EVENING SPIRITUAL DIARY FOR 12/19/2025
6:37 PM
My
Worship Time Focus:
PT-1 “Their
Prophecies”
Bible
Reading & Meditation Reference:
2 Peter
2:17-19
Message of the verses: “These are springs without water and
mists driven by a storm, for whom the black darkness has been reserved. For speaking out arrogant words of vanity
they entice by fleshly desires, by sensuality, those who barely escape from the
ones who live in error, promising them freedom while they themselves are slaves
of corruption; for by what a man is overcome, by this he is enslaved. (NASB)
“17 These are wells without water, clouds which
are carried by a tempest, for whom the blackness of darkness is
reserved for ever. 18 For when they
speak great swelling words of vanity, they entice through the
lusts of the flesh, through lewdness, those who barely escaped from
those who live in error. 19 While
they promise them liberty, they themselves are slaves of corruption;
for by whom a man is overcome, by him also he is held in bondage.”
First of all I did find another translation of the
Bible on my Bible program that seems to me to be more easily understood, and so
I will use that instead of the KJV of the Bible for now until I get things
straightened out on my Bible program.
Now I will continue to do what I
have been doing for a few days, and that is to quote from John MacArthur’s
commentary and the make some of my comments and also quote many of the verses
that he uses to help us all better understand the passages we will be looking
at.
“Three main features have always
characterized the ministry style of false teachers. First, they are authoritarian (Jer. 5:31),
invariably ruling over their churches in a domineering fashion (cf. 3 John
9-10), and strongly denouncing any who question their authority.” “31 The prophets prophesy falsely, And the priests rule by their own
power, And my people love to have it
so. And what will you do in the
end?” (Jer. 5:31)
“9 ¶ I wrote to the church, but Diotrephes, who
loves to have the preeminence among them, does not receive us. 10 Therefore, if I come, I shall remember his
deeds which he does, prating against us with malicious words. And not
content with that, he does not receive the brethren, and forbids those who
wish to, and puts them out of the church.” (3 John 9-10).
“To make matters worse, they almost always lack formal training or
reputable ordination, operating beyond any legitimate biblical or theological
accountability.
“Second, false teachers
minister in a man-centered way (Jer. 23:16, 26; Ezek. 13:2), pandering to what
they think people want to hear and accept (cf. Isa. 30:10; 2 Tim. 4:3-4).” “16 Thus says the LORD of
hosts: “Do not listen To the words of the prophets Who prophesy to you. They make you worthless; They speak a vision from their own
heart, And not from the
mouth of the LORD.” “2 “Son of
man, prophesy against the prophets of Israel who prophesy, and say to those
who prophesy out of their own heart, ‘Hear the word of the
LORD!’”
“10 Who say to the seers, “Do not see,” And to the prophets, “Do not prophesy to us
right things; Speak to us smooth things,
prophesy deceits.” “3 For
“3 For there will be a time when they will
not bear sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, because
they have itching ears, they will heap up for themselves teachers. 4 And they will turn away their ears from
the truth and be turned aside to fables.”
“As a result, they preach their own visions (Lam. 2:14; Ezek. 13:9; Zech.
10:2; Col. 2:18) of health, wealth, prosperity, and false peace (Jer. 6:14;
23:17; Ezek. 13:10, 16).”
“14 נ Your prophets have seen for
you False and deceptive visions; And they have not uncovered your
iniquity To bring back your
captives, But they have seen for
you False and misleading oracles.” “9 “And my hand will be against the prophets who
see false visions and who divine lies; they will not be in the
assembly of my people, nor be written in the writing of the house
of Israel, nor will they enter the land of Israel. And you will know
that I am the Lord GOD.” “2
For the idols have spoken
nonsense, And the fortune-tellers have
seen lies, And have told false
dreams; They comfort in
vain. Therefore people
wander Like sheep; They are troubled because there is no
shepherd.” “18 Let no man cheat you of your reward,
taking delight in false humility and worship of angels, intruding into
those things which he has not seen, vainly puffed up by his fleshly mind.”
“14 Therefore thus says the LORD God of
hosts, “Because you speak this
word, Behold, I shall make my
words in your mouth fire, And these
people wood, And it will devour them.” “17 They
still say To those who despise
me, ‘The LORD has spoken, You
will have peace"’, And to
everyone who walks in the imagination of his own heart,
they say, ‘No evil will come upon you.’” “10 ¶ Because, even because they have seduced my
people, saying, ‘Peace,’ and there is no peace, and one builds a
wall, and behold, they plaster it with untempered mortar.” “16 that
is, the prophets of Israel who prophesy concerning Jerusalem, and who see
visions of peace for her, and there is no peace,’” says the Lord
GOD.”
“The true teacher emphasizes God’s holiness, man’s sinfulness, and the
desperate condition that results. But
false teachers prefer messages of their own making—syrupy deceptions that
appeal to the carnal appetites of their listeners.
“Third, they treat the
historic, Scripture-based doctrines of the church with contempt (cf. Jer.
6:16).” “16 Thus says the LORD, “Stand in the ways and see, And ask for the old paths, Where the way is good, and walk
in it, And you will find rest for
your souls. But they said, ‘We shall not
walk in it.’” “Instead
of proclaiming biblical orthodoxy, they promote their own self-styled novelties,
methods, and doctrines. They purposely
distance themselves from the past, arrogantly endorsing some new-fangled
approach to ministry, and often claiming private revelation from God in its
defense.
“To be sure, all three
of these characteristics matched the false teachers of Peter’s day. But the apostle was not fooled by their
glamour or their gimmicks. He knew them
for who they really were—springs without water and mists
driven by a storm (cf. Jude 12b).” “They
are clouds without water, which are carried about by winds;
late autumn trees without fruit, twice dead, pulled up by the roots;”
I realize that by adding
all of, or most of the verse references it takes a longer time getting through
these sections, but I believe that if the verses are there it will enhance the
study in a way that is better for the readers.
12/19/2025 7:15 PM
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