“BUT BY NO HUMAN HAND!”

 Daniel 8:25                             (ESV)

“[25] By his (Satans) cunning (deceit, slyness, and trickery) he shall make deceit prosper under his hand, and IN HIS OWN MIND he shall become great. Without warning HE SHALL DESTROY MANY. And he shall even rise up against the Prince of princes, and he shall be broken—“BUT BY NO HUMAN HAND”.”

2 Corinthians 11:14

“[14] And no wonder, for even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light.”

Satan is a master at deceiving people to believe his lies because they appeal to our fleshly nature and reasoning.  IT IS IMPERATIVE that we become so FAMILIAR with THE TRUTH that we are more than uncomfortable with LIES, to the point that we almost become ill listening to them!  Satan is the loser and he is defeated, “BUT BY NO HUMAN HAND!”

“NOT TURN BACK TO FOLLY!”

 Psalm 85:8                             (ESV)

“Let me hear what GOD the LORD will speak, for HE will speak peace to HIS people, to HIS saints; but LET THEM NOT TURN BACK TO FOLLY!”

A “crazed maniac” could describe the person who intentionally laid in front of a roaring freight train!  Why don’t we LISTEN TO GOD and “NOT TURN BACK TO FOLLY”!!!

“YOUR REWARD SHALL BE VERY GREAT!”

 Genesis 15:1-6                                 (ESV)

God’s Covenant with Abram

[1] After these things the word of the LORD came to Abram in a vision: “Fear not, Abram, I am your shield; “YOUR REWARD SHALL BE VERY GREAT”.” [2] But Abram said, “O Lord GOD, what will you give me, for I continue childless, and the heir of my house is Eliezer of Damascus?” [3] And Abram said, “Behold, you have given me no offspring, and a member of my household will be my heir.” [4] And behold, the word of the LORD came to him: “This man shall not be your heir; your very own son shall be your heir.” [5] And HE brought him outside and said, “Look toward heaven, and number the stars, if you are able to number them.” Then HE said to him, “So shall your offspring be.” [6] And he believed the LORD, and HE counted it to him as righteousness.

There are many things that “irritate” me, but I have grown to understand that my opinion isn’t as crucial as I once believed!  How many times have I blown my top about something when I was hoping for results that alluded me?  James Montgomery Boice, noted Presbyterian Minister, is quoted as saying “Whether you can see it or not - and often we cannot - everything is being used of God for your good as well as the good of others. THIS KNOWLEDGE IS BY FAITH. It is not always by sight. But it is nevertheless certain, because it is based on the character of God, who reveals himself to us as both sovereign and benevolent. We are not to be anxious about the unknown future or to fret about it. We are to live in a moment-by-moment dependence upon God."

Growing in FAITH is a never ending process.  Abraham was from “Ur of the Chaldeans”, about 550 miles west of Jerusalem.  In Genesis 12:1 Scripture records “Now the LORD said to Abram, “Go from your country and your kindred and your father’s house to the land that I will show you.”  Abraham (then called Abram) exhibited tremendous FAITH, going far from his comfort zone in OBEDIENCE to THE LORD.  I can imagine that the journey must have been filled with setbacks that caused Abraham’s FAITH to grow.  Knowing that GOD ALMIGHTY IS IN CONTROL does NOT indicate that we know what is going to happen in our lives, it means that we only KNOW WHO is in charge of our destiny! 

Growing in FAITH quite often is a grueling, tedious process.  For this servant of THE MOST HIGH, WAITING for GOD to manifest HIS PROMISE is the toughest!  Ishmael was the result of Abram and Sarai trying to help GOD be GOD!  Only when GOD’s timing was fulfilled, Isaac  was sent to Sarah to fulfill THE PROMISE OF GOD!  We can never do ANYTHING to improve on THE PLAN!  When GOD tells us that “YOUR REWARD SHALL BE VERY GREAT”, we must BELIEVE that HE is capable of fulfilling HIS PROMISE!

“GOD, however!”

“GOD, however, never invited me to be a co-GOD with HIM.  This means that some reasons for what HE does in my life may well remain a mystery to me for all of my days!”     

An excerpt from the book “JESUS Continued”, Page 171.

“AN ENEMY HAS DONE THIS!”

 Matthew 13:24-30                         (ESV)

The Parable of the Weeds

“[24] He put another parable before them, saying, “The kingdom of heaven may be compared to a man who sowed good seed in his field, [25] but while his men were sleeping, “his enemy” came and sowed weeds among the wheat and went away. [26] So when the plants came up and bore grain, then the weeds appeared also. [27] And the servants of the master of the house came and said to him, ‘Master, did you not sow good seed in your field? How then does it have weeds?’ [28] He said to them, “‘AN ENEMY HAS DONE THIS.’”So the servants said to him, ‘Then do you want us to go and gather them?’ [29] But he said, ‘No, lest in gathering the weeds you root up the wheat along with them. [30] Let both grow together until the harvest, and at harvest time I will tell the reapers, “Gather the WEEDS first and bind them in bundles to be burned, but gather the WHEAT into my barn.”’”

Recognizing where lies and deceit originate is PARAMOUNT to defeating our “enemy”. 

Many times the “enemy” is so adept at disguising himself, A MASTER OF DECEIT, that we have NO IDEA we are being misled.  Until our EYES are OPENED to SEE TRUTH we are unable to isolate and identify the “enemy” we will continue to be snookered by his antics.  

In this parable JESUS told the “great crowds” to separate the the WHEAT from the WEEDS, and then to BURN THE WEEDS, not to leave them alone!  We MUST burn the WEEDS instead of letting them continue to spread among the WHEAT.  Culling the WEEDS is the only way that WHEAT can flourish.  

One of the least favorite chores that I was assigned in my youth was weeding the garden.  My grandfather was an old school MASTER GARDENER.  He wanted to keep all the WEEDS away from his plants because it seemed they were determined to chose out the fruits of his labor.  The weeds took away from the growth of the good seeds that he had planted and nurtured.  

Recognizing and KNOWING who is responsible for the WEEDS in life is key to our SPIRITUAL HEALTH!  We need to understand when “AN ENEMY HAS DONE THIS”!  Joseph understood that evil things performed by his brothers could and would be used for THE GOOD OF GOD (Genesis 50:20)!  Sure, “AN ENEMY HAS DONE THIS”, but GOD can and will use it ALL FOR HIS GLORY!!!

“THEIR EYES WERE OPENED!”

 Luke 24:13-16                            (ESV)

[13] That very day two of them (disciples) were going to a village named Emmaus, about seven miles from Jerusalem, [14] and they were talking with each other about all these things that had happened. [15] While they were talking and discussing together, JESUS HIMSELF drew near and went with them. [16] But THEIR EYES WERE KEPT FROM RECOGNIZING HIM.

Luke 24:31

Then “THEIR EYES WERE OPENED” and THEY RECOGNIZED HIM; and HE vanished from their sight.

A few months ago I wrote about people who share PROPAGANDA, intentionally sharing “misinformation, especially of a biased or misleading nature, used to promote or publicize a particular political cause or point of view.”  “This world” has become inundated with people who are convinced that what they believe to be true is the right way, regardless of whether it lines up with Scripture or not. Only when “THEIR EYES ARE OPENED” can they SEE and RECOGNIZE TRUTH! 

In Luke 24 JESUS came up on TWO OF THEM, HIS disciples, and carried on a extensive conversation with them.  But they WERE KEPT FROM RECOGNIZING HIM, even though they had spent the prior three years being mentored by HIM.  They knew and loved JESUS, but JESUS kept them from recognizing HIM for a specific purpose.  

In Luke 24:31 “”THEIR EYES WERE OPENED” and THEY RECOGNIZED HIM; and HE vanished from their sight”!  JESUS had been with them and conversed for a lengthy period.  Yet HE allowed THEIR EYES to be opened, to SEE TRUTH (John 14:6) right before HE vanished from their sight!  Although “THEIR EYES WERE OPENED”, they couldn’t SEE HIM because HE vanished from their sight!  

We need to be THANKFUL for SEEING TRUTH when it is REVEALED to us.  Just because we are HIS disciples doesn’t mean that HIS PLAN will be for us to have our EYES behold HIM and HIS GLORY!  These disciples walked and talked with JESUS on the road to Emmaus, but their EYES were unable to identify HIM.  FATHER IN HEAVEN, may I stay so IN TOUCH with JESUS that when “THEIR EYES WERE OPENED” and THEY RECOGNIZED HIM that I won’t miss HIM in my presence!!!

“KNOW THE TRUTH!”

 John 8:31-47                                   (ESV)

“[31] So JESUS said to the Jews who had believed HIM, “If you abide in MY WORD, you are truly MY disciples, [32] and you will “KNOW THE TRUTH”, and THE TRUTH will set you free.” [33] They answered HIM, “We are offspring of Abraham and have never been enslaved to anyone. How is it that YOU say, ‘You will become free’?”  

[34] JESUS answered them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, EVERYONE WHO PRACTICES SIN IS A SLAVE TO SIN. [35] The slave does not remain in the house forever; the son remains forever. [36] So if the SON sets you free, you will be free indeed. [37] I know that you are offspring of Abraham; yet you seek to kill me because my word finds NO PLACE in you. [38] I speak of what I have seen with my FATHER, and you do what you have heard from your father.”

[39] They answered HIM, “Abraham is our father.” JESUS said to them, “If you were Abraham’s children, you would be doing the works Abraham did, [40] but now you seek to kill ME, a man who has TOLD YOU THE TRUTH that I heard from GOD. This is not what Abraham did. [41] You are doing the works your father did.” They said to him, “We were not born of sexual immorality. We have one Father—even God.” [42] JESUS said to them, “If GOD were your FATHER, you would love ME, for I came from GOD and I am here. I came not of MY OWN accord, but “HE SENT ME”. [43] Why do you not understand what I say? It is because you cannot bear to hear MY WORD. [44] You are of your father the devil, and your will is to do your father’s desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because THERE IS NO TRUTH IN HIM. When he lies, he speaks out of his own character, for he is a liar and the father of lies. [45] But BECAUSE  I TELL THE TRUTH, YOU DO NOT BELIEVE ME. [46] Which one of you convicts ME of sin? If I tell the truth, WHY DO YOU NOT BELIEVE ME? [47] Whoever is OF GOD hears the words of GOD. The reason why YOU DO NOT hear them is that YOU ARE NOT FROM GOD.””

These Jews could not SEE nor UNDERSTAND THE TRUTH!  GOD IN THE FLESH, JESUS HIMSELF, was standing in their midst, and they couldn’t even recognize HIM!  

JESUS has a FATHER.  These Jews has a father.  Have you been CHOSEN to be a CHILD OF THE KING?  If so, the time has come to be counted as ONE!  Either you are ONE, or you ain’t!!!

“WHEN YOU SEEK ME WITH ALL YOUR HEART!”

 Jeremiah 29:10-14                 (ESV)

“[10] “For thus says the LORD: When seventy years are completed for Babylon, I will visit you, and I will fulfill to you MY PROMISE  and bring you back to this place. [11] For I know the plans I have for you, declares the LORD, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope. [12] Then you will call upon ME and come and pray to ME, and I will hear you. [13] You will seek ME and find ME, “WHEN YOU SEEK ME WITH ALL YOUR HEART”. [14] I will be found by you, declares the LORD, and I will restore your fortunes and gather you from all the nations and all the places where I have driven you, declares the LORD, and I will bring you back to the place from which I sent you into exile.”

Sometimes GOD orchestrates a pilgrimage into “Babylon” to show us that HE is the ONE in control.......not us!   Only “WHEN YOU SEEK ME WITH ALL YOUR HEART”, without fear of what is in the future, will we be ready for HIS PROMISE to visit us!!!

2 Corinthians 9:8

 2 Corinthians 9:8                    (ESV)

“And GOD IS ABLE to make ALL GRACE abound to you, so that having all sufficiency in ALL THINGS at ALL TIMES, YOU MAY ABOUND in every good work.”

“ABOMINATION!”

 Deuteronomy 17:1

“You shall not sacrifice to the LORD your GOD an ox or a sheep in which is a blemish, any defect whatever, for THAT IS AN “ABOMINATION” to the LORD your GOD.”

How many times have you heard “GOD wouldn’t do that. HE loves us”?  But we supposedly love GOD and we are seemingly always doing what is considered to be an “ABOMINATION” to the LORD?  Surely GOD loved Joseph AND WAS WITH HIM (Genesis 39:2), but GOD allowed Joseph to go through some terrible things, and brought him through EVIL THINGS “that many people should be kept alive, as they are today” (Genesis 50:20)!

In Deuteronomy the WORD OF GOD is giving us “parameters” on how to live a life acceptable and HOLY.  We are instructed in Deuteronomy 17:1 to NOT give GOD anything with a blemish, or a flaw, because that would be an “ABOMINATION” to the LORD!  The definition of “ABOMINATION” is “a thing that causes disgust or hatred.”  Anything other than our best causes GOD maybe even extreme disgust!  

So where does this leave us when we so want to give back to the ONE WHO purchased our salvation!  The Apostle Paul writes in 2 Corinthians 12:9 “But HE said to me, “MY GRACE is sufficient for you, for MY POWER IS MADE PERFECT IN WEAKNESS.” Therefore I WILL BOAST ALL THE MORE GLADLY OF MY WEAKNESSES, so that THE POWER OF CHRIST may rest upon me.”  It “pleased” GOD to bruise HIS SON so that HE could SEE HIM when HE looked at me (Isaiah 53:10)!

Anything performed outside of CHRIST, outside of HIS inspiration and leadership, is an “ABOMINATION” to the LORD.  We do not have it within our abilities to sacrifice anything that can be acceptable to a HOLY GOD, therefore we MUST die to ourselves and live our lives as a Testament to HIM.  We can live life “the best we can”, but it will be an “ABOMINATION” unless “THE POWER OF CHRIST” rests upon us!!!

“LET NOT YOUR HEART TURN ASIDE!”

 Proverbs 7:21-27                   (ESV)

    “[21] With much seductive speech she persuades him;

        with her smooth talk she compels him. 

    [22] All at once he follows her,

        AS AN OX GOES TO THE SLAUGHTER,

    or as a stag is caught fast 

    [23] till an arrow pierces its liver;

    as a bird rushes into a snare;

        he does not know that it will cost him his life.

    [24] And now, O sons, listen to me,

        and be attentive to the words of my mouth. 

    [25] “LET NOT YOUR HEART TURN ASIDE” to her ways;

        do not stray into her paths, 

    [26] for many a victim has she laid low,

        and all her slain are a mighty throng. 

    [27] Her house is the way to Sheol,

        going down to the chambers of death.”

Although “the enemy” is extremely adept at making “sin” appear as though it is THE REAL THING, “LET NOT YOUR HEART TURN ASIDE” to what LOOKS pretty to the eye, for death will envelope you before you know it!!!

“KNOW THAT I AM GOD!”

 Psalm 46:10-11                                     (ESV)

    “[10] “Be still, and “KNOW THAT I AM GOD”.

        I will be exalted among the nations,

        I will be exalted in the earth!” 

    [11] The LORD of hosts is with us;

        the GOD of Jacob is our fortress. Selah”

One of the most effective tools that the enemy uses to stunt or prevent our growth IN THE LORD is the notion that we don’t have time to “KNOW THAT I AM GOD”!  It is NOT coincidence that BE STILL comes right before “KNOW THAT I AM GOD”, for in my past experience I have to be made to PAUSE before GOD is revealed to me.  That doesn’t mean that HE ISN’T GOD until I acknowledge HIM.  It DOES mean that our EYES are only OPENED by GOD when we are ready to SEE HIS GLORY, to “KNOW THAT I AM GOD”!

When we “KNOW THAT I AM GOD” we cannot help to EXALT HIM.  Exhibiting that we are subject to HIS guidance and leadership is precisely what HE wants from us, and exactly what “the enemy” in trying to convince us that we don’t need!  In Genesis 3:4 it is recorded “But the serpent said to the woman (Eve), “You will not surely die”, in spite of GOD saying in Genesis 3:3 “You shall not eat of the fruit of the tree that is in the midst of the garden, neither shall you touch it, LEST YOU DIE.’”  Spiritual death is the decision that WE KNOW BEST and we haven’t the time for “KNOWING THAT HE IS GOD”!

SEEING TRUTH is not simply being able to recognize it with our eyes.  To “KNOW THAT I AM GOD” is to first recognize that we ARE NOT GOD!  In Job 38:4-11 GOD has questions laid out for him by GOD ALMIGHTY that let him know with no questions WHO was IN CONTROL!  

We can continue living our lives at speed dictated by “this world” and never experience the Blessing to “KNOW THAT I AM GOD”, or we can BE STILL and have HIS EXCELLENCE revealed to us by our CREATOR like ONLY HE can!  Are you TOO BUSY to acknowledge HIM?  Or can you SEE and “KNOW THAT I AM GOD”???

“IF ANYONE THINKS!”

 James 1:26-27                                (ESV)

“[26] “IF ANYONE THINKS” he is religious and does not BRIDLE HIS TONGUE but DECEIVES HIS HEART, this person’s religion is worthless. [27] Religion that is pure and undefiled before GOD the FATHER is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained from the world.”

John 4:24 says “GOD IS SPIRIT, and those who worship HIM “must” worship in SPIRIT and TRUTH.”  Trying to worship GOD the way WE THINK is best is a prescription for doing precisely what “the enemy” wants us to do, and that is DECEIVE OUR HEARTS!  When we are BORN AGAIN (of the SPIRIT), our operating system is converted from a natural system to a SPIRIT controlled system (1 Corinthians 2:14-16)!  

Doing “what seems right” can lead to disaster (Proverbs 14:12), so why do TRUST anything other than the HOLY SPIRIT to guide our lives?  “IF ANYONE THINKS” that they have life in “this world” figured out, they are extremely susceptible to learning the TRUTH in a very hard manner!  ALMIGHTY GOD can orchestrate Blessings or catastrophes, and I wouldn’t challenge HIM.  It took me a LONG TIME understand that my mouth had to intentionally be placed in control of the SPIRIT OF CHRIST!  It wasn’t something that happened automatically.  

“IF ANYONE THINKS” that living for JESUS is a simple crucifying of ourselves, they are terribly mistaken.  The daily struggle of rejecting the desire of the flesh is not for the weak in SPIRIT.  To display the SPIRIT OF CHRIST to a world that is BLIND to HIM is ludicrous to those who haven’t been called by GOD.  “IF ANYONE THINKS” that they can make it to HEAVEN on there own merits, they are DECEIVED and are in for a RUDE AWAKENING!!!

“GOD IS IN CONTROL!”

 Matthew 8:23-27                       (ESV)

Jesus Calms a Storm

[23] And when HE got into the boat, HIS disciples followed HIM. [24] And behold, there arose a great storm on the sea, so that the boat was being swamped by the waves; but HE was asleep. [25] And they went and woke HIM, saying, “SAVE US, LORD; WE ARE PERISHING.” [26] And HE said to them, “Why are you afraid, O you of little faith?” Then HE rose and rebuked the winds and the sea, and there was a great calm. [27] And the men marveled, saying, “What sort of man is this, that even winds and sea obey HIM?”

There is a song that was #1 in February 1994 on the Adult Contemporary Charts entitled “GOD IS IN CONTROL”!  The first verse goes like this:

This is no time for fear

This is a time for faith and determination

Don't lose the vision here

Carried away by the motion

Hold on to all that you hide in your heart

There is one thing that has always been true

It holds the world together

God is in control

We believe that His children will not be forsaken

God is in control

We will choose to remember and never be shaken

There is no power above or beside Him, we know, oh

God is in control, oh God is in control.

Life WILL throw us TRIALS and TEMPTATIONS as we SOJOURN through the path that we are assigned (1 Corinthians 7:17) by THE LORD.  The DISCIPLES were CHOSEN to follow CHRIST during HIS earthly ministry, but even their FAITH had to be proven through a test on the sea.  Many of the disciples were fishermen and were accustomed to the Sea of Galilee and the sudden storms produced on the lake.  But their EYES had not yet been OPENED to understand that the ONE WHO CONTROLS even the winds and sea was with them in this storm!

The storms of life that we can experience can be as violent and sudden as the Sea of Galilee.  We have Scripture to assist in OPENING our EYES, but until ALMIGHTY GOD divinely and supernaturally REVEALS HIMSELF to us we will be asking about the winds and seas that we experience.  We HAVE TO go through the storm to increase our FAITH.  It isn’t enough to know that JESUS is able to work a MIRACLE, we have to KNOW that HE is going to work the miracle in our lives!

The song “GOD IS IN CONTROL” has a tremendous message to be learned.  We need to realize that our FAITH must be strengthened by HIM, and HE most always does that through TRIALS.  ”SAVE US, LORD; WE ARE PERISHING” isn’t what we should be saying.  “GOD IS IN CONTROL” is!!!

“You shall have NO OTHER gods before ME!”

 Exodus 20:3                            (ESV)

“You shall have NO OTHER gods before ME.”

Most of us are so consumed with trying to justify our actions and lifestyles that we cannot fully SEE that absolutely NONE among us humans can even obey the very first commandment given to Moses on Mount Sinai.  “You shall have no other gods before ME” is speaking of whatever it is that we elevate above ALMIGHTY GOD and our allegiance to HIM.  

When I was a child, I remember thinking that my mother was THE most important figure in my life!  I literally wept thinking that I would outlive her in “this world“.  Then I met my wife and I’m allegiance changed.  Then my two sons arrived and once again change was in my life.  But then, grandchildren came along and I was introduced to a NEW LEVEL of LOVE, a level that words cannot adequately state!  

No matter what changes in our lives, our ALLEGIANCE must be to only ONE, THE GOD OF CREATION!  “You shall have NO OTHER gods before ME” means that NOTHING SHALL EVER be more important to us than our relationship with JESUS, and our commitment to serve ONLY HIM.  JESUS told us in Matthew 6:24 that we cannot serve two masters, yet we attempt to do just enough to “satisfy” our commitment to HIM and live as this world leads us when our BIBLE is closed!

“You shall have NO OTHER gods before ME” isn’t simply a kind suggestion for a peaceful life.  How many times in Scripture is SUFFERING for HIS NAME mentioned?  We need to reevaluate our WHO JESUS CHRIST is in our lives.  Are we prepared to SUFFER FOR HIS NAME, or do we run from persecution like the plague?  “You shall have NO OTHER gods before ME” is the first of the TEN COMMANDMENTS, not the ten ways to enjoy our best life now!  

“FULL OF DECEIT AND ALL VILLAINY!”

 Acts 13:8-12                    (ESV)

“[8] But Elymas the magician (for that is the meaning of his name) opposed them, seeking to turn the proconsul away from the faith. [9] But Saul, who was also called Paul, filled with the HOLY SPIRIT, looked intently at him [10] and said, “You SON OF THE DEVIL, you ENEMY OF ALL RIGHTEOUSNESS, “FULL OF ALL DECEIT AND VILLAINY”, will you not STOP MAKING CROOKED THE STRAIGHT PATHS of the LORD? [11] And now, behold, the hand of the LORD is upon you, and you will be blind and unable to see the sun for a time.” Immediately mist and darkness fell upon him, and he went about seeking people to lead him by the hand. [12] Then the proconsul believed, when he saw what had occurred, for he was astonished at the teaching of the LORD.”

Villainy is described as “wicked or criminal behavior” and wicked as “morally very bad”.  In the Scripture above, Elymas had a testimony of both of these words and worse.  How disappointing it must have been to his mother and his father to have their offspring described by a man of TRUTH that way.  I would guess that Elymas didn’t set out to be described by the words that Paul used, but his life told a story that superseded what words could describe.  

What words would best describe what I KNOW could be said about my life?  Yes, I remember the dark, evil, even despicable lifestyle that I was rescued from by a HOLY GOD.  I am thankful to GOD ALMIGHTY that HE “will remember their sins no more” (Hebrews 9:12)!  Others may not be privy to the atrocities that I have committed, but JESUS SEES ALL and KNOWS ALL, yet HE went through Hell and the grace so that my sins would be eradicated by GOD!  Elymas was probably not as bad as I was, but JESUS saw what GOD SEES, and HE sacrificed HIMSELF anyway!

Elymas was described by Paul as “You SON OF THE DEVIL, you ENEMY OF ALL RIGHTEOUSNESS, “FULL OF ALL DECEIT AND VILLAINY”, will you not STOP MAKING CROOKED THE STRAIGHT PATHS of the LORD?”  But the Sacrifice of CHRIST made him on level ground with me in the EYES OF GOD.  You see, because of the Sacrifice of CHRIST, GOD SEES the life of CHRIST when he looks at me!  2 Corinthians 5:21 says “For our sake he made HIM (JESUS) to be sin who knew no sin, so that in HIM we might become the righteousness of GOD.”

Yes, before JESUS I was “FULL OF DECEIT AND ALL VILLAINY”!  But all GOD can see now is HIS SON when HE looks at me!  The PERFECTION OF CHRIST is “imputed” on me and my life “FULL OF DECEIT AND ALL VILLAINY” is “imputed” on HIM!  Thank YOU GOD for GRACE UNIMAGINABLE!!!

“BE READY!”

 2 Timothy 4:1-4                                         (ESV)

“[1] I CHARGE YOU in the presence of GOD and of CHRIST JESUS, WHO is to judge the living and the dead, and by HIS appearing and HIS kingdom: [2] PREACH THE WORD; “BE READY” IN SEASON AND OUT OF SEASON; reprove, rebuke, and exhort, with complete patience and teaching. [3] For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions, [4] and will turn away from listening to THE TRUTH and wander off into myths.”

The Apostle Paul was nearing the end of his life (2 Timothy 4:6) and he wanted to make his point to Timothy VERY CLEAR that we must always “BE READY” to PREACH THE WORD, whether IN SEASON or OUT OF SEASON!  The phrase ‘I CHARGE YOU’ used in the English Standard Version can mean to strongly request or order something to be done.  To PREACH THE WORD meant to PREACH TRUTH, to disseminate the principles of CHRIST whatever situation we find ourselves in.  

“For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions, and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander off into myths” could actually say FOR THE TIME IS COMING, AND IS NOW HERE!  Society seems to have become so enamored with GAINING KNOWLEDGE that we ignore the ONE WHO gives THE KNOWLEDGE?  1 Corinthians 8:1-3 tells us that this “knowledge” puffs up!  The knowledge received from GOD brings humility and therefore wisdom.  

Having the WORD OF GOD stored in our hearts (Psalms 119:11) is the first step in refraining from sinning against HIM.  HIS WORD will guide us through the minefields of “this world”!  HIS WORD will allow us to “BE READY” when the enemy tries a sneak attack to catch us off-guard.  For us to “BE READY”, we must rely on THE TRUTH of THE WORD OF GOD to do the work ONLY JESUS can do!  

“YOU DO NOT BELIEVE ME!”

 Joshua 1:9

“[9] Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. DO NOT BE FRIGHTENED, and do not be dismayed, for the LORD your GOD IS WITH YOU WHEREVER YOU GO.””

John 8:43-45

“[43] Why do you not understand what I say? It is because you cannot bear to hear MY WORD. [44] You are of your father the devil, and your will is to do your father’s desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, and DOES NOT STAND IN TRUTH, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks out of his own character, for he is a liar and the father of lies. [45] But because I tell the TRUTH, “YOU DO NOT BELIEVE ME”.”

Living and believing a lie can be very humiliating.  When we aren’t VERY CERTAIN that what we Believe is TRUTH, we are susceptible to the FEAR and UNCERTAINTY that the devil has to offer.  BELIEVING that the LORD your GOD IS WITH YOU WHEREVER YOU GO means that we able to NOT live in FEAR!  However, when we display FEAR and DOUBT it is a clear indication of our TRUE Beliefs!

The devil is a liar and the father of lies, so why do we tend to accept ANYTHING that we are presented from him?  In John 14:6 JESUS says “I am the WAY, and the TRUTH, and the LIFE. No one comes to the FATHER except through ME.”  Unless we BELIEVE TRUTH, we are destined to believe a lie from the enemy.  “YOU DO NOT BELIEVE ME” is NOT something that I want said about me!!!