Jesus said,,,,33 But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.What does it mean. How do you do this? What is the "all these things shall be added unto you." Does this mean you stop doing everything, is order to Pray, read the Bible, and go to Church? We are going to take a more in depth look at this statement by Jesus. Starting today, and for the next few messages, we will answer the who, what, why, and how, you can and should, do this very thing.
1 In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.Of course you know, Genesis 2 tells us that the seventh day, God rested from all He did. He blessed the seventh day, and sanctified it. Hence, the Sabbath Day.
2 And the earth was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters.
3 And God said, Let there be light: and there was light.
4 And God saw the light, that it was good: and God divided the light from the darkness.
5 And God called the light Day, and the darkness he called Night. And the evening and the morning were the first day.
6 And God said, Let there be a firmament in the midst of the waters, and let it divide the waters from the waters.
7 And God made the firmament, and divided the waters which were under the firmament from the waters which were above the firmament: and it was so.
8 And God called the firmament Heaven. And the evening and the morning were the second day.
9 And God said, Let the waters under the heaven be gathered together unto one place, and let the dry land appear: and it was so.
10 And God called the dry land Earth; and the gathering together of the waters called he Seas: and God saw that it was good.
11 And God said, Let the earth bring forth grass, the herb yielding seed, and the fruit tree yielding fruit after his kind, whose seed is in itself, upon the earth: and it was so.
12 And the earth brought forth grass, and herb yielding seed after his kind, and the tree yielding fruit, whose seed was in itself, after his kind: and God saw that it was good.
13 And the evening and the morning were the third day.
14 And God said, Let there be lights in the firmament of the heaven to divide the day from the night; and let them be for signs, and for seasons, and for days, and years:
15 And let them be for lights in the firmament of the heaven to give light upon the earth: and it was so.
16 And God made two great lights; the greater light to rule the day, and the lesser light to rule the night: he made the stars also.
17 And God set them in the firmament of the heaven to give light upon the earth,
18 And to rule over the day and over the night, and to divide the light from the darkness: and God saw that it was good.
19 And the evening and the morning were the fourth day.
20 And God said, Let the waters bring forth abundantly the moving creature that hath life, and fowl that may fly above the earth in the open firmament of heaven.
21 And God created great whales, and every living creature that moveth, which the waters brought forth abundantly, after their kind, and every winged fowl after his kind: and God saw that it was good.
22 And God blessed them, saying, Be fruitful, and multiply, and fill the waters in the seas, and let fowl multiply in the earth.
23 And the evening and the morning were the fifth day.
24 And God said, Let the earth bring forth the living creature after his kind, cattle, and creeping thing, and beast of the earth after his kind: and it was so.
25 And God made the beast of the earth after his kind, and cattle after their kind, and every thing that creepeth upon the earth after his kind: and God saw that it was good.
26 And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth.
27 So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them.
28 And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it: and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth.
29 And God said, Behold, I have given you every herb bearing seed, which is upon the face of all the earth, and every tree, in the which is the fruit of a tree yielding seed; to you it shall be for meat.
30 And to every beast of the earth, and to every fowl of the air, and to every thing that creepeth upon the earth, wherein there is life, I have given every green herb for meat: and it was so.
31 And God saw every thing that he had made, and, behold, it was very good. And the evening and the morning were the sixth day.
12 Yea, the darkness hideth not from thee; but the night shineth as the day: the darkness and the light are both alike to thee.Then he gave you domination over all things.
13 For thou hast possessed my reins: thou hast covered me in my mother's womb.
14 I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made: marvellous are thy works; and that my soul knoweth right well.
15 My substance was not hid from thee, when I was made in secret, and curiously wrought in the lowest parts of the earth.
16 Thine eyes did see my substance, yet being unperfect; and in thy book all my members were written, which in continuance were fashioned, when as yet there was none of them.
17 How precious also are thy thoughts unto me, O God! how great is the sum of them!
28 And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it: and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth.Now of course we know that Adam, in turn, and in his fleshly wisdom, gave all this authority and domination over to Satan in the Garden of Eden. He fell for the same Sin and Temptation that Satan himself fell for. He wanted to be God. So now God Himself calls Satan the lord of the air. He is the lord of this world and of all flesh that is not written in the Lambs Book of life.
1 And God spake all these words, saying,As long as you understood, that God is, and you followed His Commandments, He considered you His Child. However, the heart of man was continually evil. Remember, as God spoke these words to Moses, man was building himself a Golden Cafe.
2 I am the Lord thy God, which have brought thee out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage.
3 Thou shalt have no other gods before me.
4 Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth.
5 Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them: for I the Lord thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me;
6 And shewing mercy unto thousands of them that love me, and keep my commandments.
7 Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain; for the Lord will not hold him guiltless that taketh his name in vain.
8 Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy.
9 Six days shalt thou labour, and do all thy work:
10 But the seventh day is the sabbath of the Lord thy God: in it thou shalt not do any work, thou, nor thy son, nor thy daughter, thy manservant, nor thy maidservant, nor thy cattle, nor thy stranger that is within thy gates:
11 For in six days the Lord made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is, and rested the seventh day: wherefore the Lord blessed the sabbath day, and hallowed it.
1 And when the people saw that Moses delayed to come down out of the mount, the people gathered themselves together unto Aaron, and said unto him, Up, make us gods, which shall go before us; for as for this Moses, the man that brought us up out of the land of Egypt, we wot not what is become of him.We will discuss this story more next time. But needless to say, God was not happy. God send messengers, teachers, and prophets. Man abused and killed them all. So God made it simple. Jesus.
2 And Aaron said unto them, Break off the golden earrings, which are in the ears of your wives, of your sons, and of your daughters, and bring them unto me.
3 And all the people brake off the golden earrings which were in their ears, and brought them unto Aaron.
4 And he received them at their hand, and fashioned it with a graving tool, after he had made it a molten calf: and they said, These be thy gods, O Israel, which brought thee up out of the land of Egypt.
5 And when Aaron saw it, he built an altar before it; and Aaron made proclamation, and said, To morrow is a feast to the Lord.
6 And they rose up early on the morrow, and offered burnt offerings, and brought peace offerings; and the people sat down to eat and to drink, and rose up to play.
16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.However, man decided to kill Him as well. Jesus tells us this, in this parable.
17 For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.
18 He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.
19 And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.
20 For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved.
21 But he that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God.
1 And he began to speak unto them by parables. A certain man planted a vineyard, and set an hedge about it, and digged a place for the winefat, and built a tower, and let it out to husbandmen, and went into a far country.Unlike the previous messengers, teachers, and prophets, with Jesus, HE is not dead. HE is still the "the way, and the truth, and the life." No one comes to the Father except through Him. All man has to do now, to be adopted into the Family of God, is accept this gift. It is all inclusive. Not exclusive. Jesus came for ALL. Not just a few. Not just for this or that Religion. Jesus has little to do with man-made traditions. God doesn't care how good a "Insert Religion here" you are.
2 And at the season he sent to the husbandmen a servant, that he might receive from the husbandmen of the fruit of the vineyard.
3 And they caught him, and beat him, and sent him away empty.
4 And again he sent unto them another servant; and at him they cast stones, and wounded him in the head, and sent him away shamefully handled.
5 And again he sent another; and him they killed, and many others; beating some, and killing some.
6 Having yet therefore one son, his wellbeloved, he sent him also last unto them, saying, They will reverence my son.
7 But those husbandmen said among themselves, This is the heir; come, let us kill him, and the inheritance shall be ours.'
8 And they took him, and killed him, and cast him out of the vineyard.
9 What shall therefore the lord of the vineyard do? he will come and destroy the husbandmen, and will give the vineyard unto others.
10 And have ye not read this scripture; The stone which the builders rejected is become the head of the corner:
12 Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned:So the very first thing you need to do, is seek God. Find out for yourself who God is, who Jesus is. Find out for yourself, how God, Jesus, loved you so much that He actually died for you. Accept that sacrifice. Receive the Spirit of adoption whereby you may cry Abba Father. Without that, you have nothing.
13 (For until the law sin was in the world: but sin is not imputed when there is no law.
14 Nevertheless death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over them that had not sinned after the similitude of Adam's transgression, who is the figure of him that was to come.
15 But not as the offence, so also is the free gift. For if through the offence of one many be dead, much more the grace of God, and the gift by grace, which is by one man, Jesus Christ, hath abounded unto many.
16 And not as it was by one that sinned, so is the gift: for the judgment was by one to condemnation, but the free gift is of many offences unto justification.
17 For if by one man's offence death reigned by one; much more they which receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness shall reign in life by one, Jesus Christ.)
29 And Jesus answered him, The first of all the commandments is, Hear, O Israel; The Lord our God is one Lord:So when you seek first the Kingdom of God, you must seek first God. You must get to know your Father. Understand the Adoption. Understand the Gospel. Understand who YOU become as a Child of God. The authority you get back. The power you receive. The Grace you are covered in. The fact you are no longer of the world, but in it.
30 And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment.
Matthew 1:18 Now the birth of Jesus Christ was on this wise: When as his mother Mary was espoused to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Ghost.
19 Then Joseph her husband, being a just man, and not willing to make her a public example, was minded to put her away privily.
20 But while he thought on these things, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a dream, saying, Joseph, thou son of David, fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife: for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost.
21 And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name Jesus: for he shall save his people from their sins.
22 Now all this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying,
23 Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us.
24 Then Joseph being raised from sleep did as the angel of the Lord had bidden him, and took unto him his wife:
25 And knew her not till she had brought forth her firstborn son: and he called his name Jesus.
1 And it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be taxed.
2 (And this taxing was first made when Cyrenius was governor of Syria.)
3 And all went to be taxed, every one into his own city.
4 And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judaea, unto the city of David, which is called Bethlehem; (because he was of the house and lineage of David:)
5 To be taxed with Mary his espoused wife, being great with child.
6 And so it was, that, while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered.
7 And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn.
8 And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night.
9 And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid.
10 And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.
11 For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.
12 And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.
13 And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying,
14 Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.
1 Take heed that ye do not your alms before men, to be seen of them: otherwise ye have no reward of your Father which is in heaven.What did Jesus just say? Do not do things to be glorified by man. It has nothing to do with man. If you go down to inner city anywhere and feed the homeless, do not bring a news crew with ya. When you tithe, do not brag about it. When you Pray, do so in private.
2 Therefore when thou doest thine alms, do not sound a trumpet before thee, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may have glory of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward.
3 But when thou doest alms, let not thy left hand know what thy right hand doeth:
4 That thine alms may be in secret: and thy Father which seeth in secret himself shall reward thee openly.
5 And when thou prayest, thou shalt not be as the hypocrites are: for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and in the corners of the streets, that they may be seen of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward.
6 But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly.
7 But when ye pray, use not vain repetitions, as the heathen do: for they think that they shall be heard for their much speaking.
8 Be not ye therefore like unto them: for your Father knoweth what things ye have need of, before ye ask him.
9 After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name.Now in the above example of Church, substitute the "Goodwill Prayer" with the "Our Father" Prayer. I have been in Churches, at Funerals, even at Weddings, when I have seen this done. Congregation stands, "Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen."
10 Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.
11 Give us this day our daily bread.
12 And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.
13 And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen.
9 After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name.Genesis 1:
10 Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.
1 In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.Revelation 1:
8 “I am the Alpha and the Omega,” says the Lord God, “who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty.”Revelation 21:
6 And he said to me, “It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. To the thirsty I will give from the spring of the water of life without payment.Revelation 22:
13 I am the Alpha and the Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the end.Exodus 20:
2 I am the Lord thy God, which have brought thee out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage.Matthew 22:
3 Thou shalt have no other gods before me.
4 Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth.
5 Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them: for I the Lord thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me;
6 And shewing mercy unto thousands of them that love me, and keep my commandments.
7 Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain; for the Lord will not hold him guiltless that taketh his name in vain.
36 Master, which is the great commandment in the law?Have no other God before God. Jesus tells us, when we Pray, we should start off, recognizing God, first as our Father, Daddy, and Recognizing His Godhood. We should praise Him. Thank Him. Honor Him. Seek His Will in our lives. Let Him know we understand that it is not about us, but His Will. Put Him first in our lives.
37 Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.
38 This is the first and great commandment.
11 Give us this day our daily bread.Again, right before He gave us this Prayer, He said this. "for your Father knoweth what things ye have need of, before ye ask him." He goes on a bit later to explain more in detail...
24 No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.Again, He tells us "for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things." Fear not. Your Daddy will meet your needs. Know that He is with you always. Thank Him for meeting those needs. Have faith He will.
25 Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on. Is not the life more than meat, and the body than raiment?
26 Behold the fowls of the air: for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feedeth them. Are ye not much better than they?
27 Which of you by taking thought can add one cubit unto his stature?
28 And why take ye thought for raiment? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they toil not, neither do they spin:
29 And yet I say unto you, That even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.
30 Wherefore, if God so clothe the grass of the field, which to day is, and to morrow is cast into the oven, shall he not much more clothe you, O ye of little faith?
31 Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed?
32 (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things.
33 But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.
12 And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.In explaining the Prayer example, Jesus starts out with this.
14 For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you:Then as we discussed last time..
15 But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.
21 Then came Peter to him, and said, Lord, how oft shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? till seven times?
22 Jesus saith unto him, I say not unto thee, Until seven times: but, Until seventy times seven.
25 And whenever you stand praying, forgive, if you have anything against anyone, so that your Father also who is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses.If you have something to forgive someone, do so. There is nothing that they did to you worthy of you losing you joy and realization that God forgave, and forgives you daily, for the Sins you sin toward Him. As we discussed last time also, there is nothing you can do to them that is even remotely close to what God will do to them if they do not repent their trespasses against one of His Children. You.
13 And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil:James 1:
12 Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him.What Jesus is in essence saying here, is ask your Father, to protect you from yourself. What He is saying is that you need to strengthen yourself in Truth and Righteousness. Strengthen your Spirit, to overcome the temptations of the flesh.
13 Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man:
14 But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed.
15 Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death.
For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen.Again, as you starting out the Prayer. Finish it. Praising God. Thanking Him for being your Daddy. Thank Him for His majesty. For His Creation. Praise Him.
33 But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.The first thing in the forefront of your mind, should be God and His Will and Way. His Word. His love. If you allow Him to be your Father, He will be. If you allow Him to be your Daddy, He will treat you as His Child. It really is this simple. He has little concern that you go to a Man-made Building, and follow Man-made Traditions. He does not want vain repetitions. He wants a true relationship with you.
21 Then came Peter to him, and said, Lord, how oft shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? till seven times?And in...
22 Jesus saith unto him, I say not unto thee, Until seven times: but, Until seventy times seven.
25 And whenever you stand praying, forgive, if you have anything against anyone, so that your Father also who is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses.If you do not?
15 but if you do not forgive others their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.In the example of the manor in which we should Pray, in what has become known as the "Our Father" Prayer, which we will talk about in depth next time, Jesus tells us this.
12 And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.Remember what Jesus said about being judgmental?
3 And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother's eye, but considerest not the beam that is in thine own eye?We Sin everyday. We even Sin Sins we do not even know we Sin. We have all Sinned. God, your Father, is Holy and Just to forgive us, daily. His grace abounds much more than our Sin. However, if we decide that we will not forgive others that have Sinned against us, then how will God justify forgiving us?
17 Recompense to no man evil for evil. Provide things honest in the sight of all men.If you follow the Way. Follow God. Do what your Daddy tells you to do, you are walking in the Spirit. You will not wrong anyone. If you love God with all your heart, mind and soul, and your Neighbor as yourself, you will not steel from them. You will not cheat them. You will not use them. You will obviously not kill them. You will show them love.
18 If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men.
19 Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, "Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord."Give place unto wrath. Do not do unto them likewise as they do to you. Be better than them. They have not wronged you. They wronged GOD. By forgiving them, you allow God to deal with them. Keep yourself blameless in the whole situation.
20 Therefore if thine enemy hunger, feed him; if he thirst, give him drink: for in so doing thou shalt heap coals of fire on his head.So lets look at this concept. God created the Heavens and the Earth and all that is in them. He created Man, and gave him domination over all of Creation. Man gave it to the devil. God wiped out all Creation save eight people. Man's heart was continually evil and the inventions of were as well. Prophets, Teachers, and God's own Words were not enough to change Man's ways. So He even laid down His God Head and became Flesh, suffered all He did to Death for us. STILL? Many will still never except Him. It is on their head. They condemn themselves. He does have a limit.
21 Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good.
32 He that is slow to anger is better than the mighty; and he that ruleth his spirit than he that taketh a city.Think about this. If someone or something wrongs you, you always have Daddy to turn to. How many of you, being Earthly Fathers, know this feeling? Your child comes home and says, "Daddy, this kid is picking on me." Your first instinct is to go wherever that bully is and grab him / her, by the front of their shirt, and turn them into a pile of weeping mess on the floor? If you are honest, most of you out there would agree. You know this feeling. You Daddy is God Himself. Go to Him.
33 The lot is cast into the lap; but the whole disposing thereof is of the Lord.
19 Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, "Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord."When you fully understand it. When you claim it. You will live a more peaceful life. You will truly Pray for, and mean it, those that wrong you. You will fully get, and Pray, "Father forgive them, for they know not what they do." You see, when someone wrongs you, you have the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End, The Creator of all that ever was, is, or will be, God Himself, your Daddy, to turn to.
Are you, or do you know an Alcoholic? Are you, or do you know a drug addict? Are you, or do you know a Smoker? Most want to quit. Some do. Many do, and then end up going right back to it. Why? They go right back to the routines and they go right back to the people, that they knew and did these things with. They lie to themselves and say it's OK. Just because they are doing it, doesn't mean I have to. It doesn't mean I can't be friends with them.43 When the unclean spirit is gone out of a man, he walketh through dry places, seeking rest, and findeth none.You see, once you receive the Spirit of Adoption, you become a new creature. You are washed clean of Sin, by the Blood of Christ. You are now in total control over the flesh, because you have the Holy Spirit dwelling in you and with you.
44 Then he saith, I will return into my house from whence I came out; and when he is come, he findeth it empty, swept, and garnished.
45 Then goeth he, and taketh with himself seven other spirits more wicked than himself, and they enter in and dwell there: and the last state of that man is worse than the first. Even so shall it be also unto this wicked generation.
22 But Jesus said unto him, Follow me; and let the dead bury their dead.Luke 9:
60 Jesus said unto him, Let the dead bury their dead: but go thou and preach the kingdom of God.Then when Peter said to Him that they have gave up all to follow Him, He told Peter, not to worry about that.
28 Then Peter began to say unto him, Lo, we have left all, and have followed thee.
29 And Jesus answered and said, Verily I say unto you, There is no man that hath left house, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my sake, and the gospel's,
30 But he shall receive an hundredfold now in this time, houses, and brethren, and sisters, and mothers, and children, and lands, with persecutions; and in the world to come eternal life.
1 But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction.These are false Religions and false teachers. Those that attempt to get you to follow anything other than God, and or Jesus. Continuing, Peter said this...
2 And many shall follow their pernicious ways; by reason of whom the way of truth shall be evil spoken of.
3 And through covetousness shall they with feigned words make merchandise of you: whose judgment now of a long time lingereth not, and their damnation slumbereth not.
17 These are wells without water, clouds that are carried with a tempest; to whom the mist of darkness is reserved for ever.Continued in the next chapter..
18 For when they speak great swelling words of vanity, they allure through the lusts of the flesh, through much wantonness, those that were clean escaped from them who live in error.
19 While they promise them liberty, they themselves are the servants of corruption: for of whom a man is overcome, of the same is he brought in bondage.
20 For if after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, they are again entangled therein, and overcome, the latter end is worse with them than the beginning.
21 For it had been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than, after they have known it, to turn from the holy commandment delivered unto them.
22 But it is happened unto them according to the true proverb, The dog is turned to his own vomit again; and the sow that was washed to her wallowing in the mire.
1 This second epistle, beloved, I now write unto you; in both which I stir up your pure minds by way of remembrance:I'm willing to bet you know someone like this. Especially if you are a new Child of God. Once you were just like them. Doing the same things they did. Now, to them, you seem to think you are better than they are. They may even say things like, "What make you think your "religion" is any better than all the others out there?" "Who died and made you better than me?" "You can keep this Jesus stuff to yourself. I do not have time for this nonsense. The Bible has been talking about the end of the World for thousands of years. We're still here." One of my favorites? "Look at me. I have money, I have a job with power. I have everything I ever wanted. You? What has your God done for you?" Or "I do not believe in this book, written by a bunch of men, in the desire to control people's lives and actions." "There is no God."
2 That ye may be mindful of the words which were spoken before by the holy prophets, and of the commandment of us the apostles of the Lord and Saviour:
3 Knowing this first, that there shall come in the last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts,
4 And saying, Where is the promise of his coming? for since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation.
5 For this they willingly are ignorant of, that by the word of God the heavens were of old, and the earth standing out of the water and in the water:Could God bring about the end of the world as we know it tomorrow? Of course He could. Why is He waiting? He wants as many to find the truth as possible. He wants as many to accept His gift as possible. He doesn't want to destroy you. He wants to save you. But He will not wait forever...
6 Whereby the world that then was, being overflowed with water, perished:
7 But the heavens and the earth, which are now, by the same word are kept in store, reserved unto fire against the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men.
8 But, beloved, be not ignorant of this one thing, that one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day.
9 The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.
10 But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up.Jesus tells us that in the Tribulation, He had to shorten the days. Why? Because if He didn't, even the Elect could be lead astray...
11 Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness,
12 Looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God, wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat?
13 Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness.
14 Wherefore, beloved, seeing that ye look for such things, be diligent that ye may be found of him in peace, without spot, and blameless.
15 And account that the longsuffering of our Lord is salvation; even as our beloved brother Paul also according to the wisdom given unto him hath written unto you;
16 As also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things; in which are some things hard to be understood, which they that are unlearned and unstable wrest, as they do also the other scriptures, unto their own destruction.
17 Ye therefore, beloved, seeing ye know these things before, beware lest ye also, being led away with the error of the wicked, fall from your own stedfastness.
18 But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and for ever. Amen.
21 For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be.And in...
22 And except those days should be shortened, there should no flesh be saved: but for the elect's sake those days shall be shortened.
23 Then if any man shall say unto you, Lo, here is Christ, or there; believe it not.
19 For in those days shall be affliction, such as was not from the beginning of the creation which God created unto this time, neither shall be.Remember the story of Peter, and those with him when they found Jesus gone from the tomb? What did they do? What was their first instinct? Go back to what they knew. Peter said, "I go a fishing."
20 And except that the Lord had shortened those days, no flesh should be saved: but for the elect's sake, whom he hath chosen, he hath shortened the days.
21 And then if any man shall say to you, Lo, here is Christ; or, lo, he is there; believe him not:
2 There were together Simon Peter, and Thomas called Didymus, and Nathanael of Cana in Galilee, and the sons of Zebedee, and two other of his disciples.It goes on to say how Peter realized it was Jesus and the rest, as we know, is History. However, Peter and the others with him, just went back to what they knew. After all that they went through, with Jesus, and even the things they did themselves, human nature lead them right back to where they were before Jesus. If they missed Jesus standing there, we would not be talking about Peter's Second Epistle right now.
3 Simon Peter saith unto them, I go a fishing. They say unto him, We also go with thee. They went forth, and entered into a ship immediately; and that night they caught nothing.
4 But when the morning was now come, Jesus stood on the shore: but the disciples knew not that it was Jesus.
35 Jesus wept.May the Families have the Peace and Comfort they need in this very dark time in their lives. May they have the strength to do what they must do. May God be with them.
We just got done talking about how God is your Daddy, Abba Father, if you have been adopted in to the Family of God, through the sacrifice of Jesus and the receiving of the Spirit of Adoption, the Holy Spirit. We talked about how God, your Daddy, wants to have a daily, personal, relationship with you. He wants you to talk with Him. Walk with Him. He wants you to spend time with Him.24 He that spareth his rod hateth his son: but he that loveth him chasteneth him betimes.The Word makes it clear, that if you love your Children, when needed, you MUST Discipline them. You warn them. They do it anyway. You "correct" them so they do not do it again, or if they do, you discipline them again, perhaps even harsher.
11 My son, despise not the chastening of the Lord; neither be weary of his correction:Let's go to....
12 For whom the Lord loveth he correcteth; even as a father the son in whom he delighteth.
1 Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,Will your Daddy correct you when you do wrong? Of course. Why? He loves you. He would rather see you suffer for a brief time, or what we may perceive as suffering, than to be condemned to an ever lasting damnation that brings you away from God Himself. In...
2 Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.
3 For consider him that endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds.
4 Ye have not yet resisted unto blood, striving against sin.
5 And ye have forgotten the exhortation which speaketh unto you as unto children, My son, despise not thou the chastening of the Lord, nor faint when thou art rebuked of him:
6 For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth.
7 If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not?
8 But if ye be without chastisement, whereof all are partakers, then are ye bastards, and not sons.
9 Furthermore we have had fathers of our flesh which corrected us, and we gave them reverence: shall we not much rather be in subjection unto the Father of spirits, and live?
10 For they verily for a few days chastened us after their own pleasure; but he for our profit, that we might be partakers of his holiness.
11 Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby.
12 Wherefore lift up the hands which hang down, and the feeble knees;
13 And make straight paths for your feet, lest that which is lame be turned out of the way; but let it rather be healed.
14 Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord:
15 Looking diligently lest any man fail of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you, and thereby many be defiled;
16 Lest there be any fornicator, or profane person, as Esau, who for one morsel of meat sold his birthright.
17 For ye know how that afterward, when he would have inherited the blessing, he was rejected: for he found no place of repentance, though he sought it carefully with tears.
18 For ye are not come unto the mount that might be touched, and that burned with fire, nor unto blackness, and darkness, and tempest,
19 And the sound of a trumpet, and the voice of words; which voice they that heard intreated that the word should not be spoken to them any more:
20 (For they could not endure that which was commanded, And if so much as a beast touch the mountain, it shall be stoned, or thrust through with a dart:
21 And so terrible was the sight, that Moses said, I exceedingly fear and quake:)
22 But ye are come unto mount Sion, and unto the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to an innumerable company of angels,
23 To the general assembly and church of the firstborn, which are written in heaven, and to God the Judge of all, and to the spirits of just men made perfect,
24 And to Jesus the mediator of the new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling, that speaketh better things than that of Abel.
25 See that ye refuse not him that speaketh. For if they escaped not who refused him that spake on earth, much more shall not we escape, if we turn away from him that speaketh from heaven:
26 Whose voice then shook the earth: but now he hath promised, saying, Yet once more I shake not the earth only, but also heaven.
27 And this word, Yet once more, signifieth the removing of those things that are shaken, as of things that are made, that those things which cannot be shaken may remain.
28 Wherefore we receiving a kingdom which cannot be moved, let us have grace, whereby we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear:
29 For our God is a consuming fire.
19 As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent.Again, Jesus tells us He rebukes those He loves. "As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten" Yet, He also tells us that He stands at the door and knocks. "if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me" So even though He may have to "correct" us, He still says that He will come to us.
20 Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.
17 For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory;So you drive around in the Minivan, and live. You have much greater treasures stored up in Heaven than that Sports Car. But God may correct you, not only to protect you, but to make you better at what He asks us to do. In....
18 While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal.
2 Every branch in me that does not bear fruit he takes away, and every branch that does bear fruit he prunes, that it may bear more fruit.If I say to my boys. "I want you to do this." They go out, and one does what I asked. One doesn't. I say to the one that doesn't, "I asked you to go out and do this. You didn't do it. Why?" He says whatever he says. I may give him another chance. I may not. I will then go to the one that did do what I ask, look at how he was doing it, and I may say something to him like, "You are doing good. However, If you do it this way, you will produce more."
1 My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous:Understand that God DOES discipline His Children. He DOES correct us when needed. However, it is not out of anger, hatred, or some kind of vengeful feelings. He does so because He loves us. Just like I do with my boys, and you may do with your Children, God will do with us.
2 And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world.
15 For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father.When Jesus was about to be taken, abused and Crucified, He prayed this Prayer as an example to those present.
16 The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God:
17 And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together.
36 And he said, Abba, Father, all things are possible unto thee; take away this cup from me: nevertheless not what I will, but what thou wilt.In a letter to the Galatians, Paul said this...
1 Now I say, That the heir, as long as he is a child, differeth nothing from a servant, though he be lord of all;What does the word “Abba” mean? It is an Aramaic word that would most closely be translated as “Daddy.” Not just in the Word, but in the land. It was a common term that young children would use to address their Fathers. It is meant to show the close, intimate, relationship of the Father and his child.
2 But is under tutors and governors until the time appointed of the father.
3 Even so we, when we were children, were in bondage under the elements of the world:
4 But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law,
5 To redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons.
6 And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father.
7 Wherefore thou art no more a servant, but a son; and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ.
10 He was in the world, and the world was made by him, and the world knew him not.In.....
11 He came unto his own, and his own received him not.
12 But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:
13 Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.
14 And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.
3 See what kind of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God; and so we are. The reason why the world does not know us is that it did not know him.Then the Word tells us that we have been chosen by God, to be His Children.
3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ:Think about that. It does not say we chose God. It says, God chose us. You can chose any Religion you want. But if God does not chose you, you cannot be His Child. It doesn't matter what man says. It doesn't matter how good a "insert Religion here" you are or want to be. You can receive praise and glory from the "Church" and may even be deemed a Saint. Doesn't mean you are also a Child of God.
4 According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love:
5 Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will,
6 To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved.
4 Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth.That is that. It is that simple. We need no permission to go speak with our Daddy. He is our Daddy. We are His Children. But He also does not want you to come to Him only in the times of need. Like I know what my Sons need of before they do, God knows what you have need of before you do. He also wants you to come to Him in the good times. Than just because.
5 For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus;
6 Who gave himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time.
1 At the same time came the disciples unto Jesus, saying, Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?Total, unconditional love. Total innocence. Total trust in Him. A Child seeing God as Daddy. After the Resurrection, Jesus called God our Father. Not just "my" Father. But OUR Father. He said our relationship with God is the same as His.
2 And Jesus called a little child unto him, and set him in the midst of them,
3 And said, Verily I say unto you, Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven.
17 Jesus said to her, “Do not cling to me, for I have not yet ascended to the Father; but go to my brothers and say to them, ‘I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.’”Is it OK to brag about our Daddy?
16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.Why are you so peaceful? Why do you seemingly have no fear. Even though this or that is happening, you are always smiling and seem happy. What's your secret? "My Daddy's got this." That could and should be, not only your answer, but also your total belief.
Chapter 11 Saul Defeats the Ammonites 1 Then Nahash the Ammonite went up and besieged Jabesh-Gilead, and all the men of Jabesh said to Nah...
