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.

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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. 

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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.