Tag Archives: love God

The Lord Knows (Part 1)

2 Peter 2:9-14 The Lord knoweth how to deliver the godly out of temptations, and to reserve the unjust unto the day of judgment to be punished: 10 But chiefly them that walk after the flesh in the lust of uncleanness, and despise government. Presumptuous are they, self-willed, they are not afraid to speak evil of dignities. 11 Whereas angels, which are greater in power and might, bring not railing accusation against them before the Lord. 12 But these, as natural brute beasts, made to be taken and destroyed, speak evil of the things that they understand not; and shall utterly perish in their own corruption; 13 And shall receive the reward of unrighteousness, as they that count it pleasure to riot in the day time. Spots they are and blemishes, sporting themselves with their own deceivings while they feast with you; 14 Having eyes full of adultery, and that cannot cease from sin; beguiling unstable souls: an heart they have exercised with covetous practices; cursed children:

Whereas 1 Peter addressed threats outside the Church, 2 Peter deals with threats inside or from within. Last week we saw the Scripture address the threats of the false prophets who rose up from within the Church. As I heard a preacher say one time,

“It isn’t the water OUTSIDE of the boat that is dangerous to those on the boat. It’s the water INSIDE the boat that will sink us, and drown us.”

As Peter – under the inspiration of God the Holy Spirit – addresses these false prophets, it’s clear that he is angry, terse, and very pointed. Continue reading

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The Gospel Of “I”

The Gospel of “I” starts with the premise that we’re all okay, and that God loves everyone the way they are. The Gospel of “I” starts – not with Scripture – but with human viewpoint. Let’s look at our text again:

2 Peter 2:1 But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you…

Word Study Let’s start with the “But”. The word “But”, the Greek δέ (de) is a coordinating conjunction used to connect ideas that contrast. It’s different from the coordinating conjunction AND, as AND connects two things that are similar. BUT connects two things that are opposites. The BUT in verse 1 connects us to what was discussed last week:

2 Peter 1:20-21 Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation. 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.

Word Study God gave us the Scripture NOT from 40 people’s opinions, not based on what THEY thought, but the Scripture was given to those men – these prophecies – “as they were moved by the Holy Ghost {spirit}”. The Holy Spirit “moved”, the Greek pherō, which means “to lift up, to bear, to carry”. The same verb was used of John the Baptist’s head CARRIED (pherō) on a platter (Matthew 14:11), or when four friends CARRIED (pherō) a crippled friend to see Jesus (Mark 2:3). The Bible tells us that God controlled the writings of Scripture, the Prophesies, so that what was produced was not flawed human byproducts, but the very Word of God. God has given us His Word, and clear instructions by His Word. … Continue reading

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God’s Blessings Come Through Little Things

Luke 1:39-46 And Mary arose in those days, and went into the hill country with haste, into a city of Juda; 40 And entered into the house of Zacharias, and saluted Elisabeth. 41 And it came to pass, that, when Elisabeth heard the salutation of Mary, the babe leaped in her womb; and Elisabeth was filled with the Holy Ghost: 42 And she spake out with a loud voice, and said, Blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb. 43 And whence is this to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? 44 For, lo, as soon as the voice of thy salutation sounded in mine ears, the babe leaped in my womb for joy. 45 And blessed is she that believed: for there shall be a performance of those things which were told her from the Lord. 46 And Mary said, My soul doth magnify the Lord ..

I have a video from Homicide Detective J. Warner Wallace. He is a Senior Fellow at the Colson Center and an Adjunct Professor of Apologetics at the Talbot School of Theology. It’s only about three minutes – but it answers the question “Are there many ways to God?”

What makes Christianity unique is Christ Jesus Himself.

He was uniquely born into this world, unlike anyone who has ever been born. It was prophesied of God in the Old Testament that the Messiah or the Christ was going to come into this world uniquely through the Prophet Isaiah. Of all the Prophets of the Old Covenant, ALL heard the Voice of God but very few looked into Heaven. Ezekiel saw into Heaven, … Continue reading

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Nature Of The Christian

2 Peter 1:1 Simon Peter, a servant and an apostle of Jesus Christ…..

Let’s start with these ten words. C.H. Spurgeon noted that one of the signs of spiritual maturity is to realize how weak you are, but how great Christ is. He said:

“Get to Christ somehow, anyhow, for if you get to Him you shall live. It is not the greatness nor the perfection of your faith, it is His greatness and His perfection which is to be depended on.”

As Peter begins this letter, let’s note how he begins it:… Continue reading

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The Golden Petition

… As Jesus came into Jerusalem this last time, crowds formed around Him. They believed that Jesus was the Miracle Worker Who would help overthrow Rome and Roman rule, and return Israel to its rightful place in the world. As these people cheered Jesus, our Lord knew their hearts, and knew that before the week was out they would be demanding His crucifixion before Pilate (Mark 15:12-13). They wanted a Jesus, a Messiah Who would conquer the enemy, which they believed was Rome.

Jesus did come to conquer the enemy called SIN.
Not just for Israel, but the whole WORLD.

As Jesus rode into Jerusalem, He rode in on a donkey, not on a stallion horse. This was a fulfillment of the Prophecy of.. Continue reading

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Anointing Jesus

John 12:1-3 Then Jesus six days before the passover came to Bethany, where Lazarus was, which had been dead, whom he raised from the dead. 2 There they made him a supper; and Martha served: but Lazarus was one of … Continue reading

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We All Shall Give An Account

1 Peter 4:5-7 Who shall give account to him that is ready to judge the quick and the dead. 6 For for this cause was the gospel preached also to them that are dead, that they might be judged according to men in the flesh, but live according to God in the spirit. 7 But the end of all things is at hand: be ye therefore sober, and watch unto prayer.

Last week we saw how the Christian – a person saved by Grace – would be considered at odds with the world. Though we used to walk in (see verse 3):

lasciviousness (Greek aselgeia), wanton unbridled lust, shamelessness
lusts (Greek epithymia), desire for the forbidden
excess of wine (Greek oinophlygia), drunkenness
revelings (Greek kōmos), carousing, rioting, partying
banquetings (Greek potos), bar hopping, drinking about
abominable idolatries (Greek athemitos eidōlolatria), wokeness

we no longer do this. God through the Apostle Peter tells us why the Gospel is preached. Why do we tell people about Jesus? Why do we ourselves focus on the Gospel? Continue reading

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Martha Faith, Mary Faith, and Religious Faith

John 11:21-27 Then said Martha unto Jesus, Lord, if thou hadst been here, my brother had not died. 22 But I know, that even now, whatsoever thou wilt ask of God, God will give it thee. 23 Jesus saith unto her, Thy brother shall rise again. 24 Martha saith unto him, I know that he shall rise again in the resurrection at the last day. 25 Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live: 26 And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die. Believest thou this? 27 She saith unto him, Yea, Lord: I believe that thou art the Christ, the Son of God, which should come into the world.

There’s three kinds of faith that has always been in the world. There is Martha Faith, Mary Faith, and Religious Faith. Everybody in this room has one of these types of faith.

Martha Faith Saves, But Is Weak

Those who have Martha Faith are saved by grace.

The Pharisees that followed and persecuted Jesus were not saved by Grace. They believed that they could be saved by their works, by keeping sacraments, performing blood sacrifices, and by serving the Law faithfully. They dressed in a certain way, and faithfully attended synagogue, keeping the sabbaths that the Law established. God said through the Prophet:… Continue reading

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The One God Helps (Part 1)

The story that we will look at today is only found in the Gospel of John. As the other Gospels usually show a different perspective of Jesus’ teaching on the same event, many have wondered why only here do we have the recounting of the resurrection of Lazarus. Some believe it is because during the resurrection of Lazarus Peter was not present, but was in Galilee while Jesus was in Bethany. The “Synoptic Gospels” (Matthew, Mark, and Luke), so called because they can be “seen together”, that is, they tell the same stories, and the stories follow all twelve Apostles (including Peter). Others believe the reason Lazarus’ resurrection is not mentioned in the other Gospels because this event so inflamed the Pharisees.

The resurrection of Lazarus was an irrefutable proof that Jesus Christ was THE Son of God, for only God can give life from death.

The Bible says that Lazarus became hated among the Chief Priests, who plotted to put him to death (John 12:10). Lazarus was a walking advertisement for the Messiah! Let’s read some of the text:

John 11:1-3 Now a certain man was sick, named Lazarus, of Bethany, the town of Mary and … Continue reading

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The Great Ark Of God

It should not surprise you if I tell you people make mistakes, that people are fallible, and prone to evil. Yet God never makes mistakes. People can be ignorant, dense even, but God knows all things. He is ever faithful, ever dependable, ever trustworthy, and very precise. His precision is seen in the Heavens, in their clockwork movement, in their complexity. It amazes me that people are constantly looking for space aliens and ufo’s, but will not look around the beauty of this earth and see God’s handiwork. Only a fool would look at creation and ascribe it to random chance. The Bible says:

Psalm 14:1-3 (ESV) The fool says in his heart, “There is no God.” They are corrupt, they do abominable deeds; there is none who does good. 2 The Lord looks down from heaven on the children of man, to see if there are any who understand, who seek after God. 3 They have all turned aside; together they have become corrupt; there is none who does good, not even one.

To do good is to look around you, to look up, to see the clear design of the Creator’s loving hand, and to rejoice that He cares so much for us. Of the thousands of worlds that are seen by astrologers, only earth has been so blessed by God. It is here that He planted us, it is here that He loves us…. Continue reading

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