Rightly Dividing God’s Word Part 3

Posted on November 29, 2022 by bibleteacherorg
Photo by Mat Brown: https://www.pexels.com/photo/silhouette-of-wind-vane-552600/

Turn with me in your Bibles to:

2 Timothy 2:15 Study to shew thyself approved {δόκιμος dokimos} unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing {ὀρθοτομέω orthotomeō} the word of truth.

The Apostle tells us that we are to prove the genuineness of our salvation through study of God’s Word. But we are not to just take scriptures singularly or out of context. We are to “rightly divide” the Scripture, a word that means “to handle aright, to teach the truth directly and correctly”. When the Scripture is not “rightly divided”, when Bible verses are read out of Scriptural or historic context, problems occur. For instance, some people quote:

2 Peter 3:8 beloved, be not ignorant of this one thing, that one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day.

and use this to support Evolutionary Theory. They say, “This proves the earth is millions of years old just as Evolutionary Scientists teach”. Hogwash! When we study the Bible, we will see that God created all things within a six day, 24 hour day. If you disbelieve this, you disbelieve the Bible.

“Rightly dividing” the Scripture reads the Bible verse in context. What is around the text of 2 Peter 3:8? Peter is addressing those unbelievers who say:

2 Peter 3:3 Knowing this first, that there shall come in the last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts, 4 And saying, Where is the promise of his coming? for since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation. 5 For this they willingly are ignorant of, that by the word of God the heavens were of old, and the earth standing out of the water and in the water: 6 Whereby the world that then was, being overflowed with water, perished: 7 But the heavens and the earth, which are now, by the same word are kept in store, reserved unto fire against the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men.

These unbelievers, “scoffers”, say “We’ve heard that God is coming again. If He is, then why does He linger?” Peter tells us that God does all things according to His timetable, not according to ours. God is eternal. What God promised – like the Noahic Flood – God will accomplish in His time.

Context Teaches Us What Applies To Our Lives

Illustrate: It seems as if you can hardly turn on the television without seeing someone push one of the following:

Transgenderism or Gender Dysphoria
Same Sex Marriage (LGBTQ2S+)
Heterosexuality outside of traditional marriage
Polygamy or Polyamorous Relationships

I am told that there are 57 different genders that a person could be – though that number is debated (for anything not of God can be confusing – 1 Corinthians 14:33). Most of the confusion could be cleared up if people would believe God and read His Bible! Turn with me to Genesis chapter 1. The first five books of the Bible are written by Moses as he was inspired by God (Jesus spoke of this in Mark 1:44; 7:10; 10:3; 12:19; Luke 16:29; Et al.). The Law of God to Israel was written by Moses – again, as God directed. In three parts, the Mosaic Law had moral codes that were to all people, social codes that were to Israel alone, and ceremonial codes that were temporary shadows or teachings of the coming Christ.

Though not all of the Mosaic Law applies to anyone but Israel, Moses also wrote the Creation Account which precedes the creation of Israel, and applies to ALL PEOPLE.

How do we KNOW that God created all things in six – 24 hour days? We know from the Creation Account of Genesis. Read with me:

Genesis 1:5 And the evening and the morning were the first day.
Genesis 1:8 And the evening and the morning were the second day.
Genesis 1:13 And the evening and the morning were the third day.
Genesis 1:19 And the evening and the morning were the fourth day.
Genesis 1:23 And the evening and the morning were the fifth day.

The phrases “ evening and evening” are normal language for a 24 hour day. God created everything but the land creatures on the first five days. On the sixth day God spoke into creation the land creature out of the soil of the earth:

Genesis 1:24 Let the earth bring forth the living creature after his kind, cattle, and creeping thing, and beast of the earth after his kind: and it was so.

All creatures were spoken into being by ‘ĕlōhîm – except mankind. Mankind was MADE or MANUFACTURED by God.

Genesis 1:26-27 And God {‘ĕlōhîm} said, Let us make {ʻâsâh, aw-saw’, to manufacture} man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth. 27 So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them

Word Study: Chapter one tells us that humanity was deliberately made or manufactured by ‘ĕlōhîm – this being the Triune Name of God. God is an OUR and a US in our creation. God is Triune or a Trinity, and all of God was involved in our creation. God says to Himself:

Let us make {ʻâsâh, aw-saw’, to manufacture} man
in our image, after our likeness

God is One God in three Persons – Father, Son, and Spirit – a Compound Unity. “Man” is in God’s image, and is a compound unity like God is. Genesis Chapter 2 is a periscope that gives us more information on the creation of humanity:

Genesis 2:7 And the Lord {Yᵊhōvâ} God {‘ĕlōhîm} formed man {‘āḏām} of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul.

“Yᵊhōvâ ‘ĕlōhîm” created man by breathing into Adam life. He did not do this with animals. After the breath of God entered Adam, he became “a living soul”. Only man has a living soul. God created man distinctly different than the other creatures because man was to rule creation:

Genesis 1:28-30 And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it: and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth. 29 And God said, Behold, I have given you every herb bearing seed, which is upon the face of all the earth, and every tree, in the which is the fruit of a tree yielding seed; to you it shall be for meat. 30 And to every beast of the earth, and to every fowl of the air, and to every thing that creepeth upon the earth, wherein there is life, I have given every green herb for meat: and it was so.

Though creatures have life, they do not have the image of God. Humanity was told to “Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it: and have dominion”. Mankind, not animal-kind, was given orders to follow.

Genesis 2:15-19 And the Lord God took the man, and put him into the garden of Eden to dress it and to keep it. 16 And the Lord God commanded the man, saying, Of every tree of the garden thou mayest freely eat: 17 But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die. 18 And the Lord God said, It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him an help meet for him. 19 And out of the ground the Lord God formed every beast of the field, and every fowl of the air; and brought them unto Adam to see what he would call them: and whatsoever Adam called every living creature, that was the name thereof.

Adam was created BEFORE Eve. God gave Adam very specific instructions – commands – and told him what would occur in he, Adam, disobeyed. It was only after Adam was given these instructions that we read that woman was created.

Genesis 2:21-24 And the Lord God caused a deep sleep to fall upon Adam, and he slept: and he took one of his ribs, and closed up the flesh instead thereof; 22 And the rib, which the Lord God had taken from man, made he a woman, and brought her unto the man. 23 And Adam said, This is now bone of my bones, and flesh of my flesh: she shall be called Woman, because she was taken out of Man. 24 Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh.

Why wasn’t Eve formed of the dust of the ground as was Adam? Because Man and Woman are in “The Image of God”. Within the Godhead, the Father leads the Trinity, whereas the Son and the Spirit follow.

Father, Son, and Spirit are co equal in worth and in Godhood
– but the Father leads the Compound Unity called the Trinity.

Woman is equal in value to man, and BOTH woman and man were commissioned to “Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it: and have dominion”.

Just as the Father leads the Trinity, Man leads in the Marriage.

The Pattern of Creation Precedes The Mosaic Law

Though we know that the Mosaic Law largely applies to Israel alone, the Design of God in creation precedes the creation of the nation of Israel. What God designed in the Garden of Eden is a pattern that applies to ALL people today. Rightly dividing the Word of Truth helps us to understand this. When someone asks the question:

“Why don’tyou believe inordaining women Pastors?”

my answer is simply, “Because of God’s design in creation”. Man and woman are of equal value in the eyes of God. Yet in a Compound Unity, one must lead. God created man to lead in the marital union. Some have suggested that this policy only applied while in the Garden of Eden. Yet the Apostle Paul applied the creation account to the Church itself.

1 Timothy 2:11-15 Let the woman learn in silence with all subjection. 12 But I {do not allow} a woman to teach, nor to usurp authority over the man, but to be in silence. 13 For Adam was first formed, then Eve. 14 And Adam was not deceived, but the woman being deceived was in the transgression. 15 Notwithstanding she shall be saved in childbearing, if they continue in faith and charity and holiness with sobriety.

In our modern age you might be tempted to call Paul misogynistic (a woman hater). You would be wrong. In Romans we read:

R omans 16:1-5 I commend unto you Phebe our sister, which is a servant of the church which is at Cenchrea: 2 That ye receive her in the Lord, as becometh saints, and that ye assist her in whatsoever business she hath need of you: for she hath been a succourer of many, and of myself also. 3 Greet Priscilla and Aquila my helpers in Christ Jesus: 4 Who have for my life laid down their own necks: unto whom not only I give thanks, but also all the churches of the Gentiles. 5 Likewise greet the church that is in their house. …

Paul was not a woman hater, but commended women who worked with him in ministry. Yet Paul is careful to affirm the Divine Design of Genesis 1-2 of the marital union. Within the marital relationship, the man is to instruct and guide his wife in the Word and Will of God. The statements that we see above relate to Adam and Eve, or the bonds of marriage.

God demands that man be the leader in the marriage.

The Divine Design of the Garden translates to the leadership of the Church itself. Paul wrote:

1 Timothy 3:1-7 This is a true saying, if a man desire the office of a bishop {ἐπισκοπή episkopē, the office of the Overseer}, he desireth a good work. 2 A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, vigilant, sober, of good behaviour, given to hospitality, apt to teach; 3 Not given to wine, no striker, not greedy of filthy lucre; but patient, not a brawler, not covetous; 4 One that ruleth well his own house, having his children in subjection with all gravity; 5 (For if a man know not how to rule his own house, how shall he take care of the church of God?) 6 Not a novice, lest being lifted up with pride he fall into the condemnation of the devil. 7 Moreover he must have a good report of them which are without; lest he fall into reproach and the snare of the devil.

The “episkopē” or the Office of the Overseer or Pastor is limited to men who are mature in the faith, and the husband of but one wife. Furthermore, the “episkopē” or Overseer must “rule well his own house”or his family. The question is asked:

For if a man know not how to rule his own house,
how shall he take care of the church of God?

I have known young men who wanted to move into the office of Pastor who were disqualified because they did not lead their families. A man who will not lovingly lead in marriage is not needed in the Pastorate. It is the call of men to lead. Paul told the Pastors at Ephesus:

Acts 20:28 Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood.

Deacons likewise are expected to lovingly lead and serve their families:

1 Timothy 3:8-13 Likewise must the deacons be grave, not doubletongued, not given to much wine, not greedy of filthy lucre; 9 Holding the mystery of the faith in a pure conscience. 10 And let these also first be proved; then let them use the office of a deacon, being found blameless. 11 Even so must their wives be grave, not slanderers, sober, faithful in all things. 12 Let the deacons be the husbands of one wife, ruling their children and their own houses well. 13 For they that have used the office of a deacon well purchase to themselves a good degree, and great boldness in the faith which is in Christ Jesus.

Deacons are to be the husbands of one wife, and leaders in their family. This is based on the design of God in creation. Again, both man and woman is of equal worth. However, in the marital relationship, the man is to lovingly lead and the wife to lovingly follow his leadership.

The Effect Of Poor Leadership In Marriage
Led To The Fall Of Humanity

The Covenant that God made with Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden is called “The Edenic Covenant”. As long as man led his family to love God, then the family would enjoy the blessings of Paradise. Both man and woman are called to together oversee God’s creation, and man was to lead in this oversight. What caused the fall of man from Paradise? Man failed to protect creation and to lead and protect his family. The Serpent (Satan, that Old Serpent – see Revelation 12:9; 20:2) came into the Garden. He came to Eve, not Adam and asked:

Genesis 3:1 Now the serpent was more subtil than any beast of the field which the Lord God had made. And he said unto the woman, Yea, hath God said, Ye shall not eat of every tree of the garden?

The Devil came into the marriage, and tested Adam and Eve. Did Adam lead in the marriage when challenged by Satan? No. We read:

Genesis 3:6 And when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree to be desired to make one wise, she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat, and gave also unto her husband with her; and he did eat.

Adam was with Eve while Satan was tempting her. The Bible says that the husband is to

E phesians 5:25-27 Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it; 26 That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word, 27 That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish.

Husbands must lead in the family. The reason that children grow up to be adults who are confused sexually is because they grew up in a household that did not follow Divine Design. The way to blessing is to do as God directs, to be as God has made you. Do not fall for the trap that Satan has set before America.

May God the Holy Spirit guide you to the truths of God’s Word. Amen and Amen!

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Let Us Be Light

Posted on November 27, 2022 by bibleteacherorg
Photo by Jonathan Petersson: https://www.pexels.com/photo/brown-and-green-grass-field-during-sunset-1237119/

Isaiah 49:6b … I will also give thee for a light to the Gentiles, that thou mayest be my salvation unto the end of the earth.

This was the focus of the 2022 Annual Meeting of the Tennessee Baptist Convention. We stopped frequently throughout the Convention to pray that God’s Holy Spirit would move on us, on our churches, and on our nation. The theme of our convention was:

Across the Streets
Across the States
Across the Seas

The Convention Scripture is the one we started our message with today, a portion of Isaiah 49:6. So I thought I’d preach on that tonight, and on the faithfulness of our God.

We Must Not Be Discouraged, For God Is Faithful

Isaiah lived in a particularly bad time in Israel’s history, some 700 years before Christ would be born of the Virgin Mary. Israel has divided into Northern and Southern Israel. The Ten Northern Tribes of Israel has established their own worship system apart from the Temple of God in Jerusalem. As Israel drifted away from the Word of God, she began to worship false gods and goddesses, contrary to the command of God their Savior.

Isaiah was raised up of God to do His will, to preach repentance to a people that would not repent. Yet God wanted Israel to know that He was not done with His people. But before He could assure Israel, God had to assure Isaiah. Isaiah’s ministry was very discouraging. The words we see above are not addressed to Israel, but to Isaiah. Though the TBC {Tennessee Baptist Convention} only quoted part of the text, let’s read the WHOLE text:

Isaiah 49:6 And {God} said, It is a light thing that thou shouldest be my servant to raise up the tribes of Jacob, and to restore the preserved of Israel: I will also give thee for a light to the Gentiles, that thou mayest be my salvation unto the end of the earth.

Word Study: Isaiah had begun to wonder if there was any hope for Israel, any hope for his ministry. But God told Isaiah “It is a light thing” that God raised up Isaiah. This is the Hebrew qâlal, {kaw-lal’}, which means “something very small and insignificant, a trifle, a feather’s touch”. The Lord told Isaiah, “What I did when calling you was so simple. If your calling was so simple, then I certainly can use you to reach the remnant of Israel”. What did God do in calling Isaiah? Isaiah said:

Isaiah 49:1 Listen, O isles, unto me; and hearken, ye people, from far; The Lord hath called me from the womb; from the bowels of my mother hath he made mention of my name.

God needed Isaiah to be His Prophet to Israel, and not just to Israel, but to the Gentiles. It was God’s plan to reach the Gentiles through Israel. This is what God promised Abraham, the Father of faith. He told him:

Genesis 12:2-3 … I will make of thee {Abraham} a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make thy name great; and thou shalt be a blessing: 3 And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee: and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed.

God would, from Abraham, make “a great nation” or Israel. This was God’s promise. “God is not a man, that He should lie”(Numbers 23:19). “Not ONE of ALL the Lord’s good PROMISES to Israel failed; every one WAS FULFILLED” (Joshua 21:45). “The Lord has done what he planned; he has fulfilled his word, which he decreed long ago” (Lamentations 2:17). God’s Word will always come to pass regardless as to the conditions of mankind. Isaiah was becoming depressed, discouraged. But God tells Isaiah, and tells us:

Galatians 6:9 … let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.

It was not Isaiah’s mama and daddy that made him a prophet to Israel. It was God. God called Isaiah to be a prophet to Israel before the sperm met the egg. He called Isaiah to be a prophet to Israel before his mama and daddy’s parents were even born. Isaiah is in the mind of God from eternity, and God’s will will be done.

Isaiah 49:2 And {God} hath made my mouth like a sharp sword; in the shadow of His hand hath He hid me, and made me a polished shaft; in His quiver hath He hid me;

When God called Moses to go to Pharaoh with the message, “Let My people go, that they may serve Me in the wilderness”, Moses told God:

Exodus 4:10 O my Lord, I am not eloquent, neither heretofore, nor since thou hast spoken unto thy servant: but I am slow of speech, and of a slow tongue.

God told Moses,

Exodus 4:11-12 … Who hath made man’s mouth? or who maketh the dumb, or deaf, or the seeing, or the blind? have not I the Lord? 12 Now therefore go, and I will be with thy mouth, and teach thee what thou shalt say.

It is God Who raises up the Prophet and the People. It is God Who will give Isaiah the Word to speak. God did not want Isaiah to fear man, but to trust Him. “In the shadow of His hand hath He hid me”.

Isaiah is to be AVAILABLE to God, resting in God’s hand.

Isaiah is but an ARROW, something to be pulled from God’s quiver, and notched on God’s bow. Isaiah could not control the direction he was to be shot, nor the target that he would hit. Isaiah’s responsibility was to allow God to speak, allow God to use him, allow God to place him. Isaiah struggled with his worth. We see the struggle in:

Isaiah 49:3-4 And {God} said unto me, Thou art my servant, O Israel, in whom I will be glorified. 4 Then I said, I have labored in vain, I have spent my strength for naught, and in vain: yet surely my judgment is with the Lord, and my work with my God.

Every servant of God struggles with self worth. The Apostle Paul, blessed man of God, wrote:

Romans 7:22-25 I delight in the law of God after the inward man: 23 But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members. 24 O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death? 25 I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord. So then with the mind I myself serve the law of God; but with the flesh the law of sin.

Struggle is part of the Christian way of life. God needed Isaiah to trust Him, and to do as He asked, to speak the Word that was given him. God told Isaiah that his calling was not in vain. Isaiah said:

Isaiah 49:5 And now, saith the Lord that formed me from the womb to be his servant, to bring Jacob again to him, Though Israel be not gathered, yet shall I be glorious in the eyes of the Lord, and my God shall be my strength.

Isaiah said that he would trust not what his eyes saw, but what His God said. What does the Scripture say that FAITH is?

Hebrews 11:1-2 Now FAITH is the substance of things HOPED for, the evidence of things NOT SEEN. 2 For by it the elders obtained a good report.

FAITH “must believe that GOD is, and that GOD is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.” (Hebrews 11:6). Faith follows God, trusting His will. We will not always see the harvest of what our faith planted.

Abraham never saw Israel, though he was promised Israel.
Moses never saw Israel take the Promised Land, though God promised they would.
Daniel saw the mouths of lions stopped, but never saw the Promised Messiah.
Isaiah will not see the restoration of Israel, but will be put in a hollow tree,
and sawn asunder under the orders of evil King Manasseh.


Isaiah’s name in Hebrew, yᵊšaʿyâ (pronounced yesh-ah-yaw’) means “Jehovah has Saved”. His promises are sure!

I had a dear pastor friend who years ago preached revival at a Church I shepherded. One thing he said stuck in my mind. He said, “When you do not understand what the hand of God allows, trust in the heart of God”. God loves His people. God loved His Israel in the Old Testament under the Old Covenant, and loves His Church today under the New Covenant. God tells Isaiah:

Isaiah 49:8-10 Thus saith the Lord, In an acceptable time have I heard thee, and in a day of salvation have I helped thee: and I will preserve thee, and give thee for a covenant of the people, to establish the earth, to cause to inherit the desolate heritages; 9 That thou mayest say to the prisoners, Go forth; to them that are in darkness, Shew yourselves. They shall feed in the ways, and their pastures shall be in all high places. 10 They shall not hunger nor thirst; neither shall the heat nor sun smite them: for he that hath mercy on them shall lead them, even by the springs of water shall he guide them.

God had a long range plan in place. God was going to keep Israel from total destruction so that the Messiah could come to the world. The devil would do – and will do – all that he can to stop the plan of salvation. But God’s will will be done. The Apostle Paul would quote a portion of this passage in Isaiah to the Church at Corinth:

2 Corinthians 6:2 (For {God} saith, I have heard thee in a time accepted, and in the day of salvation have I succored thee: behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.)

God preserves His people so that we can share the glorious Gospel of Salvation through Christ Jesus. We are not preserved for our sake. We are preserved for the sake of the Gospel. God wanted Isaiah to know that – though it looked bleak – the Messiah was going to come. God was going to fulfill His plan of salvation.

God Will Not Abandon His People:
We Are Graven On His Hands

God will bring all of His Children home. His Children are not those who are just Jewish by blood, but His Children are those who look for and believe in the Messiah. Jesus told the Pharisees:

John 8:42-44 If God were your Father, ye would love me: for I proceeded forth and came from God; neither came I of myself, but he sent me. … Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do…

Those who belong to God’s True Israel love Jesus. They, like Abraham before them, saw Jesus as Messiah and rejoiced
(John 8:56)

True Israel believes on and follows God. The true Church believes on and follows the Lord. God tells us that “they are not all Israel, which are of Israel” (Romans 9:6). Being born a Jew will not save you. Being born again by faith in God WILL save you! God will call His Israel back to the land. He will bring Messiah through His Israel. He tells Isaiah:

Isaiah 49:12-15 Behold, these shall come from far: and, lo, these from the north and from the west; and these from the land of Sinim. 13 Sing, O heavens; and be joyful, O earth; and break forth into singing, O mountains: for the Lord hath comforted his people, and will have mercy upon his afflicted. 14 But Zion said, The Lord hath forsaken me, and my Lord hath forgotten me. 15 Can a woman forget her sucking child, that she should not have compassion on the son of her womb? yea, they may forget, yet will I not forget thee.

In our day many women murder their children through abortion, which is a sad truth in our “me too” America. I look for America to codify abortion into law, a truly abominable thing! Yet God will never forget His people. Though His people wandered away from Him, He loves them still. God will regather Israel. God will triumph in His Church!

God prophesies of the Messiah.

Isaiah 49:16 Behold, I have graven thee upon the palms of my hands; thy walls are continually before me.

Word Study: God told Isaiah, “I have graven thee upon the palms of my hands”. The word “” is the Hebrew châqaq, (pronounced khaw-kak’), which means “to cut in, to scribe, to cause a scar, to inscribe”. Verse 16 begins with “Behold”, a word of astonishment.

All of Heaven and Earth would not be astonished to see the name of God engraved on the palms of His hands, for His Name is Holy (Psalm 103:1). God is righteous, and God is right.

We would not be astonished to see the names of Michael the Arch Angel, or Gabriel the Arch Trumpeter of Heaven written on the palms of God’s hands. These angels, unlike Lucifer, have been faithful and true.

Yet the Lord has not written His own Name in His palms, nor the holy angels, but behold, He has written the names of those who have believed in Him in that wondrous place. Can you imagine that? When we compare ourselves with God we must say along with Bildad:

Job 25:4-6 How then can man be justified with God? or how can he be clean that is born of a woman? {5} Behold even to the moon, and it shineth not; yea, the stars are not pure in his sight. {6} How much less man, that is a worm? and the son of man, which is a worm?

We are nothing, yet our little faith causes Infinite God to do the unimaginable. “Behold, I have graven thee”. Note that we did not do this great thing, but God – in His infinite mercy – did this. It was not our goodness, our rituals, our prayers, or our tears that put us on God’s hands. It is merely that we did as He said. We REPENTED, and gave our broken lives to Him. We BELIEVED what God told us about Jesus.

Dear Christian, we live in some of the darkest days of America. And yet, do not give up. Trust in Him. Believe in Him! God loves to see the soul saved. Doesn’t the Scripture say:

Luke 15:7, 10 Joy shall be in Heaven over one sinner that repententh. There is joy in Heaven in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner that repententh.

In the history of eternity there has never been a time when God has forgiven an unpunished violation of His Law. Never! Never! Look in the palms of His hands and what do you see? Nail scars! Nail scars!

Galatians 3:13-14 Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree: {14} That the blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles through Jesus Christ; that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.

These terrible wounds, these graven marks cry out to you and to all the angels and saints of Heaven “It is finished”. You are graven in the palms of His hands. The holes there remind you that He paid your debt. He paid all of your debt. All that is you is in the palms of His hands. Your person, your works, your temptations, your weaknesses, your wants, your everything is graven in His hands. There are those who believe that a Christian may be saved one day, lost the next – what utter foolishness! It was God Who engraved you on the palms of His hands. It was Infinite and All Knowing God Who engraved you – knowing all about you – on the palms of His hands. It was infinite and never changing God Who engraved mortal you on His immortal hands. The Scripture tells us:

Hebrews 1:10-12 And, Thou, Lord, in the beginning hast laid the foundation of the earth; and the heavens are the works of thine hands: {11} They shall perish; but thou remainest; and they all shall wax old as doth a garment; {12} And as a vesture shalt thou fold them up, and they shall be changed: but thou art the same, and thy years shall not fail.

Illustrate: The works of God’s hands shall perish when He Himself remains. And you, dear believer, are graven in the palms of His hands. Make a fist with me. What is protected? It is the palm of your hands. We are graven on God’s palms. One day Jesus shall return to rule and reign on this earth. He will smite the enemy with His fists, and we shall be with Him. Yet as He smites, we are protected. God’s Children by faith are always protected.

The three Hebrew Children were protected, though cast in a fiery furnace.
The Shepherd David was protected, though he charged a giant with a rock and a sling.
Gideon threshed wheat in hiding, yet God used him and 300 men to defeat the enemy.

When the Church came together and preached the Gospel on the Day of Pentecost, it was not the strength of the Apostles nor the power of the 120 in the upper room that led many to salvation. It was that God’s people went into that upper room and prayed until the power of God came upon them. I’ll close with this text:

Acts 2:17 And it shall come to pass in the last days, saith God, I will pour out of my Spirit upon all flesh: and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams:

Let us not be discouraged, but trust in God and His power. Amen and Amen!

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Joy Not In Things, But In God

Posted on November 18, 2022 by bibleteacherorg
Photo by Rakicevic Nenad: https://www.pexels.com/photo/creative-photo-of-person-holding-glass-mason-jar-under-a-starry-sky-1274260/

People today find their joy in all the wrong places. In Psalm 100, one of my favorite, we see the Scripture telling us over and over to rejoice, to praise, to be happy, to be glad. The entire Psalm, meant to be sung in the Temple of God by a Cantor or Worship Leader, is one long praise. The song begins by telling us to give a cry of victory over the trials of life, then commands us to rejoice as we serve our God. Yes, the entire Psalm is about being happy, rejoicing, being satisfied beyond belief. Read with me:

Psalm 100 Make a joyful noise unto the Lord, all ye lands. 2 Serve the Lord with gladness: come before his presence with singing. 3 Know ye that the Lord he is God: it is he that hath made us, and not we ourselves; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture. 4 Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: be thankful unto him, and bless his name. 5 For the Lord is good; his mercy is everlasting; and his truth endureth to all generations.

Only The Saved Know Where Joy Comes From

C.H. Spurgeon wrote in his sermon “The Claims of God”:

BRETHREN, it is a trick of Satan to distract us from the most important and vital matters by the suggestion of trivial considerations. {That old Devil} will fill our eyes with dust to prevent our looking to the bronze serpent for healing; from the preaching of Jesus he endeavored to distract human attention by debates upon the tithing of mint, and anise, and cumin; the making broad of the borders of one’s garments; the wearing of phylacteries … {Satan} followed this method at Jacob’s well. When our Lord spoke to the {Samaritan} woman about living water, and the salvation of her soul, the evil spirit prompted her to {say,}“Our fathers worshiped in this mountain, and You say that in Jerusalem men ought to worship.” With this same art Satan still works!

The devil tried to do the same thing with our Lord Jesus Christ in the wilderness. The devil offered Jesus food, prestige, and power as avenues to joy. Jesus’ simple reply was, “It is written”.

Oh that we would learn from Jesus. Satan is destroying our nation through trivial and godless things, distractions from the most important truths. I am told that one political party made great gains in this last election because they capitalized on the anger generated by the Supreme Court overturning Roe vs Wade. Thank God it was overturned! People are upset because the Supreme Court has sent the question of legalized abortion back to the states, where it should have always been. One party has said that they will codify abortion into U.S. Law. Even if they do, people will not find joy in this. There is no joy in evil and selfishness. There is no genuine joy to be found in things.

Illustrate: I guarantee if you’re driving a Cadillac and I’m driving a beaten up Pontiac, if your Cadillac breaks down on the highway my working Pontiac will look better to you when I pass you stranded on the side of the road. Amen? A thing may bring joy, but if a thing – what the Bible calls an idol brings joy, that joy will only be temporary.

Joy is not in sin,
Joy is not in things.
Joy is not in technology.

Someone once jokingly said “money may not buy happiness, but it makes a good down payment on it”. No, my friend, money doesn’t even make a down payment on happiness. Money is the thing that drives the drug cartels, and money has caused more misery and death than you could imagine. Where is suicide most often found? Among the poor and struggling? No, but among the rich, the well to do. When struggling to survive you have purpose, and no person with a fixed purpose ever commits suicide. Purpose is life.

Psalm 100 Make a joyful noise unto the Lord, all ye lands.

The place where joy is found is in Yᵊhōvâ, our God. The Psalmist calls on “all ye lands” to sing praises to our Lord. In fact, this is a common command in the scripture. We read:

Psalm 98:4 Make a joyful noise to the Lord, all the earth; break forth into joyous song and sing praises!

Psalm 66:1 Shout for joy to God, all the earth;

Psalm 117:1-2 Praise the Lord, all nations! Extol him, all peoples! For great is his steadfast love toward us, and the faithfulness of the Lord endures forever. Praise the Lord!

Psalm 67:4 Let the nations be glad and sing for joy, for you judge the peoples with equity and guide the nations upon earth. Selah

Psalm 66:8 All the earth worships you and sings praises to you; they sing praises to your name.” Selah

The whole earth should praise God, and should look to Him for joy. Why? Because “God so loved the world that He gave His Only Begotten Son” (John 3:16). Jesus is “the Lamb of God that taketh away the SIN OF THE WORLD” (John 1:29). Jesus died for the sins of every person, male or female, and for every color and culture. There is no prejudice or “respect of persons” with Jesus. If you are broken, He died for you. If you are weak, He rose from the dead to lift you up.

Though the world does not today “Make a joyful noise unto the Lord”, there will be a day when this is true. God has promised to bring forth “new Heavens and a new earth” (Isaiah 65:17; 66:12). As Christians, we believe the promise of God. As the Chief Apostle said:

2 Peter 3:13 …. we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness.

Until Jesus comes, righteousness will not cover our earth. We wait for the fulfillment of John’s vision,

Revelation 21:2 the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.

When Jesus rules and reigns righteousness will
not be an intruder, but a welcome guest.

We who are saved will be face to face with Jesus. I am looking forward to that day when:

Revelation 21:4 God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.

Christian, Serve The Lord Where You Are WITH GLADNESS

Psalm 100:2 Serve the Lord with gladness: come before His presence with singing.

Today as believers under the New Covenant we should “Serve the Lord with gladness”. Notice that the Psalmist puts no conditions on serving God and gladness. He does not say,

“Serve the Lord with gladness if you’re rich”, or
“Serve the Lord with gladness if you’re in good health”, or
“Serve the Lord with gladness if you’re famous, or
“Serve the Lord with gladness if you’ve got a great job”

We want to put limitations on our service to God. But King David said:

Psalm 84:9-12 Behold, O God our shield, and look upon the face of thine anointed. 10 For a day in thy courts is better than a thousand. I had rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God, than to dwell in the tents of wickedness. 11 For the Lord God is a sun and shield: the Lord will give grace and glory: no good thing will he withhold from them that walk uprightly. 12 O Lord of hosts, blessed is the man that trusteth in thee.

King David was willing to serve God as a lowly guard at the door of God’s house. John Newton, a man who was an English Slave Trader, but on conversion was led by God into the ministry of Christ, once wrote:

“If two angels were to receive at the same moment a commission from God, one to go down and rule earth’s grandest empire, the other to go and sweep the streets of its meanest village, it would be a matter of entire indifference to each which service fell to his lot, the post of ruler or the post of scavenger; for the joy of the angels lies only in obedience to God’s will, and with equal joy they would lift a Lazarus in his rags to Abraham’s bosom, or be a chariot of fire to carry an Elijah home.”

John Newton would later write the words of that wonderful hymn, Amazing Grace:

Amazing Grace, how sweet the sound, that saved a WRETCH like me;
I once was lost, but now am found. Was blind, but now I see.

The Christian understands that we are to “serve the Lord with gladness”, no matter where we find Him.

God tells us that His Children are to be
HE serving, not ME serving.

The Bible tells us in Romans 8:28 All things work TOGETHER for good to them who LOVE THE LORD, to them who are CALL ACCORDING TO HIS PURPOSE.

God created all things “good”. Then our God made man on the sixth day, and said “this is VERY GOOD”. Man was very good because, of all the creatures, only man was made “in the image of God”.

Genesis 1:27 … God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them.

God put Adam and Eve in the midst of a beautiful Garden, a place in which there was nothing that could harm or hurt. It was man who – disobeying God – brought sin into the world. Man looked at a thing that God forbade, and thought, “If I could but have that thing, I would be happy”. The thing that Adam did brought no joy to either him or Eve. The thing cherished above God destroyed paradise for Adam, and for us all. By one man sin entered the world, and death by sin (Romans 5:12).

When Man was created on the 6th day “Very Good”, everything was “Very Good” until he second guessed God. It wasn’t long after this that Cain murdered his brother Abel. A search for happiness outside of what was granted on the 6th day led to MURDER, a violation of the 6th commandment.

Had Adam spent his days “Serving the Lord with gladness” we would still be in Paradise today. We should learn a lesson from this. When we are selfish, and step outside of service – which is the call of the son of God – we bring misery on ourselves. So often we come before God with a frown on our faces, miserable because of the bad choices we have made. But the Scripture tells us to

But even though Adam failed – and even though we still fail today – God never fails. We can ….

Psalm 100:2 come before His presence with singing.

Illustrate: In the ancient times, those who came to stand before a King were cautioned not to have a sad face. If you came into an earthly King’s court ion such a way, he would – as my mama used to say – “Give you something to be sad about”. Beloved, God will not MAKE us come into His presence with singing – but you should want to be so. The sin of man cannot overwhelm the goodness of God. All that happens to us, happens in accordance with His will. And even though we have low moments, our God’s goodness to us LASTS. The Scripture says:

Psalm 52:1 … the goodness of God endureth continually.

God Knows Best – And Puts Us In The Best Pasture

Psalm 100:3 Know ye that the Lord he is God: it is he that hath made us, and not we ourselves; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture.

Word Study: The first phrase in verse 3 notes “Know ye that the Lord he is God”. The word “Lord” is the Hebrew Yᵊhōvâ, and the word translated “God” is the Hebrew ĕlōhîm. Our God is the same “ĕlōhîm” mentioned in Genesis 1:1:

In the beginning God (“ĕlōhîm”) created the heaven and the earth.

The God Who made all things is the One Who made us. He made us physically. We are not accidents of birth, nor evolutionary byproducts. We are made by God. God also made us spiritually. I am not a son of God because I am worthy, but because of His Grace. The Scripture says:

John 1:12-13 But as many as received {Jesus as Lord and Savior}, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name: 13 Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.

We are “his people, and the sheep of his pasture”. We belong to God as His Children and as His Citizens. The Scripture says:

1 Corinthians 6:20 For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s.

We are purchased, not with silver or gold, but “with the precious Blood of Christ” (1 Peter 1:19). God paid the highest price He could pay for us at the Cross. We are not just Sheep. We are:

… the sheep of his pasture

God will meet our needs. So we look to Him, and trust in Him. We do not let worry or anxiety – the devil’s tools – detract our vision from our Blessed Lord. We trust Him, the “Good Shepherd Who gave His life for His sheep” (John 10:11).

Psalm 100:4-5 … Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: be thankful unto him, and bless his name. 5 For the Lord is good…

God owns the pasture, and controls the pasture for the greater good of those who love Him. While your eyes are on Jesus no thing has power over you:

Psalms 37:23-25 The steps of a good man are ordered by the LORD: and he delighteth in his way. {24} Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down: for the LORD upholdeth him with his hand. {25} I have been young, and now am old; yet have I not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his seed begging bread.

Every step you take for God in Christ is ordered, controlled, by the King you love. “But Brother David, I just don’t have many things!” Praise God, and trust Him. He supplies the things for your own blessing. The Scripture says:

Psalms 84:11 (KJV) “For the LORD God is a sun and shield: the LORD will give grace and glory: no GOOD THING will he withhold from them that walk uprightly.

Psalm 100:5 … His mercy is everlasting; and his truth endureth to all generations.

It is time for all of us to learn these four great truths:

  1. First, happiness doesn’t come from things, but from God.
  2. Second, even if “good”, things may distract from the best. They may come between you and your family, or you and your Creator.
  3. Third, things may make you believe you don’t need God. Remember what Jesus said in …

Matthew 19:24 It is easier for a camel to go through the eyes of a needle than a rich man to get into Heaven.

  1. Finally, things can lead eternal damnation. The rich young ruler walked away from God in Christ because his possessions were too great to give up.The Apostle writes:

Philippians 4:11-13 … I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content. {12} I know both how to be abased, and I know how to abound: every where and in all things I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need. {13} I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.

Things are but temporary, but the relationship you have with God in Christ will last throughout eternity. Give yourselves to Him Who gave Himself to you! Do not live one more minute without the Best Friend and Companion you’ll ever have. May God lead you all to repent, and turn to Jesus Christ as both Lord and Savior. Amen and Amen.

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Rightly Dividing God’s Word Part 2: God, Stewardships, & The Age of Innocence

Posted on November 15, 2022 by bibleteacherorg
Photo by Frank Cone: https://www.pexels.com/photo/blue-and-purple-sky-with-stars-3607542/

To recap, last Wednesday we examined the Scripture:

2 Timothy 2:15 Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.

We discussed that, as we study, the Word of God is to be “rightly divided”. It is God’s Word, this “Word of Truth”, and we are given the Gift of the Holy Spirit to enable us to study it. The Christian is saved by faith in Christ, but sanctified – made more like Jesus – through the study and application of God’s Word to our lives. As we study the Scripture we are:

  • Taught to be more like Jesus
  • Our faith is proved and tested
  • We are restored to an upright or Godly state
  • We walk pleasing to God

Salvation is not by our works, but by faith in the finished work of Jesus Christ. He died for our sins, and rose again to lead us as believers, His Church. As we study the Scripture, we are always aware that:

All Scripture Is Written TO The Believer, But
Not All Scripture Is Written FOR The Believer

The Social and Ceremonial portions of the Mosaic Law found in the Old Testament are written not FOR the Gentiles nor the Church, but FOR Israel. We did establish this: Whether OLD or NEW Covenant, no one has EVER been saved by their works, but by faith in God. Once saved, however, the believer is to follow the commandments of God.

The Bible Addresses Different Times Or Ages,
Though God Never Changes, Nor Does Salvation Change

Turn with me in your Bibles to:

Ephesians 3:1-5For this cause I Paul, the prisoner of Jesus Christ for you Gentiles, 2 If ye have heard of the dispensation of the grace of God which is given me to you-ward: 3 How that by revelation he made known unto me the mystery; (as I wrote afore in few words, 4 Whereby, when ye read, ye may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ) 5 Which in other ages was not made known unto the sons of men, as it is now revealed unto his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit;

As Paul begins to address the Gentile Church at Ephesus, he wants to clarify a few truths that God gave to him as an Apostle. Paul – a student of Gamaliel and an ex-member of the ruling counsel of the Jews called the Sanhedrin – explains why he reaching out to Gentiles. It was God’s intent from the beginning of humanity to save ALL PEOPLE by Grace. Paul calls this the “dispensation of the grace of God which is given me to you”.

Word Study: The word “dispensation” is the Greek oikonomía, which literally means “a stewardship”.

A stewardship is something that is in your possession, something that does not belong to you but it has been entrusted to you by a higher authority.

God owns everything. From the beginning of creation to today, God made all things and then gave them to us as a oikonomía or a stewardship. Grace is a stewardship from God. God saves by Grace. He entrusted the stewardship of Grace to Israel in the Old Testament, and to the Church in the New Testament.

Under the Old Covenant, the Jew – saved by Grace – kept the Moral, Social, and Ceremonial Laws, something the Bible calls the “Mosaic Law” or “The Law of Moses”. In the Old Testament Israel began to believe that only Israel was to be saved. In other words, when Christ came and began to offer the Gospel to those who were not Jews, this made the Pharisees angry. They thought that Jesus was betraying the faith. This was the reason that before Paul was saved, as:

(Acts 9:1) Saul breathed out threatenings and slaughter against the disciples of the Lord

God’s Israel through idolatry had largely drifted away from their original calling. Abraham himself was not a Jew properly, but from Ur of the Chaldees or ancient Babylon.

  • Abraham was to be the Father of Faith to all nations (Genesis 17:5), and through him all nations were to be blessed (Genesis 12:3).
  • When King Solomon dedicated the Temple it was so that “all the peoples of the earth may know that the Lord is God; there is no one else”. (1 Kings 8:60)
  • When God made the Temple, it had places of worship for all people, not just the Jews. God told Israel through Isaiah, “My house will be called a house of prayer for all the peoples” (Isaiah 56:7).
  • When God prophesied the Messiah coming from Israel, He told His people “I am the Lord; I have called you in righteousness; I will take you by the hand and keep you; I will give you as a covenant for the people, a light for the nations” (Isaiah 42:6). He also told them “I will make you as a light for the nations, that my salvation may reach to the end of the earth.”

As Israel drifted from God, she forgot that Grace was her stewardship. Only God can save, and God reaches the nations through His people. As Israel became blind to her stewardship God sent His Son into this world to correct Israel’s error, and to usher in the New Covenant through His shed Blood on Calvary. When Saul went out destroying Christians, Jesus knocked him down on the Damascus Road. He speaks of this, saying:

Ephesians 3:3 … by revelation {GOD} made known unto me the mystery…

Word Study: The word “mystery” is the Greek mystḗrion, which means “a truth once revealed to a select group which became hidden, a fraternal secret”. At one time Israel knew that she was to share the Grace of God with the world. But Israel became secular, and her stewardship became mystḗrion, hidden, forgotten. This is one of the reasons why Samaritans – hated Gentiles – are often mentioned in their encounters with Jesus (see Luke 10:33; 17:16; John 4:4, 9; 4:39-40). When Christ struck Saul down on the Damascus Road, He made him aware that what he was doing (destroying the Church) was counter productive to the stewardship of the Gospel.

God saved Israel so that Israel could tell others about the Saving God we serve. God saved the Church so that the Church could tell others about the Saving God we serve.

Ephesians 3:5 Which in other ages was not made known unto the sons of men, as it is now revealed unto his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit;

The formation of the Church, the Kingdom of God on this earth, was a mystery that was not fully revealed until the formation of the New Testament. God revealed the Church’s mission – the stewardship of the Gospel unto the world – through Christ’s “holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit”. Paul goes on to say:

Ephesians 3:6 That the Gentiles should be fellowheirs, and of the same body, and partakers of his promise in Christ by the gospel: 7 Whereof I was made a minister, according to the gift of the grace of God given unto me by the effectual working of his power. 8 Unto me, who am less than the least of all saints, is this grace given, that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ; 9 And to make all men see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God, who created all things by Jesus Christ: 10 To the intent that now unto the principalities and powers in heavenly places might be known by the church the manifold wisdom of God, 11 According to the eternal purpose which he purposed in Christ Jesus our Lord:

Our God has a great sense of humor. As Israel would not reach out to the Gentiles with the stewardship of Grace, Jesus caused Saul – a Rabbi of Israel – to be the Apostle to the Gentiles. Paul went out preaching “among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ”. It was God’s plan to save whosoever will through the preaching of the Gospel of Christ.

Israel, Saved By Grace, Was Under The Mosaic Law
The Church, Saved By Grace, Is Under The Royal Law

The “Royal Law” is so named by James, the stepbrother of Jesus. He wrote:

James 2:8-9 If ye fulfill the royal law according to the scripture, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself, ye do well: 9 But if ye have respect to persons, ye commit sin, and are convinced of the law as transgressors.

The Royal Law was not a new thing, but was contained within the Mosaic Law. “Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself” is found in:

Leviticus 19:18 You shall not take vengeance or bear a grudge against the sons of your own people, but you shall love your neighbor as yourself: I am the Lord.

The Pharisees, Sadducees, Scribes, and Priests of Israel, in studying the Social and Ceremonial portions of the Law, forgot that the heart of the Mosaic Law was love. Our Lord Jesus brought this back from the dustbins of legalism. A young Lawyer asked Jesus one day what the “Great Commandment” was. Jesus answered with the Royal Law. He said:

Matthew 22:37-39 … Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. 38 This is the first and great commandment. 39 And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself. 40 On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.

This “Royal Law” transcends every Age, from Creation until today. The “Royal Law” is the heartbeat of the Mosaic Law, and the Law the Christian follows today. Why did God call Israel to be His people in the Old Testament? Was it because they were superior? No! God told Israel:

Deuteronomy 7:7-8 The Lord did not set his love upon you, nor choose you, because ye were more in number than any people; for ye were the fewest of all people: 8 But because the Lord loved you, and because he would keep the oath which he had sworn unto your fathers, hath the Lord brought you out with a mighty hand, and redeemed you out of the house of bondmen, from the hand of Pharaoh king of Egypt.

Deuteronomy 9:6 Understand therefore, that the Lord thy God giveth thee not this good land to possess it for thy righteousness; for thou art a stiffnecked people.

Israel was not worthy to receive Grace, nor was she worthy to be the stewards of Grace. But this is the same for the Church today. Is the Church worthy? God tells us through Paul:

1 Corinthians 1:26-31 For ye see your calling, brethren, how that not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called: 27 But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty; 28 And base things of the world, and things which are despised, hath God chosen, yea, and things which are not, to bring to naught things that are: 29 That no flesh should glory in his presence. 30 But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption: 31 That, according as it is written, He that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord.

God chose Israel because of the promise He made to Abraham (Genesis 12:1-3), and because Israel was weak, ignoble, foolish, and unable – in short, BROKEN. Grace is given by God to the broken who repent.

Why did God choose the Church and the Gentiles, that’s you and I? Because we are weak, ignoble, foolish, and unable – in short, BROKEN. Grace is given by God to the broken who repent.

The Royal Law is extended to the Broken. We are to be keepers of the Royal Law. The Apostle said:

Galatians 5:13-14 For, brethren, ye have been called unto liberty; only use not liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but by love serve one another. 14 For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this; Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself.

R omans 13:8-10 Owe no man any thing, but to love one another: for he that loveth another hath fulfilled the law. 9 For this, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not kill, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness, Thou shalt not covet; and if there be any other commandment, it is briefly comprehended in this saying, namely, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself. 10 Love worketh no ill to his neighbor: therefore love is the fulfilling of the law.

“Love worketh no ill to his neighbor”. The Bible tells us that:

Love does no harm, but does only good to God and to others.

Love is God’s Law from the beginning of human history, and into eternity. Mass failure in The Royal Law of love causes disaster in each Age of Humanity.

The First Age Or Period Of Man Is Called The Age Of Innocence

Human history begins with the Book of Genesis. Turn with me in your Bibles to:

Genesis 1:1 In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.

This is one of the most profound statements found in Scripture. It answers the question, “How did we all get here?” Scientists at NASA state that:

“The big bang is how astronomers explain the way the universe began. It is the idea that the universe began as just a single point, then expanded and stretched to grow as large as it is right now—and it is still stretching!”

This was a theory that was postulated by Astronomer Georges Lemaître in 1927. According to certain scientists, the universe, our Solar System, and our planet with all life was just an accident of nature. Even if all that we see were just an “accident”, the question scientists cannot explain is “what was the first cause of all things?” Science has no answer for that. The Bible does. The Bible tells us “In the beginning God”.

Word Study: There are several Hebrew or Arabic words found in the Bible that are translated “God”: elōhê, ʾEl, ʾEl šaday, ‘Elah, and ʾĕlōhīm. In Genesis 1:1 “God” is the Hebrewʾĕlōhīm, which is the compound name of the Triune God. God the Father has created all things, and God the Father created all things through God the Son. We are told in:

1 Corinthians 8:6 (ESV) … for us there is one God, the Father, from whom are all things and for whom we exist, and one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom are all things and through whom we exist.

God the Father created everything (Isaiah 64:8; Malachi 2:10; James 1:17), but His power flowed through Christ. The Bible says:

Colossians 1:12-19 Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light: 13 Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son: 14 In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins: 15 Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature: 16 For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him: 17 And he is before all things, and by him all things consist. 18 And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence. 19 For it pleased the Father that in him should all fullness dwell;

When the Bible says “In the beginning God {ʾĕlōhīm} created”, this is God the Father creating all things through God the Son. Furthermore, God the Holy Spirit was at work in creation.

Genesis 1:2 And the earth was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters.

You see the Triune God at work in creation. The Bible tells us that “God is love” (1 John 4:8, 16). Love does no ill to its neighbor. Love does good where good is needed. Remember we noted earlier that God came to Israel because she was the least and the broken. God saves the Church because it is the least and the broken. NOW we see God moving on a broken, dark planet. Love demands that good be done. Love demands that light be given.

Genesis 1:3 And God (ʾĕlōhīm) said, Let there be light: and there was light.

When God spoke, it was not to create chaos, but to bring order from chaos. When God spoke, He spoke light. Light was formed before there was ever a light source, before there was ever a star named “The Sun” and a reflector called “The Moon”. God’s Word brings light, not darkness. God’s Word brings LIFE, not DEATH. God’s light was good. God established Light and Darkness as a principle. It is up to God to determine if something is LIGHT or DARK. That is the point of the Creation account.

Genesis 1:3-5 And God said, Let there be light: and there was light. 4 And God saw the light, that it was good: and God divided the light from the darkness. 5 And God called the light Day, and the darkness he called Night. And the evening and the morning were the first day.

Why is God showing us every step in the Creation of humanity? It is to show us that love does good. Love brings light. Love is not destructive, nor non-productive. As God is, so must we learn to be.

I’ll return to this subject next Wednesday. May God open your eyes to His Word through His Spirit. Amen and Amen!

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False Prophets and False Teachers Bring Fast Destruction

Posted on November 13, 2022 by bibleteacherorg
Photo by Pixabay: https://www.pexels.com/photo/silhouette-of-person-standing-beside-cross-during-sunset-54333/

My final target is the text of 2 Peter 2:9, but I want to read the verses that lead up to it. These are dark verses, but very applicable to the Church today. Let’s read:

2 Peter 2:1 But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction.

The Wise Pay Attention To The BUTS Of Scripture

Let’s stop right there. The Apostle begins with “But”. Anytime you see the word “But”, you know that it is giving you and EXCEPTION to something else. Peter tells us that there WERE “false prophets also among the People”. He’s talking about the Old Testament People, God’s Israel. False prophets came in among Israel.

Why would false prophets come in to God’s people? Because the devil is real, and will do all he can to destroy God’s people.

God has given a sure word of prophecy to His people. He has given us the Bible. Peter spoke of the Bible on the left side of this BUT. The POWER of God to save and to sanctify is found only through God’s Word. It is God’s Word that speaks life to the dead, and light to the darkness. God gave His Word through faithful prophets and apostles. We read:

2 Peter 1:20-21 Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation. 21 For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.

Prophecy is the Word of God. Prophecy is what we have in the Bible. True Prophecy does not come by “the will of man”, but it is Holy Spirit driven. This is plain. “Holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost”. False prophets plagued Israel. God warned Israel to be careful of the false prophets. He told them in:

Deuteronomy 18:21-22 .. How shall we know the word which the Lord hath not spoken? 22 When a prophet speaketh in the name of the Lord, if the thing follow not, nor come to pass, that is the thing which the Lord hath not spoken, but the prophet hath spoken it presumptuously: thou shalt not be afraid of him.

But Israel was not discerning. False prophets rose up, and drew the people away from God. Elijah stood alone on Mount Carmel, facing 450 prophets of Baal and 400 Asheroth (Prophets of the Grove) [1 Kings 18:19]. All of Israel had been consumed by the false prophets endorsed by King Ahab and Jezebel, so much so that Elijah was by himself. Elijah asked the people:

1 Kings 18:21 (ESV) How long will you go limping between two different opinions? If the Lord is God, follow him; but if Baal, then follow him.

Though Elijah stood with God and won the day, the false prophets did not go away. One of the reasons the false prophets were so successful in Israel is because they ignored God’s first command when going into the Promised Land. God told His people of the Canaanites:

Deuteronomy 7:2-4 (ESV) …. You shall make no covenant with them and show no mercy to them. 3 You shall not intermarry with them, giving your daughters to their sons or taking their daughters for your sons, 4 for they would turn away your sons from following me, to serve other gods.

Israel ignored God’s command. They made covenants with the lost, and entered into marriages with them. This caused Israel to drift away from God. When God called His true prophets out, men like Ezekiel and Jeremiah, Daniel and Hosea, these prophets fought an uphill battle against the evil spread by the false. God speaking through the Prophet Jeremiah said:

Jeremiah 23:13-14 (ESV) In the prophets of Samaria I saw an unsavory thing: they prophesied by Baal and led my people Israel astray. 14 But in the prophets of Jerusalem I have seen a horrible thing: they commit adultery and walk in lies; they strengthen the hands of evildoers, so that no one turns from his evil; all of them have become like Sodom to me, and its inhabitants like Gomorrah.”

The false prophets do not teach Biblical and Godly Repentance, but rather “strengthen the hands of evildoers, so that no one turns from his evil”

Without repentance, there is no remission of sin. Israel became consumed by the sin of the lost, and lost her blessing before God. Peter tells us – again:

2 Peter 2:1 But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction.

Just as there WERE “False Prophets” against God’s Israel,
There SHALL BE “False Teachers” against Christ’s Church

“The Wages of Sin is DEATH” (Romans 6:23). This is an absolute as sure as gravity. These false teachers “bring in damnable heresies”, that is, they teach doctrines that lead souls to be damned from Heaven. We assume that, as Southern Baptists, we are safe from this. Not true. Some of the books that Lifeway sells are departures from the Word of God.

Illustrate: Consider a popular fictional book called The Shack (author William P. Young). In this book God says this:

“I don’t need to punish people for sin. Sin is its own punishment, devouring you from the inside. It’s not My purpose to punish it. It’s my joy to cure it.”

Is that what the Bible says? No, it’s not.

Psalm 145:20 The Lord preserves all who love him, but all the wicked he will destroy.

You say, “well, this is the Old Testament”. All right, let’s see what Jesus said. Our Lord Jesus came to bring in the New Covenant, a Covenant where God writes His Law on our hearts (Jeremiah 31:31-34; Hebrews 10:16). Our Lord Jesus said those who are loveless and hateful to those around them (Matthew 25:41-46):

I was hungry and you gave Me no food,
I was thirsty and you gave Me no drink,
I was a stranger, and you did not welcome Me,
I was naked, and you did not clothe Me.
I was in prison, and you did not visit Me.

Jesus said, “As you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to Me. AND THESE WILL GO AWAY INTO ETERNAL PUNISHMENT, but THE RIGHTEOUS INTO ETERNAL LIFE” (Matthew 25:46).

God will save from sin, but there MUST BE REPENTANCE. What did Jesus preach?

Matthew 4:17 … REPENT: for the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand

Matthew 9:13 … I am not come to call the righteous, but SINNERS TO REPENTANCE

God MUST punish sin, for God IS HOLY. If God doesn’t “punish people for sin”, then WHY the Cross?

See Him, the Christ, nailed to that Tree. See Him naked, bleeding, a crown of thorns pushed down on the head that once held the Crown of Heaven. See Him in the Garden WEEPING, tears like blood pouring from His eyes. “Father, if it be Thy will, let THIS CUP – THIS CROSS – pass from Me. NEVERTHELESS NOT MY WILL BUT THINE BE DONE (Luke 22:42).

God will punish sin. As Jesus cried out “My God, My God, Why hast Thou forsaken Me?”, this in itself shows us God’s attitude toward sin. Sin is an affront to His Holy Name.

Illustrate: The book written by false teacher Rob Bell called “Love Wins” undermines the Doctrine of Hell. He asks,

“Has God created millions of people over tens of thousands of years who are going to spend eternity in anguish? Can God do this, or even allow this, and still claim to be a loving God? Does God punish people for thousands of years with infinite, eternal torment for things they did in their few finite years of life?”

Bell’s questions remind me of the questions that Old Serpent gave to Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden: “Hath God really said that you shall not eat of every tree?”. Does God punish sin? If so, how long does God punish sin? Read in our context:

2 Peter 2:4-5 For if God spared not the angels that sinned, but cast them down to hell, and delivered them into chains of darkness, to be reserved unto judgment; 5 And spared not the old world, but saved Noah the eighth person, a preacher of righteousness, bringing in the flood upon the world of the ungodly;

God did not spare “the angels that sinned, but cast them down to hell”. God did not bind all the fallen angels, but left some – along with Lucifer – free for a certain amount of time. Yet Satan Himself can go no farther than God allows (for proof, read Job 1-3). In the end of time – when God’s plan is completed – the Scripture says:

Revelation 20:10 … the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are, and shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever.

Here’s a philosophic question for you. “Would a loving God drown children and babies”? Well, what does the Scripture say? God saw that the wickedness of our world had grown so great that – the Bible says –

Genesis 6:5-8 (ESV) The Lord saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every intention of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. 6 And the Lord regretted that he had made man on the earth, and it grieved him to his heart. 7 So the Lord said, “I will blot out man whom I have created from the face of the land, man and animals and creeping things and birds of the heavens, for I am sorry that I have made them.” 8 But Noah found favor in the eyes of the Lord.

We see another “But” of Scripture, and we praise God for this. “But Noah found FAVOR – literally – grace – in the eyes of the Lord”.

God is holy, and must punish sin. BUT if one REPENT as Noah did, and turn UNTO GOD as Noah did, then Grace is to be found. If you reject the loving invitation of God to repent and follow Him, then the judgment of God is what is left. The Scripture declares that God flooded an entire world because of sin. A God Who offered love, but was shunned, did that. Man, woman, child, infant, all who were NOT on the ARK OF SALVATION drowned under that terrible flood.

The false teacher believes God grins at sin. God does not grin at sin. God is not faintly amused by it. God brought a “flood upon the world of the ungodly”.

Illustrate: Author Matthew Vines notes in his book, “God And The Gay Christian”,

“Christians who affirm the full authority of Scripture can also affirm committed, monogamous same-sex relationships.” He says that once this “truth” be affirmed, that, “The fiercest objections to LGBT [lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender] equality — those based on religious beliefs — can begin to fall away. The tremendous pain endured by LGBT youth in many Christian homes can become a relic of the past. Christianity’s reputation in much of the Western world can begin to rebound. Together we can reclaim our light.”

There are six passages in Scripture that specifically decree that same sex intimacy is against the design of and forbidden by God (see Genesis 19:5; Leviticus 18:22; Leviticus 20:13; Romans 1:26-27; 1 Corinthians 6:9; and 1 Timothy 1:10). How does God feel about same sex relationships? Peter addresses this. Read with me:

2 Peter 2:6-8 And turning the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah into ashes condemned them with an overthrow, making them an {EXAMPLE} unto those that after should live ungodly; 7 And delivered just Lot, vexed with the filthy conversation of the wicked: 8 (For that righteous man dwelling among them, in seeing and hearing, vexed his righteous soul from day to day with their unlawful deeds;)

Why did God destroy “Sodom and Gomorrah”? It was to give everyone a graphic “{EXAMPLE} unto those that after should live ungodly”. God considers a same sex intimacy to be “ungodly”. God did not destroy ALL of the citizens of Sodom and Gomorrah. He sent His Angels to lead “just or righteous Lot”. Lot was saved by faith in God. Though horribly imperfect, when Lot was warned that God was going to destroy Sodom and Gomorrah, Lot followed GOD out of those wicked places. Repentance is to follow God’s lead, not the world’s lead. His family followed Lot so far, all but HIS WIFE.

Genesis 19:26 But {Lot’s} wife looked back from behind him, and she became a pillar of salt.

Was “{Lot’s} wife” saved from destruction? She could have been, but she looked backward, and turned her heart toward evil. Once more we see a “But” of Scripture. What a sadness this would be! Jesus said,

Luke 9:62 … No man, having put his hand to the plough, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.

Illustrate: When I joined the Air Force many, many years ago, I took an oath:

“I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States; Against all enemies, foreign and domestic; That I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; And that I will obey the orders of the President of the United States; and the orders of the officers appointed over me; According to regulations and the Uniform Code of Military Justice; so help me, God.”

I pledged to support and defend the “Constitution of the United States” as an Airman. As Christians, we pledge our allegiance to our Jesus and to the Word of God, the Bible. He is our Commander in Chief, the King of kings and Lord of lords. His people do not look backward – else we will fall under the judgment of sin! Look to the example of Sodom and Gomorrah.

Though Lot was imperfect just as all Christians are imperfect, Lot never compromised his love for God and His directives. Though Lot was in the midst of Sodom and in the midst of evil, his “righteous soul {was vexed} from day to day with their unlawful deeds”. He did not seek to justify what God has said is wicked.

Why did Jesus come to this earth if God was willing to ignore sin? The father of John the Baptist, Zecharias filled with the Holy Spirit, spoke of Jesus’ coming.

Luke 1:78-79 Through the tender mercy of our God; whereby the Dayspring from on high (this is Jesus!) hath visited us, 79 To give light to them that sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace.

Jesus Christ did not come to this earth to minimize or make light of sin. He came to save us, and to “guide our feet into the way of peace”. The Christian does not follow after sin, but follows after Jesus. When the Apostle writes of the lost, he says:

Romans 3:10-12, 17-18 … There is none righteous, no, not one: 11 There is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God. 12 They are all gone out of the way, they are together become unprofitable; there is none that doeth good, no, not one. 17 And the way of peace have they not known: 18 There is no fear of God before their eyes.

Those who are saved, are saved by REPENTING and coming, broken as we are, to Christ. We do not justify sin, but reject it. We come to Him Who died for us to save us. What was it the Scripture says?

Matthew 1:21 And {Mary} shall bring forth a Son, and thou shalt call His name JESUS; for He shall save His people from their sins …

Jesus did not die to justify our sins, but to justify US.

2 Corinthians 5:21 (ESV) For our sake {God the Father} made {God the Son} to be sin Who knew no sin, so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God.

1 Peter 2:24 (ESV) {Jesus Christ} Himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we might DIE TO SIN AND LIVE TO RIGHTEOUSNESS. By His wounds you have been healed.

Does God punish sin? Yes! Does God love us? Yes! How does God prove His love? He provides a way by which our sins can be covered, and our lives restored to a right walk with God. Where salvation comes, the life changes. What does the Apostle say?

Titus 2:11-13 (ESV) For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people, 12 training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age, 13 waiting for our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ,

Where the Grace of God is, it not only brings about salvation. But Grace “train{s} us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age”. The Christian is not perfect. No Christian is perfect. But the Christian follows a perfect God. The Christian is indwelt by the Spirit of God. The Christian, saved by faith in Christ, has written on his or her heart love toward God and love toward their neighbor. God is to be loved ABOVE ALL ELSE. And your neighbor, to be loved as God has loved you.

God Knows Them That Are His

This was the target I was aiming at. Read with me:

2 Peter 2:9 The Lord knoweth how to deliver the godly out of temptations, and to reserve the unjust unto the day of judgment to be punished

God’s children are “godly”. A Christian is a walking miracle. A Christian is “born again of the Spirit of God” (John 3:3; 3:7). A Christian is “born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, BY THE WORD OF GOD, which liveth and abideth forever” (1 Peter 1:23). A Christian is not saved by their works, but by believing on the Lord Jesus Christ, receiving him as Savior.

Titus 3:5-6 Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost; 6 Which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Savior;

A Christian will, like Father Abraham, “work the works of God”. A Christian “believes on the One Whom God hath sent” (John 6:29). A Christian has called upon the name of the Lord, repenting of their sins. Once saved, the Christian becomes a son of God by faith (Galatians 3:26). Those whom God saves, He knows how to deliver. “The Lord knoweth how to deliver the godly out of temptations”.

Do you know Jesus? Do you? If you have obeyed the Gospel call, the same message that has never changed:

Acts 3:19 Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord.

2 Timothy 2:19 … the foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, The Lord knoweth them that are his. And, let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity.

If you are saved, you belong to God, not to yourself. You are his Child, His Workmanship, His Treasure, His Love. The Child He receives by faith is a miracle, a citizen of Heaven. His children are called to “walk in the light as Christ is in the light” (1 John 1:7). But if you reject Christ, if you refuse to repent and cast yourself upon the loving mercy of God, do not believe that you shall escape the wrath of God.

Illustrate: In the Book “Purpose Driven Life” Rick Warren wrote:

“Wherever you are reading this, I invite you to bow your head and quietly whisper the prayer that will change your eternity. ‘Jesus, I believe in You and I receive You’. Go ahead. If you sincerely meant that prayer, congratulations! Welcome to the family of God!”

With all due respect to Rick, what is missing from this statement? REPENT. Those who come to Christ without repentance are not saved, but continue to live in godlessness. Jesus will one day say to them,

Matthew 7:23 … I will profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from Me, YE THAT WORK INIQUITY

Salvation is an unconditional surrender of the sinner to the Lord Savior. We acknowledge that we are NOT God, but Jesus is God, and that we have no hope of salvation apart from Him. Love or wrath. That is YOUR choice. Which will you choose? May God the Holy Spirit draw you to Christ this very moment, for the glory of God, and the increase of His Kingdom. Amen and Amen.

Posted in 2 Peter, God's Children, gospel, grace, Great Commission, Sermons Preached | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Rightly Dividing God’s Word: Part 1, Introduction To The Ages

Posted on November 11, 2022 by bibleteacherorg
Photo by Oladimeji Ajegbile: https://www.pexels.com/photo/a-man-reading-indoor-2325729/

2 Timothy 2:15 Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.

The Apostle Paul was nearing the end of his ministry. He told Timothy – a young man he was training:

2 Timothy 4:6-8 For I am now ready to be offered, and the time of my departure is at hand. 7 I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith: 8 Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing.

Paul knew that shortly he would be standing before the Roman Emperor Nero Claudius Caesar Augustus Germanicus (rule 54-68AD), and that he would be – in all likelihood – beheaded for his preaching of Christ. One Source notes,

“Based on historical events of the day, it is likely that Paul was beheaded, possibly around the same time that Peter was crucified.”

Before Paul was saved on the Damascus Road, he trained under the noted Bible Scholar, Rabbi Gamaliel (Acts 5:34; 22:3). Paul was “taught according to the perfect manner of the Law of the fathers”, the Scripture. As Paul prepared to die he wanted to leave Timothy with the best advice on how to live and promote the Gospel of Christ.

Saved By Grace, We Are Sanctified By Study Of The Scripture

He encouraged Timothy to study the Scripture. He told Timothy:

2 Timothy 2:15 Study to shew thyself approved…

Word Study: Let’s break this down. “Study” is the Greek spoudazō, which means “to labor over, be diligent to look into, to hasten to examine, to study”. Timothy was to study “the Word of truth”. What is “the Word of truth”? Jesus told us what “the Word of truth” is in His prayer for the Church. He prayed to the Father:

John 17:17 Sanctify them through Thy truth: Thy Word {O Father God} is truth.

The Bible contains the truth of God. We are to spoudazō, to “Study” the Bible, the Word of God. The Christian is given the Holy Spirit of God to aid us in studying and applying God’s Word. One of the nicknames that Jesus gave to the Holy Spirit is “Spirit of truth” (John 14:17; 15:26; 16:13) because it is His function to “Guide us unto all truth”. Jesus said:

John 16:13 Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come.

Question: Why was the Holy Spirit given to the Christian? __________________________

The phrase that describes the Scripture, “Word of truth”, is found in both the Old Testament and the New Testament. The Psalmist spoke saying that salvation comes only through the Word of God:

Psalm 119:41-45 Let thy mercies come also unto me, O Lord, even thy salvation, according to thy word. 42 So shall I have wherewith to answer him that reproacheth me: for I trust in thy word. 43 And take not the word of truth utterly out of my mouth; for I have hoped in thy judgments. 44 So shall I keep thy law continually for ever and ever. 45 And I will walk at liberty: for I seek thy precepts.

Salvation comes by the “Word of truth”. The Apostle Paul speaks of proving himself as a minister of God by holding fast to the “Word of truth” (see 2 Corinthians 6:7). It is the “Word of truth” that saves us. Paul told the Church at Ephesus:

Ephesians 1:12-13 … we should be to the praise of his glory, who first trusted in Christ. 13 In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise,

The Bible is the “Word of truth”. Paul tells Timothy to study that Bible:

2 Timothy 2:15 Study to shew thyself approved unto God…

Word Study: The word “approved” is the Greek dókimos, which means “accepted, pleasing”.

Notice the text doesn’t tell you to study or examine the Scripture to be saved. It tells us to study or examine the Scripture to prove the genuineness of our salvation.

The Scripture is given to the Christian to help shape our minds to be like Christ’s mind. Paul told Timothy in another place:

2 Timothy 3:16-17 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: 17 That the man of God may be perfect {mature, like Jesus}, thoroughly furnished unto all good works.

The Scripture – Old and New Testament – is “given by inspiration of God”. All Scripture is “profitable”. The Scripture contains four elements related to our growth:

Doctrine (didaskalia) = Teaching us how to be like Jesus
Reproof (élenchos) = That by which our faith is proved or tested
Correction (epanorthōsis) = That which restores one to an upright state
Instruction In Righteousness = How to be pleasing to God

Going back to our focal text:

2 Timothy 2:15 Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.

When we study the Scripture, we are to always be “rightly dividing” the text. The Bible tells us that – though God used people to write it – that God Himself is the ultimate Author of the Scripture. The Chief Apostle writes:

2 Peter 1:20-21 no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation. 21 For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.

Since the Holy Text was written by “holy men of God who spoke as they were moved by the Holy Spirit”, then the Scripture MUST interpret the Scripture. Only God’s Word can properly interpret God’s Word.

Does All Of Scripture Apply TO Me?

God gave the entire Bible to the believer in Christ, both Old and New Testaments. As Christians, when we read the Scripture, we need to read

in Context, and
in the Spirit.

2 Timothy 2:15 Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.

Word Study: “rightly dividing” is the Greek orthotomeō, meaning “to make straight and smooth, to handle correctly, to teach the truth in a Godly manner”. The Scripture is not to be twisted or turned to suit our opinions. One of the things I have learned over the years is that:

All Scripture is written TO the believer, but
not all Scripture is written FOR the believer.

The Scripture has divisions and applications that are addressed to:

  1. ALL people at all times, and
  2. CERTAIN people at certain times

This is the reason our Bibles are divided into OLD Testament (or Covenant) and NEW Testament (or Covenant).

Under the Old Covenant God had a people
He saved by Grace called “Israel”.

The nation Israel itself was created because of a promise that God made to a man called Abram or Abraham. Abraham was not saved by his own goodness, but by faith in God. Abraham’s name is mentioned 230 times in the King James text. The Apostle Paul said of Abraham:

R omans 4:2-3 … if Abraham were justified by works, he hath whereof to glory; but not before God. 3 For what saith the scripture? Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness.

Salvation from sin came to Abraham just as it comes to us. We believe God, and God counts or imputes righteousness to us because we believe. Paul goes on to quote The Psalmist David who, in Psalm 32:1-2 said:

R omans 4:6-8 … as David also describeth the blessedness of the man, unto whom God imputeth righteousness without works, 7 Saying, Blessed are they whose iniquities are forgiven, and whose sins are covered. 8 Blessed is the man to whom the Lord will not impute sin.

Salvation has ALWAYS been by faith in God. It has never been a thing that you can work toward. ONCE GOD SAVED ISRAEL OUT OF EGYPT (see Exodus 14:13, “Fear not, STAND STILL and SEE THE SALVATION OF THE LORD, which He will show to you today”) it was THEN that God gave His people rules for living.

Those whom God saves, He saves by Grace. Once He saves His people, God, as King, gives His people rules to live by.

This has never varied. Whether Old Covenant (Testament) or New Covenant (Testament), God gives His people rules to live by. Our Lord Jesus said to His Church:

John 14:15 If ye love me, keep my commandments.

John 15:10 If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father’s commandments, and abide in his love.

But our Lord told His Old Covenant Israel:

Leviticus 22:31 Therefore shall ye keep my commandments, and do them: I am the Lord.

Leviticus 26:2-5 Ye shall keep my sabbaths, and reverence my sanctuary: I am the Lord. 3 If ye walk in my statutes, and keep my commandments, and do them; 4 Then I will give you rain in due season, and the land shall yield her increase, and the trees of the field shall yield their fruit. 5 And your threshing shall reach unto the vintage, and the vintage shall reach unto the sowing time: and ye shall eat your bread to the full, and dwell in your land safely.

A believer is saved by Grace and the mercy of God. A believer is saved by faith in the Savior. But once saved, as believers (Old or New Covenant) we are to follow the commands that God our Savior gives to us. This is where RIGHTLY DIVIDING THE TRUTH comes into play.

As I said before, all Scripture is FOR us, but not all Scripture is TO us.

God gave His Law to Israel from Mount Sinai. In that Law were:

The MORAL Law
The Judgments or SOCIAL Law
The Ordinances or CEREMONIAL Law

The Moral Law (such as the Ten Commandments, the injunctions against sexual sin and perversion) is consistent between both Old and New Testaments. For instance,

  1. Murder is prohibited in both the Old Testament (Genesis 9:6; Leviticus 24:17; Numbers 35:30-31) as well as the New Testament (Romans 1:29; Galatians 5:21; 1 Peter 4:15).
  2. Sexual sin is prohibited in both the Old Testament (Deuteronomy 22:21; Exodus 20:14) as well as the New Testament (1 Corinthians 6:18; 7:2; Hebrews 13:4; Matthew 15:19). Some have said that homosexuality has been forbidden only in the Old Testament (Covenant – see Leviticus 18:22; 20:13) but not in the New Testament (Covenant). This is NOT true. The Apostle Paul condemned homosexuality in Romans 1:26-27 & 1 Corinthians 6:9. Jesus condemned same sex marriage when He said, “Have you NOT READ that He Who made them at the beginning made them male and female, and said, ‘For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh? So then, they are no longer two but one flesh. Therefore what God has joined together, let not man separate” (Matthew 19:4-6, NKJV).
  3. Of the TEN Commandments, only ONE, the Commandment to “Keep the Sabbath” is NOT repeated in the New Testament.

The Social Law covered laws that specifically related to Israel (see Exodus 21:1-23:13). The Social Laws specifically governed Israel in her diet, secular, political and economic life. A good example of the Social Law is found in:

Numbers 19:16-19 And whosoever toucheth one that is slain with a sword in the open fields, or a dead body, or a bone of a man, or a grave, shall be unclean seven days. 17 And for an unclean person they shall take of the ashes of the burnt heifer of purification for sin, and running water shall be put thereto in a vessel: 18 And a clean person shall take hyssop, and dip it in the water, and sprinkle it upon the tent, and upon all the vessels, and upon the persons that were there, and upon him that touched a bone, or one slain, or one dead, or a grave: 19 And the clean person shall sprinkle upon the unclean on the third day, and on the seventh day: and on the seventh day he shall purify himself, and wash his clothes, and bathe himself in water, and shall be clean at even.

If an Israelite touched any portion of a dead body, they had to go through a CEREMONIAL cleansing after a seven day quarantine. This commandment was for Israel alone, not for the Church under the New Covenant, as it is not repeated in the New Testament. Which brings us to:

The Ceremonial Law. This is the religious portion of Israel’s Law that guided the nation in worship and fellowship with God. Under the ceremonial law you find the rules governing the priesthood, the tabernacle or Temple, and the sacrifices. The Ceremonial Law pointed to the coming ministry of Jesus Christ as the Messiah of His people. The Book of Hebrews tells us that:

H ebrews 10:1-10 For the law having a shadow of good things to come, and not the very image of the things, can never with those sacrifices which they offered year by year continually make the comers thereunto perfect. 2 For then would they not have ceased to be offered? because that the worshipers once purged should have had no more conscience of sins. 3 But in those sacrifices there is a remembrance again made of sins every year. 4 For it is not possible that the blood of bulls and of goats should take away sins. 5 Wherefore when He {a reference to Jesus} cometh into the world, he saith, Sacrifice and offering thou wouldest not, but a body hast thou prepared me: 6 In burnt offerings and sacrifices for sin thou hast had no pleasure. 7 Then said I, Lo, I come (in the volume of the book it is written of me,) to do thy will, O God. 8 Above when he said, Sacrifice and offering and burnt offerings and offering for sin thou wouldest not, neither hadst pleasure therein; which are offered by the law; 9 Then said he, Lo, I come to do thy will, O God. He taketh away the first, that he may establish the second. 10 By the which will we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.

The Ceremonial Law of Israel was NEVER given to make those who came to God “perfect” or right before God. Every animal sacrificed showed Israel (and us) that:

  1. Sin is no joke, but a serious thing with God
  2. Sin separates us from God, and we cannot fix that separation with our good works
  3. The blood of an innocent must be spilled to atone for or cover sin
  4. No one has EVER been saved by works, for animal sacrifices were repeated on a regular basis
  5. Animal sacrifices could never satisfy God, thus Jesus had to come for our sins.
  6. We are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all

Jesus satisfied the requirements of the Law. Because of Jesus we who are New Covenant believers are “not under the Law, but under grace”. The Old Covenant believer was dominated by sin because the ceremonial Law kept him bound to the Temple or the Tabernacle, to the Levitical Priesthood and the High Priest. The New Testament believer, however, is not under the shadow of the Law. The Bible says:

R omans 6:12-18 Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof. 13 Neither yield ye your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin: but yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness unto God. 14 For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace. 15 What then? shall we sin, because we are not under the law, but under grace? God forbid. 16 Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness? 17 But God be thanked, that ye were the servants of sin, but ye have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine which was delivered you. 18 Being then made free from sin, ye became the servants of righteousness.

Freed from the Ceremonial & Social Law of Israel, we do not become amoral, but we become “servants of righteousness”. We strive to live our lives – not according to Social or Ceremonial Mosaic Law – but to imitate Christ. But Scripture – whether Old or New Testament – is FOR all Christians, though it may not be TO us.

The Bible Addresses Different Times Or Ages,
Though God Never Changes, Nor Does Salvation Change

In the Old Testament God used Israel and the Jews to introduce us to Himself. As we study the Scriptures, there are seven major divisions or ages that we are introduced to in both Old and New Testaments. Theologians (those who study the Bible professionally) call these time periods “Dispensations” or “Ages”. Grace and the goodness of God are a continuing theme through these “Ages”. Under the Old Covenant, the Jew – saved by Grace – kept the Moral, Social, and Ceremonial Laws, something the Bible calls the “Mosaic Law” or “The Law of Moses”. In the Old Testament Israel began to believe that only Israel was to be saved. This is what the Apostle Paul believed before he met Jesus on the Damascus Road. After meeting Jesus, Saul (now called Paul) came to understand that God wanted to save whosoever will. He spoke of this in:

E phesians 3:1-11 For this cause I Paul, the prisoner of Jesus Christ for you Gentiles, 2 If ye have heard of the dispensation of the grace of God which is given me to you-ward: 3 How that by revelation he made known unto me the mystery; (as I wrote afore in few words, 4 Whereby, when ye read, ye may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ) 5 Which in other ages was not made known unto the sons of men, as it is now revealed unto his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit; 6 That the Gentiles should be fellowheirs, and of the same body, and partakers of his promise in Christ by the gospel: 7 Whereof I was made a minister, according to the gift of the grace of God given unto me by the effectual working of his power. 8 Unto me, who am less than the least of all saints, is this grace given, that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ; 9 And to make all men see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God, who created all things by Jesus Christ: 10 To the intent that now unto the principalities and powers in heavenly places might be known by the church the manifold wisdom of God, 11 According to the eternal purpose which he purposed in Christ Jesus our Lord:

The Jews had come to believe that God only loved the Jews. Yet this is not the truth. God loves every person, and calls whosoever will to His side through faith in Christ Jesus. Once a believer is saved by Grace, that believer falls under the Royal Law of God:

James 2:8-9 If ye fulfill the royal law according to the scripture, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself, ye do well: 9 But if ye have respect to persons, ye commit sin, and are convinced of the law as transgressors.

The “royal law according to the scripture” is that the believer, saved by Grace through faith in Christ, shall as Jesus said:

Matthew 22:37-39 … Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. 38 This is the first and great commandment. 39 And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself. 40 On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.

This “Royal Law” transcends every Age, from Creation until today. The “Royal Law” is the heartbeat of the Mosaic Law, and the Law the Christian follows today.

This Sunday night we will begin to start talking about the Seven Ages found in the Scripture, and the Covenants that God gave during each of those Ages. May God tough your hearts to grow in your knowledge of Him. Amen and Amen.

Posted in 2 Timothy, Dispensational Truth, Sermons Preached | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

Just Making Sure

Posted on November 9, 2022 by bibleteacherorg
Photo by eberhard grossgasteiger: https://www.pexels.com/photo/grand-canyon-673020/

2 Peter 1:10 Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall:

Opening: When I was a boy one of the greatest Rock Bands of that day was called “The Beatles”. The Beatles were an English Rock Band from Liverpool, England. Highly influential, the Beatles popularized long hair, free love, music videos, and use of mind altering drugs. The group was anything but Christian. John Lennon, the group’s leader, said:

“Christianity will go. It will vanish and shrink. I needn’t argue about that: I’m right, and I will be proved right. We are more popular than Jesus now; I don’t know which will go first, Rock and Roll or Jesus. Jesus was all right, but His disciples were thick and ordinary. It’s them twisting it that ruins it for me.”

People have been promising the destruction of Christianity since Jesus rose from the grave – and yet, our faith continues on. The Beatles broke up April 10, 1970 – only about 10 years after the band was formed. John Lennon was killed by a madman December 8, 1980, a little over ten years after the band broke up. …

… And yet Christ and His followers continue on. Why is this? Because our Founder, the Lord Jesus Christ, is greater than anyone who has ever been. Jesus is not just a Carpenter’s son, born in a small town named Nazareth. Jesus is more than this. We who follow Jesus know that the world will always be against our Savior. Yet we are not discouraged. We …

Hebrews 12:1-2 … lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, 2 Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.

Our Savior was not dominated by death. Though executed unjustly, He laid His life down for us, to make payment for our sins. Jesus said,

John 10:18 (ESV) No one takes {my life} from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have authority to lay it down, and I have authority to take it up again. This charge I have received from my Father.

The Christian’s Savior and Lord is no mere mortal Man. He is Perfect Man. He is “God with us” (Matthew 1:23). Jesus is Co-Creator with God the Father. Jesus Christ is God in the flesh, God among us. The Scripture says:

Colossians 1:15-20 (ESV) {Jesus} is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. 16 For by {Jesus} all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him. 17 And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together. 18 And he is the head of the body, the church. He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in everything he might be preeminent. 19 For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, 20 and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of his cross.

Because Jesus – the Son of God and the Son of Man – gave Himself for our sins, we who are saved and called “Christian” are brothers together, family together, and God is our Father. The Apostle tells us to:

2 Peter 1:10 Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure

First the Scripture calls the Christian “BRETHREN”. We are Family together. God is our Father because of Jesus. When Jesus rose from the Grave that Sunday morning so long ago, He told Mary Magdalene:

“Do not cling to Me, for I have not yet ascended to the Father; instead, GO TO MY BROTHERS and say to them, ‘I AM ASCENDING TO MY FATHER AND YOUR FATHER, TO MY GOD AND YOUR GOD” (John 20:17)

Jesus Christ is God’s only Begotten Son, but because of Jesus we who believe are adopted of God, born again of the Blood of Christ. As Peter speaks to the Church, he makes no judgments. But he tells each confessor of Christ to “give DILIGENCE” (spoudazō, hasten to do QUICKLY, use SPEED, do not PROCRASTINATE). We are not to put this off, but to examine ourselves and make sure that we have been called and chosen. We do not want to stumble on this point. In school, I hated Algebra. I couldn’t see a use for it. I can understand:

1 + 3 = 4 or 1 x 3 = 3

I had no problem with simple mathematics. As a woodworker, I use fractions and wholes. I can do a certain amount of math in my head. But I never could understand Pythagoras Theory, which states:

“In any right triangle, the area of the square whose side is the hypotenuse (the side opposite the right angle) is equal to the sum of the areas of the squares whose sides are the two legs.”

Huh? I’m sure somebody needs this, but it goes over my head. There are many things I do not understand. For instance, I don’t know how our government can just print money that is back by nothing, and can’t fix the deficit. If the government can print money at will, why not just print 40 trillion dollars and pay off our debts? But I digress.

There are many things we don’t understand. But God wants you to KNOW that you are saved. This is the MOST important thing you will ever need to know.

The Saved Are CALLED By God And CHOSEN To Do Good

2 Peter 1:1 Simon Peter, a servant and an apostle of Jesus Christ, to them that have obtained like precious faith with us through the righteousness of God and our Savior Jesus Christ:

No one just stumbles upon Jesus. Jesus calls us to salvation. Jesus said in

John 6:44 No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him. And I will raise him up on the last day.

What Jesus mean by this? The word translated “draws” is the Greek helkō which means “to draw or drag”. God must be involved in the salvation process. Though the works of God are clearly seen all around us (Psalm 19:1, “The heavens declare the glory of God, and the sky above proclaims his handiwork”), the darkness of sin blinds our hearts to the love of God in Christ. God must open our eyes to His glory. The Bible says:

1 Corinthians 2:14 (ESV) The natural person does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are folly to him, and he is not able to understand them because they are spiritually discerned.

God must open the eyes of the sinner. The Holy Spirit brings conviction of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment (John 16:8), opening the eyes of the lost. But once their eyes are opened, they are free to choose – or not!

2 Peter 1:1 Simon Peter, a servant and
an apostle of Jesus Christ

This is what happened in the salvation of Simon Peter. His Brother Andrew found Jesus, then went to Peter and said “We have found the Messiah” (John 1:41-42). When Jesus met Simon, He told him ““You are Simon the son of John. You shall be called Cephas” (which means Peter)”. Simon was a fisherman, serving himself and his family. But now Jesus called him and Andrew:

“Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men” (Matthew 4:18)

Simon was Simon the fisherman. But called of Christ, He is now “Simon Peter, a servant and an Apostle of Jesus Christ”. This is his identity. Simon belongs to Jesus. Simon, like us who are saved, is called to Jesus’ side. We are:

1 Corinthians 6:20 … BOUGHT with a PRICE. Therefore GLORIFY GOD in your BODY and in your SPIRIT, WHICH ARE GOD’S.

The Christian does not belong to himself. The Christian belongs to Jesus. Though Simon Peter continued to fish, his priority was to serve Christ.

Colossians 3:23-24 Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, 24 knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Christ.

You are called to “serving the Lord Christ”. You are also called into the Church to serve one another. Peter is not just a “servant of Jesus Christ”, but he is an “apostle of Jesus Christ”. The Bible says that God puts every believer into the Body of Christ, the Church, to work together to serve the Lord. Peter’s call was to be an Apostle. The Apostle Paul addresses this in 1 Corinthians 12.

1 Corinthians 12:11-14 … the … Spirit, dividing {spiritual gifts} to every man severally as he will. 12 For as the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body: so also is Christ. 13 For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit. 14 For the body is not one member, but many. 18 But now hath God set the members every one of them in the body, as it hath pleased him.

The saved are CALLED to be children of God and servants of Christ. The saved are CHOSEN to do good, to possess and use spiritual gifts within the Body for the glory of Christ. We are not saved by our works, but once saved, we work for Jesus and for one another. The Spirit gives us spiritual gifts as He decides best. We are to work TOGETHER in Christ’s Body to glorify God, and to lift one another up as the family of God. Even though Simon Peter was an Apostle (a chief leader in the early Church), he was no more saved than the other members of the Body.

2 Peter 1:1 Simon Peter, a servant and an apostle of Jesus Christ, to them that have obtained like precious faith with us through the righteousness of God and our Savior Jesus Christ:

We are all saved by “like precious faith”. The words translated “like precious“ is the Greek isotimos (pronounced ee-sot’-ee-mos), which means “of equal value or honor”. This faith is – according to the text – “OBTAINED”. We receive it as a gift from God through the righteousness of God and our Savior Jesus Christ. Every Christian has a common experience with God. God calls to us in our hearts, and we come to Him by faith. It is a word of Faith that we have all responded to.

Jesus called, and we responded. I am not a higher category of Christian than you are just because I am a Pastor. It is by Grace I am a Pastor. I have neither earned it, nor deserved it. I am saved the same as you are, the same as Peter was, “through the righteousness of God and our Savior Jesus Christ”. Because we all received Christ Jesus as the One and Only Messiah, because we surrendered our lives to Him, we are saved. The Scripture says:

Titus 3:5-7 Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost; 6 Which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Savior; 7 That being justified by his grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life.

The “Word of Faith” is a simple message. The Scripture says:

Romans 10:8-11 (KJV) … The word is nigh thee, even in thy mouth, and in thy heart: that is, the word of faith, which we preach; 9 That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. 10 For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. 11 For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed.

The Saved Are Equipped To Grow

2 Peter 1:2-3 Grace and peace be multiplied unto you through the knowledge of God, and of Jesus our Lord, 3 According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue:

It is Grace that saves us and brings us peace with God. We “grow in Grace” (2 Peter 3:18) as we learn more about our God and our Savior. God has given us all that we need to grow spiritually. We are told “His divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness”. We have all we need to grow in Grace.

We are given the Holy Spirit, by which we learn Biblical Truth (John 14:17; 15:26)
We are given the Holy Bible, the Words of Life
(John 6:68; Acts 5:20; Revelation 22:19)
We are given access to God through Christ our High Priest (Ephesians 2:18)
We are given unified purpose through His Church. (1 John 3:2)

Before Jesus went to the Cross to die for our sins, He took Peter, James, and John to a private place on a mountain near Jerusalem. Jesus went up the mountain with His three chosen ones, and at that place Elijah and Moses appeared on either side of Christ. This is so interesting to me! When Moses met God on the mountaintop of Sinai, God gave Moses the Law for Israel. And when Elijah met God on the mountaintop of Carmel, God gave him power to overthrow the false gods that His Israel had begun to follow under King Ahab and Queen Jezebel. One one side of Jesus stood Elijah, that Great Prophet. Jesus completed the prophecies, showing Himself to be the one and only Messiah. On the other side of Jesus stood Moses, that Great Giver of the Law. The Law could not save mankind, neither could the prophets. In the midst of this splendor Peter spoke up:

Luke 9:33 … Jesus, Master, it is good for us to be here: and let us make three tabernacles; one for thee, and one for Moses, and one for Elijah: not knowing what he said

Almost before Peter finished speaking, God the Father spoke from Heaven, saying:

Luke 9:34-35 While he thus spake, there came a cloud, and overshadowed them: and they feared as they entered into the cloud. 35 And there came a voice out of the cloud, saying, This is my beloved Son: hear him.

The Prophets spoke of the Coming Christ. The Law was a shadow of the Coming Christ. But now Jesus is here: we are to HEAR HIM. He is God’s Beloved, God’s Messiah, God’s Savior for those who will believe. Peter does not speak of this moment until this letter, when he writes:

2 Peter 1:16-21 For we have not followed cunningly devised fables, when we made known unto you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but were eyewitnesses of his majesty. 17 For he received from God the Father honor and glory, when there came such a voice to him from the excellent glory, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. 18 And this voice which came from heaven we heard, when we were with him in the holy mount. 19 We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts: 20 Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation. 21 For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy {Spirit}.

God spoke and continues to speak through His Holy Scriptures. We have a sure word of prophecy from God.

We Have EXCEEDING GREAT & PRECIOUS Promises

2 Peter 1:4-7 Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust. 5 And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge; 6 And to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness; 7 And to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity.

God has given to the Christian “exceeding great and precious promises”. God cannot lie (Numbers 23:19; Titus 1:2; Hebrews 6:18), so every promise He has made us in Christ shall come true. What are the things that God has promised us?

Romans 16:20 (ESV) The God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet …

Philippians 1:6 (ESV) .. He Who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ …

Isaiah 43:2 (ESV) When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you; when you walk through the fire you shall not be burned, and the flame shall not consume you

John 10:28 (ESV) I give unto them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand

John 6:37 (ESV) All that the Father gives Me will come to Me, and whoever comes to Me I will never cast out ..

Hebrews 13:5 (ESV) …. I will never leave you, nor forsake you …

Once saved, every Christian becomes the workmanship of God. It is God’s intent that we “might be partakers of the divine nature”. We are to be like Jesus. We are not saved, then left by the road of life. God the Spirit comes into our lives, and begins to work in us to make us more like Christ Jesus. The Christian is called to imitate Christ, to develop the attributes of a son of God, not the ways of the sons of Adam. We “add to” our walk with God. “Add to” is the Greek (epichorēgeō Pronounced ep- ee-khor-ayg-eh’-o). A living faith is a growing faith. It progresses. If we are saved we will add to our faith. What adds to our faith?

1 Add to your faith VIRTUE or GOODNESS . Jesus did good things, and His Children by faith should do good things. The Psalmist said:

Psalms 34:13-14 (KJV) Keep thy tongue from evil, and thy lips from speaking guile. 14 Depart from evil, and do good; seek peace, and pursue it.

Do good with your lips. How often did you see Jesus running about badmouthing other people? Did Jesus murmur, or curse, or blaspheme God? Was He a gossip? No, none of it. Jesus Christ was an encourager, an uplifter, a builder, not a wrecking ball.

2 Add to your faith KNOWLEDGE. Read the Word of God. So many people tell me that they don’t read the Word because they don’t understand it. So what? When I was in the military I often read manuals that I didn’t understand. Read the Word and ask God the Holy Spirit to guide you.

3 Add to your faith TEMPERANCE. This is the Greek enkráteia, {pronounced eng-krat’-i-ah}, which means “self control. One who master’s his passions and desires”. We are to control our heart, not to follow our heart.

4 Add to your faith PATIENCE, GODLINESS, BROTHERLY KINDNESS, and LOVE. I wish I had time to cover each of these things in detail, but I don’t. We must be patient with one another, for we who are Christians are called to grow together to be like Jesus. Just as every plant in the field doesn’t grow at the same rate, Christians don’t grow at the same rate. We as believers are called to work together for the glory of God. The Scripture says:

Ephesians 4:30-32 (ESV) And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. 31 Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. 32 Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.

Illustrate: I love to read the Peanuts cartoons. In one cartoon Lucy tell Charlie, “Our family has solidarity! And our family has loyalty and”… At that moment Linus walks over to Charlie and Lucy hoping to get in on the conversation. Lucy stops talking to Charlie to yell at Linus, “Why don’t you stop dragging that stupid blanket around, you blockhead!” She turns back to Charlie, saying “and this family has love for one another.”

Our Lord Jesus said:

John 13:35 (ESV) By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.

Our faith will never reach others if we do not add to it the things that God says we should add to it.

2 Peter 1:9 … But he that lacketh these things is blind, and cannot see afar off, and hath forgotten that he was purged from his old sins.

Let us live for the glory of God! Through Christ Jesus, for His glory, we ask these things. Amen and Amen.

Posted in 2 Peter, Sermons Preached | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

The Best Foundation Is Jesus

Posted on November 6, 2022 by bibleteacherorg
Photo by Seva Kruhlov: https://www.pexels.com/photo/low-angle-shot-george-washington-bridge-11153818/

Luke 6:46-49 And why call ye me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say? 47 Whosoever cometh to me, and heareth my sayings, and doeth them, I will shew you to whom he is like: 48 He is like a man which built an house, and digged deep, and laid the foundation on a rock: and when the flood arose, the stream beat vehemently upon that house, and could not shake it: for it was founded upon a rock. 49 But he that heareth, and doeth not, is like a man that without a foundation built an house upon the earth; against which the stream did beat vehemently, and immediately it fell; and the ruin of that house was great.

There was a song Andy Williams sang years ago that just came into my mind:

Love is a many splendored thing
It’s the April rose that only grows in the early Spring
Love is nature’s way of giving a reason to be living
The golden crown that makes a man a king
Once on a high and windy hill, In the morning mist
Two lovers kissed and the world stood still
Then your fingers touched my silent heart and taught it how to sing
Yes, true love’s a many splendored thing!

I’m not really sure why that popped in my head. The song accompanied a movie of the same name based on a book written by Dr. Han Suyin. The movie starred Jennifer Jones and William Holden. In the movie Jones plays the Eurasian Doctor Suyin who falls in love with an American married man named Mark Elliot (Holden). Doctor Suyin is ostracized by the Chinese community for dating the American, and loses her position at the hospital. Yes, it’s a tear jerker.

This was one of Hollywood’s earliest attempts to romanticize
what the Bible defines as “adultery”.

Any relationship built on that which God has forbidden will not stand the test of time. The devil and this fallen world is continually enticing people to build on poor foundations. America was originally built on a great foundation, but over time Progressive Liberalism has crept in and replaced the foundation with foolishness and feelings. Jesus loves His Church, His people, and wants our foundation to be solid.

Jesus Asked Interesting Questions.
His TENTH Question In This Chapter Asks …

Luke 6:46 And why call ye me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say?

Jesus loved to ask questions when He taught. By asking questions, He made His hearers THINK about their response before they answered. Jesus asked, according to the website Red Letter Challenge, 305 questions throughout the Gospels.

In this chapter alone Jesus asked 10 questions when being challenged and when teaching. This is His 10th Question.

People came to Jesus, crying out “Lord, Lord”. They wanted Jesus to do something for them. Jesus healed the lepers, the blind, the sick. But Jesus had something greater to give to those in need.

Jesus offered Himself as King of our lives.

Jesus IS Lord. When John the Baptist preached, his message was “Repent, for the Kingdom of God is at hand” (Matthew 3:2). When Jesus preached, His message was “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent and believe the gospel.” (Mark 1:15). The Gospel includes the “Kingdom of God”. Jesus is the King of the Kingdom. He “came to save HIS PEOPLE from their sins” (Matthew 1:21).

Jesus IS Lord. He cannot be anything less. Scripture is clear that “without holiness, no one shall see the Lord” (Hebrews 12:14). Pastor Stephen J. Cole notes:

“Genuine saving faith always results in a life of progressive godliness. If a person claims to be saved, but has no hunger for God’s Word, no growing hatred of sin, and no growth in godly living, he needs to examine whether he is truly in the faith (2 Corinthians 13:5).”

The proof of salvation is that you want to please your Lord. John 3:16 – perhaps the most quoted text of Scripture in the Bible – says –

John 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

It is true that salvation is a free gift of God. But once saved, you are brought into the Kingdom of God, and Christ is your King. Pastor John MacArthur wrote in his book The Gospel According to Jesus:

“The gospel call to faith presupposes that sinners must repent of their sin and yield to Christ’s authority”.

In our focal text Jesus shows us what genuine salvation is.

Luke 6:47 Whosoever cometh to me, and heareth my sayings, and doeth them, I will shew you to whom he is like:

Salvation can only be achieved by first coming to Jesus. There is no other way a person can be saved. Jesus Himself said:

John 14:6 I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.

Jesus was chosen by God to be the Savior (1 Peter 2:4). To be saved you must come to Jesus, willingly trusting your life to His.

Self Righteousness Always Gets God Wrong

The Pharisees would not come to Jesus because they felt that the Law would save them. In fact, they often attacked Jesus for not keeping the Law as they thought it should be kept. Look at the beginning of this chapter:

Luke 6:1-5 And it came to pass on the second sabbath after the first, that {Jesus} went through the corn fields; and his disciples plucked the ears of corn, and did eat, rubbing them in their hands. 2 And certain of the Pharisees said unto them, Why do ye that which is not lawful to do on the sabbath days? 3 And Jesus answering them said, Have ye not read so much as this, what David did, when himself was an hungred, and they which were with him; 4 How he went into the house of God, and did take and eat the shewbread, and gave also to them that were with him; which it is not lawful to eat but for the priests alone? 5 And he said unto them, That the Son of man is Lord also of the sabbath.

The Pharisees chastised Jesus and His disciples for threshing corn on the Sabbath Day. The text tells us that this is “the second sabbath after the first”, or literally en sabbato deuteroproto or “on the second-first Sabbath”. The Jews had a weekly Sabbath, but during special holidays (like the Passover) the first Sabbath was the first day of the feast and the second Sabbath was at the end of the feast. So this was at the end of a special Sabbath festival that the Pharisees attacked Jesus.

The Pharisees should have known better. Our Lord Jesus is the fulfiller of the Law. He said, “Do not think that I came to destroy the Law or the Prophets. I did not come to destroy, but to fulfill” (Matthew 5:17). The Law was given by God to lead us to Christ. Only in Jesus do we come to understand the Law. The intent of the Law was not to save us, but to show us that we needed to be saved. Keeping the Law cannot save a person – but only show us the Savior.

Challenged for allowing His disciples to “thresh corn” on the Sabbath, Jesus quotes Scripture to them.

Jesus quotes 1 Samuel 21:3-6, when David, on the run from Saul’s attempts to kill him, came to the Temple looking for something to eat.

The only bread the Priests had was the shewbread. When God gave the Law to Israel, He said:

Exodus 25:30 Thou shalt set upon the Table shewbread before Me always

The shewbread was to be kept fresh. These twelve loaves of bread (Leviticus 24:5-6) stood for the twelve tribes of Israel in the presence of God. The bread was left on the table, and changed out every Sabbath with fresh loaves. Only the priests were to eat the loaves. When David came to the Temple on the Sabbath, the only bread there was the twelve loaves of shewbread that were going to be exchanged for fresh bread. The Priests allowed David and his ragged band to eat of the shewbread. Their actions saved David’s life.

The Law established standards – but those standards could only be properly understood through Jesus. Jesus told the Pharisees:

Luke 6:5 the Son of man is Lord also of the sabbath

“Son of Man” is a title Jesus used for Himself while He walked this earth in His first coming. Jesus is Lord! Jesus is Lord of the Sabbath! The Law of God was not given to strange humans, but to drive us to Jesus where we can properly fulfill the Law. Right after this Sabbath, we read of Jesus doing good on another Sabbath:

Luke 6:6-10 And it came to pass also on another sabbath, that {Jesus} entered into the synagogue and taught: and there was a man whose right hand was withered. 7 And the scribes and Pharisees watched him, whether he would heal on the sabbath day; that they might find an accusation against him. 8 But he knew their thoughts, and said to the man which had the withered hand, Rise up, and stand forth in the midst. And he arose and stood forth. 9 Then said Jesus unto them, I will ask you one thing; Is it lawful on the sabbath days to do good, or to do evil? to save life, or to destroy it? 10 And looking round about upon them all, he said unto the man, Stretch forth thy hand. And he did so: and his hand was restored whole as the other.

Jesus knows the hearts of the Pharisees. They are not in Synagogue to worship God, but to judge Jesus. Jesus just rubbed them the wrong way! Jesus asked His second question of this chapter:

Luke 6:9 Is it lawful on the sabbath days to do good, or to do evil?
to save life, or to destroy it?

The answer should be simple. It is NEVER lawful to do evil or harmful things on the Sabbath. If this man with the withered hand is not healed, it will be the same as doing evil to him. Our God is love (1 John 4:8). God never gave the Law, and within the Law the Sabbath, to Israel in order to do evil. The Law was a schoolmaster to lead us to Christ (Galatians 3:24) that we might be saved by faith in Him. The Law cannot save, but can only diagnose. We see this in how the Pharisees responded to Jesus’ healing of this man:

Luke 6:11 And they were filled with madness; and communed one with another what they might do to Jesus.

The Love Of God Is The Foundation Our Lives Are To Built On

Luke 6:46-47 And why call ye me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say? 47 Whosoever cometh to me, and heareth my sayings, and doeth them

The way to the blessed life that God wants us to have is threefold. We must first come to Jesus. We come surrendered to Him as Lord of our lives. Second, we are to hear His sayings. The word “hear” is the Greek ἀκούω akoúō, {pronounced ak-oo’-o}, which means “to give an audience to. To hear carefully so as to perceive”. That which Jesus tells us, He tells us because HE IS GOOD. Jesus is the GOOD SHEPHERD WHO GIVES HIS LIFE FOR HIS SHEEP. He died for our sins, and rose from the grave so as to call us to His side. Jesus said,

John 10:8, 16, 27-28 All that ever came before Me are thieves and robbers: but the sheep did not hear (akoúō) them. … 16 And other sheep I have, which are not of this fold: them also I must bring, and they shall hear (akoúō) My voice; and there shall be one fold, and one Shepherd. … 27 My sheep hear (akoúō) My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me: 28 And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand.

What does Jesus tell His sheep? HIS SHEEP FOLLOW HIM. We do not follow a sanitized Law, but we follow the Royal Law of Christ. The Royal Law demands that we love as we have been loved. Just as …

Luke 6:19 … the whole multitude sought to touch him: for there went virtue out of him, and healed them all.

The day we were saved VIRTUE WENT OUT OF JESUS AND INTO US. We are not as we were. We are His Children. We are His sheep. What does Christ require of us?

Luke 6:27-36 I say unto you which hear, Love your enemies, do good to them which hate you, 28 Bless them that curse you, and pray for them which despitefully use you. 29 And unto him that smiteth thee on the one cheek offer also the other; and him that taketh away thy cloak forbid not to take thy coat also. 30 Give to every man that asketh of thee; and of him that taketh away thy goods ask them not again. 31 And as ye would that men should do to you, do ye also to them likewise. 32 For if ye love them which love you, what thank have ye? {this is the third question Jesus asks} for sinners also love those that love them. 33 And if ye do good to them which do good to you, what thank have ye? {this is the fourth question Jesus asks} for sinners also do even the same. 34 And if ye lend to them of whom ye hope to receive, what thank have ye? {this is the fifth question Jesus asks} for sinners also lend to sinners, to receive as much again. 35 But love ye your enemies, and do good, and lend, hoping for nothing again; and your reward shall be great, and ye shall be the children of the Highest: for he is kind unto the unthankful and to the evil. 36 Be ye therefore merciful, as your Father also is merciful.

As God is merciful to us, we are merciful to others. As God shows love to we who do not deserve it, we show love to those who do not deserve it. The Pharisees saw the Law of God and, embracing that Law, despised any who would not keep the Law as purely as they did. But keeping they Law, they missed the whole point of the Law.

Love is the fulfillment of the Law. To love God, to love others. We who are saved are to be doers of the Law of Love. The Apostle Paul said:

Romans 13:8-10 Owe no man any thing, but to love one another: for he that loveth another hath fulfilled the law. 9 For this, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not kill, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness, Thou shalt not covet; and if there be any other commandment, it is briefly comprehended in this saying, namely, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself. 10 Love worketh no ill to his neighbor: therefore love is the fulfilling of the law.

We are not commanded in the Royal Law to keep feasts or to do or not do certain things. We are not commanded to love ourselves. We are commanded to sacrificially love God and to sacrificially love others, just as God the Son sacrificially loved us. When you receive Jesus as Lord and Savior, He writes His Law – His Royal Law of love – in our hearts.

We are to leave all vengeance and judging into God’s hands.

If God has said it is wrong, it is wrong. If God has said it is right, then it is right. It is God Who – through His Word – sets the standards of good and evil, God Who determines gravity in the Kingdom of God.

Examine Ourselves To See If We Are Where We Need To Be

The Pharisees loved examining and judging others. When we examine and judge others without first judging ourselves we confuse ourselves. So often we allow peer pressure to influence us to do that which we think is right. Jesus said:

Luke 6:39-40 Can the blind lead the blind? shall they not both fall into the ditch? 40 The disciple is not above his master: but every one that is perfect {καταρτίζω katartízō, [pronounced kat-ar-tid’-z] sound or complete} shall be as his master.

If we are going to master the Christian way of life, we need to follow our Master. We need to imitate Jesus. Are we where we need to be? Jesus said:

Luke 6:42-45 how canst thou say to thy brother, Brother, let me pull out the mote that is in thine eye, when thou thyself beholdest not the beam that is in thine own eye? Thou hypocrite, cast out first the beam out of thine own eye, and then shalt thou see clearly to pull out the mote that is in thy brother’s eye. 43 For a good tree bringeth not forth corrupt fruit; neither doth a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit. 44 For every tree is known by his own fruit. For of thorns men do not gather figs, nor of a bramble bush gather they grapes. 45 A good man out of the good treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is evil: for of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaketh.

If you are a “good tree” then the output of your life will be to the glory of God. You will have an output that blesses those around you. You need to keep yourself close to Jesus, close to the Great Shepherd.

There is a passage in Mark chapter 4 that talks about Jesus crossing the Sea of Galilee. The text states:

Mark 4:35-37 … when the even was come, {Jesus} saith unto them, Let us pass over unto the other side. 36 And when they had sent away the multitude, they took him even as he was in the ship. And there were also with him other little ships. 37 And there arose a great storm of wind, and the waves beat into the ship, so that it was now full.

We all know the story. Jesus was sleeping in the bow of the ship when the storm arose. The disciples, frightened by the storm, woke Jesus up. “Master, don’t You care that we are perishing (Mark 4:38). Jesus rose up and said, “Why are you so fearful? Don’t you have faith?” (vs 40). Jesus rebuked the wind, and it ceased to blow.

The disciples had NOTHING to fear, for Jesus was on the boat with them. The closer you are to Jesus, the better off you are when you are tried by the trials of life. Something in this text catches my eyes. It is verse 36, “And there were also with him other little ships”. Those who followed Jesus in “other little ships” are believers following Jesus from a distance.

Are you on the ship with Jesus, or is the Lord in the distance and you are following from that distance?

Your lives will withstand the tests of faith only if you are on the boat with Jesus. If we as believers have drifted from Jesus, let us do as the Psalmist did:

Psalm 32:5-7 I acknowledge my sin unto thee, and mine iniquity have I not hid. I said, I will confess my transgressions unto the Lord; and thou forgavest the iniquity of my sin. Selah. 6 For this shall every one that is godly pray unto thee in a time when thou mayest be found: surely in the floods of great waters they shall not come nigh unto him. 7 Thou art my hiding place; thou shalt preserve me from trouble; thou shalt compass me about with songs of deliverance. Selah.

SELAH. Rest. We have rest in Christ. Jesus told us plainly:

Luke 6:47-49 Whosoever cometh to me, and heareth my sayings, and doeth them, I will shew you to whom he is like: 48 He is like a man which built an house, and digged deep, and laid the foundation on a rock: and when the flood arose, the stream beat vehemently upon that house, and could not shake it: for it was founded upon a rock. 49 But he that heareth, and doeth not, is like a man that without a foundation built an house upon the earth; against which the stream did beat vehemently, and immediately it fell; and the ruin of that house was great.

You can HEAR the Word of God, and DO IT NOT, and you will NOT be blessed. The blessings of life only come when we live reliant upon our Lord. Let us live for Him, doing that which He has called us to do.

May God be glorified by His Word. Amen and Amen.

Posted in Luke, Sermons Preached | Tagged , , , , , | 2 Comments

What’s Love Got To Do With It?

Posted on November 4, 2022 by bibleteacherorg
Photo by PENGWHAN: https://www.pexels.com/photo/boy-and-girl-sitting-on-bench-toy-1767434/

Photo by PENGWHAN: https://www.pexels.com/photo/boy-and-girl-sitting-on-bench-toy-1767434/

1 John 4:17-19 Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment: because as he is, so are we in this world. (18) There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love. (19) We love him, because he first loved us.

A Christian is a work in progress. Salvation is entirely a work of God in us. The Scripture says:

Ephesians 2:8-9 For BY GRACE are you saved THROUGH FAITH, and that NOT OF YOURSELVES. It (this salvation) IS THE GIFT OF GOD, NOT OF WORKS, lest anyone should boast.

Salvation is the broken Creature throwing themselves on the Creator and Savior. Salvation is an empty hand, reaching out to God Who is able, seeking fulfillment. Salvation comes to us when God Himself opens our eyes to the Son, and calls us to His side. Salvation comes when we run into the arms of Him Who is not broken, our Savior and Lord Jesus. Once we are saved the Scripture says:

Ephesians 2:10 We are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus {to do} good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.

We are not saved by works, but by faith. But once saved, we are called to do “good works”. When we become self absorbed and “me” focused, we walk away from our calling and get into trouble. A believer can fall in the worst trap when we make “I” the center of the universe.

  • The Father of Faith, Abraham, allowed fear to dominate him instead of doing good works. Abraham lied about Sarah, claiming that she was no more than his sister (Genesis 12:13). His lie endangered Sarah, and also caused misery to fall on Pharaoh.
  • The Savior of the early Creation Noah put together an Ark and populated it as God directed. When Noah left the Ark he grew a vineyard, made wine, and got drunk (Genesis 9:20-21). His actions brought a curse on Canaan.
  • Though he was called “Righteous Lot” (2 Peter 2:7), his selfishness caused him to lose everything when God destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah. He also got drunk, and had incestuous relationships with his daughters (Genesis 19:33).
  • Just as Abraham allowed fear to control him, the Prophet Elijah became frightened when Jezebel threatened his life. Running away from Mount Carmel, Elijah became depressed and suicidal, praying “ It is enough; now, O LORD, take away my life; for I am not better than my fathers” (1 Kings 19:4).
  • The Chief Apostle Peter, being lifted up with pride, promised he would never deny Jesus. A rooster proved him wrong (Matthew 26:75).
  • If King David had continued doing the good God called him to do, he would have never spent time with Bathsheba, nor have murdered Uriah (2 Samuel 12:9).

The Bible is filled with examples of saved believers who – allowing self to lift them up – lost their blessings in Christ. I often think of Moses, that Great Prophet who, in a moment of weakness, allowed self to dominate. Rather than do the good work that God commanded, Moses struck out at Israel, saying:

Numbers 20:10 … Hear now, ye rebels; must we fetch you water out of this rock?

God told Moses, “You did not believe Me. You did not glorify Me in front of the children of Israel. Because of this, you will not lead My people into the Promised Land” (Numbers 20:12). Had Moses done the good works that God ordered him to do, he – and not Joshua – would have led Israel into the Promised Land. Moses was buried by God on a mountain overlooking the goal.

All because he chose to do selfishly, rather than do godly.

The World Runs On Fake Love

“Love” is the subject of nearly every song you hear today. Whether Country Music, Rhythm & Blues, Hip Hop, Rock, Pop, Soul, Reggae, Funk, Folk, Jazz, Disco, New Age, Gospel …. the best selling songs are focused on “love”. Most of the music you hear on the air waves is a twisted shadow of what love was designed to be.

We have one word for LOVE – and that word is far from what God’s standard for love is. The Greeks had four words for love, which is important because our New Testament was written in the Koine (Common) Greek and Aramaic.

Word Study: EROS or Sexual Love. When today’s America talks about LOVE, it is generally referring to EROS or sexual love. Americans place a premium on sexual love. When two people come together sexually, we say they are “making love” or “sleeping together”. Unless those two people are husband and wife, and by this I mean MALE and FEMALE, they are not “making love” or “sleeping together”. They are committing “fornication” (1 Corinthians 6:13, 18). The Bible tells us that “the body is NOT for fornication, but for the Lord, and the Lord for the body. Flee fornication. Every sin that you commit is outside the body. But the sin of fornication hurts the body” (author’s paraphrase). The sexually transmitted diseases we have in America are largely the product of fornication or adultery (sin that violates the bond of marriage”. The Bible says:

Hebrews 13:4 Marriage is honorable in all, and the bed undefiled: but whoremongers and adulterers God will judge.

Word Study: STORGE or Family Love. This is the love that is found in a God designed marriage, a love between husband and wife, between siblings, and the loving respect shown parents. The Apostle Paul uses a compound word philóstorgos, {pronounced fil-os’-tor-gos} in …

Romans 12:10 … Be kindly affectioned {philóstorgos} one to another with brotherly love …

as the Church is to be like family in its relationship one toward another.

Word Study: The third Greek word for “Love” is PHILEOS, which is the love that two friends have toward one another. As believers in Christ, we are commanded to be “friends” with Jesus, in

1 Corinthians 16:22 If any man love {phileō} not the Lord Jesus Christ, let him be Anathema Maranatha.

Jesus called us to follow Him as “friends” in:

John 15:13-15 Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends. 14 Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you. 15 Henceforth I call you not servants; for the servant knoweth not what his lord doeth: but I have called you friends; for all things that I have heard of my Father I have made known unto you.

Abraham, the father of faith, believed in God’s promises and was saved. Jesus saves us so that we will bind to Him in friendship as Abraham bound to him. We are told in:

James 2:23 … Abraham believed God, and it was imputed unto him for righteousness: and he was called the Friend of God.

Word Study: The highest type of love is AGAPE, which is SACRIFICIAL LOVE. This is type of love that God wants us to pursue.

1 John 4:17 Herein is our love {ἀγάπη agapē} made perfect {τελειόω teleioō}, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment: because as he is, so are we in this world.

The love that God calls us to is not an emotional love,
but a DOING love.

We are called to be like Jesus. That’s what the Scripture says. “as He {Jesus} is, so are we in this world”. The love that Jesus came expressing is not a fake emotional love, but a love that DOES and CONTRIBUTES to those in need. Agape is NOT self serving, but others serving. In the early Church a group of heretics rose up and began to teach that Jesus only came to this earth in the spirit. The Apostle John called this false prophesy or fake preaching. He tells us:

1 John 4:1-3 Beloved {AGAPETOS, you who have enjoyed the AGAPE or Divine Love of God}, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world. (2) Hereby know ye the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God: (3) And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that spirit of Antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world.

When God said “I love you”, He didn’t say this from Heaven and stop at that. What did God do? God CAME IN THE FLESH. God got off of His Throne in glory, and lowered Himself.

God came in the flesh – being born of a virgin.
God came in the flesh – being born in a manger.
God came in the flesh – being born to a common carpenter’s family.
God came in the flesh – being raised in a small town.
God came in the flesh – being raised middle class.
God came in the flesh – healing those who were sick.
God came in the flesh – calling sinners to His side.
God came in the flesh – carrying His Cross to Calvary.
God came in the flesh – being nailed to the Tree for us.
God came in the flesh – dying for your sins and mine.
God came in the flesh – rising from the borrowed tomb.
God came in the flesh – being the Lamb of God.
God came in the flesh – interceding for us who believe to God the Father.

God did not “phone in” our salvation, but lowered Himself to save us, and to keep on saving us. The Apostle wrote:

Philippians 2:7-10 … {Jesus Christ} made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: (8) And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. (9) Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: (10) That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth;

Though He was worthy of worship, Jesus came to this earth not to be worshiped, but to be “the firstborn among many brethren” (Romans 8:29). Jesus Christ “did good” (Acts 14:17), just as God daily does good toward us. When questioned as to WHY JESUS SPENT SO MUCH TIME WITH UNDESIRABLES, our Lord said:

Luke 19:10 … the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost.

In the Gospels Jesus always calls Himself “The Son of Man”, but after His death and resurrection Jesus is called “The Son of God”. Whenever you see Jesus lowering Himself for us, He is “The Son of Man”. Commentator Hugh Ross notes:

“The New Testament makes the same type of demarcation for the human followers of Jesus Christ. Jesus’ followers before the first day of Pentecost are always called ‘sons of men’ or ‘children of men’ and never as ‘sons of God’. Jesus’ followers after the first day of Pentecost are always called ‘sons of God’ and never as sons of men”.

It was not until Jesus lowered Himself – showing AGAPE Love – and died on the Cross could our sins be fully atoned. With full atonement comes the Holy Spirit of God indwelling us SO THAT WE CAN DO GOOD AS JESUS DID GOOD.

1 John 4:17 …. as {Jesus} is, so are we in this world

Let me be a little clearer.

A LOST person can be BAPTIZED.
A LOST person can give a TITHE.
A LOST person can PRAY.
A LOST person can be faithful to ATTEND CHURCH.
A LOST person can serve on a COMMITTEE.
A LOST person can even PREACH.

Lost people can imitate anything that we do as Christians. The one thing a lost person cannot do is BE LIKE JESUS in how they love. As Jesus is, so are we in this world. As genuine believers in Christ we have a destiny:

Ephesians 1:5-7 Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will, (6) To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved. (7) In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace;

You, dear believer in Christ, have a DESTINY. To are ADOPTED into glory. Why? Because God has “made us accepted in the beloved”. Because Jesus Christ laid His life down for us, we have eternal life. Now WE ARE TO LAY OUR LIVES DOWN FOR HIM. We are not to be like the world, selfish and grasping. We are called of God to be like Jesus.

1 John 4:4-6 Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world. (5) They are of the world: therefore speak they of the world, and the world heareth them. (6) We are of God: he that knoweth God heareth us; he that is not of God heareth not us. Hereby know we the spirit of truth, and the spirit of error.

The “spirit of error” gives credence to the world and its ways. The “Spirit of truth” lives by and heeds the Word of God. The “spirit of error” says “Me first, and others second”. The “Spirit of truth” says, “We are Christ’s Body. We work together to glorify Him”.

The Kingdom Of God Runs On AGAPE, Divine Love

God does not want us to have a “hope so” salvation, but a “know so” salvation. This is why we are told:

1 John 4:17-19 Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment: because as he is, so are we in this world. (18) There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love. (19) We love him, because he first loved us.

If you are a Christian, will you stand before God BOLDLY in the Day of Judgment, or with FEAR? The point John is making is this:

Though you are not saved by works,
a Christian will strive to be like Christ in their works.

A Christian will not be ashamed of Christ.

Mark 8:38 Whosoever therefore shall be ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful generation; of him also shall the Son of man be ashamed, when he cometh in the glory of his Father with the holy angels.

Like Jesus, we will stand up for our Father, content to be against the grain of the world. We will not be driven about by peer pressure and society’s expectations. Our lives are “but a vapor, that appears for a little time, then passes away” (James 4:14). If we love God, we will strive to be like Jesus because this is the right way to be. Jesus loved us before we ever knew His name. We are called to love all – especially our fellow believers in Christ.

1 John 4:20-21 If a man say, I love God, and hateth his brother, he is a liar: for he that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen, how can he love God whom he hath not seen? (21) And this commandment have we from him, That he who loveth God love his brother also.

I remember years ago at another Church – a sweet assembly like this one – when I was invited to preach revival at a Church in a neighboring county. The Pastor of that Church had – at one time – Pastored the Church that I was now at. When I went to preach at this other Church I had several members at “our Church” upset because of some bitterness they held against this other dear Pastor.

Some of those members left “our Church” because I dared preach at this “other Church”.

This, dear friends, is the spirit, not of God, but of Antichrist. We are called to love as Jesus loved. We are called to love even our enemies. We are called to look to the Cross. Look to Him handing on that terrible Tree. As He hung – struggling to breath, bleeding from numerous wounds – our Lord Jesus prayed:

Luke 23:34 … Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do …

Did Jesus’ words melt the hearts of those who heard Him? No. They “parted his raiment, and cast lots”. They ignored His suffering, and continued in their selfish way of life. This is the way of the lost. The lost are concerned only for themselves. The saved, born again, Spirit filled believer wants to live out their lives for the Lord Jesus.

If you are saved by faith in Christ, your vessel needs to be filled with the love of Christ. If you are saved by faith in Christ, your lips are to speak love, not hate. Your hands are to lift up, not tear down. Your feet are to run toward good and away from evil. This is what God expects of us. We are to be,

Matthew 5:14 … the Light of the world. A city that is set
on a hill cannot be hid.

This is what will change not only America, but our Community and our Church. Let’s be what the Lord has called us to be. Let us be like Jesus in works, not just on Sunday, but every day. For the glory of God. Amen and Amen.

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A Walking Devil

Posted on October 31, 2022 by bibleteacherorg
Photo by Marek Piwnicki: https://www.pexels.com/photo/red-dark-yellow-animal-13695323/

1 Peter 5:8-11 Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour: 9 Whom resist steadfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world. 10 But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, establish, strengthen, settle you. 11 To him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.

God’s Not Dead, And The Devil Is Real

The Devil is a real Being, with Real power. The Devil is not a friend, and cannot be befriended by humans. Satanists and Wicca think that the Devil can be tamed by incantations, by beads, by crystals, or by ornate crosses. The Devil cannot be tamed by man. He cannot be befriended. Satan despises the creation of God. He is an “adversary”, the Greek antídikos, {pronounced an-tid’-ee-kos}, your OPPONENT. If you are walking with him, he will give you little trouble. I heard Adrian Rogers say one time,

“If the Devil has never bothered you, it’s because you are
both walking in the same direction and on the same path”.

Someone wrote Billy Graham:

“I know you believe the devil exists, but how do you know? I think people just dreamed up the idea of the devil to try to explain all the bad things that go on in the world. Or maybe it doesn’t make any difference what we believe about him.”

Billy replied:

“It does matter what we believe about the devil — because if we don’t think he exists, or that he’s just a harmless cartoon character running around in a red suit with a pitchfork, then we won’t take him seriously.

And that’s exactly what he hopes we’ll do, because then he can sneak up on us and deceive us with his lies and temptations, without us even being aware of it. Sometimes the devil is open and direct but often he is subtle and deceptive, and we can fall for his schemes without even being aware of it. We’ll only make his work easier if we deny his existence or think he can’t catch us in his snares.”

I believe in God, but I haven’t always believed in God. But Beloved, I’ve ALWAYS believed in the devil.

It is hard to look at the news, on Social Media, or just walking around and watching people in public and NOT believe that there’s a devil. I see his evil every day. Our Lord Jesus believed in the devil. He believed that the devil often hid himself among the religious. Jesus told the Pharisees:

John 8:39-44 (ESV) Jesus said to {the Pharisees}, “If you were Abraham’s children, you would be doing the works Abraham did, 40 but now you seek to kill me, a man who has told you the truth that I heard from God. This is not what Abraham did. 41 You are doing the works your father did.” They said to him, “We were not born of sexual immorality. We have one Father—even God.” 42 Jesus said to them, “If God were your Father, you would love me, for I came from God and I am here. I came not of my own accord, but he sent me. 43 Why do you not understand what I say? It is because you cannot bear to hear my word. 44 You are of your father the devil, and your will is to do your father’s desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks out of his own character, for he is a liar and the father of lies.

Jesus saw the “Devil” as the father of false religion, that is, any religion that LIES and plans MURDER. Jesus’ favorite word for Satan is “Devil”, the Greek diábolos, {pronounced dee-ab’-ol-os}, which means “a trickster, one who loves to verbally attack another, someone who is slanderous or falsely accusing”. This is where the devil excels. When lying to Eve in the Garden of Eden, he slandered God’s goodness and veracity:

Genesis 3:5 (NLT) “God knows that your eyes will be opened as soon as you eat {the forbidden fruit}, and you will be like God, knowing both good and evil.”

We already were like God, for we are made in His image (Genesis 1:27). The devil implied that God was holding back good from His creation – a patent lie!

The Bible gives many names to the Devil. He was originally called Lucifer – meaning “the Morning Star” or “the Bringer of Light” (Isaiah 14:12). Lucifer decided that – on looking at his beauty – that he was as good and powerful as God. He forgot Whose he was. Raising a revolt in Heaven, the Bible tells us in Revelation 12:9,

“This great dragon—the ancient serpent called the devil, or Satan, the one deceiving the whole world—was thrown down to the earth
with all his angels.” (NLT)

In the above text you see the other names by which the Devil or Lucifer is known.

  1. He is called Satan 49 times in the Bible. This name is transliterated directly from the Hebrew śāṭān {pronounced saw-tawn’} and the Greek Satanâs {pronounced sat-an-as’}. The name “Satan” means “our adversary; the adversary [of the Kingdom of God]”.
  2. The Devil is called “The Serpent” who deceived Eve, leading to the fall of humanity (Genesis 3:1-4, 13; Revelation 20:2).
  4. He is called Belial 17 times, as in (2 Corinthians 6:15) “what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel?”. “Belial” is a transliteration of Belíal, {pronounced bel-ee’-al}, which means “worthlessness, emptiness”.
  5. Another of his names is “Beelzebub”, the Greek Beelzeboúl, {pronounced beh-el-zeb-ool’}, means “lord of the flies, lord of dung or filth”.
  7. The Devil is also called “The Dragon” (Revelation 12:9), which is a beautiful and dangerous fire breathing beast. Out of a dragon’s mouth comes fire, and the Devil’s words are destructive as well as deceiving. The Bible tells us that the Devil led “the third part of the stars of heaven”(Revelation 12:4) to follow him in his rebellion.
  8. Though there are many other names the Devil goes by, he is referred to as “the god of this world”,

2 Corinthians 4:4 … The god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.

Satan is immensely powerful. I am so amused as many of the movies I’ve seen where “priests” have tried to “cast out” the Devil or his demons.

The Devil Is Never Lazy, But Is Focused On His Mission

1 Peter 5:8 … your adversary the Devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour

When the Devil is described in the Scripture, he is never described as lazy or as a procrastinator. The devil is described as doing four things on a regular basis:

Roaring
Walking About
Seeking
Devouring

The Devil ROARS: He uses FEAR and PEER PRESSURE to attempt to control us. A lion does not roar when it is stalking its prey, but ROARS once it’s spotted the prey and wants to spring on it. The ROAR of the lion causes fear and uncertainty, a lapse in judgment that allows the lion to get close enough to feed. The Bible tells us:

2 Timothy 1:7 For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.

FEAR does not come from the Spirit filled Christian life. When the Devil began to whisper into Abram’s ear that perhaps he would NOT have a child, for Abram was 99 years old, God told him:

Genesis 15:1 …. Fear not, Abram: I am thy shield, and thy exceeding great reward.

Fear is incompatible with the Christian way of life. When John the Revelator looked into Heaven, he was told:

Revelation 21:7-8 He that overcometh shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be my son. 8 But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.

We all get afraid at times, and at times we all worry. But those who are FILLED WITH FEAR will always follow the Devil’s lead. I love the story and testimony of Gideon in the Bible. Gideon was hiding from the Midianites when God called him.

Judges 6:12-16 (ESV) … the angel of the Lord appeared to him and said to him, “The Lord is with you, O mighty man of valor.” 13 And Gideon said to him, “Please, my lord, if the Lord is with us, why then has all this happened to us? And where are all his wonderful deeds that our fathers recounted to us, saying, ‘Did not the Lord bring us up from Egypt?’ But now the Lord has forsaken us and given us into the hand of Midian.” 14 And the Lord turned to him and said, “Go in this might of yours and save Israel from the hand of Midian; do not I send you?” 15 And he said to him, “Please, Lord, how can I save Israel? Behold, my clan is the weakest in Manasseh, and I am the least in my father’s house.” 16 And the Lord said to him, “But I will be with you, and you shall strike the Midianites as one man.”

Gideon was afraid, but kept his eyes on the Lord. This is what God calls us to do. We are not to be fear controlled, nor hate controlled, nor evil controlled. Peter tells us:

1 Peter 5:8 Be sober….

Word Study: “Be sober” is the Greek νήφω nḗphō, [pronounced nay’-fo], which means “To be calm, collected, NOT in a state of panic or fear. To be temperate, GOD controlled, knowing WHOSE you are”. In this context, nḗphō does not mean the opposite of intoxication with alcohol, but to be prepared as a Spirit Filled Child of God for battle. We are actually told how to “Be sober” in:

1 Thessalonians 5:4-10 But ye, brethren, are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief. 5 Ye are all the children of light, and the children of the day: we are not of the night, nor of darkness. 6 Therefore let us not sleep, as do others; but let us watch and be sober. 7 For they that sleep sleep in the night; and they that be drunken are drunken in the night. 8 But let us, who are of the day, be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love; and for an helmet, the hope of salvation. 9 For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ, 10 Who died for us, that, whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with him.

To “be sober” (nḗphō) is to first of all to know that you are not to be like the world. The world is in darkness. The world is satanically controlled. You might think that I am out of bounds or intolerant, but this is what the Bible says. Satan is “the god of this world” who has “hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them” (2 Corinthians 4:4). How has he blinded the world? By confusing people over human sexuality. By confusing people over human rights. I saw a photo of a young man protesting his student loans, holding up a sign that read:

“Education is a RIGHT, student DEBT is CRIMINAL”

The darkness heeds the roar of the Devil. The darkness basks in his evil, and teaches irresponsibility as well as godlessness. God teaches His Children to be responsible, and to be loving, NOT selfish. We are told in:

1 John 4:18 There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love.

What else does the Devil do?

THE DEVIL WALKS ABOUT, SEEKING: The Devil never takes a day off. When the Angels came into the Throne-room of God, the Devil walked right in with the rest. We read:

Job 1:7 (NLT) “Where have you come from?” the LORD asked Satan. Satan answered the LORD, “I have been patrolling the earth, watching everything that’s going on.”

Now the Scripture teaches us that God knows all things. “Great is our Lord, and abundant in power; his understanding is beyond measure” (Psalm 147:5). The reason God asked Satan, “Where have you come from?” is so that we can know what the Devil was doing. The Devil “patrol(s) the earth, watching everything that’s going on”. The Devil watches the Kingdom of God, watching for weaknesses. The Devil was watching David one day,

1 Chronicles 21:1-4 (ESV) Then Satan stood against Israel and incited David to number Israel. 2 So David said to Joab and the commanders of the army, “Go, number Israel, from Beersheba to Dan, and bring me a report, that I may know their number.” 3 But Joab said, “May the Lord add to his people a hundred times as many as they are! Are they not, my lord the king, all of them my lord’s servants? Why then should my lord require this? Why should it be a cause of guilt for Israel?” 4 But the king’s word prevailed against Joab. So Joab departed and went throughout all Israel and came back to Jerusalem.

David was lifted up with pride, and wanted to have a count of how many trained soldiers he had. David, like Lucifer, began to think that his successes were because he was so good, instead of understanding all good comes from God. Joab tried to talk him out of it, but David as King prevailed. Joab got a count, and brought it back to David. God punished Israel for David’s foolishness.

Had David been out doing the work God called him to do, he wouldn’t be thinking up census taking and adulterous acts with another man’s wife (Bathsheba). The devil is constantly plotting – and we need to keep on doing what God has told us to do.

1 Peter 5:8 … {The Devil always} walketh about,
seeking whom he may devour:

How Do We Overcome The Devil? Jesus Shows Us How

1 Peter 5:8 Be sober, be vigilant

Word Study: As God’s people we are to “be vigilant”. This is the Greek grēgoreúō, {pronounced gray-gor-yoo’-o}, which means “to keep awake, to be watchful”. Jesus told us to be watchful for His return:

Matthew 24:42 Watch grēgoreúō therefore: for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come.

But also to be watchful for the enemy. The Apostle told us:

1 Corinthians 16:13 Watch ye grēgoreúō, stand fast in the faith, quit you like men, be strong.

Our focus should be on what Jesus told us to do, and we should be doing His will with all our might. The Devil loves a lazy Christian and a lazy Church. We are in a battle for the souls of mankind, and Satan is not backing down, no, not one little bit. But we are also to realize this:

1 Peter 5:9 Whom resist steadfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world.

We are to resist Satan “in the faith”. Our focus must be on what our God has taught us in the Scripture. Some Christians have become the Devil’s playthings, because they are lazy in study of the Holy Scripture. The Apostle Paul wrote his emissary Timothy:

2 Timothy 3:15-17 …. from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. 16 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: 17 That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works.

We resist the Devil not by our power, but through the power of God’s Word and His Spirit.

The Christian reliant upon God’s Word
and His Spirit cannot be defeated.

1 John 4:4 … greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world.

“By the word of the LORD were the heavens made; and all the host of them by the breath of his mouth” (Psalm 33:6). Jesus Christ Him self DID NOT defeat Satan in His own power. How did He defeat Satan? When led of the Spirit into the wilderness to be tested of the Devil (Matthew 4:1) our Savior DID NOT ONCE use the pronoun “I”. Not once. NOT ONCE. Listen to how Jesus defeated Satan:

Matthew 4:3-4 And when the tempter came to him, he said, If thou be the Son of God, command that these stones be made bread. 4 But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.

The Devil tempted Jesus with His need for food. Satan often tempts us with our natural, even normal, needs. It is normal for Jesus – God become Man – to be hungry after 40 days without food. Satan’s request seems quite reasonable. “You, Jesus, are the Son of God. Make these stones into bread”. Jesus didn’t reason with the Devil, but quoted Scripture:

Deuteronomy 8:3 {God} humbled you and let you hunger and fed you with manna, which you did not know, nor did your fathers know, that he might make you know that man does not live by bread alone, but man lives by every word that comes from the mouth of the Lord.

But the Devil doesn’t stop here. We read:

Matthew 4:5-7 the devil taketh him up into the holy city, and setteth him on a pinnacle of the temple, 6 And saith unto him, If thou be the Son of God, cast thyself down: for it is written, He shall give his angels charge concerning thee: and in their hands they shall bear thee up, lest at any time thou dash thy foot against a stone. 7 Jesus said unto him, It is written again, Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God.

Again, this seems quite reasonable. I know a few years ago when LGBTQS2 proponents demanded same sex marriage become the Law of the land, that which was being pushed was “We want our freedom – but it won’t effect anybody BUT us”. Many bought into that lie. Now the LGBTQS2 movement has invaded our schools, our colleges, our televisions and movies, our sports, our businesses, and is even targeting our Churches. As the old saying goes,

Give the devil an inch, and he’ll be the Ruler!

Jesus knew better. He quoted out of Deuteronomy 6:16, “You shall not put the LORD your God to the test, as you tested Him at Massah”. But the Devil was not finished. We read:

Matthew 4:8-10 the devil taketh him up into an exceeding high mountain, and sheweth him all the kingdoms of the world, and the glory of them; 9 And saith unto him, All these things will I give thee, if thou wilt fall down and worship me. 10 Then saith Jesus unto him, Get thee hence, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve.

This time Jesus quoted

Deuteronomy 6:13-14 It is the Lord your God you shall fear. Him you shall serve and by his name you shall swear. You shall not go after other gods, the gods of the peoples who are around you

Three strikes and the Devil was OUT! Jesus did not use human reasoning nor His own abilities to chase Satan away. Jesus used the Word of God. The Word of God that defeated the Devil in the wilderness will defeat the Devil in the city. Learn the Word of God. Apply the Word of God. Live your lives by the Word of God. This is where the power of the Christian is – in the Scripture and in the Spirit of God. May God be glorified by this message, and may others be led to Christ through this His Word. Amen and Amen!

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