A Heavenly Affection

Colossians 3:1-4

 

Some of you might recall an old Candid Camera episode, where  an actor is on a busy sidewalk and begins looking at the ground.

A)He walks around a bit and continues to look down. People are passing by him and a few give him strange looks.

 

B) After a couple minutes, he decides to get down on his hands and knees and begins feeling around with his hands.

1) People begin to slow down and watch what he’s doing.

 

C) Finally, one person stops and starts looking at the ground. Then another one begins searching the sidewalk.

 

In a few minutes, the camera shows about a dozen people looking down, some even on their hands and knees!

A)At that point, the actor, who got all this started in the first place, quietly gets up and walks away.

 

B) No one else notices that he has left. They’re so intent in their search that they never even bothered to ask what it was they were looking for.

This is a good picture of how many people live in our society today.

A) They’re searching for something because they know there’s got to be more to life.

 

B)But, they’ll never find it if they don’t know what it is that they’re missing.

 

C) As Believers – we are to live a life that is completely different –

1) See in Jesus – Our life has been given Purpose – Meaning –

 

D) Because of our Relationship to Jesus – We have discovered what Life is about –

1) And in Christ we have been endowed w/ all that we need to live life to the Fullest –

Paul has already told us here in the book of  Colossians that we are Complete in Christ – Col 2:10

A) That in Jesus all the Fullness of God is found and has been made available to us

 

B) As we move into Chapter 3 He is going to instruct us in how we are to live in light of that Reality

1) He starts by instructing us to have a Heavenly Affection { RD V 1-4

 

Been Said “The only people who are truly happy on earth are those whose hearts are in heaven.”

A) I am thoroughly convinced from watching people and from Studying the Word that – that is a True Statement

 

B) The people who are the happiest / most Joyful / most content people on earth are those who know that their home is in Heaven

 

C) On the other hand, those who try to find happiness here are perpetually frustrated.   HERE IS WHY?

1) The possessions that they purchase are never quite what they were supposed to be.

 

D) The relationships they form are never as satisfying as they thought they would be.

The dreams they pursue are never as fulfilling as they hoped they would be.

 

E) Switchfoot – Describes it well in one of their Songs – BEAUTIFUL LET DOWN

 

Last Monday Denise & I went to Sea World to Celebrate our 18th yr wedding Anniversary

A) Fun Walking around – looking at the Fish – about 2 hrs into it we decided it was time to go on the Shipwreck ride

 

B) So we got in line & waited – waited & waited – 45 minutes later finally on the platform to board the Raft –

C) Now I am noticing that almost everyone who gets off is pretty wet – and I am thinking – I am glad it is hot outside

1) Well we get on – And the ride is kind of Fun – about 3 minutes long

 

D) Everyone is our boat is getting soaked accept me – Starting to think – I conquered the shipwreck -  last leg – Title wave

1) Learned a lesson that day – don’t go to Sea world in Corduroy Shorts

 

E) They were wet all day – Got home at 10:30 that night – still Wet

 

I thought to myself – so many things in this life are that way – It’s a BEAUTIFUL let down

A) We wait a long time for something we work hard – only to find that it wasn’t what it was cracked up to be

 

B) Sometimes we even end up all wet and uncomfortable because of it

1) And that is why so many people today are Stressed out / burned out / and even Worn out in this life – Constantly experiencing a Let down

 

C) Listen Nothing is ever quite right until we realize, “Hey, it’s not here!”

1) See When a person finally understands that heaven is where it’s at, he is free to enjoy life.

 

D) It doesn’t matter where he lives, or what he does vocationally, or what kind of car he drives.

1) All of that is irrelevant because he realizes it is all gravy / all temporary 

I AM GOING TO HEAVEN!!!!

 

That is why what Paul tells us here is so important – Since – [NOT IF] speaking factually here : Since you were raised with Christ, seek those things which are above,…………….2 Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth.

A) Consider for a moment the Words Seek & Set

 

B) Seek is an interesting word. It actually describes “having an urgency and a desire and an ambition- to motivates you toward something

 

C) When we watch the Olympic games, we see folks who are running or performing some athletic feat to win a gold medal.

1) Believe me, those athletes  are seeking. That desire to win a gold medal is ALL CONSUMING – they are Passionate about it . On a Mission 

 

Paul is exhorting us to seek the things of Heaven – with that Kind of Intensity – That kind of  Urgency

A) For my wife’s birthday this year – I wanted to do something Different –

Last minute idea – get her a hat – I literally had 1 hr to find it

 

B) After work I race down to the mall – I went thru every store – finally found a hat that was on a display – Shelf – for Decorations

1) Had to call the manager to see if they would sell it to me –

 

C) Not a fan of the Mall – but It was my love for her – that motivated me to do that

1) Paul wants our love for Jesus to motivate us to Diligently seek the things that are above – reach higher – than this life

 

D) To seek those things that are above & to Set our mind on the things above not the things of this earth

 

Set your mind – KJV affections – the two go hand in hand – what you think about is going to be what you are affectionate about

A)The verb “set” is in the present imperative, which means a continuous, ongoing effort is required

 

B) To set our minds on the things above is a constant & deliberate act of our wills that we have to practice -

1) We set our minds on taking a vacation. We set our minds on buying an object. We set our minds on finishing a project.

 

C) We set our minds on those things  and move ourselves in that direction until it is accomplished –

1) With the same kind of persistence we need to Set are minds on the things of Heaven .   BUT THAT IS EASIER SAID THAN DONE -  WHY? –

 

D) Because everyday the world seeks to distract us – the things of this life have a way of consuming us

1) It is easy to be focused on earthly things

 

Many yrs ago – When I was an Assistant Pastor on Staff here at CCV I went thru a Subtle Physical Change

A)I remember sitting in the back during one of Pastor Brian’s sermons

      thinking – the Lighting in this place is Horrible – He was Blurry

 

B) I had the same complaint about certain parts of our city at night – the

     Lighting is horrible – I can’t see the signs

1)   I never dreamed that I needed my Vision corrected – but that is what I found out at the optometrist  – I was Nearsighted

 

C) As Christians we can suffer from the same problem – we are near sighted we only see what is right in front of us

1) Life’s Responsibilities – Bills to pay – {Talking to J.D. about College

 

D) Problems to fix – House / Car / Relationships – all have a way of consuming our thought life

1) Start the day – devotions thinking about the Lord – heaven and by lunch that is the last thing that is on my mind – Consumed by problems

 

Then there is the battle for Perspective – The world, my flesh, and the Devil have strong ideas on just about everything

A) So there is this constant - battle concerning what the world wants me to think about and what God wants me to think about

 

B) So all those things – make it a Constant Challenge to stay focused on seeking the things above – So How do we do this ?

C) I think that Jesus gives us some great insight on how this works in Matthew 6:19-21 "Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal;20 but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal.21 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

 

D) That last Phrase is very enlightening - where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

 

You see it is all of matter of WHERE YOU ARE INVESTING- where you are investing is where your heart is going to be

A) When Jesus tells us to lay up treasure in heaven it’s not God’s way of raising money.,

 

B) It’s His way of raising our hearts and minds out of this world and up into heaven.

1) See He knows that where our treasure is, our heart will follow!!!

 

C) if your treasure is in Microsoft , that’s where your heart will be.

 

D) I met w/ a brother recently who told me he had invested in the stock market – But it consumed him – always Checking it always on his mind –

1) Then he sold it suddenly he wasn’t interested anymore – He was free

 

E) If you put your treasure in your house or hobby, your heart will be there as well. Your heart follows your treasure.

 

Someone put it this way:  “Life is what you are alive to.” What you are alive to is often seen in what you are investing in.

A) Some people spend all their time investing in their Careers – You could say they live to work instead of working to live

 

B) Others spend all their time investing in their Hobbies – they live to play – that is what they are alive to !!

1) So - What you are alive to is seen in what you are investing in –

C) So one of the ways we get our hearts on things above is by investing in the kingdom.

1) So how do we Invest in the Kingdom – how do we make that our treasure so that our hearts will follow ? – Suggest 4 areas

 

1st our Energy-

A) Worship – Worship has a way of turning my heart heavenward

 

B) Times I don’t feel like worshipping – that is when I need to.

1) Exalting God – Focus on the Lord – off of me and my Problems

 

C) Now in Zech 14 we read something interesting about Worship

V 16-17 And it shall come to pass that everyone who is left of all the nations which came against Jerusalem shall go up from year to year to worship the King, the LORD of hosts, and to keep the Feast of Tabernacles.17 And it shall be that whichever of the families of the earth do not come up to Jerusalem to worship the King, the LORD of hosts, on them there will be no rain

 

When the Lord comes back and sets up his kingdom and sits on his

throne in the city of Jerusalem,

A) All of the people are INVITED and EXHORTED to come to Jerusalem to WORSHIP and keep the Feast of Tabernacles.

 

B) NOTE: They are all INVITED to come. But it is NOT MANDATORY.

1) people, can say: “We’re not interested in going up to Jerusalem to worship the Lord. We’ll stay in our own region.”

 

C) NOTE: But here is what’s going to happen. It’s going to get real DRY.

No Rain – Barren

 

D) Remember Michal – Mocked David in his expression of Worship –

1) Barren the rest of her days -

 

 

 

Now I mention this because it concerns me that – there is a growing trend here at CCV – used to only be a 3rd service problem – lateness

A) People miss worship – God is wanting to radically rain down on them – Change their perspective  - Prepare heart for the word – Thru worship

 

B) Well I worship at Home – worship in my Car – GREAT – Important for God’s family to worship together – It has a way of Uniting our Hearts

2 Chron 5:13-14

Indeed it came to pass, when the trumpeters and singers [were as one,] to make [one sound] to be heard in praising and thanking the LORD, and when they lifted up [their voice] with the trumpets and cymbals and instruments of music, and praised the LORD, saying:"For He is good, For His mercy endures forever," that the house, the house of the LORD, was filled with a cloud,14 so that the priests could not continue ministering because of the cloud; for the glory of the LORD filled the house of God.

 

So expending energy in worship is a way of investing in the kingdom that sets my mind & affections on the things above

A) Another way is thru Prayer – Praying thru the Tab – Steps – lamp stand – Ministries

 

B) Pick a missionary this month – Pray for – everyday

1) Praying for the Church – Incredible way of helping you to become more Kingdom minded

 

C) SO it helps when we are investing our Energy in the things above – things that have to do with the Kingdom

 

2nd Way to invest is with our Resources – Giving – Tithes & offerings

A) Giving is not God’s way of raising funds - { He doesn’t need it !

Giving is God’s way of raising Kids

 

B) One thing it does – is what we give to – We become interested in.

C) God wants us to be interested in the things of the Kingdom – So He instructs us to give – Tithe = 10% of incomes – required { Mal 3

1) So on 1st of the week [ Sundays] – Tithe into the Storehouse – So on Sundays – I give my tithe – Tithe =

 

D) Offerings – anything else { Wed nite Missions / Building fund / Bless someone – All offerings

1) Now as I give – in obedience to God’s word – Cheerfully – It is doing something in my heart – Sending my treasure – resources

 

E) Where your treasure is your heart will be there also!!!

1) Iraq – Someone you knew there – More on your mind.

 

Another way to invest resources is – Using my time & talents in Service for the Lord – Investing in the kingdom

A) Never out give God !!!!!

 

3rd way is Thoughts – the Word – Meditate – Boy that has a way of keeping my mind – Heaven ward

 

J.S. Eternity When we are consumed with the reality of Heaven, Christ is free to Consume us on earth.

 

Paul’s reasoning is based on the past & future history of all true believers. A) Our past is given in verse 3: “For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God.”

 

B) Paul put it this way in Gal 2:20We have been crucified with Christ – it is no longer I who live but Christ who lives in me……… loves me & gave ….

 

C) His fullness has passed into our emptiness, his righteousness into our sinfulness, his life into our death. 

D) Your life is hidden in Jesus – Let your heart be consumed with the things that consume his heart

1) This does not mean that we should ignore our earthly responsibilities. Understand what holds the greatest priority – Our Life in Jesus

 

 

Our future is described in verse 4: “When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.”

A)Right now our lives are hidden in Christ, but Jesus is coming back again and when He does – we are going to be with Him

 

B) Paul describes this in Philippians 3:20, 21—“But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ, who, by the power that enables him to bring everything under his control, will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like his glorious body.”

 

C) Then we will be revealed! -  That is our hope  1 John 3:2-3

Beloved, now we are children of God; and it has not yet been revealed what we shall be, but we know that when He is revealed, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is.3 And everyone who has this hope in Him purifies himself, just as He is pure.

 

D) The days are going by rapidly, Folks . We are going to see Jesus soon, and when we do, we will say, “This is it!”

1) This is what we’ve been craving and longing for all our lives.”

                 THE ENGAGEMENT RING – { Built in Dissatisfaction

 

E) That is why I believe we can’t talk too much about heaven. And that’s why Paul tells us heaven is where our hearts should be.

1)The World is blown away – because our whole approach to life is different

 

Lord help us to be a people that are investing in the Kingdom – Who’s affections are heavenward -  Not on this earth