Keeping It Real

Keeping It Real

2 Corinthians 11: ¹² I will go on doing what I am doing now, in order to keep those other “apostles” from having any reason for boasting and saying that they work in the same way that we do. ¹³ Those men are not true apostles—they are false apostles, who lie about their work and disguise themselves to look like real apostles of Christ. ¹⁴ Well, no wonder! Even Satan can disguise himself to look like an angel of light! ¹⁵ So it is no great thing if his servants disguise themselves to look like servants of righteousness. In the end they will get exactly what their actions deserve.

 

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Looking at the “mistakes” my peers made in other departments gave me a way to mention how “good” my department was doing. Competition was fierce over getting budget and I felt the pressure to survive. One day an issue did arise in my area. Suddenly, I was being scrutinized instead of praised.

 

• I was busy looking at someone else’s problems.
• I was focused on what other people were doing and not paying attention to what I was supposed to do.
• I was insecure about me so I took attention off of me and put it on someone else.

 

Paul said a mouthful when he wrote the words “I will go on doing what I am doing.” Instead of spending time telling people about every detail of how the false apostles were disguising themselves to look like angels of light, he had to do what GOD called him to do so he would not fall.

 

My Observations

• GOD wants me to focus my attention on my relationship with HIM.
• GOD wants me to see that I am the one who needs salvation, direction and encouragement.
• GOD wants me to be true to HIS word.

 

Keeping it real with GOD is important. I mean, HE does not want to hear “but he” or “but she” from me. HE may ask me “How did you respond in the situation?” or “Did you use the weapons of love and patience I gave you?” The only response I can say to HIM is “No.”

 

BUT HE gives me many other chances to grow up and try out HIS valuable weapons. He also wants me prepared for daily attacks from the enemy’s attacks. HE gives me truth, righteousness, the gospel of peace, faith, salvation and the HIS word as my daily protection. I am glad JESUS forgives my mistakes and gives me another chance each day.

 

Challenge

• What does the writer say about the war between “good” and “evil” in this passage?
• Do you think you are responsible for fighting false messages said by others?
• Have you ever messed up and needed grace?
• Will you seek a solid relationship with JESUS and make HIM LORD of your life so you can have a “real” abundant life today?

Taking it Seriously

Taking it Seriously

1 Corinthians 4: ¹⁸ Some of you have become proud because you have thought that I would not be coming to visit you. ¹⁹ If the Lord is willing, however, I will come to you soon, and then I will find out for myself the power which these proud people have, and not just what they say. ²⁰ For the Kingdom of God is not a matter of words but of power. ²¹ Which do you prefer? Shall I come to you with a whip, or in a spirit of love and gentleness?

 

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“Do you know how to do this?” was the serious question the interviewer had for me. I was a programmer and he asked if I could show a heart beating on a screen during surgery. I had to say “No” because it was a life or death situation.

 

• There have been many times when I had to take what I was doing seriously.
• There have been times when I was not prepared for something a little more serious.
• There have been times when I wanted the title without the responsibility.

 

Paul heard of people who were speaking nice words, but were doing it without the power associated with the Kingdom of GOD. He points out that it is not what is said, but the power attached to the words.

 

• GOD wants me to take HIS Word seriously.
• GOD wants me to live by HIS words, not just say them to look good in front of people.
• GOD wants me to speak with authority because I live with authority.

 

Speaking about GOD needs to be taken seriously. I mean, it can be fashionable to post a scripture on my car, but it would be powerless if my driving is counter to the scripture. I am powerless when I use the phrase “Do as I say, not what I do.”

 

Fortunately for me, GOD is the power. I may make mistakes, but HIS power to forgive me gives me the authority to speak about HIM. I can say “JESUS forgave me for my sins” with all authority, because it points to HIM, not to me. There is nothing more serious than GOD’s kingdom. I am glad JESUS is my Savior. I take HIS Word of love seriously.

 

• Are you posting scripture recklessly?
• Do you take GOD’s name lightly?
• Will you use GOD’s Word with the seriousness HE has revealed to you so you can speak with the authority needed to grow the Kingdom of GOD today?

Who What When

Matthew 24: ³⁶ “But about that day or hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. ³⁷ As it was in the days of Noah, so it will be at the coming of the Son of Man. ³⁸ For in the days before the flood, people were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, up to the day Noah entered the ark; ³⁹ and they knew nothing about what would happen until the flood came and took them all away. That is how it will be at the coming of the Son of Man. ⁴⁰ Two men will be in the field; one will be taken and the other left. ⁴¹ Two women will be grinding with a hand mill; one will be taken and the other left.

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Waiting was the horrible part. I did not know how the announcement would come or if I had even made it in. The principal called out names to the office over the loud speaker. My heart was elated. I had passed the test to get into the high school I wanted to attend!

• Sometimes I get anxious waiting.
• Sometimes I get impatient looking for something to happen.
• Sometimes I get jittery just sitting when I am expecting something to happen.

Humans have said “JESUS will return on X day at X hour.” Movies have been made about specific dates the world will end. This is strange because not even JESUS knows the day or the hour, only the FATHER knows.

• GOD wants me to seek HIM daily so I do not have to sit and wait.
• GOD wants me to prepare people for JESUS’s return so I need to focus only on that.
• GOD wants me to stop worrying about those who predict the end of the world and focus on making sure people believe in the SON.

The day is unknown but it will come quickly, like a thief in the night. GOD wants me to be ready.

• Are you ready for JESUS’s return?
• Do you think it is centuries away?
• Can you stop being skeptical about HIS return because of those who claim to know the day or the hour?
• Will you serve GOD today?

Planted or Pit

Matthew 15: ¹² Then the disciples came to him and asked, “Do you know that the Pharisees were offended when they heard this?”

¹³ He replied, “Every plant that my heavenly Father has not planted will be pulled up by the roots. ¹⁴ Leave them; they are blind guides. If the blind lead the blind, both will fall into a pit.”

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Without reading the Bible, I began to teach Sunday school. I was a corporate instructor at the time, so this could not be as hard. I picked up the lesson and began to wing it. They ate it up. This was easy!

• When I want to be noticed, I am blind and headed for the pit.
• When I think I can “wing it” with GOD, I am blind and headed for the pit.
• When I do not even believe in the words I say or teach about GOD; I am blind and headed for the pit.

I began to pick and choose what I taught in order to get rich discussion going. I stayed away from all the “boring” parts of the Bible and away from the sections that may be offensive. Soon, I was only saying what people wanted to hear. BUT GOD wanted something different.

• GOD wants me to walk with HIM instead of walking with the crowd.
• GOD wants me to believe in all of HIS word, not just the easy parts.
• GOD wants me to teach from studying HIM versus “winging it.”

Living for GOD means I do not point at myself. It means I have to say what is in the Bible, not what’s on my mind. GOD wants my eyes wide open to HIS teaching so I can lead others to HIM.

• Are you trying to steer away from some of the more difficult teaching of GOD?
• Do you teach about things people want to hear?
• Can you stop following the crowd and start teaching what GOD says to teach?
• Will you allow yourself to be planted by GOD?

Prophesy Correctly

Jeremiah 28: ⁶ He said, “Amen! May the Lord do so! May the Lord fulfill the words you have prophesied by bringing the articles of the Lord’s house and all the exiles back to this place from Babylon. ⁷ Nevertheless, listen to what I have to say in your hearing and in the hearing of all the people: ⁸ From early times the prophets who preceded you and me have prophesied war, disaster and plague against many countries and great kingdoms. ⁹ But the prophet who prophesies peace will be recognized as one truly sent by the Lord only if his prediction comes true.”

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Fascinated by the thought of CHRIST’s return, I listened intently to the words of the preacher. He taught on the book of Revelation of JESUS CHRIST and I ate up every word. It spoke of a future with no worries, no problems, no fights and most of all no more anger from GOD. It intrigued me. Shortly after the weeks of sermons another “preacher” said the world would end that year. I guess the second was wrong.

By the way, the prophet in this passage of Jeremiah was a false prophet and was killed.

• GOD does not take HIS word lightly.
• GOD wants those who speak prophesy to speak only words given to them by GOD alone.
• GOD wants prophets who are not scare to speak the truth about HIS SON.

No one knows the day or the hour so any prediction about when GOD is going to end the world as we know it will be false. Some have looked at old calendars and even made movies showing the apocalypse. This is what we can be sure about.

• GOD loved me so much that HE died for me and everyone else who believes they need a savior to do the same for them.
• GOD is building a new place apart from this earth that has not been cursed.
• GOD is returning soon and while we do not know the year, month or day, we need to act in s sense of urgency.

Each day should be lived like HE is going to return that day. As I look up to the sky each night, I wonder “When?” I do not get an answer to that question, but I do hear “Feed MY sheep.” This means serve GOD and do not worry about tomorrow.

• Has someone given you a false prophesy?
• Are you busy listening to words about houses and cars and mates without truly listening to GOD?
• Will you stop trying to hear what satisfies you and seek what GOD is really saying to mankind?

Belief in the Return

Isaiah 11: ⁶ The wolf will live with the lamb,
    the leopard will lie down with the goat,
the calf and the lion and the yearling together;
    and a little child will lead them.
⁷ The cow will feed with the bear,
    their young will lie down together,
    and the lion will eat straw like the ox.
⁸ The infant will play near the cobra’s den,
    and the young child will put its hand into the viper’s nest.
⁹ They will neither harm nor destroy
    on all my holy mountain,
for the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the Lord
    as the waters cover the sea.

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Prediction after prediction came and went. One guy had people sell everything because the end of the world was supposed to happen in the 70’s and again in the 80’s and again in 2012. I love reading about the future, but I never get excited about a person’s prediction of the world’s demise.

• I believe that JESUS is GOD who became human to be blamed and murdered for my sins.
• I believe that JESUS spent time on earth after HIS resurrection but has left to build a new place for those who believe in the grace of HIS actions.
• I believe that JESUS will return soon and the scripture listed above will be very real.

Because I believe, I look out for HIM every day. I expect HIM to tear open the sky with power and glory. Until then, my job is to be ready. I must serve people here on earth while doing my job as if GOD were my boss.

• GOD wants me to live for HIM daily and remain prepared for HIS return.
• GOD wants me to never give up on waiting on HIM, but be cautious about false predictions about humans.
• GOD wants me to be useful here on earth so I do not have to give up in order to wait on HIM.

Waiting on GOD means staying focused on those around me. Providing food and shelter and spiritual growth is a daily task. I do not have to stop, sit in a corner and wait. GOD sees every action and HE wants me to make the best of my life.

• Are you sick and tired of your circumstance?
• Have you stopped believing in JESUS’ return?
• Do you think HE has forgotten about you?
• Will you put your trust back in HIM today and remain steadfast in your belief?