DON’T BE DECEIVED: LET GOD’S WORD BE YOUR LIFE’S GUIDE

2 Timothy 3:12-17 >>

112In fact, everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted, 13while evil men and impostors will go from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived. 14But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have become convinced of, because you know those from whom you learned it, 15and how from infancy you have known the holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. 16All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, 17so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.

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1. Paying attention to what is said in verse 13, to guard my faith every day, I must continue in what I have learned and become convinced of, because I know from whom I learned it, and it’s made me wiser for salvation through faith in Christ [verse 14].
2. The function of God’s Word in my life is that it teaches, rebukes, corrects and trains me and others in righteousness [verses 15-16].

DON’T BE DECEIVED: DAILY INTIMACY WITH GOD

Wednesday, June 24, 2009

2 Corinthians 11:3-4 >> 3But I am afraid that just as Eve was deceived by the serpent’s cunning, your minds may somehow be led astray from your sincere and pure devotion to Christ. 4For if someone comes to you and preaches a Jesus other than the Jesus we preached, or if you receive a different spirit from the one you received, or a different gospel from the one you accepted, you put up with it easily enough.

Ephesians 5:1-7 >>

1Be imitators of God, therefore, as dearly loved children 2and live a life of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.

3But among you there must not be even a hint of sexual immorality, or of any kind of impurity, or of greed, because these are improper for God’s holy people. 4Nor should there be obscenity, foolish talk or coarse joking, which are out of place, but rather thanksgiving. 5For of this you can be sure: No immoral, impure or greedy person—such a man is an idolater—has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God. 6Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of such things God’s wrath comes on those who are disobedient. 7Therefore do not be partners with them.

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1. A person can be deceived when someone preaches a different Jesus or if we receive a different spirit or gospel and we just put up with it and take it lightly. What is meant by “different gospel” is a message that is not in accordance with God’s Word, aka what is written in the Holy Bibie.
2. God’s Word asks so that we do not be friends/associate with people whose words are dirty, empty or in vain. It is because such talk is out of place, and what comes out of your mouth comes out of your heart. Empty words are also deceiving, and words such as these are  symptoms of disobedience. Ex. if one engages in so much dirty/raunchy/vulgar talk, there is a chance their talk is accompanied by such behavior that is not pleasing to God. That’s just an example, lol.

PUT TO DEATH ALL THINGS THAT DECEIVE

Matthew 18:4-10 >>

4Therefore, whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.

5″And whoever welcomes a little child like this in my name welcomes me.
6But if anyone causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him to have a large millstone hung around his neck and to be drowned in the depths of the sea.

7″Woe to the world because of the things that cause people to sin! Such things must come, but woe to the man through whom they come!
8If your hand or your foot causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away. It is better for you to enter life maimed or crippled than to have two hands or two feet and be thrown into eternal fire.
9And if your eye causes you to sin, gouge it out and throw it away. It is better for you to enter life with one eye than to have two eyes and be thrown into the fire of hell.

The Parable of the Lost Sheep
10″See that you do not look down on one of these little ones. For I tell you that their angels in heaven always see the face of my Father in heaven.

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1.   In verses 4-6 it shows how truly precious children are in God’s eyes. Children can be deceived because they are so malleable and open and receptive to new things. They are not yet set in their ways and are usually smaller so they can be easily influenced.

2.   Meditating on verses 8-9, my eyes, hands, and feet can cause me to sin because they can cause me to watch bad things, do bad things and go to bad places. Certain things people watch and/or read can bring people to sin because it can contain content that is going against the truth of God’s Word and can influence us to stumble and fall by confusing us or tempting us to indulge in earthly yet sinful pleasures that we need to keep away from.

WATCH OUT THAT YOU ARE NOT DECEIVED

Monday, June 22, 2009

Mark 13:20-23 >>

20If the Lord had not cut short those days, no one would survive. But for the sake of the elect, whom he has chosen, he has shortened them.

21At that time if anyone says to you, ‘Look, here is the Christ!’ or, ‘Look, there he is!’ do not believe it.

22For false Christs and false prophets will appear and perform signs and miracles to deceive the elect—if that were possible.

23So be on your guard; I have told you everything ahead of time.

Luke 21:8-15 >>
8He replied: “Watch out that you are not deceived. For many will come in my name, claiming, ‘I am he,’ and, ‘The time is near.’ Do not follow them.

9When you hear of wars and revolutions, do not be frightened. These things must happen first, but the end will not come right away.”

10Then he said to them: “Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. 11There will be great earthquakes, famines and pestilences in various places, and fearful events and great signs from heaven.

12″But before all this, they will lay hands on you and persecute you. They will deliver you to synagogues and prisons, and you will be brought before kings and governors, and all on account of my name.
13This will result in your being witnesses to them.
14But make up your mind not to worry beforehand how you will defend yourselves.
15For I will give you words and wisdom that none of your adversaries will be able to resist or contradict.

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1.   According to verse 8, we must watch out for false Christs and false prophets and wars and revolutions.

2.   The verses that I have read today are on par with the current condition of the world. I can be Christ’s witness in the midst of suffering experienced by my family and friends by continuing to follow Christ and not being ashamed despite anything that happens.