"It's Time to Have a Funeral"

Scripture: "Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry." -Colossians 3:5, NIV

Brothers and sisters, there is one part of this life that we must all experience at one time or another and that's death. When we die or see someone close to us pass, then comes the funeral. Depending on the individual, these services are often reflected as home going celebrations and others, funeral services. During the time of the funeral, we always pay our last respects to our loved one, friend, co-worker, or whomever and to let their families know that we have their back. Usually, most funerals I have attended, there are some happy moments, but predominantly, there are sad moments. On today, I am encouraged by God and His Word that we all have to have a funeral! When we have this funeral, it will propel us to greater things in the Kingdom of God. Today's text illustrates the kind of funeral we should have.

This week's set of devotionals begins in the book of Colossians. This book was written by the Apostle Paul, to the church located in Colossae. Within this book, Paul opposes false teachers who have been spreading error within the congregation there. Within this chapter, Paul gives rules for holy living and rules for Christian households. Our main scripture for today is located within the rules for holy living. Within this set of scriptures, we find out about this funeral each and every one of us needs to have.

Paul begins the text by saying, "Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature." In other words, he is saying to have a funeral for your flesh! One thing about our Heavenly Father is that flesh cannot dwell with Him and when we are in Heaven with Him, it will be our spirit that will make it there. Our flesh will be a part of this Earth. If truth were told, our flesh impedes the blessings God wants to bestow upon you and I! Our flesh, at times, wants to be in the "limelight", it wants its ego fed, it wants to shine on the brightest stages, but at the end of the day, NONE of that will matter because God is not concerned with your flesh, but He's concerned with your Spirit! Since He's concerned with your Spirit, He wants you and I to get the thing that houses our Spirit in order and that's our flesh. With this being said, Paul points out some distinct facets of our flesh/earthly nature that needs to be buried as well.

Paul points out the following things: "sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires, and greed". If truth were told, each of us deals with at least one of these things on a daily basis. With that being said, it's on you, my brother, and my sister, and it's on myself as well, to deal with these issues and bury them! As I fore stated earlier, God wants to do bigger and better things within each of us, but He wants our energy and drive to be focused on Him and what He needs for us! What you will realize is that when you can defeat these things and give them their proper funeral, then God can use you to deliver another brother/sister who's dealing with the same issue!

As the text closes, Paul lets us know that these things contribute to another thing that must be funeralized and that's idolatry. The 10 Commandments told us that "thou shalt have no other gods before thee" with thee being God. As I stated before, in order to receive God's blessings, our spirit must be in tuned with Him and if we are idol worshipping, we are not worshipping Him, and He desires that we must worship Him in spirit and in truth, and we cannot serve two masters! Because of this, it's important to bury these things and also bury idolatry! If you are loving on your car more than God, it's time for a funeral for that! If you are envying your brother for the kind of car he possesses, it's time for a funeral for that! If you have these sex crazed dreams about someone that's not your spouse, then it's time for a funeral for that! When you have been blessed with more than enough and you want more just to have more, then it's time for a funeral for that! When you worship your spouse/child more than you do God, then it's time for a funeral!

In closing, it's time to examine ourselves and see what parts of us need to die and be funeralized. God through the Apostle Paul has given you some real things to look at and bury. When you have this "flesh funeral", then watch your Spirit rejoice and the God of your salvation rejoice! We're in a time and season where God needs REAL warriors for Him, are you ready to die and yet, ready to serve?