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April 12, 2009AM (Easter)

Colossians 3:1-11

Colossal Victory

 

Jesus is alive.

 He was raised from the dead by the power of God.

  And in His resurrection there is victory.

   It is Colossal Victory.

    It is an all-encompassing victory.

     It is not marginal.

      It is radical.

 

I   We too can experience the Colossal Victory of the resurrection.

     Part of that victory is to DISROBE from the bondage of Satan (v. 9).

      We can be free from Satan just as Jesus was free from the tomb.

       The God-created empty tomb brought a huge sigh of restoration to creation.

        The worn out things of earth are now giving way to God’s glorious hope.

         Satan no long holds this world captive in his decaying dominion.

          He is now bound by the blood of Jesus.

           Jesus wasn’t raised from the dead just to live in a tomb.

           Neither are we given new life in Christ to remain in sin.

             Wherever the name of Jesus is proclaimed, Satan flees.

              And we are set free.

Paul gives us a whole bunch of examples of where we have lacked victory.

 He gives a few examples in verse 5, 8, and 9.

   The Message lists them rather descriptively.

“And that means killing off everything connected with that way of death: sexual promiscuity, impurity, lust, doing whatever you feel like whenever you feel like it, and grabbing whatever attracts your fancy.  That's a life shaped by things and feelings instead of by God.  …  so make sure it's all gone for good: bad temper, irritability, meanness, profanity, dirty talk.  Don't lie to one another.  You're done with that old life.  It's like a filthy set of ill-fitting clothes you've stripped off and put in the fire.”

    We were not created to wear these things.

     They don’t fit us and Paul says to put them off.

      As long as they are our wardrobe we will experience defeat.

       Colossal Victory is found in clearing the closet.

        We no longer seek the earthly ways of experiencing life.

         Colossal Victory is never experienced in the ways of the world.

          Colossal Victory is found in putting off the old ways of living.

 

II  But this disrobing is just the start.

     Colossal Victory is found in a new wardrobe.

      In the old days just about everyone had something new to wear on Easter.

       But that is not the wardrobe of Colossal Victory.

        We ROBE or clothe ourselves in Jesus (v. 10).

         That is the Colossal Victory that impacts and transforms your life.

          When you have been raised with Christ then the way you live is changed.

You “have put on the new nature, which is being renewed in knowledge after the image of its creator.”

           This Colossal victory is found in the resurrection life of Jesus.

            The experience of Colossal Victory is available to everyone.

             There need be no exclusions.

              You are not the exception.

              You can be robed in the new nature of Jesus.

               You can live as Jesus lived – to want what Jesus wants.

                Set your mind on things above, not things on earth.

                 Just as you disrobe from sin, you robe yourself in Christ.

A few weeks ago we as a congregation participated in a wonderful ministry.

 Three of our own congregation went on our behalf to Zambia.

  They went to share the Colossal Victory of Jesus.

   They went to introduce people to Jesus who is risen from the dead.

    And I have asked them to share with us a spiritual victory they witnessed.

     I want them to share how they saw the resurrected Jesus work.

      So Emma and Victoria and Glenda are going to share a victory.

       May our eyes be opened to the Colossal Victory of the empty tomb today.

(SHARED TESTIMONIES)

Was their motive for going because they wanted the thrill of travel?

 Were they seeking another stamp on a passport or an escape from winter?

  Were they hoping to just work on a tan and experience a new culture?

   Those are all earthly targets.

    They went to Africa because their minds and hearts were raised with Christ.

     They had disrobed the stifling things of this world.

      They set their minds on what Jesus focuses on, holiness, love, forgiveness.

You too can be raised with Christ today.

“If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God.” (vs. 1)

 No one is automatically raised with Christ.

  Resurrection life is not a guaranteed experience.

   But it is available to all who put their faith in Jesus.

    The invitation is extended to you today.

     You are invited to put your faith in Jesus.

      “To all who received Him and believed in His name, He gave power to become the children of God; who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.”  (John 1:12, 13)

       He enables you to put on a new nature.

        Will you trust Him with your life today?

         That means more than showing up to church on this Easter Sunday.

          It is not an occasional acknowledgment that Jesus lived.

           Colossal Victory is more than a casual relationship with Jesus.

           Paul says we clothe and continuously clothe ourselves in Jesus.

            We don’t just dabble in Jesus.

             No, we die with Him so that we may also be raised with Him.

This Communion Table reminds us we aren’t dabbling.

 We are not just going through the motions of faith.

  We identify with Jesus in His death.

   By eating and drinking these emblems I am saying I have a whole new wardrobe.

    And that wardrobe proclaims the Colossal Victory of the resurrection.

     Jesus is dwelling with me.

      Paul’s words in verse 11 are true for me.

       “Christ is all, and in all” in my life.

        This is how much Jesus loves you today.

 

Song    O How He Love You and Me