Beth Emunah Sermon, November 2019

Abram heard the word “GO”. Go out to a land and see this land that I will show you. God gives Abraham a new name and a new purpose. “To make you a great nation. In all creation they will be blessed because of you!” God’s desire for each of us a new purpose. Our name may not change, but our hearts should

Abraham had to go, I had to go. I heard the call of the ruach and I went. We are all here in this place, because at some point in our lives, God said to us, GO! And like Abram, we are to trust God’s direction for us! 1 Cor 5:14 says, if any are in Messiah, he I a new creation. Old things have passed away and behold, all things have become new. We have become new in Yeshua. A new spirit resides in us. Is it apparent to the person on your block, in your office, in your school, to the person sitting next to you this morning that you are a new creation. That you heard the word, GO?

Turn in your bibles to… Colossians 3 Let’s begin at verse 1…(READ)

Therefore, if you have been raised up with Messiah, keep seeking the things above—where Messiah is, sitting at the right hand of God. ² Focus your mind on things above, not on things on the earth. ³ For you have died, and your life is hidden with Messiah in God. ⁴ When Messiah, who is your life, is revealed, then you also will be revealed with Him, in glory!

THE INTIMATE CONNECTION BETWEEN MESSIAH AND HIS PEOPLE. "Dead with Messiah," "Risen with Messiah." Dead to the old and into new life with Him. It is His will that those whom the Father has given Him be with Him where He is. Messiah's position is - One of honor. "At the right hand of the Father." Messiah's position is also One of power. "The right hand" is also a symbol of authority. From heaven He shall come to judge the world. The same power which raised Messiah from the dead raises dead souls to life.

So, what is our state is this? To Seek. Godliness and Messiah likeness is not merely a "state," but a "life. God's power is manifested in it all, but the believer himself is to "seek." We are not left in ignorance of the object of our search. It clear in this passage…"Things above." What’s above? He is!!! The spiritual, heavenly, holy, pure, sovereign, immutable, creator. The character of those we seek…The life hidden in Him…God Adonai, God Messiah, and God Ruach ha Kodesh.

My question is, if we are out of His will and out of His word, how can we have fellowship with him? How can we have fellowship with one another if the Spirit in us is quenched? See the things that are above is the theme that we need to bury in our hearts. If anything comes from this message, keep seeking the things above, where Messiah is!

The whole life of a believer is spiritual. Spiritually, we are raised with Yeshua and our life is hidden with Him. We have resurrection life hidden with Yeshua, and after this earthly life is done, the extraordinary life begins with Him.  So what do we do? – We keep seeking! What are we to think? Set your mind on the things above! What should we expect? Our life revealed when He is revealed.

What can keep us from this life with Him! Earthly things! What are the earthly thing we need to avoid? Lets continue with verses 5-9 and see what that looks like…

⁵ Therefore, put to death what is earthly in you—sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desire, and greed—for that is idolatry. ⁶ Because of such things God’s wrath is coming upon the sons of disobedience. ⁷ At one time you also walked in these ways, when you used to live in these ways. ⁸ But now, set them all aside—anger, rage, malice, slander, and foul language out of your mouth. ⁹ Do not lie to one another. After all, you have taken off the old self with its practices

Fortunately, there’s another reality – a reality of truth and beauty, kindness and virtue, graciousness, generosity and love. You can find it right here in this congregation. Why? The new Self! Verse 10 and 11…

¹⁰ and have put on the new self that is being renewed in knowledge, according to the image of the One who created him. ¹¹ Here there is no longer Greek and Jew, circumcised and uncircumcised, barbarian, savage, slave and free; but Messiah is all, and in all.

In Philippians, chapter 4, verse 8 Paul writes,“… whatever things are true, whatever things are honorable, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report; if there is any virtue, and if there is any praise, think about these things.”

The apostle Paul is teaching his readers what the believers life looks like. Those who have been raised with Messiah need to put to death everything that takes our focus off of Him.

Lets continue in In Colossians 3:12-17

¹² Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves in tender compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience ¹³ bearing with one another and forgiving each other, if anyone has a grievance against another. Just as the Lord pardoned you, so also you must pardon others. ¹⁴ But above all these things put on love, which is the bond of perfect harmony. ¹⁵ Let the shalom of Messiah rule in your hearts—to this shalom you were surely called in one body. Also be thankful. ¹⁶ Let the word of Messiah dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another with all wisdom in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with gratitude in your hearts to God. ¹⁷ And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Yeshua, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.

Paul is continuing to show what a life raised with Messiah looks like. Starting in verse 5 Paul gave a list of things to put to death. Beginning in verse 12 Paul describes what spiritual clothing should look like.

Paul is using this letter to the Colossians as a reminder. To bring us to the therefore in Colossians 3:12. If you are a new creation, you are holy and you are beloved. Recognize who you are and recognize what God has done for you. We so easily forget who we are. We see ourselves through the lens of our occupation or our relationships, our self worth, or the opinions of others concerning our worth. Never forget who you are in our beloved Messiah, as verse 10 says, “so that you will continue to be renewed in knowledge after the image of the Creator”.

Messiah Character (3:12) Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves in tender compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience

Compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience are characteristics that are to be our clothing. It’s what we put on. God has shown us these characteristics in Him. In His nature and we have been given His nature!!! God has been compassionate toward us. God has been kind toward us. He showed us humility and meekness. He has shown us patience with us our sins. Only when we see what God has done for us through Messiah can our lives be transformed.

Forgiving One Another (3:13) bearing with one another and forgiving each other, if anyone has a grievance against another. Just as the Lord pardoned you, so also you must pardon others.

Forgiveness is something that is misunderstood and it is important for us to consider what Paul teaches here about forgiveness. We are commanded to forgive in the way God forgave us. Think about what God’s forgiveness looks like. God’s forgiveness is unconditional and is for the specific purpose of restoration and regeneration.

There’s a saying “forgive and forget.” Most of the time it doesn’t work! It is not like we have a magic memory erase button that we can forget all that has been done against us. What the scriptures tell us is that God will “remember our sins no more”. If God chooses not to remember our sin’s, we can choose that as well. This is what it should mean by “forgiving and forgetting.”

Put on Love (3:14) Above all these, we are to put on love, which is the bond of perfection. Love is the covering that generates these actions. We are seeking out the best interests of others. We are concerned about others ahead of ourselves. Love prevents splits and strife. Love seeks restoration and unity.

Peace Ruling (3:15) Let the shalom of Messiah rule in your hearts—to this shalom you were surely called in one body. Also be thankful.

Furthermore, the peace of Messiah is to rule our hearts. Paul again is reminding us about what God has done for us. Through Messiah we have peace with God. We were separated from God and were enemies of God. But through the blood of Yeshua we have peace. Messiah has purchased my life and my life is hidden with him. Therefore, my life purpose and my decisions should be based upon living under his rule and not my own.

The Word of Messiah Dwelling In Us Richly (3:16) Let the word of Messiah dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another with all wisdom in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with gratitude in your hearts to God.

What a beautiful picture! Let God’s word soak deeply in your heart. Let God’s word live richly and deeply in your heart. We should not be content with spiritual snacks but instead, desire the meat in God’s word. Let the word of Messiah dwell in us richly. Teaching and admonishing, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, and having thanksgiving in our hearts. The picture Paul give those who belong to Yeshua, is that we get together and learn, grow and exhort one another. We must take advantage of every opportunity to engage in these acts with our hearts so that the word of Messiah dwells richly in us.

Everything By Messiah’s Authority (3:17) And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Yeshua, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.

Everything we do and say should be done by the authority of Messiah. This is the mark of the life hidden in Him. Does everything we do represent Messiah in our lives? The believers life should be lived as God’s new creation, wearing the appropriate spiritual clothing so that people see Messiah in us.

Will we have forgiving hearts? Will we desire to reconcile and restore relationships? Love is the power by which we have unity in Messiah’s body. As we live under his authority and dwell richly in his word, let us actively put on these spiritual clothes and put off the earthly, so that we show we are God’s holy and beloved.

Lets pray