2 John

Watch Out!! {2 John}

9:00 AM

Today's Scripture Passage: 2 John

I have to admit, often when writing lately I've been failing to first discover God's message to me, and focusing more on pulling out a message for you, but this one verse jumped off the page this week and I knew immediately this message was for me! And perhaps, for you too! This book may be small, but it still packs a punch!

2 John 8
  The Book of 2 John is written to "the chosen lady and her children." This could have been a woman of high standing in the church, or it could have been a code which refers to the local church and its congregation, for in those days, when Christians were being severely persecuted, such codes were often used. 

In any case, John's main concern is that true believers be aware that there are false teachers and teachings out there and we should have nothing to do with them. Notice,
"Be on guard, so that you may not lose what we have worked for, but may win a full reward. Everyone who runs 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." (2 John 8-10)
I also think it's important to note that before John gives us his warning, he gives us a definition of love,
 And now I ask you, dear lady—not as though I were writing you a new commandment, but the one we have had from the beginning—that we love one another. And this is love, that we walk according to his commandments; this is the commandment, just as you have heard from the beginning, so that you should walk in it." (2 John 5-6)
I believe John reminds us of what Jesus had told them, and John had previously recorded for us in John 14:14-16 so that in whatever we do, it would always be motivated by our love for God and our desire to please Him. 

 It was the term, "runs on ahead" that caused me to think of another passage in Isaiah 58:13-14a that I'd like to share before I get to the message God has given to me. 
 “If because of the sabbath, you turn your foot from doing your own pleasure on My holy day, And call the sabbath a delight, the holy day of the Lord honorable, and honor it, desisting from your own ways, from seeking your own pleasure and speaking your own word, Then you will take delight in the Lord, and I will make you ride on the heights of the earth; 
Isaiah speaks of turning our foot away from seeking our own "pleasure", and John speaks of running ahead of God. In both passages I believe they are cautioning us to follow after God and not run ahead of Him believing we have the wisdom and answers already, or veer off God's path choosing another plan. And in each passage it's important to note that following after God and His plan should be motivated by love.  

 False teaching can be as subtle as failing to measure up our beliefs to God's Word, which was exactly what I was doing!! And it was so subtle I didn't realize it until verse eight leaped off the page and hit me squarely between the eyes!! 

 You see girls, my guy is close to retiring, and we are SO EXCITED about this next chapter in our lives, for we will finally be able to choose how we want to spend all the years of our retirement!! The possibilities are limitless; from volunteering in ministries (who can always use help) to daily sunbathing on a tropical beach somewhere. One extreme offers our service to God and His people and the other offers total rest and doing all the things we enjoy most! 

 I know what you're think... the choice seems pretty simple, doesn't it? BUT not when the world keeps telling us we "deserve a break today" because we're "worth it". I've been allowing my thoughts to wander to all the wonderful places to visit and things to do, and never bothered to include The Lord in all these thoughts. Never once did I ask Him what He would like us to do in this next chapter. That is until I read verse 8 and from there God took me back to Isaiah...

 I wanted to confess all of this to you to prove John's point here-- we need to constantly be on guard and constantly in His Word, so that we don't loose what we've worked so hard for. Not our salvation- never that, but the reward that is waiting for us in heaven. The reward that won't even be able to compare to the tropical beaches here!

 Blessings, 

 sue

1 John 2;24

Walking in Truth and Watchfulness (2 John 1:13)

9:00 PM





John addressed this letter to a particular congregation and he expressed how much he rejoiced to find God's people walking in truth, which means they also abide in God. The same idea was expressed in 1 John 2:24 “Therefore let that abide in you which you heard from the beginning. If what you heard from the beginning abides in you, you also will abide in the Son and in the Father.” 

 “When we receive Jesus as our Savior, His truth lives in us through the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is described in many ways including a “Spirit of help”, (John 14:16), and a “Spirit of truth”. (John 16:13) The Spirit helps us to walk in God’s truth and to obey His commands. Especially God’s greatest commandments; to love Him and to love others as we love ourselves.” If you’d like to learn more about Walking in His Truth click here.

John also warns the church to stand firm against false teachers:

 “Watch yourselves, so that you do not lose what we have accomplished together, but that you may receive a full and perfect reward [when He grants rewards to faithful believers].” (8)
Many people today are so “open minded” and they think that the Truth can change from age to age and from generation to generation. I have sadly seen family and friends wander away from the truth because they are being attracted to deceptive “modern” doctrines. I have also seen many of my fellow Christians running to these preachers which combine the truths of the Gospel with “Life Coaching” -diluting the Gospel- and they find this so amusing! 
Peter encourages to be sober, alert and cautious:

8 Be sober [well balanced and self-disciplined], be alert and cautious at all times. That enemy of yours, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion [fiercely hungry], seeking someone to devour. 9 But resist him, be firm in your faith [against his attack—rooted, established, immovable], (1 Peter 5:8-9a)

“The more deceivers and deceits abound, the more watchful the disciples must be. Sad it is, that splendid attainments in the school of Christ, should ever be lost. The way to gain the full reward is, to abide true to Christ, and constant in religion to the end. Firm cleaving to Christian truth unites us to Christ, and thereby to the Father also; for they are one”. M. Henry

Paul also gave this warning: “But even if we, or an angel from heaven, should preach to you a gospel contrary to that which we [originally] preached to you, let him be condemned to destruction! 9 As we have said before, so I now say again, if anyone is preaching to you a gospel different from that which you received [from us], let him be condemned to destruction!” (Galatians1:8-9)
The truth is not always well received by some people, because it can confront them and convict them:
“10 Am I now [a]trying to win the favor and approval of men, or of God? Or am I seeking to please someone? If I were still trying to be popular with men, I would not be a bond-servant of Christ.” (Galatians 1:10)

This conviction should bring us to repentance and as James exhorts us:

 “So get rid of all uncleanness and [a]all that remains of wickedness, and with a humble spirit receive the word [of God] which is implanted [actually rooted in your heart], which is able to save your souls.” (1:21)

When we walk in truth this shows we are walking with the Lord. So if we abide in the truth, we will be able to stand up for our Lord.

As I close, I would like to invite you to pray with me:

“Lord God, remind me today (and every day) that I have an enemy who wants to steal my affection from you by deceiving me. Make me watchful. Give me a diligent heart so that I might enjoy the great reward of knowing and serving you. (iWorship Bible)

Blessings,

Mari

2 Peter 2

Entangled or Free ( 2 Peter 2 )

12:30 AM



In an article I read by Albert Mohler, these comments were made about heresy: Among Christians, the word  heresy must be used with care and precision. Not every doctrinal error is a heresy, though all doctrinal error is to be avoided. A heresy is the denial or corruption of a Christian doctrine that is central to the faith and essential to the gospel. In 2Peter2 we are informed that we will find the influence of such heresy at work within the church. “But false prophets also arose among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you, who will secretly bring in destructive heresies, even denying the Master who bought them, bringing upon themselves destruction". (v1)

We need to be on alert to keep ourselves from being fooled and deceived These are some of the destructive characteristics that we need to be on alert for:
- They exploit with false words.(v3)
- They are bold and willful. (v10)
- They are blots and blemishes. (v13)
- They revel in their deception. (v13)
- They have eyes full of adultery.  (v14)
- They have eyes insatiable( never satisfied) for sin. (v14)
- They entice unsteady souls. (V14)
- They have hearts trained in greed. (v14)
- They have forsaken the right way. (v15)
- They love gain from wrongdoing. (v15)
- They are waterless springs. ( v17)
- They are mists driven by a storm. (v17)
- They speak loud boasts of folly. (v18)
- They entice by sensual passions of the flesh. ( v18)
- They are slaves of corruption with empty promises of freedom. ( v19)

These false teachers are entangled in their own prison of wrong choices and they will try to entangle you as well.  " For whatever overcomes a person, to that he is enslaved.” ( v19)
‭The good news is that we have God's help to not be led away from our faith or deceived. 
“the Lord knows how to rescue the godly from trials, and to keep the unrighteous under punishment until the day of judgment,” (v9)

God ultimately has control and His righteousness and judgement will prevail. Each time we turn on the radio, watch TV, have a conversation with someone or read a book, magazine, etc. we must discern if the information is representative of truth.  We must stay in God's Word to recognize heresy that is counter to the Gospel and counter to God's will and character.