THE NEW LIFE :: REPRESENT JESUS

AT RHW WE PUBLISH A NEW COLUMN EACH FRIDAY. WE’RE GOING THROUGH FOUR SPECIFIC STUDIES WITH EACH SERIES BEING PUBLISHED ON A DESIGNATED WEEK OF THE MONTH.

In THE NEW LIFE series we’re studying one of my favorite chapters in the Bible: Colossians 3:1-17. As you will see, this is a rich chapter full of valuable life transforming lessons. Today’s column concludes this series for 2020.

Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts. And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him. ~ Colossians 3: 16-17

As we wrap up The New Life series today, we focus on the last two verses in my favorite section of Scripture. Here the Apostle Paul encourages his readers with some important words that perfectly cap off our study. Let’s look at four points and apply them to our lives today.

Let the Word of Christ Dwell In You Richly

It’s easy to allow our Bible reading to become a rote habit, flying through a chapter of Scripture just to get it checked off our to-do list. If we’ll take time to slow down and chew on a verse slowly we will find God’s Word more nourishing to our soul and spirit. As we meditate on Scripture it will become more a part of who we are. Little by little a change will show up in our words and behavior. Soon our life will begin to reflect the character of Christ for others to see.

Teach One Another with All Wisdom

This verse flows so beautifully to talk next about teaching each other. As we have filled our spirits on God’s Word we will naturally want to share it with those around us. The more we know Christ, the more we will want to tell others about Him. We will be drawn to opportunities where we can share God’s goodness with those who need to hear it.

Sing psalms to God with Gratitude in Your Hearts

One of the most important things we can do is sing songs of gratitude and worship to God. It not only lifts our spirits but it honors God for who He is and what He has done for us. The book of Psalms is the best place to go when troubled. The songs there span every human situation and emotion imaginable. The psalmists put words to our heartache and troubles. They help us process our pain while the Holy Spirit brings healing and wholeness in a time of need.

Do Everything Representing the Name of Jesus

To top it all off, we must do everything as a representative of Jesus Christ. As Christians we are ambassadors for Christ to the world. We are in essence presenting what may be the only Jesus some people may ever see. Our words and actions must be in harmony with Jesus’ identity and be under His authority. Wherever we go, whatever we do, we are leaving an impression on people. Will they see Jesus Christ when they see and talk to me? It’s my prayer that others will see will see more of Him and less of me. That they truly will see Christ in me.

Take a few minutes and be blessed with this beautiful song by Jeremy Camp.

Today we bring this series to a close. If you’ve missed any of the columns this year, please check out all the previous articles here: THE NEW LIFE SERIES. I hope this series has been a blessing to you like it has been for me.

September 18, 2020September 7, 2020

THE NEW LIFE :: BELOVED OF GOD

AT RHW WE PUBLISH A NEW COLUMN EACH FRIDAY. WE’RE GOING THROUGH FOUR SPECIFIC STUDIES WITH EACH SERIES BEING PUBLISHED ON A DESIGNATED WEEK OF THE MONTH.

In THE NEW LIFE series we’re studying one of my favorite chapters in the Bible: Colossians 3:1-17. As you will see this is a rich chapter full of valuable life transforming lessons. Join me on the third Friday of each month in 2020 for this in-depth Bible study with real world applications.

Since God chose you to be the holy people He loves, you must clothe yourselves with tenderhearted mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Make allowance for each other’s faults, and forgive anyone who offends you. Remember, the Lord forgave you, so you must forgive others. ~ Colossians 3:12-13

As God’s chosen and beloved people we must live in a way that honors our individual value and what Christ has done for us. After all this new life wouldn’t be possible without Christ’s death and resurrection.

Loving Virtues

With our new life wardrobe we are clothed with the virtues of mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience, given to us through Jesus Christ. Wearing these virtues ables us to bear other’s burdens and forgive their flaws. This allows opportunities to truly show the love of Christ in our everyday life.

Our lives are called to be a response to God’s self-giving love. Every good thing we do in this life — love, forgive, serve — is merely an echo of the love of God. ~ James Bryan Smith

Forgiven to Forgive

When we accept God’s forgiveness we too must be willing to forgive others. With those who are difficult to forgive we may need to meditate on the fact that because Christ has forgiven me completely, I must in turn forgive.

It’s important to stress here forgiveness doesn’t require continuing a relationship with someone who is toxic to be around. At this point we must forgive them, pray for and love them through Christ from a distance.

Beloved Chosen

Sometimes it’s easy to love and forgive others but somehow we can’t do the same for ourselves. For whatever reason we feel unworthy or not good enough to be called God’s beloved. No matter what we believe about ourselves God’s love for us is unstoppable!

YOU ARE THE BELOVED OF GOD!

There is nothing in our present or future circumstances that can weaken his love. There is no power above us or beneath us—no power that could ever be found in the universe that can distance us from God’s passionate love, which is lavished upon us through our Lord Jesus, the Anointed One! ~ Romans 8:38-39

Take a few minutes and listen to this beautiful song by Jordan Feliz. Let the lyrics soak deep in your soul and realize how much God loves you!

July 17, 2020June 28, 2020

THE NEW LIFE :: A NEW WARDROBE

AT RHW WE PUBLISH A NEW COLUMN EACH FRIDAY. WE’RE GOING THROUGH FOUR SPECIFIC STUDIES WITH EACH SERIES BEING PUBLISHED ON A DESIGNATED WEEK OF THE MONTH.

In THE NEW LIFE series we’re studying one of my favorite chapters in the Bible: Colossians 3:1-17. As you will see in the coming months, this is a rich chapter full of valuable life transforming lessons. Join me on the third Friday of each month in 2020 for this in-depth Bible study with real world applications.

“Now you’re dressed in a new wardrobe. Every item of your new way of life is custom-made by the Creator, with his label on it.” ~ Colossians 3-10 MSG

Many jobs have a particular uniform, a specific wardrobe required to be worn while working that position. Airplane pilots, military personnel, chefs, doctors, nurses and police officers all wear a specific uniform while on duty. It’s much the same in new life position in Christ. We have taken on a new identity which requires new clothing.

A new wardrobe comes with our new life!

We have removed the old ragged clothes that were part of our past lifestyle and have received a new wardrobe made especially for us. A special benefit of our new wardrobe is that it is being renewed each day in the knowledge of its unique Creator. God refreshes our wardrobe everyday!

Put on your new nature, and be renewed as you learn to know your Creator and become like him. ~ Colossians 3:10 NLT

It’s up to us to take off the old life and to intentionally put on the new life. We must make a decision to put on our new wardrobe each and every day so we won’t try to walk in this new life unprepared and unprotected.

Let’s lay every piece of our life down before the cross of Christ… Our thoughts, doubts, failures and mistakes; our hopes, dreams, desires and purpose. As we give them to Jesus He will take them and make them all new. He will make them all work into His perfect plan for our life.

Contemplate your new life and your new wardrobe with this beautiful worship song by G12 Worship.

May 15, 2020April 23, 2020

THE NEW LIFE :: NEW TALK / NEW WALK

AT RHW WE PUBLISH A NEW COLUMN EACH FRIDAY. WE’RE GOING THROUGH FOUR SPECIFIC STUDIES WITH EACH SERIES BEING PUBLISHED ON A DIFFERENT FRIDAY OF THE MONTH.

In THE NEW LIFE series we’re studying one of my favorite chapters in the Bible: Colossians 3:1-17. As you will see in the coming months, this is a rich chapter full of valuable life transforming lessons. Join me on the third Friday of each month in 2020 for this in-depth Bible study in Colossians with real world application for today.

In your past evil life you did wrong things. But now you must put these things out of your life: anger, bad temper, doing or saying things to hurt others, and using evil words when you talk. ~ Colossians 3:7-8

This earthly life brings challenges in our daily interactions with other people. These challenges may surface old negative patterns in our inner attitudes and our outer behaviors that were part of our old sinful life. In our new life God wants us to have a new way of talking and walking with others.

NEW TALK

Our attitudes, good or bad, show up in the words we use in difficult situations or with difficult people. When we’re reborn in Christ, God is remaking us from the inside out. This means our attitudes and words should be the first noticeable evidence of our new life to others who know us.

Our old life is dead and we are walking in new life with Christ. We must see our old self, our old attitudes and our old behaviors as dead. Our death to this earthly life must be made real in the way that we live every day.

NEW WALK

We aren’t walking this new life journey alone. Jesus has sent His Holy Spirit to live within us, to strengthen and guide us. We can trust that He is walking with us in our daily battle. He will help us in all areas of our life.

We are being made new in Christ every day. Our creation process is ongoing. It will only be fully completed when we cross over to Heaven one day. Until then, we seek God’s will and God’s ways by reading His Word, praying and listening to His guidance.

God promises He will never leave us or forsake us!

Let’s put on our dancing shoes and celebrate the good news that no matter how we’re talking and walking God will never walk away from us! Enjoy this awesome song by Elevation Rhythm!

April 17, 2020March 26, 2020

THE NEW LIFE :: ELIMINATE SINFUL BEHAVIOR

AT RHW WE PUBLISH A NEW COLUMN EACH FRIDAY. WE’RE GOING THROUGH FOUR SPECIFIC STUDIES WITH EACH SERIES BEING PUBLISHED ON A DESIGNATED WEEK OF THE MONTH.

In THE NEW LIFE series we’re studying one of my favorite chapters in the Bible: Colossians 3:1-17. As you will see in the coming months, this is a rich chapter full of valuable life transforming lessons. Join me on the third Friday of each month in 2020 for this in-depth Bible study with real world applications.

Therefore, put to death what belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desire, and greed, which is idolatry. Because of these, God’s wrath is coming upon the disobedient.~ Colossians 3:5-6 (CSB)

The Scripture reading for today may seem somewhat harsh or unsettling. However, what it is teaching us is critical to living a victorious new life in Christ.

Behaviors Driven By Desires

Because we have accepted Christ as our Savior, we have died to our old life and have been raised to walk a new life in Christ. Living this new life will require changing the habits and behaviors from our old lifestyle.

Our old behaviors were driven by old desires which originate within various parts of our physical body: mind, eyes, ears, touch, taste, etc… We allowed the desires of our body to dictate how we lived our life.

Feeding Habits Keeps Them Alive

Paul tells us we must kill what belongs to our earthly nature. And the best way to do that is to starve it… Don’t feed it anymore! Instead, we must feed our spirit by keeping our hearts and minds set on things above where Christ, is, not on the temporary things of this world.

After committing adultery and murder, King David composed probably the most famous psalm of repentance. Having owned up to his past sins in previous verses, we now see David asking God to make him a new creature.

Create a new, clean heart within me.
Fill me with pure thoughts and holy desires, ready to please you.
May you never reject me!
May you never take from me your sacred Spirit!

Let my passion for life be restored,
tasting joy in every breakthrough you bring to me.
Hold me close to you with a willing spirit
that obeys whatever you say. ~ Psalm 51:10-12 (TPT)

Changed Focus Means Changed Life

When we focus on the things of God, earthly desires begin to fade away. By spending time with God and experiencing a new found joy our desires begin to change. Little by little our thoughts change and our bodies will no longer crave old destructive habits. Soon we will have separated ourselves from the sins that caused us to walk in disobedience.

To stay in right relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ there are things we must not do or think. By humbly submitting our lives and diligently reordering our behaviors we will walk in joyful obedience to God.

BY GOD’S GRACE WE ARE CHANGED!

Celebrate how God changed you with this awesome song by Jordan Feliz.

March 20, 2020March 20, 2020

THE NEW LIFE :: HIDDEN IN CHRIST

AT RHW WE PUBLISH A NEW COLUMN EACH FRIDAY. WE’RE GOING THROUGH FOUR SPECIFIC STUDIES WITH EACH SERIES BEING PUBLISHED ON A DESIGNATED WEEK OF THE MONTH.

In THE NEW LIFE series we’re studying one of my favorite chapters in the Bible: Colossians 3:1-17. As you will see in the coming months, this is a rich chapter full of valuable life transforming lessons. Join me on the third Friday of each month in 2020 for this in-depth Bible study with real world application.

Your crucifixion with Christ has severed the tie to this life, and now your true life is hidden away in God in Christ. ~ Colossians 3:3 TPT

When we accepted Christ as our Lord and Savior we made a declaration of that new life and displayed it publicly by the act of water baptism. Submerged under the water we are buried with Christ. Lifted up out of the water we are raised to walk a new life in Christ.

Just as we know that our old sinful life is buried and dead, we can see our new life hidden safely in Christ. We are protected from the sting of eternal death that sin brings and from anything the Enemy tries to attack us with.

CHRIST IS IN ME

I AM IN CHRIST

CHRIST IS IN GOD

Using the image below as a visual example, we can imagine how this new life hidden in Christ works. With nesting containers, the smaller one fits inside the next larger size and so on until all the containers are inside the largest container.

Visualize yourself as the second container, with Christ (the top container) in you. Then with Christ in you, you are also in Christ (the third container). And together you are both in God (the bottom container).

With Christ inside us giving us peace, strength and direction we are protectively hidden in Christ and Father God’s hands. Not only are we safe from the Enemy’s sneaky tricks and hateful attacks, we are fully surrounded by God’s love.

Contemplate what being hidden in Christ means to you with this sweet song by United Pursuit .

February 21, 2020February 16, 2020

THE NEW LIFE :: SET YOUR MIND ABOVE

AT RHW WE PUBLISH A NEW COLUMN EACH FRIDAY. WE’RE GOING THROUGH FOUR SPECIFIC STUDIES WITH EACH SERIES BEING PUBLISHED ON A DESIGNATED WEEK OF THE MONTH.

In THE NEW LIFE series we’re studying one of my favorite chapters in the Bible: Colossians 3:1-17. As you will see in the coming months, this is a rich chapter full of valuable life transforming lessons. Join me on the third Friday of each month in 2020 for this in-depth Bible study with real world application.

Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things.~ Colossians 1:2

Living a heaven-focused life isn’t easy. Worldly distractions abound… freeway billboards, pop-up ads on our Internet browser, club music in the grocery store and that doesn’t count television, radio and magazines. It’s estimated that we’re hit with up to 10, 000 influences almost every day.

How on earth can we keep our minds set on heaven?

MADE IN GOD’S IMAGE

Because human beings are made in God’s image we have the ability to think like God thinks. Scripture teaches us to think higher thoughts like God does. If God tells us to do something it’s possible to do it. When we ask God for help, make every effort to be obedient He will give us good success.

Whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. ~ Philippians 4:8

DEVELOP A SPIRITUALLY DISCIPLINED LIFE

There is incredible value in learning and applying spiritual disciplines such as: prayer, study, service, confession and worship. On the 2nd Friday of 2020 at RHW we are doing a Spiritual Disciplines study. One of my favorite Bibles: The Life With God Bible is developed around the spiritual disciplines. It’s an excellent resource and great place to begin your study to grow more disciplined.

You’re only truly happy when you walk in total integrity,
walking in the light of God’s word. What joy overwhelms everyone who keeps the ways of God, those who seek him as their heart’s passion! They’ll never do what’s wrong but will always choose the paths of the Lord. God has prescribed the right way to live: obeying his laws with all our hearts. ~ Psalm 119:1-4 (TPT)

REJECT WHAT ISN’T FROM GOD

It’s easy to be influenced by worldly things. I’m very strict with what I allow to grab my attention. Whether it’s the tv in the lunch room at work or the radio playing at a co-worker’s desk; I have to be intentional to not let ungodly influences creep in.

Stop imitating the ideals and opinions of the culture around you, but be inwardly transformed by the Holy Spirit through a total reformation of how you think. This will empower you to discern God’s will as you live a beautiful life, satisfying and perfect in his eyes. ~ Romans 12:2

SEEK HEALTHY FELLOWSHIPS

There’s no question we become like the people we hang out with. It’s critical that we choose our friends carefully. Jesus may have eaten dinner with sinners but they weren’t his closest companions. Having godly friendship is a form of accountability helps protect us from falling back into sinful patterns.

If we are living in the light of God’s presence, just as Christ does, then we have wonderful fellowship and joy with each other, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from every sin. ~ 1 John 1:7

As we fellowship with other believers, practice the spiritual disciplines and keep godly influences around us it will be easier to be Kingdom minded individuals–keeping our minds set on things above.

Spend a few minutes Touching Heaven with this beautiful song by Influence Music.

January 17, 2020October 6, 2020

THE NEW LIFE :: HEAVEN’S PRIORITIES

At RHW we publish a new column each Friday. We’re going through four specific studies with each series being published on a designated week of the month.

In THE NEW LIFE series we’re studying one of my favorite chapters in the Bible: Colossians 3:1-17. As you will see in the coming months, this is a rich chapter full of valuable life transforming lessons. Join me on the third Friday of each month in 2020 for this in-depth Bible study with real world application.

Since you have been raised to new life with Christ, set your sights on the realities of heaven, where Christ sits in the place of honor at God’s right hand. ~ Colossians 1:1 (NLT)

Since you have been raised to new life with Christ,…

In our first verse Paul is encouraging believers to realize that Jesus wasn’t the only one who was raised from the dead. As believers in Jesus Christ we’ve all been raised to a new life with Christ. From God’s perspective every believer– past, present or future –is considered raised with Christ. Because we’ve been resurrected out of our walking-dead state we can live new lives of freedom with God in Christ.

…set your sights on the realities of heaven,…

Paul goes on to tell us that because we’ve been raised from the dead with Christ our focus should not be on earthly things. Setting our hearts and minds on the realities of heaven we’ll strive to walk out these priorities in daily life. As we begin to see life from heaven’s point of view we’ll naturally pursue a deeper knowledge of Christ and everything that’s involved in living for Him and with Him.

“Fix your thoughts on what is true, honorable, right, pure, lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise. Keep putting into practice all you learned and received from me—everything you heard from me and saw me doing. Then the God of peace will be with you.” ~ Philippians 4:8-9 (NLT)

…where Christ sits in the place of honor at God’s right hand.

One of the most important heavenly realities we must see, truly foundational to our new life, is that we must recognize that Jesus Christ is seated next to His Father in heaven. In this place of honor and authority Jesus makes intercession for us to the Father. Unless we recognize the truth of Christ’s authority in heaven and on earth, He won’t have a place of authority in our lives either.

To develop our new life and actively pursue heaven’s priorities requires discipline. Here are some key disciplines to apply to your life:

1. - * Discipline your heart by memorizing Scripture.
    
    * Discipline your mind by rejecting anything not from God.
    
    * Discipline your relationships with healthy fellowship.

What does this new life look like? How are we supposed to live? Check back on the third Friday next month as we continue our study of Colossians 3 and The New Life.