6/3/2009
Be Watchful
” But there were also false prophets among the people, even as there will be false teachers among you, who will secretly bring in destructive heresies, even denying the Lord who bought them, and bring on themselves swift destruction. And many will follow their destructive ways, because of whom the way of truth will be blasphemed. By covetousness they will exploit you with deceptive words; for a long time their judgment has not been idle, and their destruction does not slumber. ” – 2Pe 2: 1-3 NKJV
“ For when they speak great swelling words of emptiness, they allure through the lusts of the flesh, through lewdness, the ones who have actually escaped from those who live in error. While they promise them liberty, they themselves are slaves of corruption; for by whom a person is overcome, by him also he is brought into bondage. ” – 2Pe 2: 18-19 NKJV
Knowing this we are to be watchful, diligent in prayer and study, loving one another fervently, ever watchful, not comparing ourselves to each other, but to the Holy Standard who is Jesus Christ, knowing of the spiritual warfare on the outside (outside influence) and the flesh warfare on the inside (warfare coming from within in us as we live in these earthly bodies), knowing that no day is guaranteed to us, and the return of Jesus is imminent. Knowing God is Love, He also is greatly to be feared for along with such Love is also such Judgment.
“But take heed to yourselves, lest your hearts be weighed down with carousing, drunkenness, and cares of this life, and that Day come on you unexpectedly.” Luk 21:34 NKJV –
“Afterward the other virgins came also, saying, ‘Lord, Lord, open to us! But he answered and said, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, I do not know you. Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour in which the Son of Man is coming.” – Mat 25:11-13 NKJV
“Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven. Many will say to Me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?’ And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!’ Mat 7:21-23 NKJV –
What is lawlessness? Teaching full “liberty” (liberty to love your life and pursue your own hopes, dreams, desires, etc…) in Jesus Christ which is actually not liberty but bondage; allowing for the things of the world and flesh to enter into our understanding of who Jesus is and who we teach Him to be; thereby entering into idolatry.
The American church organization compared to Israel and Judah just before the Babylonian captivity was in the same state. The American church organization is full of idolatry and corrupt teaching just as the children of Israel and Judah were. Just as in the days of Jeremiah, the leaders refused to hear the Word of the Lord, saying:
“Long ago I broke your yoke and tore away the chains of your slavery, but still you would not obey me. On every hill and under every green tree, you have prostituted yourselves by bowing down to idols. “How could this happen? When I planted you, I chose a vine of the purest stock–the very best. How did you grow into this corrupt wild vine? No amount of soap or lye can make you clean. You are stained with guilt that cannot be washed away. I, the Sovereign LORD, have spoken “You say, `That’s not true! We haven’t worshiped the images of Baal!’ But how can you say that? Go and look in any valley in the land! Face the awful sins you have done. You are like a restless female camel, desperate for a male!”Jer 2:20-23 NLT -
And yet you say, `I haven’t done anything wrong. Surely he isn’t angry with me!’ Now I will punish you severely because you claim you have not sinned. Jer 2:35 NLT
Let us not abuse the Grace of God; don’t mistake what you may call “blessing” as the Lord’s approval, He may just be patient and longsuffering giving the opportunity for repentance. It is because of His Grace through Jesus Christ that we are not destroyed. The Lord is the same throughout all history, and the only difference between the Old Testament and New Testament is the Grace of God through Jesus Christ. We should never compare ourselves with anything except Jesus Chrsit. We should abide in Him with all our heart, for He will keep us from false teaching. It is only in Jesus Chrsit that we have safety. We should never become comfortable but always seek the Lord with an honest heart.
