2Pe 3:17 Ye therefore, beloved, seeing ye know these things before, beware lest ye also, being led away with the error of the wicked, fall from your own stedfastness.
2Pe 3:18 But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and for ever. Amen.
Our only protection comes when we grow in grace and in the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
If we are growing in grace, if we are growing in the knowledge of our LORD and SAVIOR JESUS CHRIST then we are much less likely to fall from our steadfastness.
When we are steadfast we are holding onto our faith looking forward to the coming of our Lord, looking forward to our heavenly home where our treasures are kept, looking forward to a new heavens and a new earth where there is no more sin. When we are steadfast we are fighting the good fight and it is a fight, a daily fight.
Just because life isn't going smoothly and everything is going just right doesn't mean you are lost. It is Satan who would have us give in to despair because he knows once we begin to despair then we lose hope. Despair pushes hope aside and tells us we will never be what we know God would have us to be. In truth, God would have us be His throughout all the trials and tribulations we face. As we are put into the fires of refining our God wants us to suffer through all that we must and holdfast to HIM knowing those fires, knowing that suffering is not going to last forever but is temporary. We have to fight, we have to make choices and we have to seek our Lord with all our heart, mind, and soul.
Satan would have us believe that we will never give up the sins we cherish, the sins that we believe are a part of our nature. Satan wants us to believe that we are too stained to be God's, too filthy to have hope. We have to fight the despair that Satan tempts us with and hang on to our Lord's promises. We won't see the sealing placed upon us, but God and His holy angels will. Satan would have us believe it's impossible, completely and utterly impossible to be God's in this world of sin, but it's NOT, nothing is impossible with God, nothing.
Mat 19:26 But Jesus beheld them, and said unto them, With men this is impossible; but with God all things are possible.
Only with God are we saved and we must cling to Him and His saving grace praying all the while that the fires of refining do the work they are meant to do in us.
Please Lord, please help us to grow in grace!
Please Lord, please help us to grow in knowledge of YOU!
Please Lord, please help us NOT to lose our steadfastness but remain FOREVER in YOU, our LORD and SAVIOR JESUS CHRIST!
Saturday, March 17, 2012
Thursday, March 15, 2012
Longsuffering
2Pe 3:15 And account that the longsuffering of our Lord is salvation; even as our beloved brother Paul also according to the wisdom given unto him hath written unto you;
2Pe 3:16 As also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things; in which are some things hard to be understood, which they that are unlearned and unstable wrest, as they do also the other scriptures, unto their own destruction.
2Pe 3:17 Ye therefore, beloved, seeing ye know these things before, beware lest ye also, being led away with the error of the wicked, fall from your own stedfastness.
2Pe 3:18 But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and for ever. Amen.
The longsuffering of our LORD IS SALVATION.
This is the truth.
Without our Lord's longsuffering we would have NO hope at all whatsoever!
Only by HIS grace, by HIS mercy, by HIS longsuffering do we live in HIS love.
A person who exhibits longsuffering is counted amazing aren't they? Or do many count them as fools? Throughout history we've had many examples of people who have been rash in their actions, unable to suffer long with anything at all contrary to their desires. Patience is in short supply when it comes to enduring something that calls for suffering. No one wants to be the one who suffers, and on the other side of the coin no one wants to be the one who has to endure the suffering of others. I say no one as if that's truth, but in our world it's far from true. Some actually enjoy the suffering of others and they are far from the love of God, caught in Satan's snare.
Our LORD is long suffering. Our LORD endures the awfulness that is our world so far from the truth, so far from all that He is, love. To look upon the horrific stain of sin spread far and wide, deep and long is something that causes our LORD pain! How could it not? How? Seriously, when we as humans look at various projects and life happenings of our own that have gone bad it breaks our hearts, yes? How many parents who have tried their hardest to raise good children have had the heart break of watching them go bad? How many children have had to watch their parents go bad? Seriously, this is the world we live in and on such a tiny level we get to experience what it means to suffer. Our Father in heaven He suffers! Our Savior in heaven, He suffers! They suffer as they watch throughout time since the beginning of mankind the horrors of sin invading a world that was never meant to be touched by the vile taint of Satan.
Our God is long suffering, allowing US right now who live to be have the precious gift of life, this opportunity to belong to HIM and live with HIM in eternity in a world that will be new and forever without sin.
2Pe 3:16 As also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things; in which are some things hard to be understood, which they that are unlearned and unstable wrest, as they do also the other scriptures, unto their own destruction.
Hard to understand?
They who are unlearned and unstable wrest?
This is truth.
When we try to put our OWN truths into God's no longer accepting HIS truths then we are confused, we are lost. We have to accept GOD'S TRUTHS! When we get lost in His word then we need to fall on our knees and pray for Him to guide us, to lead us in the right path, His path, His truths!
Do we have to comprehend everything? No. The SECRET things belong to God.
Deu 29:29 The secret things belong unto the LORD our God: but those things which are revealed belong unto us and to our children for ever, that we may do all the words of this law.
We can't expect to comprehend everything, we have to trust, we have to have faith in our God that He is LOVE, pure LOVE.
2Pe 3:17 Ye therefore, beloved, seeing ye know these things before, beware lest ye also, being led away with the error of the wicked, fall from your own stedfastness.
2Pe 3:18 But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and for ever. Amen.
More on this tomorrow by the grace of our loving GOD.
Amen.
2Pe 3:16 As also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things; in which are some things hard to be understood, which they that are unlearned and unstable wrest, as they do also the other scriptures, unto their own destruction.
2Pe 3:17 Ye therefore, beloved, seeing ye know these things before, beware lest ye also, being led away with the error of the wicked, fall from your own stedfastness.
2Pe 3:18 But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and for ever. Amen.
The longsuffering of our LORD IS SALVATION.
This is the truth.
Without our Lord's longsuffering we would have NO hope at all whatsoever!
Only by HIS grace, by HIS mercy, by HIS longsuffering do we live in HIS love.
A person who exhibits longsuffering is counted amazing aren't they? Or do many count them as fools? Throughout history we've had many examples of people who have been rash in their actions, unable to suffer long with anything at all contrary to their desires. Patience is in short supply when it comes to enduring something that calls for suffering. No one wants to be the one who suffers, and on the other side of the coin no one wants to be the one who has to endure the suffering of others. I say no one as if that's truth, but in our world it's far from true. Some actually enjoy the suffering of others and they are far from the love of God, caught in Satan's snare.
Our LORD is long suffering. Our LORD endures the awfulness that is our world so far from the truth, so far from all that He is, love. To look upon the horrific stain of sin spread far and wide, deep and long is something that causes our LORD pain! How could it not? How? Seriously, when we as humans look at various projects and life happenings of our own that have gone bad it breaks our hearts, yes? How many parents who have tried their hardest to raise good children have had the heart break of watching them go bad? How many children have had to watch their parents go bad? Seriously, this is the world we live in and on such a tiny level we get to experience what it means to suffer. Our Father in heaven He suffers! Our Savior in heaven, He suffers! They suffer as they watch throughout time since the beginning of mankind the horrors of sin invading a world that was never meant to be touched by the vile taint of Satan.
Our God is long suffering, allowing US right now who live to be have the precious gift of life, this opportunity to belong to HIM and live with HIM in eternity in a world that will be new and forever without sin.
2Pe 3:16 As also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things; in which are some things hard to be understood, which they that are unlearned and unstable wrest, as they do also the other scriptures, unto their own destruction.
Hard to understand?
They who are unlearned and unstable wrest?
This is truth.
When we try to put our OWN truths into God's no longer accepting HIS truths then we are confused, we are lost. We have to accept GOD'S TRUTHS! When we get lost in His word then we need to fall on our knees and pray for Him to guide us, to lead us in the right path, His path, His truths!
Do we have to comprehend everything? No. The SECRET things belong to God.
Deu 29:29 The secret things belong unto the LORD our God: but those things which are revealed belong unto us and to our children for ever, that we may do all the words of this law.
We can't expect to comprehend everything, we have to trust, we have to have faith in our God that He is LOVE, pure LOVE.
2Pe 3:17 Ye therefore, beloved, seeing ye know these things before, beware lest ye also, being led away with the error of the wicked, fall from your own stedfastness.
2Pe 3:18 But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and for ever. Amen.
More on this tomorrow by the grace of our loving GOD.
Amen.
Wednesday, March 14, 2012
Look for such things
2Pe 3:14 Wherefore, beloved, seeing that ye look for such things, be diligent that ye may be found of him in peace, without spot, and blameless.
We look for such things.
The things of HEAVEN.
We look for a new heaven and a new earth, don't we? Seriously, don't we?
We face so many obstacle every single day. All too often we imagine ourselves taken out of the situation and tell ourselves things would be different if only this or that, but the truth is, those same obstacles will follow us everywhere because the obstacle s and how we handle them is in internal spiritual battle. We cannot be asked to be taken out of the world - Jesus did not even ask that for us. We cannot be asked to be exempted from all of life's many, many problems.
Joh 17:15 I pray not that thou shouldest take them out of the world, but that thou shouldest keep them from the evil.
Jesus prayed that we should be KEPT from evil, not that we wouldn't have temptations and trials. Jesus knew that we would have to live in a corrupt world and He did not say that to stay in Him we must hide in the mountains away from all temptation. Our Lord did not tell us to be isolated, to become hermits, to hide away. The battle is an internal one, a SPIRITUAL war fought within our minds, our hearts.
We MUST enhance the SPIRITUAL and put down the FLESH parts of our lives. We have to do this! And we can ONLY do this through the grace of our LORD and SAVIOR.
We MUST look for the coming of our LORD- this is WHY our SAVIOR LIVED and DIED! He lived and died to give us life eternal IN HIM in a new world, in a new heavens and a new earth. If we aren't living towards that new heavens and new earth then we aren't living in CHRIST our Lord and Savior.
Do we wake up with joy, knowing we are one day closer to our eternity with out Savior? We should, we really, really should. Through our Lord's righteousness we are saved by His amazing love, His amazing grace, His amazing forgiveness.
2Pe 3:14 Wherefore, beloved, seeing that ye look for such things, be diligent that ye may be found of him in peace, without spot, and blameless.
We must be diligent so that we may be found in our Savior in PEACE, without spot, and blameless.
We can only be found in Him that way if we have hope firmly planted in Him.
His peace, His love will fill us, must fill us, must make us blameless.
Please Lord Help us, help us grow spiritually as we die more and more to our flesh, PLEASE.
All in YOU.
We look for such things.
The things of HEAVEN.
We look for a new heaven and a new earth, don't we? Seriously, don't we?
We face so many obstacle every single day. All too often we imagine ourselves taken out of the situation and tell ourselves things would be different if only this or that, but the truth is, those same obstacles will follow us everywhere because the obstacle s and how we handle them is in internal spiritual battle. We cannot be asked to be taken out of the world - Jesus did not even ask that for us. We cannot be asked to be exempted from all of life's many, many problems.
Joh 17:15 I pray not that thou shouldest take them out of the world, but that thou shouldest keep them from the evil.
Jesus prayed that we should be KEPT from evil, not that we wouldn't have temptations and trials. Jesus knew that we would have to live in a corrupt world and He did not say that to stay in Him we must hide in the mountains away from all temptation. Our Lord did not tell us to be isolated, to become hermits, to hide away. The battle is an internal one, a SPIRITUAL war fought within our minds, our hearts.
We MUST enhance the SPIRITUAL and put down the FLESH parts of our lives. We have to do this! And we can ONLY do this through the grace of our LORD and SAVIOR.
We MUST look for the coming of our LORD- this is WHY our SAVIOR LIVED and DIED! He lived and died to give us life eternal IN HIM in a new world, in a new heavens and a new earth. If we aren't living towards that new heavens and new earth then we aren't living in CHRIST our Lord and Savior.
Do we wake up with joy, knowing we are one day closer to our eternity with out Savior? We should, we really, really should. Through our Lord's righteousness we are saved by His amazing love, His amazing grace, His amazing forgiveness.
2Pe 3:14 Wherefore, beloved, seeing that ye look for such things, be diligent that ye may be found of him in peace, without spot, and blameless.
We must be diligent so that we may be found in our Savior in PEACE, without spot, and blameless.
We can only be found in Him that way if we have hope firmly planted in Him.
His peace, His love will fill us, must fill us, must make us blameless.
Please Lord Help us, help us grow spiritually as we die more and more to our flesh, PLEASE.
All in YOU.
Monday, March 12, 2012
The Choice is Ours
2Pe 3:10 But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up.
2Pe 3:11 Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness,
2Pe 3:12 Looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God, wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat?
As a thief.
A thief strikes unexpectedly- at least to the one he steals from. If you've ever been robbed you know how it feels, how awful it is to discover things missing, to find yourself no longer in possession of things you owned and never expected not to own. It's a shock.
The day of the LORD will be a shock.
There isn't going to be any grand rapture and then a waiting period for others to come to Jesus, that's a wicked lie and it lulls many into waiting, into holding off on their acceptance of the Lord because they don't want to repent of their wicked ways. Just imagine how many people have watched the 'Left Behind' series or read the books and are now filled with the belief that there will be a NOTICE, our God will give the world a special notice that they really can't ignore and that notice will be people disappearing. As those people wait for the NOTICE they aren't concerning themselves with truly walking with God now because they'll get a second chance and they definitely won't be able to ignore that when it comes. It's a LIE. A great big, ugly, deceptive lie of Satan's.
The day of the LORD will be a shock, it will be UNEXPECTED and at that point it's MUCH too late to decide to give your heart to Jesus.
The word of God tells us to WATCH so it doesn't come as a thief in the night to those who are His.
Mat 24:43 But know this, that if the goodman of the house had known in what watch the thief would come, he would have watched, and would not have suffered his house to be broken up.
Mat 25:13 Watch therefore, for ye know neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son of man cometh.
Mar 13:36 Lest coming suddenly he find you sleeping.
Mar 13:37 And what I say unto you I say unto all, Watch.
Luk 21:35 For as a snare shall it come on all them that dwell on the face of the whole earth.
Luk 21:36 Watch ye therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man.
We are admonished to WATCH. If we are watching then we are not taken by surprise. If we are watching vigilantly a thief won't rob us. People set up security systems about their houses and businesses, they put up surveillance equipment all with the hope of warding off would-be thieves knowing a thief is less likely to strike when they know they are being watched.
2Pe 3:10 But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up.
The heavens shall pass away- our atmosphere as we know it will cease to exist.
There will be a GREAT noise.
Things will begin to melt with the heat.
The earth, the things of the earth will be burned.
What a vivid picture we are given. No one will be left alive on the earth. All those who are Christ's as His coming will be taken to heaven as the earth below them burns.
2Pe 3:11 Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness,
2Pe 3:12 Looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God, wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat?
So KNOWING all this will happen- what sort of people should we be?
We should be in HOLY conversations and GODLINESS!
We should be LOOKING FOR and HASTING unto the coming of that day, the day of GOD.
It will happen!
The atmosphere will be gone and the earth will be destroyed by fire.
This isn't a possibility, this is a REALITY.
This isn't one scenario in many, it is the ONLY scenario.
The one thing we have left up to us is where we figure in this picture. We will either be God's and spared, or not be God's and condemned.
The choice is OURS.
2Pe 3:11 Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness,
2Pe 3:12 Looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God, wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat?
As a thief.
A thief strikes unexpectedly- at least to the one he steals from. If you've ever been robbed you know how it feels, how awful it is to discover things missing, to find yourself no longer in possession of things you owned and never expected not to own. It's a shock.
The day of the LORD will be a shock.
There isn't going to be any grand rapture and then a waiting period for others to come to Jesus, that's a wicked lie and it lulls many into waiting, into holding off on their acceptance of the Lord because they don't want to repent of their wicked ways. Just imagine how many people have watched the 'Left Behind' series or read the books and are now filled with the belief that there will be a NOTICE, our God will give the world a special notice that they really can't ignore and that notice will be people disappearing. As those people wait for the NOTICE they aren't concerning themselves with truly walking with God now because they'll get a second chance and they definitely won't be able to ignore that when it comes. It's a LIE. A great big, ugly, deceptive lie of Satan's.
The day of the LORD will be a shock, it will be UNEXPECTED and at that point it's MUCH too late to decide to give your heart to Jesus.
The word of God tells us to WATCH so it doesn't come as a thief in the night to those who are His.
Mat 24:43 But know this, that if the goodman of the house had known in what watch the thief would come, he would have watched, and would not have suffered his house to be broken up.
Mat 25:13 Watch therefore, for ye know neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son of man cometh.
Mar 13:36 Lest coming suddenly he find you sleeping.
Mar 13:37 And what I say unto you I say unto all, Watch.
Luk 21:35 For as a snare shall it come on all them that dwell on the face of the whole earth.
Luk 21:36 Watch ye therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man.
We are admonished to WATCH. If we are watching then we are not taken by surprise. If we are watching vigilantly a thief won't rob us. People set up security systems about their houses and businesses, they put up surveillance equipment all with the hope of warding off would-be thieves knowing a thief is less likely to strike when they know they are being watched.
2Pe 3:10 But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up.
The heavens shall pass away- our atmosphere as we know it will cease to exist.
There will be a GREAT noise.
Things will begin to melt with the heat.
The earth, the things of the earth will be burned.
What a vivid picture we are given. No one will be left alive on the earth. All those who are Christ's as His coming will be taken to heaven as the earth below them burns.
2Pe 3:11 Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness,
2Pe 3:12 Looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God, wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat?
So KNOWING all this will happen- what sort of people should we be?
We should be in HOLY conversations and GODLINESS!
We should be LOOKING FOR and HASTING unto the coming of that day, the day of GOD.
It will happen!
The atmosphere will be gone and the earth will be destroyed by fire.
This isn't a possibility, this is a REALITY.
This isn't one scenario in many, it is the ONLY scenario.
The one thing we have left up to us is where we figure in this picture. We will either be God's and spared, or not be God's and condemned.
The choice is OURS.
Sunday, March 11, 2012
God is long suffering
2Pe 3:8 But, beloved, be not ignorant of this one thing, that one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day.
2Pe 3:9 The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.
Be NOT ignorant of this ONE thing.
ONE DAY is with the LORD -
-as a THOUSAND YEARS.
And
A THOUSAND YEARS-
-as ONE DAY.
We cannot allow ourselves to imagine God on our time, He does NOT live in time as we know it.
A thousand years to us who live a measly 70-80 years, some more some less, is a long, long, long time! The number of people who have lived during the almost 6000 years earth has existed is in the billions more? And yet a thousand years to our God is as ONE DAY.
Time is NOT measured by God as it is by us, it just isn't and we cannot allow ourselves to forget this. When we pull God down into our time we try to put our humanity onto Him and that's impossible!
We might be tempted to say that God is taking TOO long to make good on His promise of our Savior's return but that wouldn't be true at all. There is no such thing as taking TOO long with our Savior. When we say God is taking too long we are doubting Him, we are doubting His goodness, we are doubting His love for us.
The Lord might seem slack to us who have witnessed the history of millions pass by over the last 2000 years living without seeing His return. We know that many, many generations have lived and died without witnessing the long awaited return and we have the fear that we too will live and die without witnessing the coming of our Savior- it's a very real possibility. We see the signs, but many have seen the signs. We cannot count God as being slack concerning the promise of His return.
God waits because He is LONG SUFFERING.
If God weren't long suffering then He would have ended things long, long ago.
God doesn't want us to perish.
God wants us ALL to realize our need to repent and in repenting, seek forgiveness and accept Him as our Lord and Savior! God wants us all saved in His love, His amazing love!
Please Lord, please help us to come to repentance in You, all in You.
Help us to please accept You Lord, and accept that all things done in Your time are done at the right time.
Please Lord, bless us to that acceptance all in YOU, in YOUR love!
2Pe 3:9 The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.
Be NOT ignorant of this ONE thing.
ONE DAY is with the LORD -
-as a THOUSAND YEARS.
And
A THOUSAND YEARS-
-as ONE DAY.
We cannot allow ourselves to imagine God on our time, He does NOT live in time as we know it.
A thousand years to us who live a measly 70-80 years, some more some less, is a long, long, long time! The number of people who have lived during the almost 6000 years earth has existed is in the billions more? And yet a thousand years to our God is as ONE DAY.
Time is NOT measured by God as it is by us, it just isn't and we cannot allow ourselves to forget this. When we pull God down into our time we try to put our humanity onto Him and that's impossible!
We might be tempted to say that God is taking TOO long to make good on His promise of our Savior's return but that wouldn't be true at all. There is no such thing as taking TOO long with our Savior. When we say God is taking too long we are doubting Him, we are doubting His goodness, we are doubting His love for us.
The Lord might seem slack to us who have witnessed the history of millions pass by over the last 2000 years living without seeing His return. We know that many, many generations have lived and died without witnessing the long awaited return and we have the fear that we too will live and die without witnessing the coming of our Savior- it's a very real possibility. We see the signs, but many have seen the signs. We cannot count God as being slack concerning the promise of His return.
God waits because He is LONG SUFFERING.
If God weren't long suffering then He would have ended things long, long ago.
God doesn't want us to perish.
God wants us ALL to realize our need to repent and in repenting, seek forgiveness and accept Him as our Lord and Savior! God wants us all saved in His love, His amazing love!
Please Lord, please help us to come to repentance in You, all in You.
Help us to please accept You Lord, and accept that all things done in Your time are done at the right time.
Please Lord, bless us to that acceptance all in YOU, in YOUR love!
Saturday, March 10, 2012
Scoffers, unbelievers
Scoffers.
Unbelievers.
2Pe 3:1 This second epistle, beloved, I now write unto you; in both which I stir up your pure minds by way of remembrance:
2Pe 3:2 That ye may be mindful of the words which were spoken before by the holy prophets, and of the commandment of us the apostles of the Lord and Saviour
2Pe 3:3 Knowing this first, that there shall come in the last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts,
2Pe 3:4 And saying, Where is the promise of his coming? for since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation.
He promised to come, so where is He? These are the words so many say. They accept Jesus as their Savior and all His promises are very real to them. Then the wait begins. They place God's time table upon their own and are looking for Jesus' return, all the signs seemingly pointing to it's imminent happening and yet … nothing. How easy it is to simply give up. How easy it is to say that since all the patriarchs, all the prophets, all the apostles have died nothing has changed it's the same ol, day in and day out as it has always been. And because everything is always the same and has been this way forever, why should we believe that He will really come for us?
Unbelievers.
Scoffers.
Our world is filled with them and you don't have to go far to find them- simply bring up a web browser and search the various news sites for religious articles- you'll find many, many scoffers especially in the comment sections where people get to add their opinions.
Unbelievers.
2Pe 3:5 For this they willingly are ignorant of, that by the word of God the heavens were of old, and the earth standing out of the water and in the water:
2Pe 3:6 Whereby the world that then was, being overflowed with water, perished:
2Pe 3:7 But the heavens and the earth, which are now, by the same word are kept in store, reserved unto fire against the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men.
WILLINGLY IGNORANT.
Our earth's composition tells us that a great flood occurred where everything was turned upside-down, the lush vegetation was buried under the debris that reformed the earth's surface as land. That lush vegetation became the coal people go hundreds of feet, thousands of feet…
'The deepest mine in the world is TauTona in Carletonville, South Africa at 3.9 kilometers (2.4 miles)'
Pasted from
...2.4 miles deep underground to mine. The violent upheaval of our earth under the forces of the great flood our God allowed to reign have been forgotten. People explain away everything with their own brands of logic. People scoff at the truth and any seeming proof of the truth. People do NOT want to believe the word of God because if they truly believe then they know that God has everything in His power. While we are allowed to see signs, while we are allowed to believe and should believe in the coming of our Savior, we might not be allowed to live to the end of earth as we know it and the return of our Savior. Just because we are NOT allowed to witness His return does NOT mean it will not happen as it is suppose to, as God wills. We can scoff if we want to, the Lord will NEVER force us to remain faithful, it will forever have to be our choice to believe.
We are told in the last days there will come scoffers, walking after their own lusts, those who even dare to scoff at the second coming of our Lord and Savior. People who believe everything is as it was since the beginning of all things. These people choose NOT to believe.
Our earth is kept in store - RESERVED for fire, RESERVED for the day of judgment, RESERVED for perdition of UNGODLY men, the utter destruction of all ungodly! Every scoffer of the last days will find a place in the end by being destroyed. People don't have to believe, NO ONE has to believe, the truth will come to pass whether a single person alive on earth believes in it.
We are warned. We are given the opportunity to know the truth. Whether we avail ourselves of the truth, of the opportunities is solely up to us.
We can allow the word of God to go UNREAD. We can allow ourselves to completely ignore the word of God. We don't HAVE to be mindful of the words spoken, we can be oblivious to them. But if we choose to ignore, if we choose to be UNMINDFUL then we can't expect that God will be mindful of us, can we?
We are given instructions! We are told what to do and if we ignore the instructions we absolutely cannot expect to be counted among those who truly are following God, who truly LOVE God.
In our own experience we find it hard to believe a person can love us when they completely and totally ignore us day after day and only occasionally acknowledge us. If you lived with someone who totally ignored you- I mean really and totally ignored you- a person you could speak to but they simply went about their business as if they didn't hear you, as if you weren't even there. If you placed yourself in front of them and they merely maneuvered themselves until they got around you, or you stopped trying to get in their path, and never once spoke to you, would you call that LOVE?
A lot of people claim their spouses ignore them, but in truth most people mean that they are occasionally ignored, or not given the amount of attention they want- they don't mean they are treated as if they are well and truly invisible. The wives that receive grunts of acknowledgment from their husbands are still receiving affirmation of their presence- they are totally being ignored.
I'm not saying some people don't experience that sort of icy cold reception and live in that sort of situation, but it'd be very, very rare and in truth- if a person did live in that sort of existence they wouldn't stay in it very long. People are divorced in droves for far less than being totally and completely ignored.
Yet so many people expect God to save them when they barely acknowledge Him, let alone give Him the attention He requires of those who truly love Him.
We expect those who love us to give us attention, right? Maybe not fall over their own feet trying to give us attention, but to acknowledge us when we seek to be noticed, to even on occasion seek us out for a conversation. We expect people who love us to care for us through their actions. It we do not care for a relationship with God by our actions how can we expect that we even have a real relationship with Him? Yet many people do just that. They expect God to know them and account them worthy simply because they acknowledged Him at some point in their lives. Yet if we applied that to each other we'd be called crazy. If we expected a mere acquaintance who we have no real relationship with to love us we'd be deemed nuts. Yet that's what a lot of people expect from God. Is it any wonder God is going to say that He never knew them? It's because He really doesn't know them! They didn't form a relationship with God. Remember- devils believe in God- it's NOT enough to simply believe and not form a real, living, loving relationship with God.
We will be accounted among the scoffers, the unbelievers, the lust followers, among those who question the validity of Christ's second coming if we do not have a real relationship with our Savior, a relationship we are told to have. We have to be mindful of the words given to us by GOD.
All by HIS grace, HIS love, HIS mercy, HIS forgiveness, HIS righteousness!
All through HIM in all THINGS!
Amen!
Unbelievers.
2Pe 3:1 This second epistle, beloved, I now write unto you; in both which I stir up your pure minds by way of remembrance:
2Pe 3:2 That ye may be mindful of the words which were spoken before by the holy prophets, and of the commandment of us the apostles of the Lord and Saviour
2Pe 3:3 Knowing this first, that there shall come in the last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts,
2Pe 3:4 And saying, Where is the promise of his coming? for since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation.
He promised to come, so where is He? These are the words so many say. They accept Jesus as their Savior and all His promises are very real to them. Then the wait begins. They place God's time table upon their own and are looking for Jesus' return, all the signs seemingly pointing to it's imminent happening and yet … nothing. How easy it is to simply give up. How easy it is to say that since all the patriarchs, all the prophets, all the apostles have died nothing has changed it's the same ol, day in and day out as it has always been. And because everything is always the same and has been this way forever, why should we believe that He will really come for us?
Unbelievers.
Scoffers.
Our world is filled with them and you don't have to go far to find them- simply bring up a web browser and search the various news sites for religious articles- you'll find many, many scoffers especially in the comment sections where people get to add their opinions.
Unbelievers.
2Pe 3:5 For this they willingly are ignorant of, that by the word of God the heavens were of old, and the earth standing out of the water and in the water:
2Pe 3:6 Whereby the world that then was, being overflowed with water, perished:
2Pe 3:7 But the heavens and the earth, which are now, by the same word are kept in store, reserved unto fire against the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men.
WILLINGLY IGNORANT.
Our earth's composition tells us that a great flood occurred where everything was turned upside-down, the lush vegetation was buried under the debris that reformed the earth's surface as land. That lush vegetation became the coal people go hundreds of feet, thousands of feet…
'The deepest mine in the world is TauTona in Carletonville, South Africa at 3.9 kilometers (2.4 miles)'
Pasted from
...2.4 miles deep underground to mine. The violent upheaval of our earth under the forces of the great flood our God allowed to reign have been forgotten. People explain away everything with their own brands of logic. People scoff at the truth and any seeming proof of the truth. People do NOT want to believe the word of God because if they truly believe then they know that God has everything in His power. While we are allowed to see signs, while we are allowed to believe and should believe in the coming of our Savior, we might not be allowed to live to the end of earth as we know it and the return of our Savior. Just because we are NOT allowed to witness His return does NOT mean it will not happen as it is suppose to, as God wills. We can scoff if we want to, the Lord will NEVER force us to remain faithful, it will forever have to be our choice to believe.
We are told in the last days there will come scoffers, walking after their own lusts, those who even dare to scoff at the second coming of our Lord and Savior. People who believe everything is as it was since the beginning of all things. These people choose NOT to believe.
Our earth is kept in store - RESERVED for fire, RESERVED for the day of judgment, RESERVED for perdition of UNGODLY men, the utter destruction of all ungodly! Every scoffer of the last days will find a place in the end by being destroyed. People don't have to believe, NO ONE has to believe, the truth will come to pass whether a single person alive on earth believes in it.
We are warned. We are given the opportunity to know the truth. Whether we avail ourselves of the truth, of the opportunities is solely up to us.
We can allow the word of God to go UNREAD. We can allow ourselves to completely ignore the word of God. We don't HAVE to be mindful of the words spoken, we can be oblivious to them. But if we choose to ignore, if we choose to be UNMINDFUL then we can't expect that God will be mindful of us, can we?
We are given instructions! We are told what to do and if we ignore the instructions we absolutely cannot expect to be counted among those who truly are following God, who truly LOVE God.
In our own experience we find it hard to believe a person can love us when they completely and totally ignore us day after day and only occasionally acknowledge us. If you lived with someone who totally ignored you- I mean really and totally ignored you- a person you could speak to but they simply went about their business as if they didn't hear you, as if you weren't even there. If you placed yourself in front of them and they merely maneuvered themselves until they got around you, or you stopped trying to get in their path, and never once spoke to you, would you call that LOVE?
A lot of people claim their spouses ignore them, but in truth most people mean that they are occasionally ignored, or not given the amount of attention they want- they don't mean they are treated as if they are well and truly invisible. The wives that receive grunts of acknowledgment from their husbands are still receiving affirmation of their presence- they are totally being ignored.
I'm not saying some people don't experience that sort of icy cold reception and live in that sort of situation, but it'd be very, very rare and in truth- if a person did live in that sort of existence they wouldn't stay in it very long. People are divorced in droves for far less than being totally and completely ignored.
Yet so many people expect God to save them when they barely acknowledge Him, let alone give Him the attention He requires of those who truly love Him.
We expect those who love us to give us attention, right? Maybe not fall over their own feet trying to give us attention, but to acknowledge us when we seek to be noticed, to even on occasion seek us out for a conversation. We expect people who love us to care for us through their actions. It we do not care for a relationship with God by our actions how can we expect that we even have a real relationship with Him? Yet many people do just that. They expect God to know them and account them worthy simply because they acknowledged Him at some point in their lives. Yet if we applied that to each other we'd be called crazy. If we expected a mere acquaintance who we have no real relationship with to love us we'd be deemed nuts. Yet that's what a lot of people expect from God. Is it any wonder God is going to say that He never knew them? It's because He really doesn't know them! They didn't form a relationship with God. Remember- devils believe in God- it's NOT enough to simply believe and not form a real, living, loving relationship with God.
We will be accounted among the scoffers, the unbelievers, the lust followers, among those who question the validity of Christ's second coming if we do not have a real relationship with our Savior, a relationship we are told to have. We have to be mindful of the words given to us by GOD.
All by HIS grace, HIS love, HIS mercy, HIS forgiveness, HIS righteousness!
All through HIM in all THINGS!
Amen!
Friday, March 9, 2012
Mindful of the words
2Pe 3:1 This second epistle, beloved, I now write unto you; in both which I stir up your pure minds by way of remembrance:
2Pe 3:2 That ye may be mindful of the words which were spoken before by the holy prophets, and of the commandment of us the apostles of the Lord and Saviour
The words of the holy prophets- the words of the apostles of the LORD and SAVIOR.
We are given these words for a reason. We are to be MINDFUL of the words spoken to us by those called of God to give them to us. Much is made over who wrote what, who used a scribe and who wrote their own words but ultimately we have to ask ourselves if we have faith in God. If we have faith in God then we have to have faith that He has given to us His holy word, all that we need to be mindful of.
Some followers of Christ have a cherished passage of the Bible, a snippet they've managed to obtain that they cling to. Some have only had the opportunity to hear- not to read the word of God for themselves. And yet God has given them ALL they need in what He offers to them and what they cherish of His word.
All too often we are given the book we call the Bible, a collection of the works of the Prophets and the Apostles- and it sits unopened, not cherished at all. Is it a complete collection of all the prophets and everything the Apostles ever wrote? No. But what we have is what God gives to us and we should cherish what we've been allowed to have. We should be MINDFUL of the words we are privileged to have, the words spoken by prophets, by apostles, my holy men of God who wrote as they were moved by the Holy Spirit.
2Pe 1:21 For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.
2Pe 3:3 Knowing this first, that there shall come in the last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts
Scoffers.
Def-
From G1702; a derider, that is, (by implication) a false teacher: - mocker, scoffer.
An unbeliever, right? A scoffer is one who doesn't believe. If I scoff at your beliefs, I'm not believing them, right?
Unbelievers.
Walking after their own lusts.
We have so many lusts in our lives. You mention the word lust and people tend to instantly think things of a sexual nature, but lusts do not pertain only to sexual aspects of our lives. You can lust after power, after money, after food, etcetera. When we walk after our own lusts we are living to our flesh nature, not our spiritual nature.
In the last days scoffers will live for their own lusts- unconcerned with others, unconcerned with being selfless but rather growing more and more selfish.
How much of our happiness is dependent upon things going our way? How much of our happiness is conditioned upon our selfish desires being met? How often we perceive our happiness being contingent upon selfish gain even going so far as to trick ourselves into believing our selfish desires are not really selfish at all but rather normal expectations from life. When we convinced ourselves that our desires are natural, normal, expected, common to all then we set ourselves up, trapping ourselves in a corner because then we've conditioned our happiness upon those accepted expectations. So naturally when we don't obtain those things we believe we are unlucky, unblessed, failures at even the most basic expectations out of life.
Jesus had it so right when He said this--
Mat 6:19 Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal:
Mat 6:20 But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal:
Mat 6:21 For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.
We have to set aside EVERY single expectation of the offerings in this world! Because those expectations can so easily become selfish lusts that we seek instead of seeking heavenly things. Instead of putting our treasures in heaven we've placed them on earth and they are ALL corruptible, they are ALL in danger of being taken from us. Only our heavenly treasures are secure.
We cannot be scoffers, walking after our own lusts, we simply cannot be those who are scoffing because they will NOT be saved, because they are NOT truly Gods.
More tomorrow by the grace of our Lord and Savior.
2Pe 3:2 That ye may be mindful of the words which were spoken before by the holy prophets, and of the commandment of us the apostles of the Lord and Saviour
The words of the holy prophets- the words of the apostles of the LORD and SAVIOR.
We are given these words for a reason. We are to be MINDFUL of the words spoken to us by those called of God to give them to us. Much is made over who wrote what, who used a scribe and who wrote their own words but ultimately we have to ask ourselves if we have faith in God. If we have faith in God then we have to have faith that He has given to us His holy word, all that we need to be mindful of.
Some followers of Christ have a cherished passage of the Bible, a snippet they've managed to obtain that they cling to. Some have only had the opportunity to hear- not to read the word of God for themselves. And yet God has given them ALL they need in what He offers to them and what they cherish of His word.
All too often we are given the book we call the Bible, a collection of the works of the Prophets and the Apostles- and it sits unopened, not cherished at all. Is it a complete collection of all the prophets and everything the Apostles ever wrote? No. But what we have is what God gives to us and we should cherish what we've been allowed to have. We should be MINDFUL of the words we are privileged to have, the words spoken by prophets, by apostles, my holy men of God who wrote as they were moved by the Holy Spirit.
2Pe 1:21 For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.
2Pe 3:3 Knowing this first, that there shall come in the last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts
Scoffers.
Def-
From G1702; a derider, that is, (by implication) a false teacher: - mocker, scoffer.
An unbeliever, right? A scoffer is one who doesn't believe. If I scoff at your beliefs, I'm not believing them, right?
Unbelievers.
Walking after their own lusts.
We have so many lusts in our lives. You mention the word lust and people tend to instantly think things of a sexual nature, but lusts do not pertain only to sexual aspects of our lives. You can lust after power, after money, after food, etcetera. When we walk after our own lusts we are living to our flesh nature, not our spiritual nature.
In the last days scoffers will live for their own lusts- unconcerned with others, unconcerned with being selfless but rather growing more and more selfish.
How much of our happiness is dependent upon things going our way? How much of our happiness is conditioned upon our selfish desires being met? How often we perceive our happiness being contingent upon selfish gain even going so far as to trick ourselves into believing our selfish desires are not really selfish at all but rather normal expectations from life. When we convinced ourselves that our desires are natural, normal, expected, common to all then we set ourselves up, trapping ourselves in a corner because then we've conditioned our happiness upon those accepted expectations. So naturally when we don't obtain those things we believe we are unlucky, unblessed, failures at even the most basic expectations out of life.
Jesus had it so right when He said this--
Mat 6:19 Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal:
Mat 6:20 But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal:
Mat 6:21 For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.
We have to set aside EVERY single expectation of the offerings in this world! Because those expectations can so easily become selfish lusts that we seek instead of seeking heavenly things. Instead of putting our treasures in heaven we've placed them on earth and they are ALL corruptible, they are ALL in danger of being taken from us. Only our heavenly treasures are secure.
We cannot be scoffers, walking after our own lusts, we simply cannot be those who are scoffing because they will NOT be saved, because they are NOT truly Gods.
More tomorrow by the grace of our Lord and Savior.
Thursday, March 8, 2012
Allure to the lusts of the flesh
2Pe 2:15 Which have forsaken the right way, and are gone astray, following the way of Balaam the son of Bosor, who loved the wages of unrighteousness;
2Pe 2:16 But was rebuked for his iniquity: the dumb ass speaking with man's voice forbad the madness of the prophet.
The story of Balaam-
Num 22:20 And God came unto Balaam at night, and said unto him, If the men come to call thee, rise up, and go with them; but yet the word which I shall say unto thee, that shalt thou do.
Num 22:21 And Balaam rose up in the morning, and saddled his ass, and went with the princes of Moab.
Num 22:22 And GOD'S ANGER WAS KINDLED BECAUSE HE WENTand the angel of the LORD stood in the way for an adversary against him. Now he was riding upon his ass, and his two servants were with him.
Num 22:23 And the ass saw the angel of the LORD standing in the way, and his sword drawn in his hand: and the ass turned aside out of the way, and went into the field: and Balaam smote the ass, to turn her into the way.
Num 22:24 But the angel of the LORD stood in a path of the vineyards, a wall being on this side, and a wall on that side.
Num 22:25 And when the ass saw the angel of the LORD, she thrust herself unto the wall, and crushed Balaam's foot against the wall: and he smote her again.
Num 22:26 And the angel of the LORD went further, and stood in a narrow place, where was no way to turn either to the right hand or to the left.
Num 22:27 And when the ass saw the angel of the LORD, she fell down under Balaam: and Balaam's anger was kindled, and he smote the ass with a staff.
Num 22:28 And the LORD OPENED THE MOUTH OF THE ASS, and she said unto Balaam, What have I done unto thee, that thou hast smitten me these three times?
Num 22:29 And Balaam said unto the ass, Because thou hast mocked me: I would there were a sword in mine hand, for now would I kill thee.
Num 22:30 And the ass said unto Balaam, Am not I thine ass, upon which thou hast ridden ever since I was thine unto this day? was I ever wont to do so unto thee? And he said, Nay.
Num 22:31 Then the LORD OPENED THE EYES OF BALAAM AND HE SAW THE ANGEL OF THE LORD STANDING IN THE WAY and his sword drawn in his hand: and he bowed down his head, and fell flat on his face.
Num 22:32 And the angel of the LORD said unto him, Wherefore hast thou smitten thine ass these three times? behold, I went out to withstand thee, because THY WAY IS PERVERSE BEFORE ME
Num 22:33 And the ass saw me, and turned from me these three times: unless she had turned from me, surely now also I had slain thee, and saved her alive.
Num 22:34 And Balaam said unto the angel of the LORD, I have sinned; for I knew not that thou stoodest in the way against me: now therefore, if it displease thee, I will get me back again.
Num 22:35 And the angel of the LORD said unto Balaam, Go with the men: but only the word that I shall speak unto thee, that thou shalt speak. So Balaam went with the princes of Balak.
Num 22:36 And when Balak heard that Balaam was come, he went out to meet him unto a city of Moab, which is in the border of Arnon, which is in the utmost coast.
Num 22:37 And Balak said unto Balaam, Did I not earnestly send unto thee to call thee? wherefore camest thou not unto me? am I not able indeed to promote thee to honour?
Num 22:38 And Balaam said unto Balak, Lo, I am come unto thee: have I now any power at all to say any thing? the word that God putteth in my mouth, that shall I speak.
Num 22:39 And Balaam went with Balak, and they came unto Kirjathhuzoth.
Num 22:40 And Balak offered oxen and sheep, and sent to Balaam, and to the princes that were with him.
Num 22:41 And it came to pass on the morrow, that Balak took Balaam, and brought him up into the high places of Baal, that thence he might see the utmost part of the people.
2Pe 2:15 Which have forsaken the right way, and are gone astray, following the way of Balaam the son of Bosor, who loved the wages of unrighteousness;
2Pe 2:16 But was rebuked for his iniquity: the dumb ass speaking with man's voice forbad the madness of the prophet.
The way of Balaam- rebellion against God.
Balaam REBUKED for his SIN.
The MADNESS of the prophet- the dumb ass PROTECTED Balaam, God put an ANGEL with a sword in the way of Balaam as Balaam disobeyed. Balaam was REBUKED for his iniquity! So many disobey! WE all disobey! It is only by the grace of God that we have any hope at all.
2Pe 2:17 These are wells without water, clouds that are carried with a tempest; to whom the mist of darkness is reserved for ever.
Wells- holding NO WATER.
Clouds- carried with a TEMPEST.
Empty, weightless beings, mindless, thoughtless, GODLESS people!
2Pe 2:18 For when they speak great swelling words of vanity, they allure through the lusts of the flesh, through much wantonness, those that were clean escaped from them who live in error.
There IS AN ESCAPE!
JESUS CHRIST our Lord and Savior is and always has been our ESCAPE!
2Pe 2:19 While they promise them liberty, they themselves are the servants of corruption: for of whom a man is overcome, of the same is he brought in bondage.
Those who CHOOSE God are God's and saved by God, promised freedom IN GOD.
Those who do not choose God serve Satan- they are servants of corruption.
2Pe 2:20 For if after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, they are again entangled therein, and overcome, the latter end is worse with them than the beginning.
AND IF after people escape the corruption they return to it and are overcome by it- they lose all hope, all faith and in their lost state they are worse off than ever having known salvation and then rejected it!
2Pe 2:21 For it had been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than, after they have known it, to turn from the holy commandment delivered unto them.
Better NOT to have known the ways of God, the ways of HIS righteousness.
Once we know the ways of Christ's righteousness we are completely lost if we do NOT follow those ways. We CANNOT turn from the HOLY COMMANDMENTS delivered to us! If we turn from them we are lost, lost, lost!
2Pe 2:22 But it is happened unto them according to the true proverb, The dog is turned to his own vomit again; and the sow that was washed to her wallowing in the mire.
The dog, the sow… they are mindless animals and we too are like mindless animals when we refuse the ways of our LORD, the spiritual ways and go instead after the flesh.
We CANNOT live for the flesh!
We must live for GOD!
Please LORD help us to LIVE for YOU and not ourselves, not for our flesh natures, not for our flesh lusts!
Help us Lord! Please!
2Pe 2:16 But was rebuked for his iniquity: the dumb ass speaking with man's voice forbad the madness of the prophet.
The story of Balaam-
Num 22:20 And God came unto Balaam at night, and said unto him, If the men come to call thee, rise up, and go with them; but yet the word which I shall say unto thee, that shalt thou do.
Num 22:21 And Balaam rose up in the morning, and saddled his ass, and went with the princes of Moab.
Num 22:22 And GOD'S ANGER WAS KINDLED BECAUSE HE WENTand the angel of the LORD stood in the way for an adversary against him. Now he was riding upon his ass, and his two servants were with him.
Num 22:23 And the ass saw the angel of the LORD standing in the way, and his sword drawn in his hand: and the ass turned aside out of the way, and went into the field: and Balaam smote the ass, to turn her into the way.
Num 22:24 But the angel of the LORD stood in a path of the vineyards, a wall being on this side, and a wall on that side.
Num 22:25 And when the ass saw the angel of the LORD, she thrust herself unto the wall, and crushed Balaam's foot against the wall: and he smote her again.
Num 22:26 And the angel of the LORD went further, and stood in a narrow place, where was no way to turn either to the right hand or to the left.
Num 22:27 And when the ass saw the angel of the LORD, she fell down under Balaam: and Balaam's anger was kindled, and he smote the ass with a staff.
Num 22:28 And the LORD OPENED THE MOUTH OF THE ASS, and she said unto Balaam, What have I done unto thee, that thou hast smitten me these three times?
Num 22:29 And Balaam said unto the ass, Because thou hast mocked me: I would there were a sword in mine hand, for now would I kill thee.
Num 22:30 And the ass said unto Balaam, Am not I thine ass, upon which thou hast ridden ever since I was thine unto this day? was I ever wont to do so unto thee? And he said, Nay.
Num 22:31 Then the LORD OPENED THE EYES OF BALAAM AND HE SAW THE ANGEL OF THE LORD STANDING IN THE WAY and his sword drawn in his hand: and he bowed down his head, and fell flat on his face.
Num 22:32 And the angel of the LORD said unto him, Wherefore hast thou smitten thine ass these three times? behold, I went out to withstand thee, because THY WAY IS PERVERSE BEFORE ME
Num 22:33 And the ass saw me, and turned from me these three times: unless she had turned from me, surely now also I had slain thee, and saved her alive.
Num 22:34 And Balaam said unto the angel of the LORD, I have sinned; for I knew not that thou stoodest in the way against me: now therefore, if it displease thee, I will get me back again.
Num 22:35 And the angel of the LORD said unto Balaam, Go with the men: but only the word that I shall speak unto thee, that thou shalt speak. So Balaam went with the princes of Balak.
Num 22:36 And when Balak heard that Balaam was come, he went out to meet him unto a city of Moab, which is in the border of Arnon, which is in the utmost coast.
Num 22:37 And Balak said unto Balaam, Did I not earnestly send unto thee to call thee? wherefore camest thou not unto me? am I not able indeed to promote thee to honour?
Num 22:38 And Balaam said unto Balak, Lo, I am come unto thee: have I now any power at all to say any thing? the word that God putteth in my mouth, that shall I speak.
Num 22:39 And Balaam went with Balak, and they came unto Kirjathhuzoth.
Num 22:40 And Balak offered oxen and sheep, and sent to Balaam, and to the princes that were with him.
Num 22:41 And it came to pass on the morrow, that Balak took Balaam, and brought him up into the high places of Baal, that thence he might see the utmost part of the people.
2Pe 2:15 Which have forsaken the right way, and are gone astray, following the way of Balaam the son of Bosor, who loved the wages of unrighteousness;
2Pe 2:16 But was rebuked for his iniquity: the dumb ass speaking with man's voice forbad the madness of the prophet.
The way of Balaam- rebellion against God.
Balaam REBUKED for his SIN.
The MADNESS of the prophet- the dumb ass PROTECTED Balaam, God put an ANGEL with a sword in the way of Balaam as Balaam disobeyed. Balaam was REBUKED for his iniquity! So many disobey! WE all disobey! It is only by the grace of God that we have any hope at all.
2Pe 2:17 These are wells without water, clouds that are carried with a tempest; to whom the mist of darkness is reserved for ever.
Wells- holding NO WATER.
Clouds- carried with a TEMPEST.
Empty, weightless beings, mindless, thoughtless, GODLESS people!
2Pe 2:18 For when they speak great swelling words of vanity, they allure through the lusts of the flesh, through much wantonness, those that were clean escaped from them who live in error.
There IS AN ESCAPE!
JESUS CHRIST our Lord and Savior is and always has been our ESCAPE!
2Pe 2:19 While they promise them liberty, they themselves are the servants of corruption: for of whom a man is overcome, of the same is he brought in bondage.
Those who CHOOSE God are God's and saved by God, promised freedom IN GOD.
Those who do not choose God serve Satan- they are servants of corruption.
2Pe 2:20 For if after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, they are again entangled therein, and overcome, the latter end is worse with them than the beginning.
AND IF after people escape the corruption they return to it and are overcome by it- they lose all hope, all faith and in their lost state they are worse off than ever having known salvation and then rejected it!
2Pe 2:21 For it had been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than, after they have known it, to turn from the holy commandment delivered unto them.
Better NOT to have known the ways of God, the ways of HIS righteousness.
Once we know the ways of Christ's righteousness we are completely lost if we do NOT follow those ways. We CANNOT turn from the HOLY COMMANDMENTS delivered to us! If we turn from them we are lost, lost, lost!
2Pe 2:22 But it is happened unto them according to the true proverb, The dog is turned to his own vomit again; and the sow that was washed to her wallowing in the mire.
The dog, the sow… they are mindless animals and we too are like mindless animals when we refuse the ways of our LORD, the spiritual ways and go instead after the flesh.
We CANNOT live for the flesh!
We must live for GOD!
Please LORD help us to LIVE for YOU and not ourselves, not for our flesh natures, not for our flesh lusts!
Help us Lord! Please!
Wednesday, March 7, 2012
Walking after the flesh
2Pe 2:9 The Lord knoweth how to deliver the godly out of temptations, and to reserve the unjust unto the day of judgment to be punished:
2Pe 2:10 But chiefly them that walk after the flesh in the lust of uncleanness, and despise government. Presumptuous are they, selfwilled, they are not afraid to speak evil of dignities.
Those who WALK - those who LIVE after the flesh. These are the people who are NOT living for their spiritual life, the life that Jesus lived for. Jesus did NOT live for the flesh. Jesus preached the coming of the kingdom of heaven- His gift of salvation to mankind. Jesus taught WE are to live for the kingdom of heaven just as He lived. We are NOT to live to our flesh even though we are prone to do so, even though the natural man has to fight against what is natural to him. We are to CHOOSE our Savior over all.
Those who choose the flesh will live to their lusts that are unclean- filthy with sin. They will despise any control over themselves thinking they have to answer to NO ONE, not even the common laws of the land. They presume much, they are guided only by themselves, they are NOT afraid to speak evil of glory, of goodness, of honor, of praise, of worship. They WILL speak evil of all that is Godly and they fear NO retribution.
There are many, many people who do this, so very, very many. It's a tragedy, it's heartbreaking, it's appalling. So very many people are living only to the flesh without any thought at all of things Godly, of things spiritual.
2Pe 2:11 Whereas angels, which are greater in power and might, bring not railing accusation against them before the Lord.
Angels- GREATER IN POWER.
Angels-GREATER IN MIGHT.
Angels don't bring railing accusations why?
God knows all that we do, every last action we commit, every last thought we think, God KNOWS.
2Pe 2:12 But these, as natural brute beasts, made to be taken and destroyed, speak evil of the things that they understand not; and shall utterly perish in their own corruption;
These evil ones only deserve to be taken and kill, yet they are allowed to live and they speak EVIL of things they can't even understand. The evil will UTTERLY perish in their OWN CORRUPTION! The evil are NOT kill without reason. Their own corruption will kill them. Those who CHOOSE self over GOD will die because they are choosing flesh over spirit.
2Pe 2:13 And shall receive the reward of unrighteousness, as they that count it pleasure to riot in the day time. Spots they are and blemishes, sporting themselves with their own deceivings while they feast with you;
They think it pleasing to riot.
They are filled with their own deception even as they feast with us!
2Pe 2:14 Having eyes full of adultery, and that cannot cease from sin; beguiling unstable souls: an heart they have exercised with covetous practices; cursed children:
They are filled with betrayal.
They cannot stop sinning!
They trick those who are weak.
They are overflowing with covetousness, selfishness in all they do!
2Pe 2:15 Which have forsaken the right way, and are gone astray, following the way of Balaam the son of Bosor, who loved the wages of unrighteousness
They are LOST!
They have gone astray!
They follow EVIL ways.
They LOVE the results of their unrighteousness!
Balaam-
Balaam (Hebrew: בִּלְעָם, Standard Bilʻam Tiberian Bilʻām) is a diviner in the Torah, his story occurring towards the end of the Book of Numbers. The etymology of his name is uncertain, and discussed below. Every ancient reference to Balaam considers him a non-Israelite, a prophet, and the son of Beor, though Beor is not so clearly identified. Though other sources describe the apparently positive blessings he delivers upon the Israelites, he is reviled as a "wicked man" [1] in the major story concerning him. Balaam attempted to curse God's people. He failed all three tries, each time producing blessings, not curses (Numbers 22-24). Balaam's error and the source of his wickedness came not from the curses he never delivered on, but from sabotaging the Israelites as they entered the Promised Land. According to Numbers 31:16 and St. John (Revelation 2:14), Balaam returned to King Balak and informed the king on how to get the Israelites to curse themselves by enticing them with prostitutes and unclean food sacrificed to idols. The Israelites fell into transgression due to these traps and YHVH sent a deadly plague to them as a result (Numbers 31:16).
Pasted from
Following after the way of Balaam- WHO LOVE UNRIGHTEOUSNESS!
More on this tomorrow…. all by the grace of God.
2Pe 2:10 But chiefly them that walk after the flesh in the lust of uncleanness, and despise government. Presumptuous are they, selfwilled, they are not afraid to speak evil of dignities.
Those who WALK - those who LIVE after the flesh. These are the people who are NOT living for their spiritual life, the life that Jesus lived for. Jesus did NOT live for the flesh. Jesus preached the coming of the kingdom of heaven- His gift of salvation to mankind. Jesus taught WE are to live for the kingdom of heaven just as He lived. We are NOT to live to our flesh even though we are prone to do so, even though the natural man has to fight against what is natural to him. We are to CHOOSE our Savior over all.
Those who choose the flesh will live to their lusts that are unclean- filthy with sin. They will despise any control over themselves thinking they have to answer to NO ONE, not even the common laws of the land. They presume much, they are guided only by themselves, they are NOT afraid to speak evil of glory, of goodness, of honor, of praise, of worship. They WILL speak evil of all that is Godly and they fear NO retribution.
There are many, many people who do this, so very, very many. It's a tragedy, it's heartbreaking, it's appalling. So very many people are living only to the flesh without any thought at all of things Godly, of things spiritual.
2Pe 2:11 Whereas angels, which are greater in power and might, bring not railing accusation against them before the Lord.
Angels- GREATER IN POWER.
Angels-GREATER IN MIGHT.
Angels don't bring railing accusations why?
God knows all that we do, every last action we commit, every last thought we think, God KNOWS.
2Pe 2:12 But these, as natural brute beasts, made to be taken and destroyed, speak evil of the things that they understand not; and shall utterly perish in their own corruption;
These evil ones only deserve to be taken and kill, yet they are allowed to live and they speak EVIL of things they can't even understand. The evil will UTTERLY perish in their OWN CORRUPTION! The evil are NOT kill without reason. Their own corruption will kill them. Those who CHOOSE self over GOD will die because they are choosing flesh over spirit.
2Pe 2:13 And shall receive the reward of unrighteousness, as they that count it pleasure to riot in the day time. Spots they are and blemishes, sporting themselves with their own deceivings while they feast with you;
They think it pleasing to riot.
They are filled with their own deception even as they feast with us!
2Pe 2:14 Having eyes full of adultery, and that cannot cease from sin; beguiling unstable souls: an heart they have exercised with covetous practices; cursed children:
They are filled with betrayal.
They cannot stop sinning!
They trick those who are weak.
They are overflowing with covetousness, selfishness in all they do!
2Pe 2:15 Which have forsaken the right way, and are gone astray, following the way of Balaam the son of Bosor, who loved the wages of unrighteousness
They are LOST!
They have gone astray!
They follow EVIL ways.
They LOVE the results of their unrighteousness!
Balaam-
Balaam (Hebrew: בִּלְעָם, Standard Bilʻam Tiberian Bilʻām) is a diviner in the Torah, his story occurring towards the end of the Book of Numbers. The etymology of his name is uncertain, and discussed below. Every ancient reference to Balaam considers him a non-Israelite, a prophet, and the son of Beor, though Beor is not so clearly identified. Though other sources describe the apparently positive blessings he delivers upon the Israelites, he is reviled as a "wicked man" [1] in the major story concerning him. Balaam attempted to curse God's people. He failed all three tries, each time producing blessings, not curses (Numbers 22-24). Balaam's error and the source of his wickedness came not from the curses he never delivered on, but from sabotaging the Israelites as they entered the Promised Land. According to Numbers 31:16 and St. John (Revelation 2:14), Balaam returned to King Balak and informed the king on how to get the Israelites to curse themselves by enticing them with prostitutes and unclean food sacrificed to idols. The Israelites fell into transgression due to these traps and YHVH sent a deadly plague to them as a result (Numbers 31:16).
Pasted from
Following after the way of Balaam- WHO LOVE UNRIGHTEOUSNESS!
More on this tomorrow…. all by the grace of God.
Tuesday, March 6, 2012
The Lord delivers the godly out of temptations
2Pe 2:4 For if God spared not the angels that sinned, but cast them down to hell, and delivered them into chains of darkness, to be reserved unto judgment--
Angels that sinned.
Angels cast into the grave.
Angels delivered into chains of darkness- the darkness of the grave.
Angels reserved in that grave of darkness until they are judged.
Angels.
Angels - beings created before mankind.
Mankind in fact was created a little LOWER than the angels.
Psa 8:4 What is man, that thou art mindful of him? and the son of man, that thou visitest him?
Psa 8:5 For thou hast made him a little lower than the angels, and hast crowned him with glory and honour.
Heb 2:6 But one in a certain place testified, saying, What is man, that thou art mindful of him? or the son of man, that thou visitest him?
Heb 2:7 Thou madest him a little lower than the angels; thou crownedst him with glory and honour, and didst set him over the works of thy hands
Heb 2:9 But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death, crowned with glory and honour; that he by the grace of God should taste death for every man.
Angels, made higher than man.
Angels who have no ties to flesh even if they can appear in what seems like flesh.
Angels who also were created with the power of choice.
1/3 of the angels decided to no longer love their maker and as a result they were cast from heaven.
Some of the angels sinned horrifically and these angels were bound to the darkness of the grave until- judgment.
God is NOT sparing the angels that sin against Him, why in the world would we even imagine that He would spare us who sin against Him?
2Pe 2:5 And spared not the old world, but saved Noah the eighth person, a preacher of righteousness, bringing in the flood upon the world of the ungodly
God created a wonderful world and man sinned, yet God did NOT destroy man because of their rebellion. God gave mankind a chance and mankind took that chance and threw it away letting evil grow and grow unchecked until it filled the earth and only EIGHT people were saved, Noah a lone preacher of righteousness in a world of sin. God did NOT spare mankind then and He will NOT spare it again.
2Pe 2:6 And turning the cities of Sodom and Gomorrha into ashes condemned them with an overthrow, making them an ensample unto those that after should live ungodly;
2Pe 2:7 And delivered just Lot, vexed with the filthy conversation of the wicked:
2Pe 2:8 (For that righteous man dwelling among them, in seeing and hearing, vexed his righteous soul from day to day with their unlawful deeds;)
And mankind being allowed to live and not being destroyed completely multiplied and again sin reigned and there was a city so exceedingly sinfilled that God had to destroy it- Sodom and Gomorrah. Only LOT and his two daughters were spared, his wife perishing because her heart was back in the city of sin. Lot- righteous- lived among the evil ones and day after day he was tortured mentally, emotionally by their evil. God did NOT spare that city. Yet we believe that we will ALL be spared.
2Pe 2:9 The Lord knoweth how to deliver the godly out of temptations, and to reserve the unjust unto the day of judgment to be punished
This IS truth!
The LORD delivers the GODLY OUT of TEMPTATIONS.
The LORD reserves the UNJUST UNTO THE DAY O JUDGEMENTS to be punished.
The unjust humans and the unjust angels are all being reserved to receive their punishments.
We have HOPE in our SAVIOR.
We have HOPE knowing that the LORD DELIVERS the GODLY OUT of TEMPTATIONS!
Please Lord, deliver US! Please Lord, please!
Angels that sinned.
Angels cast into the grave.
Angels delivered into chains of darkness- the darkness of the grave.
Angels reserved in that grave of darkness until they are judged.
Angels.
Angels - beings created before mankind.
Mankind in fact was created a little LOWER than the angels.
Psa 8:4 What is man, that thou art mindful of him? and the son of man, that thou visitest him?
Psa 8:5 For thou hast made him a little lower than the angels, and hast crowned him with glory and honour.
Heb 2:6 But one in a certain place testified, saying, What is man, that thou art mindful of him? or the son of man, that thou visitest him?
Heb 2:7 Thou madest him a little lower than the angels; thou crownedst him with glory and honour, and didst set him over the works of thy hands
Heb 2:9 But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death, crowned with glory and honour; that he by the grace of God should taste death for every man.
Angels, made higher than man.
Angels who have no ties to flesh even if they can appear in what seems like flesh.
Angels who also were created with the power of choice.
1/3 of the angels decided to no longer love their maker and as a result they were cast from heaven.
Some of the angels sinned horrifically and these angels were bound to the darkness of the grave until- judgment.
God is NOT sparing the angels that sin against Him, why in the world would we even imagine that He would spare us who sin against Him?
2Pe 2:5 And spared not the old world, but saved Noah the eighth person, a preacher of righteousness, bringing in the flood upon the world of the ungodly
God created a wonderful world and man sinned, yet God did NOT destroy man because of their rebellion. God gave mankind a chance and mankind took that chance and threw it away letting evil grow and grow unchecked until it filled the earth and only EIGHT people were saved, Noah a lone preacher of righteousness in a world of sin. God did NOT spare mankind then and He will NOT spare it again.
2Pe 2:6 And turning the cities of Sodom and Gomorrha into ashes condemned them with an overthrow, making them an ensample unto those that after should live ungodly;
2Pe 2:7 And delivered just Lot, vexed with the filthy conversation of the wicked:
2Pe 2:8 (For that righteous man dwelling among them, in seeing and hearing, vexed his righteous soul from day to day with their unlawful deeds;)
And mankind being allowed to live and not being destroyed completely multiplied and again sin reigned and there was a city so exceedingly sinfilled that God had to destroy it- Sodom and Gomorrah. Only LOT and his two daughters were spared, his wife perishing because her heart was back in the city of sin. Lot- righteous- lived among the evil ones and day after day he was tortured mentally, emotionally by their evil. God did NOT spare that city. Yet we believe that we will ALL be spared.
2Pe 2:9 The Lord knoweth how to deliver the godly out of temptations, and to reserve the unjust unto the day of judgment to be punished
This IS truth!
The LORD delivers the GODLY OUT of TEMPTATIONS.
The LORD reserves the UNJUST UNTO THE DAY O JUDGEMENTS to be punished.
The unjust humans and the unjust angels are all being reserved to receive their punishments.
We have HOPE in our SAVIOR.
We have HOPE knowing that the LORD DELIVERS the GODLY OUT of TEMPTATIONS!
Please Lord, deliver US! Please Lord, please!
Monday, March 5, 2012
The false among us
2Pe 2:1 But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction.
2Pe 2:2 And many shall follow their pernicious ways; by reason of whom the way of truth shall be evil spoken of.
2Pe 2:3 And through covetousness shall they with feigned words make merchandise of you: whose judgment now of a long time lingereth not, and their damnation slumbereth not.
There are FALSE prophets.
To every truth there is a lie.
To every teller of truth there is a liar.
To every genuine prophet there is a false prophet.
False prophets telling false prophecies.
These false prophets and false teachers are everywhere and they're spreading their untruths- their DAMNABLE heresies! They are denying the LORD that brought the news of salvation to them! They are bringing destruction upon themselves and all who follow them.
MANY will follow their PERNICIOUS ways.
Definitions of pernicious-
1. causing insidious harm or ruin; ruinous; injurious; hurtful: pernicious teachings; a pernicious lie.
2.
deadly; fatal: a pernicious disease.
3.
Obsolete . evil; wicked.
Pasted from
Evil- wicked ways- many are going to follow these false prophets, these false teachers. What these people think they are hearing is truth but it will only be lies! People feeding lies to others lies that will cost them their eternal life. Will the fooled people be held accountable? Yes. Because we have a way to the truth! The truth is available to all who seek it! Those who let themselves be deceived will not be as guilty as the deceivers but the punishment for all sin is death. That lake of fire where all sinners will burn -will burn hotter and longer for some more than others. We are guilty of letting ourselves be deceived by others, we MUST seek the truth! We have to find the truth! We must listen to God's true prophets! We must listen to true prophecies!
No one wants to be deceived, yet Satan's deceivers lie so subtly many will be deceived, all but the VERY ELECT.
I pray to our LOVING MERCIFUL GOD that we are among those who are the ELECT!
Please LORD don't let us be among the deceived. Let us listen to your prophets, your TRUE prophets.
In Your amazing LOVE!
Amen.
2Pe 2:2 And many shall follow their pernicious ways; by reason of whom the way of truth shall be evil spoken of.
2Pe 2:3 And through covetousness shall they with feigned words make merchandise of you: whose judgment now of a long time lingereth not, and their damnation slumbereth not.
There are FALSE prophets.
To every truth there is a lie.
To every teller of truth there is a liar.
To every genuine prophet there is a false prophet.
False prophets telling false prophecies.
These false prophets and false teachers are everywhere and they're spreading their untruths- their DAMNABLE heresies! They are denying the LORD that brought the news of salvation to them! They are bringing destruction upon themselves and all who follow them.
MANY will follow their PERNICIOUS ways.
Definitions of pernicious-
1. causing insidious harm or ruin; ruinous; injurious; hurtful: pernicious teachings; a pernicious lie.
2.
deadly; fatal: a pernicious disease.
3.
Obsolete . evil; wicked.
Pasted from
Evil- wicked ways- many are going to follow these false prophets, these false teachers. What these people think they are hearing is truth but it will only be lies! People feeding lies to others lies that will cost them their eternal life. Will the fooled people be held accountable? Yes. Because we have a way to the truth! The truth is available to all who seek it! Those who let themselves be deceived will not be as guilty as the deceivers but the punishment for all sin is death. That lake of fire where all sinners will burn -will burn hotter and longer for some more than others. We are guilty of letting ourselves be deceived by others, we MUST seek the truth! We have to find the truth! We must listen to God's true prophets! We must listen to true prophecies!
No one wants to be deceived, yet Satan's deceivers lie so subtly many will be deceived, all but the VERY ELECT.
I pray to our LOVING MERCIFUL GOD that we are among those who are the ELECT!
Please LORD don't let us be among the deceived. Let us listen to your prophets, your TRUE prophets.
In Your amazing LOVE!
Amen.
Sunday, March 4, 2012
Take heed...
2Pe 1:19 We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts:
2Pe 1:20 Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation.
2Pe 1:21 For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.
I know we touched on this yesterday, but I feel compelled to touch on it a bit more.
Prophecy.
Definition- pertaining to a foreteller . Foretelling. It's telling something in advance of it's occurring. God allows people to foretell the future for a reason. The Holy Spirit guides human beings by giving them visions, night visions, and so forth.
Prophets - 'inspired man'
Men inspired by God.
2Pe 1:21 For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost
Moved by the Holy Ghost.
The need for prophecy? A revealing of the future gives us PROOF that the revealer has power. Right? Any prophet of God would NOT take credit for the prophesying, they would give GOD all the glory. God is the REVEALER, not the person being used by the Lord, the person inspired by God through the Holy Spirit.
We have a MORE sure word of PROPHECY.
Where WE do WELL if WE take HEED!
Prophecy is like a LIGHT shining in the darkness!
Prophecy is like a light in the NIGHT shining until the day dawns!
Prophecy is like a light shining in the night until JESUS arises in our HEARTS!
So is prophecy important?
We are told we do well when we listen to prophecy.
We are told we will have light in the darkness. Meaning if we don't have this light we are LEFT in the dark! If we are left in the dark then we are lost! This is how important prophecy is to our LORD, to US!
We NEED light to shine in the darkness around us!
We NEED JESUS to arise in our hearts!
This is through prophecy, through the sure word of God. We HAVE to trust in our Lord, we have to believe in HIM, we have to study HIS word and we HAVE to STUDY - to TAKE HEED to PROPHECY! This is real! This isn't something for people long ago, this applies to US right now. In fact we can know even with more surety that God's prophecies are true, they've all come to pass as He has said they would, and those that have yet to come to pass WILL come to pass without a doubt!
We've studied prophecy in the past and we will study it in the future all by the GRACE of God!
Let us TAKE HEED!
Let us get out of the DARKNESS!
Let the DAY STAR ARISE IN OUR HEARTS!
Please Lord, please!
Through Your love!
2Pe 1:20 Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation.
2Pe 1:21 For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.
I know we touched on this yesterday, but I feel compelled to touch on it a bit more.
Prophecy.
Definition- pertaining to a foreteller . Foretelling. It's telling something in advance of it's occurring. God allows people to foretell the future for a reason. The Holy Spirit guides human beings by giving them visions, night visions, and so forth.
Prophets - 'inspired man'
Men inspired by God.
2Pe 1:21 For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost
Moved by the Holy Ghost.
The need for prophecy? A revealing of the future gives us PROOF that the revealer has power. Right? Any prophet of God would NOT take credit for the prophesying, they would give GOD all the glory. God is the REVEALER, not the person being used by the Lord, the person inspired by God through the Holy Spirit.
We have a MORE sure word of PROPHECY.
Where WE do WELL if WE take HEED!
Prophecy is like a LIGHT shining in the darkness!
Prophecy is like a light in the NIGHT shining until the day dawns!
Prophecy is like a light shining in the night until JESUS arises in our HEARTS!
So is prophecy important?
We are told we do well when we listen to prophecy.
We are told we will have light in the darkness. Meaning if we don't have this light we are LEFT in the dark! If we are left in the dark then we are lost! This is how important prophecy is to our LORD, to US!
We NEED light to shine in the darkness around us!
We NEED JESUS to arise in our hearts!
This is through prophecy, through the sure word of God. We HAVE to trust in our Lord, we have to believe in HIM, we have to study HIS word and we HAVE to STUDY - to TAKE HEED to PROPHECY! This is real! This isn't something for people long ago, this applies to US right now. In fact we can know even with more surety that God's prophecies are true, they've all come to pass as He has said they would, and those that have yet to come to pass WILL come to pass without a doubt!
We've studied prophecy in the past and we will study it in the future all by the GRACE of God!
Let us TAKE HEED!
Let us get out of the DARKNESS!
Let the DAY STAR ARISE IN OUR HEARTS!
Please Lord, please!
Through Your love!
Saturday, March 3, 2012
We have NOT followed cunningly devised fables
2Pe 1:13 Yea, I think it meet, as long as I am in this tabernacle, to stir you up by putting you in remembrance;
2Pe 1:14 Knowing that shortly I must put off this my tabernacle, even as our Lord Jesus Christ hath shewed me.
We can only teach and encourage others while we are alive. Too many believe that they can converse with the dead, not realizing that every dead person they are conversing with is in fact a part of Satan's army of evil spirits. People don't want to hear that, in fact they'll outright dismiss the very thought. The ones they've conversed with have been sweet, kind spirits of loved ones who knew things only they could know and none other. People tend to forget our deepest secrets are known to those in the spirit realm- to God, to angels- good and evil. At our every turn there are those paying attention to our lives ready at any moment to deceive us. If a visitation from a dead loved one can convince us that we don't really die but just move on then the mission of Satan has been accomplished.
Peter would have ALL understand the messages he is giving them, so much so he wants to stir the people up so they'll remember all that he's telling them. He knows his own end is near and he wants all those that look to him - to receive God's word through him as through all the disciples- and he wants them to REMEMBER.
2Pe 1:15 Moreover I will endeavour that ye may be able after my decease to have these things always in remembrance.
He want them to remember! He wants us to remember! We are being told to REMEMBER the truths being given, and what truths they are. They don't talk of a stagnant life spent cowering and hidden from life, but rather a life of growth into the being that God would have us be in our SAVIOR. It's a constant growth, a constant adding to our faith. It's a realization that we will have many obstacles thrown at us. It's a knowing that we ourselves can put obstacles in our way by ceasing to GROW in Christ.
2Pe 1:16 For we have not followed cunningly devised fables, when we made known unto you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but were eyewitnesses of his majesty.
NO cunningly devised fables. Even in Peter's time, even during the time immediately following our Savior's ministry and death, and rising, there were those who loved to say that everything was just a fable, cunningly devised, but nevertheless just a fable told to make fools of those who believe in them.
Today this very same accusation is ringing loud and clean in our world. People claiming loudly and with great conviction that what we believe is truly nothing more than a fable, a great fable that men have used to dupe people throughout the ages to make fools of them.
The truth, the REAL truth is that there are NO cunningly devised fables here, NONE, not ONE. The truth is just too hard for people to believe because it calls for a life spent living towards selflessness and not selfishness. People love living for themselves and possibly the immediate extensions of themselves more than they love the idea of living for strangers, for their enemies whom they are suppose to love.
Peter and other apostles WITNESSED the truth of our SAVIOR'S majesty!
2Pe 1:17 For he received from God the Father honour and glory, when there came such a voice to him from the excellent glory, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.
2Pe 1:18 And this voice which came from heaven we heard, when we were with him in the holy mount.
They were there! They heard firsthand! And they have no reason to lie, none. What did they gain by telling the truth? They gained torture and death. They were NOT set up in earthly mansions and given a life of ease and pleasure. They were abused constantly. If it were all lies what were they lying for? Glory? They receive precious LITTLE glory and honor here on earth. Movies and books like to portray them as being revered in great numbers but the truth is they were hunted, wanted men whose audiences weren't huge crowds of adoring fans. They had nothing to gain upon earth for their endeavors, nothing. Not a single Apostle went on to live a life of luxury. Today we are NOT promised a life of ease here, we are NOT promised luxuries and adoration from others. We are told when we decide to make Christ our Lord and Savior that the life we'll lead will be a very hard one and we too can face all the same obstacles that the Apostles faced- a life of ridicule and abuse.
2Pe 1:19 We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts:
2Pe 1:20 Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation.
2Pe 1:21 For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.
We must take heed to PROPHECY- because PROPHECY is a light shining in darkness, a guiding light that will lead us right to the end when our SAVIOR returns.
We can't make up what we want out of prophecy. We can't take those prophecies and put meanings where we want them to be so that we are creating stories that are far from the truth. GOD gave those prophecies to mankind, God spoke through those men through the Holy Ghost. These weren't tall tales told to people, but truths - future happenstances. These truths were given to them and to us so that we would take heed- so that we would pay attention and know what would come to pass. Throughout the years SO incredibly many prophecies have come to pass there is no way to doubt the truth, none and yet people do.
We are given admonitions and it is up to us to heed those warnings. We make the choices to listen or to close our ears. We make the choice to see or to remain blind. We are not forced to the truth because a forcing of the truth takes away the truth altogether.
Is anyone who is forced to LOVE someone truly in love with that person? No. Of course there are a lot of tales about those who are forced to love someone falling in love with them over time, but that is fairy tale stuff in a lot of those cases. Forced love is NOT love. In fact it sounds impossible to force love doesn't it? You have to ask how can you be forced to love someone? You can be tortured until you admit to love. You say that's a false love only brought about by coercion and just words mouthed without any truth to them. I agree. Forcing LOVE by loves very nature is impossible. And truth is God's love and none of us is forced to the truth, just as forcing love is ultimately impossible, so is forcing a belief in the truth of God.
The truth exists and is there for our acceptance or rejection, we choose, no one else chooses for us.
By the grace and mercy of our Lord and Savior may we accept the truth of God, His love in all thing, always!
Amen.
2Pe 1:14 Knowing that shortly I must put off this my tabernacle, even as our Lord Jesus Christ hath shewed me.
We can only teach and encourage others while we are alive. Too many believe that they can converse with the dead, not realizing that every dead person they are conversing with is in fact a part of Satan's army of evil spirits. People don't want to hear that, in fact they'll outright dismiss the very thought. The ones they've conversed with have been sweet, kind spirits of loved ones who knew things only they could know and none other. People tend to forget our deepest secrets are known to those in the spirit realm- to God, to angels- good and evil. At our every turn there are those paying attention to our lives ready at any moment to deceive us. If a visitation from a dead loved one can convince us that we don't really die but just move on then the mission of Satan has been accomplished.
Peter would have ALL understand the messages he is giving them, so much so he wants to stir the people up so they'll remember all that he's telling them. He knows his own end is near and he wants all those that look to him - to receive God's word through him as through all the disciples- and he wants them to REMEMBER.
2Pe 1:15 Moreover I will endeavour that ye may be able after my decease to have these things always in remembrance.
He want them to remember! He wants us to remember! We are being told to REMEMBER the truths being given, and what truths they are. They don't talk of a stagnant life spent cowering and hidden from life, but rather a life of growth into the being that God would have us be in our SAVIOR. It's a constant growth, a constant adding to our faith. It's a realization that we will have many obstacles thrown at us. It's a knowing that we ourselves can put obstacles in our way by ceasing to GROW in Christ.
2Pe 1:16 For we have not followed cunningly devised fables, when we made known unto you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but were eyewitnesses of his majesty.
NO cunningly devised fables. Even in Peter's time, even during the time immediately following our Savior's ministry and death, and rising, there were those who loved to say that everything was just a fable, cunningly devised, but nevertheless just a fable told to make fools of those who believe in them.
Today this very same accusation is ringing loud and clean in our world. People claiming loudly and with great conviction that what we believe is truly nothing more than a fable, a great fable that men have used to dupe people throughout the ages to make fools of them.
The truth, the REAL truth is that there are NO cunningly devised fables here, NONE, not ONE. The truth is just too hard for people to believe because it calls for a life spent living towards selflessness and not selfishness. People love living for themselves and possibly the immediate extensions of themselves more than they love the idea of living for strangers, for their enemies whom they are suppose to love.
Peter and other apostles WITNESSED the truth of our SAVIOR'S majesty!
2Pe 1:17 For he received from God the Father honour and glory, when there came such a voice to him from the excellent glory, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.
2Pe 1:18 And this voice which came from heaven we heard, when we were with him in the holy mount.
They were there! They heard firsthand! And they have no reason to lie, none. What did they gain by telling the truth? They gained torture and death. They were NOT set up in earthly mansions and given a life of ease and pleasure. They were abused constantly. If it were all lies what were they lying for? Glory? They receive precious LITTLE glory and honor here on earth. Movies and books like to portray them as being revered in great numbers but the truth is they were hunted, wanted men whose audiences weren't huge crowds of adoring fans. They had nothing to gain upon earth for their endeavors, nothing. Not a single Apostle went on to live a life of luxury. Today we are NOT promised a life of ease here, we are NOT promised luxuries and adoration from others. We are told when we decide to make Christ our Lord and Savior that the life we'll lead will be a very hard one and we too can face all the same obstacles that the Apostles faced- a life of ridicule and abuse.
2Pe 1:19 We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts:
2Pe 1:20 Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation.
2Pe 1:21 For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.
We must take heed to PROPHECY- because PROPHECY is a light shining in darkness, a guiding light that will lead us right to the end when our SAVIOR returns.
We can't make up what we want out of prophecy. We can't take those prophecies and put meanings where we want them to be so that we are creating stories that are far from the truth. GOD gave those prophecies to mankind, God spoke through those men through the Holy Ghost. These weren't tall tales told to people, but truths - future happenstances. These truths were given to them and to us so that we would take heed- so that we would pay attention and know what would come to pass. Throughout the years SO incredibly many prophecies have come to pass there is no way to doubt the truth, none and yet people do.
We are given admonitions and it is up to us to heed those warnings. We make the choices to listen or to close our ears. We make the choice to see or to remain blind. We are not forced to the truth because a forcing of the truth takes away the truth altogether.
Is anyone who is forced to LOVE someone truly in love with that person? No. Of course there are a lot of tales about those who are forced to love someone falling in love with them over time, but that is fairy tale stuff in a lot of those cases. Forced love is NOT love. In fact it sounds impossible to force love doesn't it? You have to ask how can you be forced to love someone? You can be tortured until you admit to love. You say that's a false love only brought about by coercion and just words mouthed without any truth to them. I agree. Forcing LOVE by loves very nature is impossible. And truth is God's love and none of us is forced to the truth, just as forcing love is ultimately impossible, so is forcing a belief in the truth of God.
The truth exists and is there for our acceptance or rejection, we choose, no one else chooses for us.
By the grace and mercy of our Lord and Savior may we accept the truth of God, His love in all thing, always!
Amen.
Friday, March 2, 2012
If you do these things you will never fall
2Pe 1:10 Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall:
2Pe 1:11 For so an entrance shall be ministered unto you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.
2Pe 1:12 Wherefore I will not be negligent to put you always in remembrance of these things, though ye know them, and be established in the present truth.
A constant reminder.
Don't we all need constant reminders?
We live in a world that would love to take away any reminders of salvation through Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior.
The reminders that we live in a fierce battle between good and evil.
Satan would have us living with blinders on, thick, tight blinders that seem all but impossible to remove. He doesn't want us to realize that we are actually, truly, really, honestly FIGHTING for our eternal life.
He comes up with so very many tricks to fool us. He'll say we're trying to work out our own salvation when in truth only Christ can save us, but doesn't God's word say this to us…
Php 2:12 ... work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.
We are REALLY told this… really and truly!
Php 2:13 For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.
Php 2:14 Do all things without murmurings and disputings:
Php 2:15 That ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world;
Php 2:16 Holding forth the word of life; that I may rejoice in the day of Christ, that I have not run in vain, neither laboured in vain.
Work out our OWN salvation with FEAR and TREMBLING.
For it is GOD which worketh IN US both to will and to do of HIS good pleasure.
God work IN US.
We have to CHOOSE to do ALL things WITHOUT murmurings and disputings.
Just as we HAVE to choose to ADD to our faith and not simply stop at believing, but make that belief a reality.
We have to do ALL things without murmurings and disputings because then we will be BLAMELESS and HARMLESS-the SONS of GOD- without rebuke, in the MIDST of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom we will SHINE as LIGHTS in the world.
HOLDING forth the WORD of LIFE that we may rejoice in the DAY of CHRIST. That we have NOT run in VAIN, neither labored in VAIN.
2Pe 1:10 Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall:
2Pe 1:11 For so an entrance shall be ministered unto you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.
2Pe 1:12 Wherefore I will not be negligent to put you always in remembrance of these things, though ye know them, and be established in the present truth.
IF YE DO THESE THINGS YE SHALL NEVER FALL.
Do what things?
These things--
2Pe 1:5 '…add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge
2Pe 1:6 And to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness;
2Pe 1:7 And to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity.
2Pe 1:8 For if these things be in you, and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. '
We are NOT to be idle! We are NOT to stop at faith! We are NOT to live disregarding God's instructions, God's will. Yet so many do, so many could careless about God or His will. So many get discouraged because Satan is fighting against their walk with Christ. Satan is pulling out all stops to get us to turn from God, and barring that to turn us down a path lined with a false god.
The truth in God is NOT a path that is wide and easy, but narrow and HARD to traverse, hard to even find it!
Mat 7:14 Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.
FEW there be that find it!
You'd think it'd be easy to find because we are given so much incredible information leading us to the path of Salvation through Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior. But it's not easy to find, because only FEW will find it. Why will only a few find it? Because only a few will be willing to walk that narrow way in a world where walking the broad way is the norm. So many things will keep people from finding that narrow way. And Satan will be behind every single one of those ways. There is a REAL battle we are in, a daily, hourly, minutely battle and yet because this war is fought on a spiritual plane, affecting our physical plane we don't often recognize the war but attribute all of the trials and tribulations huge and tiny to just being life.
Calling Satan out, pointing at His dealings isn't something he wants done, he'd much rather we ignore his presence. As long as we ignore him then he can go on his merry way attacking us right and left, tripping us up and hiding the hand being held out to help us up. He wants us down in the filth of sin wallowing in it never seeking to reach for the ONE who can clean us of the filth he is trying to drown us in.
By the grace and mercy of our God may we have our eyes wide open to all the attacks Satan sets up for us, and when we see these attacks may we seek shelter in our Savior! May we don all the armor, all the protection that our SAVIOR offers to us through His amazing LOVE.
Help us LORD.
Save us LORD JESUS!
In Your love, in YOUR righteousness now and forever and ever!
Amen.
2Pe 1:11 For so an entrance shall be ministered unto you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.
2Pe 1:12 Wherefore I will not be negligent to put you always in remembrance of these things, though ye know them, and be established in the present truth.
A constant reminder.
Don't we all need constant reminders?
We live in a world that would love to take away any reminders of salvation through Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior.
The reminders that we live in a fierce battle between good and evil.
Satan would have us living with blinders on, thick, tight blinders that seem all but impossible to remove. He doesn't want us to realize that we are actually, truly, really, honestly FIGHTING for our eternal life.
He comes up with so very many tricks to fool us. He'll say we're trying to work out our own salvation when in truth only Christ can save us, but doesn't God's word say this to us…
Php 2:12 ... work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.
We are REALLY told this… really and truly!
Php 2:13 For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.
Php 2:14 Do all things without murmurings and disputings:
Php 2:15 That ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world;
Php 2:16 Holding forth the word of life; that I may rejoice in the day of Christ, that I have not run in vain, neither laboured in vain.
Work out our OWN salvation with FEAR and TREMBLING.
For it is GOD which worketh IN US both to will and to do of HIS good pleasure.
God work IN US.
We have to CHOOSE to do ALL things WITHOUT murmurings and disputings.
Just as we HAVE to choose to ADD to our faith and not simply stop at believing, but make that belief a reality.
We have to do ALL things without murmurings and disputings because then we will be BLAMELESS and HARMLESS-the SONS of GOD- without rebuke, in the MIDST of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom we will SHINE as LIGHTS in the world.
HOLDING forth the WORD of LIFE that we may rejoice in the DAY of CHRIST. That we have NOT run in VAIN, neither labored in VAIN.
2Pe 1:10 Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall:
2Pe 1:11 For so an entrance shall be ministered unto you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.
2Pe 1:12 Wherefore I will not be negligent to put you always in remembrance of these things, though ye know them, and be established in the present truth.
IF YE DO THESE THINGS YE SHALL NEVER FALL.
Do what things?
These things--
2Pe 1:5 '…add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge
2Pe 1:6 And to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness;
2Pe 1:7 And to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity.
2Pe 1:8 For if these things be in you, and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. '
We are NOT to be idle! We are NOT to stop at faith! We are NOT to live disregarding God's instructions, God's will. Yet so many do, so many could careless about God or His will. So many get discouraged because Satan is fighting against their walk with Christ. Satan is pulling out all stops to get us to turn from God, and barring that to turn us down a path lined with a false god.
The truth in God is NOT a path that is wide and easy, but narrow and HARD to traverse, hard to even find it!
Mat 7:14 Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.
FEW there be that find it!
You'd think it'd be easy to find because we are given so much incredible information leading us to the path of Salvation through Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior. But it's not easy to find, because only FEW will find it. Why will only a few find it? Because only a few will be willing to walk that narrow way in a world where walking the broad way is the norm. So many things will keep people from finding that narrow way. And Satan will be behind every single one of those ways. There is a REAL battle we are in, a daily, hourly, minutely battle and yet because this war is fought on a spiritual plane, affecting our physical plane we don't often recognize the war but attribute all of the trials and tribulations huge and tiny to just being life.
Calling Satan out, pointing at His dealings isn't something he wants done, he'd much rather we ignore his presence. As long as we ignore him then he can go on his merry way attacking us right and left, tripping us up and hiding the hand being held out to help us up. He wants us down in the filth of sin wallowing in it never seeking to reach for the ONE who can clean us of the filth he is trying to drown us in.
By the grace and mercy of our God may we have our eyes wide open to all the attacks Satan sets up for us, and when we see these attacks may we seek shelter in our Savior! May we don all the armor, all the protection that our SAVIOR offers to us through His amazing LOVE.
Help us LORD.
Save us LORD JESUS!
In Your love, in YOUR righteousness now and forever and ever!
Amen.
Thursday, March 1, 2012
He that lacketh these things is blind
2Pe 1:5 And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge;
2Pe 1:6 And to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness;
2Pe 1:7 And to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity.
2Pe 1:8 For if these things be in you, and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.
2Pe 1:9 But he that lacketh these things is blind, and cannot see afar off, and hath forgotten that he was purged from his old sins.
Blind.
Unable to see and in this case- unable to see afar off.
Where are we supposed to be able to see afar off, how far?
Heb 11:13 These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them AFAR off, and were persuaded of them, and embraced them, and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth.
Heb 11:14 For they that say such things declare plainly that they seek a country.
Heb 11:15 And truly, if they had been mindful of that country from whence they came out, they might have had opportunity to have returned.
Heb 11:16 But now they desire a better country, that is, an heavenly: wherefore God is not ashamed to be called their God: for he hath prepared for them a city.
The promise for the future that is AFAR off is HEAVEN. These men of God KNEW they would NOT inherit that promise anytime soon but rather AFAR off.
We have to look AFAR off to that future if our HOPE is in Christ. Is it any wonder we are considered blind if we are caught up in sinning? Sinning holds us to the here and now, trapping us, binding us to the father of lies who claims ownership of the earth. When we stop growing in Christ, we become stagnant in sin. To grow we have this list of things we are to ADD to our Faith- our FIRST believing. The things we have to add are:
Virtue, knowledge, temperance, patience, godliness, brotherly kindness, charity.
When we find ourselves all caught up in sin we have to realize we are NOT adding these things to our faith life.
If we are to have hope in the far off country we are seeking, our heavenly home, then we need to live in Christ. By HIS grace and mercy may WE ever keep growing in these additions to our faith.
Satan doesn't want us growing in Christ. Satan is going to try and keep us from adding anything to our faith at all. Satan will bring up obstacle after obstacle. Every step we make towards adding these things to our faith we will be attacked viciously by Satan. I mean VICIOUSLY! The attacks are geared towards bringing up our cherished sins, our favorite sins, the sins that we have to fight to give up, the sins we have to resist unto blood.
2Pe 1:8 For if these things be in you, and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.
2Pe 1:9 But he that lacketh these things is blind, and cannot see afar off, and hath forgotten that he was purged from his old sins.
By His GRACE, His LOVE, His MERCY!
2Pe 1:6 And to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness;
2Pe 1:7 And to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity.
2Pe 1:8 For if these things be in you, and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.
2Pe 1:9 But he that lacketh these things is blind, and cannot see afar off, and hath forgotten that he was purged from his old sins.
Blind.
Unable to see and in this case- unable to see afar off.
Where are we supposed to be able to see afar off, how far?
Heb 11:13 These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them AFAR off, and were persuaded of them, and embraced them, and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth.
Heb 11:14 For they that say such things declare plainly that they seek a country.
Heb 11:15 And truly, if they had been mindful of that country from whence they came out, they might have had opportunity to have returned.
Heb 11:16 But now they desire a better country, that is, an heavenly: wherefore God is not ashamed to be called their God: for he hath prepared for them a city.
The promise for the future that is AFAR off is HEAVEN. These men of God KNEW they would NOT inherit that promise anytime soon but rather AFAR off.
We have to look AFAR off to that future if our HOPE is in Christ. Is it any wonder we are considered blind if we are caught up in sinning? Sinning holds us to the here and now, trapping us, binding us to the father of lies who claims ownership of the earth. When we stop growing in Christ, we become stagnant in sin. To grow we have this list of things we are to ADD to our Faith- our FIRST believing. The things we have to add are:
Virtue, knowledge, temperance, patience, godliness, brotherly kindness, charity.
When we find ourselves all caught up in sin we have to realize we are NOT adding these things to our faith life.
If we are to have hope in the far off country we are seeking, our heavenly home, then we need to live in Christ. By HIS grace and mercy may WE ever keep growing in these additions to our faith.
Satan doesn't want us growing in Christ. Satan is going to try and keep us from adding anything to our faith at all. Satan will bring up obstacle after obstacle. Every step we make towards adding these things to our faith we will be attacked viciously by Satan. I mean VICIOUSLY! The attacks are geared towards bringing up our cherished sins, our favorite sins, the sins that we have to fight to give up, the sins we have to resist unto blood.
2Pe 1:8 For if these things be in you, and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.
2Pe 1:9 But he that lacketh these things is blind, and cannot see afar off, and hath forgotten that he was purged from his old sins.
By His GRACE, His LOVE, His MERCY!
Wednesday, February 29, 2012
Add to our faith
2Pe 1:5 And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge;
2Pe 1:6 And to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness;
2Pe 1:7 And to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity.
2Pe 1:8 For if these things be in you, and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.
2Pe 1:9 But he that lacketh these things is blind, and cannot see afar off, and hath forgotten that he was purged from his old sins.
ALL diligence- all attention, all detail, do we do this are we really diligent in our pursuit of a life following our Savior? We are to ADD to our faith- VIRTUE.
Virtue- moral excellence; goodness; righteousness. (dictionary definition)
Add to our FAITH- moral excellence, goodness, righteousness!
In this society when having very little virtue and moral excellence is commended especially among our youth, our young adults who are fed a steady stream of moral-less programs on television and movies, adding VIRTUE to faith is rare. While it is rare we must diligently add this to our faith. We don't stop at faith, we CAN'T stop at faith, we have to ADD to it. And ADDing to it means living our lives with the things we are adding. What good is our faith if we choose to live without any moral excellence- seriously! Is it any wonder people could careless if we love God, if we love Jesus , if we have all the faith in the world as long as our lives seem no different than any others? We MUST add to our faith moral excellence-virtue.
We must add to that virtue- knowledge. We cannot ever be content with the knowledge we possess but forever seek to learn more, so much more.
To that knowledge we need to add- temperance.
Temperance- moderation or self-restraint in action, statement, etc.; self-control. (dictionary definition)
We have to have self-restraint! We have to have self-control! We have to deny OURSELVES! Do we? We need to because if we give into our every desire, our every fleshy lust we are not living in the spirit at all, we are living in the flesh and that flesh will lead us into sin because it is so very, very selfish, so self-centered.
To that self-control we have to add patience. Our entire lives demand patience because this life as a Christian is a long, long journey we are undertaking. We are living our lives as pilgrims, true strangers in this strange land and whenever anyone undertakes a long, long journey they must have patience or else that journey will be incredibly difficult, if not impossible.
To patience we have to add godliness.
Conforming to the laws and wishes of God; devout; pious. (dictionary def)
Without this conformity to God's laws we follow NOTHING! Seriously. What's it mean to follow someone without any principles, without any moral standards? God is far from moral-less. God has LAWS. The moral law of God is something we ALL must follow. When we fail to follow the moral law of our God then we are NOT living with godliness in our lives, and if we are not living with godliness then we are living godlessly.
To godliness we must add brotherly kindness. Being kind is something many have forgotten. Simple kindnesses are all too often dismissed in favor of selfishness, self-absorption. We think more of our own selves, our feelings in the moment, our desires in the moment than we do another's. THIS is a sickness that has infected our world on so many, many levels and unfortunately it has NOT spared those who claim to be God's.
To brotherly kindness we have to add charity.
Love. Love. Without love we are truly NOT following our Savior and to think we are well, we're deluding ourselves.
2Pe 1:8 For if these things be in you, and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.
2Pe 1:9 But he that lacketh these things is blind, and cannot see afar off, and hath forgotten that he was purged from his old sins.
BLIND.
CANNOT SEE AFAR OFF.
FORGOTTEN WE'VE BEEN PURGED FROM OUR OLD SINS.
How true.
If we forget that we've had our old sins purged what happens? Those sins remain, they return, and if our old sins return the repentance we sought for them is no longer there. We have to repent again! We have to seek forgiveness all over again. If we follow the word of God as given to us here then we will NOT forget we were purged from our former sins. If we DO NOT follow the word of God we will forget and our old sins will over take us again.
BY THE GRACE OF GOD, we will FOLLOW the WORD of God.
More tomorrow on this all by the grace of our Lord and Savior!
Please LORD, please help us.
In YOUR love!
2Pe 1:6 And to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness;
2Pe 1:7 And to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity.
2Pe 1:8 For if these things be in you, and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.
2Pe 1:9 But he that lacketh these things is blind, and cannot see afar off, and hath forgotten that he was purged from his old sins.
ALL diligence- all attention, all detail, do we do this are we really diligent in our pursuit of a life following our Savior? We are to ADD to our faith- VIRTUE.
Virtue- moral excellence; goodness; righteousness. (dictionary definition)
Add to our FAITH- moral excellence, goodness, righteousness!
In this society when having very little virtue and moral excellence is commended especially among our youth, our young adults who are fed a steady stream of moral-less programs on television and movies, adding VIRTUE to faith is rare. While it is rare we must diligently add this to our faith. We don't stop at faith, we CAN'T stop at faith, we have to ADD to it. And ADDing to it means living our lives with the things we are adding. What good is our faith if we choose to live without any moral excellence- seriously! Is it any wonder people could careless if we love God, if we love Jesus , if we have all the faith in the world as long as our lives seem no different than any others? We MUST add to our faith moral excellence-virtue.
We must add to that virtue- knowledge. We cannot ever be content with the knowledge we possess but forever seek to learn more, so much more.
To that knowledge we need to add- temperance.
Temperance- moderation or self-restraint in action, statement, etc.; self-control. (dictionary definition)
We have to have self-restraint! We have to have self-control! We have to deny OURSELVES! Do we? We need to because if we give into our every desire, our every fleshy lust we are not living in the spirit at all, we are living in the flesh and that flesh will lead us into sin because it is so very, very selfish, so self-centered.
To that self-control we have to add patience. Our entire lives demand patience because this life as a Christian is a long, long journey we are undertaking. We are living our lives as pilgrims, true strangers in this strange land and whenever anyone undertakes a long, long journey they must have patience or else that journey will be incredibly difficult, if not impossible.
To patience we have to add godliness.
Conforming to the laws and wishes of God; devout; pious. (dictionary def)
Without this conformity to God's laws we follow NOTHING! Seriously. What's it mean to follow someone without any principles, without any moral standards? God is far from moral-less. God has LAWS. The moral law of God is something we ALL must follow. When we fail to follow the moral law of our God then we are NOT living with godliness in our lives, and if we are not living with godliness then we are living godlessly.
To godliness we must add brotherly kindness. Being kind is something many have forgotten. Simple kindnesses are all too often dismissed in favor of selfishness, self-absorption. We think more of our own selves, our feelings in the moment, our desires in the moment than we do another's. THIS is a sickness that has infected our world on so many, many levels and unfortunately it has NOT spared those who claim to be God's.
To brotherly kindness we have to add charity.
Love. Love. Without love we are truly NOT following our Savior and to think we are well, we're deluding ourselves.
2Pe 1:8 For if these things be in you, and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.
2Pe 1:9 But he that lacketh these things is blind, and cannot see afar off, and hath forgotten that he was purged from his old sins.
BLIND.
CANNOT SEE AFAR OFF.
FORGOTTEN WE'VE BEEN PURGED FROM OUR OLD SINS.
How true.
If we forget that we've had our old sins purged what happens? Those sins remain, they return, and if our old sins return the repentance we sought for them is no longer there. We have to repent again! We have to seek forgiveness all over again. If we follow the word of God as given to us here then we will NOT forget we were purged from our former sins. If we DO NOT follow the word of God we will forget and our old sins will over take us again.
BY THE GRACE OF GOD, we will FOLLOW the WORD of God.
More tomorrow on this all by the grace of our Lord and Savior!
Please LORD, please help us.
In YOUR love!
Tuesday, February 28, 2012
Through the knowledge of God and Jesus our Lord
2Pe 1:2 Grace and peace be multiplied unto you through the knowledge of God, and of Jesus our Lord
Grace and peace- THROUGH the knowledge of God and Jesus our Lord.
Knowledge comes to us how? Can you do nothing and gain knowledge? As a rule- no. How can you learn to read if you are not taught? If you don't have to be taught then how do we have people who do not know how to read? So much in our lives does NOT come to us automatically. We are taught a lot. Even by our parents as babes we are learning constantly. People can learn a lot through watching others and whatnot, but some things must be deliberately taught to us. When we find something we desire to learn we can go to a lot of sources and from those sources we will gain the knowledge we want to have. Yes, you can force someone to learn. Ask the majority of kids in school and they'll tell you they believe they are forced to go to school, forced to learn. But learning something from a desire to know more is a lot better than feeling as if you are being forced to learn.
We- who desire so much to have the grace and peace of God and Jesus our Lord- will find learning of them desirable, yes? Grace and peace multiplied through knowledge- we must constantly seek to learn more of our God, of our Savior and Lord Jesus Christ.
2Pe 1:3 According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue:
2Pe 1:4 Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.
Exceeding GREAT and PRECIOUS PROMISES.
Do you know of the promises that are so great and precious?
The promise of salvation, the promise of no more tears, no more pain, there are a lot of promises we are given and we must know them, learn them. We are made PARTAKERS of the DIVINE NATURE by these promises. By these promises we can ESCAPE the corruption that exists in our world through lust!
We can escape!
Grace and peace- THROUGH the knowledge of God and Jesus our Lord.
Knowledge comes to us how? Can you do nothing and gain knowledge? As a rule- no. How can you learn to read if you are not taught? If you don't have to be taught then how do we have people who do not know how to read? So much in our lives does NOT come to us automatically. We are taught a lot. Even by our parents as babes we are learning constantly. People can learn a lot through watching others and whatnot, but some things must be deliberately taught to us. When we find something we desire to learn we can go to a lot of sources and from those sources we will gain the knowledge we want to have. Yes, you can force someone to learn. Ask the majority of kids in school and they'll tell you they believe they are forced to go to school, forced to learn. But learning something from a desire to know more is a lot better than feeling as if you are being forced to learn.
We- who desire so much to have the grace and peace of God and Jesus our Lord- will find learning of them desirable, yes? Grace and peace multiplied through knowledge- we must constantly seek to learn more of our God, of our Savior and Lord Jesus Christ.
2Pe 1:3 According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue:
2Pe 1:4 Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.
Exceeding GREAT and PRECIOUS PROMISES.
Do you know of the promises that are so great and precious?
The promise of salvation, the promise of no more tears, no more pain, there are a lot of promises we are given and we must know them, learn them. We are made PARTAKERS of the DIVINE NATURE by these promises. By these promises we can ESCAPE the corruption that exists in our world through lust!
We can escape!
Monday, February 27, 2012
Precious Faith
2Pe 1:1 Simon Peter, a servant and an apostle of Jesus Christ, to them that have obtained like precious faith with us through the righteousness of God and our Saviour Jesus Christ
Like PRECIOUS FAITH with us THROUGH the RIGHTEOUSNESS of GOD and our SAVIOR JESUS CHRIST.
We have no faith outside of the righteousness of God and our Savior Jesus Christ.
Is it any wonder Jesus could say this--
Mat 17:20 And Jesus said unto them, Because of your unbelief: for verily I say unto you, If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible unto you.
He could say this because it's the quality of faith that matters far above quantity. The tiniest bit of faith if it is pure is a very, very powerful thing.
The tiniest bit of pure faith could move a mountain.
The tiniest bit of pure faith makes NOTHING impossible to us.
Pure faith is complete belief in the RIGHTEOUSNESS of God and our Savior Jesus Christ.
Many will say they have no problem at all believing that God and His Son are righteous. We have to APPLY that righteousness to ourselves, it's there where people falter and it's no wonder- we are so incredibly far from being righteous the idea that our Savior, that our God would see us as righteous is mind blowing. We have to accept Christ's righteousness as ours, and again our filth tells us that we do not deserve that righteousness. That to be touched by the righteousness would mean our death because we are so repugnant, so repulsive, so offensive to all that is good and right. Our Savior DIED to make the gift possible, the UNDESERVED gift of HIMSELF, HIS RIGHTEOUSNESS.
Satan would have us NOT accept Christ's righteousness. Satan would have us believe that we are too filthy to ever be cleaned.
Precious faith- through the righteousness of GOD and our SAVIOR JESUS CHRIST- that's the only way we can truly have faith at all. We have to STOP focusing on our righteousness of the idea that we must obtain our OWN righteousness because that is a devil trap. We have to focus on our Savior's righteousness, His purity, His goodness, His sinlessness!
He SAVES us- we MUST believe in HIS RIGHTEOUSNESS that HE wants to cover us with.
Faith.
Faith not in ourselves, but in God and Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior, always!
Like PRECIOUS FAITH with us THROUGH the RIGHTEOUSNESS of GOD and our SAVIOR JESUS CHRIST.
We have no faith outside of the righteousness of God and our Savior Jesus Christ.
Is it any wonder Jesus could say this--
Mat 17:20 And Jesus said unto them, Because of your unbelief: for verily I say unto you, If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible unto you.
He could say this because it's the quality of faith that matters far above quantity. The tiniest bit of faith if it is pure is a very, very powerful thing.
The tiniest bit of pure faith could move a mountain.
The tiniest bit of pure faith makes NOTHING impossible to us.
Pure faith is complete belief in the RIGHTEOUSNESS of God and our Savior Jesus Christ.
Many will say they have no problem at all believing that God and His Son are righteous. We have to APPLY that righteousness to ourselves, it's there where people falter and it's no wonder- we are so incredibly far from being righteous the idea that our Savior, that our God would see us as righteous is mind blowing. We have to accept Christ's righteousness as ours, and again our filth tells us that we do not deserve that righteousness. That to be touched by the righteousness would mean our death because we are so repugnant, so repulsive, so offensive to all that is good and right. Our Savior DIED to make the gift possible, the UNDESERVED gift of HIMSELF, HIS RIGHTEOUSNESS.
Satan would have us NOT accept Christ's righteousness. Satan would have us believe that we are too filthy to ever be cleaned.
Precious faith- through the righteousness of GOD and our SAVIOR JESUS CHRIST- that's the only way we can truly have faith at all. We have to STOP focusing on our righteousness of the idea that we must obtain our OWN righteousness because that is a devil trap. We have to focus on our Savior's righteousness, His purity, His goodness, His sinlessness!
He SAVES us- we MUST believe in HIS RIGHTEOUSNESS that HE wants to cover us with.
Faith.
Faith not in ourselves, but in God and Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior, always!
Sunday, February 26, 2012
Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.
1Pe 5:7 Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.
How many cares do we cast upon our God?
ALL.
All our cares need to be cast upon God. We need to give them to Him. We need to pray to our God, talk to Him, tell our God what our cares are - He WANTS to hear them. He needs for us to trust that HE does care for us. We might not comprehend how our Lord works. We might not comprehend how things are meant to work out. We might not comprehend how seemingly bad things are for our good, especially the horrific things we might have to face, but we need to even in that time of horror to give our cares to our God and trust that He cares for us and no matter what we are facing He will ultimately work things for our good- we who TRUST in Him. Remember this verse--
Rom 8:28 And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.
~
1Pe 5:8 Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour
Our ADVERSARY the DEVIL! We can NEVER let ourselves forget that Satan is working against our relationship with our Savior at every opportunity. Satan as a ROARING LION. Satan walking about! Satan seeking to devour us!
We don't want to believe this is REAL. We'd rather just shove all that off as being fictional. We'd rather just not believe that there is an enemy out there after us. We love to have people liking us, not hating us, so to realize that there is a BEING, a powerful BEING out there who wants us destroyed, who wants to devour us is something we'd rather not imagine at all, let alone think there might be some truth to the devil.
Devoured.
When you devour something what are you doing? You're snatching it up and eating it as fast as you possibly can. You're destroying what you devour, aren't you? It's gone forever never to return.
Satan wants to devour us just like that.
Okay, I'm not talking about a monster eating us up physically but spiritually if we are devoured, if the spiritual being in us is devoured then we are spiritually dead and if we die spiritually we have no life eternal, none.
We cannot let Satan get to us and destroy our faith.
We have to be SOBER- not drunken in that way that keeps us from having our wits about us.
We have to be vigilant- not laid back and uncaring, not lazy.
We must be aware, awake, we have to believe in these truths!
1Pe 5:9 Whom resist stedfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world.
We have to RESIST the devil!
We have to be stedfast in the FAITH.
We have to comprehend that every trial we face there are others facing them as well. We might not see them face the same trials but they are! We have to comprehend that we are NOT alone, we are going to face so many, many trials, and God will see us through, HE WILL and there is where our faith must be stedfast!
1Pe 5:10 But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you.
1Pe 5:11 To him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.
All praise to our GOD!
Please LORD, please keep us IN YOU always and forever!
By YOUR grace!
Amen.
How many cares do we cast upon our God?
ALL.
All our cares need to be cast upon God. We need to give them to Him. We need to pray to our God, talk to Him, tell our God what our cares are - He WANTS to hear them. He needs for us to trust that HE does care for us. We might not comprehend how our Lord works. We might not comprehend how things are meant to work out. We might not comprehend how seemingly bad things are for our good, especially the horrific things we might have to face, but we need to even in that time of horror to give our cares to our God and trust that He cares for us and no matter what we are facing He will ultimately work things for our good- we who TRUST in Him. Remember this verse--
Rom 8:28 And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.
~
1Pe 5:8 Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour
Our ADVERSARY the DEVIL! We can NEVER let ourselves forget that Satan is working against our relationship with our Savior at every opportunity. Satan as a ROARING LION. Satan walking about! Satan seeking to devour us!
We don't want to believe this is REAL. We'd rather just shove all that off as being fictional. We'd rather just not believe that there is an enemy out there after us. We love to have people liking us, not hating us, so to realize that there is a BEING, a powerful BEING out there who wants us destroyed, who wants to devour us is something we'd rather not imagine at all, let alone think there might be some truth to the devil.
Devoured.
When you devour something what are you doing? You're snatching it up and eating it as fast as you possibly can. You're destroying what you devour, aren't you? It's gone forever never to return.
Satan wants to devour us just like that.
Okay, I'm not talking about a monster eating us up physically but spiritually if we are devoured, if the spiritual being in us is devoured then we are spiritually dead and if we die spiritually we have no life eternal, none.
We cannot let Satan get to us and destroy our faith.
We have to be SOBER- not drunken in that way that keeps us from having our wits about us.
We have to be vigilant- not laid back and uncaring, not lazy.
We must be aware, awake, we have to believe in these truths!
1Pe 5:9 Whom resist stedfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world.
We have to RESIST the devil!
We have to be stedfast in the FAITH.
We have to comprehend that every trial we face there are others facing them as well. We might not see them face the same trials but they are! We have to comprehend that we are NOT alone, we are going to face so many, many trials, and God will see us through, HE WILL and there is where our faith must be stedfast!
1Pe 5:10 But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you.
1Pe 5:11 To him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.
All praise to our GOD!
Please LORD, please keep us IN YOU always and forever!
By YOUR grace!
Amen.
Saturday, February 25, 2012
Humble Ourselves
1Pe 5:5 Likewise, ye younger, submit yourselves unto the elder. Yea, all of you be subject one to another, and be clothed with humility: for God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble.
1Pe 5:6 Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time
It's not enough for the younger to submit to the elder. To say that is to give the elder a self-righteous temptation that because of their age they are automatically superior to those younger than they are. The word doesn't stop there- it immediately follows with- 'ALL of you be subject one to another'. The elders included. Being older does not mean that only the younger are to be subject to the elders, but ALL are subject one to another because our Savior would have us all love one another equally.
Joh 13:34 A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another.
Joh 13:35 By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.
Love does not entail unjust oppression one over another. I say unjust oppression because if you asked a lot of children they'll tell you they feel they are oppressed by their parents, and that is not a case of unjust oppression. Undue oppression is far from the love Jesus would have us exhibit towards each other.
It's is AWFULLY hard to show humility when you are busy acting superior to others, isn't it? It just doesn't get pulled off very easily and not at all under the eyes of the Lord.
God RESISTS the proud.
Being proud is taking on an unjust belief that you in and of yourself have a superiority, yes? Is it any wonder God resists the proud. God knows that man is a creature- created by Him and NO OTHER. Satan try as he might to seduce people to his side can never lay claim to their creation, NEVER. Of course he might try and has tried hasn't he- in his own way. Evolution- the belief that man has descended from apes and before that from some sludge in an ocean slithering out of the water. Such a glorious beginning, not. Satan wants us believing in evolution because then we are not believing in the Creator. Anything to get us to not belief, to keep us from the Love of God.
I read something yesterday about some guy who was supposed to be this famous atheists how he claims NOT to be an atheists but rather and agnostic. He said he cannot prove with all absolute authority that God does NOT exist, that there is a tiny percentage that leaves a itty bit of possibility, very tiny on his part of belief. He also said most agnostics will say there is a 50/50 chance that God does exists, he thinks in his own personal belief it's much smaller than that, but that it does exist and therefore he cannot call himself an atheist.
So many people have been blinded by satan to believe God doesn't exist, it's perfect for Him. Satan was proud-
Isa 14:12 How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! how art thou cut down to the ground, which didst weaken the nations!
Isa 14:13 For thou hast said in thine heart, I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God: I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north:
Isa 14:14 I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the most High.
Satan's pride was his failing. Satan nurtured that pride he found in himself.
God resists the proud.
Every single person that is filled with the pride of their own existence not giving glory to their Creator, believing they had NO Creator, believing the have no NEED of a Creator, believing that they are their own person simply because they exist, every single one will be lost to God, lost by their own pride.
1Pe 5:5 Likewise, ye younger, submit yourselves unto the elder. Yea, all of you be subject one to another, and be clothed with humility: for God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble.
1Pe 5:6 Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time
God resists the proud and gives grace to the humble.
God gives grace to those who understand their need, their indebtness, their creature status. When we understand our need, when we understand that we owe God our very existence we cannot help but be humbled by that knowledge. All glory goes to HIM who created us!
We have to humble ourselves under the MIGHTY HAND OF GOD! And let God exalt us in time, trust God to be all things for us.
Humbling ourselves- constantly recognizing our Creator as all things!
Humbling ourselves- constantly recognizing our dependency on God!
Humbling ourselves constantly recognizing our every good work that we have a tendency to want to take pride is- is only possibly through God!
If we think for one moment that we can claim any glory for ourselves we are so totally wrong! People want us to. People love when we take pride in ourselves, we like it too when we and our accomplishments are praised it gives us a warm fuzzy feeling doesn't it, a special little glow inside to think we have some worth. That's it isn't it? Pride makes us feel worth- SELFworth, worth outside of God. Our self worth should be zilch, we are worthy ONLY in God!
People cringe upon hearing that because we live in a society that wants us to feel great self worth. When we learn of someone who thinks they are nothing, we immediately feel inclined to jump to their defense and tell them they have a lot of worth. The truth of the matter really is that our own worth comes from God. God who created us, God who sent His only begotten Son- God taking on frail, human flesh for us because He found worth in our existence.
We are only worthy in God and no other way whatsoever.
1Pe 5:5 Likewise, ye younger, submit yourselves unto the elder. Yea, all of you be subject one to another, and be clothed with humility: for God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble.
1Pe 5:6 Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time
May God help us to humble ourselves so that HE may exalt us at His discretion.
All glory to God now and forever!
Amen
1Pe 5:6 Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time
It's not enough for the younger to submit to the elder. To say that is to give the elder a self-righteous temptation that because of their age they are automatically superior to those younger than they are. The word doesn't stop there- it immediately follows with- 'ALL of you be subject one to another'. The elders included. Being older does not mean that only the younger are to be subject to the elders, but ALL are subject one to another because our Savior would have us all love one another equally.
Joh 13:34 A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another.
Joh 13:35 By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.
Love does not entail unjust oppression one over another. I say unjust oppression because if you asked a lot of children they'll tell you they feel they are oppressed by their parents, and that is not a case of unjust oppression. Undue oppression is far from the love Jesus would have us exhibit towards each other.
It's is AWFULLY hard to show humility when you are busy acting superior to others, isn't it? It just doesn't get pulled off very easily and not at all under the eyes of the Lord.
God RESISTS the proud.
Being proud is taking on an unjust belief that you in and of yourself have a superiority, yes? Is it any wonder God resists the proud. God knows that man is a creature- created by Him and NO OTHER. Satan try as he might to seduce people to his side can never lay claim to their creation, NEVER. Of course he might try and has tried hasn't he- in his own way. Evolution- the belief that man has descended from apes and before that from some sludge in an ocean slithering out of the water. Such a glorious beginning, not. Satan wants us believing in evolution because then we are not believing in the Creator. Anything to get us to not belief, to keep us from the Love of God.
I read something yesterday about some guy who was supposed to be this famous atheists how he claims NOT to be an atheists but rather and agnostic. He said he cannot prove with all absolute authority that God does NOT exist, that there is a tiny percentage that leaves a itty bit of possibility, very tiny on his part of belief. He also said most agnostics will say there is a 50/50 chance that God does exists, he thinks in his own personal belief it's much smaller than that, but that it does exist and therefore he cannot call himself an atheist.
So many people have been blinded by satan to believe God doesn't exist, it's perfect for Him. Satan was proud-
Isa 14:12 How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! how art thou cut down to the ground, which didst weaken the nations!
Isa 14:13 For thou hast said in thine heart, I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God: I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north:
Isa 14:14 I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the most High.
Satan's pride was his failing. Satan nurtured that pride he found in himself.
God resists the proud.
Every single person that is filled with the pride of their own existence not giving glory to their Creator, believing they had NO Creator, believing the have no NEED of a Creator, believing that they are their own person simply because they exist, every single one will be lost to God, lost by their own pride.
1Pe 5:5 Likewise, ye younger, submit yourselves unto the elder. Yea, all of you be subject one to another, and be clothed with humility: for God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble.
1Pe 5:6 Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time
God resists the proud and gives grace to the humble.
God gives grace to those who understand their need, their indebtness, their creature status. When we understand our need, when we understand that we owe God our very existence we cannot help but be humbled by that knowledge. All glory goes to HIM who created us!
We have to humble ourselves under the MIGHTY HAND OF GOD! And let God exalt us in time, trust God to be all things for us.
Humbling ourselves- constantly recognizing our Creator as all things!
Humbling ourselves- constantly recognizing our dependency on God!
Humbling ourselves constantly recognizing our every good work that we have a tendency to want to take pride is- is only possibly through God!
If we think for one moment that we can claim any glory for ourselves we are so totally wrong! People want us to. People love when we take pride in ourselves, we like it too when we and our accomplishments are praised it gives us a warm fuzzy feeling doesn't it, a special little glow inside to think we have some worth. That's it isn't it? Pride makes us feel worth- SELFworth, worth outside of God. Our self worth should be zilch, we are worthy ONLY in God!
People cringe upon hearing that because we live in a society that wants us to feel great self worth. When we learn of someone who thinks they are nothing, we immediately feel inclined to jump to their defense and tell them they have a lot of worth. The truth of the matter really is that our own worth comes from God. God who created us, God who sent His only begotten Son- God taking on frail, human flesh for us because He found worth in our existence.
We are only worthy in God and no other way whatsoever.
1Pe 5:5 Likewise, ye younger, submit yourselves unto the elder. Yea, all of you be subject one to another, and be clothed with humility: for God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble.
1Pe 5:6 Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time
May God help us to humble ourselves so that HE may exalt us at His discretion.
All glory to God now and forever!
Amen
Friday, February 24, 2012
May we follow our greatest Example
1Pe 5:1 The elders which are among you I exhort, who am also an elder, and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, and also a partaker of the glory that shall be revealed:
1Pe 5:2 Feed the flock of God which is among you, taking the oversight thereof, not by constraint, but willingly; not for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind;
1Pe 5:3 Neither as being lords over God's heritage, but being ensamples to the flock.
1Pe 5:4 And when the chief Shepherd shall appear, ye shall receive a crown of glory that fadeth not away.
Over and over again it is revealed that God did not man to think of himself greater than any other man. Over and over an equality is stressed. No man was to think of himself as better than another. Remember this…
Luk 18:10 Two men went up into the temple to pray; the one a Pharisee, and the other a publican.
Luk 18:11 The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, God, I thank thee, that I am not as other men are, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican.
Luk 18:12 I fast twice in the week, I give tithes of all that I possess.
Luk 18:13 And the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner.
Luk 18:14 I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other: for every one that exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted.
And this…
Mat 18:4 Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven.
And this…
Mat 23:11 But he that is greatest among you shall be your servant.
And this…
Mar 9:33 And he came to Capernaum: and being in the house he asked them, What was it that ye disputed among yourselves by the way?
Mar 9:34 But they held their peace: for by the way they had disputed among themselves, who should be the greatest.
Mar 9:35 And he sat down, and called the twelve, and saith unto them, If any man desire to be first, the same shall be last of all, and servant of all.
1Pe 5:3 Neither as being lords over God's heritage, but being ensamples to the flock.
Examples to the flock, not LORDS over.
Men of God, witnessing of God, desiring to reveal the love of God to others so that they too would desire to know the love of God must LIVE the love of God. We can't TELL of the love and expect people to believe. We have to LIVE the love. Our mouths can flap all day long and it won't matter a single bit. It's what people witness in US that reveals the love of God. We are to be EXAMPLES of God's love, not hold the position of authority over others demanding they love God.
Jesus was our GREATEST example, never did He LORD over others oppressively. Never did He assert His authority needlessly. Jesus always treated others as HE would want them to treat Him, always!
We must live as Jesus lived. When our base flesh nature would have us ruling over others with unnecessary oppression, when we are ruling over them as masters thinking we are in someway superior to others then we fail miserably.
The greatest are the least of all, not those that our sinfilled society deems great for whatever reason.
Many people who hear about Christians hear that they are a people who believe they are better than everyone else, and that is a very, very sad way to be spoken and thought of by others.
Christians are NOT better than anyone. They are the least of all! It is only Christ who is better than all, only Christ. We don't become better than others when we accept Christ, that's not what it's about at all. IF anything our filthy faults are revealed, our state of horrifying sinfulness is made so much more apparent. We are far from superior human beings because we claim to follow Christ. He will forever be the ONLY ONE who is superior to all humanity, always only -the only one!
May we be the examples to others that God would have us be, never, ever putting on airs, never lording over others- never.
All by HIS GRACE!
1Pe 5:2 Feed the flock of God which is among you, taking the oversight thereof, not by constraint, but willingly; not for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind;
1Pe 5:3 Neither as being lords over God's heritage, but being ensamples to the flock.
1Pe 5:4 And when the chief Shepherd shall appear, ye shall receive a crown of glory that fadeth not away.
Over and over again it is revealed that God did not man to think of himself greater than any other man. Over and over an equality is stressed. No man was to think of himself as better than another. Remember this…
Luk 18:10 Two men went up into the temple to pray; the one a Pharisee, and the other a publican.
Luk 18:11 The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, God, I thank thee, that I am not as other men are, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican.
Luk 18:12 I fast twice in the week, I give tithes of all that I possess.
Luk 18:13 And the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner.
Luk 18:14 I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other: for every one that exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted.
And this…
Mat 18:4 Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven.
And this…
Mat 23:11 But he that is greatest among you shall be your servant.
And this…
Mar 9:33 And he came to Capernaum: and being in the house he asked them, What was it that ye disputed among yourselves by the way?
Mar 9:34 But they held their peace: for by the way they had disputed among themselves, who should be the greatest.
Mar 9:35 And he sat down, and called the twelve, and saith unto them, If any man desire to be first, the same shall be last of all, and servant of all.
1Pe 5:3 Neither as being lords over God's heritage, but being ensamples to the flock.
Examples to the flock, not LORDS over.
Men of God, witnessing of God, desiring to reveal the love of God to others so that they too would desire to know the love of God must LIVE the love of God. We can't TELL of the love and expect people to believe. We have to LIVE the love. Our mouths can flap all day long and it won't matter a single bit. It's what people witness in US that reveals the love of God. We are to be EXAMPLES of God's love, not hold the position of authority over others demanding they love God.
Jesus was our GREATEST example, never did He LORD over others oppressively. Never did He assert His authority needlessly. Jesus always treated others as HE would want them to treat Him, always!
We must live as Jesus lived. When our base flesh nature would have us ruling over others with unnecessary oppression, when we are ruling over them as masters thinking we are in someway superior to others then we fail miserably.
The greatest are the least of all, not those that our sinfilled society deems great for whatever reason.
Many people who hear about Christians hear that they are a people who believe they are better than everyone else, and that is a very, very sad way to be spoken and thought of by others.
Christians are NOT better than anyone. They are the least of all! It is only Christ who is better than all, only Christ. We don't become better than others when we accept Christ, that's not what it's about at all. IF anything our filthy faults are revealed, our state of horrifying sinfulness is made so much more apparent. We are far from superior human beings because we claim to follow Christ. He will forever be the ONLY ONE who is superior to all humanity, always only -the only one!
May we be the examples to others that God would have us be, never, ever putting on airs, never lording over others- never.
All by HIS GRACE!
Thursday, February 23, 2012
The righteous can scarcely be saved
1Pe 4:17 For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God: and if it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God?
1Pe 4:18 And if the righteous scarcely be saved, where shall the ungodly and the sinner appear?
If the righteous SCARCELY be saved.
We don't like to think about that do we? We are brought up to believe that we are ALL saved, end of story. We all go to heaven. We all have that tiny bit of goodness in us that God must forgive us of our horrific wrongs. Even those who we believe must be suffering in hell (because so many believe this way though it's not Biblical at all), even those people we believe have to be the worst of the worst of the worst still have a chance, right? Maybe the worst of the worst don't but surely most of us will be saved because we aren't among the worst of the worst.
Yet here we hear these words-
'If the righteous SCARCELY be saved- where shall the ungodly and the sinner appear?'
Scarcely means scarcely- there is NO changing the meaning of that word.
If the righteous scarcely be saved.
We have to believe this! We cannot shy away from this fact. We cannot believe that everyone will be saved, that everyone will go to heaven. ONLY by the GRACE of GOD can we be saved, that we can have HOPE in HIS RIGHTEOUSNESS, because we have none!
Read the rest of this --
1Pe 4:19 Wherefore let them that suffer according to the will of God commit the keeping of their souls to him in well doing, as unto a faithful Creator.
Commit the keeping of our souls to God in WELL DOING- as UNTO a FAITHFUL CREATOR!
Our God will keep us with HIM, but we have to do our part in living as God would have us live. When we fall short of that and we WILL fall short, we have to ask for forgiveness from our Lord and Savior! He will forgive us, He will.
We must fight the flesh urge inside us that wants us to live selfishly and not even care about well doing. We have to fight the part inside of us that tells us that if we do good that we are trying to work our way into heaven. We have to fight ALL that would keep us from living as our Savior wants us to! We have to ask the Holy Spirit to silence those parts of us that would keep us from living in the spirit.
Please Lord, please help us!
We are so unworthy.
1Pe 4:18 And if the righteous scarcely be saved, where shall the ungodly and the sinner appear?
If the righteous SCARCELY be saved.
We don't like to think about that do we? We are brought up to believe that we are ALL saved, end of story. We all go to heaven. We all have that tiny bit of goodness in us that God must forgive us of our horrific wrongs. Even those who we believe must be suffering in hell (because so many believe this way though it's not Biblical at all), even those people we believe have to be the worst of the worst of the worst still have a chance, right? Maybe the worst of the worst don't but surely most of us will be saved because we aren't among the worst of the worst.
Yet here we hear these words-
'If the righteous SCARCELY be saved- where shall the ungodly and the sinner appear?'
Scarcely means scarcely- there is NO changing the meaning of that word.
If the righteous scarcely be saved.
We have to believe this! We cannot shy away from this fact. We cannot believe that everyone will be saved, that everyone will go to heaven. ONLY by the GRACE of GOD can we be saved, that we can have HOPE in HIS RIGHTEOUSNESS, because we have none!
Read the rest of this --
1Pe 4:19 Wherefore let them that suffer according to the will of God commit the keeping of their souls to him in well doing, as unto a faithful Creator.
Commit the keeping of our souls to God in WELL DOING- as UNTO a FAITHFUL CREATOR!
Our God will keep us with HIM, but we have to do our part in living as God would have us live. When we fall short of that and we WILL fall short, we have to ask for forgiveness from our Lord and Savior! He will forgive us, He will.
We must fight the flesh urge inside us that wants us to live selfishly and not even care about well doing. We have to fight the part inside of us that tells us that if we do good that we are trying to work our way into heaven. We have to fight ALL that would keep us from living as our Savior wants us to! We have to ask the Holy Spirit to silence those parts of us that would keep us from living in the spirit.
Please Lord, please help us!
We are so unworthy.
Wednesday, February 22, 2012
Suffering as a Christian
1Pe 4:14 If ye be reproached for the name of Christ, happy are ye; for the spirit of glory and of God resteth upon you: on their part he is evil spoken of, but on your part he is glorified.
1Pe 4:15 But let none of you suffer as a murderer, or as a thief, or as an evildoer, or as a busybody in other men's matters.
1Pe 4:16 Yet if any man suffer as a Christian, let him not be ashamed; but let him glorify God on this behalf.
Suffering as a Christian.
In our world today there are MANY Christian's suffering in ways we don't want to imagine. Each week we read more and more how Christians are being persecuted. Even in our own country- the US. People try to claim that we have freedom of religion here and then in the next breath tell us we are not allowed to pray, that we are not allowed to say Jesus' name, that we have to keep our religion private and not allow others to witness it.
Christianity isn't contagious- no religion is. We can view all religions and in the US we are supposed to be able to do that, yet persecution persists. They say if we take ALL religion out of our secular lives then it's fair, and yet they hold their own unbelief as their religious view.
Atheists want the right to be free of ALL religious connotations in their life and yet that very stance screams religious repression. To have the freedom to worship, to live your choice of religion you have to be allowed to do so as it dictates to you. If your religion tells you that you must pray before you eat a meal- then NO ONE should be allowed to stop you- You are hurting NO ONE. The people in your vicinity can close their eyes, they can turn away from you, they even have the freedom to denounce what you've done but they aren't allowed to stop you.
Suffer as a Christian.
Yes, those who choose to follow Christ as He desires them to follow will face trials- it's impossible for them not too because living the life of a Christ follower calls for us to be opposed to the world around us. We are opposed to the teachings of this world, we are opposed to living for this world, we are against the evil that fills this world - controlling it in so many ways.
Suffering as a Christian.
Yes, we are to suffer as being a Christian- but we are NOT to be murderers, thieves, evildoers, busybodies in the business of other people. People have made their living off these very things, and we applaud a lot of them- we do.
To be different from the world is to set yourself up as a target for the world to abuse and we are to understand that our suffering is expected and yes, even welcomed because if we simply conform to the world so we do not stand out as Christians we are denying our Lord, our Savior, our amazing God.
1Pe 4:16 Yet if any man suffer as a Christian, let him not be ashamed; but let him glorify God on this behalf.
We are NOT to be ashamed.
We are to GLORIFY GOD on His behalf.
In our suffering we are to glorify God.
Can we do this? Only by the grace of our LORD.
In HIS LOVE!
1Pe 4:15 But let none of you suffer as a murderer, or as a thief, or as an evildoer, or as a busybody in other men's matters.
1Pe 4:16 Yet if any man suffer as a Christian, let him not be ashamed; but let him glorify God on this behalf.
Suffering as a Christian.
In our world today there are MANY Christian's suffering in ways we don't want to imagine. Each week we read more and more how Christians are being persecuted. Even in our own country- the US. People try to claim that we have freedom of religion here and then in the next breath tell us we are not allowed to pray, that we are not allowed to say Jesus' name, that we have to keep our religion private and not allow others to witness it.
Christianity isn't contagious- no religion is. We can view all religions and in the US we are supposed to be able to do that, yet persecution persists. They say if we take ALL religion out of our secular lives then it's fair, and yet they hold their own unbelief as their religious view.
Atheists want the right to be free of ALL religious connotations in their life and yet that very stance screams religious repression. To have the freedom to worship, to live your choice of religion you have to be allowed to do so as it dictates to you. If your religion tells you that you must pray before you eat a meal- then NO ONE should be allowed to stop you- You are hurting NO ONE. The people in your vicinity can close their eyes, they can turn away from you, they even have the freedom to denounce what you've done but they aren't allowed to stop you.
Suffer as a Christian.
Yes, those who choose to follow Christ as He desires them to follow will face trials- it's impossible for them not too because living the life of a Christ follower calls for us to be opposed to the world around us. We are opposed to the teachings of this world, we are opposed to living for this world, we are against the evil that fills this world - controlling it in so many ways.
Suffering as a Christian.
Yes, we are to suffer as being a Christian- but we are NOT to be murderers, thieves, evildoers, busybodies in the business of other people. People have made their living off these very things, and we applaud a lot of them- we do.
To be different from the world is to set yourself up as a target for the world to abuse and we are to understand that our suffering is expected and yes, even welcomed because if we simply conform to the world so we do not stand out as Christians we are denying our Lord, our Savior, our amazing God.
1Pe 4:16 Yet if any man suffer as a Christian, let him not be ashamed; but let him glorify God on this behalf.
We are NOT to be ashamed.
We are to GLORIFY GOD on His behalf.
In our suffering we are to glorify God.
Can we do this? Only by the grace of our LORD.
In HIS LOVE!
Tuesday, February 21, 2012
Fiery trials- not strange
1Pe 4:12 Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you
Why are we shocked when fall on exceedingly hard times?
We are, aren't we?
We quickly begin to bemoan our situation, a knee jerk reaction we make when we are placed under a lot of stress, a reaction we've learned from our youth.
If we think of our pioneer days here in the U.S. can you imagine people moaning about things as much as we do today? Seriously? We have life so easy compared to years ago but our problems are relevant to our life today right? Years ago they didn't have to worry about gas for a car, but feed for a horse.
Each successive generation seems to have the prior generation complaining about their lack of gratitude , their lack of knowledge of 'real' hard work, of a hard life. Every generation's parents seems to have their own tale about walking through the snow five miles to school uphill.
We ALL face fiery trials, every single one of us.
When we are being tried we tend to call it strange because we don't want to be tried, we want our lives to go easy, to have smooth sailing with as few problems as possible. It's normal to want to live problem free- just not realistic.
We are told NOT to think it is strange when we are in fiery trials…trials that will TRY us, try our faith, because it won't be strange to go through them.
It's NOT strange to have our faith tried but it is painful, very, very painful. No one can deny the pain, the horrible emotional pain that we are called to endure. Even the physical pain we experience it induces a lot of emotional, a lot of mental anguish in us. WE suffer, we really do suffer but then again- we are CALLED to suffer living in a world that is over run by sin as we fight to live for a God who abhors all things sinful.
1Pe 4:13 But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ's sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy.
We suffer- and from that suffering we must rejoice knowing Christ suffered as well. The glory will be revealed one day and then we will have joy unimaginable for us today.
Please Lord, please help us to endure the trying of our faith that must come to all of us. Help us Lord, help us because in our suffering we become so tempted to lose faith. Keep us in You Lord, keep us strong in faith in YOU, in Your love always!
Thank you Lord, thank you!
All glory, all praise, all honor to You!
Amen.
Why are we shocked when fall on exceedingly hard times?
We are, aren't we?
We quickly begin to bemoan our situation, a knee jerk reaction we make when we are placed under a lot of stress, a reaction we've learned from our youth.
If we think of our pioneer days here in the U.S. can you imagine people moaning about things as much as we do today? Seriously? We have life so easy compared to years ago but our problems are relevant to our life today right? Years ago they didn't have to worry about gas for a car, but feed for a horse.
Each successive generation seems to have the prior generation complaining about their lack of gratitude , their lack of knowledge of 'real' hard work, of a hard life. Every generation's parents seems to have their own tale about walking through the snow five miles to school uphill.
We ALL face fiery trials, every single one of us.
When we are being tried we tend to call it strange because we don't want to be tried, we want our lives to go easy, to have smooth sailing with as few problems as possible. It's normal to want to live problem free- just not realistic.
We are told NOT to think it is strange when we are in fiery trials…trials that will TRY us, try our faith, because it won't be strange to go through them.
It's NOT strange to have our faith tried but it is painful, very, very painful. No one can deny the pain, the horrible emotional pain that we are called to endure. Even the physical pain we experience it induces a lot of emotional, a lot of mental anguish in us. WE suffer, we really do suffer but then again- we are CALLED to suffer living in a world that is over run by sin as we fight to live for a God who abhors all things sinful.
1Pe 4:13 But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ's sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy.
We suffer- and from that suffering we must rejoice knowing Christ suffered as well. The glory will be revealed one day and then we will have joy unimaginable for us today.
Please Lord, please help us to endure the trying of our faith that must come to all of us. Help us Lord, help us because in our suffering we become so tempted to lose faith. Keep us in You Lord, keep us strong in faith in YOU, in Your love always!
Thank you Lord, thank you!
All glory, all praise, all honor to You!
Amen.
Monday, February 20, 2012
God in all things may be glorified
1Pe 4:10 As every man hath received the gift, even so minister the same one to another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.
1Pe 4:11 If any man speak, let him speak as the oracles of God; if any man minister, let him do it as of the ability which God giveth: that God in all things may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom be praise and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.
That God in ALL things may be glorified.
Is God glorified in all we do? Seriously. Stop what you're doing and rethink your entire day. Was God glorified throughout the day by you? Do you think He should be?
We work so many different jobs and in all of them can we glorify God? Driving a refuse truck? As a fireman? An office worker? A shelf stocker? A Cashier? A truck driver? On and on we could list numerous professions and we know that while the job itself may NOT be a religious job- they are not evangelizing, some might have no one to witness to- not everyone works with other people, they are not in a position of preaching. The thing is God is glorified when we USE the abilities HE gives to us and the opportunities we are afforded.
We don't have to be preachers, teachers, evangelists, etc, we just have to use the gifts God gave us and use them to GLORIFY HIM!
All glory to God that we are able to perform even the most mundane of jobs, the most menial of tasks, the drudge work that we might be called to do.
If we do speak- we must speak of GOD because God is our life, we LIVE for God, not ourselves!
Do others know this? Or are we keeping it a secret of sorts?
Please Lord we would be your ministers, we would speak of You to others as You would have us do. Please Lord help us to give as we receive.
Please Lord by Your grace may we glorify Your in ALL things, help us! We are so thankless, we are so quick to believe we deserve what we are given and that we don't need to thank anyone for anything. We don't need to give the glory to anyone because we believe we are the authors of our own good deeds. We fail to realize You give us life, You give us the ability to do any good that we might think to do. YOU are all things, YOU are everything!
Bless us Lord, please, we are so far beneath Your worth.
Give us the ability to glorify You in all things, please Lord, please.
Teach us, help us, guide us.
We are so sinful, so prone to sinning, keep us from evil Lord, please keep us from evil.
All in YOUR love by YOUR grace and mercy!
Please.
1Pe 4:11 If any man speak, let him speak as the oracles of God; if any man minister, let him do it as of the ability which God giveth: that God in all things may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom be praise and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.
That God in ALL things may be glorified.
Is God glorified in all we do? Seriously. Stop what you're doing and rethink your entire day. Was God glorified throughout the day by you? Do you think He should be?
We work so many different jobs and in all of them can we glorify God? Driving a refuse truck? As a fireman? An office worker? A shelf stocker? A Cashier? A truck driver? On and on we could list numerous professions and we know that while the job itself may NOT be a religious job- they are not evangelizing, some might have no one to witness to- not everyone works with other people, they are not in a position of preaching. The thing is God is glorified when we USE the abilities HE gives to us and the opportunities we are afforded.
We don't have to be preachers, teachers, evangelists, etc, we just have to use the gifts God gave us and use them to GLORIFY HIM!
All glory to God that we are able to perform even the most mundane of jobs, the most menial of tasks, the drudge work that we might be called to do.
If we do speak- we must speak of GOD because God is our life, we LIVE for God, not ourselves!
Do others know this? Or are we keeping it a secret of sorts?
Please Lord we would be your ministers, we would speak of You to others as You would have us do. Please Lord help us to give as we receive.
Please Lord by Your grace may we glorify Your in ALL things, help us! We are so thankless, we are so quick to believe we deserve what we are given and that we don't need to thank anyone for anything. We don't need to give the glory to anyone because we believe we are the authors of our own good deeds. We fail to realize You give us life, You give us the ability to do any good that we might think to do. YOU are all things, YOU are everything!
Bless us Lord, please, we are so far beneath Your worth.
Give us the ability to glorify You in all things, please Lord, please.
Teach us, help us, guide us.
We are so sinful, so prone to sinning, keep us from evil Lord, please keep us from evil.
All in YOUR love by YOUR grace and mercy!
Please.
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