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Showing posts with label Bible Study. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Bible Study. Show all posts

Sunday, May 21, 2023

Bible Study with the Cincotti's - In All That You Do - 05/21/2023

 


Today's Bible Study, Authored by Arthur Cincotti. 05/21/2023

Listen to our Bible Study Discussion at: In All You Do Podcast

Or watch the Video Zoom Session of our Study on YouTube: 



In All That You Do…

 

“And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.” Col. 3:17

         One of the gifts of the reformation was to tear down the divide between sacred and secular, particularly in vocation. Though we still consider “ministry” a high calling we, at the same time, understand that it is not the only engagement with God and His universe.

         In the same chapter of Colossians, after speaking several injunctions over the Christian home, Paul goes on to repeat, in verse 23, “And whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord and not to men,”

It is impossible for us to escape the presence of the omnipresent God. Ps. 139:7-18 starts out by saying, “Where can I go from Your Spirit? Or where can I flee from Your presence?” It is impossible not to engage with God in His universe, and the key point is that it is His universe. Pick up a grain of sand; it is His sand. Take a breath; you’re breathing His air. Take a bite of an apple; who’s apple do you think it is? Ps. 24:1, “The earth is the LORD’S and the fullness thereof; the world and they that dwell therein.”

“There is not one square inch of the entire creation about which Jesus does not cry out, ‘This is Mine!’”   Abraham Kuyper

In his article, May 2nd, 2018,  4 Bible Passages to Break the Sacred-Secular Divide, Nathaniel Williams says:

“The sacred-secular divide draws a sharp distinction between the spiritual parts of our lives (praying, Bible reading, church attendance, evangelism) and the rest of our lives (work, chores, rest, fun). But the sacred-secular divide is flawed for a variety of reasons. Practically, the sacred-secular divide leads to compartmentalization.”

We should never compartmentalize our lives in such a way.

Rom. 12:1 in the MSG says, “So here’s what I want you to do, God helping you: Take your everyday, ordinary life – your sleeping, eating, going to work, and walking around life – and place it before God as an offering. Embracing what God does for you is the best thing you can do for Him.”

Even when we were rank sinners, not wanting anything to do with God, He was still pursuing us. II Pet. 3:9, “The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.”

 

When you are in England, Charles is king whether you believe it or                            agree with it, like him or not.

 

So what is the practical outworking of this understanding?

I Co. 10:31 says, “Therefore, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.”

I often like to use John Piper’s refashioning of the Westminster Confession to say, “God is most glorified in us when we are                                 most satisfied in Him.”

So, imagine approaching your life, in all its complexity, without grumbling and complaining. I Pe. 4:9, “Be hospitable to one another without grumbling.”

If we really believe that this is God’s universe, then all grumbling is against Him. Num. 14:27 says, “How long shall I put us with this evil congregation who are grumbling against Me? I have heard the complaints of the sons of Israel which they are voicing against Me.” NASB20

Phil. 2:13,14, “for it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure. Do all things without complaining or arguments.”

In contrast, “Do not sorrow, for the joy of the LORD is your strength.” Neh. 8:10

This is a timeless injunction!

There are four kinds of joy found in Scripture: “joy”, “great joy”, “exceedingly great joy”, and “joy unspeakable and full or glory.”

So we have choices. :)

Imagine if we simply allowed the fruit of the Spirit, from Gal. 5:22 to permeate our daily far.

         “Let all that you do be done with love.I Co. 16:14

         “and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding,   will guard your hearts and minds through Chris Jesus. Phl. 4:7

         “For ye have need of patience, that after ye have done the     will of God, ye might receive the promise. Heb. 10:36 KJV

God is glorified in us when we do our simplest of tasks with joy, peace, patience, etc. Not compartmentalizing our lives in such a was as if to think that there are some things we can do with grumbling and complaining.

The secular person engages God in every aspect of their lives making, therefore, every aspect of their lives sacred.

-----Join us for another Bible Study Next Week -------

or

Join our “Victory over the Darkness”, “The Bondage Breaker”, "Freedom in Christ" series of Discipleship Classes via the mt4christ247 podcast!

at https://mt4christ247.podbean.com, You can also find it on Apple podcasts

(https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-mt4christ247s-podcast/id1551615154). The mt4christ247 podcast is also available on Google Podcasts, Amazon Podcasts, Spotify, iHeartradio, and Audible.com. 

These teachings are also available on the MT4Christ247 You Tube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@MT4Christ247

Email me at mt4christ247@gmail.com to receive the class materials, share your progress, and to be encouraged.

My wife, TammyLyn, also offers Christian encouragement via her Ask Seek Knock blog (https://tammylynask.blogspot.com/ ),  her Facebook Group: Ask, Seek, Knock (https://www.facebook.com/groups/529047851449098 ) and her podcast Ask, Seek, and Knock on Podbean (https://feed.podbean.com/tammalyn78/feed.xml)

For those who require the assistance of a Deeper Walk International Prayer Minister to experience healing or your freedom in Christ, I highly recommend Christy Edge’s Life on the Edge Freedom Prayer Ministry. You can schedule a session by going to : https://cedge216.wixsite.com/life-on-the-edge     

“The views, opinions, and commentary of this publication are those of the author, M.T. Clark, only, and do not purport to reflect the opinions or views of any of the photographers, artists, ministries, or other authors of the other works that may be included in this publication, and do not necessarily reflect the views or positions of any entities the author may represent.”

Encouragement for the Path of Christian Discipleship


Sunday, May 14, 2023

Bible Study with the Cincotti's - Hearing From God - 05/14/2023

 


Today's Bible Study, Authored by Arthur Cincotti. 05/14/2023

Listen to our Bible Study Discussion at: Hearing From God Podcast

Or watch the Video Zoom Session of our Study on YouTube: 




Hearing from God

 

“Faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.”

                                                                             Rm. 10:17

 

We have often said that prayer is a dialogue with God, and that hearing what God says is far more important than what we say.

The question should arise, how do we hear God?

In the Old Testament select prophets heard directly from God. We read that as early as Cain and Able they heard from God. As the population grew we move swiftly through Scripture to observe how people heard from God. By Deut. 18:18 the LORD says to Moses, “I will raise up for them a Prophet like you from among their brethren and will put My words in His mouth, and He shall speak to them all that I command Him.” vr. 15, “Him you shall hear.”…Wonder who that was?

By Jos. 8:31 we first see, “as it is written in the book of the law of Moses,”...A Bible

I Sam. 3:1, “And the word of the LORD was precious in those days; there was no open vision.” until God said, “Samuel! Samuel!” and Samuel said, “Speak, for Your servant hears.”

Two principles:

         1) God prepares His prophets.

         2) God did not continue until He got the appropriate response.

We read examples of people hearing from God by audible voice, dreams, direct revelation, direct encounters with the “angel of the LORD, one donkey, and the written word of God.

 

In the New Testament, “the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory…” Jn. 1:14

 

Jn. 12:50, Jesus says, “...whatever I speak, just as the Father has told Me, so I speak.”

Jn. 14:26, “But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you.”

The Holy Spirit spoke to the apostles, they wrote stuff down, and the church sealed it; closed cannon...right?

How do we hear from God now???

His word, the Bible, of course. This is the Word of God; the Logos.

How did we get to the Bible? Rm. 10:14, “How then shall they call on Him in whom they have not believed? And how shall they believe in Him of whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without a preacher?”

Is there any direct revelation today? Of course there is.

The Bible is sufficient information for salvation, and for how to live righteously before God. II Pet. 1:3, “as His divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us by glory and virtue.”

But what about the particular engagements of life; who should I marry, what profession should I pursue, where should I go to church, where should I live, what should I have for breakfast???

No chapter and verse for those!

We pray with a hope and expectation that we will, in some way, hear from God.

         Joel said, and Peter repeats, “And it shall come to pass in the last days, says God, That I will pour out My Spirit on all flesh; Your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, Your old men shall dream dreams.” Acts 2:17

In this verse we engage two OT methods in which people heard from God saying that it shall occur in the last days.

         In Acts. 21 we read of a man named Philip who, “had four virgin daughters who prophesied.” It was never recorded what they said, but they spoke the word of the Lord.

         God, who is, “the same yesterday, today and forever.” Heb. 13:8 engages with us in the same ways as always, but we also must apply some important principles.

*God can not contradict Himself. So any revelation that we receive, either by dream, voice, notion, prophecy, must be consistent with His word. God is never going to tell you to rob a bank, enter into a homosexual relationship, worship an idol, or put peanut butter on a pepperoni pizza.

*We should be very cautions with “thus sayeth the Lord”. If we read on in Deut. 18:23, “when a prophet speaks in the name of the LORD, if the thing does not happen or come to pass, that is the thing which the LORD has not spoken; the prophet has spoken in presumptuously; you shall not be afraid of him.”

We believe, and emphasize that our God is a very personal God, who invites us to call Him Father. He has given us much and continues to beckon us into a deeper, richer, more intimate relationship with Him. He desires that we would engage with Him by embracing His word, and conversing with Him all the day long.

He has promised, on His part, never to leave us or forsake us. When you ask God a specific question, expect and answer.

-----Join us for another Bible Study Next Week -------

or

Join our “Victory over the Darkness”, “The Bondage Breaker”, "Freedom in Christ" series of Discipleship Classes via the mt4christ247 podcast!

at https://mt4christ247.podbean.com, You can also find it on Apple podcasts

(https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-mt4christ247s-podcast/id1551615154). The mt4christ247 podcast is also available on Google Podcasts, Amazon Podcasts, Spotify, iHeartradio, and Audible.com. 

These teachings are also available on the MT4Christ247 You Tube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@MT4Christ247

Email me at mt4christ247@gmail.com to receive the class materials, share your progress, and to be encouraged.

My wife, TammyLyn, also offers Christian encouragement via her Ask Seek Knock blog (https://tammylynask.blogspot.com/ ),  her Facebook Group: Ask, Seek, Knock (https://www.facebook.com/groups/529047851449098 ) and her podcast Ask, Seek, and Knock on Podbean (https://feed.podbean.com/tammalyn78/feed.xml)

For those who require the assistance of a Deeper Walk International Prayer Minister to experience healing or your freedom in Christ, I highly recommend Christy Edge’s Life on the Edge Freedom Prayer Ministry. You can schedule a session by going to : https://cedge216.wixsite.com/life-on-the-edge     

“The views, opinions, and commentary of this publication are those of the author, M.T. Clark, only, and do not purport to reflect the opinions or views of any of the photographers, artists, ministries, or other authors of the other works that may be included in this publication, and do not necessarily reflect the views or positions of any entities the author may represent.”

Encouragement for the Path of Christian Discipleship


Sunday, May 7, 2023

Bible Study with the Cincotti's - The Simplicity of the Gospel - 05/07/2023


 

Today's Bible Study, Authored by Arthur Cincotti. 05/07/2023

Listen to our Bible Study Discussion at: The Simplicity of the Gospel

Or watch the Video Zoom Session of our Study on YouTube: 




The Simplicity of the Gospel

 

“But I fear, least somehow, as the serpent deceived Eve by his craftiness, so your minds may be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ.”  II Cor. 11:3

Consider the simplicity of life in the garden in comparison to the complexity that most of us are steeped in at present.

 

All man’s needs were met, and he had unbridled fellowship with God.

         Our physical self was cared for and supplied.

         Our intellectual self was engaged with the Creator.

         Our emotional self was stimulated with creation.

         Our sense of self was plugged directly into Truth

                  untainted or confused by lies.

 

Satan plants a seed of desire, as if to say, “there is something missing”...a key element.

Paul bookends this letter to the church in Corinth with this notion of simplicity. In 1:12 he writes, “For our boasting is this: the testimony of our conscience that we conducted ourselves in the world in simplicity and godly sincerity, not with fleshly wisdom but by the grace of God…”

The abundant life that Jesus promises in John 10:10, if considered in the context of all of Scripture, is a simple life.

We have complicated life with:

         Striving – “And my God shall supply all your need according           to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus.” Ph. 4:19

         Covetousness – “You lust and do not have…” Js. 4:2

         Contentions – “But avoid foolish questions, and genealogies,                  and contentions, and strivings about the law…” Tit. 3:9

What does this simplicity look like?

         Jesus said, “Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.” Mt. 11:29,30

 

Jesus offers a yoke, but it differs from the yoke of slavery to sin.

He invites us to learn from Him; I suggest from His example.

Which is gentility and lowliness of heart.

Where is the striving in “rest”?

 

The early church experienced this simplicity: Acts 2:46, “So continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house they ate their food with gladness and simplicity of heart.”

Scriptures like this beckon the church back to our first love!

As the culture forces us into its mold, a weight of complexity comes along with it.

Paul urged this, “that you also aspire to lead a quiet life, to mind                          your own business and to work with your own                           hands, as we commanded you.” I Th. 4:11

 

Of himself Paul said, “I have learned in whatever state I am, to be                            content.” Phi. 4:11

And he adds, in I Ti. 6:6-8, “Now godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out. And having food and clothing, with these we shall be content.”

Busy is not a virtue, especially toward worldly gain.

Ps. 39: 6,7 says, “Surely every man walks about like a shadow; Surely they busy themselves in vain; He heaps up riches, And does not know who will gather them.

And now Lord, what do I wait for? My hope is in You.”


-----Join us for another Bible Study Next Week -------

or

Join our “Victory over the Darkness”, “The Bondage Breaker”, "Freedom in Christ" series of Discipleship Classes via the mt4christ247 podcast!

at https://mt4christ247.podbean.com, You can also find it on Apple podcasts

(https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-mt4christ247s-podcast/id1551615154). The mt4christ247 podcast is also available on Google Podcasts, Amazon Podcasts, Spotify, iHeartradio, and Audible.com. 

These teachings are also available on the MT4Christ247 You Tube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@MT4Christ247

Email me at mt4christ247@gmail.com to receive the class materials, share your progress, and to be encouraged.

My wife, TammyLyn, also offers Christian encouragement via her Ask Seek Knock blog (https://tammylynask.blogspot.com/ ),  her Facebook Group: Ask, Seek, Knock (https://www.facebook.com/groups/529047851449098 ) and her podcast Ask, Seek, and Knock on Podbean (https://feed.podbean.com/tammalyn78/feed.xml)

For those who require the assistance of a Deeper Walk International Prayer Minister to experience healing or your freedom in Christ, I highly recommend Christy Edge’s Life on the Edge Freedom Prayer Ministry. You can schedule a session by going to : https://cedge216.wixsite.com/life-on-the-edge     

“The views, opinions, and commentary of this publication are those of the author, M.T. Clark, only, and do not purport to reflect the opinions or views of any of the photographers, artists, ministries, or other authors of the other works that may be included in this publication, and do not necessarily reflect the views or positions of any entities the author may represent.”

Encouragement for the Path of Christian Discipleship

Sunday, April 30, 2023

Bible Study with the Cincotti's - Right Alignment with God - 04/30/2023


 Today's Bible Study, Authored by Arthur Cincotti. 04/30/2023

Listen to our Bible Study Discussion at: Right Alignment With God Bible Study

Or watch the Video Zoom Session of our Study on YouTube: 





Right Alignment With God

“Order my steps in thy word: and let not any iniquity have dominion over me.” Ps. 119:133

God has created an ordered universe.

Ps. 8:3,4 says, “When I consider your heavens, the work of Your fingers, The moon and the stars, which You have ordained, What is man that You are mindful of him, And the son of man that You visit him?”

In these two Psalms the words “order” and “ordained” are the same word in Hebrew: “kun”

We would have to read the entire Bible to reference how often God is establishing order. And I suspect we would be shocked, as I was, as to how vast its usage.

Paul states this in I Cor. 14:33, “For God is not a God of disorder but of peace…” NIV (NKJV uses “confusion”)

Sin has caused chaos and disorder, but even in and through our crazy world we sense and see evidence of a steadfast and unchanging order.

Though forces are tugging at us to remain in a state of confusion, God’s order is always available to us to come into alignment with. Consider this statement in the backdrop of Is. 40:3, “The voice of one crying in the wilderness: ‘Prepare the way of the LORD; Make straight in the desert a highway for our God.”

Some examples leaped out at me from Scripture.

         In I Sam. 8-16, it seems clear that it’s God’s intention to set a king in Israel in the person of David, but the elders of Israel’s intention was different from God’s; “Now make us a king to judge us like all the nations.” 8:5

God’s order for Israel was that they would be set apart, and not “like the other nations.”


By Jer. 19:15 the prophet speaks, “Thus says the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel: ‘Behold, I will bring on this city and on all her towns all the doom that I have pronounced against it, because they have stiffened their necks that they might not hear My words.’”

So much for set apart 

Our aim is always to come into alignment with God’s plan and will for our lives. It’s obvious, when sin is present, that we are out of alignment, but when sin is not evident it doesn’t always mean that we are on mission.

God’s grace keeps us in alignment.

We use several vehicles to get into alignment:

Reading God’s word; “Your word I have hidden in my heart

                                      That I might not sin against You.” Ps. 119:11

                                    “Keep my commands and live,

                                    And my laws as the apple of your eye.

                                    Bind them on your fingers;

                                    Write them on the tablets of your heart.” Pr.7:3

Listen to God’s word: “Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the                               word of God” Rom. 10:17

Prayer: As we have said before, prayer is a conversation with God.        Let us be mindful that in this conversation, what God has to        say is far more important than what we have to say.

Our prayer is the key element that must align with God’s will and His word. Rom. 8:26, “Likewise the Spirit also helps in our weaknesses. For we do not know what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself makes intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.”

Fasting is a vehicle that can bring us into alignment with God.

         Ps. 69:9,10 “Because zeal for You house has eaten me up,

                           And the reproaches of those who reproach You

                                    have fallen on me.

                           When I wept and chastened my soul with fasting,

                           That became my reproach.

Jesus prayer in the garden is a model for this, “nevertheless not My will, but Yours, be done.”

We can be very capable of using God’s word to fabricate all sorts of goofy prayers, but when we humble ourselves, and engage with the Holy Spirit, God’s perfect plan will manifest. That’s alignment.

The two men on the road to Emmaus were confused (disordered). Jesus brought them into alignment as He “expounded to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning Himself. Lk. 24:27

This episode always reminds me of Amos 3:3, “Can two walk together, except they agree?

Agreement with God is synonymous with alignment with God,  and alignment is not always the easy path. 


-----Join us for another Bible Study Next Week -------

or

Join our “Victory over the Darkness”, “The Bondage Breaker”, "Freedom in Christ" series of Discipleship Classes via the mt4christ247 podcast!

at https://mt4christ247.podbean.com, You can also find it on Apple podcasts

(https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-mt4christ247s-podcast/id1551615154). The mt4christ247 podcast is also available on Google Podcasts, Amazon Podcasts, Spotify, iHeartradio, and Audible.com. 

These teachings are also available on the MT4Christ247 You Tube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@MT4Christ247

Email me at mt4christ247@gmail.com to receive the class materials, share your progress, and to be encouraged.

My wife, TammyLyn, also offers Christian encouragement via her Ask Seek Knock blog (https://tammylynask.blogspot.com/ ),  her Facebook Group: Ask, Seek, Knock (https://www.facebook.com/groups/529047851449098 ) and her podcast Ask, Seek, and Knock on Podbean (https://feed.podbean.com/tammalyn78/feed.xml)

“The views, opinions, and commentary of this publication are those of the author, M.T. Clark, only, and do not purport to reflect the opinions or views of any of the photographers, artists, ministries, or other authors of the other works that may be included in this publication, and do not necessarily reflect the views or positions of any entities the author may represent.”

Encouragement for the Path of Christian Discipleship


Sunday, April 23, 2023

Bible Study with the Cincotti's - Knowing You, Jesus! - 04/23/2021


 Today's Bible Study, Authored by Arthur Cincotti. 04/23/2023

Listen to our Bible Study Discussion at: Knowing You Jesus! Podcast

Or watch the Video Zoom Session of our Study on YouTube: 





Knowing You, Jesus!

“Now concerning things offered to idols: We know that we all have knowledge. Knowledge puffs up, but love builds up. I Cor. 8:1

This passage of Scripture, ch. 8:1-13, is a corrective response, most likely to a direct question. But I sense the Holy Spirit saying that Paul is using this opportunity to speak to more than the act of eating food offered to idols.

an idol is nothing” vs.4.     Also see Is. 44:13-20; Ps. 115:4-8

Except what we make it by way of conscience.

Conscience is: “an inner feeling or voice viewed as acting as a guide to the rightness or wrongness of one’s behavior”

The first commandment is, “you shall have no other god’s before

Me.” Ex. 20:3... vs. 5 says, “I am a jealous God.”

This jealousy is for us. We should be flattered to say the least. The number one accusation that God brings against the children of Israel is idolatry. He compares it to adultery.

In II Cor. 11:2, speaking further to the church in Corinth, and the church at large, Paul says, “For I am jealous for you with a godly jealousy, For I have betrothed you to one husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ.

Often bogged down in our “light afflictions” we lose sense of     God’s intention toward us.

The father of a young lady use to ask a suitor, “what are your     intentions toward my daughter?”

The church is Christ bride, “prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.” Rev. 21:2

So, what of this “knowing” business???

         There is a sort of knowing, such as, knowing information.

We often say things like, “I know about someone” yet we can not claim to know that person. It may identify interest, but not necessarily affection, camaraderie, or any form of intimacy.

         In this short passage of Scripture, I Cor. 8:1-13, we engage three similar English words; “knowledge”, “knows”, and “known”.

Each word has a different shading toward the same intent.

Knowledge, vs. 1 – “gnosis” means: knowing (the act). ie. (by implication) knowledge;- knowledge, science.

Knows, vs. 2a – “eido” means: consider, perceive, see, wish,                             understand, be aware

Known, vs. 2b, 3  - “ginosko” means: a prolonged form of a                              primary verb; to “know” (absolutely) in a great                            variety of applications and with may implications

         The big picture is Jn. 17:3, “And this is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent.”

         I Cor. 13:12 says, “For now we see in a mirror, dimly, but then face  to face. Now I know in part; but then I shall know just as I also am known.”

         This knowledge transcends mere information, and is far more satisfying.

Pr. Jaron Halsted said, at the end of his teaching “Understanding the Need for the Anointing”.

“We have substituted the tree of the knowledge of good and evil for the tree of life.

Gen. 3:1-7 – Eve RATIONALIZED the word of God. Rationalism has eclipsed anointing – Exchanged God’s covering for man’s covering. v.7

see Is. 30:1; 31:1

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

Suzanna also shared the lyrics to Knowing You Jesus by Graham A. Kendrick as we briefly mentioned it at the beginning of the study:

Knowing You Jesus / Lyrics

All I once held dear, built my life upon All this world reveres, and wars to own All I once thought gain I have counted loss Spent and worthless now, compared to this

Knowing You, Jesus Knowing You

There is no greater thing

You're my all, You're the best You're my joy, my righteousness And I love You, Lord Yeah-yeah

Now my heart's desire is to know You more

To be found in You and known as Yours

To possess by faith what I could not earn

All-surpassing gift of righteousness

Knowing You, Jesus Knowing You

There is no greater thing

You're my all, You're the best You're my joy, my righteousness And I love You, Lord

 

Oh, to know the power of Your risen life And to know You in Your sufferings To become like You in Your death, my Lord So with You to live and never die

Knowing You, Jesus Knowing You

There is no greater thing

You're my all, You're the best You're my joy, my righteousness

You're my all, You're the best You're my joy, my righteousness

You're my all, You're the best You're my joy, my righteousness And I love You, Lord

You're my all, You're the best You're my joy, my righteousness And I love You, Lord Source: Musixmatch

Songwriters: Graham A. Kendrick

-----Join us for another Bible Study Next Week -------

or

Join our “Victory over the Darkness”, “The Bondage Breaker”, "Freedom in Christ" series of Discipleship Classes via the mt4christ247 podcast!

at https://mt4christ247.podbean.com, You can also find it on Apple podcasts

(https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-mt4christ247s-podcast/id1551615154). The mt4christ247 podcast is also available on Google Podcasts, Amazon Podcasts, Spotify, iHeartradio, and Audible.com. 

These teachings are also available on the MT4Christ247 You Tube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@MT4Christ247

Email me at mt4christ247@gmail.com to receive the class materials, share your progress, and to be encouraged.

My wife, TammyLyn, also offers Christian encouragement via her Ask Seek Knock blog (https://tammylynask.blogspot.com/ ),  her Facebook Group: Ask, Seek, Knock (https://www.facebook.com/groups/529047851449098 ) and her podcast Ask, Seek, and Knock on Podbean (https://feed.podbean.com/tammalyn78/feed.xml)

“The views, opinions, and commentary of this publication are those of the author, M.T. Clark, only, and do not purport to reflect the opinions or views of any of the photographers, artists, ministries, or other authors of the other works that may be included in this publication, and do not necessarily reflect the views or positions of any entities the author may represent.”

Encouragement for the Path of Christian Discipleship

Friday, April 21, 2023

I Don’t Have to Read the Bible– Lies of the Enemy #11– Purity 1023


I Don’t Have to Read the Bible– Lies of the Enemy #11– Purity 1023

Purity 1023 04/21/2023 Purity 1023 Podcast

Purity 1023 on YouTube:



Good morning,

Today’s photo of “Tranquility at Lake Nottely” comes to us from Fred Dimmick who shared this beautiful collaboration between God and man on social media on April 19th.   Apparently, Lake Nottely is a “man made” lake and is one of many reservoirs of the Tennessee Valley Authority. It is located entirely in Union County, Georgia, within the Chatahoochee-Oconee National Forests. The lake was formed in 1942 by the damming of the Nottely River and it extends 20 miles upstream to the town of Blairsville. (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lake_Nottely ).  So man dammed Nottely River to “make the lake” to help with flood control but you don’t get the lake without the river (God’s creation) and we don’t get that sense of “tranquility” without that sunset and we don’t get that underlying peace without the presence of God.    

Well, it’s Friday, let’s thank God for that too, and Fred’s photo has me thinking of the countryside home I will return to this evening and of the possibility of finding some tranquility out in God’s creation as the wife has scheduled a hike to Crowne Point  tomorrow. I have never been there, but I am trusting TammyLyn to lead me to something good and look forward to the trip.   

My research this morning shows me that there is a “Crown Point Historic Site” (https://parks.ny.gov/historic-sites/34/details.aspx) on the shores of Lake Champlain, but I’m honestly not sure if that is our destination or not, but I was able to download a couple of PDF maps to my Abobe cloud if I discover there is no other Crown Point in the Great White North and want to be able to find my way.  While I usually would just spontaneously “Go and See”, it can also be nice to know where exactly you are going and having a map or a guide to give you the heads up on the lay of the land.  It’s good to know the truth about what you will experience.  

And speaking of the truth, that brings us to continue in our current series, which is an examination of some of the common lies that the enemy tells us to cause us to doubt our faith, steal our peace, or to influence us to choose not to follow the Lord with the way we live our lives.  And so today, because I am thinking about guidance,

Today’s big lie is:

Lie # 11:  I Don’t Have to Read the Bible.

How many people that you know who claim to be “Christians” have said those words to you?  I pray its not many, but the hard truth is that a recent article by Stephen Presley on Religionunplugged.com (https://religionunplugged.com/news/2023/4/8/no-one-is-reading-the-bible) indicates that there has been a “dramatic decline in Bible reading” quoting a study from the American Bible Society that noted ““an unprecedented drop in the percentage of Bible users in the United States” noting that  “nearly 26 million Americans reduced or stopped their interaction with Scripture in the past year.”

So more people are drawing away from reading God’s word, which would cause us to question “Do I Have to Read the Bible?” 

While the last thing I ever want to do is to create a legalistic requirement or checklist of “things you must do to be a Christian”, I would point to scripture to show that the study of God’s word should be a fundamental aspect of our faith.  

Before I present the verses (and another link to Open Bible . Info), I just want to tell you that when I was born again in 2010, I really had a sense that the Lord did indeed actually save me because I suddenly had a real desire to be a “real Christian” which was accompanied by a new found passion to know God more by reading His word.  I have been reading the Bible ever since.  I’ve read it several times in various translations and have consuledt numerous commentary’s and other Christian books and I have greatly benefitted from knowing what the Bible says and applying its wisdom to my life.  Which naturally brings me to the first verses that come to mind, when I seek to encourage others to read the Bible:

James 1:22-25 (NIV2011)
22  Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says.
23  Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like someone who looks at his face in a mirror 24  and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. 25  But whoever looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues in it—not forgetting what they have heard, but doing it—they will be blessed in what they do.

Head knowledge is one thing, but the Bible was meant to be a guidebook to living. It’s purpose is to draw us close to God, cause us to make Christ as our Lord and Savior, to teach us how God would want us to live our lives, and to tell us of what is it to come in the future.  Spoiler alert : Jesus is coming back.

2 Timothy 3:16-17 (NLT2) tells us
16  All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us to do what is right.
17  God uses it to prepare and equip his people to do every good work.

God gave us His word to teach us what is true, to do what is right, and to equip us for life.   Some people turn the word Bible into an acronym to remind us that it is our “Basic Instructions Before Leaving Earth to highlight its purpose.    

Hebrews 4:12 (NLT2)  tells us
12  For the word of God is alive and powerful. It is sharper than the sharpest two-edged sword, cutting between soul and spirit, between joint and marrow. It exposes our innermost thoughts and desires.

The Bible is a living word and it speaks to our hearts to guide us in the way we should go.   It’s the best way to hear God’s voice.  

Romans 10:17 (NKJV) tells us
17  So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.

Our faith comes through the word of God. The good news about Jesus that causes us to believe is, surprise, Bible based.  So our faith came by hearing what the Bible had to tell us about Jesus. Most of what know about Jesus is contained in its pages.  So this living word saves us but it also assures us that we have been made new and are transformed by its study.

2 Corinthians 5:17 (NKJV) tells us
17  Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.

And

Romans 12:2 (NKJV) tells us to
2  … not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.

Our minds, hearts, and lives are to be transformed by the truth of who God is and who we are in Christ which is all found in the Bible.  

So here’s a link to open Bible.infos 59 verses about Bible reading, https://www.openbible.info/topics/reading_the_bible  to encourage you to not stand on your freedom to “not read the Bible” but to be further assured that God gave us His word to help us.     

We might be lazy, prideful or stubborn but we should also know the enemy, Satan, is delighted when Christians don’t read the Bible or know what it says.  So to combat that first person lie from the enemy that tells you “I don’t have to read the Bilbe”, turn the tables on the spiritual forces of darkness by saying: “Yeah, I don’t have to read the Bible but God invites me to read His word so I can hear Him speak and that’s a conversation that I definitely want to be a part of! I will read the word of God and do what it says!”   

So keep walking and talking with God, and pick up the Bible regularly to see what He is telling you there.    

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For those who want more evidence for Christianity than my simple apologetic will provide, I offer apologist, Frank Turek’s website, https://crossexamined.org/ .

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Today’s Bible verse comes to us from “The NLT Bible Promise Book for Men”.

This morning’s meditation verses are:

Colossians 3:9-10 (NLT2)
9  Don’t lie to each other, for you have stripped off your old sinful nature and all its wicked deeds.
10  Put on your new nature, and be renewed as you learn to know your Creator and become like him.

 

Today’s verses contain the proof text of what I consider to be one of the first things a Christian Disciple should commit themselves to when they decide to “be a real Christian”.   Stop lying!

 

Satan is the Father of lIes (John 8:44) and so thr last person we want to resemble as Christians is the devil so we seek to encourage all who read this today to speak the truth in all things – stop lying to each other.  

 

After being a habitual liar to cover up my shortcomings or sins for most of my life, it was a great relief to make that decision to stop lying.  When the Lord put this conviction on my heart I was far from perfect, still am far from perfect, but because the Holy Spirit in me convicts me to tell the truth, I have had the humbling but freeing experience of “ratting myself out” when I invariably would make some foolish decisions.  

 

When you are “throwing yourself under the bus” regularly because you want to walk the walk as well as talk the talk of being a Christian, by telling the truth, you eventually learn to stop the shady behaviors that normally have to cover up to.  

 

Telling the truth helps us to “know our Creator” and to become more like Him. Comically, I would and still sometimes do regrettable or foolish things and usually confess them shortly after because I couldn’t bear to remain in deception’s shadow. The Holy Spirit convicts me to “do what is right” now like all the time! And so I am increasingly honest in my actions as well as my words.  Not perfect mind you, by the deep relief that comes from living in the truth a I usually instruct anyone that I disciple to “stop lying” because of the joy that I have found that comes from knowing that you have nothing to hide and you are living in harmony with the Lord.

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As always, I invite all to go to mt4christ.org where I always share insights from prominent Christian theologians and counselors to assist my brothers and sisters in Christ with their walk.

Today we continue sharing from A.W. Pink’s “The Sovereignty of God.”

As always, I share this information for educational purposes and encourage all to purchase A.W. Pink’s books for your own private study and to support his work.  This resource is available on many websites for less than $20.00.

THE SOVEREIGNTY OF GOD

By  ARTHUR W. PINK

APPENDIX I

THE WILL OF GOD concludes..

 

Again; God commands us to be perfectly holy in this life (Matt. 5:48) because this is right in the nature of things, but He has decreed that no man shall be perfectly holy in this life because this is best, all things considered, that none shall be perfectly holy (experimentally) before they leave this world. Holiness is one thing, the taking place of holiness is another; so, sin is one thing, the taking place of sin is another. When God requires holiness His preceptive or revealed will respects the nature or moral excellence of holiness; but when He decrees that holiness shall not take place (fully and perfectly) His secret or decretive will respects only the event of it not taking place. So again, when He forbids sin His preceptive or revealed will respects only the nature or moral evil of sin; but when He decrees that sin shall take place His secret will respects only its actual occurrence to serve His good purpose. Thus the secret and revealed will of God respect entirely different objects.

God’s will of decree is not His will in the same sense as His will of command is. Therefore, there is no difficulty in supposing that one may be contrary to the other. His will, in both senses, is His inclination. Everything that concerns His revealed will is perfectly agreeable to His nature, as when He commands love, obedience, and service from His creatures. But that which concerns His secret will has in view His ultimate end, that to which all things are now working. Thus, He decreed the entrance of sin into His universe though His own holy nature hates all sin with infinite abhorrence, yet, because it is one of the means by which His appointed end is to be reached He suffered it to enter. God’s revealed will is the measure of our responsibility and the determiner of our duty. With God’s secret will we have nothing to do: that is His concern. But, God knowing that we should fail to perfectly do His revealed will ordered His eternal counsels accordingly, and these eternal counsels, which make up His secret will, though unknown to us are, though unconsciously, fulfilled in and through us.

Whether the reader is prepared to accept the above distinction in the will of God or not he must acknowledge that the commands of Scripture declare God’s revealed will, and he must also allow that sometimes God wills not to hinder a breach of those commands because He does not as a fact so hinder it. God wills to permit sin as is evident, for He does permit it. Surely none will say that God Himself does what He does not will to do.

Finally, let it be said again that my responsibility with regard to the will of God is measured by what He has made known in His Word. There I learn that it is my duty to use the means of His providing, and to humbly pray that He may be pleased to bless them to me. To refuse so to do on the ground that I am ignorant of what may or may not be His secret counsels concerning me is not only absurd, but the height of presumption. We repeat: the secret will of God is none of our business; it is His revealed will which measures our accountability. That there is no conflict whatever between the secret and the revealed will of God is made clear from the fact that the former is accomplished by my use of the means laid down in the latter.[1]

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My wife, TammyLyn, also offers Christian encouragement via her Ask Seek Knock blog (https://tammylynask.blogspot.com/ ),  her Facebook Group: Ask, Seek, Knock (https://www.facebook.com/groups/529047851449098 ) and her podcast Ask, Seek, and Knock on Podbean (https://feed.podbean.com/tammalyn78/feed.xml)

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Encouragement for the Path of Christian Discipleship



[1] Arthur W. Pink, The Sovereignty of God (Swengel, PA: Bible Truth Depot, 1949), 255–257.