Tuesday showers of blessings come from Colossians 2:18-19 "Let no one defraud you of your prize [your freedom in CHRIST and your salvation] by insisting on mock humility and the worship of angels, going into detail about visions [he claims] he has seen [to justify his authority], puffed up [in conceit] by his unspiritual mind, and not holding fast to the head [of the body, JESUS CHRIST], from whom the entire body, supplied and knit together by its joints and ligaments, grows with the growth [that can come only] from GOD."
The devil has many subtle ways of defrauding our souls of the Heavenly prize that awaits the children of GOD. There are those who seek to take captive our minds through men-inspired philosophies and other empty deceptions. The objective is to disqualify us from a true Christian living and obvious getting Heavenly price. Paul came up with some warnings as follows:
-He warned us against asceticism, a term referring to self-denial. The general idea includes extreme practices which appear noble but they cannot save us. Examples of such are vow of silence, prolonged fasting, or lifelong celibacy.
-He notes the worship of angels. JESUS taught that we are to worship GOD alone. Many of the false teachers in this day taught that mysticism and philosophy were the keys to knowledge, and that special visions from angels were a key part of truth. This, as Paul states clearly, is not true.
-Paul noted false teaching on mystical visions. Interestingly, visions themselves are not really what Paul refutes here. Paul personally experienced visions. Rather, he seems to be rejecting the use of visions as a way to attract attention to one's self. Or, as a way to claim special knowledge, hence the reference to details.
The devil has not yet retired. He still use lots of deceptive tactics to defraud us of our Heavenly price. Many false prophets have been raised to enable the devil's objectives to succeed. Take note here, the devil has always been using people who claim to be Christians to destroy Christians. False teaching is not from outside but from inside. Popular false teaching nowadays includes leading people to focus on material and physical blessings than the Ultimate goal which is Eternity. Open your eyes and see if you are not defrauded of your Heavenly price. Amen.
Blessings and Shalom
Rev and Family
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