Don't be deceived!

1 Timothy 4: 1

The Spirit clearly says that in later times some will abandon the faith and follow deceiving spirits and things taught by demons.

 

Could this be happening in the church today?

I wonder if, when God sees enough of this happening, will He too, abandon His people?

 

Some would say, that God will never leave us, nor forsake us, and that verse is true.

When the Israelites departed from God’s Word, He allowed  them to walk into their own depravity.

 

Today we have war and terrorists threats—rampant crime and economic worries—the decline of the family—mass production of pornography.

Has God abandoned the nation—or a better question might be, have we abandoned Him?

 

I wonder if we can find our way back, to where we belong?

Can you? Do you need to?

 

Some people would say that God would never bring judgment.

Then how are we supposed to interpret, Romans 1: 18…..

….The wrath of God is being revealed from heaven against all the godlessness and wickedness of men who suppress the truth by their wickedness…….

What's on your mind?

Jeremiah 17: 10

"I the LORD search the heart and examine the mind, to reward a man according to his conduct, according to what his deeds deserve."

The Lord actually examines the heart and mind.

If He were to examine my mind this morning, I wonder what He might find there?

I don’t know about you, but I have a memory for some things, and don’t for others.

I can tell you without looking, that Aaron Rogers is the quarterback of the Green Bay Packers.

His receiving core is made up of….Greg Jennings, James Jones, Jordy Nelson, Jermichael Finley and Donald Driver.

I did not peak, and I might not have them in perfect order—but I’m close.

I’m sure there are some things that you know from memory too—like who won the last two “Dancing with the Stars” episodes.

Maybe who won “American Idol” last, or even the contents of the best blogs being written today.

On Sunday, I asked the congregation, what the 6^th Commandment was, and for a while I was a little concerned.

No one seemed to have the answer.

Maybe we should examine our minds, before God does it for us.

The longer I live, the more I realize there are things worth remembering, and things that are not………..

Correction

Proverbs 10: 17

He who heeds discipline shows the way to life, but whoever ignores correction leads others astray.

Isn’t it the job of God’s chosen leaders to bring correction in the church, through the teaching of the Word?

Often times, when correction comes, people can really cop an attitude.

God has given us leaders, as well as fellow followers in Christ, to teach us how to live holy and godly lives.

It is the duty of church leaders to bring correction into the house when necessary.

Often times, that’s seen as legalistic or judgmental.

The only thing in church life that matters, is our obedience in walking with God.

Obedience may come about, when receiving correction within the body.

If God expects leaders in the church to lead, He certainly expects members of the congregation to follow.

Following is hard, but getting lost, leads the person and others astray.

Whatever happened to men and women dying to self?

Aren’t we supposed to be new creatures?

New creatures follow, and accept correction as a teaching moment…………

Do you anticipate heaven?

2 Timothy 4: 18

The Lord will rescue me from every evil attack and will bring me safely to his heavenly kingdom.

 

Paul’s words to Timothy were sure and to the point.

He believed that the Lord would rescue him from every evil attack.

He also believed that one day, the Lord would bring him safely to Heaven.

 

Maybe we need to leave everything up to God, instead of trying to fight our own spiritual battles?

 

Do you have the faith that Paul had?

Maybe we need to anticipate Heaven, just like Paul did.

Maybe it’s time to believe that God can, and will do, all that He said He would…………..

Talking to God!

Acts 18: 9

One night the Lord spoke to Paul in a vision: "Do not be afraid; keep on speaking, do not be silent.

God spoke to Paul in a vision.

When you study the life of Paul, it would make sense that God would speak to him, for Paul had a vision for the things of God.

Once Paul’s eyes were opened with his encounter with Jesus on the road to Damascus, he could see into the supernatural.

The sight he had, came through his heart, and not through his eyes.

That’s the way God communicates with His people—through their hearts.

I am amazed that in all Christianity, people see things quite differently.

God encouraged Paul, to keep on speaking, and to not be afraid.

When Paul prayed, powerful things happened. When Paul prayed, he saw visions from God.

Maybe to change the way we see the things of God accurately, we need to talk to God more?

Are you full of Goodness?

Romans 15: 14

I myself am convinced, my brothers, that you yourselves are full of goodness, complete in knowledge and competent to instruct one another.

 

Paul was ministering to the new Gentile church.

He obviously observed something in them, that was noteworthy.

If Paul could walk into your church, what might he observe?

 

Scripture is full specific instruction on how we should treat one another in the church.

If we are serious about following Jesus, we will heed His warning found in Matthew 25: 40 (I’ll let you look up that verse on your own)

 

Scores of scripture, explains clearly of what God expects from us, especially in how we should treat one another in the body of Christ.

Are you full of goodness? Complete in knowledge maybe? Competent to instruct one another?

 

The church is often filled with something, but I’m not always convinced it’s goodness.

Jesus said that all men will know that we are His disciples, by how we love one another. (John 13: 35)

 

Maybe we need to go back to the Word, and consider how we should apply it to our lives…………….

Communication

John 16: 13

“But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all truth. He will not speak on his own; he will speak only what he hears, and he will tell you what is yet to come.”

The two most important types of communication are between God and man, and between human beings.

Communication is more than just our ability to talk, but to listen.

As we communicate with God, the first part of that communication that’s critical, is listening.

God’s primary way of communicating with us, His people, is through His Word.

Sometimes in the church, we’ve lost the art of communication.

We even leave churches today, by sending out e-mails. Imagine that?

The Spirit guides us into all truth.

Maybe we should listen more closely, to what the Spirit has to say, as opposed to expressing our point of view.

It might save some very grievous misunderstandings……..