WEBVTT 00:00:00.360 --> 00:00:11.839 If you would open up your Bibles to Colossians chapter 2, I'm going to read for us verse 6 through 23. 00:00:12.019 --> 00:00:20.000 It's an extended passage. I'll be preaching on verses 8 through 23, but hear the word of the Lord. 00:00:21.820 --> 00:00:24.359 It's on page 1169 of your pew Bible. 00:00:24.359 --> 00:00:37.899 Therefore, as you received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him, rooted and built up in Him, and established in the faith, just as you were taught, abounding in thanksgiving. 00:00:38.539 --> 00:00:49.659 See to it that no one takes you captive by philosophy and empty conceit, according to human tradition, according to the elemental spirits of the world, and not according to Christ. 00:00:49.659 --> 00:00:58.959 For in Him the whole fullness of deity dwells bodily, and you have been filled in Him, who is the head of all rule and authority. 00:00:59.199 --> 00:01:08.819 In Him also you were circumcised with a circumcision made without hands, by putting off of the body of the flesh, by the circumcision of Christ. 00:01:08.819 --> 00:01:17.659 Having been buried with Him in baptism, in which you were also raised with Him through faith, and the powerful working of God, who raised Him from the dead. 00:01:17.939 --> 00:01:24.859 And you, who were dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made alive together with Him. 00:01:25.599 --> 00:01:32.079 Having forgiven us all our trespasses by canceling the record of debt that stood against us with its legal demands, 00:01:32.659 --> 00:01:36.599 this He set aside, nailing it to the cross. 00:01:36.599 --> 00:01:45.079 He disarmed the rulers and authorities and put them to open shame by triumphing over them in Him. 00:01:46.379 --> 00:01:53.479 Therefore, let no one pass judgment on you in questions of food and drink or with regard to a festival or a new moon or a Sabbath. 00:01:53.619 --> 00:02:00.000 These are a shadow of the things to come, but the substance belongs to Christ. 00:02:00.000 --> 00:02:06.739 Let no one disqualify you, insisting on asceticism and the worship of angels, going on in detail about visions, 00:02:07.319 --> 00:02:11.939 puffed up without reason by His sensuous mind and not holding fast to the head, 00:02:12.740 --> 00:02:19.860 from whom the whole body, nourished and knit together through its joints and ligaments, grows with a growth that is from God. 00:02:19.860 --> 00:02:27.580 If with Christ you die to the elemental spirits of the world, why, as if you were still alive in the world, 00:02:27.700 --> 00:02:31.600 do you submit to regulations, do not handle, do not taste, do not touch, 00:02:32.080 --> 00:02:37.360 referring to things that all perish as they are used, according to human precepts and teachings. 00:02:38.540 --> 00:02:43.980 These have indeed an appearance of wisdom in promoting self-made religion and asceticism and severity of the body, 00:02:43.979 --> 00:02:50.599 but they are of no value in stopping the indulgence of the flesh. 00:02:51.799 --> 00:02:54.179 May God bless the hearing of His Word. 00:02:55.339 --> 00:03:08.019 Imagine, all of us in this room have been recruited by the U.S. Secret Service to become agents in the counterfeit currency division. 00:03:08.020 --> 00:03:17.100 Our job is to spot and remove counterfeit currency within circulation of the United States. 00:03:17.460 --> 00:03:18.620 Do you know how they're going to train us? 00:03:20.680 --> 00:03:26.120 My understanding, the primary way agents of the counterfeit division are trained 00:03:26.120 --> 00:03:32.140 is actually by becoming intimately familiar with real U.S. currency, 00:03:32.139 --> 00:03:39.359 so that they actually feel what a $20 bill feels like, texture. 00:03:39.959 --> 00:03:45.319 They smell what a $20 bill smells like. 00:03:46.299 --> 00:03:50.479 They hear a distinct crumple when a $20 bill is crumpled. 00:03:51.659 --> 00:03:53.219 It tastes a certain way. 00:03:53.219 --> 00:04:02.419 They see the colors in the layout that are distinct of every $20 bill ever issued legitimately by the U.S. government. 00:04:04.699 --> 00:04:09.460 By becoming incredibly familiar with real U.S. currency, they spot fakes. 00:04:09.460 --> 00:04:18.180 Up until this point in the book of Colossians, 00:04:20.139 --> 00:04:23.360 the Apostle Paul has been training us in the real thing of Christianity. 00:04:24.420 --> 00:04:25.540 The real deal. 00:04:26.740 --> 00:04:27.699 Biblical Christianity. 00:04:28.439 --> 00:04:34.439 And most prominent feature in biblical Christianity is the centrality of Christ in all things. 00:04:35.439 --> 00:04:36.840 The controlling center. 00:04:37.379 --> 00:04:38.960 He is the firstborn of all creation. 00:04:38.959 --> 00:04:40.699 He's the firstborn from the dead. 00:04:40.979 --> 00:04:42.799 He is the King of kings and Lord of lords. 00:04:43.399 --> 00:04:44.279 Reigning now. 00:04:46.699 --> 00:04:50.539 In one person, there is this hypostatic glory. 00:04:50.979 --> 00:04:51.479 Fully God. 00:04:51.939 --> 00:04:52.620 Fully man. 00:04:52.919 --> 00:04:53.500 One person. 00:04:55.060 --> 00:04:57.799 Paul's been training us really well in spotting fakes. 00:04:58.419 --> 00:04:59.240 We just didn't know it. 00:05:01.259 --> 00:05:04.479 Who Christ is and what Christ has done. 00:05:04.480 --> 00:05:11.259 He determines what we live for and what we don't live for. 00:05:14.259 --> 00:05:20.520 There is another kind of counterfeit in circulation in our culture and around the world. 00:05:21.640 --> 00:05:23.879 Counterfeit claims on reality. 00:05:26.220 --> 00:05:31.580 Philosophy is man's attempt to answer the big questions. 00:05:31.579 --> 00:05:33.859 Where do we come from? 00:05:34.259 --> 00:05:35.000 Who are we? 00:05:35.259 --> 00:05:36.159 What's wrong with the world? 00:05:36.379 --> 00:05:37.219 How do you make it right? 00:05:39.219 --> 00:05:48.199 And right now, there are empty philosophies in circulation trying to answer these questions. 00:05:48.199 --> 00:06:01.659 The thing you need to understand about philosophy, what you think, what you believe to be true inevitably shows up in the way you live your life. 00:06:02.800 --> 00:06:06.459 Your philosophical commitments show up in your daily practice. 00:06:07.039 --> 00:06:08.519 That's the way that God has wired us. 00:06:08.519 --> 00:06:19.979 And so, in order to help us spot counterfeit philosophies and practices, we've got this passage in front of us. 00:06:21.359 --> 00:06:24.539 Colossians 2, 8-23. 00:06:25.959 --> 00:06:27.740 But Paul has started with the real thing. 00:06:29.379 --> 00:06:30.799 Chapter 2, verse 6. 00:06:30.800 --> 00:06:39.879 Therefore, as you received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him. 00:06:42.160 --> 00:06:46.660 This passage in verses 8-23 has a series of admonitions. 00:06:47.460 --> 00:06:48.600 Warning with a reason. 00:06:50.300 --> 00:06:52.300 And so, we're going to walk through these admonitions. 00:06:52.740 --> 00:06:54.400 It starts on the philosophical level. 00:06:54.480 --> 00:06:56.819 What you think that's going to spend our most time this morning. 00:06:57.100 --> 00:06:58.580 And then it moves into practice. 00:06:58.579 --> 00:07:02.959 How certain ways of thinking show up in everyday life. 00:07:04.419 --> 00:07:07.639 So, we'll make our way through these four admonitions. 00:07:07.819 --> 00:07:11.620 Christian agent, are you ready to do some spotting of counterfeits? 00:07:13.000 --> 00:07:13.699 Let's go. 00:07:15.519 --> 00:07:16.360 Admonition 1. 00:07:17.299 --> 00:07:19.039 There's this warning in verse 8. 00:07:20.319 --> 00:07:25.939 Be on the lookout for philosophies that will take you captive. 00:07:26.659 --> 00:07:28.120 That will hijack you. 00:07:28.579 --> 00:07:33.879 We all know September 11, 2001. 00:07:34.719 --> 00:07:40.439 Four U.S. domestic flights were hijacked by men posing as passengers. 00:07:41.180 --> 00:07:47.419 And after hijacking those flights, those men's intent was to make those planes flying bombs. 00:07:47.420 --> 00:07:51.759 Three of them landed. 00:07:54.060 --> 00:07:56.240 Reeking destruction. 00:07:56.240 --> 00:07:57.500 Killing thousands. 00:07:57.879 --> 00:07:59.840 Sending our culture into chaos. 00:08:00.520 --> 00:08:01.580 We all remember. 00:08:01.680 --> 00:08:03.000 Many of us remember those days. 00:08:03.000 --> 00:08:11.319 There's another kind of hijacking going on, brothers and sisters. 00:08:12.279 --> 00:08:19.439 It's not as visible as September 11, but it's devastating people. 00:08:19.439 --> 00:08:22.379 It's wreaking havoc. 00:08:22.379 --> 00:08:22.399 It's wreaking havoc. 00:08:22.399 --> 00:08:23.879 Leading to chaos. 00:08:24.339 --> 00:08:27.519 Ultimately bringing people into destruction. 00:08:27.519 --> 00:08:43.939 God in verse 8 is warning us to be on the lookout for these destructive ways of thinking and believing that hijack people. 00:08:43.940 --> 00:08:53.140 In verse 8, you see this philosophy is described as empty deceit. 00:08:53.980 --> 00:08:56.360 Deceit is literally falsehood. 00:08:56.500 --> 00:08:59.700 Misleading people into what's not true. 00:09:00.080 --> 00:09:02.920 Maybe it's partially true, but it's not fully true. 00:09:02.919 --> 00:09:04.319 It's deceitful. 00:09:05.819 --> 00:09:07.620 And it's empty. 00:09:10.559 --> 00:09:17.939 There's no soul-satisfying substance to these philosophies. 00:09:19.779 --> 00:09:27.839 They'll leave you wanting according to human tradition. 00:09:28.839 --> 00:09:32.079 These philosophies are sourced in the human brain. 00:09:32.919 --> 00:09:35.559 That should tell you right out of the gate. 00:09:36.360 --> 00:09:37.159 It's not from God. 00:09:38.559 --> 00:09:41.719 According to the elemental spirits of the world. 00:09:43.179 --> 00:09:48.059 That's Paul talking about demonic activity behind these philosophies. 00:09:50.159 --> 00:09:53.059 These devastating philosophies. 00:09:53.939 --> 00:09:56.059 These deceitful and empty philosophies. 00:09:57.059 --> 00:09:59.980 Ultimately are sourced in the demonic world. 00:09:59.980 --> 00:10:01.339 Designed to deceive. 00:10:01.559 --> 00:10:02.599 Designed to debilitate. 00:10:02.919 --> 00:10:03.559 To destroy. 00:10:03.559 --> 00:10:04.799 To blind people. 00:10:04.799 --> 00:10:04.839 To blind people. 00:10:04.839 --> 00:10:07.139 To Jesus Christ. 00:10:10.139 --> 00:10:14.339 These philosophies are not according to Christ. 00:10:15.099 --> 00:10:15.699 Verse 8. 00:10:18.479 --> 00:10:20.379 They diminish Christ. 00:10:20.379 --> 00:10:24.259 They distract from Christ. 00:10:26.019 --> 00:10:27.879 Some deny Christ. 00:10:29.179 --> 00:10:33.799 And as a result, all of them decentralize Christ. 00:10:35.799 --> 00:10:39.720 They make Jesus an extracurricular activity. 00:10:41.299 --> 00:10:43.820 Not the controlling center of all things. 00:10:43.820 --> 00:10:46.080 So whether realized or not. 00:10:46.080 --> 00:10:48.140 So whether realized or not. 00:10:48.280 --> 00:10:52.000 Those who are advocating these empty philosophies. 00:10:52.000 --> 00:10:53.420 Are misleading people. 00:10:55.000 --> 00:10:58.080 Blinding people to the truth of Christ. 00:10:58.600 --> 00:11:00.260 Central in all things. 00:11:01.580 --> 00:11:03.060 Imagine an all-you-can-eat buffet. 00:11:03.520 --> 00:11:05.180 It's not tough for me to imagine that. 00:11:05.179 --> 00:11:08.299 But this is an interesting buffet. 00:11:08.299 --> 00:11:11.379 Because they are serving up multiple philosophies. 00:11:12.319 --> 00:11:13.559 There's hedonism. 00:11:14.359 --> 00:11:19.059 The unbiblical pursuit of unrestrained sexual pleasure. 00:11:19.059 --> 00:11:21.179 Miley Cyrus is serving that up. 00:11:24.619 --> 00:11:27.859 It makes sexual pleasure the controlling center of someone's life. 00:11:30.339 --> 00:11:31.759 There's scientism. 00:11:33.719 --> 00:11:35.079 It's the bumper sticker. 00:11:35.239 --> 00:11:36.339 Science is the answer. 00:11:37.219 --> 00:11:41.659 Without any reference to the God of science. 00:11:41.659 --> 00:11:48.779 It ends up basing all of existence on what you can discover through your senses. 00:11:50.480 --> 00:11:52.799 Bill Nye, the science guy, is serving that up. 00:11:56.159 --> 00:11:56.639 Neoconservatism. 00:11:58.179 --> 00:12:06.339 It's this unbiblical philosophy that seeks to ground morality and ethics outside of the Bible. 00:12:06.340 --> 00:12:12.300 People, this is going to hit home in some of you. 00:12:14.420 --> 00:12:15.540 Jordan Peterson. 00:12:18.100 --> 00:12:19.259 Ben Shapiro. 00:12:22.560 --> 00:12:23.759 Got to be careful. 00:12:28.160 --> 00:12:29.780 They're dishing stuff out. 00:12:30.540 --> 00:12:33.620 And you got to ask the question, where's the Christ? 00:12:33.620 --> 00:12:33.680 Where's the Christ? 00:12:36.340 --> 00:12:40.899 Expressive individualism is a phrase that I want to get into your heads. 00:12:42.519 --> 00:12:44.420 You may not be familiar with that word. 00:12:44.519 --> 00:12:46.420 I want to familiarize you with that phrase. 00:12:47.840 --> 00:12:53.320 It's a philosophy that is in wide circulation in our culture today. 00:12:53.899 --> 00:12:54.600 You're in it. 00:12:54.700 --> 00:12:55.379 You don't know it. 00:12:56.980 --> 00:12:58.440 It's shown up in music. 00:12:58.740 --> 00:13:00.780 It shows up in the shows you watch. 00:13:00.840 --> 00:13:01.780 The movies you watch. 00:13:01.780 --> 00:13:03.360 The podcasts you listen to. 00:13:03.360 --> 00:13:06.360 Chances are it's in the schools that we send our kids to. 00:13:06.519 --> 00:13:07.820 It's in your workplaces. 00:13:07.980 --> 00:13:09.460 It's shown up all over the place. 00:13:09.940 --> 00:13:11.180 Governmental agencies. 00:13:11.399 --> 00:13:12.419 It's all over the place. 00:13:13.899 --> 00:13:16.440 This book right here, which I strongly commend. 00:13:17.000 --> 00:13:19.039 Strange New World by Carl Truman. 00:13:19.039 --> 00:13:32.579 He helps us to see where this idea of expressive individualism came from and how it is in circulation throughout our culture. 00:13:32.799 --> 00:13:36.120 Here's how he defines expressive individualism. 00:13:36.120 --> 00:13:44.460 It's the belief that each person must act based on expressing his or her core feelings and intuitions. 00:13:44.519 --> 00:13:49.840 In other words, you make yourself into your own image, whatever you want that to be. 00:13:50.480 --> 00:13:52.860 Whatever you feel like that should be. 00:13:52.860 --> 00:14:03.519 These are the things being served up in the buffet of our culture with what to believe. 00:14:04.980 --> 00:14:07.139 It's a buffet table of empty philosophy. 00:14:07.300 --> 00:14:10.220 It'll leave you wanting, and it's not according to Christ. 00:14:12.419 --> 00:14:15.500 Do you know how to spot a counterfeit philosophy? 00:14:16.620 --> 00:14:17.899 Here's how you spot it. 00:14:17.899 --> 00:14:30.819 Is this person, is this philosophy, is the practice proclaiming Christ as the controlling center of all things? 00:14:30.879 --> 00:14:33.959 If it's not, you've got some kind of counterfeit on your hands. 00:14:36.179 --> 00:14:38.100 And you need to proceed with caution. 00:14:42.379 --> 00:14:43.379 That's the warning. 00:14:45.699 --> 00:14:47.620 Brothers and sisters, I hope you're feeling that. 00:14:47.899 --> 00:14:53.019 What buffet are you eating from? 00:14:56.980 --> 00:15:04.899 In verses 9 through 15, Paul turns from the warning in verse 8 to now he's going to give you the reason for the warning. 00:15:05.139 --> 00:15:09.779 And it's in stark contrast to the empty philosophies of this world. 00:15:10.059 --> 00:15:11.340 He says there's another buffet. 00:15:12.840 --> 00:15:14.720 And there's only one in the buffet. 00:15:15.299 --> 00:15:16.079 Jesus Christ. 00:15:17.899 --> 00:15:20.480 Oh, this is so good. 00:15:24.480 --> 00:15:27.360 The reasons he gives are just manifold. 00:15:27.360 --> 00:15:31.879 What he's going to say here is this. 00:15:31.940 --> 00:15:36.980 Don't be taken captive by empty philosophy. 00:15:38.240 --> 00:15:42.399 Be captivated by the fullness of Christ. 00:15:44.060 --> 00:15:44.740 Check it out. 00:15:44.840 --> 00:15:45.100 You ready? 00:15:46.779 --> 00:15:47.680 This is where he starts. 00:15:47.779 --> 00:15:48.240 Verse 9. 00:15:48.240 --> 00:15:49.639 For in him, 9 and 10. 00:15:49.639 --> 00:15:52.379 For in him, the whole fullness of deity dwells bodily. 00:15:53.659 --> 00:15:59.220 In Christ, in that one person, full godness and full humanity. 00:15:59.840 --> 00:16:04.039 Hypostatic glory filled with the fullness of God. 00:16:05.080 --> 00:16:08.419 He referenced that in 115 and 119 as well. 00:16:08.700 --> 00:16:09.759 There's no one like him. 00:16:09.759 --> 00:16:10.759 Verse 10. 00:16:10.759 --> 00:16:11.659 Verse 10. 00:16:11.659 --> 00:16:19.399 We are told as followers, believers of Jesus, we've been filled with this Christ in whom is fullness. 00:16:19.399 --> 00:16:23.259 We don't need any of the empty stuff. 00:16:24.759 --> 00:16:26.939 Because we've got fullness in Christ. 00:16:27.059 --> 00:16:27.959 All that we need. 00:16:28.319 --> 00:16:30.980 Yes and amen in Christ Jesus for life and godliness. 00:16:33.980 --> 00:16:37.500 Don't be filled with empty deceit. 00:16:37.500 --> 00:16:41.759 Be filled with the fullness of Christ. 00:16:43.919 --> 00:16:44.799 Fullness of Christ. 00:16:48.039 --> 00:16:50.059 Then, look at verse 11 and 12. 00:16:50.419 --> 00:16:51.759 You've been united to Christ. 00:16:52.100 --> 00:16:53.580 Not just filled with the fullness of Christ. 00:16:53.700 --> 00:16:54.720 United to Christ. 00:16:56.159 --> 00:16:56.539 11. 00:16:56.539 --> 00:17:02.120 In him also you were circumcised with a circumcision made without hands by putting off the body of the flesh. 00:17:02.559 --> 00:17:05.339 By the circumcision of Christ having been buried with him in baptism. 00:17:05.339 --> 00:17:11.059 In which you were also raised with him through faith in the powerful working of God who raised him from the dead. 00:17:11.419 --> 00:17:13.379 Anybody notice the word circumcision showing up? 00:17:14.500 --> 00:17:18.399 Here's what was probably going on in first century Colossi. 00:17:18.819 --> 00:17:24.699 The false teachers were kind of pushing a philosophy that had a religious element to it. 00:17:24.879 --> 00:17:28.500 And most likely had a significant Jewish twist to it. 00:17:29.579 --> 00:17:31.659 You just need to be circumcised Christians. 00:17:32.619 --> 00:17:34.419 Then you're in good standing with God. 00:17:35.339 --> 00:17:39.119 And Paul's like, there's a better circumcision? 00:17:42.759 --> 00:17:43.819 Check this out. 00:17:45.779 --> 00:17:48.939 In him also you were circumcised with a circumcision made without hands. 00:17:49.000 --> 00:17:49.879 Do you know what that's referring to? 00:17:50.139 --> 00:17:51.319 A God circumcision. 00:17:52.159 --> 00:17:53.899 Of all men and women in Christ. 00:17:53.900 --> 00:18:00.759 And that is on the basis of the putting off of the body of flesh. 00:18:00.759 --> 00:18:04.660 That's a reference to 122 of Jesus' body. 00:18:06.900 --> 00:18:11.640 The circumcision of Christ therefore is the death of Christ. 00:18:11.640 --> 00:18:17.140 That's apostolic shorthand addressing this issue in the church saying, 00:18:18.140 --> 00:18:19.259 You've been circumcised. 00:18:20.580 --> 00:18:24.540 Set apart for God through the circumcision, the death of Christ. 00:18:24.539 --> 00:18:27.299 Which then follows. 00:18:28.099 --> 00:18:29.399 You've been united with his death. 00:18:29.559 --> 00:18:31.319 You've been united with him in his burial. 00:18:31.519 --> 00:18:33.220 You've been united with him in his resurrection. 00:18:34.379 --> 00:18:38.799 You've been united with Christ in all his gospel goodness. 00:18:39.579 --> 00:18:40.339 Dead to sin. 00:18:40.799 --> 00:18:41.659 Alive to God. 00:18:41.920 --> 00:18:42.940 In Christ Jesus. 00:18:42.940 --> 00:18:47.000 And that's what water baptism represents. 00:18:47.420 --> 00:18:48.299 That's what it symbolizes. 00:18:49.480 --> 00:18:50.920 That union with Christ. 00:18:51.779 --> 00:18:53.019 We've got a baptism coming up. 00:18:53.080 --> 00:18:56.120 We're going to have it here on a Sunday morning in May. 00:18:57.580 --> 00:18:58.559 Let it sing. 00:19:00.600 --> 00:19:02.039 So filled with Christ. 00:19:02.180 --> 00:19:03.279 United to Christ. 00:19:04.660 --> 00:19:06.140 In verses 13 and 14. 00:19:06.440 --> 00:19:08.000 You've been made alive with Christ. 00:19:09.180 --> 00:19:10.200 Talk about fullness. 00:19:10.200 --> 00:19:10.340 fullness. 00:19:12.259 --> 00:19:16.420 There is no human philosophy that can give you new spiritual life. 00:19:16.840 --> 00:19:17.259 None. 00:19:18.799 --> 00:19:26.019 And there's no human philosophy that is able to do what God has done through Christ in order to make you alive. 00:19:26.740 --> 00:19:30.660 And we see that in verse 13. 00:19:30.779 --> 00:19:33.940 You were dead in your trespasses in the uncircumcision of your flesh. 00:19:34.400 --> 00:19:35.920 God made alive together. 00:19:36.059 --> 00:19:36.840 He made you alive. 00:19:37.200 --> 00:19:39.160 Having forgiven us all our trespasses. 00:19:39.160 --> 00:19:39.600 How? 00:19:39.599 --> 00:19:44.899 By canceling the record of debt that stood against us with its legal demands. 00:19:45.639 --> 00:19:48.199 We had an IOU to God. 00:19:49.159 --> 00:19:55.059 For all of our intentional and unintentional sinning against Him. 00:19:55.619 --> 00:19:59.539 It was a legal script against us. 00:19:59.539 --> 00:20:05.500 And in Christ at His cross. 00:20:05.500 --> 00:20:07.119 God nailed it. 00:20:09.899 --> 00:20:16.579 Christ suffered all of the wrath for all of our IOUs. 00:20:17.579 --> 00:20:18.759 Forgiving us. 00:20:20.059 --> 00:20:21.359 Making us alive. 00:20:21.359 --> 00:20:26.479 How about that for fullness. 00:20:28.599 --> 00:20:31.099 Don't settle for empty trash. 00:20:32.099 --> 00:20:33.679 When you got Christ's fullness. 00:20:33.680 --> 00:20:38.500 And then in verse 15. 00:20:38.500 --> 00:20:39.500 He's not done. 00:20:41.500 --> 00:20:46.080 He disarmed the rulers and authorities and put them to open shame by triumphing over them in Him. 00:20:46.180 --> 00:20:46.840 In the cross. 00:20:47.640 --> 00:20:48.200 Crossed. 00:20:48.620 --> 00:20:50.820 The cross of Christ and His resurrection. 00:20:50.819 --> 00:20:59.619 was God's decisive victory over sin, death, and the devil in all of the rulers and authorities of the demonic world. 00:20:59.619 --> 00:21:00.859 All of them. 00:21:00.859 --> 00:21:00.919 All of them. 00:21:02.419 --> 00:21:05.579 You're in triumph, brother, sister, in Christ. 00:21:06.219 --> 00:21:14.379 In Christ, you are in His triumph in which He shamed them all through His death and resurrection. 00:21:14.380 --> 00:21:18.600 They've got no more power over you. 00:21:21.300 --> 00:21:22.220 Here's the fullness. 00:21:26.560 --> 00:21:28.100 Filled with the fullness of Christ. 00:21:29.560 --> 00:21:32.300 United to Christ in His death, burial, and resurrection. 00:21:32.720 --> 00:21:34.200 Made alive together with Christ. 00:21:34.700 --> 00:21:36.020 Triumphant in Christ. 00:21:36.380 --> 00:21:37.020 There's fullness. 00:21:38.300 --> 00:21:39.460 Get that in your head. 00:21:39.460 --> 00:21:47.259 And when you see and become intimately acquainted with all of this gospel richness. 00:21:49.180 --> 00:21:50.600 Then you spot the fakes. 00:21:52.299 --> 00:21:58.799 There is no human philosophy that can deliver like that. 00:22:04.259 --> 00:22:06.579 This is the first admonition. 00:22:06.579 --> 00:22:09.000 There's the warning. 00:22:09.599 --> 00:22:14.000 Don't be taken captive by this empty philosophy of men. 00:22:14.839 --> 00:22:15.839 And the reason. 00:22:17.079 --> 00:22:21.779 Be captured by the fullness of Christ and what He's done for you. 00:22:22.939 --> 00:22:31.579 Christ's fullness is better than the emptiness of expressive individualism. 00:22:31.960 --> 00:22:35.519 Christ's fullness is greater than the emptiness of hedonism. 00:22:35.519 --> 00:22:40.740 Christ's fullness is greater than the emptiness of a godless conservatism. 00:22:42.859 --> 00:22:44.839 How do you spot a counterfeit philosophy? 00:22:45.539 --> 00:22:49.680 You first become intimately acquainted with the fullness of Christ. 00:22:50.420 --> 00:22:51.180 Do I have an amen? 00:22:54.920 --> 00:22:56.039 And now let's look. 00:22:56.279 --> 00:23:00.299 Move from these philosophical underpinnings of what you believe. 00:23:00.299 --> 00:23:01.299 Move from this. 00:23:01.299 --> 00:23:02.299 To practice. 00:23:02.299 --> 00:23:02.500 To practice. 00:23:04.079 --> 00:23:05.319 How it shows up. 00:23:06.299 --> 00:23:07.379 Paul turns that corner. 00:23:07.680 --> 00:23:08.779 Admonition number two. 00:23:09.319 --> 00:23:11.139 In verses 16 and 17. 00:23:12.720 --> 00:23:17.019 Therefore, let no one pass judgment on you in questions of food and drink. 00:23:17.079 --> 00:23:19.519 Or with regard to a festival or a new moon. 00:23:19.779 --> 00:23:20.460 Or a Sabbath. 00:23:20.779 --> 00:23:21.579 That's the warning. 00:23:21.940 --> 00:23:23.019 Here's the reason. 00:23:23.019 --> 00:23:25.859 These are a shadow of the things to come. 00:23:25.940 --> 00:23:28.139 But the substance belongs to Christ. 00:23:29.599 --> 00:23:35.259 Apparently, when you drop Jesus from being the controlling center of your life. 00:23:35.819 --> 00:23:38.400 Something else takes the spot. 00:23:40.039 --> 00:23:42.200 And often times it's a legalism. 00:23:44.200 --> 00:23:49.440 A, hey, I'm going to be good with God if I do this or do that. 00:23:49.500 --> 00:23:51.579 Or not do this and not do that. 00:23:51.579 --> 00:23:55.240 In this case, it had to do with your diet and your calendar. 00:23:56.659 --> 00:24:00.159 What was on your plate and on your table. 00:24:00.939 --> 00:24:04.119 And what was showing up in the family calendar. 00:24:06.599 --> 00:24:16.339 This could be a Jewish kind of twist here of these false teachers saying, hey, you got to eat kosher. 00:24:16.339 --> 00:24:22.379 Or it could be someone's telling these Christians they couldn't eat idol meat. 00:24:24.879 --> 00:24:28.779 The calendar, they needed to observe all the Jewish holidays. 00:24:31.059 --> 00:24:33.699 Or they needed to observe the Sabbath. 00:24:33.700 --> 00:24:38.620 They needed to go to synagogue on Saturday and gather with the church on the Lord's Day. 00:24:41.160 --> 00:24:42.519 That would raise a lot of questions. 00:24:42.519 --> 00:24:51.819 And there was judgment happening from these false teachers onto this church for what they were and were not doing. 00:24:52.519 --> 00:24:53.779 And Paul is saying this. 00:24:54.180 --> 00:25:04.299 Don't let people who are not proclaiming Christ tell you what to do when it comes to eating and calendarizing. 00:25:04.299 --> 00:25:06.680 Because they're not living for Christ. 00:25:10.960 --> 00:25:13.720 He goes into verse 17 with a reason. 00:25:13.879 --> 00:25:18.019 When you, what you consume and what you calendarize. 00:25:18.019 --> 00:25:22.160 Just shadows. 00:25:24.019 --> 00:25:24.980 Compared to Christ. 00:25:26.740 --> 00:25:29.779 The Jewish dietary laws, just shadows. 00:25:31.200 --> 00:25:33.859 The Jewish holy days, just shadows. 00:25:35.059 --> 00:25:37.539 At best, they pointed to what was to come. 00:25:38.379 --> 00:25:38.900 Christ. 00:25:38.900 --> 00:25:39.100 Christ. 00:25:40.940 --> 00:25:46.540 And so what he's saying there is, hey, don't get wrapped up with this stuff. 00:25:47.280 --> 00:25:51.019 It's empty shadows, not Christfulness. 00:25:54.600 --> 00:26:01.100 Isn't it good to know that in Mark 7, we hear that Christ has declared all foods clean? 00:26:02.380 --> 00:26:03.460 That's good news. 00:26:04.820 --> 00:26:06.440 It doesn't matter. 00:26:06.440 --> 00:26:13.420 If you think that alcohol is by nature evil, you're not lining up with your Bible. 00:26:14.480 --> 00:26:19.019 Because your Bible makes it very clear that alcohol is not the problem. 00:26:20.700 --> 00:26:23.000 Your Bible forbids drunkenness. 00:26:25.900 --> 00:26:27.860 And as far as calendars go, 00:26:29.860 --> 00:26:34.580 one of the things that we struggle with is what happens on October 31st. 00:26:36.440 --> 00:26:40.720 It's either you are a lights on Christian or a lights off Christian. 00:26:42.480 --> 00:26:47.000 And what we're learning here is like, compared to Christ, that's just nothing. 00:26:50.259 --> 00:26:53.420 We've got to be thoughtful about these things, right? 00:26:53.420 --> 00:26:57.519 But when Christ becomes your controlling center, 00:26:58.060 --> 00:27:02.500 it does inform what you eat, how you eat, how much you eat. 00:27:03.300 --> 00:27:07.580 And he becomes the first priority on your daily schedule. 00:27:09.660 --> 00:27:11.259 How do you spot a counterfeit? 00:27:13.400 --> 00:27:14.640 Counterfeit practice? 00:27:14.640 --> 00:27:20.020 Well, you become intimately acquainted with the real thing and say, 00:27:20.120 --> 00:27:22.500 hey, is this a shadow or the real thing? 00:27:26.000 --> 00:27:26.960 Admonition number three, 00:27:28.160 --> 00:27:31.900 don't be condemned by those who are condemned. 00:27:33.680 --> 00:27:36.420 There's a warning and there is a reason. 00:27:36.420 --> 00:27:39.980 And the reason he gives centers actually on the false teachers. 00:27:42.180 --> 00:27:43.400 The warning is this. 00:27:44.560 --> 00:27:45.140 Verse 18, 00:27:45.240 --> 00:27:48.880 let no one disqualify you insisting on asceticism and worship of angels. 00:27:50.640 --> 00:27:53.800 When Jesus drops out of the controlling center, 00:27:54.100 --> 00:27:56.259 people will say, you've got to have an experience. 00:27:57.940 --> 00:27:59.600 Sometimes that's a religious experience. 00:27:59.599 --> 00:28:05.699 This warning against asceticism and worship of angels, 00:28:05.980 --> 00:28:08.359 those two things were probably operating together. 00:28:09.079 --> 00:28:12.639 Asceticism is this idea of being severe to your body, 00:28:12.759 --> 00:28:14.179 denying your body food, 00:28:14.559 --> 00:28:15.879 and denying your body sleep, 00:28:16.179 --> 00:28:18.839 and denying your body sexual relations with your spouse, 00:28:19.159 --> 00:28:24.579 so that you can have some kind of otherworldly religious experience. 00:28:25.899 --> 00:28:26.779 It's quid pro quo. 00:28:26.959 --> 00:28:28.500 It's like, God, I'll do this for you. 00:28:28.500 --> 00:28:29.720 If you do something for me. 00:28:32.680 --> 00:28:35.619 The worship of angels was one of two things. 00:28:35.720 --> 00:28:38.299 It was either the actual worship of angels, 00:28:38.480 --> 00:28:40.660 which God clearly forbids, 00:28:42.019 --> 00:28:43.819 Revelation chapter 22, 8 and 9, 00:28:44.420 --> 00:28:49.519 or it's joining the angels in the worship of God. 00:28:50.559 --> 00:28:53.279 You could imagine how something could happen like this. 00:28:53.319 --> 00:28:55.460 It's like, okay, these false teachers are saying, 00:28:55.460 --> 00:28:59.100 they've put Jesus on the periphery, 00:28:59.200 --> 00:29:00.660 and it's like, you've got to have these experiences. 00:29:01.360 --> 00:29:03.840 So deny this to your body, this to your body, and this to your body. 00:29:03.900 --> 00:29:05.220 And maybe you will have, 00:29:05.600 --> 00:29:08.460 be brought into this otherworldly plane 00:29:09.299 --> 00:29:11.160 of being in the presence of the angels 00:29:11.160 --> 00:29:13.120 as they're worshiping God. 00:29:13.220 --> 00:29:14.480 That's what you need. 00:29:14.480 --> 00:29:19.099 It's not what you need. 00:29:22.700 --> 00:29:25.940 Do you remember that Wendy's commercial 00:29:25.940 --> 00:29:27.880 with that old lady? 00:29:32.480 --> 00:29:35.000 She goes to this burger joint, 00:29:35.160 --> 00:29:37.640 and they give her this burger, 00:29:37.980 --> 00:29:39.680 and it's all bun, no meat, 00:29:39.799 --> 00:29:41.299 and she's at, what's she ask? 00:29:41.299 --> 00:29:43.359 Like, where's the beef? 00:29:46.639 --> 00:29:47.399 False teacher. 00:29:49.399 --> 00:29:50.220 Where's the beef? 00:29:50.359 --> 00:29:51.079 Where's the Christ? 00:29:53.039 --> 00:29:56.759 You want me to pursue an experience? 00:29:58.519 --> 00:29:59.940 You want to make that 00:29:59.940 --> 00:30:02.159 the controlling center of my life? 00:30:05.799 --> 00:30:07.919 Where's the Christ in that? 00:30:07.920 --> 00:30:10.400 Paul's saying, 00:30:10.620 --> 00:30:11.980 don't let these false teachers 00:30:11.980 --> 00:30:13.380 rattle your cage. 00:30:14.519 --> 00:30:15.980 Don't let them judge you 00:30:15.980 --> 00:30:18.519 if you're not having this kind of experience. 00:30:19.160 --> 00:30:21.000 It's about Christ. 00:30:21.640 --> 00:30:22.860 And then he goes into the reasons. 00:30:23.740 --> 00:30:25.779 I'm going to just blaze through them. 00:30:27.180 --> 00:30:28.519 The first one is authority. 00:30:28.519 --> 00:30:33.440 These false teachers 00:30:33.440 --> 00:30:35.279 who are insisting on this asceticism 00:30:35.279 --> 00:30:36.200 and worship of angels, 00:30:36.400 --> 00:30:37.980 they're going on in details about visions. 00:30:39.039 --> 00:30:40.019 That's their authority. 00:30:40.819 --> 00:30:43.259 Oh, I was in my private prayer room, 00:30:43.339 --> 00:30:44.539 and God gave me this vision, 00:30:44.700 --> 00:30:46.259 so therefore, you need to do this. 00:30:47.420 --> 00:30:48.460 Going on and on. 00:30:51.279 --> 00:30:53.139 They're not giving you God's word, 00:30:54.559 --> 00:30:55.079 Paul says. 00:30:55.079 --> 00:30:58.579 That's a red flag. 00:31:00.139 --> 00:31:01.859 He goes on to say, 00:31:02.339 --> 00:31:07.199 not only are they living by visions, 00:31:08.319 --> 00:31:11.399 but we read that they are puffed up 00:31:11.399 --> 00:31:14.059 without reason by his sensuous mind. 00:31:14.139 --> 00:31:16.559 That puffed up is kind of like shadows. 00:31:17.599 --> 00:31:18.000 Empty. 00:31:19.039 --> 00:31:21.000 Who's been to the Wisconsin State Fair? 00:31:21.879 --> 00:31:23.359 The giant cream puff. 00:31:23.359 --> 00:31:25.899 Man, that will fill you up, right? 00:31:26.339 --> 00:31:26.740 No. 00:31:26.919 --> 00:31:27.459 It's empty. 00:31:27.740 --> 00:31:28.439 It's hot air. 00:31:31.740 --> 00:31:33.359 False teachers are like cream puffs. 00:31:36.099 --> 00:31:37.539 Sweet, no substance, 00:31:38.539 --> 00:31:39.339 but deadly. 00:31:43.979 --> 00:31:45.639 These religious experiences, 00:31:45.879 --> 00:31:47.359 these false teachers were advocating 00:31:48.159 --> 00:31:50.259 were not just puffing other people. 00:31:50.359 --> 00:31:51.559 It was puffing them up. 00:31:51.559 --> 00:31:54.980 The biblical language there, 00:31:55.700 --> 00:31:58.359 puffed up is another way of talking about pride. 00:31:59.259 --> 00:32:01.119 They think too highly of themselves. 00:32:01.240 --> 00:32:02.440 They have no reason for it. 00:32:02.480 --> 00:32:03.740 It's their fleshly minds. 00:32:04.139 --> 00:32:04.559 They're thinking, 00:32:04.659 --> 00:32:05.440 I'm having these visions. 00:32:05.559 --> 00:32:06.279 I'm very special. 00:32:06.659 --> 00:32:07.119 They're not. 00:32:08.220 --> 00:32:09.480 They just think they are. 00:32:12.339 --> 00:32:12.899 Paul's saying, 00:32:13.399 --> 00:32:15.859 you're going to trust someone like that? 00:32:15.859 --> 00:32:22.219 It's the next one that is amazingly shocking. 00:32:23.419 --> 00:32:28.719 These false teachers were not holding fast to the head. 00:32:30.119 --> 00:32:31.219 Jesus Christ. 00:32:32.219 --> 00:32:32.859 118. 00:32:32.859 --> 00:32:35.539 These false teachers, 00:32:35.779 --> 00:32:37.039 they were puffed up. 00:32:37.199 --> 00:32:38.740 They were vision-driven, 00:32:39.740 --> 00:32:40.639 prophetic visions, 00:32:41.159 --> 00:32:42.919 not God's word, 00:32:43.139 --> 00:32:44.759 because they're not holding fast to the head. 00:32:45.139 --> 00:32:46.699 They have no substance to give. 00:32:49.219 --> 00:32:50.079 Not dependent. 00:32:50.259 --> 00:32:51.299 Not trusting in Christ. 00:32:51.719 --> 00:32:52.919 Not relying on Him. 00:32:53.179 --> 00:32:54.339 Not living for Christ. 00:32:54.500 --> 00:32:55.639 Not proclaiming Christ. 00:32:55.919 --> 00:32:58.199 They're not saying Christ is central to all things. 00:32:58.200 --> 00:33:00.480 They're saying at best, 00:33:00.620 --> 00:33:02.420 if you can work them in. 00:33:06.180 --> 00:33:06.620 Paul's, 00:33:06.779 --> 00:33:08.059 this is kind of the question he's asking. 00:33:08.340 --> 00:33:09.539 It's Colossians. 00:33:09.740 --> 00:33:09.819 What? 00:33:10.460 --> 00:33:12.200 Why would you ever 00:33:12.200 --> 00:33:15.019 give an authoritative platform 00:33:15.019 --> 00:33:16.900 to your life, 00:33:17.019 --> 00:33:18.220 to someone like that? 00:33:20.720 --> 00:33:22.360 Who's not even holding to Christ? 00:33:25.740 --> 00:33:26.600 Brothers and sisters, 00:33:26.700 --> 00:33:27.880 do you know what we need in this church? 00:33:27.880 --> 00:33:28.960 What kind of leaders we need? 00:33:30.040 --> 00:33:31.460 The leaders we need 00:33:31.460 --> 00:33:34.280 are not those who are not holding fast to Christ, 00:33:34.620 --> 00:33:37.860 but holding fast with everything they got to Christ, 00:33:38.020 --> 00:33:39.920 and helping every one of us 00:33:39.920 --> 00:33:42.940 hold fast with everything we got to Christ, 00:33:43.120 --> 00:33:44.580 and then reminding us, 00:33:44.880 --> 00:33:46.340 Christ is holding fast to you, 00:33:46.420 --> 00:33:47.080 brother and sister. 00:33:48.080 --> 00:33:49.260 He will not let you go. 00:33:51.580 --> 00:33:54.840 These false teachers were untrustworthy, 00:33:55.240 --> 00:33:56.320 living for themselves, 00:33:56.320 --> 00:33:57.360 not Christ. 00:33:57.880 --> 00:33:58.960 And here's the warning. 00:34:00.220 --> 00:34:01.460 Who are you listening to? 00:34:03.560 --> 00:34:05.180 Who are you listening to? 00:34:07.100 --> 00:34:07.980 Jordan Peterson, 00:34:08.180 --> 00:34:08.760 Ben Shapira, 00:34:08.900 --> 00:34:09.860 Joe Rogan, 00:34:09.960 --> 00:34:10.300 Rogan, 00:34:10.360 --> 00:34:10.820 I don't know. 00:34:12.099 --> 00:34:13.160 Ted's Talks, 00:34:13.420 --> 00:34:14.460 in abundance. 00:34:15.640 --> 00:34:17.059 Allie Ward analogies. 00:34:18.340 --> 00:34:18.860 Professors, 00:34:19.260 --> 00:34:19.640 teachers, 00:34:20.039 --> 00:34:21.340 what are your coaches saying? 00:34:21.340 --> 00:34:21.840 who are you listening to? 00:34:21.840 --> 00:34:22.700 Who are you listening to? 00:34:22.700 --> 00:34:22.900 What are you listening to? 00:34:22.900 --> 00:34:25.820 Who are you listening to? 00:34:25.820 --> 00:34:26.640 Who are you listening to? 00:34:26.640 --> 00:34:28.720 Who are these people in your life 00:34:28.720 --> 00:34:31.960 telling you that you should be living for? 00:34:35.260 --> 00:34:36.420 And where's Christ? 00:34:40.559 --> 00:34:41.300 Here's something. 00:34:41.300 --> 00:34:41.400 Listen, 00:34:41.400 --> 00:34:42.780 I'm a little hot over this one. 00:34:45.420 --> 00:34:46.760 Has anybody heard this before? 00:34:46.880 --> 00:34:48.060 Be the best version of yourself. 00:34:53.840 --> 00:34:54.700 That's all you got? 00:34:56.760 --> 00:34:58.519 Be the best version of myself. 00:34:58.519 --> 00:35:04.000 That's all you got to give me? 00:35:06.659 --> 00:35:09.159 Compared to Christ? 00:35:09.159 --> 00:35:09.259 Christ? 00:35:09.260 --> 00:35:16.780 To be the best version of yourself 00:35:16.780 --> 00:35:19.920 is just expressive, 00:35:20.200 --> 00:35:21.940 individualistic nonsense. 00:35:26.600 --> 00:35:27.680 Christ is our fullness. 00:35:31.620 --> 00:35:35.560 Admonition four is in verse 20, 23. 00:35:35.680 --> 00:35:36.860 It's a summary admonition. 00:35:37.300 --> 00:35:38.620 And it's basically, 00:35:38.619 --> 00:35:40.299 touching on everything 00:35:40.299 --> 00:35:41.699 he's talked about so far 00:35:41.699 --> 00:35:43.400 in verses 8 through 19. 00:35:43.400 --> 00:35:44.880 And he brings it all together 00:35:44.880 --> 00:35:48.219 into a kind of a summary argument. 00:35:48.460 --> 00:35:50.139 It's in the form of a rhetorical question. 00:35:50.599 --> 00:35:51.739 You can see the question mark 00:35:51.739 --> 00:35:52.579 at the end of 22. 00:35:52.719 --> 00:35:53.239 Do you see that? 00:35:53.819 --> 00:35:54.960 It's a rhetorical question. 00:35:55.579 --> 00:35:56.599 To make a point. 00:35:57.960 --> 00:35:58.799 Here's the point. 00:36:00.460 --> 00:36:01.139 He's asking, 00:36:01.440 --> 00:36:03.799 why would you, 00:36:04.519 --> 00:36:06.199 if you are united to Christ 00:36:06.199 --> 00:36:07.500 in all of his fullness, 00:36:08.619 --> 00:36:10.359 be living like 00:36:10.359 --> 00:36:13.799 in four things that are empty? 00:36:14.460 --> 00:36:15.500 That's the argument. 00:36:16.779 --> 00:36:18.480 And he culminates this whole section 00:36:18.480 --> 00:36:19.019 with that. 00:36:19.679 --> 00:36:20.639 His argument is this. 00:36:20.719 --> 00:36:24.199 It's who you belong to. 00:36:25.900 --> 00:36:27.659 Who Christ is 00:36:27.659 --> 00:36:30.219 determines how you live, 00:36:31.079 --> 00:36:32.940 how you walk. 00:36:32.940 --> 00:36:36.519 And if Christ isn't the determining factor, 00:36:36.920 --> 00:36:38.280 something else is. 00:36:39.980 --> 00:36:40.360 Christian, 00:36:40.460 --> 00:36:41.920 why are you living for things 00:36:41.920 --> 00:36:45.099 that are just empty 00:36:45.099 --> 00:36:47.139 when you've got the fullness of Christ? 00:36:47.139 --> 00:36:47.199 Christ. 00:36:52.980 --> 00:36:54.739 If Christ is not the controlling center 00:36:54.739 --> 00:36:55.259 of your life, 00:36:55.359 --> 00:36:56.239 something else will be. 00:36:57.799 --> 00:36:59.199 And you can bank on it. 00:37:00.400 --> 00:37:01.779 It won't result 00:37:01.779 --> 00:37:03.199 in godliness. 00:37:05.500 --> 00:37:06.699 He ends 00:37:06.699 --> 00:37:07.759 in verse 23 00:37:07.759 --> 00:37:09.599 with pointing to all of these 00:37:09.599 --> 00:37:10.879 like religious practices. 00:37:10.880 --> 00:37:12.400 And he's like, 00:37:12.800 --> 00:37:14.640 they don't even get anything done. 00:37:16.119 --> 00:37:17.880 They can't stop you from sinning. 00:37:18.760 --> 00:37:19.800 They can't stop you 00:37:19.800 --> 00:37:20.880 from indulging your flesh. 00:37:21.599 --> 00:37:22.160 In fact, 00:37:22.420 --> 00:37:24.380 they will help you 00:37:24.380 --> 00:37:25.640 indulge your flesh. 00:37:28.640 --> 00:37:29.740 Only Christ 00:37:29.740 --> 00:37:30.880 in his fullness 00:37:30.880 --> 00:37:33.599 will help you 00:37:33.599 --> 00:37:35.059 become like Christ. 00:37:35.059 --> 00:37:38.820 all these admonitions 00:37:38.820 --> 00:37:42.139 are against this 00:37:42.139 --> 00:37:45.039 counterfeit philosophy 00:37:45.039 --> 00:37:45.820 and practices. 00:37:46.380 --> 00:37:47.539 A counterfeit 00:37:47.539 --> 00:37:48.179 savior 00:37:48.179 --> 00:37:49.460 in salvation. 00:37:50.980 --> 00:37:51.559 Paul's saying 00:37:51.559 --> 00:37:52.820 there's no life there. 00:37:54.739 --> 00:37:55.799 Kick it to the curb. 00:37:59.500 --> 00:38:00.480 This morning, 00:38:00.619 --> 00:38:00.960 we've 00:38:00.960 --> 00:38:03.659 received some training 00:38:03.659 --> 00:38:04.360 at spotting 00:38:04.360 --> 00:38:05.260 some counterfeit 00:38:05.260 --> 00:38:06.480 philosophies 00:38:06.480 --> 00:38:07.180 and practices. 00:38:07.460 --> 00:38:08.480 Counterfeit saviors 00:38:08.480 --> 00:38:09.360 and salvations. 00:38:10.760 --> 00:38:11.640 We've seen 00:38:11.640 --> 00:38:11.960 what 00:38:11.960 --> 00:38:13.380 these philosophies 00:38:13.380 --> 00:38:14.579 men really are. 00:38:14.700 --> 00:38:15.740 What's behind them 00:38:15.740 --> 00:38:16.860 and that they're empty 00:38:16.860 --> 00:38:18.019 and deceptive. 00:38:19.140 --> 00:38:19.880 There's no life 00:38:19.880 --> 00:38:20.599 in those. 00:38:21.380 --> 00:38:22.180 Proceed with caution. 00:38:25.360 --> 00:38:25.780 Christ 00:38:25.780 --> 00:38:26.860 and Christ alone 00:38:26.860 --> 00:38:29.099 is our 00:38:29.099 --> 00:38:29.680 life 00:38:29.680 --> 00:38:30.460 giving 00:38:30.460 --> 00:38:31.840 and 00:38:31.840 --> 00:38:32.480 life 00:38:32.480 --> 00:38:33.440 governing 00:38:33.440 --> 00:38:34.340 reality. 00:38:34.360 --> 00:38:34.640 reality. 00:38:37.980 --> 00:38:39.039 Two applications. 00:38:42.579 --> 00:38:43.740 Application number one, 00:38:44.460 --> 00:38:45.079 treasure Christ 00:38:45.079 --> 00:38:45.860 above all else. 00:38:49.120 --> 00:38:50.120 Delight in him 00:38:50.120 --> 00:38:51.099 as the controlling 00:38:51.099 --> 00:38:51.480 center 00:38:51.480 --> 00:38:52.720 of your life. 00:38:54.099 --> 00:38:55.300 That is reality. 00:38:55.300 --> 00:38:59.840 and when you're 00:38:59.840 --> 00:39:01.100 delighting in him 00:39:01.100 --> 00:39:03.019 and becoming more 00:39:03.019 --> 00:39:04.100 and more intimately 00:39:04.100 --> 00:39:05.420 acquainted with him, 00:39:05.980 --> 00:39:07.420 you'll be able to 00:39:07.420 --> 00:39:08.320 sniff out 00:39:08.320 --> 00:39:09.480 the counterfeits. 00:39:11.680 --> 00:39:12.980 So treasure Christ 00:39:12.980 --> 00:39:13.580 above all else. 00:39:13.640 --> 00:39:14.320 If you need help 00:39:14.320 --> 00:39:15.080 with that, 00:39:15.580 --> 00:39:15.820 like, 00:39:16.000 --> 00:39:16.240 I don't, 00:39:16.460 --> 00:39:17.140 never heard that before. 00:39:17.280 --> 00:39:17.980 How do I do that? 00:39:18.060 --> 00:39:18.900 Come talk to me afterwards. 00:39:18.960 --> 00:39:19.519 I'll help you with that. 00:39:20.660 --> 00:39:21.400 Application two. 00:39:21.400 --> 00:39:24.740 As you encounter 00:39:24.740 --> 00:39:25.320 people 00:39:25.320 --> 00:39:27.320 promoting 00:39:27.320 --> 00:39:28.780 different philosophies, 00:39:29.619 --> 00:39:31.139 whether it's through 00:39:31.139 --> 00:39:32.619 your playlist, 00:39:33.619 --> 00:39:34.680 whether it's through 00:39:34.680 --> 00:39:35.980 the shows you're watching, 00:39:36.079 --> 00:39:37.220 the movies you go to, 00:39:37.880 --> 00:39:39.599 the podcasts you listen to, 00:39:40.160 --> 00:39:41.420 the schools you're attending, 00:39:42.079 --> 00:39:43.900 the workplaces that you're in, 00:39:43.900 --> 00:39:45.860 the gym you work out at, 00:39:46.740 --> 00:39:49.119 be asking this question. 00:39:51.119 --> 00:39:52.320 Where's the Christ? 00:39:55.340 --> 00:39:56.840 And if you're encountering 00:39:56.840 --> 00:39:58.260 people and philosophies 00:39:58.260 --> 00:39:59.960 that are proclaiming, 00:40:00.039 --> 00:40:01.340 not proclaiming Christ 00:40:01.340 --> 00:40:02.840 and him 00:40:02.840 --> 00:40:04.220 as the controlling center 00:40:04.220 --> 00:40:04.960 of all things, 00:40:05.079 --> 00:40:05.639 you know what you have 00:40:05.639 --> 00:40:06.160 on your hands? 00:40:07.440 --> 00:40:08.360 Got a counterfeit 00:40:08.360 --> 00:40:08.880 on your hands. 00:40:10.900 --> 00:40:12.220 Don't be taken captive. 00:40:13.900 --> 00:40:15.139 Rather, 00:40:16.220 --> 00:40:17.220 be captivated 00:40:17.220 --> 00:40:18.960 by the fullness 00:40:18.960 --> 00:40:19.740 of Christ. 00:40:20.539 --> 00:40:21.200 Let's pray. 00:40:24.240 --> 00:40:24.920 Lord Jesus, 00:40:25.039 --> 00:40:25.980 there is none like you. 00:40:27.119 --> 00:40:27.420 Father, 00:40:27.500 --> 00:40:27.980 would you pour out 00:40:27.980 --> 00:40:28.820 your spirit upon us, 00:40:28.880 --> 00:40:29.320 your church, 00:40:29.420 --> 00:40:31.300 that we would delight 00:40:31.300 --> 00:40:32.139 and treasure 00:40:32.139 --> 00:40:33.720 and guard 00:40:33.720 --> 00:40:37.519 the Lord Jesus Christ 00:40:37.519 --> 00:40:38.500 as the controlling center 00:40:38.500 --> 00:40:39.700 of all that we are and do. 00:40:40.980 --> 00:40:42.139 You are worthy. 00:40:42.139 --> 00:40:44.659 rescue us, 00:40:45.019 --> 00:40:46.000 deliver us, 00:40:46.539 --> 00:40:47.960 make us wise. 00:40:49.139 --> 00:40:50.079 In the name of Jesus, 00:40:50.199 --> 00:40:50.559 we pray. 00:40:51.539 --> 00:40:51.819 Amen. 00:40:51.820 --> 00:40:52.820 Amen.