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2 Peter 2:17-19 These are wells without water, clouds that are carried with a tempest; to whom the mist of darkness is reserved for ever. (18) For when they speak great swelling words of vanity, they allure through the lusts of the flesh, through much wantonness, those that were clean escaped from them who live in error. (19) While they promise them liberty, they themselves are the servants of corruption: for of whom a man is overcome, of the same is he brought in bondage. (KJV)
Just a word of warning Church; the people who are being mentioned in the above verses are those that are standing in pulpits today, claiming to be delivering a message of liberty and freedom; you know like worshipping our Lord in Spirit and in truth? Be forewarned that, this same message of warning is getting repeated throughout your Bibles so that you don’t end up like the many who didn’t take heed to the warnings throughout. Psalms 108:12-13 Give us help from trouble: for vain is the help of man. (13) Through God we shall do valiantly: for he it is that shall tread down our enemies. (KJV) God does have people today, howbeit a small remnant left, that seek their help from above, and who are not looking to man to find solutions. Mankind can only give a temporal answer and a quick fix that will never last, while God will provide a solid foundation to build on so that in a time of trouble and storms you won’t be blown away. Jeremiah 17:5-7 Thus saith the LORD; Cursed be the man that trusteth in man, and maketh flesh his arm, and whose heart departeth from the LORD. (6) For he shall be like the heath in the desert, and shall not see when good cometh; but shall inhabit the parched places in the wilderness, in a salt land and not inhabited. (7) Blessed is the man that trusteth in the LORD, and whose hope the LORD is. (KJV) If you try to hold to man, in the end you will find that they will eventually let you down because they are human; you know, the infallible ones that sin and fall short? The arm of the Lord is never too short to save and deliver you in a time of trouble and need, and is always there when needed as well. Psalms 127:1-2 Except the LORD build the house, they labour in vain that build it: except the LORD keep the city, the watchman waketh but in vain. (2) It is vain for you to rise up early, to sit up late, to eat the bread of sorrows: for so he giveth his beloved sleep. (KJV) You know, you are the house of the Lord, and one that He expects to be standing, not blown over or burnt to a crisp. So what is all the fussing and pouting about, as verse two alludes to, that caused you not to sleep? Sounds like someone entered the realm of vanity, pursuing something that leads to a dead end instead of taking a hold of the life of God and having that in abundance. Colossians 2:8-10 Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ. (9) For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily. (10) And ye are complete in him, which is the head of all principality and power: (KJV) Simply put, if Christ is not involved in a situation then neither should you be, because in the end we are either with Him or against Him which as we see summed up this week is referred to as being vain and vanity. In conclusion, another word that rhymes with vanity is the word insanity, like people who keep doing carnal vain repetitions and then expect something Spiritual to result. Do know that you can go back and look up the words vain and vanity as well, and see how many other times these words come up throughout the Bible. These studies are intended to give you an overview and direction, so please continue in the faith. God bless Church and have a prosperous day in Christ Jesus our Lord. John 4:22-24 Ye worship ye know not what: we know what we worship: for salvation is of the Jews. (23) But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him. (24) God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth. (KJV)
Vanity vanity all is vanity when it is outside the realm of the Spirit and in the flesh. Without faith it is impossible to please God; because you won’t be on the path of life that He ordained for you, rather you will be walking a dead end trail that leads to a ditch with all the other religious people who were following the blind guy in front of them. Romans 1:20-23 For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse: (21) Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened. (22) Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools, (23) And changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and fourfooted beasts, and creeping things. (KJV) Do take note of the fact that mankind is without excuse concerning God and His plan of salvation. His plan for each and every one of us is there for the taking, and some day we will have to give a personal account of what we did with that plan. Salvation is not like a group rate, where God will judge you by the church organization that you attend; rather it is something personal for you to grab onto and not let go of, like a lifeline to keep you from drowning. As we see above, many change their attention from a Spiritual God and back to carnal things hoping to find the answer, which for them results in a vain search. 1 Peter 1:18-20 Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers; (19) But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot: (20) Who verily was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you, (KJV) Oh, and please for your own sakes don’t be taken in by these false prophets who equate salvation with gold and silver; you know, like the more you give the more you get. Too much of that junk has gotten past many people’s spiritual radars, and they are getting hit with a direct fiery dart in the form of, pity party guilt sermons concerning their own love of money and where they fell from grace and back into disgrace, vanity. Ephesians 5:6-8 Let no man deceive you with vain words: for because of these things cometh the wrath of God upon the children of disobedience. (7) Be not ye therefore partakers with them. (8) For ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord: walk as children of light: (KJV) It’s up to you personally to exercise your Spiritual senses and know the difference between what is vain and carnal, and what is in Spirit and in truth. Oh, and once you realize the truth, that is the time that you should be heading for the exit and not patting them on the back and supporting them in their folly. Romans 10:2-4 For I bear them record that they have a zeal of God, but not according to knowledge. (3) For they being ignorant of God's righteousness, and going about to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God. (4) For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone that believeth. (KJV) The problem with the old law and those that are still holding to it (you know like when they claim that you need to get dunked in water), is that when you hold to the law as well as support those that still hold to it, well along with that law comes the curse also. Christ is the end of all those old silly outdated rituals, as well as the curse of the old law, but only when you choose to please Him and not the congregation; that would be considered in the vain and empty column, one that you don’t want your name written in. God bless and have a prosperous day in Christ Jesus our Lord. Ecclesiastes 1:2-4 Vanity of vanities, saith the Preacher, vanity of vanities; all is vanity. (3) What profit hath a man of all his labour which he taketh under the sun? (4) One generation passeth away, and another generation cometh: but the earth abideth for ever. (KJV)
The preacher that wrote these verses was one of the wisest preachers of the Old Testament, that being Solomon the son of David. A man who had above and beyond what any man could ask for, in the end had left us with one conclusion, it’s all vanity. So with that being said, what was the first thing you sought today; something that you thought would satisfy the outward man, or did you look within the word of God to feed that inner man? Proverbs 27:19-20 As in water face answereth to face, so the heart of man to man. (20) Hell and destruction are never full; so the eyes of man are never satisfied. (KJV) While watching some football over the weekend, it’s amazing to see young healthy people running head on into other healthy young people, then asking yourself why? Just like looking into water, no matter how many times you look into it you will get the same reflection. No matter how many times man looks to outward things, thinking that it will ever satisfy, well in the end they get the same result, an upside down smile looking back their way. Psalms 39:4-6 LORD, make me to know mine end, and the measure of my days, what it is; that I may know how frail I am. (5) Behold, thou hast made my days as an handbreadth; and mine age is as nothing before thee: verily every man at his best state is altogether vanity. Selah. (6) Surely every man walketh in a vain shew: surely they are disquieted in vain: he heapeth up riches, and knoweth not who shall gather them. (KJV) Hey how about these people that spend their time here on earth so that they can leave some legacy, wow what a waste of time. God sent us His Son who left us an eternal legacy, to any and all that would call upon His name. It’s when you really realize just how weak and frail you are according to your strength is when you will be able to experience some results that go above and beyond what you could have ever thought or asked for. Psalms 94:11-12 The LORD knoweth the thoughts of man, that they are vanity. (12) Blessed is the man whom thou chastenest, O LORD, and teachest him out of thy law; (KJV) You know, when the Lord asks you to step out of your comfort zones and into a new realm of faith do know that it is for your benefit, so that you can experience a deeper more loving and intimate relationship with Him. Basically what the Lord is saying to you is that your ways and thoughts have become outdated, and if continued will be considered vanity. God bless dearly loved and let your thoughts be established from above where Christ sits at the right hand side of God continually being renewed in the spirit of your mind so that nothing in your walk becomes a vain repetition. Have a prosperous day in Christ Jesus our Lord. John 6:63-64 It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life. (64) But there are some of you that believe not. For Jesus knew from the beginning who they were that believed not, and who should betray him. (KJV)
Take note of how far our own thoughts and ways will get us concerning the kingdom of God and our walk with Him. The first word that comes to mind is the word vain; someone who is empty, void, and not of much help concerning salvation. The point is that the more we can get our own thoughts and ways out of the equation, the more we allow the Lord to take over and fill the void so that we can avoid running and laboring in vain. 1 Corinthians 3:5-8 Who then is Paul, and who is Apollos, but ministers by whom ye believed, even as the Lord gave to every man? (6) I have planted, Apollos watered; but God gave the increase. (7) So then neither is he that planteth any thing, neither he that watereth; but God that giveth the increase. (8) Now he that planteth and he that watereth are one: and every man shall receive his own reward according to his own labour. (KJV) It’s interesting to note of what Paul thought of himself; that being, a man that God used to write a good portion of the epistles, written to the Church. In fact when referring to himself as well as others that God may speak through, he says that man is not really anything compared to God and His wisdom. I see and hear so ‘few’ today who are less concerned with building up a following, and more concerned with building up the followers in Christ. 1 Corinthians 13:1-3 Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal. (2) And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing. (3) And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not charity, it profiteth me nothing. (KJV) Once again we see that nothing much is really happening when man takes over and tries to impress the people more than pleasing our Lord. Many people are drawn to certain big name messengers rather than the message itself which is supposed to be coming from our Lord. A true messenger of God is one where the people are pointed more to the Lord and less to the person. 1 Corinthians 13:4-5 Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up, (5) Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil; (KJV) Those that are truly called of God, and who are delivering His message of love will do it in a humble loving manner rather than some loud boisterous outward gaudy show. 2 Corinthians 12:10-11 Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ's sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong. (11) I am become a fool in glorying; ye have compelled me: for I ought to have been commended of you: for in nothing am I behind the very chiefest apostles, though I be nothing. (KJV) Remember that thing about ‘the first being last and the last first’? Well, Paul realized that when he put others first, then that is the doctrine that will last with the Lord; anything else is just vanity. God bless dearly loved and have a prosperous day in Christ Jesus our Lord. Philippians 2:14-16 Do all things without murmurings and disputings: (15) That ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world; (16) Holding forth the word of life; that I may rejoice in the day of Christ, that I have not run in vain, neither laboured in vain. (KJV)
This week we will focus on a word that appears throughout the Bible, something that takes place more than we realize, thus the warnings. The word ‘vain’ refers to empty or worthless; devoid of truth was also mentioned. Now church in Christ, you really wouldn’t want to go through this life living what you thought was truth only to find out at the end that it was all in vain would you? 1 Corinthians 15:57-58 But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. (58) Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord. (KJV) There are many winds of man’s doctrines blowing about this earth, especially in these last days, where we are warned about the deception that will take place with mankind being deceived, then deceiving others as well. Unless one stays grounded and settled in the truth, letting the peace of God rule in their lives, they will end up like a wind vain, pointing people in the direction of the wind instead of the shelter that our Lord provided. Matthew 15:7-9 Ye hypocrites, well did Esaias prophesy of you, saying, (8) This people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth, and honoureth me with their lips; but their heart is far from me. (9) But in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men. (KJV) The best way that I could describe the above verses is easily summed up with the term religion; where man puts up an empty outward show in the flesh but is void of truth on the inside. ‘Oh it’s those weird cults, where they dress different and live in communes; it is those who are the vain ones’, thus many think. Whatsoever is not of faith is in the realm of sin; so if it didn’t come from our Lord’s mouth to your ears of hearing, then you are wasting your time. 1 Corinthians 15:12-14 Now if Christ be preached that he rose from the dead, how say some among you that there is no resurrection of the dead? (13) But if there be no resurrection of the dead, then is Christ not risen: (14) And if Christ be not risen, then is our preaching vain, and your faith is also vain. (KJV) Christ did arise from the dead some two thousand years ago, and the question that He has for His people today is, how many or should I say how few are allowing Him to resurrect within them today? Many keep the Lord buried and left for dead when they depart from the faith and return to vain, worthless, empty doctrines of man. Dearly loved be steadfast in the faith and continue in the doctrine of Christ and be not moved from it. God bless and have a prosperous day in Christ Jesus our Lord. |
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