Daily Bread 6-10-17

2 Peter 2:18

For when they speak great swelling words of vanity, they allure through lusts of the flesh, through much wantonness, those that were clean escaped from them who live in error.

ref. - Ac 2:40 - And with many other words did he testify and exhort, saying, Save yourselves from this untoward generation.

2P 1:4 - Whereby are given unto us exceeding 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.

Have we learned anything since we met Christ? Have we gained knowledge and wisdom through his Spirit and through the messages of Holy Spirit filled ministers sent to help us? Do we know a little bit about what the scriptures teach and what the gospel stands for? I think that if we are truly honest, even the smallest can say, Yes, I have. We have been enlightened by a gospel that will not leave us wanting or in need of other instruction or other ways. It is full, it is complete, and it is God's perfect will in our lives. But over the last, say, two thousand years, men have slowly been perverting the gospel and making promises that are not included within the teachings of Christ and the gospel. Not just todays clothesline preacher, but every false prophet that has crossed the face of the earth has contributed in "little" changes and "little" modifications to the gospel. Add a little here and take out a little there, and soon the whole gospel is no longer Spiritual and we have men and women seeking for their carnal pleasures and truly expecting to get them. Let us compare it to twenty people in the room. One person whispers to the next, "Take the dog for a walk and let him smell the daisies." (Bear with me, this is only a story to prove a point.)They pass it on until it gets to the last person. The last person brings it back to the originator of the story and tells him what he said, or what he thinks he said. he says, "One day in the park while I was smelling the roses, I saw a cat who was walking on the lawn." See how that changed? A little addition and a little subtraction and the whole story is changed and not even useful in the purpose of the first statement. The same has happened with the gospel of Christ. But thank God that we have the Holy Bible to lean back on and learn the truth. When we are told to seek a Spiritual God for our carnal needs, or promised things that we lust after if we seek him, we are being tricked into, or coaxed into, serving him. The gospel was not created to deceive, it was created to change our lives through repentance, remission of sins, water baptism, sanctification, baptism of the Holy Spirit, and then gifts as according to God's will. A life that is given to us from within and then carried out by a willing and humble soul. Can we have nice things? Will we have a happy life? Yes, probably, but if we look at Job, the determination of contentment and happiness varies. So, the next time one of these clothesline preachers goes around selling a bill of goods instead of the true gospel of Christ, be thankful. Not that he is selling a lie and calling it gospel, he will receive his reward, but thankful that you have learned the difference. Be thankful that the Holy Scripture, as brought to us in the Holy Bible, has given us the information to cleanse ourselves from unrighteousness and live a clean life. Be thankful that you can escape the deception of the false prophet. And be thankful that a man died for you on a cross to allow us to serve God in heart, mind, and soul. Being forgiven of sin and grafted in to a place where we can escape our lusts and have our Spiritual needs fulfilled. Remember, our fight is not against the things of the world, it is against the one who fuels the world. It is against evil spirits, false prophets, and all that is being used be the enemy to try to pull us away from the truth. Be thankful to God each day that we are numbered among the believers who have escaped the corruption and the filth that is being spread in the name of Jesus by these men, and that we have tasted of the good things of God. Enlightened and filled with the real Holy Ghost and exposed to the truth that is in Jesus Christ. Today, if you are in confusion, seek first the kingdom of God, pray for salvation in your soul and repent of your sin and confusion. God will answer your prayer only if you go to him in Jesus' name. But seek him while he may be found, and watch the confusion become clear understanding in the truth and simplicity that is in Jesus Christ!! Have a great day!!!