What Are The Rocks

What Are The Rocks - Col. 1:10,11

(Proceed to visually act out the following story)`

A Philosophy professor stood in front of his class of over achievers with a gallon size

container on a table and filled it with fist sized rocks. He then asked the class if the

container was full. They all responded, “Yes.” “No,” he said ,and then proceeded to

bring from under the table a bucket with gravel in it and poured it into the container, He

then asked the class again whether the container was full? The class responded, “Probably

not!” “Right.” he said and then he brought another bucket from under the table and

poured sand into the container. For a third time, he asked the class whether the container

was full? The class responded, “No!” “Right again,” said the professor as he brought a

pitcher of water from beneath the table and poured it into the container. “Now,” he said,

“the container is full!” He then went on . . .”If the container represents your life, what is

the lesson here?” One energetic student from the back of the class responded, “No matter

how full your life or schedule gets with all the things that you do, there is always room for

more!” “No,” said the professor, “ the lesson is that unless you put the big rocks in first,

you will never get them in at all. The rocks represent the PRIORITIES or the important

things in life.”

This morning I want to consider with you what ought to be the rocks or spiritual priorities

in our lives! What is to be of primary importance and given first attention in the life of a

believer? What spiritual tasks are to tax my energy? What is my divine to do list? I want

to share what I consider to be the top five spiritual priority rocks for every believer and

base then on the text that has also been my life verses. Please turn to Col. 1, verses 10

and 11.- Paul’s prayer for the church at Colosse. I need to tell you that lately, with the

reoccurrence of the cancer, I have had the privilege of returning to these verses to check

and see whether my life is still on track as far as what my priorities ought to be that enable

me to live every day to the fullest. It is with that in mind that I share them with you this

morning and urge you to adopt them as well for your own pilgrimage with the Lord.

(Read Scripture) “That ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful

in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God; Strengthened with all

might, according to his glorious power, unto all patience and longsuffering with

joyfulness.”

Take your notes and let’s go! ROCK #1 - “That you might walk worthy of the Lord” -

Say it with me - “That you might walk worthy of the Lord.” What does that mean? To

walk worthy of the Lord means to walk in such a way as to ascribe worth or worthiness to

the Lord - that is simply to allow my walk or behavior to be an ACT of WORSHIP to the

Lord! I got so excited when I discovered this great truth. I need to make every thought

and every action of every moment of the day an act of worship to the Lord. Think about

it - Brushing your teeth can be an act of worship! As I brush I thank God for the body

that He gave me and the privilege of taking care of it. In the last few weeks I have even

discovered that you can worship the Lord during Chemotherapy! I can praise the Lord

and pray for His healing as the medicine goes into my body. All of life is to be an act of

worship to the Lord - everything we do at work, school, or in the neighborhood - every

thought and action - 24 hours a day, even our sleep at night can be an act of worship -

notice that I said at night lest you think that it is a current option. You see our present

experience of worship that we are engaging in right now is not our only worship - it is the

punctuation of a life of worship that continues through the entire week. If you think that

I’m stretching the point this morning, turn to I Cor. 10:31 and read with me what Paul

tells the church at Corinth. “Whether therefore you eat, or drink, or whatsoever you do,

do all to the glory of God.” To live a life that continually worships the Lord is a great

way to keep your life from sin! Worship crowds out sin! Rock number one is A LIFE