RT Kendall Colossians: How to be Godly

godliness is making every effort to be more like Jesus minute by minute hour by hour day by day brief word of Prayer Heavenly Father I asked now will the sprinkling of the blood of Jesus by your spirit to rest upon every mind in this place in order that their perception of what I say will be heard as you intend cleanse my tongue that I will be your transparent vehicle to say all that needs to be said nothing that doesn't need to be said help me to be very very clear very very simple I ask that this will be a life-changing word and that word that brings great honor and glory to your name I ask in Jesus name Amen I want to read from two passages first from Colossians chapter 3 verse 1 says 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 will also appear with him in glory but there's another passage I want to read tonight and that's from Hebrews chapter 12 beginning with verse 22 but you have come to Mount Zion and to the city of the Living God the heavenly Jerusalem and to innumerable angels in festal gathering and to the Assembly of the first form who are enrolled in heaven and to God the judge of all and to the spirits of the righteous made perfect and to Jesus the mediator of a new covenant and to the sprinkled blood that speaks a better word than the blood of Abel the God be pleased to bless the reading and the preaching of this is most holy and infallible word now I am aware that when I choose a subject how to be godly it may be seen that I am going to tell you how I have done it I can assure you nothing could be further from the truth you see we saw last time how not to be godly and it became obvious that it's easier to be a Pharisee than it is to be truly godly and so tonight we look at these so there are two things that I want us to see first it's what God has done and secondly what we must do now what is it that God has done well Paul mentions two things he says that we have been raised with Christ God did that and then he says what may seem contradictory he says we have died so these are two things God did we could never have done anything like that but it is a miracle of the Holy Spirit sovereign grace because regeneration which makes all this possible is an unconscious act it's what God does we find out later that's what it is and Paul is saying know that this is to be true because is this is the way toward godliness so what God has done but second what we must do and this is what he says seek the things that are above where Christ is I love that phrase where Christ is seated at the right hand of God you may be aware that to claim in the earliest church that Jesus was at the right hand of God brought great offense here's why the disciples said that this Jesus has been raised from the dead and everybody said okay where is he well they said he's at the right hand of God and if they had the expression that they use in England sometimes pull the other one they would have used that then because no really nobody really believed that but it was something that the early church believed because this is what the angel said this is what the Holy Spirit witness - and it is very central to the Christian faith and so how to be godly well I can tell you it is to seek those things which are above where Christ is and we're told that he is seated at the right hand of God and so we saw last week how not to be godly and now how to be godly and it means by seeking the things that are above so what we do when we look up what do we see first of all Jesus now he is at the right hand of God what is he doing well a number of things first of all he is interceding for us at the right hand of God Jesus is as one reformer put it he beckons the attention of the father to himself to keep his gaze away from our sins and that is what Jesus is doing and he ever lives to make intercession he's also filtering out our prayers I don't know if you realize this but Jesus guards the throne of grace in this sense that only what is passed on to the Father is what the father hears because if the father hears our prayer to be heard means it will be answered there's that here break expression if we ask anything according to his will he hears us because that's the way Hebrews reason it comes from the Hebrew word Shamar that means to hear but it also means to obey it's like you've probably said to your child did you hear me well that's the meaning of Shamar and if the father hears us he will obey our request and that's the most wonderful thing but Jesus is there guarding it to make sure that only what is passed on to the father is what will be heard now I don't know how that makes you feel you may say oh well I wanted this then it's not giving it to me well I have to tell you no good thing will he withhold from them that walk uprightly and what Jesus is doing if the right hand of God is protecting you from yourself you may want something but he knows what is best for you and the best thing you can do is honor this and be thankful that there's one who wants you to have what is good and what is right so what is Jesus doing well he is at the right hand of God interceding but there's more he's there reigning he reigns you know but that's not all he rules it's often said of Her Majesty the Queen she doesn't rule she reigns but Jesus rules and as Robert mirmix Shane put it he wears two crowns he's head of the church he's head of the nations and so at the right hand of the Father King Jesus reigns as head of the church that means he overlooks all those that are in the church and we call it saving grace we call it special grace but then as being the head of nations we call it common grace and so God has ordained that he is ruling everything and all that happens goes through what Jesus himself permits never forget this it may not look like that as hebrews chapter 2 verse 10 says it doesn't seem that way but it is that way and one day God will clear his name and so what is he doing he's interceding he's reigning but it's also there in anticipation because he's waiting for the day that he will make all his enemies his footstool and then he will come as in his foot in verse 4 Christ who is your life appears when that happens he you will appear with him in glory when Christ who is your life appears then you will appear with him in glory and so that day is coming and we have that to look forward to so what does he mean then seek the things which are above well we look to heaven we see Jesus but that's not all according to Hebrews chapter 12 verse 23 that we just read the righteous are in heaven and you have this phrase and it's nowhere else in the New Testament where the writer of Hebrews says the spirits of the just made perfect let me tell you what that means that those that died in Christ who are taken to glory are given glorified spirits not glorified bodies that will happen at the end when our bodies are transformed but their spirits are there and they are without sin they are not being tempted they're not having to go undergo any tests as a matter of fact all that it is said about the weight will be in the New Jerusalem when God shall wipe away all tears and there'll be no more crying no pain that is what the Saints in glory have now I wonder how many here have loved ones in glory can I see your hands yeah sure I've got friends there I've got a mother there I've got a father there I've got relatives there and you may wonder well what's going on there well there are in no pain and they're having fellowship with the old Saints as Abraham Isaac Jacob and so it would be a wonderful thing if we don't get to be around when Jesus comes the second time to know what it's like when we pass over and so why set your affections on things above to let you know what is coming for you and if you get your eyes on things like that not on things of the earth you know what is in store for you well this is promised so what is Jesus doing he's interceding he's there with a saves and glory and also Hebrews talks about the angels now I'm always reluctant to talk about angels because we might give too much attention to them but remember this about angels they are the perfect worshippers of God they cannot be bribed you know there was that time when John I've always been amazed at this John actually said I fell down to worship the angel that gave the book of Revelation I think to myself how can John have done such a stupid thing but if he could do it it shows how people might if you're aware of an angel around you you might be tempted to talk to the Angels and converse they won't have it they don't want anything like that understand angels are perfect worshippers of God and the writer of Hebrews lets us know they're there and it was when Isaiah had a vision of the glory of God and he saw the Seraphim and they cried one to another holy holy holy is the Lord of hosts the whole earth is full of his glory and Isaiah said woe is me and this is possibly the first indication of being godly and that is you see your sin something that you could never see except by the Holy Spirit it's interesting Isaiah had been in the ministry but now he's been given a glimpse of the glory of God and he sees his own sinfulness you may be aware that some years ago there was purported to be a great revival in Florida and soon after we retired we got letters emails from England in particular they said do you know the last day ministries are going on in Lakeland Florida and other wow this is wonderful this is what I live for I'm waiting for it and so we turn on the TV and we watched it night after night after night and I began to think there's something wrong something very wrong and I began to notice that they were saying this is last day ministries and the revival is penetrating parts in the world that have never heard the gospel and they're saying isn't this wonderful that Christianity is now penetrating Iraq and other nations and places in China another well this is something but then I began to ask am I to believe but the last day ministries that would penetrate places in the world where the gospel has not been reaching at least through TV that God would raise up someone who wouldn't preach the gospel because there was one thing missing night after night after night never once was the gospel preached it was all about word of knowledge and healing praying for people and they fall down and people clapping their hands hitting this wonderful another but surely no gospel and then there was another thing that was so noticeable no conviction of sin no evidence that people should be aware of their sinfulness and this is the thing when we see the glory of God we will see ourselves as we are and this is what you have when you look above said Paul if then you have been raised with Christ that's what God did then he tells us what we do 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 of the earth all right if you seek the things that are above what is it that you will seek I can tell you first you will seek God's will let me tell you something God already has a will a will of his own he's already decided what he wants and this is important at the present time when there are those who are actually teaching and you would be surprised to know who it's it's awful it's spreading everywhere that as one put it very famous preacher is that it's our duty to change God's will I say no it is our duty to find out what God's will is and do it but we're living in a time where people want to run things and it's a theology called open theism it's deadly the idea is that God does not know the future but he looks to us to know what to do next can you imagine that how do you like praying to a god and you're saying Lord show me what they do and he shouts back I want you to tell me what they do would you want a God like that but that's what we have today you need to know if you are seeking Him you're wanting to know his will jesus said in the lord's prayer to say your will be done on earth as it is in heaven well in heaven God's will is being carried out perfectly there's no rebellion in heaven that is what we pray for on earth that God's will will be carried out there'll be no rebellion no talking back no disobedience well you seek God's will but then God's will can be understood two ways his revealed will and his secret will no the trouble is many are interested in his secret will what's that well God knows the future perfectly but it's secret he doesn't tell us he knows where you will be tomorrow he knows where you will be a year from now he is aware of everything pertaining to you and where you will be 18 months from now in detail he know whether you should have this job or another we should meet this person and you say well I'm interested I'd like to know more about that this is secret God will tell you when you need to know it's the revealed will that we should be concerned with and you say well what is that it's the Bible a good way to know in fact the best way to know what God's will is it's just get to know the Bible so well you know a friend of mine who had an unusual prophetic gift and it really he really did have a wonderful gift and people would go up to him he he couldn't walk across the whole hotel lobby people going up to him and say got a word for me and prophetic people they have to live with that sometimes very thankful I don't have a prophetic gift or they be bothering me all that one you have a word for me in other words it's the secret will well this friend of mine said he got so tired of people coming up to him and he was in a church in Phoenix Arizona where a lady came up to him and said have you got a word for me and he said yes here and gave her his Bible and she said oh this is wonderful and she took it seriously because it was from him she took it as a word from God they said when he went back a year ago a year later she knew her Bible better than any of the preachers there because she began to read it well that's the way to know God's will and so if you care about him you will care about knowing his will his word all right seek his will that's seeking the things that are above seek to know God's ways you see God has ways will have ways God lamented of ancient Israel Hebrews chapter 3 verse 10 they have not known my ways God wants us to know his ways and he said my own people they don't know my ways how well do you know God's ways you see the way you get to know God's ways is to spend more time with him how do you get to know anybody's ways Louise knows my ways she knows how I'm going to react to a certain thing I've got friends grant he was here tonight he knows something of my ways we speak a lot of time together he knows me and the way you get to know God's ways is to spend time with him question seeking that which is above how much do you pray children spell love TI m ii suppose God spells love TI m and how much time do you have for him and so seeking the things that are above you want to know his will his ways his word and Psalm 138 verse 2 let's put in the Hebrew you have magnified your word above all your name now we know how much God extol his name his lofty holiness has manners but his name that's his reputation that demonstrates its power his power yet his word is magnified above his name that's the way God considers his word and if you want to get on God's good side if I may put it that way get to know his word you know what this book the Bible is the Holy Spirit's greatest product this is what he wrote hey is if I may put it this way proud of what he said it reveals his heart it's final it's the ultimate revelation and for those who are wanting to bypass these words that just want to hear from God listen God has given us his word to keep us from making stupid mistakes or to correct abuses you may want a word you want to hear from God but if you really love him and you honor him this is what Paul means seek those things which are above how well do you know his word do you have a Bible reading plan do you spend time getting to know his word that shows how much you honor him and extol him so get to know his will his ways his word but what does he mean by seek here's the way Paul puts it seek the things that are at the right hand of God what does anybody seek well jesus said ask and you will receive seek that means you don't give up you keep looking you don't just wait i've seen i've tried it watson and that that was enough i don't want to do it anymore when you really want to know him as it is put in jeremiah chapter 29 verse 13 you will find me if you will seek me with all your heart and if you're wanting to get to know God and know his ways I promise you if you seek to know him with all your heart you will not be disappointed and he will show up he will reveal himself it will be clear it will be obvious and he's never too late he's never too early but always just on time and so seeking you know Jesus said to the Pharisees how can you believe who receive honor one of another and seek not the honour that comes from God only that means you people you Pharisees you make no effort to find out what is God's pleasure so if you're wanting to please him and you're seeking the things that are above remember this about Jesus he said I do that which pleases him and therefore you want to do what pleases God Jesus was the one who lived only for his father's will and a book that I have just written comes out any day I think it's out now for an audience of one get to get get to the place here's the thing when Paul says seek what is above not on the things of the earth you may ask well what's on the earth what is it you find on the earth but first of all the approval of man you look on the things of the earth and you're going to want to know what do they think what do they think of me what will they think of I do this and you're living to make sure no one will criticize you how many decisions do you make are based upon what so-and-so will think your friend that authority figure you're not thinking what would God want you're wanting to know what would please your friend you see that's what Paul means seek that which is above not on the things of the earth and so when you look for things of the earth it will be wanting the approval of man and the lusts of the flesh because you become preoccupied with what gratifies you and you live not only for the approval of men for but for sensual pleasure well Paul said Christ is your life which is unusual statement whatever did he mean Christ is your life well I can kill you that everything that happened to Jesus happens to every Christian he died for you you died he was buried you are buried with him in Baptism he was raised you are raised and now for that reason says Paul when Christ who is your life appears then you will also appear with him in glory even those who are following the way as some Colossians were doing you see these Colossians they've been genuinely converted and Paul affirms them but they'd also been tempted by a strange heresy it was partly Judaism partly Gnosticism and they were getting their eyes off Jesus and Paul warns them and yet we might ask are they going to be in that when Christ appears it says you will appear with him even those people who have not always pleased him are they in it would you say well if you're not pleasing the Lord when it comes you're going to miss out no says Paul your life is hidden with Christ that means you are in a safety box and you are not going to miss out because you are included you are part of the whole plan of God you are in Christ and you don't need to worry you will be there and it will be a time when you will appear with him in glory well here's the thing can you say you are seeking the things which are above or are you spending your time trying to please people and giving in to the lusts of the flesh well this is Paul's word this is how to be truly godly when you're living for the honor and glory of God and it's called putting on the new self you have died you say well I feel like I'm very much alive but it's what God has done the old man has died and you have been raised and therefore show this and it means showing gratitude you see the doctrine of sanctification is the doctrine of gratitude a lot of people I'm afraid have a pharisaical idea that sank to fake sanctification is what gets them to heaven but that's wrong sanctification is your way of saying thank you Lord for saving my soul and it's living a life of gratitude will says 1 John 5:18 and with this I clothes 1 John 5:18 John put it like this that we know everyone who has been born of God does not keep on sinning but he who was born of God protects him and the evil one does not touch him 1 John 5:18 you are in a safety box you are secure when Jesus comes you will be in on it and that day will come when every eye shall see him they also which pierced him all the kings of the earth shall wail because of him even so come Lord Jesus can I ask you a question do you know for sure that if you were to die today would you go to heaven do you if you were to stand before God you will and he were to ask you he could do why should I let you into my heaven what would you say if what comes to your mind now is anything other then sing up my trust is in the death of Jesus Christ on the cross if that doesn't come to your mind I wouldn't want to be in your shoes for anything in the world but would you be willing to pray this prayer you don't need to pray it out loud pray it in your heart God will see you Lord Jesus I need you I want you I know I have sinned against you thank you for dying on the cross for my sins I'm sorry for my sins wash my sins away by your blood I welcome your Holy Spirit into my heart as best as I know how I give you my life

Channel: Kensington Temple

Views: 2,794

Rating: 4.8545456 out of 5

Keywords: Kensington Temple, KT

Id: ig_0NuEWhzs

Length: 33min 38sec (2018 seconds)

Published: Mon Feb 24 2020