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“Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.” II Tim. 2:15(KJV)
One thing that most people find difficult is studying. Even during school when we are processing information for future use very few people really enjoy studying. It seems to be a lost art. Any mental effort that is not enjoyable does not appeal to a lot of people. How can you learn anything without studying? Even when we learn by watching and listening to another we must concentrate on what we are doing. Can one learn how to “sew” just by watching someone else sew? Can we learn how to play basketball just by watching someone else play? We may learn the technique, the rules, and steps of operation but we will never become able to personally perform the task.
As an example, you can never live a “holy” life just by watching someone else live it. We must be diligent to learn and apply our acquired knowledge to the actual process of doing the work. Paul talks about studying and rightly dividing the word of truth. He means that we must know who we are, what we are, and how we are in our relationship to God.
I heard Andrew Wommack say recently that it is not what you do but what you believe that makes the difference. “Doing” is only human effort to make ones-self acceptable to God. Good works are not what reconciles us to God. It is not what we do for God, but what He does for us. Studying the Word, ourselves, others, and various events gives us insite into who and what we really are. It is not our job to become what God wants us to be rather it is our job to believe we are what God has made us through Christ.
If you really believe something you will live by it. Human nature wants to think of itself in the best terms possible. The more we improve ourselves the better we feel about it. The catch is that no amount of human effort is enough. On the other hand, if we can really understand and believe what God says about us, we can live it and not just keep trying to become something we don’t believe we are yet. When we learn who we really are in Christ, we will not be ashamed. God made this all possible for us through Jesus Christ.
2 Corinthians 9:6-11
The Message (MSG)
6-7 Remember: A stingy planter gets a stingy crop; a lavish planter gets a lavish crop. I want each of you to take plenty of time to think it over, and make up your own mind what you will give. That will protect you against sob stories and arm-twisting. God loves it when the giver delights in the giving.
8-11 God can pour on the blessings in astonishing ways so that you’re ready for anything and everything, more than just ready to do what needs to be done. As one psalmist puts it,
He throws caution to the winds,
giving to the needy in reckless abandon.
His right-living, right-giving ways
never run out, never wear out.
This most generous God who gives seed to the farmer that becomes bread for your meals is more than extravagant with you. He gives you something you can then give away, which grows into full-formed lives, robust in God, wealthy in every way, so that you can be generous in every way, producing with us great praise to God.
Blessed be the Lord, who daily loadeth us with benefits, even the God of our salvation. Psalm 68:19
Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits: Who forgiveth all thine iniquities; who healeth all thy diseases; Who redeemeth thy life from destruction; who crowneth thee with lovingkindness and tender mercies; Who satisfieth thy mouth with good things; so that thy youth is renewed like the eagle’s. Pslam 103:2-5
He says to us that not only I am the God of your salvation, I have rescued you and now I want to load you daily with my benefits. He started out with the greatest blessing by reminding us that he is the God of our salvation. He purchased our salvation on the cross by the precious blood of His Son Jesus Christ. And then to add to all of that He says, I also want to daily load you with benefits. God could very easily have stopped at salvation. We don’t even deserve that much. The grace and mercy of God continues every day to give us that which we don’t deserve.
Psalms 103:2 tells us not to forget all His benefits. Hebrew meaning of forget is, “to be oblivious of from want of memory or attention.”
Most days I just wake up and head out and go about my day. We are creatures of habit and it is easy to get stuck in the same ole same ole. I don’t know about you I sometimes miss seeing these benefits in my daily life. And sometimes I forget that my God wants to bless me every day.
Just because I am not aware are these benefits still there? Absolutely yes! God tells us that He daily wants to load us with benefits. Every day God wants to be a part of your life and bless you and load you with benefits. Let us begin to start our day with a new way of thinking. Instead of going into our day thinking, I will just get through my day and do what needs to be done. Start your day with confessing, I am going to look for the load of benefits which the Lord has promised me. Not only am I going to look for them I am going to expect them.
The Hebrew word benefits means, “to treat well.” The God of our salvation desires to treat us well. Well means, healthly, glowing, fine, sound, thriving, increase.
Believe, look, expect, the blessings of the Lord in your life every day and rejoice in the God of your salvation!!!
JESUS CALLING–from Devotions for Every Day of the Year
WALK BY FAITH, NOT BY SIGHT. As you take steps of faith, depending on Me, I will show you how much I can do for you. If you live your life too safely, you will never know the thrill of seeing Me work through you. When I gave My Spirit, I empowered you to live beyond your natural ability and strength. That’s why it is so wrong to measure your energy level against the challenges ahead of you. The issue is not your strength but Mine, which is limitless. By walking close to Me, you can accomplish My purposes in My strength.
2 Corinthians 5:7 Message Bible
7 It’s what we trust in but don’t yet see that keeps us going.
Galatians 5:22-26
22-24But what happens when we live God’s way? He brings gifts into our lives, much the same way that fruit appears in an orchard—things like affection for others, exuberance about life, serenity. We develop a willingness to stick with things, a sense of compassion in the heart, and a conviction that a basic holiness permeates things and people. We find ourselves involved in loyal commitments, not needing to force our way in life, able to marshal and direct our energies wisely…………
25-26 Since this is the kind of life we have chosen, the life of the Spirit, let us make sure that we do not just hold it as an idea in our heads or a sentiment in our hearts, but work out its implications in every detail of our lives. That means we will not compare ourselves with each other as if one of us were better and another worse. We have far more interesting things to do with our lives. Each of us is an original.
“Therefore, leaving the discussion of the elementary principles of Christ, let us go on…” Hebrews 6:1
How long can a person stay in one spot? Most people need a change of scenery every now and then at least. Others are more content to be on the move changing activities and interests often. There is a danger involved in sitting still.
Staying in the same place for to long will dull you to your surroundings. You will cease to explore and to appreciate the beauty or will become negative in your view. You will lose the excitement of new discoveries and adventures. Things will seem to get boring. Things that once excited you are now no longer interesting.
Suppose you spent 12 years in the first grade at school. When would you lose your interest in it? Would it be after two years? Five years? Would it still excite you after twelve? Probably not. The truth is that whether we like it or not we need to experience new things so we can grow up.
This is also true spiritually. We cannot reach a level and stop moving forward. We can never believe that we have arrived at our destination as long as we are still alive. To cease growing in Christ means we are complacent and satisfied with what we have and where we are. Sooner or later we will lose interest in the things we once enjoyed greatly. The Bible tells us to go on to maturity. This we cannot do by simply repeating the same thing over and over. We must learn something we do not know. We must do something we have not done. We must go where we have not gone. We must see what we have not seen. We must be what we have not been. We must live as we have not lived. Only then can we truly say we are following Christ. His last word to His disciples was, “Go!”
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you are complete in Him, who is the head of all principality and power.
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Colossians 2:10
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You Have Jesus—You Have Everything!
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When God gave us Jesus, He gave us not just His best, but also everything. We are truly rich because we have Christ, our all in all.
When we have Jesus, we truly have everything. Jesus is our wisdom, our righteousness, our sanctification, our redemption and our success. In Him are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.
My friend, when you need wisdom, Christ is your wisdom. When you need righteousness, Christ is your righteousness. When you need sanctification and redemption, Christ is both to you. When you need faith, He is your faith.
When you are fearful of the odds against you, He is your favor. When you are weak, He is your strength. When you are troubled and anxious, He is your peace. When you feel vulnerable, He is your shield. When you are lonely, He is your faithful companion. And when you are sick, He is your healing and health. Jesus, the great I AM says to you, “I AM to you whatever you need Me to be!”
Beloved, you are truly rich because you have Christ. And in Christ you are complete. Don’t wait to have this or that before you feel complete. You are already complete in Christ—your all in all!
….Joseph Prince
“Now there were four leprous men at the entrance of the gate; and they said to one another, “Why are we sitting here until we die? If we say, ‘We will enter the city,’ the famine is in the city, and if we sit here, we die also. Now therefore, come, let us surrender to the army of the Syrians. If they keep us alive, we shall live; and if they kill us, we shall only die.” And they rose at twilight to go to the camp of the Syrians; and when they had come to the outskirts of the Syrian camp, to their surprise NO ONE WAS THERE. “II KINGS 7:3-5(NKJV)
Things did not look good to the residents of Samaria. They were exhausted of supplies and surrounded by an enemy army. It was only a matter of time before the end as they knew it would come. Yet, four men decided to do something. “Why sit here till we die,” said they. “Knowing” about the army of the enemy they made a choice. It was better to do something than sit and die. “But God” was at work for them and they found no enemy army there, only supplies and treasures. “With God all things are possible!”
I know that I am “back from the dead” and here with a purpose. It is not the time for New Life to hunker behind the walls and listen to the enemy howl. Our God is able to do exceedingly great and mighty things; more than we can think or imagine. We need things done here at church. I am going to move forward and I need you to go with me. It is not the time to say “we can’t” but rather to be saying “God can”.
We need about $5000 to fix our facilities in addition to our regular expenses. I believe we can believe God and give of ourselves to get things done. I am not willing to sit here and die. Look at all the empty seats that can be filled. Don’t think negatively but use your faith. Are there others who need to hear what we are teaching here? Trust God to answer prayer and be ready to move. Expect prosperity. God created everything to prosper. New Life has not completed its purpose, and God said He would see to it that we do. There is no better hope than that. Let’s attack our enemy to our surprise we might find that there is NO ONE THERE!
“And God called the dry land Earth, and the gathering together of the waters He called Seas. And God saw that it was good.” Gen. 1:10(NKJV)
After God finished a day of creation beginning with day two the Bible says that God saw that it was “good.” The word used for good in Genesis one is the same Hebrew word used for prosperous. Good equals prosperous in word usage here. Why did God see the creation as “good”? Because it was prosperous in that it was successful in its goal. It did what it was intended to do. It completed its assigned task. It was created right.
What does it mean that God “saw that it was good”? Was it pleasing to His eye? Did it inspire beauty? Perhaps there is another insight we should consider. Think of this, “And God saw to it that it was prosperous.” God did not just look and see that it was prosperous He saw to it that it was prosperous. He made sure that it did prosper. Prosperity is in the very design of creation. Nothing that God has made is a failure. It will work if it is used properly.
In the parable of the talents each man that applied his talents prospered in his effort. Only the man who did not use what he had been given failed to prosper. If we are to prosper, we cannot just hold on to what we have. We must put it to its proper use. If we are only interested in ourselves, we cannot expect prosperity to flow in our lives.
In Genesis 1:31 after man’s creation it says, “Then God saw everything that He had made, and indeed it was very good.” God’s intention from the beginning was that prosperity should reign. All we have to do is to get with the program. In order to do that we must know the program. In order to do that we must read and study the program. We will proceed to do just that. Oh, by the way, the program does not revolve around “you” or “me”.
Message Bible Romans 8:28-31 “How Can we Lose?”
That’s why we can be so sure that every detail in our lives of love for God is worked into something good. 29 God knew what he was doing from the very beginning. He decided from the outset to shape the lives of those who love him along the same lines as the life of his Son. The Son stands first in the line of humanity he restored. We see the original and intended shape of our lives there in him. 30 After God made that decision of what his children should be like, he followed it up by calling people by name. After he called them by name, he set them on a solid basis with himself. And then, after getting them established, he stayed with them to the end, gloriously completing what he had begun. 31 So, what do you think? With God on our side like this, how can we lose?
FROM PASTOR SHIRLEY
Having Done All –Stand
I was raised in the Baptist faith as a young girl. The songs that we sang then are still in the recesses of my mind. “Standing on the Promises of God” is one of my favorites.
Standing on the promises of Christ my King,
Through eternal ages let His praises ring,
Glory in the highest, I will shout and sing,
Standing on the promises of God.
Standing on the promises that cannot fail,
When the howling storms of doubt and fear assail,
By the living Word of God I shall prevail,
Standing on the promises of God.
Standing on the promises I now can see
Perfect, present cleansing in the blood for me;
Standing in the liberty where Christ makes free,
Standing on the promises of God.
Standing on the promises of Christ the Lord,
Bound to Him eternally by love’s strong cord,
Overcoming daily with the Spirit’s sword,
Standing on the promises of God.
Standing on the promises I cannot fall,
Listening every moment to the Spirit’s call,
Resting in my Savior as my all in all,
Standing on the promises of God.
Our heavenly Father is a God of promises! Doesn’t that make you want to stand up and shout!! In the Bible all the way from the book of Genesis to the book of the Revelation we find recorded promises which He has made. Promise means, “A divine assurance of good”. Stand means, “to continue and refers to another meaning, “upright active position.” God is good all the time, all the time God is good. Don’t give up; continue to stand on the promises of His Word. Do we dare to believe that God wants to daily load us with the benefits of these promises?
Whatever God has promised gets stamped with the Yes of Jesus. In Him, this is what we preach and pray, the great Amen, God’s Yes and our Yes together, gloriously evident. God affirms us, making us a sure thing in Christ, putting His Yes within us.
By His Spirit he has stamped us with His eternal pledge—a sure beginning of what He is destined to complete. 2 Corinthians 1:20 Message Bible
Come to Me with all your weaknesses; physical, emotional, and spiritual. Rest in the comfort of My Presence, remembering that nothing is impossible with Me.
Pry your mind away from your problem so you can focus your attention on Me. Recall that I am able to do immeasurably more than all you ask or imagine. Instead of trying to direct Me to do this and that, seek to attune yourself to what I am already doing.
When anxiety attempts to wedge its way into your thoughts, remind yourself that I am your Shepherd. The bottom line is that I am taking care of you; therefore, you needn’t be afraid of anything. Rather than trying to maintain control over your life, abandon yourself to My will. Though this may feel frightening–even dangerous, the safest place to be is in My will.
Luke 1:37; Ephesians 3:21-22; Psalm 23:1-4
“But let each one examine his own work, and then he will have rejoicing in himself alone, and not in another.” Gal. 6:4(NKJV)
“Take a look at yourself and you will look at others differently. Put your hand in the hand of the man from Galilee.” Words from a gospel song popular in the late 1900’s reflect the thought from Scripture. Our first responsibility is to keep our own standing before God in right order, not being a judge of others. The above verse reflects the idea of personal examination before God and not comparing ourselves with another believer.
“…But they, measuring themselves by themselves, and comparing themselves among themselves, are not wise.” II Cor.10:12b (NKJV) The underlying reason for examining others is to make ourselves look better to ourselves. The inner thought is “Well, at least I am better than him. “ Paul warns the church that doing this is not wise.
The real “test” is what we find in us. Do you know what is in you? “You are what you eat.” Remember that? Also, “You are what you think you are,” at least in your own eyes. Regardless of how God sees you, you will never rise above how you see you. That is why it is important to know what the Word says about you. Do you see yourself as an over-comer or “struggling” human? God says in Christ you are righteous do you see that or are you working to become righteous? The Bible admonishes a man not to think more highly of himself than he ought to think. The opposite is also true– don’t think less of yourself than what the Word says you are. Remember, God knows you better than you know yourself. Listen to Him.
It is your pea patch-having done all stand.
Your pea patch is what God has promised to be yours as His child. Every born again believer at some time in their Christian life will find themselves having to defend those promises. I think most of us that have been saved for very long have been at this place at one time or another. It is sort of a midnight hour, so to speak.
We understand from the Word that satan is a thief. A thief comes in silently so as to not let you know he has entered in. Is your enemy trying to steal your pea patch where health is concerned, where finances are concerned, where peace or hope should reign? If we don’t defend our blessing (our pea patch), the thief will come to steal, kill and destroy. Satan comes in with discouragement, doubt, fear. These things slowly eat away at your faith to stand and to claim the blessings that are rightfully yours through the shed blood of Jesus.
Satan is your enemy and does not have your best interest in mind. He cannot be reasoned with or persuaded to change. There is nothing in him that would even show the slightest mercy or grace toward you. When he looks at you, he sees Jesus; and he knows only rebellion against God and those of us who have made a stand to be on the winning side. We demonstrate victory by standing firm in what we believe to be of truth which is only what the Word has declared. We demonstrate the victory we have by our actions and attitudes. In 2 Samuel 23 verse 11 says Shammah stood in the midst of a piece of ground full of lentils (peas) and defended it. Shammah’s action was he stood. His attitude was, “This is my pea patch; it may not be much in anyone else’s eyes, but it is mine.”
How determined are you today to hold on to what God has already given? I want to encourage you today to not turn back, but to fight the good fight of faith. Stand and having done all stand!!
“For all the promises in Him are Yes, and in Him Amen, to the glory of God through us.” II Cor. 1:20(NKJV)
Standing on the promises I cannot fall, listening every moment to the Spirit’s call, RESTING in my Savior as my all in all, standing on the promises of God. Do you believe? “Oh, yes I believe,” you might say. But, are you “resting?” Resting means everything is finished and there is no more work left to do. There is not a cessation of activity but a sense that peace and promises exist. Is your Savior your all in all or are you still trying to work your way into God’s favor? What can you do that Jesus failed to do?
Your work is now to believe in He whom the Lord has sent. “Come unto me all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” Matt. 11:28(NKJV). What was the labor He was talking about? It had to be the law they were trying to keep day after day, year after year. There was always a sense of failure in their conduct just as there is with us today who try to stay under the law. The law is a burden no man can bear. The more we try to conform to the Mosaic Law, the more heavy laden we become.
When God finished creation He rested. When Jesus finished redemption He rested. Now, what are you going to add to that? Resting is not being lazy or unfruitful; it is working to achieve something not to earn something. We do not work to solidify our position in Christ. We work to promote the Kingdom of God and see a harvest. We do not work just to stay saved but walk in grace and rest in Jesus as our all in all.
BE A FIGHTER!!!
I Tim. 6:12 “Fight the good fight of faith; lay hold of the eternal life to which you were summoned and (for which) you confessed the good confession ( of faith) before many witnesses”
To be aggressive is to be a fighter. Just as the apostle Paul said that he had fought the good fight of faith (2 Timothy 4:7), so he instructed his young disciple Timothy to fight the good fight of faith in our daily lives as we struggle against spiritual enemies in high places and in our own mind and heart.
One part of fighting the good fight of faith is being able to recognize the enemy. As long as we are passive, Satan will torment us. Nothing is going to change about our situation if all we do is just sit and wish things were different. We have to take action. Too often we don’t move against the4 enemy when he comes against us with discouragement or fear or doubt or guilt. We just draw back into a corner somewhere and let him beat us up.
You and I are not supposed to be punching bags for the devil; instead, we are supposed to be fighters.
Nowe the devil wants us to fight in the natural with everybody around us. But God wants us to forget all the junk that Satan stirs up within us to get us riled up against other people. Instead, He wants us to fight against the spiritual enemies who try to war over our lives and steal our peace and joy. “Come against Satan when he is trying to get a foothold, and he will never get a stronghold.” …Joyce Meyer
“For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this: you shall love your neighbor as yourself. But if you bite and devour one another, beware lest you be consumed by one another.” Gal. 5:14-15(NKJV)
Do unto others as you would that they do unto you. Remember that? It is good advice and will keep your heart at peace. This is all talking about attitude. Lots of things can affect our attitude. As a matter of fact everything we experience affects our attitude. Our attitude will normally agree with our human experience. Good things happen to us, and our attitude is good. Bad things happen and our attitude reflects our feelings about it. Under these conditions we are in control of nothing in our lives. Instead of being what we choose to be, we become a product of what happens to us. We should get tired of someone else always determining our attitude.
We need to realize that we can be what we choose to be. We can think like we need to think. We can be in control of our attitude. What would you choose– to be joyful, happy, kind, friendly, and pleasant; or bitter, pouting, hateful, worried, fearful, revengeful, and mean tempered? You will be whatever lurks within you. “A good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth good things, and an evil man out of the evil treasure brings forth evil things.” Matt. 12:35(NKJV)
Most people have never learned how they should act or think, or know how to change. The secret is to renew your mind by the Word of God. If you know the Word, think the Word, speak the Word, you will believe the Word and live the Word.This will have a profound effect on your attitude. Jesus was exposed to every mistreatment possible, yet it never ruled His attitude. In spite of the evil He encountered He always responded with the “good treasure” within Him. As a child of God that “good treasure” is within us and we need to let it create our attitude. Attitude will give you life or it will kill you. Attitude will cause you to prosper or it will rob you. YOU choose your attitude! Choose wisely.
Little disappointments can create frustration, which in turn may lead to bigger problems that can produce a great deal of damage. Besides the huge disappointments that occur when we fail to get the job promotion or house we wanted, we can become just as upset by minor annoyances. For example, suppose someone is supposed to meet you for lunch and fails to show up. Or suppose you make a special trip to buy something on sale and when you get there, they are sold out.
These frustrations are minor but they can add up to cause grief. That’s why we have to know how to handle them and keep them in perspective. Otherwise, they can get out of hand and be blown up all out of proportion.
Solomon 2:15 “Catch the foxes for us, the little foxes that are ruining the vineyards….”
We have to be on our guard against the little foxes that destroy the vineyards, because all together they can do just as much damage as the serious disappointments that often accompany them.
If we practice dealing quickly with disappointments as they come, they will not pile up into a mountain of devastation.
…Joyce Meyer
33 I have told you these things, so that in Me you may have [perfect] peace and confidence. In the world you have tribulation and trials and distress and frustration; but be of good cheer [take courage; be confident, certain, undaunted]! For I have overcome the world. [I have deprived it of power to harm you and have conquered it for you.] Amplified Jn. 16:33
“These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulations; but of good cheer, I have overcome the world.” Jn. 16:33(NKJV)
Well, Jesus, you have it made. You have overcome the world. Hooray! Good for You, but how does that affect me? It is easy for You. You’re God. You should be in my shoes for awhile and You would see how hard it is to be of good cheer. Sound familiar? It is easy to have this attitude when one doesn’t understand the spiritual things.
Jesus was telling His disciples that His victory was their victory. In Him they had overcome the world as well. “In Me you have peace.” Jesus was speaking of position and not proxy. As He is, so are we in this world. Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection secured our position as over-comers. Everything Jesus did He did for us. He did not have to overcome the world for Himself. It was all for us and He wanted His disciples to understand this and use it for themselves. The only reason you are an overcomer is because of Jesus. Live in peace and believe.
“For whatever is born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith. Who is he who overcomes the world, but he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?” I Jn. 5:4-5(NKJV)
GIVE UP EXCESSIVE REASONING—–
Are you always trying to figure everything out? Many of us have fallen in the ditch. Instead of casting our care upon the Lord, we go through life carrying every bit of it.
When we try to figure everything out, we are exalting our reasoning above God’s thoughts. We are placing our ways higher than His ways. When we worry, we lose our peace, and when we try to figure everything out, we fall into confusion. Confusion is the result of reasoning with our own understanding when we should be trusting in the Lord with all our heart to make the way for us according to His plan. When we trust that His thoughts are higher than our thoughts, we stop confusion before it starts. …Joyce Meyer
In Februay of 2010 Pastor Jerry had open heart surgery and spent several days in the Cardiac ICU. Of course, I spent those days and nights in the waiting room. On February 3 early in the morning I was awake and decided to read the Bible. The devil had come to me with the thoughts, “Well, Jerry will be okay but there is no way you will ever be able to pay for all of this. You will lose everything you have.”
I decided to read Proverbs chapter 3 because I knew I had to get those thoughts out of my head. Proverbs 3:5-6 in the Message Bible reads, “Trust God from the bottom of your heart, and don’t try to figure everything out on your own. Listen to God’s voice for everything you do; everywhere you go, He’s the one who will keep you on track.”
I commanded worry to leave and “quit trying to figure out” how we would pay for the hospital bill. God did completely provide for everything, and Pastor Jerry totally recovered. Put the Word inside you and the worry has to leave. Pastor LaVerne
“….The kingdom of heaven is like leaven, which a woman took and hid in three measures of meal till it was all leavened.” Matt. 13:33(NKJV)
“Then Jesus said to them, Take heed and beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and the Sadducees.” Matt. 16:6(NKJV)
“A little leaven leavens the whole lump.” Gal. 5:9(NKJV)
All of these verses are talking about the same thing, but what are they talking about? Most people think they are talking about moral and ethical issues. Although they may ultimately affect this area of live they are talking about doctrinal beliefs. The first verse says that exposure to the leaven of heaven results in everything becoming like heaven. The second verse says beware of the doctrines of the Pharisee and Sadducees. Verse three says that exposure to leaven will affect the whole loaf of bread.
Man shall not live by bread alone but by every word that comes from the mouth of God. Jesus said He is the bread of life so we eat of Him and live. Every productive thing is in harmony with God’s Word. Paul was warning the Galatians not to introduce the Jewish law into their gospel of grace.
One of the most deadly religious practices of the church is our method of understanding the Bible. We are too prone to using our experiences to interpret scripture rather than allowing the Bible to change our experiences. For example, someone somewhere prayed for healing and it did not come. Attitudes then took over resulting in something like this, “I am the most righteous person I know. If God won’t heal me, He must not be healing anyone anymore.” Then the search begins to make the Word of God agree with his experiences. From this arises the religious doctrine that healing is past away along with the gifts of the Spirit. Although the bulk of Scripture teaches they haven’t, the party picks through obscure and unclear verses that seem to support his experience.
Anytime I interpret a scripture based on my experience , I am using the wrong “leaven.” It will grow until it destroys the life I am trying to build. We cannot allow our experiences to affect our belief in the truth and everlastingness of God’s Word. Remember, the Pharisees, Sadducees, and Scribes were the most “holy” and learned religious leaders of their day and MOST OF THEM WERE WRONG!! What about today’s religious leaders? Watch out for the leaven of “education.”
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