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And the only way we're going to be strong in God is putting time into it.

Time, time, time. You can be as close to God as you want to be. It all depends on how much time you're willing to put into the relationship.

Alright now, Colossians chapter 3.

We're going to look at first at the first four verses.

If you've been raised with Christ to a new life, which you have been, correct?

If you're not born again tonight, we can fix that. But you've been raised to a new life, you're a new creature.

All things have passed away. All things have become new.

So, okay, then why do I still act? I'm not saying sometimes.

And this is where it gets confusing for people. It's like, well, if all this stuff is mine, then why am I not seeing it manifested in my life?

Well, it's very simple. What we have legally given to us through the blood of Christ and what we have experientially in our lives can be two very different things if we don't know how to walk out what God has done in us.

And I want to tell you something, it takes time. God works according to the law of gradual growth.

I want to read you a scripture in just a few minutes because part of this talks about the crucifixion of the flesh, dying to self.

And Paul said that he was crucified to the world and the world had been crucified to him.

And he said, it's no longer I that live, but Christ that lives in me and the life that I now live, I live by faith in the Son of God.

And you know, you read that as a young Christian, you think, oh, that must be so wonderful. So wonderful.

But you know what? Paul wrote that 20 years after his conversion. That gives me hope. I'll tell you what, after 20 years, I could say a few things that I couldn't say year one.

So let me tell you something. It's not about whether or not you've arrived, but are you growing? Come on, are you growing?

You certainly want to grow or you wouldn't be here tonight. You want to grow and God sees that.

And that's what makes him happy. He's got somebody who wants to do the right thing. Amen?

If you've been raised with Christ to a new life, thus sharing his resurrection from the dead, amen and seek.

Seek, seek, seek, seek, seek. Seek is a very strong word. If you study it out in the original language, it means to crave, pursue, and go after with all of your might.

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