06/03/2012

Lord open our eyes, ears and minds so that we see, hear and understand.  Lord we want to be good and faithful servants doing all; You called us to do.  Lord by Your grace fill us with Your love, power and peace, so we can conform our will to Yours; cause us to be streams of living water to those You have called us to love.  We want our bodies, Your temple, to shine because of Your glory, that we might reveal: You in all we do for: Your namesake, and it is in Your name Jesus; we ask, Your will to be done. Amen!

Note this is the first of at least two studies in this next passage from chapter ten of Hebrews; because, there is much the Bible has too said about God’s people being different!  I cannot rush through this truth; because, we are always told to look at ourselves: to make sure we are who we say we are: because, we are what we do; not what we say!

Hebrews 10:26-39 (NASB)
²⁶ For if we go on sinning willfully after receiving the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins,
²⁷ but a terrifying expectation of judgment and THE FURY OF A FIRE WHICH WILL CONSUME THE ADVERSARIES. {(Note, if you are not one with God; you are His adversary)}
²⁸ Anyone who has set aside the Law of Moses dies without mercy on the testimony of two or three witnesses.
²⁹ How much severer punishment do you think he will deserve who has trampled under foot the Son of God, and has regarded as unclean the blood of the covenant by which he was sanctified, and has insulted the Spirit of grace?
³⁰ For we know Him who said, "VENGEANCE IS MINE, I WILL REPAY." And again, "THE Lord WILL JUDGE HIS PEOPLE."
³¹ It is a terrifying thing to fall into the hands of the living God.
³² But remember the former days, when, after being enlightened, you endured a great conflict of sufferings,
³³ partly by being made a public spectacle through reproaches and tribulations, and partly by becoming sharers with those who were so treated.
³⁴ For you showed sympathy to the prisoners and accepted joyfully the seizure of your property, knowing that you have for yourselves a better possession and a lasting one.
³⁵ Therefore, do not throw away your confidence, which has a great reward.
³⁶ For you have need of endurance, so that when you have done the will of God, you may receive what was promised.
³⁷ FOR YET IN A VERY LITTLE WHILE, HE WHO IS COMING WILL COME, AND WILL NOT DELAY.
³⁸ BUT MY RIGHTEOUS ONE SHALL LIVE BY FAITH; AND IF HE SHRINKS BACK, MY SOUL HAS NO PLEASURE IN HIM.
³⁹ But we are not of those who shrink back to destruction, but of those who have faith to the preserving of the soul.

Note Peter tells us, we will know them by their fruit!  Also, God is able to keep people on the path they chose, so make sure you’re on the right path, and look at your fruit!

2 Peter 2:1-22 (NASB)
¹ But false prophets also arose among the people, just as there will also be false teachers among you, who will secretly introduce destructive heresies,                                Page 1

even denying the Master who bought them, bringing swift destruction upon themselves.
² Many will follow their sensuality, and because of them the way of the truth will be maligned;
³ and in their greed they will exploit you with false words; their judgment from long ago is not idle, and their destruction is not asleep.
⁴ For if God did not spare angels when they sinned, but cast them into hell and committed them to pits of darkness, reserved for judgment;
⁵ and did not spare the ancient world, but preserved Noah, a preacher of righteousness, with seven others, when He brought a flood upon the world of the ungodly;
⁶ and if He condemned the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah to destruction by reducing them to ashes, having made them an example to those who would live ungodly lives thereafter;
⁷ and if He rescued righteous Lot, oppressed by the sensual conduct of unprincipled men
⁸ (for by what he saw and heard that righteous man, while living among them, felt his righteous soul tormented day after day by their lawless deeds),
⁹ then the Lord knows how to rescue the godly from temptation, and to keep the unrighteous under punishment for the day of judgment,
¹⁰ and especially those who indulge the flesh in its corrupt desires and despise authority. Daring, self-willed, they do not tremble when they revile angelic majesties,
¹¹ whereas angels who are greater in might and power do not bring a reviling judgment against them before the Lord.
¹² But these, like unreasoning animals, born as creatures of instinct to be captured and killed, reviling where they have no knowledge, will in the destruction of those creatures also be destroyed,
¹³ suffering wrong as the wages of doing wrong. They count it a pleasure to revel in the daytime. They are stains and blemishes, reveling in their deceptions, as they carouse with you,
¹⁴ having eyes full of adultery that never cease from sin, enticing unstable souls, having a heart trained in greed, accursed children;
¹⁵ forsaking the right way, they have gone astray, having followed the way of Balaam, the son of Beor, who loved the wages of unrighteousness;
¹⁶ but he received a rebuke for his own transgression, for a mute donkey, speaking with a voice of a man, restrained the madness of the prophet.
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.
²⁰ For if, after they have escaped the defilements of the world by the knowledge of the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, they are again entangled in them and are overcome, the last state has become worse for them than the first.
²¹ For it would be better for them not to have known the way of righteousness,       Page 2

than having known it, to turn away from the holy commandment handed on to them.
²² It has happened to them according to the true proverb, "A DOG RETURNS TO ITS OWN VOMIT," and, "A sow, after washing, returns to wallowing in the mire."

Note John makes clear two things, if we believe in Jesus; we overcome the world, but to be overcomers; we must obey God, what He ask us to do is not hard; if, we have truly surrender our will to His.  J. Vernon McGee the death John speaks about in verses 16 and 17 is physical death not spiritual death; because brother can never die spiritual, but God may take them home!

1 John 5:1-21 (NASB)
¹ Whoever believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of God, and whoever loves the Father loves the child born of Him.
² By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God and observe His commandments.
³ For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments; and His commandments are not burdensome.
⁴ For whatever is born of God overcomes the world; and this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith.
⁵ Who is the one who overcomes the world, but he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?
⁶ This is the One who came by water and blood, Jesus Christ; not with the water only, but with the water and with the blood. It is the Spirit who testifies, because the Spirit is the truth.
⁷ For there are three that testify:
⁸ the Spirit and the water and the blood; and the three are in agreement.
⁹ If we receive the testimony of men, the testimony of God is greater; for the testimony of God is this, that He has testified concerning His Son.
¹⁰ The one who believes in the Son of God has the testimony in himself; the one who does not believe God has made Him a liar, because he has not believed in the testimony that God has given concerning His Son.
¹¹ And the testimony is this, that God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son.
¹² He who has the Son has the life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have the life.
¹³ These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, so that you may know that you have eternal life.
¹⁴ This is the confidence which we have before Him, that, if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us.
¹⁵ And if we know that He hears us in whatever we ask, we know that we have the requests which we have asked from Him.
¹⁶ If anyone sees his brother committing a sin not leading to death, he shall ask and God will for him give life to those who commit sin not leading to death. There is a sin leading to death; I do not say that he should make request for this.
¹⁷ All unrighteousness is sin, and there is a sin not leading to death.
¹⁸ We know that no one who is born of God sins; but He who was born of God{(Jesus)} keeps him, and the evil one does not touch him.
¹⁹ We know that we are of God, and that the whole world lies in the power of the evil one.
²⁰ And we know that the Son of God has come, and has given us understanding so that we may know Him who is true; and we are in Him who is true, in His Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God and eternal life.
²¹ Little children, guard yourselves from idols.  {(Anything that weaken your faith in Christ!)}

Note Jesus said about the Holy Spirit in, John 16:7-11 ⁷ "But I tell you the truth, it is to your advantage that I go away; for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you; but if I go, I will send Him to you. ⁸ "And He, when He comes, will convict the world concerning sin and righteousness and judgment; ⁹ concerning sin, because they do not believe in Me; ¹⁰ and concerning righteousness, because I go to the Father and you no longer see Me; ¹¹ and concerning judgment, because the ruler of this world has been judged. Jesus tells us in Matthew the sin that brings spiritual death, is rejecting the truth from the Holy Spirit about our state of sin, that Jesus is the only Savior sent by God: to save us from our sinful state; also we should have fruit of repentance, in our changed lives.  Rejecting God’s forgiveness is the only thing that can keep us from the age to come in God’s Kingdom. 

Matthew 12:30-38 (NASB)
³⁰ "He who is not with Me is against Me; and he who does not gather with Me scatters.
³¹ "Therefore I say to you, any sin and blasphemy shall be forgiven people, but blasphemy against the Spirit shall not be forgiven.
³² "Whoever speaks a word against the Son of Man, it shall be forgiven him; but whoever speaks against the Holy Spirit, it shall not be forgiven him, either in this age or in the age to come.
³³ "Either make the tree good and its fruit good, or make the tree bad and its fruit bad; for the tree is known by its fruit.
³⁴ "You brood of vipers, how can you, being evil, speak what is good? For the mouth speaks out of that which fills the heart.
³⁵ "The good man brings out of his good treasure what is good; and the evil man brings out of his evil treasure what is evil.
³⁶ "But I tell you that every careless word that people speak, they shall give an accounting for it in the day of judgment.
³⁷ "For by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned."

Note the next Psalm tell us, if you are His; you are forever save in, His power and blessing; if, you are His enemies; He will remove you and yours, from this earth.
Psalms 21:1-13 (NASB)
¹ O Lord, in Your strength the king will be glad, And in Your salvation how greatly he will rejoice!
² You have given him his heart's desire, And You have not withheld the request of his lips. Selah.
³ For You meet him with the blessings of good things; You set a crown of fine gold on his head.
⁴ He asked life of You, You gave it to him, Length of days forever and ever.
⁵ His glory is great through Your salvation, Splendor and majesty You place upon him.
⁶ For You make him most blessed forever; You make him joyful with gladness  

in Your presence.
⁷ For the king trusts in the Lord, And through the lovingkindness                         Page 4

of the Most High he will not be shaken.
⁸ Your hand will find out all your enemies; Your right hand will find out those who hate you.
⁹ You will make them as a fiery oven in the time of your anger; The Lord will swallow them up in His wrath, And fire will devour them.
¹⁰ Their offspring You will destroy from the earth, And their descendants from among the sons of men.
¹¹ Though they intended evil against You And devised a plot, They will not succeed.
¹² For You will make them turn their back; You will aim with Your bowstrings at their faces.
¹³ Be exalted, O Lord, in Your strength; We will sing and praise Your power.

Note the next passage is the last call to the church of God, it starts off with a statement that God wants us to understand this Book His Word.  Then not the normal call to repent, but instead we should stay as we are.  If you have understood what came before, then hypocrisy should be done away with; ether you are His doing what you should be doing, or you not, but He is going to give to all what their life has produce!  The time of recompense is at hand; time is short!  The wash robes, is a testimony about the blood of the Lamb. Also a statement about grace is shown in the offer of living water, without cost; Jesus paid the price for us.  Also, everyone in God’s present call; all who will hear, to come to Him!  And lastly, God warns all not to add too, or take away from the truth; He has revealed about His Son, our Savior, and His word.

Revelation 22:10-21 (NASB)
¹⁰ And he *said to me, "Do not seal up the words of the prophecy of this book, for the time is near.
¹¹ "Let the one who does wrong, still do wrong; and the one who is filthy, still be filthy; and let the one who is righteous, still practice righteousness; and the one who is holy, still keep himself holy."
¹² "Behold, I am coming quickly, and My reward is with Me, to render to every man according to what he has done.
¹³ "I am the Alpha and the Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the end."
¹⁴ Blessed are those who wash their robes, so that they may have the right to the tree of life, and may enter by the gates into the city.
¹⁵ Outside are the dogs and the sorcerers and the immoral persons and the murderers and the idolaters, and everyone who loves and practices lying.
¹⁶ "I, Jesus, have sent My angel to testify to you these things for the churches. I am the root and the descendant of David, the bright morning star."
¹⁷ The Spirit and the bride say, "Come." And let the one who hears say, "Come." And let the one who is thirsty come; let the one who wishes take the water of life without cost.
¹⁸ I testify to everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book: if anyone adds to them, God will add to him the plagues which are written in this book;
¹⁹ and if anyone takes away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God will take away his part from the tree of life and from the holy city, which are written in this book.
²⁰ He who testifies to these things says, "Yes, I am coming quickly." Amen. Come, Lord Jesus.
²¹ The grace of the Lord Jesus be with all. Amen.                                                    Page 5

Note Jesus states in the next passage, that there is power in His name, and just because someone use the power for good; the only thing that it can be used for because, God is good, and only does good: all the time: if that person is not truly someone whom Jesus has a personal relationship with; that good, that the power of Jesus name did; will not save them!  We must know; we are His; because, He is in us changing us from the inside out, and we should be doer of His word, not mere hearers who deceive themselves.

Matthew 7:16-27 (NASB)
¹⁶ "You will know them by their fruits. Grapes are not gathered from thorn bushes nor figs from thistles, are they?
¹⁷ "So every good tree bears good fruit, but the bad tree bears bad fruit.
¹⁸ "A good tree cannot produce bad fruit, nor can a bad tree produce good fruit.
¹⁹ "Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.
²⁰ "So then, you will know them by their fruits.
²¹ "Not everyone who says to Me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father who is in heaven will enter.
²² "Many will say to Me on that day, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your name, and in Your name cast out demons, and in Your name perform many miracles?'
²³ "And then I will declare to them, 'I never knew you; DEPART FROM ME, YOU WHO PRACTICE LAWLESSNESS.'
²⁴ "Therefore everyone who hears these words of Mine and acts on them, may be compared to a wise man who built his house on the rock.
²⁵ "And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and slammed against that house; and yet it did not fall, for it had been founded on the rock.
²⁶ "Everyone who hears these words of Mine and does not act on them, will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand.
²⁷ "The rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and slammed against that house; and it fell—and great was its fall."

Note we are told in: Romans 10:8-10, ⁸ But what does it say? "THE WORD IS NEAR YOU, IN YOUR MOUTH AND IN YOUR HEART"—that is, the word of faith which we are preaching, ⁹ that if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved; ¹⁰ for with the heart a person believes, resulting in righteousness, and with the mouth he confesses, resulting in salvation. Note God has done everything needed for us to be saved.  We are also told in: Ephesians 2:8-10, ⁸ For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; ⁹ not as a result of works, so that no one may boast. ¹⁰ For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them.  But we need to remember what John the Baptist said in: Matthew 3:7-9, ⁷ But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming for baptism, he said to them, "You brood of vipers, who warned you to flee from the wrath to come? ⁸ "Therefore bear fruit in keeping with repentance; ⁹ and do not suppose that you can say to yourselves, 'We have Abraham for our father'; for I say to you that from these stones God is able to raise up children to Abraham.   Also James said in: James 1:21-22, ²¹ Therefore, putting aside all filthiness and all that remains of wickedness, in humility receive the word implanted, which is able to save your souls. ²² But prove yourselves doers of the word, and not merely hearers who delude themselves.   Amen!                      Page 6