The initial command: FAITH ONLY, OR OBEDIENCE?

Was the nature of this initial command from God a requirement for the children of Israel to merely believe in His power to provide ~ faith ‘only’; or to trust AND obey Him? 

Exodus 19:5 — Now therefore, if you will indeed obey my voice and keep my covenant, you shall be my treasured possession among all peoples, for all the earth is mine;

Numbers 14:11 — The Lord said to Moses, “How long will this people spurn Me? And how long will they not believe in Me, despite all the signs which I have performed in their midst?

Consider the message of Jeremiah:

Jeremiah 7:13 — And now, because you have done all these things,” declares the Lord, “and I spoke to you, rising up early and speaking, but you did not hear, and I called you but you did not answer,

Jeremiah 7:24 — Yet they did not obey or incline their ear, but walked in their own counsels and in the stubbornness of their evil heart, and went backward and not forward.

Jeremiah 7:26 — Yet they did not listen to Me or incline their ear, but stiffened their neck; they did more evil than their fathers.

Jeremiah 9:14 — but have walked after the stubbornness of their heart and after the Baals, as their fathers taught them,”

Jeremiah 11:8 — Yet they did not obey or incline their ear, but walked, each one, in the stubbornness of his evil heart; therefore I brought on them all the words of this covenant, which I commanded them to do, but they did not.’”

Jeremiah 11:10 — They have turned back to the iniquities of their ancestors who refused to hear My words, and they have gone after other gods to serve them; the house of Israel and the house of Judah have broken My covenant which I made with their fathers.”

Jeremiah 13:8-11 — Then the word of the Lord came to me, saying,  “Thus says the Lord, ‘Just so will I destroy the pride of Judah and the great pride of Jerusalem.  This wicked people, who refuse to listen to My words, who walk in the stubbornness of their hearts and have gone after other gods to serve them and to bow down to them, let them be just like this waistband which is totally worthless.  For as the waistband clings to the waist of a man, so I made the whole household of Israel and the whole household of Judah cling to Me,’ declares the Lord, ‘that they might be for Me a people, for renown, for praise and for glory; but they did not listen.’

Jeremiah 16:12 — You too have done evil, even more than your forefathers; for behold, you are each one walking according to the stubbornness of his own evil heart, without listening to Me.

Psalm 81:11 — “But My people did not listen to My voice, And Israel did not obey Me.

2 Chronicles 36:15-16 — The Lord, the God of their fathers, sent word to them again and again by His messengers, because He had compassion on His people and on His dwelling place; but they continually mocked the messengers of God, despised His words and scoffed at His prophets, until the wrath of the Lord arose against His people, until there was no remedy…

4/24/2013

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Rightly Dividing God's Word: Following the Apostles -- Teaching as they Taught

Rightly Dividing God's Word: Following the Apostles -- Teaching as they Taught: "Go teach all nations" was the command they had received from the Lord (Matt.28:19), and before his ascension he said, “You wil...

Rightly Dividing God's Word: Is your preacher a false teacher? Part 14

Rightly Dividing God's Word: Is your preacher a false teacher? Part 14: “… that thou mightest charge some that they teach no other doctrine…which some having swerved have turned aside unto vain jangling; desirin...

What is the WISEST wisdom?

Concerning wisdom and knowledge, who would be the wisest of the wise?  Is there a wisdom that surpasses all other wisdom? If so, would it be in the field of science; history; medicine, or law?   I believe that there is a wisdom that exceeds all of these; and that is wisdom of how to be saved from sin.

2^nd Timothy 3:14-15- “But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have firmly believed, knowing from whom you learned it and how from childhood you have been acquainted with the sacred writings, which are able to make you wise unto salvation through faith in Christ Jesus.”

So knowledge of salvation AND our purpose in life are two of the most important things to know.

Eccl. 12:13-14 is a good reference for both points.

“Fear God and keep His commandments; for this is the whole duty of man. For God shall bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil.”

To know why we’re here and what we are supposed to be doing with our life is of the utmost importance.  Once we have this knowledge, should we not strive to fulfill our purpose to the best of our ability?

Solomon recognized the value of God’s wisdom early in his life.  This is why he asked for this wisdom in 1^st Kings 3:5-14.  He realized what his purpose was, and knew that an “understanding mind to govern the people” and the knowledge to “discern between good and evil” were needed rather than “riches or the life of your enemies”.  Without this knowledge, both of these would be to his ruin.   

This wisdom would come thru the commandments given from God thru Moses.  Moses had stated the criteria and responsibilities for the kings in Deut. 17:18-20.  Each king had the personal responsibility to exercise himself in godliness after this manner to ensure his personal welfare and the nation’s prosperity. We can easily attribute Solomon’s (and our) downfall to a failure in these areas.  An understanding heart and faithfulness are not a one-time-prayer effort, but an ongoing lifestyle, disciplined after these principles.  Moses’ commands for each king were:

 “...when he sits on the throne of his kingdom, he shall write for himself in a book a copy of this law, approved by the Levitical priests.  And it shall be with him, and he shall read in it all the days of his life, that he may learn to fear the Lord his God by keeping all the words of this law and these statutes, and doing them,  that his heart may not be lifted up above his brothers, and that he may not turn aside from the commandment, either to the right hand or to the left, so that he may continue long in his kingdom, he and his children, in Israel.”

Thus we see the value of bible study and meditation upon God’s word as well as prayer, in order to be  “wise unto salvation”.  Therefore, a wise person will seek out these commandments. 

 - David, a man after God’s own heart said in Psa. 39:4, "O LORD, make me know my end and what is the measure of my days; let me know how fleeting I am!” 

 - Moses also said in Psa. 90:12 - “…teach us to number our days that we may get a heart of wisdom.”

We need to do the same.  We’re here to serve God, and we need wisdom to do that.  We’re told in Eccl. 8:5, “Whoever keeps a command will know no evil thing, and the wise heart will know the proper time and the just way.”

               

POINT: Knowing the proper time and procedure, is connected to obedience.  (i.e.,  ‘keeping commandments’)

HOW does GOD “make” us to know?  How has GOD taught man?

Thru paying attention to what you hear (Mark 4:24 – “Take heed what ye hear”);  and how you hear it (Luke 8:18 – “Take heed therefore how ye hear”).

WHAT we do w/that which we hear taught is the point; (i.e., how we use our knowledge of salvation)

In James 4:14, a question is both asked and answered: “What is your life? For you are a mist that appears for a little time and then vanishes.”

We need to consider this.

Since God created us, so many things have come and gone in this life to where our time on earth is like a millimeter in a mile. We have to think, what are we doing with our time?  It is so important for us to realize the high value of our time.  I see people dying young, being stricken with diseases and I have to realize that God has given me my safety and life.  But for what reason?  Thinking back on Ecclesiastes, I know I’m here to serve Him.  If I have my life (which is very precious and sacred); I need to view wisdom as dear and precious as Moses, David, Solomon, and the other faithful characters did, and diligently seek the wisdom that they sought.

In James 1: 5, I find that if I really desire this wisdom, I can have it, if I seek it in the right way.  James wrote, “If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.”

Let me encourage all to seek God for this wisdom, and your life will be lived as God intended... “FEARING HIM & KEEPING HIS COMMANDMENTS”

For the end/conclusion:

In the song: “Just After Death...What Then?” we see the reason why this wisdom excels all other wisdom – THE REWARD OF AN ETERNITY IN HEAVEN!

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copyright 2013

Making the Right Decision

The life of Jesus of Nazareth has attracted the attention of both atheist and theist. For centuries individuals have arisen that provided the people of their times with some religious hope. Many of these individuals, to their own dismay, were elevated to a position of reverence that belongs only to God. Multitudes have put their faith, hope and trust in the teachings of these individuals.

We all, though wrong they are, make decisions contrary to our well being. Every day, we are called upon to make decisions. Some of those decisions are mundane and inconsequential. Others have the potential of both physical and spiritual ruin. There is no greater decision a person will be called upon to make that supersedes the one they make regarding their spiritual well being. Religious decisions are difficult because they require great determination. The apostle Paul said, "I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God which is your spiritual service. And be not fashioned according to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is the good and acceptable and perfect will of God" (Romans 12:1-2).

Paul’s statement, as he revealed Gods will concerning obedience, says that it requires becoming a sacrifice: a sacrifice that presents the body in a holy and acceptable service. The term "sacrifice" is defined as a "victim" (Thayer’s Greek Definitions). Merriam Webster defines sacrifice as "an act of offering to a deity something precious;especially: the killing of a victim on an altar." Paul was well aware of the requirements of obedience. He stated, concerning his life, "for I am ready not to be bound only, but also to die" (Acts 21:13). And ultimately paid the price, as he wrote, "For I am already being offered, and the time of my departure is come. I have fought the good fight, I have finished the course, I have kept the faith: henceforth there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give to me at that day; and not to me only, but also to all them that have loved his appearing" (2 Timothy 4:6-7). The term, "being offered" is defined as, "to pour out as a libation, that is, (figuratively) to devote(one’s life or blood, as a sacrifice)" (Strong’s Hebrew and Greek Definitions), or "fig. used of one whose blood is poured out in a violent death for the cause of God" (Thayer’s Greek Definitions). Paul offered himself in the figurative as well as literal sense, of the word.

Making the right decision about one’s spiritual well being requires courage. Throughout the scriptures, individuals have been called upon to put their lives on the line for their faith: "And what shall I more say? for the time will fail me if I tell of Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah; of David and Samuel and the prophets: who through faith subdued kingdoms, wrought righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions, quenched the power of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, from weakness were made strong, waxed mighty in war, turned to flight armies of aliens. Women received their dead by a resurrection: and others were tortured, not accepting their deliverance; that they might obtain a better resurrection: and others had trial of mockings and scourgings, yea, moreover of bonds and imprisonment: they were stoned, they were sawn asunder, they were tempted, they were slain with the sword: they went about in sheepskins, in goatskins; being destitute, afflicted, ill-treated (of whom the world was not worthy), wandering in deserts and mountains and caves, and the holes of the earth. And these all, having had witness borne to them through their faith, received not the promise, God having provided some better thing concerning us, that apart from us they should not be made perfect" (Hebrews 11:32-40).

As a Christian, an individual must be willing to do the same today. Jesus said, "And be not afraid of them that kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell" (Matthew 10:28). Exercising courage is of such great importance that God said, "But for the fearful, and unbelieving, and abominable, and murderers, and fornicators, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, their part shall be in the lake that burneth with fire and brimstone; which is the second death" (Revelation 21:8). Listed among those who commit the most hideous crimes is the fearful.

When considering one’s condition before God, one must decide to exercise courage and "obey God, rather than men" (Acts 5:29) and "press on toward the goal unto the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus" (Philippians 3:14). 

What decision have you made in regard to your spiritual service?

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copyright 2013