Occupancy becomes Residency

ME:

I asked Shelly the other day, “What would our grandparents think of the world we live in today?”

Technology

Politics

What I really was asking about was our CULTURE

Whats on TV. (Programs / AD’s)

What is deemed acceptable in our society today

Tell the story of me cussing when I was younger

Transition Statement: Would you agree with me that our culture today is moving (at a rampant rate) away from Biblical Truths?

WE:

Are you asking the same question I’m asking ..... WHY?

Are you wondering why ....

.... more people are living together opposed to getting married?

.... more people are accepting of or living in a Homosexual relationship?

.... more people have multiple marriages?

.... the rise of pornography for women is on the rise?

.... gossiping is still #1 sin in the church?

.... the percentage of Grandparents raising their grandkids are increasing them?

Don’t get me wrong, I am not a psychologist, I am not a doctor, I am not a therapist, but I believe I have the answer to this question ..... “WHY?”

Because we are being deceived by plausible arguments.

Transition Statement: Turn to Colossians 2:1-5 and I will show you what I mean!

GOD:

Colossians 2:1–5 ESV

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, 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, in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. I say this in order that no one may delude you with plausible arguments. 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.

Bring us up to speed with Paul and this letter ....

Paul writes to a church he has never been too.

He writes to encourage them (WE ALL NEED ENCOURAGEMENT, RIGHT?).

He tells them he is praying for them (1:9).

For God’s will (1:9)

For Strength (1:11)

For endurance (1:11)

For Patience (1:11)

Paul shares with them that they are victorious in Christ (1:13)

They have been brought out of darkness (1:13)

Into the Kingdom of God (1:13) THEY ARE ROYALTY!!!!!

Redeemed by Christ (1:14)

Paul tells them of the struggles he has endured for their sake (1:29 & 2:1)

What Pauls know and what he desires for this church is to be one with Christ / one with Each other … in Love.

This is to take place in the HEART (vs 2:2)

This is where Christ is to dwell in believers / followers.

In verse 3 it tells us that in Christ .... this is where the “TREASURE” is. (Wisdom: sophia and Knowledge: Ginosis)

The word “Treasure” is the greek word (Thesauros) means a place where something treasured is kept.

Where is God’s treasure kept? IN CHRIST!

Where should we find this “treasure”? In Our Hearts!

Matthew 6:21 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

Paul is Warning this church concerning a group of people ......

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

“Delude” (Paralogizomia) it’s the negative form for the word (logizamia) which means to calculate, consider! Done with the idea of deception, cheating by false reasoning.

Doesn’t this sound just like the ENEMY?????

James gives warning to this as well ..... 1:22 “Be doers of the word and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.”

How would this group of people deceive them?

(Vs 4 - ..... with plausible arguments.)

Pithandogia - Persuasive speech, Art of persuasion, plausible (but false) argument

Paul was warning this church who he has never seen but LOVES .....

..... that if they fixate their minds on something it will eventually take up residency in their hearts.

This church is to be careful not to let their minds be fixated on what this group would present as a plausible (yet false) argument to what Paul / Epaphras was teaching them (wisdom /knowledge) about Christ.

“Mystery” (2:2) is present in Paul’s proclamation found in Christ.

Therefore, Paul warns against being deceived by the plausible arguments that would demystify his gospel through the use of rational thought.

Believers must approach “the mystery of God” by faith, no matter how implausible it seems.

Rational argumentation is for those who proclaim a message grounded in “human tradition” rather than in Christ

Paul warns them as he is warning us TODAY ....

Occupancy in the mind takes up residency in the heart.

OCCUPANCY BECOMES RESIDENCY!!!!!

Transition Statement: This warning is for US.

YOU:

Going back to the question at the beginning of the message .....

Why is our culture moving (at a rampant rate) away from Biblical Truths?

Could it because they don’t know the WORD of GOD?

Do you find yourself starting to agree with the culture of our day?

Living together ....

Premarital Sex ....

Homosexual lifestyle ....

Marry and divorce any time you want ....

Keep watching pornography ..... (if everyone else is doing it then its okay)

Just keep gossiping / lying .....

shrink on our responsibilities as parents and go have fun .....

Is the reason we are finding the church today agreeing with the culture of the day ........

Could it be because we don’t know God’s word / hold it as authoritative / lack faith in it?

And by not knowing God’s word (Not having that treasure dwelling within out hearts) we are being deceived by the worlds Persuasive Arguments.

PAUSE ........

Don’t be too hard on yourselves ..... This is not the first time in history someone has been deceived by a persuasive argument.

In the Garden .... God told “Adam and Eve” not to eat from “the tree of the knowledge of good and evil” (Gen 2:17)

They were deceived by the serpent ..... (Gen 3:1 ...... “Did God actually say, ‘You shall not eat of any tree in the garden’?”)

How were they deceived? By a plausible argument!

Transition Statement: Paul warns them (we should assume they have not succumb to the deception yet). So he encourages them to continue to do what they have been doing to combat these plausible arguments.

WE:

Read Verse 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.

Paul knows they have not come to believe these plausible arguments.

And he encourages them to continue to do what they have been doing .....

“good order” - (Taxis) well regulated (LIFE) disciplined lifestyle (Military context)

“Firmness” - (Stereoma) steadfastness; stability (only found here in scripture)

Just as Paul was encouraging this church he is encouraging us today to maintain a lifestyle that is disciplined and one that is stable in CHRIST!

How do we do this?

Whatever we allow to occupy our minds ....... remember it will take up residency in our hearts.

We need to FIX our Mind on Christ.

This thought is throughout scripture but there are two verses I want to point out to us this morning ....

Romans 8:6 For to set the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace.

Romans 12:2 Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, ....

“Renewal” (Noun not a verb) a renewing or renovation which makes a person different than in the past. Better than before (of old).

Not an action but a position! Renovated!

Your mind has been made NEW!

What occupies your mind will take residency in your heart.

Occupancy becomes Residency.

Leave them with a CHALLANGE!