These are wells without water, clouds carried by a tempest, for whom is reserved the blackness of darkness forever. 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. For if, after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, they are again entangled in them and overcome, the latter end is worse for them than the beginning. For it would have been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than having known it, to turn from the holy commandment delivered to them. But it has happened to them according to the true proverb: "A dog returns to his own vomit," and, "a sow, having washed, to her wallowing in the mire." 2 Peter 2:17-22
Unlike men, the word of God always tells the truth, including the fact that for those who have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and they are again entangled in them and overcome, their latter end is worse for them than the beginning. Yes, for those who like Judas, betrayed the Lord, it would have been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than having known it, to turn from the holy commandment delivered to them. Yet God’s word is unchanging:
And when He had called His twelve disciples to Him, He gave them power over unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal all kinds of sickness and all kinds of disease.
Now the names of the twelve apostles are these: first, Simon, who is called Peter, and Andrew his brother; James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother; Philip and Bartholomew; Thomas and Matthew the tax collector; James the son of Alphaeus, and Lebbaeus, whose surname was Thaddaeus; Simon the Canaanite, and Judas Iscariot, who also betrayed Him. Matthew 10:1-4
Even though Judas was a disciple of Jesus and later became an apostle, he still betrayed Jesus. He was a thief who had the money box; and he used to take what was put in it. So it was easy for him to betray Jesus for thirty pieces of silver. The bible records:
"The Son of Man indeed goes just as it is written of Him, but woe to that man by whom the Son of Man is betrayed! It would have been good for that man if he had not been born." Matthew 26:24
Jesus answered them, "Did I not choose you, the twelve, and one of you is a devil?" He spoke of Judas Iscariot, the son of Simon, for it was he who would betray Him, being one of the twelve. John 6:70-71
So it possible to be a disciples of Jesus, an apostle and a devil? After all apostles are only human beings, disciples of Jesus, who have been given power over unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal all kinds of sickness and all kinds of disease. For God’s word is unchanging:
Then Philip went down to the city of Samaria and preached Christ to them. And the multitudes with one accord heeded the things spoken by Philip, hearing and seeing the miracles which he did. For unclean spirits, crying with a loud voice, came out of many who were possessed; and many who were paralyzed and lame were healed. And there was great joy in that city. Acts 8:5-8
Then all the multitude kept silent and listened to Barnabas and Paul declaring how many miracles and wonders God had worked through them among the Gentiles. Acts 15:12
Truly the signs of an apostle were accomplished among you with all perseverance, in signs and wonders and mighty deeds. For what is it in which you were inferior to other churches, except that I myself was not burdensome to you? Forgive me this wrong! 2 Corinthians 12:12
The signs of an apostle were that he demonstrated the power of God in signs and wonders and mighty deeds? But there are those who deny that apostles and prophets exist today because they are false. For God’s word is unchanging:
For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into apostles of Christ. 2 Corinthians 11:13
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. 2 Peter 2:1-3
The existence of false apostles, false prophets, and false teachers, doesn’t invalidate true apostles, true prophets and true teachers? But the word of God does warn that 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. For God’s word is true though every man be a liar:
But I want to remind you, though you once knew this, that the Lord, having saved the people out of the land of Egypt, afterward destroyed those who did not believe. Jude 1:5
The King of Kings and LORD of Lords, the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End, by an angel told his servant Apostle John, who was on the island that is called Patmos for the word of God and for the testimony of Jesus Christ, to write what he saw in the Spirit to the seven churches that were in Asia: to Ephesus, to Smyrna, to Pergamos, to Thyatira, to Sardis, to Philadelphia, and to Laodicea."
To the angel of each of the churches John gave a specific word from the LORD including to the church of Ephesus to which he wrote:
These things says He who holds the seven stars in His right hand, who walks in the midst of the seven golden lampstands: "I know your works, your labor, your patience, and that you cannot bear those who are evil. And you have tested those who say they are apostles and are not, and have found them liars; "and you have persevered and have patience, and have labored for My name's sake and have not become weary. "Nevertheless I have this against you, that you have left your first love.
"Remember therefore from where you have fallen; repent and do the first works, or else I will come to you quickly and remove your lampstand from its place-unless you repent. "But this you have, that you hate the deeds of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate. "He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes I will give to eat from the tree of life, which is in the midst of the Paradise of God." ' Revelations 2:1-8
History tells us that each of the churches did not receive the word from the LORD that John had given to each church including "He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.” And as a result they ceased to exist. The city of Ephesus became a desolate wilderness when the sea receded quite a few miles and its harbor was lost.
Now men have made Jesus Christ to be a warm ball of wool who would never hurt or really judge anybody in the current time of life. But nothing is further from the truth for John wrote to an existing church in Thyatira and talked about how God will kill people and all the churches shall know that Jesus Christ is the One who searches the minds and hearts. And He “will give to each one of you according to your works.” The bible records for our profit and instruction:
"And to the angel of the church in Thyatira write, ' These things says the Son of God, who has eyes like a flame of fire, and His feet like fine brass: "I know your works, love, service, faith, and your patience; and as for your works, the last are more than the first.
"Nevertheless I have a few things against you, because you allow that woman Jezebel, who calls herself a prophetess, to teach and seduce My servants to commit sexual immorality and eat things sacrificed to idols. "And I gave her time to repent of her sexual immorality, and she did not repent. "Indeed I will cast her into a sickbed, and those who commit adultery with her into great tribulation, unless they repent of their deeds. "I will kill her children with death, and all the churches shall know that I am He who searches the minds and hearts. And I will give to each one of you according to your works.
"Now to you I say, and to the rest in Thyatira, as many as do not have this doctrine, who have not known the depths of Satan, as they say, I will put on you no other burden. "But hold fast what you have till I come. "And he who overcomes, and keeps My works until the end, to him I will give power over the nations- 'He shall rule them with a rod of iron; They shall be dashed to pieces like the potter's vessels'- as I also have received from My Father; "and I will give him the morning star.
"He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches." ' Revelations 2:18-29
Many religious ones, who call themselves Christians, choose to be pacifists because they do not believe in killing. Yet “I will kill her children with death” are words that come out often out of the mouth of God, especially when people are given time to repent and do not repent. It is not only a New Testament message but an Old Testament one also. It was a message that was preached by prophet Jonah against his will. The bible records:
Now the word of the LORD came to Jonah the second time, saying, "Arise, go to Nineveh, that great city, and preach to it the message that I tell you." So Jonah arose and went to Nineveh, according to the word of the LORD. Now Nineveh was an exceedingly great city, a three-day journey in extent. And Jonah began to enter the city on the first day's walk. Then he cried out and said, "Yet forty days, and Nineveh shall be overthrown!" Jonah 3:1-4
Many of God’s people don’t like to think of the truth that one of God’s attributes or characteristics are that He is not only a “Man of War” and the “Judge of all the earth” but He kills people, especially His adversaries, even if they are His people. For God’s word is true though every man be a liar:
"The LORD kills and makes alive; He brings down to the grave and brings up. The LORD makes poor and makes rich; He brings low and lifts up. He raises the poor from the dust And lifts the beggar from the ash heap, To set them among princes And make them inherit the throne of glory. "For the pillars of the earth are the LORD'S, And He has set the world upon them. He will guard the feet of His saints, But the wicked shall be silent in darkness.
"For by strength no man shall prevail. The adversaries of the LORD shall be broken in pieces; From heaven He will thunder against them. The LORD will judge the ends of the earth. "He will give strength to His king, And exalt the horn of His anointed." 1 Samuel 2:6-10
http://billyburke.org/PrayerMinistryRoom/JourneyofYourPrayerRequest/tabid/142/Default.aspx
EXTRACT FROM Be Filled
http://walthope.tripod.com/befilled.htm
http://walthope.wordpress.com
https://plus.google.com/u/0/100302133262254344211/posts
No comments:
Post a Comment