"Cloudiness!"

 "These are spots in your feasts of charity, when they feast with you, feeding themselves without fear: clouds they are without water, carried about of winds; trees whose fruit withereth, without fruit, twice dead, plucked up by the roots; (Jude 12 KJV) 

""O Israel and Judah, what should I do with you?" says the LORD. "For your love vanishes like the morning mist and disappears like dew in the sunlight. I sent my prophets to cut you in pieces - to slaughter you with my words, and judgments as inescapable as light. I want you to show love, not offer sacrifices. I want you to know me more than I want burnt offerings. But like Adam, you broke my covenant and betrayed my trust."" (Hosea 6:4-7 NLT)

 This might look a little different, but there is more that needs to be said, probably more than I have time to talk about. Whatever you might have thought about my closing statements yesterday, this is more than just me speaking my mind: it is the heart of the matter, which overcomes what the mind might think, making it what it is, that the Bible 110% true; regardless of the doubt that might cloud the mind! 

 To start, just the fact that God actually made the heavens and the earth in six days, actually six 24 hour days, is almost too much for the mind to comprehend; but because the Bible actually says, "the morning and the night were a day," then we must at least believe God can do anything, as quickly or as slowly as He wants! If God can make light, in the fraction of a second; then He can make everything else within a week; that much I am pretty sure of! 

 Did you know that God slowed down the earth from turning; even without causing it to break or even somehow skip a beat! Read it for yourself, Joshua 10:12-13 records what happened. The question about whether or not He stopped the sun, and if it was the earth; should make I us wonder; but I am surely convinced that it was the earth that stood still, because the one spinning around the sun! Just as the eclipse that took place when Jesus hung on the cross, which lasted three hours! Even in the brightest part of the day! 

 Without a doubt, God can do anything and all things; there is nothing too difficult for God; not even making a way for His children to actually love Him...

"LORD, give me your unfailing love, the salvation that you promised me. Then I can answer those who taunt me, for I trust in your word." (PSALM 119:41-42 NLT) 

"Uncertain Derivation"

"These are spots in your feasts of charity, when they feast with you, feeding themselves without fear: clouds they are without water, carried about of winds; trees whose fruit withereth, without fruit, twice dead, plucked up by the roots;" (Jude 12 KJV)

  "These people are as useless as dried-up springs or as mist blown away by the wind. They are doomed to blackest darkness. They brag about themselves with empty, foolish boasting. With an appeal to twisted sexual desires, they lure back into sin those who have barely escaped from a lifestyle of deception." (2 Peter 2:17-18 NLT)

 There are certain things happening in this world, things which are almost too hard to explain, and things which don't agree with the things we read in the Bible, as to how we should live and treat one another. For what it's worth, these things are to be expected to happen; but what really blows my mind is how easily there are some in the churches who allow it to happen; some even agree with what is going on, as if it is okay, saying things like, "These are the times we live in, can't we all just get along?" 

 The title of this post is not something that is easy to explain; but it is well enough something to show is the way the enemy works; the enemy being the devil and his minions! It is basically the simple little thing like added words to that which is written, as there was in the Garden, when the Serpent added one simple word to what God had said, "not," to God's word, "thou shalt surely die." 

 There are sometimes instances when a Pastor will quote a Scripture from the Bible, saying something else, other than what is written; which is just a glitch, and most people won't even notice. But changing the meaning or making it mean the opposite of what God said, that is entirely wrong and should be corrected immediately, as soon as it was said! There are some people that will accept what was said, if it isn't correct; just because they don't really read the Bible that much; and when they do, they don't really understand everything that it says. 

 Jude isn't talking about those who make mistakes and even those who don't understand everything in the Bible: he is talking about those who don't believe, as they should; who are not willing to accept God's ways, as if there are alternative definitions to what is meant, even though God's word never changes; regardless of the changes in our world, His word is still the same, it still means the same, and it will always remain the same! 

 I know that I'm not the sharpest tool in the shed, but I also know what I believe and why I believe what I know; it is the Bible that tells me so, and that is where it ends! The Word of God is alive and is always right, no matter who might want to change it, it can never be changed...

"If anyone claims, "I am living in the light," but hates a Christian brother or sister, that person is still living in darkness. Anyone who loves another brother or sister is living in the light and does not cause others to stumble. But anyone who hates another brother or sister is still living and walking in darkness. Such a person does not know the way to go, having been blinded by the darkness." (1 John 2:9-11 NLT)   

"Shameless and Unapologetic"

  "When these people eat with you in your fellowship meals commemorating the Lord's love, they are like dangerous reefs that can shipwreck you. They are like shameless shepherds who care only for themselves. They are like clouds blowing over the land without giving and rain. They are like trees in autumn that are doubly dead, for they bear no fruit and have been pulled up by the roots. They are like wild waves of the sea, churning up the foam of their shameful deeds. They are like wandering stars, doomed forever to blackest darkness." (Jude 12-13 NLT)

  "Thus saith the LORD concerning the prophets that make my people err, and bit with their teeth, and cry, Peace; and he that putteth not into their mouths, they even prepare war against him. Therefore night shall be unto you, that ye shall not have a vision; and it shall be dark unto you, that ye shall not divine; and the sun shall go down over the prophets, and the day shall be dark over them. Then shall the seers be ashamed, and the diviners confounded: yea, they shall all cover their lips; for there is no answer of God." (Micah 3:5-7 KJV)

 Whatever it was that those three did, Cain, Balaam, and Korah, it was they who suffered the price, but it was God that used whatever it was for His purposes, no matter how He did it, He makes everything work for His plans and purposes; it will go exactly as He has planned, regardless of who or what tries to make it something else! Let me remind you again, just in case you didn't understand the meaning: On the second day of creation, "good" was not used in the process of that creation. For, as it was, God made Heaven, which was not meant for mankind, as of yet. It was holy and sacred; a place that divided that which happens here and that which takes place there, where GOD dwells in Holiness! 

 Maybe I just don't see "good" in that day of creation because I am blind and don't understand where it might be; but the thing about God's separation for man, was a pretty big deal; which is why Jesus was prepared, way before all creation, to come down here and sacrifice Himself on that cross...

"Yet it pleased the LORD to bruise him; he hath put him to grief: when thou shalt make his soul an offering for sin, he shall see his seed, he shall prolong his days, and the pleasure of the LORD shall prosper in his hand. He shall see the travail of his soul, and shall be satisfied: by his knowledge shall my righteous servant justify many; for he shall bear their iniquities. Therefore will I divide him a portion with the great, and he shall divide the spoil the spoil with the strong; because he hath poured out his soul unto death: and he was numbered with the transgressors; and he bare the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors." (Isaiah 54:10-12 KJV)  

"Can I Get a Witness!" - Again

 "Woe unto them! for they have gone in the way of Cain, and ran greedily after the error of Balaam for reward, and perished in the gainsaying of Korah." (Jude 11 KJV)

  "Listen to what the LORD is saying: "Stand up and state your case against me. Let the mountains and hills be called to witness your complaints. And now, O mountains, listen to the LORD'S complaint! He has a case against his people. He will bring charges against Israel. "O my people, what have I done to you? What have I done to make you tired of me? Answer me! For I brought you out of Egypt and redeemed you from slavery. I sent Moses, Aaron, and Miriam to help you. Don't you remember, my people, how King Balak of Moab tried to have you cursed and how Balaam son of Beor blessed you instead? And remember your journey from Acacia Grove to Gilgal, when I, the LORD, did everything I could to teach you about my faithfulness."" (Micah 6:1-5 NLT)

 There are certain things that can be shown regarding these three characters, Cain, Balaam, and Korah, that show the three things they represent. Cain is pretty simple to understand, as his sacrifice was based upon his works, as he was a farmer, sacrificing some of the crops he had harvested; as if God would be pleased by the labor and hard work that he did. He was jealous and very angry that God had accepted Abel's burnt offering but did not accept his.

 When God confronted him about his anger, He said: "You will be accepted if you do what is right. But if you refuse to do what is right, then watch out! Sin is crouching at the door, eager to control you. But you must subdue it and be its master." (Genesis 4:7 NLT) Yet he let sin control him, killing his brother, just because Abel's sacrifice was to please God, and his was to please himself! If you don't know what that means, it is very similar to Satan's rebellion against God; how he, being a glorious angel, thought and planned to be like God! But he was created, and God was his Creator! What is wrong with that picture? Pastor Bryan made a comment the other night that the mark that God put upon Cain's forehead was in the shape of a cross; which is very possible to be true!  

 As for Balaam, his deal was about getting paid by King Balak, as he was asked to curse the children of Israel, as they marched below in the wilderness; while the king had him try to curse them in several different directions. Each time, he looked down at them, he couldn't curse but blessed them instead. If it's okay with you, I would like to show you why he could not curse them: It was because the children of Israel were marching through the wilderness in the formation of a cross! Each time he would look down to curse them, he saw the cross, and he could do nothing but bless them. However, even though he couldn't curse them, he still found a way to get paid; by telling the king to seduce them with Moabite women and God would be angry at them.  

 Korah is the wiseguy who though he could get the entire community to rebel against Moses and Aaron. Yet, God had the earth open up below all of their tents, and the earth swallowed them up; all 250 of them, with their families! Thinking he was wise; he was shown to be a fool! That was why I shared the Psalm written by the descendants of Korah, a few days ago; as it says in Numbers 26:11 "However, the sons of Korah did not die that day."  

 God is always in control! He allows certain things to happen, and then He uses those things that might seem bad and destructive, for good and to perform something that works for His plans. Even the worst things that could ever happen, He will use it for the absolute best! The cross of Christ is His greatest witness, and the sons of Korah are authors of Psalms that proclaim the redemption offered through the cross of Christ...

"How lovely is your dwelling place, O LORD of Heaven's Armies. I long, yes, I faint with longing to enter the courts of the LORD. With my whole being, body and soul, I will shout joyfully to the living God." (PSALM 84:1-2 NLT)  

 

 

"Can I Get a Witness!"

 "Woe unto them! for they have gone in the way of Cain, and ran greedily after the error of Balaam for reward, and perished in the gainsaying of Korah." (Jude 11 KJV)

  "The very look on their faces gives them away. They display their sins like the people of Sodom and don't even try to hide it. They are doomed! They have brought destruction upon themselves. Tell the godly that all will be well for them. They will enjoy the rich reward they have earned! But the wicked are doomed, for they will get exactly what they deserve." (Isaiah 3:9-11 NLT)

 For whatever it is worth, the title has quite a history to it; and it has been used in all sorts of ways: in songs, movies, and churches; but in this context, let's just say that we absolutely cannot hide what we do; whether good or bad, everything is witnessed by God for sure; and even angels, including the devil, are likely to see what we do. Hopefully you are doing your best to be godly and wanting to please the Lord in all that you do; chances are, that only God knows the intensions of your heart; but the others will see your expressions on your faces! 

 There are three people here that Jude is illustrating here; which, make me think of the three things Eve felt saw in the tree the bore the fruit she was about to eat: "That the tree was good for food, and that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree to be desired to make one wise." (Genesis 3:6) Basically there were three things to cause her to sin: It was desirable to the body; it was pleasing to the eyes; and it would enlighten the mind, making one wise. 

 The three things these three men all did that was wrong, closely resemble these things; as it goes, there is good and evil that is at work in each and every one of them. Instead of building towards self, we should ourselves be built by God and enjoying the fruit that He offers; which is a heart for God, eyes that look to please Him, and a mind that wants to know Him, by listening, and obeying...

"Then the Lord said to him, "You Pharisees are so careful to clean the outside of the cup and the dish, but inside you are filthy - full of greed and wickedness! Fools! Didn't God make the inside as well as the outside? So clean the inside by giving gifts to the poor, and you will be clean all over. "What sorrow awaits you Pharisees! For you are careful to tithe even the tiniest income from your herb gardens, but you ignore justice and the love of God. You should tithe, yes, but do not neglect the more important things. "What sorrow awaits you Pharisees! For you love to sit in the seats of honor in the synagogues and receive respectful greetings as you walk in the marketplaces. Yes, what sorrow awaits you! For you are like hidden graves in a field. People walk over them without knowing the corruption they are stepping on."" (Luke 11:39-44 NLT)

"Scoffers!" = Too

 "But these speak evil of those things which they know not: but what they know naturally, as brute beasts, in those things they corrupt themselves." (Jude 10 KJV)

  "Most importantly, I want to remind you that in the last days scoffers will come, mocking the truth and following their own desires. They will say, "What happened to the promise that Jesus is coming again? From before the times of our ancestors, everything has remained the same since the world was first created." They deliberately forget that God made the heavens by the word of his command, and he brought the earth out from the water. Then he used the water to destroy the ancient world with a mighty flood. And by the same word, the present heavens and earth have been stored up for fire. They are being kept for the day of judgment, when ungodly people will be destroyed." (2 Peter 3:3-7 NLT)

 When you stop and think about it, those who think everything has remained the same since the world has been created, really don't have a clue about everything that is going on in this world! Not only do we have overwhelming technology that is quickly becoming more and more, shall we say, self-sufficient and able to think on its own; but space exploration has taken a whole new direction; even to the point of making plans for living in outer space, as if they are planning to make colonies on other planets. 

  Regardless of what does or does not happen, we who are followers of Christ, must be diligent in our belief that He is coming soon! It's really not a matter of preference, because those who prefer to just wait and see, might not end up being ready when He does return. I'm not saying that you can't live on doing your work and building a family; because those are the things God expects us to do; but we do need to keep looking up, waiting, and praying for His soon return! 

 More importantly than that, we need to keep our families aware and alert to what we believe and why it is very important that we remain ready. There are too many distractions and activities that throw us off from being alert and remembering that the time is near. We make plans for certain things, as if everything will remain the same! Yes, even me! I just traded in my Motor Home for a new own, planning to start next year by working two months, and then gone one month, all throughout the year. 

 Even then, I will always be looking up, expecting Jesus to take us home! Every time I see something strange in the sky, I wish it to be that His coming is now; every time I hear of an earthquake or that a volcano has erupted, I think of His return. See the life of having fun, enjoying celebrations, eating and drinking, and living as if everything is just getting better; makes me aware of the fact that these are like the days before Noah entered the Ark...

""However, no one knows the day or the hour when these things will happen, not even the angels in heaven or the Son himself. Only the Father knows. "When the Son of Man returns, it will be like it was in Noah's day. In those days before the flood, the people were enjoying banquets and parties and weddings right up to the time Noah entered his boat. People didn't realize what was going to happen until the flood came and swept them all away. That is the way it will be when the Son of Man comes. "Two men will be working together in a field; one will be taken, the other left. Two women will be grinding flour at the mill; one will be taken, the other left. "So you too, must keep watch! For you don't know what day your Lord is coming. Understand this: If a homeowner knew exactly when a burglar was coming, he would keep watch and not permit his house to be broken into. You also must be ready all the time, for the Son of Man will come when least expected."" (Matthew 24:36-44 NLT)  

"Scoffers!"

 "But these speak evil of those things which they know not: but what they know naturally, as brute beasts, in those things they corrupt themselves." (Jude 10 KJV)

  "He is especially hard on those who follow their own twisted sexual desires, and who despise authority. These people are proud and arrogant, daring even to scoff at supernatural beings without so much as trembling. But the angels, who are far greater in power and strength, do not dare to bring from the Lord a charge of blasphemy against those supernatural beings. These false teachers are like unthinking animals, creatures of instinct, born to be caught and destroyed. They scoff at things they do not understand, and like animals, they will be destroyed." (2 Peter 2:10-12 NLT)

 Just to make a point, the devil does have dominion here on this earth; he has been doing things and ruling on this earth for quite some time; ever since God made man, he has been plotting and planning things to do that will allow mankind to spend eternity in Hell with him. And yes, he does know where he will be ending up, but he would like to take as many of us as he can, to suffer with him! 

 Anywho, too many Christian's scoff at the devil, as if he has no power to persuade them or attack them, as if they are completely safe and secure. We are only able to do so much; picking a fight with the devil is not something that you want to engage in; that is something we give to the LORD! To be absolutely certain, I know for a fact that those who do great things for the Kingdom of God, end up with a target on their back; with the devil just patiently waiting for the opportunity to fire one of his poisonous darts. 

 You can scoff at things you can't believe, but that doesn't protect you or keep you safe; it only makes you more vulnerable to the devils lies. Crazy as it might sound, but he isn't an angel of light, but he sure can masquerade as one. Before his fall, he was one of the brightest most beautiful angels; he was the one leading the worship in heaven. 

 There is something we must truly understand: we are surrounded all around by angels, some of which are fallen and subject to walk the earth, waiting and wanting to harm or destroy believer's and the church. Whether you can believe it or not, it is really happening; just because you can't see it, doesn't mean it isn't true! Good news is, Christ is LORD of All...

"Christ is the visible image of the invisible God. He existed before anything was created and is supreme over all creation, for though him God created everything in the heavenly realms and on earth. He made the things we can see and the things we can't see - such as thrones, kingdoms, rulers, and authorities in the unseen world. Everything was created through him and for him. He existed before anything else, and he holds all creation together." (Colossians 1:15-17 NLT) 

"God Sees All!"

 "Yet Michael the archangel, when contending with the devil he disputed about the body of Moses, durst not bring against him a railing accusation, but said, The Lord rebuke thee." (Jude 9 KJV)

  "One day the members of the heavenly court came to present themselves before the LORD, and the Accuser, Satan, came with them. "Where have you come from?" the LORD asked Satan. Satan answered the LORD, "I have been patrolling the earth, watching everything that's going on." Then the LORD asked Satan, "Have you noticed my servant Job? He is the finest man in all the earth. He is blameless - a man of complete integrity. He fears God and stays away from evil." Satan replied to the LORD, "Yes, but Job has good reason to fear God. You have always put a wall of protection around him and his home and his property. You have made him prosper in everything he does. Look how rich he is! But reach out and take away everything he has, and he will surely curse you to your face!" "All right, you may test him," the LORD said to Satan. "Do whatever you want with everything he possesses, but don't harm him physically." So Satan left the LORD'S presence." (Job 1:6-12 NLT)

 Knowing that God knows everything, which actually says, God's sight is everywhere; meaning that He is "omniscient" and has the ability to know every thought, action, and intention: is not only something we must be aware of, but it must be something that we cherish and wholeheartedly keep in the forefront of our mind, at all times! Yet, sadly to say, just about everyone will wonder away from knowing; as if He has stepped away and will not see what they are doing.

 When you read this portion of Scripture from Job, it would appear to the average reader that God does not know what Satan has been doing or where he has been. Proverbs 15:3 says, "The eyes of the Lord are in every place, keeping watch on the evil and the good." Which actually contradicts the theory of some, that God will not look upon evil: "Nothing is hidden from Him!" Hebrews 4:13 says, "Nothing in all creation is hidden from God. Everything is naked and exposed before his eyes, and he is the one to whom we are accountable." 

 What Jude to putting forth in this dispute between Michael and Satan, is that Michael did not bring and accusation against him, that it is God's place to judge; he just simply said, "The Lord rebuke thee," as the Lord had instructed Michael what to do with Moses' body. This is just an illustration of what Jude had previously said about speaking evil of dignities; as, even though the devil was evil, he was still actually a dignity; after all, he is the god of this fallen world; at least for now...

""Am I a God who is only close at hand?" says the LORD. "No, I am far away at the same time. Can anyone hide from me in a secret place? Am I not everywhere in all the heavens and earth?" says the LORD." (Jeremiah 23:23-24 NLT)     

"Things That Make You Wonder"

 "Likewise also these filthy dreamers defile the flesh, despise dominion, and speak evil of dignities." (Jude 8 KJV)

 "Then he brought me to the door of the Temple courtyard, where I could see a hole in the wall. He said to me, "Now, son of man, dig into the wall." So I dug into the wall and found a hidden doorway. "Go in," he said, "and see the wicked and detestable sins they are committing in there!" So I went in and saw the walls engraved with all kinds of crawling animals and detestable creatures. I also saw various idols worshiped by the people of Israel. Seventy leaders of Israel were standing there with Jaazaniah son of Shaphan in the center. Each of them held an incense burner, from which a cloud of incense rose above their heads. Then the LORD said to me, "Son of man, have you seen what the leaders of Israel are doing with their idols in dark rooms? They are saying, 'The LORD doesn't see us; he has deserted our land!'"" (Ezekiel 8:7-12 NLT)

 Maybe you missed that meaning about me having to repeat this again? No matter if you got it or not, those things I shared about were true and needed to be said, because we might be perfect I God's eyes, but we are still far from being perfect! Yes, we have the Holy Spirit living within us; and He is always there to help us and speak to you, asking us to do certain things and to not do other things. But He also is a Gentleman, who does not force us to do and not do; but there will be problems and consequences for not listening and obeying what the Spirit says! For those who might not get that meaning, it is one of the main things Jesus says, telling John about the letters to the seven churches.   

 When I thought about what I shared, I realized something I forgot and wondered if it was relevant to the actual message. For the most part, I was describing some of the things that most of us might do, from time to time; knowing full well that none of us do not sin, no matter what position you might hold, we are all still sinners. but we have been saved by grace!  

 The main point of this post is not to confuse you with more stories about my past, but to make you aware of what causes us to think of something that allows us to feel free to do what we do. The simple answer to what that is: we forget who we are and who lives within us! We might think God has stepped away and isn't really interested in what we do, or don't do! 

 You are never alone! He is always there, watching you every move you make and the words that come out of your mouth! Better still, He even knows the thoughts and dreams that are in your minds; even the passions and motivation of your hearts! 

 Perhaps this doesn't mean so much to some, as if this is something we already know. But the thing that I feel God has been put upon my heart, is that thinking He isn't there is something tragic and all together ungodly; it takes away from the firm foundation we must believe in, and it surely makes us vulnerable to sin more and more! 

 One thing is sure, which is not that hard to figure out: When you were born, you didn't need to learn how to sin, it was part of your human nature. But when you were born again, you had to learn to sin again; making one sin easy to do but wounding your soul in the process. But the more you did it, the less you felt wounded, and the freer you felt when you did it again, and again...

"For I am not ashamed of this Good News about Christ. It is the power of God at work, saving everyone who believes - the Jew first and also the Gentile. This Good News tells us how God makes us right in his sight. This is accomplished from start to finish by faith. As the Scriptures say, "It is through faith that a righteous person has life."" (Romans 1:16-17 NLT) 

"Again, and Again!"

  "In the same way, these people - who claim authority from their dreams - live immoral lives, defy authority, and scoff at supernatural beings. But even Michael, one of the mightiest of the angels, did not dare accuse the devil of blasphemy, but simply said, "The Lord rebuke you!" (This took place when Michael was arguing with the devil about Moses' body.) But these people scoff at things they do not understand. Like unthinking animals, they do whatever their instincts tell them, so they bring about their own destruction. What sorrow awaits them! For they follow in the footsteps of Cain, who killed his brother. Like Balaam, they deceive people for money. And like Korah, they perish in their rebellion." (Jude 8-11 NLT)

  "O LORD God of my salvation, I have cried day and night before thee: Let my prayer come before thee: incline thine ear unto my cry; for my soul is full of troubles: and my life draweth nigh unto the grave." (Psalms 88:1-3 KJV)

 Well, here I go again! Yet, this time I feel as though I was led into this mistake! As crazy as that might sound, it was because the prior two posts involved the stupid things we believers do, some things, without even knowing that we have done wrong. And yes, very definitely, we are new in Christ, when we received Him into our hearts! Nobody who has been born again can simply walk away: the old you, has died; the new you, has already a place already waiting in heaven, protected and secure! 

 I was thinking about a certain man, some of you might not remember his name, but it was Uzzah. As it goes, Uzzah was helping David to bring the Holy Chest back to Jerusalem; and when they came to Nachon's threshingfloor, the cart the Holy Chest was on, began to move. Without even thinking, Uzzah put forth his hand to the Ark to steady it, and God killed him! 

 There is no doubt in my mind that we will not see Uzzah in heaven; and as far as that goes, I also truly believe that we will see two other characters also; Ananias and Sapphira! Go ahead and laugh, if you think that is not going to happen; buy lying about how much you tithe, might get you into trouble, but it will never take away the salvation that Christ has given you; but you might lose something here on earth; including your life, without dying!  

 This situation happened for a very specific reason: To let the church know that things are serious and it wasn't a game! With that, it is absolutely critical that we think hard about the life we are living, and ask ourselves if you are doing things that help to build and fortify the church; or are you simply just making ourselves present, so people will recognize that we came to church...

"Blessed is every one that feareth the LORD; that walketh in his ways. For thou shalt eat the labour of your hands: happy shalt thou be, and it shall be well with thee." (Psalms 128:1-2 KJV) 

"Either He is Lord or He's Not" - Up to You

 "Likewise also these filthy dreamers defile the flesh, despise dominion, and speak evil of dignities." (Jude 8 KJV)

  "Dear children, the last hour is here. You have heard that the Antichrist is coming, and already many such antichrists have appeared. From this we know that the last hour has come. These people left the churches, but they never really belonged with us; otherwise they would have with us. When they left, it proved that they did not belong with us. But you are not like that, for the Holy One has given you his Spirit, and all of you know the truth. So I am writing to you not because you don't know the truth but because you know the difference between truth and lies. And who is a liar? Anyone who says that Jesus is not the Christ. Anyone who denies the Father and the Son is an antichrist. Anyone who denies the Son doesn't have the Father, either. But anyone who acknowledges the Son has the Father Also." (1 John 2:18-23 NLT)

 Again, let me start off with a few of the sins of mine that are very closely related to these three things that Jude mentions in the verse we are looking at today. First of all; each and every time I might stumble by the flesh having its way, I will almost always, right away ask the Lord to forgive me for sinning against Him. However, there are times when I might be offended, or feel as though certain dignitaries are evil, I will not even feel as though I need to ask for forgiveness; yet sooner or later the Lord changes my heart. 

 Starting off with is "these filthy dreamers defile the flesh." If I am being honest, there have been times when I have allowed my mind to dream or Invision filthy things, satisfying my fleshly desires. To anyone paying attention, just because you might use your left hand, that doesn't make it right! Also, by the way, those commercials about the "bent carrots", that condition is usually caused by too much defilement. 

 Secondly, there is the sin to "despise dominion."  There are serval things we can associate with what dominion means: it basically means "one who possesses dominion." That could be your boss, or the government; or even the Lord; whom ever has power over certain things in your life. Guilty, guilty am I! As far as a boss goes, I am my own boss; but I have given everything to the Lord, so it is His, which means that I actually work for Him. But certain others, such as the Governor of the State I live in, I care very little of; that too I should realize is a sin. 

 As for the third, "speaking evil of dignities," is most likely one of my most frequent sins. But, as it goes, sometimes: I know what I and supposed to do, but I don't do it; and that which I should not do, I do it anyways! It is mostly a passionate reaction, and most of the time I will apologize and ask for forgiveness. When I was caring for my wife and Pat, (who is with the Lord,) said on the news that its okey to divorce your spouse, if they had a brain disorder; I pretty much did everything but curse; and even then, I needed to ask the Lord to forgive me! 

 Dignities can mean more that people, it can also apply a thing belong to God, a thing belonging to Christ, or even angels; which we shall soon see. The primary character involved in this is much the same as dignity; meaning whether it be good or bad, that which involves opinion, judgement or view, no matter what it might be, all things have meaning and purpose; even the flies I chase down and kill in my house, they to require a little bit of dignity.

 Yes, we might sometimes do things that we know are wrong and feel sometimes that we cannot control it; but that is primarily because will allow our sin nature to come to life! If I had to say it another way, it would be that our sin nature is meant to be buried and the new creature has been raised with Christ! But somehow, we, (in our minds,) might dig up the old sinful creature and tie him or her to our backs! We don't smell so good with a stinky dead corpse strapped to our back... 

"So you must remain faithful to what you have been taught from the beginning. If you do, you remain in fellowship with the Son and with the Father. And in this fellowship we enjoy the eternal life he promised us." (1 John 2:24-25 NLT)  

"Ethier He's Lord or He's Not"

 "Likewise also these filthy dreamers defile the flesh, despise dominion, and speak evil of dignities." (Jude 8 KJV)

  "Why are the nations so angry? Why do they waste their time with futile plans? The kings of the earth prepare for battle; the rulers plot together against the LORD and against his anointed one. "Let us break their chains, "they cry, "and free ourselves from the slavery of God." But the one who rules from heaven laughs. The LORD scoffs at them. Then in anger he rebukes them, terrifying them with his fierce fury. For the LORD declares, "I have placed me chosen King on the throne in Jerusalem, my holy mountain." The King proclaims the LORD'S decree: "The LORD said to me, 'You are my Son. Today I have become your Father. Only ask, and I will give you the nations as your own inheritance, the whole earth as your possession. You will break them with an iron rod and smash them like clay pots.'" Now then, you kings, act wisely! Be warned, you rulers of the earth! Serve the LORD with reverent fear, and rejoice with trembling. Submit to God's royal Son, or he will become angry, and you will be destroyed in the midst of all your activities - for his flares up in an instant. But what joy for all who take refuge in him!" (PSALM 2 NLT) [modified]

 Don't be alarmed, by my modification. There are certain things in some translations that I seriously will disagree with, and why the NLT translation made King and Son in lower case characters, I have no idea; but they did have a footnote that said, "Or Son". 

 There are certain things we think about taking control of or getting rid of; things that we might actually feel in our hearts that the Lord wants us to do. When we sense that the Lord wants us to do something, then our responsibility as a slave of the Lord Jesus Christ, is to do it! 

 Let me even go a step further, (if you will.) If you really are a servant of the Lord, then you will not just wait for His command or requirement; as any good and faithful servant, would do, you will look earnestly for ways to please your Master! That is why we have a Bible! It is our guidebook and roadmap to show us the way and teach us how to obey...

"For the word of God is alive and powerful. It is sharper than the sharpest two-edged sword, cutting between soul and spirit, between joint and marrow. It exposes our innermost thoughts and desires. Nothing in all of creation is hidden from God. Everything is naked and exposed before his eyes, and he is the one to whom we are accountable." (Hebrews 4:12-13 NLT)  

"Here Comes the Judge!"

   "In the same way, there people - who claim authority from their dreams - live immoral lives, defy authority, and scoff at supernatural beings. But even Michael, one of the mightiest of the angels, did not dare accuse the devil of blasphemy, but simply said, "The LORD rebuke you!" (This took place when Michael was arguing with the devil about Moses' body.) But these people scoff at things they do not understand. Like unthinking animals, they do whatever their instincts tell them, so they bring about their own destruction. What sorrow awaits them! For they follow in the footsteps of Cain, who killed his brother. Like Balaam, they deceive people for money. And like Korah, they perish in their rebellion." (Jude 8-11 NLT)

 "Why boastest thou thyself in mischief, O mighty man? The goodness of God endureth continually. Thy tongue deviseth mischiefs; like a sharp razor, working deceitfully. Thou lovest evil more than good; and lying rather than to speak righteousness. Selah" (Psalms 52:1-3 KJV)

 Before I go any further, I just wanted to and a little something to the last couple of posts. I truly believe that everyone, not matter what they have done, can be saved! This I believe with all my heart! Jesus would have forgiven Judas, if he had only asked for forgiveness; yet he went and hung himself! But even still, if by chance he called out for forgiveness, even in the last two seconds, we would have received the Lord's forgiveness. Actually, I am would not be surprised if Jesus forgave him anyway; He surely forgave those who nailed Him to the cross! 

 There are so many things we mere mortals do not understand, even those who study long and hard; the 'swirling eddies' will always take us down the rabbit hole, chasing for deeper answers; but the deeper we go, the more lost and confused we become. Our minds cannot comprehend the complexity of God's, all so, misterious and amazing plan...

"But God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world." (Galatians 6:14 KJV)  

"The Example" - TOO

 "Even as Sodom and Gomorrah, and the cities about them in like manner, giving themselves over to fornication, and going after strange flesh, are set forth for an example, suffering the vengeance of eternal fire." (Jude 7 KJV)

 "In fact, it says, "The message is very close at hand; it is on your lips and in your heart." And that message is the very message that we preach: If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved." (Romans 10:8-9 NLT)

 Well, first off, my misspelling of Gomorrah was the same way it was spelt in the Blue Letter Bible that I use every morning. I had a hunch that it was wrong, but yesterday morning was quite a mess, for my mind was clouded and I really couldn't do much about it. 

 Basically, this is the message, (in case you might have different thoughts, I would keep them to yourself, because), all of the souls could have been spared if they would have repented and turned towards God! Lot was godly; which he became by walking with Abraham for all those years. He sat at the city gates most of the time; and I am pretty sure he wasn't selling tickets to get in. 

 Abraham bartered with the Lord, starting with fifty being righteous, all the way down to ten; and even with only ten, the Lord said, "Then I will not destroy it for the sake of the ten." Before you cast any sort of judgment, thinking these people had it coming to them, know something that is very sure: "For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God." (Romans 3:23)

 What I am trying to say, is that even those that are incredibly wicked, as long as they still have breath and the ability to speak, (even just a whisper and possibly just a thought,) and ask for God's forgiveness, they will be saved! If there was any reason that Jude made these comment about Sodom and Gomorrah being destroyed, I am almost 100% sure, that is because of those who are self-righteous and might say that they all deserved to die, and that the deserved it!

 Worse than that, there are still some, even those who minister, that might not think those kinds of people could ever be saved; that their sin was too wicked, and bad enough not to allow them even to enter their church. We must never tear down that Jesus has built! This much I know is totally true...

"It's not important who does the planting, or who does the watering. What's important is that God makes the seeds grow. The one who plants and the one who waters work together with the same purpose. And both will be rewarded for their own hard work. For we are both God's workers. And you are God's field. You are God's building. Because of God's grace to me, I have laid the foundation like an expert builder. Now others are building on it. But whoever is building on this foundation must be very careful. For no one can lay any foundation other than the one we already have - Jesus Christ. Anyone who builds on that foundation may use a variety of materials - gold, silver, jewels, wood, hay, or straw. But on judgment day, fire will reveal what kind of work each builder has done. The fire will show if a person's work has any value. If the work survives, the builder will receive a reward. But if the work is burned up, the builder will suffer great loss. The builder will be saved, but like someone barely escaping through a wall of flames." (1 Corinthians 3: 

"The Example"

 "Even as Sodom and Gomorrha, and the cities about them in like manner, giving themselves over to fornication, and going after strange flesh, are set forth for an example, suffering the vengeance of eternal fire." (Jude 7 KJV)

 ""And you people of Capernaum, will you be honored in heaven? No, you will go down to the place of the dead. For if the miracles I did for you had been done in wicked Sodom, it would still be here today. I tell you, even Sodom will be better off on judgment day than you."" (Matthew 11:23-24 NLT)

 Most everyone knows about the destruction that took place in these cities. There was something not everyone knows about what went on before they were destroyed. The Lord and two angels were visiting Abraham, and when He told Abraham what was going to happen, Abraham tried to ask the Lord, 'If there be any righteous, will you still destroy them?' 

 Maybe there is a better example, but the main thing I was wanting to share about was Jesus! Yes, He was there speaking with Abraham, everywhere the Lord shows up, it is Him, the Son of God...

 "Are you greater than our father Abraham? He died, and so did the prophets. Who do you think you are?" Jesus answered, "If I want glory for myself, it doesn't count. But it is my Father who will glorify me. You say, 'He is our God,' but you don't even know him. I know him. If I said otherwise, I would be as great a liar as you! But I do know him and obey him. Your father Abraham rejoiced as he looked forward my coming. He saw it and was glad." The people said, "You aren't even fifty years old. How can you say you have seen Abraham?" Jesus answered, "I tell you the truth, before Abraham was even born, I AM!"" (John 8:53-58 NLT)