October 19
Jer 33:1-34:22 | PS 89:1-13 | Prov 25:23-24 | 1 Tim 4:1-16
Yuval Harari, top advisor to Klaus Schwab, founder of the World Economic Forum, said, “we will now aim to upgrade humans into gods, and turn Homo sapiens into Homo deus.” He believes through AI, and transhumanism, that he can evolve men into gods. He also recently stated, “We don’t need to wait for Jesus Christ to come back to earth in order to overcome death, a couple of geeks in a laboratory can do it.” He refers to members of the non-elite class, once AI takes off, as useless people with no economic value, discusses techno-religion, and that humans are hack-able animals. Pope Francis stated that Christians are not to proselytize, that proselytism is solemn nonsense, and that Jewish people can be saved without believing in Jesus Christ. There are no shortage of powerful and very influential leaders who lead large flocks. After seeing how easily led the world has been in response to the recent outbreak, we should never underestimate individuals blindly following these powerful shepherds. Without God. Without abiding continually in His Word, we are all like boats adrift in the sea without an anchor, being tossed around from one wave to another. Everything, and I mean everything, must be seen as it relates to Scripture. If it is in line join, if not, run.
God has spoken about the times we are living in, as we read in 1 Timothy 4:1-2, “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,”. The battle lines are drawn and we must all decide which side we stand on, as Paul goes on in 4:6-7, “If you instruct the brethren in these things, you will be a good minister of Jesus Christ, nourished in the words of faith and of the good doctrine which you have carefully followed. But reject profane and old wives’ fables, and exercise yourself toward godliness.” Enough of idle chatter. God’s story is moving forward. It is time to be sober-minded. We see Paul’s specific instructions in 4:12, “Let no one despise your youth, but be an example to the believers in word, in conduct, in love, in spirit, in faith, in purity.” Every area of our lives must be submitted to God.
Paul gives advice that we would all do well to consider in 1 Timothy 4:15, “Meditate on these things; give yourself entirely to them, that your progress may be evident to all.” Even more specifically we read in Philippians 4:8, “Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things.” We surf our phones, watch television, engage in conversations, and read. What percentage of these activities are God honoring and which are not. What percentage affirm our identity in Christ and which don’t. Time is moving fast. The shepherds are gathering their sheep as ears are itching to follow someone. Only the Good Shepherd, Jesus Christ, will lead you on the correct path. All others will lead you down the wrong path no matter how promising it might at first seem.
Messages from Pastor Lloyd Pulley: