Steve Webb: They have an agenda.
This is the Lifespring! One Year Bible coming to you from
Riverside, California, and podcasting since 2004. My name
is Steve Webb and I'm your OG Godcaster. It's epistle Sunday.
and our reading today is the book of Second John. and being
Sunday, we'll also have a time of prayer. The website is
Lifespringmedia.com. and contact information will be at the end
of the show. Before we read, let's pray. Our Heavenly Father,
we love you, Lord, and we thank you for our time together. Help
us as we read today to understand and to learn. pray
this in Jesus name, Amen. All right, let's begin.
Second John. From the church leader, to the chosen lady and
her children, whom I love, because we share the truth. I'm
not the only one who loves you. Everyone who knows the truth
also loves you. We love you because of the truth which lives
in us and will be with us forever. Goodwill, mercy and
peace will be with us. They come from God the Father and from
Jesus Christ, who in truth and love is the father son. I was
very happy to find some of your children living in the truth as
the Father has commanded us. Dear lady, I'm now requesting
that we continue to love each other. It's not as though I'm
writing to give you a new commandment. Rather, from the
beginning, we were commanded to love each other. Love means that
we live by doing what He commands, we were commanded to
live in love. and you have heard this from the beginning. Many
people who deceive others have gone into the world. They refuse
to declare that Jesus Christ came in flesh and blood. This is
the mark of a deceiver and an antichrist. Be careful that you
don't destroy what we've worked for, but that you receive your
full reward. Everyone who doesn't continue to teach what
Christ taught doesn't have God. The person who continues to
teach what Christ taught has both the Father and the Son. If
anyone comes to you and doesn't bring these teachings, don't
take him into your home, or even greet him. Whoever greets him
shares the evil things he's doing. I have a lot to write to
you. I would prefer not to write a letter. Instead, I hope to
visit and talk things over with you personally, then we will be
completely filled with joy. The children of your chosen sister
greet you.
Second John is addressed to a very special woman and her
children. Now some commentators believe that this woman is
actually a specific church and her children are the members of
the church. In my opinion, it doesn't really matter whether
it's a specific woman or a specific Church, the message
that John wrote is applicable to either or both. Well, this
church or this woman is loved by John and many other believers,
and John asks her to continue in loving. He's aware of her
children, and the fact that they're living according to
God's laws, which include loving one another. Now, when this book
was written, there were false teachers going around teaching
such falsehoods that Jesus being God was not actually human. He
said, They refuse to declare that Jesus Christ came in flesh
and blood. But beloved, to deny that Jesus came in flesh and
blood, to deny that Jesus was fully human. That's a pernicious
lie, that Jesus is fully human is a fundamental truth of the
gospel. We can never abandon that truth. Why? Well, one
reason is that without the shedding of blood, there is no
forgiveness or is one of the translation says there is no
remission of sin. So if Jesus was not fully human, there would
have been no shedding of blood. So it's important that we
realize that we believe that Jesus was fully God and fully
human. Now, in light of the fact that these false teachers were
going about teaching this false Jesus, John warns the woman to
be careful, and not let them destroy all that they've worked
for, and to not even invite them into her home or even greet
them, because doing so would be to share in the evil that they
were doing. So you remember Second Timothy 316, right? All
Scripture is inspired by God, and is useful to teach us what
is true, and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It
corrects us when we're wrong, and teaches us to do what is
right. So when John says in verses 10 and 11, if anyone
comes to you and does not bring this teaching, do not receive
them into your house, and do not give them a greeting, for the
one who gives them a greeting participates in his evil deeds.
When John says that, I believe it. and I believe that is God
telling me how to deal with people that teach that Jesus is
not who he said he is in the New Testament. So this is how I deal
with Jehovah's Witnesses and Mormons who come to my door. I
don't invite them in, and I don't even engage them in a
conversation. I take the teaching of Second John verses
10 and 11 very seriously, I simply tell these people that
I'm not interested. and I say goodbye. I don't even say, Have
a nice day. But Steve, you say, Don't you tell them? Why don't
you try to show him the truth? and my answer to you is no. You
see, these people are generally very well trained and prepared.
Whereas I'm just going about doing my normal activities. I'm
not in the mindset to debate. and the truth is, these people
are not really interested in having an honest conversation.
They have an agenda, and a 10 minute talk on my front porch
isn't going to change that agenda. Am I saying that I never
share the truth with Jehovah's Witnesses or Mormons? Not at
all. But here's the difference. The door knockers are actively
spreading their deceptions. They're evangelists for their
cause. But there are Jehovah's Witnesses and Mormons who are,
shall we say, civilians, they aren't in the process of
evangelizing for their group. Remember, in almost every case,
you have to have a relationship with someone before you can
really have a meaningful discussion about faith. and I've
had these conversations with friends who were Jehovah's
Witnesses, or Mormons, I've done this. It's not that I'm against
engaging them in conversation. But when they come to my front
door, I take second John very seriously. You have thoughts or
questions? I'd love to hear them, send to Boostagram or call
the Lifespring family hotline or go to the comments page or write
an email. Tomorrow will be the law Monday and our reading will
be Deuteronomy 26 through 28.
This 5000 sat Boostagram came in from anonymous who's using the
podverse app. They said, "You don't sound a day over 35!"
Well, thank you anonymous. If only I could say that the rest
of me could pass for 35. But alas, in fact, I'm nearly twice
that age, but that's okay. The Lovely Lady LeeAnn doesn't seem
to mind. Thanks anonymous for the Boostagram. Beloved, if
you're receiving any value from the Lifespring!, One Year Bible,
how about returning some of that value in the form of time,
talent or treasure? Go to this website:
Jingle: Lifespringmedia.com/support
Steve Webb: I'll thank you. and I believe that God will bless
you.
Prayer requests and praises Scott sent in this praise
report. He said, I have a couple of praises for today. First
Sunday, the 10th. Hey, that's today is my 29th wedding
anniversary. Happy anniversary, Scott. I've been blessed beyond
measure in my life with Anna, she has been my rock and
together we have raised a child that is on the verge of
graduating college and moving out into the world on their own.
Well, congratulations, good jobs, God and Diana. I also pray
that we have many more years together and look forward to our
next chapter in our life as well. I would also like to
praise God for bringing you Steve and your ministry into my
life. This is only my second year for the one year Bible. and
at the end of last year, I was somewhat panicked. When you were
considering retiring then I believe God spoke to me. and so
I took on the task as one of the show art creators for this
podcast. and I've not only learned much around what it took
to do this task, but I believe it also helps me understand that
as one door closes as you end the one year Bible, I'm sure
that God will open another door for me that will allow me to
continue my journey in Christ yours in service, Scott,
otherwise known as Sir snide from no agenda. Well, thank you,
Scott. It has been a blessing for me as well having your
donations of time and talent this year. I'm so glad you
responded to God's leading to jump in. It's been fun having
you as a member of the Lifespring family. My brother
Scott, thank you. God bless you. prayer requests. Kathy has an
appointment at City of Hope scheduled for this Wednesday.
She'll have labs done and we'll see the neurologist about
possibly getting that epidural to relieve the pain that we've
talked about. that'll depend upon her platelet count, which
was low the last time they checked. Also, Dell had an
appointment at the VA hospital a few days ago as a follow up to
his having COVID. Turns out the virus attacked his kidney and he
was going into renal failure. I had no idea that could happen.
Dell only has one kidney about 25 years ago he had cancer and
he lost one of his kidneys to that disease. So this week, they
did some tests and they found the problem with the kidney.
It's possible that Dell will have to take insulin we're
waiting for word from the doctor on that. and my surgery is
coming up Wednesday. I don't have a time yet. They wait until
the day before to do this scheduling. Since it will be a
laparoscopic procedure. Ireally wasn't too concerned about it
but the surgeon prescribed a pretty heavy duty pain drug for
afterwards so I'm up It apprehensive as to what to
expect? I guess we'll see. Right? So anyway, I've decided
to pre record a few shows for this week just in case. Let's
pray. Our heavenly Father, Lord, we thank You for Your loving
care. We thank you for being our rock, our shield and our
fortress. We thank you for the wisdom we find in your word. We
look to You, Lord, for guidance, for comfort and for strength.
and without you we can do nothing. Everything we have,
everything we are is because of you. We worship You, Lord,
Father, we rejoice with our brothers Scott and his wife,
Diana over their 29 year anniversary. Thank you for being
there for them through the years, Lord, we pray for them
that you will grant them many more years together, and we
thank you for their child's upcoming graduation. We pray
that You would bless them. Use them, Lord, for Your glory,
guide their steps, and as they and their parents begin a new
phase in their lives, show them your will for them. and now
Lord, I pray once again for my upcoming surgery. Guide the
surgeon's hands, I asked that everything would go well, and
that recovery will not be too difficult. Thank you that I'm
able to have this procedure done, father. and now Lord, I
thank you for the Lifespring family. Where there are needs I
pray that you would meet each one according to your perfect
will and perfect love. Bless the Lifespring family I pray in
Jesus name. Amen. Well, I'm sure it comes as no surprise but
because of my surgery will not have a time of prayer. this
coming Wednesday or next time will be a week from today. But
if something does come up this week, send in your praise report
or your prayer request anyways because I will pray with you and
for you in my own quiet times.
As always, I invite your comments and your questions,
send to Boostagram using a modern podcast app from
podcastapps.com or call the Lifespring family Hotline at
plus 1-951-732-8511 and for prayer requests and praises go
to prayer.lifespringmedia.com. If you have a comment or a
question, go to comment.lifespringmedia.com and
my email address is steve@lifespringmedia.com dot
com.
I am so thankful for the team Sister Denise does the
transcripts Michael Haner. Does the chapters Scott Snider and
Jason Paschall do the show RT N sr Brittaney Does the
newsletter. Jason Paschall did today's show art and beloved
thank you for inviting me to be a part of your day. I'm looking
forward to tomorrow. Until then, may God bless you richly. My
name is Steve Wallace. Bye.
James Cooper: The programs in the Lifespringmedia.com family
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