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The strange mix of good and evil

5/31/2018

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    The Strange Mix of Good and Evil

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;
Having eyes full of adultery, and that cannot cease from sin; beguiling unstable souls: an heart they have exercised with covetous practices; cursed children: 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;  But was rebuked for his iniquity: the dumb ass speaking with man's voice forbad the madness of the prophet.  (2Peter 2:13-16)

BEFORE WE BEGIN COMMENTS ON TODAY'S TEXT, I must say a few words about the larger book that houses the short books of the Apostle Peter. I have entitled today’s article: The Strange Mix of Good and Evil. When God made a creature in His image with a will of its own, this creature must have the ability to rebel against God or to seek God and surrender to Him. Which side are you on? You can’t straddle the fence. Either you are on God’s side or on the side of Satan and his kingdom. Hell was made for Satan and his angels. You do not want to go there.

THE BIBLE CONTAINS THE WORDS OF GOD, OF MEN, AND OF THE DEVIL. When God speaks in the Bible, it is true that He said it and what He said is true. When men speak, it is true that they said it but what they said may be true or untrue. When the devil speaks in the Bible, it is true that he said it but what he said is never true. With that in mind, we approach the title: The Strange Mix of Good and Evil. When we get to Heaven, we will find it filled with people who want to be there. The people who do not want to be in Heaven, will not be there.

SOMEONE HAS SAID THAT THE BIBLE is not a book that anyone would write if they could nor could write if they would. The Bible was written by about 40 different people, in many different places, to different groups of people, in different periods of time. And yet, when the books of the Bible are combined, the Bible proves to be a book of agreement and unity like no other book. The Gideons International, print the following in the Bibles they distribute:

The Bible contains the mind of God, the state of man, the way of salvation, the doom of sinners, and the happiness of believers. Its doctrines are holy, its precepts are binding, its histories are true, and its decisions are immutable. Read it to be wise, believe it to be safe, and practice it to be holy. It contains light to direct you, food to support you, and comfort to cheer you.

It is the traveler’s map, the pilgrim’s staff, the pilot’s compass, the soldier’s sword and the Christian’s charter. Here too, Heaven is opened and the gates of Hell disclosed. Christ is its grand subject, our good its design, and the glory of God its end. It should fill the memory, rule the heart and guide the feet. Read it slowly, frequently and prayerfully.  It is a mine of wealth, a paradise of glory, and a river of pleasure.

It is given you in life, will be opened at the judgment, and be remembered forever. It involves the highest responsibility, rewards the greatest labor, and will condemn all who trifle with its sacred contents.

THE APOSTLE PETER WROTE ABOUT GOD'S PEOPLE being infiltrated by false teachers and the awesome evil of these people who pretend to be upright but in their hard hearts, they hate God. Jeremiah warned: The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?  I the LORD search the heart, I try the reins, even to give every man according to his ways, and according to the fruit of his doings.  (Jeremiah 17:9-10)

PETER DESCRIBED THE FALSE TEACHERS IN SOME GRAPHIC TERMS that I don’t want to think about. Spots, blemishes, making a sport of their deceptive ways while they sit down with you and eat your food. While they eat your food, they’re looking over your women folks because their eyes are full of adultery. Please note that “adultery” is not primarily a sexual term. It means to weaken the character of something from its designed purpose. When you pour water in the grape juice, you “adulterate” it.

MARRIED PEOPLE WEAKEN OR BREAK THEIR MARRIAGE when they are unfaithful. The bonds of their marriage are adulterated. Fornication is the act of sexual sin. Adultery is the corrupting of the marriage relationship. That’s why only married people can commit adultery. The sexual sin brings about adultery, or the corrupting of the marriage relationship.

THESE FALSE TEACHERS BEING SCOLDED BY PETER have eyes full of adultery. They go after married people. They are looking for unstable people who can be seduced. They do this while they are feasting with the church people. I worked with an older pastor as his assistant for a while. One day he told me what a wicked man he had been before he was saved. He had a talent for being able to size up unstable women and seduce them. He made a game of it. He had seduced over 200 women.

THE TEENAGE MOVIE STAR, MICKEY ROONEY got into that practice and was proud of how many women he had seduced. Then, one day, according to his testimony, he met God. He had a testimony in his later years of being an active Christian and faithful to his wife of his later years. If this is offensive, I must tell you that I’m only dealing with it because the Apostle dealt with it in his days and we still have to deal with it in our day. Covering up this wicked practice is not a solution. People who do this have a rotten heart and are thieves of the worst sort.

THERE IS OFTEN A MIXTURE OF GOOD AND EVIL IN CHURCHES. If the evil is active, it can cause great trouble in the church. There is another side of the strange mix of good and evil in churches. The church is (should be) the place where sinners can come and hear the Word of God. They shouldn’t be singing in the choir, but they should be able to sit in the congregation and listen as long as they do not disturb the peace.

PAUL SAID OF THE PEOPLE OF HIS DAY: Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God.  And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God.  (1Corinthians 6:9-11)

ONE MAN TOLD ME THAT WHEN HE GOT SAVED, he lost half of his vocabulary because every other word he said was a cuss word or a vulgar word. John Newton was a wicked man who raped the slave women on his ship and then one day, he met the Lord. He wrote Amazing Grace. We’ve gone over, but I must tell you what Jesus told Nicodemus: “You must be born again.” Trouble yourself, my friend. Eternity is a long time to be in the wrong place. Get on your knees and give your heart to the Lord this minute if you are one of those people Peter and Paul write about. Jesus died on the cross to pay for your sins. He loves you and will forgive you of your sins, all of them, if you will repent and turn to Him as your Lord and Savior.  Ω
 
Read Through the Bible in a Year
JUNE 1, 2018 – FRIDAY
A.M. 2Chronicles 4-6    P.M. John 12:20-50
(Bible Gateway will read this to you if you like. Look for the speaker icon.)

 Good Memory Verse:
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.  (2Peter 2:21) (Write verses on scraps of paper and put in your pocket like President Abraham Lincoln did.)
 
Song for Today:
There Is A Fountain (4:39) – (Vestal Goodman & Gaither Group)                   
 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PasK3ZFAOPE
You may need to delete an ad or turn off the song when finished to avoid something else you do not want to hear.
    
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

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god's protection and judgment

5/30/2018

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    God’s Protection and Judgment
The Lord knoweth how to deliver the godly out of temptations, and to reserve the unjust unto the day of judgment to be punished:  
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. Whereas angels, which are greater in power and might, bring not railing accusation against them before the Lord. 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;  (2Peter 2:9-12)

THE WORLD IS MOVING RAPIDLY TOWARD THE SEVEN YEARS of Great Tribulation, otherwise known as the time of Jacob’s Trouble, the 70th Week of Daniel, and described in some detail in the Book of Revelation. The reason there is going to be seven years of unparalleled judgement upon the whole world is that the whole world is moving toward unparalleled wickedness that can only be dealt with by great destruction and death from the hand of the Lord.

EXAMPLES OF THIS DRASTIC JUDGMENT BY GOD UPON EVIL is the fate of the angels who followed Satan in rebellion and eternal doom; the wicked people of Noah’s day who were destroyed in the world-wide flood; and the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah that God burned with fire.

PETER TELLS OF THE GREAT WARFARE THAT IS INENSIFYING between God and Satan. It is being played out between those who are loyal to God and those who are loyal to Satan. On the side of Satan are the false teachers who are characterized by arrogance and sexual lust. On God’s side are the people who strive to obey and serve God.

In the Old Testament, there was a constant plague of false prophets. In the New Testament there is a constant plague of false teachers. In both cases, the false people do their damage by infiltrating into the congregations of the righteous and carrying out a mission of corruption of truth and weakening of loyalty to God.

The Apostle Paul joins in to concur with Peter: For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ.  And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light. Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works.  (2Corinthians 11:13-15)

IN TODAY'S TEXT, GOD IS DOING TWO THINGS: 1)He is demonstrating that He knows how to deliver the godly out of hard trials (or, temptations) and 2)He knows how to reserve the unjust unto the Day of Judgment, to be punished. But, notice the next words in the text: “but chiefly them that walk after the flesh in the lust of uncleanness, and despise government.  

YESTERDAY, I MADE THE POINT THAT ALL SINNERS ARE NOT EQUAL and that all sins are not equal. All cities have sin in them, but God does not destroy them all as He did Sodom and Gomorrah. Many people are slow to obey God but He does not turn all of those people into a pillar of salt as He did with Lot’s wife.  

ALL OVER THE WORLD FOR MANY CENTURIES, the sin of “sodomy” gets its name from God’s judgment upon the city of Sodom. It was in this city that the men of the city, young and old, gathered around the house of Lot to rape the angels that were spending the night with Lot.

IN OUR TEXT TODAY, WE FIND THE WORD: “chiefly.” It means: “most of all.” It’s not honest to try to get rid of this word: “chiefly.” Of all the people who are being reserved for the day of judgment, the people who “walk after the flesh in the lust of uncleanness, and despise government” are classed as: “chiefly – most of all.”  That’s what God’s Word says. I didn’t write the book. I’m just pointing to what God says about it.

THE PEOPLE WHO ARE “walking after the flesh in the lust uncleanness” despise being told they shouldn’t be doing it. They despise government. God said not to do it, but they want to do it and not be told they shouldn’t be doing it. That makes them fall under the class of people that God calls: “chiefly.” These sins are going to cost you more than some other sins. Do you see any other way to look at the word: “chiefly?” I’m not going to get in trouble with God by smoothing it over when He clearly says: “chiefly.” If you are involved with this sin, it is going to cost you.

PETER POINTS OUT THAT THE MIGHTY ANGELS DON'T BRING ACCUSATION against these sinners. But these sinners are like brute beasts who run their mouths in talking about things they know nothing about. That is, they talk against the people who oppose them, talk against God who restrains them. They will continue until they perish in their own corruption, their own filth.

IN CONTRAST TO THEIR UNCLEANNESS, God says: Marriage is honourable in all, and the bed undefiled: but whoremongers and adulterers God will judge.  (Hebrews 13:4) (The Bible makes no room for the marriage of two men or the marriage of two women.) In all cases of marriage in the Bible, the Bible assumes that marriage is between men and women.

THERE IS A WAY OUT: REPENT OF YOUR SINS AND GET RIGHT WITH GOD. The old hymn says it well: “1) I must needs go home by the way of the cross, there’s no other way but this; I shall ne’er get sight of the Gates of Light, If the way of the cross I miss. 2) I must needs go on in the blood-sprinkled way, The path that the Savior trod, If I ever climb to the heights sublime, Where the soul is at home with God. 3) Then I bid fare-well to the way of the world, To walk in it nevermore; For my Lord says “Come,” and I seek my home, Where He waits at the open door. CHORUS: The way of the cross leads home, The way of the cross leads home; It is sweet to know as I onward go, The way of the cross leads home. (Jessie Brown Pounds/Charles H. Gabriel) Ω

Read Through the Bible in a Year
MAY 31, 2018 – THURSDAY
A.M. 2Chronicles 1-3    P.M. John 12:1-19
(Bible Gateway will read this to you if you like. Look for the speaker icon.)

Good Memory Verse:
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.  (2Peter 2:21) (Write verses on scraps of paper and put in your pocket like President Abraham Lincoln did.)
 
Song for Today:
The Way of the Cross Leads Home (3:51) – (Men’s Trio – Calvary Baptist Church – King, NC)                   
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ze6aQVZierk
You may need to turn off the song when finished to avoid something else you do not want to hear.
    
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
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And delivered just lot

5/30/2018

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       And Delivered Just Lot
And delivered just Lot, vexed with the filthy conversation of the wicked: (For that righteous man dwelling among them, in seeing and hearing, vexed his righteous soul from day to day with their unlawful deeds;)
The Lord knoweth how to deliver the godly out of temptations, and to reserve the unjust unto the day of judgment to be punished:  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.  (2Peter 2:7-10)

WHEN GOD DESTROYED THE CITIES OF SODOM AND GOMORRAH, how could a servant of God be in that place and be called: Just Lot?” Righteous man? Righteous soul? God had told Abraham to leave his place and his kin and go to a place God would show him. He obeyed the Lord….sort of: except that he took his nephew along with him. They traveled at a snail’s pace and took their animals with them. The wealth of both men increased until their herdsmen were quarreling over the pasture land and water. At last, Abraham and Lot separated. Abraham said to Lot:

IS NOT THE WHOLE LAND BEFORE THEE? Separate thyself, I pray thee, from me: if thou wilt take the left hand, then I will go to the right; or if thou depart to the right hand, then I will go to the left.  And Lot lifted up his eyes, and beheld all the plain of Jordan, that it was well watered everywhere, before the LORD destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah, even as the garden of the LORD, like the land of Egypt, as thou comest unto Zoar. Then Lot chose him all the plain of Jordan; and Lot journeyed east: and they separated themselves the one from the other.  Abram dwelled in the land of Canaan, and Lot dwelled in the cities of the plain, and pitched his tent toward Sodom. But the men of Sodom were wicked and sinners before the LORD exceedingly.  (Genesis 13:9-13) These were not your ordinary sinners. They were “exceedingly” sinners.

LOT HAD SOME GOOD UPBRINGING. He had learned from his Uncle Abraham, but his learning was selective. Lot chose not to learn the deeper things of Abraham. That’s why Lot pitched his tent toward Sodom. When it was time to pitch their tent in a new field of grass and a source of water, Lot always moved in the direction of Sodom.

ONE DAY LOT LOOKED UP AND HE COULD SEE SODOM IN THE DISTANCE. Not long after that, Lot and his family are pitched at the city limits of Sodom. He was a good business man. He was a good mixer. He knew how to say what he knew people liked to hear. Before long, Lot was a member of the city council, one of the boys. He didn’t know what he was getting into. He didn’t realize he was going to lose everything he had, including his wife. She loved it! She was a natural-born socialite.

Jesus said of her: Remember Lot's wife.  (Luke 17:32) It’s the second shortest verse in the Bible. Her soul was not vexed with the filthy conversation of the wicked. Perhaps she never heard as much filth as did Lot.

THE BIBLE TELLS US THAT WE ARE ALL SINNERS, but we are not all equal sinners. In this story we see that some activities and people are more sinful than other activities and people. We are not all equal sinners in God’s sight. When God talked to Abraham about the land he was going to him and his descendants, God said this: And thou shalt go to thy fathers in peace; thou shalt be buried in a good old age.  But in the fourth generation they shall come hither again: for the iniquity of the Amorites is not yet full.  (Genesis 15:15-16)

GOD KEEPS TRACK OF PEOPLE AND PLACES and measures them. Abraham was a sinner, but God was going to give him land that belonged to people who were greater sinners than he was. Abraham was a sinner but he was not as great a sinner as the Amorites.

Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works.  (2Corinthians 11:15)

And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works.  (Revelation 20:12) In Hell, everyone will not be on the same level because they will be judged according to their works.

HOW CAN IT BE SAID THAT LOT WAS A JUST MAN and yet he was clearly a sinner? In his heart of hearts, Lot was not with these wicked people. Their conversation and wicked lifestyle was offensive to him. The judgment that fell upon Sodom and Gomorrah came out of an attitude of pride (Ezekiel 16:49) but it was the words and actions of that pride that vexed the soul of Lot and that offended God. 

And the LORD said, Because the cry of Sodom and Gomorrah is great, and because their sin is very grievous;(Gen 18:20) And when the morning arose, then the angels hastened Lot, saying, Arise, take thy wife, and thy two daughters, which are here; lest thou be consumed in the iniquity of the city. And while he lingered, the men laid hold upon his hand, and upon the hand of his wife, and upon the hand of his two daughters; the LORD being merciful unto him: and they brought him forth, and set him without the city.  (Genesis 19:15-16) 

Here is a just man, a righteous man, whom God is going to rescue from certain doom in the burning city, he is so helpless that the angel has to do more than be present.
The angel must take him by the hand, and the hand of his wife, and the hands of his two daughters and pull them out of the doomed city. Although he could get these two daughters out of Sodom, it was harder for him to get Sodom out of the daughters.

It is not clear if he had two daughters or four daughters. He may have lost two married daughters in the fire. If he only had two daughters, the sons-in-law were fiancés of his daughters and not full-fledged husbands. Lot had no influence on these men and they died in the fire. Ω

Read Through the Bible in a Year
MAY 30, 2018 – WEDNESDAY
A.M. 1Chronicles 28-29    P.M. John 11:47-57
(Bible Gateway will read this to you if you like. Look for the speaker icon.)

Good Memory Verse:
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.  (2Peter 2:21) (Write verses on scraps of paper and put in your pocket like President Abraham Lincoln did.)
 
Song for Today:
Until Then (3:40) – (Janet Paschal & Gaither Group)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QbiAVnADFfg
 You may need to turn off the song when finished to avoid something else you do not want to hear.
    
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
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If God - part 2

5/28/2018

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                          If God – Part 2
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.
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; 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;  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;  (2Peter 2:3-6)

THIS PASSAGE CONNECTS FALSE TEACHERS AND THREE OF THE MOST AWESOME past judgments of God on the earth. It tells us that if we are going to handle the Word of God, we had better do our best to get it right. This passage parallels the short Book of Jude and Romans 1. The message is clear: God is going to judge false teachers and the proof of it is to remember what God has already done to wicked angels, the violent population of Noah’s day, and the proud and sexually depraved cities of Sodom and Gomorrah and cities around Sodom and Gomorrah.

And the angels which kept not their first estate, but left their own habitation, he hath reserved in everlasting chains under darkness unto the judgment of the great day. Even as Sodom and Gomorrha, and the cities about them in like manner, giving themselves over to fornication, and going after strange flesh, are set forth for an example, suffering the vengeance of eternal fire. Likewise also these filthy dreamers defile the flesh, despise dominion, and speak evil of dignities.  (Jude 1:6-8)

EFFORTS ARE BEING MADE IN CALIFORNIA TO MAKE IT ILLEGAL TO SELL BIBLES. The reason is that despite the double-speak of smooth religious leaders, the Bible is clearly against the homosexual lifestyle. Once an individual or a nation puffs itself up in pride and defiance of the Almighty, nothing is too wicked to turn into government-enforced public policy.

OLD, ONCE BIBLICALLY-SOUND CHURCHES IN AMERICA and other nations are broadening their doctrinal positions to become “inclusive churches.” As they abandon the Bible they take upon themselves the role of false teachers and become havens for people who give themselves over to fornication, going after strange flesh, filthy dreamers who defile the flesh. They despise dominion and speak evil of dignities, that is: the authority figures who oppose their wickedness.

THIS ARTICLE IS FOLLOWING THE CONTENT OF 2PETER AND ITS COMPANION BOOK of Jude, and the Book of Romans. The Word of God tells us that judgement is certain to come upon false teachers in the same way that judgement came upon fallen angels, the world of Noah’s day, and Sodom and Gomorrah.

We remember that 2Peter and Jude are New Testament books. These two books are in sync with Romans: Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools,  And changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and fourfooted beasts, and creeping things. Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonour their own bodies between themselves:  (Romans 1:22-24)

THE APOSTLE PETER INCLUDES FALLEN ANGELS, the entire world of Noah’s day, and the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah as examples to those who afterward decide to live ungodly. Faithful, Bible-believing teachers and pastors and evangelists and missionaries and God-fearing politicians are saying around the world that if God does not judge America, He will need to apologize to Sodom and Gomorrah for burning them to the ground. In addition to our sexual sins, a thousand mothers a day are signing medical papers to authorize doctors to murder the babies in their wombs. Every abortion stops a beating heart. America has become a very wicked nation! The question is not: “Is God going to judge America?” The question is: “When is God going to judge America and how is He going to do it?”

I MUST STAND BEFORE GOD IN A SHORT WHILE AND GIVE AN ACCOUNT TO HIM. Considering all the other failures in my Christian life of 74 years, I do not intend to fold on this issue to please men. And, dear friend, you might want to think about what it’s going to be like when you also stand before God and what you are going to tell Him. Joshua said in his day:

And if it seem evil unto you to serve the LORD, choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD.  (Joshua 24:15) Ω

Read Through the Bible in a Year
MAY 29, 2018 – TUESDAY
A.M. 1Chronicles 26-27    P.M. John 11:18-46
(Bible Gateway will read this to you if you like. Look for the speaker icon.)

Good Memory Verse:
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.  (2Peter 2:21) (Write verses on scraps of paper and put in your pocket like President Abraham Lincoln did.)
 
Song for Today:
Precious Memories (5:56) – (Jimmie Jones & Jim Hill & Gaither Group)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nP05xuYv708
You may need to turn off the song when finished to avoid something else you do not want to hear.
    
 
 
 
 
 
 
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if god...

5/27/2018

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                          If God…
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.
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; 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;  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;  (2Peter 2:3-6)

FALSE TEACHERS ARE MOTIVATED BY COVETOUSNESS. They are wolves in sheep skins. False teachers want your money, your admiration or something else you have. To get what you have, they will butter you up. However, many of them will over-do it and are easy to spot. These are not the dangerous kind. Beware of the truly skilled false teachers who mix a lot of honey into the peanut butter. They quote Scripture; they are good “mixers.” False teachers would come in and “slick-talk” them with false doctrine and try to get some of their stuff. False teachers also had a reputation for improper attention to the women folk in the little groups of Christians.

McGEE TELLS US: “Feigned” – the Greek word for “feigned” is “plastos.” Dr. Joseph H. Thayer in his Lexicon of the New Testament says that plastos means “moulded, formed, as from clay, wax, stone.” Does that sound like another word you’ve heard? We have a new word, a word that wasn’t even in existence in Peter’s day, Plastic—that's the word Peter uses here. I love that, because today you can buy a plastic pitcher, you can buy a plastic bucket, you can buy plastic dishes, you can buy plastic toys. You can buy almost anything in plastic because plastic can be molded into every possible shape.

“MAY I SAY THIS, AND I DO WANT TO SAY IT KINDLY. There are also plastic preachers who can be molded and shaped by the people that they serve. They say what their congregations want to hear. They use plastic words. This is the reason that neo-orthodoxy, when it first appeared, deceived so many people. Peter tells us that false teachers will speak with feigned words, plastic words, words that are just molded words. They will fit their words to the people to whom they are speaking.” (McGee)

WELL, WHO IS WATCHING OUT FOR THESE FALSE TEACHERS? You and I are to watch out for false teachers. But the All-Seeing Eye is also watching. He sees everything, and He does not like what He sees. It’s just a matter of time until false teachers will be summonsed to stand before the Almighty.

PETER SAYS OF THEM: whose judgment now of a long time lingereth not, and their damnation slumbereth not. God has been watching them a long time and their judgment is not just hanging around back there, waiting to happen. God does things “in the fullness of time.” (Galatians 4:4) Christ came into the world in the fullness of time and these false teachers are going to be judged in the time that is due them. Their damnation is not asleep, it slumbereth not. (We’ll look at this some more in Part 2.)

THE PSALMIST IN PSALM 73 thought God was taking too much time to get things done. He thought he had cleansed his hands for nothing. But when he saw the whole picture, he changed his mind. Until I went into the sanctuary of God; then understood I their end.  (Psalm 73:17)   In the House of God he learned that God is fully in charge of everything and in God’s own time, all the rebels are going to be put in their place. We can learn a lot of stuff if we will be faithful in the House of God.

IF WE IGNORE THE WORD OF GOD, we can get some twisted ideas about God. I’ve had people tell me they can just walk through the woods on Sunday morning and worship God in the woods. Yes, you can get some good vibes out in the woods, but the woods didn’t die on the cross to save your soul. The one who loves you and died to save you, told us all: Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching (Hebrews 10:25)   And while we’re worshipping together, we need to be on the lookout for false teaching.

ONE OF THE MOST MEMORABLE THINGS I REMEMBER about my Grandpa Richards was watching him plow in the spring. He kept two good-size mules for breaking ground and he was a master-craftsman at not wasting all that mule-power. His eye was on the point of the plow and the beam of the plow that needed to be down close to the ground. He was a diligent manager of the plow handles to make sure the point of the plow was under the ground and not running on top of the ground. A certain amount of fresh-turned earth had to be rolling off that plow at all times or his day and the day of his mules was wasted.

OUR MINDS OUGHT TO BE LIKE MY GRANDPA'S OLIVER TURNING PLOW; turning over the soil and not scooting along on the top of the ground. The best way to spot false Bible teaching is to spend time plowing the Word of God ourselves. False teaching will not thrive in a congregation that regularly plows the Word of God.  In Part 2, we’ll look at three things God has already done that illustrate what He is yet going to do. Ω

Read Through the Bible in a Year
MAY 28, 2018 – MONDAY
A.M. 1Chronicles 23-25    P.M. John 11:1-17
(Bible Gateway will read this to you if you like. Look for the speaker icon.)

 Good Memory Verse:
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.  (2Peter 2:21) (Write verses on scraps of paper and put in your pocket like President Abraham Lincoln did.)
 
Song for Today:
Lord, I’m Coming Home (4:01) – (Gaither Group)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eQuJhyTI0Tk
You may need to turn off the song when finished to avoid something else you do not want to hear.
    
 
 
 
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false teachers among you

5/17/2018

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      False Teachers Among You
 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. And many shall follow their pernicious ways; by reason of whom the way of truth shall be evil spoken of.  (2Peter 2:1-2)

“THERE WERE" AND THERE SHALL BE.” We would like to think that we live in an enlightened age where honesty and truth prevail…about everything. The only thing that hinders that ideal is that the human race is infested with liars and thieves. For a while, I heard about trusting people as being a virtue. Our neighbors bought and sold everything on a handshake. I never heard about a “bad check” until we moved into a town where we didn’t know everyone.  But that porcelain vase was shattered when I was eight…at church.

I WAS CARRYING MY ALMOST-NEW, BLUE-HANDLED CHRISTMAS POCKET KNIFE TO church. Mama didn’t care, if I kept it in my pocket during church. If a boy didn’t carry a knife when he was eight, it was like not having shoes. One night during the meeting, the preacher was boring (he wasn’t telling stories) and I could think of nothing but my knife, so I got it out, and was just looking at it.

THE VISITING BOY NEXT TO ME WANTED TO SEE IT. He looked at it and said: “I’ve got two red-handled knives I’ll give you for this blue knife. I like yours better. Let me take yours home and show Mama and I’ll bring your knives tomorrow night.” (You’re getting ahead of me.)

THAT WAS 75 YEARS AGO AND I'M STILL WAITING for that kid to bring me my two red-handled knives. Do you think I should just forget it? I had not yet heard of the Bible verse: The wicked are estranged from the womb: they go astray as soon as they be born, speaking lies.  (Psalm 58:3) What will I say when Mama notices I don’t have my knife? “Lost it.”’ That’s what you do when you are “a Bible verse.” If a little kid can get snookered out of his Christmas knife during preaching, I shouldn’t be surprised that false teachers can find a way to get into church and take over.

PETER REFERS TO JEWISH HISTORY AND POINTS OUT that there were false prophets among the true prophets. Balaam may be the most famous. Peter warns the scattered, persecuted people he is writing to, that they will attract false teachers into their ranks. There’s something about the role of religious leaders that attracts onlookers who want to be admired and people who may be looking for a way to pounce on women. “Pernicious ways” is an old and broad term that is sometimes translated “licentious.” A sexual meaning.

KING SAUL WAS JEALOUS OF YOUNG DAVID: And it came to pass as they came, when David was returned from the slaughter of the Philistine, that the women came out of all cities of Israel, singing and dancing, to meet king Saul, with tabrets, with joy, and with instruments of musick.  And the women answered one another as they played, and said, Saul hath slain his thousands, and David his ten thousands. And Saul was very wroth, and the saying displeased him; and he said, They have ascribed unto David ten thousands, and to me they have ascribed but thousands: and what can he have more but the kingdom?  (1Samuel 18:6-8)

TIMOTHY TALKS ABOUT THE PROBLEM: Having a form of godliness, but denying the power (the restraining power, the authority) thereof: from such turn away. For of this sort are they which creep into houses, and lead captive silly women laden with sins, led away with divers lusts,  (2Timothy 3:5-6) These women are silly in that they do not protect themselves. They don’t understand the danger they are in.  A religious setting is no protection against evil-minded men who may be sexually motivated.

IN THIS WHIRLWIND OF DECEPTION, “many shall follow their pernicious ways.” Some false teachers are good at what they do. They tell people what they want to hear.  You and I could name national figures who deceive people and attract tubs of cash from their supporters. The name of the game is: DECEPTION.

It didn’t begin with television. It began in the Old Testament and has continued through the centuries and it is still with us. Peter’s warning was needed even among persecuted Christians who might be crucified for their faith. Be wise, dear Christian! Beware of false teachers today. Carry your Bible to church. Check the lessons and sermons by the Word of God.

ANOTHER FALLOUT OF FALSE TEACHERS IS THAT THE DEBASED LIVES OF PEOPLE they deceive will reflect poorly upon the name of the Lord and upon the name of the group where the deception is taking place.

JOHN WARNED ABOUT ANOTHER PROBLEM. I wrote unto the church: but Diotrephes, who loveth to have the preeminence among them, receiveth us not.  (3John 1:9)

Diotrephes loved the spotlight. Some false teachers are motivated primarily by this. Either way, it’s an unholy mess when false teachers attract the trust of several people and become enthroned. How do you detect false teachers? Check their message by the Word of God. Is their activity directed toward glorifying the Lord or themselves and do they appear to be “a ladies’ man?

THE QUALIFICATIONS FOR A BISHOP IN THE NEW TESTAMENT, includes this: If any be blameless, the husband of one wife,….(Titus 1:6) I’m not the Greek scholar here, but I have read that one rendition of “husband of one wife” is: “a one-woman man.” If a man is the husband of one wife but has roving eyes, he may not be a “one-woman man.”  The Jewish way is to: Drink waters out of thine own cistern and running waters out of thine own well.  (Proverbs 5:15)  Conclusion:…there shall be false teachers among you.  Ω

Read Through the Bible in a Year
MAY 17, 2018 – THURSDAY
A.M. 2Kings 18-19    P.M. John 6:22-44
(Bible Gateway will read this to you if you like. Look for the speaker icon.)

(A lady told me they go to Morning Minute and let the man read to them while they eat breakfast.)

Good Memory Verse:
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.  (2Peter 2:21)
​ (Write verses on scraps of paper and put in your pocket like President Abraham Lincoln did.)
 
Song for Today:
Tell Me the Story of Jesus  (2:59) – (Congregational Singing – Unknown)
 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mZ_rx9HbCTk
  You may need to turn off the song when finished to avoid something else you do not want to hear.
    
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

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a more sure word of prophecy

5/16/2018

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     A More Sure Word of Prophecy
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:  
Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation.  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.  (2Peter 1:21)

“MORE SURE' INDICATES THAT SOMETHING ELSE IS "NOT AS SURE." John MacArthur comments on our verses for today. “…Peter is ranking Scripture over experience. The prophetic word (Scripture) is more complete, more permanent, and more authoritative than the experience of anyone. More specifically, the Word of God is a more reliable verification of the teachings about the person, atonement, and second coming of Christ than even the genuine firsthand experiences of the apostles themselves.” (John MacArthur)

IT IS NOT ENOUGH THAT WE HAVE A "MORE SURE" WORD OF PROPHECY. We must take heed to it. Listen up! Pay attention! It is like being in a dark place and the number one thing we need is a light to keep us from stumbling and hurting ourselves. Some Bible scholars tell us there are three things to observe when we encounter the Word of God. 1) What does it say?  2) What does it mean? 3) How does it apply to me?

HOW LONG SHOULD I PAY ATTENTION TO, (study intensely) this “sure word of prophecy?” Until dawn breaks and we see the thing come to pass that has been prophesied. The first indication that day is breaking will be the appearance of the morning star. The sight of the morning star will be “in your hearts” and not in the eye. We can be dark in our hearts. The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?  I the LORD search the heart, I try the reins, even to give every man according to his ways, and according to the fruit of his doings.  (Jeremiah 17:9-10)

But what saith it? The word is nigh thee, even in thy mouth, and in thy heart: that is, the word of faith, which we preach;  That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.  (Romans 10:8-10)

WHEN WE BELIEVE WITH OUR HEARTS, we have believed with the seat of our emotions. That is deeper and more significant than believing with our minds that a thing is true and yet we are not connected to what we believe is true. The seat of our emotions, our heart, is the deepest and most definitive part of our being. It is where commitment takes place. It is possible to believe with “our heads” and not believe with “our hearts.” What you believe with your heart, controls you. What you merely believe with your head may not control you.

THE WRITER OF HEBREWS WARNS US: For unto us was the gospel preached, as well as unto them: but the word preached did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in them that heard it.  (Hebrews 4:2)

THIS EXPLAINS WHY SO MANY YOUNG PEOPLE LEAVE OUR CHURCHES TODAY. It is not that they are turning away from their Christian faith, but rather, they have never embraced the Christian faith. They have never mixed faith with what they heard. They never embraced it with their hearts.  Some will say that what they heard as children was over their heads and that they were not old enough to understand. For the youngest children: yes. But how old?

But Jesus said: Verily I say unto you, Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven.  Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven.  (Matthew 18:3-4) Notice that the distinguishing factor of the child is the humility.

The LORD is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart; and saveth such as be of a contrite spirit.  (Psalm 34:18) …God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble. Submit yourselves therefore to God…. (James 4:6-7) A proud man cannot be saved. He must humble his heart before God.

THE VERY YOUNG CHILDREN DO NOT UNDERSTAND, OF COURSE, and are not accountable for their sins. Evangelist Paul Ferguson believed that if we can know when a child has reached the age of accountability, it is when they are conscious that are naked and do not want to be seen that way. The Bible does not say that, but it is something to think about.
 
 “PRIVATE INTERPRETATION" is best explained by the Bible Knowledge Commentary. “This has been interpreted several ways: (1) Scripture should be interpreted only in context, that is, a prophecy cannot stand alone without other prophecies to aid in its understanding. (2) Scripture should not be interpreted according to one’s own individual liking. (3) Scripture cannot be correctly interpreted without the Holy Spirit. (4) The prophecies did not originate with the prophets themselves. The word epilyseōs (“interpretation,” lit., “unloosing”) and the word ginetai (“came about”) favor the fourth view. The Scriptures did not stem merely from the prophets themselves; their writings came from God. 2Peter 1:20, then, speaks not of interpretation, but of revelation, the source of the Scriptures. (Do you need to read this paragraph again, slowly? I did. I read it several times.)

Read Through the Bible in a Year
MAY 16, 2018 – WEDNESDAY
A.M. 2Kings 15-17    P.M. John 6:1-21
(Bible Gateway will read this to you if you like. Look for the speaker icon.)

(A lady told me they go to Morning Minute and let the man read to them while they eat breakfast.)

Good Memory Verses:
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: Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation. 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.  (2Peter 1:19-21) (Write down and put in your pocket like President Abraham Lincoln did.)
 
Song for Today:
Jesus is Coming Again  (2:47) – (Congregational Singing – Unknown)
 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3dVB9ITVPtQ
​
The words are not clear on the verses, but the chorus comes through. I like songs that can be understood.   Note: You may need to turn off the song when finished to avoid something else you do not want to hear.
    
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
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happy mother's day

5/13/2018

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      Happy Mother’s Day!

Honour thy father and thy mother, as the LORD thy God hath commanded thee; that thy days may be prolonged, and that it may go well with thee, in the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee.  (Deuteronomy 5:16)
 
(This letter includes some text from last year’s Mother’s Day letter.)
SATURDAY THE 12TH OF MAY was my mother’s birthday and she was 121. She has been in Heaven 34 years and I’ll see her again, soon. In a very real way, she is still here and strong. In the 1948 picture she sits on my pony, Daisy, in typical fun-loving fashion. She was at home on horses and mules. Today is the 70th anniversary of the founding of the State of Israel, the year this picture was taken.

 LET'S THINK ABOUT THE YOUNG MOTHERS who are busy nursing, picking up toddlers and wiping noses and soothing one with a fever or cutting teeth. Not even an office secretary confronts as much demanding detail as mothers. Toddlers need mother’s humming and singing and cooing. We now have five great-grandchildren, one in Heaven, and one on the way. So, we are thinking more about young mothers.

THERE ARE THOSE MOTHERS WHO HAVE BORN NO CHILDREN but who have adopted children and love them as their own. And, there are mothers who are mothers in their hearts but are not privileged to have children. They love children wherever they can. I think my 2nd grade teacher was like that. She's the one who taught me John 3:16 and I remember her so well. And there are many thousands of step mothers who must reinvent themselves and try to be the best mother they can be. And we must remember grandmothers who have retired and find themselves raising their grandchildren.  
 
IT TAKES A LOT OF MOTHERING TO GROW A CHILD. God bless all of our dear mothers who go in a run and sometimes are not appreciated as they should be. You are the greatest! You have the most important job! 
 
I THINK ABOUT HANNAH, the mother of Samuel, and the instructions of the wise mother of King Lemuel in Proverbs 31. Mary, the mother of Jesus must have invested heavily in baby Jesus and as the song says: “when you kissed your baby, (did you know) you kissed the face of God?” It was this Mary who suffered the greatest at the foot of the cross when Jesus hung there, bearing the sins of the world. She watched as he bled and wore down and felt a solemn note of finality as Jesus, in His rationed breath handed His mother off to John, to be taken home by him.
 
NOTHING IS AS GRAND AND BEAUTIFUL as a loving and faithful mother. Many mothers must go into the workplace to help with the finances and resume their parenting when they return home…dog tired. And what of the professional women who left mothering to be a lawyer or banker and found it so empty they found a way to go back home and bear children to satisfy the deep craving for motherhood? God knows how to make the heart and yearnings of a mother!
 
MY MOTHER CARRIED ME TO CHURCH IN HER WOMB and I’ve been going to church ever since. Her favorite song was: “Hand in Hand With Jesus” and we sang it together. She was a skilled gardener and preserver of food. Her wood-burning kitchen stove was a marvelous production center of country-good food. With some complaining, she adjusted to an electric stove.
 
THE DEPRESSION (1929-1939) LIMITED UR WARDROBE. Mother’s Singer sewing machine was busy. She was good at making “new” clothes out the parts of “worn outs.” She made my first nice suit when I was eight, out of somebody’s discarded trousers. We ate well during the depression. Our gardens knew nothing about the depression. The mules plowed good, everybody worked hard, and we ate good. 
 
I WOULDN'T SWAP MY MAMA FOR ANY OTHER. At the same time, I must admit that the woods were full of other good mothers who made their families proud! How many mothers announced to their families that they were not hungry and were not going to eat breakfast? America would not have survived the Great Depression without its loving, industrious, self-sacrificing mothers. And today, there’s yet another new crop of mothers like those I remember. Without these nurturing mothers, America would not be a fit place to live. Ω
 
 
Read Through the Bible in a Year
MAY 14, 2017 – MONDAY        
A.M. 2Kings 9-11 P.M.  John 5:1-24
(Bible Gateway will read this to you if you like. Look for the speaker icon.)

A Good Memory Verse:
And he said unto them, These are the words which I spake unto you, while I was yet with you, that all things must be fulfilled, which were written in the law of Moses, and in the prophets, and in the psalms, concerning me.  (Luke 24:44)

Song for Today:
‘Hand in Hand With Jesus (2:43) (Gaither Group)                       
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cd1o4bKzwUA                                                                          
You may need to adjust your volume.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

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Eye witnesses of his majesty - part 2

5/10/2018

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  Eyewitnesses of His Majesty – Part 2

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. 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. And this voice which came from heaven we heard, when we were with him in the holy mount.  (2Peter 1:16-18)

THE DAYS OF THE ROMAN EMPIRE WERE HARD DAYS. Rome was an iron fist of oppression geared to squeeze taxes and submission from its governed. Those who could tell interesting stories were welcome in every village. A story told with an audience gathered around, was relief from their burdensome life. Prior to the days of Greek and Roman kingdoms, the Chinese had raised storytelling to a fine art. The Romans may not have produced as many stories as they simply collected and passed on. Many stories found their way into books, which served as a reservoir for storytelling.

SOME OF THE STORIES WERE CLEVER and intriguing and the story tellers that circulated from place to place might pick up a few coins to feed themselves. The human mind craves stories and even in the poorest of times, there is room for a good story.  In America, during the Depression, Hollywood movies flourished as little movie houses sprang up everywhere and for a dime you could see a movie. That was hi-tech storytelling and people would just about spend their last dime to be entertained for an hour and be transported to a land of make-believe.

WHEN THE PERSECUTED JEWISH CHRISTIANS FLED JERUSALEM and scattered throughout the Roman territory, they told their story. The Christian story blended with other stories. The story of a man who had been crucified and rose from the dead was an interesting story. It had more root with Jewish listeners because part of the story was already inside them. They knew from their ancient Scriptures, from Moses and other prophets, that such a man was prophesied to come to Israel, one day. Gentiles knew much less or nothing about the story they were hearing.

WHEN PAUL WAS IN ATHENS, GREECE, HE VISITED THE AEROPAGUS where philosophers gathered and exchanged ideas and apparently listened to stories. Paul got his turn to tell his story and he went at it with vigor. And they took him, and brought him unto Areopagus, saying, May we know what this new doctrine, whereof thou speakest, is?  For thou bringest certain strange things to our ears: we would know therefore what these things mean. (For all the Athenians and strangers which were there spent their time in nothing else, but either to tell, or to hear some new thing.)  (Acts 17:19-21)

YOU CAN SEE WHY PETER WOULD WRITE TO PERSECUTED CHRISTIANS and remind them that the thing they had believed was not a made-up story. Peter’s letter to the Jewish Christians was: “No, no! Our story is not made up! Out story is not a fable, not fake. We are not itinerant story tellers who travel around for a few coins telling stories.  Our story is a true story. This man, Jesus, really did come to Israel preaching interesting things and was crucified by the Temple authorities. But He’s alive! We saw Him. He is God in the flesh! We are eyewitnesses of his majesty! “Let me tell you what I saw with my own eyes,” Peter writes.

WHAT PETER SAW WITH HIS OWN EYES was the transfiguration of Christ upon a mountain where He took Peter, James, and John to pray with Him. All the other disciples were left behind. Matthew, Mark, and Luke all include the story of Christ’s transfiguration in their books by their names. But none of the three were there as a witness.  Peter was the leader in conversation on the Mount of Transfiguration.

PETER HAD SEEN JESUS STILL A STORM AND RAISE THE DEAD, but none of that impressed Peter as what he saw with his eyes on the mountain with Jesus, James and John and the visit by Moses and Elijah. Then came the voice from Heaven declaring that Jesus was God’s Son, in whom He was well-pleased. That impressed Peter and he was all-out for telling it as an eye-witness! Not a mere story teller, but as one who was there and saw it happen!

But Peter and they that were with him were heavy with sleep: and when they were awake, they saw his glory, and the two men that stood with him. And it came to pass, as they departed from him, Peter said unto Jesus, Master, it is good for us to be here: and let us make three tabernacles; one for thee, and one for Moses, and one for Elias: not knowing what he said.  (Luke 9:32-33)

PETER WAS AN EYEWITNESS OF HIS MAJESTY AND HE WAS NOT BACKING DOWN!
With this, he encouraged Jewish Christians who were facing prison and death far away from home.

Come to think of it, Peter was also our personal witness who was there in person and his eyes and ears are our eyes and ears. How do we know he is a personal, reliable witness? Isn’t this the one who denied the Lord out of fear and then insisted that he be crucified upside down because he was not worthy to be crucified upright as was his Lord? Peter is my personal witness who saw it in my place. I believe him. Ω

Read Through the Bible in a Year
MAY 11, 2018 – FRIDAY
A.M. 2Kings 1-3    P.M. John 3:22-36
(Bible Gateway will read this to you if you like. Look for the speaker icon.)

(A lady told me they go to Morning Minute and let the man read to them while they eat breakfast.)

Good Memory Verse:
Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.  (Colossians 3:16)

Song for Today:
I Love to Tell the Story  (3:47) – (Acapella Male Quartet - Samonte)
 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gLuOz0g8rOA
         
 Note: You may need to turn off the song when finished to avoid something else you do not want to hear.
    
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
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eyewitnesses of his majesty

5/9/2018

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      Eyewitnesses of His Majesty

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. 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. And this voice which came from heaven we heard, when we were with him in the holy mount.  (2Peter 1:16-18)

PETER WAS ONE OF THE FOREMOST WITNESSES of Jesus’ ministry. He made every possible effort to cause his followers to remember. How important it is, to remember! Jesus said: “remember Lot’s wife” (Luke 17:32).  “Remember” occurs 148 times in the King James Bible. Before we continue with today’s text, we need some perspective on the period between Jesus’ resurrection in A.D. 30 and the destruction of Jerusalem and the Temple by Titus in A.D.70. In the Bible, 40 is the number of testing. God gave the nation 40 years to repent before He used Titus to destroy Jerusalem and the Temple.

WHEN ROME UNDERSTOOD THAT CHRISTIANS WERE NOT just a branch of Judaism, Rome began to persecute and kill Christians as enemies of the State over the issue of Lordship. Nero had Christians impaled on stakes, covered in tar, and set on fire to make light for his garden parties. Christians were fed to the lions in the Coliseum at Rome. The masses were entertained by it.

 BUT JERUSALEM HAD ITS OWN PROBLEMS WITH ROME. At last, Titus came with a big army to destroy Jerusalem, the Temple, and the whole system of Jewish worship. Jesus had told the disciples that the Temple would be destroyed and not one stone would be left upon another. The effect would last almost 2,000 years.

IT IS ESTIMATED THAT A MILLION PEOPLE who had gathered for Passover in Jerusalem, were slaughtered by Titus. The picture today is of the Arch of Titus, in Rome, commemorating the destruction of Jerusalem.  It was constructed in c. AD 82 by the Emperor Domitian shortly after the death of his older brother Titus to commemorate Titus's victories, including the Siege of Jerusalem (AD 70).

On the walls of the arch are reliefs, carved into the stone, showing the bringing of Jewish slaves to Rome in chains. Israel ceased to be a nation. Jews were dispersed throughout the world until 1948 when they declared themselves to be a nation and U.S. President Harry Truman recognized them as a nation, against the wishes and advice of his own State Department. President Truman’s mother taught him: “Be good to the Jew, Harry.” She drilled it into him. When the time came, Harry Truman was “good to the Jew.”

AT FIRST, THE RECORD OF CHRIST'S CHURCH WAS VESTED IN THE MEMORIES of those who had been eye witnesses to Jesus’ preaching, miracles, death, and resurrection. It was that way for 20-30 years. But, what happens when the eye witnesses age out and die off the scene? God knows these things and after allowing the new church a little time to grow, began prompting men to write.

JAMES, THE HALF-BROTHER OF JESUS, WAS PROBABLY THE VERY FIRST WRITER of New Testament books, about A.D.49. He writes when the church was primarily Jewish and addresses the twelve persecuted and scattered groups of Jewish believers. James refers only to Elders which is a carry-over from Jewish structure and does not mention bishops or deacons. There is no mention of a Jewish-Gentile controversy, so the book was probably written before A.D.49.

He mentions many of Christ’s teachings but there’s no tie-in to the four Gospel accounts. James emphasizes Jesus’ expected return but nothing about the doctrinal underpinnings of the Gospel of Salvation.  The book of James has been dubbed: The New Testament Book of Proverbs. Josephus, the 1st Century Jewish historian says that James’ martyrdom was about A.D. 62.

JAMES, PETER AND THE WRITER OF HEBREWS to persecuted Jewish Christians who were scattered and persecuted for their faith. None of these three books mentions the destruction of Jerusalem and the Temple. The Jewish system of animal sacrifice is intact in Hebrews. The first persecution of Christians was by their own families and by the Jerusalem Temple. As Jews were dispersed throughout the Roman Empire, they later were persecuted by Rome and especially by Nero.

As time stretched out, a second generation of Christians found themselves far from home. Jesus had not returned as they thought He would. So, the writings to them urged them to hold steadfast to the faith.

SO, WHAT DOES ALL OF THIS HAVE TO DO WITH ME, YOU SAY. Just this: in America, if there is not a genuine spiritual awakening within a few years, or if Jesus does not return soon to rapture you out of this world, some bad times may be ahead for Bible-believing Christians. Not in my lifetime, because I’m 83, but for the younger ones: most likely.

NERO WON'T COME BACK AND USE YOU TO LIGHT HIS GARDEN PARTIES, but Christians can expect to be “squeezed” in many ways. What do we do when Christians are persecuted in America? Do what they did during the Roman Empire. When they step on you, smell like a crushed rose. Dan, have you lost your mind? I may, but not yet. We need to get serious about praying for a great spiritual awakening in America.

THIS ROUGH SUMMARY OF THE TIMES OF THE EARLY CHURCH is helpful in understanding the text of Peter’s epistles. Tomorrow, we will explore our text: Eyewitnesses of His Majesty. Ω
 
Read Through the Bible in a Year
MAY 10, 2018 – THURSDAY
A.M. 1 Kings 21-22    P.M. John 3:1-21
(Bible Gateway will read this to you if you like. Look for the speaker icon.)

(A lady told me they go to Morning Minute and let the man read to them while they eat breakfast.)

Good Memory Verse:
Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.  (Colossians 3:16)

Song for Today:
My Jesus I Love Thee  (2:47) – (Mary Tom Speers & Gaither Group)
 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vAajVSbpUkU
​
Note: You may need to turn off the song when finished to avoid something else you do not want to hear.
    
 
 
 
 
 

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    Dan Carr is a "retired" pastor, writer, teacher and continues to write at this website. This blog and other articles are e-mailed free to anyone who wants them. Go to: 
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    contact-us.html.  

    Dan and Barbara live 
    at Flat Rock, AL between Chattanooga, TN and Huntsville, AL. on Sand Mtn.
    We enjoy gardening, reading, church, family and friends.

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