We Are To Expose False Prophets and Wicked Men

I love Paul's candidness and honesty in this letter to Timothy.

Next time we are criticized for exposing false prophets, this would be a good passage to quote to them.

It is interesting that Paul says about Alexander, "may the Lord repay him according to his works." But for those who abandoned him is says; "May it not be charged against them." I wonder if those who abandoned him did it out of fear not hate and Alexander the coppersmith did deliberate harm because of hate.

2 Timothy 4:9-22

9 Be diligent to come to me quickly; 10 for Demas has forsaken me, having loved this present world, and has departed for Thessalonica—Crescens for Galatia, Titus for Dalmatia. 11 Only Luke is with me. Get Mark and bring him with you, for he is useful to me for ministry. 12 And Tychicus I have sent to Ephesus. 13 Bring the cloak that I left with Carpus at Troas when you come—and the books, especially the parchments.

14 Alexander the coppersmith did me much harm. May the Lord repay him according to his works. 15 You also must beware of him, for he has greatly resisted our words.

16 At my first defense no one stood with me, but all forsook me. May it not be charged against them.

17 But the Lord stood with me and strengthened me, so that the message might be preached fully through me, and that all the Gentiles might hear. Also I was delivered out of the mouth of the lion. 18 And the Lord will deliver me from every evil work and preserve me for His heavenly kingdom. To Him be glory forever and ever. Amen!"

Do You Want Christ or Do You Just Want His Stuff

Do You Want Christ or Do You Just Want His Stuff?

2 Timothy 3:3-9

"1 But know this, that in the last days perilous times will come:
2 For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy,
3 unloving, unforgiving, slanderers, without self-control, brutal, despisers of good,
4 traitors, headstrong, haughty, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God,
5 having a form of godliness but denying its power. And from such people turn away!
6 For of this sort are those who creep into households and make captives of gullible women loaded down with sins, led away by various lusts,
7 always learning and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.
8 Now as Jannes and Jambres resisted Moses, so do these also resist the truth: men of corrupt minds, disapproved concerning the faith;
9 but they will progress no further, for their folly will be manifest to all, as theirs also was."

This verse caught my eye the first time I saw it. I see so much of this in the apostate churches today:

"5 having a form of godliness but denying its power. "

Many want the benefits that God has to offer, but they do not want to submit to Him.

He will not save anyone who only wants His stuff, He will only save those who want HIM.

Do We Think We Can Get By With Disobedience Against The Holy God?

In reading the account of Belshazzar, the son of Nebuchadnezzar, today, I was struck with the fact that Nebuchadnezzar had to learn the hard way through blatant discipline from God, Who the One true God was. He even became like the ox of the field eating grass because of his rebellion against God.

Because of the discipline of God, Nebuchadnezzar turned from his evil ways to the One true God. Then Nebuchadnezzar's son was the next in line to be king. He knew of the story of his father and what God did in his life, but did not obey God.

Because Belshazzar, grew up knowing right from wrong, knowing the story of his father, he was going to be much more accountable than even his father, who had repented.

Belshazzar took the temple cups and began to use them for the worship of pagan gods. IN doing this he brought God's wrath upon himself and his entire kingdom.

Daniel 5:5-6
"5 In the same hour came forth fingers of a man's hand, and wrote over against the candlestick upon the plaister of the wall of the king's palace: and the king saw the part of the hand that wrote.
6 Then the king's countenance was changed, and his thoughts troubled him, so that the joints of his loins were loosed, and his knees smote one against another."

Daniel 5:13-14
"13 Then was Daniel brought in before the king. And the king spake and said unto Daniel, Art thou that Daniel, which art of the children of the captivity of Judah, whom the king my father brought out of Jewry?
14 I have even heard of thee, that the spirit of the gods is in thee, and that light and understanding and excellent wisdom is found in thee."

Daniel 5:22-30
"22 And thou his son, O Belshazzar, hast not humbled thine heart, though thou knewest all this;

23 But hast lifted up thyself against the Lord of heaven; and they have brought the vessels of his house before thee, and thou, and thy lords, thy wives, and thy concubines, have drunk wine in them; and thou hast praised the gods of silver, and gold, of brass, iron, wood, and stone, which see not, nor hear, nor know: and the God in whose hand thy breath is, and whose are all thy ways, hast thou not glorified:

24 Then was the part of the hand sent from him; and this writing was written.

25 And this is the writing that was written, Mene, Mene, Tekel, Upharsin.

26 This is the interpretation of the thing: Mene; God hath numbered thy kingdom, and finished it.

27 Tekel; Thou art weighed in the balances, and art found wanting.

28 Peres; Thy kingdom is divided, and given to the Medes and Persians.

29 Then commanded Belshazzar, and they clothed Daniel with scarlet, and put a chain of gold about his neck, and made a proclamation concerning him, that he should be the third ruler in the kingdom.

30 In that night was Belshazzar the king of the Chaldeans slain."