Not Do, But Who Sermon

Not Do, But Who

It’s so good to be back. I absolutely love you guys. My wife and I have said many times how much we missed you and how much we looked forward to being with you this evening. There’s nothing like the local church!

Last week we took a trip to Las Vegas where we were honored to be commissioned by a wonderful partner church, Hope Church. We are not alone on this journey. It was humbling to be standing in front of thousands of believers that were praying for God’s work in Boulder and praying for you. We have an army behind us and we are so expectant about what God is going to do through His church in Boulder! AMEN?!

Amen simply means “Let it be!” Another favorite is hallelujah, which means “Praise be to God!” But if those are too churchy for you and you wanna say Dope or That’s Lit! Please feel free to give me some feedback this evening on anything you agree with or affirm.

Title: Last week we started a series called Your Best life. And Pastor Jason brought a phenomenal word on how your mess can become your message. We’re going to continue in that series of talks today, the title for the message is “Not do, But Who”

Intro: How do I live my best life? We all want to live our best life right?! Is my best life found in what I do? Be a good neighbor, be a better person, live a healthier life, achieve a higher status, get a nicer house, buy a newer car, get that promotion at work, or get that time at the BolderBoulder tomorrow. Doing all the right things and achieving everything you could ever dream of sounds all well and good, but what happens after that? (Long Pause)

If living your best life is found solely in what you do, then why are so many successful people so miserable? If living your best life is found in the comforts of money, fame, and status, then why is it that people with the most money seem to be the ones that are the most lonely, empty, and longing for a sense of purpose?

I’m proposing today that your best life is NOT found in what you do, but who you belong to. (pause)

I believe that your best life is found in a person. I also believe that your best life is found in the people around you. The person is Jesus and the people is His church. Today we’re going to talk about finding our identity in Jesus Christ and how you can live your best life in Him.

Big Idea: Your best life is not found in what you do, but who you belong to.

Passage: Colossians 3:12-17 CSB

Background: Paul is the author of the book of Colossians. He is writing to the church at Colosse to correct some of the errors in the church and to tell them that everything they need can be found in Jesus, and Jesus alone.

Main Points:

1. Identity / Who (V12a)

   1. This is what you can’t see, but it’s the most real thing about you.
   2. “Your old life is dead. Your new life, which is your real life—even though invisible to spectators—is with Christ in God. He is your life.” Colossians 3:3 MSG
   3. Before we know who we are, we first need to acknowledge whose we are.
      1. You are chosen, you are holy, you are DEARLY LOVED!

   4. Illust: Orange

      1. You can’t express your emotions about an orange without first peeling back the layers and discovering truly what’s on the inside.
      2. At this point all we know about the orange is that it is orange. Someone got REALLY creative on naming this fruit. We can talk about what others say about the orange, but we really don’t know much about it until we look on the inside.
      3. See, it’s what’s on the inside that counts. Let’s peel back some layers on our life to discover what’s truly on the inside. I’m not talking about intentions, I’m talking about affections.

      4. Question: Are you loving, serving, and forgiving out of the goodness of who you are, or are you loving, serving, and forgiving out of the overflow of who Jesus is and out of the overflow of your relationship with Him?

         5. The do does not define you, the who is what defines you.

      5. The do is ever changing. The do is temporary. The do is flawed and will let you and others down. The do alone will ultimately lead to guilt and shame because you can never measure up!

      6. Even if you could measure up to the standards of those around you, you will still never measure up to the standards you set for yourself and you will continue to feel defeated time and time again.
      7. But in contrast, the who is constant. The who is never changing. The who is perfect in all of His ways. The who will never leave you nor forsake you. The who will not condemn you, guilt you, or shame you.

      8. When the who is what defines you, then the do becomes an extension of the real you. (Say it Slow and Again)

         6. Illust: My Son Ryan

      9. Nothing Ryan does could change his position in life. He is my son. On good days and bad, he’s still my son.

      10. His actions do not define his position. But his position does shape his perspective. He can enjoy life and live in freedom knowing that I will always love him, care for him, and guide him in the best possible direction.
      11. He will always know, my daddy loves me, my daddy hears me, my daddy is for me, my daddy has what’s best in mind for me. What I want you to see is that your actions bring consequences, but those actions do not define who you are. You are chosen, you are holy, you are dearly loved!

2. Purpose / How (V12b-16)

   1. This is what everyone can see and it’s the expression of what’s on the inside.

   2. Illust: Clothe yourself.

      1. Compassion
      2. Kindness
      3. Humility
      4. Gentleness
      5. Patience
      6. Above ALL… Love
         3. In verse 14 love is what we put on over everything else. And here’s how I’d apply that: love has a name. Love is a person. And it’s in love that we find hope, purpose, and our best life. Love is Jesus.
         4. When Jesus was pressed by the Pharisees on which is the greatest command in the law Jesus responds with this “He said to him, “Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the greatest and most important command. The second is like it; Love your neighbor as yourself.”
         5. If Jesus’ emphasis was on a love relationship, then why do we so easily get it twisted today?
         6. Paul tells us to put these on, but these attributes that we clothe ourselves with did not start with us. It’s not our compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, patience, and love. These are all attributes of Jesus! We are clothing ourselves in Him!
         7. Our outward appearance to others are merely reflections of Him! If people ask, “John, you are so kind and nice, I love being around you, you have such good vibes!” That’s your opportunity to say “IT’S NOT ME! Anything that’s good that you see in me is Jesus. Anything that’s good about me is Jesus. And I would like to tell you about Him.”
         8. We know these attributes because we’ve spent time with Him. We’ve experienced these attributes in our own lives from Him. We’ve prayed for these attributes to be the expression of our lives.

3. Life / Do (V17)

   1. “So if you have been raised with Christ, seek the things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.” Colossians 3:1-4
   2. “The call on the life of a Jesus follower is not doing things *for* God. The call on the life of a Jesus follower is to be *with* God. We believe that everything that God desires to do through your life, He will do out of the overflow of what He's doing in your life as you spend time with Him!” - Pastor Vance Pitman
   3. Verse 17 still says to do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus. The doing matters. But there is a great difference between living for service to God or living out of submission to God. The first we do with the motive of trying to impress God and the other is done out of obedience after we have heard from God.
   4. Don’t think efforts (I gotta do, do, do for him to love me), think affections (He loves me just the way I am and wants to have an intimate relationship with me). Don’t think religion (I have to measure up or I’m hopeless and a complete failure), think relationship (He calls me friend, son and daughter, and dearly loved).

Walking Points: Deepen your relationship this week

1. Talk to God

   1. Spend focused time in prayer this week.
   2. “Let the word of Christ dwell richly among you” Colossians 3:16

   3. Hear from God

   4. Spend time in the Word of God this week.

   5. “Devote yourselves to prayer, stay alert in it with thanksgiving.” Colossians 4:2

   6. Worship to God

   7. Spend time listening to worship songs this week

   8. “Admonishing one another through psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts.” Colossians 3:16