MaryFreeman

WHAT DOES THE WORD SAY?:


(2Ti 4:2 KJV) Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine.
(2Ti 4:3 KJV) For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears;
(2Ti 4:4 KJV)And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.
(2Ti 4:5 KJV) But watch thou in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, make full proof of thy ministry.


Lets AMP that....


(2Ti 4:2 AMP) Herald and preach the Word! Keep your sense of urgency [stand by, be at hand and ready], whether the opportunity seems to be favorable or unfavorable. [Whether it is convenient or inconvenient, whether it is welcome or unwelcome, you as preacher of the Word are to show people in what way their lives are wrong.] And convince them, rebuking and correcting, warning and urging and encouraging them, being unflagging and inexhaustible in patience and teaching.
(2Ti 4:3 AMP) For the time is coming when [people] will not tolerate (endure) sound and wholesome instruction, but, having ears itching [for something pleasing and gratifying], they will gather to themselves one teacher after another to a considerable number, chosen to satisfy their own liking and to foster the errors they hold,
(2Ti 4:4 AMP) And will turn aside from hearing the truth and wander off into myths and man-made fictions.
(2Ti 4:5 AMP) As for you, be calm and cool and steady, accept and suffer unflinchingly every hardship, do the work of an evangelist, fully perform all the duties of your ministry.


SHOOT'N FROM THE HIP:


Therein lies the danger folks.... That way lies death.... THE SECOND DEATH.... Because we run off after fairy tales.... Not realizing.... Or not remembering.... That there will come a day when that which is carnal.... That which is corruptable.... That which is mortal.... WILL BE DONE AWAY WITH....

Meaning....

It will NOT last long.... So why indulge it???

Rather go after the truth.... Embrace it.... Imprint it on our hearts whether we want to hear it.... Whether it tempts our carnal palate.... OR NOT.... Because it is LIFE....

There are times when we suffer needlessly though dear ones.... There are times when lies are told to us that DO NOT tempt the palate.... Hurtfull deceits.... For example:

I was on a thread discussing the end times.... And discussed a certain issue with someone.... Who told me that they had found out "the truth"..... And when they found out this "truth".... They were sick for days.... Literally sick and hurting....


The problem with that is that this person had more information to prove they were right the first time.... Their suffering and hurting was needless.... Completely unnecessary.... And the information is still there.... I had one person telling me that everything I showed them was the same old scripture they had seen before to support that particular position...

I wonder why they expected something new....


But back on track here.... Sectarianism leads to division.... Leads to strife.... It is the Roman way of things (divide and conquer).... Because that lying dragon knows that if he can drive a wedge between two believing people.... He can beat them.... He can defeat them.... And this is exactly what Paul was dealing with.... His words need to be absorbed once more folks....

WHAT DOES THE WORD SAY?:

(1Co 3:1 LITV) And, brothers, I was not able to speak to you as to spiritual ones, but as to fleshly ones, as to babes in Christ.
(1Co 3:2 LITV) I gave you milk to drink, and not food, for you were not then able, for neither are you yet able now.
(1Co 3:3 LITV) For you are yet fleshly. For where among you is jealousy, and strife, and divisions, are you not fleshly and walk according to man?
(1Co 3:4 LITV) For when one may say, Truly I am of Paul, and another, I of Apollos; are you not fleshly?
(1Co 3:5 LITV) What then is Paul? And what Apollos, but ministers through whom you believed, and to each as the Lord gave?
(1Co 3:6 LITV) I planted, Apollos watered, but God made to grow.
(1Co 3:7 LITV) So as neither he planting is anything, nor he watering, but God making to grow.
(1Co 3:8 LITV)So he planting and he watering are one, and each one will receive his own reward according to his own labor.
(1Co 3:9 LITV)For of God we are fellow-workers, a field of God, and you are a building of God.
(1Co 3:10 LITV) According to God's grace given to me, as a wise master builder, I laid a foundation, but another builds on it. But let each one be careful how he builds.
(1Co 3:11 LITV)For no one is able to lay any other foundation beside the One having been laid, who is Jesus Christ.

SHOOT'N FROM THE HIP:

Folks.... If Jesus Christ said it.... You can take it to the Bank of Heaven.... Deposit that check.... And count on it being there when you need it most.... Invite the Holy Spirit to interpret the Scripture.... Resist the devil and he will flee.... Remember Gods charicter.... If He said He will keep you out of the hour of trial.... If He wants you to understand He will deliver you from the wrath to come.... If He wants you to know you are chosen because He knew you before you were born.... That you would love Him.... If He said you are saved through faith and by Gods grace.... That indulgences.... Hail Mary's.... Our Father's.... Are worthless rags.... No matter how many you say or what "saint" you say them too.... If He tells you there is a choice and requires you to make one.... OF YOUR OWN FREE WILL ( Yikes I am stepping on all kinds of toes! Sorry all....).... If He says for God so loved THE WORLD....

It's money in the bank.


There is a spirit of contention (and it is a spirit) stirring up strife on this board.... Folks like to make it seem as if it is spirited debate.... And yet it yields no fruit.... Does no good.... Serves no purpose.... And each side believes wholeheartedly that they are right! I have one rule of thumb as far as we humans go....

There is this side....

There is that side....

And then there is THE TRUTH....

The object of the teachings of Jesus.... And Paul.... And Peter.... And John.... Is LOVE.... And quite simply put.... I have seen posts from unbelievers who could have been persuaded to belief stating they see NOTHING different between us and the world.... That in fact we treat each other worse than most of the world treats its own.... Wow dear ones.... Is it not about time.... In fact well past time.... That the church figures out EXACTLY what it believes.... And sticks together on it? Because we have missed the mark....

WHAT DOES THE WORD SAY?:

(1Ti 1:5 AMP) Whereas the object and purpose of our instruction and charge is love, which springs from a pure heart and a good (clear) conscience and sincere (unfeigned) faith.
(1Ti 1:6 AMP) But certain individuals have missed the mark on this very matter [and] have wandered away into vain arguments and discussions and purposeless talk.
(1Ti 1:7 AMP)They are ambitious to be doctors of the Law (teachers of the Mosaic ritual), but they have no understanding either of the words and terms they use or of the subjects about which they make [such] dogmatic assertions.

SHOOT'N FROM THE HIP:

I humbly submit that we have gotten so far away from the real deal here.... So far off the mark.... So far away from what we are really supposed to be doing on this ol' rock.... That we no longer have "understanding either of the words and terms" we use or "of the subjects about which" we make "dogmatic assertions".... Equally humbly I submit that is because we have forgotten this timeless Godbreathed passage:

WHAT DOES THE WORD SAY?:


(Pro 3:5 AMP) Lean on, trust in, and be confident in the Lord with all your heart and mind and do not rely on your own insight or understanding.
(Pro 3:6 AMP) In all your ways know, recognize, and acknowledge Him, and He will direct and make straight and plain your paths.
(Pro 3:7 AMP)Be not wise in your own eyes; reverently fear and worship the Lord and turn [entirely] away from evil. [Prov. 8:13.]
(Pro 3:8 AMP) It shall be health to your nerves and sinews, and marrow and moistening to your bones.


SHOOT'N FROM THE HIP:

This is another reason folks wander away and chase after cunningly devised fables.... Why the "teachers" of such fables devised them in the first place.... Because we are leaning on our own understanding and following our own paths.... I once had someone tell me it is NOT the Holy Spirits job to provide interpretation and understanding of the Scripture to us.... That we must use our "God given" intellegence to study and understand it on our own.... Even though that clearly is not what Jesus Himself says....

And this causes contentions.... Strife and argument.... Where there should be no debate.... No fighting and bickering.... No delivery of insult (folks have gotten so good at this they can issue an insult that does not.... At first.... LOOK like an insult.... Very slick).... Where we should all come together and share.... And work together to enlarge and enrich the Kingdom of God.... Bring new believers in.... And this is what they see.... And they say they can't find anything better here than what they already have....
Sectarianism never has done anything good for the church.... Never will.... Divide and conquer is a timeless technique satan himself has devised.... Because a unified church is a victorious church.... There is no way to defeat a unified church.... So put it away folks.... All foolishness and childishness.... Who is right and who is wrong simply has no place.... Is not important at all.... Jesus is coming back for His Bride.... Who was commanded to go and preach the gospel.... Which has nothing to do with any sort of doctrines....

Simply that Jesus lived a sinless life.... Died for the sins of the whole wide world though in His divinity could have gotten off the cross.... And rose again victorious over death and hell and the grave....

All else is icing....

Start serving the cake.