Thursday 010925
Don’t let me or my writings influence or scare you in any way, instead, allow me to be used as a vessel to open the Word, just a little bit, and hopefully, together we are going to read and study His Word, and let God teach us what He wants us to hear.
Since the beginning of this study, our vision has been that we are ONLY going to follow what is found in the Holy Bible, that pertains to us, and we realize that it’s ONLY from our own effort that we put into this study, that we’re going to take anything away for our own use.
The verses we are going to study tonight:
Luke 8:18; Mark 4:24-25; Matthew 25:26; Colossians 2:1; 2 Peter 3:10; Romans 16:25-27, 16:25; Ephesians 2:8-9; Colossians 2:2; 1 Corinthians 15:1-4; Matthew 6:24; Colossians 2:3-5.
Luke 8:18 ‘…Therefore, consider carefully how you listen. Whoever has will be given more; whoever does not have, even what they think they have will be taken from them…’ NIV (New International Version)
How much emphasis should we put on listening?
Is Luke cautioning us to simply open our ears so we can hear the sounds around us or might he be writing for us to open our eyes so we can read closer, what God has written in the Word for us to HEAR?
The same thing is written in the gospel of Mark.
Mark 4
vs24 ‘…He also said to them, pay attention to what you hear! The same rules you use to judge others will be used by God to judge you—but with even greater severity…’
vs25 ‘…Those who have something will be given more, and those who have nothing will have taken away from them even the little they have…’ GNT (Good News Translation)
In the gospel of Matthew, a parable told by Jesus of the three servants.
Matthew 25:26 ‘…You wicked and lazy servant…’ NKJV (New King James Version)
Google writes: the servant thought it was good enough to give the master back what was given to him. If he was a true servant of the master, he would have done something with his life and with his money. He wasted his life and did nothing with the money. Thus, the description of that servant is correct. He is a wicked, lazy servant.
How many preachers in the world today, will God say that same exact thing about. How many messages have pastors preached that have fallen to the wayside instead of grabbing ahold of the listener and moved them into wanting to read and study the Word more closely.
Colossians 2
vs1 ‘…I want you to know how hard I am contending for you and for those at Laodicea, and for all who have not met me personally…’
I have been teaching for a while now that the last letter sent out by the apostle John, in the Book of Revelation, was to the church at Laodicea. I’ve also voiced, I believe this church that is mentioned in the Word is referencing Jesus’ church, that is still with us today, in the 21st century.
As soon as this church age is finished the seven-year Tribulation will begin with its final judgement on the remaining mankind and the destruction of the first earth as we’re told in the Bible.
2 Peter 3:10 ‘…But the Day of the Lord will come like a thief. On that Day the heavens will disappear with a shrill noise, the heavenly bodies will burn up and be destroyed, and the earth with everything in it will vanish…’ GNT (Good News Translation)
With all the confusion that is going on in our world, our lives, and with our future, we might be asking ‘what’s really going on here,’ and God lays it right in the middle of our plate, the most unthinkable thing possible. What is it, you might ask …
Romans 16
vs25 ‘…Now to Him who is able to establish you according to my gospel and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery which has been kept secret for long ages past…’
vs26 ‘…but now has been disclosed, and through the Scriptures of the prophets, in accordance with the commandment of the eternal God, has been made known to all the nations, leading to obedience of faith…’
vs27 ‘…to the only wise God, through Jesus Christ, be the glory forever. Amen…’ NASB
Are you serious, a ‘MYSTERY,’ and it’s from God and we’re told He’s withheld it from the entire age of mankind. From the beginning of time, God’s message of the mystery has never been hinted to anyone until suddenly, one day, God reveals this wonder to the apostle Paul.
I want to search more on this MYSTERY, given to us by the apostle Paul, which was told to him by God, more in detail, but I want to end this looking at mankind’s church as a possible answer.
Simply put, what is it that we can achieve through a human, man-made church that cannot even teach us the truth?
We can be told how we need to tithe each week. We can be told how we need to dress and wear our hair. We can be told how we need to come to church every Sunday. We can be lied to and who are we gonna go to for help, since we’ve already turned our backs on the only real true God known to man.
This all goes back to the greatest sin ever committed against God by mankind and that sin is UNBELIEF. This world does not believe God.
Their excuse is that they did believe until they found out about a ‘MYSTERY’ and they couldn’t understand why they’d believe in something, again and in 4000 years it had changed into another, new mystery.
Let me get back to that ‘MYSTERY’ told to us by Paul.
Romans 16
vs25 ‘…Now to Him who is able to establish you according to my gospel and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery which has been kept secret for long ages past…’
Paul revealed that there was a new body of people. This new body of people would be revealed as a ‘church’ … Jesus’ church. A church that would be made up of Jews and Gentiles alike. All would be saved that accept this salvation that Christ worked out for us, when He died on the cross of Calvary.
This would all be given to us freely as a GIFT by God our Father in heaven.
Ephesians 2
vs8-9 ‘…For it is by God’s grace that you have been saved through faith. It is not the result of your own efforts, but God’s gift, so that no one can boast about it…’ GNT (Good News Translation)
I’ve asked for several years now, why is this not the number one verse known by all mankind and it’s in every weekly sermon?
This is our ticket to Everlasting Life. The only thing that could possibly prevent this from ever happening is if we were not to believe … but with it being free, why would every man, woman and child not cling to these two verses?
The answer is really very easy … most of the mankind’s church doesn’t want you to think you’re getting something for FREE, so they don’t tell you about it. They don’t display it on signs hanging on the walls and when they speak their sermons on Sunday mornings, they make sure they’re a good way away from these two verses, so you won’t possibly find them.
If the man’s church doesn’t mention to you that you need to read the Bible, you’ll have no reason to open the covers of your Bible, except maybe, if you write family tree information on the inside covers of your Bibles.
Mankind’s church relies on your weekly tithe. They rely on whatever they can get.
It’s funny, they’ve been offered a FREE ticket for Everlasting Life, and they don’t believe it.
Colossians 2:2 ‘…I want all the believers to become strong in their spirits. I want them to help each other because they love one another. Then God will bless them very much, because they understand God’s secret message very well. They will be completely sure of it. And they will know Christ himself, who is God’s secret…’ EASY (Easy English Bible)
God’s secret isn’t just that Jesus was His Son; Jesus and His Death, Burial and Resurrection is our promise that will save us from a Spiritual Death.
Paul taught us the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
1 Corinthians 15
vs1 ‘…And now I want to remind you, my friends, of the Good News which I preached to you, which you received, and on which your faith stands firm…’
vs2 ‘…That is the gospel, the message that I preached to you. You are saved by the gospel if you hold firmly to it—unless it was for nothing that you believed…’
vs3 ‘…I passed on to you what I received, which is of the greatest importance: that Christ died for our sins, as written in the Scriptures…’
vs4 ‘…that he was buried and that he was raised to life three days later, as written in the Scriptures…’ GNT (Good News Translation)
There is so much truth that our 21st century churches could tell us, but they’re too interested in another factor other than saving lost souls to damnation, they are fooled by money.
Jesus taught us:
Matthew 6:24 ‘…You cannot be a slave of two masters; you will hate one and love the other; you will be loyal to one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money…’ GNT (Good News Translation)
I’ve always told people that ‘if’ they find the church that is just right for them, it is their responsibility that they make sure that church is taken care of … financially, because if they don’t, they may want to go to church some Sunday, and the doors are all locked and closed.
Open your mouth and share with others, tell them why they need to open their Bibles and study the Word for themselves.
If you find a church you want to call home, make it known to others in that church what has drawn you into the building. Let others know that you ALL must work together to keep the doors open for others to find.
Start Bible study groups, share the Word with others and keep Jesus’ Words Alive.
Keep your Bibles always open and continuously keep in His Word.
Remember that I love all of you. Never forget that Jesus loves each one of us even more. He’s right there in front of you, all you need to do is call His name out loud and He’ll immediately be by your side.
Colossians 2
vs3 ‘…in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge…’
vs4 ‘…I tell you this so that no one may deceive you by fine-sounding arguments…’
vs5 ‘…For though I am absent from you in body, I am present with you in spirit and delight to see how disciplined you are and how firm your faith in Christ is…’ NIV (New International Version)
Jesus, I pray that those ears and eyes, either listening or seeing this message today would be opened to the very fullest and allow Your love to come inside their lives and comfort them. Teach us Jesus. Protect us. We love You. Amen
InHIM. ><)))o>