform the
body of
our humble
state into
conformity with
the body of
his glory,
by the
exertion of
the power
that he
has,
even to
subject all
things to
himself.
Oh,
that our
hearts would
learn what
our mouths
proclaim when
we sing
songs that
have lyrics
such as,
nothing in
my hands
I bring,
simply to
the cross
I cling.
Seek
him,
get to
know
him,
cling to
him,
and live
the rest of
your life
in that
pursuit.
That we
could all
one day
point,
be able to
say,
alongside of
Paul,
what he says
in Philippians,
I count
everything as
rubbish
compared to
the surpassing
worth of
knowing Christ
Jesus,
my Lord.
Have you
come to
understand a
portion of
what it means
when Paul
says to
live is
Christ,
to die
is gain?
you know,
when I
first
became a
Christian as
a young
believer,
one of my
friends at
the police
department,
one of the
few Christians
who worked
at this
police
department,
a very
mature
believer,
would often
say things
like,
I just
wish that
Christ would
come back
today,
I wish I
would die
right now,
like I'm
done with
this,
and I
was just
like,
what?
Like,
this makes
no sense,
why?
Why?
You know,
it's like,
why?
Don't you
want to
live?
Do you
not enjoy
life?
Why would
you want
to die?
It made
no sense
to me.
As I
have
matured
in my
walk
with
Christ,
now it
makes
perfect
sense.
It
makes
clear
sense.
To
live is
Christ,
to die
is gain.
I
long for
that day
and I
have now
since then
had moments
where I
just
have this
overwhelming
sense and
I pray that
Christ would
just come
back right
now because
I'm tired
of this,
because I
do not
belong to
this world.
I am not
of this
world.
Do you
have this
in your
life?
Do you
have this?
Do you
long for
his return,
for him to
be glorified?
God?
Is this
true of
your
heart?
In
conclusion,
earthly
mindedness
is
idolatry.
James 4.4
says that
friendship with
the world
is adultery
and enmity
against God.
The
apostle Paul
says that
it leads
men to
fall into
temptation
and a
snare.
Ezekiel
33.31
describes it
as
covetousness.
My friends,
nothing is
more contrary
to the
work of
grace in
a believer
than
earthly
mindedness.
John Calvin,
a pastor and
theologian from
the 1500s,
once said,
and I
quote,
the whole
soul
ensnared
by the
allurement
of the
flesh,
seek its
happiness
on the
earth.
To meet
this
disease,
the Lord
makes His
people
sensible
to the
vanity
of the
present
life
by
constant
proof
of its
miseries.
There is
no medium
between the
two things.
The earth
must either
be worthless
in our
estimation
or keep
us
enslaved
by an
intemperate
love of
it.
Close quote.
The Lord
Jesus Christ
warns us
that one
cannot serve
two
masters.
And
likewise,
a man
cannot both
look up to
heaven
while he's
looking down
on earth.
choose this
day whom
you will
serve
in the
direction
that you
will fix
your eyes
upon.
Let us
pray.
let us