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A WELL WITHOUT WATER

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2 Peter 2:17 The word of truth is the water of life. In which, it refreshes the souls that receive it. But those who deceive (false prophets/teachers) speak error because there is no truth in them. As clouds hinder the light of the sun, so do the false prophets darken counsel with words that have no truth. Being that these men promote darkness in the world, it is fitting that the mist of darkness will be their place in the hereafter. They gave off an impression of being wellsprings however they had no substance. This would suggest how they were as instructors, wellsprings of water in the desert but without water . Darkness is an example of God’s judgment. Peter is warning of false prophets coming into the church. This is a danger to growing Christians. A well without water is a dry well. There is no nourishment for life. It is pointless. Drawing dirty water from a dirty well is just as bad, there is no nourishment. If there is no water, then there is no life.   John 4:14, &
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FOLLOWING HIS STEPS

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1 Peter 2:21 There are numerous reasons why we suffer. Some of our sufferings are the immediate aftereffect of our own transgression. A few of our sins may happen because of our foolishness. A few of our sins are the consequence of us living in a fallen world. Peter is expounding on the suffering that is a result of our good works. Christ never trespassed, yet He endured with the goal that we could be liberated. At the point when we follow Christ's model and live for other people, we also may suffer. Our objective ought to be to confront suffering with tolerance, tranquility, and certainty that God oversees all things to come. We need to make a COMMITMENT .  We need to pick up our CROSS .  It may not always be  CONVENIENT .  We may need to get out of our COMFORT zone.   Matthew 16:24, ‘Then Jesus said unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.’ Mark 8:34, ‘And when he had called the people unto him with
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PASSING THE TEST

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James 1:1-6   We all have faced and will face many tests. How we manage those tests depends on us. Some tests we study for, as in academic. As believers, we should be studying our Bibles continually, which means we are to read them. Some tests we prepare for, as in medical tests. These we do not study for but there are actions we must complete prior to those medical tests. Spiritually speaking, there are procedures we must do to prepare ourselves for spiritual tests. Prayer, seeking the Lord’s guidance. In verse one James, the brother of Jesus, authors this book to encourage Christians. It still applies today. This scripture deals with enduring trials and temptations, which we will call tests . In verse two My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations; The temptation here refers to trials or tests. Why would we want to be joyous about a test? Notice the scripture did not say IF we face a test, but WHEN we face a test. Get ready, tests will co
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WHAT IS FAITH?

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Hebrews 11:1-3 Faith is to believe in and have the assurance of something. Faith is God-centered, not man-centered. Man-centered faith – The chair I sit in will support me. My car will start. My pen will write. God-centered faith – Total dependence on God and a willingness to do His will. Complete, humble obedience. The amount of faith is not as important as the right kind of faith.   Author of Faith – Hebrews 12:2, "Looking unto  Jesus the author and finisher of our faith ;  who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God."     Saving Faith – Ephesians 2:8, " For by grace are ye saved through faith ; and not of yourselves: it is the gift of God"   Sanctifying Faith – Galatians 2:20, "I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and  the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God,  wh
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BEING OBEDIENT

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  Philippians 2:5-11   Here Paul is writing to the Philippians, instructing them to be humble like Christ. This passage is comparative to Isaiah 53, the prophecy of the suffering servant. There are several characteristics of Christ brought about in this passage of scripture: He has consistently existed with God. He is equivalent to God since He is God. ( John 1:1, Colossians 1:15-19 ). Even though He is God, He became a man to satisfy God's arrangement of salvation. ( John 1:14, Galatians 4:4 ). He did not simply profess to have a man's body; He became a man to relate to man's wrongdoings. He intentionally dismissed His heavenly rights and benefits out of affection for His Father. He died on the cross for our wrongdoings so we would not need to confront everlasting death. He was glorified by God because of His obedience.   God raised Him to the right hand of the Father where He will rule as our Lord and Savior forever. The case of our Lord Jesus Christ is set befo
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Should Differences of Opinions in Politics Affect Our Christian Beliefs?

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I received an email from someone stating an interest in seeing an article about home church groups that shun members because they did not vote for a particular political candidate and regarding the politicizing of the recent pandemic.   My first thought is this, if professing Christians actually put Christ first in their life, and instead of looking at themselves and what he or she thinks, they should put their mindset as to what Jesus might say or do about a particular social issue. In Matthew 22:15-22 , it talks of a particular issue where the religious leaders question Jesus about paying taxes. The Jews were expected to pay taxes to help the Roman government. They loathed this tax collection on the grounds that the cash went straightforwardly into Caesar's depository, where some of it went to help the agnostic sanctuaries and the wanton way of life of the Roman gentry. Caesar's picture on the coins was a consistent sign of Israel's subjugation to Rome. Jesus dete
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Witnessing

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Our Christian leadership, or Christians as a whole, have failed in their duty to present Christ to the world. Our society is overrun with sin. Practically everyone will agree that murder and theft are wrong, but adultery is acceptable. Homosexuality is rampant and anyone who disagrees with that lifestyle is deemed to be discriminatory. Homosexual marriage is now considered acceptable. God made male and female, and marriage is between a man and a woman. And there are those today that now claim that the gender identity issue is acceptable behavior, and if you are born a male but want to be a female, that is ok, and vice versa. If Christians speak against any type of sin, it is considered hate bashing.  Let Jesus' words give us encouragement;  Luke 6:22-23, “Blessed are ye, when men shall hate you, and when they shall separate you from their company, and shall reproach you, and cast out your name as evil, for the Son of man's sake. Rejoice ye in that day, and leap for joy: for, be
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