2 Peter 2:17-19 says...



Today's verses are 2 Peter 2:17-19 which read,


17 - These are springs without water and mists driven by a storm, for whom the black darkness has been reserved.

18 - For speaking out arrogant words of vanity they entice by fleshly desires, by sensuality, those who barely escape from the ones who live in error,

19 - promising them freedom while they themselves are slaves of corruption; for by what a man is overcome, by this he is enslaved.

Peter keeps up his description of the false leaders and teachers.  He uses some physical word pictures.  The false leaders are like you coming up to a well but you find the well is dry.  They are like you looking to the sky and see the evidence of a well needed rainstorm but the wind blows it on by and all you get is a mist.  They're actions will lead them into the black darkness which is another word picture for hell.

As I have been reading about their practices from Peter I can't help but look at the opposite side for the way we are to be.  While the false teacher is using "arrogant words of vanity," we should be giving humble words of selflessness.  While the false teacher focuses on "fleshly desires" and "sensuality" to appeal to the listener, we should be lifting up spiritual desires and an authentic relationship with God.  While the false leader is taking advantage of those who are down with empty promises of "freedom," we would go to those same people with a freedom that does not come from ourselves but from Jesus through His death and resurrection. 

"...for by what a man is overcome, by this he is enslaved."  In the positive sense, "Am I overcome by Christ?"  If I am overcome by Christ then I will be consumed by Him and His ways and His life.  Jesus will become a first thought when I rise in the morning and a last thought when I lay my head on the pillow at night.  That is lofty but I don't think it is unrealistic with the instruction of Scripture and the examples of those who have gone before us describing themselves as "slaves of God" and "bond-servants of Jesus Christ."  We may be selling our commitment to Him too short of what it could be.

"Lord, put me on a path to be ever-increasing love of who You are.  May I see this week how much richer and fuller my life is only because of You.  Amen."
 Pastor Adam
A simple man serving a great God and the local pastor of Stillwater Community Chapel (stillwater-chapel.org). We are in our 38th year of full time ministry. God directed us to this local body of believers on the Western Range of the Rockies to grow with them in mission and mindedness of Christ.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Connect a bit of Scripture with a bit of life - Spurgeon

     I heard this phrase today along with another that if you connect a bit of Scripture with a bit of life, it will end up effecting all of your life.  This came up in my study of the book of James and specifically the verses dealing with not just being a hearer of the Word but also be a doer of the Word.  It is all about application.  I can't look at preaching the Word without giving steps of applying the Word.  It really is an incomplete sermon if I don't.      Many times I think it has to be big and many points and given cute aliteration that makes it snappy and I think easy to remember and fun to write down.  Reality is, if I would make it a bit of Scripture connected to a bit of life and just that it would probably accomplish much more.  How much time I spend on the opening statement and lame joke and research and introductions and how many points and the closing statement and so little time on connecting the bit of Scripture to the bit of life.      So I guess I ha
Read more

Galatians #15 - Galatians 6:11-18 - "On The Road Again..."

Image
  Another week closer and it involves some more travel for the Wolfgangs.  I feel like the Willy Nelson song, " On the road again... "  I don't know if I agree with the next line though. " ...I can't wait to get on the road again. " One of the members of the church in Wisconsin calculated that I will travel well over 10,000 miles to make this transition.  Traveling mercies prayers please. Last Sunday we will look at Paul's final words to the churches in Galatia.  He brought them the gospel (good news) message of Jesus and what resulted were churches forming throughout the region.  The letter is to defend that message that our salvation comes from and is in Christ alone.  Christ's sacrifice on the cross was sufficient for the forgiveness of our sins.  The summary statement of the letter is found in  Galatians 6:15 (LSB) .  " For neither is circumcision anything, nor uncircumcision, but a new creation. "  Translated another way earlier in  Ga
Read more

Sermon prep and maybe a video...

     James 4 has brought up some interesting study.  First, "the quarrels and fights among you."  Those are usually worse than you think even though we try to minimize them.  The source is simpler than you think because it is coming from within you.  The solution is easier than you think because the solution that James gives is that we need to humble ourselves before the Lord.  Any sincere resolution is specific and brief.  Beware of lengthy resolutions that usually include explaining it away or excusing some of the behavior.      As I have seen before, the words are a sign of the heart.  I read this week that if we have a critical heart we usually start by speaking evil of another to ourselves.  Then we progress to speaking evil of another to that person with a running tally in our heads of all their wrongs.  Finally, we speak evil of another to others and broadcast in a way that we are thinking that we are helping.  Giving judgment is always easier than giving mercy.  I
Read more