Colossians 2:1-8

1 For I want you to know how great a struggle I have for you and for those at Laodicea and for all who have not seen me face to face, 2 that their hearts may be encouraged, being knit together in love, to reach all the riches of full assurance of understanding and the knowledge of God’s mystery, which is Christ, 3 in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. 4 I say this in order that no one may delude you with plausible arguments. 5 For though I am absent in body, yet I am with you in spirit, rejoicing to see your good order and the firmness of your faith in Christ. 6 Therefore, as you received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in him, 7 rooted and built up in him and established in the faith, just as you were taught, abounding in thanksgiving. 8 See to it that no one takes you captive by philosophy and empty deceit, according to human tradition, according to the elemental spirits of the world, and not according to Christ.

Intro

Have you ever been fooled?

When I was a kid I loved watching magicians on TV...

The point of the magician on TV is to get you to doubt the things you know to be true… even if only for a second.

Paul writes these 8 verses to encourage the local church at Colossae to not be fooled by false teaching. To not become deluded into believing something that is NOT true

If you’ve ever struggled with doubt, if you’ve ever questioned christianity… this sermon is for you. If you’ve ever been hurt by a church or preacher who made big promises for you and your family but only delivered dissappointment and doubt… this message is for you.

Pray

Full assurance of understanding God’s Mystery

Colossians 2:1–3 ESV

Paul rejoices in his suffering because in his suffering we are are seeing the value of the gospel

We should be encouraged and our hearts knit together

This means we should walk together

By loving one another we reach the riches of full assurance of God’s mystery

This should remind us of

Colossians 1:9–10 ESV

9 And so, from the day we heard, we have not ceased to pray for you, asking that you may be filled with the knowledge of his will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, 10 so as to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him: bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God;

Filled with the knowledge of His will

Walk in that knowledge

increase in the knowledge of God

Filled with the knowledge of Pauls (any believers) suffering

Be encouraged and Love one another (walk together)

reach full assurance & knowledge

Full assurance!!!

Most of the world would go to great legnths for full assurance

There are VP’s, CEO’s, & even movie starts right now wondering “Is this what i’m supposed to do with my life?”

How do we get that?

Walk this out with other belivers

House Church

Don’t be deluded

See that no one takes you captive by philosophy and empty deceit

Colossians 2:4 ESV

4 I say this in order that no one may delude you with plausible arguments.

Don’t be fooled!!! That’s why I brought up magic in the introduction

Plausible

That’s a good word plausible

everyone laughs and rolls their eyes at the ridiculous (Jesus was a woman!?), but the enemy is smarter and craftier than that, he comes at the believers with the plausible (Dan Brown).

The enemy attacks us with the Plausible

Paul knew at the time of him writing this there were false teachers preying on young churches (Judaizers, Charlatans - New Ideas)

Still, in this day, in this City there are false teachers

They tell just enough of Jesus to sound Christian. They call themselves Christians, but they’re not the real Jesus

Jesus Calling

The Prosperity Gospel

Heaven is for Real

See that no one takes you captive by philosophy and empty deceit

Colossians 2:4 ESV

4 I say this in order that no one may delude you with plausible arguments.

Colossians 2:8 ESV

8 See to it that no one takes you captive by philosophy and empty deceit, according to human tradition, according to the elemental spirits of the world, and not according to Christ.

Not according to Christ

“Not According to Christ”

Jesus Calling is just one lady’s ideal of what Jesus might say, if asked the questions posed in the book. Not really Jesus’ words

The biggest question to ask yourself when you encounter a “new” teaching or a new philosophy or fad is, “What do they do with Jesus? Is the Jesus they are describing the Jesus of the bible. What do they do with the Cross of Christ?“

Elemental Spirits of the world

Gretta Vosper - Atheist Pastor in the United Church in Canada

Marie Kondo

Gretta Vosper - Atheist Pastor in the United Church in Canada

Elemental Spirits of the world

C.S. Lewis on the Spiritual/Demonic

People are not our enemy - Gretta Vosper is not our enemy, the enemy is spiritual

John Piper - “When you kneel to pray you’re kicking up a hornets nest”

When you want to pray, read your bible, attend the Sunday Gathering, get ready to go to House Church… the battle is on

Colossians 2:6–7 ESV

6 Therefore, as you received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in him, 7 rooted and built up in him and established in the faith, just as you were taught, abounding in thanksgiving.

Colossians 2:6-7

How do you deal with doubt in the Christian life: test the faith by walking in it.

Try it

The Psalmist said: Taste and see that the Lord is good

You tell me what strawberries taste, and I’ll tell you what life with Jesus is like

I said if you’ve had doubts this message is for you

What do you do with your doubts? Test them!!!

All I can say is take a bite

Back in I gave the illustration of driving a ca

You’ve heard of God’s will for your life in the gospel walk in it, gain more knowledge. Walk in it the knowledge of God together with other believers, you’ve grow in love and gain the riches of full assurance of God’s Mystery: Jesus, in whom are all the treasures of knowledge and wisdom

Colossians

Let’s Pray

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