21.m. “WATCH OUT”!!!!!

 

 

Romans 16:17  I appeal to you, brothers, to watch out for those who cause divisions and create obstacles contrary to the doctrine that you have been taught; avoid them. For such persons do not serve our Lord Christ, but their own appetites, and by smooth talk and flattery they deceive the hearts of the naive. For your obedience is known to all, so that I rejoice over you, but I want you to be wise as to what is good and innocent as to what is evil. The God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you.

 Acts 15:24   Since we have heard that some persons have gone out from us and troubled you with words, unsettling your minds

 1 Corinthians 3:3    for you are still of the flesh. For while there is jealousy and strife among you, are you not of the flesh and behaving only in a human way?

 Jude 1:19    It is these who cause divisions, worldly people, devoid of the Spirit.

 Galatians 2:4    Yet because of false brothers secretly brought in—who slipped in to spy out our freedom that we have in Christ Jesus, so that they might bring us into slavery—

 Philippians 3:2-3  Look out for the dogs, look out for the evildoers

 Colossians 2:8    See to it that no one takes you captive by philosophy and empty deceit, according to human tradition, according to the elemental spirits of the world, and not according to Christ.

 2 Peter 2:1-2    But false prophets also arose among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you, who will secretly bring in destructive heresies,

 2 John 1:7-10   For many deceivers have gone out into the world

Watch out for those who cause division and create obstacles. Watch out for the dogs and evildoers.  Watch out for empty philosophy, human tradition, and deceit. Watch out for false prophets and false teachers. Watch out for deceivers.  It is often overlooked, but good to know and realize all of the verses in the bible that speak about being careful not to be drawn away from Christ by the craftiness of man.  These are but a few and they are there for a reason so that we might walk in the fullness of Jesus Christ.  It is one thing to say “watch out”, and an entirely different aspect to be able to recognize it.  If there is one thing that limits the ability to recognize “watch out” signals it is the lack of God’s Word in our daily lives.  When His Word is neglected, the clarity of these “watch out” signals becomes blurred and believed as truth or true enough that is possibly true.  When this happens we are at the hands of Satan and not of God.  Be in His Word, study it, hunger and thirst for it, and meditate on it.  Know what you believe and why you believe it.  Know there are those who will pervert the Word of God and draw many away from the blessings of honoring, following, obeying, trusting, and hoping in Jesus Christ alone.

The Foundation

“If I were still trying to please man, I would not be a servant of Christ.”

Joh 4:39  Many Samaritans from that town believed in him because of the woman’s testimony, “He told me all that I ever did.”  So when the Samaritans came to him, they asked him to stay with them, and he stayed there two days.  And many more believed because of his word.  They said to the woman, “It is no longer because of what you said that we believe, for we have heard for ourselves, and we know that this is indeed the Savior of the world.”  After the two days he departed for Galilee.  (For Jesus himself had testified that a prophet has no honor in his own hometown.)  So when he came to Galilee, the Galileans welcomed him, having seen all that he had done in Jerusalem at the feast. For they too had gone to the feast.

1 Corinthians 2:4     and my speech and my message were not in plausible words of wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power,  so that your faith might not rest in the wisdom of men but in the power of God.

Ezekiel 13:6    They have seen false visions and lying divinations. They say, ‘Declares the LORD,’ when the LORD has not sent them, and yet they expect him to fulfill their word.

Romans 16:18     For such persons do not serve our Lord Christ, but their own appetites, and by smooth talk and flattery they deceive the hearts of the naive.

With the internet and access to mountains of information we have to be diligent to build and continue to build and fortify our Faith.  The foundation of our Faith is Christ.  Building on this foundation is what keeps our heart, mind, and soul anchored and by which we can discern that which is good, true, right and pure.  Things get twisted very quickly when our attention turns from building on our foundation (Christ) to things of this world that propel us away from humbly serving, honoring, following and obeying.  Take care to continue to build that which was started in you through faith in Christ.