The Christian's Wardrobe Colossians 3:12-14 (NKJV)

Transcription

1 Message for THE LORD'S DAY EVENING, December 6, 2015 Christian Hope Church of Christ, Plymouth, North Carolina by Reggie A. Braziel, Minister TOPIC: Christian Living, Discipleship The Christian's Wardrobe Colossians 3:12-14 (NKJV) Please turn with me in your Bibles to Colossians chapter three. And let's read verses Colossians 3:12-14 (NKJV) 12 Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, put on tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, longsuffering; 13 bearing with one another, and forgiving one another, if anyone has a complaint against another; even as Christ forgave you, so you also must do. 14 But above all these things put on love, which is the bond of perfection. ************************************************************ I N T R O D U C T I O N Every time you go out in public you can identify what some people do for a living by the clothes they wear. -For example, it is very easy to identify a police officer or a fireman, or a State Trooper by the special uniforms they wear. -Or if you saw someone in a white lab coat with a stethoscope hanging around his or her neck, you would immediately recognize that he or she is a doctor.

2 - If you were in a restaurant and saw a bunch of men walk in wearing military fatigues and military boots, you would know they were soldiers. - Or if you were in a store and saw someone wearing an all- brown uniform and cap carrying some packages in his arms you would know he was a UPS Driver. As Christians we don't wear UNIFORMS or a shirt with a Big C on it that identifies us as followers of Christ. But yet there are certain garments of Christ-like character we should all wear that identifies us as Christians. Let's think of these garments of Christ-like character as The Christian's Wardrobe. ILLUSTRATION: If you have ever been to the hospital to have some tests done or to have surgery, you know one of the very first things they do is hand you a hospital gown and tell you to change out of your street clothes and put on that gown. That is basically what Paul is commanding us to do in the first part of verse 12 when he says, Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, PUT ON THESE THINGS... Let's think of our old sinful nature as our street clothes. When we came to Christ, we were to change out of our sinful street clothes and put on the garments of Christlikeness. Paul then goes on to list five garments of Christ-like character that should be in every Christian's wardrobe. First of all... (Next Page)

3 I. We Are To Put On COMPASSION (v.12) Colossians 3:12 (NKJV) Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, put on tender mercies That word tender mercies is another word for compassion. 2. The Greek word Paul uses for compassion or tender mercies in this verse is the word splagnhnon (splonk-non) which literally means, bowels of mercy. 3. To be clothed in compassion means that when we see someone who is hurting, or someone who is in need, or someone who is grieving or in great sorrow, we feel an inward movement in the very depths of our being to help them or comfort them. 4. To be clothed in compassion is so Christ-like. -When multitudes of sick and diseased people came to Jesus to be healed, MATTHEW 9:36 (NKJV) says, But when He saw the multitudes, He was moved with compassion for them, because they were weary and scattered, like sheep having no shepherd. -When Jesus looked upon that huge crowd of over 5,000 people, who had gone without food all day long, MATTHEW 14:14 (NKJV) tells us, Jesus was moved with compassion for them, and healed their sick. And of course, we know He also miraculously fed them with the five loaves of bread and two small fishes. -When Jesus saw those two blind men along the roadside in Jericho, and heard them cry out for mercy, MATTHEW 20:34 (NKJV) says, So Jesus had compassion and touched their eyes. And immediately their eyes received sight, and they followed Him.

4 5. As followers of Jesus Christ, we too must be clothed with that kind of compassion. A compassion that feels the pain and hurt of others...a compassion that causes us to reach into our billfolds and help lighten the financial burden of the poor man or woman in need... a compassion that causes us to take action to supply a physical need of someone who is down and out. ILLUSTRATION On a cold, snowy day in Oklahoma City, a trembling man was brought before a judge charged with stealing a loaf of bread. The man told the judge he wasn't a thief, but rather he was without a job and any income to feed his starving family, and that in desperation he had taken the loaf of bread from the store. The judge said, I'm sorry, but by law I still have to punish you. I fine you $ As the judge watched the poor man digging through his empty pockets, he felt deep compassion on him. The judge reached into his own pocket and pulled out a $10 bill and handed it to the poor man, and said, Here is the $10 to pay your fine. Furthermore the judge said, I am fining everyone in this courtroom.50 cents for living in a city where a man has to steal a loaf of bread to feed his starving family. The judge then told the bailiff to pass his hat around the room to collect the.50 cent fines and give it to the poor man. With tears of joy streaming down his cheeks, the poor man walked out of the courtroom that day with $47 in his pocket. 6. We are now entering the Christmas season, the time of year when our thoughts are on the poor and underprivileged perhaps more than at any other time of the year. 7. What a wonderful opportunity God has placed before you and me to demonstrate the compassion of Christ. Let's open our eyes and ears to those in need, and then let's open our hearts and hands and show them compassion.

5 Secondly... II. We Are To Put On KINDNESS (v.12) Colossians 3:12 (NKJV) Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, put on tender mercies (compassion), and kindness The Greek word Paul uses for kindness in this verse, is the word chrestotes (kree-stote-eeze) which literally means to have goodness of heart. 2. Have you ever done something kind for someone and they said, You didn't have to do that? And you responded, I know I didn't have to do it, I did it because I wanted to. That's one way of saying, I did it out of the goodness of my heart. 3. When Jesus was on earth He was the very epitome of kindness. He never showed favoritism towards anyone. He knew how to make the most common person feel special and important. He befriended those who had been rejected and cast aside by society. He treated nobodies as somebodies. Think of the kindness Jesus showed towards such people as Zacchaeus, and the adulterous woman, and the Samaritan woman at the well, and the sinful woman who anointed Him with expensive perfume. 4. Jesus was like a continuous fountain of kindness that refreshed and revived the souls of others. And that Christ-like kindness should flow from you and me as well.

6 ILLUSTRATION One Sunday morning during a Church service, the choir had just sung the anthem and the preacher was standing behind the pulpit ready to deliver his morning message. All the sudden a teenage girl seated in the third row of the choir bolted from her chair and stepped over several choir members and quickly rushed around the piano, causing quite a commotion. Everyone seemed a bit perturbed with the young lady until they realized what she was doing. She made her way to the fourth pew back, and sat down next to another teenage girl who was sitting all alone, and she put her arm around her. That teenage girl had just lost her grandmother the night before, and that girl in the choir just couldn't bear the thought of seeing her sit through Church service all alone. It is doubtful anyone remembered the preacher's message that morning, but no one will ever forget the act of kindness demonstrated by that young lady in the choir. 5. Don't ever under-estimate the power of a kind word or deed. You never know how the LORD will use your kindness to make a difference in the life of someone else. We are to put on COMPASSION. We are to put on KINDNESS.

7 Thirdly... III. We Are To Put On HUMILITY (v.12) Colossians 3:12 (NKJV) Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, put on tender mercies (compassion), kindness, and HUMILITY Back in 1985, the great pitcher TOM SEAVER was on the verge of winning his 300 th career game. Before he went out to the mound in the 9 th inning he walked over to the box seat where his nine year old daughter was seated. Seaver said to his daughter, Just three more outs honey, and daddy will win his 300 th game. His daughter said, Good, then we can go home and go swimming. Boy, our kids have a way of keeping us humble don't they? 2. Pride is one of those sins every Christian must guard against. In fact, the scriptures teach us that God hates pride... He opposes those who are proud. He resists those who are proud, but He gives grace to those who are humble. 3. Everyone of us can easily recognize pride in others, but we aren't so good at spotting pride in ourselves. In fact, one of the grossest forms of pride is false humility. 4. You see, TRUE HUMILITY is not putting yourself down, or being self-critical; TRUE HUMILITY is assessing yourself in light of God's HOLINESS and your SINFULNESS. Or as C.S. Lewis once said, True humility is not thinking less of yourself, but thinking of yourself less.

8 TRUE HUMILITY is recognizing that apart from God, I am NOTHING, I have NOTHING, and I can accomplish NOTHING of any lasting, eternal value. 5. Perhaps the clearest portrait of true humility is seen in the words of the apostle Paul in Philippians 2:8. Paul said this about Jesus, And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death on the cross. By His own example, Jesus teaches us that TRUE HUMILITY IS DEATH TO SELF. ILLUSTRATION Several years ago, the Chicago Tribune ran an article about Kevin Baugh and his own country which he named, The Republic of Molossia. He's had an impressive khaki uniform tailor made with gold ribbons and six big medals, along with a blue, white and green sash. Baugh answers to His excellency. The article said, If you have never heard of the Republic of Molossia, that's because it consists of Kevin Baugh's three bedroom house and 1.3 acre yard outside his house in Nevada. He does have a sense of humor about his claim, the article noted. He claims to have a space program, but laughingly pointed the reporter to a plastic model rocket. He claims to have a public railway system, but its only a toy train. And his Navy is an inflatable boat he keeps stored in his garage. Even though Baugh is tongue-in-cheek about all this, he is still very serious about this being HIS KINGDOM. Ironically, Baugh is not alone. In fact he is one of a number of people claiming to be Micro-Nationalist who fly flags over their front yards and declare their property their own PRIVATE KINGDOM.

9 6. As Christians, we must understand there is no room for our own private kingdoms. We belong to the Kingdom of Heaven, and Jesus Christ is the King and Lord over His Kingdom. 7. This is why we must put on HUMILITY and bow to the King of kings and LORD of lords. We are to PUT ON COMPASSION...PUT ON KINDNESS...and PUT ON HUMILITY. Fourthly... IV. We Are To Put On MEEKNESS (v.12) Colossians 3:12 (NKJV) Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, put on tender mercies (compassion), kindness, humility, and MEEKNESS Meekness is viewed as weakness by our society. Our society teaches us to assert ourselves...get louder, not softer...if you want something speak up and demand it! 2. Think of how often we see news reports of people rioting and protesting in the streets, demanding to get their way, insisting on their rights. 3. As Christians, we are NOT to focus on our RIGHTS,, but on our RESPONSIBILITIES. This is where meekness comes in. 4. The Greek word Paul uses here for meekness is the word epieikeia (EP- AYE-KEE-UH) which means, sweet reasonableness. Has anyone every told you, You are just as sweet as can be? When you and I clothe ourselves in meekness there will be a sweetness in our disposition.

10 5. If you want to see the opposite of meekness think of those people you know who are loud or abrasive or obnoxious. Think of those people you know who bully others to get their way. Think of those people who are pushy...and demanding...and mean-spirited. These things should not characterize a Christian! I L L U S T R A T I O N A.W. Tozer once wrote, The meek man is not a human mouse afflicted with a sense of his own inferiority. Rather he may be in his moral life as bold as a lion and as strong as Samson; but he has stopped being fooled about himself. He has accepted God's estimate of his own life. He knows he is as weak and as helpless as God declared him to be, but he knows at the same time that he is...in the sight of God of more importance than angels. In himself, nothing; in God, everything! That is the motto of a meek Christian! *************************** We are to PUT ON COMPASSION We are to PUT ON KINDNESS We are to PUT ON HUMILITY We are to PUT ON MEEKNESS (Today in the Word,, September, 1989, p. 19. ) And finally...

11 V. We Are To Put On LONG-SUFFERING (v.12) Colossians 3:12 (NKJV) Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, put on tender mercies (compassion), kindness, humility, meekness, and LONG-SUFFERING. 1. Long-suffering is a term we rarely if ever use today. I'm going to tell you what it means, and I'll be honest, you're not going to like it. Long-suffering means to suffer for a long time without complaining or to be very patient during difficult times. See, I told you that you weren't going to like it. 2. The word long-suffering comes from the Greek word hupmone (hoop-mo-nay) which literally means to be long-tempered TEMPERED. 3. When we put on long-suffering it means we have a long FUSE rather than a short one. It means we exercise RESTRAINT when our circumstances are about to push us over the edge.

12 ILLUSTRATION Nineteenth century preacher, A.B. SIMPSON shares this wonderful insight with us regarding long-suffering. Bro. Simpson said, Beloved, have you ever thought that someday you will not have anything to try you, or anyone to vex you again? There will be no opportunity in heaven to learn or to show the spirit of patience, forbearance or long-suffering. If you are to practice these things, it must be now. Yes, each day affords countless opportunities to learn long-suffering. Let's not waste them. ************************************************************ C O N C L U S I O N Well, this is THE WARDROBE OF A CHRISTIAN. We aren't to just wear these clothes on Sunday when we come to Church. These are our everyday clothes that lets the world know we are followers of the Lord Jesus Christ. We cannot produce these Christ-like qualities ourselves. We can only be clothed in these garments when we allow the Holy Spirit of God to work in us. And when people see that Christ-like compassion, and kindness, and humility, and meekness, and long-suffering they see Christ in us. And when others can see Christ in us, it opens the door to point someone to Jesus, and that my friend, is what life is all about!