Beware

Col 2:8  Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ.

Spoiled-  to LEAD away from the TRUTH.

People will try their best to lead you away from the TRUTH.

People will lead you away through-

PHILOSOPHY
VAIN DECEIT
TRADITIONS of MEN
RUDIMENTS of the WORLD

NOT AFTER CHRIST!

Do any of those things sound familiar to you? We all grow up learning about philosophy- right? We learn that various people have various philosophies they follow. One person's philosophies might be different than another's. Some study the various philosophies and then become followers of the ones or one they like the most. 

'Philosophy is the study of existence, knowledge, values, reason, mind, and language.' (wiki)

Some philosophers-

    Thomas Aquinas
    Aristotle
    Augustine
    Francis Bacon
    Rene Descartes
    Lao Tzu
    Friedrich Nietzsche
    Plato
    Ayn Rand
    Jean Jacques Rousseau
    Benedict de Spinoza
   
Some of these names are familiar to you, others not so much. Each one of these people had their OWN ideas about life and often times led OTHERS to take up their ideas and believe them, follow them. People following the ideas of MEN, rather than GOD. This is something we CANNOT do, follow MEN and their ideas no matter how wonderful they can make things seem. They come up with their ideas and entice others to them and led them NOT in the way everlasting. 

Vain deceit.

Vain- devoid of truth, empty.
Deceit- leading one to falsehood, away from the truth.

Spoiled- led away from the truth by things that have NO truth in them, in beliefs that are empty, by falsehoods, by lies.  People love to believe lies because they soothe their conscience. Lies tell us that it's fine to sin, lies tell us that we don't have to resist sin, lies tell us that we are only human and therefore that gives us the excuse to sin, lies tell us that we are NOT obligated to keep the commandments of God, lies fill us with so much that we grow to love them rather than truth because they comfort us in our sins. Truth makes us face the reality of our sinfulness and tells us that we need to REPENT and ask forgiveness, not make excuses.

Traditions of men.

There are many, many traditions that MAN has made up and covered them over in a lacquer coating of godliness so they can pull them off as God's traditions but they are nothing more than LIES. Traditions of men. Not ordained by God. Traditions that fill the lives of people who think they are doing what God would have them do, but it's not what God wants at all. It's what men want. These traditions of men are DEADLY to the truth. We are to BEWARE of these traditions. We can get caught up in them thinking God is in them but He's no where near them at all. When you try to explain some of the traditions people get very offended and take up the defensive. They hold fast to their traditions because to believe that people - that they - could be so duped and for so long, just goes against everything they want to comprehend. Is it any wonder we are told to beware of traditions men create? Those traditions have the power to deceive and that deception has the power to lead people astray, to lead them to destruction, not life.

 Rudiments of the world.

People get stuck in the basics and never advance and being caught up in the rudiments of the world is to be caught up in the groundwork- the beginning of things- never advancing further into the truth. How many people holdfast to their beliefs because they have been passed down from generation to generation and NOT a single generation has care to grow in truth, but rather stick with the same old thing.  Holding fast to the truth is a good thing, as long as it's a truth that is guiding you, not stunting you. The world is ruled by Satan and he has filled it with many, many lies to placate people into his beliefs. People don't want to think about that because it unsettles them. They don't want to believe that the things they've held onto forever might need something more. The Jewish people did NOT believe in Jesus as God's Son, they held fast to their old truths not wanting to grow in grace and knowledge of the LORD.  Today many people hold fast to the beginning of their conversion and never grow, never get past  drinking the milk of babes to the meat that our Savior would have us take in.

Col 2:8  Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ.

People will lead you astray, the only way to truth is in CHRIST through HIS word to us. If you do NOT study the word of God for yourself but rely on others to do it for you, then you will be opening yourself up to believing LIES. You have to study God's word for yourself! Pray and study, pray and study!  We cannot stand before God and say, it's their fault they told me it was the truth.  God requires us to study for ourselves, not follow other men and their beliefs no matter how wonderful they sound, no matter how Godly they sound.  We have to take every belief to the Bible, to the true word of God and study to know whether it truly is all truth.

2Ti 2:15  Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.

We have to do this, we are accountable to God, to do this.

And…

We have to BEWARE of those who would lead us astray.  They won't come bearing signs or shouting, telling us that they are leading us astray. They will deceive us, lie to us, fool us, trick us, all the while making us believe they are right with God and following His truth. It's up to us to BEWARE.

All by the grace of GOD.
All through HIS love may we NOT be led astray!
Help us to beware!
Guide us to ALL TRUTH!

Established in Christ

Col 2:5  For though I be absent in the flesh, yet am I with you in the spirit, joying and beholding your order, and the stedfastness of your faith in Christ.

Absent in the flesh - with you in the spirit.

Paul DID NOT separate himself into two beings- a flesh being and a spirit being- and let His spirit being fly over to those he was writing to and walk among them in a spirit body. Paul was with them in THE SPIRIT.  We know what this means, all of us know because we've all had functions we've wished we could attend but for one reason or another we were unable to do so. However we've still celebrated in our hearts, in our spirit with those celebrating far away, and we've still mourned with those mourning. We've been able to SHARE in the situation because we a part of that situation even if we are NOT actually there in the flesh. Our heart, our being is a part of it all connecting with others in the spirit.

Have you ever heard the words- 'In the spirit of things'? Or 'get into the spirit of it'? You know what's implied by those words and it most assuredly isn't someone telling you to separate your flesh being from your spirit being and animate that spirit being in some way that will make you actually be present. The truth of the matter is… without the spirit in our flesh being we don't continue to live. God breathed into man the breath of life-the spirit, and man BECAME a living soul. Until that spirit - that breath was given to man the body was lifeless.  The spiritual part of us that makes us able to be God's is God given. When we die we are told- the breath (the spirit) goes back to God who gave it.

Ecc 12:7  Then shall the dust return to the earth as it was: and the spirit shall return unto God who gave it.

That animating breath of life returns to God, the person doesn't fly off in a spirit body and return to God.

That's why this can be said--

Ecc 9:5  For the living know that they shall die: but the dead know not any thing, neither have they any more a reward; for the memory of them is forgotten.

The dead know not any thing.

The dead do not separate into a spirit being- as Angels are spirit beings- as evil angels are spirit beings- as God is a spirit being. 

Joh 4:24  God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.

We were created as human beings- flesh and spirit combined- not separate. That's why this too can be said…

1Co 15:52  In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.
1Co 15:53  For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality.
1Co 15:54  So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory.

The dead (people) will be raised INCORRUPTIBLE, and we shall be CHANGED.

Our flesh will no longer be of the sort that will decay. We will be changed- then- not now, not upon our deaths but only when we are RAISED from the graves at the LAST TRUMP-that is when we are CHANGED. We do not split into two beings- flesh and spirit upon death as so many want to believe. We go to our graves knowing nothing until our SAVIOR sounds that LAST TRUMP, then we are RAISED from our graves.

So when we speak of being with someone in the spirit- we are in agreement with them in their situation, our hearts are with them, our thoughts are with them, our beliefs are with them.

Col 2:5  For though I be absent in the flesh, yet am I with you in the spirit, joying and beholding your order, and the stedfastness of your faith in Christ.
Col 2:6  As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in him:

Joying.
Beholding your order.
Beholding your stedfastness of faith in CHRIST.

Steadfast -

Stedfast (Webster Dictionary)
STEADFAST, STEDFAST, a. [stead and fast.]

1. Fast fixed; firm; firmly fixed or established; as the stedfast globe of earth.

2. Constant; firm; resolute; not fickle or wavering.


Faith without wavering is a stedfast faith.

Heb 10:23  Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; (for he is faithful that promised;)

As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in him-

How did you receive Christ Jesus the Lord?

That first moment of belief, where your heart swelled with understanding, with love, pure love, knowing you have an advocate, you have ONE pleading on your behalf, ONE who forgives you of all your evil, all your sins, all your faults. Do you remember when that comprehension came to you?  We are to NEVER lose our first love of JESUS, never!

Rev 2:4  Nevertheless I have somewhat against thee, because thou hast left thy first love.

We cannot leave our first love, not ever! He must be REAL to us always! His love must be real to us!

Col 2:7  Rooted and built up in him, and stablished in the faith, as ye have been taught, abounding therein with thanksgiving.

Rooted.
Built up.
Established.
Thankful.

Our love of our Savior isn't to be superficial. Our love for our Savior isn't to be something we pull out of the closet for holidays, funerals, weddings, baptisms. Our love for our Savior isn't to be something we use only when convenient, when the skies are blue, or the darkest gray. We have to be rooted in our SAVIOR. He has to be an INTEGRAL part of our every day life, the source from whom we choose to live. Seriously! He must be the reason we live. He gave us life and we must live for Him, because He is the TRUE WAY, the TRUE LIFE. Our lives here are so overwhelmed with problems big and small. We cannot believe that this world truly is the home we were intended for, it's not.

We have to be rooted, finding all our spiritual living nutrients in the life of our Savior. We have to be built up. Our lives need to be one of constant growth, ever growing closer to our God. We have to be built up in Christ, never thinking we've achieved the spiritual heights necessary but always knowing we can and must be forever built up in Christ. Established, set firmly in our LORD. We cannot set our lives firmly any where else. When we choose to allow our lives to be established on anything other than Christ we can't be surprised with our lives fall apart around up and we're left with nothing of substance. Thankful, forever THANKFUL for the LOVE of God towards US as undeserving as we are. We cannot ever grow arrogant, we cannot ever believe that we do not have to be thankful towards our God. Even if our lives are falling apart- we need to be thankful for the mere fact we are alive and able to LOVE God, able to LOVE our SAVIOR and in that LOVE find life eternal, a life beyond what we can ever imagine.  We aren't promised goodness here, we are not promised a pain free existence, we are not promised the love of others- we are only PROMISED salvation in our SAVIOR and for that wonderful promise we must be thankful, ever thankful!

Col 2:7  Rooted and built up in him, and stablished in the faith, as ye have been taught, abounding therein with thanksgiving.

All through HIM, all by HIM, all in HIS LOVE!

By HIS GRACE, MERCY, RIGHTEOUSNESS!

Perilous times

Perilous times shall come. (ARE HERE RIGHT NOW- Read the following and tell me this doesn't describe the majority of humanity today.)

2Ti 3:1  This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come.

2Ti 3:2  For men shall be lovers of their own selves  (SELFISH, ARROGANT, CONCEITED, EGOCENTRIC)

2Ti 3:2  ...covetous (WANTING ENVIOUSLY WHAT OTHERS POSSESS)

2Ti 3:2 ...boasters (GLORIFYING ONESELF PRIDEFULLY)

 2Ti 3:2 ...proud (SELF PRAISING)

 2Ti 3:2 ...blasphemers (DISRESPECTING GOD)

 2Ti 3:2 ...disobedient to parents (REBELLIOUS TOWARDS PARENTS)

 2Ti 3:2 ...unthankful (UNGRATEFUL)

 2Ti 3:2 ...unholy (UNGODLY)

2Ti 3:3  Without natural affection (FORCED AFFECTION)

 2Ti 3:3 ...trucebreakers (PEACE BREAKERS, INSTIGATORS)

2Ti 3:3 ...false accusers (LIARS)

2Ti 3:3 ...incontinent (LACKING SELF-CONTROL)

2Ti 3:3 ...fierce (HOSTILE)

2Ti 3:3 ...despisers of those that are good (TRUE HATERS)

2Ti 3:4  Traitors (BETRAYERS)

2Ti 3:4 …heady (FULL OF SELF)

2Ti 3:4 ...highminded (ARROGANT)

2Ti 3:4 …lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God (SELFISH, HEDONISTIC)

2Ti 3:5  Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof (PRETENDERS)

... from such turn away.

2Ti 3:6  For of this sort are they which creep into houses

2Ti 3:6 ...and lead captive silly women laden with sins

2Ti 3:6 ...led away with divers lusts

2Ti 3:7  Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.

2Ti 3:8  Now as Jannes and Jambres withstood Moses…

2Ti 3:8 ...so do these also resist the truth

2Ti 3:8 ….men of corrupt mind

2Ti 3:8 ...reprobate concerning the faith.

2Ti 3:12  Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.

2Ti 3:13  But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse,

2Ti 3:13 ...deceiving,

2Ti 3:13 ...and being deceived.

This is TRUTH.

Who can deny this truth? We are living in a world full of the above. We are guilty ourselves of the above. Maybe not every last evil but we struggle with the evil flesh we possess. We HAVE to struggle. It's when we give up the struggle and allow the evil to take over that we've lost. When we delight in the evil flesh tendencies that seem so incredibly dominant inside us, this is when we've lost. When we lose sight of the evil within our flesh and begin to call our evils good, this is when we've lost. Only by the miraculous power of God through the Holy Spirit will we ever be saved from such a state. And once we are pulled from the awful depths of the evil flesh tendencies threatening to overcome us fully, we cannot BY THE GRACE OF GOD, WE CANNOT give in to our flesh, no longer fighting the spiritual battle, we have to FIGHT! We have to recognize the evil and seek forgiveness! We have to STOP excusing the evil, we have to stop pretending the evil isn't evil, we have to stop trying to comprehend all the whys and wherefores and simply fall on our knees and beg forgiveness from the only source that can forgive us fully of our sinfulness-- Christ Jesus our Lord, our Savior!

We cannot control anyone else. We cannot stop the evil sinfulness from spreading its curse far and wide, destroying more and more people. Too many do not want to see, they love their spiritual blindness because it doesn't call for any real self sacrifice at all. As long as those blinders are on tight they don't have to concern themselves with self denying, only fill themselves with selfishness, selfish desires, selfish pleasures, self-serving. And as long as they are completely absorbed in themselves to the exclusion of God, to the exclusion of real, true love, they pretend they are happy. Their happiness is a delusion because they've been deceived into believing their happiness is what matters, but it doesn't, not at all. Our happiness is the last thing that matters here in this world and Jesus' life made that perfectly clear, His life was one of sacrifice, He was our Great Example! An example so few truly want to follow with all their heart, mind, body, spirit.

Please LORD help us! Save us in these perilous times! Keep us IN YOU!

Through YOUR grace! Your MERCY! YOUR LOVE! YOUR RIGHTEOUSNESS!

ALL IN YOU, THROUGH YOU, FOR YOU!

A treasure worth more than any other

Col 2:2  That their hearts might be comforted, being knit together in love, and unto all riches of the full assurance of understanding, to the acknowledgement of the mystery of God, and of the Father, and of Christ;
Col 2:3  In whom are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.
Col 2:4  And this I say, lest any man should beguile you with enticing words.

Love and ALL RICHES-

RICHES OF the FULL ASSURANCE-

the FULL ASSURANCE of UNDERSTANDING-

the ACKNOWLEDGEMENT of the MYSTERY of GOD, and of the FATHER, and of CHRIST.

All the TREASURES of WISDOM and KNOWLEDGE are HID in GOD- they are HID in the FATHER and they are HID in CHRIST.

Christ came and revealed the Father to us.

Joh 14:1  Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me.
Joh 14:2  In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.
Joh 14:3  And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.
Joh 14:4  And whither I go ye know, and the way ye know.
Joh 14:5  Thomas saith unto him, Lord, we know not whither thou goest; and how can we know the way?
Joh 14:6  Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.
Joh 14:7  IF YE HAD KNOWN ME YE SHOULD HAVE KNOWN MY FATHER ALSO AND FROM HENCEFORTH YE KNOW HIM AND HAVE SEEN HIM.
Joh 14:8  Philip saith unto him, Lord, shew us the Father, and it sufficeth us.
Joh 14:9  Jesus saith unto him, HAVE I BEEN SO LONG TIME WITH YOU AND YET HAST THOU NOT KNOWN ME PHILIP? HE THAT HATH SEEN ME HATH SEEN THE FATHER how sayest thou then, Shew us the Father?
Joh 14:10  BELIEVEST THOU NOT THAT I AM IN THE FATHER AND THE FATHER IN ME? THE WORDS THAT I SPEAK UNTO YOU I SPEAK NOT OF MYSELF BUT THE FATHER THAT DWELLETH IN ME HE DOETH THE WORKS.
Joh 14:11  BELIEVE ME THAT I AM IN THE FATHER AND THE FATHER IN ME or else believe me for the very works' sake.
Joh 14:12  Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father.
Joh 14:13  And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son.
Joh 14:14  If ye shall ask any thing in my name, I will do it.
Joh 14:15  If ye love me, keep my commandments.
Joh 14:16  And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever;
Joh 14:17  Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you.
Joh 14:18  I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you.
Joh 14:19  Yet a little while, and the world seeth me no more; but ye see me: because I live, ye shall live also.
Joh 14:20  At that day ye shall know that I am in my Father, and ye in me, and I in you.
Joh 14:21  He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him.
Joh 14:22  Judas saith unto him, not Iscariot, Lord, how is it that thou wilt manifest thyself unto us, and not unto the world?
Joh 14:23  Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him.
Joh 14:24  He that loveth me not keepeth not my sayings: and the word which ye hear is not mine, but the Father's which sent me.
Joh 14:25  These things have I spoken unto you, being yet present with you.
Joh 14:26  But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.
Joh 14:27  Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.
Joh 14:28  Ye have heard how I said unto you, I go away, and come again unto you. If ye loved me, ye would rejoice, because I said, I go unto the Father: for my Father is greater than I.
Joh 14:29  And now I have told you before it come to pass, that, when it is come to pass, ye might believe.
Joh 14:30  Hereafter I will not talk much with you: for the prince of this world cometh, and hath nothing in me.
Joh 14:31  But that the world may know that I love the Father; and as the Father gave me commandment, even so I do. Arise, let us go hence.

All the TREASURES of WISDOM and KNOWLEDGE are HID in GOD- they are HID in the FATHER and they are HID in CHRIST.

Treasures of wisdom.
Treasures of knowledge.

 Do we honestly believe that wisdom is something to be treasured, that knowledge is a treasure? We are so fixated on worldly treasures we have lost sight of true treasures. We feel rich when we have money, when we have jewels, houses, cars, electronics, amusements but do we feel rich when we have knowledge and wisdom? Do we feel overwhelmingly rich because we have the knowledge and wisdom of Salvation in our Savior? We should.

We lament our lack of worldly possessions. We moan and groan about our sad state of affairs. We cry over our lack of finances and believe all is lost when we can barely survive. Our logic tells us it's a very good time to despair when we have nothing and are at our end. Yet if we TRULY believe in our SAVIOR then we know even at our very end we have the HOPE of SALVATION which is a treasure worth more than ANY worldly treasure in existence.

Do we believe this?!

I saw the movie, Prometheus, today and in the movie *spoilers ahead* a woman wears a cross and talks about her faith just a bit- she believes in God. An android questions her belief and she says 'IT'S WHAT SHE CHOOSES to BELIEVE', and that settled it for her. I'm paraphrasing of course, but that's the gist of it. The movie goes on to try and dispel that God created man on earth- that alien beings did. And then one of the characters say- but who created the aliens.  So, the question I asked before this paragraph was--

Do we believe this?! Do we CHOOSE to believe that the HOPE of SALVATION found in JESUS CHRIST OUR LORD, is the greatest treasure we can ever possess in our lives? Do we believe? And if we do not believe that, why don't we? It's the TRUTH.

Knit together in love

Col 2:1  For I would that ye knew what great conflict I have for you, and for them at Laodicea, and for as many as have not seen my face in the flesh;
Col 2:2  That their hearts might be comforted, being knit together in love, and unto all riches of the full assurance of understanding, to the acknowledgement of the mystery of God, and of the Father, and of Christ;
Col 2:3  In whom are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.
Col 2:4  And this I say, lest any man should beguile you with enticing words.

Hearts comforted-knit together in love.
Unto ALL riches of the FULL assurance of understanding.
To the acknowledgment of the MYSTERY of GOD, and of the FATHER, and of CHRIST-
In WHOM are HID ALL the TREASURES of WISDOM and KNOWLEDGE.

THIS is TRUTH.

There will be enticing words spoken by others, very ENTICING words that are meant to beguile us from the truth in our SAVIOR. Words meant to confuse us so that we do NOT get the FULL assurance of understanding.

Hearts can be KNIT together in love. A common love, a love that comes from the fount of love- our Savior. Throughout history men have been drawn to certain leaders that have given them such focus so that men would lay down their lives for these leaders. The love they have for these leaders is tremendous and they'd seriously take a bullet for them rather than see them harmed. They've believed these men so amazing, so worthy of their love and devotion that they cannot imagine a life without them in it. They can't imagine others not loving them the same. And these are mere men who are garnering the affection of the masses. Men who are fallible and have great faults that are overlooked for their charismatic genius. It would be easy to actually say that a group of followers had their love for their leader knitting their hearts into a wholeness. Their common bond was that leader and without that leader there would be no need for the knitting togetherness. In fact, if that leader falls especially unexpectedly, often the whole group simply falls apart as if the knitted stitches came apart, unraveling so there was no longer a whole anything, but simply nothing.  This is true in our history and we know it to be so. With facts of that sort established it's very, very easy to comprehend how the followers of Christ could have themselves knit together in love through our SAVIOR.

Love was, is, and will always be the entirety of our God. Everything God is love, because GOD is love. For us to be knit together in love truly means being knit together by God. This truly gives us the RICHES of the FULL ASSURANCE of UNDERSTANDING, to the ACKNOWLEDGMENT of the MYSTERY of GOD, and of the FATHER, and of CHRIST.

Love.

In WHOM are HID ALL the TREASURES of WISDOM and KNOWLEDGE.

Do you want wisdom? Do you want knowledge? All the treasures of such come from God, they come from love.

We are just too stuck on our selves to love selflessly. Too much of our day is spent worshiping at the altar of self.  We need to grow closer to Christ because that is the ONLY way to lose the selfish part in us.

To the acknowledgment of the MYSTERY of GOD, and of the FATHER, and of CHRIST

This is our LIFE- LIVING the Mystery of GOD. Living the Mystery of the FATHER. Living the Mystery of CHRIST.

The mystery is their love expressed in their sacrifice. Make NO mistake- our Father God sacrificed- He felt the pain His only BEGOTTEN Son endured. When that great separation came at the cross there was pain felt in every heavenly being. The emptiness, the loss was felt and it was REAL, very real. The enormity of what had been done was something that would NEVER, could NEVER be forgotten. This was something that had to be realized in all the lives of those who would belong to God.

More tomorrow by the grace of God!

The mystery hid from the ages

Col 1:26  Even the mystery which hath been hid from ages and from generations, but now is made manifest to his saints:
Col 1:27  To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory:
Col 1:28  Whom we preach, warning every man, and teaching every man in all wisdom; that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus:
Col 1:29  Whereunto I also labour, striving according to his working, which worketh in me mightily.

The mystery.

The following are only some of the verses on the word mystery.

This mystery was HID for generations, it was Hid for  a LONG LONG time. Hid in the sense it was as yet unrealized, it was not manifested. The mystery existed in its hidden form since our time began because we were not privy to God's plans. We are given all that we need to know, nothing that we need to know in order to be GOD'S is hidden from us, and it never has been. And even though we are allowed to know all we need does not mean that there are not mysteries. 

The miracle, virgin birth of our SAVIOR, of God becoming flesh is a mystery. Our Savior, our God sacrificing Himself for us is a mystery we can scarcely comprehend, yet we He was manifested and gave to us so much in order that we may comprehend enough to know Him, to know salvation in HIM. If we refuse the knowledge He has given us we will have to answer for that.

Mar 4:11  And he said unto them, Unto you it is given to know the mystery of the kingdom of God: but unto them that are without, all these things are done in parables

Rom 16:25  Now to him that is of power to stablish you according to my gospel, and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery, which was kept secret since the world began,
Rom 16:26  But now is made manifest, and by the scriptures of the prophets, according to the commandment of the everlasting God, made known to all nations for the obedience of faith:
Rom 16:27  To God only wise, be glory through Jesus Christ for ever. Amen.

1Co 2:7  But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, even the hidden wisdom, which God ordained before the world unto our glory

Eph 1:5  Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will,
Eph 1:6  To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved.
Eph 1:7  In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace;
Eph 1:8  Wherein he hath abounded toward us in all wisdom and prudence;
Eph 1:9  Having made known unto us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure which he hath purposed in himself

Eph 3:3  How that by revelation he made known unto me the mystery; (as I wrote afore in few words,
Eph 3:4  Whereby, when ye read, ye may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ)
Eph 3:5  Which in other ages was not made known unto the sons of men, as it is now revealed unto his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit;
Eph 3:6  That the Gentiles should be fellow heirs, and of the same body, and partakers of his promise in Christ by the gospel:
Eph 3:7  Whereof I was made a minister, according to the gift of the grace of God given unto me by the effectual working of his power.
Eph 3:8  Unto me, who am less than the least of all saints, is this grace given, that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ
Eph 3:9  And to make all men see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God, who created all things by Jesus Christ:
Eph 3:10  To the intent that now unto the principalities and powers in heavenly places might be known by the church the manifold wisdom of God,
Eph 3:11  According to the eternal purpose which he purposed in Christ Jesus our Lord

Eph 5:32  This is a great mystery: but I speak concerning Christ and the church.

Eph 6:19  And for me, that utterance may be given unto me, that I may open my mouth boldly, to make known the mystery of the gospel

Col 2:2  That their hearts might be comforted, being knit together in love, and unto all riches of the full assurance of understanding, to the acknowledgement of the mystery of God, and of the Father, and of Christ

Col 4:3  Withal praying also for us, that God would open unto us a door of utterance, to speak the mystery of Christ, for which I am also in bonds

1Ti 3:9  Holding the mystery of the faith in a pure conscience

1Ti 3:16  And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory

Rev 10:7  But in the days of the voice of the seventh angel, when he shall begin to sound, the mystery of God should be finished, as he hath declared to his servants the prophets

The mystery of God should be finished.

Salvation WILL be realized.
The end of the world as we know it, WILL be realized.
Death WILL be no more.
Satan WILL be no more.
Life WILL be everlasting in our SAVIOR.

These are all facts. 

These are all things that WILL come to pass and once they have come to pass the MYSTERY of God will be finished, it will be COMPLETE! The death that our sinless SAVIOR suffered on the cross to pay the price for us will have been vindicated in the SALVATION of all those that are His.

Please LORD help us be YOURS, all by YOUR grace, YOUR righteousness, YOUR love! Help us to understand the MYSTERY of YOU, of the GOSPEL, of YOUR LOVE.

Rejoice in suffering

Col 1:23  ...whereof I Paul am made a minister;
Col 1:24  Who now rejoice in my sufferings for you, and fill up that which is behind of the afflictions of Christ in my flesh for his body's sake, which is the church:
Col 1:25  Whereof I am made a minister, according to the dispensation of God which is given to me for you, to fulfil the word of God

REJOICE in SUFFERING.
AFFLICTIONS endured because of our belief in CHRIST and HIS TRUTH.

There is suffering in being a Christian and anyone who tries to tell you otherwise is sadly mistaken. When we think of suffering however we very seldom think of joy or rejoicing. The last thing a person truly feels like doing when they are suffering is be happy, yet time and time again people will put on that smile because they know to do otherwise is to perhaps upset another - a loved one, a child. People have been beaten black and blue and yet they'll still smile if they feel a sense of purpose behind the beating. You've seen it during boxing matches, haven't you? The winner - even though still suffering the pain of the fight- will grin, will laugh, will cheer despite their suffering. The survivor of something awful might feel a sense of victory because they did in fact survive despite the awful things they've suffered. We see this in life and while it's not something that will occur without fail all the time, it does happen. So we KNOW it happens, we know that joy in suffering is possible, if not common, and not something anyone wants- suffering.

Let's read more verses on what Paul is talking about here- this suffering, the afflictions- all because of our belief in Christ.

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Mat 5:11  BLESSED are ye, when men shall REVILE you, and PERSECUTE you, and shall say all manner of EVIL against you FALSELY, for my sake.
Mat 5:12  REJOICE, and be EXCEEDING GLAD: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you.

Act 5:41  And they departed from the presence of the council, REJOICING that they were counted worthy to SUFFER SHAME for his name.

Rom 5:3  And not only so, but we GLORY in TRIBULATIONS also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience

Eph 3:13  Wherefore I desire that ye faint not at my TRIBULATIONS for you, which is your GLORY.

Php 2:17  Yea, and if I be offered upon the SACRIFICE and service of your faith, I joy, and REJOICE with you all.
Php 2:18  For the same cause also do ye joy, and rejoice with me.

2Co 1:5  For as the SUFFERINGS of Christ abound in us, so our consolation also aboundeth by Christ.
2Co 1:6  And whether we be afflicted, it is for your consolation and salvation, which is effectual in the enduring of the same sufferings which we also suffer: or whether we be comforted, it is for your consolation and salvation.
2Co 1:7  And our hope of you is stedfast, knowing, that as ye are partakers of the SUFFERINGS, so shall ye be also of the consolation.
2Co 1:8  For we would not, brethren, have you ignorant of our trouble which came to us in Asia, that we were pressed out of measure, above strength, insomuch that we DESPAIRED EVEN OF LIFE

2Co 11:23  Are they ministers of Christ? (I speak as a fool) I am more; in labours more abundant, in stripes above measure, in prisons more frequent, in deaths oft.
2Co 11:24  Of the Jews five times received I forty stripes save one.
2Co 11:25  Thrice was I beaten with rods, once was I stoned, thrice I suffered shipwreck, a night and a day I have been in the deep;
2Co 11:26  In journeyings often, in perils of waters, in perils of robbers, in perils by mine own countrymen, in perils by the heathen, in perils in the city, in perils in the wilderness, in perils in the sea, in perils among false brethren;
2Co 11:27  In weariness and painfulness, in watchings often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness.

2Ti 1:8  Be not thou therefore ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, nor of me his prisoner: but BE THOU PARTAKER of the AFFLICTIONS of the gospel according to the power of God

2Ti 2:9  Wherein I SUFFER trouble, as an evil doer, even unto bonds; but the word of God is not bound.
2Ti 2:10  Therefore I ENDURE all things for the elect's sakes, that they may also obtain the salvation which is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory.


Do all these verses make being a follower of Christ sound like something painless?

Yet we have church pews filled with people who believe they shouldn't have to suffer at all in any way. We are NOT all called to be ministers, or preachers, or prophets, or missionaries. We are NOT all called to suffer the same, but honestly living a life for Christ means NOT living for ourselves, not living selfishly. When we are called NOT to live selfishly and that usually involves giving up self. When we give up self we are sacrificing. When we sacrifice we might not feel a physical pain but there is a certain amount of emotional and mental suffering. We do NOT have to LIKE receiving pain, we do NOT have to LIKE sacrificing- however when we are called to suffer we are told we should REJOICE.  WE CAN rejoice just like that painfully beaten boxing champ. He might hate the physical pain he has to endure, every single blow to his face a new blast of agony, he doesn't LIKE the pain, but he REJOICES because of the ultimate victory. We too must rejoice at our ULTIMATE victory- ETERNAL LIFE! We must rejoice at the PROMISE we are given for ETERNAL LIFE.  We have to learn to recognize our suffering and our reaction to it because if we don't we can't learn to rejoice knowing the reward that will be ours.

Paul could endure all He did because HE believed in the reward, he believed in the PROMISE, he believed in Jesus Christ our LORD, OUR SAVIOR! Only because of that belief could He rejoice. He didn't have to like the pain of his trials and tribulation, but in spite of the pain He could be happy.

Do we have the knowledge we need? Do we have the faith we need? Do we have the hope we need? Do we have what we need to recognize in our strange modern lives, out of touch with the persecuted Christian's whose governments and societies allow, or turn a blind eye to their torture?  If we are living in a world, in our own little existence, without that sort of suffering we have to know that the suffering will come in other ways, or perhaps we aren't sacrificing any part of our self at all for anything, in any way, let alone for our Savior.

By His grace and mercy may we be enlightened by the Holy Spirit to understand, to live selflessly, to rejoice in our afflictions knowing HE is our HOPE of eternal life!

In HIS love always!!!!!!!