On Guard!

Hello everyone,

How are you doing today? I hope well and bubbling in the Lord.

Primary Text

“Let me warn you therefore, beloved, that knowing these things beforehand, you should be on your guard, lest you be carried away by the error of lawless and wicked [persons and] fall from your own [present] firm conditions [your own steadfastness of mind].” 2 Peter 3v17 (AMP)

The apostle Peter is here saying beloved, you have been warned ahead of time, so be on guard that you are not carried away by the error of these wicked people. Guard could mean – “to take precautions … to give protection; keep watch; be watchful.” (http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/guard?s=t). As a recap, remember 2 Peter 2 told us of false teachers: “But there were also false prophets among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you. They will secretly introduce destructive heresies, even denying the sovereign Lord who bought them – bringing swift destruction on themselves. Many will follow their depraved conduct and will bring the way of truth into disrepute. In their greed these teachers will exploit you with fabricated stories. Their condemnation has long been hanging over them, and their destruction has not been sleeping … For they mouth empty, boastful words and, by appealing to the lustful desires of the flesh, they entice people who are just escaping from those who live in error. They promise them freedom, while they themselves are slaves of depravity – for “people are slaves to whatever has mastered them.”” (2 Peter 2v1-3, 18-19, NIV). I will also add to watch out for scoffers which 2 Peter 3 mentioned will rise in the last days who will come “mocking the truth and following their own desires. They will say, “What happened to the promise that Jesus is coming again? From before the times of our ancestors, everything has remained the same since the world was first created.” 2 Peter 3v3-4 (NLT). Child of God, beware and be on guard. Be like the Berean Jews of which was written “Now the Berean Jews were of more noble character than those in Thessalonica, for they received the message with great eagerness and examined the Scriptures every day to see if what Paul said was true.” Acts 17v11 (NIV).

Supplementary Text

“Therefore let anyone who thinks he stands [who feels sure that he has a steadfast mind and is standing firm], take heed lest he fall [into sin]. For no temptation (no trial regarded as enticing to sin), [no matter how it comes or where it leads] has overtaken you and laid hold on you that is not common to man [that is, no temptation or trial has come to you that is beyond human resistance and that is not adjusted and adapted and belonging to human experience, and such as man can bear]. But God is faithful [to His Word and to His compassionate nature], and He [can be trusted] not to let you be tempted and tried and assayed beyond your ability and strength of resistance and power to endure, but with the temptation He will [always] also provide the way out (the means of escape to a landing place), that you may be capable and strong and powerful to bear up under it patiently. Therefore, my dearly beloved, shun (keep clear away from, avoid by flight if need be) any sort of idolatry (of loving or venerating anything more than God).” 1 Corinthians 10v12-14 (AMP)

Prayer

Father, we bless You, we thank You for Your Word. We commit our spirits unto Him who is able to keep us from stumbling and to present us before His glorious presence without fault and with great joy – to the only God our Savior be glory, majesty, power and authority, through Jesus Christ our Lord, before all ages, now and forevermore! Amen.