Do What YOU need to do…and Make a Note of It
17 Now I urge you, brethren, note those who cause divisions and offenses, contrary to the doctrine which you learned, and avoid them.
18 For those who are such do not serve our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly, and by smooth words and flattering speech deceive the hearts of the simple.
19 For your obedience has become known to all. Therefore I am glad on your behalf; but I want you to be wise in what is good, and simple concerning evil.
20 And the God of peace will crush Satan under your feet shortly.
The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. Amen. Romans 16:17-20
It is a difficult pill to swallow; that no matter how much living the Word of God and teaching the Word of God you do, you just aren’t going to be able to reach most. And of the ones you do reach, it may or may not last depending on that individual and where they are in their own personal lives and how dedicated and devoted they are in their walk with Jesus Christ, or in many cases - the lack thereof.
We are shown a very good illustration of this in the Parable of the Sower in Matthew 13:1-23:
13 That same day Jesus went out of the house and sat by the lake.
2 Such large crowds gathered around him that he got into a boat and sat in it, while all the people stood on the shore.
3 Then he told them many things in parables, saying: “A farmer went out to sow his seed.
4 As he was scattering the seed, some fell along the path, and the birds came and ate it up.
5 Some fell on rocky places, where it did not have much soil. It sprang up quickly, because the soil was shallow.
6 But when the sun came up, the plants were scorched, and they withered because they had no root.
7 Other seed fell among thorns, which grew up and choked the plants.
8 Still other seed fell on good soil, where it produced a crop—a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown.
9 Whoever has ears, let them hear.”
10 The disciples came to him and asked, “Why do you speak to the people in parables?”
11 He replied, “Because the knowledge of the secrets of the kingdom of heaven has been given to you, but not to them.
12 Whoever has will be given more, and they will have an abundance. Whoever does not have, even what they have will be taken from them.
13 This is why I speak to them in parables:
“Though seeing, they do not see;
though hearing, they do not hear or understand.
14 In them is fulfilled the prophecy of Isaiah:
“‘You will be ever hearing but never understanding;
you will be ever seeing but never perceiving.
15 For this people’s heart has become calloused;
they hardly hear with their ears,
and they have closed their eyes.
Otherwise they might see with their eyes,
hear with their ears,
understand with their hearts
and turn, and I would heal them.’
16 But blessed are your eyes because they see, and your ears because they hear.
17 For truly I tell you, many prophets and righteous people (not everyone with a title or calling is living the Truth of God’s Holy Word - you’ll know by their words, deeds, or actions - mark them as well and don’t believe them) longed to see what you see but did not see it, and to hear what you hear but did not hear it.
18 “Listen then to what the parable of the sower means:
19 When anyone hears the message about the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what was sown in their heart. This is the seed sown along the path.
20 The seed falling on rocky ground refers to someone who hears the word and at once receives it with joy.
21 But since they have no root, they last only a short time. When trouble or persecution comes because of the word, they quickly fall away.
22 The seed falling among the thorns refers to someone who hears the word, but the worries of this life and the deceitfulness of wealth choke the word, making it unfruitful.
23 But the seed falling on good soil refers to someone who hears the word and understands it. This is the one who produces a crop, yielding a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown.”
Our relationship with our Lord, through Jesus Christ, is a personal one. It is such that the more we have a revelatory understanding of spiritual matters, the more we are able to appreciate and value our own salvation.
And all the more are we able to understand that our attending a church and confessing Jesus Christ is Lord, does not any more secure nor validate our salvation as sure; than is standing in a garage making us a valid car. Now, we can call ourselves cars, and even call ourselves one of the “called” cars, and yet we are not. It is so much more than a confession. You must read and study the scriptures and then you will begin to understand how and why it is a lifestyle we are to live, purposed by design from the Beginning. You see my friend, when it is all said and done, we all will stand before The Throne and give an account of how we lived our lives here on Earth.
And just because salvation is a mere passing thought to so many, does not nullify The Truth of God’s Holy Word.
Oh!…and the fact that one doesn’t believe at all, well…that too my friend, does not negate Who The Lord is, nor does it excuse one from eternal damnation because you “didn’t know”. All will have had an opportunity for salvation. In fact, by His very nature, The Lord sent many on occasion to attempt to win your soul by choosing to serve Him. And the Bible, has always been here for us to read and study.
Romans 3:3-4 - 3 What then? If some did not believe or were unfaithful [to God], their lack of belief will not nullify and make invalid the faithfulness of God and His word, will it? 4 Certainly not! Let God be found true [as He will be], though every person be found a liar, just as it is written [in Scripture],
“That You may be justified in Your words,
And prevail when You are judged [by sinful men].”
But so many are so steeped in the world and the ways of the world and don’t want to hear it, thought they already knew it, or thought they had more time then they do on this earth.
I, as well as you and all others, are here for a very short time, but eternity is forever and that is a very long time!
My salvation is far too important to me than to allow the adversary to steal my salvation, or better yet, me give over my salvation, by allowing the adversary Satan, and his demons, to move me by influencing others to attack me and/or offend me. Philippians 2:12 [Amplified Bible] 12 So then, my dear ones, just as you have always obeyed [my instructions with enthusiasm], not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence, continue to work out your salvation [that is, cultivate it, bring it to full effect, actively pursue spiritual maturity] with awe-inspired fear and trembling [using serious caution and critical self-evaluation to avoid anything that might offend God or discredit the name of Christ].
You too, Beloved, must stay focused working out your own salvation with fear and trembling and that means understanding Romans 16:17-20.
It is strongly urged that you pack up your grace and get a one-way ticket to a place called “Get-as-far-away-from-them-as-possible-and-don’t-look-back” its located in a country called “My Salvation is too Valuable”, and it has arrivals daily for those who awakened and smelled the proverbial “coffee” of getting away from toxicity that will cause you to react out of flesh toward their constant actions divisiveness. You know the toxic people that you allow to make your life miserable because they are instruments of unrighteousness being used of the devil to steal your peace?
This is a blog post in which the scriptures make the point by illustrating, far better than I ever could write it.
Therefore, let’s close with Romans 16:17-20 in a more modern translation and another in a more conversational translation. Let the Word of God minister peace in your soul and spirit as you read:
Romans 16:17-22 [Amplified Bible Translation]
17 I urge you, brothers and sisters, to keep your eyes on those who cause dissensions and create obstacles or introduce temptations [for others] to commit sin, [acting in ways] contrary to the doctrine which you have learned. Turn away from them. 18 For such people do not serve our Lord Christ, but their own appetites and base desires. By smooth and flattering speech they deceive the hearts of the unsuspecting [the innocent and the naive]. 19 For the report of your obedience has reached everyone, so that I rejoice over you, but I want you to be wise in what is good and innocent in what is evil. 20 The God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet.
The [wonderful] grace of our Lord Jesus be with you.
Romans 16:17-22 [The Message Bible Translation]
17-18 One final word of counsel, friends. Keep a sharp eye out for those who take bits and pieces of the teaching that you learned and then use them to make trouble. Give these people a wide berth. They have no intention of living for our Master Christ. They’re only in this for what they can get out of it, and aren’t above using pious sweet talk to dupe unsuspecting innocents.
19-20 And so while there has never been any question about your honesty in these matters—I couldn’t be more proud of you!—I want you also to be smart, making sure every “good” thing is the real thing. Don’t be gullible in regard to smooth-talking evil. Stay alert like this, and before you know it the God of peace will come down Satan with both feet, stomping him into the dirt. Enjoy the best of Jesus!
Lovingly in Christ Jesus, Stay Blessed,
Apostle & Prophetess Wendy Connor
© Copyright 2022 Wendy Connor
