Colossians 2:16-3:4

16 Therefore do not let anyone judge you by what you eat or drink, or with regard to a religious festival, a New Moon celebration or a Sabbath day. 17 These are a shadow of the things that were to come; the reality, however, is found in Christ. 18 Do not let anyone who delights in false humility and the worship of angels disqualify you. Such a person also goes into great detail about what they have seen; they are puffed up with idle notions by their unspiritual mind. 19 They have lost connection with the head, from whom the whole body, supported and held together by its ligaments and sinews, grows as God causes it to grow.

20 Since you died with Christ to the elemental spiritual forces of this world, why, as though you still belonged to the world, do you submit to its rules: 21 “Do not handle! Do not taste! Do not touch!”? 22 These rules, which have to do with things that are all destined to perish with use, are based on merely human commands and teachings.23 Such regulations indeed have an appearance of wisdom, with their self-imposed worship, their false humility and their harsh treatment of the body, but they lack any value in restraining sensual indulgence.

3 Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. 2 Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. 3 For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. 4 When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.

Winning the Battle of Your Mind & Emotions

NewDay Friends,

You have been on my mind a lot this week. I have thought about the way you invest your life in what matters most and it is inspiring to me. In our pursuit of God's dream for our church family I was reminded that, "church" is not something we do or a place we go to, but what WE ARE!

I have invited you on a journey with me to fall more in love with Jesus by pursuing him more passionately than I have in the recent past. I was lost in grief for awhile and you did not give up on me. Thank you for your prayers, your support, and your encouragement. Your genuine concern has meant the world to me.

Now as we embark on our next stage of life together, there is something I perceive coming from many of you. The best way I can describe this is a growing sense of hunger for more. More of God's presence that breaks down the barriers between people and brings hope and healing. More of a relationship with God and others where you find true care and support. More of the Spirit's wisdom that gives us clarity of purpose and direction in this world of confusion. More of Jesus love that compels us to reach out and share the amazing message of life he offers to all!

I am reminded once again about the starting point of this hunger for more... it starts with prayer. Jerry Trousdal, a missionary in Africa and author of the books, Kingdom Unleashed and Miraculous Movement: How Hundreds of Thousands of Muslims Are Falling In Love with Jesus discovered, "There is no way that you are going to succeed in the ministry if you don't believe in the power of prayer."

We are meeting on Monday nights for prayer from 8:30-9:00 pm. I invite you to join us at that time. I also want to challenge you to take time to connect with the Lord with others around you. Just start asking, "can we pray together?"

Oswald Chambers encouraged me with this habit a number of years ago... "Get into the habit of saying, 'Speak, Lord,' and life will become a romance. Every time circumstances press, say, 'Speak, Lord,' and make time to listen."

We are in a listening stance right now so we might be best prepared for what God has in store for us!

Truly grateful for you,
Pastor John

STUDY NOTES:

Winning the Battle of Your Mind & Emotions
READ: Colossians 2:16-3:4

16 Therefore do not let anyone judge you by what you eat or drink, or with regard to a religious festival, a New Moon celebration or a Sabbath day. 17 These are a shadow of the things that were to come; the reality, however, is found in Christ. 18 Do not let anyone who delights in false humility and the worship of angels disqualify you. Such a person also goes into great detail about what they have seen; they are puffed up with idle notions by their unspiritual mind. 19 They have lost connection with the head, from whom the whole body, supported and held together by its ligaments and sinews, grows as God causes it to grow.

20 Since you died with Christ to the elemental spiritual forces of this world, why, as though you still belonged to the world, do you submit to its rules: 21 “Do not handle! Do not taste! Do not touch!”?

22 These rules, which have to do with things that are all destined to perish with use, are based on merely human commands and teachings.

23 Such regulations indeed have an appearance of wisdom, with their self-imposed worship, their false humility and their harsh treatment of the body, but they lack any value in restraining sensual indulgence.

Since, then, you have been raised with Christ,
set your hearts on things above, where Christ is,
seated at the right hand of God.
2 Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things.
3 For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. 4 When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
In the truest sense, Christian pilgrims have the best of both worlds.
We have joy whenever this world reminds us of the next,
and we take solace whenever it does not.
C. S. Lewis

REFLECT on GOD’S WORD

Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God.

2 Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things.

Q: Why is being “raised with Christ” so important?

Q: How do we set our “hearts” and “minds” on things above? What does that look like?

Def: “Kardia” = heart…

Search me, O God, and know my heart;
Test me and know my anxious thoughts.
Psalms 139:23

“For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God.” Colossians 3:3

Q: What does it mean that “our life is hidden with Christ in God?”

RESPONDING TO GOD
“When Christ, who is our life, is revealed,
then you also will be revealed with Him in glory.”
Colossians 3:4

Q: What are you most looking forward to in this life?

Q: What are you most looking forward to in the life that is to come?

Now faith is confidence in what we hope for
and assurance about what we do not see.

This is what the ancients were commended for…
All these people were still living by faith when they died. They did not receive the things promised; they only saw them and welcomed them from a distance, admitting that they were foreigners and strangers on earth. People who say such things show that they are looking for a country of their own. If they had been thinking of the country they had left, they would have had opportunity to return. Instead, they were longing for a better country—a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared a city for them. Hebrews 11:1-2; 13-16

Most of us find it very difficult to want “Heaven” at all – except in so far as “Heaven” means meeting again our friends who have died.

One reason for this difficulty is that we have not been trained: our whole education tends to fix our minds on this world. Another reason is that when the real want for Heaven is present in us, we do not recognize it. Most people, if they had really learned to look into their own hearts, would know that they do want, and want acutely, something that cannot be had in this world. There are all sorts of things in this world that offer to give it to you,
but they never quite keep their promise.

C.S. Lewis Mere Christianity