SCRIP-BITS

Matthew 18:7.    Woe unto the world because of offenses! for it must needs be that offenses come; but woe to that man by whom the offense cometh!
 
Oh Friends, it’s been raining for most of the last two days in my area, and unfortunately I’m still experiencing some leakage in my basement. Ah Lord eh! And though it’s not as much as it was before, leakage is leakage, be it big or small, for it denotes a problem. And sure it’s disheartening because I thought we had fixed it all. But what can I do eh? Nothing but live with it until I can get it fixed again. As the man says; ‘that’s life!’ You do your best with what you have, then leave the rest to God, which is exactly what I’m doing. Getting all worked up over it is not going to improve the problem, only make me feel worse. So Lord, I’ve done my best, called my repair person about it, and put some towels to sap up the water, the rest is now in your hands. Amen. Ah mih people, life’s not easy, for when it’s not one thing it’s another, there’s always something around trying to make us lose our peace. As Jesus says in our Bit: ‘Woe unto the world because of offenses (enticements to sin)! for it must needs be that offenses come; but woe to that man by whom the offence cometh!’ Yes Friends, Jesus acknowledges that temptations to sin will come against us, because it’s simply part of the world order. Bruh Paul recognized this too when, concerning the Last Supper, he told the Corinthians: ‘For there must be also heresies (factions) among you, that they which are approved may be made manifest (recognized) among you.’ (1 Cor.11:19) He was sure that divisions would occur in the church, that being the very nature of man -though surely not as many as there are today- as the scholars say, ‘if only to bring light to those who defend the truth.’ Then in 1 Timothy, re predictions of apostasy, Bruh Paul declares: ‘Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing (deceiving) spirits, and doctrines of devils; Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron.’ (1 Tim.4:1-2) Now apostasy is deliberate rejection of the faith, after having once professed it. So Bruh Paul’s saying that there will be defectors from the faith, who have been bewitched and bewildered by evil spirits (demons). Those turncoats have been branded by sin, and carry around their guilt, unfortunately while still preaching to others. Of these types we must beware my brethren. And I like how he says it in 2 Timothy. ‘Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution. But evil men and seducers (imposters) shall wax (grow) worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived.’ (2 Tim.3:12-13) Now that’s the gospel truth Friends, as is currently being proven in our violent and tumultuous world. Fraud artists and con-men are ever so prevalent in these times, existing from the very heights of power right down to the level of the poorest poor. It seems like most of us have scarred consciences since it doesn’t faze us to defraud or scam our fellow man. Peter possibly said it the best: ‘But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily (secretly) shall bring in damnable (destructive) heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction. And many shall follow their pernicious (destructive) ways; by reason of whom the way of truth shall be evil spoken of (blasphemed). And through covetousness shall they with feigned (deceptive) words make merchandise of (exploit) you: whose judgement now of a long time lingereth not (has not been idle), and their damnation slumbereth not.’ (2 Pet.2:1-3) Now what does all of that mean? The scholars explain it better than I can. ‘The opposite of true revelation is the message of false prophets and false teachers who deceive God’s flock and bring in damnable heresies. These heresies (unorthodox teachings) include an open denial of Christ Himself. Denying the Lord that bought them indicates that Christ’s atonement potentially extends to all men, including these false teachers who reject Him. Therefore they will experience destruction because they themselves will be deceived by their own teaching and continue to reject the way of truth.’ Yes Friends, those same false teachers and prophets will be destroyed, having being deceived by their own false teaching. Like the blind leading the blind. Any way people, that’s enough for today. I don’t want to burden you with too much stuff to assimilate all at once, (smile) so we’ll continue this tomorrow, if we see the light of day. Till then, please LOVE your God, LIVE your Faith and SPREAD His Word. Much LOVE!…temptation is inevitable…but succumbing to it is not…it’s a personal choice…