Tag Archives: 2 Timothy 3:16-17

What Landmarks??? A Word from THE WORD!!! #468

22 Wednesday Jul 2026

Posted by in 'Come unto me, 'Tis The Season?, Broad road or the Straight Gate?, Broken Cisterns, Broken Hearts, Fixing Our Eyes On Jesus, Following Jesus, Following Jesus or the World?, Laying up treasure in heaven

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What Landmarks???      A Word from THE WORD!!! #468

I want to start with some pictures of truth from Jeremiah the prophet of God.  I love that book, and while it is hard to read sometimes, it is chock full of God’s principles for living, as well as the cost to follow God in a hostile environment!  Lessons that we need to be prepared to face any uncertain future!.

“Wherefore I will yet plead with you,

saith the LORD,

and with your children’s children will I plead.

10 For pass over the isles of Chittim, and see;

and send unto Kedar, and consider diligently,

and see if there be such a thing.

11 Hath a nation changed their gods,

which are yet no gods?

but my people have changed their glory

for that which doth not profit.

12 Be astonished,

O ye heavens, at this,

and be horribly afraid,

be ye very desolate,

saith the LORD.

13 For my people have committed two evils;

they have forsaken me

the fountain of living waters,

and hewed them out cisterns,

broken cisterns,

that can hold no water.”   Jeremiah 2:9-13

For those of us who never lived where they use cisterns, this may be a bit foreign to us, but it is such an amazing picture.  I remember years ago, visiting a family member who lived out in the Kentucky farmland, and they had a cistern, well, I have never experienced this situation, and so one morning I was hand-washing a new white blouse in the lavatory and set it to soak a few minutes and then went back to turn on the water and finish washing it, when all of a sudden this awful black stuff came out of the faucet and I couldn’t get my blouse out quickly enough, and it was stained beyond recovery.  I went to ask what was going on, and they explained that the cistern must have gone dry, and they’d have to order water to fill it!  Well, needless to say, I learned a lesson about cisterns whether I wanted to or not.  An empty cistern is of little to no use, and if it goes dry or is broken there is no water.  God accusses His people, Israel, of forsaking a fountain of water (like our artesian wells) and not only digging cisterns for water but created broken cisterns that wouldn’t hold water (like our old adage, “that won’t hold water”!).  God is our fountain of life—not only life-giving water, but the water of life, eternal life; life in Jesus, not only the giver of water, but the One who is the water of life!

“Jesus answered and said unto her,

Whosoever drinketh of this water

shall thirst again:

14 But whosoever drinketh of the water

that I shall give him

shall never thirst;

but the water that I shall give him

shall be in him a well of water

springing up into everlasting life.”  John 4:13-14

Let’s consider two passages from the book of The Revelation, which remind us of the water that we need, and Jesus’ own proclamation of where to get it—In HIM!

“And he that sat upon the throne said,

Behold, I make all things new.

And he said unto me,

Write: for these words are true and faithful.

6 And he said unto me,

It is done.

I am Alpha and Omega,

the beginning and the end.

I will give unto him that is athirst

of the fountain of the water of life freely.

7 He that overcometh

shall inherit all things;

and I will be his God,

and he shall be my son.” Revelation 21:5-7

And repeated again in chapter 22.

“And he shewed me a pure river of water of life,

clear as crystal,

proceeding out of the throne of God

and of the Lamb…

…16 I Jesus have sent mine angel

to testify unto you these things

in the churches.

I am the root and the offspring of David,

and the bright and morning star.

17 And the Spirit and the bride say,

Come.

And let him that heareth

say, Come.

And let him that is athirst

come.

And whosoever will,

let him take the water of life freely.”                 Revelation 22:1, 16-17

What does this have to do with ‘landmarks?  Well, landmarks in the scripture could be one of two things, it could refer to boundaries, or it very often referred to the reminders that Israel erected as landmarks on their journey to Canaan, such as the stones they set up at Jordan, as well as various altars that they set up to note a time with God.  What landmarks are you erecting or tearing down.  Have we forgotten not only the promises of God, but perhaps the promises that we have made to God?  We are often a forgetful people, just like Israel; so I’d like to close with a passage from the Psalms that gives us God’s perspective of the fickleness of we people; even God’s own people, often become forgetful!  How about you and me?  Have we forgotten the landmarks?  Have we forgotten our God?  Forgotten His promises?  Forgotten our promises to Jesus?  Let’s resolve to not forget the landmarks of our God; spend some time today rehearsing His goodness, His provision (on so many levels!), His forgiveness in our failures, His encouragement in our successes (that came because of HIS faithfulness!), the truths of HIS Word that supply our every answer and need! Set it as your constant landmark—don’t exchange His glory for the world’s lies!

“They made a calf in Horeb,

and worshipped the molten image.

20 Thus they changed their glory

into the similitude of an ox that eateth grass.

21 They forgat God their saviour,

which had done great things in Egypt;

22 Wondrous works in the land of Ham,

and terrible things by the Red sea.

23 Therefore he said that he would destroy them,

had not Moses his chosen stood before him

in the breach,

to turn away his wrath,

lest he should destroy them.

24 Yea, they despised the pleasant land,

they believed not his word:

25 But murmured in their tents,

and hearkened not

 unto the voice of the LORD.”  Psalm 106:19-25

And in closing, Paul’s reminder of where our focus needs to be.

“Study to shew thyself approved unto God,

a workman that needeth not to be ashamed,

rightly dividing the word of truth.”  2 Timohty 2:15

“All scripture is given by inspiration of God,

and is profitable

for doctrine,

for reproof,

for correction,

for instruction in righteousness:

17 That the man of God

may be perfect,

throughly furnished

unto all good works.”  2 Timohty 3:16-17

Keep God’s Word as your landmark and you’ll find faithfulness and service in your walk each day.

Amen and Amen!!!

Is God’s Word Truth??? A Word from THE WORD!!! #393

01 Wednesday Oct 2025

Posted by in 'Come unto me, A Form of godliness?, God's grace is sufficient...always!, God's Judgment, God's Righteousness Not mine, God's ways are not our ways, God's Wisdom, Godly Wisdom, The Things of God, The Word, The Word Or The World?, There IS a Test!, This is the Way, Time Is Grace!, Too Late To Call?, Transformed life, Trusting Jesus?, Truth, Truth is True, Uncertainty--God HAS the answer, Unrighteous will not inherit, Victory IN Jesus!, What are you hungry for?, What are you listening to?, What do you SEE?, What's in your book?, What's The Word?, Who are YOU following?, Who are you listening to?, Who will you believe and follow?, Who's Listening Anyway?, Whose Sheep are You?

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Is God’s Word Truth??? A Word from THE WORD!!! #393

I feel led to write this article today, as I just read some startling statistics that break my heart; but I have no doubt that they reflect where our culture is.  The bottom line was that less than 10% of those who claim to be “Christians” actually believe the Word of God/The Bible to be true, authoritative and useful for ordering our lives before a Holy God!  So, I want to share what the Word of God has to say about itself.  It’s your choice, as to what you believer, but choose wisely for there is a test; and believe it or not, God’s Word is and ever will be the plumbline!

“For the word of God is

quick,

and powerful,

and sharper than any twoedged sword,

piercing even to the dividing asunder

of soul and spirit,

and of the joints and marrow,

and is a discerner

of the thoughts

and intents

of the heart.

13 Neither is there any creature

that is not manifest in his sight:

but all things are naked and opened

unto the eyes of him with whom we have to do.”               Hebrews 4:12-13

You may deny the veracity of The Word of God, but your denial will not diminish the truth that it is what you will stand and be judged by one day!  What you do with Jesus and His Word is truly your choice, but the consequences have already been set.  Paul gives us a most powerful declaration of the truth of the Bible—God’s Word!  Other’s words may be tempting to believe as they usually (almost always) feed the fleshly desires, rather than the truths of God!

“If we believe not,

yet he abideth faithful:

he cannot deny himself.

14 Of these things put them in remembrance,

charging them before the Lord

that they strive not about words to no profit,

but to the subverting of the hearers.

15 Study to shew thyself approved unto God,

a workman that needeth not to be ashamed,

rightly dividing the word of truth.” 2 Timothy 2:13-15

And just an observation, if we are called to “rightly” divide the word of God, it is implied that there is a way to “wrongly” divide (or interpret and apply it) God’s Word.  What are you doing with the Bible?  Are you taking other’s opinions of what it says, or are you digging in yourself to see what God says?  Whether we believe and accept it or not, God remains faithful and His Word is true; again I say, it’s your choice but choose wisely, there is a test!  Let’s look at what else Paul told this young pastor!

“All scripture

is given by inspiration of God, and

is profitable

for doctrine,

for reproof,

for correction,

for instruction in righteousness:

17 That the man of God may be

perfect,

throughly furnished

unto all good works.”  2 Timothy 3:16-17

Just FYI, the word ‘perfect’ here means stable and mature, it is not a reference to attaining sinless perfection!  This is calling us to understand that it is the Bible, God’s Word, which can help us to know truth (doctrine); to reveal our failure and sin (reproof); to correct us and set our feet back on the road of the light of our God (correction); and one of the greatest things is that it helps us to learn the ways of righteousness (the preventive measures for a godly life, instruction in righteousness!)!  Then Paul lifts us up to see that this very Word of God is what will help us to be mature, useful and equipped spiritually for whatever good works God may set before us!  Oh, to keep our eyes fixed on Jesus, and our heart and flesh feasting on His Word.  It’s like medicine for the soul and our weak flesh.

Jesus said it best as He dealt with the temptation of Satan face to face!

“And when the tempter came to him, he said,

If thou be the Son of God,

command that these stones be made bread.

4 But he answered and said,

It is written,

Man shall not live by bread alone,

but by every word

that proceedeth

out of the mouth of God.”              Matthew 4:3-4

What if our diets were as set on God’s Word as on the physical food that we love –some of us way too much!  So in closing I just want to remind every one of us that there is a day coming when we will give an account—let us consider the fate of those who don’t know Jesus; yet also we need to consider that every genuine believer in Jesus will also give an account.  Are you living according to God’s Word?  How can you if you don’t know it?  You can’t!  So dig in my friend; dig in and feast on the riches of all that God has sent to us in this amazing love letter—from Genesis to Revelation!  It’s all true—whether you believe it or not!

“And I saw a great white throne,

and him that sat on it,

from whose face the earth and the heaven

fled away;

and there was found no place for them.

12 And I saw the dead,

small and great,

stand before God;

and the books were opened:

and another book was opened,

which is the book of life:

and the dead were judged

out of those things which were written

in the books,

according to their works.

13 And the sea

gave up the dead which were in it;

and death and hell

delivered up the dead which were in them:

and they were judged

every man

according to their works.

14 And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire.

This is the second death.

15 And whosoever

was not found written in the book of life

was cast into the lake of fire.”  Revelation 20:11-15

No second chances!

“And as it is appointed unto men once to die,

but after this the judgment:” Hebrews 9:27

Then consider Paul’s explanation of the believer’s accounting.

“For other foundation can no man lay

than that is laid,

which is Jesus Christ.

12 Now if any man build upon this foundation

gold,

silver,

precious stones,

wood,

hay,

stubble

13 Every man’s work shall be made manifest:

for the day shall declare it,

because it shall be revealed by fire;

and the fire shall try every man’s work

of what sort it is.

14 If any man’s work abide

which he hath built thereupon,

he shall receive a reward.

15 If any man’s work shall be burned,

he shall suffer loss:

but he himself shall be saved;

yet so as by fire.

16 Know ye not

that ye are the temple of God,

and that the Spirit of God

dwelleth in you?”  1 Corinthians 3:11-16

Are you ordering your steps with Jesus or the world?  It’s your choice but remember there is a test.  May we pray with the Psalmist today?  And the next today…….  And the next today…

“Order my steps

in thy word:

and let not any iniquity

have dominion over me.”  Psalm 119:139

Amen and Amen!!!

Jesus, The Word, Used It??? A Word from THE WORD!!! #306

23 Monday Dec 2024

Posted by in 'Come unto me, A Father's Love, A Form of godliness?, Believing God's Words, Bibe Study, Biblical Boundaries Matter!, Jesus IN You!, Jesus Is Alive, Jesus Is Coming Again., Jesus IS Lord--bow before Him!, Jesus is our peace, Jesus IS The Gift!, Jesus Is The Only Way!, Jesus Is Truth, Jesus Knows YOUR Storm, Jesus Saves!, Jesus-Wonderful Counselor, Study to Show Yourself Approved Unto God, Subtle Dependence

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Jesus, The Word, Used It???  A Word from THE WORD!!! #306

This precious baby whose birth we celebrate with joy, gratitude and hopefully faith and devotion for His wonderful work of salvation for you and me, paid the price of salvation at Calvary—it’s why He came.  So, I’d like us to ponder Jesus’ example of using His Word as our strength, shield and defense against the “roaring lion” who is ever against us.  Peter gave us some good advice about being aware of our enemy.

“Humble yourselves therefore

under the mighty hand of God,

that he may exalt you in due time:

7 Casting all your care upon him;

for he careth for you.

8 Be sober, be vigilant;

because your adversary the devil,

as a roaring lion,

walketh about,

seeking whom he may devour:

9 Whom resist stedfast in the faith,

knowing that the same afflictions

are accomplished in your brethren

that are in the world.”  1 Peter 5:6-9

We are loved and cared for by our Father God, The Son Jesus, and the indwelling Holy Spirit our gift from Jesus to empower us to do His will.  And Jesus gave us one of the greatest examples of how to win the victory as He encountered the enemy, Satan, face to face.  Consider this principle of knowing and depending upon The Word of God in all things, for if you don’t get into it—you won’t have it inside you when you need it.

“Study to shew thyself approved unto God,

a workman that needeth not to be ashamed,

rightly dividing the word of truth.”  2 Timothy 2:15

“All scripture is given by inspiration of God,

and is profitable

for doctrine,

for reproof,

for correction,

for instruction in righteousness:

17 That the man of God may be perfect,

thoroughly furnished

unto all good works.”  2 Timothy 3:16-17

So, let’s look at Jesus’ example—then follow it—at Christmas time and all year through!  And while this is a lengthy passage, I wanted us to see it in its context.  I pray that you will take some time this week to ponder these things.

“Then was Jesus led up of the Spirit

into the wilderness

to be tempted of the devil.

2 And when he had fasted forty days and forty nights,

he was afterward an hungred.

3 And when the tempter came to him, he said,

If thou be the Son of God,

command that these stones be made bread.

4 But he answered and said,

It is written,

Man shall not live by bread alone,

but by every word

that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.

5 Then the devil taketh him up into the holy city,

and setteth him on a pinnacle of the temple,

6 And saith unto him,

If thou be the Son of God,

cast thyself down:

for it is written,

He shall give his angels charge

concerning thee:

and in their hands

they shall bear thee up,

lest at any time thou dash thy foot

against a stone.

7 Jesus said unto him,

It is written again,

Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God.

8 Again, the devil taketh him up

into an exceeding high mountain,

and sheweth him all the kingdoms of the world,

and the glory of them;

 9 And saith unto him,

All these things will I give thee,

if thou wilt fall down and worship me.

10 Then saith Jesus unto him,

Get thee hence, Satan:

for it is written,

Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God,

and him only shalt thou serve.

11 Then the devil leaveth him,

and, behold, angels came

and ministered unto him.”  Matthew 4:1-11

May we follow the example of our Lord Jesus and dig into His Word and hide it in our hearts so that upon the conflicts with the enemy we will be “loaded for lion”!  Remember, We Win!!!

“And, behold,

I come quickly; and my reward is with me,

to give every man

 according as his work shall be.

13 I am Alpha and Omega,

the beginning and the end,

the first and the last.

14 Blessed are they that do his commandments,

that they may have right to the tree of life,

and may enter in through the gates into the city.”  Revelation 22:12-14

Amen and Amen!!!

Hindering Revival??? A Word from THE WORD!!! #224

26 Sunday May 2024

Posted by in 'Come unto me, A Form of godliness?, A Witness--Good or Bad???, Choices And Consequences, Choose Gratitude and show it!, Choose Wisely, Choose You This Day!, Choosing Jesus or The World?, Christ IN YOU, Confidence or Presumption?, Conformed or Transformed?, Conformed to HIS image, Fickle or Faithful, REvival, Revival or Recycle?, Righteousness exalts a nation, Transformation, Transformed life, Trendy Or Truth

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Hindering Revival??? A Word from THE WORD!!! #224

“Wilt thou not revive us again:

that thy people may rejoice in thee?

7 Shew us thy mercy, O LORD,

and grant us thy salvation.

8 I will hear what God the LORD will speak:

for he will speak peace unto his people,

and to his saints:

but let them not turn again

to folly.

9 Surely his salvation

is nigh them that fear him;

that glory may dwell in our land.”  Psalm 85:6-9

So what is revival?  Revival is a renewal of the living, not a raising of the dead (in other words a renewing and restoring of God’s own people, not the saving of the lost; but by the same token when God’s own get right with HIM, great and mighty things will draw the lost to The Living God!). We seem to have skewed what revival truly is; we have quoted parts of 2 Chronicles 7:14 so often, yet more often than not we leave out much of the important part.  We want God to heal our land, but we don’t really want Him to change us, or draw a line against our “pet sin”!  I’d like to simply share some things for us to consider in our desire for true revival:

       Are we willing to abandon our pride?

       Are we willing to draw near to God rather than self?

       Are we willing to submit to/obey God and His Word?

              (popular or not…and it won’t be!)

       Do we see our sin as sin?

       Are we mourning over our sin/the sin of our nation?

       Are we equipped to resist the devil?

              (in other words do we know the Word of God, so that

                we can recognize the devil, his wiles and temptation?)

       Do you prefer to laugh at sin, or have a burden over it?

Peruse what James has to say to us, and may we truly hear the voice of God (via the Holy Spirit) speaking to our heart and respond accordingly.  Our life choices matter not only to us, but also to others watching to see if we live what we say we believe.

“But he giveth more grace.

Wherefore he saith,

God resisteth the proud,

but giveth grace unto the humble.

7 Submit yourselves therefore to God.

Resist the devil,

and he will flee from you.

Draw nigh to God,

and he will draw nigh to you.

Cleanse your hands,

 ye sinners;

and purify your hearts,

ye double minded.

9 Be afflicted, and mourn,

and weep:

let your laughter be turned to mourning,

and your joy to heaviness.

10 Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord,

and he shall lift you up.”  James 4:8-10

God’s message to Solomon is so important, but we often want to pick and choose the parts we want to accept, pursue, and obey.

“And the LORD appeared to Solomon by night,

and said unto him,

I have heard thy prayer,

and have chosen this place to myself

for an house of sacrifice.

13 If I shut up heaven that there be no rain,

or if I command the locusts to devour the land,

or if I send pestilence among my people…”

God heard Solomon’s request for His provision and acceptance of this house which he had built, and God told him that he would accept the Temple, but He also told Solomon that He would still judge sin, and if He chose to discipline His people there was a remedy.  Oh, that America would realize that we have abandoned God Almighty and His Son, Jesus, by our choices, our behavior, and our negligence of His Word and prayer, and then wonder why we are reaping the present “perilous times”.  May we heed the remedy that God gave to Solomon—all of it. (See 2 Tim. 3:1-5)

“…14 If

my people,

which are called by my name,

shall humble themselves,

and pray,

and seek my face,

and turn from their wicked ways;

then will I

hear from heaven,

and will forgive their sin,

and will heal their land.

15 Now mine eyes shall be open,

and mine ears attent

unto the prayer that is made

in this place.”  2 Chronicles 7:12-15

Jesus gave us the most important parameters of prayer, that so many miss today; knowing that our place is “in Jesus” not a building!

“After this manner therefore pray ye:

Our Father which art in heaven,

Hallowed be thy name.

10 Thy kingdom come.

Thy will be done

in earth, as it is in heaven.” Matt. 6:9-10

Jesus instructs us to be focused on God’s will, God’s kingdom—hence we need to study God’s Word as Paul instructs as as well.

“Study to shew thyself approved unto God,

a workman that needeth not to be ashamed,

rightly dividing the word of truth.”  2 Timothy 2:15

Why study God’s Word?  It is our plumbline of truth, for sure, not the world!

“All scripture is given by inspiration of God,

and is profitable   for doctrine,

for reproof,

for correction,

for instruction in righteousness:

17 That the man of God may be perfect,

throughly furnished

unto all good works.”   2 Timothy 3:16-17

Boiled down, Paul is saying God’s Word IS God’s Word; it is profitable for—what we know to be truth—reproving (revealing to us) us when we err—correcting us back to the right—and teaching us how to avoid temptation.  The result is, we will be able to behave with spiritual maturity, equipped unto “all good works” which (as Paul says in Eph. 2:8-10) “God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.”

Do we have a heart for the spiritual things of God, or have we binged on the junk food of the world so much, that we have no appetite for God?  Have we dulled our appetites for God’s things inadvertently, or by neglect?  As Jesus mentions in Matthew chapter 7, are we choosing the “straight gate” or the “broad way”?  It’s your choice but choose wisely, there is a test.  As for revival, I think scripture teaches us that unless we are willing to see ourselves as we really are, humbling ourselves before God, and seeking the change that only His Holy Spirit can achieve, it’s not near.  As James teaches us, being a successful child of God takes some effort—in fact a lot of effort!  And while I’ve only included part of the chapter, I encourage you to spend some time in the book of James this week.

“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.

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.

16 Do not err, my beloved brethren…

…22 But be ye doers of the word,

and not hearers only,

deceiving your own selves.

23 For if any be a hearer of the word, and not a doer,

he is like unto a man beholding his natural face

in a glass:

24 For he beholdeth himself,

and goeth his way,

and straightway forgetteth

what manner of man he was.

25 But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty,

and continueth therein,

he being not a forgetful hearer,

but a doer of the work,

this man shall be blessed in his deed.

26 If any man among you seem to be religious,

and bridleth not his tongue,

but deceiveth his own heart,

this man’s religion is vain.

27 Pure religion

and undefiled before God and the Father is this,

To visit the fatherless

and widows in their affliction,

and to keep himself unspotted from the world.”                           Portions of James 1:12-27

We could call this a prescription for preparing for true revival!  Are we caring for those in need—widows and orphans—AND keeping ourselves “unspotted from the world”!  Let’s not be leopard Christians, but faithful servants of our Lord and Savoir Jesus Christ!  I’m praying for you and for revival.  May God hear our cry and see the earnestness of our heart.

“I beseech you therefore, brethren,

by the mercies of God,

that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice,

holy, acceptable unto God,

which is your reasonable service.

2 And be not conformed to this world:

but be ye transformed

by the renewing of your mind,

that ye may prove

what is that good,

and acceptable,

and perfect, will of God.

3 For I say, through the grace given unto me,

to every man that is among you,

not to think of himself more highly

than he ought to think;

but to think soberly,

according as God hath dealt to every man

the measure of faith.”  Romans 12:1-3

Amen and Amen!!!

Gap Standers Needed??? A Word from THE WORD!!! #144

16 Monday Oct 2023

Posted by in A Father's Love, Stand by ME!, Stand Fast!, Standing in the GAP!, Study to Show Yourself Approved Unto God, Sweet Words or Bitter Words?, Teachers, The Gospel, The greatest gift!!!, The Love of God, The Only Way, The Word Or The World?, There IS a Test!, This IS The Day, This is the Way, Time Is Grace!, Touch them while you can?, Trendy Or Truth, True Gospel, True Knowledge, Trust God, Trusting Jesus?, Truth, Truth is True, Turn to God's Word, Victory IN Jesus!, Walking With Jesus, What are you listening to?, What's coming out of YOUR mouth?, What's in your book?, Whose Sheep are You?, Witness, YOU Can do ALL things through Jesus

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Gap Standers Needed???  A Word from THE WORD!!! #144

God is faithful at every turn, and HIS WORD has never changed, nor will it!  We are living in a world full of those who claim the name of Jesus and lead people away from The Word of God; but we’re not the first and if Jesus tarries, we won’t be the last!  Ezekiel has a word from The Lord in this regard, and I’d like us to consider it today, for we have these same “lying prophets” in our culture today!

“And the word of the LORD came unto me, saying,

2 Son of man,

prophesy against the prophets of Israel

that prophesy,

and say thou unto them that prophesy

out of their own hearts,

Hear ye the word of the LORD;

3 Thus saith the Lord GOD;

Woe unto the foolish prophets,

that follow their own spirit,

and have seen nothing!

4 O Israel, thy prophets

are like the foxes in the deserts.

5 Ye have not gone up into the gaps,

neither made up the hedge

for the house of Israel to stand

in the battle in the day of the LORD.

6 They have seen vanity and lying divination,

saying, The LORD saith:

and the LORD hath not sent them:

and they have made others to hope

that they would confirm the word.”    Ezekiel 13:1-6

And Ezekiel received another similar message from God for this foolish and deceived people.  May we hear The Word of The Lord!

“The people of the land have used oppression,

and exercised robbery,

and have vexed the poor and needy:

yea, they have oppressed the stranger wrongfully.

30 And

I sought for a man among them,

that should make up the hedge,

and stand in the gap before me

 for the land,

that I should not destroy it:

 but I found none.

31 Therefore have I poured out mine indignation

upon them;

I have consumed them with the fire of my wrath:

their own way have I recompensed

upon their heads,

saith the Lord GOD.”  Ezekiel 22:29-31

Do you see the parallel to America?  I do!  Israel had listened to lying prophets, and rejected the true prophets of God, who warned them of God’s coming judgment through Babylon!  We have prophets (preachers & teachers) today who claim the name of Jesus, and yet preach a word that is not biblically sound.  But how do we know?  We MUST be IN it for ourselves, for it IS the standard of truth, right, God’s ways, times, and righteousness.  Paul told His precious son-in-the-ministry to cling to the truths of God’s Word!  What are we clinging to?  God’s Word or the foolish things of the world—the lies of the enemy (See John 8:44)?

“Study to shew thyself approved unto God,

a workman that needeth not to be ashamed,

rightly dividing the word of truth.

16 But shun profane and vain babblings:

for they will increase unto more ungodliness.”  2 Timothy 2:15-16

The main things which Paul points out here I’d like to simply repeat for our consideration, that we might examine our own lives in light of these principles:

We are to STUDY GOD’S WORD to know truth—

We are to seek GOD’S approval over man’s—

We are to Be A faithful WORKMAN, living without shame—

We are to “RIGHTLY DIVIDE” GOD’S WORD—                                           (not putting our own ‘spin’ on it but doing honest, diligent study, keeping the whole counsel of God in sight, with the immediate context and larger context always in mind.)

We are to shun that which is profane and senseless.                               (Jesus said, “Cast not your pearls before swine.”)

Paul went on in this letter to the young “Preacher Man” to call him to know that  THE WORD of GOD is what we are to study, not just for information’s sake, but for the increase of our faith, maturity, wisdom, grace, and righteous service to others before a lost and dying world.  We must remember that these instructions aren’t just for the preachers and teachers, but for every child of God; for we are saved to serve God and be full of good works and righteous living!

“All scripture

is given by inspiration of God,

and is profitable

for doctrine, (truth, information)

for reproof,   (showing what’s wrong)

for correction, (making the wrong right)

for instruction in righteousness: (prevention)

17 That the man of God

may be perfect, (mature)

throughly furnished (fully equipped)

unto all good works.”  2 Timothy 3:16-17

These ‘good works’ are to be an integral part of who we are “IN CHRIST JESUS”, for we have received life, peace, and new life through the power of The Holy Spirit who comes to dwell within each believer!  (See Romans 5:1-11+). God’s work of grace in us is to be a true and effective reflection of Jesus in all we are & all we do!  We must “be HIS” before we can “do HIS” work!

“For by grace

are ye saved

through faith;

and that not of yourselves:

 it is the gift of God:

9 Not of works,

lest any man should boast.

10 For we are his workmanship,

created in Christ Jesus

 unto good works,

which God hath before ordained

that we should walk in them.”  Ephesians 2:8-10.                 (I would encourage you to read all of this precious chapter.)

We must choose to live like it, if we are truly “his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works” that Jesus may be seen IN us, for HE IS IN us!  What does my life and yours say to this lost and dying world around us?  Are we being faithful witnesses, by knowing what God has said; or will we waste our time with fruitless “profane and vain babblings” (and if you consider ‘profane’ and ‘babbling’ they are both synonyms of ‘fruitless’!).  May we be found faithful students of God’s Word so that we can truly reflect the “TRUTH” of God—who IS JESUS!  Let’s stand in that gap for our Lord, by HIS power and grace!!!

“Jesus saith unto him,

I am

the way,

the truth,

and the life:

no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.”  John 14:6

Amen and Amen!!!