Hidden Treasure and Pirates in the care of demons
Colossians 2
HOW TO DISCOVER THE TREASURE
HOW TO USE THE TREASURE
HOW TO PROTECT THE TREASURE FROM PIRATES
Colossians 2:1–3 (ESV)
1 For I want you to know how great a struggle I have for you and for those at Laodicea and for all who have not seen me face to face, 2 that their hearts may be encouraged, being knit together in love, to reach all the riches of full assurance of understanding and the knowledge of God’s mystery, which is Christ, 3 in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.
SO MUCH IN HERE! MOST PEOPLE JUST KEEP READING!
Like an Apple Watch- it tells the time but so much more:
How well I slept last night
How many steps I’ve taken, how many calories I’ve burned
Emails, messages
Directions
Phone calls
Plays music
Warns me when the noise level is too loud
In future, make coffee, change a flat tire
Same with this passage -
Paul’s Struggle for others:
1. Hearts may be encouraged
2. Being knit together in love
3. To reach all the riches of full assurance of understanding and the knowledge of God’s mystery, which is Christ
Grasp the Gospel, reality of Christ, absolute truth of the Gospel
Sureness of the promises of God – FULL ASSURANCE
Satan’s weapon is doubt, lies
VS. FULL ASSURANCE
My experience is this, but Word of God say this!
FULL ASSURANCE says I can trust the Word of God and base future decisions on the Word of God IN SPITE OF my experience
SO THIS IS AN AMAZING APOSTOLIC PRAYER – praying what Paul prays is powerful.
Ephesians 3:18–19 (ESV)
18 may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, 19 and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.
Colossians 2:1–3 (ESV)
1 For I want you to know how great a struggle I have for you and for those at Laodicea and for all who have not seen me face to face, 2 that their hearts may be encouraged, being knit together in love, to reach all the riches of full assurance of understanding and the knowledge of God’s mystery, which is Christ, 3 in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.
4. In Christ are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge
TREASURES OF WHO GOD IS, HIS CHARACTER AND NATURE
WHO YOU ARE – YOUR IDENTITY IN CHRIST
HEAVEN AND HOW TO GET THERE
Ephesians 3:8 (NLT)
8 Though I am the least deserving of all God’s people, he graciously gave me the privilege of telling the Gentiles about the endless treasures available to them in Christ.
TREASURES?
Matthew 13:44–46 (ESV)
44 “The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, which a man found and covered up. Then in his joy he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field. 45 “Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant in search of fine pearls, 46 who, on finding one pearl of great value, went and sold all that he had and bought it.
Are you Rich in Christ? Not asking if you are a Christian named Richard…
What is your spiritual net worth?
Not all Christians have the same spiritual net worth?
Spiritual net worth about collecting and applying, assimilating the treasures in Christ.
Most people work for a paycheck and don’t have a lot of surplus. They spend what they make and never seem to get ahead.
As Christians you and I can gain new riches each day
We can add to our spiritual wealth daily, but do we?
You may say, I have Christ, so I have everything – yes! BUT can you access it? If you are like most Christians, you access only a tiny bit of your riches in Christ. Like a having a bank account with a billion dollars, but you have limited yourself to only taking out $10/day. Even if your daily limit was expanded to $2000/day, you would still only access 5% of that billion dollars in an entire lifetime!
MOST CHRISTIAN ARE ONLY SCRATCHING THE SURFACE OF THEIR RICHES IN CHRIST! YET THEY ARE AVAILABLE TO EVERYONE!!!!
Proverbs 2:1–5 (ESV)
1 My son, if you receive my words and treasure up my commandments with you, 2 making your ear attentive to wisdom and inclining your heart to understanding; 3 yes, if you call out for insight and raise your voice for understanding, 4 if you seek it like silver and search for it as for hidden treasures, 5 then you will understand the fear of the Lord and find the knowledge of God.
What are these treasures? How do they make us rich?
Luke 12:32–34 (ESV)
32 “Fear not, little flock, for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom. 33 Sell your possessions, and give to the needy. Provide yourselves with moneybags that do not grow old, with a treasure in the heavens that does not fail, where no thief approaches and no moth destroys. 34 For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.
2 Corinthians 4:7 (ESV)
7 But we have this treasure in jars of clay, to show that the surpassing power belongs to God and not to us.
2 Peter 1:3–11 (ESV)
3 His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of him who called us to his own glory and excellence, 4 by which he has granted to us his precious and very great promises, so that through them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped from the corruption that is in the world because of sinful desire. 5 For this very reason, make every effort to supplement your faith with virtue, and virtue with knowledge, 6 and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with steadfastness, and steadfastness with godliness, 7 and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love. 8 For if these qualities are yours and are increasing, they keep you from being ineffective or unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9 For whoever lacks these qualities is so nearsighted that he is blind, having forgotten that he was cleansed from his former sins. 10 Therefore, brothers, be all the more diligent to confirm your calling and election, for if you practice these qualities you will never fall. 11 For in this way there will be richly provided for you an entrance into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
Colossians 2:4–5 (ESV)
4 I say this in order that no one may delude you with plausible arguments. 5 For though I am absent in body, yet I am with you in spirit, rejoicing to see your good order and the firmness of your faith in Christ.
Plausible - Seemingly or apparently valid, likely, or acceptable; conceivably true or likely
THE TEST OF FAITH – MY EXPERIENCE SAYS THIS; GOD’S WORD SAYS THIS
PIRATES IN THE CARE OF DEMONS – Well meaning people, following the wisdom of demons instead of Christ
Why does Satan want to delude us of the treasures in Christ? How important are they?
Colossians 2:6–7 (ESV)
6 Therefore, as you received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in him, 7 rooted and built up in him and established in the faith, just as you were taught, abounding in thanksgiving.
Colossians 3:16 (ESV)
16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God.
ILLUSTRATION: 2- Colander – representing our mind/heart (1 mind without Christ, 1 labeled Mind with Christ). Wounds on the soul are holes that allow the Word of God to pass through, instead of dwell in us richly. Need to fill those holes with the truth of God’s Word. – pour water (labeled The Truth of God’s Word)
Plastic liner labeled “Christ in me” – lining one colander. Pour into this one 2nd – but don’t allow the audience to see the label
HIDDEN TREASURES YOU EMAILED ME
TOTAL FORGIVENESS FROM ALL OUR SINS
1 Peter1:6-7
Trials come to prove the genuineness
of our faith.
So often I pray for God to protect me and my loved ones from distress and suffering. While I know those prayers are needed,I think it’s more important to pray for a change of outlook when disaster does strike.
It’s so difficult for me to count it all joy, but those verses remind me, that I will never know if I truly trust him if trials never come.
Matthew 5:10-12
Persecution for righteousness sake is a gift. Lets us know we are on the right track, allows us to share experiences with our Saviour, and reveals to us our own level of faith and obedience.
Developing a relationship with The Lord is not only possible; it is what He wants and doing so was The Best Thing I could have ever done.
Joel 2:25-26 ESV. I will restore to you the years that the swarming locust has eaten, the hopper, the destroyer, and the cutter, my great army, which I sent among you. “You shall eat in plenty and be satisfied, and praise the name of the LORD your God, who has dealt wondrously with you.
APPLICATION
What promise of God do you need to declare over your life right now?
Where do you doubt God?