NOTE: There will be NO VIDEO today. I am not in a position to record the video. This message will be TEXT ONLY. I pray it still ministers to you.
Today we continue our new series entitled, “Heaven on Earth,” by teaching on God’s Kingdom.
Yesterday I introduced you to Colossians 3:1-4. I want to go back to this passage today. Let’s look at it again from two versions: the New International Version and the Easy to Read Version.
(Col 3:1-4 NIV)
Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.
(Col 3:1-4 ERV)
You were raised from death with Christ. So live for what is in heaven, where Christ is sitting at the right hand of God. Think only about what is up there, not what is here on earth. Your old self has died, and your new life is kept with Christ in God. Yes, Christ is now your life, and when he comes again, you will share in his glory.
So what does this mean to you today? A few things.
1. The Bible says, “Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above.” The same portion in another translation reads, “You were raised from death with Christ. So live for what is in heaven.” Our mindset is absolutely critical.
a) Our actions are birthed in our mind. Our legs will never take us where our mind has never been.
b) If we can’t SEE IT, we will never BE IT.
c) As Born-Again believers, the Bible teaches us to SET our minds on the things above, to think about heaven all the time. There are some who think that if we are heavenly minded we will be no earthly good. However, if you understand how your thoughts impact your actions, the truth is, if you are not heavenly minded, you will never be an earthly good. Right thinking will lead to right believing, and right believing will lead to right doing.
2. The Bible says, “Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things.” The same portion in another translation reads, “Think only about what is up there, not what is here on earth.” As a man thinks, so is he (Prov 23:7).
a) You get to determine what you think about all day. The Apostle Paul contrasts the things of this world with heaven. His point is that if you choose to think only about the things of this world and you only see things from an earthly point of view, you will never experience God’s best. God’s best is not rooted or grounded within the limits of this world. God will offer you things that make no earthly sense. God will promise you things that seem impossible. If you only look at them from an earthly point of view, you will never open your heart to them. But if you see what God is saying from a heavenly point of view, you will open your heart and believe.
b) God wants us to SEE the invisible and PERFORM the impossible. But that will never happen if we only look at things from an earthly point of view.
c) In heaven there are no limits. From God’s perspective there are no boundaries. There is nothing God can’t do. This is why He wants us to SET our minds on the things above. If we see things from His perspective, we will never see an obstacle we cannot leap over, a challenge we cannot overcome or a fight we cannot win. As mere humans there are many things we can’t do. But when we embrace the fact that we are no longer mere humans, that we are born from above, that we are covered by the Blood of Jesus and filled with the Holy Spirit, then we know there is NOTHING we can’t do. We can do ALL THINGS THROUGH CHRIST who gives us the ability to do what we could never do without Him (Phil 4:13).
*** We all face challenges. Every one of us faces situations we wish we could have avoided. Sometimes bad things happen to good people. Sometimes things don’t work out the way you wanted. In the middle of those situations, what are you going to do? What are you going to think about? Are you going to wallow in sorrow, nurse and rehearse the challenge, and/or act like a person who has no hope? Or are you going to SET YOUR MIND on the things ABOVE? You have hope because you have Jesus. You are never helpless so you are never hopeless. Look up and not down. SET YOUR MIND on the setting labeled “HEAVEN” and do not move it from there. Set your face like a flint (Isa 50:7) and say to yourself, “I will not be moved and I will never be put to shame!” You get to decide what you are going to think about during the challenge. Remember, right thinking will lead to right believing, and whatever you believe is what you will receive.
Declaration of Faith:
Father, I SET MY MIND on the things ABOVE. I was born down here, but I was Born-Again from UP THERE. I am from heaven now. I live in this world with a heavenly mindset. I see things from Your perspective. I embrace Your reality. When faced with a difficult situation, I am determined to see it from Your point of view. I peer into the INVISIBLE and You empower me to perform the IMPOSSIBLE. You are ON ME, IN ME, WITH ME and FOR ME! There is not way I can lose. There is nothing I can’t do. I can do ALL THINGS through CHRIST who gives me the strength to perform Your will on this planet. Come what may, I shall not be moved. I am never hopeless, because I am never helpless. You are always with me, Father. So I enter this day with fearless confidence. I am an overcomer and I shall overcome! I declare this by faith. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
This is Today’s Word. Apply it and prosper!
