BEWARE OF PIRATES! — TREASURE BANDITS! Colossians 2

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“Let no man beguile you of your reward..”. –Colossians 2:18 KJV ,

“That their hearts [the center of desire and longing] might be COMFORTED, being knit [forced]  together in LOVE [deep family bond], and unto [the collective purpose of this bond is towards] all RICHES of the FULL ASSURANCE of UNDERSTANDING, to the acknowledgement [complete knowledge, discernment] of the MYSTERY of God, and of the Father, and of Christ;  In whom are HID [kept secret] ALL THE TREASURES [treasure chest] of WISDOM and KNOWLEDGE…And this I say, lest any man should beguile you [to cheat by false valuing something] with enticing [persuasive] words.. As ye have therefore received [taken possession of] Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye IN HIM:  Rooted and built up in him, and stablished in the faith, as ye have been taught, abounding therein with thanksgiving… Beware lest any man spoil [take spoils, lead away as booty] you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ.  For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily.  And ye are complete in him, which is the head of all principality and power:  Let no man beguile [to defraud or beguile of the prize of victory] you of your reward in a voluntary humility and worshipping of angels, intruding into those things which he hath not seen, vainly puffed up by his fleshly mind, Colossians 2:2‭-‬4‭, ‬6‭-‬10‭, ‬18 KJV

We have these bandits, pirates, today. Beware of the pirates, stealing your treasure and leading you away captive. They lead you away from Christ the priceless treasure, and towards the fools gold of religious/spiritual activities and doctrines. see Col.2:23


It is important to understand (like the Galatian false teachers,) these pirates were professing Christians. They were teachers in Christian churches, pretending to serve Jesus but denying his glory by placing equal or more value on religious rituals, activities, empty philosophies, and traditions.
False teachers lead into all kinds of religious distractions, but they do not comprehend Jesus So they reject his riches. They believe other things are more profitable. They trick their followers to treasure the wrong thing.
When in fact, ALL THE PRICELESS TREASURES IN THE UNIVERSE ARE HID IN JESUS CHRIST THE SON OF GOD.

So then, if you are going to mine for gold and search for treasures, there is only one true place to spend your time.


[THE TREASURE:] Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; [THE JOY:] teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.–Colossians 3:16 KJV

“Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto a merchant man, seeking goodly pearls:   Who, when he had found one pearl of GREAT PRICE, went and sold all that he had, and bought it.–Matthew 13:45‭-‬46 KJV

Study your Bible until you know it’s treasures by heart, and are a walking encyclopedia of knowledge about Jesus in whom all the fullness of God dwells.

The same came therefore to Philip, which was of Bethsaida of Galilee, and desired him, saying, Sir, WE WOULD SEE JESUS. John 12:21 KJV

There are a number of hidden treasures concerning Jesus the Son of God in the short letter to the Colossians– do you know them? How valuable is this secret knowledge to you? What’s your plan for mining more treasures about the Lord and his kingdom?


“And now, brethren, I commend you to God, and to the word of his grace, which is ABLE to BUILD YOU UP, and to GIVE YOU AN INHERITANCE among all them which are sanctified. –Acts 20:32 KJV

Living outside of the Beast’s power and control

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PHILIPPIANS 3

What is it like to live outside the Beast’s kingdom, power and control? That kingdom where everyone lives for the success, merchandise, dainties, experiences, and pleasures provided by the Beast?

and that no one will be able to buy or sell , except the one who has the mark, either the name of the beast or the number of his name.–REVELATION 13:17 AMP

In this world system, managed and controlled by what the Bible calls the Beast, the mind is taken captive, away form life, in a system of deterioration. From the cradle to the grave mankind is educated (programmed) to pursue pleasures along the path to death. This is the only hope given by the Beast. We now call it accomplishing “the bucket list” by those successfully progressing along this path of diminishing pleasures.

The educators in the Beast’s system are dogs” in business suits and decorated religious robes.

Paul abandons his bucket list, andescapes his soul into the kingdom of God, toward everlasting life ,–never looking back. Along this (New Birth from cradle to glory) path, the knowledge necessary for progress is exclusively of the Logos. And it is ever increasing with each step predestined by God in heaven.

You will notice at the end of chapter 3, Paul is led by the Spirit to warm again about the Beast and his teachers the dogs in this dying world system.

“Beware of dogs, beware of evil workers, beware of the concision. For we are the circumcision, which worship God in the spirit, and rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh. But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ. Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ, And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith: That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death; If by any means I might attain into the resurrection of the dead. Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect: but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus. Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus. Brethren, be followers together of me, and mark [identify and follow] them which walk so as ye have us for an example.

THE DOGS WORKING FOR THE BEAST TEACH AND LEAD TOWARD DESTRUCTION

(For many walk, of whom I have told you often, and now tell you EVEN WEEPING, that they are the enemies of the cross of Christ: Whose end is destruction, whose god is their belly [like dogs], and whose glory is in their shame, who mind earthly things.) [They are spiritually dead, and only know the Beast’s earthly system.]

THE PATH TO LIFE, BORN FROM ABOVE TO SEE THE KINGDOM OF GOD (Jhn. 3)

“For our conversation [the kingdom of which we are citizens] is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ: Who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body, according to the working whereby he is able even to subdue all things unto himself.–Philippians 3:2‭-‬3‭, ‬7‭-‬14‭, ‬17‭-‬21 KJV

Study in the book of Job: Who are You?

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Who is Job that God Almighty (the Logos, Creator) should speak with him face to face? How could he possible comprehend what the Almighty will tell him?

“Then the Lord answered Job out of the whirlwind [hurricane], and said, Who is this [Job’s friends] that darkeneth counsel by words without knowledge? GIRD UP NOW thy loins LIKE A MAN [Job]; for I will demand of thee, and answer thou me. Where wast thou when I laid the foundations of the earth? declare, if thou hast understanding. –Job 38:1‭-‬4 KJV

REMEMBER, In all this Job sinned not, nor charged God foolishly. —Job 1:22 (the same cannot be said for his friends. v42:7)

So, the One who “made man in his image and likeness” shows up (after friends failed to speak accurately of Him, his ways, motives and intentions during Jobs trial) to MAKE A MAN INDEED OUT OF JOB, or perhaps let him KNOW who he is.

“Therefore we ought to give the more earnest heed to the things w hishich we have heard, lest at any time we should let them slip. But one in a certain place testified, saying, WHAT IS MAN, that thou art mindful of him? or the son of man, that thou visitest him? Thou madest him a little lower than the angels; thou CROWNEDST HIM WITH GLORY AND HONOUR, and didst SET HIM OVER the works of thy hands… —Hebrews 2:1‭, ‬6‭-‬7 KJV

WHO ARE YOU in this world?

GIRD UP NOW thy loins LIKE A MAN and he may show you…

Job sinned not

MORE THINGS YOUR COUNSELOR MAY NOT KNOW

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Sn is a contamination, a mutation, a deletion — to be less than perfect.
There are two critical responses for Christians when things go wrong:

  1.  Out right sin. Take things into your own hands and choose a contrary resolution to hopeful relieve pain or discomfort.
  2. Charge God foolishly, as though you are wiser, more knowledgeable, and loving than him; leaving the position of a created thing and sitting yourself on the throne as a god. (“If I were God I’d do it this way. So…)

THE FIRST is sinful, disobedient actions. THE SECOND is sinful, disrespectful thoughts, ideas, and words, which will lead to actions.

The book of Job is all about how men react to God in this FALLEN, broken world that is full of trials, heart ache, and difficulties. (The idea of any “paradise on earth” is a lie. When we believe this lie, the Devil directs our path to find it among this worlds fleeting pleasures.

Watch Job stay close to God while his world collapses!)

When you are told that any action which relieves real or perceived pain is THE RIGHT action (even if it is contrary to scripture), you are being led away from God–proceed at your own peril. According to the modern co-dependency camp, any action which brings immediate “peace” is good, no matter who else is offended by it.

In this case the offended one would have been God, had Job sinned with his actions, thoughts, or words. If he were alive today and visited the average counselor, they would have encouraged him (as his wife did)  to “curse God”, “get if off your chest.”

The Power of Heredity!

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excerpt UNCONSCIOUS: Unlocking the Zone…

““If the total paternal contribution to heredity is contained in a sperm cell, and the maternal in an egg, then this would have to not just involve the total anatomy and physiology of a human being, but also our numerous predispositions and gifts.” —Werner Gitt

  1. Up to this point I have said a lot about the involuntary aspect of The Zone Phenomenon…essentially, most of what we experience is outside of our control. Professor Gitt in the quote above came to a similar conclusion after intensive study of human biology: the cell, mathematical probability, and DNA. He reasoned: we inherit more than just our physical traits, but also our inclinations and gifts.
    This would explain the similarities between personalities, interests, and many other intangible traits of peoples all over the world. We are more alike than we are different, and heredity is responsible. The source of the “seed” has a lot to do with the fruit produced. As we have noted: this is more pronounced within close family members.
    Heredity And Close Family…”

Note: Now a real world perspective from God Almighty:

“[But] he who commits sin [who practices evildoing] is of the devil [takes his character from the evil one], for the devil has sinned (violated the divine law) from the beginning. The reason the Son of God was made manifest (visible) was to undo (destroy, loosen, and dissolve) the works the devil [has done]. No one born (begotten) of God [deliberately, knowingly, and habitually] practices sin, for God’s nature abides in him [His principle of life, the divine sperm, remains permanently within him]; and he cannot practice sinning because he is born (begotten) of God.–1 John 3:8‭-‬9 AMPC

LET THERE BE EVERLASTING LIFE

“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten [birthed] us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever.–1 Peter 1:3‭, ‬23 KJV

Exxept The Lord Build The House

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Except the Lord build the house, they labour in vain that build it: except the Lord keep the city, the watchman waketh but in vain.
Psalms 127:1 KJV

The meaning is,. People build a house for shelter, protection from outside forces. The most deadly threats in this world are not natural, not flesh and blood, they are spiritual forces (Eph.6:10ff). Only the power God can overcome those evil forces.
But how can a family secure God as their contractor? Is this Psalm just creative writing?
The Lord is the builder when the architectural plans, building materials and furnishings are his and not from worldly sources.
Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.   Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?   And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.   Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock:   And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock.   And every one that heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man, which built his house upon the sand:   And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell: and great was the fall of it. –Matthew 7:21‭-‬27 KJV
What about divorce in Christian homes? 
To protect the PEACE and SECURITY of the home the Lord has built, he will cause a division.
“Think not that I am come to send peace on earth: I came not to send peace, but A SWORD.   For I am come to set a man at variance against his father, and the daughter against her mother, and the daughter in law against her mother in law.   And a man’s foes shall be they of his own household. –Matthew 10:34‭-‬36 KJV
“But to the rest speak I, not the Lord: If any brother hath a wife that believeth not, and she be PLEASED to dwell with him [in peace and unity], let him not put her away.  And the woman which hath an husband that believeth not, and if he be pleased to dwell with her [in peace and unity], let her not leave him.  For the unbelieving husband is sanctified by the wife, and the unbelieving wife is sanctified [blessed, holy] by the husband: else were your children [God’s heritage from the union] unclean; but now are they holy.  BUT if the unbelieving DEPART [from the home God oversees], let him depart. A brother or a sister is not under bondage [in marriage to the unbeliever] in such cases: but God hath called us to peace. –1 Corinthians 7:12‭-‬15 KJV
God’s will is peaceful households where his children live. Throughout the Old Testament the households of believing individuals were protected from evil.
Matt. 11:12

The Kingdom of Heaven Suffers Violence, Matt. 11:12

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John the Baptist was the herald, “EXTRA, EXTRA, Read All About It. The Message is here and has begun his CONQUEST! He is going to destroy Sin, Death, and Hell. Stamp your ticket here at the Jordan river, I’m baptizing sinners for entrance into Messiah’s kingdom.”
 
“Multitudes” according to the context were “pressing” to get in. But, the religious leaders were skeptical. They already had a good thing going right where they were. Certainly not going to listen to some homeless dude quoting scripture.
 
Pick up the rest of the story in Matthew and see what Jesus has to say about this situation. One man’s (“oh when the saints come marching in…”) marching band is another man’s noise.
 
Is it worth the (effort) violent force? Why is violence (literal spiritually) necessary? Can’t we all just chill?

The Math that Equals Fellowship with God, Philippians 4:8,9

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Here we find more complex math in God’s word to exercise the frontal cortex of those endowed with “the image of God.” Us creatures who can think!

Like every manufactured machine, there are no unnecessary parts; each part has a specific contribution/contributions. In this passage the Holy Spirit inspires Paul to highlight several of our body components working together for spiritual growth.

Php 4:8  Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things. Those things, which ye have both learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me, do: and the God of peace shall be with you.

“Think” in this verse means to add up; it’s an accounting word. Add these things up. The sum total you will arrive at is “the peace of God will be with you.”

Paul says: he has lived “these things” in front of them in such as way that they have been taught through all of there senses. They have “received” them to themselves, They have heard them with their ears, they have seen them with their eyes. You might say that they have “tasted the purity and cleanness” of them. And being persuaded of their value they are encouraged to do them and receive the final benefit: fellowship with the God of peace.

These things + learning + doing = FELLOWSHIP WITH THE GOD OF PEACE.

In contrast with the anxious mindset described in the previous verses, we are to select out “every thing” that is beneficial and praiseworthy to study for the purpose of directing our way of life.

The Law of Harvest/ Coming of Age

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The Law of the harvest runs throughout the Bible. The time for fruit and the inspection of its quality. The bad fruit is separated out from the good fruit.

Peter is inspired to teach this coming of age process from another perspective to Jews suffering persecution from their countrymen.

“Therefore, those who are ill-treated and suffer in accordance with the will of God must [continue to] do right and commit their souls [for safe-keeping] to the faithful Creator.
1 PETER 4:12‭-‬13‭, ‬17‭-‬19 AMP

It’s like the bad apples identify you as good fruit by persecuting you for doing good–they identify you with Christ and persecute him through you–REJOICE!! Your identity is confirmed by others!

CONVERSELY,

“Woe unto you, when all men shall speak well of you! for so did their fathers to the false prophets.Luke 6:26 KJV

A Law of Harvest, coming of age on planet earth.

Study 1Peter!

The Good Life!

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What’s wrong with “the good life?” Isn’t God glorified in my success?

This would mean that the seed He plants is designed produce material wealth. The truth is: what we call “the good life” is really a slow death with decaying things. The real “good life” begins with seed that produces everlasting things, which don’t decay. (Once we forget Genesis 3 our thinking has erred.)

“And some fell among thorns; and the thorns sprang up with it, and choked it. And he said, Unto you it is given to know the mysteries of the kingdom of God: but to others in parables; that seeing they might not see, and hearing they might not understand.
Now the parable is this: The seed is the word of God.
And that which fell among thorns are they, which, when they have heard, go forth, and are choked with cares and riches and pleasures of this life, and bring no fruit to perfection. –Luke 8:7‭, ‬10‭-‬11‭, ‬14 KJV

“Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever.
1 John 2:15‭-‬17 KJV