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Volume 9 ... #26
Critical To Enable Us To Live In Peace ... We Must Understand This Present World Will Never Be Righteous
We look for "a new heaven and a new earth" wherein dwelleth rightousness. II Peter 3
It is critical for us to understand that we will never be able to make this present earth better.
We will never be able to make our own flesh better.
It is the Spirit of God that is good. As we learn to follow the Spirit of God that is in us and keep down our flesh, we do well.
But the flesh will always be flesh. It is to be kept under the control of God.
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If you think you will make this present earth a better place, you need to reevaluate your goals!
To live in peace among the increasing sin of this world, we are kept by the Spirit of God and we are kept by our choices to go in godly ways.
Many of the troubles we have are caused by what we are choosing to do ... We do not have to watch that newscast that troubles us ... We do not have to see that TV program ...
I am greatly troubled by some of the "brazen" women that appear on TV both in shows and on advertisements. But I realize there is nothing requiring me to watch them on TV. So if I do watch TV and they appear on screen, I often shut my eyes, mute the sound, or just turn the program off!
My goal assigned by God through the Bible is for me to live in peace.
II Peter 3 ... 10 But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up.
11 Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness, 12 Looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God, wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat? 13 Nevertheless we, according to HIS promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness.
14 Wherefore, beloved, seeing that ye look for such things, be diligent that ye may be found of HIM in peace, without spot, and blameless.
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Prayer connects us to God in the matter at hand. We learn to pray rather than fret ourselves.
We won't be able to make this world righteous. We can keep ourselves through prayer and thereby live in peace even in the midst of trouble.
If you look at one decade after another, do you see things getting better or worse? Is there more or less sin flaunted before us?
The apostle Paul told us it would get worse, not better.
II Tim. 3 ...
1 This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. 2 For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, 3 Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, 4 Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God;
5 Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.
6 For of this sort are they which creep into houses, and lead captive silly women laden with sins, led away with divers lusts, 7 Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.
8 Now as Jannes and Jambres withstood Moses, so do these also resist the truth: men of corrupt minds, reprobate concerning the faith. 9 But they shall proceed no further:for their folly shall be manifest unto all men, as theirs also was.
10 But thou hast fully known my doctrine, manner of life, purpose, faith, longsuffering, charity, patience, 11 Persecutions, afflictions, which came unto me at Antioch, at Iconium, at Lystra; what persecutions I endured: but out of them all the Lord delivered me.
12 Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.
13 But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived.
14 But continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of, knowing OF WHOM thou hast learned them; 15 And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.
16 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: 17 That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.
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