The Glory of God

Good morning and welcome in everybody. Today, we are going to take a look at a passage of scripture from the book of Peter.

1 Peter 4:12-14  Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you: But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ’s sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy. If ye be reproached for the name of Christ, happy are ye; for the spirit of glory and of God resteth upon you: on their part he is evil spoken of, but on your part he is glorified.

These are perilous times that we are passing through, a world that is filled up with people who profess to be Christian, who actually reject the teachings of scripture. It’s one thing for a complete unbeliever to do this, but these are people who claim to follow Jesus. They have allowed themselves to become so amalgamated in worldly teachings that when someone stands up for scriptural truth, they are shunned and even hated. But when this happens, you can know that it is the same treatment that was shown to our precious Lord Jesus Christ. 

John 15:18-21 If the world hate you, ye know that it hated me before it hated you. If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you. Remember the word that I said unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord. If they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you; if they have kept my saying, they will keep your’s also. But all these things will they do unto you for my name’s sake, because they know not him that sent me.

Each day this world falls deeper into the abyss of impenitence, simply because they refuse not to accept the teachings of God’s Word. The Apostle warned that these days were going to come, as people who professed faith in Christ would turn away their ears from the truth, and believe lies instead. Rather than accepting what the scriptures teach and repenting from dead works, they would join up with others who tell them exactly the things that they want to hear.

2 Timothy 4:1-4 I charge thee therefore before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing and his kingdom; Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine. For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.

As we head towards the Great tribulation, the masses of people are going to be deceived and get involved with numerous false forms of Christianity. They might claim to be Christian but they really don’t believe in the things that Jesus taught. Remember that the Lord Jesus even questioned if there would be faith on the earth when He returned, that’s how bad it’s going to get.

Luke 18:8 ……..Nevertheless when the Son of man cometh, shall he find faith on the earth?

2 Timothy 3:13 But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived.

Just like in the garden of Eden, the devil is attempting to lead people away from obedience to Christ Jesus. The path to eternal life is extremely narrow, but many people will be deceived into walking the wide road that leads to destruction. False prophets are aptly named, because they are a fraud and a deceiver, and many people are going to blindly follow after them. This is because their message doesn’t condemn sin, but welcomes it, convincing people that they are on their way to heaven and there is no need to repent. 

 2 Peter 2:1-2 But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction. And many shall follow their pernicious ways; by reason of whom the way of truth shall be evil spoken of.

Titus 1:10-11 For there are many unruly and vain talkers and deceivers, specially they of the circumcision: Whose mouths must be stopped, who subvert whole houses, teaching things which they ought not, for filthy lucre’s sake.

The love of money is one of the most serious and egregious sins throughout scripture, but a false prophet will encourage the amassing of riches and wealth. When you take a stand against worldly wealth, you are going to be hated by a lot of the people in the world today. That’s because a lot of people, even those who profess to be Christian think that having money means that they are pleasing to God, but be assured that having possessions has nothing to do with being blessed by God. Remember that the Apostle Paul made a living as a tentmaker. but it’s one thing to provide for the things that you need over the next few months, versus people who stockpile over the next few years. It’s been claimed that the poverty range for a single person is less than $15,000 a year, a level that many of us fit into. After all, I hand delivered and raised five children in my home for less than the same amount of money. One thing that money cannot provide to your children is your time. No matter how many gifts you throw at them, it’s not going to matter in regards to educating them in your beliefs and your faith. When you love money you really don’t love your children, because what they need more than anything else in this world, is you.

1 Timothy 6:5-10 Perverse disputings of men of corrupt minds, and destitute of the truth, supposing that gain is godliness: from such withdraw thyself. But godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out. And having food and raiment let us be therewith content. But they that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition. For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.

When you take a stand for God’s Word, get ready to be hated by the world. 

1 Peter 4:1-5  Forasmuch then as Christ hath suffered for us in the flesh, arm yourselves likewise with the same mind: for he that hath suffered in the flesh hath ceased from sin; That he no longer should live the rest of his time in the flesh to the lusts of men, but to the will of God. For the time past of our life may suffice us to have wrought the will of the Gentiles, when we walked in lasciviousness, lusts, excess of wine, revellings, banquetings, and abominable idolatries: Wherein they think it strange that ye run not with them to the same excess of riot, speaking evil of you: Who shall give account to him that is ready to judge the quick and the dead.

John 7:6-7 Then Jesus said unto them, My time is not yet come: but your time is alway ready. The world cannot hate you; but me it hateth, because I testify of it, that the works thereof are evil.

Matthew 5:11-12  Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake. Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you.

John 17:14 I have given them thy word; and the world hath hated them, because they are not of the world, even as I am not of the world.

People hated Jesus so much that they crucified Him on the cross, so don’t be shocked when you stand up for His teachings and people hate you. Those who take a stand for God’s Word are going to have to suffer in this world, but you can know for a fact that men who are bold enough to do so, emanate…..

……..The Glory of God

Let’s think about these things for right now. We can be found on your web browser by searching, tlkjbc where you can find our diaries distributed through various platforms. We are not associated, nor affiliated with any other religious groups. You can get our entire podcast feeds directly, along with transcripts at tlkjbc.com or I suppose that you could find us somewhere up here, in the Great Northern Minnesota woods. Peace to you all, and Lord willing, we will talk with you some more tomorrow. Till then, bye bye everybody.❤️

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