Wednesday 022625
Ephesians 2:8 ‘…For by GRACE you have been SAVED through FAITH; and this is not of yourselves, it is a GIFT of God…’ NASB (New American Standard Bible)
Let’s together, open the Word of God this morning, and study what we have been given. Allow me to help you in your study and search the Bible what God has intended for us to hear.
The verses we are going to study tonight:
2 Corinthians 11:26, :13; Ephesians 4:16; 1 Timothy 4:2; Ephesians 6:17; Revelation 3:8.
So, let’s continue in our study of the Bible.
The Word is so full of so many different stories. Unless you open the Word and read it for yourself, you will never actually know what is inside the covers of the book.
If you only watch the words appear on a screen at church, you’ll never know what’s been written on the very next verse.
If you only read the verses that I portray, you will never get the chance to see what God has intended for all of us to see.
If you only read from the printed materials that your church has printed for their ease and comfort in a church service, you have entirely missed out on everything that God has intended for you.
So, let’s look at some more of what God has warned us of.
They are called false brothers 2 Corinthians 11:26:
‘… in journeyings often, in perils of waters, in perils of robbers, in perils by mine own countrymen, in perils by the heathen, in perils in the city, in perils in the wilderness, in perils in the sea, in perils among false brethren…’ AKJV (Authorized King James Version)
‘…I have been on frequent journeys, in dangers from rivers, dangers from robbers, dangers from my countrymen, dangers from the Gentiles, dangers in the city, dangers in the wilderness, dangers at sea, dangers among false brothers…’ NASB (New American Standard Bible)
‘…In my many travels I have been in danger from floods and from robbers, in danger from my own people and from Gentiles; there have been dangers in the cities, dangers in the wilds, dangers on the high seas, and dangers from false friends…’ GNT (Good News Translation)
‘…I have travelled on many journeys. I have been in danger from rivers and also from robbers. I have been in danger from my own people and also from Gentiles. I have been in danger in cities and also in the wilderness. I have been in danger on the sea. I have been in danger from false believers…’ EASY (Easy English Bible)
The apostle Paul warns us the most about how we are going to be tempted into hearing messages that have not been meant for our ears.
You will never know this if you don’t open your Bibles and read for yourselves about what is going to happen to you.
Satan doesn’t want you to know the truth. He’s going to send lies your way so that you will never think of anything that should be upsetting you.
BEWARE
They are called false apostles 2 Corinthians 11:13:
‘…For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ…’ AKJV (Authorized King James Version)
‘…For such men are false apostles, deceitful workers, disguising themselves as apostles of Christ…’ NASB (New American Standard Bible)
‘…Those men are not true apostles—they are false apostles, who lie about their work and disguise themselves to look like real apostles of Christ…’ GNT (Good News Translation)
‘…Those people are false apostles. They do not work in an honest way. They try to make people think that Christ has sent them as his apostles…’ EASY (Easy English Bible)
The Bible teaches us how we are to teach those around us, but with that being said, we as individuals MUST teach ourselves what is right and what is wrong; what is from God and what ‘man’ is making up because it sounds good to him.
We are told we should ‘edify’ the church, but we need to understand we MUST edify ourselves individually before we can go about spreading words.
Ephesians 4:16
‘…from whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love…’ AKJV (Authorized King James Version)
‘…from whom the whole body, being fitted and held together by what every joint supplies, according to the proper working of each individual part, causes the growth of the body for the building up of itself in love…’ NASB (New American Standard Bible)
‘…Under his control all the different parts of the body fit together, and the whole body is held together by every joint with which it is provided. So, when each separate part works as it should, the whole body grows and builds itself up through love…’ GNT (Good News Translation)
‘…As its head, he helps the whole body to grow well. Each part joins with the other parts so that the whole body becomes strong. As each separate part does its proper work, we love each other more and more…’ EASY (Easy English Bible)
You have been warned many times in the Word of false teachers, spreading evil lies against you. The thing is, if you never open up the Word and read it for yourselves, you will never hear the warning.
1 Timothy 4:2
‘…speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron…’ AKJV (Authorized King James Version)
‘…by means of the hypocrisy of liars seared in their own conscience as with a branding iron…’ NASB (New American Standard Bible)
‘…Such teachings are spread by deceitful liars, whose consciences are dead, as if burnt with a hot iron…’ GNT (Good News Translation)
‘…The people who teach those false things are hypocrites. They no longer understand that what they teach is wrong…’ EASY (Easy English Bible)
In the Word, God gave ‘EACH’ one of us ‘ARMOR’ that we can put on to protect ourselves from the evil that happens all around us.
If we never open up the Word, we may not know that God has given us protection.
The ‘ONLY’ piece of armor that can be used as an offensive, as well as a defensive piece of equipment is the Word, it has been defined as the Sword of the Spirit, our Bibles, the Word of God.
Ephesians 6:17
‘…And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God…’ AKJV (Authorized King James Version)
‘…And take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God…’ NASB (New American Standard Bible)
‘…And accept salvation as a helmet, and the Word of God as the sword which the Spirit gives you…’ GNT (Good News Translation)
‘…Remember that God has saved you from your sins. That will be like a strong hat that keeps your head safe. Also, use God’s Message to help you. That will be like a sword that God’s Spirit puts in your hand…’ EASY (Easy English Bible)
God has given us the Word to help us make it through this human life we are living in.
God’s chosen people was the Jewish people. The thing that we should never lose sight of is when Jesus came to this earth, He came to fulfill the OT prophesies, but Jesus hated the ‘religion’ that His chosen had created for themselves.
He had no use for the Sadducees or the Pharisees. They were fake. They were unreal, they were lying to God’s people.
Today in the 21st century, it is the same thing. God hates our many different ‘religions’ today.
There is ONLY ONE God.
Yet inside every church, after the doors have been closed, there are differences taught about their gods; their beliefs; the way they do things.’
God gave ‘US’ the Word, you and me.
He didn’t just give the word to the church on the corner so they could buy 100 copies to keep under the seats.
He didn’t give us the word so He could have our motels and hotels keep a copy inside the top drawer to the nightstand in every room.
Open up your Bibles and read of all of the beautiful things that God has done for us. Read of all of the things God is trying to protect each one of us from. Open your Bibles and listen to the Word that God gave to us so we could use a little common sense and realize what is right and what is wrong.
Revelation 3:8
‘…I know thy works: behold, I have set before thee an open door, and no man can shut it: for thou hast a little strength, and hast kept my word, and hast not denied my name…’ AKJV (Authorized King James Version)
‘…I know your deeds. Behold, I have put before you an open door which no one can shut, because you have a little power, and have followed My word, and have not denied My name…’ NASB (New American Standard Bible)
‘…I know what you do; I know that you have a little power; you have followed my teaching and have been faithful to me. I have opened a door in front of you, which no one can close…’ GNT (Good News Translation)
‘…I know everything that you do. Look! I have opened a door that is in front of you. Nobody can shut that door. I know that you are not very strong. But you have obeyed what I told you. You have continued to believe in me…’ EASY (Easy English Bible)
The book of Revelation has been written foretelling the seven years of the promised Tribulation towards the Jewish people for disobeying God’s command of allowing the land to rest every seventh year.
The book isn’t meant for the Gentile to worry about, but we can take this part from the book:
GOD KNOWS
The Bible is a GIFT that God gave to us human beings to help us in this life. Open its covers and read the words that God has intended for us to see a use in this daily walk of ours.
God has given us more GIFTS than what we will only be able to realize some of them if we read His Word.
Protect yourselves from yourself, LISTEN TO GOD SPEAK TO YOU.
Keep your Bibles open and continue to study the Words He has given to us.
I love every one of y’all. The day is coming when Jesus Himself will let each one of us know what the word L-O-V-E truly means.
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>