Daily Bread 10-27-16
2 Peter 2:17,18
17 These are wells without water, clouds that are carried with a tempest; to whom the mist of darkness is reserved forever.
18 For when they speak great swelling words of vanity, they allure through the lusts of the flesh, through much wantonness, those that were clean escaped from them who live in error.
ref. - Acts 2:40 - And with many other words did he testify and exhort, saying, Save yourselves from this untoward generation.
2 Peter 1:4 - Whereby given to us exceeding and great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.
In this scripture Peter is writing about false prophets, how to identify them, and most of all, how to avoid them. In his explanation he states that these men will give us vain words that lift us up, or tear us down, for their own purposes. They will try to attract us to God through promises of worldly things. Whether it be possessions or love of another, or any other lust of the world for that matter, they are trying to deceive us into following God so that we can have more stuff on earth. These are not prophets exclaiming the will of God but they are false prophets who will be forever in darkness without understanding as long as they continue to teach and preach through their own lusts and needs. The good news is that by searching the scriptures, and becoming obedient to what Christ commanded, we can escape the deceit and untruth that is being spread across the world and called "Christianity". True Christianity is the following of Christ and obedience to HIS commandments. The Apostles that he left in charge after he left were also filled with the Holy Ghost and teachers of spiritual things so they are worthy to be listened to as well. But, as this scripture says, at the pen of Peter, from the Spirit of God, the only way that we are going to escape these false prophets is by becoming clean ourselves. How do we do that? By drawing closer to God in Jesus name through prayer and supplication(asking for Gods' help humbly), gaining understanding from inside through the Holy Spirit of God, and remaining obedient to what God has revealed to us. Christ's teachings are the way to accomplish all that we need to accomplish to be sure that we are not following the wrong and that we are remaining on the right path that leads to our eternal life. Today we really need, more than ever before, to get closer in understanding to the word of God, as there are so many wolves in sheep's clothing out there just waiting to steer us on the wrong path. Only through taking the promises given to each one of us and putting them into action through our faith in God, will we be able to escape the deceitfulness and wickedness of these false prophets. Also, if called, only through the word of God and the true Holy Spirit will we ever be able to become a profitable servant and, in turn, receive our heavenly reward!! So let us go forward as the world turns away!! Let us be separate in that we are remaining clean in the eyes of God!! And let us avoid and outrun these unholy men that are spreading anything other than the gospel of Christ!! Have a great day!!!