February 11, 2024
Morning Service

In this second chapter of his second letter Peter is warning us of dangers that will come from within the church.  He tells us that “there will be false teachers among you, who will secretly bring destructive heresies.”  These prophets do not originate outside the church attacking her, but come from the inside saying things that sound believable and even spiritual, but go as far as even denying the Lord’s deity.  This will make it very easy for some, who are not in tune with the Holy Spirit to be deceived.  As we finish this chapter Peter now returns to describing the false prophets and what their message will look like for us to be able to recognize them.  In the world we live in there are many voices speaking to us about how to live, how to think, and what to believe.  We must be walking close enough to Jesus to be able to identify these voices of deception that seek only to “kill, steal and destroy” us.  Listen to these attributes he describes these false prophets will use and display and let them be a red flag when you hear and see them presented to you.

2Pe 2:9-11 then the Lord knows how to deliver the godly out of temptations and to reserve the unjust under punishment for the day of judgment, (10) and especially those who walk according to the flesh in the lust of uncleanness and despise authority. They are presumptuous, self-willed. They are not afraid to speak evil of dignitaries, (11) whereas angels, who are greater in power and might, do not bring a reviling accusation against them before the Lord.

            Notice here Peter tells us these men will not walk according to the Word of the Lord, but “according to the flesh and the lust of uncleanness and despise authority.”  They do not follow God’s will but are “self-willed” having their own agenda and “speak evil” of any who hold authority over them.  This disrespect for authority goes against Paul’s teaching in Romans 13 to be subject to the governing authorities because God has placed them in power.  Any disrespect then is not towards the government, but towards God.  A disrespect for authority is one of the root causes of the trouble our society is in today.  It seems everyone knows what is best and have no need to listen to authorities including the police, teachers, judges, our laws, our Constitution and even what the Supreme Court of this nation rules.  God has placed them in authority and we must honor God by honoring them.  They also do not allow you to disagree with them.  It is not up for debate, you are either for them or against them and if against them they will destroy you (cancel culture).  Be careful of the voices that you listen to.

 

2Pe 2:12-13 But these, like natural brute beasts made to be caught and destroyed, speak evil of the things they do not understand, and will utterly perish in their own corruption, (13) and will receive the wages of unrighteousness, as those who count it pleasure to carouse in the daytime. They are spots and blemishes, carousing in their own deceptions while they feast with you,

            These false teachers, seem sincere, but on the inside are “brute beasts” speaking evil things that they do not understand and will bring about their own demise through their own corruption.  They open themselves up to the voices of deception and buy in fully not even understanding the damage they are doing to themselves and others.  Paul tells us in Romans 1 that God has “gave them over to a debased mind to do things that are not fitting” and allows them to believe these lies as truth.  Homosexuality, abortion, gender transitioning, equity, and pushing sexuality on our young children are a few of these issues that are prevalent in our society today.  These are all pure evil (doctrine of demons I Tim 4:1) and come directly from our enemy who seeks to destroy us.  Be careful of the voices you listen to.

 

2Pe 2:14 having eyes full of adultery and that cannot cease from sin, enticing unstable souls. They have a heart trained in covetous practices, and are accursed children.

            These false teachers push upon us that sin is acceptable and pushing us to live a life of “if it feels good do it!”  This is enticing to “unstable souls” who are not grounded firmly in the Truth of God and they are easily deceived.  These teachers are very good at painting this beautiful picture of what a worldly life and lifestyle can look like enjoying all the pleasures of the world while spinning spirituality into it to fit their agenda.  They teach we must seek self-gratification and to complete ourselves through fulfilling our lust and accumulating material things rather than becoming complete in Christ.  Be careful what voices you are listening to.

 

 

2Pe 2:15-16 They have forsaken the right way and gone astray, following the way of Balaam the son of Beor, who loved the wages of unrighteousness; (16) but he was rebuked for his iniquity: a dumb donkey speaking with a man's voice restrained the madness of the prophet.

Balaam was a prophet of the Lord who was sought out by Balak, an enemy of the children of Israel, to bring a curse on them.  Balak promised to honor Balaam and grant any wish that he would have if he would come and place a curse on the Israelites.  God told Balaam not to go with them or curse the Israelites. When they continued to persuade him, he finally yielded and went.  The Angel of the Lord stood in his path preventing him from passing with a drawn sword in his hand, but only his donkey was able to see it and stopped refusing to continue.  Balaam unaware of the angel beat his donkey three times trying to move him along the path.  Finally, God allowed the donkey to rebuke him and his eyes were opened to the reality of the angel.  The point being God tried to hinder him from choosing disobedience, but the lure of the prize was too much for him to resist.  These false teachers are on the same path.  They desire the wages of unrighteousness more than the blessings of Christ. Be careful what voices you listen to.

 

2Pe 2:17-19 These are wells without water, clouds carried by a tempest, for whom is reserved the blackness of darkness forever.  (18)  For when they speak great swelling words of emptiness, they allure through the lusts of the flesh, through lewdness, the ones who have actually escaped from those who live in error.  (19)  While they promise them liberty, they themselves are slaves of corruption; for by whom a person is overcome, by him also he is brought into bondage.

            Water is a common biblical metaphor for life-sustaining truth.  Notice how Peter uses that in these two examples; “wells without water and clouds without rain.”  What good is a well without the water.  A cloud does nothing to help the ground without rain.  Words lacking truth have the effect. These teachers speak “great swelling words of emptiness” that sound good, but do not lead you where we are wanting to go.  They promise freedom and liberty but only bring us deeper into the bondage of our own sins.  Be careful what voices you are listening to.  Notice what listening to these voices leads to.

 

2Pe 2:20-22 For if, after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, they are again entangled in them and overcome, the latter end is worse for them than the beginning.  (21)  For it would have been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than having known it, to turn from the holy commandment delivered to them.  (22)  But it has happened to them according to the true proverb: "A DOG RETURNS TO HIS OWN VOMIT," and, "a sow, having washed, to her wallowing in the mire."

            These voices of deception take you away from what you are truly seeking.  A close, personal relationship with Jesus.  It is the void that everyone is trying to fill with anything someone tells them might help.  But even after coming to the knowledge that it is Jesus that completes you, you return to the “old way” of life seeking your will over His.  You are like a dog returning to his vomit (Proverbs 26:11).  Though you tasted of what God offers you and know it is good, you have listened to the voice of deception and chosen to walk away from it.  Peter tells us that you are in a worse state than if you had never know the Lord at all.  Listen as Paul summarizes the voices of these teachers to us:

Romans 1:28-32 And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a debased mind, to do those things which are not fitting;  (29)  being filled with all unrighteousness, sexual immorality, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, evil-mindedness; they are whisperers,  (30)  backbiters, haters of God, violent, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents,  (31)  undiscerning, untrustworthy, unloving, unforgiving, unmerciful;  (32)  who, knowing the righteous judgment of God, that those who practice such things are deserving of death, not only do the same but also approve of those who practice them.

            These same voices speak to us daily through the media, commercials, social media, and hundreds of other avenues pushing upon us to be “tolerant” of these activities and accept them as a part of our changing culture.  Know them for what they are; evil.  We cannot compromise our faith and accept these sins as a part of our walk with Lord.  Tune your ear to hear the voice of the Holy Spirit calling you to something better.  A life built on love and truth not hate and deception. A life made complete through your relationship with Jesus not the pleasures of this world (Col 2:10). Listen to the voice of God who can and will lead us through this time of deception.  Prepare your heart to resist that deception by knowing the Word of the Lord which is alive and guides us to Truth.  Let the Word create your view of what is important in this world.  Are you listening to the voice of the Lord this morning, or the voices of deception?