It only went to show what he already knew, which was that there were more dangers in life than even the sharpest training could anticipate.”
–Larry McMurtry (Lonesome Dove)
“Behold, He is coming with clouds, and every eye will see Him, even they who pierced Him. And all the tribes of the earth will mourn because of Him. Even so, Amen.”
–Revelation 1:7 (NKJV)
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How to Live in a Pagan, Apostate, and Foolish World
Key Verse: “We know that we are of God, and that the whole world lies in the power of the evil one.” –1 John 5:19 (NASB)
There are things that you must grasp! Things that it is vital that you realize. Two of them are in the key verse: we are of God; the world is under the power of the evil one. Never, ever forget that verse. That is why I write it on every lesson. Realize that there is a spiritual conflict and do not succumb to it. (Be sure and read again in 1 John 2:18-28.)
In these evil and last days beware of false teachers. Beware of those that bring a truth other than what is found in the Bible. I was just reading of a “Christian guru” that said that Jesus was not God, but only the Son of God. Don’t be mislead, especially in these last hours. This was a person who had many “Christian” followers.
Do not be seduced by false teachers who flap their lips with honey dripping from them. There are those who say, “Because I have the Holy Spirit I am as inspired as if I were an apostle”–they claim to direct and have a new revelation. Their word becomes primary and the Word of God becomes secondary.
John uses strong words—he calls them LIARS! The master lie is to deny that Jesus is the Christ. Antichrists are those who deny the doctrine that Jesus is the Christ. He is the only begotten Son of God who died on the cross. They attempt to change or get rid of His life here on earth in one form or another.
Jesus is the Truth – John 14:6
Antichrist is the lie – 2 Thessalonians 2:11
Devil is the father of lies – John 8:44
William Barclay said, “To deny Jesus is to be separated from God, for on our reaction to Jesus our relationship to God depends.”
There is a consequence to accept false teaching. Remember, anything that changes the doctrine of Jesus Christ is antichrist. To deny the work of Christ is antichrist. The work of Jesus Christ is the basis of Scripture. Have you not noticed that most of the attacks are either against the written word of God or the living word of God? Jesus is the Word (John 1:1-4). What happens to hope if one rejects Christ?
Barclay sums it up by saying, “What we need is not new truth, but that the truth which we already know becomes active and effective in our lives.” One day, all will come face-to-face with the fact that Jesus is the Christ!
Month: June 2021
Echoes From the Campfire
Man that plays with a skunk will smell like one.”
–Ernest Haycox (Sundown Jim)
“But now I am writing you not to associate with anyone who claims to be a believer who is sexually immoral or greedy, an idolater or verbally abusive, a drunkard or a swindler. Do not even eat with such a person.”
–1 Corinthians 5:11 (HCSB)
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More and more we must keep our eyes focused on Jesus. In times like these we need a Savior, not only to save us, but to keep us from the evil that is around us. But often we cry, “I can’t see you God, where are You?” We tend to bemoan our situation, but it is at those times that we need to realize that He is indeed with us. Charles H. Spurgeon put it this way, “When we cannot see the sunshine of God’s face, it is blessed to cower down beneath the shadow of His wings.”
In Psalm 57:1-5, we see David continuing to flee from Saul. He played the mad-man in Psalm 56, now he is hiding in a cave. He felt all alone; no one cares for him. You remember the ditty: “No one loves me, everybody hates me, think I’ll eat some worms.”
1 – Have mercy on me, O God, have mercy! I look to you for protection. I will hide beneath the shadow of your wings until this violent storm is past.
2 – I cry out to God Most High, to God who will fulfill His purpose for me.
3 – He will send help from heaven to save me, rescuing me from those who are out to get me. Interlude [Selalh]
My God will send forth His unfailing love and faithfulness.
4 – I am surrounded by fierce lions who greedily devour human prey—whose teeth pierce like spears and arrows, and whose tongues cut like swords.
5 – Be exalted, O God, above the highest heavens! May Your glory shine over all the earth.” (NLT)
Even in the midst of the darkness of the cave, David turned immediately to God. He knew that God was there, and that God cared for him. He did find himself in a trap, but in God. “David recognizes his well-being depends on invisible rather than visible realities.” (George O. Wood)
I like a little story told by Dr. Wood. The great Scottish preacher, Alexander Whyte, always found some to thank the Lord for during his Sunday pastoral prayer for the congregation. One day there was a terrible storm, the winds howled, the rain was torrential. Two deacons arrived to open the church and one commented, “I don’t think Dr. Whyte will have anything to praise God for on a day like this.” They looked at each other in surprise when Dr. Whyte opened his prayer, “Lord, we thank You that it is not always like this.”
When storms come, whether natural or adversity from foes, we can know that God is with us, even if we are in a cave. He will stay under the “wings” of God until the storm has past. Be like the old country preacher, “It came to pass. Thank God, it didn’t come to stay.” (Wood)
Remember God is there, willing to help you, willing to comfort you. Keep your eyes upon Him. “When you focus on God’s strength rather than your circumstances, the future looks brighter rather than bleak.” (Wood)
“My God! In whom are all the springs
Of boundless love and grace known,
Hide me beneath thy spreading wings,
Till the dark clouds be over-blown.”
–Isaac Watts
The Saga of Miles Forrest
I was sipping on my coffee as I sat near the fire that evening. The days had faded when I relished to be riding out, looking for adventure and excitement. Guess my days with Molly had quenched for the most part that yearning. It was nice to be on the trail, riding Hawk, and I didn’t really miss the comforts of home, but my goodness I did miss her. The stars were so bright that night, each one of them had a special twinkle. Ha, maybe that was God’s way of winking His eyes at us. Each twinkle a statement that says, “I’m watching out for you.” At least it was a comforting thought.
Blasco had sent me to aid Felix Wilcox, the U.S. Marshal of the New Mexico/Arizona Territory. There had been plenty problems in Lincoln County that kept him busy, and he needed help as there were rustlers stealing cattle and selling them in Mormon country. It seems that the recipients of the goods sort of blinked at them being stolen.
Molly made several hand-pies for me to take along. I saved the ham sandwich she made and fried up some bacon for supper and ate one of those pies—apricot it was. Hmm, maybe that was one of the things I missed, those special ways that she treated me. Off in the distance I could hear the howl of coyotes. As long as it wasn’t an old lobo wolf I didn’t mind. It brought to mind that one winter up near Meeker; that long, cold winter, when I seem to be fighting the wolves all the time.
I had just placed the now empty cup on a rock by the fire, pulled the pot off the coals and laid back on my saddle. The coyote continued his soothing cacophony, if there is such a thing, and I could hear the faint trickling of the little brook near where my camp was. I barely closed my eyes when I heard something out in the brush. It could be nothing, just an animal moving to the stream for a drink. Then again it could be a two-legged varmint. I didn’t think it was Indians for they were pretty tame this far north in New Mexico, and it made too much noise for an Indian. It could be some miscreant from justice, waiting for me to go to sleep.
My gun was out of my holster and in my hand pointing at the area where I heard the sound. When I cocked it, the sound seems to break the quietness of the night, and I heard a muffled voice. “Please, Senor Marshal. Don’t shoot; it’s Lucas.”
Jumping to my feet, I hollered, “Lucas! Get yourself in here!” When he entered the camp I saw that he was leading Two-Bits. “I could have shot you! What are you doin’ here?”
I reached down to add a couple of branches I had broken up to the fire so I could see him better. “Does Charlie or Marta know you’re here?”
“No, well, Si, they do,” he mumbled.
“Lucas!”
“I did leave them a note, telling them I was goin’ to find you,” he confessed. “Did I do wrong again?”
I was fit to be tied. Lucas, what could he have been thinking? “Tomorrow, you go back!” I said in a huff.
He sort of gave a sniffle, “But Senor, you would send me out all alone in the wilderness that is full of bandits and ruffians? No, it is better if I stay with you.”
“I’ll mull it over some in my mind. Unsaddle and get your bedroll out,” I growled.
“Si, Senor Marshal,” he replied then went to the chore of taking care of Two-Bits and getting his belongings. I was leaning back on my saddle watching him.
“You know your sister is goin’ to have my hide the next time I see her. If’n it wasn’t for Molly I wouldn’t dare go home,” I said in consternation.
He chuckled, which I was in no mood for and said, “Si, it will be something to see.”
I gave a deep sigh. “There’s a little coffee in the pot; it’ll still be warm. Grab a sandwich, and one of those pies from my bag there. I’m goin’ to sleep.”
He fussed around getting a cup, banging the tin on a rock while getting the coffee. Then I could hear him rummaging through the bag. I wanted to ignore him and sleep, but I just laid there. What had I been thinking about the stars twinkling? Ha, twinkling with laughter I expect. Marta is going to have a hissy-fit.