Blog for Podcast #213 (What the World Esteems)


Intro

This is Dreamwalker1960. As a reminder you can read the transcripts of all my podcasts at dreamwalker1960.com. You can use most podcast platforms if you wish to listen. All you need to do is do a search for Dreamwalker1960.

Discussion

Many live with a misconception of how their relationship with God works. Most believe all they need do is profess they follow Christ. Then they go about their lives doing what pleases them and no others. The Holy Spirit inspired Paul to write these words to Timothy, but God knew that in time, these words would be able to be seen by all.

2 Timothy 3:1-5 NKJV – But know this, that in the last days perilous times will come: For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, unloving, unforgiving, slanderers, without self-control, brutal, despisers of good, traitors, headstrong, haughty, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, having a form of godliness but denying its power. And from such people turn away!

“Men will be lovers of themselves, lover of money, boasters, proud.” So forth and so on.

Through their love of money, they show through actions what it is they love most. How? By seeking after possessions. Large houses that have unused space. Some have multiple houses. Most have multiple vehicles. Expensive ones. They seek after personal pleasures. Be they sexual or activities like sports. They seek after position and status. The higher they are in social standing the greater they are and the richer they are. This is why the Holy Spirit inspired John to write this in one of His letters.

1 John 2:15-16 NLT – Do not love this world nor the things it offers you, for when you love the world, you do not have the love of the Father in you. For the world offers only a craving for physical pleasure, a craving for everything we see, and pride in our achievements and possessions. These are not from the Father, but are from this world.

Those that love their possessions and seeking after them and more of them. The fancier the better. This is loving the world. This is seeking after what is highly esteemed by humanity.

Luke 16:13-15 NKJV – “No servant can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will be loyal to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money.” Now the Pharisees, who were lovers of money, also heard all these things, and they derided Him. And He said to them, “You are those who justify yourselves before men, but God knows your hearts. For what is highly esteemed among men is an abomination in the sight of God.

By still seeking wealth and status within the world those that say they are “Christian” show all they truly have no love for God nor loyalty to Jesus Christ, but to one being. Themselves. They show who their adversary is. This was known to God who told the Holy Spirit to have James write this in his letter.

James 4:4 NKJV – Adulterers and adulteresses! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Whoever therefore wants to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God.

They deny this. They say they follow Christ. They are disciples of Christ. They lie like this to the world and to themselves.

When those that bring the Truth to them do so. They become angry and they deride those that bring the Truth. Trying to make themselves feel important, when all they really do is show whom they really follow, and it is not Jesus Christ, but the spirit of the antichrist. They make themselves an abomination in the sight of God.

This is why it is so important that each person study, not just read, but study the Word of God. For when you study it you come to understand the Truth found within the Bible. You learn that salvation can be lost. You also learn important things like this about worldly possessions and wealth taught by Jesus Himself.

Matthew 6:19-21 NKJV – “Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal; but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

“For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”

The huge house and all that goes with it is where their hearts are found. Therefore, they are not following God. They are fighting against God and God’s plan for salvation for all humanity. They have chosen their fate, yet they think, they believe they are welcome before God. However, Jesus Christ said these Words about those that think this way?

Matthew 7:21-23 NKJV – “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven. Many will say to Me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?’ And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!’

“I never knew you, depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness.”

By not downsizing the moment they accept Christ as their Savior, they begin the steps to leaning they will eventually loss said salvation. The Holy Spirit had Peter shed light upon this:

2 Peter 2:20-22 NKJV – For if, after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, they are again entangled in them and overcome, the latter end is worse for them than the beginning. For it would have been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than having known it, to turn from the holy commandment delivered to them. But it has happened to them according to the true proverb: “A DOG RETURNS TO HIS OWN VOMIT,” and, “a sow, having washed, to her wallowing in the mire.”

In three gospels a command is given to those that have earthly wealth, yet since it is not clearly spelled out, they deny its existence.

Mark 10:17-22 NKJV – Now as He was going out on the road, one came running, knelt before Him, and asked Him, “Good Teacher, what shall I do that I may inherit eternal life?” So Jesus said to him, “Why do you call Me good? No one is good but One, that is, God. You know the commandments: ‘DO NOT COMMIT ADULTERY,’ ‘DO NOT MURDER,’ ‘DO NOT STEAL,’ ‘DO NOT BEAR FALSE WITNESS,’ ‘Do not defraud,’ ‘HONOR YOUR FATHER AND YOUR MOTHER.'” And he answered and said to Him, “Teacher, all these things I have kept from my youth.” Then Jesus, looking at him, loved him, and said to him, “One thing you lack: Go your way, sell whatever you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, take up the cross, and follow Me.” But he was sad at this word, and went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions.

This is reinforced in the first letter to Timothy:

1 Timothy 6:6-10 NKJV – Now godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out. And having food and clothing, with these we shall be content. But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and harmful lusts which drown men in destruction and perdition. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil, for which some have strayed from the faith in their greediness, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.

“For which some have strayed from the faith in their greediness.”

They have abandoned their salvation for a big house, money, vehicles and earthly pleasures as well as possessions. Thus, befriending the world. So, we once again say this verses from the book of James.

James 4:4 NKJV – Adulterers and adulteresses! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Whoever therefore wants to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God.

If someone is an enemy of God, they are not His follower. Period.

The Glorified Jesus Christ talked about those that thought with this mentality. A mentality that signals His soon return.

 Revelation 3:15-17 NKJV – “I know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot. I could wish you were cold or hot. So then, because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will vomit you out of My mouth. Because you say, ‘I am rich, have become wealthy, and have need of nothing’—and do not know that you are wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked—

Because they are God’s enemy Jesus vomits them form the Body of Christ. Thus, showing that they are not welcome in the kingdom of God. Why? Because they choose not to follow the teachings found within the Bible and so live lawless lives.

Matthew 7:21-23 NKJV – “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven. Many will say to Me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?’ And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!’

Time and again I return to these verses. Why? Because most refuse to accept these verses as being aimed at them.

They think this because they believe that since they have accepted Jesus as their Savior, they are special, exempt, favored by God.

Romans 2:11 NLT – For God does not show favoritism.

When people think they are exempt and favored they make God and His Son liars. The thing is there is only one being who is the father of lies.

John 8:44 NKJV – You are of your father the devil, and the desires of your father you want to do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own resources, for he is a liar and the father of it.

This verse even though originally spoken to the Jewish people applies to any that say with their mouths that Jesus Christ is their Savior, yet they refuse to downsize. Defying the Word of God, which in reality is God Through Jesus Christ.

John 1:1 NKJV – In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

Repent. Repent now.

God Bless

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