Titus 1:16: They profess that they know God; but in works they deny him, being abominable, and disobedient, and unto every good work reprobate.
Ah Friends, the wonderful weekend weather continues, though all the frivolity of St. Paddy’s Day is over. Time to get back to the Lenten austerity. ‘Bah humbug!’ I hear some of you unwisely declare. Anyway, I sure hope that many believers in the northern climes, who used the cold temps as an excuse for not going to church, will go now, since that excuse no longer holds water. (smile) But knowing this generation, many of us will find some other excuse for not going. Friends, please remember the adages; ‘one hand washes the other, and it takes two to tango,’ meaning that we can’t live this life successfully by ourselves, and if we reject God for spurious reasons, He will not respond favourably to us in our time of need. And don’t forget also, that though God LOVES us a whole heap, He doesn’t really need us, being omnipotent and all that He is, but we definitely and desperately need Him, for without Him, we are nothing. That means WE have to go to Him, because OUR future depends on Him, not vice versa. Consequently, we have to be very careful with whom we associate and listen to, since there are so many false prophets and teachers in this evil, ungodly world just waiting to lead us astray from the truth of God’s Word. Our Bit says it nicely: ‘They profess that they know God; but in works they deny him, being abominable, and disobedient, and unto every good work reprobate (disqualified).’ Yes Friends, con artists abound out there, seeking to trick us out of everything we have. And though they might get our earthly possessions, we certainly can’t allow them to trick us out of salvation and everlasting life; eternal separation from Jesus! No sir! For that is indeed true death! And the only way to avoid such a calamity is by being able to pick out the wolves in disguise from the flock of sheep wandering around. Now yesterday we looked at some scripture dealing with the first part of our Bit, ‘They profess that they know God.’ Today, let’s move on to the next part; ‘but in works they deny him, being abominable, and disobedient, and unto every good work reprobate.’ And these awesome verses from Bruh Paul to Timothy admirably capture the essence and spirit of the false teacher. ‘For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous (money lovers), boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy. Without natural affection, trucebreakers (irreconcilable), false accusers (slanderers), incontinent (without self-control), fierce (brutal), despisers of those that are good, Traitors, heady (reckless), high-minded (haughty), lovers of pleasures, more than (rather than) LOVERS of God; Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof (mere religion without a true spiritual life): from such turn away. For of this sort are they which creep into houses, and lead captive (prey upon) silly women laden with sins, led away with divers lusts (especially susceptible to false teachers), ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth (seeking some esoteric quest for truth apart from God’s Word). Now as Jannes and Jambres withstood Moses, (the two magicians in Pharaoh’s court, who tried to duplicate Moses’ miracles – Ex.7:11, 9:11), so do these also resist the truth: men of corrupt minds, reprobate (disapproved) concerning the faith. But they shall proceed no further: for their folly shall be manifest unto all men, as theirs (the magicians) also was.’ (2 Tim.3:2-9) Oh Friends, yuh sure Bruh Paul didn’t write that recently, instead of almost two thousand years ago, for it’s the perfect description of our modern world! Every evil and ungodly trait he mentions there is now glorified in our world, and it’s become increasingly difficult to pick out the wolves from the sheep for their disguises are so authentic. That’s why each believer has to delve into the Word themselves; read, study, meditate on it and ask questions of trustworthy followers, then plant the truth of God in their hearts, minds and souls, so that when the false teachers and prophets come with their lies and slants, you’ll be able to distinguish them as wolves in sheep’s clothing. Oh my brethren, of all the generations of mankind, this one most desperately needs to know the truth of God’s Word, and unfortunately are not getting taught it. We as parents and leaders of the church have sadly fallen down on our responsibility to teach the generation that comes after us, and now they are solidly under Beelzebub’s thumb, heading for death and damnation in Hades! However, as we all know, while there is life there is hope, but we don’t know how much life is left, so please, let’s begin IMMEDIATELY, RIGHT NOW, to try and teach them the Word before it’s too late. We talk plenty about spreading the Word all over the world, but remember Charity, LOVE, begins at home, so let’s make sure we teach the Word at home first nuh. Only then will be ready to go unto the outside world. Much LOVE!…for the children’s sake…please teach them to pray…from an early age…
SCRIP-BITS 