⁸ Finally, all of you should be of one mind. Sympathize with each other. Love each other as brothers and sisters.^[a] Be tenderhearted, and keep a humble attitude. ⁹ Don’t repay evil for evil. Don’t retaliate with insults when people insult you. Instead, pay them back with a blessing. That is what God has called you to do, and he will grant you his blessing. ¹⁰ For the Scriptures say,

“If you want to enjoy life
    and see many happy days,
keep your tongue from speaking evil
    and your lips from telling lies.
¹¹ Turn away from evil and do good.
    Search for peace, and work to maintain it.
¹² The eyes of the Lord watch over those who do right,
    and his ears are open to their prayers.
But the Lord turns his face
    against those who do evil.” ~ 1Peter 3:8-12

The writer is writing to the Church and is speaking to Christians, he is telling them how Christians should treat brothers and sisters in the Lord. As I read this it saddens me so very much. I know how people treat other’s in the church. Don’t get me wrong there are some GREAT people in the body of Christ that love and take care of others in need or who fall short, or a new to the faith and can’t even walk yet.

Here is the problem, these things are NOT taught to new believers and they end up treating other’s just like they treated others in the world, or the way they were treated in the world. Once again it’s knowing the Word of God. IT IS UP TO THE CHURCH TO TEACH and DISCIPLE new believer’s. Teach them how to be a churchman, how to grow, how to tithe, how to treat others.

People come into the church broken and some take a very long time to be healed, some are never healed and they are very difficult to get along with . Here is the key to it all….

“If you want to enjoy life
    and see many happy days,
keep your tongue from speaking evil
    and your lips from telling lies.
¹¹ Turn away from evil and do good.
    Search for peace, and work to maintain it.
¹² The eyes of the Lord watch over those who do right,
    and his ears are open to their prayers.
But the Lord turns his face
    against those who do evil.” 

Try living like that!!! BLES, DO GOOD, TURN AWAY FROM EVIL….. the Lord hears your prayers and His eyes are on you. Think about this…. it says “He turns his face against those who do evil” and this is WRITTEN to the church!!!!

Now go out and have an EPIC day today

⁹ But you are not like that, for you are a chosen people. You are royal priests,^[g] a holy nation, God’s very own possession. As a result, you can show others the goodness of God, for he called you out of the darkness into his wonderful light.~ 1Peter 2:9

To be all that we were created to be we must understand who we are. You know people always want to find themselves, understand who they are and then their life is devoted to this. The problem with this is the worlds way of finding yourself is usually wrapped up in “experimenting” all the things the world has to offer. Many times this ends up in heart break, addictions, negative thinking etc.

Right here in this 1 scripture it tells us who we are and who we were created to be. The thing that keeps us from this is there is an enemy who HATES you and who you were created to be so he is always trying to trap you into a different life. He wants you DEAD …. dead for eternity… dead to God.

BUT… YOU ARE A CHOOSEN PERSON….God’s very own possession!! Again to know this, understand this and to live this you need to KNOW, LOVE and UNDERSTAND Him!!!

I want to tell you that this life is a beautiful life, one of peace, one of love and one that actually fulfills the purpose of your creation. Think about this… He (God) fulfills every need you have, gives you purpose and vision to walk out your destiny. What is your destiny? He will reveal it to you.

Fall in LOVE with Jesus

Now go out and have an EPIC day today

And through your faith, God is protecting you by his power until you receive this salvation, which is ready to be revealed on the last day for all to see.

⁶ So be truly glad.^[b] There is wonderful joy ahead, even though you must endure many trials for a little while. ⁷ These trials will show that your faith is genuine. It is being tested as fire tests and purifies gold—though your faith is far more precious than mere gold. So when your faith remains strong through many trials, it will bring you much praise and glory and honor on the day when Jesus Christ is revealed to the whole world. ~ 1Peter 1:5-7

This is such a great word and yet it is so hard to walk in it daily. Why? Well there are many reasons why it’s so hard, first of all it’s human nature if we go through fire we are going to hurt and most are going to complain. Secondly most are not taught about salvation and think it’s for this world and we should be protected. Thirdly most really do not know God. So with these things it make it very difficult to endure the pain, hurt when you walk through life and even more so if you walk through life as a lover of God. So to avoid the pain we end up taking the road of the world rather than the road less traveled.

We really act out what we believe in our lives….if we knew, if we believed what was on the other side of eternity we would act our lives our very differently. Here the word says “These trials will show that your faith is genuine. It is being tested as fire tests and purifies gold—though your faith is far more precious than mere gold. So when your faith remains strong through many trials, it will bring you much praise and glory and honor on the day when Jesus Christ is revealed to the whole world”

He is going to come back, He will be revealed to the world and when He is every knee will bow!! Once again I can’t say it enough… KNOW HIM… FALL IN LOVE WITH HIM…. your salvation is your reward when He returns and until then if you KNOW and LOVE Him …his word will become LIFE. When this takes place in our lives it’s easy and a no brainer to walk through the FIRE.

Last night at the awakening prayer service we ended the night with an incredible song. “It’s going to be worth it all” by Rita Springer sang by my daughter Meghan…. what a way to end the night. Check out the song…

Now go out and have an EPIC day today.

I solemnly urge you in the presence of God and Christ Jesus, who will someday judge the living and the dead when he comes to set up his Kingdom: ² Preach the word of God. Be prepared, whether the time is favorable or not. Patiently correct, rebuke, and encourage your people with good teaching.

³ For a time is coming when people will no longer listen to sound and wholesome teaching. They will follow their own desires and will look for teachers who will tell them whatever their itching ears want to hear. ⁴ They will reject the truth and chase after myths.

⁵ But you should keep a clear mind in every situation. Don’t be afraid of suffering for the Lord. Work at telling others the Good News, and fully carry out the ministry God has given you. ~ 1Timothy 4:1-5

Remain strong in what you have been taught, remain strong in what you have read in the Word, remain strong in your relationship with the Father. A time is coming, well in my opinion the time is here when teaching the masses is just telling people what they want to hear, making the gospel cheap and easy as mega-churches grow and become rich. Now I want to make this clear, I have NOTHING against mega-churches, in fact I wish all churches are mega-churches but I do have a problem with churches that do not lead people to repent and weep over their sins. In fact I believe that the church has lead us down a very steep, slippery slope when it comes to repentance!! (that is another blog all together)

The current of this world is getting further and further away from the true Gospel and the church is going right behind it….. the body of Christ NEEDS men and women who will remain true and strong and preach TRUTH no matter how unpopular it may be, even if the church looses people over it. It will be a lot worse before it get better!! A day is coming when there will be a GREAT divide between believers and non-believers and those who “think” they believe.

REMAIN STRONG!!!!!!!!!! LIVE FOR HIM!!!!!!!

Now go out and have an EPIC day today

Just read this and then read it again. There is nothing I can add to this. It is put very simply with instructions and warnings……there is nothing more that I need to add to this, explain about this, it says it all.

3 You should know this, Timothy, that in the last days there will be very difficult times. ² For people will love only themselves and their money. They will be boastful and proud, scoffing at God, disobedient to their parents, and ungrateful. They will consider nothing sacred. ³ They will be unloving and unforgiving; they will slander others and have no self-control. They will be cruel and hate what is good. ⁴ They will betray their friends, be reckless, be puffed up with pride, and love pleasure rather than God. ⁵ They will act religious, but they will reject the power that could make them godly. Stay away from people like that!

⁶ They are the kind who work their way into people’s homes and win the confidence of^[a] vulnerable women who are burdened with the guilt of sin and controlled by various desires. ⁷ (Such women are forever following new teachings, but they are never able to understand the truth.) ⁸ These teachers oppose the truth just as Jannes and Jambres opposed Moses. They have depraved minds and a counterfeit faith. ⁹ But they won’t get away with this for long. Someday everyone will recognize what fools they are, just as with Jannes and Jambres.

Paul’s Charge to Timothy

¹⁰ But you, Timothy, certainly know what I teach, and how I live, and what my purpose in life is. You know my faith, my patience, my love, and my endurance. ¹¹ You know how much persecution and suffering I have endured. You know all about how I was persecuted in Antioch, Iconium, and Lystra—but the Lord rescued me from all of it. ¹² Yes, and everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution. ¹³ But evil people and impostors will flourish. They will deceive others and will themselves be deceived.

¹⁴ But you must remain faithful to the things you have been taught. You know they are true, for you know you can trust those who taught you. ¹⁵ You have been taught the holy Scriptures from childhood, and they have given you the wisdom to receive the salvation that comes by trusting in Christ Jesus. ¹⁶ All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us to do what is right. ¹⁷ God uses it to prepare and equip his people to do every good work.~ 2Timothy 3

Now go out and have an EPIC day

In a wealthy home some utensils are made of gold and silver, and some are made of wood and clay. The expensive utensils are used for special occasions, and the cheap ones are for everyday use. If you keep yourself pure, you will be a special utensil for honorable use. Your life will be clean, and you will be ready for the Master to use you for every good work.

Run from anything that stimulates youthful lusts. Instead, pursue righteous living, faithfulness, love, and peace. Enjoy the companionship of those who call on the Lord with pure hearts.

~ 1Timothy 2:20-22 ~

If you are a child of the King you are set aside for a purpose. But it’s not just that you raise your hand and say you accept Jesus as savior, or you go to church. The word says “if you keep yourself pure, you will be a special utensil for honorable use” It take word be be pure and stay pure. It is within the daily choices we made, it is in the daily time spent falling in Love with Him, it is within how you spend your time, money and talents. It is fleeing from anything that gets your flesh moving.

Verse 22 says it all — Run from anything that stimulates youthful lusts. Instead, pursue righteous living, faithfulness, love, and peace. Enjoy the companionship of those who call on the Lord with pure hearts.

We are to pursue these things, they DO NOT come naturally for most of us. It’s a road less traveled. He even tells us to hang out with the right people… why? Because bad company always drags you and me down!

Now go out and have an EPIC day today.

¹³ Hold on to the pattern of wholesome teaching you learned from me—a pattern shaped by the faith and love that you have in Christ Jesus. ¹⁴ Through the power of the Holy Spirit who lives within us, carefully guard the precious truth that has been entrusted to you. ~ 1Timothy 1:13-14

A few really good points out of these 2 little scriptures. first Paul tells him to “hold on” to the teaching that he learned from HIM — it is Ok to follow and learn from another man/woman… sometimes we get caught up saying it’s wrong to follow a man/woman/pastor etc. But it is ok, here Paul tells him to HOLD ON TO WHAT HE TAUGHT HIM.  So how to you guard yourself from being lead astray? I mean that is Pauls message too, there are many false teachers that will lead you to death. So how do you know?

Paul tells us very clearly, I say this in just about every post, every time I teach or preach now days. If you hear a message, teaching, prophecy etc… check it out with the WORD — the FULL word not just one Scripture…. Scripture ALWAYS interprets Scripture.  KNOW YOUR WORD!! Through the Power of the Holy Spirit who lives within us guard the word you have been taught.

I have seen good men and women come up with some crazy out of context teachings from the word, and they can make it make sense… but if you check the FULL counsel of God through the Bible — it does not hold water. To a man or woman who does not know, does not have the Power of the Holy Spirit to help them hold on to the truth…. they are easily led astray and that my friends leads to DEATH.

It’s like the news media when they take a speech made by a politician, they cut it up to make it sound completely different that it was said.   I have been quoted wrong in the newspaper many times over the years and I have stood with my mouth open when I read it ….. twisting and make something different with the words I said. KNOW THE WORD OF GOD!!! I can’t scream this loud enough.

Now go out and have an EPIC day today

Teach these things, Timothy, and encourage everyone to obey them. ³ Some people may contradict our teaching, but these are the wholesome teachings of the Lord Jesus Christ. These teachings promote a godly life. ⁴ Anyone who teaches something different is arrogant and lacks understanding. Such a person has an unhealthy desire to quibble over the meaning of words. This stirs up arguments ending in jealousy, division, slander, and evil suspicions. ⁵ These people always cause trouble. Their minds are corrupt, and they have turned their backs on the truth. To them, a show of godliness is just a way to become wealthy. ~ 1Timothy 6:3-5

Paul is instructing Timothy to teach hard and strong…. know the TRUE gospel and teach it and it alone. He realizes that there are many and will be many that teach a false doctrine. Anything taught other than the truth is dangerous and can lead people to death. They lack understanding and are ALWAYS ready to argue that they are right, using words and scripture that makes it appear truth…. they are arrogant and stubborn. Have you ever met anyone like this when it comes to “doctrine”? The entire world is wrong and you are an idiot if you don’t believe them. We have all seen it.

Paul says that the truth leads to a Godly life not a life of anger, jealousy, division, slander, and evil suspicions! There is only one way to know what is the true gospel and what is not. KNOW and LOVE God, know the voice of the Lord, know the Holy Spirit and KNOW YOUR WORD…. not by what someone teaches you but from the WORD.

He says that “a show of godliness is only a way to get rich” Some people get very rich in the name of the Lord…. think about it.

Now go out and have an EPIC day

²⁴ Remember, the sins of some people are obvious, leading them to certain judgment. But there are others whose sins will not be revealed until later. ²⁵ In the same way, the good deeds of some people are obvious. And the good deeds done in secret will someday come to light. ~ 1Timothy 5:24-25

The truth is there is NOTHING hidden from God… HE sees and HE knows all. So, if this is true how can a man or a woman who are believers have hidden sin? It is pretty easy to hide things from people (even though things ALWAYS come out and are revealed eventually) but hiding from God or thinking you hide it from God…. this makes very little sense. Yes it is done all the time and has been done since the beginning of time.

Watching the news unfold these last few weeks has been heartbreaking, Bill Cosby, Jarred the subway guy, and Dugger exposed from the Ashley Madison website and this site is just starting to unfold. It says that there were over 39 MILLION members on this site. ON this site alone 39 million people with hidden sin. I assure you there are top government officials, millions of Christian men and women, pastor’s and church leaders that will be exposed. It is MADNESS.

And the Word of God says that NOTHING is hidden from God!!! EVERYTHING will be revealed in time, even if it’s at the judgment seat. So what if you got away with it and fooled your family, friends and church you still have to stand before the one who knows.

Here is the problem….. there is a FLAW in your relationship with GOD — the devil wants to “trap” you and me and he does it very well…. from childhood. LIFE IS NO GAME …. it’s real and the end of LIFE is real. Our lives on this earth is only a moment in comparison to eternity. Learn to “rest in Him” daily, hourly ,, minute by minute. A place where it’s impossible to have any secrets. The holy Spirit will always call you out.

My motto daily is this: “I cannot be trusted with my life… I need you today”

IF you are caught up in secret sins… there is a way out… it’s not easy, it’s hard and it’s painful… but the reward is a life of freedom here on this earth and a life in eternity with the one who created you!!!

Now go out and have an EPIC life!!

⁷ The end of the world is coming soon. Therefore, be earnest and disciplined in your prayers. ⁸ Most important of all, continue to show deep love for each other, for love covers a multitude of sins. ⁹ Cheerfully share your home with those who need a meal or a place to stay.~ 1Timothy 4:7-8

What does it mean for “love to cover a multitude of sins”? Does it mean one of the following?

1. Love prevents you from seeing or noticing sins at all?
2. Love allows you to see sins, but you overlook/ignore them?
3. Love allows you to see sins, but you forgive them?
4. Something else?

Love certainly does not mean ignoring sins or not noticing them at all. It is unloving for us to notice a fellow Christian living in sin and not help them. And when they sin against us, we are not to act like nothing happened in all cases, but we are to confront them Biblically when appropriate.

R.C. Sproul Jr. wrote an excellent article on the subject here. In summary, he said:

When we are wronged our calling is to practice a careful moral calculus. Is this offense one I should let go of? Is it among the multitude that love covers? Or is this offense grievous enough that love means confronting in grace my brother? Sadly what we usually do is think we are practicing the former while actually holding grudges and putting miracle-grow on roots of bitterness. Peace in the church calls us to under-accuse, over-repent and over-forgive. Let us not be afraid to call sin sin, but let us not be slow to forgive it and to look past it.

There are cases where we are to overlook. If they were inconsiderate and bothered us, in many cases it is better to simply overlook and move on. But if the sin is greater, then we should confront them using the model presented in Matthew 18:15-19. In all cases, we should have an attitude of forgiveness towards them, willing to forgive the wrong when they ask for forgiveness.