Tuesday 121724
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.
So, our study consists of two ground rules:
1st we ONLY read and follow what is found in the Holy Bible.
2nd we ONLY learn from a study by what effort we put into that study.
The verses we are going to study tonight:
Ephesians 4:17-32; Romans 12:2; Joshua 2:2; Ephesians 5:1-10.
So, let’s begin …
Over the past weeks, I hope I have shown how much UNBELIEF there was back in the Old Testament, but I also hope I have shown the amount of UNBELIEF there is remaining in this world today in the 21st century.
The past is behind us, there is nothing going to be changed from what history tells us but what can be changed is our lives looking forward, from this point on right now.
Mankind needs to learn how to stop trying to change the word to fit into our lives and we need to begin changing our lives to fit around the Word.
Our lives can change but the Word, it will NEVER change; it has never been changed nor will it ever be changed.
So, the way millions look at themselves in a mirror and recognize they need to go on a diet, so too must we look at ourselves and realize our lives need to be changed, but rather than looking into a mirror all we need to do is sit down and open a Bible and we can read how and what we need to do to make the difference in our lives.
The New Life in Christ
Ephesians 4
vs17 ‘…In the Lord’s name, then, I warn you: do not continue to live like the heathen, whose thoughts are worthless…’
vs18 ‘…and whose minds are in the dark. They have no part in the life that God gives, for they are completely ignorant and stubborn…’
vs19 ‘…They have lost all feeling of shame; they give themselves over to vice and do all sorts of indecent things without restraint…’
vs20 ‘…That was not what you learned about Christ…’
vs21 ‘…You certainly heard about him, and as his followers you were taught the truth that is in Jesus…’
vs22 ‘…So get rid of your old self, which made you live as you used to—the old self that was being destroyed by its deceitful desires…’
vs23 ‘…Your hearts and minds must be made completely new…’
vs24 ‘…and you must put on the new self, which is created in God’s likeness and reveals itself in the true life that is upright and holy…’
vs25 ‘…the other believer, because we are all members together in the body of Christ…’
vs26 ‘…If you become angry, do not let your anger lead you into sin, and do not stay angry all day…’
vs27 ‘…Don’t give the Devil a chance…’
vs28 ‘…If you used to rob, you must stop robbing and start working, in order to earn an honest living for yourself and to be able to help the poor…’
vs29 ‘…Do not use harmful words, but only helpful words, the kind that build up and provide what is needed, so that what you say will do good to those who hear you…’
vs30 ‘…And do not make God’s Holy Spirit sad; for the Spirit is God’s mark of ownership on you, a guarantee that the Day will come when God will set you free…’
vs31 ‘…Get rid of all bitterness, passion, and anger. No more shouting or insults, no more hateful feelings of any sort…’
vs32 ‘…Instead, be kind and tender-hearted to one another, and forgive one another, as God has forgiven you through Christ…’ GNT (Good News Translation)
The Word plainly tells us to change our lives. The sub-title to the above passage from Ephesians is The New Life in Christ.
In vs22 we read how we were to ‘Get rid of our Old Self.’
In vs23 we read how we ‘Must be Made NEW.’
In vs 24 we were told we needed to ‘Put on our NEW Self.’
How many verses does it take for us to recognize that God is trying to save us here … all we need to do is wake up before it is too late.
Most of all, vs27 is made of a reminder that we should have copies posted around our rooms by the hundreds …
‘DON’T GIVE THE DEVIL A CHANCE.’
Jesus defeated death when he rose from His tomb.
Jesus has defeated the devil but you and I, when we are by ourselves, we are still unprotected from him. It is only when we arm ourselves with the armor that God has given us that we are protected from his evil threats.
Romans 12:2 ‘…Do not conform yourselves to the standards of this world, but let God transform you inwardly by a complete change of your mind. Then you will be able to know the will of God—what is good and is pleasing to him and is perfect…’ GNT (Good News Translation)
How many lives need to be ‘TRANSFORMED’ today?
Too often, I see family and friends that are still caught up in the enticements of this world today. They are trapped in the confines of their family religion that won’t allow them to get out on their own. Some of these religions teach their members to NOT read the Bible on their own because of different interpretations. I voice the exact opposite thinking; I think individual interpretations is what is going to allow us to be broken free from the hardships that have been put on us for centuries by mankind and the devil himself.
It isn’t a church that is going to save us from the devil … it is ONLY GOD.
It isn’t a church that is going to defeat Satan when he this world comes to an end … it is ONLY God.
There isn’t a denomination known to man that will be there on the earth last day that will be able to save us … it is ONLY GOD.
No matter how we were to look at it, the answer is right there in front of us.
It troubles me many times, I bow my head in shame because I know people that are too caught up in their beliefs and I will never be able to tell them how to free themselves.
Their shackles have them locked in place where they will be unable to free themselves from what their future is so plainly visualized in the Word.
I talk and I repeat, OPEN THE BIBLE FOR YOURSELF AND READ THE GLORY THAT GOD IS OFFERING YOU … but I know, to no avail, their religion, their beliefs, from their childhood has been beat into their minds. Their religion will not allow them to look elsewhere.
I pray at night for them. I pray on moments as I’m writing these pages for them. I think of the generations before them that all were led down by the same falsehood and I need to ask, why have I been selected to be any different?
Think back to Abram, he lived in a time of idolatry.
Joshua 2:2 ‘…Joshua said to the people, This is what the Lord, Israel’s God, says: A long time ago, your ancestors lived on the other side of the Euphrates River. They included Terah who was the father of Abram and Nahor. They worshipped other gods…’ EASY (Easy English Bible)
The people around him, his family and friends all worshipped many gods.
Why would Abram be any different, why would he have been separated from the group?
Abram believed God. It wasn’t that Abram was so very special to those around him it is just that he believed God. I do not claim to be even close in resemblance to Father Abraham but there is a similarity, I believe more in God than I do in the religion that my family and their family all believed in.
I believe in God, not gods. Not a religion that has a god, or popes, or bishops, or priests, or statues, or chalices, or crosses made of wood or gold.
It’s difficult knowing I have family that are lost, and they will always remain lost. All I can do is pray for them and portray myself to be how God wants me to look so that when others look at me, they see what God wants from us.
Ephesians 5
vs1 ‘…Since you are God’s dear children, you must try to be like him…’
vs2 ‘…Your life must be controlled by love, just as Christ loved us and gave his life for us as a sweet-smelling offering and sacrifice that pleases God…’
vs3 ‘…Since you are God’s people, it is not right that any matters of sexual immorality or indecency or greed should even be mentioned among you…’
vs4 ‘…or is it fitting for you to use language which is obscene, profane, or vulgar. Rather you should give thanks to God…’
vs5 ‘…You may be sure that no one who is immoral, indecent, or greedy (for greed is a form of idolatry) will ever receive a share in the Kingdom of Christ and of God…’
vs6 ‘…Do not let anyone deceive you with foolish words; it is because of these very things that God’s anger will come upon those who do not obey him…’
vs7 ‘…So have nothing at all to do with such people…’
vs8 ‘…You yourselves used to be in the darkness, but since you have become the Lord’s people, you are in the light. So you must live like people who belong to the light…’
vs9 ‘…for it is the light that brings a rich harvest of every kind of goodness, righteousness, and truth…’
vs10 ‘…Try to learn what pleases the Lord…’
vs11 ‘…Have nothing to do with the worthless things that people do, things that belong to the darkness. Instead, bring them out to the light…’
vs12 ‘…It is really too shameful even to talk about the things they do in secret…’
vs13 ‘…And when all things are brought out to the light, then their true nature is clearly revealed…’
vs14 ‘…for anything that is clearly revealed becomes light. That is why it is said, Wake up, sleeper, and rise from death, and Christ will shine on you…’
vs15 ‘…So be careful how you live. Don’t live like ignorant people, but likewise people…’
vs16 ‘…Make good use of every opportunity you have, because these are evil days…’
vs17 ‘…Don’t be fools, then, but try to find out what the Lord wants you to do…’
vs18 ‘…Do not get drunk with wine, which will only ruin you; instead, be filled with the Spirit…’
vs19 ‘…Speak to one another with the words of psalms, hymns, and sacred songs; sing hymns and psalms to the Lord with praise in your hearts…’
vs20 ‘…In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, always give thanks for everything to God the Father…’ GNT (Good New Translation)
Jesus loves every one of us … we just must flee from the clenches of our past and run to Him and allow Him to free us from our shackles and chains.
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>