Why is it so hard to change? If you know something’s bad for you, why can’t you just stop?  It turns out that sin is pleasurable, at first.  But it has a terrible destructive bite in the long run.  We are addicted to pleasure.  And that’s what makes change so very hard.  Our goal today is to explain to you how you can stop the habits of your old life and get your life back so that you can be a brand new you with a  brand new life!

Our vices bring instant gratification, (but they bring long term sorrow). 

The key to getting your life back on track is to put on the new man. 

The old ME died with Christ. Romans 6:6 “

Now we have a new nature. 2 Corinthians 5:17,

Your new nature is the key to overcoming sin. 

GOAL; Become Like Christ 10

 “Be imitators of God.” Ephesians 5:1-2

“Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 2:5 

“Everyone, when he is fully trained will be like his teacher.”  Luke 6:40

“You be imitators of me, just as I also am of Christ.” 1 Corinthians 11:1

If you really want life change, you must adopt the right goal.  .

METHOD; The Word of God 10

Renewed means new growth, new strength, and new life.    

This happens through knowledge.    

As we behold the mirror of God’s Word we are transformed. 2 Cor 3:17-18 

We are transformed by the renewing of our mind. Rom 12:2

We are blessed when we continue in the perfect law of liberty. Jas 1:22-25

The world of God’s grace is able to build you up.  Act 20:32

The way to put on the new man is time spent in God’s Word. 

Get into the Word, and let the Word get into you. 

IMPACT of your actions  11-12

You are now on a mission to impact other people with your life

You must become the role model God wants you to be. 

Your ethnicity doesn’t make you better or worse than anyone else.

Your past does not make you a better or worse Christian than anyone else.

The New Man treats everyone in the body of Christ as valuable.

REPLACE; With Godly Life Change 12-14

Describe what your new life should look like. 

Colossians 3:8-9 lists six ugly worldly responses.

Colossians 3:12-14 lists eight gracious godly responses. 

Which of the two lists do you want to follow? 

People respond poorly because they feel justified in their behavior.

Everybody gets to choose their responses. 

You can’t just stop one behavior without replacing it with another one! 

This is called “the positive replacement principle.” 

Practicing these virtues will strengthen your resolve to overcome sin. 

One way to kick bad habits is to actively replace unhealthy routines with new, healthy ones.  These alternative behaviors counteract the urges to repeat a bad behavior.  And if you decide to put on the new man, to replace your bad way of treating people with a godly way of treating people, it will powerfully, positively and triumphantly change your life! 

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Why is it So Hard to Change?

If you know something’s bad for you, why can’t you just stop? Addiction is something that one out of every 12 American adults struggles with.[i] About 70% of smokers say they would like to quit. Drug and alcohol abusers want to give up addictions that hurt their bodies and tear apart families and friendships. And many of us have unhealthy excess weight that we would love to lose if only we would eat right and exercise more. So why don’t we do it?

It turns out that sin is pleasurable, at first.  But it has a terrible destructive bite in the long run.  But it is our pleasure sensors and our brain’s reward centers that keep us coming back for more.  We are addicted to pleasure.  That’s why we return again and again to such harmful routines such as overeating, smoking, drug or alcohol abuse, gambling, porn and even compulsive use of social media.

Enjoyable behaviors prompt your brain to release a chemical called dopamine.  If you receive a jolt of pleasurable response, you want to do it again, and that strengthens our bad habits. When you’re not doing those things, dopamine creates the craving so that you want to do it again,” [ii]

In a sense, then, parts of our brains are working against us when we try to overcome bad habits. “These routines can become hardwired in our brains, And the brain’s reward centers keep us craving the things we’re trying so hard to resist. [iii]

And that’s what makes change so very hard.  The problem is that our vices bring instant gratification, (even though they bring long term sorrow).  What makes it even more difficult is that our virtues rarely bring the same kind of immediate gratification or dopamine high, (even though they bring long term satisfaction and joy).

So the truth is you get more of a high out of alcohol, than you do out of sober, happy family living.  And you get a bigger jolt out of gambling, than you do when you pay off your mortgage! 

With this terrible imbalance, brought on by the ravages of sin, how can we tip the scales in our favor?  You have to be willing to exchange the short term gratification for long term results.  We need to know how to break those routines and embrace new ones.

In our last few studies, we told you that in order to win against sin, you must set your mind on heavenly things.  And we noted that you must abandon yourself to an all out faith in the God who has promised that he will deliver us.  You’ve got to believe.

Today, we get to unpack yet another key to getting your life back on track.  This one is called, put on the new man. 

The idea is this:  if indeed, the old me died with Christ, as Paul said in Romans 6:6 “knowing this, that our old man was crucified with Him, that sin in the body might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves of sin.” 

And if indeed we have a new nature, as Paul explained in 2 Corinthians 5:17, “if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.” 

Then our message today is that you should “put off the old man” and ”put on the new man.”  And here is the secret to overcoming the dopamine rush.  You can put an end to your old life and live a life pleasing to God, is because, as a believer, you have a new nature. 

The nature inside me has changed, but the body around me has not.  It still has the same needs and the same passions and same dopamine rush – but the incredible news is that we now have a NEW NATURE that can overpower the old things! 

So our goal today is to explain to you how you can stop the habits of your old life and get your life back so that you can be a brand new you with a  brand new life!

And I’m going to give you FIVE simple steps on how you can PUT ON the new man.  #1.  You must adopt a new GOAL.  The first thing you must do is to decide that the most important thing in your life is that you want to become like Jesus.  #2  You must use a new METHOD.  The old dopamine rush is not going to help you change.  Here is what will: the incredible mind transforming Word of God.  #3  You must begin to think differently about the IMPACT of your actions.  You are now on a mission to impact other people, and to do that you must become the role model God wants you to be.  #4  You need to rethink your RESPONSES to people around you and REPLACE the bad ones with good ones.   Since you are a new creature in Christ, Your behavior must change to reflect that. 

This is how you PUT ON the new man.  Adopt a new goal.

GOAL; Become Like Christ

put off the old man with his deeds, 10 and put on the new man who is renewed in knowledge according to the image of Him who created him,

According to the image.  Who’s image?  Christ’s image.  You must decide that the most important thing in your life is that you want to become like Jesus. 

Ephesians 5:1-2 commands us to “be imitators of God.”

Philippians 2:5  tells us “Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus.”

Jesus told his disciples, “Everyone, when he is fully trained will be like his teacher.”  Luke 6:40

1 Corinthians 11:1 Paul said, “You be imitators of me, just as I also am of Christ.”

So, let me be clear, if you really want life change, you must adopt the right goal.  The only goal that will get you where you need to go is this one:  that I might be like Jesus.  Pray, “Oh, Lord, that is my goal to become like Christ.”

This is how you PUT ON the new man.  Adopt a new goal.  Use a new method.

METHOD; The Word of God

10 put on the new man who is renewed in knowledge according to the image of Him who created him,

What does it mean that the new man is “renewed in knowledge?”  Renewed ἀνακαινόω anakainoo means new growth, new strength, new life as opposed to the old life.  This is the way that Christians become transformed.  We become renewed, re-invigorated, strengthened in a way we have never experienced before. 

And how does that happened through knowledge.  What is this storehouse of knowledge that is so powerful that it can overcome our addictions and make us live a new life?  Let’s see if we can figure that out.  Here are some clues. 

2 Corinthians 3:17-18  Now where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty. 18 But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord..

The Holy Spirit uses something called a mirror to transform us.  We look into it and it changes us.  That is the storehouse of knowledge from the book of Colossians. 

Another clue.  Romans 12:2 “do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may demonstrate what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.” 

This storehouse of knowledge renews and transforms the mind.  Once that happens we are able to live out the good life. 

A third clue James 1:22-25, “22 be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. 23 For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man observing his natural face in a mirror; 24 for he observes himself, goes away, and immediately forgets what kind of man he was. 25 But he who looks into the perfect law of liberty and continues in it, and is not a forgetful hearer but a doer of the work, this one will be blessed.

This storehouse of knowledge is called “the perfect law of liberty,”  or “the Word.”  If we look into the law of liberty and continue in it, it transforms us. 

I’m sure you must know that this amazing storehouse of knowledge is “the world of God’s grace, which is able to build you up” and transform you!  (Act 20:32)

The method that you must use to put on the new man is time spent in God’s Word.  Don’t just spend moments, although that’s better than nothing; Don’t be casual about the Word, that won’t be profitable; Spend a serious chunk of time, reading, studying, memorizing and meditating on God’s Word. 

When you get into the Word, and the Word gets into you; that’s when transformation takes place. 

IMPACT of your actions

You are now on a mission to impact other people with your life, and to do that you must become the role model God wants you to be. 

11 In the body of Christ there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcised nor uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave nor free, but Christ is all and in all.

Now why did God drop this interesting verse about our equality in Christ right in the middle of our discussion on the new man?  Perhaps because God wants us to gain a new outlook on other believers.  In Christ, your ethnicity doesn’t make you better or worse than anyone else (Jew or Greek, circumcised or uncircumcised).  In Christ, neither your past, nor your position, nor your wealth or lack of it make you a better or worse Christian than anyone else.

So here’s the idea.  The New Man treats every other man and woman in the body of Christ as a valuable, precious member of the Body of Christ.  Neither Race, ethnicity, background, education, wealth or lack of it is an excuse for mistreating a brother or a sister. 

We are on a mission to impact rich and poor, slave and free, black and white, Jew and Gentile. 

And we have received a special calling in order to accomplish that, according to verse 12:  We are the elect of God!  God has chosen us!  We are His!  We need to live like we are his.  We are holy!  God set us apart for himself so we can be pure!  We are beloved!  Maybe you don’t feel like you’re doing a good job representing God nor living a holy life, regardless you are still loved!  God doesn’t love us because of or goodness, he loves us in spite of it, and he doesn’t want to leave us in that life!  That’s why he has called us! 

This is how you PUT ON the new man.  Adopt a new goal.  Use a new method. consider the impact of your actions.  And you need to spend time rethink they way you RESPOND to people around you. 

REPLACE; with Godly Life Change

You must describe what your new life should look like.  Everybody gets to chose how they will respond.  If you feel justified in being angry, you will be angry. 

Colossians 3:8-9 lists six ugly worldly responses.  Anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy language and lying.  These are what you will typically see in people around town.  Why do people respond this way?  Because they feel justified in their behavior.

But Colossians 3:12-14 lists eight godly responses. 

It says, instead, put on tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, longsuffering; 13 bearing with one another, and forgiving one another, if anyone has a complaint against another; even as Christ forgave you, so you also must do. 14 But above all these things put on love, which is the bond of perfection.

Everybody gets to choose their responses.  Choose your responses.  Here’s a better way.  Be tender and merciful.  Be kind.  Be humble, meek even.  Be longsuffering, put up with other people even when they are unbearable.  Forgive them and most of all love them! 

Great choices.  Choose your behavior.  Which of the two lists do you want to follow? 

Here is one of the secrets for changing your behavior.  You can’t just stop one behavior without replacing it with another one!  It just doesn’t work.  People want to stop smoking, drinking, overeating and gambling… but just stopping leaves a void in their lives.  You need to replace those behaviors with something better.  Let me see if I can explain it:

You just can’t stop lying, you must replace that behavior with truth telling.  You can’t just stop being angry, you must replace that behavior with tender mercy and kindness.  You can’t just stop swearing at people, you must replace that behavior with forgiveness and love.  Do you get the idea?

This is called “the positive replacement principle.”  And I guarantee that you will never stop your bad behavior until you decide that you shouldn’t treat yourself and other people a different way.  There is a better way, a right way, a godly way to treat people. 

Regularly practicing these virtues will strengthen your resolve to overcome other sins.  In fact over time they will help you improve your self-control by practicing them[iv]

One way to kick bad habits is to actively replace unhealthy routines with new, healthy ones.  These alternative behaviors can counteract the urges to repeat a bad behavior.[v]  Abandon activities that lead to mental associations that induce bad habits.  Stay Away From Temptations That Help Feed Your Addiction Or Bad Habits

And if you decide to put on the new man, to replace your bad way of treating people with a godly way of treating people, it will powerfully, positively and triumphantly change your life! 

Get your life back.  Make the changes that you need to make to live the way you’ve always wanted to live.  Put Jesus first.  Immerse yourself in the Word of God.  Reject your prejudices against one another.  Embrace who you are as a child of God, and start treating people as Jesus would have you treat them. 

Drop your defensiveness and pick up some compassion.  Stop justifying your bad behavior and start treating people with kindness and humility.  And the bottom line is that you must love the Lord Jesus Christ with all your heart, soul mind and strength, and He will change your life! 

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[i] https://americanaddictioncenters.org/sobriety-guide/coping-mechanism

[ii] https://newsinhealth.nih.gov/2012/01/breaking-bad-habits#:~:text=In%20a%20sense%2C%20then%2C%20parts,trying%20so%20hard%20to%20resist.

[iii] https://newsinhealth.nih.gov/2012/01/breaking-bad-habits#:~:text=In%20a%20sense%2C%20then%2C%20parts,trying%20so%20hard%20to%20resist.

[iv] https://newsinhealth.nih.gov/2012/01/breaking-bad-habits#:~:text=In%20a%20sense%2C%20then%2C%20parts,trying%20so%20hard%20to%20resist.

[v] https://newsinhealth.nih.gov/2012/01/breaking-bad-habits#:~:text=In%20a%20sense%2C%20then%2C%20parts,trying%20so%20hard%20to%20resist.

What you believe about yourself determines your spiritual, physical and emotional health.  If you believe right, your body, soul, spirit and mind will respond with vibrancy, health and joy.  But if you believe wrong you will live in sadness, sin and failure.  “Whether you think you can, or you think you can’t–you’re right.”  Today we will show you the path to life and the reality of death to self.  You can live a life of victory.  If you think you can, you’re right.

Heb 11:6 “without faith it is impossible to please God.” 

Mar 9:23 “If you believe.  All things are possible.” 

Matthew 17:20-21 “if you have faith… nothing will be impossible for you.”

James 1:6-8 “you must ask in faith, without doubting.”

Phil 4:13 “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” 

Put to Death Degenerate Behavior 5-6

Five deadly sexual sins:

#1 Fornication – a catch all word meaning any sexual sin.  

#2 Uncleanness – impure sexual thoughts and illicit behaviors. 

#3 passion – sexual fantasies and romances of the mind.

#4 evil desire – craving for things God has forbidden. 

#5 covetousness. – desire to have something that is not yours. 

Idolatry is when you place anything ahead of God. 

Because of these things the wrath of God is coming.

These deviant behaviors trap those who fall prey to them. 

Faith is the powerful remedy for sin.

MEMBERS–a limb: or a body part.  “flesh,” flesh and blood.

OLD MAN – the old nature or sin nature. 

NEW MAN – The new nature.  Granted when you become a Christian.

Your nature is your operations center, controlling your body.

Your new nature enables you to live an abundant life.

Our old man was crucified with Christ. Rom 6:6

Reckon yourselves to be dead to sin, but alive to God. Rom 6:11

“Recon” means to believe that something is true, to take God at His word.”

You are to believe you are dead to sin.   

Put Away Corrupt Communication 7-10

Six deadly communication sins:

#1.  Anger – this is a typical bad temper.

#2.  Wrath – wrath, fierce anger, overflowing heat, boiling over anger. 

#3 Malice – ill-will, desire to injure. 

#4 Blasphemy–injurious speech aimed both at God and man. 

#6 A lie – deliberate falsehood. 

To put off is a decision to stop saying bad stuff.

The words we speak profoundly affect our health and our world. 

Change your words and you will change your world. 

Do you believe God?  Whether you do or not, FAITH is one of the most powerful forces that God has made available to us humans.  What you believe, and how sincerely, passionately and powerfully you believe is the measure that will determine the quality of your life.  And the most important thing you can believe is that is that Jesus Christ, the sinless Son of God, died for your sins. 

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What you believe about yourself determines your spiritual, physical and emotional health.  If you believe right, your body, soul, spirit and mind will respond with vibrancy, health and joy.  But if you believe wrong you will live in sadness, sin and failure. 

Henry Ford once said, “Whether you think you can, or you think you can’t–you’re right.” 

Do you struggle to overcome persistent sin?  Do you find yourself defeated time and time again?

This is truly the problem of the average Christian.  We have been told in God’s Word that we can have victory over sin, but too many of us have not experienced it.  Today we are going to give you a powerful truth that will transform your attitudes and behavior, if you will believe it and practice it. 

It is the truth of what Jesus has genuinely done for us on the cross which has defeated sin and given us the victory.  Today we will show you the path to life and the reality of death to self.  You can live a life of victory.  If you think you can, you’re right.

As it turns out, FAITH is the most powerful force that God has made available to us humans, as long as it is faith in the truth.  What you believe, and how sincerely, passionately and powerfully you believe is the measure that will determine the quality of your life.

Heb 11:6 “without faith it is impossible to please God.” 

Mar 9:23 “If you believe.  All things are possible.” 

Matthew 17:20-21 “if you have faith the size of a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, ‘Move,’ and it will move; and nothing will be impossible for you.”

James 1:6-8 “you must ask in faith, without doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind. Let not that man think that he will receive anything from the Lord; he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.”

Phil 4:13 “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” 

Believe it. 

So today, we are going to give you a one – two punch to knock out sin.  1 – put to death bad behavior 2 – Put off Corrupt Communication. 

Put to Death Degenerate Behavior

5 Therefore put to death your members which are on the earth: fornication, uncleanness, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry.

It is quite likely that you have struggled with one or more of these five deadly sins. They are mostly sexual.  #1 Fornication – πορνεία porneia – any sexual sin – adultery, homosexuality, lesbianism, bestiality, pornography.   #2 Uncleanness ἀκαθαρσία akatharsia These are impure sexual thoughts and illicit behaviors like cross dressing, and gender confusion.  #3 passion – πάθος pathos – sexual fantasies and romances of the mind that are prevalent in romance novels and risqué movies. #4 evil desire – ἐπιθυμία epithumia –craving for things God has forbidden, like stalking, pedophilia, child trafficking or kidnapping.  #5 covetousness.  πλεονεξία pleonexia – desire to have something that is not yours, like your neighbors wife or possessions. 

And that of course is idolatry.  When you place anything ahead of God, it is a form of idolatry. 

Sexual confusion and sexual gratification are widely practiced in our society.  These are highly destructive behaviors that rot the soul, destroy the family, and devastate society. 

6 Because of these things the wrath of God is coming upon the sons of disobedience, 7 in which you yourselves once walked when you lived in them.

These deviant behaviors trap those who fall prey to them.  The illustration of the escalator of love helps explain the problem.  People like to experiment.  But once you set foot on the escalator of love, it’s difficult to get off.  The escalator keeps going up, and you keep getting deeper into sin; even if you want to stop, if you have turned around are trying to go back down against the flow it is extremely difficult.

That’s where faith comes in to play for the Christian.  This powerful remedy is waiting to in your soul and burst into flames, enabling you to rise above your sins, and get off the escalator of love.  Here’s how it works, here is how you do it:

Put to death your members 5

Now, what does that mean?  Let me share a few vocabulary words to help you understand what we are talking about:  MEMBERS – μέλος melos – A Members is a limb: or a body part.  You body is also known as “flesh” or flesh and blood.

OLD MAN – παλαιός palaios – old ἄνθρωπος anthropos – man.  This is what we call the old nature or sin nature.  Your nature is your operations center.  Your very nature controls you body. 

NEW MAN – νέος neos – new recently born, young, youthful anthropos – man.  This is what is known as the new nature or new man.  You get a new nature when you become a Christian, enabling you to live an abundant life.

Romans 6:6 says, “knowing this, that our old man was crucified with Christ, that sin in our body might be destroyed, that we should no longer be slaves of sin.

Here is the truth of what happened when Jesus died for our sins.  “I have been crucified with Christ!”  When we trust Jesus as Savior, our Old Nature is crucified with Christ.  When Jesus died, our old nature died with it.  We now have a New Nature. 

Now we are dead to sin.  That’s what Romans 6:11 says

11 Likewise you also, reckon yourselves to be dead indeed to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Now here is where the believing part comes in.  The word “recon” λογίζομαι logizomai means to “consider, to think that something is true, to take God at His word.”  God says you are to take His word for it that now that you now have a new nature, and you are to take His word for it that you are dead to sin.  You are to believe it.  This is how you, “put your members to death!” You believe it!

Now let me tell you how powerful this is.  Have you ever heard of the “placebo effect?”  A study from Stanford University found that just thinking you’re prone to a given outcome trumps both nature and nurture. In fact, simply believing a physical reality about yourself actually nudges the body in that direction. 

The researchers told a random set of participants that they carried a gene that that kept them from tiring easily. They also told another set of participants the exact opposite.  Those who were told they had poor endurance genes couldn’t run as long as they had previously.  They pooped out. Those who were told they had better endurance ran longer, regardless of what genes they actually carried. [i]

In other tests, up to 70% of patients given a placebo – or fake pill – who were told that it was a cure for what they had, got better, often at a much higher rate than those who are given the actual drug!  What happens with the placebo effect is that the brain anticipates an outcome. The mind then communicates to the body the anticipated outcome and prepares the body for healing. This process can miraculously create natural chemical reactions, curing depression and other ailments without the harmful side effects.[ii]

But what happens when it’s not a placebo, but it’s the truth.  Simple changes in mindset can provide massive benefits.  God says that you have been crucified with Christ.  God says that you must believe it in order to put to death the sins of the flesh.  The only question that remains is this:  Are you going to believe it.  For those who take God at His Word, they do the impossible!  They overcome their sin.

Put Away Corrupt Communication

8 But now you yourselves are to put off all these: anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy language out of your mouth. 9 Do not lie to one another, since you have put off the old man with his deeds,

So, verses 5-7 dealt with the deeds of the flesh, most of them sexual in nature.  We are supposed to believe ourselves dead to sin.  No verses 8-9 deal with sins of communication.  These are six attitudes and words which will defeat us.

#1.  anger ὀργή orge – anger, this is a typical bad temper.  #2.  Wrath θυμός thumos – wrath, fierce anger, overflowing heat, boiling over anger.  #3 Malice κακία kakia – ill-will, desire to injure.  #4 Blasphemy βλασφημία blasphemia – This is injurious speech that can be aimed both at God and man.  Toward man it is slander to another’s good name.  To God it is sacrilegious speech  about God.  #5 filthy language αἰσχρολογία aischrologia – any dirty or immoral speech #6 A Lie ψεύδομαι pseudomai – deliberate falsehood. 

Why shouldn’t we talk like this?  Because we are created in the image of God, and any low life conversation that degrades another human being degrades God.  Instead we are to only say things that encourage one another and build one another up. 

How do you quit using filthy language?  How do you stop lying, gossiping; how do you get rid of wrath and anger?  The Bible has the answer.

8 But now you yourselves are to put off all these:

Now, what does that mean?  ἀποτίθημι apotithemi – to put off is to set something aside and put it away from you.  It is a simple process.  It is like changing your dirty clothes.  As a believer who is dead to sin, I choose to stop saying bad stuff, and I have decided instead to start saying good stuff.  I take off the old dirty language, throw it in the washing machine, and put on the fresh clean language that I have hanging in my Christian closet.  I dress myself in clean Christian language.

The words we speak are profoundly powerful dramatically affecting our health, happiness and the world around us.  Change your words and you will change your world.  People respond to our good words.  Kindness impacts them.  Sympathy changes their hearts.  Generosity brings them joy.  Forgiveness turns enemies into friends.  Encouragement helps them overcome depression.  And being straight up with them in all cases fosters trust. 

Do you believe these things?  Whether you do or not, FAITH is one of the most powerful forces that God has made available to us humans.  What you believe, and how sincerely, passionately and powerfully you believe is the measure that will determine the quality of your life. 

And the most important thing you can believe is that is that Jesus Christ, the sinless Son of God, died for your sins.  He paid the price for your eternal salvation, and he offers heaven as a free gift, if you will receive it.  You must repent of believing that your way is the right way, and instead believe on Jesus to save you.  If you will do that, Jesus will powerfully change your life in ways you never dreamed possible!

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[i] https://www.forbes.com/sites/alicegwalton/2018/12/12/mind-over-matter-may-actually-work-when-it-comes-to-health-study-finds/?sh=3758a5ab7bd7

[ii] https://www.forbes.com/sites/nicolesilver/2022/02/17/accessing-the-power-of-your-mind-placebo-effect-and-law-of-attraction/?sh=569790e05bf7

Is your thought life healthy?  Your thoughts have the incredible power to shape your life.  As a man thinks within himself, so he is.  Today we will begin rebuilding your mind.  Your mind is greatest ally or your worst enemy.  And if you want to get your life back, you must find a way to control your thought life.  The great news is that you can control of what you think.

SEEK the things that are above 1

Believers should seek the things that are of higher worth. 

“Seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness.”  Matthew 6:33. 

We must be heavenly minded, or we will be of no earthly good! 

Seek means to go out searching for spiritual realities. 

Colossians 3:1 must be our top priority.

In order to get your mind set properly, you must set God centered priorities.    

SET your mind on things above 2

Verse 1 relates to the values and priorities.

Verse 2 is talking about focusing your thoughts on those goals and values.

You are not your thoughts; you are a thinker of your thoughts.

Don’t believe everything you think! 

You should regularly redirect your thoughts to spiritual realities. 

The more you think about Jesus, the more joy you will experience. 

Your thoughts should be occupied with eternal things. 

You are responsible for your thoughts once you think them. 

Take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.  -2 Cor 10:5

Whatever is right, think about such things. – Philippians 4:8

DO NOT set your mind on earthly things 2-4

The earth is the physical world, as opposed to the spiritual world. 

The earth is made up of everything that surrounds you. 

All these things will pass away. 2 Peter 3:11

Do not set your life on earthly things because you are DEAD to this life. 

 Set Your Mind on Heavenly Things because Christ is your LIFE

You are what you think.  Your thoughts determine the direction and quality of your life.  Change your thoughts and you change your life.  Keep your thoughts on things that are above because your thought becomes your WORDS. Keep your words focused on heavenly things because your words become your BEHAVIOR. Keep your behavior pleasing to Jesus because your behavior becomes your HABITS. Keep your habits God honoring because your habits become your VALUES. Keep your values biblical because your values are your DESTINY”

MESSAGE

Is your thought life healthy?  Your thoughts have the incredible power to shape your life.  Proverbs 23:7 As a man thinks within himself, so he is. 

In the past five weeks we have looked at toxic philosophies and thought patterns that destroy lives.  If you have allowed your brain to be controlled by secularism, legalism, mysticism or asceticism, your life is in danger.  You need to end those conversations, and replace them with truth.  Today we will begin rebuilding your mind. 

The problem is that the mind is not a safe place.  The mind is a battle ground.  Every mind has a choice between a healthy attitude and a destructive thought life that can be critical, paranoid and suspicious. This inner critic can take over our thinking and lead to our ruination.

Your mind is greatest ally or your worst enemy.

ALL that a man achieves and all that he fails to achieve is most often the direct result of his own thoughts.

THE body is the servant of the mind. It obeys the operations of the mind. At the bidding of improper thoughts the body sinks rapidly into depression, disease and decay; at the command of glad and beautiful thoughts it becomes clothed with joy and hope.

Dr. Caroline Leaf in her book Switch On Your Brain, says this; “As we think, we change the physical nature of our brain.”[i]  When you think, you build thoughts, and these become physical substances…” [ii] and as we consciously direct our thinking, we can wire toxic patterns of thinking or replace them with healthy thoughts.

Your body believes everything you believe even if what you believe is not the truth! When your body is responding to these untrue thoughts many parts of your body respond in an ‘unhealthy’ way. These areas include your organs, muscles, nervous system, glands, digestive system and your mind. Every single thought creates a chemical reaction, good or bad, so let’s have a lot of great thoughts![iii]

Such is the power of the though life, and if you want to get your life back, you must find a way to control your thought life.  The great news is that you can control of what you think. No one can take that from you unless you give it away.

But you must also remember, that it’s not just about thinking positive thoughts; even positive thoughts can be off the mark… it is about choosing the right thoughts, the true thoughts, and the highest thoughts.  And that is what we are going to teach you today. 

Three points:  SEEK, SET, and DON’T SET

SEEK the things that are above 1

If you were raised with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God. 3:1

Notice the word if.  It is a conditional word.  In this particular passage, Greek Scholars tell me that the word is called a “First Class Conditional” statement.  That means that it is a statement of fact rather than a stipulation.  It could be translated this way, “SINCE you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above.” 

No matter how you translate it, it means that Believers should seek the things that are of higher worth.  We should set our goals to seek the things that are higher than the heavens.  Our sights should be set on Jesus, who is seated at the right hand of the father.

Jesus put it this way, “Seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things shall be added unto you.”  Matthew 6:33.  This is telling us to be heavenly minded, or we will be of no earthly good! 

Now what does it mean to seek?  ζητέω zeteo “to seek in order to find.”  It means to go out searching for spiritual realities. 

If I were to ask you what your top 5 goals are in life, what would they be?  1.  Would it be to have a happy family?  2.  Would it be to improve your physical health?  3.  Would it be to get a dream job or career?  4.  Would it be Financial Stability?  5.  Would it be to take that dream vacation or spend more time in recreation? 

Those are some good goals.  And some of you have actually set out to get those things.  You spend time with the family, you work out, you work hard, and play harder. 

But if you didn’t put Colossians 3:1 as your top priority, you’re missing the point of this statement.  Seek First the kingdom.  Set, as your highest priority, seeking the things that are above! 

We are talking about your Priorities.  Are spiritual things your number one goal, or have you accidently, incidentally or purposely placed some other value higher than spiritual things?    You will seek to gain the things that you treasure the most.  If you draw inaccurate conclusions about who you are and what you’re capable of doing, you’ll limit your potential.

In order to get your mind set properly, you must set God centered priorities.  The number one way to get your life back and to get rid of the delusions of stinking thinking is to regularly, purposely and passionately seek the things that are above. 

SET your mind on things above 2

Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth. 2

While verse 1 relates to the values and priorities we should seek to have a happy mind, verse 2 is talking about setting up the mind for success by focusing our thoughts on those goals and values.  Verse 1 choose your values; Verse 2 think about your values.

The human mind processes anywhere between 50,000 to upwards of 70,000 thoughts in any given day.  You probably spend very little time reflecting on the way you think. After all, who thinks about thinking?

That’s what verse 2 is about.  It is about ordering the thoughts in your mind so that you think most about the most important things to think about. 

You are not your thoughts; you are a thinker of your thoughts. You hear them, you acknowledge them and then you process them.  You can believe them or you can let them go.  Don’t believe everything you think!  If the thought crosses your mind that you are a unicorn, would you believe it? (I hope the answer is no!)  I also hope that if you think that you are an alien or a woman or George Washington, I hope you reject all those thoughts as false.  So why do you believe it when you have a thought that you’re ugly or stupid or crazy or unlovable?

More to the point, you should be regularly redirecting your thoughts to spiritual realities.  The more successfully you think about Jesus, and things that are above, the more joy you will experience. 

The word set φρονέω phroneo to direct one’s mind to a thing, to have understanding, be wise, to feel, to think wisely.  Your thoughts should be occupied with eternal things. 

In today’s world The Media has wormed its way into Your Mind:  No matter where you go, thoughts are being implanted.  Your  cell phone, computer, billboards, the floor tiles in the grocery store, banners at a ballgame, taglines on a t-shirt–we take in media impressions minute by minute.  And let’s not forget that our enemy the Devil does is best to whisper his lies into your mind.

You may not be responsible for the thoughts that enter your mind, but you are responsible for what happens to them once they get there. 

2 Corinthians 10:5 tells us to demolish arguments and every pretentious thought that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.  –

Philippians 4:8 Whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable — if anything is excellent or praiseworthy — think about such things. –

Choose your values, and choose your thoughts.  However…

DO NOT set your mind on earthly things

Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth. 2

What does this mean?  γῆ ge the earth is the physical world, as opposed to the things above, which is the spiritual world.  The earth is made up of wealth, honor, pleasure, houses, lands – everything you see and everything that surrounds you. 

2 Peter 3:11 tells us, Therefore, since all these things will be dissolved and pass away, what manner of persons ought you to be in holy conduct and godliness.

If your life only consists of earthly things, then your spiritual vitality is lacking.  Listen to what Jesus said about seeking first the kingdom in Matthew 6:31-33

“Therefore do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ 32 For after all these things the Gentiles seek. For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. 33 But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.

I guess it all depends on what you think real life is all about.  If you think real life is all about fast cars, big money, power, position, recreation, entertainment or any other pleasure this life can give, then your mind will be taken up seeking those things and worrying about this life.  But if you think that Jesus is real life, that the Holy Spirit brings vitality, and that heaven is your real home, you’ll spend more and more time focusing on those things. 

I want to leave you with two thoughts.  If you are a believer this is a truth you should embrace, or your mind is in trouble: 

#1 Do not set your life on earthly things because you are DEAD to this life. 

3:3  For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God.

You may not be able to see it now, but one day it will be reality.

#2 Set Your Mind on Heavenly Things because Christ is your LIFE

3:3 When Christ who is our life appears, then you also will appear with Him in glory. 

You are what you think.  The mind is a dangerous place.  Your thoughts determine the direction and quality of your life.  Change your thoughts and you change your life. 

Keep your thoughts on things that are above because your thought becomes YOUR WORDS. Keep your words focused on heavenly things because your words become YOUR BEHAVIOR. Keep your behavior pleasing to Jesus because your behavior becomes YOUR HABITS. Keep your habits God honoring because your habits become YOUR VALUES. Keep your values biblical because your values are your YOUR DESTINY”

“Seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things shall be added unto you.”  Matthew 6:33.  Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth.  You may not be responsible for the thoughts that enter your mind, but you are responsible for what happens to them once they get there. 

Whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable — if anything is excellent or praiseworthy — think about such things. –

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[i] https://medium.com/baysidechurch/7-verses-about-the-power-of-your-thoughts-8a50b8e1910f

[ii] https://medium.com/baysidechurch/7-verses-about-the-power-of-your-thoughts-8a50b8e1910f

[iii] https://www.hellobrain.com.au/blog/the-truth-about-thoughts

Jesus said, “Unless a man deny himself and take up his cross and follow me, he cannot be my disciple.”  What do those words mean, and what kind of sacrifice does Jesus expect from us?  Paul’s main criticism of asceticism is that it is based on manmade ideas and it diminished Christ: the Head of the church. 

Asceticism asks for the vows of poverty, chastity and sacrificial obedience.  

These vows, they claim, provide for a purification of soul and freedom.

Asceticism is avoidance of pleasure for the purpose of reaching purity. 

Asceticism is an insidious attack on holiness. 

It is not that all are bad ideas; it is just that Asceticism can’t defeat sin.  

Avoid Worldly Principles 20

We should reject all worldly principles because they contain error. 

If any advice goes against biblical truth, it is to be discarded. 

It is the religion of “Don’t!” 20-21

Do not touch – avoid socially unacceptable people.  Social asceticism.

Do not taste –   avoid unclean food. Nutritional asceticism.

Do not handle – avoid unclean things. Ritual asceticism. 

The kingdom of God is not based on eating or drinking.  Romans 14:17

It concerns temporal things 22

Asceticism is focused on the physical and the material. 

“It is not what goes into the mouth that defiles a man.  Matthew 15:18-20

It is based on worldly ideas 22

Asceticism was made by man, not by God. 

These commandments are human not divine. 

It has the appearance of wisdom 23

Some of these things are noble and encouraged in the New Testament.

Asceticism, however, traps you into a fruitless lifestyle. 

It is a humanly invented religion 23

All of them lead a life of “don’t do this or that” religion.

Jesus teaches that we should enjoy the gifts God gave us.

It is based on false humility 23

Asceticism appears to be self abasing, but is really self promoting. 

If Christ is not exalted it is the worst kind of pride.

Its focus is bodily neglect 23

It is not godly to ruin your body or to deprive it of the nutrients it needs. 

Your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit.  1 Corinthians 6:19-20

It is of no value against sins of the flesh 23

Asceticism cannot defeat sin.   It lacks the power. 

You cannot eradicate sin.  That’s why Asceticism doesn’t work. 

Embrace Christ Centered Principles

The rest of the book of Colossians explains how to get your life back!

The simple answer is to set your mind on things that are above.

This answers the question, “Can we make ourselves more holy if we treat our bodies more harshly?  Will asceticism save you?”  Will these vows provide purification of soul and spiritual freedom?”  The answer is clear, Asceticism cannot defeat sin.   It lacks the power.  Jesus wants to transform your life.  He wants you to live a simple life of faith.  Does he want you to deny yourself and take up your cross and follow Him?  Yes he does.  But Jesus is the one that transforms, not our efforts.  Trust Him!

MESSAGE

Jesus said, “unless a man deny himself and take up his cross and follow me, he cannot be my disciple.” 

What do those words mean, and what kind of sacrifice does Jesus expect from us?  What are you willing to sacrifice for Christ? 

Asceticism attempts to answer those questions.  One form of Religious Asceticism has come to the conclusion that in order to really be holy and be pleasing to God, you must take the vows of poverty, chastity and sacrificial obedience to the ministry.   These vows, they claim, provide for a purification of soul and spiritual freedom that uniquely marks the life of one so consecrated.  These are the answer (they believe).

What is asceticism?  If Secularism is the most dangerous philosophy of the world, and Legalism is the most dangerous philosophy of religion, and Mysticism is the most dangerous attack on your spirituality, asceticism is the most insidious attack on holiness; it claims that it is the way to purify your soul and overcome the sins of the flesh, but it is not. 

Religious Asceticism is strict self-denial and avoidance of all forms of pleasure and indulgence, for the purpose of reaching purity and spiritual freedom. 

It may include such disciplines as regular fasting, celibacy, wearing simple or uncomfortable clothing, poverty, avoiding Alcohol, Drugs, Nicotine, Sex and in extreme forms, sleep deprivation, flagellation, self-mutilation and avoiding everything from food seasonings to eye contact, to laughter, to desserts, and Social interaction. [i] 

All for the purpose of detoxing the flesh so you can purge you body of sin and reach spiritual freedom.  But it was unprofitable!  It is not that some of these things are bad ideas, it is just that Asceticism can’t defeat sin.   It lacks the power.

There was some kind of false teaching going on that Paul was very concerned about, and it involved asceticism, Paul’s main criticism of what was happening is that it was based on manmade ideas and regulations and it diminished Christ: the all-supplying Head of the church.  And we should at all cost avoid these worldly principles:

Avoid Worldly Principles

20 Therefore, if you died with Christ from the basic principles of the world, why, as though living in the world, do you subject yourselves to its regulations—

The word “therefore,” means “accordingly, consequently, these things being so,” the things that we just discussed earlier in chapter 2; You know, secularism, legalism and mysticism.  These three, are basic principles of the world system.  They are not godly, they are worldly, and their ideas are dead to us!  We should reject all worldly ideas. 

So Paul begins this section on Asceticism by asking the question, since we have rejected all worldly principles, why is it that you are still practicing their rules, their regulations, their customs, their ceremonies and their rituals!  Why do you subject yourself to false anti-biblical ways. 

And I would ask you the same question; why are you still listening to the advice of unsaved men and women?  Why do you still watch them on TV?  Why do you still listen to them on the radio?  Why do you sing their songs? Read their stories? Send your children to be educated by them?  And get your marriage and family advice from the?  

If their advice goes against biblical truth, it is to be discarded. 

What follows verse 20 are eight statements that describe the dangers of Asceticism.  Please join me as we deconstruct this dangerous philosophy.  #1

It is the religion of “Don’t!” 20-21

Why do you subject yourself it regulation; 21 “Do not touch, do not taste, do not handle,”

Asceticism teaches that you should avoid all pleasures. 

In the world of ritual uncleanness, the Jews developed an entire system of rules that had to be followed or you could never be involved in temple worship.  Do not touch – Acts 10:28, Peter declares that “it is unlawful for a Jew to touch to or approach anyone of another nation,” or they became unclean.  Do not taste –   they weren’t supposed to eat any unclean animal, it was wrong to even taste bacon – the best they could do is smell it on the frying pan!  Do not handle – They were not supposed to touch unclean things like the sick or the dead. 

The Jews and the Gnostic developed this idea into a distorted idea that in order to become pure you had to swear off relationships with the ungodly, even if they were your family.  This was social asceticism.  You had to deprive yourself even of the taste of unclean food, and that became extrapolated to mean any pleasurable food like chocolate or dessert or anything other than plain gruel.  This was nutritional asceticism.  You had to avoid handling unclean animals, dead animals, weeping injuries, death and disease.  The Pharisees used to wash after they returned from the market, lest they should have accidently been defiled by touching something unclean.  This was ritual asceticism. 

Don’t drink, don’t shave, don’t wear nice clothes, give up chocolate, don’t eat fish on Friday, and the list goes on and on. 

Romans 14:17 for the kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.

The second truth of Asceticism is that it concerns earthly things. 

It concerns temporal things 21

22 which all concern things which perish with the using—

I want you to notice that while Mysticism is focused on the realm of the supernatural and the spiritual, Asceticism is focused on the physical and the material. 

It is about what you eat, or don’t eat.  It is about what you drink or don’t drink.  It is about what you smoke or don’t smoke.  It is about human interaction or lack of it.  It is about punishing ;your body and stressing your physical self.  Listen to what Jesus said about that. 

“It is not what goes into the mouth that defiles a man; but what comes out of the mouth, this defiles a man.  For the things which proceed out of the mouth come from the heart, and they defile a man. For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies. These are the things which defile a man.  Matthew 15:18-20

The third reality about Asceticism is that it is based on human ideas. 

It is based on worldly ideas 22

according to the commandments and doctrines of men?

This is what you need to understand about the philosophy of Asceticism; it was made by man, not by God.  These commandments are human not divine.  These doctrines are made by mortals, not by the Almighty.  Don’t get caught up in the.  The fourth thing: 

It has the appearance of wisdom 23

23 These things indeed have an appearance of wisdom

Let’s face it, some of these things are noble, and some of them are even encouraged in the New Testament; fasting, abstinence from alcohol or drugs, self denial… who could be against these things?

An ascetic lifestyle involves adherence to higher standards rather than extravagant leisure or mindless entertainment.  The idea even seems sound.

So what happens is that general unhappiness in people creates the urge take radical decisions and adopt a worldview in which you create an artificial solution to your unhappiness. But in the end you are just chasing a fruitless lifestyle that doesn’t really make you feel any better.  Don’t let it trap you.

Number five

It is a humanly invented religion

in self-imposed religion, 23

Asceticism has been observed in many religious traditions, including Buddhism, Hinduism, Islam, Christianity, and Judaism. 

The essences allowed themselves no food that was pleasant to the taste, but ate dry, course bread, and drank only water.  Many of them ate nothing until sunset, and if anyone touched them who did not belong to their sect, they washed themselves as if they had been most deeply defiled.  (Barnes)

Gnosticism combined ideas from Greek philosophy, oriental mysticism, and Christianity.  they taught a person to lead a life of contemplation and rigorous self-denial and abstinence.

But the church taught a proper enjoyment of life, and Christians stand out because we are different.

Number six

It is based on false humility

false humility,

Asceticism appears to be self abasing, but is really self promoting.  Asceticism is paradoxical.  The paradox of asceticism is that the ascetic deprives himself of some things he wants, thus causing himself pain, because this is a necessary condition of enjoying the greater pleasure of getting something else he wants more.

They appear to be humble by participating in painful rites, fasting, abstinence and penance, wearing sack cloth and ashes.  But under it lurks the worst kind of pride.  Because pride is pampered when self is applauded.

The main questions are, Is Christ being exalted or is self being exalted? While crucifying the sin of gluttony, are you feeding the sin of pride?

Number seven

Its focus is bodily neglect

neglect of the body,

It is one thing to fast, it is another thing to fast to the detriment of your body.  It’s ok to eat plain food, but it’s another to deprive your body of the nutrients it needs.  Things like depriving yourself of sleep, flagellation and self mutilation are not honoring to the body. 

At some point we need to remind ourselves that God wants us to take care of our body!  He wants you to get adequate rest, nutrition, medical care and proper hygiene. You should bath daily, brush your teeth and wear clean clothes. 

1 Corinthians 6:19-20 Your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit.  It is the only one you’ve got.  Take care of it.  Glorify God with it. 

Number eight

It is of no value against sins of the flesh

but are of no value against the indulgence of the flesh.

This answers the question, “Can we make ourselves more holy if we treat our bodies more harshly?  Will asceticism save you?”  Will these vows provide purification of soul and spiritual freedom?”  The answer is clear, Asceticism cannot defeat sin.   It lacks the power. 

Let me give you an example from real life.  There is a modern trend called Dopamine fasting: This practice aims to restore the brain’s natural flow of dopamine by restricting the brains access to pleasure-inducing activities and substances. 

What is dopamine?  dopamine is—a feel-good chemical that’s produced in the brain, which rewards us for performing life’s simple pleasures, whether it be running, enjoying a sunny day, or eating pecan pie. On the other hand, dopamine is a major player in the formation of addictions when we sin.[ii]

Dopamine fasting was meant to be an escape from the increasing amount of stimulus in their daily lives.  Everything from food seasonings to eye contact, laughter, and exercise can be restricted by some dopamine fasters.  Alcohol, Drugs, Seasoning on foods, Pleasure foods, like desserts, Nicotine, Sex Social interactions, Eye contact and conversations (which are at least reduced to a bare minimum), Exercise, Laughter[iii]

But here’s the catch:  Because dopamine is naturally produced in the brain, there’s no real way to “detox” or rid ourselves of it.  Dopamine fasting is a practice to avoid. [iv] 

And that is the very reason why Asceticism doesn’t work.  But there is something that does!  In fact the rest of the book of Colossians is going to explain what that is:

Embrace Christ Centered Principles you can be holy

What we will discover next is that if you set your mind on things that are above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of the Father, Jesus Himself will transform your life! 

Can we make ourselves more holy if we treat our bodies more harshly?  No!  Let me end with this story.

It was just over 500 years ago, in the fall of 1510, that a desperate Roman Catholic monk made what he thought would be the spiritual pilgrimage of a lifetime. He had become an Augustinian monk five years earlier in hopes that monasticism and Asceticism would save him. 

It was the fear of the wrath of God that consumed him for the next five years—so much so, in fact, that he did everything within his power to placate his guilty conscience.  He dedicated himself to the fasting, penance, and prayer eight times a day. He even performed acts of self-punishment like depriving himself of sleep, enduring cold winter nights without a blanket, almost freezing to death, working for nothing to support the poor and, in an attempt to atone for his sins, even whipping himself.  He punished his body so severely that he did permanent damage to his digestive system.[v]

Reflecting on this time of his life, he would later say, “If anyone could have earned heaven by his monkery, it was I”

So it was, five years after he became a monk, in the year 1510, that this desperate man made what he thought would be the spiritual pilgrimage of a lifetime. He travelled to the center of Catholic thought and power—the city of Rome.

He thought that if he paid homage to the shrines of the apostles and made confession there, in that holy city, he would secure the greatest absolution possible. Surely this would be a way to earn the favor of God.

A desperate man on a desperate journey, having devoted his life to the desperate pursuit of self-righteous asceticism and finding it wanting, went to Rome looking for answers. But all he found was spiritual bankruptcy.

After a lifetime of guilt, after years of struggling to make himself righteous, after working to please God on his own, and after a disheartening trip to Rome, Martin Luther finally came to understand the heart of the gospel message.[vi]  And by grace, through faith came to trust Jesus as Savior, and Jesus changed him! 

Jesus wants to do the same for you.  He wants you to live a simple life of faith.  Does he want you to deny yourself and take up your cross and follow Him?  Yes he does.  But Jesus is the one that transforms, not our efforts.  Trust Him!

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[i] https://thriveworks.com/blog/dopamine-fasting-modern-asceticism/

[ii] https://thriveworks.com/blog/dopamine-fasting-modern-asceticism/

[iii] https://thriveworks.com/blog/dopamine-fasting-modern-asceticism/

[iv] https://thriveworks.com/blog/dopamine-fasting-modern-asceticism/

[v] https://worldlysaints.wordpress.com/2017/01/03/martin-luther-life-in-the-monastery-a-d-1505-1509/

[vi] https://blog.tms.edu/the-personal-reformation-of-martin-luther

There is a yearning in every heart to know God and to experience His presence!  Deep inside every one of us is the hearts cry that hungers for God to meet us and complete us.  This is how we were created!  We were all made with a God shaped vacuum inside of us that can only be filled by Jesus Christ.  Nothing else satisfies.  “In your presence is fullness of Joy, and at your right hand are pleasures forevermore.”  Psalm 16:11.  That’s what we want to experience!

What price are you willing to pay to experience God’s presence? 

What is a genuine experience of God like? 

What is the normal Christian life? 

• Mysticism is the attempt to get you to focus on your feelings.
• Mysticism is the attempt to misdirect your allegiances away from Christ.
• Mysticism is the belief that we can only know God through experiences.  
• Mysticism is purely subjective. 
• Mysticism diminishes the authority of Scripture. 2 Peter 1:3–8
• We should Test the spirits, but should not quench the Spirit.

Mysticism seeks experiences to enter the presence of God. 

Christianity seeks Jesus which results in genuine experiences. 

Intimacy with God is defined by His Word.

Mysticism will entrap you 18

Mysticism defrauds you of genuine faith. 

Mysticism is trickery, only pretending to be humble.

Mysticism is an intrusion into the unseen, and unknowable. 

We should involve ourselves in the things revealed in The Word. Deut 29:29.

Mysticism does not hold fast to the head!

Experience is the authority rather than Jesus being the Head. 

We must let God’s Word interpret our experiences. 

Christ will Nourish You 19

Hold fast to Jesus as your Head. 

Hold fast to Jesus and He will nourish your soul.

Hold fast to Jesus and He will bring you growth and maturity.

This is genuine spirituality!  This is the experience you want!  What you want is genuine nourishment that comes from putting Jesus first in your life.  Spiritual, satisfying Nourishment comes from holding to the Head.   When you put Jesus first in your life, in your family, in your worship and in your experiences, good things happen.

MESSAGE

Do you long for God’s presence?

There is a yearning in every heart to know God and to experience His presence!  Deep inside every one of us is the hearts cry that hungers for God to meet us and complete us.  This is how we were created!  We were all made with a God shaped vacuum inside of us that can only be filled by Jesus Christ.  Nothing else satisfies.  “In your presence is fullness of Joy, and at your right hand are pleasures forevermore.”  Psalm 16:11.  That’s what we want to experience!

Experience:  That’s a key word we want to talk about.  What price are you willing to pay to experience God’s presence?  What would it be like to be transported to the heavenlies right into the throne room where God is seated surrounded by glorious light?  To see the angels flying, singing “holy, holy, holy!”  Would you like to experience transcendent colors, smells, sights, sounds and joys!  Do you wish you could know awe inspiring dreams, visions, revelations, and sensations!

And hence the question:  what is a genuine experience of God like?  What can we Christians expect to experience from our faith? What is the normal Christian life? 

We are going to try to answer some of those questions today by addressing the dangers of Mysticism.  If Secularism is the most dangerous philosophy of the world, and Legalism is the most dangerous philosophy of religion, Mysticism is the most insidious attack on your spirituality. 

Mysticism is the attempt to get you to focus on your feelings and experiences rather than on Jesus and the Word of God.  Mysticism is the insidious, sly attempt to misdirect your allegiances away from Christ, and to entrap you in the hollow, illusive world of hyper-spirituality. 

Let me try to define Mysticism for you:  Mysticism is the belief that we can only know God through deep, otherworldly, transcendent, rapturous experiences.  (rather than through simple faith in Jesus)

Mysticism is prevalent in our world and it is taking over Christianity.  Tune into any TBN broadcast, and you are likely to hear conversations about supernatural experiences like dancing with angels, talking to Jesus face to face, taking trips to heaven, traveling in time, and other stories so amazing they sound like fairy tales.  But the church is eating them up!  [i]

At a time when the entire world seems to be turning away from using rational understanding and turning to the mystical means as the basis for life, Christians seem unaware of the implications of this trend for the faith.

If I were to give an appropriate label to the religious scene in the last three decades, I might call it “the age of confusion.”   We no longer know what it means to be spiritual!  We have churches claiming signs and wonders are the way, others say that delving deep into solitude and meditation is the way; some use trinkets, incense, candles and chanting, still others fasting or seeing dreams and visions, while yet still others opt for public performances. 

But the basic problem of Mysticism is the belief that spirituality should or must be attained through recurring subjective experiences.  “The mystic disdains the mind and seeks truth instead through the feelings, the imagination, personal visions, inner voices, private illumination, or other purely subjective means.” 

For Example, well known speaker Joyce Meyer has said, “Stop trying to get hold of God with your head. It’s a heart thing. You’ve got to see what’s in your heart. As soon as you get into reasoning, you’re going to have trouble believing.[ii]

It is a tragedy that many have come to the place where they believe that doctrine and theology are almost like bad words: “Well, I don’t need doctrine, I don’t need theology; I just love Jesus.”

The disengaged mind is the enemy of the Christian. It is the friend of the false teacher, because the more your mind is disengaged, the easier it is to lead you astray

People start to pay less and less attention to Scripture, and more attention to the inner light.  But eventually the novelty of it wears off. The activity dies down. What’s left is the internal Word, which, it turns out, is no different from our own opinions, convictions, and desires.  What they are saying is that The Bible is not enough.

Because mystics relay on subjective, private, spiritual experiences for guidance and wisdom, they diminish the authority of Scripture. Vision and spiritual encounters become more important than the truths found in God’s Word.

Here is the greatest danger of Mysticism:  It denies the sufficiency of Scripture and goes about to find another way for God to communicate with us.  The Bible is not enough!  The mystic has to have something more.  And that is where many professing Christians are today: I’ve got to have a dream, I’ve got to have a vision, I’ve got to have an experience, I’ve got to get Holy Ghost goosebumps, I’ve got to feel something.  In Mysticism, experience is king.

Second Peter 1:3–8 sums up our call nicely: “His divine power has given us everything we need for a godly life through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness. Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature,

Listen, I’m not against experience.  I am NOT suggesting is that experiences should be shunned.  Test, but don’t quench. Be critical, but not unbelieving.

‘Come now, let us reason together,’ says the Lord” (Isa. 1:18). ‘‘Test the Spirits” (1 John 4:1). ‘‘Give an account for the hope that is in you” (1 Pet. 3:15). ‘‘Love the Lord with all . . . your mind” (Matt. 22:37). ‘‘Whatever is true … let your mind dwell on these things” (Phil. 4:8). These are not idle suggestions; they are biblical imperatives. 

I’m all for experiences which line up with God’s Word.  But here’s the difference.  Mysticism seeks experiences in the hopes that they will allow him to ender the presence of God!  Biblical Christianity seeks God and that act in and of itself results in genuine experiences. 

Christianity involves spiritual experience, but intimacy with God is defined by His Word and not by some sort of mysterious practice. Anything a Christian experiences must line up with the truth of the Bible.  Drawing near to God involves things like regular prayer, studying God’s Word, worshiping God, and fellowshipping with other believers.

Christians do have mystical experiences. When we accept Jesus as Savior, we are indwelled by the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit transforms us and enables us to live out God’s calling. Often, filled with the Holy Spirit, a Christian will demonstrate great wisdom or faith or spiritual discernment. A Christian filled with the Holy Spirit will also demonstrate things like love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, gentleness, faithfulness, and self-control

Let’s see what this passage says about Mysticism:

Mysticism will entrap you 18

18 Let no one cheat you of your reward, taking delight in false humility and worship of angels,  intruding into those things which he has not seen, vainly puffed up by his fleshly mind, 19 and not holding fast to the Head,

The first thing you should notice is that mysticism cheats you of your reward.  καταβραβεύω katabrabeuo This means that it attempts to defraud you of genuine faith, or deprive you of genuine spirituality.  Mysticism is trickery.  At face value it claims to grant you access to God, but then only traps you in a hopeless cycle forcing you to try to have more and more, deeper and deeper, wilder and wilder experiences until, like the Word of Faith movement, you are completely in la la land. 

It’s interesting that the method they delight in false humility.  They pretend to humble, and perhaps believe that they are truly humble, but if they are honest with themselves they would see that they are truly vainly puffed up instead.  In seeking God, mystics can feel superior to other Christians because they feel they alone are worthy to connect with God on another plane that others aren’t privy to.

How does this pretend humility work?  In this example, this mystic gets a vision of angels, and humbly shares his revelation with a few others.  Then they get on a stage, or a TV show and have the host do the instructions.  “Hey, this is Bob, you would not believe the amazing things God has been revealing to him!  He’s been with angels!  You know, these venerated angels that surround the throne of God itself, and cry “Holy, Holy, Holy!”    Bob was there!”  And Bob smiles humbly for the camera. 

My Bible says that this kind of mysticism that deals with revelations, dreams, visions, special words of faith, etc, are nothing less than intrusions into the unseen, and unknowable.  Today’s mystics are experts on things one can’t empirically know. 

There is much that is mysterious about God. But He has revealed Himself to us. Rather than seek out strange mystical experiences, we should involve ourselves in the things God has revealed to us in His Word.  (Deuteronomy 29:29).

Paul calls this form of Mysticism, “not holding fast to the head!”  In other words they’d rather have experiences with angles than have Jesus.  They want to be their own authority rather than have Jesus as the head of their lives. 

This is the danger of mysticism.  It will entice you, entangle you and entrap you.  Instead of trusting your own experiences, let God’s Word interpret them for you. 

“The heart is more deceitful than everything else and it is desperately sick, desperately wicked; who can even know it.” Proverbs 28:26,

Don’t let Mysticism treat you.  Mysticism will entrap you,

Christ will Nourish You 19

Hold fast to the head, from whom all the body, nourished and knit together by joints and ligaments, grows with the increase that is from God.

Hold fast to the head.  One rudimentary thing I have noticed is that any time the body is separated from the head, it’s dead!  Funny how that works!  Hold fast to Jesus and He will nourish you.

You will be nourished and knit together.  Spiritual experiences are a natural outgrowth of being part of the body of Christ and knit together with one another.  The head sends electrical impulses down the spine, and the hands clap, and the feet dance, and the lips sing praises to God!  That leads to goose bumps and a genuine experience of God’s presence. 

Instead of being stuck in the merry go round that demands you have one mountain top experience after the other, holding to the head leads to nourishment and genuine maturity.  “The body grows with the increase that is from God!” 

This is genuine spirituality!  This is the experience you want!  You don’t want the empty calories of the addictive, sugary, sacchariney sweet, cold cereal kind of Christianity.  Mysticism will mislead you, Christ will feed you

In closing remember this:  Secularism will cheat you, Christ will complete you.  The Law is a shadow, but Christ is the substance!   Mysticism will entrap you, Christ will nourish you. 

What you want is genuine nourishment that comes from putting Jesus first in your life.  Spiritual, satisfying Nourishment comes from holding to the Head.   When you put Jesus first in your life, in your family, in your worship and in your experiences, good things happen.

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[i] https://www.mikeduran.com/2017/11/27/the-dangers-of-christian-mysticism/

[ii] https://www.gty.org/library/sermons-library/TM22-10/mysticism-the-deadly-dangers-of-trusting-personal-experience-over-biblical-authority-justin-peters

Mysticism exists in a myriad of forms. Within Christianity, it is seen in Roman Catholic teachings, the 20th century Pentecostal and Charismatic traditions, and in the Quakers. In the great three monotheistic religions, it is seen in the practices of the Gnostic Christians, the Sufi Muslims, and the Kabalistic Jews. Outside of monotheism, mysticism expresses itself in the Western New Age movement, as well as the Eastern Buddhism and Hinduism, Yoga, and Native American spirituality.

The Charismatic movement, with its emphasis on dreams and visions, feelings and experiences, and new revelation, is one form of Christian mysticism. Because we have God’s completed Word, we are not to seek after dreams and visions or extra revelation from God. While it is possible for God to reveal Himself in dreams and visions today, we should beware the subjective nature of feelings and spiritual impressions.

Paul had many strange experiences of God. He was struck from his horse by God’s light on the Road to Damascus (Acts 9). He used “mystical” language, praying that God would open the eyes of our hearts (Eph. 1:18) and reveling in the fact that believers are seated with Christ in heavenly places (Eph. 2:6). In fact, the apostle Paul was even caught up to the third heaven, unsure whether he was “in the body or out,” and witnessed things that words could not describe (II Cor. 12). We cannot study the apostle Paul’s life without conceding the miraculous, mysterious, and, yes, even the mystical. However, that same apostle warned about “giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils” (I Tim. 4:1) and cursed anyone who would preach a false gospel (Gal. 1:8).

Is Grace so radical, outrageous, shocking, scandalous, and limitless that you can’t out-sin God’s Grace?  Will God ever say, “Sorry, friend you’ve reached your limit; no more forgiveness for you?   There are two extremes to Grace.  The first extreme is legalism which says you must obey the law to please God, and the other is license or licentiousness which says, since all things are lawful for me I can do whatever I want and sin with abandon!  Grace rejects both extremes. 

Some people don’t understand how painful sin can be.

“Shall we continue in sin that grace may abound?  God forbid.” Ro 6:1-2 

“You are free; yet do not use liberty as a cloak to hide your sin.”  1 Pet 2:16

Grace has delivered us from the OT punishments of the Law.

Grace will not rescue us from the natural consequences of sin. 

“Sin no more, lest a worse thing come upon you.”   John 6:14

When we fail, instead of a stoning or a lynching, Jesus offers forgiveness. 

1.  It deceives us 11-13

Legalism deceives us into thinking the way to God is through Good Works. 

You could not enter into Judaism without circumcision.

Physical Circumcision is spiritually useless. 

It enslaves us 14

The Law enslaves us to a harsh set of expectations and punishments.

If you place yourself under the law, you are indebted to obey the entire law. 

The death penalty was reserved for those who broke the OT law.

Jesus would rather see lawbreakers repent and find forgiveness.

The lawmaker became the law keeper and then died for lawbreakers.

Jesus removed our debt and nailed it to the cross.

It is surprising that anybody would ever want to return to bondage.

It exploits us 15

The Law is dangerous because it is used by the enemy to exploit us.

The Law is not so much a sin-stopper as it is a sin-revealer.

Legalism is one of the favorite weapons of the enemy.

The accuser of our brethren has been cast down.  Revelation 12:10

It condemns us 16-17

The Lie of legalism is that rules and regulations will make you righteous. 

Instead of blessing you, legalism curses and condemns you! 

We are not to allow the judgmental attitude of others to destroy our joy. 

3 requirements of the law that condemn us. 

#1  Dietary laws.  Clean and unclean foods. 

#2 Festival Requirements.  Pilgrimages and sacrifices.  

#3 Sabbath Day.  The early Gentiles worshiped on the Lord’s Day. 

Do not judge your brother:  Romans 14:1-8

Do not return to the bondage of the law.  Galatians 4:9-11

We have no such commandment of obedience to the Law.  Acts 15:24

The law says, ‘Do this,’ and it is never done. Grace says, ‘Believe in this,’ and everything is done already.  The Law is nothing more than a passing shadow!  But Jesus Christ is the real substance!  The Law is a strict taskmaster, and people use it to make us feel condemned!  Jesus brings genuine freedom of conscience. 

MESSAGE

The Godfather, American actor Al Pacino once said, as a youth “I asked God for a bike, but I know God doesn’t work that way. So I stole a bike and asked for forgiveness.”  (because obviously God is a forgiving God, right?)

Crazy huh?  I once had an atheist boss who loved to razz me.  He would come on the job site and with great enthusiasm say, “Oh you Christians, you’ve got it made, you can do anything you want to do, because all you have to do is just ask God for forgiveness.”

There are people who subscribe to the idea you can sin with abandon because you can always ask for forgiveness later.  “I’m good at sinning, God is good at forgiving; it’s a match made in heaven, right?”

So here’s my question If Grace means that God is forgiving, does it follow that you can just go and sin all you want?  Is grace so radical, outrageous, shocking, scandalous, and limitless that you can’t out-sin God’s Grace?  Will God ever say, “sorry, friend you’ve reached your limit of 70X7, no more forgiveness for you.  

Does grace mean you get to do whatever you want?   Let me put it this way, “If that’s really what you want to do, you have my permission to go right ahead and test that theory.”  If you are sincerely asking that question, it may just reveal that you don’t understand how painful sin can be, nor how transforming Grace is.

I have always let my children know that I loved them completely and unconditionally no matter what.   I will always love them and forgive them.  But let’s just say that one of my children looked at me and said, “So I can just go stick my hand in the blender and you will still love me?” “Well… yes… I don’t know why you would want to do that, but if you do, you should know that, it’s going to be extremely painful. I will, of course, pull your hand out of the blender and rush you to the hospital to stop the bleeding and rescue what I can of your hand. But no matter what, I will still love you and cherish you.”

Grace is no more a license to sin than electricity is a license to electrocute yourself!  Asking the question “So can I just go sin all I want?” is like asking, “So I can take this knife and stab it into my leg?” Yes, if that is really what you want to do, but you will pay an awful price for it!

The Apostle Paul put it this way, “What?  Shall we continue in sin that grace may abound?  God forbid, how can we who have died to sin live any longer in it?”  Romans 6:1-2  “Grace is not opposed to effort, it is opposed to earning.”

Last week we said there are two extremes to Grace.  The first extreme is legalism which says you must obey the law to please God, (it’s a works based system) and the other extreme is license or licentiousness which says, since all things are lawful for me I can do whatever I want and sin with abandon! 

Grace rejects both extremes.  Sin doesn’t stop God from loving us, but neither does Grace give us a license to do whatever we please.  1 Peter 2:16 “You are free, yet do not use liberty as a cloak to hide sin or bad behavior.” 

We have been delivered from the curse of the Law, meaning that the Old Testament laws and its punishments will no longer be inflicted upon us.  But our liberty does not give us a license to sin.  Grace will not rescue us from the devastating and destructive natural consequences of sin. 

in John 6:14 Jesus said, “Sin no more, lest a worse thing come upon you.”  

We are not under Old Testament Law, but under New Testament Law, known as the law of liberty, which promises that Jesus will transform the sinner and give him the power to resist sin; but when we fail, instead of a stoning or a lynching, Jesus offers forgiveness.  That’s what it means to be delivered from the curse of the Law.

Let’s talk about Legalism; Legalism elegantly masquerades as genuine Christianity, but it is an imposter. 

There are three different shades of legalism.  The first is Mosaic Legalism.  This is an attempt to live under the Old Testament Law.  However,  We are meant to be New Covenant Christians, not Old Covenant believers.  We Christians are not to place ourselves under bondage to The Old Testament Law in any way shape or form, And yet we do.

The second form of Legalism is Religious Legalism.  Religious legalism is where we impose extra biblical rules and commandments on ourselves and others.  This is the drab and lifeless “thou shalt not” lifestyle. 

A third form of Legalism is Behavioral Legalism, otherwise known as Judgementalism.  This is a legalistic, critical attitude. 

I know of no affliction in Christendom which is more widespread, and more devastating in its destructiveness, than Legalism.

Why is legalism so bad?  Because it deceives us into thinking that we are better than others.  But eventually it enslaves us into a rigid lifestyle of performance we can never reach.  Whether we know it or not it exploits us and renders us vulnerable to the accusations of the enemy.  And then it condemns us and leads us to criticize and judge others who do not meet our standards, cutting them down in order to build ourselves up.

1.  It deceives us 11-13

Legalism deceives us into thinking that the way to God is through rituals, and ceremonies, and through Good Works.  Mosaic Legalism is a complex system of laws that claims to show us how to get right with God and stay right with God, but the truth is that It is completely unable to offer forgiveness or an entrance to the kingdom.

11 and in Him you were also circumcised with a circumcision performed without hands, in the removal of the body of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ, 12 having been buried with Him in baptism, in which you were also raised with Him through faith in the working of God, who raised Him from the dead.

Circumcision is a big deal to the Jew.  You can’t enter into a covenant relationship without it!  The ritual of Circumcision is the first step in becoming one of the chosen people of God.  But there is one HUGE problem with it as a religious rite.  No child, youth, or adult who has ever been circumcised has ever received forgiveness because of their circumcision.  Physical Circumcision is spiritually useless. 

And when we sinners humbly submit to him, in faith, believing that Jesus paid for our sins in our place, it is then that genuine spirituality begins.  It is then that a genuine relationship with God begins.  It is then, because of a powerful faith without the works of the Law.

It enslaves us 14

The second reason legalism is so dangerous is that it enslaves us to a harsh set of expectations and when we cannot meet those expectations, it punishes us severely.  If you place yourself under the law, to obey the Sabbath, or to follow the Ten Commandments, you are then indebted to obey the entire law. 

For breaking the OT law, you were supposed to be stoned.  This was the most common punishment.  Other forms of punishment were burning to death, being shot by arrows or being hung

The Old Testament prescribed death punishment for several crimes including stealing (Joshua, 7:20-26), Sabbath breaking (Numbers, 15:32-36), preaching or practicing a different religion, blasphemy (Lev, 24:10- 16), cursing God and the king (Kings, 21:1-16), being a medium or a wizard (Levi, 20:27), being a stubborn or rebellious son (Deut, 21:18-21), and other major crimes. Stoning was one of the primary methods of capital punishment in the Old Testament.

Politically, I’m a crime and punishment kind of guy.  I want to see criminals and lawbreakers punished.  I’m sure you do to.  But as a Christian, I’m a sin and forgiveness kind of guy.  I would rather see criminals and lawbreakers repent and find forgiveness in Christ Jesus.  And this creates a kind of tension – on the one hand if you insist on crime, I want the judge to impose the penalty of the law.  On the other hand if you repent, I want the judge of the whole earth, Jesus, to forgive you.  .  Jesus Himself was hung on a cross for our crimes.  The lawmaker became the lawkeeper and then died for lawbreakers.

14 Jesus canceled the certificate of debt consisting of decrees against us, which was hostile to us; and He has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross.

We were in debt to the law to obey it.  The law consisted of many decrees against us, which were hostile to us because we are sinners.  Jesus took those decrees, removed them from our sin ledger which said, “you owe so you must pay,”  He nailed them to the cross, canceled the law, it’s decrees and our indebtedness to it and has taken the law and its curses out of the way! 

Jesus paid that debt.  Every terrible sin you and I have ever committed in thought, word or act, was nailed to the cross.  These sins were placed on Jesus.  When they drove the nails through his hands and feet, they were unknowingly driving the nail in the coffin of the law!  Jesus didn’t need to dispose of the law, instead he fulfilled it and now, the Old Testament law has no application to our lives!  Now we are free! 

Isn’t it surprising that anybody would ever want to return to bondage? Surely, that must grieve our God.

It exploits us 15

Verse 15 indicates that one of the reasons that the law is so dangerous to us is because it is a tool used by the enemy to exploit us, accuse us and punish us.  The Law was never intended to be a sin-stopper. It was intended to be a sin-revealer. The 10 Commandments were given by God to cause sin to increase.  The Law of God will never empower us to decrease our sinning

15 Jesus disarmed the principalities and powers, and made a public display of them, having triumphed over them.

This verse can be seen in one of two ways; as human authority, or as demonic authority; both of them have been disarmed, but it seems to me this is talking about the Devil and his minions. 

You see, legalism is one of the favorite weapons of the enemy. Satan loves to get Christians to be legalistic, for then he has destroyed their enjoyment of the Spirit and he can use them to spread havoc among a generation or a company of believers, and ruin a vital, active, and growing Christian life.

The Accuser is not neutral. He takes pleasure in hauling sinners into the divine court, yet that is not enough for him.  The book of Hebrews says that it is the Great Accuser who holds the power of death. And Revelation comes right out and names him “the Destroyer.” Satan also seeks to carry out the punishment on the guilty.  Entrap. Bring charges. Destroy.  Satan uses the law like a weapon.

Revelation 12:10 Then I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, ‘Now salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of His Christ have come, for the accuser of our brethren, who accused them before our God day and night, has been cast down. 

No more to exploit us.

It condemns us 16-17

The great Lie of legalism is that rules and regulations will make you righteous.  But instead of blessing you, legalism curses and condemns you!  Colossians 2:16-17 warns us not to allow the legalistic, judgmental attitude of others to destroy our joy. 

16 Therefore, don’t allow anyone to judge you in regard to food and drink, or in respect to a festival or a new moon, or a Sabbath day— 17 things which are only a shadow of what is to come; but the substance belongs to Christ.

Paul mentioned three different requirements judaizers were trying to impose on the early gentile Christians.  #1  Dietary laws.  Food and drink.  They were being judged, snubbed and shunned because they were eating unclean animals.  #2 Festival Requirements.  Every year Jewish Males were supposed to go to a minimum of three feasts in Jerusalem, Unleavened Bread, Pentecost, and the Feast of Tabernacles.  There were 7 biblical feasts, and the gentiles were castigated and looked down upon because they didn’t join the pilgrimages to Jerusalem.  #3 Sabbath Day.  Even in Paul’s day the Gentile Church had begun to separate from Judaism, distinguishing itself by worshiping on the Lord’s Day.  Some worshiped on both days, but if not, the Judaizers would wag their fingers and shake their heads in Judgementalism and condemnation. 

Romans 14 has this to say about Jewish practices:  one believes he may eat all things, but he who is weak eats only vegetables.  Let not him who eats despise him who does not eat, and let not him who does not eat judge him who eats; for God has received him. Who are you to judge another’s servant? To his own master he stands or falls. Indeed, he will be made to stand, for God is able to make him stand. One person esteems one day above another; another esteems every day alike. Let each be fully convinced in his own mind. He who observes the day, observes it to the Lord; and he who does not observe the day, to the Lord he does not observe it. 

Galatians 4:9-11 is even stronger.  How is it that you turn again to the weak and beggarly elements, to which you desire again to be in bondage? You observe days and months and seasons and years.  I am afraid for you, lest I have labored for you in vain.

At one point, the Apostles themselves held a council in Jerusalem to discuss the Law.  Here was their conclusion:  We have heard that some who went out from us have troubled you with words, unsettling your souls, saying, “You must be circumcised and keep the law” to whom we gave no such commandment.  Acts 15:24

Verse 17 tells us that these practices are nothing more than a passing shadow!  But Jesus Christ is the real substance!  The Law is a shadow!  Jesus is the substance!  Dietary laws may make a man clean physically, but only Christ can make a person clean spiritually!  The festivals, pilgrimages and sacrifices themselves don’t cleans from sin, only Jesus does that.  Obeying the Sabbath is a ritual that won’t draw you close to God, only resting from your works and trusting in Christ can do that! 

The law says, ‘Do this,’ and it is never done. Grace says, ‘Believe in this,’ and everything is done already.

Hebrews 4:9 explains that our Sabbath rest as Christians is to rest from our works! 

In closing remember this:  Secularism will cheat you, Christ will complete you.  The Law is a shadow, but Christ is the substance!  

The Law is a strict taskmaster, and people use us to make us feel condemned!  Jesus brings genuine freedom of conscience.  In Jesus external rituals and practices are unnecessary, and in Christ the critics and Judgementalism of the religious are silenced and instead we have liberty to love God sincerely and live for Christ completely! 

Are you a legalist?  A lot of Christians are, whether they know it or not.  In so many words, legalism says, “I don’t do this or that; therefore I am pleasing to God.”  Legalism is the Worst Kind of Sin because it doesn’t look like sin, but it fosters pride, arrogance, Judgementalism and self righteousness.  While most sinners know they are sinners, legalists don’t even recognize their legalism, instead they boast in it! 

Why is legalism so bad? 

It deceives us into thinking that we are better than others. 

It enslaves us into a rigid lifestyle of performance we can never reach. 

It exploits us and renders us vulnerable to the accusations of the enemy. 

It condemns us and leads us to criticize and judge others.

There are three different shades or kinds of legalism. 

Mosaic Legalism.  The desire to be under the Law. 

Galatians written to defeat the deadly curse of Legalism.  Gal 5:1-2

The law has passed away Matthew 5:17-18 

It has come to an end Romans 10:4 

It has been “Abolished” Ephesians 2:15, 2 Corinthians 3:7, 11

It has been “Wiped out” Colossians 2:14 

It has been “Changed, replaced” Hebrews 7:12

It has been “Annulled” Hebrews 7:18 

It is “Obsolete” Hebrews 8:13

Religious Legalism.  The desire to impose our convictions on others.

This is where we impose extra-biblical rules on others. 

This is known as the “thou shalt not” lifestyle. 

Behavioral Legalism is also known as Judgementalism. 

This is a legalistic, critical attitude. 

I know of no affliction which is more devastating.

Many Christians and many churches are quenching the Holy Spirit.

The law of Christ is the one law Christians are supposed to obey.

There is nothing wrong with obeying the Word of God. 

Jesus told us, “If you love me keep My commandments.    

Legalism is the reigning philosophy of the religious world. 

Every religion teaches good works must be done to please God.

Christianity teaches you are saved by God’s grace! 

If we give in to legalism, we look like every other religion in the world. 

Legalism deceives us 11-13

Circumcision is the rite of entrance to Judaism and the Old Covenant. 

Jesus says that His circumcision is not physical.  “Performed without hands.”

Spiritual Circumcision is of the heart. Romans 2:29

“Circumcise the foreskin of your heart.”  Deuteronomy 10:16

“I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you. Ez 36:26

Water Baptism reminds us that Christ died and rose for us! 

Spiritual Circumcision shows that Jesus forgave us all our wrongdoings.

Physical Circumcision is spiritually useless. 

Only Jesus can Forgive us.  Only when Jesus is Mohel, the circumciser of the heart, is their forgiveness.  Do you see the weakness of the law?  The first and most important ritual of the Law is powerless to change the heart of mankind!  Rituals and ceremonies and good works are powerless to change the heart.  That’s why we need Jesus!  That’s why we need a Savior! 

MESSAGE

Are you a legalist?  A lot of Christians are, whether they know it or not.  While secular humanism is the reigning philosophy of the secular world, Legalism is the reigning philosophy of the religious world.  Legalism is an innate, human, obsessive conformity to an artificial standard for the purpose of making yourself look good to God and to others.  And don’t we all want to put ourselves in the best possible light?  Thus we are all in danger of falling prey to legalism.

In so many words, legalism says, “I don’t do this or that, therefore I am pleasing to God.”  Or it says, “Compared to other people, I’m pretty good.  God must be very pleased with me!” 

Legalism is rigid, grim, exacting, and lawlike in nature. Pride, which is at the heart of legalism, works in sync with other factors like guilt, fear, and shame. It leads to an emphasis on what one should not be and what one should not do. It flourishes in a drab context of negativism.

Legalism is the Worst Kind of Sin because it doesn’t look like sin.  But it fosters pride, arrogance, Judgementalism and self righteousness.  While most sinners know they are sinners, legalists don’t even recognize their legalism, instead they boast in it! 

Why is legalism so bad?  Because it deceives us into thinking that we are better than others.  But eventually it enslaves us into a rigid lifestyle of performance we can never reach.  Whether we know it or not it exploits us and renders us vulnerable to the accusations of the enemy.  And then it condemns us and leads us to criticize and judge others who do not meet our standards, cutting them down in order to build ourselves up.

Simply put, Legalism elegantly masquerades as genuine Christianity, but it is an imposter; a brilliant imposter!  It is so cunning that most of us cannot even identify it.  It is so insidious that most of us never even notice it in those around us; in fact we often applaud the legalist!  It is so devious that millions are blind to the fact that they have unwittingly subscribed to the legalistic lifestyle! 

But today we are going to cut through the high sounding phrases of the legalist and expose it for what it is.  Once and for all, I hope that you will finally throw off the chains of bondage to legalism and break free to live the life you were meant to live.  Isn’t it surprising that anybody would ever want to return to bondage? Surely, that must grieve our God.

There are three different shades or kinds of legalism that I want to define for you today.  The first is Mosaic Legalism.  This is the easiest to identify and it is the one most often condemned in the Bible.  Yet there are many who cry foul if we try to tell them that we are no longer under the Law.  Did you know that there is an entire New Testament book, the book of Galatians written to explain the deadly curse of Legalism? 

Galatians 5:1-2 says, “Stand fast therefore in the liberty with which Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage to the law. For freedom Christ has set us free; stand firm therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery.

In fact the New Testament uses 7 different words to explain that the Old Testament legal system Mosaic Law has been dismantled.  1.  It has passed away Matthew 5:17-18  parelthē.  2.  It has come to an end Romans 10:4 telos.  3.  It has been “Abolished” Ephesians 2:15 katargeo  2 Corinthians 3:7, 11.  4.  It has been “Wiped out” Colossians 2:14 exaleipho.  5.  It has been “Changed, replaced” Hebrews 7:12.  6.  It has been “Annulled” Hebrews 7:18 athetésis.  7.  It is “Obsolete” Hebrews 8:13 palaioo.

We are meant to be New Covenant Christians, not Old Covenant believers.  We Christians are not to place ourselves under bondage to The Old Testament Law in any way shape or form, And yet we do.

The second form of Legalism is Religious Legalism.  Religious Legalism is the cause of much of the sin in the church. Religious legalism is where we impose extra biblical rules and commandments on ourselves and others.  There are rules about the way we dress, rules about the songs we sing, rules about who we can associate with and rules about where we can go and what we can do.  These are rules that, though they may have been at one time practical, are not found in the Bible, and are part of a drab and lifeless “thou shalt not” lifestyle. 

Let me give you an example:  a young man asked: “I am in earnest about forsaking ‘the world’ and following Christ. But I am puzzled about how to live for Jesus.”

Came the reply: “Colored clothes for one thing. Get rid of everything in your wardrobe that is not white. Stop sleeping on a soft pillow. Sell your musical instruments and don’t eat any more white bread. You cannot, if you are sincere about obeying Christ, take warm baths or shave your beard. To shave is to lie against him who created us, to attempt to improve on his work.”

Quaint, isn’t it — this example of extrabiblical scruples? And perhaps amusing. The list has constantly shifted over the 1,800 years since this one was actually recorded.  But today we still impose a set of extrabiblical rules upon ourselves and others.  You may recognize some of these from the past and the present; You must wear a tie to church, especially if you are the pastor.  Women can’t wear slacks.  You can’t play cards.  To eat or drink, or talk or laugh in the sanctuary is forbidden.  Thou shalt not go to the movie theater.  Don’t eat fish on Friday.  And the list goes on and on. 

A third form of Legalism is Behavioral Legalism, otherwise known as Judgementalism.  This is a legalistic, critical attitude.  Some people are more prone to it than others, due to their personality type or their upbringing.  Some people are constantly negative about what’s going on in the church, or they are constantly criticizing others for their perceived shortcomings.  They are not committed enough, they are too committed; they spend too much money on frivolous things, they are too lazy… There is always something to criticize.  Other people are always doing something wrong.

I know of no affliction in Christendom which is more widespread, and more devastating in its destructiveness, than this. Across the world today many churches are sunken into a pall of lifelessness and futility largely because of the legalistic spirit which has throttled their spiritual vitality.  In their legalism, Many Christians and many churches are quenching the Holy Spirit.

Jesus warned us to judge not lest we be judged.  Paul asked, “Why are you judging your brother for whom Christ died?”  Jesus told us to first take the plank out of our own eye before we take the splinter out of our brother’s eye.  In other words, “cut it out!  Stop being so judgemental!” 

However, There is nothing wrong with having rules.  We need them.  Let me say what legalism is not. Legalism is not obedience to God’s word.  Jesus told us, “If you love me keep My commandments.  The law of Christ is the one law Christians are supposed to obey.  And what is the law of Christ?  It is the New Testament.  But specifically, the Law of Christ commands that you would place your faith and trust in Jesus alone for salvation, by Grace through faith. 

And that leads me to circle back to something I said at the beginning of the Sermon.  Legalism is the reigning philosophy of the religious world.  Every religion in the world teaches that there is a list of things that you must do to please God or you can’t get into his heaven; they call them good works.  Whether it is keeping the Sabbath or praying 7 times a day, or fasting, or going to confession, every religion has a list of rules you must obey or else you cannot be saved.

Christianity is the only world religion that says, “you are not saved by your good works, you are saved by God’s grace!  Nor do you maintain your good status before God by works, you must walk and live by faith!”  Not by works of righteousness that we have done, but according to His mercy he has saved us! 

Now think about this – If we give in to legalism, here’s what happens: Legalism makes Christianity look like every other religion in the world.  When you fall into legalism, you fall prey to the works based, false premise that you must do good and be good to please God.  Instead of the grace based promise that Jesus will save you if you have faith, and Jesus will empower you if you live by faith!

This is the danger of Legalism.  Creeping legalism wants to turn our church into an imposture!  So this is PART 1 of the sermon on Legalism.  Let’s get into it:  Why is legalism so bad

1.  It deceives us 11

Legalism deceives us into thinking that the way to God is through rituals, and ceremonies, and through Good Works.  Mosaic Legalism is a complex system of laws that claims to show us how to get right with God and stay right with God, but the truth is that It is completely unable to offer forgiveness or an entrance to the kingdom.

11 and in Him you were also circumcised with a circumcision performed without hands, in the removal of the body of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ, 12 having been buried with Him in baptism, in which you were also raised with Him through faith in the working of God, who raised Him from the dead.

“In Him you were circumcised.”  Keep in mind when reading these verses that to the male Jew, physical Circumcision was the rite of entrance to Judaism, and thus the kingdom. 

In the Hebrew, B’rit milah, is literally, the “covenant of circumcision.”  It is the oldest religious rite in Judaism.  Male circumcision is the oldest known human surgical procedure.

When God called Abraham and Moses He told them that Circumcision is the physical representation of the covenant between God and Israel and is required for the inclusion of males in the Jewish faith.  There is no similar requirement for females.  Jewish males were typically circumcised at the age of eight days, as a sign of their membership in a covenant people.

A treasured Jewish legend holds that the prophet Elijah is present at every b’rit milah. The legend says that after his showdown on Mount Carmel, Elijah complained to God that Israelites had neglected circumcision.  Thus according to the story, God told him that because of his zeal, whenever there was a circumcision, Elijah would be supernaturally present to bless the family.  Jews, therefore, set aside a special chair for Elijah at the b’rit, with the baby placed in the chair prior to the circumcision.[i]

Customarily, two candles are lit in the room where the ceremony is to take place as symbols of the presence of God.  During the circumcision, the father recites the following blessing: “Blessed are You, Adonai our God, Ruler of the universe, who has sanctified us through Your Law and has commanded us to bring our sons into the covenant of Abraham our father.” Following the circumcision, a prayer is said for the baby in which his Jewish name is used (and thus announced) for the very first time. It is customary for the parents to keep the baby’s name a secret until this time.  Like a wedding, the circumcision is celebrated with a festive meal.

Circumcision is a big deal to the Jew.  You can’t enter into a covenant relationship without it!  The ritual of Circumcision is the first step in becoming one of the chosen people of God. 

An uncircumcised believing Gentile would have read this and asked the question, “How and when was I circumcised?”  The answer in verse 11 is that the circumcision is not physical.  This circumcision was performed without hands.  In most Jewish circumcisions, a circumciser called a Mohel would wield the knife.  In the case of believers, there was no Mohel, no medical personnel, no human present.  It was not a physical circumcision. 

In Romans 2:29 Paul tells us that in the case of a believer “circumcision is that of the heart, in the Spirit, not in the letter; whose praise is not from men but from God.” 

And in Deuteronomy 10:16 God sternly commands, “circumcise the foreskin of your heart, and be stiff-necked no longer.” 

And in a prophetic passage, God promised the Jews in Ezekiel 36:26, “I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; I will take the heart of stone out of your flesh and give you a heart of flesh.”

This is the how and when of spiritual circumcision.  When we humbled ourselves before Jesus, God the Holy Spirit did a work of circumcision on our old hardened heart of flesh, cutting it away, and He gave us a new nature. 

At the same time we were “baptized into Christ.”  That means the Holy Spirit placed us into the body of Christ, the family of God.  Water Baptism is the recognition of that moment when Christ’s death, burial and resurrection became our death burial, and resurrection.  And then these words. 

13 And when you were dead in your wrongdoings and the uncircumcision of your flesh, He made you alive together with Him, having forgiven us all our wrongdoings,

The Gentiles were uncircumcised.  Physically nothing had changed.  They were physically uncircumcised before they believed, and physically uncircumcised after they believed.  But because Jesus Christ is the spiritual Mohel, or the spiritual circumciser, he cut away the old, hard, sinful heart, and gave us a new heart and a new spirit.  And then these all important words:  “having forgiven us of all our wrongdoings.”

Let me let you in on a secret; For thousands of years the Jews have been involved in a bloody business, the circumcision of their children.  There is nothing wrong with it; in fact there are some obvious health and sanitary benefits to it.  But there is one HUGE problem with it as a religious rite.  No child, youth, or adult who has ever been circumcised has ever received forgiveness because of their circumcision.

Only Jesus can do that.  Only when Jesus is Mohel, the circumciser of the heart, is their forgiveness.  Do you see the weakness of the law?  Physical Circumcision is spiritually useless.  The first and most important ritual of the Law, is powerless to change the heart of mankind!  Rituals and ceremonies and good works are powerless to change the heart.  That’s why we need Jesus!  That’s why we need a Savior! 

And when we sinners humbly  submit to him, in faith, believing that Jesus paid for our sins in our place, it is then that genuine spirituality begins.  It is then that a genuine relationship with God begins.  It is then, because of a powerful faith without the works of the Law.

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[i] https://www.chabad.org/library/article_cdo/aid/3819109/jewish/Why-Is-There-a-Chair-for-Elijah-at-a-Brit-Milah-Circumcision.htm

If you were deceived, would you know it?  In his last days on earth, Jesus expressed a concern to his disciples about the end times.  He warned in Matthew 24:24 that false teachers would arise that, if given the opportunity would deceive even the elect!   Jesus was concerned about deception.  And he was concerned that some of us might end up being deceived in some important way.  So the question I’d like you to address to yourself today is this; “in some way or another, have I been deceived, misled, mistaken, or in error about some essential truth?” 

Four Dangerous Deceptions

Secularism – Worldly ideology that weakens and destroys faith (2:8-10). 

Legalism – Obedience to the law masquerading as a relationship with Jesus (2:11-17). 

Mysticism – spiritual experiences that replace abiding in Jesus (2:18-19). 

Asceticism – depriving yourself of essentials instead of seeking Jesus (2:20-23). 

Secular Humanism is man centered instead of Christ centered    

Secularism– rejects religion, God and Christ. 

Humanism –teaches that man is the master of his own meaning rather than faith. 

Atheism –denies the existence of God.

Rationalism –believes that meaning only comes reason rather than God.

Relativism – The idea that there’s no absolute truth.

Existentialism –teaches that we create our own meaning, not God.

Hedonism – The idea that personal pleasure is the only thing with intrinsic value. 

Nihilism – the rejection of all religious and moral principles; & life is meaningless.

Socialism – the state not God is ultimate authority.

Naturalism –the world came from natural phenomena.  There is no supernatural.

Some of us have elevated facts and statistics to the level of God’s Truth. 

God has a corner on truth. 

The Dangers of Secularism 8

The secular is opposed to the sacred! 

BEWARE!  βλέπω blepo – Have a little discernment. 

Secularism will CHEAT you and enslave you. 

Four descriptions of secularism:

1.  It is a Philosophy or a secular way of looking at life. 

2.  It is based on Empty Deceit because it is devoid of truth. 

Romans 3:10-18 is God’s description of secular humanists. 

Man is not as bad as he could be… until you give him the opportunity. 

3.  It is based on Manmade Traditions.

4.  It is based on Basic Principles the world readily accepts.   

The Benefits of Sacred 9-10

We are to seek Christ and the wisdom that dwells in Him!

First, “all the fullness of the Godhead dwells in Jesus.” 

#1 Jesus is fully God and fully man. 

#2 Jesus has all the divine attributes of God the Father – He is all knowing.

Second, “You are complete in Him.” 

Smarter doesn’t not equal wiser. 

Only in Christ is your life full. 

Third, “He is the head of all principality and power.” 

Jesus is the ultimate authority. 

It really takes a big measure of humility to admit that you are mistaken, and the most humble among us are truly the greatest among us.  If you have given in to the philosophy of some secular idea, it’s going to take a big man, or a big woman to admit their error.  I wonder if you are big enough to admit your errors.   It’s my hope that all of us would be like the child, and be teachable. 

MESSAGE

In his last days on earth, Jesus expressed a concern to his disciples about the end times.  He warned in Matthew 24:24, that false teachers would arise that, if they were given the opportunity, they would deceive even the elect!  That’s us, Believers. 

Jesus was concerned about deception.  And he was concerned that some of us might end up being deceived in some important way.  It’s my concern as well.  So the question I’d like you to address to yourself today is this; “in some way or another, have I been deceived, misled, mistaken, or in error about some essential truth?” 

Well if you were deceived, how would you know it?  If you were deceived, you would be thinking to yourself that your beliefs were true, not false!  That’s the problem with deception.  The deceived don’t know they are deceived!   We humans tend to believe that our beliefs are the ones that are genuine, and it is the others who are deceived.  Where do you go for trusted information? 

So our goal, over the next four weeks, is to identify and expose FOUR major areas where Christians are sometimes deceived.  These are blind spots that the Apostle Paul mentioned in Colossians 4.  These are four things that draw us away from the life of abundance in Christ.

1.  Secularism – Worldly ideology that weakens and destroys faith (2:8-10). 

2.  Legalism – Obedience to the OT law masquerading as a relationship with Jesus (2:11-17). 

3.  Mysticism – spiritual experiences that replace abiding in Jesus (2:18-19). 

4.  Asceticism – depriving yourself of some essential in the hopes that it will draw you close to Jesus (2:20-23). 

Today we look at secular philosophy.  Some people have called this secular humanism.  It is any philosophical, human, typically non-religious viewpoint that doesn’t line up with Scripture.  There are as many different versions of it as there are philosophers.  Every version is slightly different, but they all have one thing in common.  They abandon Jesus Christ in favor of their own wisdom.  They are man centered instead of God centered.  Let me list some of them. 

• Secularism– rejects religion, God and Christ.  It is currently the reigning philosophy of the world.
• Humanism – (often paired with secularism) teaches that man is the master and maker of his own meaning rather than faith. 
• Atheism – Atheists are usually Secular humanists.  Atheism denies the existence of God and believes that the universe came about from natural means.
• Rationalism – they believe that meaning only comes from our own reason and thought, rather than empirical evidence or from God.
• Relativism – The idea that there’s no absolute truth, only the truths that a particular individual or culture happen to believe.
• Existentialism – They teach that we create our own meaning. Meaning is not given to us by God.
• Hedonism – The idea that pleasure or happiness is the only thing with intrinsic value.  And life consists of having fun and pleasing self rather than God
• Nihilism – the rejection of all religious and moral principles; the belief that life is truly meaningless.
• Marxism, communism, socialism- teach that the state is ultimate authority which brings about meaning, and faith in God is the enemy.
• Naturalism – believe that the world came from natural phenomena.  And that there is no supernatural.

Let me just say that Secular Humanism, the main umbrella of all these philosophies is the current reigning philosophy of the civilized world.  Many of your politicians, most of your educators, your news anchors, your entertainers and most of your employers and business owners are secularists. 

These are the people you trust!  These are the people that you elect!  These are the people that your listen to!  These are the people that teach you and your children!  Is it any wonder that so many Christians have viewpoints that are non biblical!  Is it any wonder that Christians have unwittingly intermixed secular ideals with their biblical faith and are ok with it. 

Because after all, we’ve been told that “all truth is God’s truth!”  That may sound good on the surface until you realize that sometimes it is used for insidious means.  People have elevated facts and statistics to the level of God’s Truth.  Some of us are really no different than the Roman Catholics who have elevated the Popes proclamations to the level of Scripture.  We have our own popes!  We’ve taken science, literature, politics, etc and have unwittingly elevated secular ideas to the level of Scripture, because we deem them to be facts. 

Genuine Christianity teaches this:  God has a corner on truth.  God’s Word is Truth.  Anything, even if it seems like it is true, that contradicts God’s revealed Word is NOT true.  Give us time, research and some new ideas, and it amazing how often the old truths get thrown down, and the new truths are placed on the throne.  The only safe thing for a Christian is to embrace God’s truth. 

Now that I’ve warned you about the dangers of secularism using reason, let me warn you about the dangers of secularism from Scripture:

The Dangers of Secularism

8 Beware lest anyone cheat you through philosophy and empty deceit, according to the tradition of men, according to the basic principles of the world, and not according to Christ.

Listen!  The secular is opposed to the sacred! 

Do you hear the warning there?  BEWARE!  βλέπω blepo – Have a little discernment.  Christians need to be able to see, examine, understand, and perceive what is true or false, what is right or wrong and thus take heed and avoid the pitfalls of secularism.  This is how you stop deception.

Because once you get sucked in by cheap substitutes like secular humanism, it will rob you and cheat you and then abandon you to the pit of despair.  It will CHEAT you.  συλαγωγέω sulagogeo – This word “cheat” is a little bit stronger than your ordinary everyday run of the mill word for mugging.  This word means that they will carry you off as a captive or slave and lead away from your true home and from truth. 

There are four descriptive words that explain exactly what secular humanism is.

1.  Philosophy.  φιλοσοφία philosophia – is literally the love of wisdom, and it relates to wisdom in any branch of art, science, or knowledge.  If you love the principles of English, literature, math, science, agriculture, political science, counseling, history, or any of the other arts or sciences, I commend you… but beware, your professors and teachers, and your textbooks are likely teaching you those subjects from a secular viewpoint, and if you sit underneath them you are susceptible to their ideas. 

2.  Empty Deceit.  It is empty, because once you expose it, you discover that it is genuinely has no substance to it.  Empty – κενός kenos devoid of truth. 

This has to do with how they sneak it past you.  They use sophistry.  When we use the word Deceit ἀπάτη apate, we don’t necessarily mean that they are lying.  Some certainly are.  But to lie means that they intentionally make a false statement.  Deception does not require that one make a false statement, it does mean that they may conceal or misrepresent the truth.  They just don’t tell the whole story.  They don’t give you and objective view of both sides.

But you say, “Wait a minute!  That’s not fair!  That’s not the kind of teaching I got!  My teachers were objective, thoughtful, intelligent and diligent!”  I used to think that way.  I used to think that most people were doing their best to be honest and forthright. 

And I had a naive viewpoint of Romans 3.  Have you ever read Romans 3?  I used to ask myself, who are these people in Romans 3?  I don’t know very many of them.  The truth of the matter is, that man is not as bad as he could but… until you give him the opportunity.  Let me read for you, from Romans 3, what God says about the secular humanists of the day.

10 As it is written:  “There is none righteous, no, not one;  11 There is none who understands; There is none who seeks after God. 12 They have all turned aside; They have together become unprofitable; There is none who does good, no, not one.” 13 “Their throat is an open tomb; With their tongues they have practiced deceit”; “The poison of asps is under their lips”; 14 “Whose mouth is full of cursing and bitterness.” 15 “Their feet are swift to shed blood; 16 Destruction and misery are in their ways; 17 And the way of peace they have not known.” 18 “There is no fear of God before their eyes.”

This is God’s description of worldly, secular, humanists who don’t know God.  It’s a little abrupt isn’t it.  And yet, if God’s Word is true, you have allowed those people to give you the nightly news, to run the country, to entertain you, and to educate your children. 

That’s why our country is struggling with its pronouns; that’s why they are teaching critical race theory in schools.  That’s why we can’t define who is a woman.  And that is why we are struggling with gender ideology.

3.  Tradition – παράδοσις paradosis –The third thing that characterizes Secular Humanism is that it uses the traditions of men that have been passed down from one generation to the next.  That’s what education is all about.  Education is passing down the information from one generation to another.  It must be true because your parents and teachers believe it.  But just because something is thought to be true by your elders, does not make it true.

4.  The Basic Principles of the World.  Basic Principles – στοιχεῖον stoicheion.  These are the assumptions that people of the world take for granted as true.  If A is true then B must be true.  The problem is, worldly assumptions, without God in the mix are madness.  B cannot be true if A is false.  We are not saying that everything you have learned in class is false, we are saying that the philosophies behind them likely are.

Why?  Because they come from the World system – κόσμος kosmos – the ungodly multitude, alienated from God, and therefore hostile to the cause of Christ

Beware of the danger of Secularism.  It will deceive you.  However, God’s wisdom is superior. 

The Benefits of Sacred

In contrast to the secular, we are to seek Christ and the wisdom that dwells in Him!

9 For in Him dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily; 10 and you are complete in Him, who is the head of all principality and power.

Three truths;  First “all the fullness of the Godhead dwells in Jesus.”  That means two things.  #1 Jesus is God.  He is fully God and fully man.  #2 Jesus has all the divine attributes of God, and in this case, what that means is that Jesus is “all knowing.”  He knows everything.  Jesus philosophy is the right philosophy because it is grounded in truth!  The principles of Scripture are truth because God knows everything and has accurately revealed the truth to us! 

Second.  “You are complete in Him.”  The Bible characterizes the secular man as ever learning, but never coming to a knowledge of the truth!  Their minds are filled with facts, but their hearts are empty!  Smarter doesn not equal wiser.  But IN CHRIST, you are complete!  πληρόω pleroo – Your life is full.  If you abide in Christ you are lacking nothing!  That’s because when even the simplest of us embrace the straightforward truths in the Word of God, it makes us wiser than the world.

Third.  “He is the head of all principality and power.”  Ephesians says that Jesus is the head of the church.  But Colossians says that Jesus is the head of all principalities and powers.  That means Angels, Demons, Presidents and Dictators.  But it doesn’t stop there.  He is head and shoulders above educators, entertainers, talk show hosts, newscasters, psychiatrists, counselors and anyone else with authority.  He is the ultimate authority for everyone and everything. 

Simply put, Jesus and God’s wisdom is superior to any and every philosophy man can possibly think up.  Don’t waste your time coming up with something novel if it goes against God’s Word.  It’s wrong.

Jesus is concerned about deception.  And he is concerned that some of us may end up being deceived.  So the question we have posed to you today is this; “have you been deceived, misled, mistaken, or in error about some essential truth?” 

Don’t get sucked in by The Hollow Promises of Secular Humanism.  Don’t drink the Kool-Aid.  Don’t swallow the culture bait.  Don’t be fooled by cheap imitations

It really takes a big measure of humility to admit that you are mistaken.  And the most humble among us are truly the greatest among us.  So if you have given in to the philosophy of some political party, some educational philosophy, some secular idea, it’s going to take a big man, or a big woman to admit their error.  I wonder if you are big enough to admit your errors?  I wonder if I am big enough to admit my errors.

If you are ready to put Christ’s philosophy ahead of every other belief that you have and give up your secular ideas, I’d like you to bow your head in surrender and do business with God.  Admit that He is all wise and that you have foolishly trusted in human wisdom.  Commit yourself to allowing God to change your heart and mind for Jesus Christ. 

There’s an old Arab Proverb that goes like this. 

He who knows not, and knows not he knows not, he is a fool—shun him;

He who knows not, and knows he knows not, is a child—teach him;

He who knows, and knows not he knows, is asleep—wake him;

He who knows, and knows he knows, he is wise—follow him.

Which one are you?  It’s my hope that all of us would be like the child, and be teachable. 

There are a lot of busy people who are spinning their wheels but not accomplishing much of real value. Yes, they’re doing lots of ‘stuff’ but at the end of the day, they have been wasting their time on things that don’t matter.  Most people fail in life because they major in minor things, and only minor in the major things.  Simply put: there are things that matter and things that honestly are trivial.  What is the important stuff that we should be doing? 

The Main Thing

It’s all about Jesus – 1:12-20

You are to become like Jesus – 1:21-24

Christ in you is your only hope – 1:25-29

Dangerous Distractions

Secularism (2:8-10)

Legalism (2:11-17)

Mysticism (2:18-19)

Asceticism (2:20-23)

The Church is All About Jesus 2-3

Why does the church exist? 

#1.  To encourage the hearts of those who come. 

#2 To bring friends together and to knit their hearts together in love. 

#3 To gain the richness of full assurance of faith. 

#4 To teach people the knowledge of the mystery of God –

The Danger is that We Might Neglect Jesus 4

Any attempt to get us to focus on something other than Jesus is deception. 

The foolishness of God is wiser than man’s wisdom.  1 Corinthians 1:20. 

The Main Thing is to Focus on Jesus 5-6

#1 Be steadfast in your faith in Christ. 

2.  Walk, or live by faith in Christ. 

3.  Build a good foundation of faith on Jesus Christ.    

If you don’t do anything else right in life, keep Jesus first in your life. 

If you keep Christ first in your life, he’ll take care of the rest. 

As a church, we don’t want to forget why we are here.  Every treasured truth of spiritual wisdom and knowledge is found in Christ.  Christ is the center.  He is the source of comfort, the friend that is closer than a brother, He is the full assurance of faith and the wisdom of God.  The church exists to point everyone to Jesus.  At our church, we need to do the important stuff, and that is living for Jesus.  Let’s keep the Main Thing the Main Thing

MESSAGE

Ask many people how they are doing and they’ll quickly tell you, “I’m Busy. Really busy.”

I mean, who isn’t right? Being busy has become synonymous with being of value. The busier you are, the more important you must be.

But the reality is that there are a lot of busy people who are spinning their wheels but not accomplishing much of real value. Yes, they’re doing lots of ‘stuff’ as they hastily make their way from one appointment to the next. But at the end of the day, when they have time to contemplate, if they are truly honest, they know that they have been wasting their time on things that don’t matter.

What is the important stuff that we should be doing?  What are the most important relationships, truths and activities in your life?

Most people fail in life because they major in minor things, and only minor in the major things.  Simply put: there are things that matter and things that honestly are trivial.  If you don’t differentiate where you spend your time and resources, you may just fail miserably at life.

In our age of hyper-distraction, one of the biggest challenges we face is staying focused on what matters most.  We must keep the first things first.  But what are those important things? 

Let me review what we’ve already learned from the book of Colossians to remind you what we said about the important things.  In chapter 1:1-11, we were told that God has a plan for your life!  What is it?  We find that out in chapter 1:12-20, “It’s all about Jesus.”  Jesus is the way to save your life, Jesus is the way to find God and Jesus is the way to fix your life.  In 1:21-24, we said that you were saved so that you could become like Jesus.  In 1:25-29 we were told that Christ in you is your only hope. 

So do you get the idea that life is all about finding Jesus, becoming like Jesus, and living for Jesus?  These are the important things.  For many years now, some churches have turned aside from the way of Jesus and thus have lost their way. 

Dr. David Jeremiah warns “Many U.S. churches today have ‘forgotten’ their purpose, becoming entertainment-driven social organizations eager to blend in with secular culture instead of focusing on biblical discipleship”[i]

At our church, we have a cross in front.  Why?  Because it reminds us that Jesus death for our sins is the main thing!  At our church, at least once a month we celebrate the Lord’s Supper.  Why?  Because it reminds us that Jesus died for us, rose again and offers us forgiveness!  And that is the main thing!  At our church, we want to major on the important stuff.

We can be distracted away from the way of Jesus by several things.  One of those is secular philosophy.  Worldly ideology will lead you away from Jesus (2:8-10).  Another distraction is legalism, or the insistence that we obey the OT law rather than develop a relationship with Jesus (2:11-17).  A third distraction is the desire to have mystical spiritual experiences apart from Jesus.  It doesn’t matter how many candles you light or how much you meditate or pray, unless Jesus is the center (2:18-19).  And one other danger is a focus on Spiritually driven vegetarianism or other forms of religious self denial that don’t really draw you close to Jesus (2:20-23). 

Jesus’ mission was to seek and save the lost. Ours should be the same. 

And Paul, in verse one, let us know that he was willing to go to the wrestling mat for us in order to keep the main thing, the main thing.  Paul’s Struggle for them

For I want you to know what a great conflict I have for you and those in Laodicea, and for as many as have not seen my face in the flesh.

When Paul says he had a great conflict, he means that he is fighting for us, on our side, struggling in great agony to make sure that the important stuff stays the important stuff.  There are some things that are worth standing for and defending with our life because they are that important!  Do you have anything that important in your life? 

Let me tell you, one of the main purposes of the church is to defend the faith, because it is that important! 

The Church is all about Jesus 2-3

2 that their hearts may be encouraged, being knit together in love, and attaining to all riches of the full assurance of understanding, to the knowledge of the mystery of God, both of the Father and of Christ, 3 in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.

This verse is all about the church.  Why does the church exist?  Why bother with the church?  It turns out that the church was Jesus idea.  If you want to get rid of the church, you need to get rid of Jesus.  And in these verses, there are four reasons why the church exists.

#1.  To encourage the hearts of those that come.  The word encourage is παρακαλέω parakaleo which is a word picture of someone at church with their comforting arm around the shoulders of a weeping friend.  The church is a place where encouragement is passed around.

#2 To bring friends together and to knit their hearts together in love.  The church is the best place in the world to make friends… because church friends have the same noble purpose of living for Jesus.

#3 To gain the richness of full assurance of faith.  One of the great reasons the church exists is to help people cast off their insecurities and find full assurance and confidence because of their faith and trust in Jesus Christ.  Once you come to the realization that Jesus is your helper, and that he will never leave you nor forsake you, you begin to gain a boldness you’ve never had before.

#4 To teach people the knowledge of the mystery of God – which is Christ in you!  Once you place your faith in Christ, Jesus lives within. 

But notice that all of this Is summed up by one important point:  every treasured truth of spiritual wisdom and knowledge is found, hidden in Christ.  Christ is the center.  He is the source of comfort, the friend that is closer than a brother, He is the full assurance of faith and the wisdom of God.  The church exists to point everyone to Jesus.  It’s all about Jesus.  And…

The Danger is that we might neglect Jesus 4

4 Now this I say lest anyone should deceive you with persuasive words.

Any attempt to get us to focus on something other than Jesus is deception. 

Some people are very persuasive.  There are some atheists out there who are incredibly intelligent.  They could talk circles around me!  The good news is that you don’t have to worry about that.  In the grand scheme of things I don’t really count.  All you really have to do is listen to God.

And here’s what I know about God:  The foolishness of God is wiser than man’s wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than man’s strength.  1 Corinthians 1:20. 

They may be smarter than I am, but their wisdom pales in comparison to God’s.  So no matter how smart they are, don’t listen to them.  Don’t let them draw you away from Jesus.  Jesus is the main thing.  It’s a danger to disregard Jesus.  But the safe thing,

The Main Thing is to Focus on Jesus 5-6

5 For though I am absent in the flesh, yet I am with you in spirit, rejoicing to see your good order and the steadfastness of your faith in Christ.  6 As you therefore have received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him, 7 rooted and built up in Him and established in the faith, as you have been taught, abounding in it with thanksgiving.

Here’s how you can Keep the Main Thing the Main Thing.

#1 Be steadfast in your faith in Christ.  That means to hang in their through the storms of life.  Don’t let anything destroy your faith.

2.  Walk, or Live by faith in Christ.  Jesus isn’t just for beginners, He’s for everyone.  You were saved by faith in Christ, and you are to live your life by faith in Christ.  The main thing is to focus on Jesus!

3.  Build a good foundation of faith on Jesus Christ.  Be rooted in Jesus.  Build your life on the principles of Jesus.  Let Jesus establish his ways in your life.  Just as we are teaching you today, you must continue to grow by leaps and bounds with gratitude and thanksgiving in Jesus! 

This is the main thing.  If you don’t do anything else right in life, do this right:  keep Jesus first in your life.  And if you keep Christ first in your life, he’ll take care of the rest. 

Some years ago the London Transit Authority was receiving a lot of complaints because their buses were driving past customers who were standing at the bus stops. The Transit Authority put out this infamous explanation in the newspaper. The explanation said, “It is impossible for us to maintain our schedule if we are always having to stop and pick up passengers.” Clearly, that bus company had forgotten its purpose.[ii]

Of the five thousand new companies that are started each year, only one thousand remain two years later. After five years, only two hundred are left. Corporate consultants say that the common denominator among all those failed companies is that they have no clear purpose; they lack a specific goal and direction.

As a church, we don’t want to forget why we are here.  Or we could end up like the church of God grill in Atlanta Georgia.  A visiting preacher saw an advertisement of the Church of God Grill.  It had five stars.  Curious he called it and a cheery man answered, “Hello, Church of God Grill!” 

The preacher asked how the restaurant had been given such an unusual name, and the man said: “Well, we had a little mission down here, and we started selling chicken dinners after church on Sunday to help pay the bills. Well, people liked the chicken, and we did such a good business, and eventually we cut back on church, until after a while we just closed down the church altogether and kept on serving chicken dinners. We kept the name Church of God Grill.”

Jesus is the main thing.  If you don’t do anything else right in life, do this right:  keep Jesus first in your life.  And if you keep Christ first in your life, he’ll take care of the rest. 

Every treasured truth of spiritual wisdom and knowledge is found, hidden in Christ.  Christ is the center.  He is the source of comfort, the friend that is closer than a brother, He is the full assurance of faith and the wisdom of God.  The church exists to point everyone to Jesus.  It’s all about Jesus.

Most people fail in life because they major in minor things, and only minor in the major things.  At our church, we need to do the important stuff, and that is living for Jesus.  Let’s keep the Main Thing the Main Thing

---

[i] https://thepreachersword.com/2019/07/23/the-modern-church-has-lost-its-purpose/

[ii]https://www.uu.edu/centers/rglee/fellows/fall03/weekley.htm#:~:text=Some%20years%20ago%20the%20London,infamous%20with%20public%20relations%20departments.

Everybody needs hope.  Hope makes bad times bearable, and makes the future look bright.  Without hope we are listless, lacking motivation, depressed and unable to function.  Hope is a candle in the dark that lights the way to a better life.   Hope reduces feelings of helplessness, increases happiness, reduces stress, and improves life.  Hope is an incredible strength and a powerful shield of protection.  So let me ask you this; “what brings you hope?” 

Hope is not a feeling; it’s a belief and a way of thinking.

Real Hope is more than wishful thinking; it is grounded in realism.

It is vital that our hope is rightly placed and deeply ingrained in our soul. 

What Cause Would You Suffer For? 24

Would you suffer for freedom, family or your faith? 

Paul was willing to suffer for his Savior!

He rejoiced in the opportunity to suffer for Christ! 

Paul was willing to fill his life with suffering for Christ! 

Affliction for the cause of Christ results in effective ministry. 

What Cause Would You Give Your Life To? 25

What causes are important to you?

How do you know choose the causes you should invest in? 

All other causes pale in comparison to the Cause of Christ.

The cause of Christ is a stewardship or responsibility God gave to us!

If you become a minister you are fulfilling the Word of God.    

If you have truly given yourself to Jesus you will serve Him! 

Where Does Your Hope Spring From? 26-27

The genuine source of hope is mystery to most people. 

Most people do not understand that the real source of hope is Christ.

The only people who truly understand this mystery are the saints.

Where does hope spring from?  “Christ in you; the hope of glory!”

Hope is not just a cause.  Hope is a person. 

What Hope Do You Tell People About? 28

Hope is why we can’t keep our mouth shut. 

That’s why we preach, teach and warn people.

This is the cause worth suffering for, dying for and living for.  It’s why Jesus told you to give up everything else and follow Him.  The more of Jesus you have, and the more of yourself that you give to Jesus, the more hope that will fill your heart.  So I have a simple recommendation; tell God that you are giving everything you have to him.  Tell Him that Jesus is now your life, your passion, and your all in all.  Stop holding back and start giving in to hope and to joy.  When you give it all to him, Jesus will radiate hope and joy from every pore in your body. 

MESSAGE

Everybody needs hope.  Hope makes bad times bearable, and makes the future look bright.  Without hope we are listless, lacking motivation, depressed and unable to function.  Without hope, we might as well stay in bed all day long.  Hopeless people drink their sorrows away, do drugs, isolate, withdraw, and ignore friends. To them, tomorrow looks pretty grim. 

Hope is a candle in the dark that lights the way to a better life.   Hope reduces feelings of helplessness, increases happiness, reduces stress, and improves life.  Hope is an incredible strength and a powerful shield of protection.

So let me ask you this; “what brings you hope?”  Where do you find the motivation to get dressed every morning?  What makes you jump for joy, smell the roses or smile your way through another day?  What makes your heart skip a beat or makes your feet want to dance a jig?  What brings you hope?

Hope is not a feeling, like optimism is.  Hope is specific and focused on something that will bring us a better life.  Hope is the belief that your future will be better than the present, and there is some real way to make that happen.  Hope is a way of thinking or a state of being.  Hope Helps Us Keep Going.

Hope is more than wishful thinking.  When grounded in realism, hope serves many positive functions. But when hope is placed in something untrue, it is a recipe for disappointment and disillusionment.

If hope is that important, and basing your hope on a solid reality is that important, it is vital that our hope is rightly placed and firmly ingrained in our soul, or we are in for trouble.  Where does real come from.  Where do you look for your hopes and dreams? 

According to verse 27, Christ in you is where genuine hope comes from.  It is not just a good hope, a solid hope or even a great hope:  it is a glorious hope.  That is the highest hope that can be reached.  Christ in you is the hope of glory! 

Let me tell you a few reasons why Christ in you is the greatest hope of all time.  #1 It helps you endure every kind of suffering imaginable to man. 

What Would You Suffer For?

Is there some cause somewhere that is worth upholding in the face of suffering, persecution, imprisonment or execution? 

How about freedom, liberty or country?  Some of you have actually pledged your life to the service of our country and hazarded your life in the cause of freedom.  It is a noble ideal. 

How about family?  Would you suffer or die protecting them?  I’ve heard some of you say that if anyone ever touches your daughter, you’ll take matters into your own hands in order to protect her.  Protecting family is a noble ideal.

How about your Faith?  Would you share a prison cell with me if the government tried to shut us down?  Or now that the pandemic has brought that possibility to light, do you have doubts; Differences of opinions.  Just remember this, even Paul had people question his zeal, and even Jesus had those who tried to warn him away from his destiny with death. 

But listen to Paul:  24 I now rejoice in my sufferings for you, and fill up in my flesh what is lacking in the afflictions of Christ, for the sake of His body, which is the church,

Paul was not only willing to suffer, but he rejoiced in the opportunity to suffer for Christ!  The word rejoice is χαίρω chairo, meaning to be glad, to dance a jig, to smile with joy!  Now here is the difference between me and Paul; he’s happy about it, I’m not!  He looks forward to suffering as an evidence of his dedication to Christ, I look at it as a sign of bad things happening to me. 

I want to avoid it, Paul wanted to fill his life with suffering for Christ!  “I now rejoice in my sufferings for you, and fill up in my flesh what is lacking in the afflictions of Christ!”  I want to minimize them, he wanted to maximize them!  I want a peaceful life and easy ministry; he wanted a life of affliction for effective ministry. 

There is nothing like someone doing something so sacrificial and over the top outrageous for you that makes an impact on others lives.  There is only one thing I know of worth that kind of affliction and suffering:  the Cause of Christ.  Has your faith brought you to that realization yet?  Real hop is worth suffering for.

Let me tell you a few reasons why Christ in you is the greatest hope of all time.  #1 It helps you endure every kind of suffering imaginable to man.  #2 It is the only cause worth giving your entire life to.  Every other cause falls short.

What Cause Would You Give Your Life To?

There are a lot of important things in life.  I looked up the world’s most important causes on the internet, and here are some of them that popped up:  (you’ll agree with some, you won’t agree with others)  Sports.  FFA. Band.  Politics.  Service Clubs.  The Environment.  Abortion.  Racial equality. Poverty.  Injustice.  Women’s rights.  Animal Welfare.  Beating Cancer.  Slavery.  Religious Persecution.  Disaster relief.  The list could go on indefinitely.

With so many options available, how do you know what you should do?  Should you give your life to changing the culture?  Should you protest against the injustices of the world around you?  Should you invest in character building causes?  As noble as these may be, they pale in comparison to the Cause of Christ.

25 of which I became a minister according to the stewardship from God which was given to me for you, to fulfill the word of God,

Paul wasn’t just willing to die for his faith, he was determined to invest his life in it.  Why do we try to get people to serve?  Why do we try to get people to witness?  Paul’s answer is because it is a “stewardship from God which was given to us!” 

God himself determined the cause that is great enough for you to give your whole life to:  Himself!  His ministry!  His message!  And if you become a minister like Paul in verse 25, you are fulfilling the Word of God.  You are obeying God’s commands. 

Do you have any questions about whether you should really teach a class, tell others about Jesus, or serve in the church?  Let me lay them to rest, yes you should.  Everyone should.  But don’t do it just because I said you should, do it because it is the only cause in this life worth giving everything to!  That’s why we present ourselves as living sacrifices!  That’s why we serve.  Because we have first given ourselves to Jesus! 

Let me tell you a few reasons why Christ in you is the greatest hope of all time.  #1 It helps you endure every kind of suffering imaginable to man.  #2 It is the only cause worth giving your entire life to.  Every other cause falls short.  #3 it is the wellspring of all hope! 

Where Does Your Hope Spring From?

What’s the secret sauce?  Where is hope found? 

26 the mystery which has been hidden from ages and from generations, but now has been revealed to His saints. 27 To them God willed to make known what are the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles: which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.

Let’s work our way through this verse.  The genuine source of our hope is mystery to most people.  Paul said it’s a mystery hidden from all ages and from all generations.  Most people do not understand nor know that the real source of hope is Christ.  It is a mystery to them.  They may have heard it, they may even think it sounds right, but they do not understand it.

The only people who truly understand this mystery are the saints, true believers.  To them God opened our eyes and revealed it to us.  What is that hope?  Where does hope spring from?  “Christ in you; the hope of glory!”

Hope is not just a cause.  Hope is a person.  Hope is Jesus.  But it is not Just Jesus the historical figure, it is Christ IN YOU!  That is the glorious hope!  It is no wonder that only true believers truly get it.  Because when Jesus truly lives within, he truly invades our body!  And being in our heart, soul and mind, He radiates HOPE within us! 

When we relate to Christ, and recognize his presence, that’s when hope happens, glorious hope!  Do you want hope?  You need Jesus.  The more you give yourself to Him, the more hope blossoms inside you! 

This is our message.  This is why we endure suffering.  This is why we give our everything to Jesus.  This is why we keep telling people about Him.  Because the world needs hope and we have it! 

What Hope Do You Tell People About?

28 Him we preach, warning every man and teaching every man in all wisdom, that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus. 29 To this end I also labor, striving according to His working which works in me mightily.

That’s why we can’t keep our mouth shut.  That’s why we keep telling people about Jesus.  Because Jesus is our hope!  Hope matters because Jesus is the author of hope!  So, we keep telling people that Jesus came to save sinners.  We keep telling people that Jesus can change their lives.  We keep telling people that genuine hope comes from Jesus. 

That’s it.  That’s the cause worth suffering for, dying for and living for.  It’s why Jesus told you to give up everything else and follow Him.  The more of Jesus you have, and the more of yourself that you give to Jesus, the more hope that will fill your heart. 

So, as we close, I have a simple recommendation; bow your head and tell God that you are giving everything you have to him.  Tell Him that Jesus is now your life, your passion, your duty and your all in all.  Stop holding back and start giving in to hope and to joy.  When you give it all to him, Jesus will radiate hope and joy from every pore in your body.  Jesus is my hope. 

And one day I will see him in Glory, and then my hope will finally be completely fulfilled in his wondrous presence.  I can’t wait!