“The Decision” (Luke 6:46-49)

 

EVENING SPIRITUAL DIARY FOR 8/8/2026 9:36 PM

My Worship Time                                                                                      Focus:  “The Decision”

Bible Reading & Meditation                                                                 Reference:  Luke 6:46-49

            Message of the verses:  “⁴⁶ “Now why do you call Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ and do not do what I say? ⁴⁷ Everyone who comes to Me and hears My words and acts on them, I will show you whom he is like: ⁴⁸ he is like a man building a house, who dug deep and laid a foundation on the rock; and when there was a flood, the river burst against that house and yet it could not shake it, because it had been well built. ⁴⁹ But the one who has heard and has not acted accordingly is like a man who built a house on the ground without a foundation; and the river burst against it and it immediately collapsed, and the ruin of that house was great.”

            This evening’s SD will be rather short because this is actually an introduction to this section.  I am almost done with this sixth chapter of Luke, something that I have been working on since the 8^th of June, but has to stop when my wife was so sick, and then she went to be with her Lord on the 29^th of July, and I miss her very much, but I am trusting that the Lord will see me through this difficult time and give me the strength to do what He desires me to do in order to bring honor to the Lord Jesus Christ.

            “Jesus closed His sermon by challenging His hearers to make a choice.  People face decisions throughout their lives, choices about diet, medical care, lifestyle, career, relationships, and education, to name a few.  But the one that far overshadows all the rest is the choice that fixes a person’s eternal destiny.  The concluding parable of the Sermon on the Mount reveals two aspects of that  decision:  its nature and its consequences.”

            As I stated this section is just the introduction to the last sub-sections that will finish this chapter, and Lord willing I will do one tomorrow morning and then one tomorrow evening.

8/8/2026 9:49 PM

“False Teachers are Evil” (Luke 6:43-45)

 

MORNING SPIRITUAL DIARY FOR 8/8/2026 9:15 AM

My Worship Time                                                                       Focus:  “False Teachers are Evil”

Bible Reading & Meditation                                                                 Reference:  Luke 6:43-45

            Message of the verses:  “⁴³ For there is no good tree that bears bad fruit, nor, on the other hand, a bad tree that bears good fruit. ⁴⁴ For each tree is known by its own fruit. For people do not gather figs from thorns, nor do they pick grapes from a briar bush. ⁴⁵ The good person out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth what is good; and the evil person out of the evil treasure brings forth what is evil; for his mouth speaks from that which fills his heart.”

            Now beneath the self-righteous façade of false teachers there lies a deadly evil.  Jesus used another self-evident illustration, this one from the realm of agriculture, to make this point.  The fruit that a tree produces is an unfailing indicator of that tree’s health.  Thus there is no good tree which produces bad fruit, nor, on the other hand, a bad tree which produces good fruit.  Good trees do not produce bad, inedible fruit, nor to bad trees produce good, edible fruit.  Let us take the image one step further, the Lord added the equally self-evident fact that each tree is known by its own fruit.  Now plants produce fruit according to what is there nature, therefore men do not gather figs from thorns, nor do they pick grapes from a briar bush.

            It is in this parable, the bad trees are the false teachers, as Matthew’s parallel account makes clear.  Let us look at the warning the Lord gives in Matthew 7:15 “Beware of the false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly are ravenous wolves.” Next in verse 16 Jesus used the same illustration recorded in Luke’s gospel:  “You will know them by their fruits.  Grapes are not gather from thorn bushes nor figs from thistles, are they?” thus connecting it to the false teachers of verse 15.  Similarly, in Matthew 12:33 Jesus said to the Pharisees, “Either make the tree good and its fruit good, or make the tree bad and its fruit bad; for the tree is known by its fruit.”  And then in the next verse He applied that statement to them:  “You brood of vipers, how can you, being evil, speak what is good?  For the mouth speaks out of that which fills the heart” (v. 34).

            MacArthur then goes on to write “The application of the parable is clear.  The good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth what is good; and the evil man out of the evil treasure brings forth what is evil.  Just as trees produce fruit in keeping with their nature, so also do people.  The hearts of the righteous, having been transformed by the regenerating work of salvation (Jer. 31:33; Ezek. 36:25-27; John 3:5; Titus 3:5), hold good treasure; the hearts of unregenerate hold evil treasure.”

(Jer. 31:33; Ezek. 36:25-27; John 3:5; Titus 3:5)

“33  For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, declares the LORD: I will put my law within them, and I will write it on their hearts. And I will be their God, and they shall be my people.”

“25 ¶  I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you shall be clean from all your uncleanness’s, and from all your idols I will cleanse you. 26  And I will give you a new heart, and a new spirit I will put within you. And I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. 27  And I will put my Spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes and be careful to obey my rules.”

“5  Jesus answered, "Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God.”

“5  he saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit,”

“Just as what the fruit trees bear reveals their nature, so also what people say reveals the nature of their heart, since the mouth speaks from that which fills the heart (cf. Prov. 10:32; Matt. 15:18).  How people speak most clearly reveals what is in their heart.”

(cf. Prov. 10:32; Matt. 15:18)

32  The lips of the righteous know what is acceptable, but the mouth of the wicked, what is perverse.”

“18  But what comes out of the mouth proceeds from the heart, and this defiles a person.”

            “Those who follow false spiritual teachers will manifest the same corruption that they do.  Only those who follow the Lord Jesus Christ can produce the fruit of repentance (Luke 3:8) that marks a transformed life (2 Cor. 5:17).”

(Luke 3:8)

“8  Bear fruits in keeping with repentance. And do not begin to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father.’ For I tell you, God is able from these stones to raise up children for Abraham.”

(2 Cor. 5:17)

“17  Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.”

Spiritual Meaning for my Life Today:  It is my desire to produce good fruit, and this can only be done through the work of the Holy Spirit in my life.

My Steps of Faith for Today:  Keep my life clean from sinful things so that the Spirit of God can use me to do what He desires me to do.

8/8/2026 9:43 AM

 

 

           

“False Teachers Are Hypocrites” (Luke 6:41-42)

 

EVENING SPIRITUAL DIARY FOR 8/7/2026 8:41 PM

My Worship Time                                                           Focus:  “False Teachers Are Hypocrites”

Bible Reading & Meditation                                                                 Reference:  Luke 6:41-42

            Message of the verses:  “⁴¹ Why do you look at the speck that is in your brother’s eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye? ⁴² How can you say to your brother, ‘Brother, let me take out the speck that is in your eye,’ when you yourself do not see the log that is in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take out the speck that is in your brother’s eye.”

            It was really nice to listen to the preaching of John MacArthur on these verses we are about to look at, as one of the things he said was that many commentators did not really realize how simple these verses were to interpret and tried to make them much more difficult.

            “The humorous anecdote illustrates a very serious issue.  In addition to being spiritually blind and ignorant of divine truth, false teachers also lack integrity; they are hypocrites.  They presume to be able to provide others with the answers to their spiritual question, but are void of the truth, even for themselves. In a cartoon-like illustration, Jesus pictures a hypocrite looking at the speck that is in his brother’s eye, but failing to notice the log that is in his own eye.  The words used for the objects make the false teachers’ deceptive pretense even more ludicrous.  Kaphos (speak) refers to a small piece of wood, chaff, or straw, while dokos (log) describes a large beam, such as those used in the floor or roof of a building.

            “The Lord’s illustration graphically depicts the absurdity of false teachers saying to someone, Brother, let me take out the speck that is in your eye,’ while failing to see the log that is in their own eye.  Blinded by the massive sin of self-righteousness, false teachers are in no position to deal with the lesser sins of others.  They cannot overcome their own sin, since false religion cannot restrain the flesh.  Yet they still presumptuously view themselves as ‘a guide to the blind, a light to those who are in darkness, a corrector of the foolish, [and] a teacher of the immature’ (Rom. 2:19-20).  You hypocrite, Jesus scathingly said to them, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take out the speck that is in your brother’s eye.  The Lord repeatedly denounced the Jewish religious leaders as hypocrites, who ‘outwardly appear righteous to men, but inwardly…are full of hypocrisy and lawlessness’ (Matt. 23:28; cf. vv. 13-15, 23, 25, 27, 29; 6:2, 5, 16; 15:7; 22:18; Luke 12:1, 56; 13:15).”

(Matt. 23:28; cf. vv. 13-15, 23, 25, 27, 29; 6:2, 5, 16; 15:7; 22:18; Luke 12:1, 56; 13:15).”

“28  So you also outwardly appear righteous to others, but within you are full of hypocrisy and lawlessness.”

“13 ¶  "But woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you shut the kingdom of heaven in people’s faces. For you neither enter yourselves nor allow those who would enter to go in. 14  15  Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you travel across sea and land to make a single proselyte, and when he becomes a proselyte, you make him twice as much a child of hell as yourselves.”

“23  "Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you tithe mint and dill and cumin, and have neglected the weightier matters of the law: justice and mercy and faithfulness. These you ought to have done, without neglecting the others.”

“25  "Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you clean the outside of the cup and the plate, but inside they are full of greed and self-indulgence.”

“27  "Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you are like whitewashed tombs, which outwardly appear beautiful, but within are full of dead people’s bones and all uncleanness.”

“29  "Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you build the tombs of the prophets and decorate the monuments of the righteous,”

“"Thus, when you give to the needy, sound no trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may be praised by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward.”

“5 ¶  "And when you pray, you must not be like the hypocrites. For they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and at the street corners, that they may be seen by others. Truly, I say to you,, they have received their reward.”

“16 ¶  "And when you fast, do not look gloomy like the hypocrites, for they disfigure their faces that their fasting may be seen by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward.”

“7  You hypocrites! Well did Isaiah prophesy of you, when he said:”

“18  But Jesus, aware of their malice, said, "Why put me to the test, you hypocrites?”

“1 ¶  In the meantime, when so many thousands of the people had gathered together that they were trampling one another, he began to say to his disciples first, "Beware of the leaven of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy.”

“56  You hypocrites! You know how to interpret the appearance of earth and sky, but why do you not know how to interpret the present time?”

15  Then the Lord answered him, "You hypocrites! Does not each of you on the Sabbath untie his ox or his donkey from the manger and lead it away to water it?”

“Only by confessing and repenting of their own sin of self-righteousness would they be able to see clearly the sins of others.

            “Unlike false teachers, Jesus is the sinless (Heb. 4:15), spotless (1 Peter 1:19), undefiled (Heb. 7:26) one in whom the Father is well-pleased (Matt. 3:17).  Consequently, His penetrating vision is crystal clear, allowing Him to see every trace of sin (cf. Rev. 1:14).  And it is through His sacrificial death alone that sin can be atoned for (Heb. 9:26; 10:12).”  Now I realize that there are a lot of verse reverence here in this paragraph, and so I am going to quote them in the exact order that they are found in this paragraph.

(Heb. 4:15)

“15  For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin.”

(1 Peter 1:19)

“19  but with the precious blood of Christ, like that of a lamb without blemish or spot.”

26  For it was indeed fitting that we should have such a high priest, holy, innocent, unstained, separated from sinners, and exalted above the heavens.”

(Matt. 3:17)

17  and behold, a voice from heaven said, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased.’”

(cf. Rev. 1:14)

“14  The hairs of his head were white, like white wool, like snow. His eyes were like a flame of fire,”

(Heb. 9:26; 10:12)

“26  for then he would have had to suffer repeatedly since the foundation of the world. But as it is, he has appeared once for all at the end of the ages to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself.”

“12  But when Christ had offered for all time a single sacrifice for sins, he sat down at the right hand of God,”

8/7/2026 9:47 PM

 

 

“False Teachers Are Earthly” (Luke 6:40)

 

MORNING SPIRITUAL DIARY FOR 8/7/2026 9:30 AM

My Worship Time                                                                 Focus:  “False Teachers Are Earthly”

Bible Reading & Meditation                                                                       Reference:  Luke 6:40

            Message of the verse:  “A pupil is not above his teacher; but everyone, after he has been fully trained, will be like his teacher.”

            The first thing that I want to say is that this SD will be very short, because as I look at MacArthur’s commentary he does not really have much to say, but perhaps I will look at what Warren W. Wiersbe has to say about this verse.  Dr. Wiersbe also does not have a lot of commentary on this verse but I will quote the paragraph that he has written at this time.  “Luke 6:40 reminds us that we cannot lead others where we have not been ourselves, nor can we be all that our Master is.  In fact, the more we strive to be like Him, the more we realize how far short we fall.  This is a warning against pride, for nothing blinds a person like pride.”

            I wrote letters to Warren Wiersbe and John MacArthur to let them know that I used their commentaries to help me write my Spiritual Diaries, trying to find out if this was something that would be a problem, but when I got letters back from them they did not even mention that.  I have learned much from these two men, especially from Warren Wiersbe’s commentaries on the Old Testament, and John MacArthur’s comments on the New Testament.

            John MacArthur writes “Like the first description of false teachers above, this pithy statement is also self-evident (see the similar statements in Matt. 10:24; John 13:16; 15:20).”  I will now quote those verses.

(Matt. 10:24; John 13:16; 15:20)

 “24  "A disciple is not above his teacher, nor a servant above his master.”

“16  Truly, truly, I say to you, a servant is not greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him.”

“20  Remember the word that I said to you: ‘A servant is not greater than his master.’ If they persecute me, they will also persecute you. If they kept my word, they will also keep yours.”

“A pupil is not able to rise above his teacher, since a teacher cannot impart knowledge that he or she does not possess.  Teachers’ limitations and errors will inevitably be mirrored in their students.

            “Since false teachers neither come from God nor know the way to God, they cannot bring people to Him.  In ancient days students often followed their teachers regularly, and received instruction in context of daily life experiences.  That allowed teachers to reproduce themselves in their students in practical, not just theoretical ways, but even those fully trained in that manner could at best only be like their teacher. If he did not understand the truth of God, neither would they.  As Hosea said ‘Like people, like priest’ (Hos. 4:9).

            “On the other hand, those who follow Jesus will become like Him.  ‘We know that when He appears we will be like Him,’ John wrote, ‘because we will see Him just as He is’ (1 John 3:2).”

Spiritual Meaning for my life today:

1 To be like Jesus, To be like Jesus.
All I ask, to be like Him.
All thru life's journey from earth to glory,
All I ask, to be like Him.

2 To love like Jesus, to love like Jesus.
All I ask, to love like Him.
All thru life's journey from earth to glory,
All I ask, to love like Him.

3 To pray like Jesus, to pray like Jesus.
All I ask, to pray like Him.
All thru life's journey from earth to glory,
All I ask, to pray like Him.

4 To serve like Jesus, to serve like Jesus.
All I ask, to serve like Him.
All thru life's journey from earth to glory,
All I ask, to serve like Him.

My Steps of Faith for Today:  As I quoted 1 John 3:2 it made me think about my wife who is now in heaven seeing Him just as He is.

8/7/2026 10:05 AM

“The Deceivers” (Luke 6:39-45)

 

EVENING SPIRITUAL DIARY FOR 8/06/2026 9:28 PM

My Worship Time                                                                                    Focus:  “The Deceivers”

Bible Reading & Meditation                                                                  Reference: Luke 6:39-45

Message of the verses:  “39 Now He also spoke a parable to them: “A person who is blind cannot guide another who is blind, can he? Will they not both fall into a pit? ⁴⁰ A student is not above the teacher; but everyone, when he has been fully trained, will be like his teacher. ⁴¹ Why do you look at the speck that is in your brother’s eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye? ⁴² How can you say to your brother, ‘Brother, let me take out the speck that is in your eye,’ when you yourself do not see the log that is in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take out the speck that is in your brother’s eye. ⁴³ For there is no good tree that bears bad fruit, nor, on the other hand, a bad tree that bears good fruit. ⁴⁴ For each tree is known by its own fruit. For people do not gather figs from thorns, nor do they pick grapes from a briar bush. ⁴⁵ The good person out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth what is good; and the evil person out of the evil treasure brings forth what is evil; for his mouth speaks from that which fills his heart.”

            John MacArthur begins by writing “Four characteristics of false teachers mark them as dangerous and unreliable spiritual guides: they are blind, earthly, hypocrites, and evil.”

False Teachers Are Blind

“39 Now He also spoke a parable to them: “A person who is blind cannot guide another who is blind, can he? Will they not both fall into a pit? 

            “Parabole (Parable) can refer to an extended analogy (cf. 12:16; 15:3; 18:9; 19:11), but also to a simple proverb (cf. 4:23; 5:36), as it does here.  This parable reflects a problem that was a problem that was all too familiar to the people of Jesus’ day.  Blindness was common in the ancient world, as it still is today in various parts of the world.  Dangers were everywhere for the blind, including unfenced quarries, crevices and precipices, and dry wells that had not been covered or filled in with dirt.  The truth that a blind man cannot guide a blind man is self-evident; since a blind man cannot see where he himself is going he cannot safely or reliably lead another blind person.  The likely result is that they will both fall into a pit and be severely injured or killed.

            “Blindness is used metaphorically in both the Old and New Testaments to describe being void of truth and lacking spiritual insight (e. g., Isa. 42:7; 43:8; 44:18; Jer. 5:21; Ps. 82:5; Acts 26:18; 2 Cor. 4:4; 1 John 2:11; Rev. 3:17).”

(e. g., Isa. 42:7; 43:8; 44:18; Jer. 5:21; Ps. 82:5; Acts 26:18; 2 Cor. 4:4; 1 John 2:11; Rev. 3:17).”

“7  to open the eyes that are blind, to bring out the prisoners from the dungeon, from the prison those who sit in darkness.”

“8 ¶  Bring out the people who are blind, yet have eyes, who are deaf, yet have ears!”

“18  They know not, nor do they discern, for he has shut their eyes, so that they cannot see, and their hearts, so that they cannot understand.’

“21  "Hear this, O foolish and senseless people, who have eyes, but see not, who have ears, but hear not.”

“5  They have neither knowledge nor understanding, they walk about in darkness; all the foundations of the earth are shaken.”

“18  to open their eyes, so that they may turn from darkness to light and from the power of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and a place among those who are sanctified by faith in me.’”

“4  In their case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.”

“11  But whoever hates his brother is in the darkness and walks in the darkness, and does not know where he is going, because the darkness has blinded his eyes.”

“17  For you say,, I am rich, I have prospered, and I need nothing, not realizing that you are wretched, pitiable, poor, blind, and naked.”

“The spiritual principle is obvious: those who follow leaders who do not know the way to God’s kingdom will never get there.  Instead, they will all fall into the pit of hell.  Jesus was referring in particular to Israel’s blind religious guides, the scribes and Pharisees.  On another occasion, He used this same parable of the blind leading the blind to refer specifically to them (Matt. 15:1 4), while His diatribe against the Pharisees Jesus repeatedly excoriated them for their spiritual blindness (Matt. 23:16, 17, 19, 24, 26).  The inevitable outcome was that they led their followers to the same hell to which they were headed (Matt. 23:15).

            “On the other hand Jesus is the ‘way, and the truth, and the life, no one comes to the Father but through [Him]’ (John 14:6; cf. Acts 4:12).  Because He is the ‘Light of the world’ those who follow Him ‘will not walk in darkness, but will have the Light of life’ (John 8:12; cf. 9:5; 12:46; Eph. 5:8; 1 Thess. 5:5; 1 Peter 2:9).  Christ alone opens the eyes of the spiritually blind (Luke 4:18).”

(John 8:12; cf. 9:5; 12:46; Eph. 5:8; 1 Thess. 5:5; 1 Peter 2:9)

“12 ¶  Again Jesus spoke to them, saying, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.’”

“5  As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world.’”

“46  I have come into the world as light, so that whoever believes in me may not remain in darkness.”

“8  for at one time you were darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light”

“5  For you are all children of light, children of the day. We are not of the night or of the darkness.”

“9  But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.”

(Luke 4:18)

18  "The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed,”

8/6/2026 9:57 PM

 

PT-3 “Intro to ‘The Danger of Following the Wrong Spiritual Teacher’” (Luke 6:39-49)

 

MORNING SPIRITUAL DIARY FOR 8/06/2026 8:08 AM

My Worship Time         PT-3 “Intro to ‘The Danger of Following the Wrong Spiritual Teacher’”

Bible Reading & Meditation                                                                  Reference: Luke 6:39-49

            It has been a while since I wrote a Spiritual Diary on the book of Luke, and so this morning I want to pick up where I left of on July 26, 2026, as many know the reason I have not put any of my SD’s on from the gospel of Luke, as my dear wife passed away on the 29^th of July.

            “The reason for such seemingly harsh language is the deadly danger false teachers pose because they engage in Satan’s most distinctive wickedness and most devastation sin; the lead people astray from the truth of God’s Word (Isa. 3:12; 9:16; Jer. 14:13; 23:26-27, 32; 50:6; Matt. 23:13, 15; 24:4-5, 24; Luke 11:46, 52; Rom. 16:17-18; Col. 2:4, 8, 18; 1 Thess. 2:14-16; 2 Tim. 3:13; Titus 1:10; 2John7)—including the need for repentance from sin (Jer. 6:14; 8:11; 23:21-22; Lam. 2:14; Ezek. 13:10, 16, 22).”

(Isa. 3:12; 9:16; Jer. 14:13; 23:26-27, 32; 50:6; Matt. 23:13, 15; 24:4-5, 24; Luke 11:46, 52; Rom. 16:17-18; Col. 2:4, 8, 18; 1 Thess. 2:14-16; 2 Tim. 3:13; Titus 1:10; 2John7)

“12  My people— infants are their oppressors, and women rule over them. O my people, your guides mislead you and they have swallowed up the course of your paths.”

“16  for those who guide this people have been leading them astray, and those who are guided by them are swallowed up.”

“13  Then I said: "Ah, Lord GOD, behold, the prophets say to them, ‘You shall not see the sword, nor shall you have famine, but I will give you assured peace in this place.’"’

“26  How long shall there be lies in the heart of the prophets who prophesy lies, and who prophesy the deceit of their own heart, 27  who think to make my people forget my name by their dreams that they tell one another, even as their fathers forgot my name for Baal?”

“32  Behold, I am against those who prophesy lying dreams, declares the LORD, and who tell them and lead my people astray by their lies and their recklessness, when I did not send them or charge them. So they do not profit this people at all, declares the LORD.”

6  "My people have been lost sheep. Their shepherds have led them astray, turning them away on the mountains. From mountain to hill they have gone. They have forgotten their fold.”

“13 ¶  "But woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you shut the kingdom of heaven in people’s faces. For you neither enter yourselves nor allow those who would enter to go in.”

“15  Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you travel across sea and land to make a single proselyte, and when he becomes a proselyte, you make him twice as much a child of hell as yourselves.”

“  4 ¶  And Jesus answered them, "See that no one leads you astray. 5  For many will come in my name, saying, ‘I am the Christ,’ and they will lead many astray.”

“24  For false christs and false prophets will arise and perform great signs and wonders, so as to lead astray, if possible, even the elect.”

“46  And he said, “Woe to you lawyers also! For you load people with burdens hard to bear, and you yourselves do not touch the burdens with one of your fingers.”

“52  Woe to you lawyers! For you have taken away the key of knowledge. You did not enter yourselves, and you hindered those who were entering.’”

“17 ¶  I appeal to you, brothers, to watch out for those who cause divisions and create obstacles contrary to the doctrine that you have been taught; avoid them. 18  For such persons do not serve our Lord Christ, but their own appetites, and by smooth talk and flattery they deceive the hearts of the naive.”

“4 ¶  I say this in order that no one may delude you with plausible arguments.”

“8  See to it that no one takes you captive by philosophy and empty deceit, according to human tradition, according to the elemental spirits of the world, and not according to Christ.”

“18  Let no one disqualify you, insisting on asceticism and worship of angels, going on in detail about visions, puffed up without reason by his sensuous mind,”

“14  For you, brothers, became imitators of the churches of God in Christ Jesus that are in Judea. For you suffered the same things from your own countrymen as they did from the Jews, 15  who killed both the Lord Jesus and the prophets, and drove us out, and displease God and oppose all mankind 16  by hindering us from speaking to the Gentiles that they might be saved—so as always to fill up the measure of their sins. But wrath has come upon them at last!”

“13  while evil people and impostors will go on from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived.”

“10  For there are many who are insubordinate, empty talkers and deceivers, especially those of the circumcision party.”

“7 ¶  For many deceivers have gone out into the world, those who do not confess the coming of Jesus Christ in the flesh. Such a one is the deceiver and the antichrist.”

(Jer. 6:14; 8:11; 23:21-22; Lam. 2:14; Ezek. 13:10, 16, 22)

“14  They have healed the wound of my people lightly, saying, ‘Peace, peace,’ when there is no peace.”

“11  They have healed the wound of my people lightly, saying, ‘Peace, peace,’ when there is no peace.”

“21  "I did not send the prophets, yet they ran; I did not speak to them, yet they prophesied. 22  But if they had stood in my council, then they would have proclaimed my words to my people, and they would have turned them from their evil way, and from the evil of their deeds.”

“14  Your prophets have seen for you false and deceptive visions; they have not exposed your iniquity to restore your fortunes, but have seen for you oracles that are false and misleading.”

“10 ¶  Precisely because they have misled my people, saying, ‘Peace,’ when there is no peace, and because, when the people build a wall, these prophets smear it with whitewash,”

“16  the prophets of Israel who prophesied concerning Jerusalem and saw visions of peace for her, when there was no peace, declares the Lord GOD.”

“22  Because you have disheartened the righteous falsely, although I have not grieved him, and you have encouraged the wicked, that he should not turn from his evil way to save his life,”

“Left unchecked, the demon doctrines they peddle (1 Tim. 4:1) will ravage souls and corrupt the church (Acts 20:29-30; 2 Tim. 2: 17  and their talk will spread like gangrene. Among them are Hymenaeus and Philetus,17-18;) lulling many into a false sense of security regarding their salvation.”

(1 Tim. 4:1)

“1 ¶  Now the Spirit expressly says that in later times some will depart from the faith by devoting themselves to deceitful spirits and teachings of demons,”

(Acts 20:29-30; 2 Tim. 2:17-18;)

“29  I know that after my departure fierce wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock; 30  and from among your own selves will arise men speaking twisted things, to draw away the disciples after them.”

“17  and their talk will spread like gangrene. Among them are Hymenaeus and Philetus, 18  who have swerved from the truth, saying that the resurrection has already happened. They are upsetting the faith of some.”

            “The subject of Jesus’ sermon is true discipleship.  In verses 20-26 He defined disciples as repenters, overwhelmed with their sin and desperate for the righteousness only God can give.  True disciples are also marked by love (vv.27-38), even for those who hate and persecute them.  True discipleship is synonymous with submission to the lordship of Christ.  This section makes that important point in a negative way, since following Jesus Christ as Lord means avoiding false spiritual leaders.  The Lord first described the character of those deceivers.  He then challenged His hearers to make the most important decision of their lives—between the saving truth of God and the damning lies of Satan; between submitting to Him, or following false teachers.”

Spiritual meaning for my life today:  I have chosen a long time ago to follow the Lord, and stay away from false teachers.

My Steps of Faith for Today:  I am trusting the Lord to see me through this mourning process as I know that it will be very hard, but also know that the Lord will use it to help heal my mind and then help me to move on to do what He desires me to do.

8/6/2026 8:46 AM

 

 

 SERVICE FOR MY WIFE

Today is the day that we honor my wife at a service at our church along with a very small service at the place where she will be laid to rest.  The service last evening went well as many had the time to talk about the things that they remembered about my wife which was meaningful to all who were there. 

I realize that me speaking in front of a crowd is something that I am not use to, but I have to give tribute to my wife of 53 years, a wife that was one that knew the Lord and also served Him in wonderful ways.  I will now quote from how I will give tribute to her.

MY TRIBUTE TO MY WIFE SANDY

I want to talk about some of the things that Sandy really excelled in and there were many things.  I have always said that Sandy is the smartest person that I have ever known.  Let me begin by saying that the greatest thing that happened to Sandy was becoming a born-again believer sometime in April of 1974, and that met that we were both born-again believers in Jesus Christ that really caused are marriage to go in the right direction.  She was very serious about her faith as can be seen by the journals that she wrote in.  (Picture)  Sandy loved her family very much and was a devoted mom in raising our children. (Picture)  She loved horseback riding which we did on different occasions whenever we were on vacations. (Picture)  Another thing that she really liked to do when she got the chance was to snorkel and she snorkeled in some pretty wonderful places, like Aruba, the Bahamas, Mexico, and Hawaii.  (Picture).  She even took one lesson in Florida to scuba dive, but because of a problem with her ears that did not work out.  Sandy and I lived in Aruba for about nine months, and we had an apartment that was right on the beach.  I would get up in the morning to go to work and a little while later she would get up and head out into the Caribbean.  If she did not go there, she would go and take pictures of the wildlife.  It took her a while to get enough courage for her to drive in Aruba as driving down there was a new way of driving. 

Let me now talk about how Sandy would wash her clothes, and the reason I mention this is because she had clothes that were 20 years old and they looked almost the same as when she bought them.  I spoke about her taking pictures and that was another thing she did very well especially while she snorkeled as her photo albums were full of underwater pictures.  When Sandy’s parents were older, she would always take care of them in ways like celebrating their birthdays. (Picture) 

I now want to touch on her ability to take pain.  In our closet at home are many high potent pain pills that she got after her surgeries and not one pill has been taken by her.  Both of our children were born naturally without any pain medicine given to her, and that to me is amazing. 

I could go on and on about the things that Sandy could do well, things that as I look back warm my heart with these great memories, things like reading Christian stories by different authors she liked as she went to the Library and get these books and always had one for her to read.  I can hear her now when we were in the car to make sure we stop at the library to drop off one of her books.

I am thankful most for the plan that God had for our family, how he led us and cared for us, for we certainly were heading in the wrong direction after we first got married, and then the Lord changed the direction of our lives completely around, something that we really did not ask for, but something God had planned before this old world was even created.  This gives our family the great assurance that Sandy is in heaven with our Lord Jesus Christ and getting to know again those believers who passed on before her.  My hope and my prayers are for those who have not come to a saving knowledge in Jesus Christ is that the Holy Spirit will touch your heart so that you too can understand what it means to be a born-again believer in Jesus Christ, so you too can have that hope that Sandy had and not fear death but look forward to being in heaven someday. 

Now before I finish this little tribute to my wife, I want to share something that showed her selflessness. While we were living in Aruba the people we were renting from would send a cleaning lady to clean our apartment.  Well if you knew my wife you would know that she certainly did not need a cleaning lady.  This gave her the opportunity to talk to this lady.  She became well accounted with her and I know that this blessed both of their hearts.

In conclusion I have to say that I will miss my wife very much, but I know that she would not come back to this sin-cursed world even given the chance.  I know from the promise of Scripture that I will see her again when the Lord comes at the rapture or when He takes me home.

I have asked Becky Gravely to sing a song that the Lord has used to keep our family together through this very difficult time that we are going through.  “He Giveth More Grace.” 

Allow me to read 2 Corinthians 12:9 “⁹ And He has said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness.” Most gladly, therefore, I will rather boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may dwell in me.”