Category: Blackboards

Matthew 7:15

Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves. You will recognize them by their fruits.

The question is not whether you ever hear the voice of false teachers. The question is whether you can discern which messages are false. If you watch any television, listen to any radio or pod-casts, keep up on the news, or interact at depth with just about anyone in modern society, you are being exposed to some form of false teaching. If you cannot identify any voices you hear as false, it’s not because you aren’t being exposed, but because you’re falling for it in some way or another.

Jesus said, “False christs and false prophets will arise and perform signs and wonders, to lead astray, if possible, the elect. But be on guard; I have told you all things beforehand.” (Mark 13:22-23; Matthew 24:24)

What we might find surprising – both from Jesus and his apostles – is how revealing the everyday lives of false teachers are about their falseness. They are not just false in their teaching, but also in their living. Beneath their doctrinal error, however subtle and deceptive, we will find ethical compromises in tow. And those don’t usually come out overnight; they take time. But they will come out. Jesus says it twice so that we won’t miss it: “You will recognize them by their fruits.” His warning may sound clear and simple at first, but as we all know, trees don’t bear fruit overnight. Eventually, however, the fruit (or lack thereof) will be manifest. And so it is with ethical compromise. What may begin as mere whispers in a private room will soon enough be proclaimed from the housetops (Luke 12:3). And so Paul instructs leaders not only to pay careful attention to their people and to their teaching, but also to their own lives (Acts 20:28; 1 Timothy 4:16).

In particular, 2 Peter 2 is remarkable in how it fleshes out Jesus’ warning about the fruit of false teaching. Peter gives a litany of descriptions about compromised lives. Verses 1 and 3 mention the generalities “destructive heresies” and “false words” – which indeed relate to teaching – but then, nothing further in this chapter focuses on their teaching. Everything else is about their individual lives.

As we come closer to the election for President, we find many inner truths being revealed about both candidates. Luke 12:2 says, “There is nothing concealed that will not be disclosed, or hidden that will not be made known.” If you have been following the news media and listening to the statements being made by both candidates, we see many things that were hidden being exposed. I feel that this election is a sad day for Americans. I personally feel that either candidate should not be elected but will have to trust in God’s ultimate wisdom in all things. We as Christians must discern correctly. And we can only do this through the Word of God. Jesus is not only the greatest and truest teacher who ever lived, but he also is the great rescuer, who has redeemed us from sin and will keep those who are truly his from soul-destroying error.

Psalm 103:4

who [the Lord] redeems your life from destruction, who crowns you with loving kindness and tender mercies.

Four women are mentioned in the genealogy of Jesus. (Matthew 1:1-16) Interestingly, they are not Sarah, Rebekah, Leah or Rachel, wives of the patriarchs of the Old Testament. Instead, they are Tamar, Rahab, Ruth and Bathsheba, women who had morally questionable backgrounds.

Tamar resorted to deception and prostitution to produce children through her father-in-law. Yet, it was from her line, the tribe of Judah, that the Messiah came. (Genesis 38) Rahab was a Gentile and a prostitute in Jericho, who became a believer in the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. (Joshua 2:1-21) She also became the mother of Boaz, who married Ruth. (Ruth 4:13) Ruth was morally upright. But as a Moabitess, she was a Gentile and therefore considered unclean. Yet, she became the grandmother of David (Ruth 4:13-17), whom the Jews regard as their greatest king. Bathsheba committed adultery with David. (2 Samuel 11:4) Later, she gave birth to King Solomon (2 Samuel 12:24), from whose royal line Jesus descended.

So what is God saying to us here? He is saying that He is greater than our sins – where sin abounds, His grace abounds much more. (Romans 5:20) His grace is greater than our sins, so that even when the world disqualifies us, He can qualify us to receive His blessings! God is also saying that He is a God of many chances. These women’s stories show us that even when our troubles are of our own making, they are neither final nor fatal. When we turn to Him, He will turn our situations around until we see His glory upon us! Finally, God is saying that He is a God of supernatural positioning. Even when all our earthly connections are gone, the moment we turn to Him, He will find ways to turn our captivity into blessings.

Don’t look at your natural circumstances and be discouraged. Trust the One “who redeems your life from destruction, who crowns you with loving kindness and tender mercies”. Trust in Him who qualifies the disqualified!

2 Peter 3:7

By the same word the present heavens and earth are reserved for fire, being kept for the day of judgment and destruction of the ungodly.

It is interesting to note how the phrase “climate change” is replacing “global warming” as the catch phrase of environmentalists. Some scientists/climatologists are certain that human activity, primarily greenhouse gas emissions, is impacting the environment. What they are not certain about is precisely what the impact will be. A couple of decades ago, “global cooling” was the fear, with warnings of a new ice age being the primary scare tactic. While most scientists/climatologists today believe that global warming is the primary risk, uncertainty has led to “climate change” being used as a less specific warning. Essentially, the climate change message is this: greenhouse gas emissions are damaging the environment, and, while we are not certain what the effect will be, we know it will be bad.

How, then, should a Christian view climate change? We should view it skeptically and critically, but at the same time honestly and respectfully. Most importantly, though, Christians should look at climate change biblically. What does the Bible say about climate change? Not much. Likely the closest biblical examples of what could be considered climate change would be the end times disasters prophesied in (Revelation 6-18). Yet these prophecies have nothing to do with greenhouse gas emissions; rather, they are the result of the wrath of God, pouring out justice on an increasingly wicked world. Also, a Christian must remember that God is in control and that this world is not our home. God will one day erase this current universe (2 Peter 3:7-12) and replace it with the New Heavens and New Earth (Revelation 21–22). How much effort should be made “saving” a planet that God is eventually going to obliterate and replace with a planet so amazing and wonderful that the current earth pales in comparison?

Is there anything wrong with going green? No, of course not. Is trying to reduce your carbon footprint a good thing? Probably so. Are solar panels, wind mills, and other renewable energy sources worth pursuing? Of course. Are any of these things to be the primary focus of followers of Jesus Christ? Absolutely not! As Christians, our focus should be proclaiming the truth of the gospel, the message that has the power to save souls. Saving the planet is not within our power or responsibility. Do you really believe that we can destroy something that God has created? 2 Peter 3:10, “But the day of the Lord will come like a thief. The heavens will disappear with a roar; the elements will be destroyed by fire, and the earth and everything done in it will be laid bare.”

Romans 4:5

But to him who does not work but believes on Him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is accounted for righteousness.

Boldness is what God wants you to have when you come to Him. He does not want you to be afraid to come to Him because you are feeling unworthy because of your sins. He wants you to come boldly to Him, knowing that the death, burial and resurrection of His Son Jesus Christ has justified you and qualified you to boldly receive from Him.

This was the kind of boldness that the woman with the issue of blood had when she touched Jesus. (Mark 5:25-34) Now, by touching Jesus, she knew that she was breaking a Levitical law which states that anyone with a bodily discharge is unclean, and should not appear in public, let alone touch another person. (Leviticus 15) But she refused to feel condemned by the law. She believed what she had heard about Jesus, and was confident that there would only be love and compassion, not condemnation, from Him. She believed that Jesus would justify her and qualify her to receive the miracle she needed. That was why she boldly pressed her way into the crowd to touch Jesus, who indeed said to her, “Daughter, your faith has made you well.” (Mark 5:34) What was it about her faith that made her well? Romans 4:5 talks about faith that believes God justifies the ungodly. When you believe that God justifies the ungodly, it will give you boldness to come to God, even when you feel unclean because you have just blown it.

When you fail, don’t run away from God. Run boldly to Him, knowing that you are justified by the blood of Christ and not by your good behavior. The devil may say to you, “How can you do that? Who do you think you are?” Don’t listen to him. Pick yourself up and thank God for the blood and the gift of no condemnation. (Romans 8:1) If God justifies the ungodly, how much more you, His beloved child!

Romans 10:17

Consequently, faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word about Christ.

I thought it might be of value to provide you with some healing scriptures from the Bible. You may want to print out the Scriptures below and go over them a couple of times a day if you are in need of healing. Allow the Holy Spirit to build your faith as you read these Words of Life. Speak them out over yourself in the first person, laying claim to them by faith, with the understanding that they are your inheritance as a child of God, if you’ve been born-again. If you are not born again ask a born again Christian to pray with you to receive God’s free gift of salvation.

Acts 5:16 “Also a multitude gathered from the surrounding cities to Jerusalem, bringing sick people and those who were tormented by unclean spirits, and they were all healed.” NOTE – Even after Jesus had been crucified, raised back to life again and ascended into heaven, we see the very same work that Jesus performed, while on the earth, still taking place through the hands of His disciples, and with the very same intensity – all being healed. And why not? Hebrews 13:8 tells us that “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today and forever!”

Hebrews 7:25 Because Jesus has become the guarantee of a better covenant (verse 22), “Therefore He is also able to save to the uttermost those who come to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them.” Take a look at this scripture in the Amplified Version: “Therefore He is able also to save to the uttermost (completely, perfectly, finally, and for all time and eternity) those who come to God through Him, since He is always living to make petition to God and intercede with Him and intervene for them.” NOTE – It’s important to remember that the word “save” in the Greek is the word “sozo” which literally means to heal, preserve, save, do well, be (make) whole. It means deliverance in the present as well as in the future or in eternity, physical as well as spiritual. Jesus used this word to denote healing of the body as well as forgiveness of sins. Always translate this word as “save – heal” when you come across it in the Word.

Acts 13:38-39 “Therefore let it be known to you, brethren, that through this Man [Jesus] is preached to you the forgiveness of sins; and by Him everyone who believes is justified [declared righteous] from all things from which you could not be justified by the law of Moses.” NOTE – From now on you need to train yourself to translate the word “justified” as “declared righteous.” That is the literal Greek translation. This will really help you when you read the book of Romans. You can remember it with this phonetic, literal breakdown: just-if-i’d never sinned! That’s the true meaning of biblical righteousness – to be in right standing with God.. 2 Corinthians 5:21 tells us plainly that as born-again believer’s we have become the righteousness of God in Christ. Because of the forgiveness of sins, through His shed blood, we are redeemed and declared righteous from ALL THINGS which we could not be declared righteous, apart from His redemptive work. This is our position in Christ and it’s more than just spiritual. The effects of this right-standing or righteousness pertain to the soul, the body and our life here on this earth.

Romans 8:11 “But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal (Natural, Earthly) bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you.” NOTE – Take a close look at this Scripture. This is talking about your body that you have now, not the one you’re going to receive one day in heaven! Notice that the will of the Lord IS to impart His resurrection life into our natural, earthly body as we place our faith in His finished work of the cross. Begin to praise Him for this promise as you receive this as your very own.

2 Corinthians 4:10-11 “Always bearing about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus (which was for our victory), that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our body. For we which live are always delivered unto death for Jesus’ sake, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our mortal flesh.” – Bodily Health!!!

Matthew 6:9-10 “Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name. Your kingdom come. Your will be done on Earth as it is in heaven.” NOTE – Jesus always prays the will of God, and He prays that the will of God be done here on the earth just as it is in heaven. People in heaven are not sick, so we can clearly see it is God’s will that we also be free from sickness and disease.

God Bless..

Matthew 4:4

…He [Jesus] answered and said, “It is written, ‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.'”

When the devil tempted Jesus, Jesus turned the Word of God on him, saying, “It is written…” (Matthew 4:4, 7, 10) Likewise, if the devil reminds you of the pain in your body, say what God’s Word says: “It is written, ‘By His stripes I am healed!'” (Isaiah 53:5; 1 Peter 2:24) And say to God, “I have Your Word for it and I am standing on Your Word. I am not trying to be healed. My healing has already happened. I don’t care what this body says. It has to line up with Your Word because by Jesus’ stripes I am healed!”

And if the devil says to you, “Look at the meager balance in your bank account. How are you going to pay your bills?” just say, “I’m not going to worry because I know that my God shall supply all my needs according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus. (Philippians 4:19) It doesn’t matter how much I have in the bank. God’s Word tells me that as the need arises, the supply will be there!”

When fear grips you, don’t try to rationalize or reason your fear away. Instead, speak God’s Word into the situation. Say, “It is written, ‘For God has not given me a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.'” (2 Timothy 1:7) What if the fear returns? Speak God’s Word again. Say, “It is written, ‘For God has not given me a spirit of fear…'”

When the devil tries to deceive you, give him the Word of God. There is something about the Word of God that causes him not to want to hang around those who use it. It reminds him of Jesus, the Word made flesh (John 1:14), who rendered him powerless and of no effect when He said, “It is written…”

1 Corinthians 10:23-24

“Everything is permissible” – but not everything is beneficial. “Everything is permissible” – but not everything is constructive. Nobody should seek his own good, but the good of others.

Sometimes it’s hard to know when we should be sensitive to a weaker believer. Paul gives us a simple rule of thumb – we should always be sensitive and gracious. Even though we have tremendous freedom in Christ, we should not exercise our freedom at the cost of hurting a Christian brother or sister. If doing something in front of a young Christian would cause them to stumble, then we should not do it. Even though some actions may not be wrong, they may not be in the best interest of others.

People have a funny way of holding Christians accountable for all of their actions. When people don’t understand the freedom given to us from Christ, they become judgmental or religious. Now our freedom does not mean we can do things that are clearly forbidden, but it is the gray areas that I am talking about. For example, having a glass of wine is not forbidden. Getting drunk however, is. (Ephesians 5:18, Proverbs 23:20) Going into a restaurant with a big Buddha statue out front is not forbidden, bowing down and worshiping Buddha, is. (Exodus 20:3)

Even things we do that may not be forbidden may not always be beneficial or constructive. We need to weigh our actions very carefully, especially when we are around others. We need to always do what is best for others, so that they might be saved. Simply put all things we do should be done for God’s glory, even the little things like eating and drinking.