Scripture Gleanings
Mon 30 Oct 2006
Bask in the Rays of the Sun of Righteousness Part 4
The Disobedient
God declares the disobedient to be worthless:
"they profess that they know God, but by their works they deny him, being abominable, disobedient, and unfit for any good work." Titus 1:16
They walk with Satan rather than Christ. Ephesians 2:2. They are drawing upon themselves the wrath of God. Ephesians 5:6 and Colossians 3:6. There is a spiritual war going on and it can only be fought with spiritual weapons. II Corinthians 10:3-6, Ephesians 5:12. As soldiers in the army of God, we are called to fight under His rules of engagement.
At times with love:
"Brothers, even if a man is caught in some fault, you (P) who are spiritual must restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness; looking to yourself so that you also aren't tempted." Galatians 6:1
At times with the sword:
"Every writing inspired by God is profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for instruction which is in righteousness," II Timothy 3:16
False Teachers
The apostle Peter describes false teachers this way:
"But there also arose false prophets among the people, as among you also there will be false teachers, who will secretly bring in destructive heresies, denying even the Master who bought them, bringing on themselves swift destruction." II Peter 2:1
Later,
"receiving the wages of unrighteousness; people who count it pleasure to revel in the day-time, spots and blemishes, reveling in their deceit while they feast with you;" II Peter 2:13
Jesus calls them wolves in sheep's clothing. Matthew 7:15. See also I Timothy 1:3-4, I Timothy 6:4,5.
We all have questioned or been questioned on various fundamental doctrines of our faith. The Word tells us not to believe every spirit, but test the spirits. I John 4:1. Study and show ourselves approved, rightly dividing the word of truth. We should learn God's ways. We should learn to recognize the spirits we encounter. I john 4:1-6, I Corinthians 12:3.
Only when we are so armed by the Spirit can we benefit from the false teacher. Our faith can be strengthened when we learn to spot the devil's schemes. We can take the opportunity to dig deeper into the Word and strengthen our faith. And finally, we can pray for the false teacher and for the brothers and sisters he has or will come into contact with.
Fri 27 Oct 2006
Bask in the Rays of the Sun of Righteousness Part 3
The Complainer
The biblical record of the Jewish people illustrates how God feels about those who complain or murmur. Numbers 11, Psalms 106:26, Numbers 13:27-29, show that under the old covenant, God dealt most harshly with those who complained.
Why is God so angry with the complainer? Because, sher complainer us an unthankfulperson. Murmuring lips are contagious we all know. Just start a conversation about the government, taxes, or the pastor, and see what happens. James 5:9 says we must not grumble, lest we be condemned.
This is not to say that there are never legitimate reasons to complain. We should never ignore the obviously wrong things around us. We must, however, handle problems God's way. Consider the example of the Greek widows who were upset over the way the widow's distribution of food was handled. The apostles examined the complaint, found it genuine, then chose seven men of good reputation, full of the Holy Spirit and wisdom and turned the problem over to them to solve, If there is something wrong, don't murmur:fix it. Ask the murmurer to help your find a solution to the problem and all you are likely to here is silence.
The Hypocrite
"That the triumphing of the wicked is short, The joy of the godless but for a moment?" Job 20:5
"For what is the hope of the godless, when he is cut off, When God takes away his life?" Job 27:8
The word hypocrite means actor - a performer. Jesus said that the hypocrite's performance is his only reward. Matthew 6:f. God deals personally with the hypocrite. We need not lift a finger except in prayer and intercession. Paul's example in Galatians 2:3 not withstanding, we are to turn from those who have a form of godliness but deny its power. 2 Timothy 3:5. Beware of the hypocrite. Mark 12:38. Don't trust them. Jeremiah 9:14.
Thu 26 Oct 2006
Bask in the Rays of the Sun of Righteousness Part 2
The Backbiter
"I will silence whoever secretly slanders his neighbor. I won't tolerate one who is haughty and conceited." Psalm 101:5
Backbiting is a malicious, destructive spirit at work within the body of Christ. Proverbs 16:28 says, "A perverse man stirs up strife. A whisperer separates close friends." The Spirit tells us how we should conduct ourselves when we are forced to deal with a backbiter.
"He who covers an offense promotes love; But he who repeats a matter separates best friends." Proverbs 17:9
"For lack of wood a fire goes out; Without gossip, a quarrel dies down." Proverbs 26.20
"And above all things be earnest in your love among yourselves, for love covers a multitude of sins." I Peter 4:8
When we express our love and true concern for the object of the backbiter, the backbiter will be shocked into silence and, hopefully, repentance. Let us express a desire to lift up and help the defamed (James 5:19, 20) and not to honor the backbiter with a passive audience.
The Divisive
God calls those who stir up dissension an abomination. Proverbs 6:16,18. God hates them!
"Avoid a factious man after a first and second warning; knowing that such a one is perverted, and sins, being self-condemned." Titus 3:10,11
Jude 19 describes the divisive as a sensual person, not having the Spirit. We must avoid such a person. Romans 16:17.
Our response should be to honor Christ's anguished prayer that there might be unity among the brethren and love one for another.
"that they may all be one; even as you, Father, are in me, and I in you, that they also may be one in us; that the world may believe that you sent me." John 17:21
Wed 25 Oct 2006
Bask in the Rays of the Sun of Righteousness Part 1
As we learn to gather warmth from the light of the Son, the first of the many whose love has grown cold is
The Scoffer:
We usually think of the scoffer as being a non-believer, but in fact, they are plentiful with in the church. The scoffers are not hard to spot. They are the ones who hold prophecy in contempt, seek to quench the Spirit, and lay snares of ritual and legalism though they themselves are bound by no law. The Word of God (Proverbs 24.9) says that the scoffer is an abomination.
Here is how we should deal with the scoffer:
"He who corrects a mocker invites insult. He who reproves a wicked man invites abuse." Proverbs 9:7
God tells us to hold our peace. If we must speak, we must bless and not curse. We should not render evil for evil. (I Thessalonian 5:15) In Acts 13:45-51, the Spirit gives us the example of Paul and Barnabas. These two had great success in Antioch initially, but had to put up with the scorn and scoffing of the Jews. Paul took the message to the Gentiles who received it gladly. The scoffing did not end, but Paul and Barnabas shook the dust off their feet and moved on. They did not let the scoffers and the scoffing hinder the work of God.
Wed 25 Oct 2006
Bask in the Rays of the Sun of Righteousness
"Because iniquity will be multiplied, the love of many will grow cold. But he who endures to the end, the same will be saved." Matthew 24:12,13
Jesus here describes to his disciples the events of the last days. Some of Jesus' words were fulfilled when Jerusalem and the temple were destroyed by the Romans in 70 AD. Other parts of His prophecy are yet to be fulfilled. I believe we are today living in the time when iniquity (lawlessness) will abound and the love of many will wax cold.
Today, we see many conflicting signs. The work of God and His Kingdom is advancing. Satan is busy working as well: demonic activity is on the increase. The Spirit of God is answering prayers of The saints as He is bringing about unity and a fresh outpouring of the Holy Spirit.. Satan and his demons are working 24/7 to wreck the faith of those who are obedient to the call of the Spirit. Satan's allies inspire strife, envy, confusion, lack of trust, and hatred toward the men and women of God.
Warmth and coldness are opposite states. We know that in the physical, you can't get warm sitting next to something cold. In fact, experience and science tell us that if we stay in close proximity to a cold body, an exchange takes place. Not only do we fail to get warm, we actually lose what little heat we had in the first place.
In the spiritual realm however, things can work quite differently. Even in a cold, dead spiritual environment we can draw warmth and strength with the help of a God who can do anything. A God who gives life to the dead. A God who calls those things which are not as though they were. A God who invented the laws of thermodynamics in the first place!
Jesus says that because of iniquity, the love of many will grow cold. The cold are those people who have stopped walking with Jesus. Consider the sun is main source of warmth on earth. Jesus Christ –The Sun of Righteousness– is our source of spiritual light and heat. As we walking with Christ and as we bask in His light, warmth, light, and life are imputed to us.
I John 2:1 describes a man not walking in the light as one who hates his brother. I John 1:7 says that this darkness effects this man's fellowship with other believers. A man not walking in the light of the Son (Sun) of Righteousness will also be without of the purging, cleansing, and renewing benefits of The Blood
God can enable us to gather:
- warmth from the coldness of others
- love from the loveless
- strength from the weak
- life from the spiritually dead
It is my goal through these posts to show how God's word and the abiding Holy Spirit can help us deal with the people we encounter — people whose love has grown cold — in a manner that is loving and Christ-like. Through these encounters, we will emerge as overcomers and perfected in the faith. We have the opportunity to participate with the Spirit in turning the erring one from their sins and towards Christ.