Guarding the Flock Against Wolves

-meme

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Preach the Word; Be Ready-with Great Patience...

-Iowa Country Road

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2 Timothy 4
 

..."I solemnly charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who is to judge the living and the dead, and by His appearing and His kingdom: preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort, with great patience and instruction. 

For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but wanting to have their ears tickled, they will accumulate for themselves teachers in accordance to their own desires, and will turn away their ears from the truth and will turn aside to myths. 

But you, be sober in all things, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry.

For I am already being poured out as a drink offering, and the time of my departure has come. 

I have fought the good fight, I have finished the course, I have kept the faith; in the future there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day; and not only to me, but also to all who have loved His appearing.

Make every effort to come to me soon; for Demas, having loved this present world, has deserted me and gone to Thessalonica; Crescens has gone to Galatia, Titus to Dalmatia. 

Only Luke is with me. 

Pick up Mark and bring him with you, for he is useful to me for service. 

But Tychicus I have sent to Ephesus. 

When you come bring the cloak which I left at Troas with Carpus, and the books, especially the parchments. 

Alexander the coppersmith did me much harm; the Lord will repay him according to his deeds. 

Be on guard against him yourself, for he vigorously opposed our teaching.

At my first defense no one supported me, but all deserted me; may it not be counted against them. 

But the Lord stood with me and strengthened me, so that through me the proclamation might be fully accomplished, and that all the Gentiles might hear; and I was rescued out of the lion’s mouth. 

The Lord will rescue me from every evil deed, and will bring me safely to His heavenly kingdom; to Him be the glory forever and ever. Amen.

Greet Prisca and Aquila, and the household of Onesiphorus. Erastus remained at Corinth, but Trophimus I left sick at Miletus. 

Make every effort to come before winter. 

Eubulus greets you, also Pudens and Linus and Claudia and all the brethren.

The Lord be with your spirit. Grace be with you."

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2 Timothy 1

2 Timothy 2

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Trust Jesus as your own Savior. 

He is the  One and Only.

Bible Gateway

Bible Hub 

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In the Beginning...

-internet

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 Believe in the Truth

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1 John 1

"What was from the beginning, what we have heard, what we have seen with our eyes, what we have looked at and touched with our hands, concerning the Word of Life— and the life was manifested, and we have seen and testify and proclaim to you the eternal life, which was with the Father and was manifested to us— what we have seen and heard we proclaim to you also, so that you too may have fellowship with us; and indeed our fellowship is with the Father, and with His Son Jesus Christ.

These things we write, so that our joy may be made complete.

This is the message we have heard from Him and announce to you, that God is Light, and in Him there is no darkness at all.

If we say that we have fellowship with Him and yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth; but if we walk in the Light as He Himself is in the Light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from all sin.

If we say that we have no sin, we are deceiving ourselves and the truth is not in us.

If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar and His word is not in us.

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Just a few ruffled feathers

 -Blue Jay Blowing in the wind, meme

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The God of the Bible had a plan from the beginning of creation. 

It is spelled out in the Bible. 

The Jewish people were the LORD God's chosen people to spread the good news about Himself and His Son, Jesus, who would come after Him to save all who trusted and chose to follow Him.

Jesus doesn't look at skin color or to what country you belong. He knows your heart--

if you are His or not.

Matthew 24

..."1 Jesus left the temple and was going away, when his disciples came to point out to him the buildings of the temple...3 As he sat on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to him privately, saying, “Tell us, when will these things be, and what will be the sign of your coming and of the end of the age?” 4 And Jesus answered them, 

“See that no one leads you astray. 5 For many will come in my name, saying, ‘I am the Christ,’ and they will lead many astray. 6 And you will hear of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not alarmed, for this must take place, but the end is not yet. 

7 For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom, and there will be famines and earthquakes in various places. 8 All these are but the beginning of the birth pains.

9 “Then they will deliver you up to tribulation and put you to death, and you will be hated by all nations for my name's sake. 10 And then many will fall away and betray one another and hate one another. 11 And many false prophets will arise and lead many astray. 12 And because lawlessness will be increased, the love of many will grow cold. 

13 But the one who endures to the end will be saved. 14 And this gospel of the kingdom will be proclaimed throughout the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come.

15 “So when you see the abomination of desolation spoken of by the prophet Daniel, ...21 For then there will be great tribulation, such as has not been from the beginning of the world until now, no, and never will be... 22 And if those days had not been cut short, no human being would be saved. But for the sake of the elect those days will be cut short. 

23 Then if anyone says to you, ‘Look, here is the Christ!’ or ‘There he is!’ do not believe it. 24 For false christs and false prophets will arise and perform great signs and wonders, so as to lead astray, if possible, even the elect. 25 See, I have told you beforehand... 

30 Then will appear in heaven the sign of the Son of Man, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. 

31 And he will send out his angels with a loud trumpet call, and they will gather his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other...

35 Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away.

36 “But concerning that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but the Father only....44 Therefore you also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect...

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Search for the Real Truth

 -C-130 Hercules

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"There have always been ignorant people, but they haven't always had college degrees to make them unaware of their ignorance. 

Some people imagine that they are well informed because they have memorized a whole galaxy of trendy dogmas and fashionable attitude."

-Thomas Sowell

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John 14:1-6

“Do not let your heart be troubled; 

believe in God, believe also in Me.

In My Father’s house are many dwelling places; 

if it were not so, I would have told you; 

for I go to prepare a place for you.

If I go and prepare a place for you, 

I will come again and receive you to Myself, 

that where I am, there you may be also.

And you know the way where I am going.”

Thomas *said to Him, “Lord, we do not know where You are going, how do we know the way?” 

Jesus *said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me."...

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Psalm 119:159-160

..."Consider how I love Your precepts;


Revive me, O Lord, according to Your lovingkindness.

The sum of Your word is truth,


And every one of Your righteous 

ordinances is everlasting."...

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John 17:1a, 13-19

"Jesus spoke these things...

..."But now I come to You; and these things I speak in the world so that they may have My joy made full in themselves.

I have given them Your word; and the world has hated them, because they are not of the world, even as I am not of the world.

I do not ask You to take them out of the world, but to keep them from the evil one.

They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world.

Sanctify them in the truth; Your word is truth.

As You sent Me into the world, I also have sent them into the world.

For their sakes I sanctify Myself, that they themselves also may be sanctified in truth."...

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A Fine Quote and Don't Forget it!

-Loch Katrine, Scotland FB

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"When people say, 

'I believe in Jesus', 

look them straight in the eye and ask,

 'Which one?' "

~ Walter Martin

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FIND BIBLICAL TRUTHS

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The Dangerous "Christian-eze" Among Us

-dangerous grizzly bear:Yellowstone FB
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Control, Falsehoods, and Manipulation Techniques 

After 'being around the block' a few years in my Christian walk among many Christian sinners, I can recognize many falsehoods and their "christian-eze" (false information and behavior with at least some true Christianity included) which are used by deficient, shadowy people who are teaching falsely as well as using control and manipulation techniques to catch and control others.

These are dangerous behaviors for Christians and non-Christians alike as BOTH can be easily deceived by these false teachers. 

They may "look like a duck" (looking and acting like true Christians), but they are definitely teaching and behaving unlike true Christians.

True, righteous Christians are open, teaching truth from the Word, not from their own sinful minds. They truly care about others, and do not devise ways to control others. 

True Believers do not manipulate you, control you, or give you false memories of your life before  "them". 

True Believers really care about others: Christians and non-Christians alike.

True Believers love others even if you sin against them. They pray for you to come to truth and reality. 

True Believers DO NOT use MANIPULATION to CONTROL others.

Who are your friends and how do they treat you?

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Colossians 3:1-17

Therefore if you have been raised up with Christ, keep seeking the things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God.

Set your mind on the things above, not on the things that are on earth.

For you have died and your life is hidden with Christ in God.

When Christ, who is our life, is revealed, then you also will be revealed with Him in glory.

Therefore consider the members of your earthly body as dead to immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and greed, which amounts to idolatry.

For it is because of these things that the wrath of God will come upon the sons of disobedience, and in them you also once walked, when you were living in them.

But now you also, put them all aside: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and abusive speech from your mouth.

Do not lie to one another, since you laid aside the old self with its evil practices, and have put on the new self who is being renewed to a true knowledge according to the image of the One who created him— a renewal in which there is no distinction between Greek and Jew, circumcised and uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave and freeman, but Christ is all, and in all.

So, as those who have been chosen of God, holy and beloved, put on a heart of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience; bearing with one another, and forgiving each other, whoever has a complaint against anyone; just as the Lord forgave you, so also should you. 

Beyond all these things put on love, which is the perfect bond of unity.

Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body; and be thankful.

Let the word of Christ richly dwell within you, with all wisdom teaching and admonishing one another with psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with thankfulness in your hearts to God.

Whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through Him to God the Father."...

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Walking in the Truth

 

3 John 1:2-4

..."Beloved, I pray that in all respects you may prosper and be in good health, just as your soul prospers.

For I was very glad when brethren came and testified to your truth, that is, how you are walking in truth.

I have no greater joy than this, to hear of my children walking in the truth."...

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-internet photo

This was my own choice of Scripture for my own treasured children.

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Our Daily Source of Knowledge

-Yellowstone FB photo

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“Instead of coming into worship with the express understanding that all of this begins with God in His glory,

 people come with coffee in hand, saying,

‘Let’s see if he’s got something good for us today,’” 

“Expositional preaching gives way to inspirational talks, 

which gives way to therapeutical endeavors,”  

“I'm not sure that America understands just how deep the problem is, 

in relationship to biblical illiteracy. 

You cannot continue to make your journey through life without your Bible, 

not as a talisman, 

not as something just to be revered in a corner, 

but without the Bible as our daily source of knowledge and encounter with God.”

-Alastair Begg

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Tolerance

1 John 1

"What was from the beginning, what we have heard, what we have seen with our eyes, what we have looked at and touched with our hands, concerning the Word of Life— and the life was manifested, and we have seen and testify and proclaim to you the eternal life, which was with the Father and was manifested to us—  what we have seen and heard we proclaim to you also, so that you too may have fellowship with us; and indeed our fellowship is with the Father, and with His Son Jesus Christ. 

These things we write, so that our joy may be made complete.

This is the message we have heard from Him and announce to you, that God is Light, and in Him there is no darkness at all.

If we say that we have fellowship with Him and yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth; but if we walk in the Light as He Himself is in the Light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from all sin.

If we say that we have no sin, we are deceiving ourselves and the truth is not in us.

If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar and His word is not in us."

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Love History 101

 John 8:31-32

..."So Jesus was saying to those Jews who had believed Him, 

“If you continue in My word, then you are truly disciples of Mine; 

and you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free.” 

John 14:1-6

“Do not let your heart be troubled; believe in God, believe also in Me. 

In My Father’s house are many dwelling places; if it were not so, I would have told you; for I go to prepare a place for you. 

If I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself, that where I am, there you may be also.

And you know the way where I am going.” 

Thomas *said to Him, “Lord, we do not know where You are going, how do we know the way?” 

Jesus *said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me."...

John 16:12-14a

...“I have many more things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now.

But when He, the Spirit of truth, comes, He will guide you into all the truth; for He will not speak on His own initiative, but whatever He hears, He will speak; and He will disclose to you what is to come.

He will glorify Me"...

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Praises to the LORD for His Creation!

-Wizard of Id

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Glory to the LORD God on High! 

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Genesis 1

"In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth."...

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Isn't It Strange?

 

The Watchman

~The Watchman's Bagpipes

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I personally don't mind it at all :o)

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The Lamb and the Lion of Judah

H/T American Family Association: Ed Vitagliano

Their article:

It is not a stretch to say that the Book of Revelation reveals the Conqueror and His conquerors. The defeat of evil is a theme that is visible throughout the book, and nowhere is it more clearly in view than in chapter 5.

Moreover, Revelation portrays the spiritual warfare behind human history, painting great truths about the King and His kingdom as well as the intensifying nature of spiritual warfare at the end of the age. It presents in unforgettable symbolism the spiritual warfare of Ephesians 6 and the timeless truths of passages like Romans 8:31-39.

Weeping and sorrow

As the chapter opens, we see a book in the right hand of Almighty God, who is seated upon His throne as King, Lord, and Ruler of creation. The purposes of God are sealed up in this book, and a man must open it if they are to be realized.

But no one is found who “is worthy to open the book and to break its seals.” The issue of worthiness is of critical importance in this heavenly scene, and this worthiness translates into the ability to open the book: “no one … was able to open the book or to look into it.”

So, John weeps (“greatly,” it says in vs. 4), because the redemptive plan appears to come to an abrupt, shuddering stop, leaving mankind and this world in the grip of corruption, death, and despair.

Stop and see 

Yet John is told by an elder, “Stop weeping,” and see something (“behold.”) There is a truth God intends the apostle to see, and, by extension, we are to see it too. It is a truth that ends sorrow for the Christian. It is neither a myth nor a blind faith, but a truth that liberates the broken heart and places the soul on a firm foundation.

John is told that “the Lion that is from the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has overcome so as to open the book and its seven seals” (vs. 5).

Someone has, in fact, overcome so that the book can be opened and the redemptive plan of God can flow forth. This is why tears can cease – for the purposes of God can now triumph. God has found His champion of humanity, who can lead a new, redeemed race to its intended glorification. Only God can so act that despair is forever vanquished!

Not surprisingly, this Overcomer is portrayed as a “Lion” – a majestic, conquering warrior. He is a man of earthbound history – not myth, like Hercules – tied to the Jews as a member of the tribe that gave that people the name “Jew” itself: Judah. And He is a descendant of “David,” the greatest of Israelite kings and the great warrior poet who was a man after God’s own heart. Of course, as we know, this man is Jesus.

The price paid for overcoming

However, when John looks to see this Lion, this conquering Messiah, he instead sees “a Lamb standing, as if slain.” As commentators note, this Lamb bears the marks of ritual slaughter, killed to shed blood for the remission of sins and the redemption of those who believe. This Lamb died for us on the cross (John 1:29), and yet the Lamb is standing after slaughter – a clear symbol of the resurrection.

The switch in imagery between the Lion and the Lamb is critical to a proper understanding of the Book of Revelation:

In order to be the Lion of Judah, Jesus first had to be the Lamb of God.

When John is told that this Lion/Lamb had “overcome” in order to take the book, break its seals, open it, and look into it, it is linked to worthiness. In turn, worthiness is linked to being slain (vv. 6, 9).

Here is the key to understanding the path taken by Jesus to save lost humanity, as well as understanding the Christian life and the spiritual warfare that engulfs the church: overcoming springs out of submission.

This principle is present everywhere in the New Testament. For example, in Romans 5:12-21, Paul says that the disobedience of the earthly Adam was overturned by the obedience of Christ, who is the heavenly man (the second Adam, also called the “last Adam” in 1 Corinthians 15:45-47.)

The pride of the man in the Garden of Eden was countered by the humility of Jesus in the garden of Gethsemane. Adam’s grasping for equality with God (Genesis 3:5) was overturned by the surrender of Jesus Christ to the will of His Father, as Jesus did not view equality with God as something to be grasped (Philippians 2:6).

But the submission of Jesus to the Father is most powerfully expressed in His willingness to die: “He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross” (Philippians 2:8).

God in His wisdom made death the penalty for Adam’s disobedience in the garden, but God then used death to be the very instrument by which He would undo the curse of sin and break its power over the life of the redeemed.

Honor for the Overcomer

Therefore, we see in Revelation 5 that power and authority is birthed out of death. The Lion/Lamb now rules the creation of God. He is no longer bound by earthly flesh but glorified and manifesting His full divine power and nature. He is worshiped by all creation, including all obedient angels, as well as the redeemed.

He has received “power and riches and wisdom and might and honor and glory and blessing” (vs. 12), as well as “dominion forever and ever” (vs. 13).

Christ’s humility and obedience, resulting in His death on the cross, lead to the familiar words of Philippians 2:9-11, where Paul states:

For this reason also, God highly exalted Him, and bestowed on Him the name which is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee will bow, of those who are in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and that every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

For the Christian then, the principle is the same. We are called to humble ourselves and obey the Lord – and expect great things as the result: out of weakness comes strength (2 Corinthians 12:9-10); if a man loses his life for Jesus’s sake, he will find it (Matthew 16:25); and only when a grain of wheat falls into the ground and dies will it eventually produce much fruit (John 12:24).

Because we have been redeemed by the blood of the Lamb (Revelation 5:9), He has made us “to be a kingdom and priests to our God; and they will reign upon the earth” (vs. 10).

What a great honor for God’s people! And yet, are we to be lions without being lambs? Our victory comes through suffering and sacrifice in the context of spiritual warfare:

And they overcame [the dragon] because of the blood of the Lamb and because of the word of their testimony, and they did not love their life even when faced with death (Revelation 12:11).

Thus, the people of God are also called to be overcomers who bear their cross, submit to God, and proclaim His glorious truth – which leads to conflict with the enemy. In doing so, however, we are used by the Lion/Lamb to break apart demonic strategies, shatter prison doors, and unchain captives.

So, we must be willing to go forward into the breach and into the fray where it is the thickest and most dangerous. As we lay down our lives for the glory of Jesus Christ, we shall overcome the dragon.

Our reward for such overcoming faithfulness is that we will sit down with Christ on His throne and rule the nations with Him (Revelation 2:26-27; 3:21).

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Thank you again:

American Family Association: Ed Vitagliano/July,19,2022

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