Start here.

John Farley
Pastor-Teacher
Sunday,
February 3, 2019

 

www.chosenpeople.com

Chosen People Ministries exists to pray for, evangelize, disciple, and serve Jewish people everywhere and to help fellow believers do the same.

Today, Chosen People Ministries serves in sixteen countries across the globe. Their outreach programs include evangelism and discipleship,

Messianic Centers and congregations, equipping the local church for Jewish evangelism, print and web publications, and benevolence work.

With your help, they will continue proclaiming the Good News through Jesus the Messiah to Jewish people around the world.

They have been shining a light on the satanic evil of anti-Semitism.

 

Start here

COL 3:12-21

In chapter 3 of Colossians, the Lord instructs us about how to put on the new man.

OK, that’s what we’re supposed to do. We think we have learned all we need to learn. This is great stuff!

What? There’s an arena?

In other words, we are called to put these things into practice in our daily lives.

Beginning in verse 18, the Lord takes us to the closest relationships we have. He says - do it here.

I am talking about family life and work life.

It’s a daily grind.
And we fail a lot.
And we don’t like it when we fail.

Put on a heart of kindness - again!

Submit to him - again?

Love her without getting bitter about it - again.

The Lord says that we also are to behave His way when we are on the job.

If you are in prison, treat the guards this way. Treat fellow prisoners this way.

This is where the stakes are highest: where we can do the most good for, or most damage to, other people.

We can avoid duties and responsibilities, if we want to, in our social life, or in school life, or even in church life.

But if you are a father or a mother or a manager, duties and responsibilities come with it.

Family life is where your shortcomings and tendencies to anger and so forth will be exposed.

If we continue to let the word of Christ dwell deeply in our hearts, we will know the truth - and the truth will make us free.

Wives…be subject to your husbands when…

When he’s a slob around the house…

When he can’t hold a job…

When he drinks too much.

How can I possibly do that?

The only way is by putting on a heart of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.

By setting your mind on the things above, not the things that are on earth.

That means returning to Philippians 4:4-9 again and again.

If perhaps there is that one thing about him that really is worthy of praise…

This stuff is in the category of “with man it is impossible, but with God all things are possible.”

Christ is our wisdom.

The Spirit battles against the flesh,
and produces His fruit in us.

When she puts you down.

When she vacuums the room while you are watching your third football game of the day.

When she ignores your leadership and goes her own way.

By realizing that you are also weak, and your tendency will be to harbor bitterness against her.

EPH 4:31-32

Bear her burdens for her.

Be tender-hearted with her.

In all things, we husbands are to love our wives sacrificially.

When you don’t feel like doing your chores because you had play rehearsal and lots of homework.

When they give an ultimatum - you can’t lounge around in this house any more -

When they tell you to change your outfit because it’s not appropriate.

In all these things - honor your parents and obey them.

That you can do all things through Christ who strengthens you.

That your parent or parents are blessings that God selected just for you.

That you really DON’T
know everything!

And by realizing that disobedience is not your friend but your enemy.

EPH 6:4

When your kids ignore your instruction.

Instead, continue to bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord.

When you find drug paraphernalia in their room…

When every day there is a battle about how much time they can spend on their devices.

When they start to skip church.

How can a Dad remain poised and keep his eye on the prize in the face of all this disappointment and outright hostility?

By putting on a heart of patience. A valuable commodity at times like these!