Rev 13 says, "he deceives those who dwell on the earth by the signs that were granted him to do."

The False Prophet will be the most notorious agent of God this world's ever seen, to separate the wheat from the tares, the believers from the unbelievers.

Part 1 of a 2 part study, looking at Revelation 13:11

We are focusing on 8 characteristics of the False Prophet.

To be continued...

Once again, today's text shows us that we have been "released from the law."

And we are now slaves, as if handcuffed to Him, Righteousness!

4 Therefore, my brothers, you also were put to death to the law through the body of Christ, that you may be married to another—to Him who was raised from the dead, so that we might bear fruit to God. 5 For when we were in the flesh, the sinful passions aroused through the law were at work in our members to bear fruit to death. 6 But now we were released from the law, having died in that to which we were held fast, so that we should serve as slaves in the newness of the Spirit and not in the oldness of the letter.

Today we continue our look in Romans, and we are confronted once again by the Spirit, "You are slaves to whom you obey.(6:16)

Romans 7:1-3
1 Or do you not know, brothers (for I speak to those knowing the law), that the law has jurisdiction over a man as long as he lives? 2 For the woman who is under a man has been bound by law to the living husband. But if the husband should die, she is released from the law of the husband. 3 So then, while the husband is living, she will be called an adulteress if she becomes married to a different husband; but if her husband should die, she is free from the law, so that she is not an adulteress, having become married to a different husband.

This text is teaching that the Law's purpose is to lead us to the cross.

Free and Slave.

Romans 6:16 tells us that we are slaves to whom we obey, whether sin resulting in death, or obedience resulting in righteousness.

Matthew 26:69 records the following conversation:

"Now Peter sat outside in the courtyard. And a servant girl came to him, saying, "You also were with Jesus of Galilee." (Matt 26:69)
But he denied it before them all, saying, "I do not know what you are saying." (Matt 26:70)

Now right before this, the Lord had told Peter that he was going to deny three times that he knew Him. This was the first instance--verse 70.

The second time is in verse 71.

"And when he had gone out to the gateway, another girl saw him and said to them there, "This man was with Jesus the Nazarene." (Matt 26:71)
But again he denied with an oath, "I do not know the Man!" (Matt 26:72)

In other words, Peter raised up his right hand (with his left hand on the Torah?) and said, "I do hereby swear, that I do NOT know Jesus Christ!"

Goodness gracious!

Friends, I highly recommend that you do not try this at home!

That's 2 denials down, 1 more to go--verse 73

"And after a little while, those standing by came up and said to Peter, "Surely you also are one of them, for your accent gives you away." (Matt 26:73)
Then he began to curse and swear, saying, "I do not know the Man!" And immediately a rooster crowed. (Matt 26:74)
And Peter remembered the word of Jesus which He said to him, "Before the rooster crows, you will deny Me three times." And going out, he wept bitterly." (Matt 26:75)

So I was pondering: was Peter's sin all that much different than Judas's?

Personally, I think not.

But their responses certainly were!

"Now I rejoice, not because you were made sorry, but because your sorrow led to repentance; for you were made sorry in a godly manner, that you might suffer loss from us in nothing. (2Cor 7:9)
For godly sorrow brings about repentance leading to salvation, without regret; but worldly sorrow brings about death." (2Cor 7:10)

You see, there's 2 types of sorrow in this world--godly sorrow, which Peter evidenced, and worldly sorrow, which Judas evidenced.

There's not that much difference between the sin of these two men. The difference was in their responses to their sin, and ultimately, their repentance!

How about you?

Have you committed some terrible sin that you feel the Lord won't forgive you of?

I'm here to tell you today, that that feeling of condemnation you might have, comes from the devil, and not from the Lord!

Godly sorrow leads to REPENTANCE, which, I recommend, you do immediately!

If you find yourself in this position, and you feel that I'm talking to you, it's the Holy Spirit talking to you, and He wants to restore you, and restore your fellowship with the Trinity, just like Peter.

Come back home today.

God's waiting for you, with open arms! (Luke 15:20)

The notion was quite amusing to me–that is, the notion of such an imaginary bumper sticker. But maybe it’s not all that funny after all.
Picture this:
“My child is an honor student at Sodom Elementary.”
Funny thought, but actually it’s not very humorous at all!
And yet, let me ask you the question:
Does your child attend Sodom Elementary?
Genesis chapter 19 makes the following observation:
Now before they lay down, the men of the city, the men of Sodom, both old and young, all the people from every quarter, surrounded the house. (Genesis 19:4 NKJV)
Where did the young learn this deviant behavior?
I would venture to say, at Sodom Elementary!
Here’s my warning to you today:
Sodom Elementary has now franchised, and is teaching its doctrine all over the world!
Children today at Sodom E are being taught that to be homosexual is perfectly acceptable–matter of fact, that people are born this way.
However God says,
“Therefore God also gave them up to uncleanness, in the lusts of their hearts, to dishonor their bodies among themselves, who exchanged the truth of God for the lie, and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen. For this reason God gave them up to vile passions. For even their women exchanged the natural use for what is against nature. Likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust for one another, men with men committing what is shameful, and receiving in themselves the penalty of their error which was due. 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…” (Romans 1:24-28 NKJV)
God is trying to warn you today, this is the reward for graduating Sodom Elementary.
If you do not turn and repent of your sins, than you will die in your sins.
“…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.” (Romans 1:32 NKJV)
There is a spiritual war going on for the souls of your children!
I just wanted to remind you of this!
Take your kids out of Sodom Elementary! This is a school that you do NOT want a diploma from!

26 For this reason God gave them up to shameful lusts; for even their women exchanged the natural use for that which is contrary to nature, 27 and likewise also the men, having forsaken the natural use of the woman, were inflamed by their lust for one another, men with men, committing what is shameful, and receiving in themselves the recompense which was fitting for their error.

This is the last part of a 3 part study. Please listen to the other 2 first.

There is more to homosexuals than meets the eye.

There's more to homosexuals than meets the eye. Please listen to these 3 programs, in order.

Part 2 of 3.

Part 1 of 3. Please don't miss any of these, and listen to them in order.