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COLORS.TXT
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1991-06-30
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DEV:Showing our true colors
JAM 4:13 Go to now, ye that say, To day or to morrow we will go into
such a city, and continue there a year, and buy and sell, and get gain:
JAM 4:14 Whereas ye know not what {shall be} on the morrow. For what
{is} your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time,
and then vanisheth away.
JAM 4:15 For that ye {ought} to say, If the Lord will, we shall
live, and do this, or that.
INTRODUCTION: Autumn is considered by many the most beautiful time
of the year.
A. God has provided in all of his seasons beauty.
1. Winter is bleak and barren, but the snow has its beauty. 2.
Spring of the budding flowers and greening of the world. 3. Summer
changes from blossom to fruit and warmth. 4. But, Autumn brings a
sudden and colorful change.
B. Autumn...
1. Everything seems to explode with bright colors.
2. The mountains are drenched with:
a. Golds,
b. purples,
c. red,
d. oranges,
e. browns.
3. Every kind of tree seems to have its special color.
4. Every one KNOWS when the leaves change their colors that fall has
arrived.
C. What really brings about this change?
1. The changing weather? ...Yes...
2. but that is not the cause of the colors.
3. What is the real cause of the all the color?
4. Some folks reply, Who cares? JUST ENJOY IT.
5. But, to ignore that very special knowledge is to miss a very
important lesson in God's creation.
PSA 19:1 The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament
sheweth his handywork.
a. You see the colors have been there ALL ALONG.
b. They aren't new at all.
c. In fact the colors that we see in the Autumn of the year are the
TRUE colors of the leaves.
d. The green is NOT THE TRUE color but chlorophyll.
e. Scientist will tell you that the chlorophyll is a very important
part of the plant...it turns water and sunlight into vital sugars to
nurish the plant.
f. This chlorophyll is so abundant in the spring and summer that it
actually suppresses the true color of the plant.
g. The color that we see is the TRUE COLOR showing thru as the last
vestige of chlorophyll dies.
DISCUSSION: Like the TRUE COLORS in Gods' creation, often our TRUE
COLOR do not show through... by this I mean the TRUE COLORS of our
FAITH. HEB 11:1 Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the
evidence of things not seen.
I. I want us to look for a few moments at some of the REASONS why
our Faith is often UNSEEN.
A. First, is because we often think og outselves as "SELF- RELIANT."
1. When all things are going well, we show the PLAIN ordinary color
(or appearance) of all men.
2. This ordinary color is like the GREEN of Spring and Summer time.
a. It is welcome and beautiful in the Springtime after a long bleak
winter.
b. As time goes on the color becomes monotonous and unappreciated.
c. Eventually, it is almost completely ignored.
3. Like the circumstance of our surroundings, we need to comprehend
the nature of ourselves.
a. As we grow and set out on our own in the world, there is a great
novelty in attaining the status that everyone else seeks to attain.
1. We need educations...
2. We need livelyhoods...
3. We need homes...
4. We need families...
5. We need the same things that others need..
b. Thus, when we have acheived those things the BRIGHTNESS of their
attraction dwindles just a bit, until they are finally, mundane and no
second thought is given.
c. I find this very much like our initial appreciation of the Colors
of Spring after long waiting through the winter.
d. As summer progresses the flowers fade and the monotonous green
overpowers the few splashes of color.
e. In our effort to acheive the THINGS that sustain life, we often
times suppress those very colorful qualities of our FAITH.
4. The result of our daily pursuit for living, is that we simply
forget to bring out our TRUE COLORS OF FAITH which like the color
pigments of the leaves, are hidden deep beneath the MUNDANE GREENERY of
humanity.
a. It is there that our Faith sleeps dormant, waiting for an event,
or incident that will call for its beauty or reliability.
b. How unfortunate that is goes undetected and unappreciated for so
much of the time!
B. I believe that there are some very severe dangers involved in
having a HIDDEN FAITH.
1. It is very easy for us to begin to MAGNIGY ourselves and our
interest when we forget the TRUE source and stay of all things.
a. We demonstrate greater concern for OUR abilities, than for God's
handiwork.
b. We elevate our own self-worth, rather than the priceless Savior.
2. We forget the wise reminder of the prophet... JER 10:23 O Lord, I
know that the way of man {is} not in himself: {it is} not in man that
walketh to direct his steps.
3. We become like the example of James... JAM 4:13 Go to now, ye
that say, To day or to morrow we will go into such a city, and continue
there a year, and buy and sell, and get gain:
a. Our thoughts are in terms of the world.
b. Our efforts are for seeking personal gain.
c. Our endeavors become the attempt to map our destinies in view of
our abilities or perceived capabilities.
d. The result of which places our FAITH in the world which we see...
and our life becomes a practice, if not an adherence to the fatalist
view of existentialism...
1. ie. we only know what we see and touch.
2. ie. we can't depend on God or man, only the product of my own
acheivement.
4. We forget those underlying colors of spiritual values and
precepts that were our TRUE COLORS OF FAITH... We have become like
everyone else... the GREENERY OF THE WORLD has hidden the very thing
that should openly distinguish us from all the rest.
II. The christian can only appreciate the TRUE COLOR OF FAITH by
recognizing the real value of WORDLY LIFE.
JAM 4:14 Whereas ye know not what {shall be} on the morrow. For what
{is} your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time,
and then vanisheth away.
A. Many excuses have been made for the pursuit of worldly living
instead of FAITH. 1. The great American hope, "I want MY CHILDREN to
have a better LIFE than I did." a. What constitutes a better life?
1. Is wealth more desirable than FAITH?
2. Are possessions of greater worth?
b. Have we considered what builds TRUE CHARACTER?
c. Some are completely unconcerned for anything except the
acheivment of SUCCESS... But, what is TRUE SUCCESS? FAITH!!!
3. In contrast, there are those that do RIGHT THINGS in WRONG WAYS.
a. Like those in Mark 7 that Jesus reprimanded for calling a
possession CORBAN or a GIFT TO GOD to prevent using it to relieve the
needs of aging parents.
MAR 7:11 But ye say, If a man shall say to his father or mother, {It
is} Corban, that is to say, a gift, by whatsoever thou mightest be
profited by me; {he shall be free}.
b. God wants FAITHFUL service...
1. Gifts as the widows mite...quality.
2. Gifts such as Barnabas...sacrificial.
3. Gifts that are from the heart.
B. When we understand our temporary nature perhaps our TRUE COLORS
OF FAITH will begin to be exhibited in our lives. PRO 27:1 Boast not
thyself of to morrow; for thou knowest not what a day may bring forth.
C. To ignore these things will only hide our TRUE COLORS from the
very world that should see them.
IV. By understanding the nature of life we can display those Colors
daily.
A. We must first implement the proper directions for living. COL 3:1
If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above,
where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God.
COL 3:2 Set your affection on things above, not on things on the
earth.
B. Second, we need to DARE to be DIFFERENT from the world. II COR
5:7 ...(For we walk by faith, not by sight.)
C. Third, we should follow James instruction... JAM 4:15 For that ye
{ought} to say, If the Lord will, we shall live, and do this, or that.
D. Finally, we can take heart from an example in nature... 1. You
see, even in nature there are some plants that part from the normal.
2. PAWS RED PLUM TREE:
a. The leaves are RED from Spring to Fall. b. Even the fruit grows
RED from the bloom. c. The chlorophyll (that color of Green) never
overshadows the TRUE COLOR PIGMENTS. 3. To live by God's will requires
OUR TRUE COLOR OF FAITH.
a. Just like the trees that require chlorophyll to live, we like all
men have certain needs.
MAT 6:33 But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his
righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.
MAT 6:34 Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow
shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day
{is} the evil thereof.
b. Our lesson from the COLORS OF AUTUMN is simply this, We need not
allow the pursuit of daily needs to hide the BEAUTIFUL color of faith.
c. Christians, be like the RED PLUM TREE, let your TRUE COLORS show
through.
E. One final lesson can be gleaned... The colors of the trees don't
show through until the harsh cold begins to kill the chlorophyll. 1.
Many times our faith is hidden until hardship calls for us to search
and bring it out. 2. If we evidence our TRUE FAITH daily, perhaps there
will be a greater assurance that that faith will get us through such
hard times. A talent not practiced can soon be lost.
CLOSE: SHOW YOUR TRUE COLORS!!!