Are you Changed? Part 2

Colossians 3:12-17

Put on then, as God's chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience.  Bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other, as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive.  And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony.  And which indeed you were called in one body.  And be thankful.  Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God.  And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.

In the previous post we talked about the change that takes place if we are true "Followers of Jesus Christ".   If we truly have had that "Godly Sorrow" that comes from the convicting power of the Holy Spirit to come upon us.   Then through that "Godly Sorrow" we are led to repentance of our sins and asking God to save us.   Believing and trusting fully in Jesus Christ as our Lord.   If that has truly happened there is a lifestyle that we die to.   The Apostle Paul clearly states in verses 5 through 11 that there are sinful desires that must be "Put to Death".    This can be accomplished as we allow the power of the Holy Spirit to work within us.   In Romans Chapter 8 verses 10 and 11 we can read:

But, if Christ is in you, although the body is dead because of sin, the Spirit is life because of righteousness.  If the Spirit of him (God) who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, he who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit who dwells in you.

Wow!  We have the same spirit within us that raised Jesus from the dead!  Amazing to think about isn't it?   But we so many times walk around defeated and we are so easily entangled with sins that we should have put to death long ago.    We read in verses 5 through 11 the sins that we are to "Put to Death" or to put off.   But just as we are to put these sins off we are to put something on that helps us combat the temptations that Satan continuously comes after us with.   The following is an example of the change that occurs if we truly are saved and allowing the power of the Spirit of God to work in our lives. 

First, Paul tells us in verse 12 our position in Jesus Christ.  We are one of God's.  We reference Romans Chapter 8 again starting with verse 14 and going through verse 17:

For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God.  For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, "Abba Father!"  The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God.  And if children, then heirs--heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, provided we suffer with him in order that we may also be glorified with him.

As God's beloved children we are to put on Holiness.   We are not to allow anything to impede that holiness that should be exhibited with in our lives.    We demonstrate this holiness through having a compassionate heart, kindness, humility, meekness and patience.  Do those traits sound familiar?  In Galatians chapter 5 verses 22 and 23 it states that the "Fruit of the Spirit" are love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control; against such things there is no law. 

True salvation exhibits a new life.  Our thoughts, our desires and our actions are totally different.  Jesus tells us in Matthew Chapter 7 that we will know not only "Followers of Christ" but people who confess to be "Followers of Christ" by the fruit they bear.  Let's do some fruit inspecting.   Is your or my life demonstrating the fruits that were mentioned above and in these verses we are looking at? 

In verse 13 Paul makes a great statement we all should take heed of.   Remember Paul is writing to Christians here and for him to make this statement in verse 13 there must be some conflict going on.  Paul states along with the characteristics we should have in verse 12 that we also should "be bearing with one another".    We should be patient with one another, we should be forgiving towards one another because of what the Lord has forgiven us for.  

Evidently the same situations that occur today occurred back then.   Sometimes when I witness to someone this is a topic that comes up.   There is so much fighting between so called Christians why would I want any part of that.   God wants unity amongst his people.   Read Ephesians Chapter 4 and see the desire for unity.   Read Jesus' priestly prayer recorded in the Gospel of John Chapter 17 as Jesus cries out to God the Father in desiring that all his followers become one as Jesus and the Father are one. 

Jesus teaches us in Mark Chapter 3:25 that even though he is being accused of being possessed by the devil and casting out demons by satan, Jesus states a house divided cannot stand.   This would hold true to the Christian Church too.    What brings this unity to fruition?  One word "Love".   In verse 14 above everything else put on LOVE!   This binds all other things together. and brings in perfect harmony.   This does not mean we forsake principle but we do all things with Love at the forefront. 

How does this come about?  Well, let's look at verses 15 to 17. 

1.  Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts.  It is not about us or our desires or our wants.  It is all about Jesus.   We take our life and exchange it for his allowing him to have rule over our hearts.  This means to allow him to lead, allow him to move us in his direction for the best of the Kingdom.
2. Let the Word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom.  Get in the Bible!  Read it, Study it and submerse yourself in it.  It is the way of life.  God gave us his precious Word to reveal his character to us but also to show us what it looks like in glorifying him through our life.
3. Worship and be Thankful.  Praise God for who he is.  Worship him in song, voice and lifestyle.   Be thankful in that he saved you from the pits of Hell.  God poured the punishment for our sin upon his own son on the cross of Calvary. 
4. Serve.  Be a servant.  In 2 Corinthians we read that God has given us the ministry of reconciliation.  Therefore we are ministers of reconciliation and ambassadors of Jesus Christ as if God is making his appeal through us.   Through our speech and our deeds God should be glorifed that others will come to know Jesus Christ as Lord.

2 Corinthians Chapter 5:17  Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation.  The old has passed away, behold, the new has come.

In Christ Alone,
Dale A. Jennings

Are you changed?

Colossians 3:5 - 11

Put to death therefore what is earthly in you:  sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire and covetousness which is idolatry.  On account of these the wrath of God is coming.  In these you too once walked, when you were living in them.  But now you must put them all away: anger, wrath, malice, slander and obscene talk from your mouth.  Do not lie to one another, seeing that you have put off the old self with its practices and have put on the new self, which being renewed in knowledge after the image of the Creator.  Here, there is not Greek and Jew, circumcised and uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave, free, but Christ is all and in all.

As we review  verse 1 through 4 we see in those verses Paul is stating that there is a change that is within us if we have truly repented of our sins and have completely put our trust in Jesus as Lord.  In Corinthians Chapter 5 verse 17 it states.  "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ he is a new creation.  The old has passed away, behold, the new has come".

In these next few verses Paul gives us a picture of what we are to have died to and what things are to be put behind us.    These verses cover the heart of man.   In Jeremiah Chapter 17:9  it tells us "The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked, who can understand it?  We look around the World today and we see that these sins permiate our society everywhere.    But does Paul say look around and see what everyone else is doing?  No!  The Bible says in verse 5 that we are to "Put to death what is earthly in us".  

Sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire and covetousness!  These are things that Paul states that "In these things you too once walked, when we were living in them".    So instead of looking at everyone else let's look in the mirror.  Are these sins part of our life.   Do we continue to live the lifestyle of these laid out before us?  These sins in verse 5 deal with purity in our lives. 

In the World today we are so "sex saturated" in all forms of entertainment.   TV, Movies, Books and Music!   When the sin of sexual immorality is brought out it means all sexual sin.   We are going through the battle of the definition of marriage trying to be redefined.   But in the Garden of Eden God saw that is was not good for Man to be alone.  So he brought unto Adam a wife in Eve created from a rib from his body.    And God said "Therefore a man shall leave his father and his mother and hold fast to his wife and they shall become one flesh".   So the standard has been set.  God has Holy ordained the union between a man and a woman.  

But before we start pointing fingers.  Hetersexual sin is just as sinful as Homosexual sin.   Any type of sexual immorality outside of the bonds of marriage is SIN!   What are you watching on TV or looking at on your computer?   How are you reacting to anyone of the opposite sex?   In Matthew Chapter 6 verse 28 Jesus says "But I say to you that everyone who looks at a woman with lustful intent has already committed adultery with her in his heart". 

Look what else Paul touches on.  Anger, Malice, slander and obscene talk!   What we must see is that there is a standard set of what is right and wrong, of what is sin.  We don't base things off of what we want to be right and wrong to meet our selfish desires.  Paul even goes a step further and calls them evil desires.    We base all off God's standard of what is Holy and what is Sin. 

In Verse 6 it says that "on account of these (sins) the wrath of God is coming".   God is a God of Holiness, Righteousness, Love and Mercy.  But he is also a God of justice.   Because of this Holiness there has to be wrath against evil.   But God is not looking down upon us from Heaven just waiting to punish us.   His desire is that all be saved and that all walk in righteousness (2 Peter 3:9).  These verses also show us that in his love and mercy he has provided us a way for forgiveness and that is through Jesus Christ his son. 

These sins listed in this Chapter were put upon Jesus when he was on the Cross of Calvary.  2 Corinthians verse 21 states "For our sake he (God) made him (Jesus) to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him (Jesus) we might become the righteousness of God".   In verse 10 it states that if we repent of our sins and turn away from, put them off, die to them and put on the new self we are renewed in the knowledge of the image of the Creator.    It is through the convicting power of the Holy Spirit that we see how deviant sin is.  How evil these things are that are mentioned in this Chapter.   But, also we see how glorious and how wonderful and how merciful and how just God is and that brings us to the point of true repentance before God.

In Christ we are all one.  There are no races, no nationalities and no one more important than the other.    But it is the duty of all to be Holy, to bring glory to God the Father, because we are one in Jesus Christ.  For it is only though his death, burial and resurrection are we reconciled to God.

In Christ Alone,

Dale A. Jennings

Where is your Focus?

Colossians 3:1 - 4

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.

Let's face it our World is just saturated in self-indulgence.  Always thinking of the now.  Always thinking of our own desires.  What can I get and how fast can I get it.   What is sad is that most "Christians" are caught up in this same self-satisfaction mentality.   What is it that can bring me the most happiness?  What is it that will bring me the most satisfaction?  Is it more money?  More prestige?  More "Stuff"?  Could it be that your children are the best at a certain sport or the best dancer?    I guess in there place all that is well and good.   But in those things what is sacrificed?

The Apostle Paul, being led by the Holy Spirit, is admonishing the "Christians" at Colossae.   He is challenging them as it says in Verse 1 of Chapter 3 that "If you have been raised with Christ".   Meaning if you are confessing to be a "Christian", if you are confessing to be a "Follower of Jesus", that if you have truly repented of your sins and have put your trust in Jesus as Lord of you life, then that should be evident in your mindset of where your priorities are. 

The things of this World is in exact opposite of the things of God!   Paul points out that if we are truly saved then we will seek the things of God where our Lord Jesus Christ is right now.   God showed his acceptance of Jesus' sacrifice for his just wrath upon man's sin by raising Jesus from the dead.   Jesus then ascended into Heaven where he is now seated at the right hand of God the Father (Hebrews Chapter 8).

Verse 2 says to "Set our Minds" on things that are above.   What thoughts come to you when you think of the term "To Set"?  I think of setting plants in the ground and you plant them in a way that the roots will grow and will become nourished.   I think of concrete after it has been poured that it has to "set up" to become firm and stable.   We set our minds on things above so we become rooted and firm in our faith and rooted in truth which comes from Jesus Christ who is "The Way, The Truth and The Life.    What can also be said here is that we are to set our minds on what is Eternal that comes from God and not what is Temporary that comes from this World.  

Jesus' words are recorded in the Gospel of John Chapter 6 verse 33 "To seek first the Kingdom of God and his righteouseness and all these things will be added unto you"!   What will be added unto us?  Stuff? All our Wants?  No!  The things we need in this life and the most important thing and that is a personal relationship with Jesus Christ our Savior.

Jesus died for the sins of mankind and God raised him from the dead.   So if we have truly trusted Jesus as Lord then we have died to the selfish desires of this life.   In the book of Galatians the Apostle Paul wrote "For I am crucified with Christ.  It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me.  And the life I know live in the flesh I live by Faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me! 

Our lives become focused on Jesus and every aspect of our life is to glorify God and this is because of the hope we have that one day we will be with Jesus forever in Heaven.  Where is our Focus?  What are we living for?  Or better said, Who are we living for?

In Christ,
Dale A. Jennings

Are You Weary?

Have you ever found yourself just plain tired?  I find myself that way today.   I can't really contribute it to one thing or another but I am just tired.   When I get like this I sometimes have to just sit back and talk to the Lord.   As I contemplated on this feeling of tiredness I am attracted to the portion of scripture that many people know and rely on of the words recorded of Jesus in Matthew Chapter 11 verses 28 through 30.

Come unto me all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.  Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me, for I am meek and lowly in heart and ye shall find rest for your souls.  For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.

WOW!  Jesus is saying come rest in me.  I will take you and comfort you and give you strength.  Does this mean he takes all the tiredness and problems away?  No!  But as a follower of Jesus Christ we have a place of shelter and place of solace to go to.  We are molded and grow into more mature Christians during life's struggles.

We have to rely more than ever on the "Grace" that is all sufficient for us (2 Corinthians 12:9).   In our weariness we can become discouraged and Satan can come on the attack when we are discouraged.   Once again we can combat that with scripture where the Apostle Paul penned these words from his letter to the Romans Chapter 8:37 "Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us".

Stand strong in the Lord!

In Christ,
Dale A.Jennings

Biblical Glasses

Biblical Glasses

Have you ever heard the term "Biblical Glasses"?     When I first heard that expression I was a little perplexed myself.   But the more I listened to the speaker I was listening to the more I realized he was speaking of "What is your Worldview?".   Now you may be asking "What is a Worldview?".  

A world view could best be described as a set of presuppositions and beliefs that someone uses to interpret and form opinions about his humanity, purpose in life, duties in the world, responsibilities to family, interpretation of truth, social issues, etc.    As we know there are many opinions of the many issues we face today in the World.  But was is best and what is most logical.   When it comes down to it is what do we base our truth off of.  Do we believe truth to be relative or absolute?

As I talked with people in the past in proclaiming to them the truth of Salvation through Jesus Christ and Jesus alone.  They broke in and said I just don't believe that.  I asked "Why Not"?   The usual response is that I just can't believe there is one way to Heaven and that what one believes is not necessarily true for the other person.  So I ask the question "Do you believe that truth is relative or absolute?" and they say it is relative.  I then ask are you absolutely sure that truth is relative?  See even if you say truth is relative you are making an absolute statement. 

In Exodus Chapter 3 as God was calling Moses to go back to Egypt so that God may set the Israelites free from Egyptian bondage, Moses asked God a question.   Verse 13 and 14 reads as follows:  "Then Moses said unto God.  Behold when I come unto the children of Israel, and shall say unto them, The God of your fathers hath sent me unto you and they shall say to me,  What is his name? What shall I say unto them?  And God said unto Moses "I AM THAT I AM: and he said:  Thus shalt thou say unto the Children of Israel, "I AM hath sent me unto you.

As God calls himself "I AM", God is making the statement he is above all things, creates all things, sustains all things.   God established this World and established the laws that keep it together.   If we look at all things through Biblical Glasses then we see the power of God in all things and especially our salvation.  

Man has attempted to find his way to God through his own opinions and his own designs.   But God came to us in his son Jesus Christ so that through our repentance and Faith in Jesus we may have Eternal Life.   In John 14:6 Jesus said "I AM the Way, I AM the TRUTH and I AM the Life. 

Truth is not a thing, but it is a person in Jesus Christ, and all is based off of God's desire for all men to come to repentance and be saved.    As it says in Romans 10:13 "Whosoever will call on the name of the Lord shall be saved".

In Christ,
Dale A. Jennings

Worship

Worship

Psalm 22:  But thou art Holy, O thou that inhabitest the praises of Israel!

Is Worship something we attend or something we do?  Of course the topic of Worship can be a huge Bible Study unto itself.  But I just want to make a few points and ask a few questions.

Have we put the Worship of God in a box?  Can we only worship God at an appointed time?  Can we only worship God with a certain way?  Don’t get me wrong I totally believe in verses 24 and 25 of Hebrews Chapter 10. 

And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works.  Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is, but exhorting one another and so much the more as ye see the day approaching.

But, I ask again!  Is Worship something we attend or something we do?  I will say it is something we do.  Worship is a lifestyle!  As in Chapter 4 of the Gospel of John, Jesus has his encounter with the Samaritan woman at the well.  The topic of Worship comes up and Jesus says to the Samaritan woman “But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth, for the Father seeketh such to worship him.  God is a Spirit and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.

What Jesus is focusing on here is the “Motive” of our worship.  If we are truly worshiping God in spirit and in truth then our worship is coming from a heart full of gratitude.   Worship is a time where we pour our heart out to God in gratitude, thanksgiving, awe, repentance and love to him.   This kind of worship can happen anytime and anywhere.  

In Psalm 22 we read the Lord inhabits the praises of Israel or his people.   The word inhabits here establishes that God will sit down with us or he will dwell among us as we worship him.   What a blessing to sit in the presence of God as we praise him and he comes and communions with us. 

May our hearts be pure and may we worship with pure motives as we worship God in the way he asks us to.   James 4:10 says “Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord and he will lift you up”.

In Christ,

Dale A. Jennings

Going Down Swinging

Going Down Swinging

2 Timothy 4:6-8: For I am now ready to be offered, and the time of my departure is at hand.   I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith. Henceforth, there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, shall give me at that day and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing.

I played a lot of Baseball in my youth. From age 10 until 18 my Spring’s and Summer’s were taken up with Baseball. I loved the battle between myself, as the batter, and the pitcher that stood on the mound. One thing that my Father and my coaches taught me was to never take a called third strike if possible.   To always try to “Go Down Swinging”.   Obviously, there is a better chance of hitting the ball if you are swinging at it than not swinging at all.

Did I always do that? No! But more times than not, in Baseball vernacular, I was taking a hack at it. I could walk away and say at least I went down swinging.   Well, I am in my late 40’s now and that term means something totally different to me.   As I study scripture the Apostle Paul uses references many times about being in a battle or competing.

In Ephesians 6 verses 10-20 he talks about putting on the full Armor of God because we are in warfare not against flesh and blood but against principalities, powers of darkness and forces of evil in heavenly places.   As a “Follower of Jesus Christ” Satan wants to do anything that will keep us discouraged or ruin our testimony or living out a life that is totally surrendered to the Gospel of Jesus Christ.  Temptations come our way daily or maybe even hourly that can keep us side tracked from the task at hand.

1 Corinthians 9:24-27 the Apostle Paul refers to running a race in a way that you may obtain a prize that is imperishable. In the verses leading up to 24 – 27 Paul speaks of becoming all things to all people that he may win some to Jesus Christ.   He says I do it all for the sake of the Gospel.

Other verses to look at are: Hebrews 12:1-2, Philippians 2:16, Philippians 3:12-14.  We
are in a battle for our purity, our families and the souls of people. Jesus himself told us that if you love me you will keep my commandments. In the Gospel of John Chapter 21, when Jesus is restoring Peter after having denied Jesus three times, Jesus asks Peter to “Feed his Sheep” and that is a picture of our call also.

Are we battling for our Marriages, for our children’s souls and for the souls of lost people that we are in front of every day?  I am challenged by the verses listed above. Just as when I was playing ball of making sure I would “Go Down Swinging”.   I am making sure I am “Going Down Swinging” for the Glory of God and for the sake of the Gospel.

So! Are you “Going to go down swinging”?

In Christ,
Dale A. Jennings

Grace

Grace

1 Peter 4:10  As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God’s varied Grace.

I have posed this question to many people about the Grace of God.  What is the first thing that comes to your mind when you think of God’s Grace?  Almost to the person the first thought is the Saving Grace of God and rightfully so.  But, is there more to God’s Grace?

We read from Ephesians as the Apostle Paul penned in Chapter 2 verse 8 “For by grace you have been saved through faith.  And this is not your own doing.  It is the gift of God”.  Also we read from Titus Chapter 2 verse 11 “For the Grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people.   So just in those two verses we can see why our first thoughts would be directed to God’s grace of Salvation through Jesus Christ. 

As we read in 1 Peter we see that it is also the continued working of God’s Grace in our lives that we use the gifts God has given us to serve each other.   God did not save us to just sit around and do nothing.  He has work for us to do.  Now these works don’t save us but they are definitely evidences of our Salvation.   Praise God for his Saving Grace but let’s also understand it is God’s Grace that continues to work in our lives to grow Kingdom of God for his glory.

In Romans 12:6a we read “Having gifts that differ according to the grace given to us; let us use them”.   For the glory of God let us be good stewards of God’s grace that is working in our lives.

In Christ,

Dale A. Jennings