Overcome Evil with Good

Has someone you had the utmost respect for hurt you? Perhaps someone in the church. A brother or sister in the Lord either intentionally or unintentionally did something, said something or didn’t do something as agreed and it hurt deep inside. Seems like evil.

Saul was king over Israel, but disobeyed God. Therefore, David was chosen by the Lord to be the next king. Though Saul disobeyed, he was not removed immediately from his position. He was still king.

During Saul’s reign, he felt threatened by David and tried to kill him many times. Now David knew he was selected by God to be the next king. He narrowly escaped death by Saul. Perhaps justifiably David could have taken Saul out, but David did not.

Twice David spared Saul’s life. First, David and his men were in a cave in the desert. Saul went into the very cave where David was hidden. David’s men encouraged him to take out Saul. Starting to take advantage of the moment, David sneaked upon Saul undetected and cut off a corner of Saul’s robe. But then his conscience struck him and he said, “The LORD forbid that I should do such a thing to my master, the LORD's anointed, or lift my hand against him; for he is the anointed of the LORD.” Then he would not let his men to attack Saul either. (1 Samuel 24:5-7)

He then went out, bowed down and prostrated himself before Saul, the king. David told him that he could have taken his life, but spared him. Saul wept and confessed he treated David badly. David gave an oath that he would not cut off Saul’s descendants.

The second time, Saul sets out to search for David. The Lord put Saul and all his men in a deep sleep. David went into Saul’s camp with Abishai. Abishai was ready to take Saul out in his sleep. But David said to him, “Don't destroy him! Who can lay a hand on the LORD's anointed and be guiltless? As surely as the LORD lives," he said, "the LORD himself will strike him; either his time will come and he will die, or he will go into battle and perish. But the LORD forbid that I should lay a hand on the LORD's anointed. Now get the spear and water jug that are near his head, and let's go.” (1 Samuel 26:9-11)

Again David confronts Saul with some distance between them of course. Again Saul confessed that he sinned and promises not to harm David. David answered Saul by saying, “Here is the king's spear. Let one of your young men come over and get it. The LORD rewards every man for his righteousness and faithfulness. The LORD delivered you into my hands today, but I would not lay a hand on the LORD's anointed. As surely as I valued your life today, so may the LORD value my life and deliver me from all trouble.” (1 Samuel 26:22-24)

After reading about how David dealt with Saul, a man who tried to kill him, I’m in awe how David refused to touch the Lord’s anointed. David recognized that the Lord placed Saul in the position he was in and had not removed him from it. David respected Saul for his position and left it up to God for when Saul was to be removed and David to take the throne. David did not manipulate or make things happen. He believed that what God told him would come to pass in God’s timing.

David was kind and generous to Saul in spite his cruelty to him. He did not repay evil for evil, but with good. Like David, we’re to be kind and generous to our brothers and sisters in the body of Christ—the Lord’s anointed, when some injustice happens to us. At some time, someone in the church is likely to do something that will hurt us, offend us or is just outright cruel. Would we like to see justice served? Of course. Do we feel like they’re our enemy? Probably.

Romans 12:17-21 NIV

Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everybody. If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. Do not take revenge, my friends, but leave room for God's wrath, for it is written: "It is mine to avenge; I will repay," says the Lord. On the contrary:
"If your enemy is hungry, feed him;
if he is thirsty, give him something to drink.
In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head." Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.

Overcome evil with good Paul said. Perhaps by being kind and walking in forgiveness, they will see the grace of God in their lives and change their ways. Even if not, we will see God operate in our lives for HIS glory. He never fails!

Blessings in Christ--

Brotherly Love

This conversation took place last night at the dinner table:

Older Brother: There are two other friends I want to invite to my graduation reception. I can’t think of their names right now, but they’re sisters. Adopted. One’s from Egypt and the other from Africa.

Little Brother: Well if she’s from Egypt, then they’re both from Africa.

[At this point you can hear the buzzer going off…AAAAAAAAAAAAANNNNNNNNNNTTT!]

Older Brother: [Face turning red…struggling to say anything…knowing little brother got him good.]

Well, you know what I mean.

[Older brother refused to acknowledge verbally the little brother was RIGHT!]

Older Brother: Egypt is a state in Africa.

Little Brother: [Gloating in victory. Knowing he’s got this one clenched. Finally one up on older brother.] No it’s not. Egypt is a country on the continent of Africa.

Older Brother: [making excuses and getting up from table to make retreat] I’m tired from work. I can’t think right now.

Hebrews 13:1 NKJV

Let brotherly love continue.

Blessings in Christ--

Get Up, Persevere, and Fulfill the Call

When circumstances beat you up, what do you do? Lie down in defeat or get up. Persevere or quit? God has a call on your life. Are you moving toward and walking in what He’s called you to do?

GET UP

Acts 14:19-20 NIV

Then some Jews came from Antioch and Iconium and won the crowd over. They stoned Paul and dragged him outside the city, thinking he was dead. But after the disciples had gathered around him, he got up and went back into the city. The next day he and Barnabas left for Derbe.

Paul and Barnabus have been out preaching the good news of Jesus Christ. They witnessed the power of God through Jesus Christ heal a crippled man. This stirred up hostility with the Jews. So the Jews from Antioch went to Lystra to incite a riot. They ganged up on Paul. They beat him up, took him out the city and left him for dead. What kind of reception is that for going out to share the gospel that Jesus saves?

I just wonder if at this point if Paul, in agony and full of pain, just wanted to lie there and die. If in his pain he just wanted to be left alone. I wonder did he even let the “why me?” thoughts enter his mind. To see such a great victory in Christ and then to experience such a low point, do you think that would be disappointing? How often do we think like that? Be disappointed? Honestly, I know I have had those kinds of thoughts. We don’t know what Paul’s thoughts were at this moment.

We do know this—the disciples gathered around him. When he was beaten, his trusted, godly friends were there for him. They protected him. Perhaps they encouraged him too. We need godly friends to encourage us to press on. We need godly friends who will gather around us as we get up. Paul’s friends took him back into the city for the night and they left the next day. Then Paul and his disciples went right on preaching in the next city, Derbe.

PERSEVERE

Acts 14:21-22 NIV

They preached the good news in that city and won a large number of disciples. Then they returned to Lystra, Iconium and Antioch, strengthening the disciples and encouraging them to remain true to the faith. "We must go through many hardships to enter the kingdom of God," they said.

After winning a large number of people to the Lord in Derbe, Paul and his disciples go right back to the place where he was stoned. Crazy! Wouldn’t you think they’d find another way home? No, he didn’t. Paul wanted to encourage the new disciples in their faith. He wanted to let them know to remain true and faithful.

As disciples for Christ we will face many difficulties. He was an example to the people who witnessed his stoning by getting up and going on about what the Lord called him to do. As believers in Christ we need to walk out our faith in hardships as examples to encourage other believers.

Later Paul tells Timothy (who by the way is from Lystra), “You, however, know all about my teaching, my way of life, my purpose, faith, patience, love, endurance, persecutions, sufferings—what kinds of things happened to me in Antioch, Iconium and Lystra, the persecutions I endured. Yet the Lord rescued me from all of them. In fact, everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted.” (2 Timothy 3:10-12 NIV)

Let us be encouraged! The scriptures tell us we’ll have persecutions. James tells us to “consider it pure joy” because when our faith is tested, it produces perseverance. We need perseverance to that we can be mature and complete. It’s how we learn and grow. The other night when my friend came over to encourage me, she told me, “God uses our circumstances to shape our character.”

FULFILL THE CALL

Paul clearly knew his purpose to preach the gospel of Christ. He did not let circumstances beat him down. Paul had been imprisoned, flogged, lashed, beaten, stoned, shipwrecked and more (complete list in 2 Cor. 11). He never quit. As believers, we need to know our purpose. It needs to be clear and evident in our lives or else it will be too easy to quit.

The purpose the Lord has for me is becoming more and more evident (other than being a wife and mother which is my first ministry). God is revealing this call through people and circumstances that He places in my life. Opportunities have recently opened for me in the area of teaching, speaking, and writing. On May 5-7, I am registered to attend a speakers and writers conference by CLASServices. I’m taking advantage of additional services CLASS offers and submitted a book proposal and sample manuscript for critique. I haven’t done anything like this before, but felt deep in me I had to do it. That was the deadline I had to meet this past weekend. It had to be in the mail on time. After I receive this training, I have already been asked to speak at a women’s event on May 17. May God receive all the glory!!

I thank all of you who prayed for me this past weekend. It meant a lot to me as you were the friends who gathered around me when I was “beaten down.” In spite of the hardships, I feel such a burden to press on with what the Lord has put on my heart to do. I can’t quit, but must persevere!

What's your calling? Get up, persevere and fulfill God's plan for your life! Let's encourage one another and...

Luke 18:1 (NIV)

“…always pray and not give up.”

Blessings in Christ--

Boast in the Lord

I am weak. God is strong. I experienced mountain top jubilation this past week. I stood on the precipice shouting out victory. Then in just a matter of moments, everything changed. Knocked off, I fell to the bottom. Shattered. Broken. Emptied.

I had no idea when I felt led to post about grace on Thursday morning, just how much I’d need by Thursday afternoon. Yes, His grace is sufficient. After going through a gamut of emotions, tears, fears, and anxieties, I assessed the situation. Like Angela at Becoming Me wrote on classifying bad news, this classifies as Major, but in my selfishness I saw it as cataclysmic.

I have been taking steps of faith, moving in a direction of desires that I believe are from the Lord. Everything was working and functioning so beautifully. Then brokenness hit me. I wondered if I was stepping out the wrong way, the wrong time or if this was an attempt of diversion by the enemy and/or a test from the Lord. There is something I feel so strong about and it has a deadline of Monday. Do I move toward it or do I quit?

After my soul settled with much prayer, I sought the Lord. I couldn’t hear Him myself, so I sought godly counsel. First, I sought counsel through my husband. He encouraged me to press on. Still uncertain, I sought godly counsel from one of my entrusted friend’s, one of my best confidants. She gave me words of wisdom from the Lord. Encouraged me and my spirit lightened. Still, I spoke with one more person. Like Gideon asking many times for confirmation, I asked one more time. The second friend who doesn’t know the first friend or what we spoke about, used the exact words and examples as my first friend. I was blown away. God spoke to me through these people within the same hour. I have heard clearly from the Lord.

2 Corinthians 12:9-10 Amplified

9But He said to me, My grace (My favor and loving-kindness and mercy) is enough for you [sufficient against any danger and enables you to bear the trouble manfully]; for My strength and power are made perfect (fulfilled and completed) and show themselves most effective in [your] weakness. Therefore, I will all the more gladly glory in my weaknesses and infirmities, that the strength and power of Christ (the Messiah) may rest (yes, may pitch a tent over and dwell) upon me!

10So for the sake of Christ, I am well pleased and take pleasure in infirmities, insults, hardships, persecutions, perplexities and distresses; for when I am weak [in human strength], then am I [truly] strong (able, powerful in divine strength).

I am weak. It is confirmed I have something the Lord wants me to do. I cannot operate in my strength. Only by the power of Christ who lives in me can I press on this weekend. I am in pieces, but He is my life. As Paul said, I shall take pleasure in this hardship and distress.

His grace is enough! For it is not me, but Christ that lives in me and in Christ shall I boast!!

Grace, Grace

2 Corinthians 12:9 NIV

But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me.

“The other evening I was riding home after a heavy day's work. I felt wearied and sore depressed, when swiftly and suddenly that text came to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for thee.' I reached home and looked it up in the original, and at last it came to me in this way. ‘My grace is sufficient for THEE.' And I said, ‘I should think it is, Lord,' and I burst out laughing. I never understood what the holy laughter of Abraham was till then. It seemed to make unbelief so absurd...O brethren, be great believers . Little faith will bring your souls to heaven, but great faith will bring heaven to your souls.[1]”

Charles H. Spurgeon

---

[1] William Williams, Personal Remembrances of Charles Haddon Spurgeon (London: Passmore and Alabaster, 1895), 25

Give Praise!

Psalm 8

For the director of music. According to gittith ^[a].

A psalm of David.

1 O LORD, our Lord,
how majestic is your name in all the earth!
You have set your glory
above the heavens.

2 From the lips of children and infants
you have ordained praise ^[b]
because of your enemies,
to silence the foe and the avenger.

3 When I consider your heavens,
the work of your fingers,
the moon and the stars,
which you have set in place,

4 what is man that you are mindful of him,
the son of man that you care for him?

5 You made him a little lower than the heavenly beings ^[c]
and crowned him with glory and honor.

6 You made him ruler over the works of your hands;
you put everything under his feet:

7 all flocks and herds,
and the beasts of the field,

8 the birds of the air,
and the fish of the sea,
all that swim the paths of the seas.

9 O LORD, our Lord,
how majestic is your name in all the earth!

Synonyms for majestic—glorious, awesome, exalted, magnificent, sovereign, stunning, superb

O how the Lord even considers us; that He is mindful of us. He sees us! He hears us! He rescues us! He loves us! He chose us!

Let’s praise HIM today!

Permission to Brag (just a little)

Chase signed up for Bible drills at our church. He started a bit later than some of the other children, but he jumped right in and got on with it. Having participated in AWANA was a big boost for him. However, this is his first time to participate in Bible drills.

For several months the children who participated learned to recite from memory and word perfect 25 scripture references from the NIV translation. Also, there were 10 key passages that the children must learn. For example, if the caller called "The Faith Chapter," then the drillers must know from memory that is Hebrews 11. Also, the drillers must know the books of the Bible in order. Now here's the difficult part. When the caller calls out and then says start, the driller has 10 seconds to find it or recall it from memory in order to step forward.

Let's say the caller called out the book of Amos. The child has 10 seconds to find the book of Amos, place his (or her) finger on on the name of the book on the left or right hand corner, and then step forward. If the caller calls the number of the driller, he must state the book before the book called, the book called and the book after the book called. So for Amos, that would be Joel, Amos, and Obadiah. With the key passage, their finger must be on the passage. Such as "The Temptation of Jesus," the scripture reference must be found which is Matthew 4:1-11, the finger placed anywhere on that passage, and step forward in less than 10 seconds. If the caller calls the driller's number, he must state the title of the Key Passage, the scripture reference and then he will be asked to read a scripture from that passage.

There were three levels of competition--the church level, association and state. Chase advanced to state level this past weekend. At state level competition, the drillers may not use the Bible that they practiced with. Each driller receives a brand new Bible and has 15 minutes prior to the competition to break it in. If any of you have used a brand new Bible knows that is difficult. This presumably levels the playing field. Chase won STATE LEVEL PERFECT! Which means he did not miss any calls--24 in all. Five of the seven elementary drillers (4th -6th grade) from our church received State Level Perfect.

Chase won the Bible he used in the competition and received a certificate for his accomplishment. What can be a better prize than the Word of God? This is Chase's very first Bible of his own. We have plenty of Bibles in the house which he has used. But this is his first Bible with his name in it. He was so excited when he received it this morning in church, he started reading in Matthew. He told me he was going to read through the New Testament.


Proverbs 22:6
Train a child in the way he should go,
and when he is old he will not turn from it.

I pray that as Chase hides the word of God in his heart and learns how to use God's sword that he shall never depart from the ways of the Lord!!

Blessings in Christ--

What Not to Expect from Teenage Son

The following are things I have learned not to expect with a teenage son in the home:

1. To ask him to put away the food after dinner and find left overs for lunch the next day.
2. To receive answers to my questions in a complete sentence.
3. To wake up early.
4. To go to sleep early.
5. Leave for class or work early.
6. To drive slower down our street.
7. For him to ask, "Mother, Is there anything I can do for you today?"
8. Odor free and clean bedroom.
9. To use his dresser and closet for clothes.
10. To put things where they belong after use.

Psalm 127:3 NIV
Sons are a heritage from the LORD,
children a reward from him.

An Inheritance

As a mother of two boys, I want to leave for them an inheritance. I want them to have things that I did not have. I want them to live a better life as a productive member of society than myself or their father. I desire for them to have a godly inheritance. I pray both of them choose to serve the one and only true living God wholeheartedly.

I’ve always admired the story and teachings on Gideon. How God called him a “mighty warrior” yet he was scared to death of what God called him to do. (Judges 6:12) Then by the strength Gideon had and with the Lord with him, the Midianites were defeated. Gideon goes down in history as Israel’s fifth judge. The land experienced peace for 40 years after that. Gideon is listed in the Hall of Faith chapter of Hebrews 11. I wrote a devotional about “What Do You See?” based on this part of Gideon’s life. (Click on the title to read it.)

This past week as I read through Judges I realized I didn’t know the rest of the story. God’s word is written that we may learn from it. (2 Tim. 3:16) After the victory, the Israelites asked Gideon to rule over them. He declined and told them “The Lord will rule over you.” (Judges 8:23) But then he made a request that each one share the plunder with him. From all the gold Gideon received, he made an ephod which he placed in his town. Unfortunately at this point, all of Israel started worship the ephod instead of the Lord. (Judges 8:25-27)

Gideon got back to the business of living his life. He had many wives and 70 sons plus a son of a concubine. Then Gideon died. After Gideon died, Israel returned to Baal worship and forgot the Lord their God. (Judges 8:29-32) Gideon’s son, Abimelech, born from his concubine decided he wanted to rule over the people, which was the position of God. In his quest to be ruler, he raised support in his mother’s home town, Shechem. After being funded by temple of Baal-Berith, he killed 69 of his 70 brothers. Only the youngest, Jotham, of the 70 escaped and spoke a curse over Abimelech. (Judges 9:1-20)

Abimelech ruled for three years and Jotham fled to Beer. The people of Shechem turned against Abimelech. God did this to avenge the blood of those slain. In this battle Abimelech went to capture a tower. The men and women took refuge in it. As he stormed it to set it on fire, a woman dropped a millstone on his head and cracked his skull. Not wanting to go down in history as being killed by a woman, Abimelech asked his armor-bearer to kill him. In my opinion, he was killed by a woman. (Judges 9:22-57)

The lesson I learn from knowing the rest of Gideon’s story is teach my children to follow the ways of the Lord. Gideon failed to do so. He allowed them to worship the ephod he made from the gold. Sin crept back into their lives and multiplied. The son of his concubine brought great grief to the family and the nation. Gideon failed to pass on the godly inheritance as all his children and the nation returned to idol worship.

Proverbs 13:22 AMP

A good man leaves an inheritance [of moral stability and goodness] to his children's children, and the wealth of the sinner [finds its way eventually] into the hands of the righteous, for whom it was laid up.

As parents, the Bible says we’re to leave an inheritance of goodness to our children and even on to their children. I desire and pray this will be ingrained in my boys lives so they may receive the inheritance promised in Jesus Christ that can never be taken away.

1 Peter 1:3-5 NIV

Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade—kept in heaven for you, who through faith are shielded by God's power until the coming of the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time.

Oh Lord, I give You praise for this day. I thank You for Your Word that teaches us Your truths. Lord may we learn from the examples You have given us in Your word. Lord, as a mother, I ask You to help us teach our children Your ways. That we will leave them with an inheritance to pass on to their children. Lord, the inheritance that comes through the resurrection of Jesus Christ that will never perish, spoil or fade away. That through faith is shielded by Your power.

Blessings in Christ--

Note: This post comes from what I learned through the yearly chronological Bible reading with Bev. Please visit her site for more info.

Listen to the Coach

The boys of summer are back in action. Little league baseball is in full swing. My 10 year old son moved up to the major league. He’s playing with the big boys now. There have been practices and practices and practices since the first week of March. The game is on now. The other night our team lost – got stomped actually by another team with experience (mostly all 12 year olds).

On the way home, my dear son started with his complaints about what happened. He didn’t get to play as much as he wanted to play. He played second base for two of the four innings. Twice the ball went past him. He made one really good play by stopping the ball and getting it to first base. Yet it was just a second to late. The runner was deemed safe by the umpire. Throughout the first two innings, the boys of this team seemed to do what they wanted and ignored the coaches instructions. The last two innings, they started to follow instructions and played better. By this time though, the other team had too many runs on them to catch up.

Other team players also displayed attitudes. In a previous game, one said that he was too good to play outfield. He let two balls go past him. The coach pulled him immediately. My son asked why the coach pulled him out or pulled others out. I explained to him that the coach did what was best for the whole team, not what each boy wanted.

After this episode with the team, the coach called a “boot camp” session last night. The boys ran lots of laps. Whenever one person made a mistake, they all performed pushups. If teamwork work was not displayed, such as one boy called he had a fly ball, yet another one tried to catch it anyway. Therefore, the ball fell to the ground. More push ups. The coach is teaching these boys to work together as a team. He is working to empty them of their own selfish desires and play for the benefit of the team. The coach watches the whole playing field, while each player only sees his position.

Can we be like that in the body of Christ? Do we want our own position and think we know what is best? Do we do what is best for the benefit of others? Or what is best for me.

Our Father, the Coach, watches and sees the whole playing field. He knows what play needs to take place to benefit the team. If He instructs us to play a position and we refuse, it affects the whole team. Yet when we heed His instruction, it benefits the whole team. We must lay aside our desires. We must listen to the Coach, our Father.

Christ in His love for us, even though we are sinners, compelled Him to obey the Father. He went to the cross in pain and agony. He prayed and asked the Coach to take it from Him if it be His will. Yet the Father, told Him pay the penalty. Christ obeyed without complaint or hesitation. Christ trusted the call of the Coach. Therefore, we can let the love of Christ motivate us to live for Him and not for ourselves. This will benefit the whole team—the body of Christ.

2 Corinthians 5:14-15 HCSB

For Christ's love compels us, since we have reached this conclusion: if One died for all, then all died. And He died for all so that those who live should no longer live for themselves, but for the One who died for them and was raised.

Lord, we give You praise for this day. Lord You are our team Coach. You see the whole playing field—this world. You know what is in the best interest of the team. Lord, I ask You to direct me and lead me in what position You want me to play. I ask You to teach me to play that position well. I pray that I live for Christ and not for myself. I pray I do my part that will benefit the team. May You, Lord, receive all the glory and honor. In Jesus name I pray, Amen.

Nothing But the Truth

Have you ever served on a jury or been a witness in the courtroom? Or perhaps you’ve seen court proceedings on television? The witnesses are sworn in before giving their testimony. The witness takes an oath to “tell the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth, so help me God.” Anyone who is caught perjuring will be punished by the court.

As believers in Jesus Christ, we are witnesses to the world in God’s court. We are to testify to the truth of Jesus Christ. Those who believe in Jesus will be saved from God’s judgment of sin. There is no one without sin and all in need of a Savior. (Romans 3:23)

Perjurers are going to be among us to deceive many. Jesus warned us and told us to watch out for them.

Matthew 24:10-11 NIV

At that time many will turn away from the faith and will betray and hate each other, and many false prophets will appear and deceive many people.

These false prophets and teachers will slyly distort the truth. It may look good. These teachings may sound good. And it may even sound Christian complete with Christian-ese language. Peter also warned us about those.

2 Peter 2:1-2 NIV

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 shameful ways and will bring the way of truth into disrepute.

How do we know if what someone is teaching is false?

First we need to know the One who is the Truth.

John 14:6 NIV

Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”

Once we know Jesus as our personal Savior and have a relationship with Him, we will know His voice.

John 10:27-28 NIV

My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one can snatch them out of my hand.

Then we are not to believe everything we hear, but to test it to see if it lines up with the Word of God.

1 John 4:1-3 NIV

Dear friends, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world. This is how you can recognize the Spirit of God: Every spirit that acknowledges that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God, but every spirit that does not acknowledge Jesus is not from God. This is the spirit of the antichrist, which you have heard is coming and even now is already in the world.

Jesus is the only way to the Father, our God. There is no other way! Period. Recorded in the Scriptures are warnings that godlessness and wickedness will suppress the truth. (Romans 1:18) Beware of those teachings. Flee from them.

Let us also pray for those who are perjurers and those being deceived. Let's pray for them to see the real Light of Jesus Christ.

Follow nothing but the Truth!