1 00:00:04,480 --> 00:00:07,520 But the truth is that. Many of us, when it comes to 2 00:00:07,520 --> 00:00:11,440 Christianity, there are some people who want to make up their 3 00:00:11,440 --> 00:00:13,880 own rules. And when we look at Scripture, 4 00:00:13,880 --> 00:00:17,200 when we look at things like Christian disciplines or 5 00:00:17,200 --> 00:00:20,800 spiritual disciplines that the Bible has given us, there's 6 00:00:20,800 --> 00:00:23,040 going to be people that are going to argue with you. 7 00:00:23,040 --> 00:00:25,000 And they're going to be like, yeah, Ricky. 8 00:00:25,000 --> 00:00:27,600 Like I, I do. Believe in prayer, but man, you 9 00:00:27,600 --> 00:00:31,640 can't just pray anywhere. I do believe in the scriptures, 10 00:00:31,640 --> 00:00:34,480 but you got to make sure that there's a specific type of 11 00:00:34,480 --> 00:00:36,600 individual. That will give you the 12 00:00:36,600 --> 00:00:38,520 scriptures so that way you could. 13 00:00:38,520 --> 00:00:40,840 Attain it and understand it, you're not supposed. 14 00:00:40,840 --> 00:00:43,800 To read it for yourself, you're supposed. 15 00:00:43,800 --> 00:00:45,440 To worship on the Sabbath. What are you doing? 16 00:00:45,440 --> 00:00:49,080 Worshipping on Sunday and all. These things, it's like hold. 17 00:00:49,080 --> 00:00:52,280 On a second like, you can't just make up your own set of. 18 00:00:52,280 --> 00:00:56,440 Rules. God lines it out for us and I 19 00:00:56,440 --> 00:00:58,800 would even argue and and what Paul's going to argue about. 20 00:00:58,800 --> 00:01:01,800 Today is that hold. On like with Jesus, there's a 21 00:01:01,800 --> 00:01:05,319 new covenant. So all of those old. 22 00:01:05,319 --> 00:01:08,000 Testament laws, all of them. Old Testament all the Old 23 00:01:08,000 --> 00:01:10,120 Covenant. Stuff that was just. 24 00:01:10,120 --> 00:01:13,600 This massive neon arrow pointing to Christ. 25 00:01:14,600 --> 00:01:18,320 But there's some people are still living this life, walking 26 00:01:18,320 --> 00:01:21,760 around with a set of rules that they invented, and they're 27 00:01:21,760 --> 00:01:25,040 calling everybody out on it. And Paul is going to call them 28 00:01:25,040 --> 00:01:29,920 on their stuff and he's going to say, no, this is this is not. 29 00:01:30,200 --> 00:01:32,960 What what it should be? Infiltrating the church. 30 00:01:32,960 --> 00:01:35,640 So what we're going to do today is we're going to walk through 31 00:01:36,440 --> 00:01:39,320 verses 16 to 23, and Paul is going to. 32 00:01:39,840 --> 00:01:43,840 Really highlight what is. Happening in the. 33 00:01:43,840 --> 00:01:46,640 Church of Colossae. And I think it's important. 34 00:01:46,640 --> 00:01:48,320 I think it's, I think. That the. 35 00:01:48,320 --> 00:01:50,640 Times that we live in right now I. 36 00:01:50,640 --> 00:01:53,040 Feel like there's like a? Resurgence in Christianity. 37 00:01:53,040 --> 00:01:54,800 A lot of people are coming back. To the church. 38 00:01:55,160 --> 00:01:57,960 But in that resurgence, there's. Also a lot of false. 39 00:01:57,960 --> 00:02:01,000 Teaching out there a lot. Of false teachers out there. 40 00:02:01,920 --> 00:02:05,360 I saw one online the other day and this is a prominent pastor. 41 00:02:06,400 --> 00:02:11,240 Big old church in Oklahoma. He stands in front of his his 42 00:02:11,280 --> 00:02:14,040 people and he says in the beginning God created a light, 43 00:02:14,040 --> 00:02:15,280 and that light was. Actually. 44 00:02:15,280 --> 00:02:17,320 Jesus. And I'm thinking like. 45 00:02:17,480 --> 00:02:19,560 Bro you. Are you're saying God created? 46 00:02:19,560 --> 00:02:22,560 Jesus. Like I'm going through the book 47 00:02:22,560 --> 00:02:24,680 of Colossians right now. You're wrong. 48 00:02:25,840 --> 00:02:28,800 So you hear pastors saying stuff like this. 49 00:02:29,000 --> 00:02:32,520 Just to sound nice, but it's not biblical truth. 50 00:02:32,680 --> 00:02:35,680 And what's crazy is because. Of his outfits. 51 00:02:35,840 --> 00:02:37,840 And because of how cool. His church is. 52 00:02:38,040 --> 00:02:40,760 Everybody's feeding into it and they're. 53 00:02:40,760 --> 00:02:43,760 Like wow, that was deep. No, you're wrong. 54 00:02:45,120 --> 00:02:48,200 Jesus always existed. God did not. 55 00:02:48,200 --> 00:02:52,040 Create Christ. Christ is God, so we have to be. 56 00:02:52,040 --> 00:02:56,440 Really cautious and be very careful on some of the things 57 00:02:56,640 --> 00:02:59,680 that we are listening to and making sure that they align with 58 00:02:59,680 --> 00:03:02,160 Scripture. Because the truth. 59 00:03:02,160 --> 00:03:06,640 Is in our culture, I think there's a way that many people 60 00:03:06,640 --> 00:03:09,520 lose their faith and and the way they lose. 61 00:03:09,520 --> 00:03:11,960 Their faith is that they're. Replacing Jesus with other 62 00:03:11,960 --> 00:03:14,400 things. So it's like this. 63 00:03:14,400 --> 00:03:16,000 Thing didn't really work for me so I'm going to. 64 00:03:16,000 --> 00:03:18,600 Replace Jesus. With something else in my life 65 00:03:18,840 --> 00:03:21,280 that's going to make it, that's going to make me feel. 66 00:03:21,280 --> 00:03:23,720 Better you. Replace him with something else. 67 00:03:23,920 --> 00:03:25,520 So you lose your faith, you walk. 68 00:03:25,520 --> 00:03:28,280 Away from your faith, I would even argue based off of first 69 00:03:28,280 --> 00:03:29,840 John, you never had it in the first place. 70 00:03:31,120 --> 00:03:34,120 But I think many Christians don't just replace Jesus. 71 00:03:34,400 --> 00:03:36,800 I think the. Issue is that they displace 72 00:03:36,800 --> 00:03:40,920 Jesus and. When we displace Jesus, it's not 73 00:03:40,920 --> 00:03:44,600 that we are replacing him when we displace him is that we're 74 00:03:44,600 --> 00:03:46,720 moving him around. So you're not getting rid of 75 00:03:46,720 --> 00:03:49,520 him, you're just putting him in a different place and you're 76 00:03:49,520 --> 00:03:51,440 putting him in a different category in your life. 77 00:03:51,920 --> 00:03:56,200 You're making him secondary and you're allowing all these other 78 00:03:56,200 --> 00:03:58,680 things to. Replace the truth of Christ. 79 00:03:59,440 --> 00:04:02,200 And little. Because you have displaced 80 00:04:02,200 --> 00:04:05,520 Christ. You're going to look up and 81 00:04:05,520 --> 00:04:07,520 you're going to be. So far away. 82 00:04:07,920 --> 00:04:11,280 From the truth and you're not going to know what you believe 83 00:04:11,280 --> 00:04:14,320 anymore. So I don't think the issue is 84 00:04:14,320 --> 00:04:18,399 replacing, I think the issue is displacing. 85 00:04:19,240 --> 00:04:22,520 So how do we fight this? How do we fight? 86 00:04:22,520 --> 00:04:26,120 This whole notion that Jesus is enough to save, but he's not 87 00:04:26,120 --> 00:04:28,840 enough to sustain. 'Cause. 88 00:04:28,840 --> 00:04:31,960 Christ is not just mighty. To say but he is your life. 89 00:04:32,200 --> 00:04:33,480 He's what? Sustains you. 90 00:04:33,480 --> 00:04:36,440 He's what grows. You he's, he's who we serve. 91 00:04:36,440 --> 00:04:39,360 And we worship. He's who we want. 92 00:04:39,520 --> 00:04:43,280 He's who we pursue. We can't let other things pull 93 00:04:43,280 --> 00:04:46,240 us away from that. So look at verse we're. 94 00:04:46,240 --> 00:04:50,440 Just going to walk through. This let's look at verse. 16 and 95 00:04:50,440 --> 00:04:54,160 17 in Colossians. Chapter 2 it says this. 96 00:04:54,160 --> 00:04:56,440 Therefore, do not let anyone judge you. 97 00:04:56,880 --> 00:04:59,480 By what you eat or. Drink or with. 98 00:04:59,480 --> 00:05:03,360 Regard to a religious festival. A new moon celebration. 99 00:05:03,480 --> 00:05:06,640 Or a Sabbath. These are a shadow of the. 100 00:05:06,640 --> 00:05:08,560 Things that are that were to come. 101 00:05:08,560 --> 00:05:12,600 The reality, however, is found in Christ. 102 00:05:13,800 --> 00:05:17,120 So the first thing, Paul? Attacks here he's he's about to 103 00:05:17,120 --> 00:05:20,600 go through. Three separate types of isms. 104 00:05:21,080 --> 00:05:24,600 As we can talk about so last week we talked about how Paul. 105 00:05:24,600 --> 00:05:27,160 Warned the Church of Colossae don't fall into. 106 00:05:27,160 --> 00:05:30,920 Like this fake philosophy stuff? It's hollow, it's man made. 107 00:05:31,000 --> 00:05:33,000 It doesn't sustain you. Be careful. 108 00:05:33,200 --> 00:05:35,840 And then he warns us. But then he ends. 109 00:05:35,840 --> 00:05:39,120 We end last week in verse 15, how Jesus wins. 110 00:05:39,600 --> 00:05:41,160 Jesus won. He went to the cross. 111 00:05:41,280 --> 00:05:43,720 He rose from the dead. We are forgiving. 112 00:05:43,920 --> 00:05:47,160 Forever, and I think in verse 16. 113 00:05:47,320 --> 00:05:49,000 That's where the therefore. Comes in. 114 00:05:49,520 --> 00:05:51,520 So what Paul is going to do is Paul's going to. 115 00:05:51,520 --> 00:05:54,560 Tie this whole. Notion this this whole idea. 116 00:05:54,720 --> 00:05:59,600 This whole truth that Jesus rose. 117 00:05:59,600 --> 00:06:03,040 From the dead and conquered the grave, and now we are free from 118 00:06:03,160 --> 00:06:05,280 our sins. He wins. 119 00:06:06,800 --> 00:06:08,480 He. Defeated darkness. 120 00:06:08,480 --> 00:06:14,160 He defeated evil, therefore do not let anyone judge you. 121 00:06:14,840 --> 00:06:16,280 By what you eat or. Drink. 122 00:06:17,840 --> 00:06:18,760 And what, Jesus? What? 123 00:06:18,760 --> 00:06:19,920 What? Paul is going to. 124 00:06:20,280 --> 00:06:22,680 Attack here is. This whole idea of legalism, 125 00:06:23,280 --> 00:06:25,360 this whole notion of legalism, we hear it a lot in our. 126 00:06:25,360 --> 00:06:28,440 Culture holistic. That's a legalistic. 127 00:06:28,440 --> 00:06:31,160 Church, you're being really, and there's a difference between 128 00:06:31,160 --> 00:06:33,600 spiritual disciplines and legalism. 129 00:06:33,600 --> 00:06:35,240 So I'm going to put the definition. 130 00:06:35,240 --> 00:06:37,520 So I'm going to put that definition of legalism up. 131 00:06:37,720 --> 00:06:39,960 So that way we get a better idea of what legalism. 132 00:06:40,040 --> 00:06:44,200 Legalism is Legalism is the religion of human achievement. 133 00:06:45,640 --> 00:06:49,960 That means that you must work in order for. 134 00:06:49,960 --> 00:06:52,080 God. To look at you and be pleased 135 00:06:52,080 --> 00:06:54,800 with you. How do I? 136 00:06:55,000 --> 00:06:58,880 Become good with my maker. What legalism says is that you 137 00:06:58,880 --> 00:07:03,040 must do you must. Work right, so in. 138 00:07:03,040 --> 00:07:06,240 Legalism. You measure spirituality to the 139 00:07:06,240 --> 00:07:11,960 conformity of man made rules. You're playing with the tooth. 140 00:07:11,960 --> 00:07:21,080 Fairy, you are trying so hard to please man, so that way 141 00:07:21,080 --> 00:07:23,480 yourself. Can feel great about it, 142 00:07:23,720 --> 00:07:26,640 thinking that God's going to look at yourself and say thank 143 00:07:26,640 --> 00:07:31,640 you, I needed that. And that is not what 144 00:07:31,800 --> 00:07:34,040 Christianity is, and that's not what faith is. 145 00:07:34,720 --> 00:07:39,560 But many believers fall into this place of legalism thinking 146 00:07:39,560 --> 00:07:43,800 that what I do. Is going to actually please God 147 00:07:44,800 --> 00:07:48,400 when the truth is because Jesus went to the cross? 148 00:07:48,400 --> 00:07:52,320 Died and rose again. All we have to do is accept the 149 00:07:52,320 --> 00:07:54,440 free gift of. Life and salvation and the 150 00:07:54,440 --> 00:07:56,840 forgiveness of our sins. He. 151 00:07:56,840 --> 00:07:58,200 Did all the work. You don't have. 152 00:07:58,200 --> 00:08:01,400 To do it. And what Ephesians 2 says that 153 00:08:01,400 --> 00:08:03,920 man, we're created. We're we're God's workmanship. 154 00:08:04,160 --> 00:08:10,080 That means that I do because I am saved and because I'm 155 00:08:10,080 --> 00:08:12,280 redeemed. That means that what comes out 156 00:08:12,280 --> 00:08:14,000 of my life. Are all good. 157 00:08:14,000 --> 00:08:16,960 Things I don't do good things, so that way I can become 158 00:08:16,960 --> 00:08:19,960 redeemed. So what Paul is? 159 00:08:19,960 --> 00:08:21,800 Saying is that some of. These guys that were 160 00:08:21,800 --> 00:08:24,640 infiltrating the church. Were focused on two things, 161 00:08:24,840 --> 00:08:28,440 diets and days. That's the easiest. 162 00:08:28,440 --> 00:08:30,000 Way I could explain it, diets and. 163 00:08:30,000 --> 00:08:32,240 Days. So what they were. 164 00:08:32,240 --> 00:08:34,679 Doing Paul says don't let anybody judge you. 165 00:08:35,000 --> 00:08:39,280 I like that he uses judge you because honestly what Paul is 166 00:08:39,280 --> 00:08:40,360 trying to say. Here. 167 00:08:40,360 --> 00:08:44,520 Is that they're using intimidation through judgement? 168 00:08:45,120 --> 00:08:48,080 How many times have? We heard that where like. 169 00:08:48,080 --> 00:08:51,800 I don't want people to judge me. I would go, but I want nobody 170 00:08:51,800 --> 00:08:53,920 judge me. I don't want people to look at 171 00:08:53,920 --> 00:08:57,760 me and judge me. What they're doing is that they 172 00:08:57,760 --> 00:09:00,360 are. Trying to get you to walk and do 173 00:09:00,760 --> 00:09:04,640 certain things a different way and they're using judgement in 174 00:09:04,640 --> 00:09:06,000 order. To steer your life. 175 00:09:06,520 --> 00:09:09,680 One way or the other, and that's what Paul's pointing out. 176 00:09:09,920 --> 00:09:13,640 Don't let nobody judge you. And these false teachers were 177 00:09:13,640 --> 00:09:16,080 coming in mostly from the Jewish sect. 178 00:09:17,000 --> 00:09:18,960 They were coming in and they're like, hold on a second, you're 179 00:09:18,960 --> 00:09:20,920 not adhering to the. Diets of of. 180 00:09:20,960 --> 00:09:23,960 The Old Testament What diet? Live it Leviticus. 181 00:09:23,960 --> 00:09:28,440 Eight, I mean Leviticus 11 how he was looking back, he's like, 182 00:09:28,440 --> 00:09:31,120 hold on, you're not doing a little Leviticus 11, the 183 00:09:31,120 --> 00:09:35,560 Nazarene vowel in Genesis chapter 2 where God tells Adam 184 00:09:35,560 --> 00:09:38,440 and Eve to eat of the seeds of the ground and and all. 185 00:09:38,440 --> 00:09:40,360 That stuff like. Like you know you're you're not 186 00:09:40,360 --> 00:09:41,320 supposed to. Eat. 187 00:09:41,320 --> 00:09:44,880 You're supposed to be kosher. How in the world can God be 188 00:09:44,880 --> 00:09:45,760 pleased? With you. 189 00:09:46,080 --> 00:09:50,520 If your diet ain't right, you're not following God's laws. 190 00:09:50,520 --> 00:09:53,520 And what they were doing is that they were adding Old Covenant. 191 00:09:53,720 --> 00:09:57,080 Plus Jesus so you could follow Christ. 192 00:09:57,200 --> 00:10:01,240 Salvation is real, yes. But you must follow the Old 193 00:10:01,240 --> 00:10:07,440 Testament covenant of food, and if you don't do that then it 194 00:10:07,440 --> 00:10:11,440 doesn't count. So what Paul says is like. 195 00:10:11,440 --> 00:10:13,960 Hold on, don't let anybody. Judge you based. 196 00:10:13,960 --> 00:10:16,320 On what you eat and listen, there's a. 197 00:10:16,320 --> 00:10:20,200 Lot these days where people use food. 198 00:10:20,200 --> 00:10:24,320 And they use diet thinking that it enhances their spirituality. 199 00:10:24,320 --> 00:10:27,400 And in my mind, I'm like, have you? 200 00:10:27,400 --> 00:10:29,520 Had. Kindly, I saw the tacos. 201 00:10:31,760 --> 00:10:34,200 Probably not. That'll enhance your 202 00:10:34,200 --> 00:10:37,920 spirituality real good. Everybody say Amen, right. 203 00:10:38,080 --> 00:10:40,400 No, like I mean it's, but they're going around and they're 204 00:10:40,400 --> 00:10:43,520 claiming specific foods you can't eat certain things, you 205 00:10:43,520 --> 00:10:46,920 can't do that, Rick and really. I get it like. 206 00:10:46,920 --> 00:10:50,040 If if you want your health to be great, awesome, great. 207 00:10:50,280 --> 00:10:53,000 But listen, you could. Be physically healthy but. 208 00:10:53,000 --> 00:10:57,640 Spiritually unhealthy, so it's not about. 209 00:10:58,320 --> 00:11:00,080 Checklist. It's not about what you. 210 00:11:00,200 --> 00:11:01,360 Eat what you. Drink. 211 00:11:01,360 --> 00:11:03,640 None of that stuff is going to draw you. 212 00:11:03,640 --> 00:11:06,360 Closer to God. Honestly, legalism is 213 00:11:06,840 --> 00:11:10,440 dangerously. Deceptive because it's like 214 00:11:10,440 --> 00:11:12,720 this. Inward rebelliousness that we 215 00:11:12,840 --> 00:11:16,520 have in ourselves. That means that listen, I can 216 00:11:16,720 --> 00:11:23,640 live however I want, but externally if I am performing, 217 00:11:23,640 --> 00:11:26,640 good if I am. Holding up to standards and. 218 00:11:26,640 --> 00:11:30,760 Rituals and if I'm eating certain things and I'm serving 219 00:11:30,760 --> 00:11:31,920 the way I should. Serve. 220 00:11:32,320 --> 00:11:35,040 Then God's going to look at me and not really pay attention to 221 00:11:35,480 --> 00:11:39,280 my sinful nature. Legalism does not change your 222 00:11:39,280 --> 00:11:41,640 sinful nature. Legalism doesn't change your 223 00:11:41,640 --> 00:11:44,960 heart. Legalism makes you work. 224 00:11:44,960 --> 00:11:47,320 For it. It's impossible. 225 00:11:48,160 --> 00:11:53,000 And because Jesus had victory on the cross, don't let. 226 00:11:53,000 --> 00:11:56,200 People judge you. Based on the food or drink. 227 00:11:56,880 --> 00:11:59,920 You should let people pull you away. 228 00:11:59,920 --> 00:12:03,080 From what you're trying to do based on these these things and 229 00:12:03,080 --> 00:12:07,440 then Paul goes on. To talk about days, he says 230 00:12:08,040 --> 00:12:11,320 regardless of these religious. Festivals, the New moon 231 00:12:11,320 --> 00:12:16,200 celebration or the Sabbath day. So what are these religious? 232 00:12:16,200 --> 00:12:18,400 Festivals. The Old Testament. 233 00:12:18,880 --> 00:12:20,800 You saw a lot of these that the Jews. 234 00:12:20,800 --> 00:12:24,680 Would keep now they. God gave it to the people of 235 00:12:24,680 --> 00:12:27,760 Israel like I said to. Point to. 236 00:12:27,760 --> 00:12:31,480 Christ, so you have these. Festivals like the Passover, 237 00:12:31,480 --> 00:12:34,400 Pentecost, the Festival of the Tabernacles. 238 00:12:35,240 --> 00:12:37,480 The first fruits. All of these things were to be 239 00:12:37,480 --> 00:12:39,800 celebrated. That's why he mentioned the New 240 00:12:39,800 --> 00:12:41,920 Moon Festival. I was like, why did Paul mention 241 00:12:41,920 --> 00:12:45,120 this specifically? The New Moon Festival was a 242 00:12:45,120 --> 00:12:48,760 monthly sacrifice offered. At the first day of. 243 00:12:48,800 --> 00:12:51,560 Each month. So there were certain 244 00:12:51,560 --> 00:12:54,120 provisions. That you had to give. 245 00:12:54,120 --> 00:12:56,600 To the temple in. Order for your your. 246 00:12:56,600 --> 00:13:00,760 Sin to be cleansed and. For the sacrifices to work, but 247 00:13:00,800 --> 00:13:03,280 all of this stuff. Was done away with because. 248 00:13:03,280 --> 00:13:07,640 Christ. Jesus comes and he obliterates 249 00:13:07,680 --> 00:13:10,200 like he's like, this stuff doesn't matter anymore man. 250 00:13:10,200 --> 00:13:13,920 Hebrews 8 and I'll read it if you want to write it down. 251 00:13:13,920 --> 00:13:19,360 Hebrews 813 By calling this covenant new, he has made the 252 00:13:19,360 --> 00:13:22,800 first one obsolete. And what is? 253 00:13:22,800 --> 00:13:26,760 Obsolete, obsolete and outdated. Will soon disappear. 254 00:13:27,840 --> 00:13:32,640 So legalism is like, no, it's Jesus and and what Paul saying 255 00:13:32,640 --> 00:13:33,440 tonight? No. 256 00:13:33,600 --> 00:13:36,800 It's Jesus that's it. Doesn't matter about all these 257 00:13:36,800 --> 00:13:40,280 things. And I love how verse 17, verse 258 00:13:40,280 --> 00:13:43,600 17 explains this beautifully. Look at verse 17. 259 00:13:44,240 --> 00:13:48,640 It says these are a shadow. Of the things that were to come. 260 00:13:48,760 --> 00:13:51,000 The reality, however? Is found in Christ. 261 00:13:51,720 --> 00:13:54,040 Isn't there's a reality of? Things and there's a shadow of 262 00:13:54,040 --> 00:13:59,240 things in the morning. I'm up early and of course you 263 00:13:59,240 --> 00:14:01,360 guys have kids. Might understand this, but Livy. 264 00:14:01,360 --> 00:14:04,800 Is up early too. And as I'm sitting on the couch 265 00:14:04,800 --> 00:14:09,160 drinking my coffee, reading, just kind of hanging out, I 266 00:14:09,160 --> 00:14:11,840 always open the door to get these this natural light in and 267 00:14:11,840 --> 00:14:14,120 I could. See, I first I hear these little 268 00:14:14,320 --> 00:14:16,960 footsteps, 'cause. She's trying to be sneaky about 269 00:14:16,960 --> 00:14:21,240 it 'cause I'm like you wept way too early, but then I could. 270 00:14:21,240 --> 00:14:24,560 See the Shadow? In front of me of Livy creeping 271 00:14:24,560 --> 00:14:29,400 up from back behind me, I see a shadow of my daughter. 272 00:14:29,640 --> 00:14:33,080 Now when I see my shadow, do I go and hug the shadow? 273 00:14:33,320 --> 00:14:35,000 No. Do I start talking to the 274 00:14:35,000 --> 00:14:36,320 shadow? No. 275 00:14:36,320 --> 00:14:38,120 Why? Because the shadow is not the 276 00:14:38,120 --> 00:14:39,040 reality. The. 277 00:14:39,040 --> 00:14:44,000 Reality is Livy and what? Paul is saying is that all of 278 00:14:44,000 --> 00:14:47,680 these things? All of the all all of these 279 00:14:47,680 --> 00:14:51,840 laws, the festivals, like all the food stuff. 280 00:14:51,840 --> 00:14:54,960 Listen, that is just a. Shadow of the reality. 281 00:14:54,960 --> 00:14:56,480 Who's Christ? Don't. 282 00:14:56,480 --> 00:14:58,600 Focus on the shadow. Don't do the shadow. 283 00:14:58,720 --> 00:15:01,080 You focus on Jesus. He's. 284 00:15:01,080 --> 00:15:05,240 The reality and. When you focus on the shadow, it 285 00:15:05,240 --> 00:15:08,080 takes away from the. Reality and it's a waste. 286 00:15:08,320 --> 00:15:11,520 It it it, it doesn't hold water, it doesn't do anything. 287 00:15:11,800 --> 00:15:13,680 Some you're like well. Ricky, why did God create? 288 00:15:13,680 --> 00:15:17,040 It then so that. Way we could see our. 289 00:15:17,040 --> 00:15:20,560 Massive need for a Messiah because you ain't going to be 290 00:15:20,560 --> 00:15:21,600 able. To do all this stuff. 291 00:15:22,840 --> 00:15:26,760 There's no way. So these. 292 00:15:26,760 --> 00:15:29,360 Things are a shadow of the things to come and the. 293 00:15:29,360 --> 00:15:35,120 Reality is Jesus so. Regarding it and another way to 294 00:15:35,240 --> 00:15:37,040 see this regarding like the whole. 295 00:15:37,320 --> 00:15:39,720 Food. Situation Jesus is the reality 296 00:15:40,200 --> 00:15:41,800 right that it points to. So think about the food 297 00:15:41,800 --> 00:15:45,800 regulations, how in the Old Testament you can't eat certain 298 00:15:45,800 --> 00:15:48,680 things. Shellfish poured all these. 299 00:15:48,680 --> 00:15:52,200 Things that it lists. But then Jesus shows up in the 300 00:15:52,200 --> 00:15:55,000 New Testament and he says I'm the. 301 00:15:55,000 --> 00:15:57,560 Bread of life, that. Came down out of heaven. 302 00:15:58,280 --> 00:16:00,480 That's John 641 and he goes if you. 303 00:16:00,480 --> 00:16:02,600 Eat this. Bread, you will never hunger 304 00:16:02,600 --> 00:16:04,080 again. I am. 305 00:16:04,240 --> 00:16:06,240 I am the well of life. I'm the water. 306 00:16:06,240 --> 00:16:09,600 You'll never thirst again. We talk about days. 307 00:16:09,720 --> 00:16:14,240 In First Corinthians chapter 5 verse 17 it says that Christ. 308 00:16:14,240 --> 00:16:17,440 Is our. Passover also has been 309 00:16:18,120 --> 00:16:22,680 crucified. Everything is pointing back to 310 00:16:22,680 --> 00:16:26,400 Jesus. So legalism, there ain't no room 311 00:16:26,400 --> 00:16:30,160 for that now. Stay with your disciplines, yes, 312 00:16:30,440 --> 00:16:32,640 but nothing is going to get. You to God, except through 313 00:16:32,640 --> 00:16:35,640 Christ. Now Paul is going to also 314 00:16:35,640 --> 00:16:37,360 address something called mysticism. 315 00:16:38,280 --> 00:16:40,480 So let's go. Put the definition of mysticism 316 00:16:40,680 --> 00:16:44,120 so that way we get a better understanding of what mysticism 317 00:16:44,120 --> 00:16:47,440 is. It's the pursuit of a deeper or 318 00:16:47,440 --> 00:16:51,760 higher subjective, a religious. Experience so the. 319 00:16:51,760 --> 00:16:55,880 Belief is perceived apart from. Human intellect and natural 320 00:16:55,880 --> 00:16:58,720 senses. So a lot of these guys that 321 00:16:58,720 --> 00:16:59,800 were. Infiltrating the church in 322 00:16:59,800 --> 00:17:01,320 Colossae. So you had the. 323 00:17:01,320 --> 00:17:02,680 Jewish sect. But then you also had the 324 00:17:02,680 --> 00:17:05,680 Gnostics and the Gnostics. Had a philosophy. 325 00:17:05,680 --> 00:17:08,119 That came from the Greeks and what the Gnostics. 326 00:17:08,119 --> 00:17:09,800 Believed. Is that the what's? 327 00:17:09,800 --> 00:17:11,720 Spiritual and what's physical must be. 328 00:17:11,720 --> 00:17:14,160 Separated. So that means that the Spirit in 329 00:17:14,160 --> 00:17:18,440 the body cannot be one. That's why Jesus being 100% man 330 00:17:18,440 --> 00:17:20,760 and 100% God. Was such a big deal. 331 00:17:20,760 --> 00:17:22,720 For them, they couldn't believe it. 332 00:17:22,720 --> 00:17:25,040 That's why the resurrection was a big deal for them. 333 00:17:25,040 --> 00:17:27,599 They couldn't. Believe it, but they would also 334 00:17:27,599 --> 00:17:29,360 walk. Around saying. 335 00:17:29,360 --> 00:17:32,200 Yes, Jesus, we have his scriptures, but there's. 336 00:17:32,200 --> 00:17:34,680 Something that I have that you don't. 337 00:17:34,880 --> 00:17:37,880 I have a deeper understanding. I have an enlightenment. 338 00:17:38,160 --> 00:17:42,000 I have heard a word. From some angels, and I've heard 339 00:17:42,160 --> 00:17:46,200 a word from God that nobody else in this room will know about. 340 00:17:46,200 --> 00:17:47,960 And if you want to know what I'm going to tell. 341 00:17:47,960 --> 00:17:49,640 You. I'm going to need you to pay me 342 00:17:49,640 --> 00:17:56,320 10 bucks. Sounds kind of silly but people 343 00:17:56,320 --> 00:18:00,640 were banking on this and honestly I see this a lot in 344 00:18:00,640 --> 00:18:04,840 churches today. Where you have these fake. 345 00:18:04,840 --> 00:18:09,640 Prophets walking around pointing people out and and stay being 346 00:18:09,640 --> 00:18:14,600 Captain obvious and people are falling out yelling Hallelujah 347 00:18:14,600 --> 00:18:18,480 and they're worshipping. God told me you're going to be 348 00:18:18,480 --> 00:18:25,440 hungry today. Hungry for his word? 349 00:18:25,600 --> 00:18:27,760 And it was like, Oh my God, how does he know this? 350 00:18:29,480 --> 00:18:32,200 It says it right here. How do we know this? 351 00:18:32,200 --> 00:18:36,240 Do not let verse 18. Do not let anyone who delights 352 00:18:36,240 --> 00:18:39,640 and false humility and the worship of angels disqualify 353 00:18:39,640 --> 00:18:42,600 you. So first, Paul says to the 354 00:18:42,600 --> 00:18:45,160 legalist. Hey, don't, don't, don't let 355 00:18:45,160 --> 00:18:47,120 them. Don't, don't be intimidated by 356 00:18:47,120 --> 00:18:48,240 them. Don't let them judge you. 357 00:18:48,800 --> 00:18:51,640 But then here the word disqualify means cheat. 358 00:18:52,840 --> 00:18:55,000 It means to rob you. Hey, don't let these guys. 359 00:18:55,000 --> 00:18:56,360 Cheat you? Cheat you out of what? 360 00:18:56,680 --> 00:18:59,920 God's blessing on your life because you've listened to them. 361 00:19:00,760 --> 00:19:05,600 So your reward is at stake here. So how do we know these Mystics? 362 00:19:06,240 --> 00:19:11,040 Well, mysticism operates more on feeling and emotions instead of 363 00:19:11,040 --> 00:19:12,880 intellect and biblical knowledge. 364 00:19:13,800 --> 00:19:17,960 People prey on folks like this and it says that there's a false 365 00:19:18,160 --> 00:19:22,920 humility, actually. This humility is disguised in 366 00:19:23,240 --> 00:19:25,480 actually. Their pride is disguised in. 367 00:19:25,480 --> 00:19:28,560 Humility. So they're coming at you like 368 00:19:28,680 --> 00:19:30,600 I'm a humble servant of the Lord I'm about. 369 00:19:30,600 --> 00:19:33,440 To give you a word. That nobody else knows about. 370 00:19:33,640 --> 00:19:35,000 It's not even in the. Scripture. 371 00:19:35,000 --> 00:19:36,480 God just spoke. To me. 372 00:19:36,640 --> 00:19:38,320 To give it to you. Listen. 373 00:19:38,560 --> 00:19:42,120 That is a false humility because they want you to listen to them, 374 00:19:42,280 --> 00:19:45,720 to feed their pride. Paul is saying. 375 00:19:45,720 --> 00:19:48,880 Don't listen to these people. It's false. 376 00:19:49,080 --> 00:19:52,120 It's a false humility. If it's not in the Scriptures, 377 00:19:52,520 --> 00:19:55,960 if it doesn't align with God's Word, then it's a false word. 378 00:19:57,760 --> 00:20:00,400 So he says there's a. False humility with these guys. 379 00:20:01,680 --> 00:20:05,560 But then it says those who worship angels, be careful. 380 00:20:07,240 --> 00:20:09,280 And this is a hard. Practice for many of us. 381 00:20:10,120 --> 00:20:12,520 It's a hard. Teaching because many of us see 382 00:20:12,520 --> 00:20:16,200 it as something cultural, not just in something traditional. 383 00:20:17,800 --> 00:20:19,800 But the Bible is very. Clear, you don't worship. 384 00:20:19,840 --> 00:20:25,920 Angels, actually, if you look. Back in history, the Archangel 385 00:20:25,920 --> 00:20:28,520 Michael was worshipped and Asia Minor as. 386 00:20:28,520 --> 00:20:33,920 Late as AD. 739 And he was given credit for all these miraculous. 387 00:20:34,280 --> 00:20:38,760 Curses that he helped heal. So people began to worship the 388 00:20:38,760 --> 00:20:42,360 Archangel Michael. And then also there's. 389 00:20:42,360 --> 00:20:43,960 Worship of Gabriel, there's worship of. 390 00:20:43,960 --> 00:20:46,880 These angels like, oh, protect my me or whatever, and you're, 391 00:20:46,880 --> 00:20:50,120 you're praying to angels and Paul is saying don't pray to 392 00:20:50,120 --> 00:20:52,280 angels. You pray to the one that created 393 00:20:52,280 --> 00:20:53,360 them. Who's Christ? 394 00:20:54,960 --> 00:20:58,600 Don't. Do that all through history. 395 00:20:59,680 --> 00:21:04,000 False religions, demonic beliefs have all come from people who. 396 00:21:04,000 --> 00:21:07,320 Claim. To have been visited and seen 397 00:21:07,400 --> 00:21:09,920 angels. How do I know that? 398 00:21:10,040 --> 00:21:14,800 We can look Joseph Smith. He's the inventor of Mormonism 399 00:21:15,480 --> 00:21:16,920 and he. Said that he was visited. 400 00:21:16,920 --> 00:21:25,560 By the Angel Moroni. And that in between 1823 and 401 00:21:25,560 --> 00:21:29,200 1827, this Angel would visit him and he was stacked these gold 402 00:21:29,200 --> 00:21:31,480 plates. And that's how he got Mormonism. 403 00:21:31,480 --> 00:21:33,200 And that's how he wrote the Book of Mormonism. 404 00:21:33,320 --> 00:21:35,760 Nobody else saw it, nobody else knew about it. 405 00:21:35,960 --> 00:21:37,720 Nobody. Else in history has ever 406 00:21:37,720 --> 00:21:40,200 experienced. It but for some reason Joseph 407 00:21:40,200 --> 00:21:42,760 Smith got to see this Angel Moroni. 408 00:21:44,040 --> 00:21:48,120 And there this crazy belief. System was birthed out of that 409 00:21:49,640 --> 00:21:52,680 even if you look at other beliefs I mean I could go down 410 00:21:52,680 --> 00:21:56,040 the line with Islam man. Even if you look at Adventist 411 00:21:56,440 --> 00:22:01,280 said that LNG white how the person that was starting that 412 00:22:01,280 --> 00:22:05,320 movement claimed that in 1840. 4 Jesus Christ. 413 00:22:05,320 --> 00:22:07,120 Was going to come back down to earth. 414 00:22:07,120 --> 00:22:09,800 He was going to return. And when 1840? 415 00:22:09,800 --> 00:22:12,040 Four hit. I guess he forgot to read that 416 00:22:12,040 --> 00:22:15,800 Jesus himself said that. Nobody's going to know the time 417 00:22:15,800 --> 00:22:20,760 of the date, but when it did not happen and you could read this 418 00:22:20,760 --> 00:22:24,680 in the historical documentation, it was known as the Great 419 00:22:24,960 --> 00:22:28,520 Disappointment. So then Ellen G. 420 00:22:28,520 --> 00:22:34,160 White, the Prophetess. Goes in and says that then she 421 00:22:34,160 --> 00:22:38,560 claimed that she got visions and this great revelation given to. 422 00:22:38,560 --> 00:22:42,120 Her by God. And that the Church actually 423 00:22:42,120 --> 00:22:45,560 honors her writings alongside the authoritative. 424 00:22:47,640 --> 00:22:50,760 Word of God and they. Uphold them. 425 00:22:51,240 --> 00:22:56,120 Close to God's Word. And what she decided is that, 426 00:22:56,120 --> 00:22:59,640 listen in 1840. 4 Jesus Christ was going. 427 00:22:59,640 --> 00:23:02,360 To start his second phase of ministry, which he's going to 428 00:23:02,360 --> 00:23:05,640 start investigating the. Lives of believers so that. 429 00:23:05,640 --> 00:23:09,520 There's now 7 pillars that we must focus on so that. 430 00:23:09,520 --> 00:23:12,720 Way God will look at us, and by the way, they also believe. 431 00:23:12,840 --> 00:23:18,960 That hell ain't a real thing. Got some, got some revelation 432 00:23:19,760 --> 00:23:23,200 that nobody that does not align. With the word of God. 433 00:23:24,720 --> 00:23:27,240 And yeah, you could believe in your diets and your days and all 434 00:23:27,240 --> 00:23:30,320 that stuff and that's fine, but that's not going to. 435 00:23:30,320 --> 00:23:33,440 Give you closer to God. Only Jesus does that. 436 00:23:33,640 --> 00:23:35,440 And what's even crazier? Is that a lot? 437 00:23:35,440 --> 00:23:42,880 Of these belief systems claim Christ, but they don't claim him 438 00:23:42,880 --> 00:23:46,480 100%. They displace Christ. 439 00:23:48,000 --> 00:23:51,680 So what is Paul? Saying don't let. 440 00:23:51,760 --> 00:23:56,720 Folks with a false humility and people that worship. 441 00:23:56,720 --> 00:24:00,400 It don't let them cheat you and disqualify you and tell you that 442 00:24:00,400 --> 00:24:03,600 you're wrong. For your beliefs because of what 443 00:24:03,600 --> 00:24:04,800 they've. Heard and seen. 444 00:24:05,000 --> 00:24:06,560 How do you know that? Look, Paul. 445 00:24:06,720 --> 00:24:07,800 Walks us out. Look at. 446 00:24:08,120 --> 00:24:10,560 Such a person goes into. Great detail. 447 00:24:10,560 --> 00:24:14,040 About what they have seen. They talk a lot. 448 00:24:15,840 --> 00:24:17,360 They're great at telling. Stories. 449 00:24:17,360 --> 00:24:21,560 And they're they're great. They're great communicators, but 450 00:24:21,560 --> 00:24:26,080 they are puffed up and with idle notions by their unspiritual 451 00:24:26,080 --> 00:24:29,320 mind. That means that this stuff is 452 00:24:29,320 --> 00:24:33,240 not coming from the Holy Spirit. Their mind is the mind of the. 453 00:24:33,240 --> 00:24:36,320 Flesh it has, it is. Not a renewed mind and Paul's 454 00:24:36,320 --> 00:24:39,480 saying that the antidote for. Both of these false. 455 00:24:39,480 --> 00:24:46,080 Teachings is simply more Jesus. You exalt Jesus over the. 456 00:24:46,080 --> 00:24:50,320 Angels You, you, you take him. To God's Word. 457 00:24:50,320 --> 00:24:53,720 For the revelation of God. So if somebody tells you 458 00:24:53,720 --> 00:24:56,360 something, it must match his. Word if it. 459 00:24:56,360 --> 00:24:59,000 Doesn't match his word then they are a false. 460 00:24:59,000 --> 00:25:02,400 Teacher. And it makes no sense. 461 00:25:05,600 --> 00:25:09,240 And I know this is kind of a hard teaching and I'll be 462 00:25:09,240 --> 00:25:14,680 honest, I've had people in my life who have come and have 463 00:25:14,680 --> 00:25:17,440 given me a. Prophetic word they've 464 00:25:17,440 --> 00:25:20,960 prophesied had it happened. Many times, and maybe I would 465 00:25:20,960 --> 00:25:27,800 think there was only twice that it was real, but the other times 466 00:25:28,680 --> 00:25:30,920 there was something in my spirit where I'm like, Nah bro that 467 00:25:30,920 --> 00:25:33,680 ain't it. For honestly it's wrong. 468 00:25:33,680 --> 00:25:38,920 Like you're way off. How do I know that? 469 00:25:40,000 --> 00:25:44,280 Because the Holy Spirit. Inside of me there's a prompting 470 00:25:45,200 --> 00:25:47,040 and because I'm aligning things with. 471 00:25:47,040 --> 00:25:50,680 God's word. So yes, it's real. 472 00:25:50,680 --> 00:25:52,800 We got to be. Careful with these mystical 473 00:25:52,800 --> 00:25:55,680 movements that are coming up in the Church. 474 00:25:55,680 --> 00:26:00,440 Today, be careful. That we don't fall into that. 475 00:26:02,000 --> 00:26:04,080 Now what Paul's going to do is he's going to give an 476 00:26:04,080 --> 00:26:09,880 explanation on how this happens, because these are prominent 477 00:26:09,880 --> 00:26:11,360 teachers. These are not just your 478 00:26:11,720 --> 00:26:15,800 nobodies. These are the heads of the 479 00:26:15,800 --> 00:26:18,480 Jewish culture. These are the heads of the the. 480 00:26:18,480 --> 00:26:21,640 Gnosticism movement, What happened to them? 481 00:26:21,800 --> 00:26:23,840 'Cause it looks like they. Started out great and. 482 00:26:24,360 --> 00:26:25,960 So they how? How did this happen? 483 00:26:25,960 --> 00:26:28,240 Look at verse 19. They have. 484 00:26:28,240 --> 00:26:34,280 Lost connection with the head from the whole body, supported 485 00:26:34,280 --> 00:26:37,560 and held together by its ligaments and sinews. 486 00:26:38,440 --> 00:26:43,160 Grows as God causes it to grow. They have. 487 00:26:43,160 --> 00:26:46,360 Lost connection with the head and who's? 488 00:26:46,360 --> 00:26:50,600 The head of the church, Jesus. Who's the head over? 489 00:26:50,600 --> 00:26:56,000 All authority and powers Jesus. The way that the church grows, 490 00:26:56,200 --> 00:26:58,600 the way that Christianity. Moves. 491 00:26:58,840 --> 00:27:02,440 Is. Jesus and when churches lose the 492 00:27:02,440 --> 00:27:05,240 connection to the head and you start allowing. 493 00:27:05,240 --> 00:27:08,600 The stuff to bleed through. The church will not. 494 00:27:08,600 --> 00:27:11,440 Grow if it grows. It's going to become ineffective 495 00:27:11,440 --> 00:27:16,360 and I'll be honest with you. Ever have a small church that's 496 00:27:16,360 --> 00:27:19,360 Kingdom effective than a large church that's Kingdom 497 00:27:19,360 --> 00:27:23,880 ineffective? Jesus only had 12 disciples and 498 00:27:23,880 --> 00:27:30,440 they changed the world. But imagine, the more people 499 00:27:30,440 --> 00:27:33,960 that knew Christ, the more people that came to Christ, the 500 00:27:33,960 --> 00:27:37,360 more people who are changing families and sharing the gospel 501 00:27:37,360 --> 00:27:41,240 and making disciples it. Changes the world. 502 00:27:41,600 --> 00:27:44,200 Around us and that's what we're after, but we can't get there. 503 00:27:44,520 --> 00:27:46,720 If we lose. The Head and the Lordship. 504 00:27:46,760 --> 00:27:48,800 Who's Jesus? He wants the. 505 00:27:48,800 --> 00:27:53,440 Body to grow together. And without the head, it don't 506 00:27:53,440 --> 00:27:57,240 work. The tendency for human nature. 507 00:27:57,280 --> 00:27:59,360 Let's just kind of have an honest conversation. 508 00:28:00,160 --> 00:28:06,320 Is that we move from objectivity to subjectivity we. 509 00:28:06,320 --> 00:28:10,560 Shift our focus from Christ because we want an experience 510 00:28:10,560 --> 00:28:15,320 instead. And sometimes as you're growing 511 00:28:15,320 --> 00:28:17,560 in the in the Word, you're growing in the faith. 512 00:28:17,840 --> 00:28:19,840 You. Start kind of claiming things 513 00:28:19,840 --> 00:28:25,600 like I didn't feel it, I'm having a rough time, it's not 514 00:28:25,600 --> 00:28:30,480 going the way I want. That is not Christianity. 515 00:28:31,720 --> 00:28:38,240 That is US wanting a specific way, a specific pass, and a 516 00:28:38,240 --> 00:28:40,600 specific experience to. Fill us. 517 00:28:41,520 --> 00:28:43,040 And if we're not? Careful, we're going to start. 518 00:28:43,040 --> 00:28:45,480 Seeing things subjectively instead of sticking the. 519 00:28:45,480 --> 00:28:48,040 Truth, so instead of Christ. We want an experience. 520 00:28:48,200 --> 00:28:50,840 Instead of truth, we want emotion, and instead of faith we 521 00:28:50,840 --> 00:28:53,120 want feelings. Be. 522 00:28:53,120 --> 00:28:55,760 Careful on what you let lead you. 523 00:28:56,680 --> 00:29:00,000 And Paul is giving us these warnings and Paul is saying, 524 00:29:00,000 --> 00:29:02,840 man, you got to watch. Out because the way that you 525 00:29:02,840 --> 00:29:05,560 live life your life. Is not a roller coaster. 526 00:29:05,560 --> 00:29:08,960 Of faith. It's not peaks and valleys where 527 00:29:09,000 --> 00:29:11,760 Jesus only shows up in the peaks and he's not with you in the 528 00:29:11,760 --> 00:29:15,320 valleys. No, the beauty of Christianity 529 00:29:15,560 --> 00:29:16,520 is that. Regardless. 530 00:29:16,520 --> 00:29:18,840 If you're in the peaks and the valleys, Jesus is. 531 00:29:18,840 --> 00:29:23,200 There, He's with us, God with us. 532 00:29:23,200 --> 00:29:26,640 Jesus is with me, He's with you. So when life gets. 533 00:29:26,640 --> 00:29:27,880 Hard. He's with you. 534 00:29:27,880 --> 00:29:30,560 When life is going great, he's with you. 535 00:29:31,600 --> 00:29:33,240 And listen, that's what you hang your hat on. 536 00:29:34,760 --> 00:29:37,800 And if you're not careful, you can't fall into mysticism, 537 00:29:38,720 --> 00:29:42,480 because then you're going to start operating on how you feel. 538 00:29:42,480 --> 00:29:45,000 Instead of what the truth of God says and. 539 00:29:46,120 --> 00:29:48,280 You're going to forget. That Jesus is with you. 540 00:29:49,280 --> 00:29:51,320 Praise. God, man, like I'm telling you 541 00:29:51,760 --> 00:29:54,200 and I and I think we. All have to I have. 542 00:29:54,200 --> 00:29:57,560 To remind myself that that even in the hard times, even things 543 00:29:57,560 --> 00:30:00,520 don't work. Out listen, there's days where 544 00:30:00,520 --> 00:30:02,840 you get. Home from a day of work, you're 545 00:30:02,840 --> 00:30:04,040 like. What the heck was that? 546 00:30:05,640 --> 00:30:07,920 That was crazy. I can't have. 547 00:30:07,920 --> 00:30:10,520 Another day like that. Like. 548 00:30:10,520 --> 00:30:13,800 This I just, I just like blank out, but I have to remind myself 549 00:30:13,800 --> 00:30:18,000 like, Lord, I don't know what you're doing, but I know you're 550 00:30:18,000 --> 00:30:22,360 with me. It's hard sometimes life is 551 00:30:22,360 --> 00:30:27,040 hard. Sometimes things happen that 552 00:30:27,040 --> 00:30:30,080 are. Difficult, but Jesus is with. 553 00:30:30,080 --> 00:30:35,440 You don't forget that and don't let anybody cheat you from that. 554 00:30:36,400 --> 00:30:39,280 Just don't feel it. So, he says. 555 00:30:39,280 --> 00:30:41,680 Don't let anybody judge you. Don't let anybody intimidate you 556 00:30:41,920 --> 00:30:44,880 because you're not legalistic. Don't let anybody cheat you. 557 00:30:45,080 --> 00:30:47,680 Because you. Think you don't know certain 558 00:30:47,680 --> 00:30:50,880 things of the Bible? And then the last thing Paul 559 00:30:50,880 --> 00:30:53,000 addresses is something called asceticism. 560 00:30:53,760 --> 00:30:56,080 So let's go put that definition of a cynicism. 561 00:30:56,640 --> 00:31:00,840 It's pretty much. Spirituality that's lived by a 562 00:31:00,840 --> 00:31:03,360 life of. Rigorous self denial. 563 00:31:04,280 --> 00:31:06,800 So what people that practice the cynicism? 564 00:31:06,800 --> 00:31:11,680 Believe is that listen if. I if I am poor and if I'm 565 00:31:11,680 --> 00:31:16,400 struggling, if I cause myself pain, I am punishing the flesh. 566 00:31:16,880 --> 00:31:20,280 And when I punish the flesh and when things are hard, if I make 567 00:31:20,280 --> 00:31:24,240 things hard for my life, then God is going to be more pleased 568 00:31:24,240 --> 00:31:28,440 with me. We started seeing the shift as 569 00:31:28,440 --> 00:31:32,440 monks would leave places and then they would go and live 570 00:31:32,440 --> 00:31:37,080 these lives, struggle, and they would do it in the name of 571 00:31:37,080 --> 00:31:40,000 asceticism. If you go to other countries, 572 00:31:40,360 --> 00:31:43,400 especially in Easter, you'll see people walking around whipping 573 00:31:43,400 --> 00:31:45,640 their backs. To the to the place where 574 00:31:45,680 --> 00:31:48,480 they're bloodied, you see people. 575 00:31:48,480 --> 00:31:52,680 In other religions, Pierce their bodies, hang themselves to show. 576 00:31:52,800 --> 00:31:56,160 That they have defeated the flesh guys. 577 00:31:56,240 --> 00:31:59,120 All of this stuff takes place. And. 578 00:31:59,120 --> 00:32:02,200 People purposely struggle so that. 579 00:32:02,200 --> 00:32:06,440 Way they can say that they're holier than thou, and that's 580 00:32:06,440 --> 00:32:08,320 not. What the Bible? 581 00:32:08,320 --> 00:32:10,800 Says remember like Jesus even called this out. 582 00:32:11,200 --> 00:32:14,960 What Jesus talked about fasting. He pretty much said don't put on 583 00:32:14,960 --> 00:32:19,400 gloomy faces like the hypocrites do, for they neglect their 584 00:32:19,400 --> 00:32:23,000 appearance in order to be seen fasting by men. 585 00:32:23,560 --> 00:32:24,960 They go. Around and they're like they 586 00:32:24,960 --> 00:32:28,080 claim that they're fasting that's why they're weak when 587 00:32:28,080 --> 00:32:30,520 they give they try to do it in public squares. 588 00:32:31,080 --> 00:32:34,720 Jesus is saying you don't have to do that don't do that and 589 00:32:34,720 --> 00:32:38,040 Paul is addressing it now just for time's sake. 590 00:32:38,040 --> 00:32:39,880 We'll run through look at verse 20. 591 00:32:40,680 --> 00:32:43,480 So since so Paul goes. Through these three, right? 592 00:32:43,480 --> 00:32:46,680 He he talks about them, he says since you. 593 00:32:46,680 --> 00:32:50,240 Died with Christ to the. Elemental spiritual forces of 594 00:32:50,240 --> 00:32:50,960 this. World. 595 00:32:51,320 --> 00:32:52,240 I gotta pause there. Real. 596 00:32:52,240 --> 00:32:54,760 Quick remember. All of these belief. 597 00:32:54,760 --> 00:32:57,440 Systems if they point away from Christ or demonic. 598 00:32:58,200 --> 00:32:59,840 That's what this. Word is the elemental. 599 00:32:59,840 --> 00:33:03,080 Spiritual force of the world. These are not. 600 00:33:03,080 --> 00:33:06,640 Beliefs that Jesus gave us. Why? 601 00:33:06,640 --> 00:33:09,080 As though you still. Belong to the world. 602 00:33:09,360 --> 00:33:13,160 Do you submit to these? Rules so if you are. 603 00:33:13,160 --> 00:33:15,920 Founding Christ. If you claim that he died for 604 00:33:15,920 --> 00:33:17,000 you. If you claim. 605 00:33:17,000 --> 00:33:20,000 That you have the holy. Spirit, why do you still follow 606 00:33:20,000 --> 00:33:23,160 these? Rules And then Paul says don't 607 00:33:23,160 --> 00:33:25,360 handle it, don't taste it and don't touch it. 608 00:33:27,400 --> 00:33:31,800 Don't even dabble in it. And don't be curious, listen. 609 00:33:31,800 --> 00:33:33,600 If you're not thinking about going through the front door, 610 00:33:33,600 --> 00:33:41,400 don't get on the porch. Don't mess with it, man. 611 00:33:41,400 --> 00:33:44,040 Just just ignore it. Just stay focused on the 612 00:33:44,040 --> 00:33:45,960 reality. Whose Christ? 613 00:33:45,960 --> 00:33:49,520 And not the shadow? Don't mess with it. 614 00:33:49,520 --> 00:33:51,960 Don't Jack with it. And then Paul says in verse 20. 615 00:33:51,960 --> 00:33:54,520 Two these rules which have to do with. 616 00:33:54,520 --> 00:33:58,480 Things that are all disdained to pair, destined to perish. 617 00:33:58,720 --> 00:34:02,080 With use are. Based on merely human commands 618 00:34:02,080 --> 00:34:05,840 and teachings. All this stuff don't come from 619 00:34:05,840 --> 00:34:07,520 the Holy Spirit or don't come from God. 620 00:34:07,680 --> 00:34:10,960 It comes from man. Now some people might argue, 621 00:34:10,960 --> 00:34:13,880 well Ricky, isn't the Bible written by man? 622 00:34:14,920 --> 00:34:16,880 But it's inspired by the Holy Spirit. 623 00:34:17,880 --> 00:34:20,920 All of this stuff is. Man made. 624 00:34:20,920 --> 00:34:25,600 Inspired by Pride Inspired. By self love, inspired by 625 00:34:26,679 --> 00:34:30,679 productivity so that way you could get the applause. 626 00:34:31,679 --> 00:34:34,040 These teachings are human commands. 627 00:34:34,040 --> 00:34:37,440 These teachings don't mean anything according to the 628 00:34:37,440 --> 00:34:41,360 commands and doctrine of man. That's one aspect that legalism, 629 00:34:42,520 --> 00:34:44,639 it's a doctrine that promotes. They use it as a. 630 00:34:44,639 --> 00:34:49,080 Doctrine that promotes. The laws of God but yet feeds 631 00:34:49,080 --> 00:34:52,639 the pride. Of man makes no sense and this 632 00:34:52,639 --> 00:34:56,480 wrap this thing up look at verse 23 such regulations I. 633 00:34:56,480 --> 00:34:59,480 Like how he says that laws. Regulations. 634 00:34:59,480 --> 00:35:01,600 Look. Look at the language that Paul's 635 00:35:01,600 --> 00:35:05,800 using here. Such regulations indeed have an 636 00:35:05,800 --> 00:35:10,720 appearance of wisdom. With their self-imposed worship, 637 00:35:11,320 --> 00:35:13,440 their false. Humility and their harsh 638 00:35:13,440 --> 00:35:15,800 treatment. Of the body, but they. 639 00:35:15,800 --> 00:35:22,160 Lack any value and restraining sensual indulgence, so think. 640 00:35:22,160 --> 00:35:25,000 About this, all this stuff. And he's warning us. 641 00:35:25,840 --> 00:35:28,000 It has the appearance. Of wisdom. 642 00:35:29,400 --> 00:35:33,800 It looks like wisdom. It shows up like wisdom, but 643 00:35:33,800 --> 00:35:36,800 it's not wisdom. It's fake. 644 00:35:38,800 --> 00:35:42,760 It's like me taking ramen noodles and putting some 645 00:35:42,760 --> 00:35:45,960 Parmesan cheese in it and calling it fettuccine Alfredo. 646 00:35:49,320 --> 00:35:53,440 Rachel's like, no, it might taste like fettuccine Alfredo. 647 00:35:53,440 --> 00:35:55,680 My point? Rachel's like, get that out of 648 00:35:55,680 --> 00:35:59,160 here. But that's what that's what he's 649 00:35:59,160 --> 00:36:03,040 saying, all of these. Things are disguised and he's 650 00:36:03,040 --> 00:36:07,640 calling it something else. There's another analogy with a 651 00:36:07,640 --> 00:36:09,360 chicken sandwich, but I'm going to leave that one alone. 652 00:36:09,360 --> 00:36:13,240 All right, so. A lot of it is. 653 00:36:13,480 --> 00:36:18,080 Self-imposed worship. So who's getting the credit by 654 00:36:18,080 --> 00:36:22,720 doing all this stuff? You God doesn't get any of the 655 00:36:22,720 --> 00:36:25,160 credit. Nothing points to Jesus. 656 00:36:25,200 --> 00:36:29,360 Everything points to my performance and how I did and 657 00:36:29,360 --> 00:36:33,360 what people think about me. It feeds your pride, which also 658 00:36:33,360 --> 00:36:37,360 says a false humility and then harsh treatment of the body. 659 00:36:37,840 --> 00:36:39,440 That's the whole asceticism piece. 660 00:36:39,920 --> 00:36:42,640 Listen, you're hurting yourself, not just spiritually but 661 00:36:42,640 --> 00:36:46,680 sometimes physically as well. They lack value. 662 00:36:47,480 --> 00:36:51,800 They lack value. That's how we wrap this thing 663 00:36:51,800 --> 00:36:53,480 up. Man, I love like what Jeremiah 664 00:36:53,880 --> 00:36:57,880 213 says, broken cisterns that hold no. 665 00:36:57,880 --> 00:37:00,840 Water. That's what this is. 666 00:37:02,440 --> 00:37:03,960 So just two more points and we're. 667 00:37:04,200 --> 00:37:06,880 Out of here. So let me give you 2 equations. 668 00:37:07,600 --> 00:37:11,720 My first equation. Jesus plus whatever it is. 669 00:37:11,960 --> 00:37:16,080 Equals nothing. Jesus plus fill in the blank. 670 00:37:17,400 --> 00:37:19,560 Nothing. You could add. 671 00:37:19,560 --> 00:37:22,520 Legalism in there. Jesus plus my works. 672 00:37:22,800 --> 00:37:26,800 Jesus plus my going to church. Jesus, plus my money giving. 673 00:37:27,280 --> 00:37:30,280 Jesus plus whatever it is. If I'm trying to. 674 00:37:30,680 --> 00:37:33,920 Get right. With my maker and I'm adding 675 00:37:33,920 --> 00:37:36,280 things to my relationship. With Christ. 676 00:37:36,560 --> 00:37:38,760 Listen, that gets you nowhere real fast. 677 00:37:40,520 --> 00:37:42,280 I think actually there's four things and I'm not going to put 678 00:37:42,280 --> 00:37:43,880 this on the screen, but I just want us to think. 679 00:37:43,880 --> 00:37:47,960 About the text that we read. It's just kind of reflecting on 680 00:37:47,960 --> 00:37:51,240 it, you know why these things don't work when you try. 681 00:37:51,240 --> 00:37:54,720 To add it to Christ. Number one, it doesn't refrain, 682 00:37:54,840 --> 00:38:00,360 it doesn't restrain the flesh. It actually feeds it, so you 683 00:38:00,360 --> 00:38:03,440 still have to deal with this. Concept of simple nature. 684 00:38:04,200 --> 00:38:08,400 So if it does not address your sinful nature, it's never go. 685 00:38:08,400 --> 00:38:11,920 You're always going to be fighting it instead of being 686 00:38:11,920 --> 00:38:16,880 free from it #2 it highlights pride, but it highlights pride 687 00:38:16,880 --> 00:38:20,800 and it calls it humility. It's a pig with lipstick. 688 00:38:20,800 --> 00:38:24,320 On it. So you're trying. 689 00:38:24,320 --> 00:38:27,560 To like, be all humble. But honestly, it's just feeding 690 00:38:27,560 --> 00:38:30,960 your ego and your pride because it doesn't point to Christ, it 691 00:38:30,960 --> 00:38:36,360 points to you #3 I think is the most important. 692 00:38:36,360 --> 00:38:38,360 None of this stuff is going to forgive your sins. 693 00:38:39,320 --> 00:38:41,960 You're still going to have. The weight of. 694 00:38:42,080 --> 00:38:44,160 Sins on your back. You're going to still try to 695 00:38:44,160 --> 00:38:47,280 figure out how am I going to be forgiven from this? 696 00:38:47,280 --> 00:38:49,080 How do I know I'm not forgiven from it? 697 00:38:49,080 --> 00:38:51,880 Because you're trying more and more. 698 00:38:52,000 --> 00:38:53,520 So that way God will. Forgive you. 699 00:38:53,520 --> 00:38:57,200 And lastly, it's going to leave you feeling frustrated, angry, 700 00:38:57,200 --> 00:39:00,600 anxious and tired. Frustrated, angry, anxious and 701 00:39:00,600 --> 00:39:03,600 tired. I've talked to a lot of people. 702 00:39:03,600 --> 00:39:07,160 That have fallen into legalism and the one thing I never hear 703 00:39:07,160 --> 00:39:08,960 is. Oh, I feel great. 704 00:39:11,600 --> 00:39:14,040 Here is. I'm stressed out, I'm 705 00:39:14,040 --> 00:39:16,560 frustrated, my anxiety through the roof and I'm. 706 00:39:16,560 --> 00:39:17,680 Depressed. Why? 707 00:39:17,720 --> 00:39:19,480 Because there's. Nothing that you can do. 708 00:39:19,520 --> 00:39:22,960 There's nothing that you can do for God to love you more. 709 00:39:26,240 --> 00:39:29,680 They love you less. Jesus is the only thing that you 710 00:39:29,680 --> 00:39:33,160 can do and to accept him and to make him Lord of your life. 711 00:39:33,160 --> 00:39:34,560 Because there's another equation. 712 00:39:34,720 --> 00:39:37,720 I want to end this with. Jesus plus nothing is 713 00:39:37,720 --> 00:39:40,440 everything. Jesus plus nothing equals 714 00:39:40,520 --> 00:39:43,360 everything. Everything you want in life is 715 00:39:43,360 --> 00:39:47,080 in Christ. How freeing does that feel that 716 00:39:47,080 --> 00:39:50,120 I don't have to do, I don't have to perform? 717 00:39:50,320 --> 00:39:53,600 I don't have to try so hard for Jesus to look. 718 00:39:53,600 --> 00:39:58,960 Down at me and call me his son, and even when I fall back into 719 00:39:58,960 --> 00:40:02,920 my sin and even when I fail him, he still accepts me with open 720 00:40:02,920 --> 00:40:05,200 arms because I'm. Covered by His grace. 721 00:40:05,320 --> 00:40:07,920 So I don't go back home thinking, Oh my gosh, now I have 722 00:40:07,920 --> 00:40:10,320 to go pray again. I'm have to go tell somebody 723 00:40:10,320 --> 00:40:11,840 what I did. No. 724 00:40:11,840 --> 00:40:22,590 Jesus says I love you to restore you and. 725 00:40:22,710 --> 00:40:27,230 On the same side, 4 things Why? Why does this make sense? 726 00:40:27,920 --> 00:40:30,400 Is number 1 he. Gives us the Holy Spirit. 727 00:40:30,440 --> 00:40:33,480 The Bible says that the Spirit of God abides. 728 00:40:33,480 --> 00:40:35,880 In our hearts. So that means that as I'm living 729 00:40:35,880 --> 00:40:38,280 my. Life Jesus, his Spirit is. 730 00:40:38,280 --> 00:40:42,520 Abiding in me that means that I am not living out of frustration 731 00:40:42,520 --> 00:40:45,240 because I cannot frame restrain my flesh. 732 00:40:45,440 --> 00:40:49,560 I'm actually leaving, living in abundance and in freedom because 733 00:40:49,640 --> 00:40:52,600 He renews and refreshes my soul. Daily. 734 00:40:55,640 --> 00:41:00,120 He abides in me, He abides in my heart number. 2 because I have 735 00:41:00,120 --> 00:41:02,520 true. Identity in Christ, that means 736 00:41:02,600 --> 00:41:04,480 that I'm able to live in humility. 737 00:41:04,560 --> 00:41:07,400 Pride feeds those. Who don't know who they? 738 00:41:07,400 --> 00:41:09,360 Are. Because you're trying to earn 739 00:41:09,360 --> 00:41:15,640 approval from someone that doesn't matter and the only. 740 00:41:15,640 --> 00:41:19,120 Approval that you. Need in life Listen, the only 741 00:41:19,120 --> 00:41:22,120 approval that you need in life is with your maker who's. 742 00:41:22,120 --> 00:41:27,640 God, if you just. Said I can't do anything. 743 00:41:27,640 --> 00:41:30,920 For God to approve? Absolutely right, Because Jesus 744 00:41:30,920 --> 00:41:31,880 did it. And you know how? 745 00:41:31,880 --> 00:41:33,520 God is approved. How God? 746 00:41:33,520 --> 00:41:35,720 Looks at us and is, is, is. Happy with us and. 747 00:41:36,200 --> 00:41:39,280 Then loves us. Because he sees Christ in you. 748 00:41:39,640 --> 00:41:41,720 That's the hope of glory. He doesn't see your works. 749 00:41:41,720 --> 00:41:44,240 Because if you're going to flex on your works, you better flex 750 00:41:44,240 --> 00:41:45,640 on the stuff that you don't do either. 751 00:41:45,680 --> 00:41:50,040 You better count it all, but Jesus gives us our true 752 00:41:50,040 --> 00:41:52,880 identity. And because I'm truly found as a 753 00:41:52,880 --> 00:41:56,320 daughter and as a son of the Most High God. 754 00:41:56,480 --> 00:42:00,440 And because I know. That God is happy and he he's 755 00:42:00,440 --> 00:42:05,040 approved with me through Christ. I don't have to try no more, and 756 00:42:05,040 --> 00:42:08,680 because I don't have to try no more, I don't need people to 757 00:42:08,680 --> 00:42:11,280 give me an applause in order to make myself. 758 00:42:11,280 --> 00:42:15,520 Feel good. Humility comes out of three My 759 00:42:15,520 --> 00:42:18,160 sins are forgiven. Not just forgiven, but they're 760 00:42:18,160 --> 00:42:20,560 forever forgiven. And the last thing is. 761 00:42:21,360 --> 00:42:24,960 I have joy. I have freedom, I have peace, 762 00:42:25,200 --> 00:42:27,840 and I'm constantly being rejuvenated. 763 00:42:28,040 --> 00:42:31,280 By the Holy Spirit, life is hard. 764 00:42:31,360 --> 00:42:33,720 The Spirit's with me, He rejuvenates me. 765 00:42:33,880 --> 00:42:38,160 I sin, I ask for forgiveness, He forgives me, I continue and I 766 00:42:38,160 --> 00:42:39,560 keep. Going and he's. 767 00:42:39,560 --> 00:42:43,880 Developing me as I continue to live this life on this world. 768 00:42:44,560 --> 00:42:48,200 What we call sanctification, legalism, asceticism, mysticism 769 00:42:48,240 --> 00:42:50,280 has nothing to do with your sanctification. 770 00:42:50,320 --> 00:42:53,200 Because what that? Does is that that pulls you all 771 00:42:53,200 --> 00:42:59,200 the way back to. Righteousness, which you don't 772 00:42:59,200 --> 00:43:01,040 have, and the only way for me to. 773 00:43:01,040 --> 00:43:03,680 Start the process. Of sanctification is through the 774 00:43:03,680 --> 00:43:06,560 principle of adoption, which God makes us his son and. 775 00:43:06,560 --> 00:43:10,080 Daughter through Jesus Christ. And when you become a son and 776 00:43:10,080 --> 00:43:14,360 daughter of the Most High God, you are forgiven forever, and He 777 00:43:14,360 --> 00:43:17,280 begins to restore you, renew you, and to walk with you and 778 00:43:17,280 --> 00:43:23,000 build you, and then live in this world until you retrieve 779 00:43:23,160 --> 00:43:25,520 glorification and in glorification. 780 00:43:26,000 --> 00:43:34,850 We get to be with our father. Thank you because you're so good 781 00:43:34,850 --> 00:43:36,930 and you're kind. You're loving. 782 00:43:39,240 --> 00:43:42,360 So Lord, I pray God that if there's individuals here today 783 00:43:42,400 --> 00:43:44,480 that have displaced. You in their lives, there's 784 00:43:44,480 --> 00:43:46,120 individuals. God that that are. 785 00:43:46,120 --> 00:43:48,880 Seeking and they're trying other things. 786 00:43:52,400 --> 00:43:55,400 Spirits speak to their hearts. That you make yourself known to 787 00:43:55,400 --> 00:44:00,040 them. Spirit, we have your word. 788 00:44:05,930 --> 00:44:07,810 Jesus, we thank you for this time. 789 00:44:08,250 --> 00:44:16,160 We thank you for your goodness, your love and your kindness, and 790 00:44:16,160 --> 00:44:16,560 we probably.