Date: September 14, 2025
Lord’s Day: 37
Series: Colossians the Mystery of Christ
Title: Old Self, New Self
Text: Colossians 3:5-10; Matthew 26:41
As a pastor, it is my desire to keep the main thing, the main thing. The MAIN thing here is Jesus Christ, our Savior.
There are certainly moments when SOCIAL matters find their way into the church body and when they do, it is wise for us to consider them and discern what we must do. This week past week is one of these moments.
On Wednesday I watched with great difficulty and sadness, as the events unfolded in Orem, UT with Charlie Kirk. Because I watch very closely, every day, social matters, I have remotely followed Charlie Kirk and his organization Turning Point USA, from its very beginning.
I say remotely because this organization has a focus on high school and college age people. For those of you who are not aware, in about 13 years he grew this organization from an event that had 200 people to 14 events yearly that had 10,000 people.
Charlie would respectfully take questions from audience attendees on a wide range of topics. I admired him for he was incredibly knowledgeable, humble, respectful, thorough and above all, he represented Christ well.
If I had to think of a modern-day Paul, from Acts, when he would go to the Areopagus and face opposition while standing for truth, it would be Charlie. He has done this for years, going from campus to campus all over these United States. In these campus’ he would freely exchange ideas and defend the faith.
As you may know, Charlie was shot Wednesday while doing one of these college events. In my opinion, he was killed instantly and is now in the presence of our Lord and Savior.
In the hours after this incident, I monitored many reactions. Most of that reaction was great sadness. A significant portion is celebration and mockery.
I wanted to address this with the congregation for several reasons:
Firstly, the description of what happened to Charlie Kirk has been labeled an assassination. I do not agree with this. Charlie held no political office, nor was he running for political office. He did support various political candidates through the years. He also discussed political matters in relation to faith, for so much of our political focus today absolutely bleeds over into morality and matters of faith.
For this very reason, Charlie was not assassinated. Charlie became a martyr.
Charlie represented the faith and morality of Scripture, and it cost him his life. There are many people who die as martyrs every day on this earth, but rarely do we witness one this public and in the United State of America. He absolutely, represented Jesus well and also Scriptural truths.
Charlie was just a man. He was heard often confessing freely he was a sinner saved by the Grace of God. Just like you and me he was ONLY perfect in Christ. Every public moment I witnessed, He represented Christ very well.
Secondly, because of this, I want to pray for his family. He leaves behind his wife, two daughters and a father and mother. Because the internet is forever (as far as we know), the video of the husband and father to these children will forever be there for them to see. It is hard for me to fathom this.
Not only will they have to experience the remainder of their life without their loved one, the videoed events which unfolded Wednesday will be a constantly available reminder.
Thirdly, Charlie did not leave this earth one second earlier than our Lord had planned. God is sovereign over all things. He is Almighty, Creator God. There are things regarding His rule that we do not understand and for me, this is one of those things.
This has been hard for me to process. My prayers this week have sounded a little like Habakuk questioning God.
But I trust in the Lord. I have faith in Him. Psalm 103:19 says, “The Lord has established his throne in the heavens, and his kingdom rules over all.” And Psalm 135:6 states, “Whatever the Lord pleases, he does, in heaven and on earth, in the seas and all the deeps.”
As a congregation this is one of those moments where we must stand firm even when it is difficult to grasp; even when it does not make sense.
I want to pray for the Kirk family and all those close to him; His wife, children, parents, siblings and others. I also want to pray for this country and its leaders. The fall out of this moment has an extraordinary possibility to expand into a much more serious matter.
Would you please pray with me?
Lord, we come today with humble hearts and heavy hearts. The condition of the world around us and even in our own country has been stretched and strained. There are wars and conflicts abroad and at home and we long for peace.
At this moment we pray for the Kirk family and the tragedy that they faced this week. There is no emotional relief for them for some time to come as this event will play out in the media and courts and in the political arena for the foreseeable future.
We pray for peace for that family. As I voice this prayer, I do believe that Charlie is with you. He had all the visible fruit of a devout Christ follower. Because of this, we pray that you comfort his wife, children, parents, extended family and coworkers. The visions of Wednesday will remain abundantly available. We pray for those who were at the event Wednesday, the students and the attendees, that for those who have been traumatized by what took place, you would comfort them as only you can.
We pray for the leaders of this country. We pray that you, Jesus, as you reign as Lord, that you would act and bring peace. Help us to trust in Your sovereignty. Strengthen us that You know best.
May your Church grow in number and influence. May it grow here in Springfield, in America and in the World. Isaiah says that of the increase of Jesus’ government and of peace there will be no end, that on your throne you will establish it and uphold it with justice and righteousness forever more. That the zeal of the Lord will do this. We say Amen, come Lord Jesus.
We turn our attention to this text in Colossians and ask your blessing on our time in Your word. I sincerely ask a blessing upon myself as I deliver these thoughts.
It is in Jesus’ name we pray, Amen.
Colossians 3:5-10 and Matthew 26:41
Colossians 3:5: 5 Put to death therefore what is earthly in you: sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry. 6 On account of these the wrath of God is coming. 7 In these you too once walked, when you were living in them. 8 But now you must put them all away: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and obscene talk from your mouth. 9 Do not lie to one another, seeing that you have put off the old self[d] with its practices 10 and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge after the image of its creator.
Matthew 26:41: “Watch and pray that you may not enter into temptation”
This has been the world of the Lord
I would like for you to think about Samson, the Bible character from Judges who was strong. He had to take a Nazarite vow and his strength was in his hair. As long as he did not cut his hair he would have miraculous strength.
For just a moment, I would like you to picture in your mind what you think Samson looked like. There are no wrong answers because we are not told and there are no pictures in the Bible, but just imagine what you think he looked like. If you need to shut your eyes you can.
Alright, you have a mental image? Does he resemble Arnold Swarzenegar? Does he look like the Rock or Andre the Giant? Is he really big and muscular?
That was the image I had for most of my life. When Samson came to mind I thought of a very large (the fit large) kind of man. But when I consider it further, I don’t think so. I think Samson looked like every other average man out there during his day.
If you remember the story Samson defeated Israel’s enemies the Philistines. They were always trying to find a way to get him so there came Delilah. Samson was sweet on her and she kept trying to trick him.
What was she trying to find out? What is the source of your strength Samson? Please tell me, how are you so strong?
If he were the Rock or Andre the Giant, there would be no doubt that Samson was strong on his own strength. There had to be a mystery as to the source of his power because they tried tricking him many times to get him to reveal what it was. He was 100% dependent upon God for his strength. (Which is true if he were little or big I just think he was average or small because it baffled people as to how he was so strong.)
We return to our text of Colossians 3 and we see here in verse 5 that we are to put to death what is earthly in us. We have been on this section and this verse for several weeks. Today I want to address how can we put to death what is earthly in us? There is the old self and this new self, what does this mean?
From the beginning I would like to say, the source of the strength Samson had during his time is the exact same source of strength for us to put to death what is earthly in us. It is God!!!!
In our text a list is made of what we are to put to death:
So the issue here is, is Idolatry pointed at covetousness or the entire list? The answer is yes to both. In one sense, the way the sentence is constructed, covetousness IS idolatry.
What is coveting? When you strongly yearn for something. It is an unusual yearning. It is not a yearning like, I would like to have a skyline hot dog. I would like to have that Carhart shirt because it looks nice. To covet is to have such a desire to have a thing that you would sin to get it. It places that thing FIRST. Any affection that is before God is an idol.
Therefore, The things that begin that list, sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire can be things that are coveted. Also Idols.
Except, for those whose lives are hidden with Christ in God (3:1-4). What is true for those who find themselves IN CHRIST they are a new creation.
The old self looked like one thing, the new self looks like another.
Now, I have some people who are going to assist me today.
What a beautiful day to have Milani baptized into Jesus. She has symbolized today this new birth. We have been given a visual presentation of what happens to the believer. They are buried and raised just as Jesus was.
I have asked her and some others to come up and help me today.
Point 1) Your greatest enemy is your sin:
The flesh has desires. This list that I just read is a reality. Paul in this letter is telling the believers, put these to death. HOW CAN THEY DO THAT?
When we gain Christ, we are changed! We are “RENEWED IN KNOWLEDGE after THE IMAGE OF THE CREATOR.” (3:10) This Holy Spirit (Ezekiel 36:25-27) becomes a part of us. Our affections change. (Bring the “Holy Spirit” representative on stage who will be holding the Ezekiel passage)
GOD AT WORK IN MILANI – Just like Samson
This influences your whole life. You begin to love all things Jesus (at this point put on her new sticky notes that represent the new Milani and separate her from the evil desires). The old Milani dead, the new Milani alive. She is a new creation.
We (She) are still here on this earth. We are still in this body. Our affections changed but we fight. Christ is our righteousness. When God looks at Milani He sees Christ.
Point 2) Putting to death our sin (3:5) means there is sin to put to death. Jesus died FOR our sin, we are to die TO our sins[i]
Milani, and us, have these fleshly desires that just pop up. They want to come in.
These are tongue in cheek but I know you are aware of how out of bounds our flesh can take us. It is there. Trying to convince us, go this way! Do this.
But Paul says, “Kill it. Put it to death.”
Here is the picture of temptation: Jesus says, “watch and pray that you may not enter temptation.”
Have you ever prayed that prayer? Lord, do not let me be tempted today.
Peter takes it one step further, he says the devil, your enemy, prowls like a roaring lion. How many of us would go to the Cincinnati Zoo or the Columbus Zoo if there was a warning that the lion was out of the cage?
No one would go. Why? Because it is dangerous. This is the image we need in our mind that for the believer we are to just avoid temptation. (Milani just turn away. Point your back to that which is trying to kill you.
Point 3) The best way to kill sin is to starve it. When something is getting fed, when it is receiving a steady diet it will live.
Last week when I said I guard my heart, I meant it. I was not bragging. It was not false humility. It is a statement of fact.
I do not want to feed anything that my flesh may want. Part of this is gaining the wisdom that the flesh will whisper subtly. Before long, if left unchecked and unguarded, it will be screaming.
The more mature you grow, the more the fleshly desires in your life will bother you.
“The greatest lie of Satan is this, you can have both Jesus and an unchanged life.” Derek Melton.
You can’t kill sin without reading God’s word. Find the time of day that works for you. I don’t sleep much, I am up early. My best time in early. Not everyone is like me. But dedicated the time of day that works for you and read everyday.
I get my journal and write the passage. I read the passage and while reading it the words or phrases that stick out I write down. For whatever reason they stick out, write them down.
Then I write out a brief summary of what I just read.
Then I put heart, mind, soul, strength and write out how this applies to me. In light of this text, how can I love the Lord with my heart, mind, soul and strength. Take time. Slow down. Do not go fast. Allow God’s word to lead you.
You can’t kill sin unless you identify it. Secret sin is the worst. Maturity will reveal and open you to see your secret sin. Immaturity will hide it from you.
This is a matter of the old self and new self. I am so thankful for Jesus and the work of God that reveals these things. Oh the mercy and patience of God as He works for us and in us and through us.
Let us pray.
Merciful Father, what a day we have had. So thankful for Melani and her baptism. Thank you For the family here at Donnels Creek. Thank you for Your word.
We come before you asking for a deeper holiness. Grow us in Christ. May we hunger and thirst for righteousness. Point to us the things in us that are to die and continue to provide to us the things that give life.
We pray these things in the name of Jesus Christ, our Messiah, Amen
The Lord bless you and keep you;
25 the Lord make his face to shine upon you and be gracious to you;
26 the Lord lift up his countenance[c] upon you and give you peace.
Go in the peace that Jesus has offered himself for you and me. May the peace of Christ be with you and on you.
[i] Michael Horton, The Christian Faith: A Systematic Theology for Pilgrims On the Way, p. 661
