Tag: God

26.p.

Galatians 4:12  Brothers, I entreat you, become as I am, for I also have become as you are. You did me no wrong. You know it was because of a bodily ailment that I preached the gospel to you at first, and though my condition was a trial to you, you did not scorn or despise me, but received me as an angel of God, as Christ Jesus. What then has become of your blessedness? For I testify to you that, if possible, you would have gouged out your eyes and given them to me. Have I then become your enemy by telling you the truth? They make much of you, but for no good purpose. They want to shut you out, that you may make much of them. It is always good to be made much of for a good purpose, and not only when I am present with you, my little children, for whom I am again in the anguish of childbirth until Christ is formed in you! I wish I could be present with you now and change my tone, for I am perplexed about you.

Romans 8:9  You, however, are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if in fact the Spirit of God dwells in you. Anyone who does not have the Spirit of Christ does not belong to him. But if Christ is in you, although the body is dead because of sin, the Spirit is life because of righteousness. If the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, he who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit who dwells in you.

Romans 8:29  For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers.

I heard a song the other day which had the line; “Spirit fall on us”.  Is this a proper statement for a Christian to say?  When the eyes to your heart, mind, and soul are opened to the gospel of Jesus Christ, and by faith you believe, trust, and rely on Him alone you are saved, born again, a new creation, and the Holy Spirit makes residence in you. When does the Holy Spirit leave you? It does not ever leave.  You can close the ears to your heart, mind, and soul.  You can disregard what the Holy Spirit is encouraging you do to.  You can deny what the Holy Spirit is telling you to do.  You can say no to what the Holy Spirit is telling you to do. You can neglect the Holy Spirit living in you.  Yes, you can reject those quiet and not-so-quiet whispers to your heart from the Holy Spirit.  The Holy Spirit of God dwells in each and every person who is born again.  

Paul wanted to see the likeness of Christ being formed in these believers in Galatia.  How does this happen?  How is the likeness of Christ being formed in us? We must want to and be willing to be led by the Holy Spirit. David gave a great example of this; “How precious to me are your thoughts, O God!”, “Search me, O God, and know my heart! Try me and know my thoughts! And see if there be any grievous way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting!”.  When we desire and seek to hear and do what the Holy Spirit is leading us to do, we will continually be more and more resembling the likeness of Christ.  A light the shine in the darkness and beacon of love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. The fruits of the Holy Spirit.   What keeps us from experiencing these fruits?  Love of self, love of worldly, and love of the flesh more than things of God and wanting to be led by the Holy Spirit.  Our hearts, minds, and souls, are not seeking or desiring to hear or listen to the leading.  

Think about how you are being fed.  What is feeding your soul? What are you spending your time on? What consumes your time and thoughts? If we say, “I am going to spend more time in God’s Word” this is good but could very well be lacking in desire to be led.  Our hearts, minds, and souls must hunger and thirst for leading and the sole purpose of this desire is out of sincere love for Jesus Christ and want to honor and glorify Him.  Anything short of this will not find the heart, mind, or soul listening or willing to be led.

26.o. “Serve him with a whole heart and with a willing mind”

 

Galatians 4:8 Formerly, when you did not know God, you were enslaved to those that by nature are not gods. But now that you have come to know God, or rather to be known by God, how can you turn back again to the weak and worthless elementary principles of the world, whose slaves you want to be once more? You observe days and months and seasons and years! I am afraid I may have labored over you in vain.

 1 Thessalonians 3:5    For this reason, when I could bear it no longer, I sent to learn about your faith, for fear that somehow the tempter had tempted you and our labor would be in vain.

 Romans 1:28    And since they did not see fit to acknowledge God, God gave them up to a debased mind to do what ought not to be done.

 1 Corinthians 1:21   For since, in the wisdom of God, the world did not know God through wisdom,

 Ephesians 4:18   They are darkened in their understanding, alienated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them, due to their hardness of heart.

 1 Chronicles 28:9  “And you, Solomon my son, know the God of your father and serve him with a whole heart and with a willing mind, for the LORD searches all hearts and understands every plan and thought. If you seek him, he will be found by you, but if you forsake him, he will cast you off forever.

Legalism caters to and recognizes our flesh by putting the focus on what we achieve for God, not on what Jesus did for us. We can have a living, free, relationship with God as a loving Father based on what Jesus did for us and who we are in Him. Or we can try to please God by our best efforts of keeping the rules, living in bondage as slaves, not sons. Living that way makes the whole gospel in vain.  Such is the battle we all face.  We lean more toward what we can do to make ourselves right before God rather than what He has done through Christ, thereby resting, relying on, and trusting in this alone.  It is when we recognize, take captive, and discard these thoughts of self-reliance we will truly be able to honor and glorify Jesus Christ through faith in Him alone.  If there was an equation, to sum up, this type of thinking it would be; My works + the work of Christ = eternal life.  This way of thinking literally says Christ’s sacrifice was not enough.  Anything added to Christ’s sacrifice for the forgiveness of sin = nothing, zero, failure.  In Christ alone, there is forgiveness, salvation, redemption, and eternal life.  Don’t be tempted or allow your mind to be tricked into thinking you can in any way add any benefit for your soul other than through Jesus Christ.

26.m. “When we were children, were enslaved to the elementary principles of the world”

 

Galatians 4:3  In the same way we also, when we were children, were enslaved to the elementary principles of the world. But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son, born of woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons. And because you are sons, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying, “Abba! Father!” So you are no longer a slave, but a son, and if a son, then an heir through God.

The idea of the “elementary principle knowledge of the universe” is important. If there is any “elementary principle knowledge of the universe”  that we must break free from, and that is stressed in pagan religion just as much as Jewish law, it is the principle of cause and effect. One may call it karma or “you get what you deserve” or something else, yet it rules nature and the minds of men. We live under the idea that we get what we deserve; when we are good we deserve to receive good and when we are bad we deserve to receive bad.

Paul told the Galatians to go beyond this “elementary principle knowledge of the universe” into an understanding of God’s grace. Grace contradicts this “elementary principle knowledge of the universe,” because under grace God does not deal with us on the basis of what we deserve. Our good cannot justify us under grace; our bad need not condemn us. God’s blessing and favor are given on a principle completely apart from the “elementary principle knowledge of the universe.” His blessing and favor are given for reasons that are completely in Him and have nothing to do with us.

The “elementary principle knowledge of the universe” is not bad in itself. We do and must use it in life, and God has a proper place for it. But we must not base our relationship with God on this principle. Since we are now under grace, He does not deal with us on the principle of earning and deserving. Because this is such an elementary principle, it is so hard for us to shake this kind of thinking. But it is essential if we will walk in grace. When we live on the principle of earning and deserving before God, we live in bondage under the elements of the world. In Jesus, we die to the elemental principles of the world. (Guzik)

Think about this, “Did Jesus Christ die for the best of you or the worst of you.  “While we were yet sinners Christ died for us”.   In Jesus, the elementary principle knowledge must find its proper place. I did nothing good enough, or have been good enough to deserve or earn the grace, mercy, and love of Him. Too often we keep a mental ledger book of the good things we do in hopes to outweigh the bad, when in fact God tells us to confess and drop these elementary principles of earning or deserving, and trust in Him alone for forgiveness. How many people will find their eternal destiny in hell when they die with the thought they are good enough to enter heaven on their own merits?  How many people will not surrender these thoughts and humbly rely on trust in, and cling to Jesus Christ’s redemption, salvation, and forgiveness, by faith, rather than the elementary principle knowledge of this world?  

26.g. “How then can man be in the right before God?”

 

Galatians 2:15  We ourselves are Jews by birth and not Gentile sinners; yet we know that a person is not justified by works of the law but through faith in Jesus Christ, so we also have believed in Christ Jesus, in order to be justified by faith in Christ and not by works of the law, because by works of the law no one will be justified.

Galatians 2:20 I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.

 Job 9:2-3   “Truly I know that it is so: But how can a man be in the right before God?

 Job 25:4     How then can man be in the right before God? How can he who is born of woman be pure?

 Psalms 130:3-4   If you, O LORD, should mark iniquities, O Lord, who could stand?  But with you there is forgiveness, that you may be feared.

 Acts 4:12     And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.”

 John 20:31    but these are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.

We all grew up observant to do what is right and good. Yet somehow we think we are considered right before God because of doing right and good – justified – by these works of the flesh that we did. We should know that we, even though we grew up as observant of doing right and good, we are only considered right before God by faith in Jesus Christ. It will be a sad day for those who, in self-reliance, trust in doing right and good on judgment day.

“‘Faith in Jesus Christ’, then, is not intellectual conviction only, but personal commitment. The expression in the middle of verse 16 is (literally) ‘we have believed into (eis) Christ Jesus.’ It is an act of committal, not just assenting to the fact that Jesus lived and died, but running to Him for refuge and calling on Him for mercy.” (Stott)

Self-righteousness and self-reliance will never justify a person before God. There is but one way – belief in and through Jesus Christ.  This belief is more than a piece of intellectual knowledge, it is a life surrendered.  Casting away any thoughts of self-reliance and self-righteousness, and clinging to, relying on, trusting in, following, obeying, and living to honor and glorify Jesus Christ. 

26.f. “Making known to us the mystery of his will, according to his purpose, which he set forth in Christ”

Galatians 1:15 But when he who had set me apart before I was born, and who called me by his grace, was pleased to reveal his Son to me,

 Ephesians 1:5   he predestined us for adoption to himself as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will,

 Ephesians 1:9   making known to us the mystery of his will, according to his purpose, which he set forth in Christ

 Isaiah 49:1   Listen to me, O coastlands, and give attention, you peoples from afar. The LORD called me from the womb, from the body of my mother he named my name.

 Jeremiah 1:5  “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, and before you were born I consecrated you; I appointed you a prophet to the nations.”

 Isaiah 49:5    And now the LORD says, he who formed me from the womb to be his servant, to bring Jacob back to him; and that Israel might be gathered to him— for I am honored in the eyes of the LORD, and my God has become my strength

 1 Corinthians 1:9   God is faithful, by whom you were called into the fellowship of his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.

 1 Corinthians 15:10   But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace toward me was not in vain.

 2 Timothy 1:9   who saved us and called us to a holy calling, not because of our works but because of his own purpose and grace, which he gave us in Christ Jesus before the ages began

 Paul wanted to show that his calling depended on the secret election of God, and that he was ordained an apostle, not because he had fitted himself for undertaking such an office by his own industry or because God had discerned that he was worthy of having it bestowed on him, but because, before he was born, he had been set apart by the secret purpose of God.” (Calvin)

God wants to do more than reveal Jesus to us; He wants to reveal Jesus in us. The revealing of Jesus to us is the place where eternal decisions of great consequence are made.  Being set apart for the purpose of God’s will requires a surrender of self-will and a seeking, desiring, and wanting to do God’s will.  Too often we interject our will, purpose, plans, and wants over God’s will, purpose, and plans.  This is easy to identify.  When our heart is more set on things of this world than wholly living in perfect purpose and desire to solely honor and glorify Jesus Christ in all we say, think, and do, it is safe to say we give more thought to self and this world than Him.  Our life is a journey with many distractions that can tempt us to take our eyes off of God’s plans and purposes.  It is a matter of the heart.  Fill it continually with God’s Word, seek to honor and glorify Him in every moment as you grow more and more in your understanding and knowledge and love of Him.

You have been set apart for Him and His plans and purposes.

26.e. “Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God.”

 

Galatians 1:10   For am I now seeking the approval of man, or of God? Or am I trying to please man? If I were still trying to please man, I would not be a servant of Christ.

 Acts 4:19-20    But Peter and John answered them, “Whether it is right in the sight of God to listen to you rather than to God, you must judge,  for we cannot but speak of what we have seen and heard.”

 1 Thessalonians 2:4    but just as we have been approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel, so we speak, not to please man, but to please God who tests our hearts.

 2 Corinthians 5:9-10     So whether we are at home or away, we make it our aim to please him.  For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive what is due for what he has done in the body, whether good or evil.

 Ephesians 6:6   not by the way of eye-service, as people-pleasers, but as bondservants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart,

 James 4:4    You adulterous people! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God.

 “There have always been preachers who have sought popular acclaim above all else, and there are some still. It is part of fallen human nature that even those charged with the responsibility of proclaiming the gospel can fall into the trap of trying to be popular rather than faithful.” (Morris) 

Being faithful with the gospel of Jesus Christ means we do not add to it or take away from it.  The same is true of God’s Word.  People pleasers give lip service and head nods toward things of God but their heart is in being joined with the world in a way that does not honor and glorify God.  The gospel of Jesus Christ can not be separated from heaven and hell, righteousness and sin, forgiveness and guilty, and Judgment.  How can a person know of the need for Jesus Christ without an understanding of these?  To water down the need is to obscure the greatness of grace, love, and mercy Jesus Christ gave when He sacrificed Himself for sinners.  God’s Word is clear in regards to man’s separation from Him due to sin.  “All have sinned and fall short” – Sin is and will be judged by God – Eternity awaits us all – Heaven and Hell – Eternity in heaven is a promise of God just as eternity in hell.  I can think of no other scripture that is as clear as what is written in the Gospel of John.  “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him. Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God. And this is the judgment: the light has come into the world, and people loved the darkness rather than the light because their works were evil. For everyone who does wicked things hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his works should be exposed. But whoever does what is true comes to the light, so that it may be clearly seen that his works have been carried out in God.” There is no other way by which a man can be saved. There is no way to be good enough or do good enough things to be right before the holiness of God.  It is only when there is a humble surrender of all self-reliance and complete reliance, trust, faith, and belief in and through Jesus Christ will any person be saved from eternal hell. God has given mankind free choice to choose between self and Christ, heaven and hell, forgiveness and guilt.  The message of the Gospel of Jesus Christ and the absolute need should never be diluted or obscured.  Wide is the road that leads to Hell and narrow is the path to Heaven.  Never let it be accounted to you that the gospel of Jesus Christ was diluted or obscured in any way.

26.a “This is not the wisdom that comes down from above, but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic.”

2 Corinthians 12:19  Have you been thinking all along that we have been defending ourselves to you? It is in the sight of God that we have been speaking in Christ, and all for your upbuilding, beloved. For I fear that perhaps when I come I may find you not as I wish, and that you may find me not as you wish—that perhaps there may be quarreling, jealousy, anger, hostility, slander, gossip, conceit, and disorder. I fear that when I come again my God may humble me before you, and I may have to mourn over many of those who sinned earlier and have not repented of the impurity, sexual immorality, and sensuality that they have practiced.

 Galatians 5:15    But if you bite and devour one another, watch out that you are not consumed by one another.

 Galatians 5:19-21   Now the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality,  idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions,  envy, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these. I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.

 Ephesians 4:31-32   Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice.  Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.

 James 3:14-16    But if you have bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast and be false to the truth.  This is not the wisdom that comes down from above, but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic.

 Proverbs 16:28    A dishonest man spreads strife, and a whisperer separates close friends.

 Romans 1:29   They were filled with all manner of unrighteousness, evil, covetousness, malice. They are full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, maliciousness. They are gossips,

The purpose of God’s Word is not to make us squirm, but to bring us to our senses, to help us rid ourselves of worldly influences, to cancel the narcotic effects of worldly pleasures/desires, to set our feet on solid ground, to light the path we are to walk, and to give us discernment between right and wrong, truth and false, good and bad, eternal and temporal, heaven and hell, Holy and unholy, Godly and godly, etc….When there is neglect or lacking desire for His Word our hearts will take on and be filled with what our culture and society think is right in its own eyes. We should not think we are immune to the troubles affecting the Corinthian church.  When God’s Word is being neglected all sorts of unholy thoughts and actions will manifest in our lives.  Our hearts, minds, and souls will be filled with something.  We get to choose what that is.  Intentionally choose to be filled to overflowing with His Word, the Grace, Love, and Mercy of Jesus Christ, and the Holy Spirit for His honor and glory.

25.x. “The LORD detests all the proud of heart.”

 

2 Corinthians 12:5  I will boast, but on my own behalf I will not boast, except of my weaknesses— though if I should wish to boast, I would not be a fool, for I would be speaking the truth; but I refrain from it, so that no one may think more of me than he sees in me or hears from me. So to keep me from becoming conceited because of the surpassing greatness of the revelations, a thorn was given me in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to harass me, to keep me from becoming conceited. Three times I pleaded with the Lord about this, that it should leave me. 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. For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

 2 Chronicles 26:16   But when he was strong, he grew proud, to his destruction. For he was unfaithful to the LORD his God 

 2 Chronicles 32:25-26    But Hezekiah did not make return according to the benefit done to him, for his heart was proud. Therefore wrath came upon him

 Daniel 5:20    But when his heart was lifted up and his spirit was hardened so that he dealt proudly, he was brought down from his kingly throne, and his glory was taken from him.

 Judges 2:3   So now I say, I will not drive them out before you, but they shall become thorns in your sides,

 Job 2:7   So Satan went out from the presence of the LORD and struck Job with loathsome sores from the sole of his foot to the crown of his head.

 Luke 13:16    And ought not this woman, a daughter of Abraham whom Satan bound for eighteen years, be loosed from this bond on the Sabbath day?”

Do you ever wonder what turns the heart and soul of a person, proud?  What is it that flips a switch in us and makes us think highly of what we have accomplished?  We read of Paul who was given a thorn in the flesh and we know that it was given to him, by God, through Satan.  The purpose was to keep in from not becoming proud.  A proud heart will put self in front of God, think more highly of themselves than they ought, and look at others as less than they are.  We are not immune to pride.  It can attack us when we least expect it.  It can start with simple enough thoughts of accomplishment but then on our own or with a nudge from Satan can turn into more.  It is something I did.  It is something I can do better than you.  It is something reflecting my talent and superiority. It is something I can afford and you can’t.  It is something your children have succeeded in.  It can be in your intellect, strength, physical appearance.  We are not immune to this.  So how does a person fall for the bait of pride?  When we are lax in studying His Word.  When we are living in the presence of this world and not in the presence of God.  We live to please ourselves more than God.  When we honor and glorify ourselves rather than God.  When we are consumed with worldly desires and wants over things of God. Yes, it will happen when we put anything number 1 and God somewhere else down in the list of priorities. 

Do we think that any of our abilities came about by the sheer will of our mind or strength? Do we think it is of our doing? Our physical strength, mental intellect, and other abilities all come from God.  Some will use these abilities to do some of the most vicious and hardhearted crimes against mankind. We know scripture tells us of times when bad things were done by people to Christians and God used it for good.  We seem to have the ability to use our abilities that were given to us for good and what should be used for the single purpose of honoring and glorifying Jesus Christ into or for something bad and contrary to that very purpose. Our ability to think, do, speak, reason, understand, etc…. were all given to us, by God, and how we use them is freely given to us as well.  Feed your heart, mind, and soul with God’s Word and pray for the ability to discern the temptation of pride.

Paul, once he understood and knew why God had “given” him this thorn in the flesh he was happy to bear it. He knew it was to keep him from becoming proud.  Paul also knew this “Proverbs 11:2 “When pride comes, then comes disgrace, but with humility comes wisdom.” Proverbs 16:5 “The LORD detests all the proud of heart. Be sure of this: They will not go unpunished.” Proverbs 16:18 “Pride goes before destruction, a haughty spirit before a fall.” We all ought to be so set against being proud that we seek God continually to expose it so that we can live to give Him “ALL” honor and glory.

25.u. “For many deceivers have gone out into the world”

 

2 Corinthians 11:13  For such men are false apostles, deceitful workmen, disguising themselves as apostles of Christ. And no wonder, for even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light. So it is no surprise if his servants, also, disguise themselves as servants of righteousness. Their end will correspond to their deeds.

 Acts 20:30    and from among your own selves will arise men speaking twisted things, to draw away the disciples after them.

 2 John 1:7-11    For many deceivers have gone out into the world, those who do not confess the coming of Jesus Christ in the flesh. Such a one is the deceiver and the antichrist.  Watch yourselves, so that you may not lose what we have worked for, but may win a full reward.  Everyone who goes on ahead and does not abide in the teaching of Christ, does not have God. Whoever abides in the teaching has both the Father and the Son.  If anyone comes to you and does not bring this teaching, do not receive him into your house or give him any greeting,  for whoever greets him takes part in his wicked works.

 Jeremiah 23:14-15   But in the prophets of Jerusalem I have seen a horrible thing: they commit adultery and walk in lies; they strengthen the hands of evildoers, so that no one turns from his evil; all of them have become like Sodom to me, and its inhabitants like Gomorrah.”  Therefore thus says the LORD of hosts concerning the prophets: “Behold, I will feed them with bitter food and give them poisoned water to drink, for from the prophets of Jerusalem ungodliness has gone out into all the land.”

It is so easy for all people, including Christians, to be taken in by image, charisma, and outward appearances. Many will only recognize evil if it is openly and unanimously declared as evil. Why is this?  Sometimes I wonder if it is more because of our itching ears wanting it this way.  We want our pastor to be one of influence, great in clarity of speech, and proclaiming insights we never knew.  We don’t want to diligently search scripture to know and understand – discern – the Word of God through the leading and wisdom of the Holy Spirit.  We want to be spoon-fed with what our pastor has to say about scripture.  We don’t spend time reading and studying God’s Word with a desire to have God give us wisdom in understanding and applying it. The Word of God was not given to pastors only.  God has given us His Word so that we can know Him more and more and live more and more in ways that truly honor and glorify Him.  Do we think that being spoon-fed a few select scriptures once per week will fill us?  Do we think being spoon-fed once per week we will have any chance of discerning what is right and wrong, true and false, good and bad in the sight of God?   This lack of desire to know and study God’s Word leaves us open to embracing lies and deceptions of Satan himself, who transforms himself into an angel of light. If Satan were to appear before a human audience, he would be regarded as an angel of light. Those who can discern it look at those who cannot and wonder with amazement at how easily they have been deceived.

“It is generally said that Satan has three forms under which he tempts men: 1. The subtle serpent. 2. The roaring lion. 3. The angel of light. He often, as the angel of light, persuades men to do things under the name of religion, which is disruptive, destructive, and disloyal of things of God. As a roaring lion, the horrors of all kinds of twisted persecutions and atrocities occur.  As the subtle serpent, he frequently and easily deceives us so that that which is right is called wrong and that which is wrong is called right.  He appeals to the weak and strong, learned and unlearned, wise and foolish, proud and humble, rich and poor.  He temps us all when we least expect it.  Why does God’s Word tell us to be diligent, resist, stand firm, and remain faithful?  It is because of the lies and deceptions of the father of all lies and deceit. How are we to know and discern that which is true and false, right and wrong, good and bad if the Word of God is not desired in our lives more than being spoon-fed once per week? Carefully study to present thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth. (2 Timothy 2:15)

25.t. “I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting Him”

 

2 Corinthians 11:4  For if someone comes and proclaims another Jesus than the one we proclaimed, or if you receive a different spirit from the one you received, or if you accept a different gospel from the one you accepted, you put up with it readily enough.

 1 John 2:26   I write these things to you about those who are trying to deceive you.

 Jude 1:4     For certain people have crept in unnoticed who long ago were designated for this condemnation, ungodly people, who pervert the grace of our God into sensuality and deny our only Master and Lord, Jesus Christ.

Galatians 3:2   Let me ask you only this: Did you receive the Spirit by works of the law or by hearing with faith?

 Galations 1:6   I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting him who called you in the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel — not that there is another one, but there are some who trouble you and want to distort the gospel of Christ.

 Titus 1:10-11    For there are many who are insubordinate, empty talkers and deceivers,

When a person encounters Jesus, it should be life-changing. They should be changed, born again, made new, a new creation.  They were once in darkness but now they are in the light.  They once stumbled around in darkness but now all that they stumbled around in has been exposed for what it is.  The light of Jesus Christ has opened their eyes.  In Christ, the Word of God will give light onto our path, a purpose for living, power to overcome works of darkness, courage to live in light, and strength to overcome influences of darkness. Darkness is the absence of light.  When we choose to close our eyes to the light of Jesus Christ and the Word of God, we will stumble in darkness.  We will not be able to discern works of darkness.  We can not discern the works of darkness we are easily influenced into believing they are proper, right, and ok to do.  We need to stop living in the darkness. “I am come a light into the world, that whosoever believeth on me should not abide in darkness.” John 12:46. Study God’s Word, and apply it to your life. “Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.” Psalm 119:105. How can you follow the light if you don’t turn it on? The Holy Spirit lives in each and every Christian. He is our guide in following God’s instructions, but we can hinder him. “Quench not the Spirit.” 1 Thessalonians 5:19. Don’t let the Light of God be dim in your life. Stand firm on His Word every day.  Do not become complacent or neglectful in His Word.  I fear many are walking in darkness because of this.  The light of God’s Word should be bright in your life, exposing all of it to His holiness and righteousness.  It is in this light we are able to find purpose and meaning – living to humbly serve, follow, obey, trust, honor, and glorify Jesus Christ every “Light-Filled” moment of our lives this side of eternity.