Setting Our Affections on Heavenly Things
Summary
### Summary
In tonight's sermon, we delved into Colossians chapter 3, focusing on the theme of seeking and setting our affections on things above. We began with a light-hearted reflection on personal experiences and then transitioned into the core message, emphasizing the importance of seeking spiritual things rather than earthly, carnal desires. Drawing from various scriptures, including Philippians 4:8 and Proverbs 8:17, we explored what it means to seek the Lord early in our lives and the benefits of doing so.
We discussed the significance of seeking the right things and in the right places, using biblical references to illustrate that our focus should be on heavenly matters. For instance, Luke 21:28 and Psalm 75:6-7 guide us to look up and recognize that our redemption and promotion come from above. This led us to the understanding that heaven is a real, physical place where God and Christ reside, as supported by scriptures in Hebrews and Ephesians.
The sermon also highlighted the importance of setting our affections on things above, not on earthly matters. This involves fixing our hearts on God's word, loving one another, and prioritizing our spiritual lives. We examined how setting our affections on heavenly things brings peace and stability, as seen in Psalm 119:165 and 1 John 3:23.
Finally, we touched on the rewards and promises that await us in heaven, including our eternal home and the New Jerusalem, as described in John 14 and Revelation 21. We concluded with a reminder that our actions on earth will be judged, encouraging us to live lives that reflect our heavenly focus.
### Key Takeaways
1. Seek Spiritual Things Early: Seeking the Lord early in life, as mentioned in Proverbs 8:17, sets a foundation for a lifetime of spiritual growth and stability. This early seeking can be through daily scripture reading or engaging in church activities from a young age. It prepares us to face life's challenges with a strong spiritual foundation. [37:17]
2. Look in the Right Places: Our search for spiritual fulfillment should be directed towards heavenly things, as indicated in Luke 21:28. Earthly pursuits often lead to temporary satisfaction, but looking up to God provides eternal rewards and guidance. This perspective shift helps us prioritize our spiritual well-being over worldly desires. [42:33]
3. Set Your Affections on Heavenly Things: Colossians 3:2 urges us to set our affections on things above. This means fixing our hearts on God's word and loving one another, which brings peace and stability into our lives. A heart set on God is unmovable and anchored in His truth, providing a solid foundation for our faith. [53:50]
4. Heaven is a Real Place: Scriptures like Hebrews 1:3 and Ephesians 1:20 affirm that heaven is a physical location where God and Christ reside. This understanding gives us a tangible hope and a clear direction for our spiritual journey. Knowing that our ultimate destination is a real place encourages us to live in a way that aligns with heavenly values. [48:47]
5. Rewards Await in Heaven: Matthew 5:12 and 2 Corinthians 5:10 remind us that our actions on earth will be judged, and rewards await us in heaven. This motivates us to live righteously and set our affections on heavenly things, knowing that our efforts are not in vain. The promise of eternal rewards encourages us to persevere in our faith. [01:06:52]
### YouTube Chapters
[0:00] - Welcome
[32:13] - Introduction and Personal Reflection
[33:40] - Seeking Spiritual Things
[35:40] - What to Seek
[37:17] - Seeking the Lord Early
[40:08] - Seeking in the Right Places
[42:33] - Look Up for Redemption
[47:19] - Setting Affections on Heavenly Things
[48:47] - Heaven as a Real Place
[53:50] - Fixing Our Hearts on God
[01:06:52] - Rewards in Heaven
[01:09:43] - Conclusion and Prayer
Study Guide
### Bible Reading
1. Colossians 3:1-2 (ESV): "If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth."
2. Philippians 4:8 (ESV): "Finally, brothers, 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."
3. Proverbs 8:17 (ESV): "I love those who love me, and those who seek me diligently find me."
### Observation Questions
1. According to Colossians 3:1-2, what are believers instructed to seek and set their minds on?
2. In Philippians 4:8, what qualities are believers encouraged to focus on?
3. What promise is given in Proverbs 8:17 to those who seek the Lord early?
### Interpretation Questions
1. What does it mean to "seek the things that are above" as mentioned in Colossians 3:1-2? How does this contrast with seeking earthly things? [35:40]
2. How can focusing on the qualities listed in Philippians 4:8 impact a believer's daily life and decisions? [36:26]
3. Why is it significant to seek the Lord early in life, as highlighted in Proverbs 8:17? How might this early seeking shape one's spiritual journey? [37:17]
### Application Questions
1. Reflect on your current priorities. Are there areas in your life where you are more focused on earthly things rather than heavenly things? How can you shift your focus? [53:50]
2. Think about your daily routine. How can you incorporate the practice of seeking the Lord early, either in the morning or early in your life stages? What specific steps will you take this week? [38:07]
3. Consider the qualities listed in Philippians 4:8. Choose one quality to focus on this week. How will you intentionally incorporate this quality into your interactions and decisions?
4. The sermon mentioned the importance of setting our affections on heavenly things to bring peace and stability. Is there a specific area in your life where you need more peace and stability? How can setting your affections on heavenly things help? [57:41]
5. Reflect on the concept of heaven as a real place. How does this understanding influence your hope and motivation in your spiritual journey? [48:47]
6. The sermon highlighted the rewards and promises that await us in heaven. How does the promise of eternal rewards motivate you to live righteously? What changes can you make in your daily life to align more with heavenly values? [01:06:52]
7. Think about your relationships with others. How can you better demonstrate love and set your affections on loving one another, as instructed in 1 John 3:23? What specific actions will you take this week to show love to someone in your community? [01:00:12]
Devotional
Day 1: Seek Spiritual Things Early
Seeking the Lord early in life, as mentioned in Proverbs 8:17, sets a foundation for a lifetime of spiritual growth and stability. This early seeking can be through daily scripture reading or engaging in church activities from a young age. It prepares us to face life's challenges with a strong spiritual foundation. [37:17]
Proverbs 8:17 (ESV): "I love those who love me, and those who seek me diligently find me."
Reflection: Think about your daily routine. How can you incorporate seeking God early in your day, perhaps through prayer or reading scripture, to set a spiritual foundation for the rest of your day?
Day 2: Look in the Right Places
Our search for spiritual fulfillment should be directed towards heavenly things, as indicated in Luke 21:28. Earthly pursuits often lead to temporary satisfaction, but looking up to God provides eternal rewards and guidance. This perspective shift helps us prioritize our spiritual well-being over worldly desires. [42:33]
Luke 21:28 (ESV): "Now when these things begin to take place, straighten up and raise your heads, because your redemption is drawing near."
Reflection: Reflect on your current pursuits and goals. Are they more focused on earthly achievements or heavenly rewards? How can you adjust your focus to seek spiritual fulfillment?
Day 3: Set Your Affections on Heavenly Things
Colossians 3:2 urges us to set our affections on things above. This means fixing our hearts on God's word and loving one another, which brings peace and stability into our lives. A heart set on God is unmovable and anchored in His truth, providing a solid foundation for our faith. [53:50]
Colossians 3:2 (ESV): "Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth."
Reflection: Identify one area of your life where your affections are set on earthly things. How can you shift your focus to set your affections on heavenly things instead?
Day 4: Heaven is a Real Place
Scriptures like Hebrews 1:3 and Ephesians 1:20 affirm that heaven is a physical location where God and Christ reside. This understanding gives us a tangible hope and a clear direction for our spiritual journey. Knowing that our ultimate destination is a real place encourages us to live in a way that aligns with heavenly values. [48:47]
Hebrews 1:3 (ESV): "He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature, and he upholds the universe by the word of his power. After making purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high."
Reflection: How does knowing that heaven is a real place influence your daily decisions and actions? What changes can you make to live more in alignment with heavenly values?
Day 5: Rewards Await in Heaven
Matthew 5:12 and 2 Corinthians 5:10 remind us that our actions on earth will be judged, and rewards await us in heaven. This motivates us to live righteously and set our affections on heavenly things, knowing that our efforts are not in vain. The promise of eternal rewards encourages us to persevere in our faith. [01:06:52]
2 Corinthians 5:10 (ESV): "For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive what is due for what he has done in the body, whether good or evil."
Reflection: Consider your recent actions and decisions. Are they aligned with the pursuit of heavenly rewards? What steps can you take today to ensure that your efforts are directed towards eternal rewards?
Quotes
### Quotes for Outreach
1. "Seek the Lord early. That's why we have things like children's church. We have things like vacation Bible school. We have things like teen camp. Because we want to teach our children to seek the Lord in the early part of their life. Because it's going to make a difference the remainder of their life, their whole life. It's going to make a difference. And so the admonition to seek Him early." [38:48] (32 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
2. "If you seek me early, you'll find me. And so there are folks looking around, trying to find me. They're trying to have a relationship with God that don't know anything about Scripture, anything about how to seek the Lord. And they're kind of lost in this world. And so I just thought that's an interesting verse about seeking." [39:29] (21 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
3. "Rejoice and be exceeding glad, for great is your reward in heaven. For so persecuted they the prophets which were before you. So, we have a reward. We can set our affection on those things. Those rewards that God has set aside for us. And where are those rewards? Coming from heaven." [01:06:52] (21 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
4. "We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body and to be present with the Lord. So, what things can we set our affection? We have some loved ones that are in that place. We have some loved ones that have gone on and are in that place. We can set our affection on things above because we have some people we love that are there." [01:06:20] (23 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
5. "Seek ye first the kingdom of God. What kind of kingdom is that? Remember, we've talked about it. Kingdom of heaven. You see kingdom of heaven a lot of times. Where do you see that almost exclusively? You see it in the gospel of Matthew. But then you see, you see in Matthew, and in the, you see the rest of the time, you'll see gospel of the kingdom of God." [46:09] (27 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
### Quotes for Members
1. "If you be risen with Christ, which we are, then seek ye those things which are above. We talked about those things. We talked about those things which are above a little bit. And we looked at some things which are not heavenly things, not spiritual things, more earthly things. We looked at some things that we should not be seeking, those things that are carnal, which are ungodly, which are not of the Lord." [35:40] (26 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
2. "My heart is fixed, oh God, my heart is fixed. He had a set heart on God. It was, you know, we say some things, things that is that set in stone. What does it mean? It means it's unmovable. It's fixed. It's got an anchor. It's not moving. It's not going anywhere. David said, my heart is fixed. He had, I mean, it was settled. He wasn't worrying about it. He wasn't complaining. He wasn't thinking it over, having to contemplate it. He wasn't having to pray about it. He said, my heart's fixed." [56:26] (39 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
3. "Great peace have they that love thy law. See, if we set some things about God's word, that brings peace in our life. If we're fixed, if our heart is fixed, if it's set on the things of God, there's peace that follows that. The people that are in turmoil are the people that are not in a fixed, set place in their life with the Lord." [57:41] (25 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
4. "We should set our affections on things above because there are a lot of things there. So we seek those things above. Secondly, to set those things in our life and in our life. In our hearts. I think that's about as much time as we're going to have to be able to get. I wanted to get to five. We're just not going to get it done tonight, folks." [01:09:43] (20 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
5. "Seek ye those things early, early in the morning. That's a good interpretation of that. But I think it's more than that. I think it's seeking the Lord early in your life. Seek the Lord early. That's why we have things like children's church. We have things like vacation Bible school. We have things like teen camp. Because we want to teach our children to seek the Lord in the early part of their life." [38:48] (30 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
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