Growing Up in Christ
Colossians 2:6-10
So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live your lives in him, 7 rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness.
8 See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends on human tradition and the elemental spiritual forces[a] of this world rather than on Christ.
9 For in Christ all the fullness of the Deity lives in bodily form, 10 and in Christ you have been brought to fullness.
If we are going to remain faithful to Christ in the midst of pressure from our culture, then obviously we are not going to move away from the reasons and truths that brought us to Him in the first place. Who Jesus is and what Jesus wants to do in our lives is key here.
- Keep Your Foundational Attitudes (Rooted)
- Humility and repentance
Isaiah 55 again. My ways are above your ways and my thoughts are above your thoughts. Forsake your ways, forsake your thoughts.
Blessed are the poor in spirit. Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness.
Conviction about who Jesus is.
Conviction about what Christ came to do. When you think about names of God or Christ, they often relate to what He has done. And they come with a story. This is true of you as well. Who is Jesus to you? That will be an expression of what He has done for you quite often. Prince of Peace, Emmanuel, Savior, Good shepherd, Friend etc. The way, the truth and the life.
Conviction about how the world works. How simple is it? Read Job.
- Do not forget your discovery of Christ
The ability to find Christ and trust Him is a great gift. Most people still have not really heard about Jesus.
But God is at work. How did He work in your life?
Maybe you were raised in a Christian home. Is God at work in that? That is perhaps the greatest of all possible blessings! What would make us think that it is not?
Blindness is not helpful. We should be thankful that we see, and do not take it for granted.
- Trust Christ to manage your life
This will mean obey Him even when things are hard and let Him give you life.
- Strengthened in Your Faith (Built Up)
Faith is only necessary when waiting for something that we do not see. What strengthens faith? Exercise, yes, but what encourages the endurance?
Hebrews 11:1 Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see.
6 And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.
- Renew your thinking by Scripture
Col 3:1,2, 16
1 Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. 2 Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things.
15 Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. 16 Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts.
- Be connected to God in prayer
Eph 3: 16 I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, 17 so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, 18 may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, 19 and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.
- Be in regular fellowship with others
We are meant for each other. We are meant to serve, love, help, teach and correct each other. We begin with love, and when we are convinced that we love each other, we can speak into each other’s lives. Discipleship is a part of this. Helping people follow Jesus Christ!
Serve Christ and others
Yoked with Christ.
Early church cared for each other’s needs.
Parable of the sheep and goats, and the parable of the talents
Consider how Jesus served others.
III. Overflowing with Thankfulness
Thankfulness is the food of faith!
Ephesians 5:18-20
18 Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit, 19 speaking to one another with psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit. Sing and make music from your heart to the Lord, 20 always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Col 3:16-17 16 Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts. 17 And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.
I Thes 5:16-18
16 Rejoice always, 17 pray continually, 18 give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.
- Start with what God has done for you
God has relieved me of the obligation of deserving salvation.
Being thankful is a source of faith.
Being thankful is the opposite of forgetting.
Being thankful is a source of increased joy.
If we forget, then the impact of what God has done is diminished.
- Look at what He is doing right now
God is at work. Think of John 6. Jesus did just feed these people miraculously!
- Thank Him for what He has promised
God has promised us the gift of the Holy Spirit. God has promised us power to do His will. God has promised to bless us and give us life. God has promised us heaven. Be thankful.
If we are going to remain faithful to Christ in the midst of pressure from our culture, then obviously we are not going to move away from the reasons and truths that brought us to Him in the first place. Who Jesus is and what Jesus wants to do in our lives is key here.
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