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Thank you very much. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you very much. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you Father God for this day. Thank you so much for this morning. Thank you for this morning's service. Please bless this morning's service. We receive all the praises and glory. We give you all the glory this morning. Thank you and Jesus' name. Amen. May your emails be stung by 102. 102 is the title of my soul. 102. A wonderful saint, Lord, is Jesus my Lord. A wonderful saint, Lord, is he. He hideth my soul in the blood of God, where rivers of pleasure I see. He hideth my soul in the flood of the rock, where shadows are dried, bursting red. He died in the dark, in the depths of his town, and covered me there with his hand. And covered me there with his hand. But, Lord, the Savior is Jesus my Lord. He taketh my burden away. He holdeth me up, and I shall not be poor. He giveth me strength as my name. He hideth my soul in the blood of the rock, where shadows are dried, bursting red. He hideth my blood in the depths of his town, and covered me there with his hand. And covered me there with his hand. With numberless blessings each moment he crowns, and filled with his fullness he comes. I sing in my rapture, glory to God, for such a great keeper has come. He hideth my soul in the blood of the rock, where shadows are dried, bursting red. He hideth my blood in the depths of his town, and covered me there with his hand. And covered me there with his hand. With gold in his brightness, transported by Christ, to be within clouds of the sun. His perfect salvation, his wonderful love, outshroud with the billions on high. He hideth my soul in the depths of the rock, where shadows are dried, bursting red. He hideth my blood in the depths of his town, and covered me there with his hand. And covered me there with his hand. All right, let's have a look at our announcements. Service time's listed there, up above, Sunday, 10 30 a.m., get it 5 30 p.m. tonight, Thursday's at 7. We'll be wrapping up First Kings 22, assuming I can make it to the pulpit, so I've been a little out of the weather. I appreciate everybody coming out, and I know the sickness has kind of been going around, so I'm definitely feeling better than I was, but not 100%, but I'm sure, Lord willing, I'll be here Thursday to finish that up, so come on out for the conclusion of that. And then we've got the church-wide soul winning, salvations, baptisms, and offering totals below that, as well as the attendance for the month and year. Happy birthday to everyone celebrating the month of August. So far, it looks like it's just my daughter, Heather, so she's got her birthday on the 25th. You can wish her happy birthday now, or on the 25th, or thereabouts. If you wish her now, it might confuse her a little bit, and she might start asking for cake when we get home, but we'll explain all that to her. But anyway, if your birthday is in August, or your anniversary, and it's not mentioned here, it's simply because I don't have the information. Please get that to me if you would like it for the month of August, or any of the other upcoming months. Below that, don't forget this Friday, it came up on us quick, is the game night. That's going to be 5 to 9 p.m. Of course, that's a big window, just to kind of, I know it's a weeknight, so we're just kind of leaving that pretty wide open for people that are getting off work and things like that. If you want to come on by on Friday, between 5 and 9 p.m., we're going to be here playing board games. We're going to have some light refreshments, veggies, a veggie tray, yes I know, and a fruit tray, yes I know. And we'll also have probably some cheese and some salami for the carnivores among us, which is all of us. And then we'll have, probably break out the popcorn machine and some beverages as well. So come on out, bring your favorite board game, and please do bring a game if you tend to come, just because we don't really have a lot. I'll have a couple, but you might want to put your name on it and just keep track of it if you do bring one. But come on out and enjoy that. Just a good way to kind of get together and have some fellowship and to do so indoors, kind of out of the heat. And also below that, don't forget the 4th anniversary is coming up on Sunday, September 4th. That's coming up on us fast as well. We've got a guest preacher coming out, Deacon Oliver Gonzalez from Verity Baptist Church is going to come out and preach for us both services. The evening service is going to get bumped up from 5.30 to 3.30. So we'll have our normal 10.30 a.m. and then we'll break and we'll have set up real quick and we'll have a nice potluck lunch. The church is going to smoke a couple of briskets. And if you could bring a main side dish and or dessert to pass, please do so if possible. And there's a sign-up sheet back there. If you're planning to bring a dish, you can go ahead and sign your name and what it is you intend to bring. That way everyone can kind of see what's already coming. And we are kind of counting on that. So we can all show up and just eat brisket, but it's going to go fast. So I guess I could run down to E.G.'s and get another footlong or something. But that's kind of what we're counting on. So anyway, coming out for that. Again, you don't have to bring a dish, but if you can, it would be appreciated. Don't forget on the back, we started listing the upcoming songs coming up for the services there. So you've got this Thursday and also next Sunday, if these are songs that you want to try to learn throughout the week so that when you get here, you're not unfamiliar with them. There's also a QR code there that you can scan that would take you to the church's website, or a website rather, where you can look these songs up, you can listen to a player, get the tune and all of that, the lyrics, everything's there for you. And if you need a hymnal, feel free to take one out of the seat there in front of you. By all means, take one. We've got plenty. We always get more. If you need a hymnal to have, you're welcome to take one and take that home with you. And also below that, don't forget the ladies are invited to a baby shower in honor of Kami Ellingson. That's going to be Saturday, September 17th, 2 to 5 p.m. And if you'd like to volunteer to help decorate, please speak with Mrs. Gardere. I know she's not here this morning. I know they're dealing with some sickness in their home as well. But she's going to be heading out the decorating and things like that. So get with her, and I'm sure she would appreciate any help she can get. And then also there is an Amazon gift registry, which can be found, again, by scanning that QR code. And that'll take you to an Amazon list. And you don't have to bring anything, but it's always appreciated. That's something we like to do for all of our first-time mothers, just so that they can get off to a good start. And so that's something to put on your calendars Ladies. And then below that, don't forget, Mexico Monday is tomorrow. So if anyone's intending on joining Brother Segura, please speak with myself or him as soon as possible. That's going to do it for announcements. We'll go ahead and sing another song. One day the Lord was a-striving Lord my year is coming Then I heard the sins of earth He said on every day Doubt and fear and peace The world came to me God of peace shall rule me From hill to land I'm living on the mountain Underneath the cloudless skies I'm drinking at the fountain That never shall untry Oh, yes, I will be seen From the dam From the mountain Full supply For I am dwelling In the youth of day Far below the storm The battle for the world is beating Sounds the marriage battle The enemy is standing Safe and I within The castle of God's word retreating How the dead can reach me Tis beautiful land I'm living on the mountain Underneath the cloudless skies I'm drinking at the fountain That never shall untry Oh, yes, I will be seen From the dam From the mountain Full supply For I am dwelling In the youth of day Let the stormy breeze Destroy their private army I am safe we shall to you Rise and divide us then Here the sun is always shining Here there's nothing for me I am safe forever Into the land I'm living on the mountain Underneath the cloudless skies I'm drinking at the fountain That never shall untry Oh, yes, I will be seen From the dam From the mountain Full supply For I am dwelling In the youth of day Here we hear the words of God I see their contemplation Here we now his blessing I see the way they play I'm dwelling in the spirit Here I hear the full salvation I'm living on the mountain Underneath the cloudless skies I'm drinking at the fountain That never shall untry Oh, yes, I will be seen From the dam From the mountain Full supply For I am dwelling In the youth of day As the plates go around you can follow along with brother Gabriel as he reads from Colossians chapter number one this morning Colossians chapter number one Colossians chapter one Colossians chapter one Colossians chapter one Colossians chapter one Colossians chapter one Colossians chapter one Colossians chapter one Colossians chapter one Colossians chapter one Colossians chapter one Colossians chapter one Colossians chapter one Colossians chapter one Colossians chapter one Colossians chapter one Colossians chapter one Colossians chapter one Colossians chapter one Colossians chapter one Amen, so the title of sermon this morning is God is life God is life and I want to just start out by Clarifying what I mean by that because today when you say something like that people might get the wrong idea Because they've watched too much star wars or something like that Or they might have been taught that you know God is in everything and While it's true that God is of course everywhere and present everywhere That doesn't necessarily mean that he's just some kind of invisible force That's just moving everything what do I mean by the fact that God is life Well what I mean by that is the fact that you know one God produced life All living things came from God because all things came from God That just proves to us that you know God is life He is the source of all that lives it says there in Colossians chapter one verse 16 For by him were all things created that are in heaven And that are in the earth visible and invisible whether they be Thrones or dominions or principalities or powers all things were Created by him and for him so God is the one who created All things all things that are in heaven all things that are in earth all things that can be seen And cannot be seen even when it comes to things like Thrones and dominions these principalities these powers God has created everything obviously that would include everything that Lives that would include you that would include me that would include every Animal every creature that there is on this earth God has created everything So because he is the source of life that just stands To reason that God is life where does life come from it comes from God making God the source therefore God is life And if you would keep something in Colossians all morning we'll be back in just a minute But go over to actually just stay where you are right now I'll just read for you another verse but it says in Acts 17 verse 24 Paul said that God made the worlds and all things that are therein Seeing that he is the Lord of heaven and earth and that he what dwelleth not in Temples made with hands neither is worshipped with men's hands as though he needed Anything seeing he giveth life excuse me saying he giveth To all life and breath and all things God is the one That has given all life and has given breath to all things he is The source of all that lives now obviously this probably isn't a lot of This isn't news to the people in this room everyone probably understands this Everyone's read Genesis probably everyone believes this and I'll make some Application of what this means to us going forward but I want to have a Make sure we have a very clear understanding that what I'm By what I mean when I say that God is life I'm not saying that God is just some You know mystical esoteric being that is just in everything You know and I've was something that I was taught to me when I was young that just You know God is just in everything you know and that you know kind of leaves you scratching Your head what does that even mean okay praise God we have God that isn't just in everything but you know who is an actual person Who has a personality who is the source of life is somebody that we can know And have a relationship with and we can know his mind and he cares About us God is the source of life God has Produced life but not only that God is life because of the fact that he provides life You know we often think about the fact and we'll understand that you know yeah God all things came from God but sometimes we lose sight of the fact that God Was also all this time providing for that same life that he created And he does this day in and day out and not just for My life and your life but for the life of all living things It says there in verse 17 of Colossians 1 where you are it says And he is before all things and by him all things consist By him all things consist God is the one that's Holding it all together all the time he is The source of life he has produced life he has provided life that's what I mean By God is life if you would go over to Job chapter 12 Again keep something in Colossians keep something there in Colossians 1 But go over to Job chapter 12 God is life because he produced it he's the source of all life God is life because not only has he produced that life he doesn't just Leave it to itself to care for itself he actually provides for that life He sustains it he sustains all that lives It says in Job chapter 12 verse 7 but ask now the beasts and they shall Teach thee and the fowls of the air and they shall tell thee Job chapter 12 verse 8 or speak to the earth and it shall teach thee and the fishes Of the seas shall declare unto thee who knoweth not in all these That the hand of the Lord hath wrought this and you know That's a hypothetical question he's just saying who doesn't know this I mean Just go speak to the earth just go Go to the beasts go to the fowls of the air these things Will teach you that God his hand is in all these things It's him that has given life to all these things it is him that continues to Sustain that life and he says who knoweth not in all these That the hand of the Lord wrought this And we would say well the atheist the fool who has Said in his heart there is no God what makes a person a fool for saying such a Thing the fact that if you would just look around at nature It's obvious that this just didn't come into existence that nothing You know this is you know they say oh you just believe in some fairy tale yeah well they believe That nothing exploded into everything and expanded Into everything and it's like okay but we believe and we Admit that what we believe is by faith but I'm telling you atheism and evolution Is every bit of much of religion as what you believe this morning because It's something you believe by faith and I Want to go on and on about that but you know it's funny that he asks that question And he's kind of like who doesn't get this who doesn't understand That the hand of the Lord hath wrought this it's him that Has given life to all these things it says in verse 10 in whose hand Is the soul of every living thing God creates life but then he also sustains it he provides for it It's in his hand that is the breath of every living thing And of all mankind our breath is in his hand He's created life he has produced life he provides for that life He sustains for that life of all living things including man And we won't take the time to go through Genesis and read how God created everything I'm sure we all understand that here but if you Would go over to Ephesians chapter number 1 Ephesians chapter number 1 You know God provides for man Man himself mankind the Bible says in Matthew chapter 5 Verse 45 he maketh the sun to rise on the evil and On the good and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust You know God when he is sustaining life he's not just sustaining the life Of those that know him and that love him and serve him He's also sustaining in the lives of those that don't even give him credit for what he does And has done he sustains even the lives of those That would mock and in his word he even sustains the life of those that would deny Him and scoff at him he sustains what Their life by doing what by sending his sun to rise on the evil And the good and making his rain to fall on the just and the unjust You know we're coming in this morning and everyone's talking about the rain rain is a Big deal around here when it rains we talk about it right Did you get rain did you get rain I got rain did you get any rain what time did the rain come How heavy of a rain was it? It was raining so hard to bring the plants in you know I was worried about getting flooded out And I say yeah it rained because I woke up and it was wet you know What time did it come in I don't know I was out of it you know I don't know where I was going with that it sounded good Oh I know where I was going with it but here's one thing I noticed is that you know It rained at my house you know and it didn't just rain on my house Because it was where the Baptist preacher lives you know it rained On the neighbor's house and the guy over there and the guy over there and everybody else who You know probably isn't in church this morning probably hasn't thought about God I'm not saying That they're necessarily bad people I'm just saying you know they're not the just They're not justified they're not saved God's still raining you know it sounded You know it sounded to me like God rained all over this valley You know and I'm sure there's a lot of people out there that rain came down And they just thought well that's nice you know people that are just Everyday taking of God's sustenance taking of what God has provided And not giving him a second thought you know but God is so good that he Keeps right on doing it and just keeps right on doing it and sustaining That life for which he has provided You know that's what Paul Tells us in Acts he said that he left himself He left not himself without witness and that he did good And gave us rain from heaven in fruitful seasons filling our hearts With food and gladness and of course this is Paul you know witnessing To the Gentiles and he's saying look God has not left himself Without witness you know creation life it's The fact that God produced it the fact that God provides for it and sustains It you know that is a witness of God's goodness That's what Paul's saying he's saying he left not himself without Witness in that he did good and what was the good That he did well he helped some little old lady out across the road and put It up on YouTube for everybody to see no it's that he what gave us Rain from heaven right he provided for us he gave Us fruitful seasons he gave us you know orchards And fields that produce food that provide for us That do what that fill our hearts with food and gladness You know that is a testimony of God's Goodness towards us it is the testimony that God sustains that life That God provides for the very life which he has produced And he does that for all mankind as a witness of his own goodness And he provides even for the beast you know and this is something That we might not often think about but all the animals you know and I mean All of them and you know this this really starts to sink in With just the magnitude of God how big he is how great he is How powerful he is when you start to consider that he sustains life for not Just you and me and all mankind but also every living Creature God is providing for I mean I remember thinking About that early on in my Christian my life and it was just it was mind-boggling And even still you know I'll watch some you know some Video sometimes I'll watch these videos that have this drone footage where it's just these great Landscapes where you're just seeing just you know the magnificence Of creation or it's you know you'll see maybe sometimes you know the oceans and you Look out there you think of how those oceans are just teeming with life just Full of all kinds of life things that we've never even seen animals That are gonna be born live and die and never even you know Come across mankind and yet God cares for them and takes care of them The Bible says Jesus told us rather Consider the ravens for they neither sow nor reap which have neither storehouse Nor barn yet God feedeth them how much better Are ye than the fowls you know we should never doubt God's care For us when we consider the fact that God even takes care Of some bird some stupid pigeon you know And sometimes I go why the pigeons Lord you know why Do you care for that that pest right but He does because that is the nature of God not to just produce Life but also to provide for that life not to just be the source of all that lives But also to sustain all that lives And really what what I kind of want to get Across or at least give us this thought here is that you know of course there's That physical life that God is providing for And we've seen how that is in a way a testimony of A witness of his goodness and really what God is you know I believe trying to Get across to man through that is that God is real and he has provided life But he also wants to give us eternal life you know man Is going to die eventually all living things die we are under the curse And we're going to pass away God has not you know his goodness Extends even beyond the grave where God has promised us Also eternal life look God produces life he provides for that life And then he goes a step further and says I'm also going to give you the opportunity to receive Eternal life and that's not obviously something he extends to the Animals sorry kids and even some of you adults you know There's no doggy section in heaven all right let me just break it to you But God has promised eternal life to us the Bible says in 1 Timothy 1 Paul an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God According to the promise of life which is in Christ Jesus Look that promise of life is the promise that God will not just sustain For our physical life but that God has also promised eternal life through Christ And that's something that he has promised and made available to everybody To everybody he said In 1 Timothy 4 therefore we both labor and Suffer approach because we trust in the living God who is the savior Of all men especially of those that believe it says that He's the savior of all men not some you know God is the savior Of all men he died for all he said in 1 Timothy 2 That he will have all men to be saved to come unto the knowledge of the truth For there's one mediator between God and man the man Christ Jesus who what gave Himself a ransom for some for the elect for the chosen no for all Friend for everybody now that's the goodness of God this morning You know God is life and God has produced That life God has provided for that life but God has also even gone beyond That promised eternal life that I will sustain that life even Beyond your natural years in heaven He makes that promise and we know That's true that God has given us this promise of eternal life because of the fact That he seals us he seals us with that Holy Spirit Of promise it says there where you are in Ephesians chapter 1 if you look at Verse 13 it says in whom ye also trusted after that ye heard The word of the truth the gospel of your salvation in whom Also after that ye believed you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise So notice there it's we hear the word of truth which is the gospel Of our salvation and after that what we believe and when We have believed the gospel of our salvation what happens we are what sealed With the Holy Spirit of promise which Is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession Unto the praise of his glory don't anyone lie to you and tell you that your Salvation can be lost that it could be taken away from you if you don't live right You know and this is an important doctrine to understand It really warrants its whole sermon because there's so many ministries Even in this town that are succeeding Despite the fact that they're preaching a false gospel they're saying hey You need to clean up your life you got to get off the drugs and get off the street if you want To make your way to heaven that's works-based salvation folks The Bible says that you hear the word of the gospel the word of Our salvation you hear it and then you believe it and that once you've believed You are sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise that's a Promise that God makes to say hey you're saved I'm going to take you to heaven when you die Through the shed blood of Christ through no works of your own You're sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession It's an earnest that's what the sealing of the Holy Spirit is It's God's promise to us that you are mine and you will go to Heaven because you believed the gospel not because you cleaned up Your life not because you got off drugs not because you quit doing This or started doing that but because you have believed the gospel That is the earnest of our inheritance that's what the promise is And notice you know there in verse 14 it says at the end Unto the praise of his glory that's why the Bible says that You know we're saved by grace through faith and that not of ourselves it is the gift of God Lest any man should what boast and get to heaven Well I know Jesus died for me but you know I also got off meth You know I know Jesus died for me but I also kicked the crack pipe I quit boozing What I mean that's such vain boasting it's foolish To even think that someone would stand there and think I had a part in me getting here Oh what'd you do that was so noble and so worthy And so great that earns you into getting into heaven Oh I quit sinning. Oh you quit doing something that even unsaved people Go their whole life without doing in many cases Even the unsaved avoid drug use That's not some ticket into heaven And people preach this and they preach this and people fall for it And they're trusting in their own works and they're going to get to heaven And they're going to say did we not do many wonderful works in thy name and prophesy in thy name And Jesus is going to say depart from me I never knew you you that work iniquity And they're saying well wait we cast out devils We prophesy in thy name and Jesus it's iniquity Although it's the same works he did when he was on earth but he calls it iniquity because That's what they're trusting to get themselves into heaven their own righteousnesses Which are as filthy rags the Bible says that's what they're trusting to get there I'm not saying you shouldn't do those things I'm not saying you know if you're struggling with meth or crack or drink Or anything or sin we should all be getting that stuff out of our life You know we all have sin to get out of our life but I'm not going to get to heaven And say well I'm here yes because Jesus died for my sins was buried and rose again But also you know I cleaned up my life pretty good I really polished things up after I got saved and that's how I know I'm here No it's under the praise of his glory I'm going to get there and just say Jesus paid it all all to him I owe Sin had left a crimson saint he washed it white as snow I owe everything to him It's going to be to his glory that I'm there the Bible says in 2 Corinthians 1 For all the promises of God in him are yea and in him Amen unto the glory of God by us now he which Is with us and with you in Christ and hath anointed us is God Who hath sealed us and given us the earnest of the Spirit in our hearts Did I have you go to Ephesians 4? Go to Ephesians 4 if I didn't look that earnest you know anyone who's bought A house knows what that word earnest means you know like the earnest money They say I want to make an offer on the house they say well you need to put down We're going to start you know the process of purchasing a home which is lengthy There's a lot of paperwork everyone's got to kind of fill out a lot of People moving parts so we'll go ahead and do that but to know you're serious To know that you're earnest that you're grave that you mean business you need to Put down some payment up front before we'll even start the process And if you back out for a reason other than you know something Valid we're just going to keep that money and the Bible says that the Holy Spirit The sealing of the Holy Spirit is our earnest from God That he which hath begun a good work in us will perform it On the day of Jesus Christ that he has given us that and we know that we're going to go To heaven because we have the earnest of the Spirit that's the promise that God has given us Because God is life He produces that life he provides for that life he's promised us eternal life And he says there in Ephesians chapter 4 Look at verse 30 and grieve not the Holy Spirit of God Whereby ye are sealed under the day of your Redemption you know The fact that God is life should just remind us of the Goodness of God how good he really is to each and every one of us Even when we aren't Grateful even when we're maybe bitter or mad or Backslidden or whatever it is God is still providing for us and God Still sealed us under the day of that redemption God doesn't say well I don't like the way you're behaving Anymore I'm just going to take away that earnest no it's there We're sealed until the day of our redemption it's done that deal is done And this is the application because God is life because God has produced our life provided our life you know we ought to make Our life about God that is the application this morning I mean isn't that what Ephesians 4 is saying They're saying there look you're sealed by the Holy Spirit under the day of redemption right? But what's the first half say and grieve not the Holy Spirit Whereby you're sealed under the day of redemption Look because God has provided our life for our life he's produced it he's provided for it and then he's Promised his eternal life he is sustaining our life and he has sealed us with the Spirit we ought to take it upon ourselves to not grieve him And to make our lives about him Go to Colossians chapter 3 I should have had you keep something there in Colossians But if I didn't go to Colossians chapter number 3 Look if life is God if God is life If life is what comes from him and God is who sustains life and God is the one who has given us Eternal life and has sealed us we ought to make our lives About God I mean that's what our lives Have to be about and I'll make some practical application Here about what exactly that means but you ought to make Your life about God you know God should have a pretty you know should be The number one priority in your life You know and some people hear that say I don't know about that but we're talking about The God who has given you life Who is sustaining your life every day whether you acknowledge him or not Who has given you and promised you and sealed you with eternal life Why wouldn't you make your life about him? That's what's so mind boggling sometimes that's what's so confusing about Christians that Just don't want anything to do with God I mean they like the salvation bit And they'll take that and they'll run with that and they're glad they're saved and I'm glad They're saved and God's glad they're saved but why not make the rest of Your life about God why not make your life about serving the One who has saved you you would think it would just be natural I mean even on earth sometimes when You know certain cultures when people you know You might I don't know if this is real anywhere but we've probably all seen it in a movie Or somewhere where someone will save somebody else's life and say oh no I owe you my life Now I'm going to serve you until I have an opportunity to pay back What you did for me that kind of thing is out there If not at least a make believe But you know what that actually is exactly what Christ did for us isn't it That's exactly what God has done for us if we're saved he has spared Our life from hell and the least we could do Is say well you know what now I'm just going to serve you because My life is not my own my life is not my own And neither is ours any of ours Look there in Colossians chapter 3 verse 1 Say well that's a pretty tall order that You're asking us to live up to make your life about God Make God your life that's the message of the New Testament friend That's what Paul preached look at verse 1 if then you be risen with Christ seek those things Which are above where Christ Sitteth on the right hand of God That's what we need to make our life about that's what we need to seek in this life The things which are above set your affection On things above it says in verse 2 not on things On the earth and look there's so many things on earth Especially in the world in the country that we live in and the culture That we're in that can just take our affections and run With them there's so many things that could win our affections Away from Christ And look it's verse 2 set your affection you need to put it there and keep It there things that are above my Life is Christ that's what Paul said He said I am crucified with Christ yet nevertheless I live yet not I but Christ that liveth in me Look at verse 3 for ye are dead and your life is hid with Christ And God that's a powerful statement You're all dead You know we've been the old man has been crucified with Christ All things have been made new How does that affect us in our daily Life how does that affect our ambitions our Plans our priorities how does that affect us When God is our life that's what he says in verse 4 when Christ Who is our life shall appear then shall he also Appear with him in glory and look that's the Application that's what Paul's preaching here because God is life Because your life is hidden with Christ you might as well Just reckon yourself as dead and set your affection on things which Are above you know and Christians They go through life and they're beating their head against the wall and they get in these Positions sometimes and I'm not saying if you're a Christian you're never gonna have any problems but sometimes They go through life and they just think to themselves why does my life stink Why is it just I'm so dissatisfied and discontent Why is it why does my life stink Well the smell is you it stinks Because you're propping up a corpse When you make your life about the things that are on this earth when you make your life About just satisfying the flesh that's you just propping up that dead old man Just dragging him around and you've got this corpse next to you And you're just trying to you know feed it and give it everything it wants and you go what's That smell it might be the corpse That you're dragging around and keep it alive and propping up And dragging through life I think that's what the smell is that's what's making your life stink Look at verse five he said mortify therefore your members which are upon The earth you know what mortify means you know think about the word like Mortician mortuary right it means kill You know reckon it dead kill your members upon The earth mortify them don't let the lusts Of the flesh rule your life don't make don't set Your affections you know on just pleasing your flesh because all you're feeding Is a dead man all you're all you're trying to do is just Keep that corpse going and all it's going to do is make things Stink he said fornication And cleanness inordinate affection evil concupiscence and Covetousness which is idolatry for which things the sake the wrath Of god cometh on the children of disobedience in which he also Walked sometime when he lived in them but now he also put off all These anger wrath malice blasphemy filthy communication out of your mouth Lie not one to another seeing you have put off the old man With his deeds and have Put on the new man he said in verse 10 which is renewed in the knowledge After the image of him that created him You know god has created a new man in salvation When you got saved there's that new man and that's who you need To nurture and take care of and that's who we ought To be lifting up and propping up in our lives not Dragging around that old man and really what Paul is getting at is that you know your life is not yours that's basically the Message here that's what i'm preaching this morning if you keep something there Just stay in colossians 3 you know god is life right He's produced it he's provided for it He's promised eternal life he sustains life he's Sealed us with the holy spirit of salvation he's given us that new man that's created In christ jesus and the message is that your Life is not yours why should i make my life about god because Your life isn't yours it doesn't belong to you The bible says in first corinthians chapter 6 What know ye not that your body is the temple of the holy ghost which is in you Which ye have of god and ye are not Your own oh who are you to get up and say my life Isn't mine i mean that's that's what the world preaches out there Do whatever you want you know live your dreams Whatever that means you know You know and i know i've expressed my disdain for that philosophy before of just You know whatever if you're not happy doing what you're doing then just go do something That makes you happy you know you know how the fabric Society would just fall apart if everybody adopted that and it's always coming out of the Mouth of like some surfer you know or some brazilian jiu jitsu Professional or something like that it's always coming out of somebody who's got some you know Talent or ability that allows them to do what they love you never hear a Crash man saying that just do what you love you never hear the guy Down at the sewage treatment facility just saying hey man if you're not happy doing what you're doing Do something else you know Society would fall apart if Everyone adopted that philosophy And look nothing will get done by god's people if they adopt that same philosophy The work of christ will go undone souls will go Saved churches will not be established preachers will not be sent out Families will not be raised for christ things that are supposed to be getting done For god will go undone if christians if god's people adopt that same Philosophy well my life's mine i get to do whatever i want no it's not that's not what the bible Teaches the bible in fact teaches the complete opposite of that philosophy He said that ye are not your Own you are bought with a price therefore glorify god in your body And in your spirit which are gods the bible says that your Body your spirit are gods they belong to him Well yeah i know they do now because i'm saved No they've always been his even these people that know not God that aren't saved that are out there that are singing against god with that Body and in their spirit and all these different ways even them they belong to god They're gods because he produced it He's the source And your life is now gods why because he's the one still providing For it he's still sustaining it and look Your life never has been yours your life isn't yours And it never will be yours because he's the one that has Promised eternal life he's the one that seals it go to colossians chapter 3 look At verse 18 it says there and he is the Head of the body the church who is the beginning the first Born from the dead that in all things he might have the preeminence Who should have the preeminence not just In the church but also in our lives it's god god deserves That place in your life because he's the one That has provided for your life he's the one that's sustaining Your life he's the one that has sealed you with the promise of eternal life and purchased you With the price the precious blood of his own son God is life Christ is our life Our life should in turn then be about Christ and look I'm not saying that this has to get some kind turn this into some kind of Weird mystical you know elusive You know meaning what does it mean to make my life it's pretty basic I mean it's all right in here fulfill the role that god has Commanded you to fulfill do the things that god has commanded you To do that's what it means to make to set your affection on things which are above Where christ sitteth on the right hand of the throne of god that's what it means to Make god your life is to obey this book to do the things That he's commanded of us and they're not you know and jesus Said you know my yoke is easy and my burden is light and the bible Says that his commandments are not grievous you know it's Not a it shouldn't be a drudgery to get up in the morning and crack open You know the the most powerful book ever written To crack open the word of god to get into it and to read it And have god speak to you that's not grievous what do you mean Make god my life read your bible oh i don't know if i could do that It's a blessing to read the word of god to meditate upon the things of god Oh memorizing scripture so hard yeah until there's Some verse that you needed until you find yourself in some situation Where a bible verse could have been brought to mind that would have brought you comfort That would have brought you a sense of safety and well-being that would have Encouraged you and helped you you know then it would be nice but look that's not gonna Happen unless you take the time to memorize it These things aren't difficult oh prayer God tells us to pray how do i make my life about god Reach your bible pray oh prayer it's Just so there's no screen involved You have to actually close your eyes even There's nothing to touch there's no it doesn't smell like anything There's nothing to taste yeah but you're communing with the holy god you're coming Boldly before the throne of grace define help in a time of need You're making your request known unto god there's a god in heaven that will hear You Oh soul winning Oh go do for somebody the same thing that someone did for you And god will reward for you for it in heaven You know these are just some practical things about Making christ your life god is life so make your life about god You know wives fulfill the role that god has given you husbands Fulfill the role that god has given you children fulfill the role that god has given you as Church members as soul winners as god's people make god your life Because you know what your life is god's because god is life Let's go ahead and pray dear lord again thank you for All the great things you give us lord thank you for the blessings thank you for giving Us not just our physical life but also eternal life lord i pray you help us To make our lives about serving you and lord that we would find The joy in that and serving christ we ask these things in his name amen All right We'll be dead Love in our head Our joys we know Join in the song this freedom Join in the song this freedom And the storm that was rolling Us around the throne Where fire sheets is high We're full we're full sky Where fire sheets are burned to die Of the beautiful state of god Let those free foods succeed We'll never lose our home The children of the heavenly king Let's be their joys of god Let's be their joys of god We're marching to Zion Beautiful beautiful sky We're marching the words to Zion The beautiful city of God Let those free foods succeed Hold us on our heels We're bound to save the streets Before we reach the heavenly roof Before we reach the heavenly roof We're on the golden streets We're on the golden streets We're marching to Zion Beautiful Zion We're marching the words to Zion The beautiful city of God Then let our songs abound Let every tear we try We're marching through the menos world We're marching through the menos world There were clouds of light To tear the clouds apart We're marching to Zion Beautiful beautiful sky We're marching the words to Zion The beautiful city of God Beautiful city of God Beautiful city of God Beautiful city of God Beautiful city of God Beautiful city of God Beautiful city of God Beautiful city of God Beautiful city of God Beautiful city of God . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .