Interference in Trouble

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But whoso shall offend one of these little ones which believe in me, it were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and that he were drowned in the depth of the sea. Matthew 18:6

Grave and Irrevocable

What gravity accompanies the Saviour’s concern for his contemporaries who were coming into the way! Our Lord promises a most unpleasant and certain fate – drowned with a heavy stone attached – for the one who interferes offensively with the progress of new believers.

Sadly, this phenomenon proceeds in the 21st century with quasi-Bible studies. Our introduction to Christ, often begun with Bible studies, quickly deteriorates into sectarian and ethnic attempts to control. We do not know what is better for the new convert. Holy Spirit has and knows what is necessary for our converts and chooses the timing for guiding us to truth.

Sneaky Wolf

There have been open and stealthy attacks on people in the Way. From Galatians 2:4 we learn that Christian freedom became a target for zealous Jews (like James) who wanted to enslave people with the Law. They sneaked into our fellowships to intimidate and threaten us.

And that because of false brethren unawares brought in, who came in privily to spy out our liberty which we have in Christ Jesus, that they might bring us into bondage:

2 Peter 2:19 tells us there were people who preach things they do not possess.

While they promise them liberty, they themselves are the servants of corruption: for of whom a man is overcome, of the same is he brought in bondage.

Brazen Barbs

In plain sight today lies and propaganda proceed with no shame. Interferers introduce people to Christ by teaching a host of supposed Bible subjects. We thought that unbelievers were the evangelists’ target and that the goal of preaching the gospel was to introduce people to Christ as Savior.

Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils; Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron; Forbidding to marry, and commanding to abstain from meats, which God hath created to be received with thanksgiving of them which believe and know the truth. 1 Timothy 4:1-3

If they had been converted they would know what the gospel is and that no one gets saved by anything other than grace through faith. They would have experienced pardon and promise. Instead their priorities are carnal ordinances and elevating types over reality, rank discrimination against women and the little ones who are coming to Christ.

A harvest we cannot claim

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We thought that circumcision was a mark of a righteousness condition. Big mistake. It established male MEMBERship in Abraham’s family. Foreskin cutting did not mean people were in (obedient to) the Sinai covenant, and it did not make women joint heirs.
Circumcision may stand for a conscientious attitude but it also facilitated discrimination, namely misogyny and oppressive xenophobia.

Let’s be glad that we do not reap many things we sow

Uncondemned

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Think you know someone condemned already? Not likely. Unbelieving people are in the only position of eligibility for salvation.

He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. John 3:18

A person engaged in faith is not being judged. He’s passed from death to life. Christ does not surrender to unbelief nor does he turn away from unbelievers. No-one judges the believer.

Unbelief, as the prior condition

• Needs action, examination and change

• Is not bad deeds

• Is not final

Such a Bold Liar

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Every time some people open their eyes they see condemnation of others. Every time some people open their ears they hear “don’t do it”. Every time some people sniff the air they smell “rubbish”. Repentance, such as brings us to life and forgiveness, is the training ground for learning to sift the lies we are bound to encounter.

Exaggeration and creative energies

David was not a serious historian but he had two things that mattered a great deal: a sense of the context of kingdom of which he was the nagid, and he had no bias about what Israel had achieved.

Popular song affirms the hard truth

They did not keep God’s covenant, but refused to walk according to his law. Psalms 78:10

Abigail to David

And when the Lord has done to my lord according to all the good that he has spoken concerning you and has appointed you prince (nagid) over Israel, 1 Samuel 25:30

God to Isaiah

Turn back, and say to Hezekiah the leader of my people, Thus says the Lord, the God of David your father: I have heard your prayer; 2 Kings 20:5a

Two Really Big Whoppers

  1. They answered him, We are offspring of Abraham and have never been enslaved to anyone. How is it that you say, You will become free? John 8:33
  • And they reviled him, saying, You are his disciple, but we are disciples of Moses. John 9:28 For if you believed Moses, you would believe me; for he wrote of me John 5:46

All about worship?

Consequently, when Christ came into the world, he said, Sacrifices and offerings you have not desired, but a body have you prepared for me; in burnt offerings and sin offerings you have taken no pleasure. Then I said, Behold, I have come to do your will, O God, as it is written of me in the scroll of the book. Hebrews 10:5-7

Has not Moses given you the law? Yet none of you keeps the law. Why do you seek to kill me? John 7:19

Purpose of life

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A simple response to what our labour goals are should be “prayer”. I am not talking about what happens in church building at meetings. Since prayer is fellowship with God we urge everyone to learn how. Paul urged his disciples to keep watching for opportunities to pray.

To that end keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints, and also for me, that words may be given to me in opening my mouth boldly to proclaim the mystery of the gospel, Ephesians 6:18-19

There is gospel beside grace through faith. Much of what most fills the air waves are no mystery.

Prayer and Proclamation

Too close for comfort and too false for living

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Ephesians 6:12 tells us that:

… our struggle is not against flesh and blood (human individuals), but

  1. Against the rulers,
  2. Against the authorities,
  3. Against the cosmic powers over this present darkness,
  4. Against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.

Many believers have taken a position that looks like humility and conscientious cooperation with all entities in authority. In the current climate of government handouts to charitable organizations one can imagine that government has infiltrated our places of worship. There is not enough money to provide deterrent security for churches, mosques, and who knows what else.

Guess how close to battle comforts we have come? When did I last see or run into (a) a ruler or (b) an authority (c) a cosmic power or (d) a spiritual force of evil in the heavenly places?

Light years separate us.

How often have we

Next to never

• τὰς ἀρχάς

• τὰς ἐξουσίας

• τοὺς κοσμοκράτορας τοῦ ⸀σκότους τούτου

• τὰ πνευματικὰ τῆς πονηρίας ἐν τοῖς ἐπουρανίοις.

It is because they seek that authority for themselves that they do so. They want priestly power, and they want the power to punish heterodoxy. When there is no exegesis of the Hebrew Bible and the Greek New Testament people invent visions and work out times and seasons, and try to enforce compliance with their views.

Much of the deliverance ministry wave and the in the we got the true church/groups are mostly people who are not interested in the proper interpretation of the scriptures.

Power over demons and other distinctions as food and marriage are good sign that there is nothing going on between Christ and the powerbrokers.

We are proving that we are standing near the sun but no heat has been able to reach us.

All that Wisdom: poof

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All that wisdom: poof
Is it a coincidence that the books at the center of Hebrew wisdom are often lacking in the grand themes of divine excellence? Wisdom, righteousness and greatness seem locked up in the Law, but the winds have never found the sails. Like the choice offerings in the sanctuary, the great wisdom has vanished in a flash.

And what nation is there so great, that hath statutes and judgments so righteous as all this law, which I set before you this day? Deuteronomy 4:8

Wisdom that comes and goes

The nations of the world were impressed with Israel’s holy things, but the covenant lay in ruins from Moses to John the Baptist. Wisdom and understanding were supposed to be manifested in performance

… do them; for this is your wisdom and your understanding in the sight of the nations, which shall hear all these statutes, and say, Surely this great nation is a wise and understanding people. Deuteronomy 4:6b

What about that great law lends itself to people everywhere? Mercy, justice, and faithfulness appear as God’s priorities in every age.

  1. Job gets dragged through the wringer of adversity to reveal, apart from the Law, that people cannot save themselves. He leaps on and rejoices in the coming resurrection, God’s covering righteousness, and a philanthropic lifestyle.
  2. David is all over those things that are both mysterious and material to the salvation of all people. His vision is not of Moses law as primary. It is a king who saves and rules by extreme righteousness
  3. Solomon, the wisest man who ever lived, says nothing about salvation, endurance, worship, idolatry, faith, and forgiveness.

Slinging maxims and proverbs is no way to build a spiritual life

But I say unto you, That in this place is one greater than the temple. Matthew 12:6

The queen of the south shall rise up in the judgment with this generation, and shall condemn it: for she came from the uttermost parts of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon; and, behold, a greater than Solomon is here. Matthew 12:42