September 4, 2011
Morning Service

Colossians 3

 

Review:

 

Eze 3:16-17 KJVR  And it came to pass at the end of seven days, that the word of the LORD came unto me, saying,  (17)  Son of man, I have made thee a watchman unto the house of Israel: therefore hear the word at my mouth, and give them warning from me.

WE ARE TAUGHT TO WATCH!

Mar 13:35-37 KJVR  Watch ye therefore: for ye know not when the master of the house cometh, at even, or at midnight, or at the cockcrowing, or in the morning:  (36)  Lest coming suddenly he find you sleeping.  (37)  And what I say unto you I say unto all, Watch.

 

The Master of the house is Jesus, and He is coming soon to fulfill St. Jn. 4:1-3;  To take us to the marriage supper of the Lamb.

 

Two things in watching this morning;

1.  What people are saying about Elenin, this is a comet that will be effecting the gravity on the earth.  For those of you that use the internet, type it in your browser.  Will things begin to happen, I don’t know, only God does, but it pays us to be ready, and of course, TO WATCH at all times.
2. What is happening in Israel.  People all around Israel are against them in their dealings with peace with the Palestinians.  You can keep an eye on these happenings by typing in israelnationalnews.com

 

This weekend is our celebration of Labor day.  Many of our jobs have been shipped to other countries, so they are probably having some kind of celebration at our expense.

What about the Labor day Holiday? 

History

The first big Labor Day in the United States was observed on September 5, 1882, by the Central Labor Union of New York.^[1] It became a federal holiday in 1894, when, following the deaths of a number of workers at the hands of the U.S. military and U.S. Marshals during the Pullman Strike, President Grover Cleveland reconciled with the labor movement. Fearing further conflict, legislation making Labor Day a national holiday was rushed through Congress unanimously and signed into law a mere six days after the end of the strike.

There are many arguments concerning Unions, whether they are good or bad.  Christian, it is up to you to decide after reading our instruction manual from God.  The Bible.  In it we find how we are supposed to act, and react to every situation.  Today’s study I believe is pretty informative.  Let’s begin.

Col 3:1-25 KJVR  If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God.  (2)  Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth.  (3)  For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God.  (4)  When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory. 

• So if you then be risen with Christ, from the waters of baptism, the circumcision made without hands, and are seeking those things which are above, the spiritual things, then I want you to do this;

(5)  Mortify ( or put to death ) therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry:  (6)  For which things' sake the wrath of God cometh on the children of disobedience:  (7)  In the which ye also walked some time, when ye lived in them.  (8)  But now ye also put off all these; anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy communication out of your mouth.  (9)  Lie not one to another, seeing that ye have put off the old man with his deeds;  (10)  And have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him:  (11)  Where there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcision nor uncircumcision, Barbarian, Scythian, bond nor free: but Christ is all, and in all. 

 

 

 

• He wants you to work hard at putting these things out of your life.  Why?  Because if these things continue in your life, then the wrath of God will come upon you.  If you live with these things in your life you will be miserable.  But then this is why many of us came to Christ in the first place, to be delivered from these things in our lives.  Paul said “in which you also walked sometime, when you lived in them.”  BUT NOW, PUT THEM OUT OF YOUR LIFE.

 

NOW SINCE YOU ARE GOING TO WORK AT PUTTING THESE THINGS OUT OF YOUR LIFE, WHAT ARE WE GOING TO REPLACE THEM WITH?

(12)  Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering;  (13)  Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye. 

• Do you see the difference of characteristics?  Put off all the bad traits, and habits, and put on all the gentle, and good traits.  You shall know them by their fruits.  Then notice;

(14)  And above all these things put on charity, which is the bond of perfectness.  (15)  And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful. 

• Put on love.  We could speak forever on love. 
• The word love is mentioned 311 times in the Bible.  180 in the N.T.
• The one Scripture we should always remember, and use is;  “love never fails.” 

Then he admonishes us to:

(16)  Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord. 

• This will create an atmosphere of joy, and happiness.  Isn’t that what we want?  I hope so.

And then:

(17)  And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him. 

• Because of this Scripture I have trouble giving to any welfare organization that doesn’t do it in the name of Jesus.  It’s alright for the world, but then they don’t have the Word of God dwelling in them richly, and with all wisdom.  We should!

 

Since you have been risen with Christ, and are seeking those things which are above:

(18)  Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as it is fit in the Lord. 

• Paul puts a stipulation in here on this submission, AS IT IS FIT IN THE LORD.  As long as he is living for the Lord, and is leading you in the teachings of the Lord, you are to be in submission.  Even if he is not, you should use discretion, and wisdom in how you treat him.   Remember love never fails.
• There is much more teaching on this matter in the Letter to the Corinthians.

(19)  Husbands, love your wives, and be not bitter against them. 

• Husband you are the leader of the family, and you should do all you can to guide your family to Christ.  Again, love never fails, but bitterness will destroy a family.

(20)  Children, obey your parents in all things: for this is well pleasing unto the Lord. 

• 1Sa 15:23 KJVR  For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry. Because thou hast rejected the word of the LORD, he hath also rejected thee from being king.

(21)  Fathers, provoke not your children to anger, lest they be discouraged. 

• This is very clear, and accurate.  I have seen this happen before.

(22)  Servants, obey in all things your masters according to the flesh; not with eyeservice, as menpleasers; but in singleness of heart, fearing God:  (23)  And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men;  (24)  Knowing that of the Lord ye shall receive the reward of the inheritance; for ye serve the Lord Christ.  (25)  But he that doeth wrong shall receive for the wrong which he hath done; and there is no respect of persons.

• Since my conversion I have always taken this as the way God wants me to act, and respond to my employer. 

1. Working as if Christ was my Supervisor, which He is.
2. Working heartily, as to the Lord.  For you serve the Lord Christ.
3. And there is a wrong way to work for someone, and if you work this way you shall receive what is just, for there is no respecter of  persons with God.  “Be not deceived God is not mocked, whatsoever you sow, that shall ye also reap.”  This is a principle that applies to all lives.

ALMIGHTY GOD, HELP US TO SEE THE IMPORTANCE OF LETTING THE WORD OF CHRIST DWELL IN US RICHLY.