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katsjoyful · 6 years ago

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"Beloved, now are we the sons of God.” The Holy Spirit of God is The Precious "Seal" of God, that He calls "The Earnest." What everyone one of us are witnessing everyday, is a very SPECIFIC SPIRITUAL WAR that has single-targeted intent. THE HOLY SPIRIT IS GOD'S SIGNET & SEAL SPECIFICALLY IN THE SPIRIT OF ADOPTION! Everything within this late-time, RAILS AGAINST WALKING IN THE HOLY SPIRIT OF THE LIVING GOD! In the beginning of the Gospel we hear Christ' precious Words, "He came unto His own, and His own received Him not. But as many as received Him, to them gave He power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on Him, in His name: Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God." John 1:11-13 THE TEMPTATION THAT COMES TO EVERYONE IS TO FORSAKE CHRIST' HOLY SPIRIT, IN THE WAY THAT HE MADE. Unto all who come to believe on {REST UPON}Jesus Christ, Our Heavenly Father sends The Spirit of His Son into their hearts, crying "ABBA FATHER." GOD HIMSELF ADOPTS US BY HIS SPIRIT! It is our constant, daily CHOICE to walk within His- "POWER TO BECOME SONS OF GOD!" Demons too believe that God is. They cannot speak it, but they KNOW that Jesus Christ is GOD come in the flesh! To BELIEVE UPON HIS NAME literally means a SAVING FAITH! It is that POWER TO BECOME SONS OF GOD! ONLY-WALKING WITH THE HOLY SPIRIT HIMSELF, CLEANSES AND TRANSFORMS US INTO CHRIST' LIKENESS! Jesus was highly specific & emphatic in describing this New Life and in HOW to walk WITH HIM. IT IS THE UTTER DENIAL OF ALL HUMAN-SOURCE! It is denying all human-ingenuities to- ever increasingly TAKE UP & YIELD TO THE INGENUITIES OF HIS SPIRIT! Jesus said that It is not by the blood of men- in claiming tradition or descendancy. It's not by personal resolutions. It's not of a natural generation nor race of people. It's not religious activities. {The will of the flesh}. It is NOT by ANYTHING that MAN can do, and IT IS BY YIELDING TO THE HOLY SPIRIT IN THE SENSITIVITY OF OBEDIENCES! For It is The Spirit of God to do the works, as we yield to Him! It is NOT in words, but IT IS IN POWER! IT IS ALL BY THE SPIRIT OF GOD- IN WHOM WE ARE TO YIELD TO! It is NOTHING of MAN! "BUT OF GOD!" It is our EARNESTNESS, in Union with HIS EARNESTNESS! THAT IS HIS REST! THAT IS HIS SABBATH! THAT IS JESUS CHRIST IN LORDSHIP- WHERE HIS HOLY SPIRIT IS MADE LORD THROUGH YIELDED OBEDIENCE! Those who continue, or return to, walking in The Spirit {in that original Witness given to each of us when we first believed}, we are able to perceive Jesus Christ in the Actuality of how He truly is! There, we share His Nature! The Holy Spirit is Jesus Christ' Spirit and His Nature! There, we'll share the same Nature by One- Same Spirit! Those who retort back to LEANING upon any other means in their walks with Christ, DENY His Sanctifying Power! They deny The Power to become sons of God where they deny Christ' Words about His Own HOLY SPIRIT. They deny His Glory- The Actualities of His Nature. We are all by human-nature, liars and children of wrath! -Ephesians 2:2 We have been made partakers of HIS Grace and HIS Truth, that were unknown to us. IF we continue in His Holy Spirit and do not deny The Holy Spirit, THEN, WE LONG TO SEE JESUS! IF we are following some imitation that comes in His Name, then we long for somethings of this WORLD to fill up our needs. In this late, end-time, many have grown cold and left their love for Christ. Of those who have not made shipwreck of the faith, they still have a MEASURE OF THE SPIRIT OF ADOPTION, which continues to Witness to their spirit that they are children of God! THAT WITNESS OF HIS SPIRIT WITH OUR SPIRIT IS EVERYTHING! Out of those who continue in varying degrees of a Walk in The Spirit, most are not going onward in any maturity or triumphant Victory. IN ALL CASES... THE HOLY SPIRIT HAS BEEN NEGLECTED, WHO ENABLES US TO SEEK, TO PRAY, TO THE WORKS OF GOD! If we're not walking in careful obedience to The Holy Spirit in seeking His Leading and in seeking JESUS in His Word, - then we CANNOT even recognize Christ, nor "the good works that He ordained for each of us before the foundations of the earth were laid!" Walking with The Holy Spirit = Strength for External Exploits! Walking in the flesh of what seems right in our own understanding = spiritual death, and only fulfills fleshly desires. THE VERY POWER- "TO BECOME SONS OF THE LIVING GOD"== IS THE POWER TO ===TRUST==== GOD AS YOUR ONLY SOURCE! It is laying down ALL of our own ingenuinities and letting THE PRECIOUS HOLY SPIRIT TO BECOME OUR INGENUINITIES! The Spirit of Adoption is Jesus Christ' own Spirit! We can become even closer with HIM than the original disciples, IF we believe His Words and deny ourselves to allow HIS LIFE- HIS SPIRIT -TO NOW LIVE THROUGH US! Most people who haven't left their love for Christ in some temptation to join a movement or sect or other rebellious UNBELIEFS about The Spirit of God- are however LANGUISHING. They are not, as once hungering and thirsting after His Righteousness, "Panting after His Water Brooks."- Psalm 42:1 Rather they have become weary and faint in mind and they're hovering over some degrees of spiritual death. The Word declares that "by works Faith is made perfect." -James 2:22 These are WORKS of THE SPIRIT! That Maturity is IN POWER- BY YIELDEDNESS TO THE HOLY SPIRIT OF GOD! They're not using ALL DILIGENCE in seeking Him DEVOTIONALLY and being instant in Prayer. That slacking off- is exactly where we left off with THE HOLY SPIRIT! God's Gifts of The Spirit, and ALL of God's Words about His Spirit, are NOT open to the opinions of MAN! Simply choose to BELIEVE His Words! REPENT AND BELIEVE THE GOSPEL! THAT REFRESHINGS MAY COME FORTH FROM THE PRESENCE OF THE LORD! Most are neglecting so Great a Salvation exactly when Jesus Christ seeks to BUILD US UP IN HOLY INTIMACY AND IN POWER, THE VERY MOST! People quit and they shutdown during times of "dryness" because it is a pain and a grief to them! They do not seek HIM at all opportunities because of UNBELIEFS! To simply repent and to BELIEVE His Words, "BE FERVENT IN SPIRIT.. DEVOTED IN PRAYER.." Romans 12:11-12.. is HOW the begin "WALKING IN THE SPIRIT!" It can ONLY come to us by means of The CROSS! Remaining in the same estate and posture where we met Jesus at His Cross is NOT elementary-milk! REMAINING AT THE CROSS IS THE VERY THRONE OF GOD! {Revelation 5} Our Service is NOT our work! OUR LOYALTY IN ALLEGIANCE TO JESUS HIMSELF IS OUR WORK THROUGH HIS SPIRIT! False DEMONISM says to pass up the Cross and to focus on the Resurrection. IT IS WRITTEN THAT THE CROSS IS THE POWER OF THE RESURRECTION! We're either being spiritually crushed by a spirit of worldliness with those agitations and pulls and passions ruling our lives- OR - else we're being Built Up as Lively Stones into Himself- The Cornerstone! The genuine Holy Spirit ONLY takes the Things of CHRIST and He reveals them to us! True Spiritual Worship- of HIS Spirit- ONLY humbles the flesh and glorifies His Work of The Cross!... ...Just as It is in Heaven! His Throne- Is The Cross! He continues to be The Lamb of God upon The Throne! -Revelation 5 False spiritualism hardens the hearts and coldness replaces love! Simply obeying Jesus's Words and seeking HIM in His WORD transforms our hearts and lives in LOVE EVERYDAY! We read in the Revelation 19:10 that the Testimony of Jesus Christ is the Spirit of Prophecy. You will find that true prophetic utterance always exalts the Lamb of God. IS JESUS CHRIST OF NAZARETH BEING EVIDENTLY SET FORTH, CRUCIFIED AMONG YOU? When God genuinely Speaks by Utterances of His Holy Spirit, HIS FIRE BURNS WITHIN US. Christ' Throne and His Cross are ONE! {Revelation Chapter 5}. Prophecy from His Voice, Flows in Living Waters that ONLY reveals Jesus Christ, The Lamb of God, and that ONLY humbles all flesh!! Genuine Prophecy is The Mind of The LORD, revealing Scripture to Scripture, by Utterance in Holy Power! IT IS THE MOVING OF THE POWER OF GOD, DESTROYING SATANIC AGENCIES! "Therefore this is what the LORD says: If you repent, I will restore you that you may serve me; if you utter worthy, and not worthless, words, you will be My mouthpiece. Let this people turn to you, but you must not turn to them." Jeremiah 15:19 "And I fell at his feet to worship him. And he said unto me, See thou do it not: I am thy fellowservant, and of thy brethren that have the Testimony of Jesus: worship God: for the Testimony of Jesus Christ is the spirit of prophecy." Revelation 19:10 EVERY TIME THAT WE COME BEFORE GOD'S THRONE, WE COME BEFORE THE CROSS!!!!!!!!! "The Lamb upon The Throne,"- is THE focal point of all of Heaven!-- "And every creature which is in heaven, and on the earth, and under the earth, and such as are in the sea, and all that are in them, heard I saying, Blessing, and honour, and glory, and power, be unto Him that sitteth upon the throne, unto the Lamb for ever and ever." Revelation 5:13 "This linking of the Lamb with God as the Throned One is common throughout the book of Revelation. Here they are linked in praise; in Revelation 6:16 they are linked in wrath; in Revelation 7:17 they are linked in ministering consolation; in Revelation 19:6-7, they are linked in triumph. In the final vision of the book the Lord God and the Lamb are the temple (Revelation 21:22) and the light (Revelation 21:23), the refreshment (Revelation 22:1) and sovereignty (Revelation 22:3), of the celestial city." Let's repent of sinning against The REMEDY! Let's start afresh walking in sensitive obedience to The HOLY SPIRIT OF GOD!!

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updcbc · 6 years ago

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October 14, 2018 - “Leading in Godly Instruction” 1 Timothy 4:1-16

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Introduction

We, as a covenant people, do not live by the wisdom of man but governed by the revelation of God. A book written by man or woman, no matter how wise and beneficial it may be, is beyond comparison to the divine authority of the Scriptures. The Bible inspired by the Holy Spirit far outweighs all the books written by human beings. Never can darkness withstand against light. Likewise, the Bible is a solid anvil that wears out every hammer of human philosophy that seeks to destroy its absolute truth. Every pastor then called to shepherd the flock of God must lead the Christian brethren in the faithful teachings of the Holy Scriptures. And every brother and sister in Christ must abide in the godly instruction anchored upon the Word of God.

Pastor Timothy was called to shepherd the influential church in the prominent city of Ephesus. This was a sacred call and a serious task. Entrusted in his bare hands were the very people of God redeemed by the precious blood of Christ. He was gripped with fear in his first pastoral assignment. This could build him up or break him down. The Christian brethren could either despise and defy him or respect and obey him. As a young pastor who was single with all his inadequacies in the ministry, he obeyed the pastoral call under the authority and supervision of Apostle Paul. It was Paul who planted the church and he sent Timothy to shepherd the flock. Paul wrote to him a personal letter on how he should conduct himself and administer his ministerial task. The pastoral epistle was a fundamental guide in shepherding the flock of God.

The primary task of Timothy was to safeguard the foundational teachings inside the church. False teachers from within the church taught false doctrines that caused much controversy and conflict among the Christian brethren. Timothy must stop these false teachers and to expel them should they insist in their false teachings. Secondly, he must administer harmony of worship inside the church. The Christian men ought to be models in godliness and in the ministry of intercession. The Christian women were admonished to be beautiful in character and humbly submit to the authority of the men. Thirdly, he must uphold the uncompromising standard for spiritual leadership inside the church. The congregation must be governed by trustworthy servant leaders. The elders must be blameless and the deacons must be faithful. Next on line of his pastoral duty was the godly instruction on how the Christian brethren were to guard the truth and live in holiness (4:1-10). Integrated with this church directive was the personal instruction to Timothy on how he should conduct himself as a good shepherd (4:12-16).

A conscientious pastor who knows how to care for his own soul is in a better position to be of service for others. This was in accord to the farewell message of Paul to the elders of the church in Ephesus. “Keep watch over yourselves and all the flock of which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers. Be shepherds of the church of God which he bought with his own blood” (Acts 20:28). A pastor or an elder who knows how to nurture his own soul by addressing the issues of his heart can better minister to the Christian brethren in their inner struggles. And a pastor or an elder who faithfully follows the footsteps of Jesus Christ can circumspectly lead the people of God. Pastor Timothy must yield himself first under the Lordship of Christ before he could shepherd the flock of God. Every pastor or elder must observe this basic rule.

A. Pastoral Instructions to Believers (4:1-10)

In shepherding the flock of God, Pastor Timothy must instruct the Christian brethren to abide in the truth and pursue godliness.

1. Guard the Truth

The command to guard the truth comes with a great warning.

a. Warning on Apostasy

Paul warned Timothy about the coming apostasy in the end times.

“The Spirit clearly says that in later times some will abandon the faith and follow deceiving spirits and things taught by demons. Such teachings come through hypocritical liars, whose consciences have been seared as with a hot iron.” (4:1-2)

This prophetic warning is happening before our eyes. The word of the Holy Spirit is true and trustworthy. He discerns the heart of every human being. He knows the very people who would abandon the Christian faith. These are the ones who would exchange the truth for a lie. After knowing the truth they would deliberately choose to follow deceiving spirits and demonic doctrines. In abandoning the biblical truth and in embracing false teachings they believe to have known the absolute truth. And they pledge their newfound loyalty to false teachers whom they esteem to be the anointed servants of God. They are fully convinced that their newfound faith was the plain truth and that they had been deceived from their previous beliefs in the Christian church. In embracing these new teachings they assure themselves that they are the true children of God. Unfortunately, they are following the footsteps of these false teachers who are hypocritical liars with seared conscience.

We ask ourselves a direct question. Why are there so called evangelical Christians who have been taught and nurtured of the biblical truth but eventually abandon their Christian faith? Apostle John, in reinforcing the teaching of Paul on apostasy, declared a revealing truth.

“They went out from us, but they did not really belong to us. For if they had belonged to us, they would have remained with us, but their going showed none of them belonged to us” (1 Jn. 2:19)

These apostates are men and women who profess to be Christians. They know the truth but deep in their hearts they despise God and defy the Lordship of Jesus Christ for they are unwilling to leave their sinful lives.

The reality of apostasy has a serious implication to us as a church. As a church we are the pillar and foundation of truth. Entrusted to us is the solemn responsibility to safeguard the absolute truth and we are accountable to one another to abide in the foundational teachings of the church anchored upon the Scriptures. Given this sacred trust, we make our earnest plea to God to preserve us as a covenant people to be found faithful to the Word of God. And it is our earnest prayer that none among us inside the church, including our loved ones inside our homes, would abandon the Christian faith. As Christian parents, we embrace the heart of Apostle John who poured out his heart for the beloved brothers and sisters in Christ, “I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in the truth” (3 Jn. 4).

What then should be our response for those who abandon the Christian faith? As far as we are concern, we could hardly find a word to describe the grief in our hearts. God holds them accountable in their hardened decision. As we hold on to the mercy of God, we, likewise, stand for the righteous judgment of God. Apostle Paul made a defining declaration, “Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows” (Gal. 6:7). This warning does not only speak about moral misconduct. It also includes those who abandon the Christian faith. For us who have understood the gospel truth, may we embrace the absolute truth and never depart from it even when it may cost our lives.

b. Baseless Prohibitions

The false teachers inside the church in Ephesus were moralists and legalists inclined to asceticism. They had a perverted view of salvation and holiness based on observance of unwarranted religious restrictions.

“They forbid people to marry and order them to abstain from certain foods, which God created to be received with thanksgiving by those who believe and who know the truth. For everything God created is good, and nothing is to be rejected if it is received with thanksgiving, because it is consecrated by the word of God and prayer.” (4:3-5)

These false teachers were the same persons whom Paul referred to in his first epistle to Timothy (1:3). These were Jewish Pharisees who demanded the legalistic observance of the Mosaic Law as a necessary requirement for salvation. They insisted on the strict compliance of the dietary laws to refrain from eating unclean foods which Moses had given to the Jewish people. It also appeared that these legalistic Jews had somehow embraced the Greek philosophy of Plato who taught the appealing worldview that the spirit is absolutely good but the flesh is essentially evil. It was based on this humanistic perspective of religious sanctification that the Jewish false teachers added to their false teachings the prohibition of marriage to keep them from filthy sensual desires.

As Christians, we remind ourselves that God himself instituted marriage between one man and one woman for a lifetime relationship as husband and wife. And it also God who created all things good including the food that he provided for the basic needs of human beings. Nowhere does the Scripture teaches that the dietary laws that Moses gave to Israel was a mandate for Gentile Christians. What Paul taught was that in matter of food, every believing Jew and Gentile must honor his own conviction before God and be careful not to judge others (Rom. 14:1-4). In respect of personal conviction, Paul clearly admonished that we should eat with a grateful heart to God who is the ultimate source of all our needs.

2. Pursue Godliness

As we stand for the truth, we have to pursue godliness. Pastor Timothy must shepherd the flock of God to live in righteousness in obedience to the sound teachings of the Scriptures.

a. The Discipline of Godliness

Paul exhorted Timothy to model godliness as he leads the church.

“Have nothing to do with godless myths and old wives' tales; rather, train yourself to be godly.” (4:7)

Godliness is anchored upon truth. Anyone who embraces the gospel of truth is called to live in exemplary moral conduct. This lifetime sanctification is the work of God in the life of an obedient Christian. How should a Christian then train himself or herself to be godly? Definitely, it is to anchor one’ life and faith in the gospel of Christ. For us to know Jesus as our Savior is to yield our all to him as the Lord of every aspect of our lives. The spiritual battle ground is a matter of the mind on how we view things. On this regard, Apostle Paul gives us a specific directive on how we can train ourselves to be godly.

“Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.” (Phil 4:8)

In everything we do, we give a careful thought on the inner motives of our hearts. Is this the truth? Is this noble? Is it right? Is it pure? Is it lovely? Is it admirable? Is it excellent? And above all, is it praiseworthy? Before we act on anything it is wise for us to answer first these specific questions. This personal discipline will guide us for a wholesome living.

b. The Impact of Godliness

Does it really matter for us to live in godliness? Paul admonished believers to care for their physical health and nurture their spiritual maturity which is far better.

“For physical training is of some value, but godliness has value for all things, holding promise for both the present life and the life to come.” (4:8)

If we cultivate gratitude to God on his daily provision for our food and as we develop a healthy lifestyle in our daily living, this personal discipline is indeed beneficial for our physical well-being. How much more when we train ourselves to be godly? Indeed, godliness is beneficial in the entirety of life both for our temporal and eternal well-being. We are called to enjoy the fullness of living here and after life.

Does this mean that as Christians we would be spared of any sickness and illness and be guaranteed to be healthy and be free from any financial burden for the rest of our lives? We beg to disagree. The Bible never teaches the prosperity gospel that once we yield our lives to Jesus we will live a happy life because we will become healthy and rich. At times, the most spiritual and fulfilled Christians are those who wrestle with their pain of sickness and struggle with God in their abject poverty. For in their sickness and poverty they discover the incomprehensible peace of abiding in the presence of God and resting in his all-sufficient grace. In sickness or in health and in riches or want, we can sing from our heart, “It is well with my soul.” And we bow down in worship with a grateful heart to our God who embraces us with his everlasting love.

c. The Foundation of Godliness

In all our pains and tears, we choose to live a godly life. And we do this in our deep gratitude of the saving grace of our Lord Jesus Christ.

“This is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance (and for this we labor and strive), that we have put our hope in the living God, who is the Savior of all men, and especially of those who believe.” (4:9-10)

The gospel of Christ is the firm foundation of our Christian faith. This foundational truth is a divine revelation. It is the solid anchor of our lives and the sure foundation for our eternal destiny. Jesus is the Savior of the world. No one could be saved except through Jesus Christ who died at the cross for the forgiveness of our sin and who resurrected from the grave to give us eternal life. At the cross, God is calling every human being to come to Jesus in repentance and faith. Blessed are those who embrace the saving gospel of Jesus and yield their lives under the Lordship of Christ. Anchored upon the gospel of Christ we labor and strive to proclaim the truth and live a godly life. And Christianity should begin inside our home. So we make our earnest plea that every member of our family will be saved and for all of us to build a godly home as our haven of rest as we yield our lives for the faithful service of the Lord.

3. Shepherd the Flock

Pastor Timothy was called for this noble task.

“If you point these things out to the brothers, you will be a good minister of Christ Jesus, brought up in the truths of the faith and of the good teaching that you have followed…Command and teach these things.” (4:6, 11)

What does it mean to be a good minister of God? As a shepherd of the flock, it means to teach the whole counsel of God so the Christian brethren will be rooted in the Word of God and established under the Lordship of Jesus Christ. To this noble end, every brother and sister in Christ is called to stand for the truth and live in godliness. In obedience to this pastoral directive, Pastor Timothy must command with authority and teach with integrity. This sacred pastoral duty must be administered in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ and in the wisdom and power of the Holy Spirit for the praise and glory of God.

B. Personal Instructions to Ministers (4:12-16)

This is a basic principle in pastorate. A pastor should first minister to himself before ministering to the flock. Every time a pastor sits down and studies the Bible, he meditates on the Scriptures to nurture firsthand his own soul with a view in mind on how he can better minister to his flock. Apostle Paul carefully observed this ministerial rule and applied it to Pastor Timothy. How should Timothy conduct himself as a shepherd? This pastoral counsel is true for every servant leader inside the church.

1. Set an Example

First of all, a minister must live an exemplary life.

“Don't let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in life, in love, in faith and in purity.” (4:12)

In Jewish tradition, age mattered well in terms of becoming an elder. To be an adult was understood to be wise in sound judgment based on a seasoned experience. That is why the elders in the Jewish community were adult men. Spiritual maturity, however, is not strictly measured by age. Rather, it is essentially a matter of the heart. Timothy as a young and single pastor could be perceived by the Christian community as a ministerial handicap. On the part of Paul this was not the case. Timothy was a seasoned minister who had been a close companion of Paul in his missionary journeys. Apostle Paul was certain of the pastoral gift of Timothy and proved himself as a faithful servant of God. Based upon this confidence, Paul sent Timothy to shepherd the flock in Ephesus.

As a pastor, Timothy must set an example in speech. He must be careful not to make unwholesome talk. Rather, his words must be seasoned with salt and grace that edify his listeners.

He must set an example in life. He must be blameless in his private and public life. He must have a divine perspective in his ministerial task. And the message he teaches to others must be true to his personal life.

He must set an example in love. To love is to be sincere in giving one’s best for the ultimate good of those being served. Timothy must serve in dignity motivated by love.

He must set an example in faith. Faith could either refer to the whole counsel of God or personal trust in God. Timothy must safeguard the truth and teach with authority. He must demonstrate total dependence in God in shepherding the flock.

And he must set an example in purity. In one word, he must be blameless in every aspect of his life. He must be sanctified in his thought, word and deed. He must be ever conscious of the holy presence of God who discerns every motive of his heart. He must seek to glorify God in everything he does. He must be conscientious to live up to the dignity of his name. Timothy means one “honored by God.”

2. Teach the Word

Secondly, a minister must be faithful in teaching the Bible.

“Until I come, devote yourself to the public reading of Scripture, to preaching and to teaching.” (4:13)

The Bible speaks for itself. The plain reading of the Holy Scriptures is the most powerful communication of the absolute truth far more effective than any human insight and explanation of the biblical truth. No wonder why the prophets in the Old Testament always begin their message with the words, “Thus says the LORD.” Likewise, the apostles in the New Testament make their authoritative declaration, “It is written,” in giving their careful interpretation and application of the Old Testament Scriptures. Timothy must anchor his pastoral ministry upon the Word of God and devote himself to the public reading of the Scripture. And the Holy Scriptures must be read before the congregation in deep reverence and conviction with the power of the Holy Spirit.

Timothy must devote himself to the preaching and teaching of the Scripture. To teach, didaskõ, in Greek, means absolutely to give instruction from the Scriptures. To preach, evangelizõ, in Greek, is used in general sense as the proclamation of the word with special reference to the gospel of Christ. Teaching and preaching are interwoven pastoral duties in communicating the Word of God. Like Timothy, every pastor must be diligent in the study and faithful communication of the Word.

3. Sharpen the Gift

Third, a minister must sharpen his spiritual gift.

“Do not neglect your gift, which was given you through a prophetic message when the body of elders laid their hands on you. Be diligent in these matters; give yourself wholly to them, so that everyone may see your progress.” (4:14-15)

A pastor-teacher is a spiritual gift endowed by God upon whom he called to shepherd the flock toward Christian service and spiritual maturity (Eph. 4:11-13). Timothy was set apart by God as a pastor-teacher through a prophetic message that was confirmed by the body of elders who laid their hands upon him. The prophetic message with regard to the pastoral call of Timothy came from the Holy Spirit and discerned by Apostle Paul as he closely worked with him and trained him in the ministry. The “body of elders” who had laid their hands to Timothy could have referred to the elders in the church of Ephesus who gave their affirmation of the pastoral call of Timothy under the authority and supervision of Apostle Paul.

As a shepherd, Timothy must be diligent to discharge all his pastoral duties. Amidst all his ministerial commitments, he must not neglect his primary tasks of prayer and the ministry of the word. He must nurture his soul in his daily intimate walk with God and in the diligent study and faithful proclamation of the Scriptures. He must love and care for the flock. A pastor-teacher had been entrusted to proclaim the eternal Word of God and shepherd the covenant people redeemed with the precious blood of Christ. Anyone given this sacred trust must be trustworthy.

4. Examine Yourself

Finally, a minister must be conscientious to examine himself.

“Watch your life and doctrine closely. Persevere in them, because if you do, you will save both yourself and your hearers.” (4:16)

Godly life is measured in the hidden motive of the heart. Sound doctrine is tested in the faithfulness of the Scriptures. The church as the pillar of truth must be in the good hands of a blameless shepherd. Perseverance in personal integrity and absolute truth will safeguard a pastor from moral scandal, protect the believers from waywardness and save the sinners from their sinfulness. This noble call is a sacred ministerial task.

Conclusion

The whole church must be in order. Believers are instructed to guard the truth and not to abandon the Christian faith. They must live in wholesome godliness anchored upon the saving grace of God. Pastors are likewise instructed to live in godliness and to be faithful to the Scriptures. They must watch their lives and doctrines closely as they shepherd the flock of God. We brace ourselves with serious questions.

What kind of sheep are we? The Christian brethren in Ephesus lived in a secular, immoral and idolatrous society. Their faith in God was severely under siege by intrusive humanistic philosophies and disgraceful moral standards. The spiritual battlefield to stand for the absolute truth and to live in nonconforming godliness was indeed tough and hard. Unfortunately, some of the church members abandoned the truth and chose the crooked path. The appeal for truth and godliness in every generation as ours is an urgent call for parents and children inside the church to define what we really believe and how we should live. Are we serious with the Word of God? And are we careful to live a holy life? In solitude we search our hearts. This is a great service to nurture our souls.

What kind of shepherds are we? As a pastor I tremble on this thought. And who should not be? Timothy was called to shepherd the church of God in the prominent city of Ephesus. This great church was embattled with heresy and carnality from within and the outside. Pastor Timothy must safeguard the absolute truth, lead the brethren in harmonious worship, establish spiritual church leadership and watched his life and doctrine under closest scrutiny. Who is qualified to such a noble and dreadful task? Sad to say, there are pastors and elders who had fallen down the road. We redeem our noble call as a sheep and as a shepherd.

#God #Christian #Bible #church #Jesus #Christ #Christian leadership #spiritual gifts #updcbc #dcbc #Timothy

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ramon-balaguer · 4 years ago

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Discipleship

I remember the day I brought home our first-born child from the hospital. While it felt completely natural to hold our son in my arms, I was a little overwhelmed that the doctors and nurses trusted my wife and I to know how to care for a tiny baby. After all, parenting is pretty much learned through OJT “on the job” training. No matter how many books you read, blogs you follow, or advice you get, when a new baby arrives, you just have to dive in, even when you know you’re in over your head.

Imagine how the baby feels! He or she has been rudely uprooted from a cozy environment where their every need was met instantly, sounds were muted, and they were gently rocked to sleep by their mother’s movements and the reassuring sound of her heartbeat. They have been thrust into the bright lights of a delivery room filled with strange noises, sharp smells and what probably feels like the North Pole after the warmth of the womb. Prodded and poked, their lungs fill with air for the first time, and they let out a loud cry to express their discomfort. A newborn infant is instantly called on to adjust to a completely new way of life, and it is the parents’ obligation and responsibility to help them navigate it successfully.

The analogy of a newborn baby is a perfect illustration for what happens when a person comes to know Christ and experiences Salvation. They are Born Again, given a “new life” and they must be nurtured and cared for by mature Believers (spiritual parents). They must be taught a new way of Being and doing; to think and act, and new ways of responding to their thoughts, feelings, and desires. Ultimately, the Holy Spirit takes up residence in a new Believer and leads them into truth, but having a mentor or teacher to walk alongside us in our spiritual journey is vital to a growing Faith that will persevere and mature.

We, well, the Bible calls that Discipleship.

What, Exactly, Does a New Believer Need to Know?

Here are nine basic topics that will help establish and equip a new Believer in the Faith. Each topic could be expanded on in great detail, but I’ll simply introduce the basic concepts of Christian Faith in each area of focus. If you are a new Believer, studying what God’s Word says about each point listed below will give you a good foundation to start your walk with Christ. If you are a mature Believer, a refresher course is always helpful to strengthen your Faith; this list is also a good guide for discipling a younger Christ-follower.

1. Assurance of Salvation by Not continuing to Sin

1 John 5:11-13 – “And the testimony is this, that God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son. He who has the Son has the life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have the life. These things I have written to you who Believe in the name of the Son of God, so that you may know that you have Eternal Life.”

Many Christians spend years wrestling with the assurance of their Salvation. This is an issue that must be settled first and foremost with those who would be discipled as a Believer. When a baby is born, there is no question that he has arrived. Just as physical birth is a clear event that happens at a moment in time, so, too, Salvation happens when a person is Born Again by the Spirit of God.

Assurance of Salvation comes from persevering in Faith during the Sanctification process to Glorification as clear presentation and understanding of what Salvation really is. As human beings, we respond to God through our intellect, our emotions, and our will. When we are presented with the Gospel, the Spirit of God enlightens our mind to understand the facts of Jesus’ birth, death, resurrection, ascension and promise of His return and our own lost and sinful state before God. Depending on our personalities, we may respond with our emotions, but ultimately it is the surrender of the will to the Lordship of Christ and placing our Faith in Him for the forgiveness of our Sins (Past, Present and Future) that results in Salvation by living a Repentant Lifestyle. The assurance of Salvation comes when we hear the Gospel, respond by Faith, and take God at His Word. But the story or your journey doesn’t end there as some false teachers and teachings will tell you. You must remain in Him and Sin Not, less you lose Not just a crown, but all that you were gifted with Salvation by rejecting Him and His Word and continuing to Sin.

Romans 6:1-2 – “What shall we say then? Shall we continue in Sin that grace may abound? 2 Certainly not! How shall we who died to sin live any longer in it?”

2. The Character of God

John 4:24 – “God is spirit and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth.”

God is not like us. New Believers must grasp this truth and begin to discover through Scripture the immutable attributes and character of God, so that they can properly worship Him for who He truly is. The study of God’s character undergirds all other topics in this list.

For instance, if we do not know that God is perfectly Holy, we will fail to understand the impact of continuing in Sin. If we do not Believe that He is Sovereign and All-Powerful, we will spend our lives in fear and worry. We will never exhaust the study of God. Beginning our Christian lives with a pursuit of discovering who He has revealed Himself to be in Scripture is key to our growth. To Change us and the world, not for the world to change us and His Word.

3. The Bible

2 Timothy 3:16-17 – “All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness; so that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work.”

A firm belief in the authority of God’s Word and an increasing knowledge of its contents is imperative for a new Believer. A desire for and an ability to understand the Bible is one key evidence that a person truly has been saved. The Bible is our source of wisdom for life and is far more than just a book of rules or instructions. It is the written revelation of God Himself.

The Bible is comprised of 66 books, written by 40 authors under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit over a period of 1,500 years, and preserved for nearly 2,000 years. A new Believer must learn to read it, study it, meditate on it, memorize it, and apply it to every aspect of life.

4. Prayer

Philippians 4:6-7 – “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”

Salvation is the beginning of a relationship between men and God; relationship implies communication. God speaks to us through the Bible; we speak to God in prayer. New Believers are often intimidated to pray and must be encouraged and taught to approach God often, in humility and confidence.

When Jesus died on the cross, the temple veil was torn in two from top to bottom, indicating that the way into God’s presence was now open to those who come through Christ. Prayer is both a privilege and a responsibility for Believers and essential for spiritual growth. We must teach new Believers to pray.

5. The Spirit-Filled Life

Ephesians 1:13-14 – “In Him, you also, after listening to the message of truth, the gospel of your Salvation – having also believed, you were sealed in Him with the Holy Spirit of promise, who is given as a pledge of our inheritance, with a view to the redemption of God’s own possession, to the praise of His glory.”

Learning to walk in the Spirit is perhaps the most challenging of all the spiritual disciplines in this list. When a person is Born Again, their spirit is brought to life, yet they still live in the unredeemed flesh of a physical body. The indwelling Spirit of God gives us power over sinful choices, yet we are still tempted. And unfortunately, far too many Christians chose wrongly or worldly to conform and compromise God’s Word and themselves to the world. We are given the mind of Christ but must learn to set aside our own fallible intellect and decision-making capabilities in deference to His thoughts and wisdom from God’s Word.

A new Believer must learn that the power to walk in Faith and obedience comes not from their own efforts, but from allowing Christ to live out His life in us through the Holy Spirit-filled life. Far too many ��Christians” are filled with other spirits (physical or spiritual) wavering from God’s Word into sinful lifestyles they justify in their own minds, thinking they’ll never lose their Salvation; But Nothing can be further from the Truth. The choice is yours to remain in Him or Not. To keep the new Born Again baby or abort it, to keep His Word and Him or reject it, and to keep the Gift of Salvation or lose it forever.

6. Fellowship

Hebrews 10:23-25 – “Let us hold fast the confession of our Hope without wavering, for He who promised is Faithful; and let us consider how to stimulate one another to love and good deeds, not forsaking our assembling together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another; and all the more as you see the day drawing near.”

When a person is born again, they are born into the family of God, and the body of Christ. The Bible talks much about God’s plan, that our personal spiritual growth is intimately connected with the growth of other Believers. Together, the body of Christ becomes a holy temple, a dwelling of God in the Spirit (Ephesians 2:21-22), and each part of the body is dependent on the other parts to become all that God intends us to be.

We would never think to leave an infant alone for very long; in the same way, new Believers must learn to spend time with, love, and serve other Believers for the spiritual health of all the body.

7. Witnessing

1 Peter 3:15 – “But sanctify Christ as Lord in your hearts, always being ready to make a defense to everyone who asks you to give an account for the hope that is in you, yet with gentleness and reverence.”

Salvation begins a process of spiritual transformation called Sanctification. This transformation should be noticeable to others and provides a platform for sharing the gospel. New Believers often feel ill-equipped or inadequate to explain the gospel, as they are just learning what it means in their own lives. They need mature Believers to teach them how to share what has happened to them and grow confident in explaining the gospel to their lost family and friends.

True disciples make other disciples; we must equip one another to do this well. As iron sharpens iron.

8. Temptation

1 Corinthians 10:13 – “No temptation has overtaken you but such as is common to man; and God is Faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will provide the way of escape also, so that you will be able to endure it.”

A new Believer may think that he will never struggle with Sin after Salvation. Scripture and our own experiences tell us this is not true, and we must help young Believers learn to defeat temptation by living a repentant lifestyle of bringing Sin before God for forgiveness by the power of the Holy Spirit living in them and the supernatural impact of God’s Word. God always provides a way out of temptation; but the choice is yours to persevere in the Faith or give into to your worldly and fleshly desires in Sin. Our job is to teach new Believers the tools and resources they will need so they won’t lose their Salvation and remain in Him and His Word.

9. Obedience

John 14:21 – “He who has My commandments and keeps them is the one who loves Me and he who loves Me will be loved by My Father, and I will love him and will disclose Myself to him.”

A desire to obey God’s commands gives clear evidence that a person has been regenerated. Sensitivity to sin and a hunger to please God are given to us by the Holy Spirit, but as new Believers we must “un-learn” old habits and ways of doing things in order to live out the principles of our new lives found in Scripture. Obedience is the key to experiencing the joy and peace that God promises His children.

Are you a new Believer? Make a commitment to grow in your understanding and practical application of each of these areas, and you will put roots down deep that will sustain your Christian Faith in the trials of life.

Are you a mature Believer? Has God brought someone in your life that needs to be discipled as a follower of Jesus Christ and His Gospel? Make a commitment to intentionally and prayerfully come alongside them and help them grow. Be a disciple who makes disciples so they won’t reject or lose the precious Salvation they once accepted in Jesus Christ. :) #REBTD

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papirouge · 4 years ago

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Hello, this is the second time I tried to reach you. My name is Reformed Christian (RC) Apologist. I have made at least two videos already going over your posts as of recent and how they have been negatively affecting multiple friends of mine. I am a person who is very much a preacher of holiness is a Lordship Salvation. But when you attack the biblical doctrine of eternal security that Jesus & Paul taught in scripture, cause doubt in people's salvation over VERY PETTY things, it's war. email me

Hi!

Yes I've received your first message and if my refusal of replying to the first one wasn't clear enough: I am not interested.

I don't have time to engage in pointless theological debate. I am not a theologian, I am Christian. Christian 'debate' are pointless. This is intelligence, not godly wisdom. I'm not fighting FOR "doctrines". I HATE religious labels and denominations. Also I hate attention.

Satan is out there trapping billions of people into Hell, Christians into worldliness, spiritual lukewarmness and false teachings and whatnot yet you decide to be "at war" against...me ? ...Really dude? SMH nah, I don't have time for this.

Rebuking is important, this is why I don't mind you doing it against me. However, I did what I did after God's compeling & approval. I am confident in what I've been exhorting/preaching - I have nothing to prove, nothing to debate about. I don't feel threatened. So keep making your videos, I don't need to defend myself by my own means. God knows what is up.

If the reason of doubting salvation was "petty" then why Christians would be that troubled and up in arms against me?🤔 I'm not the first to complain about lukewarm/wordly Christians, yet my intervention on Missy's blog and later on my ask replies provoked an unprecedented uproar into the Christian tumblr scene. How? I'm a nobody with a blog. Most of my followers aren't even Christian (which is sometimes I'm very appreciative of since I can preach the gospel to unbelievers).

What we're witnessing is the mightiness of the Holy Spirit in action.

I just did what God compelled me to do, my words powered by the Sword of the Spirit : OF COURSE it wouldn't remain without impact! ..and the result is quite spectacular!

🔥🔥 THE TIME HAS COME TO WAKE & SHAKE UP CHRISTIANS WITH THIS FIRE!!!!🔥🔥 Christ is coming to find His Bride READY and without blemish. ...not spiritually dozing off after eating too much at satan's buffet.

I think the reason my exhortations are bothering, stressing & angering so many of Christians right now it's because they spiritually affect the spirits holding a spiritual yoke on them... (you know, those you invite and accept spiritual authority from when enjoying wordly/demonic crap -the same I saw in vision- and this is against them I'm at war against). They MADt. Me likey. 🔥🔥

Your friends are gonna be okay. True salvation doesn't come without BREAKING and crucifying the old man. Let's rejoice together as in God loves us enough to warn us and give us the opportunity to correct our ways before it's too late.

#answered #Christian

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hymnrevival · 5 years ago

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Sermon Given on JULY 4th 1988

“We need more troublemakers in the church! I pray that every member of the body of Christ would become a troublemaker! We need an army of troublemakers who have become so full of the Holy Ghost they will stir up and trouble New York City and every other city around the world; trouble their wicked institutions — challenge the established dead churches — trouble the leaders, the mayors, the city councils, the community leadership! In other words, we need Holy Ghost troublemakers moving in the Spirit, proclaiming the kingship of Christ so effectively that whole cities are stirred!”

Read Full Sermoun Here: <a href="http://tscpulpitseries.org/english/1980s/ts880704.html" rel="noreferrer nofollow">tscpulpitseries.org/english/1980s/ts880704.html</a>

We Need More Troublemakers In the Church! Plain Text File + Home Page + Subscribe + Copyright By David Wilkerson July 4, 1988 __________ We need more troublemakers in the church! I pray that every member of the body of Christ would become a troublemaker! We need an army of troublemakers who have become so full of the Holy Ghost they will stir up and trouble New York City and every other city around the world; trouble their wicked institutions — challenge the established dead churches — trouble the leaders, the mayors, the city councils, the community leadership! In other words, we need Holy Ghost troublemakers moving in the Spirit, proclaiming the kingship of Christ so effectively that whole cities are stirred!

Paul and Silas were two of the world's biggest troublemakers! The Bible speaks of "men who have risked their lives for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ" (Acts 15:26, NAS). Paul, Barnabas, Silas, and Timothy were such men, walking in the power of the Spirit. As seen in Acts 16, when the Holy Ghost forbid them to speak the Word in Asia, they obeyed. When they tried to go to Bithynia, but the Spirit would not permit them, they went instead to Troas, under the Spirit's direction. Paul then had a vision of a man calling them to Macedonia, so they set out immediately to Philippi, the chief city of Macedonia. When they arrived, a fortune teller followed them about, crying, "...These men are the servants of the most high God, which shew unto us the way of salvation" (Acts 16:17). After enduring it for many days, Paul turned and "...said to the spirit, I command thee in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her. And he came out the same hour" (Acts 16:18). Suddenly the whole city was in an uproar: this fortune teller was apparently a big tourist attraction, but now she was healed and praising the Lord!

Paul had upset the status quo. He had challenged the devil who had been having his way for years. The slave-owners of the delivered woman then dragged Paul and Silas into the marketplace to stand trial before the city magistrates. The charge was, "...These men...do exceedingly trouble our city" (Acts 16:20). "And the multitude rose up together against them: and the magistrates rent off their clothes, and commanded to beat them. And when they had laid many stripes upon them, they cast them into prison...and made their feet fast in the stocks" (Acts 16:22-24). It looked as though Satan had won. The new converts must have been stunned!

But all the power of God is with Holy Ghost troublemakers! "And at midnight Paul and Silas prayed, and sang praises unto God...and suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken: and immediately all the doors were opened, and every one's bands were loosed" (Acts 16:25-26). The jailer, seeing what had happened, even fell down before Paul and Silas, saying "...Sirs, what must I do to be saved?" (Acts 16:30). Those city officials and religious leaders went to bed thinking, "We did it to them! That's the last we will hear of those vagabond troublemakers. We really shut them up and scared them!" But what a commotion the next day! I can imagine sergeants knocking on the doors of the mayor, city council members, and the religious leaders, telling them, "Quick! Get down to city hall — we've got a big problem!" In a state of shock, the officials probably responded, "What? An earthquake? The prison doors opened? Their chains all fell off? They didn't even try to escape? The jailer joined their faith? They're Romans?!?" Now, they were really afraid. It was a crime to beat Roman citizens (Paul and Silas were both Romans). "What do you mean they won't budge from our jail? They demand what? For us to come down and apologize and escort them out of jail?" And they came...and brought them out...begging them to leave the city" (Acts 16:39 NASB).

I love it! Here they were, not flaunting their spiritual authority, but merely acting as ambassadors of King Jesus. As they had witnessed Christ's power being mocked, Paul and Silas now wanted that little riverside prayer group to see how God manifests His power to those who stand up against the forces of hell. They went directly to the house of Lydia — and what a meeting that must have been! I would think Paul told that house group, "See! The devil can rage, the powers that be may threaten — but God has all the power! God will stand by you if you take a stand!"

I preach a great deal on prayer and I believe in the effectual, fervent prayer of the righteous. But praying alone, praying by two's and three's, or even in a large prayer meeting will not alone shake a city! Elijah was a man of powerful prayer, but it was more than his prayers that shook Ahab's kingdom and enraged Jezebel: He called the false prophets to Mount Carmel and challenged them. Jezebel had slain God's prophets and led Israel into apostasy and the horrible idolatry of Baal worship — and no one had challenged her! Seven thousand believers had not bowed, but they were silent, unknown, and afraid. So along comes Elijah, the troublemaker! Ahab called him "the troubler of Israel!" (1 Kings 18:17). Elijah ended up at the Brook Kishon with a sword in his hand, slaying hundreds of Baal's false prophets "in the name of Jehovah."

Elijah was not a polite gentlemen with the devil and his crowd. While "...they leaped upon the altar...Elijah mocked them [derided them]" (1 Kings 18:26-27). The church of late has cowered before the powers of darkness due to the lack of holiness, for the Scripture tells us, "...the righteous are bold as a lion" (Proverbs 28:1). Some will say, "But Jesus was meek — He never opened His mouth or resisted when they took Him to be crucified!" But that was because the hour of darkness had come, the hour He was to be given into the hands of the enemy. He was not silent in the temple when driving out the money-changers. He was not silent when calling religious leaders serpents — blind guides — whited sepulchers — a brood of vipers (see Matthew 23). He even told some boldly that Satan was their father!

Many churches today are full of silent, gentlemanly diplomats, not wanting to make waves! Nobody wants trouble! So the devil's kingdom goes unchallenged. We have more than enough smiling, mousy Christians! I heard the raging of a man who said to me, "Let's you and me make a bet — any amount of money! You people in the church can't stop anything! You'll get a little publicity, but nothing ever changes. You can't shut anything down! You're powerless in this league!" He was speaking of abortion and I could detect the mocking of Satan in his voice. It was a dare! It was as if to say to all Christians, "You're all spiritual wimps. You won't last — you'll give up when the opposition comes. You'll just run back inside your safe walls and hide!"

Let me show you how and where the apostolic men of God challenged the powers of darkness — the areas where we too must act.

Paul and Silas Challenged a Dead, Corrupt Religious System!

"...they came to Thessalonica, where was a synagogue of the Jews: And Paul, as his manner was, went in unto them, and...reasoned with them out of the scriptures, opening and alleging, that Christ must needs have suffered, and risen again from the dead; and that this Jesus, whom I preach unto you, is Christ" (Acts 17:1-3). The synagogue at Thessalonica had probably conducted quiet meetings for years, undisturbed. They diligently taught Scripture and in outward appearance they seemed very holy.

Then Paul, the troublemaker, came on the scene and in just three weeks of preaching the kingship of Jesus, he turned that whole area of Thessalonica upside down! He knew from experience that only a few devout ones would listen to Christ's demanding word, that the majority would not give up their hard-shelled religious traditions. He also knew they would be filled with envy and hate towards anything that disturbed their way of doing things. Paul declared that the preaching of his gospel caused contention: "...we were bold in our God to speak unto you the gospel of God with much contention" (1 Thessalonians 2:2). The New American Standard says "with much opposition."

What caused the contention, the violent opposition? Paul and Silas were not loud or provocative — they were not robbing churches? Later, in a letter to those in Thessalonica who went on with the Lord, Paul wrote, "For our exhortation was not of deceit, nor of uncleanness, nor in guile...not as pleasing men, but God, which trieth our hearts. For neither at any time used we flattering words, as ye know, nor a cloak of covetousness; God is witness.... But we were gentle among you, even as a nurse cherisheth her children...we were willing to have imparted unto you, not the gospel of God only, but also our own souls, because you were dear unto us" (1 Thessalonians 2:3-8). These religious people who had for years acted so demure and God-loving are now enraged. They became an angry mob, assaulting the house of Jason and troubling the people and rulers of the city. (See Acts 17.) The cause of all this contention was this one uncompromising word: "There is another king...Jesus" (Acts 17:7).

Paul's preaching on the lordship of Jesus was not like what we hear on that subject today! It was not a cheerleader's slogan or emotional hype. I believe Paul stood for hours before those religious Jews, laying down the whole cost of following Jesus as King. He preached the laying down of all idols and giving up the pleasures of sin. He preached self-denial and suffering for Christ's glory, even to martyrdom. His message of Christ's kingship included a warning to no longer follow men or teachers or their doctrines, nor be led about by men who make merchandise of others; but rather, to adopt a life of holiness and separation from all appearance of evil, having no fellowship with evil men.

I know of Christians who are absolutely in love with their pastor and church, even where it is known for certain there is pride, domination of spirits, manipulation, and flesh. But they say, "We hear the right message. We hear about holiness, about the lordship of Jesus! Sin is not condoned in our church! If that is so, why do those same ministers and congregations become so enraged and hostile to those others who begin to preach and live out the true cost of making Christ king in their lives? Why is there such opposition to believers who faithfully practice the Lord's uncompromising commandments?

"These that have turned the world upside down are come hither also" (Acts 17:6). Whose world is upside down? It is that religious circle where nobody takes the kingship of Christ seriously. A minister's wife here in New York City told me, "Times Square Church has upset just about every charismatic church in the city! You know that, don't you?" I did not know that. I don't know if in fact it is true. But if it is, and if it is because of arrogance in this pulpit or from people going out bragging that this is the only church preaching real holiness, then we would be in great error! But on the other hand, if ministers and congregations are getting "turned upside down" because we preach the uncompromising kingship of Christ — if people are leaving some of those churches because their sin was not exposed and challenged — if people go from here, becoming more like Jesus, walking in His purity — then we are Holy Ghost troublemakers of the right kind!

I can assure you from the Word of God that nothing shakes up or angers dead, compromising churches and preachers more than someone moving in the fullness of Christ who lives and preaches Paul's demanding gospel of holiness. It's a reproof! In every church you will find those few "devout Christians," as Paul called them. But the day you say with Paul — "The things of this world are as dung. I have turned from idols to serve my King. I will no longer serve two masters. I have seen a great light and have come out from among the wicked, the unbelieving, the apostate, the workers of iniquity" — that is the day you are marked as a troublemaker! Are you also to "go in unto them" as Paul did and share the light you have received, to pull others out of deception? Absolutely, yes! By phone, by visits, by tapes, in every way go in unto them, willing to even lay your life down for them.

"The brethren immediately sent away Paul and Silas by night..." (Acts 17:10). Once again it looked like Satan won the battle with the two of them having to sneak out of town in the dark of night. Just imagine the proud boastings of the people on the next Sabbath: "Some revival that was! We were here before they came and we're here when they're gone. People just don't want that kind of preaching around here! Let us go on with God with no more interruptions from these holiness troublemakers!" But Paul and Silas had so turned the converts eyes off themselves and onto Jesus that they could leave town and the body still flourish there. Under persecution the church in Thessalonica became so strong in faith that they became a powerful witness to all of Asia — and the joy of Paul's heart!

Paul Stirred Things Up in the Market Place.

Paul stirred things up right on the job by preaching Jesus the King with resurrection power: "...in the market daily with them that met with him...he preached unto them Jesus, and the resurrection" (Acts 17:17-18). If there is any one place Christians hide their light more than any other place it is on the job, in their workplace. There are multitudes of Christians in this country who sit in God's house proclaiming their intense love for Jesus, yet when they go to their jobs, they're timid and ashamed of Christ! Like Peter, they say by their silence, "I don't know the man!" They fear losing their jobs as well as being ridiculed or rejected.

Why is there such cowardly silence about Jesus on the job by Christians who pray, devour the Word, and walk in holiness? It is because, unlike Paul, our hearts are not stirred, as we see all around us a people given to idolatry. (See Acts 7:16.) We dare not say, "But Paul was a preacher. He was called to this work!" We are all ambassadors of Jesus Christ and are all commanded never to hide our light under a bushel.

These Athenians were exactly like the people you work with nowadays, spending "their time in nothing else, but either to tell, or to hear some new thing...in all things...too superstitious" (Acts 17:21-22). Many Christians were led to believe that the President was a born again believer in Christ, while all along it appears he and his wife were following stars! It is now apparent that those who live in the White House are superstitious and have been guided by spiritualistic channelers! I believe God is angry about it because we lied to the whole world by proclaiming "In God we trust." God's anger is expressed in Isaiah: "Thy nakedness shall be uncovered, yea, thy shame shall be seen: I will take vengeance...for the multitude of thy sorceries, and for the great abundance of thine enchantments. For thou hast trusted in thy wickedness: thou hast said, None seeth me. Thy wisdom and thy knowledge, it hath perverted thee...Therefore shall evil come upon thee; thou shalt not know from whence it riseth.... Stand now with thine enchantments, and with the multitude of thy sorceries.... Let now the astrologers, the stargazers, the monthly prognosticators, stand up, and save thee from these things that shall come upon thee" (Isaiah 47:3, 9-13). "Though thou set thy nest among the stars, thence will I bring thee down..." (Obadiah verse 4). According to these Scriptures, such leaders will be put to shame!

So it is throughout this nation: the majority of those around you on the job are given over to idolatry, gossip, and superstitions of all kinds. On Wall Street the newest thing is "crystal power"! Intelligent, rich power brokers put thousands of dollars into a hunk of crystal or jade and place it in their office to receive "radiant rays" and "vibes" to imbue them with secret knowledge. Others are into yoga, meditation, the occult, and many now won't do anything until they consult their guru or stargazer!

Athens was a city wholly given over to idolatry. Their sin and wickedness had to be even more overpowering than what we have here in New York City because there was no gospel light, no church there. The population was under the sway of two powerful doctrines of delusion: the Epicureans and the Stoics — twin doctrines of devils! The Epicureans did not believe in life after death. They believed that death is the end of all things and that happiness is achieved by a meditative detachment, and joy is to be found only in friendship. The end result was sensuality, gluttony, and exotic pleasures. The Stoics, on the other hand, had a religion of human reasoning, of closeness to nature. They reasoned that to serve one's fellowman through love would cause one pain and sufferings; therefore they urged each one to find his salvation in nature, by aligning the will with universal wisdom." It was so hopeless that it often led to suicide. [Today we call it "new age" as Satan seeks to become the universal mind.] The Athenians ultimately degenerated into blood-thirsty sadists, finding pleasure in the gladiators' slaughterings.

In its time, Athens was one of the most modern, advanced, and intellectual cities in the world. It was palatial, busy, powerful, and godless! I can imagine Paul, a tentmaker, as he waited for Silas and Timothy to arrive from Berea, going to the marketplace to look over the latest needles and thread, comparing canvases. Paul had visited many cities and had seen it all: the drunkenness of Corinth, the homosexual spirit that ruled Rome, the spiritual darkness of Jerusalem. But he never let his heart get hard; he could still be moved by it all. As he walked through the Athens marketplace weeping, "his spirit was stirred in him..." (Acts 17:16). Paul had no strategy, no plan of evangelism, no scheme or tactic. He had only a broken heart full of the burden of Christ. He said to himself, "They're all going to hell. They're all lost, all blind. Someone has to do something!"

For those of you who live in New York City or who have visited, have you never stood in Times Square at midday and looked at the multitudes, at masses of business people going helter-skelter, or at night seen the wandering dregs of humanity? Have you not wept, "Lord, they are lost! This city is going to hell — the devil is having his way and no one seems to be challenging this mess!" Or have you become so used to the darkness, so burned out with all the beggars, the poverty, the crime, and the filth that you are no longer stirred? I know how it feels to be bombarded on all sides with beggars, knowing that handouts are going to drugs and alcohol. You can't keep up with it all; but there is the danger of allowing callouses to form over your heart, so that on the job you're no longer stirred by the sin and hurt all around you.

Paul Focused on the Resurrection Power of the Gospel.

Paul was not put off by the immensity of the problem. He wasn't overwhelmed by Satan's hold on the city because he knew he had a secret weapon against it: the gospel of resurrection power! Paul took his eyes off what the devil had done and focused on what Jesus could do in the resurrection might! It did not matter that they called him a "babbler," meaning a sponger, a loafer, a preacher of nonsense. Have you ever been called "a troublemaker babbler"? Has anyone ever said to you, "Stop infringing on my rights. Stop pushing your religion on me. Stop trying to make me believe like you do!" None of that kind of mockery could stop Paul because his heart was bleeding. Let them say what they will or call him any name they please — he knew if he didn't take his stand for Christ they would die in sin without a witness.

It is not enough to just live right or to "set a good example." For too long we have hidden behind the old cliche, "Actions speak louder than words." We claim to be silent witnesses living His life. The testimony must include the spoken Word: "Thy watchman shall lift up the voice..." (Isaiah 52:8). "...How shall they hear without a preacher?" (Romans 10:14).

There is a "Philip" Ministry for Every Believer Who Walks in Christ's Holiness.

"Philip went down to the city of Samaria, and preached Christ unto them. And the people with one accord gave heed unto those things which Philip spake, hearing and seeing the miracles which he did. For unclean spirits, crying with loud voice, came out of many that were possessed with them: and many taken with palsies, and that were lame, were healed. And there was great joy in that city" (Acts 8:5-8). Philip was a layman, full of the Holy Ghost. He was not a pulpit man, but a lay person who simply believed in Christ's power of resurrection life. So he went everywhere expecting miracles. He was a man of the marketplace. We will never impact this city or any other until every member of the body becomes a Christ-consumed Philip, a lay evangelist with faith to cast out evil spirits and with faith to pray for the salvation and healing of fellow workers. We can and shall stir up this wicked city!

If We Do Not Obey the Lord's Command to Preach the Gospel We Will Become Self-Centered and Obsessed with Our Own Problems.

The Plymouth Brethren started in Plymouth, England many years ago. They were a godly group who took the gospel to the streets. What a burden for souls they had! A great revival broke out and Christ was revealed to them as a glorified man in heaven. But they became so consumed in studying Christ, so focused on their form of worship, they lost their burden for dying souls. They split up into two groups, the open and closed brethren. The closed brethren ended up permitting no one to partake of fellowship with them except by invitation. Today all that is left of the original movement are the great writings of men like Darby, Stoney, Mackintosh, and Raven, all of which are wonderful teachings on Christ and holiness. But spiritual elitism had crept in, with no burning passion for the lost. We need the deep, pure Word and the burning passion for the lost.

You can hear so much preaching and teachings that you become "dull of hearing" (Hebrews 5:11). I receive reams of prophecies, long involved "spirit" writings, from Christians who claim to be spending days and weeks and even months in prayer. It is a barrage of "thus saith the Lord," much of it with no meaning at all! One husband asked me to set his wife straight. She had been telling people how she supposedly died and went to heaven, danced with Jesus, and went skydiving with Him! She claimed her revelation came to her after praying for hours.

Why are these dear ones not out among the people, preaching a resurrected Jesus? Why are they spending all their time reproving others, with no brokenness for the lost? The best cure for "flakiness" is getting out among sinners, preaching, healing, and casting out devils. We pray, "Holy Ghost, come!" But for what? To simply bless us and meet our needs? Or to equip us and reveal to us the broken heart of our Lord? The last words of Jesus before leaving this earth were, "Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature" (Mark 16:15).

We have been praying that God will close down the transvestite bar next door to Times Square Church. The proprietor said to us, "You people are in real trouble. You don't know who you're dealing with?" No! He doesn't know with whom he is dealing! Jesus said, "All power is given unto me..." (Matthew 28:18). Therefore, "we may boldly say, The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me" (Hebrews 13:6). Paul prayed that "ye may know...what is the exceeding greatness of His power to usward who believe, according to the working of His mighty power, which He wrought in Christ...far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come: and hath put all things under His feet..." (Ephesians 1:18-21).

"My brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of His might" (Ephesians 6:10). Satan has made some of you afraid: afraid of falling, afraid of a besetting sin or a hounding habit, and afraid of men. But the Word says, "...Resist the devil, and he will flee from you" (James 4:7). You are not the one who runs! "And with great power gave the apostles witness of the resurrection of the Lord Jesus..." (Acts 4:33). "Though an host should encamp against me, my heart shall not fear: though war should rise against me, in this will I be confident.... For in the time of trouble he shall hide me in His pavilion...he shall set me up upon a rock" (Psalm 27:3,5).

--- Used with permission granted by World Challenge, P. O. Box 260, Lindale, TX 75771 USA.

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plaintalkchristianministries · 2 years ago

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Lordship Salvation. Explaining Lordship Salvation.

A Perversion of the Gospel Lordship Salvation: 2 Corinthians 11:13 For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ. 14 And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light. 15 Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their…

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#Bible #Bible Study #Blog #Christian #Christianity #Explaining Lordship Salvation #False Teacher #False Teachers #God #Jesus #Lordship Salvation #Salvation #Sermon #The Gospel

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oladipodaramola · 6 years ago

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One of the most important lessons of the Bible is that the righteous will be blessed, and the wicked will be cursed. The righteous are those who fear and love God, trust and obey His word for every decision in life, and despise and reject the false and deceitful lifestyles of the world around them.

The only WAY to become righteous before God, is to accept Jesus as Lord and Savior. It’s God free offer to mankind for salvation. Christ sacrificial blood and death, received by faith, paid for our redemption and atone for our sins. He is our Savior. That enables us to live a life of righteousness, submits to the Lordship of Jesus through obedience and self denial. That makes us to become righteous before God.

The righteous shall live long and happily on earth, and after death, they shall live eternally in heaven. But the wicked shall not inhabit the earth; that is, they shall not even have a long and quiet time on earth, and after death, they shall be cast into the lake of fire for eternal torment.

What will you do with this warning?

It is your choice!

#gospel #bible #jesus #god #stewardship #peace #truth #meditation #leadership #living #accountability #lifestyle #beamthelight

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thescienceofapologetics · 8 years ago

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SIX MAJOR PROBLEMS WITH THE SHACK

Though you might be swayed into thinking the god of The Shack is the same as the God of the Bible, there are several problems that arise if we take a close look at The Shack. Here are six concerns that develop as Mack converses with William P. Young’s caricatures of the Trinity.

Problem #1: According to Young, justice and love are at odds and cannot be reconciled.

He reasons that God will never judge people for their sins because He is limited by His love. Neither will He enact eternal judgment upon those who reject Him or send anyone to torment in hell. But why would Jesus Christ die a criminal’s death on the cross if not to save us from something? What a wasteful and pointless act it would be if Christ did not take on our just punishment, the wrath of God, for our sin. We cannot remove the wrath of God from Scripture. It is as surely a part of His character as His love and mercy are. But God’s wrath is not a human anger that flares up because of wounded pride or envy. His wrath is not self-indulgent, but rather, as theologian J.I. Packer says in his book Knowing God, “a right and necessary reaction to objective moral evil. God is only angry where anger is called for. . . . all God’s indignation is righteous.” The Bible is very clear about why Jesus came to earth, humbly taking on the very nature of a servant (see John 3:16-18, Philippians 2:6-7). Jesus Himself warned about the coming judgment and hell, commissioning His followers to proclaim the Gospel that the lost might be saved—that they might choose life (see Matthew 25:31-46, Revelation 21:6-8). Ultimately, that is what every person must do: Either choose salvation through the atoning blood of Jesus or choose the wrath of the righteous God. Would Mack really want a God who would not punish evil? Would he be okay with a God who would not exert justice for the evil done to his daughter? Would God be good and loving if He said to Mack, “We’ll just let this slide”? Of course not. He shows us His love by both punishing sin and providing us with an escape: “But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans 5:8). He is “the compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness, maintaining love to thousands, and forgiving wickedness, rebellion and sin. Yet he does not leave the guilty unpunished” (Exodus 34:6-7).

Problem #2: Another theme in The Shack that doesn’t square with the Word of God is the idea that God forgives all of humanity, regardless of whether or not they repent and believe in the redeeming work of Jesus.

It is an idea rooted in universalism—the belief that all roads lead to God and that Jesus is walking with all people in their different journeys to God, whether they call Him Jesus or Buddha or Allah. In fact, Young asserts that there is no need for faith or reconciliation with God because all people will make it to heaven. The Bible is very clear that only those who call on the name of Jesus will be saved: “Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved” (Acts 4:12. See also 1 Timothy 2:5, Romans 10:9). Universalism is a dangerous and malicious lie. It leads people to think that it doesn’t matter what you believe, sin is not really a problem, and there is really no need for a Savior. Universalism single-handedly destroyed Christianity in much of Europe, and universalism is working hard to destroy the faith of remnant believers in the American church today. Jesus is not the same as Buddha or Krishna; He does not hide behind such false and impotent gods. He became flesh and dwelt among us that we might know Him. He wants us to know the one true God. He wants the glory that He deserves, for He alone is God: “I am the Lord; that is my name! I will not yield my glory to another or my praise to idols” (Isaiah 42:8). Are you willing to risk your eternal future on feel-good fluff? Sin is real. It is rebellion against God, and it requires justice. God’s justice and wrath were poured out on Jesus Christ to reconcile us to the holy God (see 1 Peter 2:24-25). But we must have faith in Jesus, confessing His lordship and believing in His resurrection.Jesus calls out to us, “Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it” (Matthew 7:13-14). Beware of the “broad road” theology of The Shack.

Problem #3: In The Shack, the god character tells Mack that “submission is not about authority or obedience” and that the Trinity is even submitted to Mack

The Bible in its entirety points us to the need to submit to God. Submitting is by definition yielding to the authority of another. God created man, and man cannot dictate terms to God. As Isaiah 29:16 says, “You turn things upside down, as if the potter were thought to be like the clay! Shall what is formed say to the one who formed it, ‘You did not make me’? Can the pot say to the potter, ‘You know nothing’?” God does not answer to us; we answer to God. In this way we remain in His love: “If you keep my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commands and remain in his love. I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete” (John 15:10-11). Submission is about obedience, and that’s because obedience is ultimately about love. Jesus Himself said, “Anyone who loves me will obey my teaching” (John 14:23). To minimize obedience is to minimize love for God.

Problem #4: Young alleges that the Bible limits God, implying that it was man who reduced God’s voice to paper: “Nobody wanted God in a box, just in a book”

Thus the Bible is portrayed as inadequate to know God. If the Bible were simply a book written by man, then it would be about as useful as The Shack. However, the Bible was written over the course of about 1,800 years with many different authors all inspired by the Holy Spirit. They all through various time periods and life experiences tell the same story, pointing us to the Messiah—Jesus, who is the very Word of God made flesh (John 1:1-4, 14). It is through Scripture that God chose to reveal Himself to us. The Bible is a divine product. Jesus Himself trusted the Scriptures and used them to teach about Himself (see Luke 24:44-47). If the risen Lord values, trusts, and feeds on the Bible (see Matthew 4:1-11), should we not also look to it as the saving Gospel it is? Let us therefore heed Paul’s words: “Continue in what you have learned and have become convinced of, because you know those from whom you learned it, and how from infancy you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.” (2 Timothy 3:14-17)

Problem #5: The God portrayed in The Shack seems casual and unconcerned with holiness, which is inconsistent with what we see in the Bible.

Mack’s troubling disrespect and disregard for the Trinity would be impossible if he had encountered the sovereign, holy God. By presenting a god wholly different from the true God revealed in the Bible, Young mocks the importance and uniqueness of the Word of God. He makes the Bible equal to or less than whatever personal imagination anyone might have of God. Mack did not encounter the Holy God of heaven and earth in the shack, but a created god who is controlled and manipulated by man—like an idol that is put away in a closet and brought out when needed. The Shack exchanges “the glory of the immortal God for images made to look like a mortal human being” (Romans 1:23). While it’s a righteous desire to want to know God, Mack’s fictional experience of encountering God is demonstrably inconsistent with what we see in Scripture. It's also a poor sequel to the true story we already have of God’s interactions on earth through Jesus Christ. When Moses asks God to show him His glory, God warns, “You cannot see my face, for no one may see me and live” (Exodus 33:20)—such is the dangerous magnificence of the Father’s glory. We must be careful of assigning any image to Him that diminishes His holiness. In Scripture, when people face the Lord, they fall down in repentance and worship. Isaiah’s response was: “Woe to me! . . . I am ruined! For I am a man of unclean lips, and I live among a people of unclean lips, and my eyes have seen the King, the Lord Almighty” (Isaiah 6:5). When John is swept up to heaven in a revelation from God and sees the glorified Jesus, he falls at His feet “as though dead” (Revelation 1:17)! When Job was confronted by the Lord as He laid out His majesty, Job replies, “My ears had heard of you but now my eyes have seen you. Therefore I despise myself and repent in dust and ashes” (Job 42:5-6). God is awesome, and we simply cannot stand in His presence. Neither can we live without Him.

Problem #6: In The Shack, Young tries to answer the important personal question of suffering—and he thinks the answer is to change who God is.

But God has already answered this question perfectly according to His true and unchanging character. He answered it with the Gospel. He answered it on the cross. He answered it through Jesus Christ our Lord. As we carefully consider the ideas presented in The Shack, the greater question we must ask ourselves is: Am I willing to accept God’s gift of eternal life as it is revealed in Scripture? Am I willing to accept God’s salvation the way He provided it—even if I want something else that accommodates my wishes, desires, and emotions? Am I willing to accept Truth over what makes me comfortable, realizing that Truth is what I need—for it alone leads to eternal life? We must not allow ourselves to be swayed by emotionalism. We must instead be like the Bereans, who “examined the Scriptures” rather than readily accepting what they heard as Truth (Acts 17:11). Because no story, no matter how compelling, can ever improve upon God’s story of redemption in the Bible.

Beloved, the best place to meet God is not at the shack, but at the cross. For the Gospel is the greatest story ever told, and better still, it is true. [x]

#the shack #the shack movie #christianity #religion #apologetics #text #I've got a lot of people on my dash wondering about The Shack #so I thought I'd post a big comprehensive sweep of the most blatant herecies

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christianworldf · 5 years ago

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New Post has been published on Christian Worldview Institute

New Post has been published on https://christianworldviewinstitute.com/bible-prophecies/end-time-events/book-of-revelation/seven-blowls/star-of-bethlehem-with-washingtons-wall-reveal-day-judgment-begins-rapture-pentecost-6-16-5/

Star of Bethlehem with Washington’s wall reveal day judgment begins, Rapture!!! Pentecost 6/16 #5

Maximum Security sign part 1 / Pentecost 6/16 #1

Maximum Security part 2, Washington’s wall, Washington Hanford nuclear site / Pentecost 6/16 #2

9th of Av, Daniel ch 2 / Pentecost 6/16 #3

Lebron James, James 4:4 / Pentecost #4

Star of Bethlehem, Washington’s wall / Pentecost 6/16 #5

Mount Carmel Fire sign, 2018 World Series / Pentecost 6/16 #6

Amos 9:11 Candlestick Park, Blackout Bowl / Pentecost 6/16 #7

7 Passover signs

23 Church signs (most important video on this channel)

Paradise fire reveals exact hour of Rapture (May 14-22 pt 9)

Israeli moon lander – the true reason for the sign (May 14-22 pt 8)

Joshua trees. Holy Land earthquakes Part 1 (May 14th pt 7)

Joshua trees. Holy Land earthquakes Part 2 (May 14th pt 7)

November 17th conclusions

Nov 17 (review Feb 2018 – Nov 2018)

May 14th video pt 1

Blood Moon 1 (May 14th pt 2)

Blood Moon 3 – 42 Jews on Temple Mount – must watch (May 14th pt 4)

Titanic, solar flare, Blood Moon 4 (May 14th pt 5)

Jonathan Cahn Super Bowl signs (May 14th pt 6)

Oct 17

other highly recommended videos and articles:

Roman Popes Have Been AntiChrists in Our Midst for Centuries – 2 Thessalonians 2:3-12

Link to interesting article Will No One Know The Day? http://theopenscroll.com/when_cometh/knowday.htm?fbclid=IwAR3DoQJw2a_S7lLsavJTT0LFfFO_gP5yq-iEpkYPOPli0KlXQz456xeqYFQ

Link to information countering the false doctrine that no one will know the day http://www.clearlywritten.net/no-man-knows-the-day

Bible study: Is Joshua’s Battle at Jericho the Dramatic Key to John’s Revelation?

Is Joshua’s Battle at Jericho the Dramatic Key to John’s Revelation?

Grace, Saving, Sovereign and Free (David Pawson. Free Grace segment begins at minute 51:00)

Sovereign Grace and Calvinism (David Pawson. Great question and answers at the end)

Once Saved Always Saved? (David Pawson)

The True God and the True Gospel (David Pawson)

The Character of God, Grace True and False (David Pawson)

You Accepted Jesus, BUT Has He Accepted You? (Michael Chriswell. “Most important End Times message”)

Verse By Verse, Can You Lose Your Salvation? (Michael Chriswell)

The Lordship Controversy (Phil Johnson)

source

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fevie168 · 6 years ago

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Tuesday (November 27): "Take heed that you are not led astray"

Scripture: Luke 21:5-11

5 And as some spoke of the temple, how it was adorned with noble stones and offerings, he said, 6 "As for these things which you see, the days will come when there shall not be left here one stone upon another that will not be thrown down." 7 And they asked him, "Teacher, when will this be, and what will be the sign when this is about to take place?" 8 And he said, "Take heed that you are not led astray; for many will come in my name, saying, `I am he!' and, `The time is at hand!' Do not go after them. 9 And when you hear of wars and tumults, do not be terrified; for this must first take place, but the end will not be at once." 10 Then he said to them, "Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom; 11 there will be great earthquakes, and in various places famines and pestilences; and there will be terrors and great signs from heaven.

Meditation: How would you respond if someone prophesied that your home, land, or place of worship would be destroyed? Jesus foretold many signs that would shake peoples and nations. The signs which God uses are meant to point us to a higher spiritual truth and reality of his kingdom which does not perish or fade away, but endures for all eternity. God works through many events and signs to purify and renew us in hope and to help us set our hearts more firmly on him and him alone.

First signs of the end times To the great consternation of the Jews, Jesus prophesied the destruction of their great temple at Jerusalem. The Jewish people took great pride in their temple, a marvel of the ancient world. The foretelling of this destruction was a dire warning of spiritual judgment in itself. They asked Jesus for a sign that would indicate when this disastrous event would occur. Jesus admonished them to not look for signs that would indicate the exact timing of impending destruction, but rather to pray for God's intervention of grace and mercy.

Jesus said there would be many signs of impending conflicts and disasters - such as wars, famines, diseases, tidal waves, and earthquakes - which would precede the struggles of the last days when God's anointed King would return to usher in the full reign of God over the earth. In that day when the Lord returns there will be a final judgement of the living and the dead when the secrets of every heart will be brought to light (Luke 12:2-3; Romans 2:16).

Jesus foretells the destruction of the Temple at Jerusalem Jesus' prophecy of the destruction of the temple at Jerusalem was a two-edged sword, because it pointed not only to God's judgment, but also to his saving action and mercy. Jesus foretold the destruction of Jerusalem and the dire consequences for all who would reject him and his saving message. While the destruction of Jerusalem's temple was determined (it was razed by the Romans in 70 A.D.), there remained for its inhabitants a narrow open door leading to deliverance. Jesus said: "I am the door; whoever enters by me will be saved" (John 10:9). Jesus willingly set his face toward Jerusalem, knowing that he would meet betrayal, rejection, and death on a cross. His death on the cross, however, brought about true freedom, peace, and victory over the powers of sin, evil, and death - not only for the inhabitants of Jerusalem, but for all - both Jew and Gentile alike – who would accept Jesus as their Lord and Savior. Do you know the peace and security of a life submitted to the lordship of Jesus Christ?

We need to recognize the signs of God's judgment, mercy, and grace to save us Sometimes we don't recognize the moral crisis and spiritual conflict of the age in which we live, until something "shakes us up" to the reality of this present condition. God reminds us that a future judgment and outcome awaits every individual who has lived on this earth. The reward for doing what is right and pleasing to God and the penalty for sinful rebellion and rejection of God are not always experienced in this present life - but they are sure to come in the day of final judgment.

The Lord Jesus tells us that there will be trials, suffering, and persecution in this present age until he comes again at the end of the world. God intends our anticipation of his final judgment to be a powerful deterrent to unfaithfulness and wrongdoing. God extends grace and mercy to all who will heed his call and his warning. Do not pass up, even for one day, God's invitation of grace and mercy to seek first his kingdom of righteousness and peace. This day may be your only chance before that final day comes.

"Lord Jesus, your grace and mercy abounds even in the midst of trials and difficulties. Help me to seek your kingdom first and to reject whatever would hinder me from pursuing your way of peace, righteousness, and holiness. Fill me with the joy and hope of your everlasting kingdom."

Psalm 96:10-13

10 Say among the nations, "The LORD reigns! Yes, the world is established, it shall never be moved; he will judge the peoples with equity." 11 Let the heavens be glad, and let the earth rejoice; let the sea roar, and all that fills it; 12 let the field exult, and everything in it! Then shall all the trees of the wood sing for joy 13 before the LORD, for he comes, for he comes to judge the earth. He will judge the world with righteousness, and the peoples with his truth.

Daily Quote from the early church fathers: First signs of the end times, by Maximus of Turin (died between 408-423 AD)

"Perhaps you are anxious, brothers and sisters, at the fact that we hear constantly of the tumult of wars and the onsets of battles. Perhaps your love is still more anxious since these are taking place in our times. The reason is the closer we are to the destruction of the world, the closer we are to the kingdom of the Savior. The Lord himself says, 'In the last days nation will rise against nation and kingdom against kingdom. When you see wars, earthquakes and famines, know that the kingdom of God is at hand.'This nearness of wars shows us that Christ is near." (excerpt from SERMON 85.1)

Monday (November 26): "She put in all that she had"

Scripture: Luke 21:1-4

1 He looked up and saw the rich putting their gifts into the treasury; 2 and he saw a poor widow put in two copper coins. 3 And he said, "Truly I tell you, this poor widow has put in more than all of them; 4 for they all contributed out of their abundance, but she out of her poverty put in all the living that she had."

Meditation: Do you know the joy of selfless giving and generous love for others? True love doesn't calculate - it spends lavishly! Jesus drove this point home to his disciples while sitting in the temple and observing people offering their tithes. Jesus praised a poor widow who gave the smallest of coins in contrast with the rich who gave greater sums. How can someone in poverty give more than someone who has ample means? Jesus' answer is very simple - love is more precious than gold or wealth!

Love grows with gratitude and generous giving Jesus taught that real giving must come from the heart. A gift that is given with a grudge or for display loses its value. But a gift given out of love, with a spirit of generosity and sacrifice, is precious. The amount or size of the gift doesn't matter as much as the cost to the giver. The poor widow could have kept one of her coins, but instead she recklessly gave away all she had! Jesus praised someone who gave barely a penny - how insignificant a sum - because it was everything she had, her whole living.

Nothing given in love is worthless What we have to offer may look very small and not worth much, but if we put all we have at the Lord's disposal, no matter how insignificant it may seem, then God can do with it and with us what is beyond our reckoning. Do you give out of love and gratitude for what God has already given to you?

"Lord Jesus, your love knows no bounds and you give without measure. All that I have comes from you. May I give freely and generously in gratitude for all that you have given to me. Take my life and all that I possess - my gifts, talents, time and resources - and use them as you see fit for your glory."

Psalm 24:1-6

1 The earth is the LORD's and the fulness thereof, the world and those who dwell therein; 2 for he has founded it upon the seas, and established it upon the rivers. 3 Who shall ascend the hill of the LORD? And who shall stand in his holy place? 4 He who has clean hands and a pure heart, who does not lift up his soul to what is false, and does not swear deceitfully. 5 He will receive blessing from the LORD, and vindication from the God of his salvation. 6 Such is the generation of those who seek him, who seek the face of the God of Jacob. [Selah]

Daily Quote from the early church fathers: Mercy and compassion are never worthless, by Leo the Great, 400-461 A.D.

"Although the spite of some people does not grow gentle with any kindness, nevertheless the works of mercy are not fruitless, and kindness never loses what is offered to the ungrateful. May no one, dearly beloved, make themselves strangers to good works. Let no one claim that his poverty scarcely sufficed for himself and could not help another. What is offered from a little is great, and in the scale of divine justice, the quantity of gifts is not measured but the steadfastness of souls. The "widow" in the Gospel put two coins into the "treasury," and this surpassed the gifts of all the rich. No mercy is worthless before God. No compassion is fruitless. He has given different resources to human beings, but he does not ask different affections." (excerpt from Sermon 20.3.1)

Sunday (November 25): "My kingship is not of this world"

Scripture: John 18:33-37

33 Pilate entered the praetorium again and called Jesus, and said to him, "Are you the King of the Jews?" 34 Jesus answered, "Do you say this of your own accord, or did others say it to you about me?" 35 Pilate answered, "Am I a Jew? Your own nation and the chief priests have handed you over to me; what have you done?" 36 Jesus answered, "My kingship is not of this world; if my kingship were of this world, my servants would fight, that I might not be handed over to the Jews; but my kingship is not from the world." 37 Pilate said to him, "So you are a king?" Jesus answered, "You say that I am a king. For this I was born, and for this I have come into the world, to bear witness to the truth. Every one who is of the truth hears my voice."

Old Testament Reading: Daniel 7:13-14

13 I saw in the night visions, and behold, with the clouds of heaven there came one like a son of man, and he came to the Ancient of Days and was presented before him. 14 And to him was given dominion and glory and kingdom, that all peoples, nations, and languages should serve him; his dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and his kingdom one that shall not be destroyed.

Meditation: Do you recognize that the Lord Jesus have been given all authority and power to reign over heaven and earth? Jesus was crucified for his claim to be the Messiah King (John 18:37) who would rule not only over his people Israel but ultimately over all the nations as well (Daniel 7:13-14).

God is King and Ruler over all What is the significance or meaning of Jesus' kingship for us? Kingship today seems antiquated, especially in democratic societies where everyone is treated equal and free. God at first did not want to give his people Israel a king. Why? Because God alone was their King and they needed no other. Nonetheless, God relented and promised his people that through David's line he would establish a Ruler and a Kingdom that would last for eternity (Psalm 89:29).

The Jews understood that the Messiah ("Anointed One") would come as God's anointed King to restore paradise and establish God's reign of everlasting peace for them. They wanted a Messianic King who would free them from strife and division and from foreign oppression. Many had high hopes that Jesus would be the Messiah and Ruler for Israel. Little did they understand what kind of kingship Jesus claimed to possess.

Jesus' claim to kingship Jesus came to deliver his people, and the whole world, from the worst kind of tyranny possible - from bondage to sin, condemnation and death, and to free us from Satan's kingdom of deception, oppression, and destruction. Jesus came to conquer hearts and souls for an unshakeable kingdom - a kingdom ruled not by force or fear - but by the power of God's righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit (Romans 14:17).

When Satan tempted Jesus during his forty day fast in the wilderness, he offered Jesus all the kingdoms of the world (Matthew 4:8-9) Jesus knew that the world was in Satan's power. And this was precisely why Jesus came - to overthrow Satan's power and deception over the earth. Jesus knew that the way to victory was through submission to his Father's will and strategy for overcoming sin and Satan in the world. The Father sent his only begotten Son into the world, not to condemn it, but to save it through the atoning sacrifice which Jesus would make for us through the shedding of his blood on the cross of Calvary.

As Jesus was dying on the cross, he was mocked for his claim to kingship. Nonetheless, he died not only as King of the Jews, but King of all the nations as well. His victory over the power of sin, Satan, and the world, was accomplished through his death on the cross and his rising from the tomb on the third day - never to die again. Jesus exchanged a throne of glory for a cross of shame to restore us from slavery to sin to glory with God as his adopted sons and daughters. In the Book of Revelations Jesus is called King of kings and Lord and lords (Revelations 19:16). Do you recognize Jesus Christ as your King and Lord?

Which ruler and kingdom will you serve? The Scriptures tell us that there are ultimately only two kingdoms in this world which are opposed to one another - the kingdom of light and the kingdom of darkness. Each kingdom is ruled by one lord or master - the Lord Jesus Christ who is the true "Light of the World" - or the false messiah and ruler who is called the "anti-Christ" and an "angel of light" who rules by lies and deception.

If we follow the Lord Jesus Christ he will open our eyes to the light of his truth and guide us on the course that leads to our true homeland and security with God. If we follow the course which is set by the world - a world which is opposed to Christ and blinded by the Deceiver who is Satan - then we will discover that sin, pride, and greed will lead us down a path of destruction, division, and death rather than life, community, and freedom.

Which kingdom will you serve - today and for all eternity? The kingdom of this present world which passes away or God's kingdom which can never be broken or defeated and which endures forever? If we accept Jesus Christ as our Lord and King we become citizens of an everlasting kingdom which is governed by God's righteousness, peace, and love. Is your life submitted to the Lordship of Jesus Christ who reigns now and forever in the glory of his eternal Father in heaven?

"Lord Jesus Christ, you are my King and there is no other. Be the Lord and Master of my heart, mind, body, and soul. May I always seek to do your will and to serve your kingdom above all else."

Psalm 93:1-5

1 The LORD is king, he is robed in majesty; the LORD is robed, he is girded with strength. He has established the world; it shall never be moved; 2 your throne is established from of old; you are from everlasting. 3 The floods have lifted up, O LORD, the floods have lifted up their voice; the floods lift up their roaring. 4 More majestic than the thunders of mighty waters, more majestic than the waves of the sea, majestic on high is the LORD! 5 Your decrees are very sure; holiness befits your house, O LORD, forevermore.

Daily Quote from the early church fathers: My kingdom is not of the world, by Augustine of Hippo, 354-430 A.D.

"Listen, everyone, Jews and Gentiles, circumcised and uncircumcised. Listen, all kings of the earth. I am no hindrance to your rule in this world, for 'my kingdom is not of this world.' Banish the groundless fear that filled Herod the Great on hearing that Christ was born. More cruel in his fear than in his anger, he put many children to death (Matthew 2:3,16), so that Christ would also die. But 'my kingdom is not of this world,' says Christ. What further reassurance do you seek? Come to the kingdom that is not of this world. Do not be enraged by fear, but come by faith. In a prophecy Christ also said, 'He,' that is, God the Father, 'has made me king on Zion his holy mountain' (Psalm 2:6). But that Zion and that mountain are not of this world.

"What in fact is Christ's kingdom? It is simply those who believe in him, those to whom he said, 'You are not of this world, even as I am not of this world.' He willed, nevertheless, that they should be in the world, which is why he prayed to the Father, 'I ask you not to take them out of the world but to protect them from the evil one' (John 17:15-16). So here also he did not say, 'My kingdom is not' in this world but 'is not of this world.' And when he went on to prove this by declaring, 'If my kingdom were of this world, my servants would have fought to save me from being handed over to the Jews,' he concluded by saying not 'my kingdom is not here' but 'my kingdom is not from here.'

"Indeed, his kingdom is here until the end of time, and until the harvest it will contain weeds. The harvest is the end of the world, when the reapers, who are the angels, will come and gather out of his kingdom all causes of sin (Matthew 13:48-41). And this could not happen if his kingdom were not here. But even so, it is not from here, for it is in exile in the world. Christ says to his kingdom, 'You are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world' (John 15:19). They were indeed of the world when they belonged to the prince of this world, before they became his kingdom. Though created by the true God, everyone born of the corrupt and accursed stock of Adam is of the world. [But] everyone who is reborn in Christ becomes the kingdom that is no longer of the world. For God has snatched us from the powers of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of his beloved Son (Colossians 1:13). This is that kingdom of which he said, 'My kingdom is not of this world; my kingly power does not come from here."

(excerpt from TRACTATES ON THE GOSPEL OF JOHN 115.2)

Saturday (November 24): "All live to him"

Scripture: Luke 20:27-40

27 There came to him some Sadducees, those who say that there is no resurrection, 28 and they asked him a question, saying, "Teacher, Moses wrote for us that if a man's brother dies, having a wife but no children, the man must take the wife and raise up children for his brother. 29 Now there were seven brothers; the first took a wife, and died without children; 30 and the second 31 and the third took her, and likewise all seven left no children and died. 32 Afterward the woman also died. 33 In the resurrection, therefore, whose wife will the woman be? For the seven had her as wife." 34 And Jesus said to them, "The sons of this age marry and are given in marriage; 35 but those who are accounted worthy to attain to that age and to the resurrection from the dead neither marry nor are given in marriage, 36 for they cannot die any more, because they are equal to angels and are sons of God, being sons of the resurrection. 37 But that the dead are raised, even Moses showed, in the passage about the bush, where he calls the Lord the God of Abraham and the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob. 38 Now he is not God of the dead, but of the living; for all live to him." 39 And some of the scribes answered, "Teacher, you have spoken well." 40 For they no longer dared to ask him any question.

Meditation: Is your life earth-bound or heaven-bound? The Sadducees had one big problem - they could not conceive of heaven beyond what they could see with their naked eyes! Aren't we often like them? We don't recognize spiritual realities because we try to make heaven into an earthly image. The Sadducees came to Jesus with a test question to make the resurrection look ridiculous. The Sadducees, unlike the Pharisees, did not believe in immortality, nor in angels or evil spirits. Their religion was literally grounded in an earthly image of heaven.

The Scriptures give witness - we will rise again to immortal life Jesus retorts by dealing with the fact of the resurrection. The scriptures give proof of it. In Exodus 3:6, when God manifests his presence to Moses in the burning bush, the Lord tells him that he is the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. He shows that the patriarchs who died hundreds of years previously were still alive in God. Jesus defeats their arguments by showing that God is a living God of a living people. God was the friend of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob when they lived. That friendship could not cease with death. As Psalm 73:23-24 states: "I am continually with you; you hold my right hand. You guide me with your counsel, and afterward you will receive me to glory."

The ultimate proof of the resurrection is the Lord Jesus and his victory over death when he rose from the tomb. Before Jesus raised Lazarus from the dead, he exclaimed: "I am the resurrection and the life; he who believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live, and whoever lives and believes in me shall never die. Do you believe this?" (John 11:25). Jesus asks us the same question. Do you believe in the resurrection and in the promise of eternal life with God?

Jesus came to restore Paradise and everlasting life for us The Holy Spirit reveals to us the eternal truths of God's unending love and the life he desires to share with us for all eternity. Paul the Apostle, quoting from the prophet Isaiah (Isaiah 64:4; 65:17) states: "What no eye has seen, nor ear heard, nor the heart of man conceived, what God has prepared for those who love him," God has revealed to us through the Spirit (1 Corinthians 2:9-10). The promise of paradise - heavenly bliss and unending life with an all-loving God - is beyond human reckoning. We have only begun to taste the first-fruits! Do you live now in the joy and hope of the life of the age to come?

"May the Lord Jesus put his hands on our eyes also, for then we too shall begin to look not at what is seen but at what is not seen. May he open the eyes that are concerned not with the present but with what is yet to come, may he unseal the heart's vision, that we may gaze on God in the Spirit, through the same Lord, Jesus Christ, whose glory and power will endure throughout the unending succession of ages." (Prayer of Origen, 185-254 AD)

Psalm 19:1-6,15,18

I will give thanks to the LORD with my whole heart; I will tell of all your wonderful deeds. 2 I will be glad and exult in you, I will sing praise to your name, O Most High. 3 When my enemies turned back, they stumbled and perished before you. 4 For you have maintained my just cause; you have sat on the throne giving righteous judgment. 5 You have rebuked the nations, you have destroyed the wicked; you have blotted out their name for ever and ever. 6 The enemies have vanished in everlasting ruins; their cities you have rooted out; the very memory of them has perished. 15 The nations have sunk in the pit which they made; in the net which they hid has their own foot been caught. 18 For the needy shall not always be forgotten, and the hope of the poor shall not perish for ever.

Daily Quote from the early church fathers: Jesus cites Moses to affirm the resurrection, by Cyril of Alexandria (376-444 AD)

"The Savior also demonstrated the great ignorance of the Sadducees by bringing forward their own leader Moses, who was clearly acquainted with the resurrection of the dead. He set God before us saying in the bush, 'I am the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob' (Exodus 3:6). Of whom is he God, if, according to their argument, these have ceased to live? He is the God of the living. They certainly will rise when his almighty right hand brings them and all that are on the earth there. For people not to believe that this will happen is worthy perhaps of the ignorance of the Sadducees, but it is altogether unworthy of those who love Christ. We believe in him who says, 'I am the resurrection and the life' (John 11:25). He will raise the dead suddenly, in the twinkling of an eye, and at the last trumpet. It shall sound, the dead in Christ shall rise incorruptible, and we shall be changed (1 Corinthians 15:52). For Christ our common Savior will transfer us into incorruption, glory and to an incorruptible life." (excerpt from COMMENTARY ON LUKE, HOMILY 136)

Friday (November 23): "All the people hung upon his words "

Scripture: Luke 19:45-48

45 And he entered the temple and began to drive out those who sold, 46 saying to them, "It is written, `My house shall be a house of prayer'; but you have made it a den of robbers." 47 And he was teaching daily in the temple. The chief priests and the scribes and the principal men of the people sought to destroy him; 48 but they did not find anything they could do, for all the people hung upon his words.

Meditation: Why did Jesus drive out the money changers in the temple at Jerusalem? Was he upset with their greediness? This is the only incident in the Gospels where we see Jesus using physical force. Jesus went to Jerusalem, knowing he would meet certain death on the cross, but victory as well for our sake. His act of judgment in the temple is meant to be a prophetic sign and warning to the people that God takes our worship very seriously.

Jesus honors the Father's house of prayer by cleansing it of unholy practices In this incident we see Jesus' startling and swift action in cleansing the temple of those who were using it to exploit the worshipers of God. The money changers took advantage of the poor and forced them to pay many times more than was right - in the house of God no less! Their robbery of the poor was not only dishonoring to God but unjust toward their neighbor.

The people were hungry for the word of God In justification for his audacious action Jesus quotes from the prophets Isaiah (Isaiah 56:7) and Jeremiah (Jeremiah 7:11). His act of judgment aims to purify the worship of God's people and to discipline their erring ways. Despite the objections of the religious leaders, no doubt because Jesus was usurping their authority in the house of God, the people who listened to Jesus teaching daily in the temple regarded him with great awe and respect. Luke tells us that "they hung upon Jesus' words" (Luke 19:48). How hungry are you for God's word?

The Lord wants to share his holiness with us If we approach God's word with a humble attentive heart and with a willingness to be taught by the Lord, then we are in a good place to allow God's word to change and transform us in the likeness of Christ. The Lord wants to teach us his ways so that we may grow in holiness. The Lord both instructs and disciplines us in love to lead us from the error of our sinful ways to his truth and justice. "God disciplines us for our good, that we may share in his holiness" (Hebrews 12:10). The Lord calls us to be a holy people who worship him with reverence and gratitude for his great mercy and kindness towards us. Do you allow God's word to transform you in his way of love and holiness?

"Lord Jesus, you open wide the door of your house and you bid us to enter confidently that we may worship you in spirit and truth. Help me to draw near to you with gratitude and joy for your great mercy. May I always revere your word and give you acceptable praise and worship."

Psalm 119:14,24,72,103,111,131

14 In the way of your testimonies I delight as much as in all riches. 24 Your testimonies are my delight, they are my counselors. 72 The law of your mouth is better to me than thousands of gold and silver pieces. 103 How sweet are your words to my taste, sweeter than honey to my mouth! 111 Your testimonies are my heritage for ever; yes, they are the joy of my heart. 131 With open mouth I pant, because I long for your commandments.

Daily Quote from the early church fathers: The home of sanctity, by Augustine of Hippo, 354-430 A.D.

"God does not want his temple to be a trader's lodge but the home of sanctity. He does not preserve the practice of the priestly ministry by the dishonest duty of religion but by voluntary obedience. Consider what the Lord’s actions impose on you as an example of living... He taught in general that worldly transactions must be absent from the temple, but he drove out the money changers in particular. Who are the money changers, if not those who seek profit from the Lord's money and cannot distinguish between good and evil? Holy Scripture is the Lord's money." (excerpt from EXPOSITION OF THE GOSPEL OF LUKE 9.17–18)

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