Notes and Ideas from this Sunday's sermon

The deceitfulness of deceit is that the one being deceived has no idea that they are being deceived. Deceit isn't something you see. In fact, it's what you don't see that messes you up! That is why deceit is so terrible. If you don't know what you don't know, then how will you ever know it?

Deceit can make people believe things that are not true. Since they do not know the truth, they will believe anything that "seems" true, or whatever they just happen to like or think sounds good. But God isn't interested in what "seems" true, what you think you like or what "sounds" good. Taking a month off of work to go to Miami Beach sounds good. Forget work, leave the kids at home, don't worry about the bills and the pets. A month at the beach sounds good! But when you get back the truth is that your house will be a wreck, your kids and pets will be gone and starving and you probably will not have a job to return to (if you work for any type of corporation) and your bills will be twice as much with all your late fees attached.
We can't just live life on the fly. You can't just do things without thinking and more importantly praying about what you're doing and why you're doing it. Even if you know "why" you're doing something do you really know the inner motivation and purposes behind it? The deep reasons and goals?

1Peter 1:6-11
6 Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need be, ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations:

7 That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ:

8 Whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory:

9 Receiving the end of your faith, even the salvation of your souls.

10 Of which salvation the prophets have enquired and searched diligently, who prophesied of the grace that should come unto you:

11 Searching what, or what manner of time the Spirit of Christ which was in them did signify, when it testified beforehand the sufferings of Christ, and the glory that should follow.

...Note verse 9...

In the Holy Bible the father Israel's original name was Jacob, and he earned his new name in God - because God caught him in his craftiness, yet because of his intelligence and faith God showed favor on him, and He blessed him. God turns things that are bad into good- all the time. He makes all things new. I recently read somewhere that when God makes you a new creature- it doesn't mean the He makes a better version of the old you- It means He miraculously creates a new person out of the old, and I can testify to that because I am nothing like what I used to be. I am completely new, and He is still transforming me. In the article where I read this, the author also said that the butterfly is a representation of this miraculous transformation that happens in a born again believer's life. When a caterpillar goes into it's cocoon, it literally dies and becomes mush- and then a transformation takes place, and at the right and appropriate time, a beautiful new creature emerges, a butterfly! Butterflies are true reminders that our God is a miracle working God.

2Corinthians 5:17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!

This is Great News!!! :)
This is post script, I just want to acknowledge that this message began and ended on two totally different topics, but since it starts with deceit and ends with a new creation, and a miracle and butterflies, I'm going to say it's all good and I pray my readers get the message and are blessed :) Praise the LORD!
Much Love and Respect to the church and my friends in the faith and love of our Lord Jesus Christ.


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