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THOUGHTS
& COMMENTS
page 17
15And
let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are
called in one body; and be ye thankful. 16Let
the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and
admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs,
singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord (Col 3:)
MAKING
SENSE OF THE WORD
It's
natural
for us to try and make sense of everything we read and encounter. In
fact with some of us this desire goes beyond the mere "I'd like to
know," to; "I gotta' have it!!"
I must confess, I lean heavily toward the latter group.
Most
people, I
assume, attend church with half an ear tuned to what the preacher or
the Sunday School teacher is saying, and with a yawn accepts it as
Truth without question or effort to understand what was said. It
wouldn't make any difference if the sermon or the lesson was from the
Bible or Little Orphan
Annie's Mud pie Cookbook, the
result would be the same.
But
there are
others of us who hang on to, and question every word told to us,
seeking to "prove" the Word. And I, as well as others (Perhaps you as
well) tend to be a skeptic, looking for error in all I encounter.
Such
an
attitude can easily find its way to negativity and
Stick-in-the-mudness. It certainly is clear by the reading of what I
write that I at times totter on the edge of such negativity and
scepticism. But tottering and falling are not the same thing. While I
may lean
in that direction in my investigation of the Word; I do not look
that way in my daily living.
There
are
times when viewing with a critical eye is not such a good thing;
correcting your boss or drill sergeant is one example. Finding fault
with your spouse's cooking is another. At these times, as well as most
others of our day-to-day encounters with society it is best to turn a
blind eye to the faults and imperfections of others. Paying too much
attention to the misgivings of people will not likely further our
cause, and could well leave us with a black eye.
But
the
studying of the Word of God is not one of those occasions when a blind
eye is appropriate. Far from simply losing your job, or enduring a
rolling pin over the head for insulting your wife's cooking, the
consequences of not questioning that which is preached or taught to you
in church could effect your eternity, or the lack
of it.
Everyone
wants
to make sense of the Word. Your preacher and Sunday School teacher are
no exception. They have probably read the Bible 50 times, and poured
over study books and commentaries by the dozens in effort to make sense
of the Word. They want to give you the very best and the clearest
instruction they possibly can.
But
they can't.
Wanting
to understand the Word is not enough. A person could spend a lifetime
doing nothing but studying the Bible and not make sense of it. And why
is that?
Because,
there
is no sense to the Bible.
When
we read
Proverbs or the Psalms it is so comforting and so easily understood (most
of it) because they speak to our life. They give us comfort and
understanding when we need comfort and understanding. In fact, many
people carry the Psalms with them wherever they go.
But
have you
ever heard of anyone carrying with them the book of Leviticus? Have you
ever had someone tell you that in their times of troubles they find
relief in studying the prescribed sacrifices of the Jews?
Hardly.
Nor
are you likely to find anyone having the book of Zechariah, or Malachi
stuffed safely away in their purse or pocket.
The
books of
the Law have no application to us in our daily life as they did to the
Jews. In fact, though the Jews still study them "religiously" today,
the laws only add frustration to them because there is no way they can fulfill
that which they are commanded to do by the God they seek to follow.
They read what must
be done to be a "good Jew" and to have their sins forgiven; but
regardless of their sincerity or their love for God and Judaism, they
can not perform that which is written. It must be terribly anguishing
for the Jews to seek a God who has turned His back on them. This is
especially true when these same Jews refuse to recognize that their God
is trying to get them to come around to the front
of the direction He is facing.
The
first five
books of the Old Testament are easily understood; that is superficially
they are easily understood. But the O.T. is no longer intended to be
read superficially as it was 2,000 years ago. Since the cross, the O.T.
is a portrayal
of the one we are to follow, and a key
to unlock the mysteries of the New Testament.
Without
the
O.T. the N.T. makes little sense - except superficially. When read in
depth, the O.T. is exciting and encouraging. Yet I hear well known
preachers and Bible commentators say that we are not to consider the
O.T., that it has no application for the Christian of today.
A
superficial
understanding of the Word is what most people have, and it is all they
want. In the same way that a person buys a car and only wants to know
how to start, stop and turn the thing, not how to check the oil or fix
a flat; the Christian only wants to know where in the Bible it says
they are going to heaven, and the instructions on how to pray in order
to get all the goodies promised to them.
The
above
people expect Santa Clause to come on a fluffy white cloud and take
them away to their well-deserved Heaven were angels will spend eternity
waiting on them hand and foot.
But
since you
are still reading this piece, I assume you are either looking for the
place where I get my foot stuck in my mouth (and you must certainly
have found several places already), or you are a person seeking a
fuller understanding of the Word, and hope I have a fragment of it to
offer.
I
hope so too.
No
one can
make sense of the Bible because the Bible makes no sense. If you have
read the Bible with any attentiveness at all, you already know this.
You have come across numerous passages that seem to contradict one
another; that seem to jump from the past in one verse, to some far
future point in time in the next, and then back again. You have found
what must
be spiritualized metaphors that are written as if they have to be taken
literally, but can't. And you have come across symbols and word
pictures that just don't make any sense at all.
So,
what do
you do with these confusing passages? You go to the "experts," the
commentators, and your Pastor. And what you hear from these experts
make no sense either. It seems to make sense to them;
but you see too much in the Word that conflicts with their explanation.
Then
you see
these verses if Scripture:
39And
Jesus said, For judgment I am come into this world, that they which see
not might see; and that they which see might be made blind. 40And
some
of the Pharisees which were with him heard these words, and said unto
him, Are we blind also? 41Jesus
said unto them, If ye were blind, ye should have no sin: but now ye
say, We see; therefore your sin remaineth. (John 9:)
And
these:
Yea, they have chosen their
own ways, and
their soul delighteth in their abominations. 4I
also will choose their delusions,
and will bring their fears upon them; because when I called, none did
answer; when I spake, they did not hear: but they did evil before mine
eyes, and chose that
in which I delighted not. (Isa 66:)
10And
the disciples came, and said unto him, Why speakest thou unto them in
parables? 11He
answered and said unto them, Because it is given unto you to know the
mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it is not given. 12For
whosoever hath, to him shall be given, and he shall have more
abundance: but whosoever hath not, from him shall be taken away even
that he hath. 13Therefore
speak I to them in parables: because they seeing see not; and hearing
they hear not, neither do they understand. 14And
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: 15For
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. (Mat 13:)
34And
they understood none of these things: and this saying was hid from
them, neither knew they the things which were spoken. (Luke 18:)
41And
when he was come near, he beheld the city, and wept over it, 42Saying,
If thou hadst known, even thou, at least in this thy day, the things which
belong unto thy peace! but now
they are hid from thine eyes (Luke 19:)
No
doubt
reading these passages leaves you scratching your head and saying; "I
don't get it. Why would God want to hide His meaning from anyone? I
thought He was trying to make things clear
so everyone would come to Him and be saved. Isn't that what we're told
in church?"
Then
you read
a little further and you come across these
verses:
16But
blessed are
your eyes, for they see: and your ears, for they hear. 17For
verily I say unto you, That many prophets and righteous men
have desired to see those
things which ye see, and have
not seen them;
and to hear those things
which ye hear, and have not heard them.
(Mat 9:)
And
these:
1For
I would that ye knew what great conflict I have for you, and for
them at Laodicea, and for
as many as have not seen my face in the flesh; 2That
their hearts might be comforted, being knit together in love, and unto
all riches of the full assurance of understanding, to the
acknowledgement of the mystery of God, and of the Father, and of
Christ; 3In
whom are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. (Col 2:)
19For
it pleased the Father
that in him should all fulness dwell; 20And,
having made peace through the blood of his cross, by him to reconcile
all things unto himself; by him, I
say, whether they
be things in earth, or things
in heaven. 21And
you, that were sometime alienated and enemies in your
mind by wicked works, yet now hath he reconciled 22In
the body of his flesh through death, to present you holy and
unblameable and unreproveable in his sight: 23If
ye continue in the faith grounded and settled, and be
not moved away from the hope of the gospel, which ye have heard, and
which was preached to every creature which is under heaven; whereof I
Paul am made a minister; 24Who
now rejoice in my sufferings for you, and fill up that which is behind
of the afflictions of Christ in my flesh for his body's sake, which is
the church: 25Whereof
I am made a minister, according to the dispensation of God which is
given to me for you, to fulfil the word of God; 26Even
the mystery which hath been hid from ages and from generations, but now
is made manifest to his saints: 27To
whom God would make known what is
the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is
Christ in you, the hope of glory: 28Whom
we preach, warning every man, and teaching every man in all wisdom;
that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus: 29Whereunto
I also labour, striving according to his working, which worketh in me
mightily. (Col 1:)
And
this:
3But
if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost: 4In
whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe
not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image
of God, should shine unto them. (2Cor 2:)
Chances
are
you are now saying: "I get it. God hid His intentions from the lost,
the unsaved, but not from those who are His disciples," or something of
the like. But you probably are adding to this, like I did: "But if the
Truth is hidden, how can the disciple, that is those of us who seek
Him, see the Truth He has hidden?"
Here
is the
answer, from the Words of no less than Jesus Himself:
15If
ye love me, keep my commandments. 16And
I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that
he may abide with you for ever; 17Even
the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth
him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with
you, and shall be in you.
18I
will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you. 19Yet
a little while, and the world seeth me no more; but ye see me: because
I live, ye shall live also. 20At
that day ye shall know that I am
in my Father, and ye in me, and I in you. 21He
that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and
he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and
will manifest myself to him. 22Judas
saith unto him, not Iscariot, Lord, how is it that thou wilt manifest
thyself unto us, and not unto the world? 23Jesus
answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words:
and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our
abode with him. 24He
that loveth me not keepeth not my sayings: and the word which ye hear
is not mine, but the Father's which sent me.
25These
things have I spoken unto you, being yet
present with you. 26But
the Comforter, which
is the Holy Ghost, whom the
Father will send in my name,
he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance,
whatsoever I have said unto you. 27Peace
I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth,
give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be
afraid. (John 14:)
12I
have yet many things to say unto you, but ye cannot bear them now. 13Howbeit
when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth:
for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that
shall he speak: and he will show you things to come. 14He
shall glorify me: for he shall receive of mine, and shall show it
unto you. 15All
things that the Father hath are mine: therefore said I, that he shall
take of mine, and shall show it
unto you. (John 16:)
Again
I say;
there is no sense to the Bible. It can not be understood. Not by the
carnal mind. It takes the Holy Spirit to understand what the Bible
means. And if it is the Holy Spirit who understands, than we, carnal
man, can take no credit for what we know and have been given.
26The
king answered and said to Daniel, whose name was
Belteshazzar, Art thou able to make known unto me the dream which I
have seen, and the interpretation thereof? 27Daniel
answered in the presence of the king, and said, The secret which the
king hath demanded cannot the wise men,
the astrologers, the magicians, the soothsayers, show unto the king; 28But
there is a God in heaven that revealeth secrets, and maketh known to
the king Nebuchadnezzar what shall be in the latter days. Thy dream,
and the visions of thy head upon thy bed, are these; 29As
for thee, O king, thy thoughts came into
thy mind upon thy bed, what
should come to pass hereafter: and he that revealeth secrets maketh
known to thee what shall come to pass. 30But
as for me, this secret is not revealed to me for any
wisdom that I have more than any living,
but for their
sakes that shall make known the interpretation to the king, and that
thou mightest know the thoughts of thy heart. (Dan 2:)
EVANGELIZING
THE EVANGELICALS
I
have a
question. It appears to me that the denominations are so busy trying to
prove themselves right, and trying to convert those in other
denominations to their own that the unbelievers who are supposed
to be evangelized are left to fend for themselves.
I
am not
attempting at this point to condemn anyone or any doctrine - I do
plenty of that elsewhere. It's just that I noticed how much harder
church members come down on those of other denominations and what they
call "cults" then on the worst of offenders outside
the church altogether. Is it like families who bite and pick at each
other's smallest fault while ignoring the violent gestures of those
outside the family?
I
don't know
the answer, but I wonder.
There
are two
things in particular that got me thinking about this. One is all the
effort the "cults" such as the Jehovah's Witnesses and the Mormons put
into their evangelizing. They put far more effort into enlarging the
borders of their church than do any of the mainline churches, as far as
I can see.
But
why? I
mean, why go after the members of other churches?
Now,
I myself
rarely see any such missionaries, not even when I was not attending any
church whatever for many a year. But, oddly enough, a Pastor and his
wife who live just up the street have had many
encounters with them. Now, I say, here is a prime target for
evangelizing (me) who sees not a hair on the head of any
"Christian" making an effort to bring into the fold. And here are two
people who have essentially dedicated their lives to the furthering of
God's will, and they
are proselytized often with great fervor.
Is
there
something wrong with this picture?
I
also wonder
why so much effort is spent in the downward
direction of evangelizing. By this I mean, the Mormons and the
Witnesses believe less
about the Christ they preach than the ones they are preaching to! I Can
somewhat see why the mainline Christians might try to "convert" the
Mormons and the Witnesses since in their minds they are bring their
converts up
in their acceptance of Christ.
I
am in no way
saying that one or the other of any denomination is right or wrong. If
you have read any of my writings at all, you know I think they are all
dead wrong. I believe that there are True Christians in all
the Christian Faiths, and that all the Faiths are overrun by tares and
wolves. Of course you doubt what I have just said - for your
church, and agree with it for all others.
Continuing;
the cults and the mainliners are not the only ones battling one
another. We also have the Catholic church in the Frey swinging at
everyone.
When
I was a
little boy my father would take me to the wrestling matches. There
would be the greats of their time like Gorgeous George and Baron Mechel
Leoni. For a period of time these huge creatures would throw each other
all over the ring, and outside of it as well (once into my ten-year-old
lap, which horrified me to the point I would no longer go to see the
bouts). Then came the "tag" events and wrestlers I know-not-who were
throwing everyone I knew not who hither and yon. Then to conclude the
excitement, members of the audience would climb into the ring in order
to see who could be thrown out first.
Other
things
that come to my mind is the after-event activities at Spanish soccer
games and the Mexican bull runs.
I
wonder
why these came to my mind while talking about Evangelizing?
The
second
thing that brought on my thinking of evangelizing is the Mission Field.
We already know how much at one another's throat all the denominations
are; yet when it comes to Missions, there seems to be no distinctions
between the denominations and the cults.
Yesterday
I
got to wondering about this. We hear from our preachers and the like
how terribly abused the Christians and the Christian Missionaries are
in other countries. Yet, it seems, I hear no one saying that
Missionaries or Christians from their
denomination are being abused.
It
made me to
wonder just who it is being abused. So I went on the WWW in order to
research this subject. I expected little trouble in my efforts, after
all, surely the news articles, or the sites dedicated to the
persecution of the Christians, or the denominational home pages will
have statistics.
I
spent hours,
and not a nibble. The closest I could come is that it is the Copts in
some areas of the world, and the Bahai's in other parts. And here and
there the Catholics are having problems. (If I sound vague, it's
because I'm grasping at straws because either no one seems to know the
statistics, or they're not telling - or I just didn't find the right
website.) One thing was
clear, however, the Mormons and the Witnesses, because of their very
aggressive proselytizing were
singled out. But, of course, persecution is what these two
denominations are known
for, and without persecution, they feel like they are failing in their
duty.
But
tell me
the truth, have you ever
had a Baptist, or a Pentecostal, or a Methodist come to your door,
Bible in hand, wanting to witness to you? (I'm not talking about them
inviting you to a church social, I've heard of that
occasionally). And since this is not being done here in the U.S of A
where it is safe, can you imagine it happening in countries where it
could cost one their life?
YET,
in the churches, when the topic of Christian problems in other country
arises, what's the chances you are told these "Christians" that you are
told not to allow in your door are to be prayed for fervently in order
that they may be released so they can once again proselytize their
"demonic" messages?
This
was just
a thought. No conclusions. This mainly because I could find no
information on which to set me on a good course of thought.
AMAZING
GRACE
How
many
times, I ask you have you sang the song "Amazing
Grace?" Would a hundred times
be much of an exaggeration? Why, even the secular
world considers this song one of their own. Have you ever seen a
songbook without Amazing Grace as one of the included songs? In fact, I
wouldn't be at all surprised to hear atheists
singing Amazing Grace without even a hint of a blush.
I
myself have
sung it constantly
in my mind for the past year - thousands
of times would not be much of an exaggeration, if any at all.
But
have you
ever stopped to listen to what you are saying? I mean, have you really
given thought to the words and their meaning?
Yesterday
I
did just that.
And
though the
words to the song gave me no great surprise as I already full well
agreed (and have so written) with the concept, I wondered how many
people had no idea
of what they were saying.
"Amazing
Grace." No problem there. We all know we are saved by Grace, that is,
the Grace that our Lord Jesus provided for us by dying for us on the
cross. Even "Works" oriented churches accept that it is by Grace we are
saved, though they believe there are other things that must be added to
this foundation. Then there are churches that believe since Jesus did
it all, there is nothing we can, or should
do to add to what Jesus has done. And going a bit farther (not much
farther, mind you) we have the far end of the spectrum where churches
say because of what Jesus has done for the world everybody
is saved in the end, no matter how
rotten and rebellious they are. Then of course there are the two
opposite poles such as the Jews who are all
works oriented, and the humanists who don't give a hoot one way or the
other.
Some
where in the mess above stands you and me. If you are a Christian who
has been singing Amazing Grace, you most likely mean what you say, and
say what you mean (or at least try
to).
"Amazing
Grace, how sweet the sound." Is that true? Ok, moving on: "That Saved a
Wretch Like Meeeee!"
Wait
a minute now! Who says
I'm a "Wretch?" why, if anyone called me a "wretch" I'd knock their
block off!
Yet
here we
say, over and over, "A Wretch like me."
Do
we mean it?
Or are we lying through our teeth?
Or,
like we do
in the rest of our life, we just aren't paying attention to what we are
saying?
"Wretch,"
what
does the word mean? According to Mr. Oxford (or maybe it's Mrs.
Oxford) a wretch is a: 1. Very unfortunate or miserable person, or 2. A
despicable person.
Despicable?
What's that? Let's see what Mrs. Oxford says about that.
1. Deserving to be despised, contemptible. No #2 is given, so I guess
we're stuck with being contemptible.
Are
you
contemptible? Are you a lowlife? Are you less than a worm in your own
eyes?
If
you're a
Christian, and hope to see Heaven, you had better
be, and here's why:
14I
have said to corruption, Thou art
my father: to the worm, Thou
art my mother, and my sister.
(Job 14:)
5I
have heard of thee by the hearing of the ear: but now mine eye seeth
thee. 6Wherefore
I abhor myself,
and repent in dust and ashes. (Job 42:)
This
is Job
speaking of himself, a person God Himself said was perfect.
24O
wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this
death? 25I
thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord. So then with the mind I myself
serve the law of God; but with the flesh the law of sin. (Rom 7:)
Here
we have
Paul speaking of his condition as a man, even a man of God.
6But
I am
a worm, and no man; a reproach of men, and despised of the people.
7All
they that see me laugh me to scorn: they shoot out the lip, they shake
the head, saying,
(Psalm 22:)
Here
we have
David speaking in the voice of Jesus Himself as He hung on the cross.
Should we be better than He?
24The
disciple is not above his
master, nor the servant above his lord. 25It
is enough for the disciple that he be as his master, and the servant as
his lord. (Mat 10:)
Still
not
convinced? Maybe these Words from Jesus will soften you up.
15I
know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert
cold or hot. 16So
then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue
thee out of my mouth. 17Because
thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of
nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and
poor, and blind, and naked: 18I
counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be
rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and that
the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with
eyesalve, that thou mayest see. 19As
many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent.
20Behold,
I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the
door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me. 21To
him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I
also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne. 22He
that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.
(Rev 3:)
TRANCE
A
couple years
ago I was strongly into music, both learning it and recording it. One
of the processes of recording I found interesting was what is called
MIDI. MIDI is an electronic sound simulation that sounds
like regular audio such as a recording of a piano or a guitar (or a
full orchestra), but is in fact nothing but a tiny spot of bumps on a
disk. It is what keyboards use to produce their music.
One
style of
music that easily lends itself to MIDI is what's called "Trance." As
you might expect, trance is often used to induce a fairly hypnotic
state, and is often used by drug users for this purpose.
I
always found
a little trance music rather fascinating, but never particularly
indulged in it to any extent.
It
has been a
year since I have heard trance (or any kind of music other than
Christian). I was looking at my computer files today and came across
the Trance
folder. (I was searching for the Dobro files in order to find practice
material), so I thought I would give it a try. As per usual, I paused
to listen to my "Spirit" to see if there was any resistance to what I
was about to do. I felt none, so I double-clicked the trance file - and
instantly
my body reacted with great repulsion (rather like a shock). I had the
music stopped within two seconds, but my bodily rejection continued for
a time.
The
experience
kind of reminded me of turning on a radio that is near a small puppy.
While the radio was quiet, the puppy is happy and enthusiastic about
everything. But when the radio is turned on, not realizing it to be at
full volume, the puppy reacts violently with fear and bewilderment. And
for a time after the radio is turned off, the puppy remains in that
shocked, bewildered state of fear.
What
did I
learn from the experience with Trance? Is it of the devil?
I'm
not going
to place judgment on trance or any other form of music. All I can say
for sure is I learned that I can't go by my initial instincts, even
though I feel I have checked with the Lord first. Sometimes it seems He
lets me go ahead with something so I can learn what my reaction will
be. Sort of like letting a child touch something hot but not burning so
he or she will know why he should stay away from fire.
In
the verses
at the top of the page Paul tells us to follow our peace. We tend to
think that means we will have no problems if we stay in that realm of
peace. But let's take a look at what Jesus said about the "Peace" we
are to follow:
34Think
not that I am come to send peace on earth: I came not to send peace,
but a sword. 35For
I am come to set a man at variance against his father, and the daughter
against her mother, and the daughter in law against her mother in law. 36And
a man's foes shall be
they of his own household. 37He
that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me: and he
that loveth son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me. 38And
he that taketh not his cross, and followeth after me, is not worthy of
me. 39He
that findeth his life shall lose it: and he that loseth his life for my
sake shall find it. (Mat 10:)
41And
when he was come near, he beheld the city, and wept over it, 42Saying,
If thou hadst known, even thou, at least in this thy day, the things which
belong unto thy peace! but now
they are hid from thine eyes. (Luke 19:)
25These
things have I spoken unto you, being yet
present with you. 26But
the Comforter, which is
the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach
you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I
have said unto you. 27Peace
I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth,
give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be
afraid. (John 14:)
33These
things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the
world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome
the world. (John 16:)
With
the above
as a guide, consider this statement by David and see if new meaning is
brought to light:
Psalm
23
1 The
LORD is
my shepherd; I shall not want.
2 He
maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still
waters.
3 He
restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his
name's sake.
4 Yea,
though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no
evil: for thou art
with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.
5 Thou
preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou
anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over.
6 Surely
goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will
dwell in the house of the LORD for ever.
Consider
the
word "though," as in "though
I walk through the valley." Below I have presented Strong's explanation
of the word. Notice how "though" could just as easily be translated as
"Certainly, Surely, Assuredly" added to "When, and While."
"Though"
H3588 ki^y kee
A
primitive particle
(the full form of the prepositional prefix) indicating causal
relations of all kinds, antecedent or consequent; (by implication) very
widely used as a relative conjugation or adverb; often largely modified
by other particles annexed: - and, + (forasmuch, inasmuch, where-) as,
assured [-ly], + but, certainly, doubtless, + else, even, + except,
for, how, (because, in, so, than) that, + nevertheless, now, rightly,
seeing, since, surely, then, therefore, + (al-) though, + till, truly,
+ until, when, whether, while, who, yea, yet,
Remember
the
words of Jesus?
In the world ye shall
have tribulation: but
be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.(John 16:)
"Ye
Shall
have tribulation, not "Might
have."
Perhaps
David's Psalm might better have been translated: "When
I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil,
for thou art with me."
You
will
have troubles; and you will
have peace in those troubles; if
you follow Jesus to the cross through the valley of the shadow of death.
The
Peace that
Jesus gives us takes us through the valley of the shadow of death. If
we don't follow His Peace, we are left on our own.
So,
if you
expect the Holy Spirit to warn you that you are entering into a
treacherous valley, you may well be mistaken. The Peace you feel may be
the very hook that is intended to lead
you into the valley.
Do
you doubt
it? Take a look at this
bit of Scripture:
11And
there came a voice from heaven, saying,
Thou art my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. 12And
immediately the Spirit driveth him into the wilderness. 13And
he was there in the wilderness forty days, tempted of Satan; and was
with the wild beasts; and the angels ministered unto him. (Mark 1:)
But
that was
Jesus, you might say, it surely wouldn't be expected of us.
God wouldn't intentionally lead His children
into temptation?
"And the LORD said unto
Satan, Hast thou
considered my servant Job, that there
is none like him in the earth,
a perfect and an upright man, one that feareth God, and escheweth
evil?" (Job 1:8)
These
are the
Words of God to Satan before He unleashed the devil on His only perfect
servant.
"And it came to pass
after these things,
that God did tempt Abraham, and said unto him, Abraham: and he said,
Behold, here
I am.
And he said, Take now thy son, thine only son
Isaac, whom thou lovest, and get thee into the land of Moriah; and
offer him there for a burnt offering upon one of the mountains which I
will tell thee of." (Gen 22:1-2)
Almost
all
temptations in the Bible are us (Man) tempting God. And the Bible says
that God does not tempt us (James 1:13). But it appears by the above
God does
test those who are special to Him.
But
God does
not leave it at this; He adds this:
13There
hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is
faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able;
but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be
able to bear it. (1Cor 10:)
2My
brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations; 3Knowing
this,
that the trying of your faith worketh patience. 4But
let patience have her
perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing. 5If
any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men
liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him. 6But
let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a
wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed. 7For
let not that man think that he shall receive any thing of the Lord. 8A
double minded man is
unstable in all his ways. 9Let
the brother of low degree rejoice in that he is exalted: 10But
the rich, in that he is made low: because as the flower of the grass he
shall pass away. 11For
the sun is no sooner risen with a burning heat, but it withereth the
grass, and the flower thereof falleth, and the grace of the fashion of
it perisheth: so also shall the rich man fade away in his ways. 12Blessed
is
the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall
receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that
love him.
13Let
no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be
tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man: 14But
every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and
enticed. 15Then
when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is
finished, bringeth forth death. 16Do
not err, my beloved brethren. 17Every
good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from
the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of
turning. 18Of
his own will begat he us with the word of truth, that we should be a
kind of firstfruits of his creatures. (James 1:)
Perhaps
you
are saying: "Wait a minute. Nobody told me about this. I thought all I
had to do was sit back, rake in the goodies, and wait to be taken to my
well-deserved Mansion in the clouds."
If
this, or
anything like it is your attitude, perhaps you should consult your
Pastor, and while your at it, consider this:
25And
there went great multitudes with him: and he turned, and said unto
them, 26If
any man
come to me, and hate not his father, and mother, and wife, and
children, and brethren, and sisters, yea,
and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple. 27And
whosoever doth not bear his cross, and come after me, cannot be my
disciple. 28For
which of you, intending to build a tower,
sitteth not down first, and counteth the cost, whether he have sufficient
to finish it?
29Lest
haply, after he hath laid the foundation, and is not able to finish it,
all that behold it
begin to mock him, 30Saying,
This man began to build, and was not able to finish. 31Or
what king, going to make war against another king, sitteth not down
first, and consulteth whether he be able with ten thousand to meet him
that cometh against him with twenty thousand?
32Or
else, while the other is yet a great way off, he sendeth an ambassage,
and desireth conditions of peace. 33So
likewise, whosoever he be of you that forsaketh not all that he hath,
he cannot be my disciple. 34Salt is
good: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be
seasoned? 35It
is neither fit for the land, nor yet for the dunghill; but
men cast it out. He that hath ears to hear, let him hear. (Luke 14:)
21And
Araunah said, Wherefore is my lord the king come to his servant? And
David said, To buy the threshingfloor of thee, to build an altar unto
the LORD, that the plague may be stayed from the people. 22And
Araunah said unto David, Let my lord the king take and offer up what seemeth
good unto him: behold, here be
oxen for burnt sacrifice, and threshing instruments and other
instruments of the oxen for wood. 23All
these things
did Araunah, as
a king, give unto the king. And Araunah said unto the king, The LORD
thy God accept thee. 24And
the king said unto Araunah, Nay; but I will surely buy it
of thee at a price:
neither will I offer burnt offerings unto the LORD my God of that which
doth cost me nothing. So
David bought the threshingfloor and the oxen for fifty shekels of
silver. 25And
David built there an altar unto the LORD, and offered burnt offerings
and peace offerings. So the LORD was entreated for the land, and the
plague was stayed from Israel. (2Sam 24:)
22Then
David said to Ornan, Grant me the place of this
threshingfloor, that I may build an altar therein unto the LORD: thou
shalt grant it me for the full price: that the plague may be stayed
from the people. 23And
Ornan said unto David, Take it
to thee, and let my lord the king do that
which is good in his eyes: lo,
I give thee
the oxen also
for burnt offerings, and the threshing instruments for wood, and the
wheat for the meat offering; I give it all. 24And
king David said to Ornan, Nay; but
I will verily buy it for the full price: for I will not take that
which is
thine for the LORD, nor offer burnt offerings without cost.
25So
David gave to Ornan for the place six hundred shekels of gold by
weight. 26And
David built there an altar unto the LORD, and offered burnt offerings
and peace offerings, and called upon the LORD; and he answered him from
heaven by fire upon the altar of burnt offering. 27And
the LORD commanded the angel; and he put up his sword again into the
sheath thereof. 28At
that time when David saw that the LORD had answered him in the
threshingfloor of Ornan the Jebusite, then he sacrificed there. 29For
the tabernacle of the LORD, which Moses made in the wilderness, and the
altar of the burnt offering, were
at that season in the high place at Gibeon. 30But
David could not go before it to inquire of God: for he was afraid
because of the sword of the angel of the LORD. (1Chron 21:)
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