1/26/23 dream

https://my.bible.com/bible/1/JER.23.KJV  This was the text my Bible app was on when I woke up this morning. "1 Woe be unto the pastors that destroy and scatter the sheep of my pasture! saith the LORD. 2 Therefore thus saith the LORD God of Israel against the pastors that feed my people; Ye have scattered my flock, and driven them away, and have not visited them: behold, I will visit upon you the evil of your doings, saith the LORD. 3 And I will gather the remnant of my flock out of all countries whither I have driven them, and will bring them again to their folds; and they shall be fruitful and increase. 4 And I will set up shepherds over them which shall feed them: and they shall fear no more, nor be dismayed, neither shall they be lacking, saith the LORD."

In my dream that I woke up from this morning I had warned some people about a man that I saw as dangerous. This man had been seen by me being very flirtatious with two other women at the same time. Nobody had seemed to listen to my warning. Later however one woman came to me crying that this man had defiled her. As I was trying to comfort this woman. Another woman, whom I knew to be a very Godly woman, had caught this man by his shirt and suitcoat tails twisted in her hand and she was singlehandedly thrusting him from the church building. She was saying that she had caught this man trying to kill another woman.  He was very angry and cursing her and saying all manner of horrible things that he would do to her.  Myself and a couple of other younger women came running to help this God fearing woman and we wrestled him to the ground. I had my knee in his back and was wrestling his arm around behind his back when I awoke. The older Godly woman was sinking to her knees.

Is there anything left you can trust?

2 Peter 1:20 "knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation. 21 For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost." https://my.bible.com/bible/1/2PE.1.KJV We touched on this text a bit yesterday but I wanted to explore it a bit further today. NO prophecy is of any private interpretation.  That means that there is not one man to whom belongs the secrets of the Bible.  With diligent study each person may be able to understand the prophecies in God's Word. Now I will admit that some, especially in Daniel and Revelation, can be very difficult. This is actually intentional. When the Bible mentions specific nations the casual reader may not understand what is being talked about.  It is only with the help of the Holy Spirit, who was the one that inspired the writing in the first place,  that we can gain a clearer understanding of the prophecies. The Bible was not written because someone was just jotting down some notes. The Holy Spirit of God guided in their thoughts. Men received dreams and visions. 

Romans 15:4 "For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope." https://my.bible.com/bible/1/ROM.15.KJV These things, in God's Word, were written to give us hope.  So many people in this world, especially today do not have hope. This is why getting a Bible and prayerfully studying it DAILY is of utmost importance in our lives. Make a commitment to do just that in this New Year. God gave us many precious promises all the way through His Word. By God's grace we will touch on some of those this year. Please join me in this year to put bible verses to memory. We need to hide God's Words in our hearts. Perilous times are here and only in God's word can we find a safe retreat. Here are the first ten days worth of verses: (or chose some of your own)

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, high-minded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; 5 having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away. 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, thoroughly furnished unto all good works. 2 Timothy 3:1-5, 16, 17 https://my.bible.com/bible/1/2TI.3.KJV 

20 knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation. 21 For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost. 2 Peter 1:20, 21 https://my.bible.com/bible/1/2PE.1.KJV 

4 For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope. Romans 15:4  https://my.bible.com/bible/1/ROM.15.KJV 

9 Remember the former things of old: for I am God, and there is none else; I am God, and there is none like me, 10 declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times the things that are not yet done, saying, My counsel shall stand, and I will do all my pleasure: Isaiah 46:9, 10 https://my.bible.com/bible/1/ISA.46.KJV 

98 Thou through thy commandments hast made me wiser than mine enemies: For they are ever with me. 100 I understand more than the ancients, Because I keep thy precepts. 105 Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, And a light unto my path. 160Thy word is true from the beginning: And every one of thy righteous judgments endureth for ever. Psalms 119:98, 100, 105, 160 https://my.bible.com/bible/1/PSA.119.KJV 

8 I am the LORD: that is my name: and my glory will I not give to another, neither my praise to graven images. 9 Behold, the former things are come to pass, and new things do I declare: before they spring forth I tell you of them. Isaiah 42:8, 9 https://my.bible.com/bible/1/ISA.42.KJV 

4 But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God. 7 Jesus said unto him, It is written again, Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God. 10 Then saith Jesus unto him, Get thee hence, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve. Matthew 4:4, 7, 10 https://my.bible.com/bible/1/MAT.4.KJV 

27 And beginning at Moses and all the prophets, he expounded unto them in all the scriptures the things concerning himself. Luke 24:27 https://my.bible.com/bible/1/LUK.24.KJV 

13 Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come. John 16:13 https://my.bible.com/bible/1/JHN.16.KJV 

17 Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth. John 17:17 https://my.bible.com/bible/1/JHN.17.KJV 

20 “To the law and to the testimony: if they speak not according to this word, it is because there is no light in them.” Isaiah 8:20 https://my.bible.com/bible/1/ISA.8.KJV

 

New Year, new vision

 2 Timothy 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. 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, thoroughly furnished unto all good works." https://my.bible.com/bible/1/2TI.3.KJV

In verses 1-5 we are given a picture of the last days.  These are the days in which we are now living. If you don't believe me just turn on the news. Today I want to spend some time focusing on verses 16, and 17.  Let's take this word by word or phrase by phrase. First there is that little word ALL; I looked it up in the Greek.  Do you know what it means in Greek? Well it means, um, all! not just some. Therefore ALL scripture is by inspiration of God. yes even those boring and seemingly endless genealogies. What is "scripture"? Scripture is ALL of the 66 books of the Bible from Genesis to Revelation, nothing else. I will add here that the apocryphal books are not recognized as being inspired. They have, contained in them, things that go contrary to the canonized 66 books. The closest version of the Bible to the original language is the King James version. Other more modern versions change the meaning of some passages or leave them out altogether. 

Inspiration of God, what does that mean? For the answer to that we go to our second verse which is 2 Peter 1:20 "knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation. 21 For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost." https://my.bible.com/bible/1/2PE.1.KJV The Holy Spirit was sent to teach mankind what to say and how to live. 

Profitable for doctrine, what is doctrine? That is a system of beliefs. The dictionary puts it like this: doctrine dŏk′trĭn noun

1. A principle or body of principles presented for acceptance or belief, as by a religious, political, scientific, or philosophic group; dogma.
2. A rule or principle of law, especially when established by precedent. https://duckduckgo.com/?q=define+doctrine&t=newext&atb=v257-1&ia=definition 

We need to study scripture in order to form a system of beliefs and to know what and in whom we can believe. 

Reproof and correction, wow, these can be a bit challenging, because many people hold up the verse Matthew 7:1 "Judge not, that ye be not judged." to mean that no matter what nobody has the right to tell me that I'm doing wrong.  Many who feel this way have failed to read the rest of the chapter as well as other verses in the Bible that contradict their feelings. The verses continue this way: "2 For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again. 3 And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother's eye, but considerest not the beam that is in thine own eye? 4 Or how wilt thou say to thy brother, Let me pull out the mote out of thine eye; and, behold, a beam is in thine own eye? 5 Thou hypocrite, first cast out the beam out of thine own eye; and then shalt thou see clearly to cast out the mote out of thy brother's eye." https://my.bible.com/bible/1/MAT.7.KJV The meaning of these verses says, first take care of your own sin issue and then you will be able to see clearly to help your brother see his issue. People who use Matthew 7:1  to say "don't judge me" also need to realize that Matthew also says, in Matthew 18:15 "Moreover if thy brother shall trespass against thee, go and tell him his fault between thee and him alone: if he shall hear thee, thou hast gained thy brother. 16 But if he will not hear thee, then take with thee one or two more, that in the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established. 17 And if he shall neglect to hear them, tell it unto the church: but if he neglect to hear the church, let him be unto thee as an heathen man and a publican." https://my.bible.com/bible/1/MAT.18.KJV

Instruction in righteousness, along with correction comes instruction. Not just telling people that they are bad, awful sinners, but showing them by words and example how they ought to live. Everything we do and say should be tempered with the love of God.  We should not just tell people that they are going to hell, but should in love, tell them about Jesus sacrifice for us so that we would not have to end up in hell, but will be able to enjoy all eternity with God in a beautiful heaven. 

That the man of God may be perfect,  um, perfect??? Yes, that is what the Bible says in more than one place. Matthew 5: 48 "Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect." https://my.bible.com/bible/1/MAT.5.KJV Some preachers try to say that we don't need to be perfect, that God's grace is all that we need.  While it is because of God's grace that we even exist, we must also by His sustaining power STRIVE to be more like Jesus every day of our lives. Philippians puts it this way in chapter 3:10 "that I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death; 11 if by any means I might attain unto the resurrection of the dead. 12 Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect: but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus. 13 Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, 14 I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus." https://my.bible.com/bible/1/PHP.3.KJV Luke 13 says: 23 "Then said one unto him, Lord, are there few that be saved? And he said unto them, 24 Strive to enter in at the strait gate: for many, I say unto you, will seek to enter in, and shall not be able." https://my.bible.com/bible/1/LUK.13.KJV This perfecting is a work of a lifetime. 

Thoroughly furnished unto all good works.  God will provide the means to do whatever He calls us to do. We just have to be willing to do whatever He calls us to. We must learn and understand His voice and the only way to to that is through DAILY prayer and Bible study.  Not just a cursory reading of the Bible but a thorough study of it. Which brings us right back to 2 Timothy this time chapter 2:15 "Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth." https://my.bible.com/bible/1/2TI.2.KJV