There are dark thoughts and then there are very dark thoughts. Predators are looking for prey. It does not matter what category of predator we are speaking of, predators seek prey. Let’s take off our rose-colored church glasses so we can see what is going on around us. Sheep are being devoured when the false prophets and false teachers move in and splinter the Body of Christ. Most people in the Body of Christ recognize the need that we all have for a Savior. However we have to be critical about who we put in place as our overlords and then we need to be free to remove those overlords without a long drawn out process. We saw last week that there are people who think that we think the way they do. They are apathetic to Jesus and are interested in personal gain. While this sounds harsh, I personally spent many years in a few different churches and ministries that have all fallen. When the dominos tumbled and the lies and immoralities were exposed, the righteous rose up stronger, smarter, and more committed to Jesus than before. The last time was a megachurch sixteen years ago. There is nothing new under the sun and what happens today is what always happens. Those churches lost their candlesticks because they lost their first love. When their sins become public the church is finished. It is already too late. Those leaders are suffering humiliation because they did not listen to Jesus and repent long before the public found out. Many more will lose their candlestick because they lost their first love. Peter helps us understand that sexual sins have always been around and that the victims are unstable souls. Paul reminds us that the perverted do not inherit the kingdom of the Elohim.
Let’s review Ephesians.
Ephesians 4:17 G3778 This G3767 then G3004 I say G2532 and G3143 testify G1722 in G2962 the Lord, G3371 for you to no longer G1473 G4043 walk G2531 as G2532 also G3588 the G3062 rest G1484 of the nations G4043 walk, G1722 in G3153 the folly G3588 G3563 of their mind, G1473
The ethnos walk vainly and without purpose. They are empty. They do not know the Messiah, they do not have truth or the above knowledge of Jesus Christ. They are empty. Don’t follow them. The word translated “folly” is mataiotēs, meaning moral depravity. Their mind and reasoning are morally depraved.
When people get saved they start to turn their lives around. Sometimes people were not morally depraved, they were sinners but not morally depraved. They may have been victimized. No matter the scenario, when we come to Jesus we are not coming as a clean sin free individual. We are different than the priests and Essenes of the former administration. They cleansed and purified themselves with ritual service and walked holy intentionally. When we come to Jesus we are messy and have to make the effort to turn our lives around. We all have need of a savior.
Ephesians 4:18 G4654 being darkened G3588 in the G1271 mind, G1510.6 being G526 separated from G3588 the G2222 life G3588 G2316 of God, G1223 through G3588 the G52 ignorance G3588 G1510.6 being G1722 in G1473 them, G1223 through G3588 the G4457 callousness G3588 G2588 of their heart; G1473
The ethnos who are unsaved have dark thoughts that are deprived of light. Why? Because they are estranged and alienated from the Living Elohim. Their imaginations are obscure and gloomy and they think that we think the same way that they think. We do not because we are not alienated from the Living Elohim, our thoughts and imaginations are light and life. They have dark thoughts because of their own ignorance and willful blindness. Their hearts are callous, hard, and blind.
Ephesians 4:19 G3748 ones who G524 being numbed, G1438 delivered themselves up G3860 G3588 to G766 lewdness, G1519 for G2039 a work G167 of all uncleanness G3956 G1722 in G4124 a desire for wealth.
These people become apathetic. They feel no pain and cease to care. They surrender to lewdness, licentiousness, wantonness, debauchery, and lasciviousness. This is speaking of sexual promiscuity, crude sexual behaviors, vulgarity, sexually unrestrained, excessive sexual indulgence, etc. Paul is saying that their dark thoughts and obscure imaginations lead unbelievers into not caring about the Living God and they become overly sexualized and labor in physical and moral impurity for avarice and extortion.
Although Paul wrote this about two thousand years ago, Paul just described unsaved politicians, unsaved world leaders, unsaved corporate executives, and some unsaved religious leaders. They have dark thoughts and are willfully blind with hard hearts. They feel no pain and cease to care about their sexual perversity so they work in impurity and greedy extortion. They don’t know the Living God.
If we look at these people from a thirty thousand foot view what we see are humans acting animalistic in nature, with no higher consciousness. That is their base nature. If we keep in mind that the other sons of God do not procreate among themselves we can see the root of the many distortions regarding sexual behaviors. Demonically influenced, people resort to all sorts of criminal behavior, from peeping toms, to pornography, to rape of men and women, boys and girls, to trafficking humans, to murdering infants, and so on. The distortion of these behaviors is due to not caring about others and having a calloused heart. These people believe that they are descended from apes and they behave in that manner, alienating themselves from their Creator. We know that we have been created in the image of the Elohim, and we want to know our Creator, the Living Elohim.
We should notice that Paul is not shy in talking about these things. Sexual perversions are in the church today. This is a shame but it needs to be discussed in light of Paul’s words. There are leaders in the church who have alienated themselves from the Elohim. They have to in order to abuse others. When someone’s heart is separated from the Living Elohim, they have broken their own connection. They have to repent and change their behaviors. Speak the truth in love. They came to Christ with all their sins in tow and they still have to work out their dark thoughts, apathy, and sexual perversions. The ligaments are not supplying energy to these people even though they work in the church. They are going through the rituals and routines in their own strength, with their own dark thoughts. These religious leaders may believe that Jesus is Lord but they are severed from the Body of Christ. They also may shun the gifts of the Spirit, because they don’t want anyone to “see” what they are doing in secret. They will become controlling and dominating of others. We need to tell them to repent, we can speak the truth in love.
Sexual perversity is not new to religious people. The temple had booths built for male and female prostitutes for sexual rites and rituals.
https://musingsofawinsomeheart.blogspot.com/2014/03/passover-male-prostitution-in-temple.html
https://musingsofawinsomeheart.blogspot.com/2017/12/the-laity-what-jesus-hates-hierarchy.html
We should not be surprised that these perversions find their way into our churches as the temple had been infested with sexual previsions for over four hundred years. Peter also explains this behavior to us.
2 Peter 2:1 G1096 But there existed G1161 G2532 also G5578 false prophets G1722 among G3588 the G2992 people; G5613 as G2532 also G1722 among G1473 you G1510.8.6 there will be G5572 false teachers, G3748 ones who G3919 shall introduce privately G139 [2sects G684 1destructive], G2532 and G3588 [2the G59 4buying G1473 5them G1203 3master G720 1denying], G1863 bringing G1722 unto G1473 themselves G5031 quick G684 destruction.
These pseudo prophets and pseudo teachers bring upon themselves impending eternal misery in hell. Many will follow the Jesus rejecters in impending eternal misery in hell because they will speak evil against alētheia, “truth”. They have a desire for wealth and will form and mold their words as a traveling salesman, peddling snake oils for you to buy. Yet the Jesus rejecters’ decree or judgment was cast long ago. They will have eternal misery in hell with no sleep or rest.
Now let’s examine this, the false prophets and false teachers are in the church, among the people in the church. They bring into the church destructive self-chosen opinions, hairesis. When one of these self-chosen opinions catches the attention of a few people it splinters the Body of Christ. No one would care if the false teachers and false prophets were in the local bar or out in the synagogue of satan, but the pseudo’s should not be in the church.
2 Peter 2:2 G2532 And G4183 many G1811 shall follow after G1473 them G3588 in the G684 destruction, G1223 through G3739 whom G3588 the G3598 way G3588 of the G225 truth G987 shall be blasphemed.
Wait, many will follow after the pseudo prophets and pseudo teachers? Many in the church will follow the pseudo prophets and pseudo teachers to their own destruction. The way of truth, alētheia, is spoken as evil, abusive, or scurrilous language about the truth. If people have splintered into a sect because false prophets and false teachers in the church preached their own self-chosen opinions that lead to destruction, they will be blaspheming truth. This is problematic in the Body of Christ, isn’t it?
2 Peter 2:3 G2532 And G1722 by G4124 a desire for wealth, G4112 with shaped G3056 words, G1473 they shall make trade of you; G1710 G3739 for whom G3588 the G2917 judgment G1597 of old G3756 is not idle, G691 G2532 and G3588 G684 their destruction G1473 G3756 shall not G3573 slumber.
The false prophets, teachers, are like snake oil salesmen, who are blaspheming Jesus and his plan of redemption, they have a verdict for complete ruin. They are in the church. Many people go into ministry for the money. It may sound strange, but megachurches bring in a lot of high dollar salaries. One way to eliminate the false prophets, false teachers, and the sexual previsions among church staff, would be to cut all church salaries to zero. Volunteer church only, with volunteers paying the bills for the building and utilities. Volunteers keeping the grounds clean and neat, volunteers sweeping, mopping and cleaning the inside. All serving without getting paid. If no one made a six figure salary many of the predators would look somewhere else for prey. The sheep can take care of themselves until the true shepherds would emerge from the flock to help people grow up in Jesus.
Peter compares the snake oil salesmen to the fallen angels, suggesting that if God did not spare them, but put them in chains in the infernal region, what about judgment on these false prophets, teachers, who are like traveling snake oil salesmen in the church? Take off the rose colored glasses, the snake oil salesmen are there with their MLM opportunities.
2 Peter 2:4 G1487 For if G1063 G3588 G2316 God G32 [2of angels G264 3sinning G3756 1spared not], G5339 G235 but G4577 in chains G2217 of the infernal G5020 region G3860 delivered them up G1519 for G2920 [2judgment G5083 1being kept for];
Who told us about these angels who sinned and ended up in chains? Enoch.The angels sinned and messed up humanity. Do angels procreate among themselves? No. But they distorted Yahweh’s order by procreating with humans. If Yahweh didn’t spare them, what will he do to the ones who harm the sheep from within the church?
Peter then compares the Lord’s judgments in the flood, that came upon the ancient world due to the fallen angels. Peter brings up Sodom and Gomorrah’s judgment.
https://musingsofawinsomeheart.blogspot.com/2019/07/unsuccessful-testing-trials-sport.html
2 Peter 2:5 G2532 and G744 the ancient G2889 world G3756 he spared not, G5339 G235 but G3590 [3 the eighth G* 2Noah G1343 5of righteousness G2782 4proclaimer G5442 1kept], G2627 [2 the flood G2889 4world G765 3to the impious G1863 1having brought]
If Yahweh brought a flood because of their distorted sexual perversity among themselves and the angels, what will he do to the church leaders who victimized the sheep?
https://musingsofawinsomeheart.blogspot.com/2021/08/noahs-faith-evil-cain-antediluvian.html
2 Peter 2:6 G2532 and G4172 the cities G* of Sodom G2532 and G* Gomorrah G5077 having reduced to ashes G2692 [2by a final event G2632 1he condemned]; G5262 [2an example G3195 3for the ones being about G764 4to be impious G5087 1having set];
The people of Sodom were so sexually perverted that Yahweh threw fire and brimstone on them. Imagine what will happen to those who abuse others who end up rejecting Jesus because of their abuse by church leaders. Jesus says that he leaves the ninety-nine in order to go after the one. The context is causing a child of God to fall away from Jesus. The offence lies in the vulnerability of the sheep. Predators seeking prey.
https://musingsofawinsomeheart.blogspot.com/2021/05/entrapping-children-eternal-fires-of.html
2 Peter 2:7 G2532 and G1342 [2righteous G* 3Lot G2669 4being harassed G5259 5by G3588 6the G3588 G113 7unlawful ones G1722 8in G766 9lewdness G391 10of behavior, G4506 1he rescued],
As many of us have found ourselves in churches where scandals rocked the foundations of the building, the righteous may have been speaking out to no avail, but guess what, Yahweh knows how to deliver the righteous. Notice again the sexual promiscuity, crude sexual behaviors, vulgarity, sexually unrestrained, excessive sexual indulgence, are in the church, but Yahweh rescues the righteous. Stay righteous. Take off the rose-colored glasses.
2 Peter 2:8 G990 (for by sight G1063 G2532 and G189 hearing, G3588 the G1342 righteous man G1460 dwelling G1722 among G1473 them, G2250 day G1537 by G2250 day G5590 [3soul G1342 2 his righteous G459 4 by their lawless G2041 5works G928 1tormented];)
Yahweh sees you. In the midst of the insanity that goes on in the church, with all the predators, all the lies spun, and all the sheep being devoured, Yahweh sees the righteous. Yahweh sees you.
https://musingsofawinsomeheart.blogspot.com/2015/03/sodom-rape-and-evil-behavior-witchcraft.html
https://musingsofawinsomeheart.blogspot.com/2015/04/sodom-part-2-inbred-witchcraft-blinded.html
https://musingsofawinsomeheart.blogspot.com/2015/04/the-antithesis-of-sodom-and-our.html
https://musingsofawinsomeheart.blogspot.com/2021/08/unjust-judgments-not-destroying-just.html
2 Peter 2:9 G1492 but the Lord knows G2962 G2152 [2 the pious G1537 3from G3986 4tests G4506 1to rescue], G94 and the unrighteous G1161 G1519 [2for G2250 3a day G2920 4of judgment G2849 5being punished G5083 1to keep];
This is why Noah, Lot, and Daniel were spared out from the evil circumstances that they lived in. Yahweh knows.
2 Peter 2:10 G3122 and especially G1161 G3588 the ones G3694 [2after G4561 3 the flesh G1722 4in G1939 5a desire G3394 6for defilement G4198 1going], G2532 and G2963 [2lordship G2706 1ones disdaining]; G5113 daring, G829 self-willed, G1391 [4glories G3756 1they do not G5141 2tremble G987 3 in blaspheming].
There are people in the church who travel after flesh, longing for defilement. They despise lordship or any spiritual hierarchy over them; meaning there is a pastor who believes he doesn’t have to follow Yahweh’s authority when it comes to sexual behavior. There are teachers who ask for special favors from their masseuse. Whoever it is, they must become apathetic, and hard hearted as Paul told us. They separate themselves from God and dispose of Him. They become daring self-satisfied, arrogant, and self-pleasing, authadēs. Their heart is hardened to their own blasphemies.
2 Peter 2:11 G3699 Where G32 angels G2479 [2in strength G2532 3and G1411 5power G3173 4greater G1510.6 1being], G3756 do not G5342 bring G2596 against G1473 them G3844 before G2962 the Lord G989 a blasphemous G2920 case.
Angels do not accuse the sinner in the church before the courts of the Lord. We are supposed to do that. Once we know, we go into the courts of the Lord and bring the case before Him. If angels did accuse people of their perversions then people would behave themselves, but because people have no fear of retribution until others find out, they believe that they can do things in secret and they allow their lewdness to overtake them.
2 Peter 2:12 G3778 But these, G1161 G5613 as G249 [2illogical G2226 3living creatures G5446 1physical], G1080 engendered G1519 for G259 conquest G2532 and G5356 corruption G1722 in G3739 [2what G50 3they know not G987 1blaspheming], G1722 in G3588 their corruption G5356 G1473 G2704 shall be laid waste; 13 G2865 carrying G3408 a wage G93 of unrighteousness;…
These people are natural irrational living creatures who procreate into/upon capture and decay in blaspheming. That is an important statement. Peter is saying that these people are natural living creatures who live irrationally and illogically. They procreate with the one they capture. They are decaying by blaspheming what they are ignorant of, which leads to their ruin and downward spoil, receiving payment for wrongdoing. Engendered or procreating upon conquest is an interesting idea. These people have base desires like animals, and like animals in the wild, they win a mate and procreate. It is the challenge of the game that they go after, even in the church. It is there, look around.
2 Peter 2:13… G2237 [5satisfaction G2233 1esteeming G3588 2the G1722 3daily G2250 G5172 4delicacy]. G4695 Stains G2532 and G3470 blemishes, G1792 reveling G1722 in G3588 G539 their deceptions, G1473 …
They lead the way daily in effeminate pleasure. Peter’s words, not mine. They live luxuriously in the deceitfulness. How much money do these church leaders make? Cut the salaries. The true pastors will stay.
2 Peter 2:13 … G4910 feasting together G1473 with you; 14 G3788 [2eyes G2192 1having] G3324 full G3428 of an adulterous one, G2532 and G180 ceaseless G266 of sin; G1185 entrapping G5590 [2souls G793 1unstable]; G2588 [2a heart G1128 3being exercised G4124 4for a desire for wealth G2192 1having]; G2671 [2of curse G5043 1children].
These people eat meals together with us but they have eyes full of adultery. Are they looking for someone to groom? Are they looking for their next conquest? They keep sinning. They entice or bait unstable souls. This is who they look for with their adulterous eyes. Their heart is trained for greed; who can they consume next. They are cursed (katara) children. But they are in the church. The sheep don’t even know that they are there. They are grooming the weak, young, and confused, the unstable souls, who are all trying to leave sin behind.
2 Peter 2:15 G2641 Leaving behind G3588 the G2117 straight G3598 way, G4105 they wandered, G1811 following after G3588 the G3598 way G3588 G* of Balaam G3588 the son of G* Bosor, G3739 who G3408 [2 the wage G93 3of unrighteousness G25 1loved];
The way of Balaam was multifaceted but the one aspect of concern here is that Balaam told Balak to put all the sexy women out on the road to entice the Israelite men. That worked. The men loved the unrighteousness, and they had left the straight way.
2 Peter 2:16 G1649 [3rebuke G1161 1but G2192 2had] G2398 of his own G3892 unlawfulness -- G5268 [2beast G880 1a voiceless], G1722 in G444 a man's G5456 voice G5350 uttering a sound, G2967 restrained G3588 the G3588 [2of the G4396 3prophet G3913 1ranting].
Balaam was rebuked.
2 Peter 2:17 G3778 These G1510.2.6 are G4077 [2springs G504 1waterless], G3507 clouds G5259 [2by G2978 3a tempest G1643 1being driven], G3739 ones to whom G3588 the G2217 infernal region G3588 G4655 of darkness G1519 [2into G165 3 the eon G5083 1is kept].
The people in the church who are predators are useless. They are heading to the gloom or darkness for an age. Pay attention, be wise.
2 Peter 2:18 G5246 For [2pompous G1063 G3153 4of folly G5350 1uttering 3sounds], G1185 they entrap G1722 by G1939 the desires G4561 of the flesh, G766 in lewdnesses, G3588 the ones who G3689 really G668 escaped G3588 from the ones G1722 [2in G4106 3delusion G390 1behaving],
These people speak loud boastful depravity, enticed in longing of the flesh in speaking of sexual promiscuity, crude sexual behaviors, vulgarity, sexually unrestrained, excessive sexual indulgence. They truly escape in upside-down error. They escape from the right way, the church, into upside-down error. Peter goes on to say that they promise freedom to their prey but they are slaves to corruption and then enslave others along with them. Jesus mentions this:
Mark 7:20 G3004 And he said G1161 G3754 that, G3588 The thing G1537 [2from out of G3588 3the G444 4man G1607 1going forth], G1565 that G2840 defiles G3588 the G444 man.
21 G2081 For from inside G1063 G1537 out of G3588 the G2588 heart G3588 G444 of men G3588 G1261 [3thoughts G3588 G2556 2evil G1607 1goes forth], G3430 adulteries, G4202 harlotries, G5408 murders,
22 G2829 frauds, G4124 desires for wealth, G4189 wickednesses, G1388 treachery, G766 lewdness, G3788 [2eye G4190 1a wicked], G988 blasphemy, G5243 pride, G877 folly.
23 G3956 All G3778 these G3588 G4190 evils G2081 from inside G1607 go forth G2532 and G2840 defile G3588 the G444 man.
Evil thoughts go out of men’s hearts. Look at what evil a non-saved man has in his heart. Now think about the saved man, those things are not supposed to be in his heart. The saved man is supposed to put on the new man which after God is created in righteousness, truth, and holiness. Why are people putting these things back inside their heart? The Holy Spirit resided in the temple alongside all the defilement for over 400 years, so it is not a matter of being Spirit filled or not, it is a matter of what one feeds on. If one thinks about the fruit from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil the one fruit not allowed, that is all the adam and Eve focused on instead of thinking on what is allowed. It is easy to allow evil spirits to draw that one to the forbidden fruit. Put it in these terms; do you love Jesus more than adultery? Do you love Jesus more than harlotries, murders, frauds, desires for wealth, etc. If one severs his heart from Jesus then that one is susceptible. Demons prey on weak, tired and unstable people. Then the demon’s prey become predators in the church looking for new unstable prey.
1 Peter 4:1 G5547 Christ G3767 then G3958 having suffered G5228 for G1473 us G4561 in flesh, G2532 you also G1473 G3588 with the G1473 same G1771 reflection G3695 be armed! G3754 For G3588 the one G3958 suffering G1722 in G4561 flesh, G3973 has ceased G266 of sin;
Suffer in the flesh. Simple. Deny they flesh. Christ did. We are to do it too.
1 Peter 4:2 G1519 to no longer G3588 G3371 G444 [6of men's G1939 7desires G235 8but G2307 9God's will G2316 G3588 2the remaining G954 G1722 4in G4561 5 the flesh G980 1spend G5550 3time].
Do not wast time longing to feed the flesh. Spend time in God’s will instead.
1 Peter 4:3 G713 For sufficient G1473 to us G3588 was the G3928 having passed G5550 time G3588 of the G979 existence G3588 [2the G2307 3will G3588 4of the G1484 5nations G2716 1to have worked], G4198 going G1722 in G766 lewdnesses, G1939 desires, G3632 drunkennesses with wine, G2970 debaucheries, G4224 drinking banquets, G2532 and G111 unlawful G1495 idolatries;
We all walked like the unsaved ethnos, in sexual perversity, longings, drunkenness, feasting, carousing, illegal idolatry. We didn’t know. But now we do. Others may not have put off those behaviors but have come to the church in search of Jesus. We all need Jesus, but we all need to be wise too.
1 Peter 4:4 G1722 in G3739 which G3579 they think it strange G3361 [2not G4936 3running together G1473 1your] G1519 in G3588 the G1473 same G3588 G810 [2of carnality G401 1pouring out], G987 being blasphemous;
The ethnos think we are strange for not behaving like them. If we understand that they think we think the way they do, and that they cannot understand what our problem is with their ideas, then we can make progress in eradicating sexual perversions from the church. The predators think we have the same thoughts they do. The predators think we are looking for unstable souls too. We know that this world is not our home. We would like to enter the kingdom of heaven and not be left outside knocking.
1 Peter 4:5 G3739 ones who G591 shall render G3056 an account G3588 to the one G2093 readily G2192 sufficing G2919 to judge G2198 the living G2532 and G3498 dead.
Everyone will give an account, saint and sinner alike. Everyone. Everyone will be judged. We know what we were like before we knew Christ, but in Christ old things are passed away, unless we bring them back. Our church leaders cannot act like sinners during the week and then try to shepherd people on Sunday. That would be called a hireling. They are “hired” for one day per week. No. They cannot be workers of the flesh.
Galatians 5:19 G5318 [7apparent G1161 1And G1510.2.3 6are G3588 2the G2041 3works G3588 4of the G4561 5flesh]; G3748 which G1510.2.3 are, G3430 adultery, G4202 harlotry, G167 uncleanness, G766 lewdness,
Paul teaches this subject for the Galatians. He is telling us who is not going to enter the kingdom of heaven.
https://musingsofawinsomeheart.blogspot.com/2021/10/jesus-teaches-harpazo-snatched-into.html
https://musingsofawinsomeheart.blogspot.com/2021/10/outer-darkness-farthest-are-foremost.html
Galatians 5:20 G1495 idolatry, G5331 sorcery, G2189 hatreds, G2054 strifes, G2205 jealousies, G2372 rages, G2052 contentions, G1370 discords, G139 sects,
21 G5355 envies, G5408 murders, G3178 intoxications, G2970 debaucheries, G2532 and G3588 the things G3664 likened G3778 to these;…
This is a broad list. There are two individuals that we have to identify, the predator and the prey, or the abuser and the abused, or the lewd and the unstable soul. Some people use alcohol or drugs to numb their own pain, they need help. We can help the abuser and the abused. But the abuser should not be a leader in a church, should not be in a paid position in the church, and should not be allowed to shepherd others in the church. There are other things one can do while being restored in Christ. Every church needs a janitor and every church needs a landscaper.
Galatians 5:21… G3739 which G4302 I say beforehand G1473 to you, G2531 as G2532 also G4277 I foretold, G3754 that G3588 the ones G3588 G5108 [2such things G4238 1practicing G932 4 the kingdom G2316 5of God G3756 3shall not inherit]. G2816
If the Body of Christ grows up, the Body of Christ can take back the church. Then as Paul explains to the Galatians, we can explain to others the tenets of who will and will not enter the kingdom of the Elohim. Paul explains this to the Romans.
Romans 13:19 G5318 [7apparent G1161 1And G1510.2.3 6are G3588 2the G2041 3works G3588 4of the G4561 5flesh]; G3748 which G1510.2.3 are, G3430 adultery, G4202 harlotry, G167 uncleanness, G766 lewdness,
20 G1495 idolatry, G5331 sorcery, G2189 hatreds, G2054 strifes, G2205 jealousies, G2372 rages, G2052 contentions, G1370 discords, G139 sects,
21 G5355 envies, G5408 murders, G3178 intoxications, G2970 debaucheries, G2532 and G3588 the things G3664 likened G3778 to these; G3739 which G4302 I say beforehand G1473 to you, G2531 as G2532 also G4277 I foretold, G3754 that G3588 the ones G3588 G5108 [2such things G4238 1practicing G932 4 the kingdom G2316 5of God G3756 3shall not inherit]. G2816
Here is another list for us to think on. When we make this connection that these are things that are happening in the church, in the assemblies, among the called out, then we can then take action against them. Yahweh is not opposed to rooting out the sin in our lives through suffering, so if someone neglects Yahweh’s prompting Yahweh will expose the mess that someone has been living in.
Jesus knows the works in the churches. He knows who is righteous, who is an unstable soul, and who is a predator.
Revelation 2:1 G3588 To the G32 angel G3588 of the G1577 assembly G* in Ephesus G1125 write! G3592 Thus G3004 says G3588 the one G2902 holding G3588 the G2033 seven G792 stars G1722 in G3588 G1188 his right hand, G1473 G3588 the one G4043 walking G1722 in G3319 the midst G3588 of the G2033 seven G3087 [2lamp stands G3588 G5552 1golden].
2 G1492 I know G3588 G2041 your works, G1473 G2532 and G3588 G2873 your toil, G1473 G2532 and G3588 G5281 your endurance, G1473 G2532 and G3754 that G3756 you are not G1410 able G941 to bear G2556 evil ones; G2532 and G3985 you tested G3588 the ones G3004 calling G1438 themselves G652 apostles, G2532 and G3756 are not, G1510.2.6 G2532 and G2147 found G1473 them G5571 liars;
3 G2532 and G941 you bore, G2532 and G5281 [2endurance G2192 1have], G1223 because of G3588 G3686 my name, G1473 G2532 and G3756 you tired not. G2872
Jesus tells the Ephesian church that they tested the people calling themselves apostles and found out that they were liars. They went through hard times, and they prevailed. They had been tested as a group and they endured. They did not grow weary.
Revelation 2:4 G235 But G2192 I have G2596 against G1473 you, G3754 that G3588 the G26 love G1473 of yours, G3588 the G4413 first, G863 you have left.
They became too busy for their first love. There were not enough hours in the day to manage it all. They forsook their first love. This speaks to us individually as well as corporately. Jesus is their/our first love. Jesus tells them/us to repent, otherwise he will remove their lamp stand
Revelation 2:5 G3421 Remember G3767 then G4159 from what place G1601 you have fallen, G2532 and G3340 repent, G2532 and G3588 [2the G4413 3first G2041 4works G4160 1do]! G1490 But if not, G2064 I come G1473 to you G5036 quickly, G2532 and G2795 I will move G3588 G3087 your lamp stand G1473 G1537 from out of G3588 G5117 its place, G1473 G1437 unless G3361 G3340 you should repent.
Remember and repent. Individually and corporately. Individually, one will not be a leader if that one does not obey Jesus. Corporately, a church will not lead the nations if the church does not obey Jesus.
Each assembly of called out people has its own culture, its own function, its own strengths and weaknesses. Each assembly is different. It is a sad thing for one church leader or one teacher to fall into sexual perversions. There can be restoration, but maybe not reinstatement. The problem is that we hire a pastor to be like a CEO, or the overall manager of the body. Yet if we change our model for the assemblies, we may actually grow up the Body of Christ, giving more responsibility to the individuals to think for themselves. We have to teach people how to identify the predators. We have to help the unstable souls from becoming prey. We have to stop allowing and excusing perverted behaviors. We don’t have to be biologists or Bible scholars to understand that the Elohim made male and female.
Genesis 1:27 G2532 And G4160 God made G3588 G2316 G3588 G444 man. G2596 According to G1504 the image G2316 of God G4160 he made G1473 him. G730 Male G2532 and G2338 female G4160 he made G1473 them.
All humans are made in the image, likeness, or profile of the Elohim. Angels sinned. They brought sexual perversions to humanity. Yet people have the responsibility to not allow those perversions to dominate all of humanity. We are responsible for the sheep, we are responsible not to lose our first love. If we do not beat back the dark perverted spirits attacking our assemblies, we will lose our candlestick, our light to the nations will go out and we will become another irrelevant assembly.
However, there is hope. When a church gets to the point of public exposure, it is over and it has already lost its candlestick. The righteous people who had no idea of the sexual perversions taking place can now move forward. Find another assembly or group to study and pray with. The righteous can go back to the organic roots of the church in small numbers. The righteous are always rescued out from destruction. Being out of the assembly with its familiarity and family actually feels scary. But Jesus is the one to look to for direction. The Body of Christ does not need one leader, or one overseer, so that when that one falls, the sheep scatter. Instead do what the first century church did, meet in small groups at homes, praying together and caring for one another. Become the elders and deacons among your own group, helping the new believers in Christ. Take care of the widows and the orphans among yourselves. Do not give a place back in leadership to the individuals who had to be publicly exposed. Jesus tried repeatedly to correct them before he had to publicly remove their candlestick. They should have repented the first, second, third, or fourth time that Jesus told them to, rather than allowing public humiliation to the entire Body of Christ. That behavior shows lack of sound judgment and should not be rewarded with a “new position”. Sometimes the breakup is the best thing that can happen to a dysfunctional assembly because the righteous are set free.
