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Do Not Love the World (Part One)

Do Not Love the World (Part One) Do not love the world nor the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh and the lust of the eyes and the boastful pride of life, is not from the Father, but is from the world. The world is passing away, and also its lusts; but the one who does the will of God lives forever (1 John 2:15-17 NAS95). If asked, “Do you love the world?” one might say, “No, of course not.” This is certainly the response that believers would hope to give. However, let us examine this subject more closely.  Three areas are mentioned in this text: first, the lust of the flesh. This temptation relates to our physical being. When the devil tempted Jesus, he said, “If you are the Son of God, command this stone to become bread” (Luke 4:4). This is a twofold attack, as it targets Jesus' hunger and tempts Him to be prideful. This attack is alive and well in our society today. Here are s...
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The Prodigal Son

The Prodigal Son  And He said, "A man had two sons. "The younger of them said to his father, 'Father, give me the share of the estate that falls to me.' So he divided his wealth between them. "And not many days later, the younger son gathered everything together and went on a journey into a distant country, and there he squandered his estate with loose living. "Now when he had spent everything, a severe famine occurred in that country, and he began to be impoverished. "So he went and hired himself out to one of the citizens of that country, and he sent him into his fields to feed swine. "And he would have gladly filled his stomach with the pods that the swine were eating, and no one was giving anything to him. "But when he came to his senses, he said, 'How many of my father's hired men have more than enough bread, but I am dying here with hunger! 'I will get up and go to my father, and will say to him, "Father, I have sinned a...
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Trust God’s Sovereignty

  Trust God’s Sovereignty How long, O LORD, will I call for help, And You will not hear? I cry out to You, "Violence!" Yet You do not save. Why do You make me see iniquity, And cause me to look on wickedness? Yes, destruction and violence are before me; Strife exists and contention arises. Therefore the law is ignored And justice is never upheld. For the wicked surround the righteous; Therefore justice comes out perverted (Habakkuk 1:2-4 NAS95). Habakkuk was weary of all the evil and injustice he saw. Praying for God’s help and seeing no answer makes for a discouraged soul. Everywhere he looked he saw iniquity and wickedness. Lawlessness was prevailing and justice was being perverted. Have you ever felt this way? Well know this, God is not unaware of current affairs. Nor was He unaware of or indifferent to Habakkuk’s situation. He answers Habakkuk: "Look among the nations! Observe! Be astonished! Wonder! Because I am doing something in your days—You would not believe if...
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Praying for Wayward Children

  Praying for Wayward Children And one of the crowd answered Him, "Teacher, I brought You my son, possessed with a spirit which makes him mute; and whenever it seizes him, it slams him to the ground and he foams at the mouth, and grinds his teeth and stiffens out. I told Your disciples to cast it out, and they could not do it." And He *answered them and *said, "O unbelieving generation, how long shall I be with you? How long shall I put up with you? Bring him to Me!" They brought the boy to Him. When he saw Him, immediately the spirit threw him into a convulsion, and falling to the ground, he began rolling around and foaming at the mouth. And He asked his father, "How long has this been happening to him?" And he said, "From childhood. "It has often thrown him both into the fire and into the water to destroy him. But if You can do anything, take pity on us and help us!" And Jesus said to him, " 'If You can?' All things are possib...
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Seeking Deliverance

  Seeking Deliverance I stretch out my hands to You; My soul longs for You, as a parched land. Selah. Answer me quickly, O LORD, my spirit fails; Do not hide Your face from me, Or I will become like those who go down to the pit. Let me hear Your lovingkindness in the morning; For I trust in You; Teach me the way in which I should walk; For to You I lift up my soul (Psalms 143:6-8 NAS95). There may be times when circumstances overwhelm us mentally and spiritually. During such great distress we tend to ask, “Why Lord?” Sometimes, in hindsight we may discern the hand of God. However, most of the time we are left longing but not without hope and comfort. David did what was right in this situation, he lifted up his hands to God. He stated his condition, that his soul was longing for God. His soul was like a dry land in need of refreshing rain. Emphasizing his distress he says, Do not hide Your face from me, Or I will become like those who go down to the pit. Who are those that go down ...
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Take Refuge in the Lord

  A Mikhtam of David. Preserve me, O God, for I take refuge in You. I said to the LORD, "You are my Lord; I have no good besides You." As for the saints who are in the earth, They are the majestic ones in whom is all my delight. The sorrows of those who have bartered for another god will be multiplied; I shall not pour out their drink offerings of blood, Nor will I take their names upon my lips. The LORD is the portion of my inheritance and my cup; You support my lot. The lines have fallen to me in pleasant places; Indeed, my heritage is beautiful to me. I will bless the LORD who has counseled me; Indeed, my mind instructs me in the night. I have set the LORD continually before me; Because He is at my right hand, I will not be shaken. Therefore my heart is glad and my glory rejoices; My flesh also will dwell securely. For You will not abandon my soul to Sheol; Nor will You allow Your Holy One to undergo decay. You will make known to me the path of life; In Your presence is fu...
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Dwell on These Things

  Dwell on These Things Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, dwell on these things (Philippians 4:6-8 NAS95). The command to dwell on these things is a present middle imperative. This is a command that is to be followed continually, not a one-time event. In other words we are to make this a way of life. We are to focus our attention on those things that are true, honorable, right, pure, lovely, of good repute, of excellence, and praise worthy. This is very important for every believer as this command follows the command to be anxious for nothing (Philippians 4:8). If we are anxiou...
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Hind's Feet

  Hinds’ Feet Though the fig tree should not blossom And there be no fruit on the vines, Though the yield of the olive should fail And the fields produce no food, Though the flock should be cut off from the fold And there be no cattle in the stalls, Yet I will exult in the LORD, I will rejoice in the God of my salvation. The Lord GOD is my strength, And He has made my feet like hinds' feet, And makes me walk on my high places. For the choir director, on my stringed instruments (Habakkuk 3:17-19 NAS95). In the darkest hour, when there is no hope of rescue, God can make a way. What a beautiful image of hinds’ feet, those perfectly designed hoofs that mountain sheep use to defy gravity as they walk the perilous crags on high.  Though our path often leads us through difficult valleys, we can always count on the Lord. Can you say, “The Lord is my strength?” Are you rejoicing in the God of your salvation?  How easy it is to panic under great distress. When trouble comes your wa...
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Looking for and Hastening the Day of the Lord

  Looking for and Hastening the Day of the Lord But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, in which the heavens will pass away with a roar and the elements will be destroyed with intense heat, and the earth and its works will be burned up. Since all these things are to be destroyed in this way, what sort of people ought you to be in holy conduct and godliness, looking for and hastening the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens will be destroyed by burning, and the elements will melt with intense heat! But according to His promise we are looking for new heavens and a new earth, in which righteousness dwells (2 Peter 3:10-13 NAS95). Oh, how we ought to long for the coming day of God when the new heavens and new earth appear! Why do we cling to this sinful existence that tortures our souls? Rightly does Peter remind us of Lot. Who, oppressed by the sensual conduct of unprincipled men  by what he saw and heard that righteous man, while living among them, felt...
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How To Spot a Fake

  How To Spot a Fake For we did not follow cleverly devised tales when we made known to you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but we were eyewitnesses of His majesty. For when He received honor and glory from God the Father, such an utterance as this was made to Him by the Majestic Glory, "This is My beloved Son with whom I am well-pleased"— and we ourselves heard this utterance made from heaven when we were with Him on the holy mountain. So we have the prophetic word made more sure, to which you do well to pay attention as to a lamp shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star arises in your hearts. But know this first of all, that no prophecy of Scripture is a matter of one's own interpretation, for no prophecy was ever made by an act of human will, but men moved by the Holy Spirit spoke from God (2 Peter 1:16-21 NAS95). Peter said they did not follow cleverly devised tales. The world is full of counterfeit gospels and antichrist.  Pet...
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Remember Who You Are

  Remember Who You Are Therefore, I will always be ready to remind you of these things, even though you already know them, and have been established in the truth which is present with you. I consider it right, as long as I am in this earthly dwelling, to stir you up by way of reminder, knowing that the laying aside of my earthly dwelling is imminent, as also our Lord Jesus Christ has made clear to me. And I will also be diligent that at any time after my departure you will be able to call these things to mind (2 Peter 1:12-15 NAS95). Nothing brings the need for the Gospel in focus more than the imminent possibility of death. Peter has just told his readers to make their call and election sure (2 Peter 1:10). Nothing can so give composure in the prospect, or in the hour, of death, as to know that we have faithfully and simply followed the Lord Jesus, and sought his glory (Matthew Henry). Therefore, it is not a meritless task to add godly virtues to our faith. Peter wrote that he wi...
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Love

  Love Now for this very reason also, applying all diligence, in your faith supply moral excellence, and in your moral excellence, knowledge, and in your knowledge, self-control, and in your self-control, perseverance, and in your perseverance, godliness, and in your godliness, brotherly kindness, and in your brotherly kindness, love . For if these qualities are yours and are increasing, they render you neither useless nor unfruitful in the true knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ (2 Peter 1:5-8 NAS95)[Emphasis Added]. Each of the virtues mentioned in these verses coalesce into this last virtue of love. Love is the ultimate test of our faith. Peter was questioned by our Lord after Peter had boasted of his loyalty and failed.  So when they had finished breakfast, Jesus *said to Simon Peter, "Simon, son of John, do you love Me more than these?" He *said to Him, "Yes, Lord; You know that I love You." He *said to him, "Tend My lambs." He *said to him again a se...
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Brotherly Kindness

  Now for this very reason also, applying all diligence, in your faith supply moral excellence, and in your moral excellence, knowledge, and in your knowledge, self-control, and in your self-control, perseverance, and in your perseverance, godliness, and in your godliness, brotherly kindness , and in your brotherly kindness, love. For if these qualities are yours and are increasing, they render you neither useless nor unfruitful in the true knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ (2 Peter 1:5-8 NAS95)[Empasis Added]. Oh that we might be able to echo David’s words: As for the saints who are in the earth, They are the majestic ones in whom is all my delight (Psalms 16:3 NAS95). Brotherly kindness is a virtue of great importance as it aligns with the second greatest commandment, to love your neighbor as yourself. If we are commanded to love our neighbors, how much more should we love our brothers and sisters in Christ? Jesus said, "By this all men will know that you are My disciples, if...
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Godliness

  Godliness Now for this very reason also, applying all diligence, in your faith supply moral excellence, and in your moral excellence, knowledge, and in your knowledge, self-control, and in your self-control, perseverance, and in your perseverance, godliness , and in your godliness, brotherly kindness, and in your brotherly kindness, love. For if these qualities are yours and are increasing, they render you neither useless nor unfruitful in the true knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.  (2 Peter 1:5-8 NAS95) [Emphasis Added]. The word translated godliness in the passage above carries the idea of proper worship. Used only by Peter (Act_3:12), and in the Pastoral Epistles. It is from εὐ, well, and σέβομαι, to worship, so that the radical idea is worship rightly directed. Worship, however, is to be understood in its etymological sense, worth-ship, or reverence paid to worth, whether in God or man (Vincent’s Word Studies). Therefore, whether in private worship or corporate wors...
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Perseverance

  Perseverance Now for this very reason also, applying all diligence, in your faith supply moral excellence, and in your moral excellence, knowledge, and in your knowledge, self-control, and in your self-control, perseverance , and in your perseverance, godliness, and in your godliness, brotherly kindness, and in your brotherly kindness, love. For if these qualities are yours and are increasing, they render you neither useless nor unfruitful in the true knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ (2 Peter 1:5-8 NASB) [Emphasis Added]. The word translated perseverance above has the nuance of patient endurance (Strongs). The King James Bible translates that word as patience. If you think about it, the battle against sin really does require a good deal of patient endurance. Mortification of the flesh, this side of heaven, is a never ending battle. For I know that nothing good dwells in me, that is, in my flesh; for the willing is present in me, but the doing of the good is not (Romans 7:18 ...
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Self-Control

  Self-Control Now for this very reason also, applying all diligence, in your faith supply moral excellence, and in your moral excellence, knowledge, and in your knowledge, self-control , and in your self-control, perseverance, and in your perseverance, godliness, and in your godliness, brotherly kindness, and in your brotherly kindness, love. For if these qualities are yours and are increasing, they render you neither useless nor unfruitful in the true knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ (2 Peter 1:5-8) [Emphasis Added]. Self-Control or temperance is one’s ability not to let the use of what is good in moderation become excessive. For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world; Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ (Titus 2:11-13). Having one’s affections set on worl...
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