False Prophets and teachers

False Prophets and Teachers

The apostle Peter warns,

“But there were also false prophets among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you. They will secretly introduce destructive heresies, even denying the sovereign Lord who bought them—bringing swift destruction on themselves.  

  Many will follow their shameful ways and will bring the way of truth into disrepute.  

In their greed these teachers will exploit you with stories they have made up. Their condemnation has long been hanging over them, and their destruction has not been sleeping. 2 Peter 2:1-3.

The Apostle Peter couldn’t have made it more clear. There were people in the past who were false prophets and just as then there will be false prophets in the church today.

Sadly many Christians don’t study the Bible for themselves. They rely on pastors evangelist and other teachers to teach them the scriptures. Relying on them to be preaching the truth all of the time.

Sadly as a result of this many people have been led astray. These false prophets and teachers will one day be judged by God. In the mean time however it is up to each believer to watchout for these men and women.

Thus the question is; Have you ever questioned if what a pastor, evangelist, or Christian teacher is teaching correct?

Do you even study the Bible for yourself?

Please think about it.

Ready to repent?

  Ready to repent?

In Johns gospel we read,

"In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.  He was with God in the beginning. Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made.  

       In him was life, and that life was the light of men....

The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth. " John 1:1-4,14.

Here John clearly states that Jesus whom he refers to as “the word” is God incarnate. John and the other apostles truly believed that Jesus was God in the flesh sent down to show mankind the way to heaven.

The apostle Peter on the day of Pentecost said,

“Therefore let all Israel be assured of this: God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Christ.” 

When the people heard this, they were cut to the heart and said to Peter and the other apostles, “Brothers, what shall we do?” 

Peter replied, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.  

The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off—for all whom the Lord our God will call.” Acts 2:36-39.

The question I pose to you today is do you believe this?

If so are you willing to admit you are a sinner and turn to Christ?

Please think about it.

Freedom began

  Freedom began

 The writer of Genesis states,

"In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth." 

                                                                                            Genesis 1:1.

  The Bible dose not debate the existence of God. It simply says "in the beginning God created the heavens and the earth" and leaves it there.

   Abba Hillel Silver wrote,

 "Faith in God is the strongest bulwark of a free society.  Human freedom began when men became conscious that over and above society and nature there is a God who created them...who fashioned them in His likeness, and that they are, therefore, possessed of intrinsic and independent significance and are endowed, as individuals, with original and irrevocable rights and authority." Abba Hillel Silver.

As I look at individuals around the world be they from primitive tribes to the most advanced society on earth, each person seems to instinctively know what is right and wrong. I cannot believe this is because of evolution, or a group of stone age men sitting around a rock and deciding what should be right and wrong.

Knowing right and wrong seems to be in our very DNA. I believe put there by God Himself.

In order to have true freedom we need to acknowledge there is a God and that God has given us freedom to do as we wish. That includes the right to do what is right or wrong according to Gods law.

Even Adam and Eve had complete freedom. They had the right to choose to obey God with respect to not eating of the tree of “the knowledge of good and evil”(Genesis 2:16). They chose to eat of it and suffered the consequences for doing so.

The same is true of people today. We have the choice to follow the basic rules God has set down for mankind or ignore them. Leaving us to accept the consequences of our actions. 

Thus my question for you the reader are you following Gods most basic of rules as listed in Exodus 20:2-17. Paraphrased here,

1/You shall have no other gods before Me.

2/You shall make no idols.

3/You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain.

4/Keep the Sabbath day holy.

5/Honour your father and your mother.

6/You shall not murder.

7/You shall not commit adultery.

8/You shall not steal.

9/You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor.

10/You shall not covet.

Please think about it.

Only by Love

  Only by Love.

Jesus when asked,

"Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?" 

Jesus replied: " ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.' 

This is the first and greatest commandment. 

And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbour as yourself.'  

All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments. Matthew 22:36-40.

Jesus also said,

"You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.'  

But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you,..." Matthew 5:43,44

Napoleon the late emperor of France said,

  "...can you conceive of a dead man making conquests, with an army faithful and entirely devoted to his memory?... Alexander, Caesar, Charlemagne, and I have founded empires. But on what did we rest the creations of our genius? Upon force. Jesus Christ founded his empire upon love; and at this hour, millions would die for him." Napoleon Bonaparte.

Jesus made it clear we are to love God our neighbour and even our enemy

Sometimes when I look at what tries to pass for Christianity here in North America where I live, I wonder if it truly is Christianity.

There are groups that look upon Christians as bigots intent on taking away their rights. There are others who see Christians intent on gaining political power so they can force their agenda on others. Neither of these groups see love.

Martin Luther Kin jr. the late American civil rights leader rightly said,

“Love is the only force capable of transforming an enemy into friend.”

                                                                                   Martin Luther King, Jr.

Love opens doors to present the gospel of Christ Jesus. This is why we as believers in Christ Jesus must Love, God, family, friend and foe alike.

Are you doing this?

Please think about it.

The writer writes

 The writer writes

Jesus said,

"But I tell you who hear me: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you,  

bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you.... 

Do to others as you would have them do to you." Luke 6:27,28,31 

The Eleven O Clock Parable

  It’s eleven o clock. Inside the court house a judge is about to make his ruling. A community, a nation waits.

  Will the new law be legal?

 Outside the court house men and women with placards chant. On one side of the street stand a group of gay men and women. All in favour of the new law.

 On the other side of the street separated by a line of police stand radical evangelicals, denouncing the new law.

 One man among them screams angrily . “HOMOSEXUALS ARE GOING TO HELL!!!”

 Approached by the media he says it again, “homosexuals are going to Hell.”

 From my office window I watch asking myself the question, ‘is this man an Christian?”

  Wasn’t it Christ who told us not only to love our neighbour but our enemy also?

  Wasn’t it Christ who told us not to judge, lest we be judged likewise?

 Wasn’t it Christ who said go into all the world and preach the good news to all creation?

 Is this man showing love?

 Is this man judging another?

 Can this man be effective in reaching the whole world?

 A question keeps rolling through my mind for which I know the answer, “Can we truly know what is in someone else’s head?

 Do we really know why a person is like they are?”

 For a moment I stare down at the crowd. All the time asking myself who is on the way to Hell this day.

 Turning away from my window I kneel down and pray, “Lord guide me this day. Let me make the right decision on this law.”

Question: If you consider yourself a true Christian. A true follower of Christ Jesus would you vote in favour of a law that restricts the rights of someone else?

Remember Jesus said,

"So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets" Matthew 7:12.

Please think about it.

The Poet writes

  The Poet writes

                                                           Ticket”

                                                      “Where am I?

                                                          What, am...

                                                        I doing here?”

                                                        “You are her.”

                                                     Says the Conductor.

                                                      “Your ticket please.”

                                                     “I bought no ticket.

                                                          I took no ride.

                                                           Where am I?”

      “Your ride is over,                  You are here.                    All take the ride.

       Your ticket’s paid for,           Says the Conductor            You are here.

        Your ticket please,                 Please your ticket.              Your ticket.

                                                                                                   please.”      

                                                      “I took no ride!

                                                         Where am I?

                                                      I demand to know!

                                                          I took no...

                                                             ride...

                                                            Am I...”

                                                    “You are here.

                                                     All take the ride.

                                                   The ticket paid for,

                                                    With My blood.

                                                   You were offered

                                                       The Ticket

                                                    Did you refuse?”

                                                   “Wait a minute...

                                                     I am here...

                                                    I have no ticket...

                                                    And you are...?”

                                                         “Jesus.

                                                     Your Judge

                                                           OR

                                                    Your Saviour?”

The apostle Paul referring to Jesus with respect to God’s judgement wrote,

“In the past God overlooked such ignorance, but now he commands all people everywhere to repent.  

For he has set a day when he will judge the world with justice by the man he has appointed. He has given proof of this to all men by raising him from the dead.” Acts 17:30,31

Please think about it.

I Will

I Will

Because... “...He (God first loved us.”)
       1 John 4:19

I will... love God

Because... “...God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.”  John 3:16

I will... love God

Because... Jesus said, “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another.  By this shall all know that you are My disciples.  If you have love for one another.  John 13:34,35

I will... love my brothers and sisters in Christ.

Because... Jesus said, “Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, and pray for those who spitefully use you.”   Luke 6:27,28

I will... love my enemies.

Because... The Bible says, “Love suffers long and is kind: love does not envy; loves does not parade itself, is not puffed up; does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil; does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth; bears all things; believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.  I Corinthians 13:4-8a

I will... I will love.

Because... The Bible says, “Now abides faith, hope and love, these three; but the greatest of these is love.  1 Corinthians 13:13

I will... love God and my fellow man

 Because..      according to Ephesians 2:8,9:
“...by grace you have been saved through faith, and not of yourselves; it is a gift of God, not of works; lest anyone should boast.”

I Have hope in Christ...
For according to Romans 5:1,2: “...having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our LORD Jesus Christ, through whom also we have access by faith into this grace which we stand, and rejoice in hope of glory of God.”

Because... For Jesus said in Matthew 22:37-40:
“...you shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.  This is the first and greatest commandment.  And the second is like it: “You shall love your neighbour as yourself.  On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.


I will love all mankind...
Because of this and much more
I will love.

Is this your kind of Love

  Is this your kind of Love.

Jesus also said,

  "You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbour and hate your enemy.'  

  But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous..."Matthew5: 43-45.

  Love is the key to the Christian life. As Martin Luther King jr. the great American civil rights leader said,

“Love is the only force capable of transforming 

an enemy into friend.”

                                             Martin Luther King, Jr.

  The apostle Paul tells us what Christian love is when he wrote,

“Love is patient, love is kind. 

It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud.  

It is not rude, it is not self-seeking,

 it is not easily angered, 

it keeps no record of wrongs. 

Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth.  

It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. 

Love never fails....

And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. 

But the greatest of these is love.”  

                                                            1 Corinthians 13:4-8a,13.

Is this truly the kind of Love you show to those around you?

Please think about it.

Go

  Go

Jesus told his disciples and through them us,

  “Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.  

  Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,  and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” Matthew 28:18-20.

Here is a quick question. Are you teaching those around you what Jesus taught. OR are you teaching what others taught you about Jesus?

There’s a big difference. If you are teaching what Jesus taught you are teaching directly from the Bible. You are teaching what Jesus himself taught and what His disciples taught. 

If you are teaching what other taught you about Jesus you may not be teaching and presenting the gospel message correctly.

What I would suggest is take some time right now to pray and study the scriptures (study not just read). See if what you have been taught lines up with the gospel message.

Sadly over the years I have seen many people follow a particular pastor, or evangelist only to fall away when the person they are following falls away.

Sadly there are also many people who have fallen for false teachers who have told them God wants them healthy, and wealthy. And while this may be so. God never promised us a life without persecution.

Jesus said,

"If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first.  

If you belonged to the world, it would love you as its own. As it is, you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world. That is why the world hates you.  

Remember the words I spoke to you: ‘No servant is greater than his master.' If they persecuted me, they will persecute you also. If they obeyed my teaching, they will obey yours also.  

They will treat you this way because of my name, for they do not know the One who sent me.  John 15:18-21

The apostle John records Jesus as saying,

“Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 

"Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me.  

Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.” Matthew 5:10-12.

So my question becomes are you presenting the word of God as it is presented in the Bible or are you following some pastor or evangelist who is not correctly presenting the word of God?

Please think about it.

Consider this

  Consider this

“Let a man so consider us, as servants of Christ 

and stewards of the mysteries of God. 

Moreover it is required in stewards that one be found faithful.

1Corinthians 4:1,2  

  As believers in Christ we are not just servants of Christ but "stewards of Christ." Stewards of the mysteries of God.

   A steward was someone who administered all the affairs of his masters house. Joseph was Potiphars steward in the book of Genesis (Genesis 39:2-19).

  Stewards must be loyal and faithful to their master.

  As stewards of "the mysteries of God" we must stay true to the word of God. We must manage the message of Christ correctly. To do less is to betray our master Jesus. To betray God.

    The consequences for not doing so could be eternal. For ourselves and those around us.

    A great light shines on the believer in Christ. If we believe the words of Jesus recorded in the gospel of John,

  Where Jesus said ...."I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." John 14:6.

So the question becomes, if you consider yourself a Christian, a believer in Christ Jesus do you administer the word of God correctly.

Please think about it.

The Believers pledge

 The Believers Pledge

Jesus said,

“So in everything, do to others what you would have others do to you

for this sums up the law and the prophets.” Matthew 7:12.

I’ve listened with interest and disgust over the last little while at the debates in political circles around the world but particularly in the United States.
Sadly it seems that hate and prejudges is flooding into our society from all directions. Even men and women calling themselves Christians are being drawn into it.
With that in mind I felt prompted to write this the Believers Pledge. 

As a believer in Christ Jesus,

I pledge...

To Love.

I Pledge...

As far as it depends on me...

To live at peace with all people.

I Pledge...

Never, Never, Never! To attack anyone...

Physically, or verbally.

Even if I vehemently disagree with them in any way.

I Pledge...

Never to demean anyone.

No matter their race, their ethnicity, their religion, or their lifestyle.

I Pledge...

As far as humanly possible,

To uphold the dignity of all whom I come in contact with.

I Pledge...

To obey the words of Christ Jesus who said,

“So in everything, do to others what you would have others do to you

for this sums up the law and the prophets.” 

                                                                   Matthew 7:12.

   Please think about it

Use Caution, Show Love, Be Merciful

 Use Caution, Show Love, Be Merciful

          Jude writes,

  “But, dear friends, remember what the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ foretold.  

They said to you, “In the last times there will be scoffers who will follow their own ungodly desires.”  

  These are the men who divide you, who follow mere natural instincts and do not have the Spirit. 

But you, dear friends, build yourselves up in your most holy faith and pray in the Holy Spirit.  

Keep yourselves in God’s love as you wait for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ to bring you to eternal life. 

  Be merciful to those who doubt;  snatch others from the fire and save them; to others show mercy, mixed with fear—hating even the clothing stained by corrupted flesh.” Jude 1:17-23

  Here again like the apostles, John, Peter and Paul, Jude calls believers in Christ that in the last days there will be scoffers who follow their own ungodly way. Men who will divide believers.

Jude calls on believers to “build yourself up in the most holy faith”.

I do not believe it is enough to simply believe in Jesus. To accept Jesus as your Lord and Saviour. While faith in Christ saves you. We need to do more. That more is to learn as much about Him as is possible. We need to study, study, study.

We need to do this so that we will know what is right in God’s sight, and what we as Christians should be doing.

At the same time as Jude points out we need to be there for Christians who doubt. Who are weak in the faith. We need to show love toward them. To open dialogue with them. Study the scriptures with them. Answer any questions they have honestly.

We also need to be presenting the salvation message of Jesus Christ to anyone who will listen. In doing so we will snatch people from the fire that is hell.

 Please think about it.