But, the question is how do I do this, or accomplish this, which I so desire? If I just read the Bible more and pray more will that do the trick? It would be good if we could say yes that is all it will take but that would not be telling the truth. We suppose the scribes and the Pharisees of the New Testament era read their Bible (the Old Testament) and prayed and yet to what avail?If I belong to The Shepherds Chapel and join the membership base of Friends of SC will that do it? Is it being a student of PM or Joyce Meyer or Joel Olsteen? Does being a student of "this" ministry (NOT talking about me here just in GENERAL) or "that" ministry or "this" Church (building) or "that" Church (building) make a difference? Is it being able to recite scripture right and left? Is it fair to say that in being a STUDENT OF THE WORD OF GOD is closer to the Truth?
We are all familiar with the parable of the tax collector and the Pharisee beginning in Luke 18:9 who both went up to the temple to pray. Only one went down from it justified. Prayer was of no profit to the Pharisee.
We might also say with justification that the Pharisees seemed to know the Old Testament scriptures in the sense that they could tell you what they said. Their problem was one of understanding them and making proper application but that was a result of heart failure.
When you have developed your own religion (and I add your own clicks and religious secs) as they had by the time of Jesus, an admixture of truth mixed in with man made traditions that had the affect of law even to the extent of overriding the law of God (Mark 7:6-13), the heart ceases to be interested in anything that will disturb it. People become satisfied with what they have right or wrong.
Hear the words of Jesus:
Matthew 13:13-15 (King James Version)
13 Therefore speak I to them in parables: because they seeing see not; and hearing they hear not, neither do they understand.
14 And in them is fulfilled the prophecy of Esaias, which saith, By hearing ye shall hear, and shall not understand; and seeing ye shall see, and shall not perceive:
15 For this people's heart is waxed gross, and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes they have closed; lest at any time they should see with their eyes and hear with their ears, and should understand with their heart, and should be converted, and I should heal them.
But, do we not have the same problem today multiplied? If you say no how do you explain the hundreds of denominations in the world to say nothing of the Catholic Church, the Greek Orthodox Church, the Baptist and Southern Baptist etc.? If we have a correct exegesis of scripture today, a proper understanding, how does one explain all of this? How can everyone differ and all be right?
I do not mean this to sound as hard as it probably will, but as life goes on and one comes to understand that as an individual he cannot do a lot to change the way things are you reach the point, if you are like me, where you no longer care about group A, B, or C but rather about self. You become like the Philippian jailer in Acts 16 who said to Paul and Silas, Sirs, what must I (IMPLIED EMPHASIS HERE) do to be saved? (Acts 16:30 KJV) Was he "selfish" in asking that question? "Am I selfish" in being concerned about self and my salvation? Are you?
This does not mean we would not change group A, if it is in error, if we could but we lack that power. Salvation, in its end, is an individual matter. That is why I am not too awfully concerned about all the religious bodies out in the world. I am concerned about self and about individuals within my realm of influence.
We all need to keep in our minds that we are not going to be judged by what "the group" thinks or believes or practices. Judgment is an individual matter. For we must all appear before the judgment "seat" of Christ, that each one may receive the things done in the body, according to what he/she has done, whether good or bad. Knowing, therefore, the terror of the Lord, we persuade men. (2 Cor. 510-11 KJV)
Jesus says he will judge us by His words. He that rejecteth Me, and receiveth not My words, hath one that judgeth him: the word that I have spoken, the same shall judge him in the last day. (John 12:48 KJV)
The key to a deeper understanding of Gods Will begins with the heart. One can read scripture 15 hours a day everyday but until the day comes that a man (no gender implied here) is willing to obey what he reads his reading will not draw him a fraction of an inch closer to God (purpose is implied here)
Thus we come to Mark 4:24-25, Jesus speaking, And he said to them...
Mark 4:24-25 (King James Version)
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.
25 For he that hath, to him shall be given: and he that hath not, from him shall be taken even that which he hath
Heed what you hear. Are you going to use what you read from Gods Word, all of it for it is not a buffet where you get to pick and choose, or will it be you have no intention of acting on any commandment unless it suits what "you" think is fitting or proper?
The rejection of baptism is rampant in the religious world as is Gods teaching on marriage, divorce, and remarriage, women in leadership positions in the church and we are heading to the point where Gods teaching on homosexuality will down the road a ways no longer matter either the way things are looking now. Many, many other things could be added to such a list but the point is made. We like the Pharisees of Jesus time have changed the law of God and said we are satisfied with what we have. We do not want to hear nor listen any longer.
We read the word and say we believe it but I do not think we are even kidding ourselves any more (I could be wrong). We are not going to obey it. We do not believe what it says although we know full well what it says. Like the Pharisees we will make our own religion and call it Gods.We will join "sects" and become members and friends with one another in our private places because it makes us feel "safe" and "justified" yet our hearts sit in "judgment" of others, "gossiping" and backbiting in effect bearing witness to the condition of our hearts.
When our approach to the word of God is like that... then Jesus words where he says, with the same measure you use, it will be measured to you kicks in. Hearing Gods word in scripture means you take it to heart and obey it. If you are not obeying you are not hearing God.
If one wants to draw nearer to God he will have to do more than just read and memorize scripture. He will have to obey it. Do you want a deeper spiritual understanding? If so you must obey. With the same measure you use, it will be measured to you; and to you who hear, more will be give. (Mark 4:24 KJV) Are you willing to use what you hear? Only then (emphasis on this) will you be given more. Fail to do that and even what you have will be taken from you.
All of scripture teaches this same lesson. I am reminded of the words of Samuel as he spoke to Saul after Saul proclaimed that he had performed the commandment of the Lord. (1 Sam. 15:13 KJV) That commandment was to destroy utterly the Amalekites and all they had. Samuel says to him, And Samuel said, What [meaneth] then this bleating of the sheep in mine ears, and the lowing of the oxen which I hear? What indeed?
Samuel also said unto Saul, The LORD sent me to anoint thee [to be] king over his people, over Israel: now therefore hearken thou unto the voice of the words of the LORD.
1Sa 15:18 And the LORD sent thee on a journey, and said, Go and utterly destroy the sinners the Amalekites, and fight against them until they be consumed.
1Sa 15:19 Wherefore then didst thou not obey the voice of t 1Sa 15:2 Thus saith the LORD of hosts, I remember [that] which Amalek did to Israel, how he laid [wait] for him in the way, when he came up from Egypt.
1Sa 15:3 Now go and smite Amalek, and utterly destroy all that they have, and spare them not; but slay both man and woman, infant and suckling, ox and sheep, camel and ass.
1Sa 15:4 And Saul gathered the people together, and numbered them in Telaim, two hundred thousand footmen, and ten thousand men of Judah.
1Sa 15:5 And Saul came to a city of Amalek, and laid wait in the valley.
1Sa 15:6 ¶ And Saul said unto the Kenites, Go, depart, get you down from among the Amalekites, lest I destroy you with them: for ye shewed kindness to all the children of Israel, when they came up out of Egypt. So the Kenites departed from among the Amalekites.
1Sa 15:7 And Saul smote the Amalekites from Havilah [until] thou comest to Shur, that [is] over against Egypt.
1Sa 15:8 And he took Agag the king of the Amalekites alive, and utterly destroyed all the people with the edge of the sword.
1Sa 15:9 But Saul and the people spared Agag, and the best of the sheep, and of the oxen, and of the fatlings, and the lambs, and all [that was] good, and would not utterly destroy them: but every thing [that was] vile and refuse, that they destroyed utterly.
1Sa 15:10 ¶ Then came the word of the LORD unto Samuel, saying,
And when Samuel rose early to meet Saul in the morning, it was told Samuel, saying, Saul came to Carmel, and, behold, he set him up a place, and is gone about, and passed on, and gone down to Gilgal.
1Sa 15:13 And Samuel came to Saul: and Saul said unto him, Blessed [be] thou of the LORD: I have performed the commandment of the LORD.
1Sa 15:14 And Samuel said, What [meaneth] then this bleating of the sheep in mine ears, and the lowing of the oxen which I hear?
1Sa 15:15 And Saul said, They have brought them from the Amalekites: for the people spared the best of the sheep and of the oxen, to sacrifice unto the LORD thy God; and the rest we have utterly destroyed.
1Sa 15:16 Then Samuel said unto Saul, Stay, and I will tell thee what the LORD hath said to me this night. And he said unto him, Say on.
1Sa 15:17 ¶ And Samuel said, When thou [wast] little in thine own sight, [wast] thou not [made] the head of the tribes of Israel, and the LORD anointed thee king over Israel?
he LORD, but didst fly upon the spoil, and didst evil in the sight of the LORD?
1Sa 15:20 And Saul said unto Samuel, Yea, I have obeyed the voice of the LORD, and have gone the way which the LORD sent me, and have brought Agag the king of Amalek, and have utterly destroyed the Amalekites.
1Sa 15:21 But the people took of the spoil, sheep and oxen, the chief of the things which should have been utterly destroyed, to sacrifice unto the LORD thy God in Gilgal.
1Sa 15:22 And Samuel said, Hath the LORD [as great] delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the LORD? Behold, to obey [is] better than sacrifice, [and] to hearken than the fat of rams.
1Sa 15:23 For rebellion [is as] the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness [is as] iniquity and idolatry. Because thou hast rejected the word of the LORD, he hath also rejected thee from [being] king.
1Sa 15:24 ¶ And Saul said unto Samuel, I have sinned: for I have transgressed the commandment of the LORD, and thy words: because I feared the people, and obeyed their voice.
1Sa 15:25 Now therefore, I pray thee, pardon my sin, and turn again with me, that I may worship the LORD.
1Sa 15:26 And Samuel said unto Saul, I will not return with thee: for thou hast rejected the word of the LORD, and the LORD hath rejected thee from being king over Israel.
1Sa 15:27 And as Samuel turned about to go away, he laid hold upon the skirt of his mantle, and it rent.
1Sa 15:28 And Samuel said unto him, The LORD hath rent the kingdom of Israel from thee this day, and hath given it to a neighbor of thine, [that is] better than thou.
1Sa 15:29 And also the Strength of Israel will not lie nor repent: for he [is] not a man, that he should repent.
1Sa 15:30 Then he said, I have sinned: [yet] honor me now, I pray thee, before the elders of my people, and before Israel, and turn again with me, that I may worship the LORD thy God.
1Sa 15:31 So Samuel turned again after Saul; and Saul worshipped the LORD.
1Sa 15:32 ¶ Then said Samuel, Bring ye hither to me Agag the king of the Amalekites. And Agag came unto him delicately. And Agag said, Surely the bitterness of death is past.
1Sa 15:33 And Samuel said, As thy sword hath made women childless, so shall thy mother be childless among women. And Samuel hewed Agag in pieces before the LORD in Gilgal.
1Sa 15:34 ¶ Then Samuel went to Ramah; and Saul went up to his house to Gibeah of Saul.
1Sa 15:35 And Samuel came no more to see Saul until the day of his death: nevertheless Samuel mourned for Saul: and the LORD repented that he had made Saul king over Israel.
1Sa 15:11 It repenteth me that I have set up Saul [to be] king: for he is turned back from following me, and hath not performed my commandments. And it grieved Samuel; and he cried unto the LORD all night.
Saul's answer was, the people spared the best of the sheep and the oxen, to sacrifice to the Lord your God. (1 Sam. 15:15 KJV)
To obey God means to obey Him completely and not just partially or as it suits us and our way of thinking. You shall KNOW "them" by their FRUIT. A sinner like the prostitute in older Biblical times, or in today's messy times, the homosexual sinner who is CONVICTED and repents changes his/her ways and HEARING THE WORD OF GOD, and is truly sincere in repentance will "become" as Mary the prostitute...forgiven and a more sincere Christian than many raised in the church who have "stopped listening" to The voice of God. The humblest of offerings is tears in knowledge of merciful Grace...THIS IS LOVE!
People make God after their own image and thus if it seems the right thing to believe or do according to our way of thinking then it must please God necessarily. In fact, we feel God could not be just unless he saw it our way so we end up becoming our own Lord and God and we totally convince ourselves that what we are doing is Gods will despite his word to the contrary.
The love for objective truth is lost (2 Thess. 2:10). Henceforth our truth will be subjective according to our desires. Yet, Paul says in 2 Thess. 2:12 that we shall be condemned for not believing the truth.
How could God object to sacrificing the best of the sheep and the oxen when it would be a sacrifice that was being made to him (the thought arises about the many innovations men have brought into Christian worship like Easter instead of PASSOVER just because it seemed right to them)? But, hear Samuels response.
Has the Lord "as great delight" in burnt offerings and sacrifices, "as in obeying" the voice of the Lord? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to heed than the fat of rams. For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry. Because you have rejected the word of the Lord, He also has rejected you from being king. (1 Sam. 15:22-23 KJV) Sorta reminds me of the end to the nominal Christians who Christs "rejects" by saying Get out of my sight I never KNEW you. Requirement "relationship a STUDY in Christ, HIS Word...not "memberships" in this church, that "Facebook Friends OF site" or "whatever OTHER sites or groups" and reject truth in exchange for GOSSIP, backbiting, and dissension!
If we could only learn what Samuel taught here but I am not overly optimistic. Note the words to heed in the text. Samuel says to heed is better than the fat of rams. Jesus said in Mark 4:24, heed what you hear. Saul did not heed Gods word, nor did those with him. Will we do better?
James says, Be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. (James 1:22 KJV) What word? Saul obeyed some words (1 Sam. 15:3). He was a doer of some words. He had the buffet religion which we have today but will not admit to having. If we do not change our ways we will get to answer as to why to Jesus the way Saul got to answer to Samuel.
There is no hope of any man ever learning more who will not obey what he already knows.If he is at the end of his obedience he is also at the end of his growth in spiritual understanding. He can forget about any deeper spiritual understanding.
I close with this. Jesus says (Matt. 13:12 ), To those who listen to My teaching (listen means heed, obey), more understanding will be given, and they will have an abundance of knowledge. But for those who are not listening, (not heeding, not obeying) even what little understanding they have will be taken away from them. This leads directly into the long passage quoted above from Matt. 13:13-15 where Jesus explained why he spoke in parables.
Deeper spiritual understanding is only for the obedient and thus it becomes a personal choice. If you want it you can have it. Do you want it? That is a question only you can answer.
What prompted this tonight from me? I include here some dialog borrowed from a dear friends commentary which I might add is SPOT ON! (Thanks...for you know who you are)
.....read Matthew 24... anti(instead of) Christ, he does not come in as Allah, no where are we warned of Ishamel's descendants but we are warned of the kenites. They are in charge of all 4 of the hidden dynasties, they control our political system, they control our education system (including media and Hollywood), they control our economic system (and yes, most Muslim nations have submitted, sold out, to them on this one too) and they control our Christian churches through their taking over most seminaries that dole out Pastors who have no idea what the Word of God even says, they have given new versions of the Bible that take out key elements and confuse His Sheep even further and this one Nation under God you love so much, has been viciously attacked by KENITES, NOT Muslims. Look up the founders of every anti-American group, they are KENITES. Look up every lawsuit filed to take God out of schools, out of public places, they are KENITES, Look up who has rewritten our history book and filled them with lies and half truths, the KENITES.
While there are bad Muslims, they are NOT the ones destroying our land and perverting the Word of God. You think the qu'ran is bad, READ The talmud, it is disgusting. I have now been blocked from the Friends OF "closed group" due to my continual refocusing of the group off of what Fox news would have you all repeating and back to Scripture. I am now accused of defending Muslims and you know what, when they are being slaughtered like animals and living in conditions unfit for dogs by the kenites over there, you bet your a** I'll defend them. And if they strap a bomb on themselves and murder innocent people, I will condemn them. You all need to get a grip and start LOOKING AT what the Israeli's are doing. What is going on over there. STOP listen to the Kenite owned propaganda machine. The churches of Philadelphia and Smyrna have what in common?
What about Esau? (Russia) What about armies from the east (China)? They have a big part to play in prophecy as well. But the kenites have everyone focused on a made up enemy to the point where we see nothing else, it's not good... Ishmael, which many Arabs are, were not prophesied to be the ones to take over the world systems... They were blessed by God, and perhaps even that may offend some it appears. Gen 17:20
Rev 2 and 3 spell out who the enemies of God are... And when our Saviour walked the earth, it was the kenites (John 8:44) He condemned over and over again...
I feel like I just talk in circles anymore..
ditto.....
