R1660 The Believer’s Obligation

God has an encouraging word for you today.

The Bible-based teaching of Dr. Don Wilton. All the believers obligation. Colossians chapter 3 adjustable with another were connecting all the time on our website at tewonline.org OR G sign up with Dave Encouraging Word from Dr. Wilson today. That's tewonline.org oh large Colossians we are to be in chapter 3, read to you something that is really remarkable. I like to start out today by reading this, we are studying the letter to the church colossi.

For those of you that are not your Colossians. This is a group of people living in the town of colossi probably just a small group of people. They were new believers and they were living out they knew Christian faith. Just like many of us like you today you given your life to Christ and you belong to him.

Christ lives in you.

So yes the challenge you ready for this. I meant to give a solar challenge that all of us out.

I know that I've given my heart to Jesus and you know that to but I'm living in this world and God's word says of me that I'm to be in the world but not all of the world. How do you do that how do you live in this world but yet at the same time not be all the world and put it in another way, if you have given our hearts and lives to the Lord Jesus, and if you haven't, I'm inviting you to do that today. You give your heart to Jesus right now that's the work of God by his spirit.

You give your heart and life to Jesus you not going to go and live in a cave. Now some of you might and that's have a nice time.

What we got in our world. We bought football games. We got friends. We bought campuses we've got work. We got feelings we have emotions, you know, Paul the apostle who wrote this he put it like this. He said the good that word that I do not, and the evil that I don't want to do that. I do, and he even called himself a Richard man this like a tug-of-war going on a wall between the flash me the man the person you the lady and the spirit of God and the Bible tells us that Christ lives in me. How do I live this out is what the Bible says. The Bible says that when you get married you become one flesh. Now that's hard for us to understand it's it's far more than the physical relationship.

It's the totality of the oneness. It's this it's this remarkably difficult thing to understand that two people, male and female so very different, can become one, so much you know you are not even say sometimes about parents, grandparents, and I'm sure some of you say that of of me and Karen. You know the long here married you even start looking like each other right now one apologize to some of you watch that you looks like him a little bit and I know that's terrible but you doing it because you love it right.

We become one flesh. All right my son-in-law has a ring on his finger. He is legally married in the side of God. He is husband to his wife, but that carries with it an obligation that he has to carry out to her as his wife and she has to carry out to him as her husband.

That's exactly what happens when you and I by the spirit of God are born again of the spirit of the living God will put it like this. He said need to is Christ. That's what Paul said and we going to see how this works in Colossians.

He's writing to a people who are living out their lives in a world in which they got the pagans of the Greek philosophies that deny the deity of Christ, they deny the sufficiency of Christ that he denies salvation in Christ and on the other side that got the religious zealots all full of old laws and regulations, their traditions, all the things that they do all the means and methods the way they walked the way they talk the way they worship you do this and you don't do that. And these Christians are being set free by the grace of God. All corporate tricks and between how do you live in a world like that.

All right.

Let's watch this. I want you to look at this with me. We cannot put it up on the screen for you. Colossians chapter 3 I'm going to just read the first folders okay this is what Paul says. He says since then you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God the father.

Verse two safety role Mayans on the things above and not on earthly things. Why verse three because you died your dad accepting the fact that your life is now hidden with Christ and I'm going to explain that to you in a minute with God so that when Christ who is your life appears for you. So it is that you also will appear with him he will appear for you. You will appear with him that a great passage of Scripture. This just talk for a minute about the believers obligation. You know that little word obligation, there is a great word it.

It really means I Judy you have a duty or commitment. Someone comes up to you and says you are obliged to do something so I used Dan my new son-in-law who I think is absolutely terrific.

I mean, Dan's parents who are here today who are the most wonderful people we were talking one day this week and we were just comparing notes together and having such a great time and they looked at us and they said to me and to Karen, you know we've been praying so much like what three wonderful sons. We've been praying so much for Dan that he would find a wonderful Christian young lady to be his wife. We said well we been doing the same thing get this.

They live in Zimbabwe. I'll explain that to some of you later. They live in Zimbabwe in Africa. We live in South Carolina. We were praying in South Carolina.

They were praying in Zimbabwe and God on Sadat prayers my son-in-law my daughter married and they have a duty and a commitment and obligation.

When you give your life to Christ you have an obligation cold going to show us about this. Probably my favorite definition of obligation. I love this obligation is a debt of gratitude for a favor that someone has done for you. Don't you like that will how much do you not suppose if it is addictive gratitude. How much more do you suppose we ought to be grateful that the Lord Jesus Christ loved us so much that he came down to this earth. He died upon the cross, taking upon himself the sin of the world by the power of God. He was raised from the dead he ascended to be seated at the right hand of God in heaven now making intercession for us. And because of what Christ has done in us and for us.

He now leaves us with the fevers of everything that Christ is that's why pull in the preceding verses was able to say I want you to know the purpose for which I proclaim and present you the whole counsel of God is exclusively that you may be full and become completely mature in all of everything that God gives to each one of us. That's what an obligation is it expresses the reality of our relationship with Christ and it reminds all of us about obligation to Jesus.

That little word there at the beginning of chapter 3. Since then, did you notice that that word since then because of what Jesus has done for me on account of the fact that the Christ life is in me that I'm not able to live out Jesus in me.

I can be in the world but not of the world. Therefore, because of that I have an obligation before God. So one of these obligations. There are four obligations that he talks about someone. The believer has an obligation to be reminded that you love being reminded of things. Look at verse one.

He says on account of the fact that you are being reminded of the fact that you been raised with Christ in all pull sign our obligation as believers is to be reminded that we are resurrected with the Lord Jesus did you know that as a believer you walk hello resurrected with the Lord Jesus Christ and that happens the instantaneous moment you gave your heart to Jesus. That's what happens when you give your heart to Jesus. Guess what happens all right get this.

Now this is very important at the moment of your conversion.

So when did you give your heart to Jesus.

Can you just remember that for a second when were you converted when did you encounter the holiness of God and confess your sin to Jesus Christ and by faith trusting in your heart. That's the moment. Three things happen to you. The first thing that happened to you is that you died with Christ number one. When you guide your heart to Jesus you died with Christ. What is that mean it means that you took hold of and became partnered into the very death of Jesus Christ you died. That's why Paul said, I have been crucified with Christ. You cannot be a believer and not have died in order to become a believer. Business cannot have continued as normal. That's why the Bible says repent and be converted, so that your sins may be blotted up or give the eruption will be back in just a moment with more of today's message on the believers obligation. But now that we're here for you. We love to pray with you anytime 24 hours a day at 866899 word 866-899-WORD 9673 or online@twonline.org where you'll discover great resources like this. My book Saturdays with Betty is about an extraordinary relationship with a precious man who impacted lives across the world. You don't want to miss this opportunity to be inspired by his life to that's is one of many great resources you find on our website TW online.org now back today's great teaching with Dr. Don Wilton.

What did Jesus do remember Jesus came to this earth, he went to a Roman cross with a note into the cross. He took upon himself the sin of the world and he gave up the spirit and he said father into your hands I commend my spirit. I need God and with him God. Everyone of the sins of every person ever committed, pause, present and future. And when you give your heart to Jesus Christ instantly become partnered with you receive what Jesus has already done you died with Jesus on the cross. That's what happened. Second thing that happened at the moment of salvation is that you were raised with Jesus.

See, Jesus didn't stay in the grave Bible says on the third day, by the power of God. God raised him up, Jesus came back to life.

He didn't come back to life, bringing with him out of the grave. All of Allison. Note he crucified the sin. Allison died with him because we are now dead in our trespasses and sins.

We been forgiven of Allison, but the Bible says that our sin remains then gone Barry because Christ has been raised from the dead and the Bible tells us in Paul is telling us listen, I want you to know that you live out this life. Please be reminded that you been call resurrected with Jesus, you're alive. My friend you are alive, you are forgiven. You're alive.

You have hope because you're alive in Christ. That's not all moment of salvation.

What's the third thing that happens you live with Christ. Remember what happened to Jesus. Okay he went to the cross he died taking our sin upon himself. On the third day, by the power of God. He was raised up, and then he went back to the Mount of Ascension.

Remember, after appearing over 500 and he went on the mount of the sanction. He had some of these disciples there and all of a sudden he was taken up, he was taken up into heaven, and he went up into the clouds and he went back into heaven, and he took a seat at the right hand of God, because in his right hand is the very ownership of God, the old, his power, and all his authority in these hand.

He holds the scroll the type of deed of air everything upon this earth. You can read about in Revelation chapter 4B has in his hand, the very type of deed of all bands. All this we deal with all the planning authority all the power he holds Edie's right hand and what Jesus wants us to know. Since then you in Christ Jesus you got an obligation.

My friend remember. Remember that you been raised with Christ. Galatians chapter 2 in verse 20 I have been crucified with Christ ready for the next part. Nevertheless I live I get this ready.

Nevertheless I live yet not I but Christ lives in me. I am a Christian man. Christ lives in me. Who is this Jesus there is he seated at the right hand of God the father all the essential attributes of the Godhead are, in fact, by the power of the spirit. The very resources made available to me as I try to figure out how to I live this life as a Christian person and be a Christian. At the same time, I want you to stick with me here guys. This is very important. This will transform your walk with Jesus. Some of you today looking at me here you're engaged in the battle launcher. You be the first one to say to me Doc, I'm a Christian person to live show doesn't look like it doesn't. How do I cope. How do I behave in my marriage how to control what's going on in my flesh. How do I enjoy this life while at the same time being a Christian person. Some of you going to say to me. Do I have to you mean about to give up this going to get the Christian life is not about giving up. It's about taking on guys watch me.

It's not about giving up. It's not about thou shalt not, it's about thou shalt.

This is the fullness of Christ. I'm crucified with Christ.

Nevertheless I live yet not I but Christ lives in me. What's he trying to tell us. I think bulls trying to tell us that the believer is obliged to be reminded that this co-resurrection is a fact fully accomplished in and through the Lord Jesus Christ.

That's what he saying to us it's powerful men is just so amazing someone be reminded there it is.

Number two.

Where is number two, number two, there's I want you to get. This is our second obligation not I need to be reminded but be determined be determined. You see that in the second part of verse one the beginning of verse to the two instructions they that speak to the believers determination and how much do we need to talk about what it means to be determined. Guys listen to this carefully. I want to quote to you what Jesus see I didn't say this. The Pope didn't say this. Billy Graham didn't say this a lot, didn't say this, Confucius didn't say this Jesus said this, you can read it for yourself in John chapter 15 in verse 19 Jesus said if the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first. Jesus said he goes on when he says this if you in fact belonged to the world. The world would love you as its own, as it is because you given your heart to me.

Jesus said because you're a Christian person. You do not belong to this world but I've chosen you out of this world and this is why the world hates you. Jesus said that you naughty just told me he looked at me and he said to me, my son, my child, you belong to me and the world is gonna hate you because you may look at me. Jesus said how much they hated me they crucified me because I'm righteous and I'm holy. And so it is because you are in Christ, you are living out the fullness of Christ.

You been crucified with Christ. Nevertheless, you live yet not you it's me who lives in you and because of that, the world cannot own you. The world cannot say you belong to the world and not tell you something got you in the palm of my hand not only be reminded but be determined.

Be determined to do two things. He says this is the solution number one St. your hearts on things that are above in heaven where Jesus Christ is seated at the right hand of God.

What's he talking about with the hawk that would be literally means safety your affections not on the things of the earth, but safe your affections on the things that are of God, safe your heart on the things that are of God see fuel affections, your inclinations subject by the spirit of the living God be about the business of a perpetual pursuit off to the things of God, guys, I want you listen to me carefully look at me as I'm about to make a really arrogant statement take me out of the picture. Just take me the picture here.

I will guarantee you because you sick your heart on things that above already, God has blessed you in some way by being here. This is part of God's plan. Sick your heart. Why, that's with Christ is seated because that's where you take hold of lordship that sway in the fullness of Christ.

You begin to understand the sovereignty of God.

It's at this point that you really take hold of the kingdom of God of kingdom work of the value that God places in the things that really matter.

Parents look at me.

I hope you don't think I'm being brash when I say this, I'm telling you when I sat down next to my beautiful wife yesterday. Just something I've never got to do is the father of the bride and I looked up at my two sons and my two beautiful daughters-in-law and I looked up at my door to Sherry, so beautiful and my new son-in-law Dan values I go to tell you parents listen to me show your children how to sit there hearts on things above, and then having said that, don't ever give up on those that you love because God is in control.

Not only is God in control but he has arranged you and I would be at this moment listening to Dr. Wilton. I pray that if you've heard him teach and preach from the pulpit you open your heart to what he wants to share next are you ready to give your heart and life to the Lord Jesus Christ. Why don't you pray this prayer with me right now. Dear God, I know that on December and I know that Jesus died for me on the cross today, I repent of my sin and by faith I receive you into my heart. In Jesus name, my friend.

I welcome you today into the family of God. This is exciting news. You just gave your life to Christ praying along with Dr. which you let us know. Would you let him know he wants to pray for you and he wants to put some free resources in your hands that'll help you grow, you can call us at 866-899-WORD and will send you those resources right away. There's a number 86 689-996-7324 hours a day that will connect with when I was happy to talk or listen or pray for me this on our website at tewonline.org RG that's tewonline.org