Authentic SpiritualityAuthentic Spirituality

Colossians 1Colossians 1

BackgroundBackground

Col. 1:1-2 Col. 1:1-2 Paul, an apostle of Jesus Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, and Christ by the will of God, and Timothy our brother, Timothy our brother,

[2] [2] To the saints and faithful To the saints and faithful brethren in Christ who are at brethren in Christ who are at Colossae: Grace to you and peace Colossae: Grace to you and peace from God our Father.from God our Father.

Ephesus

Acts 19:9-10 … He took the disciples with him and had discussions daily in the lecture hall of Tyrannus. [10] This went on for two years, so that all the Jews and Greeks who lived in the province of Asia heard the word of the Lord.

Paul

BackgroundBackground

Col. 1:3-5 Col. 1:3-5 We give thanks to God, the We give thanks to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, praying always for you,praying always for you,

[4] [4] since we heard of your faith in since we heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and the love which Christ Jesus and the love which you have for all the saints;you have for all the saints;

BackgroundBackground

Col. 1:5-7 because of the hope laid up for Col. 1:5-7 because of the hope laid up for you in heaven, of which you previously you in heaven, of which you previously heard in the word of truth, the gospel heard in the word of truth, the gospel

[6] which has come to you, just as in all the [6] which has come to you, just as in all the world also it is constantly bearing fruit world also it is constantly bearing fruit and increasing, even as it has been doing and increasing, even as it has been doing in you also since the day you heard of it in you also since the day you heard of it and understood the grace of God in truth; and understood the grace of God in truth;

BackgroundBackground

Col. 1:7-8 just as you learned it Col. 1:7-8 just as you learned it from Epaphras, our beloved fellow from Epaphras, our beloved fellow bond-servant, who is a faithful bond-servant, who is a faithful servant of Christ on our behalf,servant of Christ on our behalf,

[8] and he also informed us of your [8] and he also informed us of your love in the Spirit.love in the Spirit.

GnosticismGnosticism

Authentic SpiritualityAuthentic Spirituality

- - WhatWhat does it look like? does it look like?

- Is it - Is it obtainableobtainable, tangible, , tangible, practical?practical?

- - HowHow obtained? obtained?

Authentic Spirituality:Authentic Spirituality:Gostic ViewGostic View Personal ExperiencePersonal Experience IntuitionIntuition ““Look Within”Look Within”

Authentic Spirituality:Authentic Spirituality:Bradshaw’s ViewBradshaw’s View

““There are myriad approaches to both There are myriad approaches to both prayer and meditation. No way is the prayer and meditation. No way is the right way . . . The real thing is the right way . . . The real thing is the actual actual experienceexperience of God . . . Spiritual of God . . . Spiritual growth comes through deepening growth comes through deepening insight into insight into my beingmy being.”.”– John Bradshaw, John Bradshaw, Bradshaw On: The FamilyBradshaw On: The Family

(Deerfield Beach, Florida: Health (Deerfield Beach, Florida: Health Communications, 1988), pp.234,235.Communications, 1988), pp.234,235.

Authentic Spirituality:Authentic Spirituality:Walsh’s ViewWalsh’s View

GODGOD: You cannot hear God : You cannot hear God until you stop thinking until you stop thinking that you’ve already that you’ve already heard God. I cannot tell heard God. I cannot tell you my truth until you you my truth until you stop telling me yours.stop telling me yours.

WALSHWALSH: But my truth : But my truth about God comes from about God comes from you.you.

GODGOD: Who said so?: Who said so?

WALSHWALSH: Others.: Others.

Authentic Spirituality:Authentic Spirituality:Walsh’s ViewWalsh’s View

GODGOD: What others?: What others?WALSHWALSH: Leaders, ministers, rabbis, : Leaders, ministers, rabbis,

priests, books--the Bible, for priests, books--the Bible, for heaven’s sake!heaven’s sake!

GODGOD: Those are not authoritative : Those are not authoritative sources.sources.

WALSHWALSH: They aren’t?: They aren’t?GODGOD: No.: No.

Authentic Spirituality:Authentic Spirituality:Walsh’s ViewWalsh’s View

WALSHWALSH: Then what is?: Then what is?GODGOD: Listen to your : Listen to your feelingsfeelings. Listen . Listen

to your to your highesthighest thoughts. Listen to thoughts. Listen to your your experienceexperience. Whenever any of . Whenever any of these differ from what you’ve been these differ from what you’ve been told by your teachers or read in told by your teachers or read in your books, forget the words. your books, forget the words. Words are the least reliable Words are the least reliable purveyor of truth.purveyor of truth.

Authentic Spirituality:Authentic Spirituality:Darth Vader’s ViewDarth Vader’s View

Search your heart, Luke…

Authentic Spirituality:Authentic Spirituality:the Biblical Viewthe Biblical View

1.1. Source:Source: a Knowledge of God’s a Knowledge of God’s Will.Will.

Objective, Contentful, Cognitive.Objective, Contentful, Cognitive. Revolves around the Revolves around the MessiahMessiah..Col. 1:9Col. 1:9 For this reason, since the For this reason, since the

day we heard about you, we have day we heard about you, we have not stopped praying for you and not stopped praying for you and asking God to fill you with asking God to fill you with the the knowledge of His willknowledge of His will through all through all spiritual wisdom and spiritual wisdom and understanding.understanding.

Col. 1:5 …the hope laid up for you in heaven, of which you previously heard in the word of truth, the gospel…

Col. 1:6 …since the day you heard of it and understood the grace of God in truth;

Col. 3:16

Let the word of Christ richly dwell within you, with all wisdom teaching and admonishing one another with psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with thankfulness in your hearts to God.

Romans 12:2 And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect.

Hebrews 5:13 For everyone who partakes only of milk is not accustomed to the word of righteousness, for he is an infant.

Ephes. 5:17 So then do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is.

Authentic SpiritualityAuthentic Spirituality

- Why Pursue It?- Why Pursue It?

- Why Would Anyone Want It?- Why Would Anyone Want It?

- What’s It Good For?- What’s It Good For?

Motivation:Motivation:Gnostic ViewpointGnostic Viewpoint

Motivation:Motivation:New Age ViewNew Age View

Authentic Spirituality:Authentic Spirituality:the Biblical Viewthe Biblical View

1.1. Source:Source: a Knowledge of God’s a Knowledge of God’s Will.Will.

2.2. MotiveMotive: A Desire to Please : A Desire to Please HimHim..Col. 1:10 …so that you will walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, to please Him in all respects…

Authentic Spirituality:Authentic Spirituality:the Biblical Viewthe Biblical View

1.1. Source:Source: a Knowledge of God’s a Knowledge of God’s Will.Will.

2.2. MotiveMotive: A Desire to Please Him.: A Desire to Please Him.

3.3. EffectsEffects:: Impacting Impacting Other PeopleOther People

Ch.3: Spouse, Children, Work, CitizenCh.3: Spouse, Children, Work, Citizen Ch.4: Everyday LifeCh.4: Everyday Life

Col. 1:10 so that you will walk in a Col. 1:10 so that you will walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, to please manner worthy of the Lord, to please Him in all respects:Him in all respects:

Col. 1:10 so that you will walk in a Col. 1:10 so that you will walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, to please manner worthy of the Lord, to please Him in all respects,Him in all respects, bearing bearing fruitfruit in in every good work…every good work…

Authentic Spirituality:Authentic Spirituality:the Biblical Viewthe Biblical View

1.1. Source:Source: a Knowledge of God’s a Knowledge of God’s Will.Will.

2.2. MotiveMotive: A Desire to Please Him.: A Desire to Please Him.

3.3. EffectsEffects:: Impacting Impacting Other PeopleOther People IntimateIntimate Knowledge of God Knowledge of God

Col. 1:10 Col. 1:10 so that you will walk in a manner so that you will walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, to please Him in all worthy of the Lord, to please Him in all respects, bearing fruit in every good workrespects, bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the and increasing in the knowledgeknowledge of God; of God;

dðßãíùóéò = Real Knowledge

Authentic Spirituality:Authentic Spirituality:the Biblical Viewthe Biblical View

1.1. Source:Source: a Knowledge of God’s a Knowledge of God’s Will.Will.

2.2. MotiveMotive: A Desire to Please Him.: A Desire to Please Him.

3.3. EffectsEffects:: Impacting Impacting Other PeopleOther People IntimateIntimate Knowledge of God Knowledge of God StrengthenedStrengthened with His Power with His PowerCol. 1:11 strengthened with all power, Col. 1:11 strengthened with all power,

according to His glorious might…according to His glorious might…

Authentic Spirituality:Authentic Spirituality:the Biblical Viewthe Biblical View

1.1. Source:Source: a Knowledge of God’s Will. a Knowledge of God’s Will.

2.2. MotiveMotive: A Desire to Please Him.: A Desire to Please Him.

3.3. EffectsEffects:: Impacting Impacting Other PeopleOther People IntimateIntimate Knowledge of God Knowledge of God StrengthenedStrengthened with His Power with His Power SteadfastnessSteadfastness PatiencePatience Joy and ThankfulnessJoy and Thankfulness

Col. 1:11 …for the attaining of all Col. 1:11 …for the attaining of all steadfastness and patience…steadfastness and patience…Hebrews 6:19 This hope we have as an Hebrews 6:19 This hope we have as an

anchor of the soul, a hope both sure and anchor of the soul, a hope both sure and steadfaststeadfast

Col. 1:12 …joyfully giving Col. 1:12 …joyfully giving thanks to the Father, who has thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in the inheritance of the saints in the kingdom of light.kingdom of light.

Authentic Spirituality:Authentic Spirituality:SummationSummation

Col. 1:13 Col. 1:13

For he has rescued us from the For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he us into the kingdom of the Son he loves,loves,

[14] in whom we have redemption, [14] in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.the forgiveness of sins.