The Devotional

The Devotional – Search the Scriptures – 264 Christ’s = Our Only Hope God’s Promise Is Not Slack, and the Day of the LORD ( Gen. 6:5—8:22 ) 2 Peter 3:8-13 – But, beloved, do not forget this one thing, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance. But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night, in which the heavens will pass away with a great noise, and the elements will melt with fervent heat; both the earth and the works that are in it will be burned up. Therefore, since all these things will be dissolved, what manner of persons ought you to be in holy conduct and godliness, looking for and hastening the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens will be dissolved, being on fire, and the elements will melt with fervent heat? Nev

The Devotional – Search the Scriptures – 263 Christ’s = Our Only Hope God’s Promise Is Not Slack ( Gen. 6:5—8:22 ) Beloved, I now write to you this second epistle (in both of which I stir up your pure minds by way of reminder), that you 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 Savior, knowing this first: that scoffers will come in the last days, walking according to their own lusts, 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 creation.” For this, they willfully forget, that by the word of God the heavens were of old, and the earth standing out of water and in the water, by which the world that then existed perished, being flooded with water. But the heavens and the earth which are now preserved by the same word, are reserved for fire until the day of judgment and perdition of ungo

The Devotional – Search the Scriptures – 262 Christ’s = Our Only Hope Deceptions of False Teachers 2 Peter 2:18-22 – For when they speak great swelling words of emptiness, they allure through the lusts of the flesh, through lewdness, the ones who have actually escaped from those who live in error. While they promise them liberty, they themselves are slaves of corruption; for by whom a person is overcome, by him also he is brought into bondage. For if, after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, they are again entangled in them and overcome, the latter end is worse for them than the beginning. For it would have been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than having known it, to turn from the holy commandment delivered to them. But it has happened to them according to the true proverb: “A dog returns to his own vomit,” and, “a sow, having washed, to her wallowing in the mire.”

The Devotional – Search the Scriptures – 261 Christ’s = Our Only Hope Depravity of False Teachers But these, like natural brute beasts made to be caught and destroyed, speak evil of the things they do not understand, and will utterly perish in their own corruption, and will receive the wages of unrighteousness, as those who count it a pleasure to carouse in the daytime. They are spots and blemishes, carousing in their own deceptions while they feast with you, having eyes full of adultery and that cannot cease from sin, enticing unstable souls. They have a heart trained in covetous practices, and are accursed children. They have forsaken the right way and gone astray, following the way of Balaam the son of Beor, who loved the wages of unrighteousness; but he was rebuked for his iniquity: a dumb donkey speaking with a man’s voice restrained the madness of the prophet. These are wells without water, clouds carried by a tempest, for whom is reserved the blackness of dark

The Devotional – Search the Scriptures – 260 Christ’s = Our Only Hope Doom of False Teachers For if God did not spare the angels who sinned, but cast them down to hell and delivered them into chains of darkness, to be reserved for judgment; and did not spare the ancient world, but saved Noah, one of eight people, a preacher of righteousness, bringing in the flood on the world of the ungodly; and turning the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah into ashes, condemned them to destruction, making them an example to those who afterward would live ungodly; and delivered righteous Lot, who was oppressed by the filthy conduct of the wicked   (for that righteous man, dwelling among them, tormented his righteous soul from day to day by seeing and hearing their lawless deeds)— then the Lord knows how to deliver the godly out of temptations and to reserve the unjust under punishment for the day of judgment, and especially those who walk according to the flesh in the lust of uncle

The Devotional – Search the Scriptures – 259 Christ’s = Our Only Hope Avoid Destructive Doctrines 2 Peter 2:1-3 – But there were also false prophets among the people, even as there will be false teachers among you, who will secretly bring in destructive heresies, even denying the Lord who bought them, and bring on themselves swift destruction. And many will follow their destructive ways, because of whom the way of truth will be blasphemed. By covetousness they will exploit you with deceptive words; for a long time their judgment has not been idle, and their destruction does not slumber. Jesus, the Christ, God’s Messiah All of the New Testament writers agree that in the ‘latter days’ or ‘last days’ there will be an increase in false teaching. The apostle Paul in 1 Timothy 4 states that false teaching will be ‘expressly or explicitly’ taught, deceiving even the elect (those saved by grace). These teachers of ‘apostasy’ who have abandoned their faith in God hav

The Devotional – Search the Scriptures – 258 Christ’s Example to Be Followed 2 Peter 1:16-21 – The Trustworthy Prophetic Word ( Matt. 17:5 ; Mark 9:7 ; Luke 9:35 ) For we did not follow cunningly devised fables when we made known to you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but were eyewitnesses of His majesty. For He received from God the Father honor and glory when such a voice came to Him from the Excellent Glory: “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.” And we heard this voice which came from heaven when we were with Him on the holy mountain. And so we have the prophetic word confirmed, which you do well to heed as a light that shines in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts; knowing this first, that no prophecy of Scripture is of any private interpretation, for prophecy never came by the will of man, but holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Spirit. Jesus, the Christ, God’s Messiah

The Devotional – Search the Scriptures – 257 Christ’s Example to Be Followed 2 Peter 1:5-11 – Fruitful Growth in the Faith But also for this very reason, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue, to virtue knowledge, to knowledge self-control, to self-control perseverance, to perseverance godliness, to godliness brotherly kindness, and to brotherly kindness love. For if these things are yours and abound, you will be neither barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. For he who lacks these things is shortsighted, even to blindness, and has forgotten that he was cleansed from his old sins. Therefore, brethren, be even more diligent to make your call and election sure, for if you do these things you will never stumble; for so an entrance will be supplied to you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Jesus, the Christ, God’s Messiah If you remember when we began to look into the epistles of the apostle

The Devotional – Search the Scriptures – 256 Christ’s Example to Be Followed 2 Peter 1:5-11 – Fruitful Growth in the Faith But also for this very reason, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue, to virtue knowledge, to knowledge self-control, to self-control perseverance, to perseverance godliness, to godliness brotherly kindness, and to brotherly kindness love. For if these things are yours and abound, you will be neither barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. For he who lacks these things is shortsighted, even to blindness, and has forgotten that he was cleansed from his old sins. Therefore, brethren, be even more diligent to make your call and election sure, for if you do these things you will never stumble; for so an entrance will be supplied to you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Jesus, the Christ, God’s Messiah I am sure you know that a promise of any kind is not realized until it

The Devotional – Search the Scriptures – 255 Christ’s Example to Be Followed 2 Peter 1:5-11 – Fruitful Growth in the Faith But also for this very reason, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue, to virtue knowledge, to knowledge self-control, to self-control perseverance, to perseverance godliness, to godliness brotherly kindness, and to brotherly kindness love. For if these things are yours and abound, you will be neither barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. For he who lacks these things is shortsighted, even to blindness, and has forgotten that he was cleansed from his old sins. Therefore, brethren, be even more diligent to make your call and election sure, for if you do these things you will never stumble; for so an entrance will be supplied to you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Jesus, the Christ, God’s Messiah Genesis 1:1 – In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.

The Devotional – Search the Scriptures – 254 Christ’s Example to Be Followed 2 Peter 1:1-4 – Simon Peter, a bondservant and apostle of Jesus Christ, To those who have obtained like precious faith with us by the righteousness of our God and Savior Jesus Christ: Grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord, as His divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us by glory and virtue, by which have been given to us exceedingly great and precious promises, that through these you may be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust. Jesus, the Christ, God’s Messiah Have you considered the Spiritual riches of being a child of God? If you are one who has obtained a precious FAITH in our God and Savior Jesus Christ, like the faith of the apostle Peter, you are indeed blessed: God in His mercy has blessed you with grace

The Devotional – Search the Scriptures – 253 Christ’s Example to Be Followed 1 Peter – a Brief recap This morning being Friday, I thought it best if I recapped the First Epistle of the apostle Peter. The more one studies the Holy Bible, the more God reveals; Did you know that! We could re-study the epistle and glean even more insight in this the faith, hope, and love; that as a child of God we stand. We would also gain more blessing than before. God’s Word is ‘inexhaustive’, that is while being complete, it is beyond finding out by any human standard or measurement. Only by the sanctification of God the Holy Spirit to obedience and ‘sprinkling’ (spreading of the gospel) of the blood Christ. Jesus, the Christ, God’s Messiah Friends, brothers, and sisters in Christ, whether it be AD 96 or AD 2019 we are living in the last days, thus it is vitally important to understand that this earth is not our ‘homeland’ we have an eternal inheritance and we partially experience

The Devotional – Search the Scriptures – 252 Christ’s Example to Be Followed 1 Peter 5:5-10-11 – Submit to God, Resist the Devil But may the God of all grace, who called us to His eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after you have suffered a while, perfect, establish, strengthen, and settle you. To Him be the glory and the dominion forever and ever. Amen. 1 Peter 5:12-14 Farewell and Peace Farewell and Peace By Silvanus, our faithful brother as I consider him, I have written to you briefly, exhorting and testifying that this is the true grace of God in which you stand. She who is in Babylon, elect together with you, greets you; and so does Mark my son. Greet one another with a kiss of love. Peace to you all who are in Christ Jesus. Amen. Jesus, the Christ, God’s Messiah In these last days, God has spoken to us through His Son, offering us a peaceful, holy and Spiritually prosperous life as a child of God. This offer of ‘Justification and sanctification’ cam

The Devotional – Search the Scriptures – 251 Christ’s Example to Be Followed 1 Peter 5:5-11 – Submit to God, Resist the Devil Likewise you younger people, submit yourselves to your elders. Yes, all of you be submissive to one another, and be clothed with humility, for “God resists the proud, But gives grace to the humble.” Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time, casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you. Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour. Resist him, steadfast in the faith, knowing that the same sufferings are experienced by your brotherhood in the world. But may the God of all grace, who called us to His eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after you have suffered a while, perfect, establish, strengthen, and settle you. To Him be the glory and the dominion forever and ever. Amen. Jesus, the Christ, God’s Messiah As Pe

The Devotional – Search the Scriptures – 250 Christ’s Example to Be Followed 1 Peter 5:1-4 – Shepherding the Children of God The elders who are among you I exhort, I who am a fellow elder and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, and also a partaker of the glory that will be revealed: Shepherd the flock of God which is among you, serving as overseers, not by compulsion but willingly, not for dishonest gain but eagerly; nor as being lords over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock; and when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the crown of glory that does not fade away. Jesus, the Christ, God’s Messiah Hebrews 1:1-4 – God, who at various times and in various ways spoke in time past to the fathers by the prophets, has in these last days spoken to us by His Son, whom He has appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the worlds; who being the brightness of His glory and the express image of His person, and upholding all thi

Christ’s Example to Be Followed 1 Peter 4:12-19 – Suffering for God’s Glory Beloved, do not think it strange concerning the fiery trial, which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened to you; but rejoice to the extent that you partake of Christ’s sufferings, that when His glory is revealed, you may also be glad with exceeding joy. If you are reproached for the name of Christ, blessed are you, for the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you. On their part He is blasphemed, but on your part, He is glorified. But let none of you suffer as a murderer, a thief, an evildoer, or as a busybody in other people’s matters. Yet if anyone suffers as a Christian, let him not be ashamed, but let him glorify God in this matter. For the time has come for judgment to begin at the house of God; and if it begins with us first, what will be the end of those who do not obey the gospel of God? Now “If the righteous one is scarcely saved, Where will the ungodly and the sinne

The Devotional – Search the Scriptures – 248 Christ’s Example to Be Followed 1 Peter 4:7-11 – Serving for God’s Glory But the end of all things is at hand; therefore be serious and watchful in your prayers. And above all things have fervent love for one another, for “love will cover a multitude of sins.” Be hospitable to one another without grumbling. As each one has received a gift, minister it to one another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God. If anyone speaks, let him speak as the oracles of God. If anyone ministers, let him do it as with the ability which God supplies, that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom belong the glory and the dominion forever and ever. Amen. Jesus, the Christ, God’s Messiah Proverbs 18:10 – The name of the LORD is a strong tower; The righteous run to it and are safe. On earth, where we raise our children, there is no safe place. As a parent! And I know first, second and third hand; since