RG AUDIO 110115
Their punishment, decreed long ago, is not idle; their destruction is not asleep! 4 For God did not spare the angels who sinned; on the contrary, he put them in gloomy dungeons lower than Sh’ol to be held for judgment. 5 And he did not spare the ancient world; on the contrary, he preserved Noach, a herald of righteousness, with seven others, and brought the Flood upon a world of ungodly people. 6 And he condemned the cities of S’dom and ‘Amora, reducing them to ashes and ruin, as a warning to those in the future who would live ungodly lives; 7 but he rescued Lot, a righteous man who was distressed by the debauchery of those unprincipled people; 8 for the wicked deeds which that righteous man saw and heard, as he lived among them, tormented his righteous heart day after day. 9 So the Lord knows how to rescue the godly from trials and how to hold the wicked until the Day of Judgment while continuing to punish them, 10 especially those who follow their old natures in lust for filth and who despise authority.
Presumptuous and self-willed, these false teachers do not tremble at insulting angelic beings; 11 whereas angels, though stronger and more powerful, do not bring before the Lord an insulting charge against them. 12 But these people, acting without thinking, like animals without reason, born to be captured and destroyed, insult things about which they have no knowledge. When they are destroyed, their destruction will be total — 13 they will be paid back harm as wages for the harm they are doing.
Their idea of pleasure is carousing in broad daylight; they are spots and defects reveling in their deceptions as they share meals with you — 14 for they have eyes always on the lookout for a woman who will commit adultery, eyes that never stop sinning; and they have a heart that has exercised itself in greed; so that they seduce unstable people. What a cursed brood!
15 These people have left the straight way and wandered off to follow the way of Bil‘am Ben-B‘or, who loved the wages of doing harm 16 but was rebuked for his sin — a dumb beast of burden spoke out with a human voice and restrained the prophet’s insanity! 17 Waterless springs they are, mists driven by a gust of wind; for them has been reserved the blackest darkness. 18 Mouthing grandiosities of nothingness, they play on the desires of the old nature, in order to seduce with debaucheries people who have just begun to escape from those whose way of life is wrong.
19 They promise them freedom, but they themselves are slaves of corruption; for a person is slave to whatever has defeated him. 20 Indeed, if they have once escaped the pollutions of the world through knowing our Lord and Deliverer, Yeshua the Messiah, and then have again become entangled and defeated by them, their latter condition has become worse than their former. 21 It would have been better for them not to have known the Way of righteousness than, fully knowing, to turn from the holy command delivered to them. 22 What has happened to them accords with the true proverb, “A dog returns to its own vomit.”[2 Peter 2:22 Proverbs 26:11] Yes, “The pig washed itself, only to wallow in the mud!”
"False Prophets vs. Saints" by Author: Jeremy Scott
Peter's strong words of warning in Chapter 2 are not unique in the Scriptures. The Psalms, Proverbs, even Jesus himself, share similar warnings: Beware of those who would lead you astray. It can seem a daunting task: How do we know?Consider what Peter says. These people do things secretly. They demonstrate depraved conduct and greed. The Word of God and the tradition of the Church can guide us in discerning false prophets. Christ himself is the Word of God and our example. If something or someone seems to be pulling us off course, we can use Christ’s example and teaching as the very picture of what Christianity should look like.
Most of all, trust in God serves as our hope. Peter’s intention is not to instill fear, but to warn! Fear, as the opposite of love, would only further the cause of false leaders. False leaders bank on fear. Christ, however, leans on love. Love, trust, and hope are sure ways to avoid false teaching.
Many Christians acknowledge All Saints' Day today. Remembering those who have set a godly example in your life can be a great way to avoid unholy actions and ways. Who has Shown you Christ?
Hymn for Today: "The Church's One Foundation" by Samuel J. Stone
"try to imitate me, even as I myself try to imitate the Messiah." 1 Corinthians 11:1.
Many Christians acknowledge All Saints' Day today. Remembering those who have set a godly example in your life can be a great way to avoid unholy actions and ways. Who has Shown you Christ?
Hymn for Today: "The Church's One Foundation" by Samuel J. Stone
1. The church’s one foundation is Jesus Christ, her Lord;
she is his new creation by water and the Word.
From heaven he came and sought her to be his holy bride;
with his own blood he bought her, and for her life he died.
2. Elect from every nation, yet one o’er all the earth;
her charter of salvation: one Lord, one faith, one birth.
One holy name she blesses, partakes one holy food,
and to one hope she presses, with every grace endued.
3. Though with a scornful wonder the world see her oppressed,
by schisms rent asunder, by heresies distressed,
yet saints their watch are keeping; their cry goes up: “How long?”
and soon the night of weeping shall be the morn of song.
4. Mid toil and tribulation, and tumult of her war,
she waits the consummation of peace forevermore,
till with the vision glorious her longing eyes are blest,
and the great church victorious shall be the church at rest.
5. Yet she on earth hath union with God the Three in One,
and mystic sweet communion with those whose rest is won:
O happy ones and holy! Lord, give us grace that we
like them, the meek and lowly, may live eternally.
Thought fr Today:"try to imitate me, even as I myself try to imitate the Messiah." 1 Corinthians 11:1.
Please pray:
That many people in Suriname will come to know Yeshua the Messiah and receive the fullness of the Holy Spirit.
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