WEBVTT 00:00:03.200 --> 00:00:06.559 Welcome to this week's message from the Church at Chelsea Westover. 00:00:06.719 --> 00:00:12.640 Our core values are vibrant worship, intimate fellowship, fulfilling service, and clear biblical truth. 00:00:12.880 --> 00:00:15.199 We pray that this message changes your life. 00:00:15.359 --> 00:00:19.600 Let's tune in to today's message and see what God has in store for you. 00:00:19.920 --> 00:00:26.079 I want you to turn with me as we continue our study in the book of Colossians, Colossians chapter 2. 00:00:26.239 --> 00:00:33.840 And today we're going to be looking at, and by the way, if you do not have a worship guide, raise your hand. 00:00:34.240 --> 00:00:40.880 Probably most of you do, but if you don't, raise your hand because on the back of your worship guide is the outline. 00:00:41.039 --> 00:00:56.000 And today we're going to be looking at Christians and how we should be active, and how that if we are active and progressing and growing in the likeness of Christ, wow, we ought to be alive. 00:00:56.159 --> 00:00:57.359 Can I get an amen? 00:00:57.759 --> 00:01:00.560 You know what's really discouraging to me? 00:01:00.719 --> 00:01:17.120 All the years that I traveled when I was the pres president of the seminary at Liberty University for all those years, and then when I was the president of Tennessee Temple in Chattanooga for all those years, traveling all over the country, preaching in different churches every week, different denominations. 00:01:17.359 --> 00:01:21.599 I'd go in some churches and they'd be dead as a doornail. 00:01:22.879 --> 00:01:24.879 I mean, it was so dead. 00:01:25.040 --> 00:01:43.680 I'm telling you, I'm telling you, I'd have to be, hey, I'd be preaching my heart out, and it would just nobody saying anything, everybody looking at me like I'm, you know, just crazy, and which I am, but you know, I mean, I'd just get out and Susan will tell you, I'd just get out and I'd I'd literally do this. 00:01:43.840 --> 00:01:47.680 I'd come down off the pulpit, and after a while I'd got so discouraged. 00:01:47.760 --> 00:01:52.079 I just came down off the pulpit and I'd turn around and say, Pastor Danny, that's great preaching. 00:01:52.239 --> 00:01:52.799 Amen. 00:01:52.959 --> 00:01:54.000 Hallelujah. 00:01:55.280 --> 00:01:58.959 Then I'd walk back up, and boy, they really would look at me funny, then. 00:02:01.040 --> 00:02:05.680 But a lot of times it would break and they would start saying, you know, it's okay to say amen. 00:02:05.840 --> 00:02:08.000 By the way, amen means so be it. 00:02:08.080 --> 00:02:10.400 It means that it applies to my life. 00:02:10.560 --> 00:02:11.840 It's real in my life. 00:02:12.000 --> 00:02:16.639 In fact, I got to the point, I said, I realize why a lot of people don't say amen. 00:02:16.879 --> 00:02:18.879 Because it's not real in their life. 00:02:19.039 --> 00:02:27.840 Because when a preacher or a teacher is teaching the word of the living God and it grips your heart, that principle's real in your life, you can't help but say, I know it. 00:02:28.000 --> 00:02:28.400 Amen. 00:02:28.560 --> 00:02:28.960 Amen. 00:02:29.120 --> 00:02:29.520 Amen. 00:02:29.680 --> 00:02:30.479 It's real. 00:02:32.080 --> 00:02:37.199 So Paul is writing to the church at Colossae, and basically that's what he's saying. 00:02:37.360 --> 00:02:40.560 This is so true, this is so true, this is so true. 00:02:40.879 --> 00:02:42.560 Oh, this is so true. 00:02:42.800 --> 00:03:00.560 And so, with that said, let's pick up, and we've been looking at it, but today we're going to look at verses 4 through 15, actually the rest of the chapter, because the from verses 16 through 23, it really deals with all the false teachers that I'll be talking about and describing as we're going. 00:03:00.719 --> 00:03:04.080 It just reiterates what he's warning them there. 00:03:04.240 --> 00:03:17.599 Uh, from verses, actually, we see in verse 11, basically through the end of the chapter, it's Christ versus false religion and false philosophies and false prophets and false teachers. 00:03:17.840 --> 00:03:24.560 And so we'll be dealing with that as I'm preaching through the first, the middle part of Colossians. 00:03:24.639 --> 00:03:29.360 And then next week, Colossians 3, uh, we'll be looking at on Father's Day. 00:03:29.520 --> 00:03:32.879 By the way, next week is Father's Day. 00:03:33.520 --> 00:03:36.080 Fathers, amen, amen. 00:03:36.240 --> 00:03:37.680 It's going to be a great day. 00:03:37.840 --> 00:03:39.199 It's going to be a great day. 00:03:39.360 --> 00:03:40.080 I promise. 00:03:40.240 --> 00:03:41.759 It's going to be a great day. 00:03:41.919 --> 00:03:44.639 And uh so we want to honor you. 00:03:44.719 --> 00:03:52.560 And next week, dads, we're going to be looking at Colossians 3 versus the first whole section of Colossians 3. 00:03:52.800 --> 00:03:56.479 Uh, and really it's titled The Believer's New Walk. 00:03:56.800 --> 00:04:01.199 When we get saved, we put off the old man and put on the new man. 00:04:01.360 --> 00:04:01.919 Amen. 00:04:02.240 --> 00:04:11.680 And really the first whole part of actually the whole chapter of chapter 3 really deals with the walk of the new man, the new person, after they really get saved. 00:04:11.840 --> 00:04:18.800 So we're going to be looking at, I'm going to title the message next week, the character of a godly dad. 00:04:19.360 --> 00:04:22.319 The character of a godly father. 00:04:22.800 --> 00:04:27.279 So we'll be taking chapter three apart, and it'll be great, I promise you. 00:04:27.439 --> 00:04:36.879 But today we want to look at, as Christians, how we are to be active and, hey, alive and alert. 00:04:37.360 --> 00:04:41.120 So, and we ended last week at verse four. 00:04:41.439 --> 00:04:45.120 So let's pick up, but let's go ahead and still read verse four again. 00:04:45.199 --> 00:05:02.639 And this I say, lest any man should beguile you, in other words, manipulate you, uh falsely sway you away, that's what that word really means there, with enticing words, with with uh very good arguments. 00:05:02.800 --> 00:05:05.439 That's what that means, the word enticing there. 00:05:05.680 --> 00:05:09.360 Or very good uh elusive speech. 00:05:09.519 --> 00:05:14.800 In other words, things that sound good sound right, but you know why we fall for that? 00:05:14.959 --> 00:05:16.959 Because we don't know what's right. 00:05:17.600 --> 00:05:19.519 We don't know the word of God. 00:05:19.680 --> 00:05:24.240 You cannot be swayed away by false prophets, false teaching if you know the book. 00:05:24.399 --> 00:05:25.439 Can I get an amen? 00:05:26.480 --> 00:05:32.160 That's why right here at CCW, you're going to be taught verse by verse the word of God. 00:05:32.639 --> 00:05:44.720 So, and then picking up at verse 5, he says, Though though I be absent in the flesh, yet am I with you in the spirit, joying and beholding your order, and those are fantastic truths that we'll be looking at. 00:05:44.800 --> 00:05:59.360 And the steadfastness of your faith in Christ, as ye have therefore received, received Christ Jesus the Lord, so woo walk ye in him, rooted and built up in him, established in the face of ye have been taught, abounding therein with thanksgiving. 00:05:59.519 --> 00:06:00.160 Beware. 00:06:00.319 --> 00:06:01.519 Oh, big word. 00:06:01.759 --> 00:06:03.759 In other words, come to attention. 00:06:04.079 --> 00:06:08.720 Be alert, be on watch, be on guard every time you see that word. 00:06:08.879 --> 00:06:10.079 In other words, get ready. 00:06:10.240 --> 00:06:21.600 Here's a warning, lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit after the deal, uh, after the tradition of men. 00:06:22.000 --> 00:06:33.920 In other words, they hold to what men think, even in the church, the traditions of denominations sometimes are exalted over the truth of the word of God after the rudiments of the world. 00:06:34.079 --> 00:06:38.639 In other words, they take on the world's philosophy and not the word of God's philosophy. 00:06:38.800 --> 00:06:41.759 For in, and we're gonna see that is not not happening right now. 00:06:41.839 --> 00:06:43.680 Let me just go ahead and give you an example. 00:06:43.920 --> 00:06:45.040 Bruce Jenner. 00:06:45.199 --> 00:06:46.319 Hello, hello. 00:06:46.480 --> 00:06:47.839 Is that not appalling? 00:06:48.000 --> 00:06:50.399 Is that not an abomination unto God? 00:06:51.279 --> 00:07:04.160 Here, here, here is the guy that was uh a gold medalist, I meant one of the greatest athletes in the history of the United States, and now he's had a surgery to where he's no longer a man, he's a woman. 00:07:04.879 --> 00:07:14.160 And vain, hey, enticing words and vain philosophy, all this new philosophy and all this garbage that's coming down the pipe about homosexuality. 00:07:14.480 --> 00:07:16.800 Listen, that is what we're talking about. 00:07:16.959 --> 00:07:18.000 That's wrong. 00:07:18.800 --> 00:07:19.759 It's wrong. 00:07:20.240 --> 00:07:22.160 It's abomination unto God. 00:07:22.480 --> 00:07:24.160 It's what the book says. 00:07:24.639 --> 00:07:26.639 Leviticus is very adamant about that. 00:07:26.720 --> 00:07:32.560 He says, if a man lies with a man as he lies with a woman, that's abomination unto God, and they shall be put to death. 00:07:32.720 --> 00:07:34.079 That's what the book says. 00:07:35.199 --> 00:07:42.399 So, again, these are the vain philosophies, the deceitfulness of the word of God, hey, of the world's philosophies, everything. 00:07:42.480 --> 00:07:43.920 Let me tell you what it basically is. 00:07:44.079 --> 00:07:49.279 What's it basically is this that they've taken out absolute truth, nothing absolute anymore. 00:07:49.439 --> 00:07:51.920 If it's good for you, that's your hey, it's good for you. 00:07:52.000 --> 00:07:54.000 It may not be good for me, but it's okay, it's good for you. 00:07:54.079 --> 00:07:54.959 You do what you want. 00:07:55.120 --> 00:07:56.399 That is so wrong. 00:07:56.639 --> 00:08:12.000 That is the philosophy and the vain deceitfulness of the world's, hey, hey, being politically correct and philosophically being, hey, caught up in all the immorality and the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes and the pride of life. 00:08:13.040 --> 00:08:13.759 Preach that word. 00:08:14.079 --> 00:08:14.879 I'm preaching it. 00:08:15.839 --> 00:08:17.759 And that is it, Sylvester. 00:08:18.079 --> 00:08:18.639 That's it. 00:08:18.800 --> 00:08:19.360 That's it. 00:08:19.600 --> 00:08:20.240 God help us. 00:08:20.399 --> 00:08:20.959 Here it is. 00:08:21.120 --> 00:08:30.160 Paul's telling them right here, way back then, be aware of all the traditions of men and the rudiments of the world, that all that's going on. 00:08:30.319 --> 00:08:33.840 For in him, then he goes to verse 9, dwelleth the fullness of God. 00:08:34.000 --> 00:08:36.720 He said, Hey, you can do away with the world. 00:08:36.879 --> 00:08:42.159 Hey, all the world has to offer can't compare with the fullness of God Himself. 00:08:42.960 --> 00:08:45.679 And he says, It's all in his son Christ. 00:08:46.000 --> 00:08:49.360 And then he goes on and said, and look at verse 10, you are complete. 00:08:49.519 --> 00:08:50.720 Ha ha in him. 00:08:50.960 --> 00:08:52.320 What's the problem with all these? 00:08:52.639 --> 00:08:55.279 Hey, let me tell you what's what's wrong with these folks. 00:08:55.440 --> 00:08:56.480 They're not complete. 00:08:57.360 --> 00:08:58.159 They're not complete. 00:08:58.320 --> 00:09:01.840 They're seeking and searching for something that's not real. 00:09:02.960 --> 00:09:04.720 Because they don't know Christ. 00:09:04.960 --> 00:09:06.480 They don't have Christ. 00:09:06.639 --> 00:09:09.039 They're not complete in him. 00:09:09.440 --> 00:09:26.559 In whom also ye are circumcised with the circumcision, made without hands, and putting off the body of the sins of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ, buried with him in baptism, wherein also ye are risen with him through the faith of the operation of God who hath raised him from the dead. 00:09:26.720 --> 00:09:39.200 And ye being dead in your sins and uncircumcision of your flesh, hath ye quickened together with him, having forgiven all your trespasses, blotting out, hey, the handwriting of ordinances that was against us. 00:09:39.360 --> 00:09:50.799 In other words, it's not the law, it's not legalism, it's not the, hey, hey, it's not the world's philosophy, blotting all that out, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, knelling it to the cross. 00:09:50.879 --> 00:10:06.879 He took all those vain philosophies, all the legalism of the law and the traditions of the Jewish legalists and all those rituals, and he took it to the cross and said, It's not by law but by grace that we are saved. 00:10:07.200 --> 00:10:07.840 Amen. 00:10:08.559 --> 00:10:09.919 Boy, that's good. 00:10:10.159 --> 00:10:20.399 And having spoiled principalities, he just ripped all the power of Satan right out of his hand and said, You no longer have power over the church. 00:10:20.799 --> 00:10:22.159 Wow, that's good. 00:10:22.799 --> 00:10:24.320 Now that's the introduction. 00:10:27.039 --> 00:10:28.960 Joshua threw me my water. 00:10:29.200 --> 00:10:30.399 I'm gonna get with it. 00:10:30.480 --> 00:10:31.679 I'm gonna have to have something. 00:10:32.879 --> 00:10:34.159 I can catch. 00:10:37.279 --> 00:10:39.679 I couldn't do a lot, but I could play ball. 00:10:41.279 --> 00:10:44.159 I'd still be playing, my legs hadn't given out on me. 00:10:44.639 --> 00:10:46.799 All those knee football and weight lifting. 00:10:47.039 --> 00:10:48.159 But here we go. 00:10:48.480 --> 00:10:55.279 If you and I are gonna be alive and alert, number one, we gotta keep making spiritual progress. 00:10:55.440 --> 00:10:56.559 Can I get an amen? 00:10:57.039 --> 00:10:59.679 We gotta keep making spiritual progress. 00:10:59.840 --> 00:11:00.639 Here's the key. 00:11:00.879 --> 00:11:03.600 In the Christian life, we never stand still. 00:11:03.840 --> 00:11:04.879 Never stand still. 00:11:05.039 --> 00:11:05.919 Listen to me. 00:11:06.159 --> 00:11:10.720 Either you're pressing toward the mark or you're going backwards. 00:11:11.039 --> 00:11:12.879 You say, Well, I'm just not doing either. 00:11:13.039 --> 00:11:15.759 If you're not doing either, you're coasting backwards. 00:11:16.080 --> 00:11:16.720 Amen. 00:11:17.039 --> 00:11:24.159 You've got to be continually moving forward or you're gradually slipping backwards. 00:11:24.320 --> 00:11:28.159 In fact, look at what Hebrews 6.1, it's not on there, but listen to what it says. 00:11:28.399 --> 00:11:32.399 Let us go on to maturity. 00:11:32.559 --> 00:11:36.960 Let us go on to maturity is the call that we must obey. 00:11:37.120 --> 00:11:40.000 That's the literal translation of Hebrews 6.1. 00:11:40.320 --> 00:11:47.519 The Christian who is not making spiritual progress and an open, hey, is an open target for the deception of Satan. 00:11:48.399 --> 00:11:49.519 You're an open target. 00:11:49.600 --> 00:11:54.000 You're putting a big bullseye on your back saying, hey, you know, here I am. 00:11:54.159 --> 00:11:54.960 Shoot at me. 00:11:55.120 --> 00:11:55.840 Shoot at me. 00:11:55.919 --> 00:11:57.919 And boy will he. 00:11:58.399 --> 00:12:02.480 In fact, we see in Philippians chapter 3, verses 13 and 14. 00:12:02.639 --> 00:12:03.519 Remember what Paul said? 00:12:03.679 --> 00:12:04.960 I don't think it's on there either. 00:12:05.120 --> 00:12:08.799 God's just, more stuff starts coming to me when I'm studying. 00:12:08.960 --> 00:12:14.240 I usually have this by try to have the outline done by Wednesday morning at the latest. 00:12:14.399 --> 00:12:19.600 But anyway, you know what, Paul, if you remember in the book of Philippians, we went when we went through Philippians, what did he say? 00:12:19.679 --> 00:12:21.039 This one thing I do. 00:12:21.679 --> 00:12:23.519 Forgetting those things which are behind. 00:12:23.679 --> 00:12:26.399 In other words, I forget my former life. 00:12:26.559 --> 00:12:28.240 In other words, hey, I'm saved now. 00:12:28.320 --> 00:12:29.200 I'm a new creation. 00:12:29.360 --> 00:12:29.840 Amen? 00:12:30.000 --> 00:12:30.799 I'm different. 00:12:30.960 --> 00:12:31.600 I'm different. 00:12:31.759 --> 00:12:34.399 So I've got to forget those things that were behind. 00:12:34.559 --> 00:12:37.360 I reach forth for those things which are before. 00:12:37.519 --> 00:12:39.360 Then verse 14, here's what he says. 00:12:39.600 --> 00:12:46.399 I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in and through Christ Jesus. 00:12:46.559 --> 00:12:51.600 He literally said, I count not myself to have, hey, hey, been totally mature. 00:12:51.759 --> 00:12:56.480 In other words, hey, it's a daily battle, but it's a daily growth period in my life. 00:12:56.639 --> 00:12:58.080 I have to grow daily. 00:12:58.240 --> 00:12:59.759 Paul says, I died daily. 00:12:59.919 --> 00:13:02.639 I died a self so that I can what? 00:13:02.879 --> 00:13:03.919 Grow in him. 00:13:04.960 --> 00:13:05.519 Amen. 00:13:05.759 --> 00:13:08.080 So it's very important that we understand that. 00:13:08.240 --> 00:13:11.039 So, and why is there such an eagerness? 00:13:11.120 --> 00:13:14.480 And why must we continue to keep growing spiritually? 00:13:14.559 --> 00:13:15.039 Here's why. 00:13:15.120 --> 00:13:16.960 Look at verse 4 in your outline. 00:13:17.200 --> 00:13:19.919 A, under number one, keep making spiritual progress. 00:13:20.240 --> 00:13:22.639 A, there's a need for progress. 00:13:22.799 --> 00:13:26.159 And let me tell you why there's a need, because look at verse 4. 00:13:26.399 --> 00:13:28.240 Satan is deceptive. 00:13:30.000 --> 00:13:33.039 Satan wants to lead believers astray. 00:13:33.200 --> 00:13:35.039 Can I get an amen? 00:13:35.600 --> 00:13:37.120 Say this with me, church. 00:13:37.279 --> 00:13:40.320 Satan wants to lead believers astray. 00:13:40.480 --> 00:13:41.360 Say that with me. 00:13:41.679 --> 00:13:45.519 Satan wants to lead believers astray. 00:13:45.759 --> 00:13:46.159 Why? 00:13:46.320 --> 00:13:47.279 He's got a purpose. 00:13:47.440 --> 00:13:48.559 You know what his purpose is? 00:13:48.720 --> 00:13:49.679 John 10, 10. 00:13:49.840 --> 00:13:54.399 Hey, he's come to kill, steal, and destroy. 00:13:54.639 --> 00:13:56.399 He wants to destroy your life. 00:13:56.559 --> 00:13:58.320 He wants to destroy your marriage. 00:13:58.480 --> 00:14:00.080 He wants to destroy your home. 00:14:00.240 --> 00:14:01.919 He wants to destroy your children. 00:14:02.159 --> 00:14:04.639 He wants to destroy your testimony. 00:14:05.759 --> 00:14:07.919 That's what he wants to do. 00:14:08.159 --> 00:14:15.120 That's why there's such a need, and hey, for progressing and growing in the likeness of the Lord. 00:14:15.279 --> 00:14:21.519 In fact, the Greek term used here describes, when he talks about in verse 4, look at it. 00:14:21.600 --> 00:14:22.799 This is pretty good. 00:14:23.519 --> 00:14:28.080 He literally says, beguile you with enticing words. 00:14:28.320 --> 00:14:35.360 That is the enticing words are literally persuasive arguments. 00:14:37.519 --> 00:14:40.720 Are we not seeing that today in our political scene? 00:14:41.039 --> 00:14:49.600 There's, oh hey, there's a persuasive argument why abortion is not murder, it's the right of choice. 00:14:49.840 --> 00:14:51.120 I've got news for you. 00:14:51.279 --> 00:14:52.240 It's murder. 00:14:52.799 --> 00:14:55.679 God's word calls it what it is, it's murder. 00:14:56.000 --> 00:14:59.039 But we have these persuasive arguments. 00:14:59.279 --> 00:15:14.080 In fact, instead of trying to redefine what God's word says is, hey, God's descriptive, hey, a definition of what a home is, a husband and a wife together. 00:15:14.320 --> 00:15:18.399 Well, they've gone around everything saying, well, we're not saying redefined it. 00:15:18.480 --> 00:15:21.679 We're just saying that a couple ought to have the same rights. 00:15:21.919 --> 00:15:28.240 And they keep doing all this persuasive arguments of why it ought to be legalized. 00:15:28.639 --> 00:15:30.080 That's what we're talking about. 00:15:30.159 --> 00:15:32.720 That's what Paul's talking about here, folks. 00:15:32.960 --> 00:15:37.759 We're living in the 21st century right now, seeing this happen. 00:15:38.879 --> 00:15:39.519 Amen. 00:15:39.759 --> 00:15:40.639 It's happening. 00:15:40.879 --> 00:15:42.799 But it was happening back then, too. 00:15:43.519 --> 00:15:44.320 Let me help you. 00:15:44.480 --> 00:15:47.039 You say, oh, it's nothing new. 00:15:48.000 --> 00:15:51.600 Same thing was happening back at starting to happen at the church at Colossi. 00:15:52.000 --> 00:15:54.480 So we see it was just different stuff. 00:15:54.639 --> 00:15:56.000 We see the need for progression. 00:15:56.080 --> 00:15:57.200 Look at the second thing. 00:15:57.519 --> 00:16:01.679 Notice in verses 5 through 7 the nature of this progress. 00:16:01.919 --> 00:16:02.960 Oh, this is good. 00:16:03.200 --> 00:16:13.679 In order to emphasize his admonition, Paul uses several vivid pictures, and I love this, to illustrate the spiritual progress. 00:16:13.840 --> 00:16:16.480 Now, he says we must progress. 00:16:16.799 --> 00:16:17.200 Why? 00:16:17.360 --> 00:16:19.200 Satan's trying to take us out. 00:16:19.679 --> 00:16:21.039 Satan's trying to take us out. 00:16:21.200 --> 00:16:26.240 Satan's trying to redefine, hey, hey, what a hey, a marriage is. 00:16:27.440 --> 00:16:28.559 Let me tell you why. 00:16:28.720 --> 00:16:36.720 As, listen, as goes the family, the first institution that was established by God was the family. 00:16:37.360 --> 00:16:39.600 Not the church, the family. 00:16:39.919 --> 00:16:42.159 As goes the family, goes the church. 00:16:43.039 --> 00:16:45.679 As goes the church, goes the government. 00:16:46.320 --> 00:16:48.480 Now you can see we're in a mess. 00:16:48.720 --> 00:16:51.440 Why would you think he would not attack the family? 00:16:51.600 --> 00:16:55.759 That's been his, hey, that's been his altered from the very beginning. 00:16:56.480 --> 00:16:59.279 From the very beginning to destroy the family. 00:16:59.600 --> 00:17:01.039 God help us, amen. 00:17:01.279 --> 00:17:02.399 Choose you this day. 00:17:02.559 --> 00:17:05.119 For me and my house, we're going to serve God. 00:17:05.759 --> 00:17:07.440 Joshua 24, 15. 00:17:07.599 --> 00:17:09.519 It's such an important thing. 00:17:09.759 --> 00:17:12.480 That's why we preach so vehemently on the family. 00:17:12.559 --> 00:17:13.599 It's so important. 00:17:13.920 --> 00:17:17.839 But notice, now he says, if you're going to, that's why we've got to progress. 00:17:18.480 --> 00:17:22.079 Notice these, there's, oh, six and seven tremendous words here. 00:17:22.240 --> 00:17:23.279 Look at verse 5. 00:17:23.599 --> 00:17:25.839 He said, order and steadfastness. 00:17:25.920 --> 00:17:26.559 Look at verse 5. 00:17:26.720 --> 00:17:28.000 Powerful, powerful, powerful. 00:17:28.160 --> 00:17:32.400 He said, For though I be absent in the flesh, Paul says, I never visit you. 00:17:32.480 --> 00:17:33.279 I really don't know you. 00:17:33.359 --> 00:17:41.039 Yet am I with you in the spirit, joining and beholding your order and the steadfastness of your faith in Christ. 00:17:41.119 --> 00:17:43.920 That is so powerful, and we just read those words and jump over them. 00:17:44.079 --> 00:17:46.799 Here's what order and steadfastness means. 00:17:46.960 --> 00:17:48.720 They are military terms. 00:17:48.960 --> 00:17:50.400 They're military terms. 00:17:50.559 --> 00:17:55.920 They describe an army that is solidly together. 00:17:56.160 --> 00:17:58.079 They are solidly together. 00:17:58.240 --> 00:18:02.240 There's no AWOL, there's no disruption in this army. 00:18:02.400 --> 00:18:04.640 They are solidly together. 00:18:04.799 --> 00:18:15.680 And then the word order there means, hey, that they all have their place, their position, whether you're a private, whether you're a general, you all have a place in that army. 00:18:15.839 --> 00:18:26.799 You have a position, you have giftiness, you have a job to do, and bless God, they're an attention, ready to perform their duty to whip the enemy. 00:18:28.160 --> 00:18:30.240 God, give us some churches like that. 00:18:30.960 --> 00:18:31.599 Amen. 00:18:32.400 --> 00:18:33.279 We're in order. 00:18:33.440 --> 00:18:44.480 I used to, I love to watch the old Roman uh the Spartans, the 300 Spartans, one of my favorite movies, because they had they would always stand in rank and have the shield. 00:18:44.799 --> 00:19:02.400 And the only way that they could be successful and not allow the enemy to penetrate their formation was they each did their part and they stood together firmly locked and steadfast, knowing that if they let down, it could kill them all. 00:19:03.039 --> 00:19:05.279 And they would fight to the death. 00:19:07.279 --> 00:19:07.920 Wow. 00:19:09.119 --> 00:19:09.759 Wow. 00:19:10.400 --> 00:19:11.839 That's what he's talking about. 00:19:12.079 --> 00:19:14.880 He said, I'm excited about your steadfastness. 00:19:15.039 --> 00:19:17.200 I'm excited about your solidarity. 00:19:17.359 --> 00:19:21.440 I'm excited that you're one and you're ready to take the enemy on. 00:19:22.000 --> 00:19:23.279 I'm excited about that. 00:19:23.519 --> 00:19:25.440 1 Corinthians 15, 58. 00:19:25.599 --> 00:19:34.960 Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye steadfast, unmovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord that ye may know that your labor is not in vain. 00:19:35.839 --> 00:19:36.400 Amen. 00:19:36.559 --> 00:19:41.680 We're not just trying to listen, we didn't start this church to just be another church on the corner. 00:19:42.640 --> 00:19:44.240 We're not on the corner. 00:19:47.839 --> 00:19:49.839 We're on the highway, 280. 00:19:51.759 --> 00:19:52.400 Amen. 00:19:53.359 --> 00:20:02.559 We started this church to be a real New Testament church, a solid church, solidarity together, all one. 00:20:02.799 --> 00:20:05.200 Hey, for one purpose, and that's to exalt him. 00:20:05.359 --> 00:20:10.559 And if he be exalted, he'd draw them in unto himself to stand for what's biblically right. 00:20:10.720 --> 00:20:14.720 Not what's biblically popular, but what's biblically right. 00:20:15.839 --> 00:20:16.480 Amen. 00:20:17.359 --> 00:20:21.519 I was telling somebody recently, I may be in jail before I die. 00:20:21.920 --> 00:20:23.119 Chances are I will. 00:20:23.359 --> 00:20:29.359 Because what I just preach and what I'm preaching today, and I'm not preaching it maliciously, I'm not being angry. 00:20:29.599 --> 00:20:42.960 I am, I'm, my heart hurts because we have so allowed Satan to deceive us with enticing arguments and deceitfulness that even in our school system now, we've changed the real history. 00:20:45.359 --> 00:20:48.960 And we're sitting here watching it happen and letting it happen. 00:20:49.279 --> 00:20:50.480 God help us. 00:20:51.759 --> 00:20:58.079 Mark and I, when I first met him, talked about a big uh some kind of school here in Westover, and they were talking about a spatial. 00:20:58.400 --> 00:20:58.960 You know what? 00:21:00.559 --> 00:21:02.799 Maybe that's what we end up having to do. 00:21:02.880 --> 00:21:05.759 Well, we gotta do something to change something. 00:21:06.400 --> 00:21:09.200 We gotta change the stinking thinking. 00:21:11.200 --> 00:21:14.000 But it's not stinking, it's persuasive. 00:21:16.160 --> 00:21:17.440 Oh, you know. 00:21:17.680 --> 00:21:22.480 We got a generation raising up that's never been taught what I've just preached. 00:21:23.440 --> 00:21:25.680 Because it's not politically correct. 00:21:26.000 --> 00:21:29.200 They don't care if it's the word of God or not, you know. 00:21:30.079 --> 00:21:33.359 Our public school system does not teach the word of God. 00:21:34.799 --> 00:21:36.079 So, what are they teaching? 00:21:36.240 --> 00:21:37.680 Well, do I need to tell you? 00:21:38.000 --> 00:21:39.359 Vain thoughts. 00:21:40.400 --> 00:21:42.559 So, and I'm not against the public school. 00:21:42.640 --> 00:21:45.440 Thank God for our public school teachers in there trying to make a difference. 00:21:45.599 --> 00:21:46.000 Amen. 00:21:46.160 --> 00:21:46.559 Amen. 00:21:46.720 --> 00:21:49.839 But what I'm saying is, folks, we gotta realize what's happening. 00:21:50.079 --> 00:21:52.880 Satan is deceiving our thinking. 00:21:54.799 --> 00:22:03.680 It's saying, and in fact, Isaiah 5 said, There'll be a day where Right there, where evil is good and good is evil. 00:22:04.480 --> 00:22:06.720 That's where we are right now, church. 00:22:07.839 --> 00:22:11.359 That's a prophetic utterance in Isaiah chapter 5. 00:22:12.319 --> 00:22:13.599 That's where we are. 00:22:14.319 --> 00:22:15.359 God help us. 00:22:15.519 --> 00:22:19.200 Paul says, Oh, stand steadfast orderly. 00:22:19.279 --> 00:22:20.319 And then watch what he says. 00:22:20.400 --> 00:22:24.160 And by the way, verse 6, he says, now, hey, it's a pilgrimage. 00:22:24.480 --> 00:22:25.839 This is not going to happen overnight. 00:22:26.640 --> 00:22:28.400 By the way, it hadn't changed overnight. 00:22:28.559 --> 00:22:32.799 Hey, I was in when I was in school, we had Bible reading and prayer. 00:22:34.640 --> 00:22:35.119 Hello. 00:22:35.359 --> 00:22:36.319 Anybody else with me? 00:22:37.279 --> 00:22:38.160 Hello, thank you. 00:22:38.400 --> 00:22:40.079 There's some old geezers in here. 00:22:40.240 --> 00:22:40.799 Amen. 00:22:41.279 --> 00:22:41.920 Amen. 00:22:42.480 --> 00:22:43.119 Amen. 00:22:44.880 --> 00:22:46.640 I mean, we had prayer. 00:22:46.880 --> 00:22:49.039 We talked about the Lord. 00:22:50.000 --> 00:22:55.920 We set a and bless God when we we thank God for an American flag. 00:22:56.480 --> 00:23:06.880 And when we, hey, you stood up and you put your hand over your chest and you thank God and you gave the pledge to the flag instead of sitting there in America. 00:23:07.119 --> 00:23:14.400 By the way, you know what in my heart, sometimes, and I have to be very careful I don't get so upset, these people ain't gonna pledge allegiance to the flag. 00:23:15.200 --> 00:23:17.839 I put them on a boat and shove them out of here. 00:23:20.240 --> 00:23:21.839 I shouldn't have said that. 00:23:23.279 --> 00:23:24.559 But I'm in it. 00:23:26.720 --> 00:23:27.759 Pilgrimage. 00:23:27.920 --> 00:23:30.079 It's hey, listen, listen, listen. 00:23:30.240 --> 00:23:33.440 The Christian life is compared here to a pilgrimage. 00:23:33.599 --> 00:23:34.160 It's a walk. 00:23:34.240 --> 00:23:35.119 Look what he says. 00:23:35.359 --> 00:23:36.240 This is powerful. 00:23:36.400 --> 00:23:40.160 He says, as ye have therefore received Christ Jesus, Lord, so walk. 00:23:40.319 --> 00:23:44.720 It's not a dash, it's not a hundred-yard dash, it's a marathon race. 00:23:44.960 --> 00:23:48.960 It didn't get this way overnight, and it's not going to be changed overnight. 00:23:49.119 --> 00:23:54.720 But bless God, we've got to stand, hey, solidarily together and fight. 00:23:56.400 --> 00:23:57.039 And fight. 00:23:57.119 --> 00:24:00.799 And by the way, let me tell you why you want to fight and get excited about fighting. 00:24:00.880 --> 00:24:02.160 I read the last chapter. 00:24:02.880 --> 00:24:03.680 We win. 00:24:07.680 --> 00:24:08.640 We win. 00:24:09.519 --> 00:24:14.559 You know, all my war books that I like to read, and I'm a Civil War fanatic. 00:24:14.720 --> 00:24:17.440 I always read the last chapter to see who wins. 00:24:17.759 --> 00:24:18.880 You say, why would you do that? 00:24:19.440 --> 00:24:22.079 No, then I can go back and get excited about reading the rest of it. 00:24:22.240 --> 00:24:23.680 If I lose, I put it down. 00:24:23.759 --> 00:24:25.519 I don't want to read anymore. 00:24:27.279 --> 00:24:28.240 Don't want to lose. 00:24:28.480 --> 00:24:29.039 Amen? 00:24:29.839 --> 00:24:31.279 Not going to lose. 00:24:31.599 --> 00:24:33.119 And we don't lose. 00:24:33.440 --> 00:24:34.559 The pilgrimage. 00:24:34.640 --> 00:24:35.759 It's a walk. 00:24:36.640 --> 00:24:46.319 And according to Ephesians 2, 2, we either walk according to this world, or we walk according to the things of God. 00:24:46.880 --> 00:24:50.720 And that is exactly what Paul's telling Colossae. 00:24:50.960 --> 00:24:54.319 Walk according to the things of God's word. 00:24:54.640 --> 00:24:55.279 Be alert. 00:24:55.440 --> 00:24:56.559 Be alive. 00:24:56.960 --> 00:24:58.000 Look at the third thing. 00:24:58.160 --> 00:24:59.839 Verse 7, and we see the tree. 00:25:00.079 --> 00:25:00.640 Rooted. 00:25:00.799 --> 00:25:01.920 Ooh, what a word. 00:25:02.480 --> 00:25:03.359 What a word. 00:25:03.519 --> 00:25:06.240 The Greek word there is read zoo. 00:25:06.960 --> 00:25:10.000 And it means to strengthen with roots. 00:25:10.559 --> 00:25:12.079 It means, watch this. 00:25:12.240 --> 00:25:15.359 It means to fix, to be thoroughly grounded. 00:25:15.519 --> 00:25:27.519 In other words, it means that those roots are so deep, hey, into the ground that when the winds and all the uh stuff the world has to throw at that tree doesn't move it one bit. 00:25:27.839 --> 00:25:30.000