Author: dougfarmersr

1Thessalonians 1:9 (KJV)
“For they themselves shew of us what manner of entering in we had unto you, and how ye turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God;”

The Greek word here that is translated as “turned” is (epee-stref-o) which actually means “CONVERTED”, to turn about, to be going in one direction and abruptly turn around, 180 degrees and begin to go in another direction. There is always a proof of your “REPENTANCE” you will stop the way that you were living and begin to “live another way” it was so evident in the formation of the CHURCH that the “BORN AGAIN” believers were being called “the people of the WAY”, and Paul was a believer who had experienced it in a very dramatic way. So, do we remember the story of Paul’s own turning: Paul was an up and rising “STAR” of the Pharisee’s, Paul was first seen in the Bible as Stephen was stoned to death, and the YOUNG SAUL was present and the witnesses had laid their cloaks or coats at the feet of this young man called Saul, he was of the age of about 27 or 30 and had become a devout follower of Judaism, and was a Pharisee, and those that were witnessing the stoning or also of those that were to be taking part in the stoning. In the book of ACTS there are good accounts of the life of Paul. Paul was a very educated man, he had been born in Tarsus about 4 or 5 AD and he was a Roman, trained and taught by Gamaliel who was, well let me read it out of the scriptures as the actual words spoke by the APOSTLE Paul, in the book of Acts, as he defended himself to the Chief Captain that had just rescued him from a beating at the hands of Jews that were reacting to his preaching.

Acts 22:3 (KJV) “I am verily a man which am a Jew, born in Tarsus, a city in Cilicia, yet brought up in this city at the feet of Gamaliel, and taught according to the perfect manner of the law of the fathers, and was zealous toward God, as ye all are this day.”

We are told some of what this man Gamaliel was like, Please read in Acts 5:34-42 (KJV) Then stood there up one in the council, a Pharisee, named Gamaliel, a doctor of the law, had in reputation among all the people, and commanded to put the apostles forth a little space; And said unto them, Ye men of Israel, take heed to yourselves what ye intend to do as touching these men. For before these days rose up Theudas, boasting himself to be somebody; to whom a number of men, about four hundred, joined themselves: who was slain; and all, as many as obeyed him, were scattered, and brought to nought. After this man rose up Judas of Galilee in the days of the taxing, and drew away much people after him: he also perished; and all, even as many as obeyed him, were dispersed. And now I say unto you, Refrain from these men, and let them alone: for if this counsel or this work be of men, it will come to nought: But if it be of God, ye cannot overthrow it; lest haply ye be found even to fight against God. And to him they agreed: and when they had called the apostles, and beaten them, they commanded that they should not speak in the name of Jesus, and let them go. And they departed from the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for his name. And daily in the temple, and in every house, they ceased not to teach and preach Jesus Christ.

What ever else this man was, he was bold, he had nerve to stand in defense of Peter and his group, and you can also see his bravery and his zeal that is also reflected in his student (Saul or Paul), he was not afraid to stand up for what was right and seemed to be in touch with “ALMIGHTY GOD HIMSELF” you have got to love and respect a man like this.

Now the rest of the story that is in the book of Acts, after his declaration of who he was, and of the works and accounts of what had happened,

Paul says; in
Acts 22:4-15 (KJV)
And I persecuted this way unto the death, binding and delivering into prisons both men and women. As also the high priest doth bear me witness, and all the estate of the elders: from whom also I received letters unto the brethren, and went to Damascus, to bring them which were there bound unto Jerusalem, for to be punished. And it came to pass, that, as I made my journey, and was come nigh unto Damascus about noon, suddenly there shone from heaven a great light round about me. And I fell unto the ground, and heard a voice saying unto me, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me? And I answered, Who art thou, Lord? And he said unto me, I am Jesus of Nazareth, whom thou persecutest. And they that were with me saw indeed the light, and were afraid; but they heard not the voice of him that spake to me. And I said, What shall I do, Lord? And the Lord said unto me, Arise, and go into Damascus; and there it shall be told thee of all things which are appointed for thee to do. And when I could not see for the glory of that light, being led by the hand of them that were with me, I came into Damascus. And one Ananias, a devout man according to the law, having a good report of all the Jews which dwelt there, Came unto me, and stood, and said unto me, Brother Saul, receive thy sight. And the same hour I looked up upon him. And he said, The God of our fathers hath chosen thee, that thou shouldest know his will, and see that Just One, and shouldest hear the voice of his mouth. For thou shalt be his witness unto all men of what thou hast seen and heard.

We also need, times to look back at our conversion, and see how that GOD changed us and how that HE is always ready to empower us, to embolden us to be HIS WITNESS. We should always, our selves, be ready to respond as HE wants us to and HE will never let us down. HE will speak through any of us that will allow HIM to. This is what it means to:

“TO PRESENT YOUR BODIES A LIVING SACRIFICE UNTO GOD”. Always be available to GOD to be used of HIM.

Jude 1:1-4 (KJV)  “Jude, the servant of Jesus Christ, and brother of James, to them that are sanctified by God the Father, and preserved in Jesus Christ, and called: Mercy unto you, and peace, and love, be multiplied. Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation, it was needful for me to write unto you, and exhort you that ye should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints. For there are certain men crept in unawares, who were before of old ordained to this condemnation, ungodly men, turning the grace of our God into lasciviousness, and denying the only Lord God, and our Lord Jesus Christ.”

I would like to share with you today what I believe Jude was talking about here in this book that he has written. I think at this time it would be beneficial to remind ourselves as to who Jude was. He only identifies himself as the servant of Jesus Christ and the brother of James. I like to let the WORD of GOD be the authority of all things and then look and study other writings, what some call profane writings, and let them be the side notes of a statement of proof. In Matthew 13:55 (KJV) the Holy Spirit tells us this fact as his own countrymen discuss who Jesus was: “Is not this the carpenter’s son? is not his mother called Mary? and his brethren, James, and Joses, and Simon, and Judas?” So we see that Jude was the brother of James and the half brother of JESUS. So you might ask the question, why didn’t Jude just say I am the half-brother of JESUS. Well, I believe it could have been out of REVERENCE for JESUS the CHRIST and also that Jude did not want anyone to think that he was claiming any part of being DIETY. There could have also been an element of shame there on Judes’ part, because at the first he and his brothers did not believe that their oldest brother was the MESSIAH. While JESUS “WALKED” in Galilee, which simply means that HE had begin to take HIS ministry into HIS homeland, so in John 7:3-5 (KJV) it is recorded in the Bible: “His brethren therefore said unto him, Depart hence, and go into Judaea, that thy disciples also may see the works that thou doest. For there is no man that doeth any thing in secret, and he himself seeketh to be known openly. If thou do these things, shew thyself to the world. For neither did his brethren believe in him”

In the book of Mark and the 3rd chapter in verse 21 it is recorded also in the (KJV) “…And when his friends heard of it, they went out to lay hold on him: for they said, He is beside himself.” Now before we judge his friends and family too harshly, let’s remember they were not privy to the facts that Joseph and Mary knew.

Jude wrote to those who had been “SANCTIFIED” by the FATHER and “PRESERVED” in JESUS CHRIST and “CALLED”. Each one of us that have been “BORN AGAIN” by our BELIEF(FAITH) in the sacrifice on the cross by JESUS have been “SANCTIFIED” or made HOLY or “CLEANSED”. Each one of us have been “PRESERVED” or “SEALED”. And each one of us have been “CALLED” or “APPOINTED” as a special SAINT to carry the GOSPEL to the WORLD! That’s why Jude also said that “…ye should earnestly contend for the faith…” He said that we should do as Paul said “…fight the good fight…” “…run the race…” “…finish the course…”, why you may asked? Because Jude said in the 4th verse: “For there are certain men crept in unawares,…”. These that are teaching false doctrine are out to destroy the GOSPEL or dilute it so much that it will come to nothing, they have only a “…a form of GODLINESS but deny the POWER of it…”.

Listen my brothers and sisters in CHRIST there is POWER in the “BLOOD”, there is POWER in HOLY SPIRIT, there is POWER in the WORD of GOD, and there is the available POWER in every “BORN AGAIN” believer. Release that POWER that is in you and let it do the WORK that GOD has made it AVAILABLE for. Do not quench the SPIRIT of GOD but allow HIM to speak and live through you. Paul said in Romans 12:1 (KJV) “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of GOD, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.” If you have been “BORN AGAIN” place yourself in HIS service, begin or return to “…earnestly contending for the FAITH” by being available to be used by HIM, because time is running short, TIME IS AT HAND, be about your FATHER’S BUSINESS!

Colossians 4:1 (KJV) “Masters, give unto your servants THAT WHICH IS JUST AND EQUAL; knowing that ye also have a Master in heaven.” Now let’s look at a few words in this verse.

Master: It is where we get our title MR. from. A title of respect, it is one who is given authority over others. 

Give: Which means to reach out to, to grant, to give, to offer to, also it means to take in your hand and provide something to those who are under your authority. If God has allowed us to be in a position of authority, we ought to serve in that position with great “COMPASSION AND LOVE”. We should pray and seek God’s strength, and direction in how we serve in that capacity.I want us to look at 3 things we should give to those under us. 

#1: That which is “JUST AND EQUAL”: Paul uses the Greek word translated “JUST” to mean “RIGHT” or “MEET”, and the Greek word translated “EQUAL” to mean in the same proportion or likeness to all the same for the work that they do. It does not mean that each servant gets the same amount, but in proportion to the amount of work they do or the type of work that they do. We have a saying to day that if you don’t work you don’t eat which actually comes from one of Paul’s epistles. 2 Thessalonians 3:10 (KJV) “For even when we were with you, this we commanded you, that if any would not work, neither should he eat.”  Paul is saying that those that are able bodied should help and not just lay around and let others take care of them. The statement JUST and EQUAL actually supports the custom of sharing what we have with those that are unable to work like others who are healthy enough to labor. Please don’t forget that Paul also wrote in:

Romans 15:1 also in the (KJV) “We then that are strong ought to bear the infirmities of the weak, and not to please ourselves.” The answer to Cain’s question “….am I my brother’s keeper..” is YES!!!  A resounding YES!!!  So, “That which is just and equal”

Now in  Acts 17:31 (KJV) “Because he hath appointed a day, in the which he will judge the world in righteousness by that man whom he hath ordained; whereof he hath GIVEN ASSURANCE unto all men, in that he hath raised him from the dead.” So:

#2. That which is “ASSUREDLY the TRUTH”: All that masters do and see to, what is done, should always be the TRUTH. Jesus as HE journeyed here on earth, was always about the truth, and in fact if you remember, when HE was answering Thomas’ question of “….how can we know the way?” Jesus said in John 14:6  (KJV) “Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.” Most of us have sought GOD at one time in our life, but sadly, some have overlooked HIM when they had the opportunity, by not seeking HIM for the right reason. They wanted to find GOD on their own terms, wanted GOD to be what they wanted GOD to be. In the last statement in the verse we just read JESUS said: “…no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.” People, when they come to JESUS must come, repentful of their sins, know that HE is GOD in the flesh and that HE CAN and that HE WILL forgive them of those sins! Jesus said to other doubters, just before he spoke this statement in John 8:24 (KJV) “I said therefore unto you, that ye shall die in your sins: for if ye believe not that I am he, ye shall die in your sins.” So! We who are masters must always remember we represent the “TRUTH” we must always remember, also, that we may be the last representation of “CHRIST” that some may see, because the next time they lift up their eyes, “IT MAY BE IN HELL”. Always show people that JESUS has changed you and you are now a different person, that you have been “BEEN BORN ANEW” or “BORN AGAIN”. So always remember we must always give those under us the TRUTH! Then in:

1 Timothy 6:17 (KJV) The Apostle Paul says: “Charge them that are rich in this world, that they be not highminded, nor trust in uncertain riches, but in the living God, who  GIVETH US richly all things to enjoy;” so another thing MASTERS’ must give is:

#3. That which they or we can “ABUNDANTLY ENJOY”: Listen, please, whatever you have, you did not get by your own strength, your own power, but GOD gave it to you. The things we enjoy today that are in our lives, “GOD GAVE US”, richly, and HE wants us to enjoy it while we are on our journey here. JESUS said: John 10:10 (KJV) “The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.”  And I will reiterate that GOD wants you to enjoy your life down here as you continue on your JOURNEY. I always like to emphasize that we are on a JOURNEY, because this is NOT our home, we are just PASSING through to our heavenly home with JESUS, that is if we have been “BORN AGAIN”!  I must say here that I AM NOT one of these preachers that declare that GOD will give you a million dollars, or all that you would ever want or that everything will always go smoothly and you won’t have any problems while on that JOURNEY. BUT I will DECLARE unto you that GOD will GIVE you all that you need and that “HE WILL NEVER LEAVE YOU NOR FORSAKE YOU” the biggest problem we have, as GODS’ people, is calling out to HIM in our times of NEED, but instead we try to rely on our own strength. It does us all a lot of GOOD to always refresh our memory with the story of NICODEMUS, who really needed some strength and directions from GOD. If you will remember the story of NICODEMUS in the 3rd chapter of the GOSPEL OF JOHN. He was a Pharisee, which meant he was highly educated and highly respected, but also highly close minded. So JESUS kept him on track about a simple fact about the KINGDOM of GOD, and how to get there, by telling him, 3 times in fact, that you must be “BORN AGAIN”. But of course NICODEMUS thought he was already there, because he was a Pharisee and had all of the attributes he needed through his fleshly strengths. NICODEMUS  thought it was by all of his attributes that he would see GOD. HE had failed to see the fact that it takes FAITH to please GOD. I am going to close with some last instructive suggestions, if, first, you have performed the necessary action of being “BORN AGAIN”. Continue to do these 4 things.

#1: LOVE GOD SUPREMELY! “…THOU SHALT HAVE NO OTHER GODS BEFORE ME…”

#2: LOVE YOUR FAMILY! BOTH YOUR HOME  FAMILY AND YOUR CHURCH FAMILY! LOVE is what is needed in our families today!

#3: LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR! We have got to love our neighbor, he must see JESUS in us!

#4: LOVE YOURSELF!

Colossians 3:20-22  (KJV) “Children, obey your parents in all things: for this is well pleasing unto the Lord. Fathers, provoke not your children to anger, lest they be discouraged. Servants, obey in all things your masters according to the flesh; not with eyeservice, as menpleasers; but in singleness of heart, fearing God:”

Now then the APOSTLE PAUL talks to the CHILDREN, and it might be fitting that I remind all of us that we were at sometime in our life considered “CHILDREN” did we always “OBEY” our parents? Did we always make them feel well LOVED? But now, we can learn from our past mistakes as we are raising our children. CHILDREN, it is a BIG SCAREY WORLD out there but you must be able to get around in it, and live successfully in it. No one can walk your JOURNEY for you, nor live your life for you, but you can have the LORD, walking along beside you to help you FIND your way. HE is your GUIDE, your PROTECTOR, your PROVIDER, HE is your STRENGTH, and HE will be your CLOSEST FRIEND, if you will allow HIM to be. Choose carefully when things, people and opportunities, come into your lives. To obey your parents is paramount or the “most important” rule in your life. The word “PARENT and PARENTS” here mean your Mother and Father, but also means your “GRANDPARENTS and GREAT-GRANDPARENTS” or your ANCESTERS. Let the WORD of GOD RULE in your hearts also, KING DAVID of the BIBLE is a GOOD example to look at, in his ways, but always remembering that HE was HUMAN just like you. He made mistakes, and you will make mistakes. But use the mistakes that you make as a tool, as an example of some things that you shouldn’t have done, use them as lessons to teach you and also learn from others’ mistakes so that you don’t have to repeat them. Always remember, NEVER LIE! Always tell the truth, it is not easy sometimes to tell the TRUTH, and it actually hurts to reveal what you did wrong. But, the TRUTH is easily fixable, but it is very hard to fix a lie, almost impossible, untill you get forgiveness for it and then tell the truth, then GOD can help you make it right. Your PARENTS are there to FORGIVE and COMFORT you. To OBEY your PARENTS you must first “PAY ATTENTION” to what they are saying and LISTEN very closely, and look them right in the eyes. Because how can you OBEY, if you have not even HEARD what they are telling you. Your parents have been right where you are at, and they, most likely, have done what you have done, and are trying to correct you because they love you enough to stop you from doing the WRONG THING. Do you want to be “WELL PLEASING TO THE LORD”, and I am sure you do, SO, OBEY YOUR PARENTS!! When the Apostle Paul wrote to those Christians at Ephesus about the FAMILY structure and responsibilities in Ephesians 6:1-3 (KJV) “Children, obey your parents in the Lord: for this is right. Honour thy father and mother;(which is the first commandment with promise;) That it may be well with thee, and thou mayest live long on the earth.” I want to remind you of this scripture that is of JESUS when he was a young’en, please listen attentively as I read from the book of Luke, in Luke 2:46-52 (KJV) “And it came to pass,” and I want to interject right here that when you hear this phrase, that the BIBLE is fixing to tell you a very important story about an EVENT that happened in the PAST that you really need to pay close attention to. Now, “the rest of the story about this JESUS”, “that after three days they found nim in the temple, sitting in the midst of the doctors, both hearing them, and asking them questions. And all that heard him were astonished at his understanding and answers. And when they saw him, they were amazed: and his mother said unto him, Son, why hast thou thus dealt with us? behold, thy father and I have sought thee sorrowing. And he said unto them, How is it that ye sought me? wist ye not that I must be about my Father’s business? And they understood not the saying which he spake unto them. And he went down with them , and came to Nazareth, and was subject unto them: but his mother kept all these sayings in her heart.” Now, please listen “YOUNG’ENS” I don’t have to explain to you or to tell you what the meaning of the word “OBEY” is, but I’m going to tell you anyway. In the Greek, the word obey is a compound word, and actually means to “HEAR UNDER” as a subordinate, that is to “LISTEN ATTENTIVELY” to. The word demands a response from you, to “HEED” or “CONFORM” to a command, that someone , that has “AUTHORITY” over you, has said. Your parents LOVE you, and you probably won’t realize how much until you get a little older and have some children of your own. This “OLD PASTOR” loves you, and stands up here and preaches and teaches you all, because I LOVE you, but most of all it is because of what you hear me say up here EVERY SUNDAY MORNING, and that is that “GOD LOVES YOU WITH AN EVERLASTING LOVE”. I know that sometimes you think, and I know you think this, because Satan wants you to think it, that you’ve done something wrong and that because of that wrong that GOD doesn’t LOVE you anymore. But listen to your old pastor now! That won’t ever happen, because you can’t do anything or enough of bad things, that will cause GOD to stop LOVING you. Go to GOD when you do something wrong and GOD will FORGIVE YOU, and strengthen you and, if you willl let HIM, HE WILL LOVE YOU ALWAYS.

The next charge in this passage of scripture, is to the FATHERS, I believe I can just hear you young’ens saying, WHEW! Finally, I believe he is going to leave us alone and get on to our daddies. Well I am not going to do exactly that. But what I am going to do is tell us what the Bible says about raising our children. In Colossians 3:21 (KJV) the Bible says: “Fathers, provoke not your children to anger, lest they be discouraged.” and again in Ephesians 6:4 (KJV) Paul says this “And, ye fathers, provoke not your children to wrath: but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord.” In the Old Testament in the book of Proverbs, in Proverbs 22:6 the Bible says in the (KJV) “Train up a child in the way he should go: and  when he is old, he will not depart from it.”  Listen FATHERS, it is our duty to TRAIN our children, not to be their FRIEND. It doesn’t hurt or is not wrong to be a friend to your child, because, of course GOD and we all, want HARMONY in our FAMILY, but there also has to be layer of RESPECT from the CHILD to the FATHER, and from the FATHER to the CHILD. They have to know and to understand that you are not only their FRIEND, but also their DISIPLINARIAN, and that you WILL correct him or her if they do wrong, or break the rules that you or your wife have SET for them to follow.

You or WE as a FATHER, should not, and must not provoke our children to anger! Now, that does not mean that your children are not ever going to get mad at you. For they surely will, but they will respect you if your disicipline is fair. But if you treat them unfairly, or have one that you don’t treat the same, you either are more lenient or more harsh than you are to any of the others. They will not only become ANGRY but will also become so discouraged, they will give up on trying to please you or your wife, and will become unmangeable. Let’s look at a couple of words that we have used here. First off let’s look at the word PROVOKE: There are several different Greek words that are translated “PROVOKE”. The Greek word that the Apostle Paul used here was (er-eth-id’-zo), the word was only used twice in the whole New Testament and the other place, it was use, was when Paul wrote to other Christians in Corinth. Where he said in 2 Corinthians 9:2 (KJV) “For I know the forwardness of your mind, for which I boast of you to them of Macedonia, that Achaia was ready a year ago; and your zeal hath provoked very many.”

Paul was just trying to get those a Colossae, to TAKE their Christian belief into their home lives, and their new found teaching’s into their families. To train up their children in the nurture and the admonition of the LORD but not to the point of continuely proding them, if you continually keep proding a bull, he is going to get mad and then he won’t be controllable at all. You keep proding, or poking at your children they are going to become discouraged, and begin to think “what the heck”, and lose respect for you, so train them, as the Bible says, but not to the point of provoking them. Explain to them, what you want them to be and how you won’t them to become that way. There are times for “not sparing the rod” but there are also times to show RESTRAINT and teach and coach your children by words and other actions. You have to show the same kind of teaching and training in your life; or it won’t mean anything to them, we FATHERS have to lead with our lives, by the way we conduct our life, which by the way ain’t easy, but we need to show them what we mean when we are teaching them by living it in front of them. Sometimes we think our children are grown, when in real life they are not grown. Just because the “GOVERNMENT” says that they are grown at 18 does not mean that they are. I have found, that you will be teaching and training your children all of your lives, and you that have adult children have already found that out also, and even when they are in their 50’s and 60’s they still need your support and directions, they need you to continue to lead them, continue to correct them and continue to give them directions in their lives. Don’t cause your children to become discouraged while trying to live a life that will be pleasing unto you, FORGIVE them, when they fail, and continue to explain and point your children in the right way, even though that they are trying to rebel against the way you are trying to show them. I know that when I was in my 50’s I needed my dads LOVE and UNDERSTANDING, even more then, than when I was 5 or 6, and when I became older, I still needed my dads gentle guiding, and also his frank, and honest opinion.

Now, let’s look, very quickly at verse 22 of our text: Colossians 3:22 And still in the (KJV) “Servants, obey in all things your masters according to the flesh: not with eye service, as menpleasers; but in singleness of heart, fearing God:” Some Christian teachers and preachers think that this part of these instructions are not REVELANT in our day and time, but I beg to differ with them. So, let’s look at the word SERVANT to help us better understand. The Greek word Paul uses here is the same Greek word that we get our English word “DEACON” from. Even though it is an OFFICE of our present day churches, Paul is not talking to JUST DEACONS, but to all who are “born again” believers in CHRIST who work under other bosses in their place of employment or they are bosses themselves, or those who are their own boss and serve CUSTOMERS of their own. ALWAYS remember that if we are “BORN AGAIN” that we always, represent CHRIST whereever we are at and whatever we are doing. SO! Let’s look at a few words quickly:

Obey: Same word we looked at when we were talking about CHILDREN. We have “BEEN THERE, DONE THAT”. The next word is:

Eye-service as menpleasers: Which simply means, only doing what we have been told to do when the boss or JESUS is physically watching. Enough said, because JESUS is always watching!

Out of Singleness of heart, fearing GOD: The word here simply means with sincerity, or doing the right thing since we know GOD is watching and we always want to please GOD. Let me read this scripture and I will close

 1 John 5:3-5 (KJV) “For this is the love of GOD, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous. For whatsoever is born of God OVERCOMETH the world: and this is the victory that OVERCOMETH the world, even our FAITH. Who is he that OVERCOMETH the world, but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God?”

I will ask us all this simple question ,

ARE WE, OR AM I, AN OVERCOMER OF THE WORLD; OR ARE WE OR AM I A CONFORMER TO THE WORLD?

Colossians 3:23-25  (KJV) “And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men; Knowing that of the Lord ye shall receive the reward of the inhereitance: for ye serve the Lord CHRIST. But he that doeth wrong shall receive for the wrong which he hath done: and there is no respect of persons.” 

Whatsoever: Simply means “all things at all times” not just every now and then, and not in just some things but at every time and in every thing that you do. This is so interesting, so SWEET, the GREEK word that the APOSTLE PAUL used here, (pas) was the exact same word that was used when the APOSTLE JOHN recorded what JESUS had said in John 3:16  (KJV) “For GOD so loved the world, that he gave is only begotten son, that WHOSOEVER believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” ANYONE! ANYBODY! ANY MAN! ANY WOMAN! ANY BOY, OR ANY GIRL, THROUGHOUT THE AGES TILL CHRIST COMES BACK, can be SAVED, can be “BORN AGAIN” by placing their HEARTFELT BELIEF IN JESUS THE CHRIST. I don’t care if they are from ALABAMA, AFRICA, ARIZONA or from ALL POINTS NORTH SOUTH EAST OR WEST. Don’t that excite you today, don’t that just make you want to wave your arms, jump and shout and holler HALLELUJAH!!!! WELL!!! IT DOES ME and I BELIEVE IT DOES YOU IF YOU KNOW JESUS AS YOUR SAVIOR!

The next word I want us to look at is HEARTILY:

 The word HEARTILY means: Out of the WHOLE MAN, to do it, whatever you do, do it WITH everything you’ve got, put everything you got into it! Don’t hold back anything, to do it with every BREATH you have, with every OUNCE of strength that you possess, right out of your SOUL. It  means SPRINGING from your inside. Putting your heart into it. We might say in this day and time “WITH GUSTO“, not half-hearted. And not to or for men or because men are around, but to the LORD because HE is ALWAYS around, ALWAYS with you, ALWAYS available. THANK YOU JESUS that we know you will never leave nor forsake us!! The next verse of Chapter 3 of Colossians, the 24th verse begins with the word “KNOWING”. I have had people tell me that you can’t know for sure if you are saved, that you can’t know till you get to that day and see if you are saved, I really hate it that some people believe that, and live their lives in fear, thinking that JESUS’ THE VERY SON OF GOD can’t save you to the uttermost.

Paul said when he was writing to a young preacher named Timothy at the Church of EPHESUS in 2 Timothy 1:12 (KJV) “For the which cause I also suffer these things: nevertheless I am not ashamed: for I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day.” Paul was confident, wasn’t he. He also said to those at Rome in his letter to the Romans in Romans 8:38-39 (KJV) “For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ JESUS our Lord.” Paul says “KNOWING” “Knowing that of the Lord ye shall receive the reward of the inheritance: for ye serve the LORD CHRIST.” The word “SERVE” here is (dool-you’ oh) the same word that we get “DEACON” from, that actually means “SLAVE FOR”. But we are all to “serve” the LORD JESUS CHRIST. After that we are “born again” we are to “SERVE” to continue the work that JESUS started while HE was here on earth. That is why HIS followers were called CHRISTIANS, Those that were Antioch, didn’t name themselves, but the people that observed the way they acted, the way that they were different than other folks, the way that they were always honest in their dealings, the way they were forthright, and how they truly loved each other, and they seem to love helping everybody and helping others out when they could.

Listen to what the Bible says in Acts 11:19-26 (KJV) The Bible records “Now they which were scattered abroad upon the persecution that arose about Stephen travelled as far as Phenice, and Cyprus, and Antioch, preaching the word to none but unto the Jews only. And some of them were men of Cyprus and Cyrene, which, when they were come to Antioch, spake unto the Grecians, preaching the Lord Jesus. And the hand of the Lord was with them: and a great number believed, and turned unto the Lord. Then tidings of these things came unto the ears of the church which was in Jerusalem: and they sent forth Barnabas, that he should go as far as Antioch. Who, when he came, and had seen the grace of God, was glad, and exhorted them all, that with purpose of heart they would cleave unto the Lord. For he was a good man, and full of the Holy Ghost and of faith: and much people was added unto the Lord. Then departed Barnabas to Tarsus, for to seek Saul: And when he had found him, he brought him unto Antioch. And it came to pass, that a whole year they assembled themselves with the church, and taught much people. And the disciples were called Christians first in Antioch.”

Again, we don’t call ourselves CHRISTIANS, but the greatest compliment that the world can give us is by calling us CHRISTIANS, because of the way we live. “LIVE YOUR LIFE SO THAT THE WORLD WILL KNOW, THAT THEY CAN TELL THAT YOU HAVE BEEN WITH CHRIST”. Isn’t that something, wasn’t that a miracle, here, this mixture of people, working together and preaching and teaching and forming Churchesand many people were being saved, dedicating there lives to the LORD, to work and to keep the mission of SPREADING THE GOSPEL going forward and moving on from city to city, country to country just like JESUS had commanded them to do. Man, don’t you just love it when a plan comes together. AIN’T GOD GOOD!!! Each one of us that has been saved, has been given this same mission, to preach, teach and talk about the GOSPEL so that others might come to know the truth and receive CHRIST as their SAVIOR! Man!!! That excites me, doesn’t it you? Then the Apostle Paul reminds them all, But!!! He that doeth wrong shall receive for the wrong which he hath done and there is no respect of persons. There’s that “old time” message, that old time truth, that, you will reap what you sow, and that is true today just as it was back then. But always remember what Paul said in 1 Corinthians 3:15 (KJV) “If any man’s work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire.” There it is folks “PROOF POSITIVE” of ETERNAL SECURITY we are not saved by works but by the very GRACE of GOD. A lot of US, may have a lot of our works burned up, BUT WE WILL STILL BE SAVED and enjoy the inheiritance, the eternal life in heaven, that CHRIST JESUS PURCHASED FOR US WITH HIS SHED BLOOD ON CALVARY’s CROSS. HALLELUJAH, HALLELUJAH, HALLELUJAH!!

Colossians 3:18-22  (KJV) “Wives submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as it is fit in the Lord. Husbands, love your wives, and be not bitter against them. Children, obey your parents in all things: for this is well pleasing unto the Lord. Fathers, provoke not your children to anger, lest they be discouraged. Servants, obey in all things your masters according, to the flesh; not with eyeservice, as menpleasers; but in singleness of heart, fearing God:” Think with me on this, why does Paul write to the Church about the lifestyle of the FAMILY, I think it is because the church is made up of families and is like a family it’s self. I believe that the FAMILY in Paul’s day was already coming to the point of the FAMILY of our day. Satan was already attacking the FAMILY in these new born churches in hopes of destroying the CHURCH, just as he tried to destroy the things of GOD at the beginning during the GARDEN of EDEN. When Satan caused CAIN to be JEALOUS of his brother, even to the point where Cain KILLED his brother because he was so JEALOUS of Able and caused the banishment of the first FAMILY from the GARDEN. Jealousy has no place in the FAMILY and has no place in the CHURCH!! I have seen FAMILIES and CHURCHES completely destroyed because of JEALOUSY that really was based on nothing but GOSSIP. So let’s look at the FAMILY and see what the individual parts of the FAMILY should look like, how they should conduct themselves. So let us begin by looking at the WIVES and HUSBANDS and what Paul says to them. Please listen closely and/or follow along in your Bibles. Here in verses 18 and 19 of Colossians the 3rd chapter. “Wives submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as it is fit in the Lord. Husbands, love your wives, and be not bitter against them.”

Wives and Husbands: The Apostle Paul here gives us some “duties” for the wife and the husband, or some “actions” that they should be taking towards each other. I am quite sure that you that are present here and those that are reading this would like for me to tell you what this means, but I am NOT going to do that, what I am going to do is take you to more scripture that the Apostle Paul wrote about WIVES and HUSBANDS, when he compares it with the CHURCH and the relationship that is between JESUS THE CHRIST (who is the HEAD) and the Church (which is the body of Christ), then each of you can obey GOD’s WORD in your “actions” towards your SPOUSE. I won’t to read more of Paul’s writings and other apostles to confirm what Paul is trying to get across to the people that are hearing or reading his letter to the Church. So, turn with me and read along with me what Paul says in Ephesians 5:21-33 (KJV) “Submitting yourselves one to another in the fear of God. Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as unto the Lord. For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the Church: and he is the saviour of the body. Therefore as the church is subject unto Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in everything. Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it: That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish. So ought men to love their wives as their own bodies. He that loveth his wife loveth himself. For no man ever yet hated his own flesh; but nourisheth and cherisheth it, even as the Lord the church: For we are members of his body, of his flesh, and of his bones. For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and shall be joined unto his wife, and they two shall be one flesh. This is a great mystery: but I speak concerning Christ and the church. Nevertheless let every one of you in particular so love his wife even as himself, and the wife see that she reverence her husband.” Now I want us to reparse these verses by looking at the definitions of some words and phrases to determine what PAUL is actually saying: Let us start with the phrase “SUBMITTING YOURSELVES”

So, Submitting Yourselves: I really like the way Paul starts out this set of scriptures, don’t you? He makes it clear here that he is talking to both the Husband and the Wife, and that he is not just singling out or lecturing the Wife or the Husband. He is not taking the side of either one but is addressing all factions of the FAMILY structure as it is in his day and it fits very will with the FAMILY or our day. So each one of them HUSBAND and WIFE have made a commitment by submitting themselves to the other one. Lets look at the word SUBMIT and see what it actually means.

Submit: The word submit in the Greek, in this instance, means to willingly place yourself in subjection to the other one in the union, that you have made. To “submit yourself unto”. For the woman to place herself under subjection to this one man or the man should have placed himself under subjection to this one woman,  that the two, man and woman, have joined themselves together with each other and become ONE FLESH. Please, never forget that. That is a very, very IMPORTANT part of the union, as part of the, if you will, MARRIAGE. The man and woman coming together become as one and should conduct their lives as MAN and Wife as one. Now I would like for us to look quickly at the next phrase “IN THE FEAR OF GOD”.  

So, here we go: In the fear of GOD:  This phrase simply means, out of reverence for the Authority of GOD and our LOVE and Obedience to HIM and all that HE is. Knowing that the union that they are about to engage in or have engaged in, is in the sight of GOD and under HIS AUTHORITY and HIS RULE! If you take GOD out of the equation the marriage is most likely to fail, to crumble, to collapse. So most of our FAMILIES,  in our day and time, are reaping the consequences, of one of or both parties of the UNION deciding to not let GOD’s AUTHORITY, RULE in their union, their marriage or in their FAMILY. When SOCIETY began to leave GOD out of their lives, everything began to crumble, the FAMILY UNIT, THE CHURCH, THE SCHOOLS, THE GOVERNMENT, and LIFE as we used to know it. When IMMORALITY, LIES, WORLDLY PLEASURES, DISHONESTY,  and really SINS of all kinds began to REIGN in the midst of the FAMILY unit and replace, the LOVE FOR GOD. Then it was just a matter of time until everything of the FAMILY structure would begin to DISSOLVE and turn into something else other than that which GOD meant for it to be. With the DISSOLVEMENT of the FAMILY UNIT it was only natural that our GOVERNMENTS, our CHURCHES, and our SOCIETY would be MELTED and turned into something hardly recognizable. Have you ever seen how a plastic toy car, or any plastic object looks after it has been melted in a fire, you can not tell what it looks like, you can not recognize it. That is the way it is when you leave GOD out of your FAMILY, out of your GOVERNMENT, out of your life, it becomes nothing but a BLOB or matter. You can’t tell what it was, before you removed GOD from it. Now let us look at the word “OWN”: 

Own: So!!! I think that this word was used because GOD’s HOLY SPIRIT actually gave the verse that way to the Apostle Paul because of the times and customs of that area that it was written in, and some of the things that men were doing in those times, men were trying to teach to all of the wives that they had to submit or subject themselves to them or to any man, or any husband. I think that it was given that way so that MEN could not demand submission from any WOMAN whom HE might want or visa versa. I have talked with some who say and really seem to be bragging about it, and I will quickly interject here that it was not anyone from this church or community, that they have an “OPEN” marriage and that they and their spouse can submit to anyone they please. Of course that is not according to what is taught in the confines of the BIBLE. But doesn’t that sound just like Satan, always twisting the Word of GOD trying to make it different than it really is. The next word I want to look at is the HEAD.

Head: In some marriages this has caused some controversy. But, it simply means the leader, but as any good leader, that person should respect the opinion of those that he is leading, and decide what would be best for everyone involved, therefore he should respect the opinion of his own wife, and give it the same WEIGHT that he places on his own opinion. I believe that means that the HUSBAND AND the WIFE should discuss family decisions together and should come to an agreement, in what to do, in what to have, in all things pertaining to the functioning of the FAMILY! Now, I am not bragging, or meaning that that is what I always done it but just saying that that’s the way we should or leaders should do. Let’s look at our next word which is SAVIOUR:

Saviour:  I believe that this word was put here to stress what CHRIST was to the CHURCH and how that HE cherished and LOVED the “BODY OF CHRIST”. Next word is SUBJECT.

Subject:  This is the same Greek word that was, just a few lines before this one, translated as “SUBMIT”. Stressing the need for the wife to be willingly subjecting herself to her husband, and also just before that where he said that both Husband and Wife were to submitting themselves to each other. I believe that it shows that Jesus, who is the Christ, is sitting at the right hand of the Father to LEAD and GUIDE us and not STANDING over the CHURCH cracking a whip over our heads forcing us to do things, so because of the nature of the word every husband should always be a willing leader, willing to be open to his own wife to be helping him to make the decisions, and to help his wife with all things of a family matter. Again not forgetting that HE and SHE have become one FLESH, one PERSON. The next word is LOVE.

Love: The word is (ag-ap-ah’-o) that was first used by Jesus as he was speaking to Nicodemus and explaining to him about how a person could be “BORN AGAIN”. None of the ancient writers, or any of the profane writers had penned this word or in other words had not ever written it in any of their books. But GOD’s HOLY SPIRIT led JOHN to pen this WORD! So, MEN!! we are to LOVE our wives as JESUS LOVED the CHURCH and gave HIS LIFE for it. A selfless LOVE, a PURE LOVE, a LOVE that drives us to put others first, to put our wive’s wants and wishes before our own. DO WE? Do we put them first in our FAMILY LIFE? Let’s settle in our minds men, that we have got to adjust that LOVE that we have for our wives so it becomes comparable with that same LOVE that caused JESUS to willingly come to this earth and go all of the way to the CROSS ON THE HILL of GOLGATHA, and to allow his enemies to NAIL HIM there on that CROSS , with large SPIKES, so that WE might have LIFE and have it more abundantly. We also have to look at the LOVE that GOD the FATHER had that made HIM able to give up HIS ONLY BEGOTTEN SON, to come and be that sacrifice. These types of LOVE, these examples that the FATHER and the SON have left us is the type of LOVE that we have got to have, that we MUST have for our WIVES. The next words that I want us to look at are SPOT, WRINKLE and ANY THING LIKE IT.

Spot: A word that means no stain, no blemish, no DISGRACE. We should never do anything to, or say anything to our wife that would cause her disgrace, even disgrace in HER own eyes.

Wrinkle:  Which means, just what we think it does, wrinkles in their body that are caused by WORRY or STRIFE that is brought about by our WORDS or ACTIONS. We should always pray, GOD HELP ME TO LOVE AS GOD LOVES. Then next just a quick look at the phrase:

Any such Thing:  Because it simply means “OF THIS SORT” talking about the spots or wrinkles, anything that causes our wifes pain or suffering. Whether that pain or suffering, be PHYSICAL, be MENTAL or even be SPIRITUAL. Then Paul sums it up by saying:

Without Blemish: Now, these words are how our relationship as the BODY OF CHRIST is to be with the HEAD of the BODY, which is JESUS of Nazereth the CHRIST. But they are given as an example of what, we men, should be in our relationship as the HEAD of our UNION with our WIFE. Listen MEN! If we pattern our actions and words after the LORD JESUS CHRIST we will always be doing what GOD wants in our MARRIAGE! The next phrase is ONE-FLESH:

One Flesh:  Where does this idea, this thought come from, that the APOSTLE PAUL uses here. I know that that is a facetious question, but I just wanted to spark a thought in our minds, that GOD is the one that AUTHORIZED this kind of UNION. THAT GOD IS THE ONE that seen the NEED for Adam, or man, to have a “HELP MEET” and took steps, what he deemed necessary steps, to bring this UNION about. This very important step in creation, the forming of the FAMILY UNIT, was made so that mankind could be propagated and advanced in the way GOD wanted it to be. GOD created them, MALE and FEMALE, and that is the way HE meant for it to be. Satan is the one who has, for all of these years, been trying to change that. And, may I remind us of what happened to SODOM and GOMORRAH because of it.  Again, I reiterate, 1 MAN, 1 WOMAN, brought together by GOD as 1 FLESH. So now then another directive for us MEN, the Bible says that a man MUST:

Love HIS Wife as himself:   Men we must LOVE our wives as our self, let me read Ephesians 5:33 (KJV) “Nevertheless let every one of you in particular so love his wife even as himself;” meaning each one of us individually, of ourself, not what other men are doing, but what GOD through HIS HOLY WORD has told each one of us to be like, sometimes we like to try and shift the blame by saying to ourselves or others, HEY, but look at John, Jim, David, Paul they do it this way or that way, but you know that makes no difference to us, WE, “IN PARTICULAR” know and are responsible for obeying GOD to be the HUSBAND that HE wants us to be! Now let us look at the word REVERENCE:

Reverence:  Now, why should wives do this or why should  wives  reverence their husband, Look at what the Apostle Peter says in  1 Peter 3:1-7  (KJV) “Likewise, ye wives, be in subjection to your own husbands; that, if any obey not the word, they also may without the word be won by the conversation of the wives; While they behold your chaste conversation coupled with fear.” Ladies, you say you want your husband to be saved, you say you believe he is not a “born again” believer! Well! According to Peter, your husband can be WON not by your words, but by your “CONVERSATION” or by your “LIFESTYLE”. Your husbands, that are not saved or are not displaying any interest in “following Christ” are watching you not only because they think you are beautiful, which you are, but to see if you are living as GOD says you are supposed to be living, and watching to see if you are REVERENCING GOD, seeing if you FEAR GOD in the way the Bible teaches. Then they can begin to see that maybe there is something REAL to this CHRISTAINTY stuff, and begin to see that they need it, and that they can have the same type of HAPPINESS and SECURITY that you have in this man called CHRIST.

Colossians 3:8-17 (KJV) But now ye also put off all these; anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy communication out of your mouth. Lie not one to another, seeing that ye have put off the old man with his deeds; And have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him: Where there is neither Greek not Jew, circumcision nor uncircumcision, Barbarian, Scythian, bond nor free: but Christ is all, and in all. Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering; Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye. And above all these things put on charity, which is the bond of perfectness. And let the peace of God rule in youir hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord. And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him.”   

Things to put off or take off:

  1. Anger: Which means Indignation leading to vengeance. Do we remember what Paul says in his letter to those in Rome? Listen to these verses: Romans 12:17-21 (KJV) “Recompense to no man evil for evil. Provide things honest in the sight of all men. If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men. Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord. There fore if thine enemy hunger, feed him; if he thirst, give him drink: for in so doing thou shalt heap coals of fire on his head Be not over come of evil, but overcome evil with good.” There are several places where GOD says that vengeance is HIS, here is one place where Paul could have got this saying from, listen to what the Bible says in Deuteronomy 32:35 (KJV) “To me belongeth vengeance, and recompence; their foot shall slide in due time: for the day of their calamity is a hand, and the things that shall come upon them make haste.” Don’t try to steal GOD’s wrath, or try to play GOD by taking revenge on someone who has done you wrong, or spitefully treated you. The scripture I just read from Romans did not say to ask GOD to dump hot coals on the head of those that do you wrong, but to return their EVIL doings with your GOOD things that you do for them. Let GOD take the revenge, we just keep on loving them that do us wrong. But now you can only do this when you live are living a victorious life while you are “RISEN WITH CHRIST”.

  2. Wrath: This word is similiar to our first word “ANGER” but it is actually when you let that anger in you, remain there and kindle it up like you would a fire in a stove or a fire outside where you are burning leaves or brush, you don’t get rid of the anger but let it stay within you and cause you to seethe or simmer with indignation that builds into a fierceness, with you allowing it to cause you to try to repay “evil for evil”. Please keep that type of anger and wrath away from you, put it off of you and out of your life.  

  3. Malice: This word is from the Greek word (kay cos) and means “BADNESS” that is subject to  “DEPRAVITY” or active “MALIGNITY” or “TROUBLE”, and it doesn’t have to come just from anger but being in state of mind and letting that remain in you and drive you to all kinds of “WICKEDNESS”, because you really open the door for satan. We know that sin “lieth at the door” or could be translated “croucheth at the door” ready to pounce upon you, according to Genesis the 4th chapter and the 7th verse, and if you continue to harbor this malice in you, satan will come right through that open door and raise all kinds of “HAVOC” with your life. If you continue to stir up that type of attitude within you, if you keep poking at it and provoking it, YOU WILL FALL. Let it go, put it away form you and then replace it with the LOVE OF GOD there inside of you and you will do the right thing.  

  4. Blasphemy: Here Blasphemy means vilification(especially) against GOD, railing against GOD and blaming everything on HIM, because HE let you do something. How wrong, and heartbreaking to GOD, who “LOVES YOU WITH AN EVERLASTING LOVE”. 

  5. Filthy Communication out of your mouth: Or what you might say is “TAME THE TONGUE”. James, the LORD’s brother talks about the damage and hurt that the tongue came cause or create. In the book of James, well, let me read it to us so that I will be sure to get it right. You can turn with me in your Bibles to James 3:5-11 (KJV) and I’ll be reading out of the King James Version, “Even so the tongue is a little member, and boasteth great things. Behold, how great a matter a little fire kindleth! And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity: so is the tongue among our members, that it defileth the whole body, and setteth on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire of HELL. For every kind of beasts, and of birds, and of serpents, and of things in the sea, is tamed, and hath been tamed of mankind: But the tongue can no man tame; it is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison. Therewith bless we God, even the Father; and therewith curse we men, which are made after the similitude of God. Out of the same mouth proceedeth blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not so to be. Doth a fountain send forth at the same place sweet water and bitter?” No wonder GOD’s WORD says in James 1:19(KJV) “…be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath:” listen please, brothers and sisters you can’t unspeak something, once you have spoken something cruel or hurtful, those words have already done their damage, make sure your mind and heart are in gear and in sync with one another before you say it!

  6. Lie not to one another: The Greek word simply means to “utter an untruth” to “deceive by falsehood”. Be careful, very careful, and let GOD guide your words, put your statement on trial before you say it. Let’s always remember that GOD’s HOLY WORD says that “satan is a liar and the father of it”. Let LOVE motivate your statements and words and they will always be right.

After the Apostle Paul names these 6 things that we should undress our selves of, that we should put away out of our lives, far away from our lives, he uses a phrase, or a combination of Greek words, to further explain himself, listen to the last part of verse 9 of Chapter 3 of Colossians (KJV) “….seeing that ye have put off the old man with his deeds…” This comes from the  Greek word (apo) which means the  “COMPLETE CESSATION OF”, and let me interject here, not just to lay something aside where you maybe able to pick it back up and use it again, but to completely obliterate it from your life, to destroy it by making it unusable. and another Greek word (ek-duo); which means to totally divest oneself wholly from something, or that is to put off from you forever. Now of course you have heard me say this before. When you are “BORN AGAIN” you have to RENEW your life, by putting off the “OLD WAYS” and learn to do and use the “NEW WAYS”. Paul says in the 10th verse of our TEXT that we have “…put on the new man, which is renewed in the knowledge after the image of him that created him:…” Who was it that “BORNED YOU ANEW” who was it that made a “NEW MAN” out of you, and of course that person was JESUS of NAZARETH, the CHRIST. So then we can look at the IMAGE that JESUS “PAINTED” as HE lived HIS life here on earth, and always remember that we paint a picture with our CHRISTIAN LIVES, so PAINT it TRUE, make people know that JESUS has really saved you and changed you. We can see the INTEGRITY, the COMPASSION, the LOVE, the continuous EFFORTS that HE showed in HIS life to HELP others and minister to their needs. How are we renewed, we are completely RENOVATED, by the KNOWLEDGE that JESUS not only taught but lived for all to see.

Now, that we have put all of this away from us, what are we going to put in it’s place? Here it is, the things we need to do, so please listen to the 12th verse of our text: “Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering;” and then Paul reiterates where they should come from, of course he uses the word “BOWLES” which means the “INWARD AFFECTIONS THAT ARE SALTED OR FILLED WITH TENDER MERCIES“.

You might say how can I do that, how can I be that type of person, the only way is to “STAY FILLED WITH THE LOVE OF GOD“.

Colossians 3:13-16 (KJV) says: “Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye. And above all these things put on charity, which is the bond of perfectness. And let the peace of God rule in your hearts,” May I interject here, who rules my heart, who rules your heart? Now continuing on with our scripture “to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with the grace in your hearts to the Lord.” So let me quickly number these “things we should do”

1: Forbear one another: The actual meaning is “to hold oneself up against” that is, in our “country bumpkin” jargon we would say “put up with”, sometimes we just have to “put up with” “one another” because no one is the same as someone else and we all have some different idiosyncraises or some quirks in our behavior that others might not have, so we just look over them, so that we can work together in HARMONY and LOVE.

2: Forgive one another: Paul kind of adds to this thing that we are to do, by saying “even as Christ forgave us”.  Jesus forgave us of lot things and ways that we had because “HE LOVED US” and of course the Bible tells us to “LOVE ONE ANOTHER AS CHRIST LOVED US”. We know also that if we do not forgive others their trespasses, JESUS taught that we would not get our trespasses forgiven. There’s not really anything complicated about that, and we shouldn’t have a problem with doing it, if we LOVE as JESUS LOVED.

3: Put on CHARITY (LOVE): One of the first things I taught on Wednesday was 1 Corinthians 13 (KJV): Known as the LOVE CHAPTER, of course you already knew this verse and it’s teaching, but sometimes we need to go back to the fundamental teachings again, again and again. LOVE is the driving force of CHRISTIANITY, without LOVE,  true AGAPE LOVE, we are NOTHING are WE HAVE NOTHING, our words of WITNESS, our words of WORSHIP, and our WORD’S to a lost and dying WORLD mean nothing, they are just as a “sounding brass” or “tinkling cymbal”. Let’s keep that “AGAPE’ LOVE OF GOD” forever strong in our HEARTS’ so that we WORK for the LORD as HE wants to work for HIM!

4. Let’s dress ourselves with KINDNESS for everyone. The word KINDNESS means “MORAL EXCELLENCE” we claim to be MORAL in our lives, don’t we know that it is IMMORAL not to be KIND to EVERYONE. We like to think of “IMMORALITY” as “ADULTERY” as “DRUNKENNESS” as “IDOLATRY” and those are  IMMORALITIES but also so is the LACK OF “AGAPE’ LOVE”, IMMORAL and not acceptable in the sight of GOD! Do we, do I reach out and strive for that “MORAL EXCELLENCE” or do we just “SETTLE” for “second best”

5. HUMBLENESS of MIND: Which of course means, modesty, lowliness of mind, not of a haughty mind.

6. Meekness: Which is humility with gentleness, meekness does not mean WEAKNESS, but being GENTLE with others as you are being HUMBLE. Paul also says to do all that you do in “the NAME of the LORD”, not doing something so that you can be “NOTICED” but that JESUS, JESUS, JESUS can be noticed or “lifted up”.

7. Long Suffering: Which is being “lovingly PATIENT”! as GOD is alway LONG SUFFERING, or PATIENT with us, if HE wasn’t we would not stand a chance while on our JOURNEY down here. We fail him so much, in our lives but he “LOVINGLY” corrects us and uses us for HIS GLORY!

8. Thankful: Now, just because you get a day off from work and eat some turkey and dressing, don’t mean you are being thankful to GOD, and I’ll say very quickly “they ain’t nothing wrong with TURKEY and DRESSING! But the word THANKFUL means being “SO GRATEFUL” to GOD for all that HE has done for you and also for the all the things HE hasn’t done to you, when you let the FLESH rise up in you. As we continue to “WALK WITH AND FOR HIM” he is always with us to STRENGTHEN, PROTECT, AND GUIDE US.

There are many other things that I haven’t mentioned here that we need to dress ourselves up with, or “PUT ON” so just look at CHRIST’s life and be like HIM, and you’ll be fine. So, are you wondering or thinking, how can I do all of these things. Look quickly at the 16th verse of our text, and we will find out how we can do these things. Read along with me or just listen attentively “Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in Psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the LORD.” I know that I have been a little long with this sermon, but I want to do one more thing. May I ask you this morning, where do we normally do all of these things? Now, I’ll answer my own question here and say “IN CHURCH SERVICES” and of course we are not to just do it, exclusivly, in “CHURCH SERVICES”. But, I can’t think of a time that we haven’t done these things in our “CHURCH SERVICES”. That being said, let’s each one of us take every opportunity we have to come to the “HOUSE OF GOD” and do these things. So if you are still wearing some of those things you should have already “PUT OFF” or if you haven’t “PUT ON” some of those things you should have “PUT ON”. Choose this day to complete those things in your Christian life.

Colossians 3:5-7  (KJV) “Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordianate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry: For which things’ sake the wrath of God cometh on the children of disobedience: In the which ye also walked some time, when ye lived in them.”

Mortify: Simply means to “put to death”

Romans 8:1-13 (KJV) “There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death. For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh: That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit. For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be. So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God. But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his. And if Christ be in you, the body is dead because of sin; but the Spirit is life because of righteousness. But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you. Therefore, brethren, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live after the flesh. For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if you through the spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live.”

Ephesians 4:19(KJV) “Who being past feeling have given themselves over unto lasciviousness, to work all uncleanness with greediness.”

Members which are upon the earth: The word “members” here means a limb or part of the body: the Bible also says in Galatians 5:13,14 (KJV) “For, brethren, ye have been called unto liberty; only use not liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but by love seerve one another. For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this; Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.”

  Fornication: The word simply means “harlotry” which includes “adultery and incest” and a lot of the times it is used, it is used figuratively which means “idolatry” or having a loving affection for the fleshly things of the world, more than you have a loving affection for the spiritual things that are of GOD.

  Uncleanness: Which hardly ever means “unwashed” or what we would call “getting dirty” but means “physically or morally” unclean handling of the things that are unpure to GOD and HIS COMMANDMENTS.

  Inordinate affection: Usually means the love or lust for the enemies of GOD, such as other nations that loved their IDOLS and left GOD for the things of this world. Leaving GOD out of their lives and clung to the hand made IDOLS and STATUES of the gods that could not speak, move or help them in any way.

  Evil Concupiscence: Which is a longing for the EVIL things of this world, that satan paints such a pretty picture of, so that GOD’s people will leave GOD and HIS WORK and snuggle up to the things of the flesh.

  Covetousness, which is Idolatry: Simply means loving money, fame, notierity, being so caught up with those things so much that you leave GOD behind and seek after them and forget about GOD, and then they become YOUR GOD which of course becomes IDOLATRY. Listen please, LOVE NOT the WORLD nor the things of the WORLD.

We’ve all been there!! We don’t like to admit it but “WE HAVE BEEN THERE”. Isn’t that what the Apostle Paul means when he said in verse 7 of Colossians the 3rd chapter, : “ In the which ye also walked some time, when ye lived in them.” I know that it is a bitter pill to swallow sometimes, but we have got to remember, when we see someone else wrapped up in these things, that we were once there in the same place, doing the same things or maybe even worse. Looking into the MIRROR of our past lives, sometimes brings back memories that we had rather not think about. Now, we are not to live in the past and memories of times when we were without GOD, in other words before we were saved, before we had repented of them and cried out to JESUS. But we need, at times, to look back at our past to see the ugliness of what sin brought into our lives, and to remind us of where GOD has brought us from.  Remember the word “LOOKING GLASS”: and of course you’ll find this word in 1 Corinthians 13:12 (KJV) “For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known.”  This verse doesn’t say that we don’t see through a dark glass but we see DARKLY or obscurely, the mirrors of those days as we see even in JOB were usually made of metal and were not very clear. Most of the times what they saw in the “LOOKING GLASSES of those days were very fuzzy and  obscure, and sometimes dark. But sometimes we need to see things obscurely because we cannot understand some things in our natural state. In the movie “A Few Good Men” Jack Nicholson’s character said “you can’t handle the truth” and those are some pretty good words to think on. The truth is hard to handle, but we must hear and see the truth, so that we can be the Christian, GOD wants us to be.

Job 37:18  (KJV) “Hast thou with him spread out the sky, which is strong, and as a molten looking glass?”

Elihu is speaking here and explaining to Job about some of the wonders that GOD had made, mentioning the SKY and how it looked like a “MIRROR”, calling it a “molten looking glass”, and in that day, metal was melted and poured out to form a smooth convex piece of metal that a person could look at see their reflection. Just a side note on that, did you realize you have never seen your face, only the reflection of it in a mirror or reflective object, and its actually reversed. I kind of thought that that was very interesting. Not important, I guess, but very interesting.

In the 1500’s the secret of how to make a great mirror was a closely guarded secret and even to the point of that the ART or PROCESS was not known worldwide but was exclusively manufactured in ITALY. But then in the 1600’s the process was leaked to England and other countries and the rest is history.

Sometimes we try to obscrure the truth in an effort to not have to deal with it but, of course the best way is to “FACE THE TRUTH”. In the Gospel of John, Jesus said these words:

John 8:31-34 (KJV) “Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed, and ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free. They answered him, We be Abraham’s seed, and were never in bondage to any man: how sayest thou, Ye shall be made free? Jesus answered them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whosoever committeth sin is the servant of sin.”  

James 1:23-25  (KJV) For if any be a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a class: For he beholdeth himself, and goeth his way, and straightway forgetteth what manner of man he was. But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed.”  

1 Peter 4:1-4 (KJV) For as much then as Christ hath suffered for us in the flesh, arm yourselves likewise with the same mind: for he that hath suffered in the flesh hath ceased from sin; That he no longer should live the rest of his time in the flesh to the lusts of men, but to the will of God. For the time past of our life may suffice us to have wrought the will of the Gentiles, when we walked in lasciviousness, lusts, excess of wine, revellings, banquetings, and abominable idolatries: Wherein they think it strange that ye run not with them to the same excess of riot, speaking evil of you:”

Don’t worry about what people think about you but live as GOD WANTS YOU TO LIVE. Don’t go back to the life you used to live before you were “BORN AGAIN” Stand strong, Stand tall, Stand straight.

Let us not forget Colossians 3:6 (KJV) “For which things’ sake the wrath of God cometh on the children of disobedience:”

Please don’t go back to what you were before GOD called you to SALVATION through CHRIST! “PUT TO DEATH” all of those things that are not “PLEASING TO GOD” and “LIVE FOR HIM” “REMAIN RISEN WITH CHRIST”.

The wrath of GOD “ain’t no fun” The Bible declares “…it is a fearful thing to fall in the hands of a “LIVING GOD…”

Colossians 3:1-4 (KJV) “If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth. For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God. When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory.”

Not a sweeter set of scripture appears in the Bible than these 4 verses. If these do not get that CHRISTIAN BLOOD pumping through our veins, then something is wrong in our lives and we need to go to JESUS and get things back right again. We need to get recharged with that power of the SPIRIT and begin to GLOW anew, because we are fizzling out. We need for the HOLY SPIRIT of GOD to rekindle the fire within us. The more GLOW with that type of fire, the more we SHOW the world that JESUS is REAL.

Paul starts this chapter out with a challenge, with a directive to those at Colossae and to anyone who reads it. He begins this chapter with the word if. Which when we read it, if we are not careful we will read right over it and keep on going, but the Greek word rendered here actually means “forasmuch as” or “since that you are”. We just got through seeing in my last 2 sermon blogs that there are 2 choices of commandments that can be followed, the COMMANDMENTS of GOD, or the commandments of men, and both of those choices are being taught and offered to us as we JOURNEY through this world on our way to eternity. WE MUST CHOOSE THE RIGHT ONE!! We also have seen that we are supposed to be dead to one of them, we have seen that we have DIED with CHRIST, and being dead with HIM we should nor allow the drawing of fleshly desires cause us to become wayward on our “SPIRITUAL JOURNEY” so the Apostle Paul is showing the Colossians and anyone else that is interested that “SINCE WE ARE DEAD TO THE WORLDLY DESIRES” that we should live “RISEN WITH CHRIST”. So!! How do we live the VICTORIOUS LIFE IN CHRIST. Well!! There is great news for us and Paul gives it to us right here. Listen please, to the 2nd verse of Chapter 3 here: “Set your affection on things above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of GOD.”  The word (Set) here means to be “very careful to place your interests in” it doesn’t come automatically but must be exercised, you don’t get a “STRONG BICEP” muscle just because you have an arm, you don’t get hand strength just because you have a hand or strong leg muscles just because GOD has given you legs. You have to “USE” them and the more you use them the stronger they get, and the more the muscles grow. It is the same way with your brain and with your spiritual power, the more you exercise the spiritual part of your brain is, by reading the “WORD OF GOD”, by using the “WORD OF GOD” in your everyday life, and by speaking the “WORD OF GOD”; by doing these the better you get at practicing it and the STRONGER it get’s. The GREEK word here (fro-nay’-oh) has the conotation with it “TO BE VERY OBEDIENT TO USE” to exercise your spiritual BRAIN every chance you get. As stubborn as most of us are, since we are Baptist, we should not have a problem to “SET OUR MIND” to something. So “SET OUR MINDS” “OUR AFFECTIONS” on things above, not on things on this earth. Sometimes we get that turned around and “OUR AFFECTIONS” are on the things that are in our worldly life instead of on our “SPIRITUAL JOURNEY” Listen, PLEASE, we are still in this world and must do some worldly “TASKS” but we have got to, we must, LIVE as CHRISTIANS as we complete those tasks down here, not the other way around.  “AFFECTIONS” are those things that we LOVE to be around, and LOVE to do, so we plan our lives around them and do the other things as we have to, not because we have “AFFECTIONS” for them but because they are the types of things that are necessary to support our families and help them be taken care of.

Are you ready? Have you been “BORN AGAIN”? HAVE you obeyed CHRIST?

The word Paul uses in the 1st verse “SEEK” means to “SEEK AFTER” or to “SEARCH FOR” to DIG around to find something. Do we remember the parables that JESUS told of the “TREASURE” and of the “PEARL” in the Gospel of Matthew? In Matthew 13:44 (KJV)JESUS said: “Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto treasure hid in a field; the which when a man hath found, he hideth, and for joy thereof goeth and selleth all that he hath, and buyeth that field.” and in Matthew 13:45,46 (KJV) “Again, the kinddom of heaven is like unto a merchant man, seeking goodly pearls: Who, when he had found one pearl of great price, went and sold all that he had, and bought it.” Do we feel like that about our SALVATION, about our CHURCH, about our WITNESS for CHRIST? WE SHOULD!! Where is my heart today? Where is your heart today? In the book of Matthew again our SAVIOR JESUS said in the 6th chapter and verses 19 through 21 where we should be storing all of our treasures, so let’s read: Matthew 6:19-21 (KJV) “Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal: and we really need to take heed to this verse 21: For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.” So let’s keep everything in perspective while on our SPIRITUAL JOURNEY down here and “SET” “OUR AFFECTIONS” in proper order, put them where they should be. We are physically here in this world but according to Paul here in verse 3 of Colossians, Paul says OUR LIFE, OUR SOUL, “WHO WE REALLY ARE” is hid, is stowed away, concealed, with “CHRIST IN GOD” our souls are never in danger, WE ARE!!  SECURE.   WE, after that we are “BORN AGAIN” are already with CHRIST IN GOD. The HOLY SPIRIT has come within our HEARTS and SEALED us until the DAY OF REDEMPTION, so that when CHRIST APPEARS WE WILL APPEAR  WITH HIM IN GLORY. I am going to read you two last verses to compare and confirm what Paul just said. 1 Corinthians 15:51,52 (KJV)  I know that this is very familiar with you but I am going to read it anyway. “Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.”

Colossians 2:20-22 (KJV) “Wherefore if ye be dead with Christ from the rudiments of the world, why, as though living in the world, are ye subject to ordinances, (Touch not; taste not; handle not; Which all are to perish with the using;) after the comandments and doctrines of men?

Commandments: (en’-tal-mah) from (entellomai); an injunction, that is a religious precept, that is a commandment.

Doctrine: (did-as-kal-ee’-ah) from (didaskalos); instruction (the function or the information) :- doctrine, learning, teaching.

Man: This is the Greek word (anth’-ro-pos) or simply a human being, in comparison or contradistinction to angels or godly beings, or creatures such as animals, or even statues.

So now, what is Paul talking about here, what point is the Apostle Paul trying to make or what message is he trying to get across to these Christians at Colossae and Laodicea and also to other Christians, down through the ages, who will be reading it and learning how to walk during their Christian Journey. Just like when we are born into this world from our mother’s womb we don’t come out fully grown, physically, mentally, spiritually but as babes and must grow and learn and become an adult. So then after our 2nd birth or after we are “born again” we are essentially a “babe in CHRIST” and must learn all kinds of things to become the CHRISTIAN that GOD wants us to be. We, of course, after being born again, or “renewed” don’t want to remain “fleshly oriented” we want to be equipped and experienced in those things which will enhance our Christian appearnce to those who need to come to know Christ personally.

Where have we heard this statement before?

Isaiah 29:13 (KJV) “Wherefore the Lord said, Forasmuch as this people draw near me with their mouth, and with their lips do honour me, but have removed their heart far from me, and their fear toward me is taught by the precept of men:”

Matthew 15:8,9 (KJV) “This people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth, and honoureth me with their lips; but their heart is far from me. But in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men.”

Mark 7:7  (KJV) “Howbeit in vain do they worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men.”

Man is flesh, so of course he more readily tries to attach himself to those things of the flesh, so after he or she is “reborn” he or she must then become retaught, retrained so that they can become reoriented in their lifestyle. We don’t have to change our vocation or our work, or our career, we just have to act “Christian Appropiate” in those areas which we live. When the world is falling apart, when the world is running to and fro not knowing what to do or where to go, we have our sights honed in on the “WORD OF GOD” and on “JESUS” and keeping our lives and thoughts centered on what we can do to help others. We don’t become involved in things and practices that we used to do before we were “changed” by our Christian experience. After the day of Pentecost when GOD’s HOLY SPIRIT, or HOLY GHOST, whichever words you prefer, descended and came within men and women to assist them in the tasks that they are given to do. The Bible records that as Peter and the other disciples began to TEACH. PREACH and LIVE differently by the new strenth that GOD placed within them, the Pharisee’s, Saducee’s, those of the Sanhedrin Council, said of them, that they could tell that they “HAD BEEN WITH JESUS”. I can remember after I was “BORN AGAIN” and then called to preach the GOSPEL of CHRIST. I got to go back to EAST POINT, Georgia, where I was raised as a young man, back to a tiny mission on Semmes Street, where I had raised havoc on that small church by yelling slanders at them and breaking their windows out with rocks, there GOD used me to proclaim the GOOD NEWS, that the POWER of GOD could change the vilest sinner into a person that he could use. I can remember after the service, my very best friend that I had when I was a teenager came up to me and said “DOUG, THAT WASN’T YOU UP THERE” I said to him, you are right JOE, that was a different person, a person that GOD had “CHANGED”. I was the lowest of preachers then and still I am the lowest of preachers now, but GOD uses that kind of person “AFTER HE CHANGES THEM”. Be a person that GOD uses after HE “CHANGES” you, don’t sit on the shelf IDLE and let your world, your community, your city, your family quietly go to hell. STAND UP STAND UP STAND UP for JESUS and proclaim the SAVING GRACE OF GOD HAS COME TO ALL THAT WILL RECEIVE HIM!!!

Do not LIVE TEACH PREACH the “…commandments and doctines of men…” but LIVE TEACH PREACH what JESUS said in John 13:34 “A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another, as I have loved you, that ye also love one another.” LOVE as JESUS LOVED, LOVE as GOD the FATHER LOVED, LOVE AS the HOLY GHOST directs you to LOVE, and you will see HEART’s of the whole world MELT and become “BORN AGAIN”. We were left here to “CHANGE” the world, let us be about our FATHER’s business.