Rooted in Christ: Living as True Disciples

Good Morning

Pray

Today we move into Colossians 2. which is really a continuation of Colossians 1.....i am not sure why the started a new chapter in the middle of a thought but that seems to happen all throughout the Bible in our translated form

Colossians 2:1–3

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“For I would that ye knew what great conflict I have for you, and for them at Laodicea, and for as many as have not seen my face in the flesh; That their hearts might be comforted, being knit together in love, and unto all riches of the full assurance of understanding, to the acknowledgement of the mystery of God, and of the Father, and of Christ; In whom are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.”

We see here in verse 1 Paul mentioned Laodicea

It is believed and can be assumed that since Paul mentioned them and because of their close proximity to Colosse that Paul wanted to the letter shared with the church in Laodicea as well

Now we looked at the fact that the Church in Colosse was founded by one of Paul’s disciples remember chapter 1 vs 7?

Now one can also then assume because of “for as many as have not seen my face in the flesh” that the church in Laodicea was also founded by one of Paul’s disciples and Paul had not set foot in either city which makes sense since these two cities were only a few miles apart

In verse 2 we see Paul encouraging them to be united in love

Christian love to stand together in the face of false teachings

we also see in verse 2 that Paul reminds them of the assurances of understanding God’s Word

Do you have that assurance?

Do you have understanding of God’s Word?

Only the saved do because that understanding is only gained by the Holy Spirit and the only people who are indwelled with the Holy Spirit are true Christians

Colossians 2:4–5

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“And this I say, lest any man should beguile you with enticing words. For though I be absent in the flesh, yet am I with you in the spirit, joying and beholding your order, and the stedfastness of your faith in Christ.”

First let’s deal with beguile

it is from a Greek verb that means to misreckon, delude, deceive

You and I as Christians still face many deceitful arguments and teachings today

someone claiming the have all the spiritual answers

people on YouTube and vlogs that teach about God but don’t use scripture or only use a verse or two or just blatantly twist scripture

many today teach about God and ignore the scriptures altogether

these who bring these deceitful arguments and teachings only listen to and seek out those who agree with them

they don’t want challenged because they have nothing to stand upon

most believe and teach that God and the church are not important today

we looked at that last week and I pray you have been seeking God for your conviction concerning His Church which Jesus is the head

What about you

did any of those hit home with you

we must unite and stand only on God’s Word!

Colossians 2:6

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“As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in him:

Walk ye in Him

We saw this last week and see it again here this morning....we will continue to see it because this matters to God

God fully expects those that accept Jesus gift of salvation to walk in Him

What is that

Romans 12:1–2

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“I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.”

Reasonable service.......what is that

the bear minimum that you should give to God because of all He gave to you

Because you were a sinner and have sinned and still sin

because Jesus came to this earth fully man and fully God....leaving heaven and position to be born in a food trough in a barn in poverty

because He walked a perfect life to die a perfect death after taking on the sin of the entire world

because of that when you accept Jesus’ gift of salvation you have a reasonable service to perform

living sacrifice

What does that look like a reasonable sacrifice

first you are no longer in control

you must surrender your will to God

Luke 22:41–42

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“And he was withdrawn from them about a stone’s cast, and kneeled down, and prayed, Saying, Father, if thou be willing, remove this cup from me: nevertheless not my will, but thine, be done.”

This is Jesus

Jesus is praying, another account talks of the fact Jesus is sweating blood during this prayer

He is asking for the cup to be removed....what cup.....taking the sins of the world on Him on the cross and knowing God would have to look away for the only time in eternity

that was the cup but notice not my will but thine be done

most of us struggle or flat refuse to drink from a cup that cause us a little bit of distress or cause us to be a little bit uncomfortable

most could truly care less about God’s will unless it matches our will

You wont come out and say that but your fruit proves it

You call the shots

you decide what cups to drink and what cups to reject

you are in charge

naw naw....wrong

dead wrong

When was the last time you actually prayed this hard to God about something......completely dialed in.....nothing else matters but this conversation

when was the last time you wholeheartedly

completely

fully

surrendered to God’s will when it was against your will

Nevertheless.....in spite of me wanting to have this cup removed I will willingly do your will Father

What about how you seek to learn

Colossians 3:16

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“Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.”

We will dig deeper here when we get there but do you truly let the Word of Christ dwell in you richly

When you have a decision to make do you turn to God in prayer as you search His Word for guidance or do you make the decision and the pray for God to bless YOUR decision

I am guilty of that....we are all guilty of that but that ought not to be dear friends and fellow saints

It goes beyond decision making however look further

admonishing comes from a Greek verb meaning to put to mind, to caution or reprove gently, warn

our conversations should be filled with God’s Word

When was the last time you talked with someone and admonished them with God’s Word?

Here is one....what about your tongue

James 3:1-12

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James 3:1–12 KJV 1900

My brethren, be not many masters, knowing that we shall receive the greater condemnation. For in many things we offend all. If any man offend not in word, the same is a perfect man, and able also to bridle the whole body. Behold, we put bits in the horses’ mouths, that they may obey us; and we turn about their whole body. Behold also the ships, which though they be so great, and are driven of fierce winds, yet are they turned about with a very small helm, whithersoever the governor listeth. Even so the tongue is a little member, and boasteth great things. Behold, how great a matter a little fire kindleth! And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity: so is the tongue among our members, that it defileth the whole body, and setteth on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire of hell. For every kind of beasts, and of birds, and of serpents, and of things in the sea, is tamed, and hath been tamed of mankind: But the tongue can no man tame; it is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison. Therewith bless we God, even the Father; and therewith curse we men, which are made after the similitude of God. Out of the same mouth proceedeth blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not so to be. Doth a fountain send forth at the same place sweet water and bitter? Can the fig tree, my brethren, bear olive berries? either a vine, figs? so can no fountain both yield salt water and fresh.

Is your tongue surrendered to God or are you out here dropping f bombs

cursing

lying

gossiping

harassing

talking behind people’s back

coveting

is your tongue surrendered to God’s Will because of what Jesus did for you on the cross.....that is your reasonable....your bare minimum service

church you and I must be transformed!!!!!!!!

you and I must be living sacrifices or we miss the point

we are missing relationship and fellowship with Jesus and each other

Are you walking in Him?

How how do you do this

Colossians 2:7

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“Rooted and built up in him, and stablished in the faith, as ye have been taught, abounding therein with thanksgiving.”

I want to put a picture on the screen...

This is a single plant that is rooted in the soil

look at how the roots dig deep and spread out

You as a Christian are to be rooted like that plant but not in soil but is Jesus

stablished in the faith......does your faith in Christ drive everything you do?

Are you being taught.....sounds like church and bible studies and small groups and discipleship is very important.......I pray that God is moving in hearts to start small groups here at CCC....groups that break physical bread together and spiritual bread together and do life together.....if you feel led to host, teach or both please see me

That leads me to another picture

This is several plants rooted in the soil

that is how our lives should look

all are digging deep

all are spreading out

in fact it is very difficult to figure out which roots belong to which plant

church we are missing that here

we have pockets of that here and there but as Christians

members of the body of Christ that make up His bride our entire church should look like that

it takes sacrifice

it takes time

it takes commitment

it takes seeking each other out and talking to each other more than hey good to see you this morning

this world and its prince are looking to do nothing but kill

steal

and destroy each and every one of us and it takes each and every one of us to stand together

lock shields

be rooted so deep in Christ and entangled so much with each other that nothing can separate us

One way the enemy tries to kill and steal and destroy is false doctrine

Colossians 2:8

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“Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ.”

How many of us hear something that claims to be Christian and we just accept it at face value

That is honestly one of the reasons I do the note sheets each and every week....I pray you are diving into the scriptures and truths I taught and making sure I am teaching them correctly

If brothers and sisters are rightly dividing the Word through the Holy Spirit mistakes will jump off the page and hurt the ears......do you just take me at face value because i am your pastor....if so shame on you

there is an intentional effort to try to deceive God’s people...God’s elect.....if you and I are in God’s Word and standing on God’s Word it is impossible to be deceived but if not you are fair game

Church this is eternal stuff here

I love you....I try to tell you that every week and every time we talk for that matter

I love you so I preach the truth......the truth of the matter is this

you cannot be truly saved if you are not transformed

you met Jesus

you might even believe in Jesus

James 2:19

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“Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble.”

There has to be a shift from belief to surrender

there has to be a shift from head knowledge to heart knowledge

there has to be a change in citizenship from earth to heaven

you must move from physical to spiritual...which we will get to next week

is that you

are you truly saved

I don't care if you have been here or other churches for 50 years

what does your fruit say

what does the Holy Spirit say to you right now this very instant

Please understand if you are not willing to be a living sacrifice you have issues my friends

I love you so much it kills me to think some of you will not make it to heaven because you never got real with Jesus

if that is you....come....today is the day!

Invitation