Above All Else
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Intro: Back in January I preached on a theme. Priorities. We learned to prioritize the eternal. Namely, people and God’s Word. The saved, the church. The unsaved, those that need the gospel. And God’s Word. We were reminded that our priorities must be in step with the mind of Christ.
This morning we are going to build on that thought. I wanted to share with you all the youth group theme for the year. “Above all else.”
4 When Christ who is your life appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.
Christ who is your life. Above all else. Christ above all else. There are a couple of reasons I wanted to share this theme with you.
Firstly, so that you can be fervently praying for the hearts of our youth. And my friends in youth group, and awana, be encouraged by the fact that you have your whole church family behind you as we go into the journey of studying through Colossians together. Christ wants to speak to you this year. Are you gonna listen or ignore?
Secondly, it is a theme that we all need to be constantly refreshing in our lives. This isn’t just a truth that I need to have, or the youth group, we each need to have this mindset. Christ above all else. I desire this morning to refresh us, to refocus us if we need it in any area of our lives. Christ above anyone in our lives. Christ above anything in our lives.
Please do not neglect to pray for each other, for the youth. Lets refresh our minds as we daily put Christ above all. We will be diving into the book of Colossians this year, but this is our theme. Col 3:4 Lets look at the verses surrounding.
1 If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. 2 Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. 3 For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. 4 When Christ who is your life appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.
There is no purpose apart from Christ. We are dead in our sins apart from Christ. Because of Christ we have reason to live and to serve.
Positionally, we have been raised with Christ if we have placed our trust in Him.
8 Now if we have died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him. 9 We know that Christ, being raised from the dead, will never die again; death no longer has dominion over him.
Death has no dominion over Christ, therefore, in Christ, death had no dominion over us. We are dead in our sin before salvation, and dead to sin after Christ. Sin no longer has the power over us anymore. We have a power far greater inside us that will give us victory. Every moment that we rely on the Spirit, we will not gratify the desires of the flesh.
16 But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh.
Positionally, we are raised with Christ, we have his righteousness.
21 For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.
In God placing our sins on Christ, giving him the punishment we deserve, he is able to grant to us His righteousness.
Raised with Christ. Positionally, before God, He sees us as righteous when we place our trust in Jesus. We’ve got nothing to prove, Christ paid it all.
Positionally, we are raised with Christ. He sees us as righteous.
Practically, we must be seeking the things above.
We must set our mind on things above.
1 If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. 2 Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth.
These two sound similar, seeking and setting our mind on things above, but there is a slightly different meaning behind both. These are both imperative commands that must go hand in hand.
We are to seek the things that are above. Namely, Christ, who is seated at the right hand of God. To seek.
Think of that posture. Seeking the things that are above. Looking up. Just that very process invokes humility. My own brother, is 6’3”. Very sad, very humiliating. For a long time I wouldn’t even admit that he was taller than me. It is a humbling thing to look up to someone. To acknowledge that Christ is above me. That I must be putting him above all else.
At school, I’m back in the elementary this year, K-3 and 6th. What an awesome opportunity to display Christ and his love to those kiddos. The honor the respect they show, most of the time, or they should, in that posture of looking up to someone that's a good example.
We all have those individuals that we look up to. A parent, a pastor, a teacher. Seeking the things that are above, Christ, it is a posture of humility. It is a posture of respect. It is a posture of honor. Seek the things that are above. Seek to know Christ above all else.
And to seek out isn’t just a posture, it is an action. Actively seeking God in our lives.
There are a couple of implications to this word. zēteō. I read about it in the Lexham Theological Wordbook. Basically a dictionary for greek words.
This word seek: First, it means “to seek something that has been lost”
Second, it also means “to demand what is due”
Randall Merrill, “Seeking,” ed. Douglas Mangum et al., Lexham Theological Wordbook, Lexham Bible Reference Series (Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press, 2014).
So to seek something lost. This same word in the greek is used in Mt. 18:12 to describe the good shepherd seeking the one lost sheep out of the 100. Something lost, in need of being regained. Our relationship with the Lord all starts the same, broken. There is something to regain, our standing before Him, we cannot regain that on our own.
In Christ, through trust in Him, our relationship with Him begins at the moment of salvation. And that process of seeking Him begins there. Mankind was created in perfect harmony, but lost that relationship when we sinned and let evil into the world. So when we accept Christ’s gift of salvation, that is us seeking Him for the first time.
Here is Romans describing the degenerate state of all of mankind apart from Christ.
9 What then? Are we Jews any better off? No, not at all. For we have already charged that all, both Jews and Greeks, are under sin, 10 as it is written:
“None is righteous, no, not one;
11 no one understands;
no one seeks for God.
12 All have turned aside; together they have become worthless;
no one does good,
not even one.”
13 “Their throat is an open grave;
they use their tongues to deceive.”
“The venom of asps is under their lips.”
14 “Their mouth is full of curses and bitterness.”
15 “Their feet are swift to shed blood;
16 in their paths are ruin and misery,
17 and the way of peace they have not known.”
Verse 11 says no one understands, no one seeks for God. What a sobering thought. The one who is above all, totally deserving of all affection and the world goes away from Him. The world in a state of ignorance.
Have you heard the saying? There are no atheists in foxholes. In times of fear and duress, everyone cries out to God. Everyone knows that there is a God. But not everyone is seeking that relationship that they lost through sin.
But God is actively seeking.
8 And when he comes, he will convict the world concerning sin and righteousness and judgment: 9 concerning sin, because they do not believe in me; 10 concerning righteousness, because I go to the Father, and you will see me no longer; 11 concerning judgment, because the ruler of this world is judged.
The Spirit is active. The Word is Active.
12 For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart.
The Word is active. His people are called to be active.
10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.
His people are called to be active. To be seeking the things that are above.
Col 3:1 “1 If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God.”
Christ must be your life. Above all else seek the things that are above. Keep that heavenly mindset.
Col 3:2 “2 Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth.”
We hear it said, oh don’t be so heavenly minded that you are of no earthly good.
I believe that scripture and this passage teaches us that If we have a heavenly mindset we will be of the greatest earthly good.
Having a heavenly mindset takes away our fears.
4 “I tell you, my friends, do not fear those who kill the body, and after that have nothing more that they can do. 5 But I will warn you whom to fear: fear him who, after he has killed, has authority to cast into hell. Yes, I tell you, fear him!
People can’t touch our eternity. Christ has got us in His hands. We aren’t to fear others, we are to fear God, our ultimate authority and the one who has an amazing plan and purpose for us. I’ve been studying through Job with the youth group and the Lord has just been challenging me with the fact that God never promises me a happy, comfy life. There are going to be things in life, situations that are not what I want to go through or experience.
We have all been there. But we know.... that God is allowing situations.... he is allowing trials to grow us into perfect and complete Christ followers.
2 Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, 3 for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. 4 And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.
Having a heavenly mindset takes away fear of others and fear of situations that may come.
Having a heavenly mindset also gives us unquenchable joy. We are reminded of that in James, we just read it, count it all joy!! I’ve been reading Philippians in my personal time. Paul having joy in inexplicable circumstances. He is in prison, it don’t matter to him, he still has joy! Phil 4:4
17 Even if I am to be poured out as a drink offering upon the sacrificial offering of your faith, I am glad and rejoice with you all. 18 Likewise you also should be glad and rejoice with me.
Don’t be sad for my situation. I’m gonna serve the Lord right where I am at. I am at peace right where God has me. Lets cultivate that same mindest in ourselves. Having a heavenly mindset gives unquenchable joy.
Having a heavenly mindset gives us inexplicable peace. The joy and peace of the Lord go hand in hand.
4 Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice. 5 Let your reasonableness be known to everyone. The Lord is at hand; 6 do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. 7 And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
Peace comes with a heavenly mindset, in replacing worries with worship. By replacing stress with supplication. Casting our cares on Him. Instead of counting doubts, counting blessings from our Lord. Phil 4:7 “7 And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”
Having a heavenly mindset gives us inexplicable peace. Fostering in ourselves an attitude of thanksgiving. Having a big red happy heart as Micah would put it, gives peace.
Having a heavenly mindset gives us hope. 1 Peter 1:3-4
3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 4 to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you,
When we are focused on heaven, that inheritance that in imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you, it should make you excited. Here is a surfer term from my days at the beach last week. Having a heavenly mindset should keep us stoked.
Conclusion:
Above all else.... In your life is Christ above all else? Every person, every possession, every position you are in. Is Christ above all.
Positionally, we have been raised with Christ.
Practically, we are to actively be seeking the things that are above. To be setting our mind on things above.
If we have a heavenly mindset, we will be of the most earthly good. Our fears dealt with, our joy complete, inexplicable peace, and a living hope are there for the taking when we have a heavenly mindset, seeking the things that are above where Christ is seated.
Our old self is dead, and our new life and purpose is in Christ.
3 For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. 4 When Christ who is your life appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.
I don’t know what you tend to seek apart from Christ. But I know we are all in that battle in one capacity or another against the flesh. Is it anxiety or fear of the future. Is it selfish desires. Maybe it is security or safety you seek above Christ. Is it a person, a possession, or a position in life that you are craving more than Christ?
41 Watch and pray that you may not enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.”
We need help in the battle of putting Christ above all else. Cry out to the Lord as you wrestle. Seek others to help in the journey. We were not made to be self sufficient, we need God and we need others.
9 Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their toil. 10 For if they fall, one will lift up his fellow. But woe to him who is alone when he falls and has not another to lift him up! 11 Again, if two lie together, they keep warm, but how can one keep warm alone? 12 And though a man might prevail against one who is alone, two will withstand him—a threefold cord is not quickly broken.
Above all else. Above sports, academics, friendships, family, hobbies, home. For me above my girlfriend, finances, work, security, and comfort.
33 But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.
What do you need to cut out or have a renewed perspective on? Christ is above all in the universe, but is he above all in your heart? Search your own heart in this, I know I have been, its been tough. Pray for others in this. Pray for the youth as we dive into this even deeper. Pray for your spouse, your kids that they would put Christ first. I would love to pray for all of us in this as we close.