TRUTH: an "un-changing" identity

"...but in vain do they worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men..."

Truth never changes (Matt. 5:18; 1 Peter 1:24-25). Such is NEVER true of the writings of men who seek to set forth their own wisdom, legislating "beliefs" for their particular groups. The doctrines of men are ever undergoing evolution to suit the current thinking, adapt to cultural desires or, in short, make them most appealing. Control over all their members is the basis for a denomination in the first place. All of them began with a specific doctrine. As an example consider the following two quotations:

1. "No divorce, except for adultery, shall be regarded by the church as lawful; and no Minister shall solemnize marriage in any case where there is a divorced wife or husband living; but this rule shall not be applied to the innocent party to a divorce for the cause of adultery..."

2. "In view of the seriousness with which the Scriptures and the Church regard divorce, pastors may solemnize the marriage of a divorced person only when they are satisfied by careful counseling, that (1) the divorced person is sufficiently aware of the factors leading to the failure of the previous marriage, (2) the divorced person is sincerely preparing to make the proposed marriage truly Christian, and (3) sufficient time has elapsed between the divorce and the contemplated marriage for adequate preparation and counseling."

Did you note a little difference? Both are quotations from the Methodist Discipline. The difference being that the first quotation is from the 1904 edition, and the last quotation is from the 1972 edition. Neither edition is the true standard for determining faith or practice – only God's word can do that - but at least the 1904 edition far more closely represents what God's Word says in Matthew 19:9.

Why the change? Because this creed (like all other creeds) is merely the product of man and the basis of a church of man, and it is not confined to consistency. It can be altered, updated, rewritten and modified through the years. But it did not lead to salvation in 1904, 1972, or today, because it is not the Word of God, but the doctrine of men.

God never designed the church to decide doctrine. Jesus is the head over the church, and he ordained elders to lead each congregation in the truth. Men have no authority to invent their own teachings. Those who love God continue even to this day "in the apostles' doctrine" (Acts 2:42).

"Ye hypocrites, well did Esaias prophesy of you, saying, This people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth, and honoureth me with their lips; but their heart is far from me. But in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men" (Matt. 15:7-9).

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The Influence of One Man

In the Old Testament, following the death of Solomon, the nation of Israel was divided by two rival kings. This was due to the following sequence of events:

1 Kings 11:1-11 – Solomon’s disobedience

1 Kings 11:26-40 – Jeroboam’s rebellion against Solomon

1 Kings 11:38; 14:8 – Ahijah’s message

Rehoboam was the son of Solomon and took his father's place on the throne. In Egypt, Jeroboam heard of the death of Solomon and returned to Israel. In fulfillment of the words of the prophet Ahijah, ten tribes of Israel gave their allegiance to Jeroboam. The prophet had told Jeroboam, "Then it shall be, if you heed all that I command you, walk in My ways, and do what is right in My sight, to keep My statutes and My commandments, as My servant David did, then I will be with you and build for you an enduring house, as I built for David, and will give Israel to you" (1 Kings 11:38).

Jeroboam did not follow after these words. Instead, he set up two golden calves for the people to worship and serve as the gods who brought them out of the land of Egypt. He allowed priests to come from any tribe and he "ordained a feast on the fifteenth day of the eighth month." He did more evil than all those who were before him and because of his actions, set the tone for the history of the Northern tribes of God's people. All the future kings over the northern kingdom of Israel followed in "the sins of Jeroboam" (1 Kings 12:25-33). Ahijah prophesied that God would "give Israel up because of the sins of Jeroboam, who sinned and who made Israel sin" (1 Kings 14:8-16).

NOTICE: 

Jeroboam's son, Nadab, (1 Kings 15:25-26) "became king over Israel in the second year of Asa king of Judah, and he reigned over Israel two years. And he did evil in the sight of the LORD, and walked in the way of his father, and in his sin by which he had made Israel sin."

1 Kings 15:29-30 - Baasha would be the next king of Israel as he conspired against Nadab, killed him and "he killed all the house of Jeroboam. He did not leave to Jeroboam anyone that breathed, until he had destroyed him, according to the word of the LORD which He had spoken by His servant Ahijah the Shilonite, because of the sins of Jeroboam, which he had sinned and by which he had made Israel sin, because of his provocation with which he had provoked the LORD God of Israel to anger."

1 Kings 15:34; 16:7 - Baasha "did evil in the sight of the LORD, and walked in the way of Jeroboam, and in his sin by which he had made Israel sin...And also the word of the LORD came by the prophet Jehu the son of Hanani against Baasha and his house, because of all the evil that he did in the sight of the LORD in provoking Him to anger with the work of his hands, in being like the house of Jeroboam, and because he killed them."

1 Kings 16:13 - Elah, the son of Baasha, reigned two years before he was murdered by Zimri (his own servant) and Zimri destroyed all the household of Baasha "for all the sins of Baasha and the sins of Elah his son, by which they had sinned and by which they had made Israel sin, in provoking the LORD God of Israel to anger with their idols."

Zimri, 1 Kings 16:18-19 – “…died, because of the sins which he had sinned in doing evil in the sight of the LORD, in walking in the way of Jeroboam, and in his sin which he had committed to make Israel sin."

Omri, 1 Kings 16:25-26 - "…did evil in the eyes of the LORD, and did worse than all who were before him. For he walked in all the ways of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, and in his sin by which he had made Israel sin, provoking the LORD God of Israel to anger with their idols."

And then there was Ahab in 1 Kings 16:30-33, "Now Ahab the son of Omri did evil in the sight of the LORD, more than all who were before him. And it came to pass, as though it had been a trivial thing for him to walk in the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, that he took as wife Jezebel the daughter of Ethbaal, king of the Sidonians; and he went and served Baal and worshiped him. Then he set up an altar for Baal in the temple of Baal, which he had built in Samaria. And Ahab made a wooden image. Ahab did more to provoke the LORD God of Israel to anger than all the kings of Israel who were before him."

Ahaziah, 1 Kings 22:51-53 - "Ahaziah the son of Ahab became king over Israel in Samaria in the seventeenth year of Jehoshaphat king of Judah, and reigned two years over Israel. He did evil in the sight of the LORD, and walked in the way of his father and in the way of his mother and in the way of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, who had made Israel sin; for he served Baal and worshiped him, and provoked the LORD God of Israel to anger, according to all that his father had done."

Jehoram (Joram), 2 Kings. 3:1-3 - “He did what was evil in the LORD’S sight; he…clung to the sins that Jeroboam….had caused Israel to commit. He did not turn away from them.”

Jehu, 2 Kings 10:28-31 - “Jehu eliminated Baal worship from Israel, but he did not turn away from the sins that Jeroboam son of Nebat had caused Israel to commit…worshiping the golden calves that were in Bethel and Dan. Nevertheless, the Lord said to Jehu, ‘Because you have done well in carrying out what is right in My sight and have done to the house of Ahab all that was in My heart, four generations of your sons will sit on the throne of Israel’. Yet, Jehu was not careful to follow with all his heart the laws of the Lord God of Israel. He did not turn from the sins that Jeroboam had cause Israel to commit.” ** (** Although Jehu ‘reformed’ somewhat, still he did not have the approval of God. Reform is not enough!)

Jehoahaz, 2 Kings 13:2 - “He did what was evil in the Lord’s sight and followed the sins that Jeroboam son of Nebat had caused Israel to commit; he did not turn away from them.”

Jehoash, 2 Kings 13:11 - “He did what was evil in the Lord’s sight. He did not turn away from all the sins that Jeroboam son of Nebat had caused Israel to commit, but he walked in them.”

Jeroboam II, 2 Kings 14:24 - “He did what was evil in the Lord’s sight. He did not turn away from all the sins Jeroboam son of Nebat had caused Israel to commit.”

Zechariah, 2 Kings 15:9 - “He did what was evil in the Lord’s sight as his fathers had done. He did not turn away from the sins Jeroboam son of Nebat had cause Israel to commit.” Murdered after only 6 months in power.

Shallum, 2 Kings 15:10 - 13-15, murdered Zechariah, and one month later was murdered by Menahem.

Menahem, 2 Kings 15:18 - “he did what was evil in the Lord’s sight. Throughout his reign, he did not turn away from the sins Jeroboam son of Nebat had caused Israel to commit.”

Pekahiah, 2 Kings 15:24 - “He did what was evil in the Lord’s sight and did not turn away from the sins Jeroboam son of Nebat had caused Israel to commit.”

Pekah, 2 Kings 15:28 - “He did what was evil in the Lord’s sight. He did not turn away from the sins Jeroboam son of Nebat had caused Israel to commit.”

Hoshea, 2 Kings 17:1 - “He did evil in the Lord’s sight, but not like the kings of Israel who preceded him.”

2 Kings 17:6-18; 21-22 summarizes the history of Israel. Another interesting observation following the captivity is the practice of compromise. 2 Kings 17:24-41 tells of this. (COMPROMISE IS NOT ACCEPTABLE! Matt. 6:24)

WHAT DO WE SEE FROM THIS? All the remaining kings of Israel followed the pattern of their predecessors. All followed in the way of Jeroboam. The destruction of the kingdom of Israel was completed by the Assyrians when they invaded the land and took the ten tribes away, never to be a united people again. "And the LORD rejected all the descendants of Israel, afflicted them, and delivered them into the hand of plunderers, until He had cast them from His sight. For He tore Israel from the house of David, and they made Jeroboam the son of Nebat king. Then Jeroboam drove Israel from following the LORD, and made them commit a great sin. For the children of Israel walked in all the sins of Jeroboam which he did; they did not depart from them" (2 Kings 17:20-22).

The lesson in this sad history is the impact a life can have on so many. Jeroboam's works followed him after he died. The evil he lived in his life was not contained only while he lived but continued on for generations to come. Consider how many lives were lost because of his influence. Think of all the lives that were given over to evil because of his influence. The powerful influence of an evil life destroyed a great nation. While the influence of Jeroboam was felt for many generations, I want to make this observation:

- Jeroboam was a religious person - his changes were not a discouragement to religion, they encouraged it for they appealed to the comforts of the people. We see this from his words in 1 Kings 12:28, “…it is too much for you to go up to Jerusalem to worship.”

This mindset opens a door that cannot be closed. When man assumes the role of decision making in religion, then he assumes a role of authority that belongs only to Christ. When man assumes this authority to decide what is best, or how to worship God, it only results in a moral decline.

So likewise today... There are so many deviations, and such diversity among denominationalism, and the “freedom” to do as one’s heart desires, continues to plunge man further into immorality.

Pagan worship was not acceptable to God from the children of Israel. God gave instructions regarding how HE was to be worshiped: Deut. 12:29-31 – “When the Lord your God cuts off from before you the nations which you go to dispossess, and you displace them and dwell in their land, take heed to yourself that you are not ensnared to follow them, after they are destroyed from before you, and that you do not inquire after their gods, saying, ‘How did these nations serve their gods? I also will do likewise.’ YOU SHALL NOT WORSHIP THE LORD YOUR GOD IN THAT WAY; for every abomination to the Lord which He hates they have done to their gods; for they burn even their sons and daughters in the fire to their gods.”

This lesson needs to be remembered by God's people today, for not just any worship is acceptable today. God has revealed thru the teachings of Jesus and the apostles HOW HE IS TO BE WORSHIPED TODAY. Likewise, there is a pattern for the organization and work of a local church. Any innovations to these patterns are an unacceptable as the innovations of Jeroboam were in his day.

As those of Jeroboam’s day didn’t know that Jeroboam’s innovations were wrong, so has the influence of denominational theology and philosophy resulted in innovations which are wrong! It is in teaching, that care must be taken to bring out God's pattern for worship. So also, modern-day innovations must be opposed, on the same basis as Jeroboam’s innovations had to be opposed. They were NOT AUTHORIZED of God!

The church that Jesus built (Matt. 16:18), is identifiable by its doctrines. These doctrines reveal authorized patterns. The patterns contained in the gospel are to be preached so that unity, love and reverence for God will prevail and carry a greater influence on society. In this way, righteousness will "flow" as God purposed; His people will be the "head", not the "tail", as Moses told Israel in Deut. 28:13, 44, "And the Lord will make you the head and not the tail; you shall be above only, and not be beneath, if you heed the commandments of the Lord your God, which I command you today, and are careful to observe them."

Spiritual seed will produce after its kind as does physical seed (Luke 8:11).

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Commandments: opposite "CONSTANTS" in preaching

There is one “constant” thing found in preaching. It is present both in false teaching and truth. That ‘constant’ is commands!

The value of this "constant" is in the fact that it enables us to distinguish religious error from truth. In the midst of all the religious confusion and division, anyone, in his search of truth will find truth when they discover the fact that obedience is necessary to salvation. In being obedient, there must be something to obey! THAT "thing" to obey is a COMMAND.

False peaching does NOT stress the need for obedience to commands; truth DOES! Another interesting thing that, careful observance will reveal, is the contradictions of false teaching on this matter. As an example, there is a statement made about the 'purpose' of baptism in water. It says, "baptism is not necessary to salvation, but is necessary to obedience".

Notice what this statement says of the 'purpose' for obedience. Is it not teaching that obedience is NOT necessary to salvation? If this is true, I ask, what then IS the purpose for obedience???

The reality is, this language is designed to circumvent the truth as to the purpose of baptism. The N. T. is clear on the purpose of baptism: Mark 16:16; Acts 2:38; 22:16; Rom. 6:3-5; 1 Peter 3:21.

If these passages are read, the TRUTH as to whether obedience is necessary to salvation, will be clear. If baptism is necessary to obedience, then baptism is also necessary to salvation. The statement above is shown to be false.

Attitudes are shaped from preaching. If God’s commands are set forth in preaching as irrelevant, then obedience will not be seen as important, much less necessary.

Most people do not see obedience to commands as related to salvation. This is in line with what they hear preached.

There is an old saying, “The apple doesn’t fall very far from the tree”. The fruit naturally has characteristics of the seed from which it sprang. This principle is also true in the religious realm.

Moral conduct bears resemblance to religious teaching.

12/13/2018

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The Power to make Wealth!

What kind of 'wealth' do you seek?

“…you shall remember the Lord your God, for it is He who is giving you power to make wealth…” (Deut. 8:18)

These words were spoken by Moses to the generation of Israel who would enter the land promised to them. These words were God’s admonition for them to remember something of grave importance. 

On the surface, one might conclude that God was promising them wealth in the form of material riches and abundance of material things. Not only was this not the case; it was the very opposite of material wealth that God was speaking of.

The same mistake is made today by those who proclaim that Christianity equates to physical wealth; that the ‘proof’ of God’s favor upon one, is by the “abundance of the things he possesses”. This is why a closer study of any singular statement is needful. It will reveal the true meaning of God’s words, which are in keeping with His eternal purpose for man.

In v. 18 of this chapter, we read, "But you shall remember the Lord your God, for it is He who is giving you power to make wealth, that He may confirm His covenant which He swore to your fathers, as it is this day."

Notice that this “power to make wealth” is connected with the covenant God had made with Israel, years earlier, at Mt. Sinai. It had to do with confirming something in that covenant.

The next two verses reveal a clue as to the meaning of “power to make wealth”.

"It shall come about if you ever forget the Lord your God and go after other gods and serve them and worship them, I testify against you today that you will surely perish. Like the nations that the Lord makes to perish before you, so you shall perish; because you would not listen to the voice of the Lord your God." (vss. 19-20)

The ‘wealth’ is seen from previous statements made to this generation’s parents by Moses; statements that were not heeded by their parents, and for which this generation was told to REMEMBER!

Two questions are in order:

~ What was it that qualified as the “power” for them to make wealth?

~ What was the nature of the “wealth” that was in keeping with God’s confirming the covenant, and with His oath to Abraham?

The following passages provide us the answer to both questions:

First, notice from the context of this chapter, verse 16, we read, “In the wilderness He fed you manna which your fathers did not know, that He might humble you and that He might test you, to do good for you in the end."

Earlier, Moses had said, "You shall remember all the way which the Lord your God has led you in the wilderness these forty years, that He might humble you, testing you, to know what was in your heart, whether you would keep His commandments or not. He humbled you and let you be hungry, and fed you with manna which you did not know, nor did your fathers know, that He might make you understand that man does not live by bread alone, but man lives by everything that proceeds out of the mouth of the Lord." (Deut. 8:2-3)

The ‘power’ to make wealth was in the words of the covenant. Those words were for their good; their righteousness as stated in Deut. 6:

1-3 – “Now this is the commandment, the statutes and the judgments which the Lord your God has commanded me to teach you, that you might do them in the land where you are going over to possess it, so that you and your son and your grandson might fear the Lord your God, to keep all His statutes and His commandments which I command you, all the days of your life, and that your days may be prolonged. O Israel, you should listen and be careful to do it, that it may be well with you and that you may multiply greatly, just as the Lord, the God of your fathers, has promised you, in a land flowing with milk and honey."

10-12 – “Then it shall come about when the Lord your God brings you into the land which He swore to your fathers, Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, to give you, great and splendid cities which you did not build, and houses full of all good things which you did not fill, and hewn cisterns which you did not dig, vineyards and olive trees which you did not plant, and you eat and are satisfied, then watch yourself, that you do not forget the Lord who brought you from the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery."

17-18 – "You should diligently keep the commandments of the Lord your God, and His testimonies and His statutes which He has commanded you. You shall do what is right and good in the sight of the Lord, that it may be well with you and that you may go in and possess the good land which the Lord swore to give your fathers,"

20-25 – “When your son asks you in time to come, saying, ‘What do the testimonies and the statutes and the judgments mean which the Lord our God commanded you?’ then you shall say to your son, ‘We were slaves to Pharaoh in Egypt, and the Lord brought us from Egypt with a mighty hand. Moreover, the Lord showed great and distressing signs and wonders before our eyes against Egypt, Pharaoh and all his household; He brought us out from there in order to bring us in, to give us the land which He had sworn to our fathers.’ So the Lord commanded us to observe all these statutes, to fear the Lord our God for our good always and for our survival, as it is today. It will be righteousness for us if we are careful to observe all this commandment before the Lord our God, just as He commanded us."

Yet they must REMEMBER these words, for apart from their remembrance of them, the words were powerless. Their wealth’s “source” (i.e. ‘power’) was in the covenant terms. Those terms existed in the statutes, commands, ordinances, and laws of the Law. But apart from their obedience, their 'power' to be wealthy as God intended would never materialize.

Their ‘wealth’ was not physical, but spiritual. As such, their control of the land of Canaan with its resources would be at their disposal, but their knowledge of God’s law would enable them to use these resources to promote justice and mercy. Without such power (knowledge), these vast resources would be used selflessly and ultimately be their ruin. Sadly, this is exactly what happened.

That this is true, is evidenced from Deut. 28, wherein the blessings were dependent upon their obedience to the covenant, while consequences connected with their disobedience.

Verses 1-14 – “Now it shall be, if you diligently obey the LORD your God, being careful to do all His commandments which I command you today, the LORD your God will set you high above all the nations of the earth. All these blessings will come upon you and overtake you if you obey the LORD your God..........The LORD will make you the head and not the tail, and you only will be above, and you will not be underneath, if you listen to the commandments of the LORD your God, which I charge you today, to observe them carefully, and do not turn aside from any of the words which I command you today, to the right or to the left, to go after other gods to serve them.”

Verses 15-45 – “But it shall come about, if you do not obey the LORD your God, to observe to do all His commandments and His statutes with which I charge you today, that all these curses will come upon you and overtake you..............The alien who is among you shall rise above you higher and higher, but you will go down lower and lower. He shall lend to you, but you will not lend to him; he shall be the head, and you will be the tail. “So all these curses shall come on you and pursue you and overtake you until you are destroyed, because you would not obey the LORD your God by keeping His commandments and His statutes which He commanded you.”

LESSON: Such will happen to any generation of people who fails to learn from their errors. Material riches are not what God promises for giving your life to Christ. Your given a cross to bear. The wealth is in the next life—HEAVEN. This life is that of living for a Savior who gave His life for you, willingly. That was His purpose in coming to earth.

The words we sing reflect this:

“Sweet are the promises, kind is the word;

Sweeter far than any message man ever heard.

Pure was the mind of Christ, sinless is He;

He the great example is an pattern for me; 

Where He leads, I’ll follow.”

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The 'art' of GOD'S drawing.

Jesus stated in John 6:44-45, “No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me DRAW him…”. Then, Jesus explains how the Father ‘draws’:

 “…every man therefore that hath heard, and hath learned of the Father, cometh unto me.”

The death of Jesus was pre-planned and foreknown before man was created. Several passages state this.
~ 1 Peter 1:18-20 says, “Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold…but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot: WHO VERILY WAS FOREORDAINED BEFORE THE FOUNDATION OF THE WORLD…” Then in verse 22 we also see another foreknown fact for which Jesus came: it was to reveal ‘truth’. This is equally important in our salvation, because truth is something that must be learned and obeyed by man in order for GOD to save him from his sins. God foreordained for man to know His will and how to obey Him. We see this from 1 Tim. 2:4 which says of God, “Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth”; and here in 1 Peter 1:22 where Peter said that the soul is purified by obeying truth.

Salvation is not a result of blind trust; nor is it an unexplainable experience. It can be understood for it involves being taught. Man is ‘drawn’ to God by being taught of God. This was why Jesus taught while He was on earth. Notice the order in John 6:44-45: ‘hearing and learning’ precedes ‘coming’ unto Him? This points out the need for teaching, and Jesus didn’t just come and die; He also taught; teaching of the Father. ‘Truth’ came by Jesus according to (John 1:17); and it came by His teachings. In man’s reaction to Jesus’ teachings, the heart is revealed. A good heart believes and obeys; an evil heart does not. Jesus said repeatedly that if any man loves Him, that man would ‘keep His commandments’ (John 14:15, 21, 23). This is why doctrine is so important in religion. Doctrine can be wrong, for there IS such a thing as ‘false’ teaching; (Gal. 1:6-9, Paul spoke of ‘another gospel’). Satan deceives by “twisting” God’s teaching, as seen in how He deceived Eve.

Those who hated, rejected and denied Jesus as being sent from God; did so because they disagreed with what He taught. Although He performed many miracles in their very presence, (He was not hated for the miracles), it was by the acceptance of His teachings that His followers were determined. Likewise, those who rejected His teaching, refusing to obey what He taught, could not be His disciple.

All the division that exists about Jesus, within the religious realm, are in regard to Jesus’ teachings and His claims to have received His teachings from God. Jesus went on to state that even within a family there would be division over Him. This division would be over His teachings. In Matt. 10:34-37 He said, “Think not that I am come to send peace on earth: I came not to send peace, but a sword. For I am come to set a man at variance against his father, and the daughter against her mother, and the daughter in law against her mother in law. And a man's foes shall be they of his own household. He that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me: and he that loveth son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me.”

We learn from this, that even within a family, there will be found, good and evil hearts; the nature being revealed in how the individual reacts when exposed to what Jesus taught. He taught that ALL must submit to His teachings and acknowledge His right to command them how to live their life. He taught that discipleship involved obedience in v. 38 of this same chapter: “And he that taketh not his cross, and followeth after me, is not worthy of me.” The apostle John recorded Jesus’ words on the necessity of obedience to Jesus’ teachings in John 12:48 – “He that rejecteth me, and receiveth not my words, hath one that judgeth him: the word that I have spoken, the same shall judge him in the last day.”

God’s eternal purpose for all humanity is their salvation; and their salvation is dependent upon their acceptance of the things Jesus taught. 

Does GOD'S teaching draw you to Him? Only if you recognize the value of His teaching ~ this was why Jesus taught; it is why DOCTRINE MATTERS! It is why the Lord warned:

"Take heed WHAT ye hear" ~ Mark 4:24

"Take heed HOW ye hear" ~ Luke 6:38

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“As the manner of SOME is”...

"Some” in Acts 2:37 “gladly received” his word...

“Some” in Acts 7:54, “stopped their ears…”

These represent the only possible two reactions when “cut to the heart”.

Truth ‘cuts’ or ‘pricks’ the heart as it convicts of sin:

~ Heb. 4:12 – “for the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart”).

~ 2 Tim. 3:16 – “All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for DOCTRINE, for REPROOF, for CORRECTION, for INSTRUCTION IN RIGHTEOUSNESS...”

This word, when “preached” will, “reprove, rebuke, exhort with all long-suffering and doctrine”. It stands opposed to ‘fable’ preaching, which neither reproves, rebukes, nor exhorts.

“I charge thee therefore before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing and his kingdom; Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; REPROVE, REBUKE, EXHORT with all LONG SUFFERING and DOCTRINE. For the time will come when they will not endure SOUND DOCTRINE; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; And they shall TURN away their ears FROM THE TRUTH, and shall be turned unto FABLES.” - 2 Tim. 4:1-4.

A good and honest heart “gladly receives” the word and does as instructed (Acts 2:41).

Those in Acts 7 had previously been unable to “resist” (Acts 6:10) the wisdom and the spirit by which Stephen spake. 

[Jesus had told His disciples earlier, “…your adversaries shall not be able to gainsay nor resist” the wisdom”.]

When truth and fables clash, the one who is preaching truth will stand out by the wisdom and spirit in which he preaches. 

The one whose preaching is a perversion of truth will react in emotional outbursts, anger and underhandedly try to discredit his opponent, not being able to ‘gainsay’ (prove wrong) or resist (oppose; withstand) exposure of his perversions. He will do similarly as those did toward Stephen:

~ “...they SECRETLY INDUCED men…”. 

~ “...they STIRRED UP the people…”. 

~ “they also SET UP FALSE WITNESSES…”

Secretly inducing???; Stirring up others???; Getting false witnesses??? Why such underhanded tactics? Because they can’t answer the REPROOF, REBUKE, and SOUND DOCTRINE!

A preacher of truth never has to resort to underhanded measures or lose his composure, for the power is all in the message of truth. The message REPROVES, REBUKES, AND IS SOUND! No loop holes or contradictions are to be found, without dishonest tactics (i.e., secretly inducing; stirring up others; and getting false witnesses)

The nature of the heart is revealed through simple proclamation of truth; it ‘cuts’ both ways. It will either approve or disprove the individual. Sin will be exposed when true preaching is proclaimed. If one loves truth, he will repent and be baptized; if his love (god) is pleasure in unrighteousness, he will resort to underhanded measures and/or lose his composure in resistance.

The Lord so forewarned of this reaction: “For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved. But he that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God.” – John 3:17-21

Will you gladly receive God’s reproof and rebuke, or stop your ears?

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Dwelling on our hurts—the danger...

Is it possible for Satan to defeat and capture a child of God who had previously escaped his grasp? Consider this: 

Satan is exposed in the Bible for the deceiver that he is. Jesus described him as having “no truth in him” and as being a “liar and the father of it” (John 8:44). “Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour” (1 Peter 5:8). 

As a deceiver, Satan’s goal is to cut off the word of God from your heart and then drive you by your emotions...in essence, tempt you to dwell on something other than God's word - YOUR HURT! It becomes a struggle. The struggle is described in this way: “Therefore, brethren, we are debtors—not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh. For if you live according to the flesh you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live” (Rom 8:12-13). Over the years many brethren have died because of this; the vast majority being overcome with bitterness and anger. 

There is a place for anger! When Jesus asked a straightforward question and received no reply, He looked into their hearts and responded in this way: “And when He had looked around at them with anger, being grieved by the hardness of their hearts…” (Mark 3:5). The Lord was angry, but never sinned.

There is a place for anger when it is under control and directed by the principles of God’s word. “Be angry, and do not sin: do not let the sun go down on your wrath, nor give place to the devil.” (Eph. 4:26-27). Our anger needs to be a mourning over sin (Matt. 5:4); not an emotion run amok. But always remember this warning “do not let the sun go down on your wrath,” because a failure to do so will give the devil a place in your heart. And be assured, Satan will take advantage of it, through temptations. Why do so many people not take uncontrolled anger seriously? Too many laugh about their own temper and others laugh with them saying “that’s just the way he is.” What does the Bible say? “Whoever hates his brother is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life abiding in him” (1 John 3:15). 

Consider the works of the flesh: “Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are: adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness, idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies, envy, murders, drunkenness, revelries, and the like; of which I tell you beforehand, just as I also told you in time past, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God” (Gal. 5:19-21). 

Did you notice the “anger family” in this passage? While we hear many good sermons on immorality and false doctrine, do we hear that same emphasis on uncontrolled anger? Remember, “...those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.” 

The Bible plainly tells us of the difficulty of controlling our anger. “He who is slow to anger is better than the mighty, and he who rules his spirit than he who takes a city” (Prov. 16:32). Moses was commended by God above all others for his ability to control his spirit (meekness – Num. 12:2 ASV), but in a moment of anger he spoke rashly and thus sinned. “They angered Him also at the waters of strife, So that it went ill with Moses on account of them; Because they rebelled against His Spirit, So that he spoke rashly with his lips” (Psa. 106:32-33). Moses was not able to enter the Promised Land because of this one moment of anger. 

When we begin to dwell on our hurts and nourish our anger, we are placing ourselves firmly in the hands of Satan. Have you ever tried to reason with an angry person? When you give in to a life of anger you also give up your ability to reason. “A brother offended is harder to win than a strong city, and contentions are like the bars of a castle” (Prov. 18:19). The corrupt politician and the false teacher specialize in slander designed to shut down the thinking process. There are many Christians who, because of their anger towards someone, have quit serving God. It is like getting mad at the dog and kicking the cat! In short your anger will make you behave as crazy person, unwilling to listen or reason, and ready to fight anyone or anything that gets in the way of your desire for revenge. 

Local churches can been devastated by just one man who plants seeds of bitterness. We are warned in the scriptures to be “Looking carefully lest anyone fall short of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up cause trouble, and by this many become defiled” (Heb. 12:15). Bitter people are the dangerous 'leaven' that can spread and destroy others. Sadly, those closest to them are hurt in this process. It is in the lives of their friends, and especially in their children, that the harshest fruits of planted bitterness will be seen. It is rare that the effects of bitter seeds are reversed. 

Can we overcome our hurts? If so, HOW? The apostle Paul answered it as follows:“Let all bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, and evil speaking be put away from you, with all malice. And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you” (Eph. 4:31-32). You will never regret releasing the desire for vengeance upon those who have hurt you. God has pleaded with us in this regard: “Beloved, do not avenge yourselves, but rather give place to wrath; for it is written, 'Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,' says the Lord” (Rom. 12:19). 

Are you willing to follow in the footsteps of Jesus? Look carefully at the specific footsteps our God has placed before us: The apostle Peter also wrote, reminding us of the reason for ridding ourselves of the bitterness from being hurt: “For to this you were called, because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that you should follow His steps: 'Who committed no sin, Nor was deceit found in His mouth; who, when He was reviled, did not revile in return; when He suffered, He did not threaten, but committed Himself to Him who judges righteously'.” (1 Peter 2:21-23).

When a child of God dwells on his hurt, rather than God's word, in time, he will be driven by his emotions rather than God's word. He will then become a "forgetful hearer". When he ceases to look into the "perfect law of liberty", it will only be a matter of time before he ceases to be obedient (James 1:25). Herein is the danger of dwelling on his hurt. 

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What the "revelation" of TRUTH "reveals"!

Jesus’ purpose for being born and for coming into the world is reflected in His teaching by parables and by His miracles.

We see this from His reply to Pilate...

John 18:37: “Then Pilate said to him, ‘So you are a king’? Jesus answered, ‘You say that I am a king. For this purpose I was born and for this purpose I have come into the world--to bear witness to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth listens to my voice’.

Compare two statements of Jesus, one found here, “Everyone who is of the truth listens to My voice.”, and another statement He made in John 7:17, “If anyone's will is to do God's will, he will know whether the teaching is from God or whether I am speaking on my own authority.” Compare them... 

Consider this about Pilate: Did Pilate want to listen to Jesus? Obviously no, so he couldn’t ‘see’ truth. To admit the truth of what Jesus said would demand that he follow it and accept any consequences that go along with it.

Truth is the most important discovery you will make in your life. For the Christian, every relationship & all future relationships will be defined by the path of truth. Consider these four things: 

1. Your associates will be determined by truth. (Psalm 1:1-4) “Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers; but his delight is in the law of the Lord, and on his law he meditates day and night. He is like a tree planted by streams of water that yields its fruit in its season, and its leaf does not wither. In all that he does, he prospers.” [you will choose your friends based upon whether or not they have a love for truth]

2. Those whom you associate with (fellowship) on a religious basis will be determined by this. (Eph. 5:8-13), “...for at one time you were darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light (for the fruit of light is found in all that is good and right and true), and try to discern what is pleasing to the Lord. Take no part in the unfruitful works of darkness, but instead expose them. For it is shameful even to speak of the things that they do in secret. But when anything is exposed by the light, it becomes visible...” [you will work & worship w/those whose desire is to please the Lord]

3) Your relationship with God will be determined by this. (1 Peter 3:10-12), “For Whoever desires to love life and see good days, let him keep his tongue from evil and his lips from speaking deceit; let him turn away from evil and do good; let him seek peace and pursue it. For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous, and his ears are open to their prayer. But the face of the Lord is against those who do evil.” [you will strive to control your tongue & pursue peace in all your daily living]

4) Your eternity will be determined by this. (1 John 4:1-6) “Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, for many false prophets have gone out into the world. By this you know the Spirit of God: every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God, and every spirit that does not confess Jesus is not from God. This is the spirit of the antichrist, which you heard was coming and now is in the world already. Little children, you are from God and have overcome them, for he who is in you is greater than he who is in the world. They are from the world; therefore they speak from the world, and the world listens to them. We are from God. Whoever knows God listens to us; whoever is not from God does not listen to us. By this we know the Spirit of truth and the spirit of error.” [you will therefore ‘test’ all teaching you hear by the Bible]

We see from this, the importance of knowing “What is truth?” Why was it hard for Pilate to see the truth about Jesus? For people today, the same question is in order: ‘Why is it hard to see the truth?’

For some, it is not hard. For those who are truly ‘pure in heart’, truth is not hard to seek or follow. God has given us a revelation that can be understood (Eph. 5:17 – “Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is.”). He has promised that such a heart will find the truth. Again, John 7:17 - “If anyone's will is to do God's will, he will know whether the teaching is from God or whether I am speaking on my own authority.”

Jesus taught in His parables why there is difficulty in seeing truth. In Matt. 6:19-21, He said, “...for where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” Truth is “hard” to 'see' when one’s real desire lies elsewhere. For some, truth is not their treasure...there are other things in this life that is worth more to them. 

Luke told of a lawyer whose treasure was not seeking to know truth. Luke 10:25-37. He was not interested w/truth. In v. 25, we see his motive; he stood up to “put him to the test”; He desired to ‘justify himself’ (v. 29); & he did not want to be merciful to non-Jews (Samaritans) -v. 37.

He thought he would trap Jesus w/this question he posed. Again, he was not interested in truth; His “treasure” was self-justification. 

TRUTH has a unique quality. It will reveal where a person’s ‘heart’ is. It will reveal the truth about you, as to what you love most, in how you react to it! God’s word is truth (John 17:17). Do you want knowledge of IT above all else? It revealed of this lawyer that such was not the case, and it will reveal it about you.

This lawyer did not want to admit that a Samaritan could be his neighbor. But once Jesus told him the truth of how to determine who his neighbor was, he saw it. [This is revealed by his answers to Jesus’ questions.] Yet because he did not want to treat this Samaritan as he ought, this was ‘hard’ to see. He didn’t really want to know the truth of the matter; only to justify his current behavior.

There are other reasons why Jesus’ parables & miracles (truth) were “hard” to see. Consider:

1) For some Jews, they feared of the religious leaders of their group. (John 12:42-43; 9:22)

2) Pilate hid behind the claim that truth was unknowable. John 18:38)

3) Some allowed others to define the character and teachings of Jesus without hearing Jesus themselves. (Luke 7:33-35)

4) For some, it is simply that the ‘time of testing’ is more than they care to suffer. (Luke 8:13) They want a religion life of ease & comfort. 

Truth will exact a high price of you. Jesus said plainly in Luke 14:26-27 – “If anyone comes to me and does not hate his own father and mother and wife and children and brothers and sisters, yes, and even his won life, he cannot be my disciple. Whoever does not bear his own cross and come after me cannot be my disciple.” 

Consider a quote from H. L. Mencken: “For the truth-teller and truth-seeker, indeed, the whole world has very little liking. He is always unpopular, and not infrequently his unpopularity is so excessive that it endangers his life. Run your eye back over the list of martyrs; nine-tenths of them stood accused of nothing worse than honest efforts to find out and announce the truth.”

What has the truth cost you? Anyone who begins the course of pursuing “UN-denominational Christianity” will quickly discover that most religious people have no interest in such a stand. When others see that you are willing to sincerely question long-held religious practices, you will become a perceived threat to them. Those who cannot defend their practices based on the truth will often “justify” themselves by a slanderous attack on you personally. 

When you make a firm commitment to seek and stand upon the truth, then you will find those difficult occasions where you must choose between relationships with men and the truth of God. You must decide to live by principle & righteousness (John. 24:15), If you live by what is right, God will be ‘with you’ – 1 Peter 3:10-12.

Those who take the ‘easy road’ will also face consequences (Prov. 13:21). Your home will be affected (Prov. 17:13). You will change your views with the changes in the current culture. The more men suppress the truth of God which they know, the more futile, even senseless, they become in their thinking. (Rom. 1:21) 

Amos 5:14-15 – “Seek good and not evil, that you may live; so the Lord God of hosts will be with you, as you have spoken. Hate evil, love good; establish justice in the gate. It may be that the Lord God of hosts will be gracious to the remnant of Joseph.” 

“Then Jesus said to those Jews who believed Him, If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed. And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.” (John 8:31-32)

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