False Teachers Are Blots and Blemishes

2 Peter 2:13 “They will be paid back with harm for the harm they have done.  Their idea of pleasure is to carouse in broad daylight.  They are blots and blemishes, reveling in their pleasure while they feast with you.”

            Lord, this is happening before our eyes today!  In the News and Advance newspaper today, there was an article about the Presbyterian USA denomination.  They are going to ordain a minister, and I use that term very loosely here, who 20 or so years ago resigned from his church in California because he openly admitted to being a homosexual.  The denomination stated today that they were ordaining their first openly gay minister, “marking the latest mainline Protestant church to move toward accepting homosexual relationships.”

            Truly they fit into this category.  How many, Lord, will they lead astray?  What blasphemy!  I know they will indeed be held accountable and will pair dearly for their actions.

            It is one thing for unbelievers who do not profess any “religion” of any kind to engage in this type of behavior.  It is something altogether different when those who profess “Christianity” become apostate in their belief and corrupt Your church.  They blemish the church in the eyes of unbelievers, as even they know that this behavior flies in the face of the true church.  Then the true church is called intolerant and bigoted when it speaks out against such behavior.

            Do I believe Christians should reach out to the homosexual community and try to win them so they can be rescued from their lewd lifestyle and delivered from that sin?  Absolutely!  Do I believe that one should be elevated to “minister” or “Pastor” over a flock if they are not repentant of their sin?  Absolutely NOT!  They are not of You, Lord, but are of Your enemy the devil.

Oh, Lord Jesus, quickly come!

These Men (false teachers) Blaspheme in Matters They Do Not Understand

2 Peter 2:12 “But these men blaspheme in matters that they do not understand.  They are like brute beasts, creatures of instinct, born only to be caught and destroyed, and like beasts they too will perish.”

            Lord, another word of Yours comes to mind.  You tell me, and I know from personal experience, that the things of God are foolishness to unbelievers because spiritual things are understood only when we have the Holy Spirit within us to give us understanding and discernment.  I was not a false teacher, but I blasphemed things I did not understand about You before the Holy Spirit opened my eyes to the truth and I trusted You as Savior and Lord.  I was humbled and very grateful that You saved and forgave me!

            You say that because of their arrogant unbelief they will not ever come to You in repentance and will also draw many away with them.  I think of Jim Jones from my lifetime who led a whole bunch of people astray with his teaching and they all committed suicide.  How sad, Lord!  Men and women like him follow that rogue lion Satan who roams around roaring seeking who he can devour caring not for the souls of men, but only his own agenda!

            Precious Lord Jesus, I pray today for those they seek to destroy.  Bring many to You through a great awakening.  Help me to be a part of the rescue team.  Even so, Lord Jesus, quickly come!

Holy Celestial Beings Do Not Slander Before God

O Lord, Your holy angels should be our example too.  These false teachers would not have any power against even one angel.  Human artists have over the last centuries, depicted angels as slender gentle looking women with long flowing hair and raiment and with no power, unless it is to gently minister to humans.  However; what I read in scripture does not depict them that way at all!
If:

·         One angel could roll away an extremely heavy stone to reveal Your empty tomb

·         Elijah could show his servant the host of the holy angel army that encircled them

·         One angel could wrestle with Jacob all night and then put his hip out of joint

·         It took Gabriel 21 days to fight through the demons to come to Daniel with an answer to prayer

·         And if a guardian angel is assigned to watch over and protect me

·         And if Gabriel the Herald angel and Michael the  archangel strike terror into the hearts of the humans to whom they reveal themselves

Then Lord, I believe we are sadly mistaken and these false teachers would be absolutely NO match for even one of them!   WOW! 

            Yet, Lord, they do not come before Your throne to give slanderous accusations against them.  I believe it is because slander is falsehood and sin.  Also, You know all truth and would probably dismiss them with a rebuke.   I also believe they do not these things because they are in Your presence (unless on special assignment) with their eyes on You (not on each other or on us) and their ears are attentive to Your commands.  O, what we could learn from their behavior too:

·         Keep my eyes on You and You alone!

·         Trust You to know what You are doing when You send me on assignment!

·         Keep me ears ever strained to hear Your slightest command!

·         Let You be judge of others!

·         Realize that my power comes from You and I have none of my own!

Hallelujah, Lord!  Thank You for this lesson today and may I never forget.  Keep me mindful, Lord!

Slandering Celestial Beings

2 Peter 2:10b “bold and arrogant, these men are not afraid to slander celestial beings,”

            Lord, Peter is really outlining in these verses all that false teachers would present as truth.  They will say that they are of the Lord, but deny the very One who bought them.  They include just enough truth, just like their father Satan, to make them sound credible while they, subtly at first and then boldly, bring heresy.  Satan would cause them to slander the celestial beings because of his rage and rebellion in heaven.  Only one third of the angels followed him, so he hates and sees as enemies the two thirds who are true to God and the Savior.  Lord, there are no boundaries to his evilness.  He is the one who deludes his followers and raises up these false teachers.  He always derides and discredits the Father, You, the holy angels, and all those who truly follow You.

            However; without reading and studying Your whole word, one might not “know” our enemy and believe his lies.  That is why I must constantly study to know Your Truth, so as not to fall prey to his lies or the lies of those “preachers” who teach heresy!

            Thank You, Lord, for not leaving me on my own to wonder about You and Your Truth, but through inspiration had this love letter written to me so I could live the life You intended and be blessed not accursed.

Rejecting Christ has Dire Consequences

2 Peter 2:10a “This is especially true of those who follow the corrupt desire of their sinful nature and despise authority.”

            Peter is talking about false teachers in this passage and I have to keep reminding myself of that, Lord.  There are many around us that are not religious at all, and are unsaved.  I believe You are saying here that those who start their own religion and lead others astray will have especially harsh judgment.  Is that right?

            Lord, speak to me today, please.  Show me Your ways and lead me in the way everlasting.  This earth is passing away and I do not ever want to fall away from You because of all that is going on around me.  I know I am sealed by the Spirit and cannot lose my so great salvation that is a gift and does not depend on my attitude or works, but Lord, I want to glorify You with my works, thoughts, and actions daily.  I want to live by my new nature that You so graciously have given me.  Old things have passed away, and behold, all things have become new!

            I praise You, Almighty One, for this unfathomable gift and promise of salvation and all it means now here and will mean in Heaven!
Hallelujah!  AMEN!

Rejecting Christ has Dire Consequences

2 Peter 2:10 “This is especially true of those who follow the corrupt desire of their sinful nature and despise authority.”

            Peter is talking about false teachers in this passage and I have to keep reminding myself of that, Lord.  There are many around us that are not religious at all, and are unsaved.  I believe You are saying here that those who start their own religion and lead others astray will have especially harsh judgment.  Is that right?

            Lord, speak to me today, please.  Show me Your ways and lead me in the way everlasting.  This earth is passing away and I do not ever want to fall away from You because of all that is going on around me.  I know I am sealed by the Spirit and cannot lose my so great salvation that is a gift and does not depend on my attitude or works, but Lord, I want to glorify You with my works, thoughts, and actions daily.  I want to live by my new nature that You so graciously have given me.  Old things have passed away, and behold, all things have become new!

            I praise You, Almighty One, for this unfathomable gift and promise of salvation and all it means now here and will mean in Heaven!
Hallelujah!  AMEN!

That's My King!

“If this is so (and it is), then the lord knows how to rescue godly men from trials and to hold the unrighteous for the day of judgment, while continuing their punishment.”

            O Lord, You are mighty, wonderful, merciful, just, holy, gracious, my strong tower, defender and deliverer and are perfect in all of Your ways.
            Last night I read a sermon by SM Lockridge called, “That’s My King”.  Lord, he reminded me of how unfathomable You are!  I need not fear anything, even death, because I a=m already living my eternal life thanks to Your sacrifice for me!  Will I have trials in this life? James 1 tells me that I will, but You, Lord, go through them with me and will ultimately deliver me from them.  I need not fret when the wicked prosper because You, in Your perfect justice, are holding them accountable and have their judgment already planned.  Your judgments are sure, even though to it may look like it is delayed.
“That’s My King”!  Thank YOU, Lord, for your unspeakable gift of salvation!