POPULARITY
This is Entrepreneurs of Faith, a Sunday episode of Monetization Nation. I'm Nathan Gwilliam, your host. Today, we'll talk about the 9 Laws of the Harvest for Entrepreneurs, the guaranteed way to have more love and success in our lives. I live in rural Idaho, surrounded by hundreds of square miles of farm fields, primarily of potatoes and wheat. The laws of the harvest are laws of nature, similar to the law of gravity. When we take an action related to these laws of nature we will almost always experience the natural results of that law. If we follow the laws of the harvest in farming or gardening, we will probably be successful in our efforts to grow and harvest our crops. If we don't follow the laws of the harvest we will probably fail in those efforts. The laws of the harvest play a huge role in our local community and in the lives of people we love. For example, a few years back, cold, wet weather came much earlier than expected at the end of the potato season. Because the crops had not been harvested before the cold and moisture hit, much of the crops were lost, and it was devastating to local farmers financially. I'm not a farmer, but I love to grow fruits and vegetables, as wells as have a large garden and orchard. I've learned firsthand many laws of the harvest through a gardening mentor who has helped teach me, through books, and through mistakes I have made and learned the hard way. As I've learned these laws of the harvest personally, they have helped me to increase the quality and quantity of what I can grow and avoid mistakes. These laws of the harvest also teach us some very important lessons about life and business. As we learn and apply the laws of the harvest, they can help us grow more successful lives and businesses. Or, as if we disregard these same natural laws, they do the opposite. So here are the 9 Laws of the Harvest: 1st Law of the Harvest: Prepare the Soil Before Planting We need to prepare great soil before we plant so we can have a great harvest. One year, my wife asked me to plant wildflower seeds in a field by our orchard. So, I researched and purchased the right variety of wildflower seeds for our area, and I spread the seeds throughout the field. However, the wild grasses in that field have dense roots, grow tall, and prevent those wildflowers from growing. I didn't think to till the ground or prepare the soil of the field before I planted those seeds. As a result, the wildflowers did not grow. Correctly preparing soil often involves adding organic matter and fertilizer to the soil. This adds nutrients to the soil and helps the soil hold more water. Preparing the soil often involves loosening the soil so that it is easier for the roots to grow deeply. Preparing the soil often involves raking the soil level and removing rocks, twigs, and weeds. Matthew 13:3-8 shares a parable from Jesus about planting in good soil: And he spake many things unto them in parables saying, behold, a sower went forth to sow; And when he sowed, some seeds fell by the way side, and the fowls came and devoured them up; Some fell upon stony places, where they had not much earth: and forthwith they sprung up, because they had no deepness of earth: And when the sun was up, they were scorched; and because they had no root, they withered away. And some fell among thorns; and the thorns sprung up, and choked them; But others fell into good ground, and brought forth fruit, some an hundredfold, some sixtyfold, some thirtyfold. “Observe that the prominent feature of the story is that of the prepared or unprepared condition of the soil. The seed was the same, whether it fell on good ground or bad, on mellow mold or among stones and thistles. The primitive method of sowing, still followed in many countries, consisted in the sower throwing the grain by handfuls against the wind, thus securing a widespread scattering. Running through the Galilean fields were pathways, hard trodden by feet of men and beasts. Though seed should fall on such tracts, it could not grow; birds would pick up the living kernels lying unrooted and uncovered and some of the grains would be crushed and trodden down…. The seed that falls in good deep soil, free from weeds and prepared for the sowing, strikes root and grows; the sun's heat scorches it not, but gives it thrift; it matures and yields to the harvester according to the richness of the soil…” (source: James Talmage, Jesus the Christ) Just like the seeds that are planted in good soil and thrive, the same is true in our business and lives. We can prepare our soil in many ways, such as getting a good education, continually learning our trade, planning, setting goals, developing strategies, gathering the right tools, getting the right people on board, building our following, etc. When we effectively prepare our soil, the seeds we plant in that soil, such as new business endeavors, are usually much more successful. 2nd Law of the Harvest: Plant the Seeds “The best time to plant a tree was 20 years ago. The second best time is now.” - Chinese proverb Talking about planting is not enough to ever get a harvest. Buying the seeds and the fertilizer is not enough to ever get a harvest. Watering the ground when it has no seeds in it is not enough to ever get a harvest. We must actually plant the seeds, or all of the other steps in the process will not yield any results. “The way to get started is to quit talking and begin doing.” - Walt Disney In our lives and businesses, we must also start with that first action step of “planting the seeds”. For example, when I decided to compete in my first triathlon, my mentor told me that the first step was to pay to register for a specific triathlon. That step committed me, and then I took the other necessary steps to prepare for that event. In each of our businesses, what is the first action step we should take to plant the seeds? For example, when I wanted to do the daily Monetization Nation show with a podcast, blog, and YouTube channel, I had to plant some seeds. I first researched how to create a podcast. Then, I reached out to some friends who I wanted to interview. Then, I created some initial episodes to post. Then, I created the accounts I would use to post on the different platforms. Then, I announced my daily show and made a public commitment that I would publish every day for a year, and make a $100 donation to the rival of my favorite college football program, for any day I missed publishing during that year. Then I created morning routines and other patterns in my life so the show would be consistently created, and I hired some people to help me. I planted those seeds, and I have published every day since then. God can't multiply what we haven't planted. Sometimes the big goal can feel a little overwhelming to us. Instead of trying to accomplish the big goal every day, we should instead focus on what we can do today to bring us one step closer to that goal. “Don't judge each day by the harvest you reap, but by the seeds that you plant.” - Robert Louis Stevenson 3rd Law of the Harvest: Consistently Nourish Our Crops “You gotta nourish to flourish.” - Unknown One summer I had planted about 14 new fruit trees in my orchard. Then, my family and I left on a 25-day road trip in which we visited 27 states. It was so much fun. At some point, while we were gone, the automatic watering to much of my orchard shut off. And, this was during one of the hottest parts of the summer. When I returned from the trip, I discovered that nearly all of the newly planted trees had died. If we do a good job planting our crops, but then don't nourish them consistently until the harvest time, the crops will probably die, or at a minimum, they will not thrive in their growth. The same is true in life and business. We need to do the small but important things every day so we can nurture those seeds we have planted and eventually achieve the growth we want. Waking early, planning weekly, and scheduling our priorities can be great ways to make time to nourish our crops. 4th Law of the Harvest: Protect Our Crops We've prepared the soil, planted the seeds, and are continuously nurturing them. We also need to protect our crops from threats. My family and I live near a river, with acres of thick forest between our home and the river. We constantly have wildlife such as deer, elk, and raccoons on our property. As a result, I have a 7-foot fence around both my orchard and garden. If I didn't have this fence to protect the plants, the animals would eat everything they wanted. Even with the fence, last year a family of raccoons climbed it and ate nearly every ear of corn. As an example of a time I didn't protect my plants, a couple of years ago I planted a bunch of strawberries too early in the season. A cold spell hit, and I lost almost all of my strawberry plants in a couple of days. In that situation, I had not protected my crop from the elements. Weeding is another way we protect our crops. We remove the weeds so they don't steal the water and sunlight our plants needs. Just like farmers and gardeners strive to protect their crops, we should also strive to protect the good seeds we have planted in our lives and businesses. We should strive to weed out the distractions and time suckers, the negativity and contention, the addictions and unethical practices that can zap the life out of the great life and business we are trying to grow. “We must all wage an intense, lifelong battle against the constant downward pull. If we relax, the bugs and weeds of negativity will move into the garden and take away everything of value.” - Jim Rohn 5th Law of the Harvest: We Reap What We Sow "Life is an echo. What you send out, comes back. What you sow you reap. What you give, you get. What you see in others, exists in you. Remember, life is an echo. It always gets back to you. So give goodness.” - Zig Ziglar It is very important for us to consciously choose the types of seeds we plant in our lives and businesses because those are the types of fruits and vegetables we will harvest. We cannot plant turnip seeds and harvest tomatoes from those plants. Likewise, we are going to harvest what we have sown in our lives and businesses, whether it be good or bad. Let's be sure we are planting good seeds daily such as kindness, love, forgiveness, and grace because that's what we will then harvest. As another way to say it, if we want more love, joy, and success in our lives, the best way to get it is to help other people have more love, joy, and success in their lives. We will reap what we sow. 6th Law of the Harvest: We Harvest Much More than We Plant When we follow the laws of the harvest, they have a multiplying effect and we will almost always harvest much more than what we planted. We can plant a handful of seeds and harvest wheelbarrows full of fruits and vegetables. Jesus's parable of the sower that we quoted earlier talks about harvesting 30, 60, and 100 times more than what was planted. (Mark 4:20). The same is true of life and business. When we invest to metaphorically prepare the soil, plant the seeds, and nourish and protect the plants, it can produce enormous dividends in our lives and businesses. 7th Law of the Harvest: Don't Eat Your Seed Corn My family loves to cook with garlic. So, each November we plant about 100 cloves of garlic in my garden. Then, by about July, we harvest about 100 heads of garlic and we preserve those and have enough garlic for the year. However, before we preserve the garlic, we pull out about 14 of the biggest heads of garlic and put them in a cool place. Those 14 heads have about 110-120 cloves, which we plant the following November. Sometimes people make the mistake of eating all of their harvests. Then, they don't have anything to plant the following year. This is called “eating your seed corn”. It is very important in life and business that we don't eat our seed corn. This means we don't consume everything we earn. We should always be setting aside a portion of what we earn and reinvesting it in our future. 8th Law of the Harvest: Plant and Harvest in Different Seasons Gardeners and farmers must be patient and allow their plants time to mature. There is no seed we can plant one day and then harvest the next. For example, a watermelon takes about 80-90 days from when we plant the seed until it has grown to maturity and we can harvest it. It is important to remember that for most of the plants we love to eat, we plant them one season and then harvest in a different season. “To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven.” - Ecclesiastes 3:1 Sometimes people want to “get rich quick…”, and make a lot of money very quickly with very little commitment. They are not willing to sacrifice what it takes to grow a great venture. Those “get-rich-quick” ventures usually don't turn out very well and usually don't last. This law of the harvest is true for life and business. I've heard numerous people share a law of 3's about starting a business. They've said something like: “Starting a business takes 3 times as long, costs 3 times as much, and makes about one-third the profit you expect.” So, we need to make a plan for the long game and not expect wild overnight success. We must invest in new ventures, and be patient as they grow and mature until they are ready to harvest. For almost every great venture, it will take time before we are able to harvest it. That's part of the natural process. 9th Law of the Harvest: Plant Seeds that Will be Harvested by Others “A society grows great when old men plant trees whose shade they know they shall never sit in.” - Greek proverb I have been blessed over the years to have been mentored by some amazing entrepreneurs who had already had great success in their careers. They planted seeds in my life and my ventures that I am harvesting or am working to harvest in the future. These mentors didn't plant those seeds in my life because they were hoping to harvest them. They had reached a spot in their career where they wanted to give back. Let's consistently make time to plant seeds for others to harvest. Key Takeaways Here are some of my key takeaways from this episode that apply to businesses: We can prepare our business soil before planting our seeds, such as getting a great education and building relationships. We can plant our business seeds by taking action and taking the first step that commits us down the path to our desired goal. We can constantly nurture our business by prioritizing, and making time for the things that matter most. We can protect our business crops from threats, such as distraction, negativity, and unethical business practices. We will reap what we sow in business. So, if we want more love, joy, and success in our lives, the best way to get it is to help others have it. When we follow the laws of the harvest, we will probably harvest far more than we planted. Don't eat your seed corn. Be sure to invest in your future. Be patient when things don't happen overnight. We will harvest in a different season than we planted. Let's give back and plant seeds that will be harvested by others. Our challenge for today is to plant a few more good seeds for the things we most want to harvest. Let's all plant more kindness, love, grace, and success in our lives by helping other people to have those things in their lives. I promise that if we each do this, we will have a bountiful harvest of love, kindness, grace, and success in our lives. Join Entrepreneurs of Faith If this episode of Entrepreneurs of Faith resonated with you, please subscribe for FREE to Monetization Nation so you can receive Entrepreneurs of Faith each Sunday. Subscribe to the Monetization eMagazine. Follow the Monetization Nation Blog. Subscribe to the Monetization Nation YouTube channel. Subscribe to the Monetization Nation podcast on Apple Podcast, Google Podcasts, Spotify, or Stitcher. Follow Monetization Nation on Instagram and Twitter. Share Your Story What seeds are you going to plant today? Please join our private Monetization Nation Facebook group and share your insights with other digital monetizers. Read at: https://monetizationnation.com/blog/38-9-laws-of-the-harvest-for-entrepreneurs-and-ceos/
"The Restoration & The Book of Mormon" - Jesus Christ quotes Isaiah - He talks of the Abrahamic Covenant, the Gathering of Israel and the Doctrine of Christ - Just as Moroni quoted Isaiah and Malachi, Jesus does the same to the Nephites for a new Dispensation. Come Follow Me LDS Book of Mormon 3 Nephi
Man-child Judges and Preserves (6) David Eells 9-27-20 (audio) Judas, the Corporate Son of Perdition (2) In Jesus’ day, the Jews were coming to the end of their dispensation of light. God was about to revoke the light from the Jews and give it to the Gentiles. They had a night. Now, the Gentiles are coming to their night. (Rom.11:25)…A hardening in part hath befallen Israel, until the fulness of the Gentiles be come in. We must work “while it is day,” for “the night cometh, when no man can work.” Our work to convert Gentiles is going to be totally useless when God turns away from them and back to the Jews. It will be night to them. (Rev.9:20-21) And the rest of mankind…repented not …. Joh 13:30-31 He then having received the sop (The Son of Perdition) went out straightway: and it was night. 31 When therefore he was gone out, Jesus saith, Now is the Son of man glorified, and God is glorified in him; The Son of man is glorified at the time when the son of perdition goes out which is now. We are also the body of Christ, the son of man. The Church is going to be glorified, or purified, because the son of perdition is coming out of the midst. Then the Lord will come for a sanctified people not the corrupted people we see today. (2Thes.1:10) When he shall come to be glorified in his saints, and to be marvelled at in all them that believed (because our testimony unto you was believed) in that day. (11) To which end we also pray always for you, that our God may count you worthy of your calling, and fulfil every desire of goodness and [every] work of faith, with power; (12) that the name of our Lord Jesus may be glorified in you, and ye in him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ. Notice that Christ will be glorified in His body before He comes to glorify His body. The body is not glorified here, but Christ in the body. (2Cor.4:11) For we who live are always delivered unto death for Jesus’ sake, that the life also of Jesus may be manifested in our mortal flesh. (2Thes.2:3) Let no man beguile you in any wise: for [it (the coming of the Lord) will not be], except the falling away come first, and the man of sin (lawlessness) be revealed, the son of perdition, (We have been watching this happen for years now) (4) he that opposeth and exalteth himself against all that is called God or that is worshipped; so that he sitteth in the temple of God, setting himself forth as God. (These wicked people obey none of the commands of Jesus which keeps peace and order in the body for they are lawless.) The Greek word for temple here, in which the corporate Son of Perdition sits, is “naos" and is used nine times by Paul in the New Testament. In every case he uses it as the spiritual temple of God’s people. “Hieron" is the Greek word for the literal temple or building, used seventy-one times in the New Testament, but never figuratively. Just as Judas was among the disciples, the latter day son of perdition is sitting in the temple of God’s people and is coming out in order to crucify and purify the body. (1Cor.3:16) Know ye not that ye are a temple of God, and [that] the Spirit of God dwelleth in you? (Act.17:24) The God that made the world…dwelleth not in temples made with hands. This truth will destroy much tradition. The son of perdition “exalteth himself” “setting himself forth as God.” (He claims the right to play God and judge the body just as Judas did. Just as the anarchists, radical Islam, communists, leftists do in the world today by ignoring democracy, the will of the people, and the constitution, in their self righteousness and self will, they are lawless. Their work against the Trump administration is perfectly parallel to what the Judas son of perdition does in the church against the Man-child body.) What happens when you rule your individual temple? You are making yourself God! If you walk after your own flesh, you are your own god. When you judge others better than yourself you make yourself God. God was meant to sit on the throne of this temple and rule it through your spirit. But if you walk after the flesh, the devil is ruling your temple through your flesh. Self is sitting upon the throne. Continuing his revelation, Paul said, “Remember ye not, that, when I was yet with you, I told you these things (2Thes.2:5)?” Paul told us in Philippians 3:18, “For many walk, of whom I told you often, and now tell you even weeping, [that they are] the enemies of the cross of Christ (Just as our Judas’ are): (19) whose end is perdition (son of perdition), whose god is the belly (selfish lusts), and [whose] glory is in their shame, who mind earthly things.” (Rom.16:17)…Mark them that are causing the divisions and occasions of stumbling…. (18) For they that are such serve not our Lord Christ, but their own belly (self); and by their smooth and fair speech they beguile the hearts of the innocent. God will “mark” those in the New Testament temple whose god is self. Judas was not only a disciple who was to rule in his individual temple but he was also an apostle. He was a leader in the corporate temple. In other words, the sons of perdition are a vast number of individuals ruling their own life and temple, making up a Babylonish corporate temple. Also, they are the apostate leadership ruling in the corporate temple. The apostate leadership is profiled in Second Peter 2 as “false prophets…false teachers…denying even the Master,” “make merchandise of you,” who “loved the hire of wrong-doing,” “and their destruction (perdition) slumbereth not.” Jude profiles them as “shepherds (Not in the original) that without fear feed themselves,” “denying our only Master,” “rail at whatsoever things they know not: and what they understand naturally” (the letter), “clouds without water” (no depth in the word), “wandering stars” (not keeping their position of being seated with Christ in the heavens), “who make separations” (factions and denominations). That is a good description of Judas and the end time son of perdition. In our type, ten of the twelve tribes worshiped the image of the beast, the golden calf. (1Ki.12:28) Whereupon the king took counsel, and made two calves of gold; and he said unto them, It is too much for you to go up to Jerusalem (Where the presence of God was in the true Temple): behold thy gods (Hebrew: “Elohim”), O Israel, which brought thee up out of the land of Egypt. (29) And he set the one in Beth-el (Hebrew: “house of God”), and the other put he in Dan (son of perdition). Notice that we are speaking of a false system of worship upon which Israel put the name of Elohim, the true God. Also, we see that it was in the house of God and in the son of perdition. Much of the house of God falls away as the son of perdition because they have an idol, which is a false image of the true God. The apostate churches have a God of their own making but they use the name of Jesus but they do not act IN the name of Jesus. Paul warned in 2 Corinthians 11:4, “For if he who cometh preacheth another Jesus, whom we did not preach, or if ye receive a different spirit, which ye did not receive, or a different gospel, which ye did not accept, ye bear well with [him]” (according to the Greek and the numeric pattern). (Rev.3:1)…I know thy works, that thou hast a name that thou livest (Christian), and thou art dead. In the middle of the Tribulation these sons of perdition will give up presenting their bodies as living sacrifices to Christ (Rom.12:1) and take the mark of the beast. This is a fulfillment of Daniel 9:27, “in the midst of the week he shall cause the sacrifice and the oblation to cease.” These who have worshiped the image of the beast will take the mark of the beast and go back to their Christian assemblies as an “abomination of desolation, which was spoken of through Daniel the prophet, standing in the holy place” (Mat.24:15). The Man-child ministry will say of this apostate temple, “Your house is left unto you desolate” (Mat.23:38), just as Jesus did. These sons of perdition, now identified as members of the body of the beast, are an abomination standing in the midst of God’s holy people. When the righteous see this sign, they are to flee to the mountains (Mat.24:16) as the elect did when this happened as a physical sign in 70 A.D. This falling away will reveal the sons of perdition for who they are and cause their desolation, which is reprobation, and then destruction by the beast. (1Ki.12:31) And he made houses of high places (steepled cathedrals full of apostates), and made priests from among all the people, that were not of the sons of Levi. Notice in ten of the twelve tribes the leadership was ordained of men and not God, just as it is today. The corporate leadership “exalteth himself…setting himself forth as God” in the corporate temple. In the Korah, Dathan, and Abiram rebellion, they usurped the authority of the true leadership and “all the congregation” followed them (Num.16:19,22,41). Korah represents the true Levites who usurp the authority of the High Priest, Jesus. Dathan and Abiram, who were not Levites, represent those who usurp the position of the Levite or minister when God did not call them. To prove the true leadership, God commanded that each tribe take a rod “and, behold, the rod of Aaron (representing the High Priest, Jesus) for the house of Levi (the true ministers) was budded…and bare ripe almonds” (Num.17:8). This is as Jesus and the disciples demonstrated among the false leadership when the rod of their authority bore fruit. The Man-child and the two witnesses will demonstrate this in the Tribulation. As with Korah, Dathan, and Abiram, when “the earth opened its mouth, and swallowed them up, and their households,” so the end time false leadership will be swallowed up by the earth (Num.16:32). The flesh is represented by the earth, from which it is made (Gen.2:7). In other words, they will be completely overcome and consumed by the lusts of the flesh along with “their households,” those who submit to them. (This is clearly what has happened to the son of perdition.) They “went down alive into sheol” (33). Paul said in 1 Timothy 5:6 “But she that giveth herself to pleasure is dead while she liveth.” In other words they are swallowed up by their own flesh. That Korah, Dathan, Abiram and their households represent the corporate end time son of perdition, which was separated from the body, is seen in Psalm 55:13 But it was thou, a man mine equal, My companion, and my familiar friend (Judas, the son of perdition). (14) We took sweet counsel together; We walked in the house of God (temple) with the throng. (15) Let death come suddenly upon them, Let them go down alive into Sheol; For wickedness is in their dwelling (temple), in the midst of them. Notice Judas is plural “them” here and is identified with the Korah rebellion because they went “down alive into Sheol.” (Mat.7:15) Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing (the temple of God), but inwardly are ravening wolves (the son of perdition within). (2Thes.2:6) And now ye know that which restraineth, to the end that he (son of perdition) may be revealed in his own season. This is a repeat of verse 3, which says, “except the falling away come first, and the man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition.” Notice, that which restrains the revealing of the son of perdition is the falling away, just as the pattern with Judas clearly shows us. He was so well hidden to the disciples that it took the falling away to reveal him, just as it will today. (7) For the mystery of lawlessness doth already work: only [there is] one that restraineth now, until he become out of the midst. (8) And then shall be revealed the lawless one, whom the Lord Jesus shall slay with the breath of his mouth, and bring to nought by the manifestation of his coming. “Until he become out of the midst” is what the Numeric pattern proves and the ancient manuscripts show. Notice that the Lord is restrained from coming until the son of perdition comes out of the midst of God’s people, the temple. In 2 Peter 2:13, these apostates are called “spots and blemishes” in the body. When these come out, the body will be spotless and blemishless, ready to meet the Lord. (Mat.13:30) Let both (the tares and the wheat) grow together until the harvest: and in the time of the harvest I will say to the reapers, Gather up first the tares, and bind them in bundles to burn them; but gather the wheat into my barn. God says, “in bundles (plural) to burn them,” not “bundle” as if He were speaking of one place like hell. This burning is going to happen on this earth in the Day of the Lord. Birds of a feather are going to flock together into their bundles, of the sons of perdition. (Mal.4:1) For, behold, the day cometh, it burneth as a furnace; and all the proud, and all that work wickedness, shall be stubble; and the day that cometh shall burn them up…. We also see here that the sons of God and the sons of perdition will mature together. Notice that the harvest at the end is when the tares will come out of the midst of the wheat, just as is happening now. Jesus explains this further in (Mat.13:41) The Son of man shall send forth his angels, and they shall gather out of his kingdom all things that cause stumbling, and them that do iniquity (Greek: “lawlessness”). (43) Then shall the righteous shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father. He that hath ears, let him hear. Jesus will gather out of His kingdom the “man of sin” or “lawlessness,” which is the same Greek word as “iniquity.” Only then will the righteous shine as the sun. Look at the process: 1) The falling away. 2) The son of perdition is revealed. 3) He comes out of the midst. 4) The Lord comes for His sanctified body. Let us study another aspect of the son of perdition coming out of the temple. (2Thes.2:8) And then shall be revealed the lawless one, whom the Lord Jesus shall slay with the breath (Greek: “spirit”) of his mouth, and bring to nought by the manifestation of his coming (Greek: “presence”). Notice that the manifestation of Jesus’ presence is going to destroy the son of perdition from His kingdom. There is a “son of perdition” or “man of sin” sitting in our individual temple, making himself God. He has to come out of the midst before we are ready to meet the Lord. In life, the destruction of the son of perdition, the old man, is by the manifestation of Christ’s presence. (2Cor.4:16) Wherefore we faint not; but though our outward man (the old man, the son of perdition) is decaying, yet our inward man (the spiritual man, Christ in you) is renewed day by day. The manifestation of His presence in us destroys the son of perdition in our individual temple. It is this growing up of Jesus in us that slays the “man of sin” or “lawlessness.” The Judas’ refuse this process. (2Cor.4:11) For we who live are always delivered unto death (of the man of sin) for Jesus’ sake, that the life also of Jesus may be manifested in our mortal flesh. (2Jn.1:7) For many deceivers are gone forth into the world (falling away), [even] they that confess not that Jesus Christ cometh in the flesh. This is the deceiver and the antichrist. Notice that “the antichrist” is “many deceivers.” The portion of antichrist that is in the corporate temple are the sons of perdition. The rest of the body of antichrist is in the world. Notice that many deceivers fall away because they do not believe that Jesus is coming in the flesh. The only flesh that Jesus is progressively coming in is that of His corporate body. These apostates believe you should be satisfied with forgiveness but that you cannot believe for deliverance from sin, which is the Gospel. The blood of bulls and goats brought forgiveness but could not “take away sins” (Heb.10:4). (Joh.1:29) On the morrow he seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold, the Lamb of God, that taketh away the sin of the world! The apostates say you will always be a sinner but God said, “while you were yet sinners”. (Rom 5:8) But God commendeth his own love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. Jesus came to take away the sin nature and replace it with His own. (2Cor.3:18) But we all, with unveiled face beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are transformed into the same image from glory to glory …. Seeing Jesus in the mirror is believing the true Gospel. We say with Paul, “I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I that live, but Christ liveth in me” (Gal.2:20). This faith enables God to bring it to pass. The sons of perdition cannot bear the thought that Jesus will take their place on the throne of the individual or corporate temple. (1Jn.2:18) Little children, it is the last hour: and as ye heard that antichrist cometh, even now have there arisen many antichrists; whereby we know that it is the last hour. (19) They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would have continued with us: but [they went out], that they might be made manifest that they all are not of us. Again we see many antichrists, sons of perdition, falling away in order to be revealed that they are not of us. What we are seeing now is the Body of the Bride is being sanctified of the sons of perdition. Shortly however God will do the same process for the Church as a whole. Notice that this will be seen in the “last hour.” In Revelation 17:12 the beast rules for “one hour” which is the last 3½ years (Rev.13:5), when he will make war on the saints (13:7) who refuse the mark of the beast. These antichrist sons of perdition will try to preserve their lives by taking the mark, proving themselves members of the body of the beast in the “last hour.” John goes on to reveal the reason the antichrist sons of perdition will fall away. (1Jn.2:22)…This is the antichrist, [even] he that denieth the Father and the Son. What does it mean to deny the Father and Son, and how do we avoid that? (23) Whosoever denieth the Son, the same hath not the Father: he that confesseth (Greek: homo logeo, “speak the same as”) the Son hath the Father also. We see if we agree with Jesus in speaking the same truth, we are not denying Him and we will have Father and Son. Also in the Gospel of John, Jesus said if we loved Him and kept His Word that He and the Father would make their abode with us (Joh.14:21-23). Their abode is the true temple that will be cleansed of those who speak against the Word. Back in 1 John 2 the next verse confirms all that we have said here. (24) As for you, let that abide in you which ye heard from the beginning. If that which ye heard from the beginning abide in you, ye also shall abide in the Son, and in the Father. It is imperative that we receive only the teaching that we heard from the beginning, out of the mouth of Jesus and His disciples, not the apostate gospel of the end time religions. Those who do not “contend earnestly for the faith which was once for all delivered unto the saints” will fall away as Jude said (Jud.1:3-5). Many who start out with us as friends will not, as Jesus said, endure to the end to be saved (Mat.10:22, 24:13). Those who change what is written to suit religion, do so at their own peril. (2Jn.1:9) Whosoever goeth onward (that is past initial salvation) and abideth not in the teaching of Christ, hath not God: he that abideth in the teaching, the same hath both the Father and the Son. You can see that it is not those who start out with you, but those who continue, as also in the parable of the sower. (10) If any one cometh unto you, and bringeth not this teaching, receive him not into [your] house, and give him no greeting: (11) for he that giveth him greeting partaketh in his evil works. People think this speaks of the Jehovah Witnesses or the Mormons, but it is talking about those that are among us who don’t teach verse 7, that Jesus “cometh in the flesh.” If a person is teaching that you can overcome sin through faith in the Word of Jesus, then that is a faithful person. The rest have been recreated in the image of religion but not in the image of the “Father and the Son.” God made what was written an eternal covenant (Heb.13:20). The Church has made the same mistake Israel did in changing the covenant after it was made. Haven’t you heard them say that the five-fold ministry, or the supernatural gifts and power of God, were done away with after the apostles? LIARS! The Bible colleges have turned out apostate teachers by the thousands that deny the clear teaching of the Word. Most of the people consider them good men, but blood is on their hands and they will be with their father, Judas, if they do not repent. The wicked will not be counted righteous when they speak lies in the Tribulation. (Rom.3:4)…Let God be found true, but every man a liar; as it is written, That thou mightest be justified (accounted righteous) in thy words, And mightest prevail when thou comest into judgment (tribulation). This is why they will fall away. I pray that you are not among them. God does not reveal these things so that we can have a witch-hunt. Even if you know who is a Judas that doesn’t mean you should treat them any differently. Jesus knew who Judas was but treated him with equality, love, and training. Jesus knew he should have the same opportunity to prove himself, so that as the son of perdition, it would be his own fault. Jesus also knew that, Judas had a good purpose in the plan of God, which was to betray the righteous and make crucifixion of their flesh possible. I have learned these things from my own Judases, some of whom God has pointed out to me beforehand. Others I came to realize only after I felt the knife in my back. In effect, they are a great ally in the cause of the manifestation of our Sonship because crucifixion of self would not be possible without them. Printer-friendly version
Where can you look and NOT find Christ? Just how much of himself has he built into creation?
Why do we believe what we believe about Christ- Why did the disciples believe what they believed about Christ- Just before this event, Peter makes the statement that Jesus is -the Christ- the Son of the living God.- The transfiguration is the first in many steps Jesus will use to show the disciples just how correct they were
Of the many insults and accusations that were flung at Martin Luther and the other Reformers, one of the most common (and stinging) was that their “gospel of grace” de-motivated people from actually living a godly life. If heaven came free without works, what was the point of trying to be good? And it wasn’t just in the Reformation: Dietrich Bonhoeffer famously wrote in the early 20th century about the deadly effect of “cheap grace”—the idea that someone could accept the grace and forgiveness of Christ as a cheap gift requiring no response from us. Does the Reformation gospel—the one that evangelicals still believe—cut off repentance and living a new life from the good news of Christ? Just what is the relationship between the gospel and the good life? That’s the subject we’ll be discussing in Episode 10 with our guest, theologian and church historian Marty Foord.
Episode 5 - The Body of Christ "Just as a body, though one, has many parts, but all its many parts form one body, so it is with Christ." 1 Corinthians 12:12 NIV Ted explores the importance of all aspects of the body of Christ. Ted shares some of the major projects that are happening at Brazos de Amor. 1. Community Development Center - The building will be 45 x 90 feet including a library, computer lab, multi-use room, administrative office & an office for the psychologists to work out of. Please pray for funding for this building. 2. Transition Home for Kids - this home will be a place for the kids to transition from the streets (for about 3 months). 3. Master Farm Plan - the property has 27 acres, but only using about 3. The farm project is intended to rely less on out if country resources and create some in country income. One of the bigger issues that they deal with is theft. They need some fencing, a guard at night and some additional day workers. Volunteering - this happens through http://armsoflove.org Volunteers needed: •Tilapia Farming •Woodworkers •Construction •All types of trade work •Self Sustainability Experts ** Arms of Love Fundraiser: Date Night in Fenton, MO on August 19, 2017 Dinner, beverages, Dancing, Auction with Rat Pack music! RSVP to Tony Slyman via email: tlslymanarmsoflove@gmail.com Can't make it, but want to sponsor or donate? http://www.armsoflove.org/datenight/ *** Needs: The ministry is in desperate need of vehicles. 1. Around town vehicle - maybe a motorcycle 2. A vehicle to serve teams, projects and more than 26 kids in the morning and afternoon. 3. Small bus to pick up children that attend school at the orphanage, but live 15 miles away. The Date Night fundraiser is hoping to raise $35,000 for the 3 vehicles (2 new and 1 used). Can you help? If so, please donate via http://armsoflove.org/datenight/ **** Connect with Ted Rodgers: Email: Ted@armsoflove.org Website: http://armsoflove.org Facebook: https://goo.gl/sK2UXj Music by Sanctus Real: https://www.sanctusreal.com --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/flawed-clay-ted-rodgers/message
Colossians 2:8-23 Watch Video Listen to MP3 Download Handout Download Manuscript → Click to view the Sermon Outline Colossians 1:9-10 - For this reason also, since the day we heard of it, we have not ceased to pray for you and to ask that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, so that you will walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, to please Him in all respects, bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God… 3 ways that we can be fulfilled in Christ Alone I. Beware that you do not accept false teaching of any kind (v. 8) Colossians 1:8 - …and he also informed us of your love in the Spirit. A. The origin of false teaching will be human tradition rather than God and Christ B. The content will not be consistent with the sufficiency, supremacy, and sovereignty of Christ C. The motivation will serve self rather than Christ II. Be confident in Christ and His Word in you (vv. 9-15) A. Christ is fully God (v. 9) Colossians 1:9 - For in Him all the fullness of Deity dwells in bodily form Philippians 2:6-8 - …who, although He existed in the form of God, did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied Himself, taking the form of a bond-servant, and being made in the likeness of men. Being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. B. Christ made you complete in Him (v. 10) 1. By making us a part of the people of God (v. 11) Colossians 2:11 - …and in Him you were also circumcised with a circumcision made without hands, in the removal of the body of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ 1 Peter 2:9-10 - But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God’s own possession, so that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who has called you out of darkness into His marvelous light; for you once were not a people, but now you are the people of God; you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy. 2. By making us spiritually alive (vv. 12-13a) Colossians 2:12-13 - …having been buried with Him in baptism, in which you were also raised up with Him through faith in the working of God, who raised Him from the dead. When you were dead in your transgressions and the uncircumcision of your flesh, He made you alive together with Him… 3. By forgiving our sin (v. 13b) Colossians 2:13b - …having forgiven us all our transgressions… 4. By cancelling our debts (v. 14) Colossians 2:14 - …having canceled out 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. 5. By giving us victory over our enemies Colossians 2:15 - When He had disarmed the rulers and authorities, He made a public display of them, having triumphed over them through Him. III. Embrace the freedom you have in Christ alone (vv. 16-23) A. We have freedom from legalism (vv. 16-17, 20-22) Colossians 2:16-17 - Therefore no one is to act as your judge in regard to food or drink or in respect to a festival or a new moon or a Sabbath day things which are a mere shadow of what is to come; but the substance belongs to Christ. Colossians 2:20-22 - If you have died with Christ to the elementary principles of the world, why, as if you were living in the world, do you submit yourself to decrees, such as, “Do not handle, do not taste, do not touch!” (which all refer to things destined to perish with use)—in accordance with the commandments and teachings of men? B. We have freedom from self-righteousness (vv. 18a, 23) Colossians 2:18a - Let no one keep defrauding you of your prize by delighting in self-abasement and the worship of the angels… Colossians 2:23 - These are matters which have, to be sure, the appearance of wisdom in self-made religion and self-abasement and severe treatment of the body, but are of no value against fleshly indulgence. C. We have freedom from mysticism (v. 18-19) Colossians 2:18b-19 - …taking his stand on visions he has seen, inflated without cause by his fleshly mind, and not holding fast to the head, from whom the entire body, being supplied and held together by the joints and ligaments, grows with a growth which is from God. Outlined Manuscript Two weeks ago, during the BCTC my schedule was full with not just teaching, but with meetings, eatings, and greetings. The eatings portion of my day normally did not conclude until 9:30 pm. One particular evening, I was having a delightful time engaging with people and I kept eating and eating and eating. Then it was time for dessert. I was done … no more needed! But the table was convinced that my wife (who was not with me) and I needed to have dessert when I got home. So at 10:00 we were each eating this massive dessert. Mind you …they were good. But after I finished I thought I was going to explode. I could see the headline in the paper. “Pastor explodes after conference guests encourage him to eat too much.” I was completely and utterly fulfilled! Do you know that God wants you to be completely and utterly fulfilled in your relationship with Jesus? Do you know that God wants you to be so satisfied, so confident, and so comforted by Jesus that you do all things to please him? That is one of the reasons our annual theme is “In Christ Alone.” We want everyone in our church absolutely convinced that satisfaction, confidence, comfort, and fulfillment is found in Christ. This morning our session is titled “Fulfilled in Christ Alone.” With that in mind please turn in your Bibles to Colossians 2:8. That is on page ___ of the back section of the Bible in the chair in front of you. As you are turning there, I would like to emphasize two things we have learned so far in Colossians. Paul is writing to a church that has accomplished many great things. This church has a reputation. He did not know them personally, but he knew them by their work. He heard of their faith (1:4), their love for one another because they understand the glories of heaven yet to come (1:4-5), and that they have love in the Holy Spirit (1:8). Not a bad reputation. But Paul then prays … as he normally does in his letters … for something that is very important to that particular church. This is no generic prayer. This is a prayer addressing the needs that they have. Colossians 1:9-10 For this reason also, since the day we heard of it, we have not ceased to pray for you and to ask that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, 10 so that you will walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, to please Him in all respects, bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God; Paul wants them to understand God’s will with all spiritual wisdom and understanding. Requests like these in the Bible are normally focused on the revealed will of God. He wants us, for example, to be sexually pure, to give thanks in all things, to live for the glory of Christ among others. So Paul prays that the Colossians would be Word centered, obedient Christians. By focusing on Christ, all that he is and all that he does and all that he has done specifically for them, then they will please him in all respects. There were also false teachers. They were alive and active. Enough of the church was following the false teachers that Paul decided to write about it. Let’s read the text. Colossians 2:8-23. Not only are we going to study this text, but we also have the privilege of celebrating the Lord’s Table in our morning service today. It is my goal that we leave this morning fulfilled in Christ. Almost like I was that evening … filled up to the max. Let’s consider three ways that we can be fulfilled in Christ Alone. I. Beware that you do not accept false teaching of any kind (v. 8) We have spoken several times about the false teaching or heresy present in the church. But nowhere in Scripture does anyone tell us exactly what that false teaching was. Maybe one of the reasons is that false teaching would be present until the day Jesus returns. Thus, God’s people reading God’s Word must be on guard against all false teaching regardless of its source. Thankfully, the Bible says some things about false teaching that really help us. We can say that the prayer in Col 1:9-14 encourages people to move in the opposite direction as the false teaching. If you want to know what a NT book is about … read the prayer. Paul almost always prays at the beginning of the letter and then explains further the issues raised in his prayer. So whatever the heresy was it moved them away from being obedient to the will of God and whatever it was it moved them away from being pleasing to Christ. From that description and from the wording of v. 8 we can surmise a series of tests. We need the tests because we need to beware! The phrase in v. 8 is “beware that you are not kidnapped.” What happened to those girls from Delphi is horrible. We pray for God’s justice for those involved. We pray for healing for the parents, friends, classmates, and the entire town. Someone took those girls captive. That is the kind of imagery used in the text. Pay attention … there are teachings that want to capture you. As is often the case, false teaching does not say, “Come, listen to me so that I can destroy you.” False teaching is far more subtle. How do we believers recognize it? How do we become aware of its presence? Sometimes, a teaching will pass one part of the test but fail miserably at the others. Unless teaching can pass all three, it is false and we must not accept it. The origin of false teaching will be human tradition rather than God and Christ The language of the text is “according to the tradition of men.” Sometimes false teaching comes in the form of research. Sometimes it comes in the form of opinions. Sometimes it comes in the form of history. The argument seems compelling. It seems to make logical sense. But the person never opens their Bible and proves the validity of their comments. The content will not be consistent with the sufficiency, supremacy, and sovereignty of Christ. The language of v. 8 is that the content of this false teaching will be philosophy and empty deception. These words in the NT are pretty broad. They function as umbrella terms for systems of thought and the implications of that system. During the BCTC Phil and Robin Byars were speaking. Shortly after their daughter was killed there were people who encouraged them to curse God. Curse God for what the Lord allowed to happen to your daughter. With power in his voice Phil said, “I will not curse God.” I don’t know what to do, I don’t know how to feel or what to think right this moment. But I know this … I will not curse God. Do you see what he was doing? These were well intentioned people and yet Phil was able to run the words (the content) through the truth of Scripture that he already knew. While Phil confessed that he did not know what he should be doing right now, he knew what he couldn’t do. Curse God … no way! Cling to God … yes Run in God’s direction … yes Confess his hurts to God … yes But Curse … that’s what Job’s wife wanted Job to do False teaching gives itself away. Sometimes, the teaching does not come with an open Bible. Other times in comes in content that does not scream out Jesus. It leaves people stuck in this sin cursed world rather than transporting them to the feet of the glorious savior who died for them. False teaching gives itself away because sometimes it does not come from an open Bible, sometimes its content is not consistent with the supremacy, sufficiency, and sovereignty of Christ. Then, it gives itself away because … The motivation will serve self rather than Christ According to the elementary principles rather than Christ is the language of v. 8. The elementary principles is a difficult subject. Some translations differ on the English words they put into the text. However, what is very clear is even the motivation behind such teaching is that we will receive the benefit. Imagine completing these sentences … I will be happy if _________” I have a right to _____________” I will earn favor from God and others if I ________” I will be blessed if ____________” Biblical motivation is about Christ. If he decides to grant us favor and blessing then that is his decision. If he wants to give us a particular thing then that is his decision. But what I do is put my focus on Christ. False teaching does not come from an open Bible, with content straight from Scripture, and with our motives set on pleasing Christ. When those moments come … we must beware that we are not captured by that teaching. Song … “All I have is Christ” And it is awesome to have Christ! II. Be confident in Christ and His Word in You (vv. 9-15) I wish I had a whole sermon for this section by itself. Because it is loaded with awesome truth. You could camp here for an entire week. The reason that you can be confident is … Christ is fully God (v. 9) Colossians 1:9 For in Him all the fullness of Deity dwells in bodily form If you have been attending an ABF then you know we have been working through the gospel of Mark. The first 8 chapters are dedicated to the question, who is Jesus? One answer, given in several different ways and different sections is Jesus is God. He is full deity in bodily form. Philippians 2:6-8 who, although He existed in the form of God, did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped, 7 but emptied Himself, taking the form of a bond-servant, and being made in the likeness of men. 8 Being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. We can happily sing All I have is Christ. Because it is in him that I have so many blessings. Christ Made You Complete in Him (v. 10) Paul is doing something really clever here. Why is it that you would need to listen to false teaching that leads to focus on statements outside the Bible, that are not consistent with the Bible, and do not lift up the name of Christ? You are already full! That night during the BCTC, I did not need any more food. In fact, I did not even need breakfast the next day. I was complete … I was filled up. Paul uses that idea to describe believers. We have all we need in Christ. In him, the fullness of deity dwells. When I say things like “All I have is Christ” people should not feel sorry for me, they should be jealous! After all … notice what Christ offers. The only thing I have is Christ … that sounds like bad news. All you have is Christ? But the reality is that when I have Christ … I have all that I need and more. From vv. 11-15 we see 5 ways that you and I are complete in Christ. By making us a part of the people of God (v. 11) Colossians 2:11 and in Him you were also circumcised with a circumcision made without hands, in the removal of the body of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ In the OT, we know that physical circumcision was a sign that a male was a member of the covenant community of Israel. It was a big deal. In fact, circumcision is a practice that still occurs today because of the OT practice and the significance that it was for God’s people. But beginning with Moses he spoke about a circumcision of the heart. He recognized that it would be possible to have physical circumcision but never adopt the practices and concerns of the Lord. He recognized that an outward behavior would never change the workings of the human heart. Only God could do that. Paul uses that same imagery to remind us that one of the ways we have completeness in Christ is that he made us part of his people. Peter would also write along this theme … 1 Peter 2:9-10 But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God’s own possession, so that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who has called you out of darkness into His marvelous light; 10 for you once were not a people, but now you are the people of God; you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy. What better status symbol could we ask for? We were once not a people … but now you are the people of God. All you Bible scholars know that is from the book of Hosea. Where the marriage of Hosea and Gomer was an illustration of the relationship between the Lord and the nation. Peter selects that wording to celebrate what we have now in Christ. We are selected among the people of God because our hearts have been circumcised by Christ. By making us Spiritually Alive (vv. 12-13a) Colossians 2:12-13 having been buried with Him in baptism, in which you were also raised up with Him through faith in the working of God, who raised Him from the dead. 13 When you were dead in your transgressions and the uncircumcision of your flesh, He made you alive together with Him … We know that we were once dead in our trespasses and sins. Yet, God through the work of the Holy Spirit made us alive together with Christ. I understand that I am, in some ways, rebellious and hard-hearted before the Lord. There are areas that I do not want to change. So I can relate to that experience. But I also know this… I respond differently to the Lord’s word than some others. There is a sensitivity, there is an alive and awake condition that not all people share. The Lord’s Word finds it way in my mind. Even if that word does not bear fruit immediately it is there. But some … the Lord’s word goes in one ear and out the other. Friends, if you are struggling to relate to this experience. It may be that your heart has never experienced the circumcision of Christ. It might be that you have never been made alive together with Christ. It might be that you remain in your spiritually dead condition. Can I please urge you to understand the significance of your sin? Can I encourage you that the wages of sin is death? Can I encourage you that there is an answer in the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ? I urge you to repent of your sin and trust in the finished work of Jesus for your salvation. Not only has he made us part of the people of God, not only has he made us alive together with Christ, but also By forgiving our sin (v. 13b) Colossians 2:13b having forgiven us all our transgressions What a blessing to know that our sin is removed as far as the east is from the west. What a blessing to know that my sin has already been paid. So when I sing “All I have is Christ” it reminds me that I have forgiveness of my sin. By Cancelling our debts (v. 14) Colossians 2:14 having canceled out 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. I hate being in debt. The characteristic of debt is that debt is hostile to us. Man alive, is that true. If you are out of debt praise the Lord. May your tribe increase. But when you have debt it is hostile. It says to you… you owe me … every month. It says to you … I own what you are driving. I own what you are living in. I own you. That is why the Proverbs explain that the debtor is the lender’s slave. I have to ask my mortgage company for permission … that is because I have to write them a check every month for a certain amount of money. I am tired of writing them checks and asking them permission to buy, to invest, or to give. Our sins put us in debt. We were in debt to a holy God for refusing to live a perfect life before him. We refused to follow his word and his commands and chose to do things for ourselves and that put us in debt. The debt we owed was eternal punishment from a Holy and Angry at sin God! Hallelujah … God be praised. He’s risen from the grave. Oh that rugged cross my salvation … now my soul cries out Hallelujah praise and honor unto the The last way given in this section is … By giving us victory over our enemies Colossians 2:15 When He had disarmed the rulers and authorities, He made a public display of them, having triumphed over them through Him. We know that we have enemies. Satan and his host are opposed to all that is Christ and for Christ. But why are we complete? Why does our confession of Christ mean that we have everything we need and more? Because God disarmed them and by virtue of the cross demonstrated that through Christ believers enjoy victory. This table represents so much. We have a perfect passage to celebrate it. We see reasons why we should be confident … we are part of the people of God, we have been made spiritually alive, we have had our sins forgiven, we have had our debts erased, and we have been given victory. Praise the Lord. Men, would you please come so we can celebrate the victory we have in Jesus through his sacrifice. We practice what we call open communion. In this church, that means that you do not have to be a member to participate. Instead, you have to meet two basic requirements given in Scripture (1) that you know that you are follower of Christ … if not, we would encourage you to let the elements pass by (no one will judge you) … and then talk to one of us about how you can become a follower of Jesus and (2) that you have examined your life and looked for sin and disunity in the body. Scripture wants us to celebrate this in a worthy manner. 1 Cor 11:23 says, “For I received from the Lord that which I also delivered to you, that the Lord Jesus in the night in which He was betrayed took bread;” Person to my right … would you please return thanks for the body of the Lord. Ushers will not return immediately. and when He had given thanks, He broke it and said, “This is My body, which is for you; do this in remembrance of Me.” How can we be fulfilled in Christ? Just like my meal filled me to overflowing! Beware not to accept false teaching of any kind. We know that false teaching violates one or more of the following standards: it does not come from God’s word, its content does not match Scripture, and it motivation is selfish. Be Confident in Christ. If all I have is Christ I have a ton. A new community, a new life, a soul free from the power and penalty of sin, a debt that is paid, and an enemy that is vanquished. Here is number 3. III. Embrace the Freedom you have in Christ Alone (vv. 16-23) Well … it seems that if your sin is paid and your debt is erased and your enemies have been vanquished that you would not have any more problems. But, we are a challenging people aren’t we? That is one reason why sometimes we create problems with one another. Sometimes we are the false teachers… not in the sense of teaching another gospel, but in the sense of assigning commands to God that he did not make. The Lord was so gracious to give us the next section. We have freedom from legalism (vv. 16-17, 20-22) Colossians 2:16-17 Therefore no one is to act as your judge in regard to food or drink or in respect to a festival or a new moon or a Sabbath day—17 things which are a mere shadow of what is to come; but the substance belongs to Christ. Colossians 2:20-22 If you have died with Christ to the elementary principles of the world, why, as if you were living in the world, do you submit yourself to decrees, such as, 21 “Do not handle, do not taste, do not touch!” 22 (which all refer to things destined to perish with use)—in accordance with the commandments and teachings of men? We have reasons that we like or dislike something. Some people are convinced that things like “forks over knives” or “Atkins” or whoever has the best approach to eating. Some are very passionate about certain days of the week or of the year. Some are really wound tight about certain types of beverages. When we focus there, we are focusing on the shadow rather than the substance. We are wound up about the food, holiday, or beverage that is consumed. We all know that we only have so much time and attention. So let’s devote it to Christ. If someone disagrees with you about how you do Christmas or Halloween or the 4th of July or someone gives an easter basket … then just relax. Christ is the substance and that person has freedom to enjoy their festival, new moon, or Sabbath the way they chose. They can eat kale to the glory of God and they can eat a steak to the glory of God. We have freedom from Self-Righteousness (vv. 18a, 23) Colossians 2:18a Let no one keep defrauding you of your prize by delighting in self-abasement and the worship of the angels … 23 These are matters which have, to be sure, the appearance of wisdom in self-made religion and self-abasement and severe treatment of the body, but are of no value against fleshly indulgence. Maybe a greater danger is that we decide that the concept of penance is a good one. We will feel righteous when we beat ourselves up enough. Of course, the reformation leaders are screaming at us to learn from their mistakes. Martin Luther himself struggled until he rested in the righteousness available in Jesus. There is no form of self-righteousness that is going to work. God designed the world against that idea. He specifically designed the world so that if you think you can earn righteousness you will be constantly exhausted and exhausting to the people around you. Let’s enjoy our freedom from that bondage. We have freedom from mysticism (v. 18-19) Colossians 2:18b-19 taking his stand on visions he has seen, inflated without cause by his fleshly mind, 19 and not holding fast to the head, from whom the entire body, being supplied and held together by the joints and ligaments, grows with a growth which is from God. Some people are all excited about what seems like really spiritual. They attempt to find hidden messages in all sorts of things. You saw a vision … ohhhh … you had a dream … ahhhh. These things are “inflated without cause in his own fleshly mind.” What a great comment. It seems that the Scripture encourages us to think carefully and some thoughts do not deserve much time in our mind. Some things take our focus from the beauty and glory of Christ We pay attention to the things that do not matter and we miss all that is of substance. I really like the song called “Man of Sorrows.” I have been referencing part of the chorus. Hallelujah … God be praised. He’s risen from the grave. Oh that rugged cross my salvation … where your blood poured out over me … now my soul cries out Hallelujah praise and honor unto thee. Men, would you please come and serve us. As they are coming do you see how this (communion) fills us? It is a celebration of what Christ did and it looks to his future return. I can be filled up because Jesus gave his life. His body was broken and his blood was spilt for you and me. 1 Cor 11:25a In the same way He took the cup also after supper Person to my left … would you please return thanks for the blood of the New Covenant shed by Christ. Ushers will not return 1 Cor 11:25b-26 This cup is the new covenant in My blood; do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of Me.” 26 For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until He comes. Friends, this is an awesome passage. It is so full of truth and passion. It is truly wonderful! You can be fulfilled (filled up to overflowing) in Christ Alone! Let’s stand together to pray and sing one final song “Christ is Risen” confessing the greatness of Christ.
What does it mean to live as a citizen of Caesar and a servant of Christ? Just days before he went to the cross, Jesus was confronted with this question. Here we see how we should live as a Christian and a citizen of this nation.
© 2020-2025 Ivy Podcast Discovery LLC
