Daily Devotional – FEBRUARY 23 (Lovers of Pleasures More Than Lovers of God!)

By admin On January 19th, 2021

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Daily Devotional – FEBRUARY 23

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Lovers of Pleasures More Than Lovers of God!

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“This know also, that in the last days

perilous times shall come.

For men shall be lovers of their own selves,

covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers,

disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy,

Without natural affection, trucebreakers,

false accusers, incontinent, fierce,

despisers of those that are good,

Traitors, heady, highminded,

lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God;

Having a form of godliness,

but denying the power thereof:

from such turn away.”

2nd Timothy 3:1-5

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As we read this above verse, we realize that the sins which are listed, could be seen among mankind down through the centuries.

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And yet, this concerns the “last days”.

.Francken Hieronymus the Younger - Parable of the Wise and Foolish Virgins - c 1616 - Wikipedia - Public Domain

But one distinction which must be noted is, that as we keep reading, this same passage goes on to say…

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“…For of this sort are they which creep into houses, and lead captive silly women laden with sins, led away with divers lusts, Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth…” 2nd Timothy 3:6-8

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So from this above passage, it is becoming evident that Paul is speaking of the Church. These are those in the Church, who are “reprobate concerning the faith”.

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And creeping “into houses, and lead captive silly women” speaks of churches, which are often compared to women in the bible.

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Francken Hieronymus the Younger – Parable of the Wise and Foolish Virgins – c 1616 – Wikipedia – Public Domain

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So in today’s devotional, http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Question_book_magnify2.svglet’s just take just one aspect of this litany of sins in the Church.

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“Lovers of pleasures, more than lovers of God”, will be our focus.

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Question book magnify svg – Wikimedia – GNU license

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A HEDONISTIC SOCIETY!

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Like never before in history, this modern-day society has become extremely hedonistic!

.http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:People_on_Times_Square.jpg

It can be said that we are a pleasure-driven society! From pleasure resorts, to sports, to television, to high-tech devices (such as telephones, video games, computers, etc…) we are indeed a very pleasure-driven society!

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Even in the business world, our entrepreneurship quite often becomes a competitive sport, to see who can be first to make it to the top!

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Now, for the people of the world, all this lust for pleasure may (or may not) be fine.

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After all, what else can we expect from the world, but for them to follow the “god of this world”, Lucifer?

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People on Times Square – cropped image – Wikimedia Commons – Share-Alike License

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EXAMINE YOURSELVES!

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But this devotional is concerned for the Church.

.http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:MabelNormand_with_round_mirror.jpg

Are we also guilty of being “lovers of pleasures, more than lovers of God”?

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This is the question each of us must ask ourselves?

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The Bible plainly counsels us to… “Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates?” 2nd Corinthians 13:5

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And so, it is a very healthy exercise to take a regular inventory of our lives as Christians, comparing our deeds and words and motives and thoughts to the mirror of the Bible.

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Girl with round mirror – Wikimedia – US public domain.

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HOW DO I SPEND MY TIME?

.http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Braet_von_%C3%9Cberfeldt_woman_with_bible_1866.jpg

Therefore, let’s just take this one aspect of Scripture of being, “Lovers of pleasures, more than lovers of God”, and see how we do!

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The Bible counsels us… “But his delight is in the law of the LORD; and in His law doth he meditate day and night.” Psalm 1:2

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So, this above verse counsels us to meditate day and night upon God’s Word.

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Well, just how much time do I meditate upon God’s Word during the day?

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Braet von Überfeldt – Woman with Bible – 1866 – Wikipedia – US Public Domain

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AM I PLEASURE-DRIVEN?

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Yes, the Bible counsels us… “But his delight is in the law of the LORD; and in His law doth he meditate day and night.” Psalm 1:2

company's coming

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Do I devote more time to my pleasures than I do to God’s Word?

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Well, if I do, then obviously, I am a lover of pleasures, more than a lover of God!

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Do I spend more time watching TV, or perusing the Internet, or tinkering with my hobbies, than I spend in prayer and contemplation of the “Word of Christ”?

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So, these are the types of questions each of us must ask ourselves, if we indeed, are truth-seekers!

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GOOD NEWS!

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But the Good News is that while we still have a little time left, we can humble ourselves in the sight of God, begging for Him to give us a new heart that desires to do the will of God supremely!

.http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:USMC-06831.jpg

Listen… “Ye adulterers and adulteresses,

know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God?

whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God…

Draw nigh to God, and He will draw nigh to you.

Cleanse your hands, ye sinners;

and purify your hearts, ye double minded.

Be afflicted, and mourn, and weep:

let your laughter be turned to mourning,

and your joy to heaviness.

Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord,

and He shall lift you up.” 

James 4:4, 8-10

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Now by a careful reading of the Book of James, it doesn’t take long to realize that the above passage is not merely for an hour or a day, or even for a week! 

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No, as long as my life falls short of the Book of James, I must adopt this above passage as an ongoing mission and mantra!

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And through the power of God’s Spirit, our ongoing repentance will be a joyful endeavor!

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USMC – Prayer before Bible study – Wikimedia – public domain

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TODAY’S PRAYER…https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:USMC-081218-M-4507D-001.jpg

“Dear Lord, Who can understand his errors? cleanse Thou me from secret faults. Keep back Thy servant also from presumptuous sins; let them not have dominion over me: then shall I be upright, and I shall be innocent from the great transgression. Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in Thy sight…

Psalm 19:12-14

Prayer – USMC – Wikimedia – US Govt. Public Domain

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https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Question_book_magnify2.svg

READ MORE…

To explore deeper into this subject, please read… ““Vanity Fair” & The False Prophet”, or you can also read… February 17th (Examine Yourself!)” 

Question book magnify svg – Wikimedia – GNU license

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THE END

.picture - soldiers of the cross - armor up!

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TODAY’S FEATURED HEAVENLY SIGN

Info & pics of constellations on this site from Wikipedia & International Astronomical Union (click here)

 

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REVELATION 12, FLEEING WOMAN

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WHO IS SHE FLEEING FROM?

.star-chart ursa major

“…and the dragon stood before the woman…for to devour her child as soon as it was born…And the woman fled into the wilderness, where she hath a place prepared of God…” Revelation 12:5, 6

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Now by winter, this woman has changed into a “fleeing” woman. And if you will go out into the country away from the city lights, you might just see that her upraised arms begin to appear as wings.

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And she appears to be running, and eventually flying. In this heavenly scenario, this woman is fleeing from the ‘Dragon’ Constellation. However, “fleeing” is mentioned many times in Scripture. It may refer to fleeing from apostate shepherds (John 10:5), brethren or apostate congregations (Psalm 26:5). Or fleeing from sin and (1st Cor. 6:18). Or from enemies. It is likewise speaking of fleeing to the mountains.

Revelation 12 Dragon w/text

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And as you can see, the Dragon is spewing water out of his mouth. And it is amazing that this water is always going in the direction of the woman. The water stands for false doctrines. False brethren. Persecutions and temptations.

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See the article on the Dragon for further insight. Click hereThe Dragon”.

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Ursa Major Star-Chart with woman drawn in by this website – Wikipedia – share-alike license

ABOVE PICTURE: Revelation 12 Dragon – Winter – Hyades, Pleiades, etc. – not for commercial uses

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https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Question_book_magnify2.svg

READ MORE…

To explore deeper into this subject, please read… “Woman of Revelation 12 (Flees to the Wilderness)”

Question book magnify svg – Wikimedia – GNU license

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http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Eastern_Tiger_Snake.jpgTOMORROW…

“FEBRUARY 24 (Satan & Sidewinders!)”

Eastern Tiger Snake – Wikimedia – Share-alike License

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20+ MINUTE AUDIO STUDY IN JEREMIAH 

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ALL ‘NOBLE BEREANS’ (open-minded seekers of Bible truth) ARE ENCOURAGED TO BEGIN FOLLOWING THIS 650+ AUDIO BIBLE STUDY THROUGH THE BOOK OF JEREMIAH EACH DAY ON THIS DAILY DEVOTIONAL.

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THIS STUDY #419 IS PRESENTED BY THE LATE HAROLD CAMPING…

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above picture: Prophet Jeremiah – www.christianimagesource.org – Public Domain

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