I am continuing on with the greatness that is en Christ. When we finally become Christ Inside Minded ones and by so doing carry GOD's name as a son. GOD used to His advantage many people of different walks of life in the beginning such as Seth the third son of Adam, Enoch a son of Seth, Noe or Noah also a son of Seth, Abram who became Abraham also of the heritage of Seth. And the father of those who come to his kind of trust and obedience with Isaac, to whom the promise was given, "in you all the nations of the earth will be blessed." Now for Pastor Hoekstra and his teaching on Grace, as found in the person of Christ and which by the way the Gospel of this Age. Then with the LORD's Led I will look into the Greatness of GOD. Making use of the ESV translation while doing so.
"An "Unpopular" Prophetic Promise of Apostasy"
"Now the Spirit expressly says that in latter times some will depart from the faith, giving heed to deceiving spirits and doctrines of demons, speaking lies in hypocrisy, having their own conscience seared with a hot iron." (1Timothy 4:1-2)
"As we continue to alternate between "precious promises" and "unpopular" promises, we come to a prophetic promise of apostasy. Which fits like the glove of notoriety of the OJ Simson court case. Among those who are actually drifting into apostasy, this promise is certainly "unpopular." Additionally, in a church world that wrongly accepts what sounds positive and rejects what sounds negative (instead of rejecting error and accepting truth), this promise is often met with disinterest or, worse, disdain. This being our present situation today.
"The Faith" is the message of the word of GOD. It is the Divine Truth in which we are to place our faith, our trust our hope and confidence. It especially includes the good news of the Grace of our LORD, Who is Jesus Christ. Our present promise forewarns that there will be those who fall away from "the faith" as the days press closer and closer to the end of the church era. The end of the era of Grace as the window of heaven then will be closed. "In latter times some will depart from the faith." Since this is a departure, they seem to adhere to the word of God for a season. Then, they turned away from it. If they remain active in the church world, their message will no longer reflect the true content of the scriptures. Peter gave a similar warning. "There were also false prophets among the people, even as there will be false teachers among you, who will secretly bring in destructive heresies, even denying the Lord who bought them" (2Peter 2:1). As sure as Israel had false prophets, the church will have false teachers.
Paul provided some insights into their path of apostasy. They would be "giving heed to deceiving spirits and doctrines of demons." Their errors would result from paying attention to concepts that were perpetrated by demonic deception. The devil and his army of evil spirits are intent on confusing and distorting the teaching of the word of God. Typically, such errors feed man's fleshly desires to glorify self. Of mans humanity, placing trust in it more than in the GOD Who Created man. An easier way or so it is projected to be.
These apostates would also be "speaking lies of ever swelling hypocrisy." Not only would their teaching be erroneous, their lives would be marked by falsehoods related to pretense. They would add untrue testimony to their inaccurate message. Perhaps, the reports of their ministerial prowess would be grossly exaggerated. Or in the name of being a progressive they would lay a foundation on lies and deceit. The likes of which boggle the mind and mans emotions.
They would also be "having their own conscience seared with a hot iron." They would teach errors and live lies until their consciences were no longer convicted of sin. Be forewarned. Such apostates undoubtedly abound in these last days."
The Greatness of GOD,
Deuteronomy 3:23-28 "I pleaded with the LORD at that time, saying, 'O LORD GOD, You have only begun to show Your servant Your greatness and Your mighty hand. For what god is there in heaven or on earth who can do such works and mighty acts as Yours? Please let me go over and see the good land beyond the Jordan, that good hill country and Lebanon.' But the LORD was angry with me because of you and would not listen to me. And the LORD said to me, 'Enough from you; do not speak to Me of this matter again. Go up to the top of Pisgah and lift up your eyes westward and northward and southward and eastward, and look at it with your eyes, for you shall not go over this Jordan. But charge Joshua, and encourage and strengthen him, for he shall go over at the head of this people, and he shall put them in possession of the land that you shall see.'"
Psalm 77:11-15 "I will remember the deeds of the LORD; yes, I will remember Your wonders of old. I will ponder all Your work, and meditate on Your mighty deeds. Your way, O GOD, is holy. What god is great like our God? You are the GOD Who works wonders; You have made known Your might among the peoples. You with Your arm redeemed Your people, the children of Jacob and Joseph."
Psalm 95:1-5 "Oh come, let us sing to the LORD; let us make a joyful noise to the rock of our salvation! Let us come into His presence with thanksgiving; let us make a joyful noise to Him with songs of praise! For the LORD is a great GOD, and a great King above all gods. In His hand are the depths of the earth; the heights of the mountains are His also. The sea is His, for HE made it, and His hands formed the dry land."
Psalm 104:1-4 "Bless the LORD, O my soul! O LORD my GOD, You are very great! You are clothed with splendor and majesty, covering Yourself with light as with a garment, stretching out the heavens like a tent. He lays the beams of His chambers on the waters; HE makes the clouds His chariot; HE rides on the wings of the wind; HE makes His messengers winds, His ministers a flaming fire."
Psalm 135:5-7 "I know that the LORD is great, and that our LORD is above all gods. Whatever the LORD pleases, HE does, in heaven and on earth, in the seas and all deeps. He it is Who makes the clouds rise at the end of the earth, Who makes lightings for the rain and brings forth the wind from His storehouses."
Psalm 145:1-7 "I will extol You, my GOD and King, and bless Your name forever and ever. Every day I will bless You and praise Your name forever and ever. Great is the LORD, and greatly to be praised, and His greatness is unsearchable. One generation shall commend Your works to another, and shall declare Your mighty acts. On the glorious splendor of Your majesty, and on Your wondrous works, I will meditate. They shall speak of the might of Your awesome deeds, and I will declare Your greatness. They shall pour forth the fame of Your abundant goodness and shall sing aloud of Your righteousness."
Isaiah 12:1-6 "You will say in that day: "I will give thanks to You, O LORD, for though You were angry with me, Your anger turned away, that You might comfort me. "Behold, GOD is my salvation; I will trust, and will not be afraid; for the LORD GOD is my strength and my song, for HE has become my salvation." With joy You will draw water from the wells of salvation. For You will say in that day: "Give thanks to the LORD, call upon His name, make known His deeds among the peoples, proclaim that His name is exalted. "Sing praises to the LORD, for HE has done gloriously; let this be made known in all the earth. Shout, and sing for joy, O inhabitant of Zion, for great in your midst is the Holy One of Israel."
Jeremiah 32:16-25 "After I had given the deed of purchase to Baruch the son of Neriah, I prayed to the LORD, saying: 'Ah, LORD GOD! It is You Who have made the heavens and the earth by Your great power and by Your outstretched arm! Nothing is too hard for You. You show steadfast love to thousands, but You repay the guilt of fathers to their children after them, O great and mighty GOD, whose name is the LORD of hosts, great in counsel and mighty in deed, whose eyes are open to all the ways of the children of man, rewarding each one according to his ways and according to the fruit of his deeds. You have shown signs and wonders in the land of Egypt, and to this day in Israel and among all mankind, and have made a name for Yourself, as at this day. You brought Your people Israel out of the land of Egypt with signs and wonders, with a strong hand and outstretched arm, and with great terror. For You gave them this land, which You swore to their fathers to give them, a land flowing with milk and honey. (As witness for Your Greatness and Faithfulness) And they entered and took possession of it. But they did not obey Your voice or walk in Your (ways or) law. They did nothing of all You commanded them to do. Therefore You have made all this disaster come upon them. Behold, the siege mounds have come up to the city to take it, and because of sword and famine and pestilence the city is given into the hands of the Chaldeans who are fighting against it. What You have spoken has come to pass, and behold, You see it. Yet You, O LORD GOD, have said to me, "Buy the field for money and get witnesses"—though the city is given into the hands of the Chaldeans.'"
Malachi 1:6-14 "A son honors his father, and a servant his master. If then I am a Father, where is My honor? And if I am a Master, where is My fear? says the LORD of Hosts to you, O priests, who despise My name. But you say, 'How have we despised Your name?' By offering polluted food upon My altar. But you say, 'How have we polluted You?' By saying that the LORD's table may be despised. When you offer blind animals in sacrifice, is that not evil? And when you offer those that are lame or sick, is that not evil? Present that to your governor; will he accept you or show you favor? says the LORD of Hosts. Now entreat the favor (graciousness) of GOD, that HE may be gracious to us. With such a gift from your hand, will HE show Grace to any of you? says the LORD of Hosts. Oh that there were one among you who would shut the doors, that you might not kindle fire on My altar in vain! I have no pleasure in you, says the LORD of Hosts, and I will not accept an offering from your hand. For from the rising of the sun to its setting My name will be great among the nations, and in every place incense (Romans 12:1-2) will be offered to My name, and a pure offering. For My name Will be great among the nations, says the LORD of Hosts. But you profane it when you say that the LORD's table is polluted, and its fruit, that is, its food may be despised. But you say, 'What a weariness this is,' and you snort at it, says the LORD of hosts. You bring what has been taken by violence or is lame or sick, and this you bring as your offering! Shall I accept that from your hand? asks the LORD. Cursed be the cheat who has a male in his flock, and vows it, and yet sacrifices to the LORD what is blemished. For I am a great King, says the LORD of Hosts, and My name will be feared among the nations."
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