Falling Away Series 5 12/10/17

10 December 2017 - The Falling Away 5 – Feb. 2009 Manna by Dorothy Callies

Theme: Falling Away: Love Not the Truth.
2 Thes. 2:10 “And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of truth, that they might be saved.” 2Thes.2:12b “…who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness.” KJV

The secret evil powers are working within the church, the apostasy, the falling away from the true faith in the Son of God. The apostasy, the falling away seeks freedom to do what they want and to take pleasure in sin. The apostasy, the falling away who did not love the truth, and entertained themselves with evil and immorality [wrongdoing; lewdness (dirty); unchastely, (no control)], will experience the wrath of God.

The steps which lead to apostasy are the believers within the churches who would be influenced by different kind of teachings that lead them not to believe God’s truth.

What are the things that we should take notice about the apostasy and their teachings?

1) Professing believers will accept “new revelation” even though it conflicts with the revealed Word of God. This will lead to opposition to Biblical truth within the churches.

2) Those who preach distorted [change from truth] gospel may gain leadership positions in different churches and theological schools of Christendom [Christian part of the world or all Christians] which gives them a chance to deceive and mislead many within the church. They may focus on the personalities of a person more than the Creator.

3) They seek religious experiences and supernatural manifestations rather than God’s Word. Those are a few examples of Apostasy, the falling away.

The key to being a true Christian will be our loyalty to Christ and love the truth which is God’s Word; a total commitment to the truth of God’s Word and follows the Biblical righteousness of living. We can be protected against being deceived, how? It will be our enduring faith and love for Christ, in a commitment to the absolute authority of His Word and in a thorough knowledge of that Word.

Matt.24:13 ‘he that endure to the end shall be saved.’ This should encourage us to stay close to Jesus, keep our faith in the Son of God. This is why we often need to memorize some songs that keep us in tune with God.

May the Holy Spirit helps us stay loyal to our Lord Jesus Christ who came in the flesh and died for our sins, arose from grave, went to heaven and will come back soon to take us home. My friends, stay true to Christ.

God loves you and so do I.

Dorothy

PS. [Some notes came from commentary, the Full Life Study Bible]

Falling Away Series 4 12/9/17

09 December 2017 - The Falling Away Series 4 & Part 2 – Feb. 2009 by Dorothy  

From Series 3 question: What happened when there is no word of God?

Proverbs 29:18 NCV “Where there is no word of God, people are uncontrolled, but those who obey what they have been taught are happy.” KJV: “Where there is no vision, the people perish: but he that keepeth the law, happy is he.”

Without the Word of God, it would be like having no law in our lives and in our lands. We, the people would be out of control such as if there would be no traffic lights, no policemen, and no laws to control the situation. It would be awful. So it is important to have God’s law to keep us under control. We are happy when we are taught to obey the laws.

The vision means “revelation.” When there is no revelation from God; when no one know what God’s will is and when people don’t know God’s law for them to live righteously, the people will die without God. So it was important for the priests to have ‘The Scripture’ preached to the people in the congregation often when they gathered to hear the Word of the Lord.

Hearing the Word of God often was a reminder to the people of Israel to always remember their God as One Lord, and the only One to worship to. The Israelites would always remember God’s law to live by. God would bless the people who kept the law in their hearts and they would be happy.

Such as Proverbs 30:5 quoted “Every word of God is pure: he is a shield unto them that put their trust in him.” To keep us from falling away is to stay close to Him, study His Word, obey Him, love Him, worship Him, and learn what the will of the Lord is for us. Because the Bible says, “He that doeth the will of God abides forever.”

I remember this short song when I was a child.
The B-I-B-L-E.
It stands the Word for me.
I stand alone the Word of God,
The B-I-B-L-E.

Dec. 9, 2017 Dorothy: After I wrote from Proverbs 30:6 and it became long and I realized it was another subject “Do not add to His Word.” It was interesting because it was something I had not study before. It helps me understand how to deal with this.

So God bless you,

Dorothy

[Continue to part 2, The Falling Away Series 4]

Part 2 from The Falling Away Series 4 Theme: Do not add to His Word.

Dec. 9, 2017 Dorothy: I want to review from Proverbs 30:5 & 6 in NCV. “Every word of God is true.  He guards those who come to Him for safety.” And in verse 6 “Do not add to His words, or He will correct you and prove you are a liar.” KJV: “Add thou not unto His words, lest He reprove thee, and thou be found a liar.” The commentary from The Full Life Study Bible by Donald C. Stamps explained what would people add?

“God’s Word must not be mixed with human ideas and speculations, such as those found in worldly philosophy, psychology, sorcery, or spiritism. God’s revealed truth is fully enough to meet the spiritual needs of humankind. Those who teach that something must be added to Biblical truth in order to fulfill our lives in Christ are liars.” See #2

Dorothy: 2 Peter 1:3 explained that “Jesus has the power of God, by which He has given us everything we need to live and to serve God. We have these things because we know Him.  Jesus called us by His glory and goodness” (NCV).  Commentary: “The love of our heavenly Father, salvation through Jesus Christ, His intercession for us in heaven, the indwelling of and baptism in the Holy Spirit, communion of the saints, and the inspired Word of God are all sufficient (enough to reach the goal) to meet the needs of believers as those things “that pertain unto life and godliness” (KJV).

#2 Commentary: No additional human wisdom, technique, or theory (idea) is needed to complete the sufficiency (meet one’s need) of God’s Word that reveals our perfect salvation in Christ. The words of Jesus, the N.T apostolic faith, and the grace of God were adequate (plenty enough) in the early days of the church to meet the needs of the lost, and they are just as enough for today. Jesus Christ alone is “the way, the truth, and the life” (John 14:6).

Dorothy: Okay, in my language what this really means . . . A person comes to me and say, “I am not satisfy with just to know that the Bible is truth. I want to add human ideas like philosophy. It means I want to study someone else belief’s about the way people should live. I want other gospel. That will make me feel good and satisfy for myself.” 

I say, “Whoa, watch out!”  Here’s a warning: “Do not add to His words, or He will correct you and prove you are a liar” (Proverbs 30:6).  Those who teach that something must be added to Biblical truth in order to fulfill our lives in Christ are liars.”  It means that if you teach something else that is not in the Bible, and you want to feel satisfied and are not depending on Christ to meet your spiritual need, you are making God a liar because you are saying, having Christ is NOT enough for you. Proverbs 30:6 “Do not add to His words, or He will correct you and prove you are a liar.”

May God convicted our hearts if we ever go astray from His teaching of God’s Word. Lord, I pray that we stay true to Your Word and that You would shield us when we put our trust in You. Thank You for open our eyes of warnings to keep us true to You. In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen!

God bless you today! Dorothy

Falling Away Series 3 12/8/17

08 December 2017 - The Falling Away Series 3 – Manna Feb. 2009 Dorothy

Matthew 13:3, 5, 6
“… Behold, a sower went forth to sow… Some fell upon stony places, where they had not much earth: and forthwith they sprung up, because they had no deepness of earth: And when the sun was up, they were scorched; and because they had no root, they withered away.
Mark 4:16,17
“And these are they likewise which are sown on stony ground; who, when they have heard the word, immediately receive it with gladness; And have no root in themselves, and so endure but for a time: afterward, when affliction or persecution ariseth for the word’s sake, immediately they are offended.
Luke 8:13
They on the rock are they, which, when they hear, receive the word with joy; and these have no root, which for a while believe, and in time of temptation fall away.

Dorothy: Reading few verses shows me the key of what causes the “Falling Away”?  Have you notice three places that say: “they had no root,” “have no root in themselves,” and “these have no root?” So where do we get to the topic about having no root?

First, the Sower went forth to sow… Jesus Himself is the ‘Sower’ and He sows His Words. Matthew, Mark, and Luke heard the words of Jesus and wrote them down for the generation to read and to study His Word. Paul studied God’s Word and he said in Ephesians 3:17 “That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love…”  So it is very important to have a deep root in Christ.

Song collection, author unknown:
My heart is filled with singing Lord to Thee,
Oh mighty God, great is Thy love.
My heart is filled with singing Lord to Thee,
Oh mighty God, great is Thy love.

Dec. 8, 2017 Dorothy:  I just noticed something from Mark 4:17 “. . . so endure but for a time: afterward, when affliction or persecution arise for the word’s sake, immediately they are offended.”  The word, affliction means something that causes pain or unhappiness. And another word, offended means to cause to be angry or annoyed or irritated, not happy about it or not able to accept things. Then the person could “fall away.”  For a while a person keeps believing for something, but in time of temptation or testing like long waiting for something, finally gave up and began to “fall away.”

Now I began to see something about the long wait that develop the fruit of patience in God’s time.  Christ encourage us: “… blessed are they that hear the word of God, and keep it.” The key words: keep it.  Luke 8:15 “… having heard the word, keep it, and bring forth fruit with patience.”  Notice again “bring forth fruit with patience.” Bible Study is one way to keep the Word of God in our hearts and let it grow deep inside of us. It is important to labor in keeping God’s Word because if we don’t, next thing happened . . .

Luke 8:11 tells us that the devil comes to take away the word out of their hearts. And Mark 4:15 tells us that where the Word is sown; but when they have heard, Satan comes immediately, and takes away the Word that was sown in their hearts.  So what happen when there is no Word of God in a person’s heart? (Continued to Series 4]

May God bless you,

Dorothy 

Falling Away Series 2 12/7/17

07 Dec. 2017 - The Falling Away Series 2 – Manna Feb. 2009 Dorothy Callies

Hebrew 3:12
KJV: “Take heed, brethren, least there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief, in departing from the living God.” NCV: So brothers and sisters, be careful that none of you has an evil, unbelieving heart that will turn you away from the living God.

Personal Apostasy
The “apostasy” means “departure,” “falling away” (2Thes.2:3), or “abandonment and rebellion,” will happen. So what is exactly could a person actually “falling away” from? The scripture says two things: heart of unbelief in God’s Word and departing from the living God.

Why is it important to know this word, “Apostasy?” The note came from Zondervan, The Full Life Study Bible and we could learn a lot from this study. This topic will help us to know what things that cause people to fall away from God.

I have seen the word, ‘Apostasy’ from the TV, the history channel and TBN [Trinity Broadcasting Network] and I had wondered why they talked about it. When I asked the Lord what He wants me to put on Fresh Manna for the beginning of Feb. 2009. He gave me three words: The Falling Away.

The Lord wants us to know His word and stay close to Him. Studying the title, “The Apostasy, the Falling Away” might save many Christians if they know what is happening around us and what to watch out for.

The Bible says “The heart is deceitful above all things, who can know it” came from Jeremiah 17:9. We need to guide our heart into the Word of God so our hearts will not deceive us. Those are words of encouragement that will keep us in union with Christ.

Paul wrote in Hebrews 3:13-15 “But encourage each other every day while it is “today.” Help each other so none of you will become hardened because sin has tricked you. We all share in Christ if we keep till the end the sure faith we had in the beginning. This is what the Scripture says: “Today listen to what He says. Do not be stubborn as in the past when you turned against God (NCV).

Song: How Great Thou Art
Then sing my soul, my Savior God to Thee,
How great Thou art, how great Thou art.
Then sing my soul, my Savior God to Thee,
How great Thou art, how great Thou art.

(Lyrics & Music: Stuart Wesley Keene Hine, Sing His Praise)

May God bless you,

Dorothy

Falling Away Series 1 12/6/17

06 Dec. 2017 - The Falling Away Series 1 – Manna Feb. 2009 Dorothy Callies

2 Thessalonians 2:3
KJV: Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there comes a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition.
NCV: Do not let anyone fool you in any way. That day of the Lord will not come until the turning away from God happens and the Man of Evil, who is on his way to hell, appears.

In Paul’s first letter to the Thessalonians, he gave assurance to all true believers that they would be caught up to meet the Lord in the air and would forever be with the Lord (1Thes.4:13-18). This event would deliver them from the coming wrath of God that was to fall upon the earth (1Thes.1:10; 5:9-10). However, the false teachers were teaching that the day of the Lord had already begun and that God’s final wrath was being poured out upon the earth.

The Thessalonians’ Christians were ‘troubled and shaken’ (upset) because of what the false teachers were saying about the day of the Lord. Paul tells them not to be alarmed, for the day of God’s wrath has not yet arrived. Two things will signal its arrival: 1) There must be a specific “falling away,” and 2) the “man of sin” will be revealed.

Reading: 2 Thessalonians 2:1-3 NCV
Brothers and Sisters, we have something to say about the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and the time when we will meet together with him. v2. Do not become easily upset in your thinking or afraid if you hear that the day of the Lord has already come.

Someone may say this in prophecy or in a message or in a letter as if it came from us. v3. Do not let anyone fool you in any way. That day of the Lord will not come until the turning away from God happens and the Man of Evil, who is on his way to hell, appears.

Prayer: Dear Lord, help us to stay true to Your teachings of the Word of God. Help us to remember what Paul was telling us about Your coming again. We realize Paul’s warning about being upset with false teachings that Christ has already came when it isn’t true. 

It reminds me of what someone quoted, “The New Age” and even share with others. It seems to cause confusion. Lord, I pray that the Holy Spirit helps us to study Your Word and stay true to Your teachings. I rejoice to hear Your Word of Wisdom and be strong in the Lord. Thank You and I bless You in Jesus’ name I pray. Amen!

Song collection: Keep Me True
Keep me true, Lord Jesus, keep me true;
Keep me true, Lord Jesus, keep me true.
There’s a race that I must run,
There are victories to be won,
Give me power, every hour, to be true.

God bless you,

Dorothy

Love of Many 12/4-5

04-05 December 2017 - Love of Many – Fresh Manna by Dorothy Callies

Matthew 24:12 KJV: “And because iniquity shall abound the love of many shall wax cold.” NCV: “There will be more and more evil in the world, so most people will stop showing their love for each other.”

NCV: “But those people who keep their faith until the end will be saved” Jesus said in Matthew 24:13. KJV: “But he (you) that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved.”  This calls for a spiritual fight through endurance who are keeping their faith in Jesus Christ. In daily prayer, I quoted the Scripture “to put on the whole armour of God” and “name each part of clothing that represents the purpose” from Ephesians 6:10-17.

Why was it important for me to quote the whole armour of God? Because so many things were going on. I just felt like there was an atmosphere of “falling away” and the Holy Spirit led me to check out 2009 Manna on the month of February.

To my surprised, that month of February 2009 had ten series of “The Falling Away.”  It took me two days to read and study them.  I wrote down each Scripture and what each represent for. Somehow, I felt my inner spirit released when I came to realize what causes the “The Falling Away.”  So God allowed me to experience what I was struggling with. It felt so good to be delivered! PTL!

As I was reading the list of ten series of ‘Falling Away,’ the Holy Spirit brought the Scripture to my thought, “Love of many shall wax cold.” I just felt that I need to share this. This might be the key to the Scripture’s understanding what causes the “Great Falling Away” that Jesus and Paul predicted (to declare in advance or tell ahead of time or tell about the future happening).  And . . .

What cause the people to stop showing their love for each other? The Scripture explained that “Many false prophets will come to deceive many and cause many people to believe lies” (NCV Matt. 24:11). They listened to the preachers who have changed from truth to lies. And the people not knowing the Scriptures enough to study the truth of God’s Word against the lies. They were losing their faith in Christ. They did not have the root of Christ’s love in their hearts. [Ref: Matt. 24:4,11,13,25]

So the only protection against being deceived is to stay in an enduring faith and love for Christ, and being in absolute commitment to the authority of His Word, and in a thorough knowledge of that Word. 1 Timothy 4:16 “Take heed unto thy self, and unto the doctrine (of Christ); continue in them: for in doing this thou shalt both save thyself and them that hear thee.” [2John 1:9; Heb.6:1]

So starting right after this introduction of "Love of Many," I will begin the Series of “The Falling Away” copying from 2009 February Fresh Manna.  So here is the song and a prayer: “Keep me true, Lord Jesus, keep me true. Keep me true, Lord Jesus, keep me true. There’s a race that I must run, There are victories to be won, Give me power, every hour, to be true.”   

God bless you,

Dorothy

Abiding In Christ 12/1-3

01-03 December 2017 - Abiding in Christ – Manna from May 2009 Revised

John 15:7-9 KJV If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you. Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be my disciples. As the Father hath loved me, so have I loved you: continue ye in my love.

I remind myself that abiding in Christ is important. Jesus is telling me that our Heavenly Father is glorified and happier when we abide in Christ and His Words abide in us.

I remind myself that this is the kind of fruit that my Heavenly Father is looking for: constant contact with Christ and constant contact with His Word and His fruits will show inside of us. [Constant means always, over and over and never stopping].

There are so many things going on inside of me. This song reminds me to come home to Jesus. ‘Home’ meant inside of my heart, a place of rest and peace in Christ. I pray that the song will draw me to Him much closer.

Song: Softly and Tenderly
Chorus:

Come home, come home,

Ye who are weary, come home,
Earnestly tenderly, Jesus is calling,

Calling, O sinner, come home…

1. Softly and tenderly Jesus is calling,
Calling for you and for me,
See on the portals He’s waiting and watching,
Watching for you and for me.

2. O for the wonderful love He has promised,
Promised for you and for me;
Tho we have sinned He has mercy and pardon,
Pardon for you and for me.
[Will L. Thompson]

December 1, 2017 - Prayer: Thank You, Heavenly Father for reminding me how important it is to abide in Christ, Your Son and allow the Holy Spirit to grow fruits inside of me. I pray for friends and families to abide in Your Word.  Thank You for the strength to be faithful to Your Word of promises. We all claim the Word of healing through the powerful name of Jesus. Amen!

God bless you!

Dorothy