How to Survive When You Didn't Win Immunity (Part 1 of 2)

How To Survive When You Didn’t Win Immunity (Pt. 1)
Col. 3.1-2
May 22, 2005
Chester, Illinois Chester FBC Mike Fogerson, Speaker

Introduction:
A George Whitefield was witnessing to a man and asked him, "What do you believe?" I believe what my church believes. "What does your church believe?" My church believes what I believe. "What does you & your church believe?" We believe the same thing.
a We are not saved by having faith in faith; we are saved by having faith in Christ and that faith is seen in our commitment to Christ.
b In Paul’s time, pagan worshipers would go the temple, bow @ an idol, offer a sacrifice, and then go right back to their same old life of sin.
(No change, renewal, conversion.)
When a person came into a saving relationship w/ Jesus, they were to change.
What they believed was to influence their behavior.
Survivor’s can make it w/ immunity. Believers make it by setting their hearts & minds on things above.

B Today, we’ll begin a two week look at "How To Survive When You Didn’t Win Immunity."
a 1 Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. 2 Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. Col 3:1-2 (NIV)
1 Since you were raised from the dead with Christ, aim at what is in heaven, where Christ is sitting at the right hand of God. 2 Think only about the things in heaven, not the things on earth. Col 3:1-2 (NCV)
b Paul instructed that a Christian’s belief should have influenced his/her behavior. (ETS)

C What we believe has a very definite connection with how we behave. (ESS)
a I want to give you some tools that can help you live out your faith in Jesus. (Objective)
b What tools are you currently using to allow your beliefs to shape your behaviors? (Probing Question)

T.S.: Let’s look at how two tools Paul gave to the Church of Colossae can help us keep Jesus in our daily lives.




I The first tool Paul gave the church of Colossae to help them keep Jesus in their daily lives was . . . A State of The Heart.
Since you were raised from the dead with Christ, aim at what is in heaven, where Christ is sitting at the right hand of God
A Paul told the clumsy Colossaean Christian where to aim(set) their heart.
a "Right hand of God"
*Ps. 110.1; Acts 2. 32-36 (Print on screen, cite as ref. on listening guide)
*In Paul’s day, a person of high rank would put a person to their right, it was significant. This person at the right was given equal power, honor, and was recognized by the high ranking person as an equal.
*John 1.1 (Print in guide) (Jesus is as much as God as the Father/Holy Spt.)
*If the Christian at Colossae was aiming at Jesus, they were on target!!
b Their (Colossaeian believers) loyalties, allegiances, interests were to be on Jesus. Why? He was in a place of supremacy & control.

B Church, two questions: 1) Where is Jesus today? (At the right hand of God.) 2) What are we supposed to be doing? (Setting our hearts on things above.)
a Above? Does that mean angels, astrological chart, stars, yoga, transcendental meditation?
No way! You want to set your heart on things above, it doesn’t get any higher/heavenly than Jesus!
b NASB, NIV, KJV uses set/seek over aim. (Present Imperative in the Greek) which means it is an never ending,