Why do we study Scripture? 

Wednesday, November 30, 2016

9:07 AM

2 Timothy 3:16-17(NKJV)

All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, 

that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.

Boom!  

Misunderstanding or purposeful misrepresentation?

On Yahoo I often see stories like "look how disgustingly wealthy these pastors are", stories like that.  It makes me wonder if the person has ever read Scripture.  Do they just not understand Scripture or are they being purposely deceitful???

Take a look at a couple of Scriptures on the subject.

Mark 10:29-31(NKJV)

So Jesus answered and said, “Assuredly, I say to you, there is no one who has left house or brothers or sisters or father or mother or wife or children or lands, for My sake and the gospel’s, 

who shall not receive a hundredfold now in this time—houses and brothers and sisters and mothers and children and lands, with persecutions—and in the age to come, eternal life. 

But many who are first will be last, and the last first.”

Luke 18:29-30(NKJV)

So He said to them, “Assuredly, I say to you, there is no one who has left house or parents or brothers or wife or children, for the sake of the kingdom of God, 

who shall not receive many times more in this present time, and in the age to come eternal life.”

Here are two Scriptures, there are many more, that make the point that our reward will be here on earth as well as later in Heaven.  Many of the pastors these articles single out have done what the Scriptures talk about.  They have given up everything to serve God.  God has told them that they will be rewarded 100 fold now as well as eternal life in the future. 

Now if God says it will happen like this then why would some call it evil?  Are they ignorant of Scripture or are they doing Satan's work? 

Satan's work?  Isn't that a bit hyperbolic?  Not at all.  God's plan is for us to follow Him and prosper.  Remember Satan is the master of deception.  If he, through others, can convince Christians that it is evil to prosper, isn't that doing Satan's work disrupting God's plan? 

God is….revealed

I really didn't get a lot out of this one.  Here is a definition of reveal.

reveal

1. to make known; disclose; divulge:

to reveal a secret.

2. to lay open to view; display; exhibit.

From <http://www.dictionary.com/browse/revealed>

Here are a couple of verses of God is revealed.

1 Samuel 3:21(NKJV)

Then the Lord appeared again in Shiloh. For the Lord revealed Himself to Samuel in Shiloh by the word of the Lord.

Isaiah 56:1(NKJV)

Thus says the Lord:      “Keep justice, and do righteousness,     For My salvation is about to come,     And My righteousness to be revealed.

I will continue to be open to revelation from the Holy Spirit about the message here. 

Signs of the Apocalypse…or not?

As many of you know, I am not a big fan of trying to predict when Jesus will return.  Scripture tells us that Jesus doesn't even know when exactly it is going to happen.  Therefore I think it is futile to try and pinpoint it. 

I do realize however that Scripture tells us to be vigilant and ready.  In that regard I look for big picture things that I think will be hard to miss to let us know we are getting close.  One of them is the prophesy of the two witnesses who will witness in Jerusalem in defiance of the anti-christ.  I just think that is going to be hard to miss. 

Here is another Scripture I ran across today that I think will be hard to miss. 

2 Thessalonians 2:1-4(NKJV)

Now, brethren, concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our gathering together to Him, we ask you, 

not to be soon shaken in mind or troubled, either by spirit or by word or by letter, as if from us, as though the day of Christ had come. 

Let no one deceive you by any means; for that Day will not come unless the falling away comes first, and the man of sin is revealed, the son of perdition, 

who opposes and exalts himself above all that is called God or that is worshiped, so that he sits as God in the temple of God, showing himself that he is God.

Now couple that with the two witnesses who are defying the anti-christ and it is really going to be hard to miss.

This next one actually seems to be starting now.  Have you noticed in the last year or so that there are more and more calls to go to a cashless society?  Isn't that a way to control who can buy and sell and who can't? 

Revelation 13:16-17(NKJV)

He causes all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and slave, to receive a mark on their right hand or on their foreheads, 

and that no one may buy or sell except one who has the mark or the name of the beast, or the number of his name.

Right now the beast has not been revealed and this won't happen until he is but it sure seems to be putting the system in place to make it happen.  With cash anyone can trade with anyone else.  You can't control it. 

But what if all transactions have to be electronic like through a debit card.  Are you free to do business with anyone you chose?  You are until whoever controls the system tells you you can't!  It's that simple.

But as I ponder all of these things I realize that being a pre-Trib guy, I won't be around for any of this anyway!  :)

Limits to charity? Is that Christian?

There are some in the body of Christ who seem to think that charity should be limitless.  I agree and disagree at the same time.  I agree from the standpoint that those of us who are followers of Christ should always be giving people.  Giving of our time.  Giving of our talents.  And giving of our money.

On the other hand I believe Scripture is very clear that on a case by case basis, there are some who do not deserve charity.  Now the example I use is from 1 Timothy 5.  In it Paul is referring specifically to widows but I think it can be used as instruction of a wider principal.  Here is what I am talking about.

1 Timothy 5:9-14(NKJV)

Do not let a widow under sixty years old be taken into the number, and not unless she has been the wife of one man, 

well reported for good works: if she has brought up children, if she has lodged strangers, if she has washed the saints’ feet, if she has relieved the afflicted, if she has diligently followed every good work.

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OK, Paul clearly puts a limit on which widows deserve charity.  Therefore the principal that there are some who do and don't deserve charity is established.  But would could be a justifiable reason for denying that charity?  Paul goes on to explain.

----------------------

But refuse the younger widows; for when they have begun to grow wanton against Christ, they desire to marry, 

having condemnation because they have cast off their first faith. 

And besides they learn to be idle, wandering about from house to house, and not only idle but also gossips and busybodies, saying things which they ought not. 

Therefore I desire that the younger widows marry, bear children, manage the house, give no opportunity to the adversary to speak reproachfully. 

-----------------------

Isn't it interesting that the issue here is idleness and the bad things that leads to.  My point is that there is nothing wrong with limits on charity at the individual level.  I think those providing the charity have every right to determine who qualifies for that charity.  Make sense? 

LOL, this made me chuckle!

Check out this description of what is allowed for bishops vs. deacons.  :)

1 Timothy 3:1-9(NKJV)

This is a faithful saying: If a man desires the position of a bishop, he desires a good work. 

A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, temperate, sober-minded, of good behavior, hospitable, able to teach; 

not given to wine, not violent, not greedy for money, but gentle, not quarrelsome, not covetous; 

one who rules his own house well, having his children in submission with all reverence 

(for if a man does not know how to rule his own house, how will he take care of the church of God?); 

not a novice, lest being puffed up with pride he fall into the same condemnation as the devil. 

Moreover he must have a good testimony among those who are outside, lest he fall into reproach and the snare of the devil.

Likewise deacons must be reverent, not double-tongued, not given to much wine, not greedy for money, 

holding the mystery of the faith with a pure conscience. 

Not given to wine vs. not given to much wine.  Who determines the value of much?  :)

"…that by them you may wage the good warfare…"

For those who say that war is evil and never the answer I would ask this question.  Then why does Paul use the term "good warfare"?  Hmm? 

1 Timothy 1:18-20(NKJV)

This charge I commit to you, son Timothy, according to the prophecies previously made concerning you, that by them you may wage the good warfare, 

having faith and a good conscience, which some having rejected, concerning the faith have suffered shipwreck, 

of whom are Hymenaeus and Alexander, whom I delivered to Satan that they may learn not to blaspheme.

Always accepting, never admonishing…is that Biblical?

This is an issue that I ponder quite often.  There are many Christians that interpret "love they neighbor" and "Jesus is love", etc to mean we should be all accepting of everything because after all, who are we to judge.  As I have written before I think that is an incorrect interpretation of Scripture.   

Here is some Scripture that seems to speak to this point.

2 Thessalonians 3:6-15(NKJV)

But we command you, brethren, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you withdraw from every brother who walks disorderly and not according to the tradition which he received from us. 

For you yourselves know how you ought to follow us, for we were not disorderly among you; 

nor did we eat anyone’s bread free of charge, but worked with labor and toil night and day, that we might not be a burden to any of you, 

not because we do not have authority, but to make ourselves an example of how you should follow us.

For even when we were with you, we commanded you this: If anyone will not work, neither shall he eat. 

For we hear that there are some who walk among you in a disorderly manner, not working at all, but are busybodies. 

Now those who are such we command and exhort through our Lord Jesus Christ that they work in quietness and eat their own bread.

But as for you, brethren, do not grow weary in doing good. 

And if anyone does not obey our word in this epistle, note that person and do not keep company with him, that he may be ashamed. 

Yet do not count him as an enemy, but admonish him as a brother.

Hmm. 

Will God actually hold people accountable in the end?

There are a lot of people out there who think that in the end, God will let everybody slide and everybody gets to go to Heaven because God is all about love.  I suggest to you that Scripture says these people are going to be severely disappointed. 

1 Thessalonians 5:1-3(NKJV)

But concerning the times and the seasons, brethren, you have no need that I should write to you. 

For you yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so comes as a thief in the night. 

For when they say, “Peace and safety!” then sudden destruction comes upon them, as labor pains upon a pregnant woman. And they shall not escape. 

2 Thessalonians 1:3-10(NKJV)

We are bound to thank God always for you, brethren, as it is fitting, because your faith grows exceedingly, and the love of every one of you all abounds toward each other, 

so that we ourselves boast of you among the churches of God for your patience and faith in all your persecutions and tribulations that you endure, 

which is manifest evidence of the righteous judgment of God, that you may be counted worthy of the kingdom of God, for which you also suffer; 

since it is a righteous thing with God to repay with tribulation those who trouble you, 

and to give you who are troubled rest with us when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven with His mighty angels, 

in flaming fire taking vengeance on those who do not know God, and on those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ. 

These shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of His power, 

when He comes, in that Day, to be glorified in His saints and to be admired among all those who believe, because our testimony among you was believed.

I don't see anything there that indicates God is going to let people slide, do you?

Once again, wouldn't this require a judgement? :)

Sorry.  I couldn't resist.  As you know the misuse of the Scripture "Do not judge" is one of my pet peeves.  Here is just another example to demonstrate that that one Scripture is not a total prohibition on judgement among Christians. 

1 Thessalonians 5:21(NKJV)

Test all things; hold fast what is good. 

If we are to "hold fast what is good" it requires us to make a judgement as to whether something is good or evil does it not?  Hmm?

Notice the beginning of the verse.  "Test all things".  Test them how?  Simple.  Test them against Scripture! 

Pre-Tribulation or Post Tribulation-Where do you stand?

I have always been a pre-trib guy meaning I believe the rapture will occur before the 7 years of tribulations. 

I had not noticed this before but apparently this is one more thing that Paul and I disagree on.

1 Thessalonians 4:15-18(NKJV)

For this we say to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord will by no means precede those who are asleep. 

For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. 

Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord. 

Therefore comfort one another with these words.

OK just for clarification I believe that the rapture, those alive taken up to Heaven, happens before the tribulation and before Jesus returns to earth.  Paul seems to be saying hear that Jesus comes back to earth first, then the dead go to Heaven, and the after that the living are raptured to Heaven.

Hmm, so where did I get my view from?  I'll have to keep an eye out for Scriptures to back up my view.  Again, that is what I love about the study of Scripture.  Always something new to learn!

Hmm, I had never thought of this before

I had never thought of this before.  My faith brings me tremendous comfort.  I guess it just never really occurred to me that our faith also brings comfort to others. 

1 Thessalonians 3:6-8(NKJV)

But now that Timothy has come to us from you, and brought us good news of your faith and love, and that you always have good remembrance of us, greatly desiring to see us, as we also to see you—

therefore, brethren, in all our affliction and distress we were comforted concerning you by your faith. 

For now we live, if you stand fast in the Lord.

Spirit, Soul, and Body

We have two different verses here that talk about the spirit and the soul.  What is the difference?  I know that to me they see quite similar.


1 Thessalonians 5:23(NKJV)
Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you completely; and may your whole spirit, soul, and body be preserved blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. 




Hebrews 4:12(NKJV)
For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. 


spirit
1. the principle of conscious life; the vital principle in humans, animating the body or mediating between body and soul.
2. the incorporeal part of humans:
present in spirit though absent in body.
3. the soul regarded as separating from the body at death.
4. conscious, incorporeal being, as opposed to matter:
the world of spirit.
5. a supernatural, incorporeal being, especially one inhabiting a place, object, etc., or having a particular character:
evil spirits.
6. a fairy, sprite, or elf.
7. an angel or demon.
8. an attitude or principle that inspires, animates, or pervades thought, feeling, or action:
the spirit of reform.
9. (initial capital letter) the divine influence as an agency working in the human heart.
10. a divine, inspiring, or animating being or influence. Num. 11:25; Is. 32:15.
11. (initial capital letter) the third person of the Trinity; Holy Spirit.
12. the soul or heart as the seat of feelings or sentiments, or as prompting to action:
a man of broken spirit.
13. spirits, feelings or mood with regard to exaltation or depression:
low spirits; good spirits.
14. excellent disposition or attitude in terms of vigor, courage, firmness of intent, etc.; mettle:
That's the spirit!
15. temper or disposition:
meek in spirit.
16. an individual as characterized by a given attitude, disposition, character, action, etc.:
A few brave spirits remained to face the danger.
17. the dominant tendency or character of anything:
the spirit of the age.
18. vigorous sense of membership in a group:
college spirit.
19. the general meaning or intent of a statement, document, etc. (opposed to letter):
the spirit of the law.
20. Chemistry. the essence or active principle of a substance as extracted in liquid form, especially by distillation.
21. Often, spirits. a strong distilled alcoholic liquor.
22. Chiefly British. alcohol.
23. Pharmacology. a solution in alcohol of an essential or volatile principle; essence (def 3).
24. any of certain subtle fluids formerly supposed to permeate the body.
25. the Spirit, God.


Now let's look at the definition of soul.


soul
1. the principle of life, feeling, thought, and action in humans, regarded as a distinct entity separate from the body, and commonly held to be separable in existence from the body; the spiritual part of humans as distinct from the physical part.
2. the spiritual part of humans regarded in its moral aspect, or as believed to survive death and be subject to happiness or misery in a life to come:
arguing the immortality of the soul.
3. the disembodied spirit of a deceased person:
He feared the soul of the deceased would haunt him.
4. the emotional part of human nature; the seat of the feelings or sentiments.
5. a human being; person.
6. high-mindedness; noble warmth of feeling, spirit or courage, etc.
7. the animating principle; the essential element or part of something.


That is clear as mud isn't it?  Let me take a stab at it.


The spirit is what animates our bodies and gives us life here on earth.  It dies when we do.  The soul on the other hand is what lives on. 

Am I correct?  I'm not sure.  I will be looking for Scripture to confirm this.

How is God glorified?

I'm sure there are many ways but I believe this is one of the main ones.

John 15:8(NKJV)

By this My Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit; so you will be My disciples.

Why am I sure this is one of the main ones?  Scripture. 

Scripture tells us many things that fit with this passage.  We are told that our reward in Heaven will be commensurate with the amount of work we do for God.  In other words how much fruit we bare for Him. 

Scripture also tells us that God always gives us what we need to carry out His plan.  Unfortunately not all use those tools.  The ones who do are bearing much fruit once again fulfilling the Scripture above. 

These are just a couple of examples that lead me to believe that how much fruit you bare is one of the best was to glorify God.

A Warning about the Intelligentsia

I think this is a great warning about the influence of the intelligentsia.  There are a lot of people who think they are smarter than God.  These verses warn against listening to them.

Colossians 2:8-10(NKJV)

Beware lest anyone cheat you through philosophy and empty deceit, according to the tradition of men, according to the basic principles of the world, and not according to Christ. 

For in Him dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily; 

and you are complete in Him, who is the head of all principality and power.

And remember other parts of Scripture warn that you will be held accountable if you allow yourself to be led astray. 

Now I can hear some saying "That's not fair.  It wasn't my fault".  Well actually it is your fault.  God gave you plenty of warning in Scripture like the verses above.  If you ignore those warnings and allow yourself to be led astray it is indeed your fault! 

Glorified-What does it Mean?

In my continuing study of the words associated with "God is"  I am studying Glorifed.  It occurred to me that I didn't know exactly what it means.  I had a vague idea but wasn't sure if it was correct so I went and looked it up.  I found it helpful.  I thought others might as well.

As a side note all of the dictionary's defaulted to glorify so I went with that. 

glorify

verb (used with object), glorified, glorifying.

1. to cause to be or treat as being more splendid, excellent, etc., than would normally be considered.
2. to honor with praise, admiration, or worship; extol.
3. to make glorious; invest with glory.
4. to praise the glory of (God), especially as an act of worship.

From <http://www.dictionary.com/browse/glorified>

I hope that helps add clarification as you read Scripture.

One of my favorite hymns!

This is one of my favorite old time hymns.  You know my belief that attitude is of paramount importance to God and I have explained why many times.  I just think the words of the song are a great reminder of that.  Just learn to automatically start singing the song when things go wrong and experience how much that truly helps!

The song was inspired by this verse from Philippians.

Philippians 4:4(NKJV)

Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I will say, rejoice!

Rejoice in the Lord always:

again I say, Rejoice!

Rejoice in the Lord always:

again I say, Rejoice!

Rejoice, rejoice,

and again I say, Rejoice!

Rejoice, rejoice,

and again I say, Rejoice!

Rejoice in the Lord always:

again I say, Rejoice!

Rejoice in the Lord always:

again I say, Rejoice!

From <http://www.hymnary.org/text/rejoice_in_the_lord_always_and_again_i_s>

God is…Spirit

OK. Let's start with this verse. 

John 4:24(NKJV)

God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth.”

God is Spirit.  This is the starting point.  But God isn't the only Spirit that we hear from.

1 John 4:1(NKJV)

Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits, whether they are of God; because many false prophets have gone out into the world. 

1st John clearly tells us that there are other spirits and so one of our jobs is to discern good spirits from bad.  We are told to test (judge) the spirits to see whether they are "of God" (good) or not (bad).  Or in other words we are told we need to make a judgement.  (Again just pointing out that the whole 'thou shall not judge" thing isn't a blanket prohibition against judgement)

Now as I have pointed out before, when God tells us to make a judgement He gives us the standard to judge by and this time is no different.

1 John 4:2-3(NKJV)

By this you know the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is of God, 

and every spirit that does not confess that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is not of God. And this is the spirit of the Antichrist, which you have heard was coming, and is now already in the world.

So let's take a swing at the low hanging fruit and use Muslims for example.  Many people including many Christians say that Muslims and Christians worship the same God.  Really?  Let's use the previous verse to test that theory.

Do Muslims confess that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh?  Now here is where it gets in to semantics and I'll let you be the judge.  Some would say yes they do because they believe Jesus was a prophet.  I don't however believe that is what the verse is asking.  I believe that the phrase "come in the flesh" has a deeper meaning.  I believe it is referring to those who believe that God in the person of Jesus Christ came to earth and in that case Muslims would answer no.

At any rate let the Holy Spirit guide you as you wrestle with that one.

The other thing that I found interesting in the study of God is Spirit is all of the Old Testament references to the Holy Spirit which was referred to as God's Spirit.  I think I have written about this before but I'll cover it again.

In the OT it seems that God bestowed His Spirit on individual people as He wanted to.  Not everybody got God's Spirit and they had no say in whether they got it or not.  That all changes in the NT.  In the NT we can all have the Spirit and it is us, not God who decides whether we get it or not. 

If we want God's Spirit all we have to do is ask Jesus to come in to our lives and guide us.  Have you done that yet?  If not why not do it right now?  Just have a conversation with Jesus.  "Dear Jesus…."