Avoiding Exploiters
Gracious. Father, we do. Thank you for opportunities to come before you the Mighty God and to worship you, and thank you for your goodness and your blood thing in their lives. May you be with us now and bless us richly with your presence in Jesus name. Amen.
Before we sing Our First him. I want to do that chorus. I love him better every day. Okay, I love him better. Every day close by his side, I will abide. I love him better every day, as not very hard yet cake and sing it with me or everyday. I love him better every day.
Inside. I will abide by, I love him better every day. That you won't come help me with this part.
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Okay, so this time we're going to do the same song but we're going to spell some words ran spelled a side and abide k.
I love him better every day.
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All right, and greatest I faithfulness makes it easy to love him better every day. He is so faithful to us less thing. That him number 121 in your hymnals.
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The reading this morning is taken from 2nd, Peter chapter 2, verses 10 to 12. It's kind of a lead into the message later on in the service because the message is from versus 13222. It says, this is especially true of those who follow the corrupt desires of the Flesh and despise Authority, bold, and arrogant, they are not afraid to Heap. Abuse on Celestial beings yet. Even angels, all day, they are stronger and more powerful. Do not Heap abuse on such beings when bringing judgment on them from the Lord. But these people blaspheme in matters. They do not understand. They are on like unreasoning animals creatures of instinct. Born only to be caught and destroyed and like animals, they too will perish.
All right. Sounds like a pretty for boating sermon. I know it is a little bit tough on today, but we'll get through it before we part of God's word, prayer requests. We have several people that are ill and need to be in prayer for them. Doug and Cheryl are one couple, and. He's brother and brother-in-law. Both have covid. So they asked for prayer for them. We also need to be in prayer for, I don't know. If you remember Jade from last year, she she came forward and receive Christ as our savior here in the auditorium and her sister. Amber is just had a baby and she's living with her. Her mate and he's kind of a cruel fellow and she is struggling, certainly struggling in her face. So we need to be in prayer for her.
Where you live with finally, I'm free.
What are you talkin about Grace? The sweetest thing?
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Lift me up and feel your time. It wouldn't be that much but this I know.
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We will talk to you Sunday school this morning about heaven a little bit and do what we got to take with us to heaven. And so now we're going to celebrate that with the The Taking of communion. And if you think about it a little bit, that is exactly what we can take to Heaven. You know, there's, there's nothing else they can go. And if you are not involved in these things, then you're not going to heaven and that's just the way God has planned it. And since he's in control, we need to listen to it. We're going to focus a little bit more on the bread this morning. The, the cup is important because apart from the shed. Jesus Christ in the cup resenting, that blood, we have no hope that truly gives us the Eternal home. But the bread is also extremely important because God has called us to be bread and luck. So Jesus is speaking in and John chapter 6 and he's talking to people talking about the importance of who he is, he's just fed five people and he's just walked on water and now he's gotten to that point where he's going to talk about himself. And the people are questioning him about who he is. And so in versus 34 to 40, he explains this survey said, from now on, give us this bread, they want bread. He's talked he's fed them already and he's talked about this bread and then Jesus declared, I am the bread of life, he who comes to me, will never go hungry and who believes in me will never be thirsty. But as I told you, you have seen me and still, you do not believe all that. My father gives me will come to me and whoever comes to me, I will never drive away for. I have come down from heaven, not to do my will, but to do the will of him who sent me and this is the will of him who sent me that I shall lose. None of all that he has given me, but raise them up at the last day for my father's will. Is that everyone who looks to the son and believes in him shall have eternal life and I will raise him up with the last day. You see the whole desire is to consume Christ and make him more, and more a part of our lives. And when we take in the bread, we're not just eating bread, but we need to remember that. This is what we are to be doing with our lives. Taking on that amazing character of our Lord and Savior. Jesus Christ, you can take that to heaven with you. Think about that little bit? You can't take anything else, but you can take the character of Christ to heaven with you. And so they desire is that we've been building these things in our lives. First of all, the Salvation that comes through faith in Jesus Christ and then the building of our lives in the character of Christ. Those are the things we take with us. So important to remember that. It's we and we take the cup and the bread. Yeah. This all the difference in my life here on Earth and truly my eternity. Remind ternatea is in, when bread and the cup are the important lie. Lie.
Let's pray as we do. So I want you to take just a few minutes for yourselves. Seek God, seek forgiveness for anything that you've done it. This pleases him make it right with him. So is you take communion, you take it with a clear and pure heart. Our Father, we thank you that we do have this remembrance that you called us to The Taking of the cup and The Taking of the bread, which are so important to our lives. And it's good to have this reminder every month here. And other times in our lives, we thank you and pray that as we take it we would truly remember that. These are the things that are of great importance for our lives. Thank you Lord in Jesus name. Amen. Okay, we're going to take it starting in the back row, move to the outside and come forward, and take the bread out of the cup and go back to sit down. And when we have all taken it, then will consume together. Okay.
A precious father. Once again, how thankful we are that we can gather together and truly celebrate this occasion of the cup in the bread that you were instituted in the Last Supper before you went to the cross. And maybe we remember, maybe we recall all that you've done for your honor it and your glory in our Lots. Thank you father. In Jesus name, amen.
Let's go to Lord one more time before we get started with the word. Our Father in Heaven, how thankful we are that we can gather in your house and your time. And I thank you that we are not resign to one single place but that as we travel over the roads and byways of life that we can join together with other Bodies In Christ and enjoy the same Fellowship because you have called many to be Children of the Living. God, We do pray fate. Pray that your spirit would be here in power and strength. I pray that you would touch each and every one of our hearts for father, each and every one of us need to be drawn closer and closer to you. We need to understand what your word has a say and be able to apply it to our lives, and make sure that we're walking in the light of your assets. Be with me that as I speak, that I truly would speak by the power and the strength of your spirit working in me and that the words coming forth would be from him. And not myself bless us. Oh Lord. In this time in Jesus name, amen. Well, before I left, we were working our way through 2nd Peter, and we took a look at several issues. One, the Believers walk. God has called us to a standard of living that we're supposed to be walking in. And the other was, the Believers guide, which is God's word. This, this Bible that he is giving us, that is in streamly important, for our lives. And then the holy spirit is desperately important for our understanding, for apart. From the Holy Spirit, we can't understand the word of God as it comes forth, but we're going to kind of switch gears just a little bit because Peter does and when he gets the second chapter, it's a chapter of warning. For you and I who are believers in Christ because there are many who are coming along. And we can see this more and more in our day and age, but it was still ever put it back in the time of the, right? This that people are coming to take what is true to us and change it to fit their needs and their desires. And so, the service sermon today is avoiding exploiters and exploiters are people that will come along and somehow change, what is the truth of God's word, to something that gives them some Authority, some decision-making in the process, and all those things, you know, we like to think that we have choices in life, but in this particular issue, God gives man, no choice whatsoever except The right way. And if you don't choose the right way, you've chosen the wrong way, and that's just the way it is the right way around. Jesus Christ. The person we just celebrated in communion if we know Jesus Christ as our Lord and savior. We have changed the direction of Our Lives. And we need to stand. Absolutely firm on that issue. That revolves around, Jesus Christ, all of scripture points that direction, even in the Old Testament, it points towards the direction of Jesus Christ, being Lord and Savior. And so, we need to remember that others will come along and try to deceive us in many ways, but issue has to stand firm. We have different denominations that have Arisen over the last few centuries. Mormonism has taken a big toll. And we see as we take a look at their structure that they are kind of repositioning themselves to make themselves a little more acceptable to the Christian denomination and yet they're still is the denial of Salvation through Christ Alone. We have Jehovah's Witnesses. Then come along and they've taken scripture and they said, no, this isn't the right way. We need to change the little bit and, you know, and then they make up rules and laws. Interesting that when there were laws don't work out, they tend to change a little bit saying, oh God, gave us a new message. Well, God gave us one message and that's this one here and if it isn't following that then they're wrong. I was just listening as we were We were on vacation. I actually I was reading an article about witches in the United States. They call them weichens now or wiccans. And the article was about the incredible growth of that form of Faith or belief. And it is really the worship of Nature and all of these things and using nature to express and but it's interesting even they want to somehow you ninth with Christianity in some ways. One of the leading wickens in church. If you would say, can say that says that she is a Christian which are Christian wiken Interesting, how you can call worshipping nature and worship the same thing, but that's the desire. And it's interesting that the article pointed out that the following up Satan essentially as become so powerful is so strong that there are more chickens than there are people in this was written by a presbyterian Minister then then attend the Presbyterian churches think about that. Millions of people are following Satan worshipping. You know, it's changing the Dynamics because people nowadays don't want to be submissive to one way. As Jesus said, I am the way I am the truth. I am the life. No one comes to the father, except through me. And they want to change that because they don't want to be relying upon that having faith in just one little issue. Come on, I have lots of a different opportunities, right? No God says, no, there is only one way only one way. And for us to avoid these leaders that would take us astray. We have to be really powerful Reliant upon God's word and what God teaches us in. All right, remember I read the verses 10 through 12 in our Bible reading this morning. We're going to continue on now. In 2nd Peter, chapter 2, verse 13 to 16. And it says, they will be paid back with harm for the harm. They've done their idea of pleasure is to Crouse in broad daylight. They are blots and blemishes reveling in the pleasures while they Feast with you with eyes full of adultery, they never stop. Sending they seduce the unstable. They are experts in greed, and a cursive brood they have left the straight way and wandered off to follow the way of Balaam. Son of Babies R Us who loved the wages of wickedness, but he was rebuked for his wrongdoing by a donkey. An animal without speech, who spoke with the human voice and restrain the prophets Madness. They look at that a little bit, but think about this a little bit in and what is going on our world today, how people want to be in this together but they want to bind us together around their desires and their wishes. And I really don't want to take in at all the idea that there might be a God who determines their future is. In fact, very often nowadays, they will neglect the future at all that I live for today and when you can reject eternity, certain late, then living for the day, seems of Great Value and importance
These are people that actually have heard the truth that have seen the truth is that, no, it scripture often points that out. And we'll take a look at a few passages but people that have been exposed to the truth, they see it, they hear it, but they don't necessarily responder. If they respond, it's just a contraries respondents to what has struck them at the moment rather than a true experience. Since 5:15 if you bite and devour each other watch out, or you will be destroyed by each other. In other words, if somebody is being contrarian Church in and causing struggles, they are essentially biting one another and they're causing people to turn away. You know, I have been in churches where There are leaders that have been around forever seeps in that church. And they've taken on a leadership role and they want to be dominant in the decision-making process as even if they their decisions are to lead, the congregation is stray and people if they respect those people enough and listen to what they say even when they are opposed to the word of God, it can lead a church into disruption and dismay in the ultimately will destroy it and break it down. That is the type of truth that comes along when we are not following God's word in the truth of it. Romans chapter 1, the last 12 verses are, so speaks of this issue where it, it talks about the breaking down of the of the people, from worshipping, the Living God, to, essentially worshiping themselves and what they choose to do, and get sounds a little. Very last version at verse 32 was chapter 1. It says, although they knew God's righteous decrees that those who do such things deserve death, they not only continue to do these very things, but they also approve of those who practice them. In other words, they want to change the truth. They feel is there right way and they ignore the truth of God's word and try to hold on to the truth of what they have in mind. I'll give you the example that the Peter gives here. The example of Balaam. I don't know if you know this story takes place just before it moves into the promised land and they have this huge body of people in there, they're moving along and there's this guy balak who is king of the moabite moabites and he wants the people of Israel first will evidently this Prophet. Balaam has evidence that when he curses somebody, they are really cursed and he goes to this prophet and the answer to curse these people put a curse on these people because they're too powerful for me. Perhaps, then I will be able to feed them and drive them out of the land or I know that whoever you Class is blessed and whoever you curse is Kirsty. He's got a great reputation occurs, is people in their vicinity, bless his people there bless. So he wants this Prophet Balaam to curse. The love is real. Well, the prophet is on his way. He's going to sacrifice to go to God and ask God what he should do, but he really wants to be able to curse these people. And the reason he wants to be able to curse these people is because they're coming into his land as well, and he is not excited about it. But he also recognized that he has to do with God. Says, so anyway, he's probably mulling this over in his mind as he's riding his little donkey. And, and this Angel comes and stance the Only the donkey can see the angel. And so the donkey moves out of the way and Balaam gets upset with him. It beats the Donkey And gets back on him and then the angel stands in the place of donkey cannot possibly get through. And and so, the beats the donkey. Again, the donkey then talks to him. So why you being me? I've served you all my life and now you're beating me for doing this. And then the angel finally reveals himself to tell him, you better, you better speak the truth, you better speak the truth. Now, if you were Balaam, And you had an angel come and stand before you with a giant sword and say, you got to tell the truth, would you believe that? That was true that he serve the Living God and that was really important. you would think so, right, especially now he goes, and He blesses the people of Israel, not once, not twice, but three times, He blesses the people of Israel Now, knowing all of that and knowing that God is in control of all things, when it makes sense to join with the people that you just blessed. He does.
It goes the other way. And ultimately and I later battle, he is one of the slain that the of the people of Israel in a later battle. You know, people have those choices today and if they choose even knowing the absolute truth, I mean, Balaam new. Okay, this Angel is alive and real and he's telling me to honor God and God is speaking to me through the power of the spirit to bless his people. And I am blessing them and yet he doesn't follow the truth. Have you seen that today? Have you seen that today? I mean, we have a lot of people that are Doing different things televangelist and different things like that. And they have a message that is not quite right. And do we listen to that message or do we change the path? And that's where it's going. I didn't read the passage about the donkey Numbers 22, 23. When the dog of the day of the Lord was standing in the road with a drawn sword, in his hand and turned off the road into the field, they look beat it to get it back on the road. Now, Again evidence the reality of Truth far greater than you've ever seen. And yet he chose to go the other way. All right, but let's continue on deceivers 2nd. Peter 2:17 through 19. These people are Springs without water, Miss driven by a storm blackest. Darkness is reserved for them. For the mouth and empty boastful words. And by appealing to the lustful desires of the flesh. They entice people who are just escaping from those who live in, are they promise them? Freedom, will they themselves are slaves of depravity for? People are slaves to what has mastered them.
It's talking about people who come along and have a different agenda than the following of Jesus Christ.
That's the marker that we need to set. Jesus Christ is the way and these people come along with all kinds of ideas of how to make yourself, right? If you just follow their rules, make yourself, right? And they can enter into the body of Christ and the fellowship with us. But if they present something different than they are wrong. June 12th speaks of this. It says these people are blemishes at your love feasts eating with you without the Shepherds who feed only themselves. They are clouds Without Rain. In other words, they say, if you are thirsty and in need and you see this provision that is coming, this flap of rain, and it just passed is Right overhead and doesn't drop anything and you're still thirsty after it's finished. That's the picture he's showing you here blown Along by the wind Autumn trees without fruit in the uprooted twice, dead without fruit. Remember the Jesus says that I am the vine and you are the branches, you're going to have screwed unless you're connected with me. In fact, you're going to have Roots, either. Because he is the route. And so, it's describing people who come along that, have nothing to give you except deception. And yet, so many of them are followed in our lives. You can think about that are like that. They do it for their personal Glory reading on continue in Jude verse 16. These people are glum grumblers fault. Finders they follow their own evil desires. They boast about themselves ladder others for their own advantage.
It's they have a desire to be exalted in this world.
So that they are lifted up, they don't think about eternity eternity isn't on their mind. The life of this world is on their mind, very similar to the Sadducees in the time of Christ. They believe that there was no future that this world was what you got and so they did everything. They can't could to make money even off the people of the community Through the church. That they said that they worshipped and yet they didn't follow God's examples. That's what these people are like feeding on others. But we need to have wisdom and Paul speaks about wisdom in the right to do things in the right, not to do things and rent the ends. Of course, 1st Corinthians 6:12. I have the right to do anything you say, but not everything is beneficial have the right to do anything but I will not be Mastered by anyting. In other words, if what I do brings corruption to other people's lives even if it is supposed something that I shouldn't do it and that's what we need to remember, if somebody brings the strut destruction to the body of Christ, in any way, they need to be. Held accountable. For what they are doing. Jesus says in John 8:34 to 5 Jesus replied. Very truly. I tell you everyone who sins is a slave to sin. Now A Slave has no permanent place in the family but a son belongs to it forever. In other words, if we choose, if we follow Jesus Christ and we say I'm a Christian and I'm a follower of Christ. If we continue to operate in sin leading people, astray. He says, you're not really a follower of Christ. You're not really there. And there are many people. Who fall into this category? In Jesus time, remember that everybody believed that they were going to have them ultimately because they were Jews. Of course, we're going to heaven and Jesus came along and he said, you know not many of your going to make it, there's a narrow path and you're all on this highway leading to hell and you're not going to make it.
I think that I'm going overboard here at the kids are out.
I think that that I've done enough in this though, to help you understand that that we need to have eyes that are open and alert and To what is going on in our world today. You know, we can't have eyes that are shot and wonder about what is going on. In our world, we have to have eyes that are open Understanding God's word and applying it to every aspect of our law. We want the truth to come out. And be there for us. Remember that we're in a battle. You and I were in a battle for the truth of God's word and we're not going to win the battle. Unless we are truly students of God's word and clearance of it. Osprey. Our precious father, we thank you for this time together in your own for the presence of. In our lives. And we pray that you would be with us to guide us each and every step that we taking this life, help us to really be people to recognize what is true? What is right? What is Holy and what is not? Bless us. Oh Lord. In Jesus name. Amen. Let stand for the doxology.
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