A Sermon
Delivered on Wednesday Evening, January 28th, 2026, by
Evangelist PAUL ACQUAH,
Live on MZ Radio London, London UK
In a world brimming with noise, countless voices are vying to define who you are. Culture attempts to shape you, experiences influence you, and feelings seek to interpret you. Yet, not every voice speaks the truth. Colossians 2:8 cautions us against being ensnared by ideas that seem attractive but lack true substance. This message is more than just a warning; it’s a powerful reminder to stay vigilant, to remain grounded, and to discern the difference between what merely sounds correct and what is genuinely true. Remember, your worth is not dictated by the world’s opinions, but by how God sees you. In today’s message titled “Don’t Be Misled,” Evangelist Paul Acquah invites you to open your eyes, guard your mind, and step confidently into your true identity — the one shaped not by feelings or circumstances, but by the unchanging truth of God’s Word.
Be blessed as you listen!
“Beware lest anyone [e]cheat you through philosophy and empty deceit, according to the tradition of men, according to the basic principles of the world, and not according to Christ”. (Colossians 2:8).
See to it that no one takes you captive by philosophy and empty deceit, according to human tradition, according to the elemental spirits[a] of the world, and not according to Christ. (ESV)
The word captive in Colossians chapter 2 verse 8 means to have a noose around your neck led naked through the streets. So, the bible is saying do not be taken captive, do not be led around naked with this world’s philosophy. Don’t build your foundation on human tradition. Stop being captured by how the world sees you. The basic philosophies that tell you whether you’re successful, whether you’re healthy, whether you’re smart, whether you have a good marriage or you’re a good mom or you’re a good dad or you’re a good businessman. Stop listening to the definitions of the world and what they say you are and what you have and own.
Stop believing philosophies that say what you have done, what you possess, how success and failure look like. Stop letting that be your identity. Real identity is you coming to a place that you agree with the way God sees you even if you don’t feel it. You may not feel holy today but identity in Christ is saying you know what, it’s not how I feel in my flesh, it’s not how I woke up and I felt discouraged, depressed, or anxious. That’s not the real me, I agree to see myself the way God sees me and that’s my identity in Christ.
There are a lot of things that we think are normal, but the bible says they are not normal.
It’s not normal to be anxious.
Philippians 4:6 (NKJV), commands believers to replace worry with prayer and thankfulness.
The command is. “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God”. And there’s a promisefor those who follow this command. What’s the promise?Following this command, Philippians 4:7 promises that “the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus”. Thisis a call to surrender burdens to God rather than trying to control outcomes. Worry knocking at your door is a signal to pray rather than a reason to panic.
Turn your anxieties into prayers, using thankfulness to shift focus from problems to faith, and trusting that God cares for personal needs. Therefore, “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; 7 and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus” (Phil 4:6-7).
It’s not normal to be sick and remain sick.
James 5:14-16 tells us that those who are sick should call for the elders of the church to pray over them and anoint them with oil in the name of the Lord. This text of scripture promises that the “prayer of faith” will save the sick and the Lord will raise them up. 14 Is anyone among you sick? Let them call the elders of the church to pray over them and anoint them with oil in the name of the Lord. 15 And the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well; the Lord will raise them up. If they have sinned, they will be forgiven
If God wants you to be sick, He wouldn’t have asked this question: Is anyone among you sick? (James 5:14–15) outlines a specific process for believers experiencing sickness:
Call for the Elders: The sick person is instructed to call for the elders (spiritual leaders) of the church. Anoint with Oil: The elders are to pray over the person and anoint them with oil in the name of the Lord. Prayer of Faith: The text of scripture promises that “the prayer of faith will save the one who is sick, and the Lord will raise him up”. Confession and Forgiveness: If the person has committed sins, they will be forgiven.
It’ s not normal to live in fear, because perfect love cast out all fear, and also God has not given you a spirit of fear.
“There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves torment. But he who fears has not been made perfect in love” ( 1 John 4:18).
“For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind” ( 2Timothy 1:7)
It’s not normal to live a defeated life. See what God says about you.
“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future” (Jeremiah 29;11).
“For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them” (Ephesians 2;10).
“These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you [f]will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world” (John 16:33),
