October 16th 2022
Are You Just A Follower Of Jesus Christ, But You Do Not Participate On Any Of His Teams!
2 Peter 1:20-21 (NIV)
Above all, you must understand that no prophecy of Scripture came about by the prophet’s own interpretation. For prophecy never had its origin in the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.
In the book God had mankind create, the Holy Spirit influenced the writers to record what they lived through and experienced, so we could read about it today, and believe the history as recorded. Those who lived and prophesied passed on the message the Holy Spirit gave them! Therefore, when you are studying your Bible today you can believe the information to be God’s Word, not just another book some member of mankind wrote. As Peter wrote in the selected verses, “For prophecy never had its origin in the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.“
When Jesus left this earth and returned to heaven, He left the Holy Spirit behind in this cursed world, to help those who choose to follow Him to help with their understanding of God’s Word, and God’s world too! Jesus once said, "All this I have spoken while still with you. But the Counsellor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you. Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.” (John 14:25-27). Are you allowing this Holy Spirit to help you in this lifetime, and to assist you when you study God’s Word?
It always seems like a good idea to remind ourselves that we come into this world as a sinner, or at least we are prone to sinning, because of the sinful nature we all inherit from the Fall of Man. Thus, we are not capable of saving ourselves, which is why we need a Savior. As Paul wrote for the church in Ephesus, and us, that Jesus Christ has assured our salvation, if we believe He is who He says He is. But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions--it is by grace you have been saved. (Ephesians 2:4-5).
It is important for believers to concentrate on the prize offered to us by Jesus Christ, because there are times in this life when the future in this world may not look very bright. Thus, you (we) should dwell on the award of heaven purchased for you (us) by the perfect sacrifice offered for you (us) by the death and resurrection of our Savior, Jesus Christ. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal. (2 Corinthians 4:18). Paul wrote about thinking about the afterlife as the most important issue facing us while still living this mortal life.
In this world today it seems to me there is more violence going on in every area of life. Mass murders are being reported almost everyday somewhere in this country. Individual murders are reported in every major city, where street crimes occur every night, and now ever in daytime. There is a great clamor reported as people are upset because they may be losing the ability to murder unborn babes that are inconvenient to their selected lifestyles. Many people want to be able to abort the baby that is developing in the mother, and she does not want it to be a burden for her.
In God book we read about our responsibility to maintain a positive attitude and to exercise self-control. If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. (Romans 12:18). It is important for believers to have a loving attitude toward everyone, even to love those who choose to be our enemies. Jesus once said, “And if you lend to those from whom you expect repayment, what credit is that to you? Even ‘sinners’ lend to ‘sinners’, expecting to be repaid in full. But love your enemies, do good to them, and lend to them without expecting to get anything back. Then your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High, because he is kind to the ungrateful and wicked.” (Luke 6:34-35).
Most people are not trying to be followers of Jesus Christ as they are worldly thinking, and they cannot believe the wonderful Biblical accounts of the love God has for them, and His desire that they all would become followers of His Son, and thus go to heaven when they die in this cursed world. Paul wrote about such people. The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so that they cannot see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God. (2 Corinthians 4:4). It is the duty of believers to try to tell unbelievers about Jesus Christ, and how having Him in your life has helped you to look forward to the future.
Remember, your new life started immediately when you accepted Jesus Christ into your life, and you were born again. You will never experience the second death and be separated from Our Father God. In this life we as believers need to rely solely on Jesus Christ and have our strength coming from Jesus through the Holy Spirit. Paul wrote about how his strength came through his dependance on the strength he gets through his belief in Jesus Christ. That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong. (2 Corinthians 12:10).
Does your strength in this lifetime come from this world or does it come from Jesus Christ through the Holy Spirit. Surrounding yourself with other believers when possible is a good idea. This is not limited to the Sabbath Day only but is especially important then. Do you attend a church of your choice regularly? If not, it may be like someone saying I am a baseball player. Then they were asked which team they played for? And their answer is I do not participate on a team! I am just a baseball player! Of course, without being on a team or having an opponent you cannot be player or a follower!
Are you just a follower of Jesus Christ, but you do not participate on any of His teams!
Your brother in life through Adam, your brother in eternity through Jesus,
Bob Moak
2 Peter 1:20-21 (NIV)
Above all, you must understand that no prophecy of Scripture came about by the prophet’s own interpretation. For prophecy never had its origin in the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.
In the book God had mankind create, the Holy Spirit influenced the writers to record what they lived through and experienced, so we could read about it today, and believe the history as recorded. Those who lived and prophesied passed on the message the Holy Spirit gave them! Therefore, when you are studying your Bible today you can believe the information to be God’s Word, not just another book some member of mankind wrote. As Peter wrote in the selected verses, “For prophecy never had its origin in the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.“
When Jesus left this earth and returned to heaven, He left the Holy Spirit behind in this cursed world, to help those who choose to follow Him to help with their understanding of God’s Word, and God’s world too! Jesus once said, "All this I have spoken while still with you. But the Counsellor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you. Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.” (John 14:25-27). Are you allowing this Holy Spirit to help you in this lifetime, and to assist you when you study God’s Word?
It always seems like a good idea to remind ourselves that we come into this world as a sinner, or at least we are prone to sinning, because of the sinful nature we all inherit from the Fall of Man. Thus, we are not capable of saving ourselves, which is why we need a Savior. As Paul wrote for the church in Ephesus, and us, that Jesus Christ has assured our salvation, if we believe He is who He says He is. But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions--it is by grace you have been saved. (Ephesians 2:4-5).
It is important for believers to concentrate on the prize offered to us by Jesus Christ, because there are times in this life when the future in this world may not look very bright. Thus, you (we) should dwell on the award of heaven purchased for you (us) by the perfect sacrifice offered for you (us) by the death and resurrection of our Savior, Jesus Christ. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal. (2 Corinthians 4:18). Paul wrote about thinking about the afterlife as the most important issue facing us while still living this mortal life.
In this world today it seems to me there is more violence going on in every area of life. Mass murders are being reported almost everyday somewhere in this country. Individual murders are reported in every major city, where street crimes occur every night, and now ever in daytime. There is a great clamor reported as people are upset because they may be losing the ability to murder unborn babes that are inconvenient to their selected lifestyles. Many people want to be able to abort the baby that is developing in the mother, and she does not want it to be a burden for her.
In God book we read about our responsibility to maintain a positive attitude and to exercise self-control. If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. (Romans 12:18). It is important for believers to have a loving attitude toward everyone, even to love those who choose to be our enemies. Jesus once said, “And if you lend to those from whom you expect repayment, what credit is that to you? Even ‘sinners’ lend to ‘sinners’, expecting to be repaid in full. But love your enemies, do good to them, and lend to them without expecting to get anything back. Then your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High, because he is kind to the ungrateful and wicked.” (Luke 6:34-35).
Most people are not trying to be followers of Jesus Christ as they are worldly thinking, and they cannot believe the wonderful Biblical accounts of the love God has for them, and His desire that they all would become followers of His Son, and thus go to heaven when they die in this cursed world. Paul wrote about such people. The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so that they cannot see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God. (2 Corinthians 4:4). It is the duty of believers to try to tell unbelievers about Jesus Christ, and how having Him in your life has helped you to look forward to the future.
Remember, your new life started immediately when you accepted Jesus Christ into your life, and you were born again. You will never experience the second death and be separated from Our Father God. In this life we as believers need to rely solely on Jesus Christ and have our strength coming from Jesus through the Holy Spirit. Paul wrote about how his strength came through his dependance on the strength he gets through his belief in Jesus Christ. That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong. (2 Corinthians 12:10).
Does your strength in this lifetime come from this world or does it come from Jesus Christ through the Holy Spirit. Surrounding yourself with other believers when possible is a good idea. This is not limited to the Sabbath Day only but is especially important then. Do you attend a church of your choice regularly? If not, it may be like someone saying I am a baseball player. Then they were asked which team they played for? And their answer is I do not participate on a team! I am just a baseball player! Of course, without being on a team or having an opponent you cannot be player or a follower!
Are you just a follower of Jesus Christ, but you do not participate on any of His teams!
Your brother in life through Adam, your brother in eternity through Jesus,
Bob Moak
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