Paul is writing to the Colossian church:
Col.2:8-10
(Transliteration:)
8 Don’t let anyone capture you with empty philosophies and high-sounding nonsense that come from human thinking and from the spiritual powers of this world, rather than from Christ. 9For in Christ lives all the fullness of God in a human body. 10 So you also are complete through your union with Christ, who is the head over every ruler and authority.
Many Christians do not understand the power of deception the enemy is using today to drag people away from the truth. We are not aware of how this power of darkness have subtly and unconsciously penetrated and infiltrated the human mind and the churches today.
The apostle Paul is giving a warning here to the church in Colossi to be aware of the philosophy of deception. The tradition of man. It’s the mindset or thinking of man, it’s how the world goes about accepting the thinking which is not in line with the word of God but rather inclined to copy a crowd that runs with a lifestyle.
Least any man rob you of the truth that Jesus has already given you, and so Paul is here warning the church to be aware of this deceptive spirit, this dangerous spirit. A powerful worldly spirit that is backed up by Satan.
He is saying you are complete in Christ. No man should rob you or spoil you of what Jesus has already given you.
2 Peter 1:3
His divine power has granted us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of him who called us to his own glory and excellence,
It says Jesus has given us all things that pertain to life and Godliness. All your provision is complete in Christ. We are already healed, we are already prosperous, we are already victorious. We are already fully complete according to the fully accomplished work, the finished work of Jesus on the cross.
Now is it too hard for some people to accept that as truth?
The problem with people is that their mindset is so tuned up to the kind of thinking that they will literally refuse to accept anything too good to be true. Therefore they always want to kick into a performance mood to earn their blessings from God.
THERE WAS A DIVINE EXCHANGE THAT TOOK PLACE ON THE CROSS
Now let me put it to you in a different way: If it’s too hard for you to accept your healing and well-being as a done deal, if you cannot accept it as the truth, you are simply rejecting the finished work of God’s son Jesus Christ. You are going to struggle all your life through because you are unable to tap into your inheritance of your promise.
We are justified, we are sanctified and we are made holy and righteous by Jesus having paid the price for us. This is a done deal! This is the absolute truth that we need to appropriate in our lives. We need to walk daily in this truth.
And Paul is saying this is your inheritance, this is your promise: don’t let this truth be stolen from you by the empty high-sounding philosophy of this world. Although you cannot escape from shielding yourself from the philosophy of this world because you are from this world! As long as we live in this world we are going to be bombarded by the philosophy of this world daily. But because you are not of this world the blood of Jesus and word of your testimony will keep you rooted and grounded in Christ.
THE WORD OF GOD IS OUR FOUNDATION
As Christians the way we view the world comes from the word of God. Everything from how we live and act has to be aligned to God’s written word. This is our foundation! This is our anchor! In other words we filter all the information of this world through the lens of God’s word.
But Religious people see the world differently. Religious people don’t see the way you see. They are not interested in the word they are only interested in the religious views and opinions that originates from man because religious people don’t get into God’s word seriously. They only listen and follow what people say.
Our philosophy must be moulded after Christ, it should be moulded by the word of God that we may see the world by the lens of God’s word. We see the world differently. So people who don’t get into the word will not be able to see what you see.
Here is what the enemy will do. Through different lenses that don’t come from God but through vain deceit, different cultures, traditions of man, empty high-sounding philosophies he will make you to view the world. By doing so, he waters down and draws you away from the truth. That is the ultimate strategy of the enemy. This is the very reason why you see churches being high-jacked away from the word of God.
Listen! If you have a way of thinking and your thinking doesn’t line up with the word of God then it’s absolutely wrong.
Therefore whatever we are pursuing or following we need to view it with the lens of God’s word and not see things from the lens of human philosophy.
Look at what the enemy has done? He has played with the way people think. He is able to squeeze people into our society through the philosophy of this world.
2 Cor 4:4
Satan, who is the god of this world, has blinded the minds of those who don’t believe. They are unable to see the glorious light of the Good News. They don’t understand this message about the glory of Christ, who is the exact likeness of God.
Satan blinds the minds of people who don’t believe. How does he blind your mind? He blinds your mind by infiltrating you with wrong philosophy. Worldly way of thinking. Thinking that is contrary to God’s word.
SATAN IS AFTER YOUR IDENTITY
2 Cor.5:17
Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away. Behold, the new has come!
Satan doesn’t want you to know that when you are in Christ you are a new creature. He wants you to know that you are not qualified to be a new creature. He doesn’t want you to know that when you are in Christ you are a new creature.
THE DEVIL WANTS TO ROB YOUR IDENTITY AND STOP YOU FROM KNOWING WHO YOU ARE IN CHRIST
The total sum of your power, your authority, your preservation, your soundness, your prosperity, your healing, your peace, your joy and all of your inheritance is invested in your identity in Christ. All of these will become a reality and manifest in you if your identity is grounded and rooted in Christ; your union with Christ.
Listen to me this morning. If the devil can rob you from realizing who you are in Christ, he can stop the fruit from manifesting in your life. And what is your fruit? All your total inheritance in Christ. How does he stop the fruit from producing? He can only do it by attacking your root (your identity). If satan can do something to your root you can never see the fruit.
You see the devil can mess up your mind in such a way that he can erode your identity in Christ, by infusing us with the philosophy of this world. That’s the reason why a lot of us are not seeing the fruit manifesting in our lives.
Satan attacked the identity of Adam and Even with the power of deception. Satan stole their identity. You see Adam and Eve had everything. The environment was in perfect harmony. God’s presence was there for them everyday. God was in communion with them. They were created in God’s image and likeness and yet they became a victim of the doubt and deception.
Your identity is in Christ
2 Cor.5:17
The old you has died in Christ. Now everything about you is in Christ. My identity is in Christ.
satan’s strategy is to get you out of Christ. You know when he will do that?
SATAN WILL ALWAYS LOOK FOR THE RIGHT TIME TO STRIKE
Whenever you are faced with a challenge. Whenever you are in deep problem. When fear is gripping your heart. When everything around you is depleting away. When you are experiencing panic attacks, stressed up, phobia, that’s when he will come to steal your identity. When he has succeeded in doing this, you become a prey to his manipulation. It’s during this time when you feel lonely and you have lost all balance and direction and you don’t even know who you are! You are outside of Christ. You don’t have power and authority anymore to fight your adversary. That is when he steps in and takes over your life. You are defeated!
Note: Rev Dr Jai Kumar is an ordained & licensed minister of Covenant Ministries International N.J. USA. He is a mission minded pastor who carries an apostolic anointing who preaches and teaches an uncompromising gospel with boldness. A member of ECCM (Malaysia) Spiritual Adviser & overseer to various ministries and churches. An itinerant speaker. He is also the author of a book entitled, ‘God’s Time Clock.’ Currently he worships at C3 Subang.
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Rev Dr Jai Kumar
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