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.
Thursday, March 15, 2012
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!
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