[The following is the manuscript of my sermon delivered on the 7th of September, 2014.]
Continuing my little series leading up to our revival services, today we’ll be looking at the second “R” – renewal. There is probably no better example in our entire Bible of complete transformation and renewal than what the Apostle Paul experienced. He spoke of this transformation often, as his personal witness to the resurrection power of Jesus Christ. He spoke without shame for his beliefs and without fear for what might lie ahead.
In his letter to the church in Colosse, Paul tells us that after our spiritual renewal, we should live a life in Christ. Follow along as I read to you from the book of Colossians, chapter 3 verses 1 through 17, where the Apostle to the Gentiles describes for us what a life in Christ is and is not…
In his letter to the church in Colosse, Paul tells us that after our spiritual renewal, we should live a life in Christ. Follow along as I read to you from the book of Colossians, chapter 3 verses 1 through 17, where the Apostle to the Gentiles describes for us what a life in Christ is and is not…
1 Therefore if you have been raised up with Christ, keep seeking the things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. 2 Set your mind on the things above, not on the things that are on earth. 3 For you have died and your life is hidden with Christ in God. 4 When Christ, who is our life, is revealed, then you also will be revealed with Him in glory.
5 Therefore consider the members of your earthly body as dead to immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and greed, which amounts to idolatry. 6 For it is because of these things that the wrath of God will come upon the sons of disobedience, 7 and in them you also once walked, when you were living in them. 8 But now you also, put them all aside: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and abusive speech from your mouth. 9 Do not lie to one another, since you laid aside the old self with its evil practices, 10 and have put on the new self who is being renewed to a true knowledge according to the image of the One who created him— 11 a renewal in which there is no distinction between Greek and Jew, circumcised and uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave and freeman, but Christ is all, and in all.
12 So, as those who have been chosen of God, holy and beloved, put on a heart of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience; 13 bearing with one another, and forgiving each other, whoever has a complaint against anyone; just as the Lord forgave you, so also should you. 14 Beyond all these things put on love, which is the perfect bond of unity. 15 Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body; and be thankful. 16 Let the word of Christ richly dwell within you, with all wisdom teaching and admonishing one another with psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with thankfulness in your hearts to God. 17 Whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through Him to God the Father.
--Colossians 3:1-17 (NASB)
Let us pray... Father God, I pray that You hide me behind the cross of Your Son Jesus, so that Your children may see and hear only Him, our Lord and Savior. Let Your Holy Spirit dance in our hearts as we receive Your message this morning. And may we all experience the joy of renewal only You can give. In the name of Jesus our Christ we pray. Amen.
Bill McCartney, a former football player himself, retired as the head coach of the University of Colorado football team back in the 90’s. His reason for retirement was not because he was unsuccessful as a coach. His teams had won the national championship and had been in the top 10 many times.
McCartney said that he was retiring because he needed time for introspection, to look within himself. He said, “I’m leaving coaching, and I’m going to take a whole year to re-evaluate my priorities. Is God first? Is my family second? Is my work third?”
And when that year was over, Bill McCartney had dedicated his life and talents to Christ, and threw his efforts into founding the great men’s renewal gatherings that we know today as “Promise Keepers.”
That’s a pretty good picture of how God can take what most people would consider to be a very successful life, and make something even more from it, make it even more successful. And which do you think God would rather we succeed at: some worldly endeavor like football wins, or helping His people get closer to Him and Jesus?
Could it be that Coach McCartney had a similar transforming experience as Paul? One bio I read of the coach mentioned that his examination of his life priorities came about after he had participated in an extramarital affair. While he may not have been blinded as Paul had been, he most certainly had felt convicted by the Holy Spirit.
I wonder if during part of his self-examination, Coach came across verses 6 and 7 of today’s message text…
Bill McCartney, a former football player himself, retired as the head coach of the University of Colorado football team back in the 90’s. His reason for retirement was not because he was unsuccessful as a coach. His teams had won the national championship and had been in the top 10 many times.
McCartney said that he was retiring because he needed time for introspection, to look within himself. He said, “I’m leaving coaching, and I’m going to take a whole year to re-evaluate my priorities. Is God first? Is my family second? Is my work third?”
And when that year was over, Bill McCartney had dedicated his life and talents to Christ, and threw his efforts into founding the great men’s renewal gatherings that we know today as “Promise Keepers.”
That’s a pretty good picture of how God can take what most people would consider to be a very successful life, and make something even more from it, make it even more successful. And which do you think God would rather we succeed at: some worldly endeavor like football wins, or helping His people get closer to Him and Jesus?
Could it be that Coach McCartney had a similar transforming experience as Paul? One bio I read of the coach mentioned that his examination of his life priorities came about after he had participated in an extramarital affair. While he may not have been blinded as Paul had been, he most certainly had felt convicted by the Holy Spirit.
I wonder if during part of his self-examination, Coach came across verses 6 and 7 of today’s message text…
6 For it is because of these things that the wrath of God will come upon the sons of disobedience, 7 and in them you also once walked, when you were living in them.--Colossians 3:6-7 (NASB)
Or perhaps Paul’s instruction to the church in Rome caught his eye, in his letter to the Romans chapter 12 verses 1 and 2 where Paul said…
12 Therefore I urge you, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship. 2 And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect.
--Romans 12:1-2 (NASB)
Make a mental note of that, or write it down if you want to. Paul says the will of God is whatever is good and acceptable and perfect. God’s will is indeed perfect. Coach McCartney’s renewal of spirit led him in a direction that was certainly acceptable, and what he did was good, without question.
What about us? Do we need to re-prioritize what is important in our lives? Paul did, and so did Coach McCartney. Oddly enough, though, I think sometimes it easier for us to relate to Paul than to someone like the coach. And maybe because it’s a matter of how it hits us personally. The coach is a contemporary, a man of our times who was quite successful in the world’s terms and gave it up to become even more successful in God’s eyes. How could we ever compare?
But the thing is, if we put God first and seek to do His will, everything else will fall in place because His will is perfect.
Paul tells us in the first few verses of our text this morning that since we have been raised up with Christ, we should keep seeking the things above, in heaven where Christ is. Once we’ve accepted Jesus as our Master and acknowledged Him as our Savior, and once the Holy Spirit has moved into our hearts, we become new creations and are effectively resurrected, raised up, in Him. So it behooves us to keep our focus on Him, as we’ve talked about before.
But it’s tough to live here in this world and keep our eyes and our minds and our hearts fixed firmly on Jesus, with all the traps and snares and distractions all around. God knows this; He understands. That’s why Paul describes the earthly body, the carnal body, and what will happen to those who disobey God.
In verses 5 and 6, Paul warns us of indulging in immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and greed. And notice he equates greed to idolatry. If we want something so much that we put it ahead of God, isn’t that the same as worshiping it more than God?
But Paul doesn’t stop there. In verse 8 he tells us to put all that aside along with anger, wrath, malice, slander and abusive speech. That last really hits close to home for me. I always had a razor-sharp tongue and was never afraid to wield it, nor ever concerned with whom it might cut.
Yet right before that, in verse 7, Paul shows that he is quite aware of our human nature, knowing full well that others are just like him, that we have all walked this path before and some still walk it.
But again Paul emphasizes that by this point we should have put aside the old self and our sinful ways and taken on the new self, the whole new person. And right there in verses 10 and 11 he uses the words renewed and renewal. The new person that is us is renewed according to the very image of Jesus Christ our Lord! That renewal knows no boundaries of race or previous creed or origin of birth or station in life. We are renewed because Christ is in us.
How did Jesus effect this? What was our role?
Paul provides a little more clarity in his letter to his fellow traveler and missionary Titus, chapter 3 verse 5…
Did we stay that way? Did the renewal stick or do we need to flip the switch on the ol’ regenerator again?
If we have any doubts, we need only look at the closing verses of today’s scripture, starting in verse 12. Paul gives us a list of attributes that we need to put on if they’re not already evident in our lives. We need a heart of compassion, of kindness, of humility, of gentleness and of patience. We must forgive each other just as the Lord forgives us. The peace of Christ must rule in our hearts and show in our every decision and action. The word of Jesus and all His instructions must be dear and crucial to us, teaching us wisdom. Thankfulness should flow from our very core. And above all else, we must wear love like a second skin - love for God, love for one another.
When we look in our mind’s mirror do we see these beautiful clothes? Do others see them in us? If someone knew us “before”, can they tell a difference in the “after” photo? If not, then we need to seek renewal once again.
Last week when we looked at repentance, I read to you from a passage of a sermon Peter gave at the “Portico of Solomon” in Jerusalem, from Acts chapter 3 verse 19. Today I’d like to repeat that and add a verse, verse 20…
One blessed day we will stand in the physical presence of our Lord and Savior. But until then, we can seek His presence in prayer. We can earnestly plead for His help in donning the new self and wearing it well. He will hear us and answer our prayer if we truly repent and seek His favor, His blessing, His face. He will help us become “the new you”.
And here comes the amazing part…
Once we are wearing those new clothes, once the new self is firmly in place, once the new you has taken over, then others can be in the presence of Jesus simply by being with us! Because once all that happens, Jesus will be in us, and us in Him. The Holy Spirit fills us to overflowing so that He can spill out from us onto others we go near. And I promise… the “new you” will look good on you.
As Paul says in verse 17: whatever you do in your daily walk, in word or in deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, giving thanks through Him to God our Father.
Amen.
Let us pray… Father in heaven above, You brought Jesus out of the grave and raised Him to be with You, to sit at Your right hand. And because He saved us out of His love and Your mercy and grace, we need to keep our eyes on Him. Help us, Father, to seek only those things above and not to look for worldly satisfaction. Help us focus on Jesus and the new self He has given us, and not on carnal wants and pleasures. May we be greedy only in our desire to know You more, to get ever closer to You.
Renew us Lord Jesus, if we are not everything You want us to be. Refresh us with Your holy presence in our lives so that others might see You in us. Regenerate our hearts with Your Holy Spirit that He might pour out from us onto others. Embolden us and encourage us that we might use the gifts You have so generously bestowed upon us to help show others the way to You and to salvation.
…Hear us now, Savior Jesus, as we open our hearts to You in silent prayer…
Father God, You have renewed us with Your Holy Spirit. You have washed us anew by the blood of Your Son Jesus. We are refreshed just being here in Your presence. Thank You so much, Father, for Your grace in giving us what we could never earn, and Your mercy in not giving us what we rightly deserve. Thank You for making us new. In that name above all names, the beautiful name of Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior we pray. Amen.
What about us? Do we need to re-prioritize what is important in our lives? Paul did, and so did Coach McCartney. Oddly enough, though, I think sometimes it easier for us to relate to Paul than to someone like the coach. And maybe because it’s a matter of how it hits us personally. The coach is a contemporary, a man of our times who was quite successful in the world’s terms and gave it up to become even more successful in God’s eyes. How could we ever compare?
But the thing is, if we put God first and seek to do His will, everything else will fall in place because His will is perfect.
Paul tells us in the first few verses of our text this morning that since we have been raised up with Christ, we should keep seeking the things above, in heaven where Christ is. Once we’ve accepted Jesus as our Master and acknowledged Him as our Savior, and once the Holy Spirit has moved into our hearts, we become new creations and are effectively resurrected, raised up, in Him. So it behooves us to keep our focus on Him, as we’ve talked about before.
But it’s tough to live here in this world and keep our eyes and our minds and our hearts fixed firmly on Jesus, with all the traps and snares and distractions all around. God knows this; He understands. That’s why Paul describes the earthly body, the carnal body, and what will happen to those who disobey God.
In verses 5 and 6, Paul warns us of indulging in immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and greed. And notice he equates greed to idolatry. If we want something so much that we put it ahead of God, isn’t that the same as worshiping it more than God?
But Paul doesn’t stop there. In verse 8 he tells us to put all that aside along with anger, wrath, malice, slander and abusive speech. That last really hits close to home for me. I always had a razor-sharp tongue and was never afraid to wield it, nor ever concerned with whom it might cut.
Yet right before that, in verse 7, Paul shows that he is quite aware of our human nature, knowing full well that others are just like him, that we have all walked this path before and some still walk it.
But again Paul emphasizes that by this point we should have put aside the old self and our sinful ways and taken on the new self, the whole new person. And right there in verses 10 and 11 he uses the words renewed and renewal. The new person that is us is renewed according to the very image of Jesus Christ our Lord! That renewal knows no boundaries of race or previous creed or origin of birth or station in life. We are renewed because Christ is in us.
How did Jesus effect this? What was our role?
Paul provides a little more clarity in his letter to his fellow traveler and missionary Titus, chapter 3 verse 5…
5 He saved us, not on the basis of deeds which we have done in righteousness, but according to His mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewing by the Holy Spirit, 6 whom He poured out upon us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior.
Jesus saved us - not by anything we did, even those deeds done in all righteousness. He saved us through His own mercy alone, washed us in His own blood. When we accepted Him, when we were symbolically washed by the waters of our baptism, He filled us with the Holy Spirit and we were regenerated and renewed.--Titus 3:5 (NASB)
Did we stay that way? Did the renewal stick or do we need to flip the switch on the ol’ regenerator again?
If we have any doubts, we need only look at the closing verses of today’s scripture, starting in verse 12. Paul gives us a list of attributes that we need to put on if they’re not already evident in our lives. We need a heart of compassion, of kindness, of humility, of gentleness and of patience. We must forgive each other just as the Lord forgives us. The peace of Christ must rule in our hearts and show in our every decision and action. The word of Jesus and all His instructions must be dear and crucial to us, teaching us wisdom. Thankfulness should flow from our very core. And above all else, we must wear love like a second skin - love for God, love for one another.
When we look in our mind’s mirror do we see these beautiful clothes? Do others see them in us? If someone knew us “before”, can they tell a difference in the “after” photo? If not, then we need to seek renewal once again.
Last week when we looked at repentance, I read to you from a passage of a sermon Peter gave at the “Portico of Solomon” in Jerusalem, from Acts chapter 3 verse 19. Today I’d like to repeat that and add a verse, verse 20…
19 Therefore repent and return, so that your sins may be wiped away, in order that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord; 20 and that He may send Jesus, the Christ appointed for you.
--Acts 3:19-20 (NASB)
One blessed day we will stand in the physical presence of our Lord and Savior. But until then, we can seek His presence in prayer. We can earnestly plead for His help in donning the new self and wearing it well. He will hear us and answer our prayer if we truly repent and seek His favor, His blessing, His face. He will help us become “the new you”.
And here comes the amazing part…
Once we are wearing those new clothes, once the new self is firmly in place, once the new you has taken over, then others can be in the presence of Jesus simply by being with us! Because once all that happens, Jesus will be in us, and us in Him. The Holy Spirit fills us to overflowing so that He can spill out from us onto others we go near. And I promise… the “new you” will look good on you.
As Paul says in verse 17: whatever you do in your daily walk, in word or in deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, giving thanks through Him to God our Father.
Amen.
Let us pray… Father in heaven above, You brought Jesus out of the grave and raised Him to be with You, to sit at Your right hand. And because He saved us out of His love and Your mercy and grace, we need to keep our eyes on Him. Help us, Father, to seek only those things above and not to look for worldly satisfaction. Help us focus on Jesus and the new self He has given us, and not on carnal wants and pleasures. May we be greedy only in our desire to know You more, to get ever closer to You.
Renew us Lord Jesus, if we are not everything You want us to be. Refresh us with Your holy presence in our lives so that others might see You in us. Regenerate our hearts with Your Holy Spirit that He might pour out from us onto others. Embolden us and encourage us that we might use the gifts You have so generously bestowed upon us to help show others the way to You and to salvation.
…Hear us now, Savior Jesus, as we open our hearts to You in silent prayer…
Father God, You have renewed us with Your Holy Spirit. You have washed us anew by the blood of Your Son Jesus. We are refreshed just being here in Your presence. Thank You so much, Father, for Your grace in giving us what we could never earn, and Your mercy in not giving us what we rightly deserve. Thank You for making us new. In that name above all names, the beautiful name of Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior we pray. Amen.
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