Get Strong Spiritually & Draw Close to God – Life Is a Journey, part 29
How’s your spiritual strength? Are you drawing closer to God or pursuing other things? This message asks some important questions to consider and gives advice to be spiritually strong - standing strong in Christ.
In this message you’ll get guidance on these questions:
Are you sure of what you believe?
What do your actions say?
Are you spiritually on guard?
What is your spiritual anchor?
Are you standing firm on the promises of God?
When we face temptations, we need to focus on Christ and stand firm in faith.
Through this series, you’ll learn how to live well & enjoy God's promises. You are loved by God; He knows your name. He has a plan for your life. Get helpful advice, encouragement, and hope for a life well lived in 2021 and beyond.
Are you walking in faith and victory? Set your eyes on the promises of God. You only have one life journey; say yes to Jesus.
Standing Firm in Christ
Are you sure of what you believe?
For several weeks now we have been focusing on spiritual growth.
When we face temptations, we need to stop and focus on Christ and remember to stand firm in faith and in the truth in God’s word.
How is your journey of standing firm in Christ and his word? Are you standing firm or are you being tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of men in their deceitful scheming? (see Ephesians 4:14).
Paul challenges the Colossian believers:
“So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live your lives in him, 7 rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness.
8 See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends on human tradition and the elemental spiritual forces of this world rather than on Christ. 9 For in Christ all the fullness of the Deity lives in bodily form, 10 and in Christ you have been brought to fullness. He is the head over every power and authority. 11 In him you were also circumcised with a circumcision not performed by human hands. Your whole self ruled by the flesh was put off when you were circumcised by Christ, 12 having been buried with him in baptism, in which you were also raised with him through your faith in the working of God, who raised him from the dead” (Colossians 2:6-12, NIV).
Standing firm in Christ means standing securely on the word of God. It is trusting and not wavering in faith. Standing firm in Christ is being sure of what you believe and moving forward in confidence in Christ. It is like walking on solid ground and not worrying that you might sink in a spiritual mud pit.
Paul is writing to the church of Colossae, a body of believers, most of which have never met Paul personally. Paul sees the need to challenge the believers to stand firm in Christ. We have that same challenge to stand firm in Christ today.
What do your actions say?
The recipients of this letter were believers, saints, faithful brothers and sisters in Christ. In Paul’s opening to the Colossians, Paul called the believers holy—meaning set apart for Christ. It was a term to indicate that the recipients were believers, not that they were sinless. Paul tells the believers that he had heard of their faith in Christ and of their love for all the saints. Paul acknowledges their belief in the Gospel message of Christ and that by their actions and their love for others, their actions fully affirmed their hope in Christ.
Do your actions affirm your hope in Christ?
These believers have been growing in the knowledge of God’s will, through all spiritual wisdom and understanding. Paul encouraged the believers to keep the faith and to live free of evil behavior and accusations. Paul must have had a reason to warn against drifting away from faith. I believe we need to hear that warning again.
In fact, every generation needs to hear that warning against drifting away from faith. If we look at scripture, we will see every generation has the potential to fall away. Yet if the Lord didn’t step in, and remnant of people respond with their spiritual eyes and ears being opened, all would be lost.
Paul rejoices in what he has learned of the believers and encouraged them to continue to stand firm in faith and not to waver. Paul reminds them that they had once been enemies of God, but no longer, because of their faith in Christ. Paul’s desire was for them to remain secure in faith, in the hope delivered to them in the Gospel, which they had once heard and believed.
The reason for this encouragement and strong warning was that there were many people who were beginning to mix the truth of the Gospel with different teachings, different ideas, and spiritually compromising lifestyles.
Are you spiritually on guard?
Worldly philosophy, human traditions, false religions, intertwined with the truth of the Gospel is not truth at all. Such teachings would lead the people astray and far from God. There are some who would believe this false Gospel, and it could easily infiltrate the church and cause people to turn away from faith in Christ, if they were not on guard spiritually. Worldly values, worldly teaching, and man’s selfish heart are inconsistent and at odds with the Gospel.
The inclusion of worldly values, mixed with the Gospel message will cause the spiritual truth of God to become watered down and soon unrecognizable. The so-called worldly values and worldly knowledge would become the focus rather than Christ. Worldly values, selfish desires, false teaching are in opposition and collide with the message of Christ. They are opposed to the truth of God’s word.
Just consider some of the ideas of today:
Prayer is no longer allowed in schools.
Laws are passed that run against the truth of the Gospel.
In today’s society if a believer takes a moral stance, they might be considered racist or intolerant. In some corners of the world a Christian may be imprisoned, murdered, or tortured for their faith in Christ.
Remember, in the first century church many were martyred for their faith. Some people today view the bible as not being relevant, not current to modern society.
Some people will say, “do whatever makes you happy.” Some worldly principles or ideas may sound reasonable, but they are way off according to God’s word. Teachings may sound reasonable and fair. The teaching can contain some truth, but when truth is mixed with error, it is error. This kind of teaching is always spiritually dangerous. Such teaching is counter to the teaching of scripture.
God’s word never changes. God is the same yesterday, today and forever. Man’s values will change. Man’s heart is wicked, selfish and sinful in nature (see Jeremiah 17:9).
What is your spiritual anchor?
Only God can heal and give you a new heart.
“I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh. 27 And I will put my Spirit in you and move you to follow my decrees and be careful to keep my laws” (Ezekiel 36:26-27).
Our hearts are inconsistent and always changing, falling in and out of love. Happiness is an ever-moving target from one day to the next. But not for the believer.
Paul tells us that the person of faith is different than unbelievers who focus on what will satisfy them now.
“But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ, 21 who, by the power that enables him to bring everything under his control, will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like his glorious body” (Philippians 3:20-21).
When a person is tossed about by the changing values of the world, or runs after things that the world claims to be true today but is different tomorrow, they are truly deceived.
The flesh and the spirit are in a continual struggle. The kingdom of God and the kingdom of this world are like oil and water. This is all due to man’s sin and sin nature.
But when you know Jesus as your savior, when you focus on the truth of the Gospel, when you are steadfast in faith, you are rooted and built up in him; strengthened in the faith. You will not be caught off guard spiritually.
You will not be influenced by false teachings because you will know the truth and the truth will be your spiritual anchor. The Holy Spirit will guide you in the truth, if you allow him.
In the Sermon on the Mount Jesus said:
“Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. 25 The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock. 26 But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. 27 The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash” (Matthew 7:24-27).
If we are to be spiritually steadfast, we must listen and obey Jesus’ teachings. When we do, we will have a secure foundation and be able to stand firm in Christ and in the power of his word.
We need to focus on Christ and not become distracted by false teaching and worldly values. The world will place many seemingly attractive and nice values in your path. You will be tempted in many ways to go your own way and to feed selfish desires and give in to worldly passions. The worldly values may sound good and the arguments for such ideas can be convincing for the moment, but those ideas and values change. They are like shifting sands; waves blown by the winds of immoral values, lies and false promises. You will never be truly happy. You will always be searching and never satisfied. It may sound nice to follow your heart but following the desires of your heart apart from God will always lead you away from the Lord. Worldly values are inconsistent and seductive.
Many people look for what they want to hear to support how they desire to live. They desire and want to follow teaching that uphold the kind of lifestyle they live rather than the truth found in scripture (see 2 Timothy 4:3-4). They do not want to be convicted regarding how they act or live. They would rather ignore the truth and believe a lie and continue on spiritually ignorant to the truth of God. Only one problem: spiritual ignorance is not an excuse when they breathe their last breath here on earth. They will come face to face with the truth of the Gospel and it will be too late to change. All they once thought and believed to be true was a lie and it will collide head-on with the truth of the Gospel that Jesus is the son of God and Lord of all. That person will have rejected the truth of the Gospel as they followed the selfish desires of their heart, they will be spiritually dead and without hope for all eternity.
Are you standing firm on the promises of God?
Paul wanted the believers to stand firm in the faith and continue to fill their ears, minds and hearts with the truth of the Gospel. Truth that is found only in the Gospel message. The truth found in scripture. The truth about Jesus. The truth of eternal life.
“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life” (John 3:16).
The bible is full of practical life principles that enable us to live an abundant life. The Gospel tells us how to live; however, the enemy of your soul wants to seduce you into believing a lie. He’s like a thief coming to steal, kill, and destroy (John 10:10).
Jesus tells us:
“I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full. 11 I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep” (John 10:10-11).
The values of the world are opposed to the values of the kingdom of God. The two messages collide, but only one message is true. Only one speaks of life. Only one brings true happiness, joy and peace.
The enemy of your soul will keep trying to tempt you to sin. He will try to distract and destroy you. He will try to steal your peace and joy. You need to always remember, as a child of God, as a person of faith in Christ, you belong to Christ and you are to live by the Spirit, standing firm on the promises of God.
Paul tells us to “see to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends on human tradition and the elemental spiritual forces of this world rather than on Christ” (Colossians 2:8). The truth is, as believers we have been “buried with him in baptism and raised with him through your faith in the power of God, who raised him from the dead” (Colossians 2:12).
Know the truth of God in your heart and stay focused on Jesus and you will be able to stand firm in the strength of the Lord.
Are you drawing closer to God or pursuing other things?
“I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. 6 If you do not remain in me, you are like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned. 7 If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. 8 This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples” (John 15:5-8).
When we remain connected to Jesus (the vine), the source of our spiritual strength, we (the branches) have no need to worry. The false teaching and worldly values will sound off key. The Holy Spirit will put a check in your spirit. You will need to act upon the check you feel in your spirit and draw closer to the Lord and the Kingdom of God. As you draw closer to the Lord, you will be turning away from pursuing the values of the world and its false teaching. Allow the Holy Spirit free access to your heart so that he will guide you in truth and make God known to you (John 16:13-14).
Jesus invites us to allow the Holy Spirit to lead us into all truth. The only truth that the believer is to stand upon is the truth of God, made known to us by the Holy Spirit.
If we are going to stand firm spiritually in Christ, we need the Holy Spirit to Guide us in all wisdom. Joy, peace, happiness and abundant life is found only in Jesus. Know the truth and the truth will set you free. Allow the kingdom of God to be on your mind. Allow the Holy Spirit to lead you in paths of righteousness.
Focus your spiritual eyes on Christ. Listen to the spirit of truth. There will always be temptations to tempt you into veering off the path of following Jesus and tempt you to go adventuring on your own. Those temptations are temporary. Don’t be fooled by the enemy. Those worldly promises will always end the same way: in spiritual depravity and death. Remember, you were once dead in your sins, but now you are alive in Christ. You are forgiven. You are redeemed.
Take a stand today. Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him and he will make your path straight (Proverbs 3:5-6). Be led by the Holy Spirit and make a daily commitment to follow Jesus. Stand firm in Christ and you will never be disappointed. Stand firm in Christ and known all the fullness in Christ. Stand firm in Christ and in the power of the word so that you will not be spiritually captive by hollow and deceptive philosophies that solely depend on human traditions and worldly principles.
Many people today need to hear Paul’s message to stand firm. Many are following the wrong path. They have believed the lie and taken their eyes off Jesus. They are looking for happiness, joy, peace, and fulfillment in all the wrong places. True happiness, true peace, true joy is only found in Christ. Many have accepted the truth of the Gospel mixed with error and are spiritually deceived.
An old chorus says it all:
Turn your eyes upon Jesus, look full in His wonderful face and the things of earth will grow strangely dim, in the light of His glory and grace (“The Heavenly Vision,” also known as “Turn Your Eyes,” written by Helen Lemmel).
Let’s choose to always stand firm in Christ and in the power of the word.
Suggested Praise and Worship
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