On November 26, 1789, George Washington declared a day of thanksgiving and prayer. In 1864 Abraham declared the last Thursday of November to be a day called Thanksgiving where we would pray and thank God for His goodness to us. In 1870 Congress made it officially a national holiday. FDR said it would be celebrated on the 3rd Thursday of the month, but in 1941 Congress proclaimed it to be on the 4th Thursday of November.

"When they found him on the other side of the lake, they asked him, “Rabbi, when did you get here?” 26 Jesus answered, “Very truly I tell you, you are looking for me, not because you saw the signs I performed but because you ate the loaves and had your fill. 27 Do not work for food that spoils, but for food that endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give you. For on him God the Father has placed his seal of approval.” 28 Then they asked him, “What must we do to do the works God requires?” 29 Jesus answered, “The work of God is this: to believe in the one he has sent.” 30 So they asked him, “What sign then will you give that we may see it and believe you? What will you do? 31 Our ancestors ate the manna in the wilderness; as it is written: ‘He gave them bread from heaven to eat.’[a]” 32 Jesus said to them, “Very truly I tell you, it is not Moses who has given you the bread from heaven, but it is my Father who gives you the true bread from heaven. 33 For the bread of God is the bread that comes down from heaven and gives life to the world.” 34 “Sir,” they said, “always give us this bread.” 35 Then Jesus declared, “I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never go hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty." John 6:25-35

These people were following Jesus because they wanted more bread. They wanted to be entertained. Keeping a people fed and entertained will keep them in a stupor. But we are to be different than that, and that is what Thanksgiving is for --

"Shout for joy to the Lord, all the earth.
2  Worship the Lord with gladness;
    come before him with joyful songs.
3 Know that the Lord is God.
    It is he who made us, and we are his[a];
    we are his people, the sheep of his pasture.
4 Enter his gates with thanksgiving
    and his courts with praise;
    give thanks to him and praise his name.
5 For the Lord is good and his love endures forever;
    his faithfulness continues through all generations." Psalm 100

Four applications to live a Thankful life:

1. Worship: 
"Shout for joy to the Lord, all the earth.
     Worship the Lord with gladness;
    come before him with joyful songs." Psalm 100:1-2

"28 Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe, 29 for our “God is a consuming fire.”" Hebrews 12:28-29


"I will praise God’s name in song
    and glorify him with thanksgiving." Psalm 69:30

"I will praise you, Lord my God, with all my heart;
    I will glorify your name forever." Psalm  86:12

Find a psalm and pray it this week. 

2. Know God!

"Know that the Lord is God.
    It is he who made us, and we are his[a];
    we are his people, the sheep of his pasture." Psalm 100:3

"Taste and see that the Lord is good;
    blessed is the one who takes refuge in him." Psalm 34:8

"Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts." Colossians 3:16

"Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God." Philippians 4:6

3. Relationship -- Knowing God!

"The Lord is my strength and my shield;
    my heart trusts in him, and he helps me.
My heart leaps for joy,
    and with my song I praise him." Psalm 28:7

"Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful." Colossians 4:2

God wants us!

4. Proclamation!

"Enter his gates with thanksgiving
    and his courts with praise;
    give thanks to him and praise his name.
5 For the Lord is good and his love endures forever;
    his faithfulness continues through all generations." Psalm 100:4-5

 "But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light." 1 Peter 2:9

"In everything I did, I showed you that by this kind of hard work we must help the weak, remembering the words the Lord Jesus himself said: ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’ ”" Acts 20:35

7 "So they signaled their partners in the other boat to come and help them, and they came and filled both boats so full that they began to sink.
8 When Simon Peter saw this, he fell at Jesus’ knees and said, “Go away from me, Lord; I am a sinful man!” 9 For he and all his companions were astonished at the catch of fish they had taken, 10 and so were James and John, the sons of Zebedee, Simon’s partners.
Then Jesus said to Simon, “Don’t be afraid; from now on you will fish for people.” 11 So they pulled their boats up on shore, left everything and followed him." Luke 5:7-11

They dropped what they had and followed Jesus: careers, families, businesses; this is commitment. 

What are you willing to give up for Jesus? We've been really blessed in America not to have to give up much to follow Jesus here. This is going to change. We haven't had to pay the cost other believers have had to pay. But I think that is going to change. We need to prepare for this. Get rooted in your faith. Everything taught in hopes I won't need to use it (in defensive fighting training).

If you follow Jesus you know what you're getting into. Jesus never has promised us cushy, easy living. 

"For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms." Ephesians 6:12

Jesus knew this was a battle. We have to fight. If we don't fight spiritually than the enemy is winning in our lives. 

Is this our time?

​"But mark this: There will be terrible times in the last days. 2 People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy," 2 Timothy 3:1-2

Does this sound like our country? Our world?

"The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance." 2 Peter 3:9

False Teaching

"At that time if anyone says to you, ‘Look, here is the Messiah!’ or, ‘There he is!’ do not believe it. 24 For false messiahs and false prophets will appear and perform great signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect." Matthew 24:23-24

"For the time will come when people will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear." 2 Timothy 4:3

It's all better now....to go along to get along we will have to surrender Bible principles. Ask yourself now where you stand on this.

We should follow our authorities unless what they are telling us to do disagrees with the Bible.

The Time Is Coming

We will be asked to give more than ever -- it will cost us. The majority will take the easy route. But easy now means we pay later. Jesus doesn't call us to the easy route.

“But about that day or hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son,[a] but only the Father." Matthew 24:36

Things will get worse. Jesus promised this.

 "“Therefore keep watch, because you do not know on what day your Lord will come. 43 But understand this: If the owner of the house had known at what time of night the thief was coming, he would have kept watch and would not have let his house be broken into. 44 So you also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him." Matthew 24:42-44

They will do the same th ing. If you know its coming you can be prepared. Get prepared. It is coming.

A lot of people may say, "Surely not us. Surely not now." 

"While they were listening to this, he went on to tell them a parable, because he was near Jerusalem and the people thought that the kingdom of God was going to appear at once." Luke 19:11

"21 From that time on Jesus began to explain to his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things at the hands of the elders, the chief priests and the teachers of the law, and that he must be killed and on the third day be raised to life.
22 Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him. “Never, Lord!” he said. “This shall never happen to you!”
23 Jesus turned and said to Peter, “Get behind me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to me; you do not have in mind the concerns of God, but merely human concerns.”" Matthew 16:21-23

"It will never happen to me." This is a stumbling block. Jesus never hid the cost of following Him. Never.

"25 Large crowds were traveling with Jesus, and turning to them he said: 26 “If anyone comes to me and does not hate father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters—yes, even their own life—such a person cannot be my disciple. 27 And whoever does not carry their cross and follow me cannot be my disciple." Luke 14:25-27

It wasn't nice. The disciples were all martyred horribly (except for John who was exiled on an island).

It's all or nothing.

The Cross

"Then he said to them all: “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me." Luke 9:23

“Then the master told his servant, ‘Go out to the roads and country lanes and compel them to come in, so that my house will be full." Luke 14:33

We need to be serviing and loving Jesus.

Cheap grace?
"Cheap grace is the preaching of forgiveness without requiring repentance, baptism without church discipline, Communion without confession, absolution without personal confession. Cheap grace is grace without discipleship, grace without the cross, grace without Jesus Christ, living and incarnate." Dietrich Bonhoeffer

Jesus must be first or nothing. The cost of Him leaving heaven was huge! And that was just the first thing He gave up.

Cheap grace is easy to fall into.

Cheap grace will be paid for eventually -- The easy way will cost you eternally. A lot of people can do miracels but taking up my cross -- 100% commitment is much more important than miracles.

Jesus was disgusted with those who lead others astray.

When the time comes . . . 

Jesus asks for it all, and gives all.

33 “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” John 16:33

Jesus promised we would have trouble. Act on the truth. Do right. That's the cost of that's coming.

If you're not willing to accept Christ fully you will pay the cost in the end.

"The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance." 2 Peter 3:9

We have a job to do. Do-gooders can't lead anyone to repentance. We should be broken people.

Seasons change!
 
Weather today-

They say  men have 4 Santa seasons in their lives: First, they believe. Second, they don’t believe; Third, they become Santa. And fourth, they resemble Santa.
 
Ecclesiastes 3: 1-8
There is a time for everything,
    and a season for every activity under the heavens:
2     a time to be born and a time to die,
    a time to plant and a time to uproot,
3     a time to kill and a time to heal,
    a time to tear down and a time to build,
4     a time to weep and a time to laugh,
    a time to mourn and a time to dance,
5     a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them,
    a time to embrace and a time to refrain from embracing,
6     a time to search and a time to give up,
    a time to keep and a time to throw away,
7     a time to tear and a time to mend,
    a time to be silent and a time to speak,
8     a time to love and a time to hate,
    a time for war and a time for peace.
 
 
Ecclesiastes theme is that all of human life is futile without God in it.
 
As the seasons of nature are inevitable, so are the seasons of life.
Country – Church – personal lives

1. All of life is a determined cycle.

 
No matter the season, God works for good
Romans 8:28
28 And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who[a] have been called according to his purpose.
 
1 Peter 1:20
20 He was chosen before the creation of the world, but was revealed in these last times for your sake
 
 
 

1. Blessings of change!

 

1. Fight our natural resistance to change. It is going to happen!
   1. We resist change because it means we are moving in and out of our comfort zones.
   2. Serenity prayer -  God, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change; the courage to change the things I can; and the wisdom to know the difference. 

 

1. God uses the seasons of change for our growth and His glory.
   1. James 5:7
      • Be patient, then, brothers and sisters, until the Lord’s coming. See how the farmer waits for the land to yield its valuable crop, patiently waiting for the autumn and spring rains.

 
Disciples example – not ready for Jesus’ death,
 not wanting His kingdom the way He wanted it,
not ready until after he left to realize what their own true mission was – the spreading of the gospel
 

1. Changes will cause us to seek God’s guidance.
   1. Proverbs 3: 5-6

Trust in the Lord with all your heart
    and lean not on your own understanding;
6 in all your ways submit to him,
    and he will make your paths straight.
 

1. Changes will cause us to be totally dependent on God

Jeremiah 29:11
11 For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.
 

1. Preparing for the Seasons – change is inevitable.
   1. We need to know what we are sowing.

Hosea 10:12
Sow righteousness for yourselves,
    reap the fruit of unfailing love,
and break up your unplowed ground;
    for it is time to seek the Lord,
until he comes
    and showers his righteousness on you.
 

1. No matter the seasons, we need to be prepared.

2 Timothy 4:2
2 Preach the word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage—with great patience and careful instruction
 

1. Know what doesn’t change, and hang onto that.
   1. Hebrews 13: 8
2. Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.

 
 
Isaiah 55: 10-11

• As the rain and the snow
      come down from heaven,
  and do not return to it
      without watering the earth
  and making it bud and flourish,
      so that it yields seed for the sower and bread for the eater,
  11 so is my word that goes out from my mouth:
      It will not return to me empty,
  but will accomplish what I desire
      and achieve the purpose for which I sent it.

 
 
Be content in the season we are in. Paul
 
Philippians 4: 11-13

• I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. 12 I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. 13 I can do all this through him who gives me strength

We humans have been blaming others for our bad behavior since the beginning of time.

Adam blamed God and Eve for his sin.

"The man said, “The woman you put here with me—she gave me some fruit from the tree, and I ate it.”" Genesis 3:12

Eve blamed the serpent:

"The woman said, “The serpent deceived me, and I ate.”" Genesis 3:13b

No matter how others treat us we are responsible for our responses. 

And Jesus said:

"There is a judge for the one who rejects me and does not accept my words; the very words I have spoken will condemn them at the last day." John 12:48

He will ask each of us individually, Did you do what I told you to do?

46 “Why do you call me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ and do not do what I say? 47 As for everyone who comes to me and hears my words and puts them into practice, I will show you what they are like. 48 They are like a man building a house, who dug down deep and laid the foundation on rock. When a flood came, the torrent struck that house but could not shake it, because it was well built." Luke 6:46-48

If we rely on someone else's faith it will fail. The world and Satan want to destroy yourr foundation.

Seek Maturity:

"Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed—not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence—continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling," Philippians 2:12

Salvation -- what you do with it is how you mature.

"Therefore, my brothers and sisters,[a] make every effort to confirm your calling and election. For if you do these things, you will never stumble," 2 Peter 1:10

Practice! Practice! Practice! Practice your faith. It will get stronger and deeper the more you practice it.

When you get into the Word, when you get into a study you are practicing your faith.

"for each one should carry their own load." Galatians 6:5

We are so blessed! The Word is one of the biggest blessings God has given us. We have such a good Father. We have every resource we need to mature spiritually.

"For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline." 2 Timothy 1:7

"But the one who does not know and does things deserving punishment will be beaten with few blows. From everyone who has been given much, much will be demanded; and from the one who has been entrusted with much, much more will be asked." Luke 12:48

Do something with what God has given you. 

In the parable of the talents, the 3rd servant blamed the master for his own lack of action. You are responsibly for how you respond to other people's actions (good or bad).

"Therefore let us move beyond the elementary teachings about Christ and be taken forward to maturity, not laying again the foundation of repentance from acts that lead to death,[a] and of faith in God, 2 instruction about cleansing rites,[b] the laying on of hands, the resurrection of the dead, and eternal judgment. 3 And God permitting, we will do so." Hebrews 6:1-3

Don't keep building the foundation over and over. Build on the foundation.

Seek Mature Spiritual Food:

"We have much to say about this, but it is hard to make it clear to you because you no longer try to understand. 12 In fact, though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you the elementary truths of God’s word all over again. You need milk, not solid food! 13 Anyone who lives on milk, being still an infant, is not acquainted with the teaching about righteousness. 14 But solid food is for the mature, who by constant use have trained themselves to distinguish good from evil." Hebrews 5:11-14

Again ..... Practice.

Be who you are supposed to be! It's okay to be nervous to take the first step. The steps get easier and easier the more you take. Don't stop growing.

Be filled with knowledge and understanding:

9" For this reason, since the day we heard about you, we have not stopped praying for you. We continually ask God to fill you with the knowledge of his will through all the wisdom and understanding that the Spirit gives,[a] 10 so that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and please him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God," Colossians 1:9-10

Knowledge, practice and education will help mature you spiritually.

"until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ. Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of people in their deceitful scheming. Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will grow to become in every respect the mature body of him who is the head, that is, Christ." Ephesians 4:13-15

Grow up.
 
Self Evaluation:

Where am I at? How can I get closer to Jesus? Where do I need to go today? Is there anything holding me back from getting closer to Jesus?

Everyone starts at the same place spiritually -- 0. What would you like to have more of in your spiritual life?

What we've learned so far from James 1-3:
​• Turn your trials into triumphs
• Defeat sin and temptation
• Be doer and not simply a hearer of the word
• Reign in your tongues
• Looks after the widow, the orphan and the less fortunate
• Updates your favorites list (and welcoming all no matter who they are, where they’ve been, what they look like or struggle with) to come and sit with us at the feet of Jesus

And here we go again in James 4 -- James doesn't pull any punches. He is talking to Believers and he is brutally honest:

​"What is the source of quarrels and conflicts among you? Is not the source your pleasures that wage war in your members? You lust and do not have; so you commit murder. You are envious and cannot obtain; so you fight and quarrel. You do not have because you do not ask. You ask and do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, so that you may spend it on your pleasures." James 4:1-3

Don't watch the news all the time. Find out what is going on and then don't watch at all the rest of the day. Only turning to God is going to heal this country. If we can't overcome all this with love we are not doing things God's way. We live in a two-minded society. God's way or the world's way. 

"You adulteresses, do you not know that friendship with the world is hostility toward God? Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God." James 4:4

"You adulteress wife, who takes strangers instead of her husband!" Ezekiel 16:32

"For he who is not against us is for us." Mark 9:40

We are with God or against God.

"Or do you think that the Scripture speaks to no purpose: “[e]He [f]jealously desires the Spirit which He has made to dwell in us”?" James 4:5

God is jealous over his relationship with us. He loves us. He wants the best for us. When we choose to live apart from Him or do things the world's way we are putting a wedge between us and Him and we are choosing something that will harm us. He is jealous in that He wants to keep us from harm and wants to be in relationship with us. We can't have the world and have Jesus. One or the other.

"He gives a greater grace. Therefore it says, “God is opposed to the proud, but gives grace to the humble.” James 4:6

When we attack each other (as our whole country seems to be doing) we do it in pride. We can't hear or see the other person as a person. We just want to be right.

James 4:6 is the gospel in a minature.

"The Law came in so that the transgression would increase; but where sin increased, grace abounded all the more." Romans 5:20

"Submit therefore to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you." James 4:7

"And He was saying to them all, “If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself, and take up his cross daily and follow Me" Luke 9:23

We do this every day. No time off. It is a way of life. Deny self. Turn to Jesus and follow Him. God is right with us. Nothing or no one can overcome us with God on our side.  Choose to live for God intentionally. 

"Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded." James 4:8

Clean up your act Believer. You know better (is what he is saying). And we do....

Biblical Handwashing
Sanitation:
Leviticus 15:11
11 Likewise, whomever the one with the discharge touches without having rinsed his hands in water shall wash his clothes and bathe in water and be unclean until evening.
Leviticus 15:13
13 ‘Now when the man with the discharge becomes cleansed from his discharge, then he shall count off for himself seven days for his cleansing; he shall then wash his clothes and bathe his body in [a]running water and will become clean

Separation:​​
Matthew 27:24
When Pilate saw that he was accomplishing nothing, but rather that a riot was starting, he took water and washed his hands in front of the crowd, saying, “I am innocent of this Man’s blood; see to that yourselves.”
Psalm 26:5-6
5 I hate the assembly of evildoers,
And I will not sit with the wicked.
6 I shall wash my hands in innocence,
And I will go about Your altar, O Lord

Sanctification:
​​Exodus 30:18-20
18 “You shall also make a laver of [a]bronze, with its base of bronze, for washing; and you shall put it between the tent of meeting and the altar, and you shall put water in it. 19 Aaron and his sons shall wash their hands and their feet from it; 20 when they enter the tent of meeting, they shall wash with water, so that they will not die; or when they approach the altar to minister, by offering up in smoke a fire sacrifice to the Lord.

Psalm 24:3-4
3 Who may ascend into the hill of the Lord?
And who may stand in His holy place?
4 He who has clean hands and a pure heart,
Who has not lifted up his soul [a]to falsehood
And has not sworn deceitfully.

"Be miserable and mourn and weep; let your laughter be turned into mourning and your joy to gloom. 10 Humble yourselves in the presence of the Lord, and He will exalt you." James 4:9-10

"Do not speak against one another, brethren. He who speaks against a brother or judges his brother, speaks against the law and judges the law; but if you judge the law, you are not a doer of the law but a judge of it. 12 There is only one Lawgiver and Judge, the One who is able to save and to destroy; but who are you who judge your neighbor?" James 4:11-12

“Do not judge so that you will not be judged. 2 For in the way you judge, you will be judged; and [a]by your standard of measure, it will be measured to you. 3 Why do you look at the speck that is in your brother’s eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye?" Matthew 7:1-3

"Come now, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go to such and such a city, and spend a year there and engage in business and make a profit.” 14 [g]Yet you do not know [h]what your life will be like tomorrow. You are just a vapor that appears for a little while and then vanishes away. 15 [i]Instead, you ought to say, “If the Lord wills, we will live and also do this or that.” 16 But as it is, you boast in your [j]arrogance; all such boasting is evil. 17 Therefore, to one who knows the [k]right thing to do and does not do it, to him it is sin." James 4:13-17

Application:
1. Be honest with yourself
2. Be honest with God
3. Pray for our country.
4. Pray especially for those people you disagree with.

Following are Shannon's notes from today's sermon:

Jesus is Enough! The Fullness of Christ
Colossians 2: 1-7
Vs. 1 Context – Colossian church – Paul never visited – writing from prison in Rome –
I want you to know how hard I am contending for you and for those at Laodicea, and for all who have not met me personally
Vs. 2 – The goal – Encouragement – discouraged Christians are easy prey, for the world, the flesh, the devil.
 2 My goal is that they may be encouraged in heart and united in love, so that they may have the full riches of complete understanding, in order that they may know the mystery of God, namely, Christ
-Knit together in love, united
John 17:21-23
21 that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me. 22 I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one— 23 I in them and you in me—so that they may be brought to complete unity. Then the world will know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me.
Colossians 3:14
14 And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.
-full riches of complete understanding – explanation of the fullness of Christ, the completeness.
What is the “Mystery of God”?   What is our understanding of the mystery of Christ?
        The character and person of God in Christ
John 3:16
16 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 14:6-7
Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.
7
If you really knew me, you would know [2] my Father as well. From now on, you do know him and have seen him."
 
Col 2:3
 3 in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. 
Apoknuphos – hidden – Gnostic’s “special” knowledge only for the few
The wisdom IS Christ Jesus. If we understand Jesus, if we have a relationship with him and truly have him within our hearts and our lives, that is the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.
Understanding the concept of the Creator – Him – and the created – us – and the relationship that we have only through the love of God in the person of Jesus Christ!
When we understand Jesus, we understand everything. Seek that hidden treasure by getting to know him better, getting into the Word, seeking for ourselves the understanding.
Each of us is responsible for the attainment of this knowledge. It is deeply personal.
John 6:40
For this is the will of my Father, that everyone who looks on the Son and believes in him should have eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day.”
John 14:23
Jesus answered him, “If anyone loves me, he will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him.
Col 2:4
 I tell you this so that no one may deceive you by fine-sounding arguments. 
False teachers – easy lies – fallacy –
 
1 John 4:1
Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, for many false prophets have gone out into the world.
 
Matthew 7:15
“Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep's clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves
1 Tim 4: 1-3
Now the Spirit expressly says that in later times some will depart from the faith by devoting themselves to deceitful spirits and teachings of demons, through the insincerity of liars whose consciences are seared, who forbid marriage and require abstinence from foods that God created to be received with thanksgiving by those who believe and know the truth.
If we know Jesus, personally, intimately, and are in the Word, we will not be led astray – it is amazing how simple that is. If someone challenges you, look for truth in the Word. Ask the Holy Spirit to interpret for you, pray.
 
Col 2: 6
 So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live your lives in him
The greatest heresy in the time of the Colossians, and in our own time, is that we can perfect in the flesh what has begun in the Spirit! We can’t justify ourselves, or sanctify ourselves, only Christ.
Galatians 2:16
know that a person is not justified by the works of the law, but by faith in Jesus Christ. So we, too, have put our faith in Christ Jesus that we may be justified by faith in[a] Christ and not by the works of the law, because by the works of the law no one will be justified.
Romans 3:28
28 For we maintain that a person is justified by faith apart from the works of the law.
 
Romans 5:1
Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we[a] have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ,
Ephesians 2:8
8 For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God--
Why do we try and complicate it? Jesus is sufficient. The gift of salvation is received from God by grace as a gift, not by our own efforts. The Colossians were under the threat of the same human condition that we are, the fatal human flaw of believing that we need to “earn” something or it isn’t “fair”, that there has to be “more to this”
 
Application
Colosssians 2: 7
7 rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness.
We are to continue to live IN Him
1. Rooted IN Him
Jeremiah 17:7-8
 
7 “But blessed is the one who trusts in the Lord,
    whose confidence is in him.
8 They will be like a tree planted by the water
    that sends out its roots by the stream.
It does not fear when heat comes;
    its leaves are always green.
It has no worries in a year of drought
    and never fails to bear fruit.”
 
 
 
2. Built up IN Him
Matthew 7:24-25
24 “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.
Ephesians 2: 19-22
Now, therefore, you are no longer strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the chief cornerstone, in whom the whole building, being fitted together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord, in whom you also are being built together for a dwelling place of God in the Spirit.
Strengthened IN the faith
Romans 8:38-39
38 For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons,[a] neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, 39 neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Mark 11: 22-24
22 “Have faith in God,” Jesus answered. 23 “Truly[a] I tell you, if anyone says to this mountain, ‘Go, throw yourself into the sea,’ and does not doubt in their heart but believes that what they say will happen, it will be done for them. 24 Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.
Phil 1:6
6 being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.
 
3. Overflowing with thankfulness
Philippians 4: 4-7
4 Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! 5 Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. 6 Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7 And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.