Northlake Church | November 12, 2017 | Mike Garner
Colossians 2:16-23 | Week 9 | Substance Over Shadow
Locations & Times
Northlake Church
3610 Lohman Ford Rd, Lago Vista, TX 78645, USA
Sunday 9:00 AM
Sunday 10:45 AM
Welcome to Northlake Church!
Welcome! We're glad that you found us! As you get to know us, you'll see that we are just like you, people learning what it means to follow Jesus in their everyday life. In order to take away some of the mystery of what happens on Sunday mornings around here, we've jotted down a few tips on visiting Northlake Church for the first time, click the link below to visit our website to get to know us a little better! We pray that today, you are encouraged, that you feel welcomed and that you are reminded just how much Jesus loves you!
http://www.mynorthlake.com/im-newOnline Giving
We believe all that we have comes from the gracious hand of our God. It's not ours to keep; we've been entrusted by Him to be good managers of all that He has given us. So we view the giving of our time, talents and resources to the Lord as an act of worship. Regarding the stewardship of our financial resources, there are several ways we can participate in worship through giving...physically giving at one of our Sunday Gatherings, via check or cash and digitally giving through our church app, our website, or clicking on the link below to access mobile giving. Give as the Lord leads you, not under guilt or compulsion, with a thankful heart. Thank you for worshiping God in this way and being a part of helping Northlake Church accomplish its purpose of making disciples who make disciples!
https://secure.subsplash.com/ui/access/QVNS25
COLOSSIANS 2:16-23 | SUBSTANCE OVER SHADOW
KEY THOUGHT...
"The SHADOW never satisfies...so pursue
JESUS [the SUBSTANCE] who will"
"The SHADOW never satisfies...so pursue
JESUS [the SUBSTANCE] who will"
COLOSSIANS 2:16-23 ESV
16 Therefore let no one pass judgment on you in questions of food and drink, or with regard to a festival or a new moon or a Sabbath. 17 These are a SHADOW OF THE THINGS TO COME, but the SUBSTANCE BELONGS TO CHRIST. 18 Let no one disqualify you, insisting on asceticism and worship of angels, going on in detail about visions, puffed up without reason by his sensuous mind, 19 and not holding fast to the Head, from whom the whole body, nourished and knit together through its joints and ligaments, grows with a growth that is from God. 20 If with Christ you died to the elemental spirits of the world, why, as if you were still alive in the world, do you submit to regulations— 21 "Do not handle, Do not taste, Do not touch" 22 (referring to things that all perish as they are used)—according to human precepts and teachings? 23 These have indeed an appearance of wisdom in promoting self-made religion and asceticism and severity to the body, but they are of no value in stopping the indulgence of the flesh.
16 Therefore let no one pass judgment on you in questions of food and drink, or with regard to a festival or a new moon or a Sabbath. 17 These are a SHADOW OF THE THINGS TO COME, but the SUBSTANCE BELONGS TO CHRIST. 18 Let no one disqualify you, insisting on asceticism and worship of angels, going on in detail about visions, puffed up without reason by his sensuous mind, 19 and not holding fast to the Head, from whom the whole body, nourished and knit together through its joints and ligaments, grows with a growth that is from God. 20 If with Christ you died to the elemental spirits of the world, why, as if you were still alive in the world, do you submit to regulations— 21 "Do not handle, Do not taste, Do not touch" 22 (referring to things that all perish as they are used)—according to human precepts and teachings? 23 These have indeed an appearance of wisdom in promoting self-made religion and asceticism and severity to the body, but they are of no value in stopping the indulgence of the flesh.
SHADOWS IDENTIFIED...[VS. 16-18]
Paul said that these things were 'shadows' of the real thing...that the 'substance' or the source of these shadows, the real object that actually casts these shadows, was/is JESUS...the shadows cannot satisfy, only Jesus can!
1. EMPTY RITUALISM: Doing ritualistic things to gain favor with God and believing these things make us more acceptable to him.
[vs 16: ...Eating certain types of food or drink (daily), celebrating sabbath (weekly), celebrating the new moon (monthly), celebrating religious festivals (yearly)]
2. ASCETICISM: Abstaining from certain things as a means to gain favor with God and believing these things make us more acceptable to him.
[vs.18: ...Asceticism comes from the Greek word askesis, meaning "exercise, training, practice." Ascetics renounce worldly pleasures that distract from spiritual growth and enlightenment and live a life of abstinence, austerity and extreme self-denial. Asceticism is common in Hinduism, Buddhism, Judaism, and Islam]
3. MYSTICISM: Seeking ultimate knowledge of God by a direct experience that bypasses the revealed will of God through the Bible believing that these "supernatural experiences" give us an inside track to knowing hidden things about God or that this knowledge makes us more like God.
[vs 18: The worship of angels, elevating of supernatural visions, seeking out gurus or spirit guides, New Age movement of self realization]
Paul said that these things were 'shadows' of the real thing...that the 'substance' or the source of these shadows, the real object that actually casts these shadows, was/is JESUS...the shadows cannot satisfy, only Jesus can!
1. EMPTY RITUALISM: Doing ritualistic things to gain favor with God and believing these things make us more acceptable to him.
[vs 16: ...Eating certain types of food or drink (daily), celebrating sabbath (weekly), celebrating the new moon (monthly), celebrating religious festivals (yearly)]
2. ASCETICISM: Abstaining from certain things as a means to gain favor with God and believing these things make us more acceptable to him.
[vs.18: ...Asceticism comes from the Greek word askesis, meaning "exercise, training, practice." Ascetics renounce worldly pleasures that distract from spiritual growth and enlightenment and live a life of abstinence, austerity and extreme self-denial. Asceticism is common in Hinduism, Buddhism, Judaism, and Islam]
3. MYSTICISM: Seeking ultimate knowledge of God by a direct experience that bypasses the revealed will of God through the Bible believing that these "supernatural experiences" give us an inside track to knowing hidden things about God or that this knowledge makes us more like God.
[vs 18: The worship of angels, elevating of supernatural visions, seeking out gurus or spirit guides, New Age movement of self realization]
MODERN DAY SHADOWS...
Colossians 2:17 "These are a SHADOW of the things to come, but the SUBSTANCE belongs to CHRIST. "
Maybe you have turned to one of these ancient shadows in your life. Paul warns us that these things should not be the focus, the object of our worship. We need to see these things for what they are, shadows of JESUS, and turn from them as primary objects of our affection and attention and turn our eyes toward the real thing, the SUBSTANCE, JESUS! He is the only one that can truly satisfy.
As we approach the holiday season, it seems that our modern culture still focus' on the shadows and ignores the substance. It is easy to focus on CELEBRATING, GIFT EXCHANGES and the elusive pursuit of recreating NOSTALGIC moments as we unpack the Christmas Season. Here are a few ways we can focus on the SUBSTANCE, JESUS, as we fight the temptation to focus on the shadows this Christmas. Remember...the shadows will not satisfy...only JESUS will!
Colossians 2:17 "These are a SHADOW of the things to come, but the SUBSTANCE belongs to CHRIST. "
Maybe you have turned to one of these ancient shadows in your life. Paul warns us that these things should not be the focus, the object of our worship. We need to see these things for what they are, shadows of JESUS, and turn from them as primary objects of our affection and attention and turn our eyes toward the real thing, the SUBSTANCE, JESUS! He is the only one that can truly satisfy.
As we approach the holiday season, it seems that our modern culture still focus' on the shadows and ignores the substance. It is easy to focus on CELEBRATING, GIFT EXCHANGES and the elusive pursuit of recreating NOSTALGIC moments as we unpack the Christmas Season. Here are a few ways we can focus on the SUBSTANCE, JESUS, as we fight the temptation to focus on the shadows this Christmas. Remember...the shadows will not satisfy...only JESUS will!
THIS CHRISTMAS...
1. Don't allow the shadow of CELEBRATING rob you of the REAL STORY of JESUS!
--- Music, movies, decorations, food, parties...all remind us of the goodness of Jesus...in the midst of your fun remember to make JESUS the FOCUS of your CELEBRATIONS!
--- Enjoy movies, music, decorations, food, parties, just be sure you include media that proclaims the real story of Jesus. The real giver of the feasts!
2. Don't allow the shadow of the exchanging of GIFTS to steal the attention away from JESUS, it's his birthday!
--- Gifts given and received are to remind us of who's birthday it really is...Jesus! As you make plans to give and receive gifts, remember to make JESUS the FOCUS of your GIFT EXCHANGE!
--- As you make preparations on how you will spend your resources on gifts this year, consider ways to use what God has given you to demonstrate and declare the gospel of Jesus. Would you be willing to give away as much as you spend on your self or your family?
3. Don't allow the shadow of the NOSTALGIC to hijack your emotions and keep you from the hope, love, peace and joy JESUS alone can give! He alone is the SOURCE!
--- This time of year is full of emotions. Sad ones. Happy ones. And honestly all of the ones in between. It is easy to look to the SHADOW of the NOSTALGIC, to focus on all the memories, in order to relive those moments and fill some emptiness we have inside. Brokenness in life produces this desire to have those moments back, to let them be the source of our joy, but it doesn't work that way.
--- We must turn to JESUS. He must be the focus and the object of our emotional life, our emotional health, because he is the only one that can truly bring HOPE. He is the only one that can truly bring LOVE. He is the only one who can bring PEACE. And he is the only one who can bring JOY.
--- As you enjoy your family, as you enjoy the traditions, as you enjoy the memories made this year and the sharing of stories of memories past, remember, they are a shadow of the true HOPE, LOVE, PEACE and JOY that can only be found in JESUS! Each of those incredible, joyous moments are reminders to us of the one who made that time possible. He is the substance, he is the source. Don't let Nostalgia replace the relationship we have with Jesus...he is our only hope.
1. Don't allow the shadow of CELEBRATING rob you of the REAL STORY of JESUS!
--- Music, movies, decorations, food, parties...all remind us of the goodness of Jesus...in the midst of your fun remember to make JESUS the FOCUS of your CELEBRATIONS!
--- Enjoy movies, music, decorations, food, parties, just be sure you include media that proclaims the real story of Jesus. The real giver of the feasts!
2. Don't allow the shadow of the exchanging of GIFTS to steal the attention away from JESUS, it's his birthday!
--- Gifts given and received are to remind us of who's birthday it really is...Jesus! As you make plans to give and receive gifts, remember to make JESUS the FOCUS of your GIFT EXCHANGE!
--- As you make preparations on how you will spend your resources on gifts this year, consider ways to use what God has given you to demonstrate and declare the gospel of Jesus. Would you be willing to give away as much as you spend on your self or your family?
3. Don't allow the shadow of the NOSTALGIC to hijack your emotions and keep you from the hope, love, peace and joy JESUS alone can give! He alone is the SOURCE!
--- This time of year is full of emotions. Sad ones. Happy ones. And honestly all of the ones in between. It is easy to look to the SHADOW of the NOSTALGIC, to focus on all the memories, in order to relive those moments and fill some emptiness we have inside. Brokenness in life produces this desire to have those moments back, to let them be the source of our joy, but it doesn't work that way.
--- We must turn to JESUS. He must be the focus and the object of our emotional life, our emotional health, because he is the only one that can truly bring HOPE. He is the only one that can truly bring LOVE. He is the only one who can bring PEACE. And he is the only one who can bring JOY.
--- As you enjoy your family, as you enjoy the traditions, as you enjoy the memories made this year and the sharing of stories of memories past, remember, they are a shadow of the true HOPE, LOVE, PEACE and JOY that can only be found in JESUS! Each of those incredible, joyous moments are reminders to us of the one who made that time possible. He is the substance, he is the source. Don't let Nostalgia replace the relationship we have with Jesus...he is our only hope.