November 17
1 Thessalonians 5:12-28, 2 Thessalonians 1:1-3:18; Acts 18:4-23
If I started to call myself "the tallest man on the earth", despite being 5'7", would that make that statement true? But it seems like if everyone backed me up, and the name stuck, then it would be accepted simply because everyone was saying it. Evil parades as good, controls much of society, including the media and the politicians, and the world simply accepts and believes it. Planned Parenthood has nothing to do with planning or parenthood. A more accurate term would be local intrauterine death centers, but that might offend many. Yet it is safer to live anywhere in the world than in the womb. It is safer to live in Afghanistan right now, then to live in the womb at the current rate of abortion, done in the name of women's choice. How about the term, "Public Servant" to define those holding public political office. Yet most of our politicians fleece those they are serving, are exceedingly wealthy not due to their salaries, and work primarily to keep themselves in office rather than to actually serve their constituents. How about "anti-science" for anyone who dares to disagree with the problems surrounding the current pandemic and the vaccine. How about "Black Lives Matter", when this movement has nothing to do with black lives and everything to do with pushing forth a Marxist agenda. How about being labeled "racist" if you dare say anything against this. How about "white privilege" though you might have born in poverty, simply because of the color of your skin. I could go on and on, because there are so many examples of this. As bad as this is, there is always the very biased "Fact-checkers" to discredit what you are saying, as though they somehow hold the weight of truth in their comments.
Though we are not in the Great Tribulation, and the Antichrist has not yet declared himself, we are in times of tremendous deception as we lead up to this future seven year period of time. Jesus told us that there would be "birth-pangs" leading up to this time and that we had better keep watch and stay alert as we approach the end of times as we know them. We read in 2 Thessalonians 2:9-12, "This man will come to do the work of Satan with counterfeit power and signs and miracles. He will use every kind of evil deception to fool those on their way to destruction, because they refuse to love and accept the truth that would save them. So God will cause them to be greatly deceived, and they will believe these lies. Then they will be condemned for enjoying evil rather than believing the truth." Those not under God will be greatly deceived. How do we combat this deception? We read in 1 Thessalonians 5:14-22, "Brothers and sisters, we urge you to warn those who are lazy. Encourage those who are timid. Take tender care of those who are weak. Be patient with everyone. See that no one pays back evil for evil, but always try to do good to each other and to all people. Always be joyful. Never stop praying. Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus. Do not stifle the Holy Spirit. Do not scoff at prophecies, but test everything that is said. Hold on to what is good. Stay away from every kind of evil."
You might be thinking what makes me think that what I'm saying is true or good. I deem myself nothing. I am a sinner like everyone who reads this and those who don't. But I am a sinner saved by the blood of Jesus Christ. That is it, plain and simple. Truth comes from God through His Word and through the Holy Spirit. It is not the vessel that God uses, but God, Himself, which is truth. We live in a world of biblical illiteracy in which no one and nothing is held against the only true standard of truth, the Word of God. Instead, the Bible is often ridiculed and called into question by those in charge. Jesus said in John 8:31-32 (NKJV), "“If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed. And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.” You want truth go to the Word. Don't go to a godless "fact-checker" go to the facts spoken forth by God through those who actually wrote the Bible, through the power of the Holy Spirit.
Messages from Pastor Lloyd Pulley: