Colossians 2:8

Colossians 2:8

Thoughts from Josh Talbot

Dive Deeper

Godfidence- Swipe
Slide

See to it that no one takes you captive by philosophy and empty deceit, according to human tradition, according to the elemental spirits of the world, and not according to Christ. 

Colossians 2:8

Godfidence- Behind the Scenes
Slide

This week we are looking at what it means to seek Godly wisdom and how this can impart Godly-confidence in our everyday lives. Today’s verse specifically speaks to whose wisdom we should be seeking and whose we should not.

Slide

We live in a world where the lines of truth are so blurred that we don’t know what to believe. Competing news stations present headline stories with remarkably different “facts”; schools teach starkly different truths about the earth’s creation; even church pastors preach from the same text but present conflicting messages.

Slide

The challenge of seeking wisdom in a misguided society clearly dates back thousands of years. Today’s verse was penned by Paul and Timothy to the church at Colossae to help the Christians navigate the same struggles we face today. In the same way that today’s politicians can package false truths into pretty promises that lead us away from God, so too did false prophets and Gentiles in the first century presented enticing and convincing philosophy based on misguided interpretations of Old Testament law.

Slide

Today, we not only have the influence of social elites like the Pharisees, but we also have the dangerous individualistic movement rallying us all to “speak our truth”. We are expected to live our own truth (whatever that looks like to you) while still peacefully and lovingly co-existing among others who are living out their own truth. This movement focuses on the individual and what is best for himself/herself/itself.

Slide

With so many external - and internal - influencers sparring to shape our perception of truth, how are we to discern what is actually true? And how can we move forward in confidence that we are pursuing Godly wisdom?

Godfidence- Make it Real
Slide

According to today’s verse, there are two enemies of philosophy and deceit of which we need to be aware: humans and elemental spirits (Satan and his followers); and to combat these parties that threaten our Godly wisdom we need to remember these two steps – identify and protect.

Slide

I find that The Message translation of this passage provides some clarity in how to identify deceit (especially human deceit): “Watch out for people who try to dazzle you with big words and intellectual double-talk. They want to drag you off into endless arguments that never amount to anything.”

Slide

If you find yourself enthralled with fancy speakers or engaged in inconclusive arguments, it might time to step back and assess what you’re hearing and/or arguing. Does it align with the truths found in the Word of God? Are your arguments based on what you heard your friends, speakers, politicians or even your own feelings say, or are they based on what you read in your Bible today?

Slide

As part of our armory, God has given us the Sword of the Spirit – our Bibles – as a weapon against all false teachings. Second Timothy 3:16 says “All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness”. Open it, read it, wield it.

Slide

This leads us to our second method of combat which is to protect ourselves. Our battle is not only against human deception, but spiritual deception and false teaching. And a prime battleground for the enemy is our mind. Our thoughts, feelings, and emotions can be easily manipulated by the enemy so that we quickly become self-servient and “our truth” becomes “The Truth” in our eyes.

Slide

So how do we protect ourselves against these unseen spirits? For that we turn to Ephesians 6:11, “Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil.” By donning the protection provided by the Great Protector, you can stand in God-fidence that your life is being directed by righteous and holy wisdom.

Slide

John 8:31-32 Jesus said “If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” There is only one measure for truth – and that is God. He has given us the method for identifying false teachings and the armor for protecting ourselves against its influence. When we surrender to the truth of God, we find freedom and healing. Are you ready to experience that today? “Be not wise in your own eyes; fear the Lord, and turn away from evil. It will be healing to your flesh, and refreshment to your bones” (Proverbs 3:7-8).

Godfidence- End in Prayer
Slide

Heavenly Father, you are the Way, the Truth, and the Life. It is only through your truth that we can live truly free. I pray that today you would help me discern the threats to Your Truth. Whether it be external forces or my own selfish desires driving me to shape truth, remind me to pick up my Bible and to call on Holy Spirit for guidance. In your name I pray, Amen.

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See to it that no one takes you captive by philosophy and empty deceit, according to human tradition, according to the elemental spirits of the world, and not according to Christ.  

Colossians 2:8

Behind the Scenes

This week we are looking at what it means to seek Godly wisdom and how this can impart Godly-confidence in our everyday lives. Today’s verse specifically speaks to whose wisdom we should be seeking and whose we should not.  

We live in a world where the lines of truth are so blurred that we don’t know what to believe. Competing news stations present headline stories with remarkably different “facts”; schools teach starkly different truths about the earth’s creation; even church pastors preach from the same text but present conflicting messages.  

The challenge of seeking wisdom in a misguided society clearly dates back thousands of years. Today’s verse was penned by Paul and Timothy to the church at Colossae to help the Christians navigate the same struggles we face today. In the same way that today’s politicians can package false truths into pretty promises that lead us away from God, so too did false prophets and Gentiles in the first century presented enticing and convincing philosophy based on misguided interpretations of Old Testament law.  

Today, we not only have the influence of social elites like the Pharisees, but we also have the dangerous individualistic movement rallying us all to “speak our truth”. We are expected to live our own truth (whatever that looks like to you) while still peacefully and lovingly co-existing among others who are living out their own truth. This movement focuses on the individual and what is best for himself/herself/itself.  

With so many external – and internal – influencers sparring to shape our perception of truth, how are we to discern what is actually true? And how can we move forward in confidence that we are pursuing Godly wisdom?

Make it Real

According to today’s verse, there are two enemies of philosophy and deceit of which we need to be aware: humans and elemental spirits (Satan and his followers); and to combat these parties that threaten our Godly wisdom we need to remember these two steps – identify and protect.  

I find that The Message translation of this passage provides some clarity in how to identify deceit (especially human deceit): “Watch out for people who try to dazzle you with big words and intellectual double-talk. They want to drag you off into endless arguments that never amount to anything.”  

If you find yourself enthralled with fancy speakers or engaged in inconclusive arguments, it might time to step back and assess what you’re hearing and/or arguing. Does it align with the truths found in the Word of God? Are your arguments based on what you heard your friends, speakers, politicians or even your own feelings say, or are they based on what you read in your Bible today?  

As part of our armory, God has given us the Sword of the Spirit – our Bibles – as a weapon against all false teachings. Second Timothy 3:16 says “All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness”. Open it, read it, wield it. 

This leads us to our second method of combat which is to protect ourselves. Our battle is not only against human deception, but spiritual deception and false teaching. And a prime battleground for the enemy is our mind. Our thoughts, feelings, and emotions can be easily manipulated by the enemy so that we quickly become self-servient and “our truth” becomes “The Truth” in our eyes.  

So how do we protect ourselves against these unseen spirits? For that we turn to Ephesians 6:11, “Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil.” By donning the protection provided by the Great Protector, you can stand in God-fidence that your life is being directed by righteous and holy wisdom.   

John 8:31-32 Jesus said “If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” There is only one measure for truth – and that is God. He has given us the method for identifying false teachings and the armor for protecting ourselves against its influence. When we surrender to the truth of God, we find freedom and healing. Are you ready to experience that today? “Be not wise in your own eyes; fear the Lord, and turn away from evil. It will be healing to your flesh, and refreshment to your bones” (Proverbs 3:7-8).  

Kristen Krimmel

Kristen Krimmel

ACF Devo Team

End in Prayer

Heavenly Father, you are the Way, the Truth, and the Life. It is only through your truth that we can live truly free. I pray that today you would help me discern the threats to Your Truth. Whether it be external forces or my own selfish desires driving me to shape truth, remind me to pick up my Bible and to call on Holy Spirit for guidance. In your name I pray, Amen.   

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