Three Things that will happen when Christ is First in our Lives! Reading: Colossians 3:1-5.

Putting Jesus First! Colossians 3:1-5 – “If then you were raised with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God. Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth. For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ who is our life appears, then you also will appear with Him in glory. Therefore put to death (slay) your members which are on the earth: fornication, uncleanness, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry.”

Colossians 3:11 – “…there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcised nor uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave nor free, but Christ is all and in all. Putting Jesus First!

Three Things that will happen when Christ is First in our Lives : 1. Jesus Captivates Our Ambitions (Seek) 2. Jesus Dominates Our Attention (Set) 3. Jesus Regulates Our Actions (Slay) Putting Jesus First!

1. Jesus Captivates Our Ambitions (Seek) Vs 1 – “If you then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above” What you seek is what your ambition is! Putting Jesus First!

Matthew 6:33 – “But Seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.” The devil doesn’t care what on earth you seek, as long as you do not seek those things which are above. Putting Jesus First!

What are the things below (earthly) that we might be prone to Seek? The Reasonings of the World – Colossians 2:8 “Beware lest anyone cheat you through philosophy and empty deceit, according to the tradition of men, according to the basic principles of the world, and not according to Christ.” The Rituals of the World – 2:14 “having wiped out the handwriting of requirements that was against us, which was contrary to us. And He has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross.” Putting Jesus First!

2. Jesus Dominates My Attention (Set) 3:2 – “Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth.” Proverbs 23:7 – “As a man thinks, so is he” The way to seek Him is to set your affections, and the word affection literally means, “attention” When you came to church this morning did you unlock all your doors, and throw all the windows open before you came to see what might come in? That is what people do when they open up their minds in transcendental meditation. Putting Jesus First!

The Bible says “Keep your mind with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life (Proverbs 4:23). So Set your mind: “You will keep him in perfect peace, who mind is stayed on you: because he trusts in You.” (Isaiah 26:3). Putting Jesus First!

3. Jesus Regulates My Actions (Slay) 3:5 – “Therefore put to death your members which are on the earth: fornication, uncleanness; passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry…” Is it ok for a Christian to ‘hate’? Yes, if we hate the right things! Putting Jesus First!

Did you know that God is a God who hates? Proverbs 6:16-19 – “These six things the Lord hates, yes, seven are an abomination to Him: a proud look, a lying tongue, hands that shed innocent blood, a heart that devises wicked imaginations, feet that are swift in running to mischief, a false witness that speaks lies and he that sows discord among brothers.” Putting Jesus First!

Let us hate (put to death) anything that sidetracks us from loving Jesus and putting him first in our lives. May Jesus: 1. ‘Captivate My Ambitions’ (Seek) 2. ‘Dominate My Attention (Set) 3. ‘Regulate My Actions (Slay) Putting Jesus First!