Growing up in God
July 6, 2024Faithful and True
July 6, 2024
Foundation in Christ
Introduction
Having a proper foundation is important. In the natural whether building a house or a sky skyscraper it is important to have the right foundation to build upon.
One time when I was listening to a teaching on witnessing to others, the teacher mentioned the number one issue that people fear about witnessing is not giving an account of their own relationship with Christ, but they feared what if someone asked a question that they could not answer. In one such instance the teacher asked the man a question in return. How long have you been a Christian? The man replied twenty seven years.
In twenty seven years the man had every opportunity to listen, to learn, and to grow in a real relationship with Christ and in that sense I am sure nothing could waver him from that walk with Christ. Yet when it came to talking to others about Christ he was fearful that something would come up that he would not know how to answer.
Have confidence in what you know and WHO you know.
Your relationship with Christ is a very real reality.
For the last 15 years I have worked with technology, and I consider myself an expert in many ways. Yet for example in a hypothetical situation would it come down to me being thrust into the control center at NASA sat in front of something I am not familiar with and being told I had to fix or do something that I had no experience with… you can bet that I would not be comfortable either. Yet I would know how to use the computer in the basic sense and would I be given enough time, I think I could even come to understand what was needed and do the right thing in that situation. I don’t think NASA is going to be knocking on my door any time soon, but there are things that I could do if I wanted to prepare for that unlikely event.
Sometimes when it comes to something we should know in an out – through and through sometimes we lack confidence and understanding of what we already know.
Back to the importance of a foundation… I have a foundation in Christ, mostly because over the years I have spent time with Him, have come to know Him and trust Him, and I spend as much time as I can with others that I trust that also spend time with Him. On top of that I spend time in His word. The Word is a very simple book that has been given to us to understand the promises, the basis, and the reasons behind the situations that people in this world find themselves in and the ONE that has promised to set us free from it because He loves us.
In this course we are going to examine our foundations that we have in Christ. The basis of our faith, the promises we have in Christ, in Salvation, in Doctrine, and the tools and authority that HE has given us as His children to carry out His will on this planet.
We will go over a lot of things that you more than likely already know. However I hope to touch on things that you may not know already and help you see how strong the Foundation of Christ we all have through Him.
While we will be having fun throughout this course and some of the topics will be light hearted
Everything that we will be covering will be for your encouragement and enlightenment in the Word of God.
In this course we will be looking at…
A Foundation with Christ
How to build a Biblical Foundation of Faith and Truth
Basic Bible Doctrines,
False Bible Doctrines (Also known as Wind of Doctrine, and pet doctrines)
False Bible concepts – (Concepts people have about the Bible that are not true but people think are true)
Why Salvation is Real.
Can Salvation be lost?
Things Christians should never stop no matter what.
How to be an effective witness for Christ
Lesson 1
A foundation is a natural or prepared ground or base on which some structure rests.
It is the beginnings or first principals of a system of truth.
And why call ye me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say? Whosoever cometh to me, and heareth my sayings, and doeth them, I will shew you to whom he is like: He is like a man which built an house, and digged deep, and laid the foundation on a rock: and when the flood arose, the stream beat vehemently upon that house, and could not shake it: for it was founded upon a rock. But he that heareth, and doeth not, is like a man that without a foundation built an house upon the earth; against which the stream did beat vehemently, and immediately it fell; and the ruin of that house was great. (Luke 6:46-49)
A person who comes to Lord Jesus, and hears and does what he says, builds a foundation on a rock. When trouble comes, that person’s life cannot be shaken.
That person who lays his foundation on the rock must first dig down to locate the bedrock to build his house on.
A person who comes to Lord Jesus, and hears what he says, but does not do it, builds a foundation upon the earth. When trouble comes, that person’s life is greatly ruined.
The meaning for “house” is the dwelling place of the soul.
The meaning for “earth” is the affairs, interests and pursuits of natural life.
The meaning for “rock” is a person’s spiritual life in Christ. (This typology speaks of the Rock as spoken of in 1 Cor 10:4)
Therefore, if a person looks for the deep things of God, and maintains a spiritual life in Christ, then his life will not be disturbed when trouble comes. If a person maintains a life concerned with the affairs, interests and pursuits of natural life, then that person’s life will be ruined when trouble comes.
A person who digs deep into the things of God, hears and does what Jesus says is saved.
Through mighty signs and wonders, by the power of the Spirit of God; so that from Jerusalem, and round about unto Illyricum, I have fully preached the gospel of Christ. Yea, so have I strived to preach the gospel, not where Christ was named, lest I should build upon another man’s foundation: But as it is written, To whom he was not spoken of, they shall see: and they that have not heard shall understand. (Romans 15:19-21)
Paul’s ministry was as a master builder of foundations. He was responsible for building foundations of those who had never heard of Christ, and teaching them so they could perceive and understand the signs, wonders and power of the Spirit of God through the gospel of Christ. He was careful not to confuse new converts by building on the foundation of another teacher, and taught only those whose foundation could be laid completely by him.
Therefore leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on unto perfection; not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith toward God, Of the doctrine of baptisms, and of laying on of hands, and of resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment. And this will we do, if God permit. (Hebrews 6:1-3)
The doctrine of Christ is used for the laying of foundation. This doctrine of Christ contains six principles that must be taught to all Christians.
These six principles of the doctrine of Christ for foundation building are:
- Sins (Dead Works)
- Faith
- Water Baptism
- Holy Spirit Baptism (Laying on of hands)
- Resurrection
- Judgment
Once the foundation of the doctrine of Christ is laid, a student should go on to learning new things of the LORD GOD according to His Grace and Will. No student can grow to perfection, by repeatedly learning the six principles of the doctrine of Christ.
According to the grace of God which is given unto me, as a wise masterbuilder, I have laid the foundation, and another buildeth thereon. But let every man take heed how he buildeth thereupon. For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ. Now if any man build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble; Every man’s work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man’s work of what sort it is. If any man’s work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward. If any man’s work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire. (1 Corinthians 3:10-15)
A foundation is laid so that it can be built upon.
A foundation cannot be laid unless it is on the doctrine of Jesus Christ.
Upon the foundation that is set with Jesus as the Chief Cornerstone – we build our life around and upon Him so that everything that is put on this new foundation is sturdy and unshakeable.
The stone which the builders refused is become the head stone of the corner.
Therefore thus saith the Lord God, Behold, I lay in Zion for a foundation a stone, a tried stone, a precious corner stone, a sure foundation: he that believeth shall not make haste.
Ephesians 2:19-21
King James Version (KJV)
19 Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the household of God;
20 And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone;
21 In whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord:
Wherefore also it is contained in the scripture, Behold, I lay in Sion a chief corner stone, elect, precious: and he that believeth on him shall not be confounded.
The moment you make Christ your Lord and Savior you are immediately building a foundation that cannot be shaken, this is the confidence we should have in SALVATION.
Not everyone completes the building they start on the foundation when they receive Christ. They may have Christ, and they may be going to Heaven but they have no roof and the rain beats on their head constantly.
Foundations is a metaphor for your basic knowledge and understanding in Christ and what He and the WORD promise us.
Understanding this foundation helps us build our walls, our roof, and protects us from misunderstanding, hurt, and winds that try to come our way.
You are a living Temple of God, the Holy Spirit dwells within you. He is constantly present and always wants to help you with everything in your life.
This course will help you, and me, and anyone that watches by the internet to check our foundation, check our walls, our roof and fix things that need fixing, and gain a stronger understanding of the Word of God, the promises that it gives us, and the protection we have with proper foundations and a life Built upon HIM.
Lesson 2 – How to build a Biblical Foundation of Faith and Truth
There is several flaws to the modern Christian thinking.
I love the church, I love the Christians, I do not appreciate the modern way the church is trying to grow itself.
A church that does not want to teach basic biblical foundational principles is a church that is scared of offending someone and having them go elsewhere.
Matthew 13:21 – Yet hath he not root in himself, but dureth for a while: for when tribulation or persecution ariseth because of the word, by and by he is offended.
Having spent time abroad and seen the church in countries that have it hard day in and day out, you see that they appreciate the truth being told over the user friendly method that we see in some churches.
In Africa we helped churches stream the live broadcast of the teaching, the praise and worship and the testimonials of every service. When these conferences were held people started traveling days ahead of time, with one intention on their heart. They were going to meet with God and hear His Word. Here we seem content to go see a concert, hear a brief encouraging word and a pat on the back of an usher as you leave.
After a talk with someone recently about the state of the flashy modern church that seems very concerned about money, image and tv, they said that they feared the church would not make it. I jumped in and said I agree with them, but that only the false, fake and flashy would not make it, but the real, true, church that God is building Himself daily, would absolutely make it.
So sounding like I am criticizing aside for a moment let me say one thing to get us to todays teaching, God is the one that builds His church, He builds it every single day, by speaking to the hearts of every man woman and child that wants to find Him, and He speaks through any man woman and child that has already found Him and wants to share Him with others.
1 Thessalonians 2:1 For yourselves, brethren, know our entrance in unto you, that it was not in vain: 2 But even after that we had suffered before, and were shamefully entreated, as ye know, at Philippi, we were bold in our God to speak unto you the gospel of God with much contention. 3 For our exhortation was not of deceit, nor of uncleanness, nor in guile: 4 But as we were allowed of God to be put in trust with the gospel, even so we speak; not as pleasing men, but God, which trieth our hearts. 5 For neither at any time used we flattering words, as ye know, nor a cloke of covetousness; God is witness: 6 Nor of men sought we glory, neither of you, nor yet of others, when we might have been burdensome, as the apostles of Christ.
We talked last about the foundations we are building and how the Bible says that we should build upon the foundation of Christ, of the Word, and upon the Rock that will not be moved.
Yet the Church seems to have forgotten that we are not to build ministries, we are to be ministers, we are not to build churches, but to build up the church. You are the church, He just wants us to know who we are, what He has given us and see us go change the world and the people in it.
1 Timothy 6:18-20 18 That they do good, that they be rich in good works, ready to distribute, willing to communicate; 19 Laying up in store for themselves a good foundation against the time to come, that they may lay hold on eternal life.
We are building a foundation on Christ for a reason. There is an expression of God’s love, a way to share Christ, and affect change in the World around us that we often forget. It is us.
You and I are God’s method of reaching a lost and dying world that needs HIM and that needs US to point the way.
Your foundation in Christ is the building block to making a life and a show of the Kingdom of God to the world… that it works, that the Word is true and if He did it for you, He will do it for them too.
Your foundation might have cracks in it if it is built on anything other that Christ and the Bible. Mine did.
I was raised in a Catholic house with a Baptist mother and a Catholic dad. I had friends that were jw’s and mormons, and others that were atheist, and even others that were I don’t know what else. Yet I believed God and what I knew about Him. However what I thought I knew was challenged years later when attending Bible School – I sat in the teaching and the lessons and every single class I excelled at. Every class except one. Bible Doctrines.
Don’t worry, I retook the class but only after I repented to God over some things.
Humans have the tendency to think that if they hear something once they know it. Christians certainly do. You can see once they have sussed out the sermon topic, often times they switch off… unless it is a sermon in some of the modern churches, they have the screen with the moving video background behind the preacher, they move back and forth to keep attention and the scriptures are kept to a minimum and the majority of the message is funny stories and uplifting words that have little to do with the meaning of the topic.
So anyway, if they think they have heard the topic before they tune out and tend to act like they listen while inside their head they are planning what fast food place they want to order from after church.
I was one of those… that is why I can pick on them and myself.
I sat in Bible Doctrines class and nodded my head about this, and wrote notes about that, while I was listening, I was not learning. Why? I already had a foundation – or something I thought was a foundation. It was a mix of catholic, Mormon, jw, Baptist, Methodist, and who knows what else. In my head I heard the words that the teacher taught, and I learned nothing at all.
I took the final test and I flunked the class.
I went to God after the test results were revealed and was upset.
I knew HIM. Wasn’t that enough? Can you really know God and not know His Word? I asked God what happened and that was when He told me. I listened but I did not hear, I took notes but I did not learn and when it came time for the test, and what I was supposed to KNOW was put to the test, it was clear that I failed.
Matthew 7:24 Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock: 25 And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock. 26 And every one that heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man, which built his house upon the sand: 27 And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell: and great was the fall of it. 28 And it came to pass, when Jesus had ended these sayings, the people were astonished at his doctrine: 29 For he taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes.
I repented before God for my actions, and not listening and learning.
Mark 4:22-24 22 For there is nothing hid, which shall not be manifested; neither was any thing kept secret, but that it should come abroad. 23 If any man have ears to hear, let him hear. 24 And he said unto them, Take heed what ye hear: with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you: and unto you that hear shall more be given.
I retook the class next time around and after I prayed to God to clear out my preconceptions and bad understanding of His Word, at the end of the class I passed with an A.
The Foundation that you build should be upon the rock.
Matthew 16: 15 He saith unto them, But whom say ye that I am? 16 And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God. 17 And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Barjona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven. 18 And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.
The Bible has concepts in it, ideas, thoughts, ways and suggestions that take learning and patience to understand. In the last course we also talked about refreshing and re-learning some things to ensure that we are on the right track.
When I found out that my foundation had cracks in it, I asked God to correct me, my wrong way of thinking and help me in what I believe to match what the word teaches, and not what the multifaceted religious ideas and false teachings put into me when I was younger.
My doctrine shall drop as the rain, my speech shall distil as the dew, as the small rain upon the tender herb, and as the showers upon the grass:
For I give you good doctrine, forsake ye not my law.
Whom shall he teach knowledge? and whom shall he make to understand doctrine? them that are weaned from the milk, and drawn from the breasts.
They also that erred in spirit shall come to understanding, and they that murmured shall learn doctrine.
And it came to pass, when Jesus had ended these sayings, the people were astonished at his doctrine:
But in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men.
Several of the pastors that I have worked with, and for over the years often stands at the front of the church and teaches a lesson, a sermon with a point to help people that will listen to the teaching, and find a way to apply it to their life… they often or at least used to challenge the listener to not just take their word for it, but take the Bible, get away from life for a while and spend time with God and study out what lesson they just heard and learn it for themselves.
Jesus was saying the same thing when He said, let him that has an ear to hear let him hear.
If you want to change, learn, grow and build upon the foundation He has, you will, but it takes more than just hearing words from the front of an audience and will take an effort of learning, and then trying to apply it to the life you have.
James 1: 21 Wherefore lay apart all filthiness and superfluity of naughtiness, and receive with meekness the engrafted word, which is able to save your souls. 22 But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves. 23 For if any be a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a glass: 24 For he beholdeth himself, and goeth his way, and straightway forgetteth what manner of man he was. 25 But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed. 26 If any man among you seem to be religious, and bridleth not his tongue, but deceiveth his own heart, this man’s religion is vain. 27 Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world.
There is only one God(Isaiah 43:10; 44:6, 8; John 17:3; 1 Corinthians 8:5-6; Galatians 4:8-9).
God is three in one or aTrinity (Matthew 3:16-17, 28:19; John 14:16-17; 2 Corinthians13:14; Acts 2:32-33, John 10:30,17:11, 21; 1 Peter 1:2).
God is omniscient or “knows all things”(Acts 15:18; 1 John 3:20).
God is omnipotent or “all powerful”(Psalm 115:3; Revelation 19:6).
God is omnipresent or “present everywhere”(Jeremiah 23:23, 24; Psalm 139).
God issovereign (Zechariah 9:14; 1 Timothy 6:15-16).
God is holy(1 Peter 1:15).
God is just or “righteous”(Psalm 19:9, 116:5, 145:17; Jeremiah 12:1).
God is love(1 John 4:8).
God is true(Romans 3:4; John 14:6).
God is spirit(John 4:24).
God is the creator of everything that exists(Genesis 1:1; Isaiah 44:24).
God is infinite and eternal. He has always been God(Psalm 90:2; Genesis 21:33; Acts 17:24).
God is immutable. He does not change(James 1:17; Malachi 3:6; Isaiah 46:9-10).
TheHoly Spirit is God (Acts 5:3-4; 1 Corinthians 2:11-12; 2 Corinthians 13:14).
Jesus Christis God (John 1:1, 14, 10:30-33, 20:28; Colossians 2:9; Philippians 2:5-8; Hebrews 1:8).
Jesus became a man(Philippians 2:1-11).
Jesus is fully God and fully man(Colossians 2:9; 1 Timothy 2:5; Hebrews 4:15; 2 Corinthians 5:21).
Jesus was sinless(1 Peter 2:22; Hebrews 4:15).
Jesus is the only way toGod the Father (John 14:6; Matthew 11:27; Luke 10:22).
Man was created by God in the image of God(Genesis 1:26-27).
All people have sinned(Romans 3:23, 5:12).
Death came into the world throughAdam’s sin (Romans 5:12-15).
Sin separates us from God(Isaiah 59:2).
Jesus diedfor the sins of each and every person in the world (1 John 2:2; 2 Corinthians 5:14; 1 Peter 2:24).
Jesus’ death was a substitutionary sacrifice. He died and paid the price for our sins, so that we might live.(1 Peter 2:24; Matthew 20:28; Mark 10:45).
Jesusresurrected from the dead in physical form (John 2:19-21).
Salvationis a free gift of God (Romans 4:5, 6:23; Ephesians 2:8-9; 1 John 1:8-10).
The Bible is the “inspired” or “God-breathed,” Word of God(2 Timothy 3:16; 2 Peter 1:21).
Those who reject Jesus Christ, after they die, will go tohell forever (Revelation 20:11-15, 21:8).
Those who accept Jesus Christ, after they die, will live for eternity with Him(John 11:25, 26; 2 Corinthians 5:6).
Hell is a place of punishment(Matthew 25:41, 46; Revelation 19:20).
Hell is eternal(Matthew 25:46).
There will be arapture of the church (Matthew 24:30-36, 40-41; John 14:1-3; 1 Corinthians 15:51-52; 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17; 2 Thessalonians 2:1-12).
Jesus will return to the earth(Acts 1:11).
Christians will be raised from the dead when Jesus returns(1 Thessalonians 4:14-17).
There will be a final judgment(Hebrews 9:27; 2 Peter 3:7).
Satan will be thrown into the lake of fire(Revelation 20:10).
God will create a new heaven and a new earth(2 Peter 3:13; Revelation 21:1).
Most Christians would have no problems agreeing with everything that we just spoke about. Some would have issue with a few points but we will let God help them on those points. We are talking today about building blocks upon the Foundation of Christ. Something that if we work properly and diligently with God and the Word – we will have a building a house that will withstand the storms of life and not be shaken. These building blocks are Bible Doctrines.
Bible Doctrines are the strength of a Christian to stand against the issues of life that come our way.
With any problem the world or the enemy sends our way we can find the answers in the WORD and the standard of living and the ability to live prosperous, victorious, righteous and an overcoming life comes from knowing Who Christ is, What He gave us, How to use it in our lives.
Let us look briefly at the doctrine people do have a lot of issues with – Without picking on those people and denominations we want to know what the Word promises us and how to add those bricks into our building upon the foundation we have in Christ.
Healing is mentioned in the KJV Bible 14 times, Healed is mentioned 77 times, health 17, made whole – 10 times, and heal is over 149 times in the Bible.
Best healing scripture – Isaiah 53 Who hath believed our report? and to whom is the arm of theLord revealed? 2 For he shall grow up before him as a tender plant, and as a root out of a dry ground: he hath no form nor comeliness; and when we shall see him, there is no beauty that we should desire him. 3 He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: and we hid as it were our faces from him; he was despised, and we esteemed him not. 4 Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted. 5 But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed. 6 All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the Lord hath laid on him the iniquity of us all. 7 He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth: he is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so he openeth not his mouth. 8 He was taken from prison and from judgment: and who shall declare his generation? for he was cut off out of the land of the living: for the transgression of my people was he stricken. 9 And he made his grave with the wicked, and with the rich in his death; because he had done no violence, neither was any deceit in his mouth. 10 Yet it pleased the Lord to bruise him; he hath put him to grief: when thou shalt make his soul an offering for sin, he shall see his seed, he shall prolong his days, and the pleasure of the Lord shall prosper in his hand. 11 He shall see of the travail of his soul, and shall be satisfied: by his knowledge shall my righteous servant justify many; for he shall bear their iniquities. 12 Therefore will I divide him a portion with the great, and he shall divide the spoil with the strong; because he hath poured out his soul unto death: and he was numbered with the transgressors; and he bare the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors.
Speaking in Tongues – 1 Corinthians 14
14 Follow after charity, and desire spiritual gifts, but rather that ye may prophesy.
2 For he that speaketh in an unknown tongue speaketh not unto men, but unto God: for no man understandeth him; howbeit in the spirit he speaketh mysteries.
3 But he that prophesieth speaketh unto men to edification, and exhortation, and comfort.
4 He that speaketh in an unknown tongue edifieth himself; but he that prophesieth edifieth the church.
5 I would that ye all spake with tongues but rather that ye prophesied: for greater is he that prophesieth than he that speaketh with tongues, except he interpret, that the church may receive edifying.
6 Now, brethren, if I come unto you speaking with tongues, what shall I profit you, except I shall speak to you either by revelation, or by knowledge, or by prophesying, or by doctrine?
Ministry of Angels – Hebrews 1:14 14 Are they not all ministering spirits, sent forth to minister for them who shall be heirs of salvation?
A. They worship God. Angels are continually involved in praising God (Rev.4:6-11) through describing His attributes (Is.6:3) and singing praises (Rev.5:8,9).
B. They ministered to Christ. Angels announced His birth (Luke 1:26-33; 2:13), protected Him (Matt.2:13), strengthened Him (Matt.4:11; Luke 22:43), and explained to men His resurrection (Matt.28:6) and ascension (Acts 1:10,11).
C. They carry out God’s government. Angels are God’s servants (Ps.103:20; Heb.1:7) and messengers (Luke 1:19; 2:8-14). They can be involved in controlling nature (Rev.7:1; 16:3,8,9), nations (2 Kings 19:35), and Satan and demons (Dan.10:13,21; 12:1). They will perform future judgment for God (Matt.13:3a; Rev.15:1; 16:1-21).
D. They protect God’s people. Angels are sent to serve believers (Heb.1:14). They protect the godly (Ps.34:7; Dan.6:20,23), oppose our enemies (Ps.35:4,5) and are specifically assigned as guardians of individuals (Matt.18:10). They are God’s agents in answering prayer (Acts 12:7) even bringing physical provisions (Gen.21:17-20; 1 Kings 19:5-7).
What do Bible Doctrines do for you?
Once you have settled something in your heart and let it become part of who you are and what you believe, you will be given opportunities to act upon it.
You, Me, people watching on the internet if they are a believer will be given chances to act on what they believe or to back down from it.
Building material is solid, has substance, takes weight, keeps life comfortable if you live inside a well built house.
Practicing what you believe in life will make the life you have in Christ stronger, and you better equipped to keep the world away from you, and you more able to reach the world for the Gospel.
Grandfather – heart attack and thrown out of the hospital
Evangelist Ellis Daily – Assistant Pastor at a Baptist Church –
Prayer lines
Test it, try it, build upon it.
BAD DOCTRINES that people actually get from the Bible – but they read, studied, or were taught improperly.
This list is not complete, we have all heard the worst things about the Bible come out of the mouths of Christians… that just don’t know any better.
God gives and He takes away. – Where it comes from – Job complaining about his circumstances – not from God or divine inspiration – why it is in the bible – because we have all been in that place sometimes mentally – Job was human and did not have the Word, did not have the Law, had nothing but the knowledge that there was a God and he needed to live righteously.
Job 1:21 21 And said, Naked came I out of my mother’s womb, and naked shall I return thither: theLord gave, and the Lord hath taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord.
Sometimes God heals, Sometimes He doesn’t Matthew 13:57-58 57 And they were offended in him. But Jesus said unto them, A prophet is not without honour, save in his own country, and in his own house. 58 And he did not many mighty works there because of their unbelief.
If it be thy will oh God, – what a wishy washy mentality this is. Read the Bible and you will Know Gods Will for You…
Matthew 8:1-3
When he was come down from the mountain, great multitudes followed him 2 And, behold, there came a leper and worshipped him, saying, Lord, if thou wilt, thou canst make me clean. 3 And Jesus put forth his hand, and touched him, saying, I will; be thou clean. And immediately his leprosy was cleansed.
Jesus in the Garden prayed that kind of prayer – so that means it is alright still right?
Matthew 26:39
And he went a little farther, and fell on his face, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me: nevertheless not as I will, but as thou wilt.
Jesus knew the will of God. So can you.
If these are bad doctrines that actually can be found in the Bible but we are not supposed to believe them like we do salvation – how can we tell Good doctrine from Bad Doctrine?
Doctrine is something that is established and can be clearly found throughout the bible and not just in one place, one scripture or a half sentence that people try to use to fit their preconception or to justify sin, unbelief and so forth.
Doctrine will always be clear and you would have to want to not see it to miss it. Yet people do miss it all the time.
We will be looking at more doctrine in the next class – both Doctrine of Men, Bible Doctrine, Winds of Doctrine and more – keeping in mind it is the BIBLE Doctrine we want in our lives to Build up this Christian Life we now have – Bible Doctrine will always BUILD you up – not tear you down. There is a good basis there.
Jude 1:20But ye, beloved, building up yourselves on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Ghost, Keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life. And of some have compassion, making a difference: And others save with fear, pulling them out of the fire; hating even the garment spotted by the flesh. Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy, To the only wise God our Saviour, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and ever. Amen.
Lesson 4
Building a strong building.
In our course so far we have been discussing how Christ is our Foundation, and He is the Chief cornerstone of the Church and should be the cornerstone in our lives as well.
For our sakes, anything we build upon the foundation we have in HIM should also line up with Him, trouble and confusion comes when we do not have things lined up just right.
Just like in a real wall, any brick or building material that is not the right size and shape or composition makes the wall unstable and at the very least will leave room for wind, rain and the problems of life to seep into our lives. We should build a strong building upon the foundation of Christ, a wall of bricks that have been tried and tested and everything lines up with the Word of God, to the best of our ability.
Unfortunately we will sometimes get things wrong. But doing your best, study the word of God with the right heart and the right motivation and be willing to be teachable by God Himself and His word, and you will be able to make the changes in your building, your life, what ever is needed to strengthen everything around you.
We looked a little bit last week about the basic Bible Doctrines that most people that call themselves Christians should believe and see clearly in the Bible.
Above all else you should know what a Bible doctrine is, how to study Doctrine for yourself, how to spot something that is NOT a Bible Doctrine, and how to keep yourselves from the Winds of Doctrine that is warned about in the Bible.
2 Tim 3:14But continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of, knowing of whom thou hast learned them;
15 And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. 16 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: 17 That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works.
Doctrine is here to teach us, for reproof, correction, instruction in righteousness, so that we may be made perfect and thoroughly furnished unto good works.
Reproof shows us where blame is due to the problems we face
Correction is to set us back on the right path or direction
Instruction is to teach us and educate us to do better
To be made perfect – a Christ-like attribute
Thoroughly furnished – is to be made suitable, and fully capable in every way.
So we looked last week at some of the basic Doctrine we all believe or at least should believe. But where do these come from? We know they come from the Word, but we also talked about how other scriptures in the Bible talk about certain things that are NOT Bible doctrines but people treat them like they are…
Historically – the doctrines we have today are found by simply reading the Bible, knowing the attributes and Characteristics of God and by learning what the Word teaches.
We have established a method of Bible Doctrine Study, that we should use to test anything else that should come to us as a Doctrine.
One witness shall not rise up against a man for any iniquity, or for any sin, in any sin that he sinneth: at the mouth of two witnesses, or at the mouth of three witnesses, shall the matter be established.
Matthew 18:16 But if he will not hear thee, then take with thee oneor two more, that in the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established.
This is the third time I am coming to you. In the mouth of two or three witnesses shall every word be established.
d. 1 Timothy 5:18-19
For the scripture saith, thou shalt not muzzle the ox that treadeth out the corn. And, The labourer is worthy of his reward.
19 Against an elder receive not an accusation, but before two or three witnesses.
There is a standard in Bible study that basically states that a Bible Doctrine is there for your benefit, your betterment, and ultimately your improvement. A Doctrine against sinning, while it might be painful to hear – will ultimately help you in your Walk with God. Remember this point and we will return to this when we talk about the opposite thought as well.
The Bible is simple and ultimately if you want to learn what it says and wants to teach you – you will find the Bible Doctrine simple to understand as well. Not always easy to comprehend, but simple to understand what it is teaching you.
The Bible Doctrines that we should learn and grow thereby are established 99.9 percent of the time, in two, three or countless scriptures, written again and again and plain to read.
Nothing is hidden from us. Everything we need to know is in the Bible and simple and plain to see. True, God can give you personal revelation and understanding in a unique and profound way, and if it helps you great, but unless you can plainly see it and read in and understand it in the scripture too… don’t teach it as Bible Doctrine. We will come back to that point too in a few moments.
REAL Bible Doctrine is always taken in context, and never out of context. This simply means that if someone is teaching you that something means what a sentence says is true as a doctrine, the sentence before it, and the sentence after it should also hold the same thought, the same meaning and not contradict the point, or prove that the sentence was really talking about something else.
Bible Doctrine is NEVER about reading between the lines, adding words that are not there, and joining them with half a sentence here, a word there, and a made up comma there. And we will come back to this point as well shortly.
To recap, Bible Doctrine is the bricks we use to support our life, our comprehension and ability to use the Word of God in our lives, to help others, and protect ourselves against the lies, half truths and confusion that the world, and others will send our way.
For example, the Bible is very clear that SALVATION is a Bible Doctrine, it starts from the very beginning of the Bible through Revelations talking about Salvation, the Savior, and redemption. It is very clearly a Bible Doctrine and it is simple to read, see it, hear it, believe it, and live it. It is clearly there.
Errors in studying the Word – getting bad doctrine accidentally or intentionally –
Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.
The first point we said we would return to before was the thought of Bible Doctrine being for our benefit and even though it might be painful to hear at first, we grow and overcome issues like sin and poor lifestyle choices, to become better personally and spiritually.
The first key to recognizing bad doctrines is they often either say that God will never correct you and it is ok to sin because God is love and therefore no matter what you do – everything you do is acceptable to God. We clearly know this is not the case – God’s word says over and over again that those that He loves, He corrects, chastises and directs their paths.
Hebrews 12:5-13
And ye have forgotten the exhortation which speaketh unto you as unto children, My son, despise not thou the chastening of the Lord, nor faint when thou art rebuked of him: 6 For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth. 7 If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not? 8 But if ye be without chastisement, whereof all are partakers, then are ye bastards, and not sons. 9 Furthermore we have had fathers of our flesh which corrected us, and we gave them reverence: shall we not much rather be in subjection unto the Father of spirits, and live? 10 For they verily for a few days chastened us after their own pleasure; but he for our profit, that we might be partakers of his holiness.11 Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby. 12 Wherefore lift up the hands which hang down, and the feeble knees; 13 And make straight paths for your feet, lest that which is lame be turned out of the way; but let it rather be healed.
Now keep that thought in mind and realize that the opposite is true as well. God never puts evil things on you to teach you a lesson either. He will however watch to see how we deal with situations and issues that LIFE, SATAN, and the World throws our way.
When we realize that we have authority, power, faith, health, prosperity, and angels all on our side, as well as the ACTIVE participation of the Holy Spirit inwardly dwelling within us – and JESUS Himself ever living to make intersection for our sakes before God the Father, and God the Father Himself watching like a proud parent waiting to see how we will learn to take our first steps in this life of Faith we now have…. Keeping all of that in mind… we read this next scripture –
b. 1 Corinthians 10:12-13 12 Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall. 13 There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.
c. John 14:15-17 If ye love me, keep my commandments. 16 And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever; 17 Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you.
d. We see clearly that while things will come our way – we are never alone in them and God will always help us through them.
Second point I said we would return to – Personal Revelation is a wonderful thing, I am not knocking what you feel God is talking to you about… but unless it lines up clearly with the Word of God – please do not teach it as doctrine. These next points are 2 True life cases that happened to an evangelist.
Personal time with God – keep nothing from God – nothing should come between you and God – God sees everything anyway – our lives are as it were naked before him. This was taught as a doctrine –
We are Gods Children, we were made by Him, He is our Father, therefore we should always act like children when our Father is around. This was taught as a doctrine – Rusty Martin once said – He spent a month in one church to correct the doctrine of the church… some muppet went through and taught them that since we are God’s Children – when His spirit shows up in a service and the anointing starts to move on the people… that you are supposed to become like infants… whine and cry and suck your thumb crawl around and so on. (Seriously – this is what a church was taught by someone!)
Next point we said we would revisit – Bible Doctrine is NEVER hidden. If you are reading the Bible to seek out the deep and hidden meanings in the Word – there is plenty to investigate in the book without making stuff up to suit your world view – your misunderstanding of Science and or you trying to shoehorn in some theory of evolution and creation into the same scriptures.
There is a thought that is out there in the Christian world – it is what is called a wind of doctrine and it causes more confusion than anything else I have ever encountered – and some people teach it and believe it as strongly as Salvation – I will not talk about it today because it does not deserve the attention it gets sometimes.
I know a minister that was so adamant about this wind of doctrine that he would argue with you about it that if you did not believe this nonsense that it was the same as not believing in Jesus. Seriously!
NO DOCTRINE IS EQUAL to the Bible doctrine of Salvation through Jesus Christ. If people only get one thing right in their life… that one is enough and more than enough in the eyes of God and according to the WORD of God – the very foundation that we are talking about building upon. You cannot build upon TWO foundations. Only ONE foundation.
This particular wind of doctrine is based upon HALF of a scripture – the out of context meaning of a word used in a different sentence in a different book of the bible – and – I kid you not… the ADDITION of a comma – in a different scripture to make it sound like there is a pause in the sentence – and in that pause they make up all kinds of stuff after then. It is silly really.
Again – Keep it simple, repeated throughout the Word 99 percent of the time – and plain to see and understand. THAT Is what makes a Bible Doctrine true – and lastly
Doctrine is always in keeping with the Character and Nature of God.
Modern examples that people talk about all of the time,
That was an Act of God.
What happened to you? Oh God is teaching you a lesson.
Tragedy strikes a nation – God is judging them for turning their backs on them.
God must have changed his mind.
You have to earn Gods favor
God helps those that help themselves.
God is out to get you – and hit you with a big stick if you get out of line.
Winds of Doctrine – the bible talks about these in several places and in several ways, yet some of the very same winds of doctrines that the Apostles were warning the early church about we still see today.
We will touch on those if we have time.
Benny Hinn – talks about a personal experience he had with a Wind of Doctrine that came through the church years ago and he said it hurt his ministry, his relationship with God and his understanding of things of the Spirit until he corrected himself, repented before God and man, and then went on with business as usual.
b. Winds of Doctrine usually are concepts that sound biblical, spiritual, and scriptural even, until examined against other bible doctrines, knowledge and understanding of Bible teaching, and or the Holy Spirit just flat out telling you NO, that is just not right.
c. Quoting scripture to make a point is a good thing, unless that point is to make something up, something justify sin, sickness or disease, or circumstances in life –
Ephesians 4:14
14 That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive;
The nitpickers and finger pointers in the world, and the Christian sidelines love to use this scripture to point out rich preachers, mega churches, speaking in tongues, women teachers, and so forth as modern wind of doctrines.
While in some cases they might not be wrong… the wind of doctrines that is an issue – is the ones that mess up basic things like salvation, Jesus as Savior, bringing people back under the law, and completely changing the thrust, point and context of the New Testament, and usually brings people back under bondage, condemnation and so forth.
Romans 8:1
There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.
Calling something a wind of doctrine is easy – especially when you did not agree with the concept it is teaching to start with. So people call healing, tongues, prosperity, and even witnessing to people a wind of doctrine, because it ultimately justifies them shouting on the sidelines and pointing the finger as somehow a good thing.
In reality – to correct anything in wind of doctrine that comes through – the best remedy is teaching, love, patience and understanding the Word of God and helping others do the same.
We don’t want to be told we are wrong… we don’t want to be told that we missed it… and by all means we don’t want to even think for a second that some doctrine, belief, or idea that we love and hold dearly – could possibly be wrong.
For example… Take the doctrine of tithing and offering.
If you think the preachers are only out to get your money… no one can tell you differently that the Word of God may have something to say in that area and that perhaps … just perhaps you may need to go study that area a bit more.
Kenneth Hagin once said – speaking to his church in regards to speaking in tongues.. that it was not for today… that it was in fact passed away and that any evidence of it today was lies and of the devil… (now before you stop me and yell at me – let me finish) …
He said that when he had told that statement to his church… he had to stop himself and declare that he had not fully studied that before and he had no proper basis to say that from the pulpit.
Later on in life he was teaching and preaching on all the Gifts of the Spirit and tongues he found out was very much for today.
At that moment when he from the pulpit was very much accountable to God and his congregation concerning his teachings. He did the right thing and declared that he had not studied that subject and he indeed did the right thing.
Today however there are many well intentioned people that have no such qualms about saying this and that or the other thing in regards to Christian teaching and subjects… that are not accountable to ANYONE and when you even suggest the slightest hint of the fact that you may not agree 100 percent to what they said… it is YOU that gets called into doubt.
4:1 I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called,
4:2 With all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love;
4:3 Endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.
Lastly I want to touch on pet doctrines – a flavor of wind of doctrines – this is something that could turn into a wind of doctrine – if it ever got off the ground. These sort of things are usually personal revelations – misunderstandings and or just plain silliness by people that they hold onto and just don’t want to let go of.
Overall pet doctrines are a category that is not largely harmful but can hurt the holders point of view on things and can unfortunately make them hard to talk to or even harder to understand.
Here is my extremely silly but unfortunately not implausible concept of one of these… It even uses scripture – somewhere in the world – someone believes this sort of thing I am sure… anyway – this is to my knowledge completely made up and not in anyway true of what I believe – or what I think the Bible teaches but is only here as part of an example of someone possibly misunderstanding the Word of God and not wanting to let it go no matter what.
If I meet someone on the street and we don’t know each other from Adam… but after a few moments we find out that we are both Christians and serious about the call of God on our lives… we sit and have a cup of coffee together and begin to fellowship…
Me: “Well brother (or sister) what is on your heart to do with your life?”
Someone: “Well I am very much interested in working with animals to lead them to the Lord. My home church is very much interested in sending out people into the world for missions and I always wanted to work with animals… so I want to preach the Gospel to the animals.. that’s my heart.”
Me: “Sorry you mean the rough and tough areas and people right?”
Someone: “No no… not people.”
Me: “Animals??”
Someone: “Oh yes. I read in the bible during my study time with the Lord – I felt His presence – I was in Awe and in worship towards Him and the Bible fell open to Mark 16:15 And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. ”
Me: “um…”
Someone: “For the last 2000 years the church has been focused on PEOPLE and not animals. So I am following the leading of the Lord and preaching the Gospel to animals.”
Me: ” I don’t think that is what the scripture meant in that particular verse exactly…”
Someone: “You sound just like my pastor at my home church… he said the SAME thing. That’s where the church keeps missing it… the bible also says later on in Col. 1:23 If ye continue in the faith grounded and settled, and be not moved away from the hope of the gospel, which ye have heard, and which was preached to every creature which is under heaven; whereof I Paul am made a minister… you see PAUL taught to the animals as well… He got it right. ”
Me: “Animals?”
Someone: “Yes, powerful revelation isn’t it?”
____
Lesson 6
Last lesson we looked at the extreme example of someone thinking that we are supposed to preach to animals…
Ok, ok extremely silly example there… but I promise you there is someone in the world that thinks like that.
In this example we have a few options.
Pulling out the Strongs, the Vines, the Amplified, the Hebrew and Greek Dictionaries and starting a bible study right then and there and Hope and Pray that they are receptive and listen to the deeper meaning of the verse.
Smack them on the head and shout at them saying “Jesus did not shed His blood for animals.”
Pat them on the back and say “Wow let me follow you ‘oh wise one.”
Try to correct them in love, some examples and some other scripture and then if they are receptive or not… leave it alone.
Try to correct them in love and then run for cover as the coffee cups, chairs and tables start flying through the air at you for casting doubt on their spiritual life and ability to hear from God.
Unfortunately – more often then not we see that (E.) happens and we end up getting hurt for our efforts of trying to help a brother (or sister) out.
4:7 But unto every one of us is given grace according to the measure of the gift of Christ.
You understand some things better than I do… and vice versa.
We are all part of a body… fitly joined together.
4:16 From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love.
4:11 And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers;
4:12 For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:
4:13 Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ:
The perfecting of the Saints?
The PERFECTING of the Saints?
Is this scripture possibly suggesting that we as believers are not completely perfect at this VERY moment?
It is when we come together – in LOVE and teach and share and strengthen one another that we get to work together towards that goal of one day in the Faith becoming perfected – the suggestion here is as silver – Silver can NEVER be 100% pure – impurities and flaws in the silver always come to the surface when it is heated.
As saints working to be perfected together – we will always find things that are wrong, need to be purified, cleaned out of us and it is a continual process.
DOCTRINE –
4:14 That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive;
4:15 But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ:
4:16 From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love.
We live in a day and age where the WORD of God flows freely, and the word that sounds like the WORD of God flows even more profusely.
If we think that anyone that opens their mouth with a bible in their hand is infallible then we are seriously deluded and we lose our effectiveness in the Kingdom.
We as Christians need to be VERY VERY aware that there are WINDS of Doctrine that come through the body of Christ… it comes through the WHOLE body…
Remember that WIND is not something with substance… you can only see the effects of the thing… and not the thing that is behind it…
A wind will seem to have real substance to us at first… but if you Press in … you will find that you can stand against it and it will have little or no effect on you.
Winds of Doctrine seem real…. they seem genuine and true… but with the substance behind it being insubstantial in itself… it can be dismissed.
The DOCTRINE of the Word of God has substance… does not need outside sources and extra references from studies and (experiences) so on… Biblical Doctrines can be found in the Bible.. . 99.9 percent of the time… very easily.
True Bible Doctrines can be found just by reading the Word of God and not from piecing together your own pre-conceived ideas – something you heard from someone else… and then trying to find where in the Word that fits the same concept… no matter how hard it is to make it stretch into place.
Biblical Doctrines are a stable, sound, steadfast foundation on which we build our knowledge of the Word of God.
Things like Salvation, Healing, Prosperity, Faith, Wisdom, and so on… these are things that you can go to most ANY Bible College and learn about.
4:17 This I say therefore, and testify in the Lord, that ye henceforth walk not as other Gentiles walk, in the vanity of their mind,
4:18 Having the understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God through the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart:
4:19 Who being past feeling have given themselves over unto lasciviousness, to work all uncleanness with greediness.
We have seen in times past where denominations formed around people that just wanted to teach the Word of God and set people free… many times the same people that said… ‘For God’s sake don’t start a movement and a church after me’ (my paraphrase) as one Martin Luther said.
He saw in his time where he loved his own church so much that he was willing to just suggest some changes here and there to save it… Martin Luther loved the Roman Church. He worked to save it from within for many a year.
Instead of leadership saying… ‘Hey this guy has a point…’ It rose up and said ‘How dare you, we are more learned than you, we hear from God ourselves and if we say that God said thus and thus – you better just go along with it… ‘
In today’s Christian World… we need people to have the freedom to be able to stand up and ask questions… seek the Word of God for themselves and not get things out of order.
What a man or a woman of God – (or even one that says that they are) – needs to be, is accountable for the doctrine they teach.
They need to line up with the Word of God… and not they making the WORD line up with them.
Many many pastors have said from the pulpit that “You are not to take my word for it… take the Word of God and search it for yourself.”
The Pastor, the preacher the teacher, apostles and so on… have to line up with the Word…
They need to be accountable to it… not it to themselves.
4:17 This I say therefore, and testify in the Lord, that ye henceforth walk not as other Gentiles walk, in the vanity of their mind,
4:18 Having the understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God through the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart:
4:19 Who being past feeling have given themselves over unto lasciviousness, to work all uncleanness with greediness.
4:20 But ye have not so learned Christ;
4:21 If so be that ye have heard him, and have been taught by him, as the truth is in Jesus:
4:22 That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts;
4:23 And be renewed in the spirit of your mind;
4:24 And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.
Pet Doctrines –
I have a pet doctrine… I freely admit it and know that it’s a pet doctrine and its not NOT a biblical doctrine.
I cannot open up the bible and point to the words where it plainly states – thus thus and thus – and it tells exactly what my pet doctrine believes…. it can’t happen.
We all have them… few of us are willing to admit it.
Imagine your own cat or dog… or parrot… whatever you have for the sake of this example… and you feed it… you care for it… you watch it… you judge it against other pets… you brag about it… so on and so forth.
A pet doctrine is a form of a Wind of Doctrine… but it got stuck on us… or more likely… it’s a wind that we are trying to fan the breeze and strength up a little more and want to pass it on to others to help us feel better about carrying it for so long.
A pet doctrine can also be described as a delusion.
TRUE STORY – an acquaintance of mine… from some place and some time… said with all certainty and boldness that he heard from the Spirit of God clear as day and knew that he heard God clearer than anything…
Until one day that belief came into question.
He acted on the belief that he heard so clearly from God that he went and told someone about his or her personal life (to correct them) and got everything wrong.
Bless his heart… he was in my opinion well intentioned… but he did not have the right understanding about how a Christian by and large… hears from God.
His imagination.
He got it in his head that if he could picture things in his imagination and could visualize something and use his “intuition” – That was what he called hearing from God. It was all in his head.
God speaks in a still small voice in the inner man and through the Word.
Study the Word of God for yourself along-side any teaching you may hear no matter WHO says it.
If the Word lines up Wonderful… if it doesn’t then you need to make a note of it to study more and try to see who missed what where.
Let us remember to keep the Word of God before our eyes more than the person or personality we may be listening to on the Christian TV.
4:32 And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you.
It is this that I wanted to say.
No man has the right to say “Thus saith the Lord… ” and you not be able to find it in the Word of God.
It has to line up.
I am not speaking specifically about anything… or anyone… but just wanted to encourage you to guard your hearts… your eyes… and your ears to keep yourself strong in the power of His Word and that with it you can stand when the winds blow and the world shake around you.
How often have we heard about the winds that came through the body… in the extreme cases things like (When the Spirit of God moves you must bark like a dog)
I intended this as an encouragement in one sense and a warning in the other. The Move of God that the Church is waiting for will come from those that run with the basic truth and power and freedom of the Gospel. Not from people that want to push their own agendas on others.
The Power of God is here and now.
The Anointing Flows when we put demand on the Word.
The lost get saved when the Word of Salvation is taught.
People are getting healed now.
Miracles are happening all of the time in places all around the world… All this is available to us NOW.
So what is the church waiting on?
It’s waiting on someone to come to the church and push its buttons and pat it on the back and stir the people up into acting… This should not be the case.
When was the last time that you witnessed to your neighbor, your mailman, your lost relatives… when was the last time you prayed for someone that was NOT a Christian for healing?
What are we waiting for?
We have the tools, yet we seem to be waiting for a booming voice from Heaven to say “GO YE INTO THE WORLD”
Well He already told us that 2000 years ago!
When I went to Bible College – there was a couple that was about 80 years old in age each… they were going BACK out into the mission field and wanted to get a refresher course on the Bible to go back out and pour it into others again… They were originally in a denomination and they were told they were too old to still minister the Word of God to people, they left the denomination and went back to bible school and kept on going!
AGAIN I say because they had just spent 35 years in the mission field already – planted 20 churches and tried to retire and realized that they could not do it.
They came to the conclusion that if they retired they might as well buy graves and jump in… they had nothing to live for without their calling and the ministry.
You know the most profound thing they told me?
They said it looked like most of the church was retired already… people in their 20’s 30’s 40’s acting like they are done with their calling already because they won a few people to the Lord and seem content on sitting in the pew or the chair in the church until the Lord returns.
Not that we are all called to the mission field but the point is valid. Sitting in the church and getting fatter on the Word of God is only going to hinder the movement we are now enjoying.
How many people sit in the church and listen to the teaching and the preaching from their leaders and then turn around and tell the first second and third persons they meet – “I don’t agree with what he said… Bro So and So teaches something completely different”
Remember we are Christ’s people, His church… NOT Hagin, Copeland, Duplantis, Savelle, Dollar, Wommack, Yandian – Followers.
Paul taught this very thing when he taught the church of Corinthians.
(1Cor. 1:10 Now I beseech you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you; but that ye be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment.
1:11 For it hath been declared unto me of you, my brethren, by them which are of the house of Chloe, that there are contentions among you.
1:12 Now this I say, that every one of you saith, I am of Paul; and I of Apollos; and I of Cephas; and I of Christ.
1:13 Is Christ divided? was Paul crucified for you? or were ye baptized in the name of Paul?
1:14 I thank God that I baptized none of you, but Crispus and Gaius;
1:15 Lest any should say that I had baptized in mine own name.
1:16 And I baptized also the household of Stephanas: besides, I know not whether I baptized any other.
1:17 For Christ sent me not to baptize, but to preach the gospel: not with wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should be made of none effect. )
So you have a favorite preacher that you receive well from… great, wonderful, fantastic even.
Yet let us major on the WORD of God together and keep the momentum going forward.
Let us stay vigilant and ready to give account of what we KNOW to be true and less on what we Feel or Hope or Wish to be true.
The best rule of thumb EVER for doctrine is – if the Bible is silent on it… so am I. If the Bible teaches about it… I believe it.
Some pet doctrines in the Body today would NEVER EVER get a person saved… You cannot stand on a street corner and say… “Hey you – Yeah you… come here… did you know that the word in the old testament of the bible in the forth book of the second chapter of such and such is the Hebrew word for candlestick?”
The person is going to look at you strange and run away.
No, you stand on the street and tell people the Gospel.
The GOOD news has nothing to do with pet doctrines… its everything to do with changing people’s lives for the better.
THE TEST….
A very VERY simple way to tell the difference between a PET DOCTRINE – or a wind of Doctrine for that matter… is this.
Can you stand in front of someone with all boldness and confidence and tell them of X doctrine and know without a shadow of a doubt that the person will give their life to the Lord as a result?
Jesus never said to do what most people seems to major on today… separate on Doctrine and beliefs and teachings into your own group and stay there and just throw attacks at the other crowd when you get a “Chance to set them right!”
A Doctrine should not separate you from your brothers and sisters in the Lord.
A Pet Doctrine should not make you want to leave your church or talk bad about your Pastor just because he does not believe or see the same as you.
A Pet Doctrine warning…
If you are perfectly happy to shout at a fellow Christian and blast them time and again about what you believe and why you believe it and expect them to just “Fall in Line” with what you are saying and not talk it over and reason with them… then it is a fair bet that what your holding on to there… it’s a pet doctrine and the outcome of the subject time and again is going to be the same.
You’re going to be mad at the other person and they are going to be doubting your sanity.
An example –
A friend of mine in Ireland has told me before of one Christian conference he went to once and there was a guy there saying some really far out – off the wall kind of things – and he used scripture to back up some of it.
My friend was confused and went to talk to the person after the meeting and he asked him the Biblical Basis for what he was teaching from the pulpit. The mans response was “The Bible?? Oh I am way out beyond the Bible now… I hear from God Directly!”
Can you understand what I am saying here? Just because someone stands in front of you and says… I heard from God in this matter and you should do this… or says you should believe This — and you cannot see it in the Bible for yourself… or you cannot get an inner witness or peace about what is being said…
Here is a hint… it may not REALLY be from God.
This is why you need your own foundation in the Word of God and be willing to respect others viewpoints and beliefs and teachings until you can see it for yourself one way or another.
The person may be 100% correct… but until what they are telling you and the Bible agree… put it on the side and wait before you eat it up and make it part of yourself.
In a few years time… who knows… you may see it in the Word and come to think the same way.
If you’re on one side of the equation or the other… the result is the same… you need to have patience and respect to a point of others beliefs and views but try to keep a balance. They should not start shouting at you because you don’t see what they see… and you should not start shouting at them because they believe that way.
Now I say this concerning Doctrines and Beliefs and Teachings that the Bible does not directly say…
The result of which is hurt and confusion on the part of the listeners that try to talk to you about your (or their) pet doctrines that have no more basis in the Christian life than saying that you have to teach the Gospel to your goldfish.
You’re responsible for your effects on other people.
Seriously you are.
If you take it upon yourself to teach some pet doctrine to another as Gospel fact – and the other person just does not see it the way you do… but you turn around and say “But God told me that it is true… so your out of line with GOD” – That person may have a great call on their life… but if you hurt or injure them and cause them to fall away from the things of God and not to push in to the ministry… you will have to answer to God for it.
Jesus was not just talking about children here in ..
18:6 But whoso shall offend one of these little ones which believe in me, it were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and that he were drowned in the depth of the sea.
Mark 9:42 And whosoever shall offend one of these little ones that believe in me, it is better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and he were cast into the sea.
Luke 17:2 It were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and he cast into the sea, than that he should offend one of these little ones.
The concept is also in regards to ANY new believer or young one in Christ that is still learning and growing.
The WORD Of God is equated to them at first as Milk is to a baby.
Would you take a steak that you enjoy and eat regularly and shove it down the mouth of a baby and expect them to digest it and not choke on it? God Forbid!
Yet in the Body – Daily we see this very thing happening.
If your steak is the Word of God – Great Wonderful Terrific –
But don’t expect others to partake of it in the same way you do.
You do others Harm if you do.
Just take it for granted that they may not be in the same place as you and they need time and love and instruction over years to get to the same place you are.
The other side of the coin is true as well however…
If you are taking your PET Doctrine and doing the exact same thing and expecting seasoned Christians to believe the same as you do… and follow any portion up with “God told me it was true” and expect them to be fine and happy with that as you are… you are sadly deluded. You come across as a (well intentioned perhaps) flakey Christian.
We have all seen people that stand beside us in church or in public that are Christians, Loves God with ALL their heart and are going to heaven… but they just got the wrong end of the stick on some point and won’t let go…
The church full of people acting like infants… Christians thinking they have to preach the gospel to animals… people grabbing you in the parking lot AFTER church – and saying “Brother I have a WORD from God for you!” – as soon as the ushers, pastors and other level headed people are out of reach to stop them…
Fruits nuts and flakes… bless their hearts… God love them… but in this example… they need someone to sit them down and say… Brother, the Bible teaches this about what your doing… you need some minor correction in what your doing.
18:15 Moreover if thy brother shall trespass against thee, go and tell him his fault between thee and him alone: if he shall hear thee, thou hast gained thy brother.
18:16 But if he will not hear thee, then take with thee one or two more, that in the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established.
18:17 And if he shall neglect to hear them, tell it unto the church: but if he neglect to hear the church, let him be unto thee as an heathen man and a publican.
Many Many Many pastors use this as a rule… if someone has a “word” for you that they come and share it in the presence of the elders of the church – to try it and judge it. Thus you have more to help you receive or push away the “word”
I say all of that to say this…
That we have the right to “try” a word as in a court case. To weigh it and balance it and test its weight… to study it and accept it or reject it… the same rule (in my opinion) applies to any NEW doctrine that is strange or unusual to you.
Just because it has “Thus saith the Lord ” or “God told me so” attached You still need to weigh it and try it against the Word of God.
If your on the other side of the equation… Again – Praise God you hear God so well in your life… But Don’t expect others to RUN with everything you say just because you say “God said so”
We are all part of a Body and we all have our function and our place… You are NOT my pastor, your not Christ incarnate – you are not my teacher, You are my brother, my sister… at absolute most… you may be my elder in the Lord in some ways…
You are not able to look me in the eye and tell me “thus says the Lord” and expect me to believe you.
We need to hear from God for ourselves. We need to see it in the Word of God for ourselves.
The first time we ever hear the voice of the Lord is in the Gospel message – the still small voice speaks love and forgiveness in our hearts and tells us we are loved.
Now base that against the things we see Christians doing today with “THUS SAYS THE LORD” or “GOD TOLD ME IT WAS TRUE” on any given subject… and see the result of the person not agreeing with them – the violence – the strife and the abuse and anger that seems to follow… it just does not add up.
I hear God daily. I listen and talk to Him from Moment to Moment.
I study the Word, I listen to teaching and preaching inside and outside of the Church… as most do.
I take notes for points that I did not know before. I have my Bible open and use a pen to paper to take down relevant points of information for myself… as most do.
And then… as I am listening to any given message… I have an inner conversation going on in my spirit with the Spirit of God.
Things like gentle correction on a given topic – other references the Holy Spirit gives me based off the Word being taught…
Him bringing things to my remembrance – scripture, real life examples, promptings to do this or that… AS MOST DO…
I have had supernatural experiences sometimes miracles on a daily basis… but I do not base my beliefs off of experience and I will never stand in the pulpit and TEACH my experiences as if they were WORD OF GOD.
There are things that God has spoken to me directly about and personally for my life – this does not mean I turn around and teach “Thus says the Lord” to every person for their own lives the same thing.
Remember I speak of Doctrines (Winds and Pets) of accountability and of love and honor one to another… not of prophesy or correction when your in abject sin and you know it but just don’t want to be corrected.
The ORDER of the Kingdom of God is Thus…
God the Father
God the Son
God the Holy Spirit
YOU
Your Spouse (family)
Your Pastor and teachers
Your Friends and fellow Christians.
NO ONE is above Jesus in your life. NO ONE!!!
Pastor’s preachers and teachers are servants to the Body. Pastors are shepherds to the flock… to tend to them and raise them up to the work of the Ministry.
Now in seeking council or learning and growing in God you may place people to be your (Spiritual Fathers or Mothers) over you… but YOU choose to do that. And even then… what they say, teach, and do should line up with the Word.
You see- in this modern world and the scores of Non-denominational churches out there we have a tendency as humans do… to seek someone out to be the Religious equivalent of a bishop or a pope in our life to some degree… to tell us what to do – what to believe – and how to live. This is not the way it should be.
Over the Body of Christ… is Christ!
Our REAL spiritual leader is our Savior.
Anyone else is a substitute at best and should only point to HIM for your answers.
(Again I speak concerning Doctrines and beliefs that are outside the Word and not roles of the church in a Christian’s life)
A pastor for example as a shepherd looks around at the flock… seeks that which is good to feed them and help them grow and directs them to the best spots to graze.
A pastor should not take the sheep over-site so far as to take the sheep by force and put its head in the grass and make it bite off a bunch of grass and force it to chew.
That is abuse.
A teacher is no different – a teacher should have something from the Word that God has put on his heart to share and share it… again from the Bible.
(I only say that to preface that I do believe in the place of the Church in the Christians life and that God will call you to be at ONE church to help you grow and change – if you remember to ask Him to do so)
Yet we see in religion gone horribly wrong every day – the abuse of the cults and the false religions of the world and how they hurt and abuse their own people… yet we don’t think for one second that it could possibly be the same in some way in your own camp?
What about doctrines then? (Extra-biblical or ones that seem to be so to the listener)
Are we to open ourselves up to the point that we swallow anything that comes down the line?
Yet we do it as a whole all the time!
You and your walk with God should be a constant conversation – a constant growth and a constant cycle of learning and growing… and understanding that others around you are in the same cycle.
Thus when you disagree on something – go back and study it again perhaps your right – perhaps your wrong.
Still you walk in unity in the Faith and you can agree to disagree.
Because my Baptist brothers don’t speak in tongues can I scream and shout at them that they missed it and call into doubt their salvation? Call into doubt their ability to hear from God?
What about Love? What about peace?
18:21 Then came Peter to him, and said, Lord, how oft shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? till seven times?
18:22 Jesus saith unto him, I say not unto thee, Until seven times: but, Until seventy times seven.
Jesus instructs us to forgive and forget. It is well accepted that had one of the 12 turned around and asked Jesus – What about after seventy times seven?
You really think Jesus would have said… “No, no, no, after seventy times seven… you are allowed by God to kick them in the shin – bite their arm and pull their hair and shout lots of scripture at them at the same time”
Seems ridiculous doesn’t it… yet some do this very thing because of a difference of viewpoint – belief or some varied pet or wind of doctrine… all the time.
In closing for this lesson – I want to encourage you.
Use the inner witness of your spirit-man and your walk with God and the Word of God to TRY EVERYTHING.
If you cannot see the Word agreeing (to your understanding or comprehension) then put it to the side… at best to pick up again one day when you are able to study it again.
If you get a “TSTL” over you and your spirit-man does not “bare witness to it” again put it to the side until you can deal with it later on.
If you are talking over various doctrines and teachings and you just can’t go along with what you hear… no matter if its a “TSTL” or not.. put it to the side and deal with it later in study, or prayer and with God in your own time.
I am hesitant to point to anyone and tell them “You said you heard from God on thus and thus, and I say that God told me your in error” No one should do that lest they hinder the fellow believer…
Yet error persists, mistakes are made…
Pick yourself up, dust yourself off, and carry on with your calling, your ministry, your destiny and let God sort out the details.
The result of which is that while the person in error (yourself or other) keeps pressing into the things of God, the Word of God, and the pursuit of the High Calling of Christ…
That the details of some windish or petish doctrine will not matter in the long run. If your bother or yourself will not see reason (or the Word I hope) then let them be… leave it alone and move on.
If the matter persists… then its a fair bet that someone is out of line and its pushing a pet doctrine and if its you still shouting about it… take a word of advice… let it go no matter how strongly you believe in it… If others cannot see it line up with the Word of God – no matter how many people are also teaching it… put it aside as your right and their wrong even… but put it to the side.
If your the one trying to “Correct” the other in the doctrine and they are not receiving it… the same rule applies – let it go… let God deal with them and love the brother or sister in Christ anyways.
Pray that one day they see things as well as you do… but let it go… one way or the other the issue will get dealt with.
I pray that you hear the spirit and manner in which this teaching is intended and not the letter of the law as it may come across. It is my desire to encourage and strengthen those that fight the good fight of the faith… but also let them know that the fight is not against each other.
In saying all of that however, be watchful of the Doctrine you listen to and study the Word, and try everything you hear with the Word for your own sake.
Lesson 8
Chapter 1 of Romans deals with the heathen; chapter 2, the religious man; chapter 3, all of mankind. All unregenerate men are under the dominion of the sin nature. When the Bible talks about sin in the singular, it is not referring to acts of sin. In most cases it refers to the nature of sin.
You do not just commit sins. There is a root cause for sin. The acts and deeds are merely symptoms of the sin nature. All men are under the dominion of the sin nature until they are born again. Then they are under the dominion of Christ.
When you are born again, you do not lose the sin nature, but you can be temporarily under it’s power. At any one moment you are either under the power of the Spirit or under the power of the flesh; one or the other. You can not be in-between. Just because you are under the power of the flesh does not mean that you are not still under the dominion of Christ. You are. You are just no longer controlled by Him. Remember when you got born again? Remember how you floated, bubbled, and fizzed for a few days? You thought you had it made! “Glory to God! My problems are over!” After two or three days, you came down, and your feet hit the ground.
You still had some of the same problems. You were still tempted in the same areas. No one ever said that you would not have any more troubles. In fact, the Bible says, “Many are the afflictions of the righteous: but the Lord delivereth him out of them all.” (Psalm 34:19)
Union with Christ is similar to marriage in the natural. When you first get married you are one flesh. But real unity and real power in a marriage does not start until you become of one mind. That is when the real molding and shaping comes into the marriage — the real power in the Christian life is when you take on the mind of Christ. You become one mind with Jesus, and begin to think like Him.
How does that happen?
By learning about Him. He loves you! And so He is always giving out. What is that called? Grace! Grace started when you got born again. But that is only the beginning.
There is more grace where that came from. James chapter 4 and verse 6 says, “But he giveth more grace.” More grace than what? More grace than when you got born again. Grace continues every day of your Christian life. How do you get hold of God’s grace?
Through faith. That is what chapter 4 of Romans, verse 16 means when it says, “…it is of faith, that it might be by grace.” Grace and faith go hand in hand. It is knowledge that produces faith. So it all comes back to knowledge. The more knowledge of the Word I get, the more faith I receive. The more faith I receive, the more grace I can appropriate.
We need to distinguish between grace and sovereignty. God is sovereign, but He is also a God of grace. Do not confuse the two. What God gives in grace, you must appropriate by faith. W hat God does in sovereignty requires nothing of you; He is just going to do it. There are many things in the Word that God does sovereignly, such as the ministry gifts. You can not believe your way in or out of a ministry gift. It is God’s sovereignty. “God has set some In the church…” You do not set yourself in the Church. God places you in the body where it pleases Him. There are many things in the Word of God, though, that you can believe for. What He provides in grace is available to everyone.
Sovereignty is as He chooses; as He wills. There are Many things in the Word are totally up to God, such as the gifts of the Spirit. Can we desire the gifts? Yes. However, you cannot pick the ones you want. The Holy Spirit decides which spiritual gifts you will operate in.
The Holy Spirit sovereignly gives to each one of us as He wills.
The rapture is according to God’s sovereignty, also. He is just going to do it. Our faith will not push it off five years from now or bring it any closer.
You can not believe the Millennium away. It will happen! It is just going to happen! God has already stated it in the Word.
“Well, I believe one of these days the devil is going to be saved.” It will not work! You can only believe for what the Word says you can believe for. So what am I talking about when it comes to grace?
c. Salvation is of grace, not sovereignty. That is where the hyper-Calvinists have gone wrong.
d. They have taken salvation out of the realm of grace. They claim God saves whom He desires to save and tough luck for everyone else.
e. If you were predestined for hell, too bad. However, salvation is not part of God’s sovereignty.
f. It is of His grace. If it is of grace, then we have to appropriate it by faith. That way the promise is secure to all the seed.
Healing is also according to God’s grace, not His sovereignty. He has not predestined you for healing or not for healing. He offered it through the cross. The cross is the extension of God’s grace. It was sovereign that Jesus went to the cross, but all the provisions from that are of grace. It is provided for everyone.
When they brought all the sick to Jesus, He healed them all. Meaning what?
b. Healing is for everyone. The same thing is true with prosperity. He wants us to abound in His grace.
c. God did the most for you in salvation. He did the most He could possibly do. What does He do after salvation? Much more! He is the only one that can do more than the most.
Romans 4, the last says, “Who was delivered for our offences, and was raised again for our justification.” When Jesus arose from the dead, He saw all men justified. Justification is God’s grace to you. Did you know God sees the whole world justified? Second Corinthians chapter 5, verse 19 says, “…not imputing their trespasses unto them …”
God’s grace came and put salvation right in front of you. If you are not born again, you can not point a finger at God. All you have to do is reach out and receive it. Every promise and provision in the Word of God are obtained this way.
Romans chapter 5, verses 1 and 2 say, “Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ: By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand…” Once you are born again, you enter into a whole new realm of grace. Salvation is past truth; you are in present truth. You are growing with the Lord. You got in by grace and faith. Now you stand by grace and faith.
Verse 2 goes on to say “…and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.” There are many people today who do not understand what hope is. Many teachers say hope is off in the future, as opposed to faith which is now. So you are not supposed to say, “I hope so.” It has actually come to the point where if you even mention the word hope, someone is ready to put their hand over your mouth. Actually, there is almost as much in the Word of God on hope as there is on faith. Hope is a tremendous word. “…rejoice in hope of the glory of God.”
This hope of the glory of God is our distant hope; the hope of the Church for the rapture. Jesus is coming back for us. This is one of the basic doctrines of the Word of God. The Bible says we should know it, and teach about it. We rejoice in the hope of the glory of God. It has been the long term hope of the Church for centuries. But if He does not come back tomorrow, my short-term hopes are still going to come true. If He does not come back this year, that is fine. He might come back next year; I am still going to live in health until it happens; I am still going to live in prosperity until He comes.
Verse 3, “And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also…” This verse does not say you glory for tribulations. You glory in tribulations, but God gives you provision in them so you can come out on the other side. It is not trials and afflictions that make you strong. If it were the trials and afflictions that made you strong, every Christian would be strong because we all face them. It is the faith you use in them that makes you strong. The devil will try to overload you with temptations and trials, but you have the sword of the Spirit. I would not be as strong as I am today, if I could not look back on some battles that I came through. I came out of each battle stronger than when I went in.
All of us are facing tests. They may be small right now. Maybe you just came through one. Believe me, there are more coming. Your whole life is a series of tribulations and victories.
Do not focus on the tribulations; focus on the victories. When a trial comes along, I know that God is going to bring me through.
He has brought me through every one before. Why should He stop now?
The weapons of our warfare are more than adequate to handle all tribulation that comes along.
Verse 3 goes on to say, “Knowing that tribulation worketh patience.” The word for worketh here actually means “work out.” It says in Philippians chapter 2, verse 12, “…work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.” The same Greek word is used here. Your salvation is on the inside of you, but you need it to be worked out to the outside where people can see it.
Tribulation comes along to get character that is on the inside of you to manifest itself on the outside. You need patience, for example, to be manifested in your daily life. What brings it out so you can put it to use in the outside world? Tribulation. Tribulation is not good, but God can work it for your good.
As you walk in the knowledge of God’s Word, the tribulation and pressure you are facing now will be a stepping stone and not a stumbling block.
Verse 4, “…And patience, experience; and experience, hope…” When patience finally has it’s perfect work in you, the manifestation comes. The Bible calls it experience. That is your testimony of victory. First you set the goal out before you: “I need finances.” You find out what the Word of God says about getting the finances you need. You put your faith out for it. Persecution and trials come along. But it only causes patience to come out. Pretty soon, the finances come in. You are so excited that you set another goal. Soon, you are going from victory to victory.
Verse 5 says, “And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad In our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.” The words “shed abroad” are a poor translation. They actually mean, “to be poured out.” This is not love that is poured out of you, it is love that is being poured out of the Holy Spirit into you. Trials and persecution come and produce patience. All this time God keeps pouring out more love. When the temptations and trials become greater, God’s love also becomes greater.
Verse 6, “For when we were yet without strength,in due time Christ died for the ungodly.” When did God first display His love toward you? When did He first display His grace toward you? When you were without strength.
Verse 7 continues Paul’s thought, “For scarcely for a righteous man will one die: yet peradventure for a good man some would even dare to die.” That is one thing that we do not often think about. When it comes to Jesus, we all would lay down our lives, but …scarcely. We would have to think about that for a minute.
Verse 8, “But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.” Now, when it came to Jesus, you would lay down your life with little hesitancy. What if you just pulled someone off the street who you knew was unsaved and had alcohol on his breath. Would you die for him? No way! But, God did that for you when you were yet a sinner.
Verse 9 says, “Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through Him.” God’s wrath was displayed against you when you were a sinner. God’s wrath is displayed toward the world out there because they are rejecting the Lord Jesus Christ. Once you become His child, you no longer face His wrath. The Bible says you have not been appointed unto wrath. God does discipline and chasten you in His love, mercy and tender kindness but, He does not pour His wrath out on His children.
Verses 10 and 11 go on to say, “For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life. And not only so, but we also joy in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom we have now received the atonement.” The word atonement does not appear in the New Testament. This is a mistranslation. The word here is reconciliation. It means, “the bringing of peace”. At one time God’s wrath was displayed toward you. But when Jesus went to the cross, He bore the wrath of God. Now you have been born again. You have His peace; the peace which passes all understanding. There is no way you can comprehend His peace. It is so far reaching. God came and removed the barrier between God and man. If you ask most people, they will tell you that the barrier between God and man is sin.
The Bible says, “He who knew no sin was made to be sin for us.” The barrier is not sin. Jesus became sin. The barrier between you and eternal life is Jesus. b. What are you going to do about Him? Sin is not the issue in salvation. Jesus is the issue in salvation.
Sin was put away once and for all on the cross. The only thing that keeps a man from eternal life is, “What about Jesus?”
The whole issue is believing on the Lord Jesus Christ. The barrier has been removed! You have been redeemed. You have been reconciled. You have been brought back to God. You have been made righteous. e. You were once under the dominion of the sin nature, but now you are under the dominion of Christ! Glory to God!
Readopted – Started in the family,
God created us as family – His family
b. Joined Satan as our father
c. Jesus paid the price to legally win us back
d. We have the choice to choose our father now
e. Accepting Salvation is accepting God to be ourFather once again.
d. The price was a ONCE and For ALL TIME payment
e. If Christ cannot be crucified again – then we do not need to be repurchased ever.
f. We are forever in the family of God and if He will not kick us out of the family – Christ paid the ultimate price – Salvation is forever settled if we make Jesus our Lord and Savior.
Lesson 10
Can you lose your salvation?
This is one of the most fundamental understandings in Christianity today. It is also one of the most controversial in Christian Teaching. We will explore the concepts the Bible tells us about our relationship with God Before, After, and Eternally regarding Salvation. Additionally we will briefly touch on what losing your salvation would truly mean, and if it is possible, based on what people say, teach and what the Bible says about it.
Concepts of Salvation.
Before we receive Christ, we are truly lost. We are – according to the Bible – Dead in our sins, Condemned to die, Children of the Enemy, Worst than soiled Garments.
After we receive Christ we are Found, Alive in Christ, Children of the Most High God, Righteous before God as if we had never sinned.
Eternally we are heirs of Grace, Inheriting Gods Riches, Regaining the position we lost in the Garden.
We have talked about this before but we will touch on it again for the sake of this class being a little more complete.
In the Garden we were made to be Friends with God, Companions, and His Children. God was our head, Adam was in charge of the planet, made to have dominion and rule and reign.
When he followed Satan instead of God he gave over his position as head, to the enemy. He signed his own adoption papers over to the enemy and became a child of the enemy at the same time.
Jesus came to restore SONSHIP to mankind, this truly means that accepting Jesus as your Lord and Savior – you are changing your Father from Satan, back to God once again whereby we can now again cry, Abba father, Daddy.
Knowing these basic things, that you are once again back in the family of God, back where you belong, back where you were intended to be in the first place… you cannot accidentally, lose this place in the family, not through actions, deeds, or mishaps of life and or character.
Mishibetheph – Son of Jonathan, heir to the throne, and lame and wounded, but welcome at the Kings table because of covenant, love, and acceptance.
2 Sam 9:6
1And David said, Is there yet any that is left of the house of Saul, that I may shew him kindness for Jonathan’s sake? 2And there was of the house of Saul a servant whose name was Ziba. And when they had called him unto David, the king said unto him, Art thou Ziba? And he said, Thy servant is he. 3And the king said, Is there not yet any of the house of Saul, that I may shew the kindness of God unto him? And Ziba said unto the king, Jonathan hath yet a son, which is lame on his feet. 4And the king said unto him, Where is he? And Ziba said unto the king, Behold, he is in the house of Machir, the son of Ammiel, in Lodebar. 5Then king David sent, and fetched him out of the house of Machir, the son of Ammiel, from Lodebar. 6Now when Mephibosheth, the son of Jonathan, the son of Saul, was come unto David, he fell on his face, and did reverence. And David said, Mephibosheth. And he answered, Behold thy servant!7And David said unto him, Fear not: for I will surely shew thee kindness for Jonathan thy father’s sake, and will restore thee all the land of Saul thy father; and thou shalt eat bread at my table continually. 8And he bowed himself, and said, What is thy servant, that thou shouldest look upon such a dead dog as I am?
9Then the king called to Ziba, Saul’s servant, and said unto him, I have given unto thy master’s son all that pertained to Saul and to all his house. 10Thou therefore, and thy sons, and thy servants, shall till the land for him, and thou shalt bring in the fruits, that thy master’s son may have food to eat: but Mephibosheth thy master’s son shall eat bread alway at my table. Now Ziba had fifteen sons and twenty servants. 11Then said Ziba unto the king, According to all that my lord the king hath commanded his servant, so shall thy servant do. As for Mephibosheth, said the king, he shall eat at my table, as one of the king’s sons. 12And Mephibosheth had a young son, whose name was Micha. And all that dwelt in the house of Ziba wereservants unto Mephibosheth. 13So Mephibosheth dwelt in Jerusalem: for he did eat continually at the king’s table; and was lame on both his feet.
Prodigal Son, Prodigals Father, Prodigals Brother
Luke 15:11-32
King James Version (KJV)
11 And he said, A certain man had two sons:
12 And the younger of them said to his father, Father, give me the portion of goods that falleth to me. And he divided unto them his living.
13 And not many days after the younger son gathered all together, and took his journey into a far country, and there wasted his substance with riotous living.
14 And when he had spent all, there arose a mighty famine in that land; and he began to be in want.
15 And he went and joined himself to a citizen of that country; and he sent him into his fields to feed swine.
16 And he would fain have filled his belly with the husks that the swine did eat: and no man gave unto him.
17 And when he came to himself, he said, How many hired servants of my father’s have bread enough and to spare, and I perish with hunger!
18 I will arise and go to my father, and will say unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and before thee,
19 And am no more worthy to be called thy son: make me as one of thy hired servants.
20 And he arose, and came to his father. But when he was yet a great way off, his father saw him, and had compassion, and ran, and fell on his neck, and kissed him.
21 And the son said unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and in thy sight, and am no more worthy to be called thy son.
22 But the father said to his servants, Bring forth the best robe, and put it on him; and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet:
23 And bring hither the fatted calf, and kill it; and let us eat, and be merry:
24 For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found. And they began to be merry.
25 Now his elder son was in the field: and as he came and drew nigh to the house, he heard musick and dancing.
26 And he called one of the servants, and asked what these things meant.
27 And he said unto him, Thy brother is come; and thy father hath killed the fatted calf, because he hath received him safe and sound.
28 And he was angry, and would not go in: therefore came his father out, and intreated him.
29 And he answering said to his father, Lo, these many years do I serve thee, neither transgressed I at any time thy commandment: and yet thou never gavest me a kid, that I might make merry with my friends:
30 But as soon as this thy son was come, which hath devoured thy living with harlots, thou hast killed for him the fatted calf.
31 And he said unto him, Son, thou art ever with me, and all that I have is thine.
32 It was meet that we should make merry, and be glad: for this thy brother was dead, and is alive again; and was lost, and is found.
What those that teach that you can lose your salvation say and or base it upon.
First, we’ll examine two passages commonly taught as “proving” a Christian can lose their salvation, and second, discover some absurd ideas losing your salvation would imply (if it were possible).
A. Troubling Verses – Hebrews 6:4–6
For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted the heavenly gift, and have become partakers of the Holy Spirit, and have tasted the good word of God and the powers of the age to come, if they fall away, to renew them again to repentance, since they crucify again for themselves the Son of God, and put Him to an open shame. (Hebrews 6:4–6 NKJV)
Does this mean a Christian can lose their salvation? But what can they not be renewed to, salvation? NO! The word used here isrepentance. We equate repentance with salvation, but that’s not necessarily so. To fully understand this, we look to another passage in Hebrews and a few other of Paul’s writings.
Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, (Hebrews 12:1 NKJV)
Paul was always concerned with his running a race.Paul did not fear losing his salvation, but being unfruitful. He exhorts us to lay aside any weight hindering us, and run with endurance the race before us, as Paul brings out similar ideas in his other writings.
For no other foundation can anyone lay than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ. Now if anyone builds on this foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw, each one’s work will become clear; for the Day will declare it, because it will be revealed by fire; and the fire will test each one’s work, of what sort it is. If anyone’s work which he has built on it endures, he will receive a reward. If anyone’s work is burned, he will suffer loss; but he himself will be saved, yet so as through fire. (1 Corinthians 3:11–15 NKJV)
It’s clear Paul talks of rewards, not salvation. Even if a person loses all their rewards by living a carnal and unfruitful life, they are still saved. Paul echoes this race theme in his writings.
Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may obtain it. (1 Corinthians 9:24 NKJV)
Paul’s first focus was always heavenly, not earthly.The issue is the jeopardy of heavenly rewards, not salvation. Paul makes the distinction between the two clear, and the conclusion about the passage in Hebrews is the following:
The primary reference of this passage is to Jewish believers in the sense of them being called out of Judaism. Thus, this is NOT a Salvation passage. It is talking of the fruits, the making of our lives into useful ministries. … Those who have lost their first love (Revelation 2). As we emphasize the idea that Jesus did the whole deal, we run the risk of sitting back on our security and not recognizing that we are in a race. Paul was preoccupied with this idea of being in a race. Only Christians are in this race, Paul was not running a race with sinners. Paul’s fear was not that he would lose his salvation, but that he would have an unproductive life and have his witness curtailed. (Chuck Missler “Hebrews” page 73)
J. 2 Peter 2:20–21
For if, after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, they are again entangled in them and overcome, the latter end is worse for them than the beginning. For it would have been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than having known it, to turn from the holy commandment delivered to them. (2 Peter 2:20–21 NKJV)
Taking only these verses is a critical mistake. Chapter two starts out with a warning about false teachers, with the thought continuing throughout the chapter. They are “wells without water” (17) “for whom is reserved the blackness of darkness forever” (17). And when we arrive at verse 20, the subject remains false prophets.It is not about Christians, it is a warning for Christians.
Notice the wording of Peter, he uses the phrase “knowledge of the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ”. Does this imply they were saved? Hardly. James provides a commentary on what knowledge is good for in terms of salvation.
You believe that there is one God. You do well. Even the demons believe; and tremble! (James 2:19 NKJV)
Are demons saved by their knowledge? I don’t think so, asknowledge does not imply salvation. The passage in Peter talks about false prophets who were never saved in the first place; it does not, can not, apply to Christians.
3. Eternal Security
Now that we have dealt with two troublesome passages, finding out what they don’t mean, you may ask is there any evidence we can’t lose our salvation? Certainly.
“My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me. “And I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; neither shall anyone snatch them out of My hand. “My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all; and no one is able to snatch them out of My Father’s hand. (John 10:27–29 NKJV)
Notice the explicit phrase here, “they shall never perish”.If you could lose your salvation, you would perish, and Jesus would be a liar, thus it must not be possible. But also notice two hands here, the Father and the Son. The picture of one hand over the other — a complete enclosure — so that “no one is able to snatch them out”. That’s comforting, because I’m a man, and if no one can snatch them out, I can’t snatch myself out.
Later Jesus, just before his betrayal, had this to say in his prayer to the Father.
“While I was with them in the world, I kept them in Your name. Those whom You gave Me I have kept; and none of them is lost except the son of perdition, that the Scripture might be fulfilled. (John 17:12 NKJV)
It’s not up to us to maintain our salvation. Jesus does all the work. Whose job is it to keep the sheep? Certainly not the sheep, they are too stupid. It’s the shepherd’s job to keep the sheep. And one of Jesus’ seven “I AM” statements in John is “I AM the good shepherd” (John 10:11). If Jesus is the shepherd, he isn’t going to lose any sheep.
G. You Did Nothing to Earn Salvation, Right?
Ephesians 2:8–9 says we are saved by faith, not by works. In fact, even the faith to believe is a gift from God! Logically,if I didn’t do anything to obtain salvation, can I do anything to lose it? I don’t think so. If God chose us before the foundation of the world (Ephesians 1:4), will he unchoose us later? That would imply he can change, and God does not change.
Paul has another issue in Ephesians. In chapter 1 verses 13–14, he speaks of being “sealed” with the Holy Spirit of promise.If God seals something, I don’t see how it could be unsealed. Paul continues to speak of the Holy Spirit as “the guarantee of our inheritance”. A guarantee of being sealed isn’t worth much if it’s possible to lose your salvation and become unsealed.
The real problem isnotcan you lose your salvation (you can’t), the real problem is, were you ever saved in the first place? This is perhaps a more disturbing question than losing your salvation. We are not speaking of sincere doubts, we all at some point have those (remember Satan and his deception campaign). Have you made a sincere prayer of commitment to Christ? If so, you don’t have a problem. If not, do it now.
Unfortunately, we frequently rely on feelings and experiences, which not only are unreliable, but can easily be used by the enemy to deceive us. Satan himself can transform into an angel of light (2 Corinthians 11:13–14). We must anchor ourselves firmly to the rock of the Word of God.
Remember this simple truth— if you did nothing to earn your salvation, you can do nothing to lose it. If someone claims you can lose your salvation it logically means they also believe the following:
Salvation comes by works. (It doesn’t, Jesus did the work)
Jesus’ death on the cross wasinsufficient for salvation. (It wasn’t it was more than enough for every man woman and child that has ever, will ever, and is currently living)
Lesson 10
We are talking about salvation in many cases as if we had a hand to play in the process – other than accepting it.
Have you ever been given a gift? A birthday gift? A reward? Some reward for just being you?
Did you pick out the gift? Did you give the people that were coming to your party a list of items to give you.
No, a gift is something that someone else picks out for you. You don’t have anything to do with it until it is all wrapped up, all prepared for you and ready for you to open. THEN you have something to do with the gift, you receive it and say thank you.
Salvation was a gift, not of works. It was clear in the scriptures that we did not deserve it, we didn’t earn it, and we cannot lose it.
Yes when salvation is accepted, and you ask Jesus to be your Lord and Savior, God becomes part of you. Your soul is redeemed, your name is written in the Lambs Book of Life and it’s a done deal. Why, why, why do people want to be able to lose this gift, this love, this redemption. Why do they want a back door to the deal?
To justify disliking people, to justify kicking people they think are not living up to their standards, and to have reason to give an excuse of why they don’t have to do the work of the Ministry we are called to do.
Usually these same denominations, or sects, think people have to be clean, pure and holy to go to church before they are saved and have no vices whatsoever. The truth of the matter is that God accepted us before we were worthy of salvation, He died when we were yet sinners, and rose again to ensure we got the gift He wrapped up in Himself.
1 John 3:1
3 Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not.
Things Christians should never stop no matter what.
Never stop reading the Word
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:
17 That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works.
Psalm 119:105
King James Version (KJV)
105 Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.
Matthew 4:4
King James Version (KJV)
4 But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.
Romans 15:4
King James Version (KJV)
4 For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope.
Hebrews 4:12
King James Version (KJV)
12 For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged 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.
Never stop attending church
Hebrews 10:25
King James Version (KJV)
25 Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.
1 Corinthians 12:14-23
King James Version (KJV)
14 For the body is not one member, but many.
15 If the foot shall say, Because I am not the hand, I am not of the body; is it therefore not of the body?
16 And if the ear shall say, Because I am not the eye, I am not of the body; is it therefore not of the body?
17 If the whole body were an eye, where were the hearing? If the whole were hearing, where were the smelling?
18 But now hath God set the members every one of them in the body, as it hath pleased him.
19 And if they were all one member, where were the body?
20 But now are they many members, yet but one body.
21 And the eye cannot say unto the hand, I have no need of thee: nor again the head to the feet, I have no need of you.
22 Nay, much more those members of the body, which seem to be more feeble, are necessary:
23 And those members of the body, which we think to be less honourable, upon these we bestow more abundant honour; and our uncomely parts have more abundant comeliness.
Never stop fellowshipping with Christians
1 Thessalonians 5:11
King James Version (KJV)
11 Wherefore comfort yourselves together, and edify one another, even as also ye do.
Hebrews 10:24
King James Version (KJV)
24 And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works:
Matthew 18:20
King James Version (KJV)
20 For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.
Acts 2:42
King James Version (KJV)
42 And they continued stedfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers.
Proverbs 27:17
King James Version (KJV)
17 Iron sharpeneth iron; so a man sharpeneth the countenance of his friend.
If you speak in tongues – never stop it. If you don’t, start then don’t stop.
1 Corinthians 14:2
King James Version (KJV)
2 For he that speaketh in an unknown tongue speaketh not unto men, but unto God: for no man understandeth him; howbeit in the spirit he speaketh mysteries.
Never stop learning the Word
2 John 1:9
King James Version (KJV)
9 Whosoever transgresseth, and abideth not in the doctrine of Christ, hath not God. He that abideth in the doctrine of Christ, he hath both the Father and the Son.
2 Timothy 2:15
King James Version (KJV)
15 Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.
1 Peter 2:2
King James Version (KJV)
2 As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby:
Never think you know it all
Never think you cannot be forgiven of any sin or issue in your life
In whom we have redemption through his blood, theforgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace;
Philippians 1:6
King James Version (KJV)
6 Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ:
Matthew 18:21-22
King James Version (KJV)
21 Then came Peter to him, and said, Lord, how oft shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? till seven times?
22 Jesus saith unto him, I say not unto thee, Until seven times: but, Until seventy times seven.
Never stop being a witness
Mark 5:19
King James Version (KJV)
19 Howbeit Jesus suffered him not, but saith unto him, Go home to thy friends, and tell them how great things the Lord hath done for thee, and hath had compassion on thee.
Revelation 12:11
King James Version (KJV)
11 And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death.
Romans 14:12
King James Version (KJV)
12 So then every one of us shall give account of himself to God.
The most importaint one on this list so far:
A Christian should never stop praying and talking with God, Spending time with God.
Psalm 46:10
Be still, and know that I am God: I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth.
1 Kings 19:12
And after the earthquake a fire; but the Lord was not in the fire: and after the fire a still small voice.
Matthew 28:20
King James Version (KJV)
20 Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen.
Hebrews 11:6
King James Version (KJV)
6 But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.
And he said, I heard thy voice in the garden, and I was afraid, because I was naked; and I hid myself.
And other sheep I have, which are not of this fold: them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice; and there shall be one fold, and one shepherd.
My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me:
Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.
Never stop talking to God – Regardless of your situation – or how you feel your relationship is with Him.
And thine ears shall hear a word behind thee, saying, This is the way, walk ye init, when ye turn to the right hand, and when ye turn to the left.
Your relationship with God guides your direction if you let Him lead you.
Psalm 119:105
Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.
Psalm 119
119 Blessed are the undefiled in the way, who walk in the law of the Lord.
2 Blessed are they that keep his testimonies, and that seek him with the whole heart.
3 They also do no iniquity: they walk in his ways.
4 Thou hast commanded us to keep thy precepts diligently.
5 O that my ways were directed to keep thy statutes!
You need His input in your everyday life.
He needs you to fulfill His purpose on this planet
Mark 16:14-16
14 Afterward he appeared unto the eleven as they sat at meat, and upbraided them with their unbelief and hardness of heart, because they believed not them which had seen him after he was risen.
15 And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.
16 He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.
Use your faith for something – Believe you will receive something from God
And Jesus said unto them, Because of your unbelief: for verily I say unto you, If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible unto you.
And the Lord said, If ye had faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye might say unto this sycamine tree, Be thou plucked up by the root, and be thou planted in the sea; and it should obey you.
Never let yourself get offended – and if you do get offended – work on forgiving the offense.
The sycamine tree was known to have one of the deepest root structures of all trees in the Middle East. It was a vigorous and robust tree that grew to a height of thirty feet or more. Because its roots went down so deep into the earth, it was very difficult to kill. Hot weather and blistering temperatures had little effect on this tree because it was tapped into a water source down deep under the earth. Even cutting it to its base would not guarantee its death because its roots, hidden deep under the ground, would draw from underground sources of water, enabling it to keep resurfacing again and again. In other words, this tree was very difficult to eradicate.
Never forget that you were forgiven a great deal by God, learn to forgive others no matter what. God asks you to do this for your sake more than theirs
Matthew 6:14-15
14 For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you:
15 But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.
Mark 11:25-27
25 And when ye stand praying, forgive, if ye have ought against any: that your Father also which is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses.
26 But if ye do not forgive, neither will your Father which is in heaven forgive your trespasses.
Keep in mind this is not talking about forgiveness of sins, but offences. Your sins are forgiven in Christ – that is a done deal.
Never stop speaking up, being heard, making a difference in the World around you.
1 Peter 2:8-10
King James Version (KJV)
8 And a stone of stumbling, and a rock of offence, even to them which stumble at the word, being disobedient: whereunto also they were appointed.
9 But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light;
10 Which in time past were not a people, but are now the people of God: which had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy.
Matthew 5:12-17
King James Version (KJV)
12 Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you.
13 Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be salted? it is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men.
14 Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid.
15 Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house.
16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.
17 Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil.
How to be an effective witness for Christ.
A “witness” is someone who attests to a fact, so in order to be an effective witness for Christ, one must have firsthand knowledge of Him. John the Apostle speaks of this in 1 John 1:1-3, when he says, “That . . . which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked at, and our hands have touched—this we proclaim concerning the Word of Life.” Today, we who have experienced new life in Christ give an account of His love and forgiveness, both verbally and in the way we live our lives. This is witnessing. To be effective in our witness, we should remember several basic things:
1) the THEME of our witness is Jesus Christ. Paul defined the gospel as the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ (1 Corinthians 15:1-4
15 Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand;
2 By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain.
3 For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures;
4 And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures).
If we aren’t explaining the sacrifice of Christ, then we’re not really sharing the gospel. (1 Corinthians 2:2
2 For I determined not to know any thing among you, save Jesus Christ, and him crucified.
Romans 10:9-10
King James Version (KJV)
9 That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.
10 For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.
An important part of this theme is the fact that Jesus Christ is the only way to salvation, not just one of many ways. “I am the way, the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me” (John 14:6
6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.).
2) the POWER of our witness is the Holy Spirit. It is the Spirit who transforms a life (Titus 3:5
5 Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost;),
and a transformed life is evident to all. As we witness, we should spend much time in prayer, appropriating the Spirit’s power so that we are enabled to let our light shine in such a way that others will recognize the power of God in us (Matthew 5:16
16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.).
3) the VALIDITY of our witness will be shown in how we live our lives.
Philippians 2:15
15 That ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world;
Philippians – sets this goal for us: “That ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world.” The effective Christian witness will live his/her life above reproach in the power of the Holy Spirit, whose fruit we exhibit when we remain in Christ (John 15:1-8
15 I am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman.
2 Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away: and every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit.
3 Now ye are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you.
4 Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me.
5 I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.
6 If a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned.
7 If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you.
8 Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be my disciples.
Galatians 5:22-23
22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,
23 Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.).
Perhaps most importantly, we must be familiar enough with the Scriptures to be able to accurately and coherently present the gospel to others. “Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have” (1 Peter 3:15
15 But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear:).
Always being prepared means diligent Bible study, memorizing Scripture, and praying for God-given opportunities to share with those whose hearts have been prepared by the Lord to hear His message of salvation.
BE A WITNESS, NOT A JUDGE
John 16:8 “And when he is come, he will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment:”
JOHN 16:8
It is the ministry of the Holy Spirit to reprove sin, righteousness, and judgment. It is not our ministry. We are simply witnesses. A witness is not the judge or the jury. A witness simply relates what he has experienced, thereby providing evidence to the truth of something. We are to witness in word and deed, to the truth of Jesus being alive in us and let God be the one who convicts. We are simply to testify to what we have seen or to what has happened to us.
Some people in their zeal, have gone beyond the witness stage and have tried to bring people under conviction themselves. This is assuming the job that belongs to the Holy Spirit alone. This not only frustrates the witness but it drives many people away from God. We make a very poor Holy Spirit; therefore, we should stick to our job of being a witness and let the Holy Spirit do His job.
Jesus specified an orderly progression in the way we should witness. First we start in Jerusalem (i.e. where we are). Then we go to those nearby (Judaea).
Finally, we take the gospel to every religious and racial group (Samaria) throughout the whole world.
There are some very practical reasons for becoming witnesses in this way.
Jesus testified that a prophet is honored everywhere except in his home town among his family and friends. Typically, at home is the hardest place to witness. Starting with those who know us best will cause us to humble ourselves and give God all the glory. Also, if rejection comes, this tempers us and our witness, so that we will be more effective and more resilient when we go to the outer most parts of the earth.
First, as you witness, you bring glory to God. Jesus says in John 15:8, “By this My Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit; so you will be My disciples.”
Second, the love of Christ compels us to share our faith. In Paul’s words, 2 Corinthians 5:14 “The love of Christ compels us.” If you have experienced the love of the Lord Jesus, you will also want to introduce him to others.
Third, sharing your faith is a direct command from Jesus Christ. He says, Mathew 4:19 “Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.” And, John 15:16 “You did not choose me, but I chose you to go and bear fruit – fruit that will last.”
Fourth, people without Christ are lost. Jesus says, John 14:6 “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” The Word of God declares in Acts 4:12 “Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved.”
Fifth, God wants you to witness because of the benefits He offers to those who receive Christ. When you introduce others to Christ, they become children of God; their bodies become temples of God; all their sins are forgiven – past, present and future! They begin to experience the peace and love of God; they receive God’s direction and purpose for their lives; they experience the power of God to change their lives; and they have assurance of eternal life.
Sixth, God wants you to witness because of the benefits to those who witness. Witnessing stimulates your spiritual growth. Witnessing leads you to pray and to study God’s Word and encourages you to depend on Christ. As you witness in the power of the Holy Spirit, you sow love and joy and peace. According to the law for sowing and reaping, you always harvest what you sow and even more. For example, if you sow love, you will harvest love. If you sow joy, you will reap joy. If you sow peace, you will reap peace. And always, the harvest is greater than the seed sown.
Seventh, God wants you to witness to experience the tremendous privilege and honor of representing Jesus to the world. In his second letter to the Corinthians, Paul wrote in:
2 Corinthians 5:20
20 Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ’s stead, be ye reconciled to God.
Most people consider it a high honor to serve as an ambassador for the head of their country – the president or king – but as a believer in Christ, you are an ambassador for the King of kings and the Lord of lords!
Eighth, God wants you to witness because the Holy Spirit has been given to provide the power for you to do so. Jesus says, Acts 1:8 “You will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” To fail to witness for Christ is to deny the Holy Spirit His right to empower and to use you to introduce others to our Savior.
Your Method: Talk to God personally about witnessing to others about Him.
Most likely He will simply tell you to just share who you are, and who He is to you – because your witness is just that. Your Witness.
God has not called you to witness like someone else does –
God called you to witness for Him as yourself.
You do not have to be a theologian. You do not have to know the Word of God by heart. You just have to Know Him – and then its just about sharing your best friend with another best friend.
Find your method of witness, and be that kind ot witness everywhere you go, day in and day out and do not be ashamed of your witness method you have. If you want to try other methods later on, great. My most effective witness method is not with a tract, or a bible, its with me and Jesus talking to people about what He has done, and what He has done for me, and that He will do the same things for them. Amen!
