“THEY MAY BELIEVE WHAT IS FALSE!”

 2 Thessalonians 2:9-12                 (ESV)

“[9] The coming of the lawless one is by the activity of Satan with ALL POWER AND FALSE SIGNS AND WONDERS, [10] and with all wicked deception for those who are perishing, because THEY REFUSED to LOVE the TRUTH  and so be saved. [11] Therefore GOD sends them a strong delusion, so that “THEY MAY BELIEVE WHAT IS FALSE”, [12] in order that all may be condemned who did not believe the truth but had pleasure in unrighteousness.”

KNOWING what is TRUTH isn’t because we live our lives holier than others.  It is because we are CHOSEN to represent THE KING OF KINGS and THE LORD OF LORDS!   

If everyone were subjected to the same experiences and conditions, it might be understandable that they would all turn out the same way?  But some EYES are OPENED and they are able to SEE the things in a perspective that GLORIFIES GOD IN THE HIGHEST (2 Kings 6:17)!!!

“Therefore GOD sends them a strong delusion, so that “THEY MAY BELIEVE WHAT IS FALSE”, in order that all may be condemned who did not believe the truth but had pleasure in unrighteousness” is an extremely terrible position to be in.  We who have been CHOSEN need to make sure that we tell everyone we love about THE LOVE OF JESUS in an attempt to make certain that they are NOT apart of “THEY MAY BELIEVE WHAT IS FALSE”!!!

“WAIT ON THE LORD!”

 Psalms 27:14                       (KJV)

“WAIT ON THE LORD”: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: WAIT, I say, ON THE LORD.”

Recently there was a video about people who did not “WAIT ON THE LORD” on social media that spoke to me very succinctly!  In my experiences, I have usually been one to FORGE AHEAD with my actions and then pray that GOD would bail me out of the problems I created with my impatience!  

Since the Brain Hemorrhage in 2007 I am learning to accept where I am, and WHO IS IN CONTROL?  For a person who had always been IN CHARGE of where I was going and what I needed to be doing, having the OMNIPOTENCE OF GOD displayed to me by being placed in a seventeen day coma was a VERY HUMBLING experience!  

Recalling where I was prior to July 09, 2007 is seemingly in a different life!  Moving at such a pace that I didn’t have time to SEEK GUIDANCE from ALMIGHTY GOD is NOT where I want to ever be again.  “WAIT ON THE LORD” is something that I have to constantly be reminded of, for the enemy is ALWAYS trying to convince me otherwise!  Cause me, HEAVENLY FATHER, to always remember to “WAIT ON THE LORD” and praise HIS NAME!!!

“YOU ARE MY REFUGE!”

 Jeremiah 17:14-17                           (ESV)

Jeremiah Prays for Deliverance

    “[14] Heal me, O LORD, and I shall be healed;

        save me, and I shall be saved,

        for YOU are my praise. 

    [15] Behold, they say to me,

        “Where is the word of the LORD?

        Let it come!” 

    [16] I have not run away from being your shepherd,

        nor have I desired the day of sickness.

    YOU know what came out of my lips;

        it was before YOUR face. 

    [17] Be not a terror to me;

        “YOU ARE MY REFUGE” in the day of disaster.”

The prayer above is the beginning of what Jeremiah prayed to ALMIGHTY GOD seeking DELIVERANCE.  Jeremiah (650BC to 570BC) was a Prophet in the Old Testament who was called to reveal the sins of the people and the punishment that was to come.  He knew GOD was able to DELIVER him, but Jeremiah didn’t know what method GOD would use for the DELIVERY!

SEEING the DELIVERER through the confusion and turmoil of the trial is precisely what “the enemy” attempts to prevent!  Keeping our EYES fixed on our DELIVERER will bring PEACE (Isaiah 26:3) to us rather than fear and doubt.  

LORD, cause me to always ALWAYS remember that “YOU ARE MY REFUGE”, especially when “the enemy” attempts to disrupt my focus on YOU!!!

“DO NOT GIVE UP!”

 Galatians 6:9                        (ESV)

“And let us NOT GROW WEARY OF DOING GOOD, for in due season we will reap, if we “DO NOT GIVE UP”.”

The Apostle Paul was a fighter because he KNEW that his enemy was the “craftiest” (Genesis 3:1) of any beast the LORD GOD had made!  Likewise, we don’t have the luxury of fighting against a wimp, but against the “prince of the of the power of the air” (Ephesians 2:2) who delights in deceiving Believers (2 Thessalonians 2:9-10)!

We can NOT GROW WEARY OF DOING GOOD and “DO NOT GIVE UP “ because THE LORD is in CONTROL and HE IS VICTORIOUS!!!

“HE CHOSE US IN HIM!”

 Ephesians 1:3-6                               (ESV)

Spiritual Blessings in CHRIST

[3] Blessed be the GOD and FATHER of our LORD JESUS CHRIST, WHO has blessed us in CHRIST with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places, [4] even as “HE CHOSE US IN HIM” BEFORE THE FOUNDATION OF THE WORLD, that we should be Holy and blameless before HIM. In love [5] HE predestined us for adoption to HIMSELF as sons through JESUS CHRIST, according to the purpose of HIS will, [6] to the praise of HIS GLORIOUS GRACE, with which HE has blessed us in the Beloved.

We are CHOSEN IN HIM to GLORIFY HIS NAME, even though HE knew that I was the “least of these” beforehand!  But “HE CHOSE US IN HIM” cannot be fully understood unless we understand that we, the CHOSEN, have to be IN HIM to be apart of the CHOSEN!  

JESUS CHRIST didn’t select “the cream of the crop” when “HE CHOSE US IN HIM” BEFORE THE FOUNDATION OF THE WORLD when HE selected me!  I was born to a mom who was a high-school dropout who was divorced by a father who survived polio as a child and was still trying to prove himself worthy when he had a stroke in 1990 and was incapacitated until dying in 1993.   Yet JESUS CHOSE me from the “least of these” to live inside of to illustrate HIS AMAZING GRACE to a lost and dying world!

This passage of Scripture has been written about many times, and it is because I am so humbled to understand that PERFECTION CHOSE the greatest imperfection to be cleansed from my unrighteousness (1 John 1:9) to GLORIFY HIS NAME!  Am I worthy of HIS selection?  NO!  But “HE CHOSE US IN HIM” anyway, and I am SO glad HE did!!!

“WHO FORMED YOU FROM THE WOMB!”

 Isaiah 44:24                            (ESV)

        “Thus says the LORD, your Redeemer,

        “WHO FORMED YOU FROM THE WOMB”:

    “I am THE LORD, WHO MADE ALL THINGS,

        WHO alone stretched out the heavens,

        WHO spread out the earth by MYSELF,”

My birth certificate says that my father and mother were “who made me”, but THE LORD says in the Scripture above that HE is THE ONE “WHO FORMED YOU FROM THE WOMB”!   HE stretched out the heavens, and HE spread out the earth by HIMSELF!  HE isn’t required to do anything, but we are meant to GIVE HIM GLORY!!!

1 Thessalonians 5:16-21

 1 Thessalonians 5:16-21                    (ESV)

“Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of GOD in CHRIST JESUS for you. Do not quench the SPIRIT. Do not despise prophecies, but test everything; hold fast what is good.”

“LORD OF HEAVEN AND EARTH!”

 Acts 17:22-33                          (ESV)

Paul Addresses the Areopagus

“[22] So Paul, standing in the midst of the Areopagus, said: “Men of Athens, I perceive that in every way you are VERY RELIGIOUS. [23] For as I passed along and observed the objects of your worship, I found also an altar with this inscription: ‘To the unknown god.’ What therefore you worship as unknown, this I proclaim to you. [24] The GOD WHO MADE THE WORLD AND EVERYTHING IN IT, being “LORD OF HEAVEN AND EARTH”, does not live in temples made by man, [25] nor is HE served by human hands, as though HE needed anything, since HE HIMSELF TO ALL MANKIND LIFE AND BREATH AND EVERYTHING. [26] And HE made from one man every nation of mankind to live on all the face of the earth, having determined allotted periods and the boundaries of their dwelling place, [27] that THEY SHOULD SEEK GOD, and perhaps feel their way toward HIM and find HIM. Yet HE is actually not far from each one of us, [28] for 

    “‘In HIM we live and move and have our being’;

    as even some of your own poets have said, 

    “‘For we are indeed HIS offspring.’

    [29] Being then GOD’s offspring, we ought not to think that THE DIVINE being is like gold or silver or stone, an image formed by the art and imagination of man. [30] The times of ignorance GOD overlooked, but now HE commands all people everywhere to repent, [31] because HE has fixed a day on which HE will judge the world in righteousness by a man whom HE has appointed; and of this HE has given assurance to all by raising HIM from the dead.”

[32] Now when they heard of the resurrection of the dead, some mocked. But others said, “We will hear you again about this.” [33] So Paul went out from their midst.”

Yes, these are the same verses of Scripture used in the previous devotional.  But in my prayer time following the devotional I was remembering that Saul was renamed Paul AFTER the LORD met him on the road to Damascus.  Saul was FORMERLY a part of the JEWS who were persecuting the CHURCH, but when JESUS changed him Paul’s mission was COMPLETELY changed!

When the “LORD OF HEAVEN AND EARTH” begins to ABIDE inside of your body, your entire life will change.  There isn’t words that can describe the TRANSFORMATION, only experiencing this miracle can explain the CHANGE!!!  The “LORD OF HEAVEN AND EARTH” will do what ONLY HE CAN!!!!

“VERY RELIGIOUS?”

 Acts 17:22-33                          (ESV)

Paul Addresses the Areopagus

“[22] So Paul, standing in the midst of the Areopagus, said: “Men of Athens, I perceive that in every way you are “VERY RELIGIOUS”. [23] For as I passed along and observed the objects of your worship, I found also an altar with this inscription: ‘To the unknown god.’ What therefore you worship as unknown, this I proclaim to you. [24] The GOD WHO made the world and everything in it, being LORD of heaven and earth, does not live in temples made by man, [25] nor is HE served by human hands, as though HE needed anything, since HE HIMSELF TO ALL MANKIND LIFE AND BREATH AND EVERYTHING. [26] And HE made from one man every nation of mankind to live on all the face of the earth, having determined allotted periods and the boundaries of their dwelling place, [27] that THEY SHOULD SEEK GOD, and perhaps feel their way toward HIM and find HIM. Yet HE is actually not far from each one of us, [28] for 

    “‘In HIM we live and move and have our being’;

    as even some of your own poets have said, 

    “‘For we are indeed HIS offspring.’

    [29] Being then GOD’s offspring, we ought not to think that THE DIVINE being is like gold or silver or stone, an image formed by the art and imagination of man. [30] The times of ignorance GOD overlooked, but now HE commands all people everywhere to repent, [31] because HE has fixed a day on which HE will judge the world in righteousness by a man whom HE has appointed; and of this HE has given assurance to all by raising HIM from the dead.”

[32] Now when they heard of the resurrection of the dead, some mocked. But others said, “We will hear you again about this.” [33] So Paul went out from their midst.”

The Apostle Paul was standing “in the midst of the Areopagus”, which may have been a council of elders for the city of Athens in Greece?  These elders were thought to be highly intelligent and knowledgeable in their abilities to know what was right, but the Apostle Paul was speaking to them about TRUTH, something to which their EYES were yet to be able to SEE!  They could not perceive the things of CHRIST because CHRIST had not been made known to them!

Even though they had CHRIST living in the Apostle Paul in their midst, they were unable to SEE HIM, even though Paul preached an eloquent and sincere message!  According to the Apostle Paul, the Areopagus was “VERY RELIGIOUS” but unable comprehend the MESSAGE being delivered to them?  

What others think about us, and what they think should not carry a tremendous value to us!  What JESUS declares about us is what we should be concerned with!!  Being seen by “this world” as “VERY RELIGIOUS” will not deliver any one from eternal damnation!  Only a personal relationship with JESUS can do that!!!

“LEAN NOT!”

 Proverbs 3:5-6                    (KJV)

“5 Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and “LEAN NOT” unto thine own understanding. 6 In all thy ways acknowledge HIM, and HE shall direct thy paths.”

When my first insurance office was opened in the mid-1990’s, a dear friend created me a FAX COVER SHEET with the above Scriptures on it.  I was operating at such a pace at the time that I was unable to SEE the lesson GOD was trying to get across to me!  

I still have to BE STILL and “LEAN NOT” on doing what “I think” is best!  My thinking should be the LAST thing I rely upon when making decisions about what direction to take.  I seemingly constantly take a course that leads me into turmoil, but JESUS is always waiting for me to TRUST IN HIM!!!

“LEAN NOT” should be plastered on my mind before I get out of bed every morning!  TRUST in the LORD comes before “LEAN NOT” in Scripture!!!

“DO NOT BE ANXIOUS ABOUT ANYTHING!”

 Philippians 4:4-7                     (ESV)

“[4] Rejoice in the LORD always; again I will say, rejoice. [5] Let your reasonableness be known to everyone. The LORD is at hand; [6] “DO NOT BE ANXIOUS ABOUT ANYTHING”, BUT IN EVERYTHING BY PRAYER AND SUPPLICATION WITH THANKSGIVING LET YOUR REQUESTS BE MADE KNOWN TO GOD. [7] And the PEACE of GOD, which surpasses ALL UNDERSTANDING, will guard your hearts and your minds in CHRIST JESUS.”

Speaking only for my life, it seems that “the enemy” tries to convolute my thoughts and my emotions with the cares of “this world” by allowing me to “perceive” what might be in my future and causing me to get my EYES off of WHO holds my future?  When I place anything other than what GOD has for me into my future it always causes me fear and anxiety, character traits of Satan.  

ALMIGHTY GOD is not the author of confusion (1 Corinthians 14:33) and HIS PEACE (John 14:27) is available to us when we keep our EYES focused on HIM!  The focal passage this morning plainly tells us that for us to “DO NOT BE ANXIOUS ABOUT ANYTHING”, rather to “REJOICE in the LORD always; again I will say, REJOICE”!  We have a difficult time BEING ANXIOUS when our EYES are fixed on JESUS!  Keeping JESUS on the THRONE of our lives is the PERFECT prescription for having PEACE!

There is NO OTHER way to have PEACE in our lives than to rely on the PEACE of JESUS!  “DO NOT BE ANXIOUS ABOUT ANYTHING” will be easy to do ONLY when we keep our EYES ON HIM!!!

“TRUST IN THE LORD!”

Psalm 37:3-4                                 (ESV)

    “[3] “TRUST IN THE LORD”, and do good;

        dwell in the land and befriend faithfulness. 

    [4] Delight yourself in the LORD,

        and HE will give you the desires of your heart.”

It is AWFULLY easy for a simple minded person (such as myself!) to see “HE will give you the desires of your heart” and ignore the previous verse!  “TRUST IN THE LORD” comes BEFORE “HE will give you the desires of your heart” for a reason, and that is for me to SEE that until I get my priorities straight and “TRUST IN THE LORD”, I will not receive the desires of my heart!!!

“HUMBLE YOURSELVES!”

 1 Peter 5:6-7                         (ESV)

“[6] “HUMBLE YOURSELVES”, therefore, under the MIGHTY HAND of GOD so that at the proper time HE may exalt you, [7] casting all your anxieties on HIM, because HE CARE FOR YOU”

Peter, formerly known as Simon, was known in his past to be one who acted almost impulsively, doing what “he thought” needed to be done!  Remember when JESUS was being apprehended in the garden, Peter drew his sword and cut off the ear of one of the high priest’s servants.  In John 18:11 it is recorded “So JESUS said to Peter, “Put your sword into its sheath; shall I not drink the cup that the FATHER has given ME?”  Peter had a difficult time grasping what the disciples were CALLED to do, probably because he was so set on doing what “he thought” was appropriate!

Years later Peter writes in this letter to “those who are ELECT exiles of the Dispersion in Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia” for the readers of the letter to “HUMBLE YOURSELVES” under the MIGHTY HAND of GOD so that at the proper time HE may exalt you!  It wasn’t as if Peter was instructing those reading the letter with no experience what he was writing about.  Peter was writing about what GOD had REVEALED to him through the trials and tribulations he had experienced in his walk!!

“HUMBLE YOURSELVES” isn’t something that most of us readily submit to, nor is it something that many people are comfortable accepting!  Even through the trials and tribulations that I have been subjected to in my life I STILL have to instructed to “HUMBLE YOURSELVES”!  Either that, or GOD can do it for me!!!