September 6, 2022 -- II Peter 2:1 -- Jesus the True Teacher and Master
/But false prophets also arose among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you, who will secretly bring in destructive heresies, even denying the Master who bought them, bringing upon themselves swift destruction.
II Peter 2:1 ESV
As one who visits in prison, bringing the Gospel, I can assure you this passage is accurate. There are many false prophets who seek to dissuade the believers from continuing to believe in Jesus Christ—the Master Who bought them. There are many reasons for this.
The Devil hates it when a man is captured by Christ, where this man is denying himself in order to follow Jesus. There will be many fierce temptations back to old sins and old slavery.
Most of those who are in charge of prison programming and schedules do not believe there is ultimate Truth. Religion—whether it is Wiccan, or Islam, Buddhism or Christianity, Jehovah’s Witnesses or any other group—must conform to the pattern set by the prison without reference to any truth claim.
Christians must not proselytize—that is, Christians may not actively seek to make converts out of non-Christians. However, while I am serving in prison, the JW’s have actively pursued newly believing Christians and drawn them away from Christianity—leading such to deny the Master, Jesus, and His deity. In another recent instance, one man who was a Baptist was catechized to believe his faith is wrong and he was later baptized as a Roman Catholic.
Presently the lingering effects of Covid has the impact that many prisons have limited access to those who desire to attend chapel or Bible Study Groups. The prison population is divided into cohorts, so there is not a general mixing of the whole population. This means for 6 to 8 weeks Christians in one cohort may not attend, because they are not part of the group that is permitted to attend.
The environment of prison is not conducive to maintaining one’s faith on one’s own. The fact is, Christians no matter where they live, are called to meet together, to look to Jesus, the Author and Perfector of our faith. Thanks be to God for the privilege I have, along with many, many other Christians, to bring the Gospel to those whose hearts thirst for Christ, the well of salvation.
Ask yourself today, what teachings are you receiving, via podcasts or social media, which are detrimental to your faith. Any teaching which does not proclaim Jesus Christ as fully human and fully divine, the One and Only Way to the Father, is not in fact Christian. Ask yourself today, as school begins, what is my teacher or professor’s bias? Is this teacher an opponent to Christian faith? Parents, make sure you are following up with your children on this so that the very things you are seeking to instill in your children are not undermined 40 hours a week by school.
Get to church—one that preaches the whole Bible and God as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
Stay connected to God as you read your Bible daily.
Pray—have formal times of prayer and informal times during the day so that you recognize the LORD your God hears you, wherever you are. He is as near as a sigh or a prayer. Pray for those who are incarcerated, that God will continue to make a way open for those who are bringing the Gospel.
Encourage other believers. Wherever you are, in prison or at work, in school or at coffee time with friends, proclaim Jesus Christ and Him as Lord to the glory of the Father. The Spirit will lead you to other believers who need Him, who you can encourage and by spending time with them will encourage you.
Worship God. Thank Him for all the blessings He has given you. Confess you sins, including your tendency to wander form Him and acknowledge how often He brings you back to Himself.
Ask your questions. If you are struggling about certain bible issues or questions, find a Christian whose faith you admire and get your questions answered so that you will continue to grow in the glorious knowledge of Jesus Christ—Who by the powerful presence of His Spirit living in you, will one day, present you without spot or blemish before the Father in heaven.
Faithful God, You have promised in Your Word that Your divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him Who called us to His Own glory and excellence. Increase the faith of Your servants by the work of Your Spirit. Let the knowledge of Jesus Christ and His victories roll through our land to the honour and praise our Your Name, Father of Glory. Amen.
(the first sentence of this prayer is based on II Peter 1:3)
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