Faith,
We are just over three weeks from election day! Would you happen to know who’s on the ballot? Ha! Of course, we know! How? Check your mailbox, your neighbor’s yard, your email inbox, and every other commercial on TV! Every election cycle is filled with a river of information designed not only to inform but transform. Each side employs an army of paid professionals to take captive our hearts and minds. I am still a fan of our system, and I know good, hard-working Americans are working for both sides. However, we also know that powers not from our country seek to infiltrate our system not with truth but with lies. Think of the power of a lie! It can divide a family, a church, and a whole country!
The Christians in first-century Colossae were also being taken captive in a campaign of disinformation. The Apostle Paul wrote to them from Rome because he was passionate that no one would take them 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). He knew the lies would not unite but divide. He knew the enemies were not just current philosophies but the spiritual forces in the heavenly realms. His solution? He pointed them to the supremacy of Christ, His body–the Church, and the King’s cross–God’s weapon for defeating enemy powers.
I pray you will join us on Sunday for week 2 of Kingdom Politics–The Power of the King (Colossians 2). I also pray with Paul that you will “continue to live your lives in him, rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness” (Colossians 2:6-7)
In Christ alone,
Pastor Brad
***Downloadable message notes are here.
And here are some deeper dive videos relevant to our journey this week:
Book of Colossians Summary: A Complete Animated Overview I Bible Project (9:16)
Colossians 2:6-3:17 | Jesus Alone (4:46)
Learn About the Hidden Forces Guiding the World I Bible Project (6:20)