Thursday 121224
Don’t let me or my writings influence or scare you in any way, instead, allow me to be used as a vessel to open the Word, just a little bit, and hopefully, together we are going to read and study His Word, and let God teach us what He wants us to hear.
We have two ground rules in this study:
1 – we are ONLY going to read and follow what is found (that pertains to us), in the Holy Bible.
2 – we are ONLY going to learn from a study, what effort we put into that study.
The verses we are going to study tonight:
1 Corinthians 3:1-2, 15:1-4, 3:10-11; Ephesians 2:8-9; Matthew 15:22-28; Hebrews 11:6; Romans 10:8-17.
In this lesson we are going to delve into a passage in Scripture where I place most of our churches today.
Let’s look at 1 Corinthians 3
vs1 ‘…And I, brothers and sisters, could not speak to you as spiritual people, but only fleshy, as to infants in Christ…’
vs2 ‘…I gave you milk to drink, not solid food; for you were not yet able to consume it. But even now you are not yet able…’ NASB (New American Standard Bible)
Is this not a description of mankind’s churches today?
Our churches would rather feed us milk and keep us needing and looking up to them for their assistance rather than telling us the truth.
Churches today, not all but some, are too interested in money. Are you tithing your 10 percent? I heard of a church nearby that required the new members to turn in their previous year’s tax form so the church could remind that new member of their financial requirements. What part of the Bible is this practice found in?
In some churches, it will cost $500.00 to have a marriage inside the church. As well as funeral services inside the church begin at $500.00, more if it is a graveside service.
Most churches offer First Communion ceremonies, Bible studies, free daycare and baby-sitting during church services, baptisms, the list continues but are these churches still not only feeding their congregations ‘MILK’ rather than real ‘MEAT’ that can be found in the Bible?’
When is the Gospel of Grace going to be taught to a church member?
1 Corinthians 15
vs1 ‘…Now I make known to you, brothers and sisters, the gospel which I preached to you, which you also received, in which you also stand…’
vs2 ‘…by which you also are saved, if you hold firmly to the word which I preached to you, unless you believed in vain…’
vs3 ‘…For I handed down to you as of first importance what I also received, that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures…’
vs4 ‘…and that He was buried, and that He was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures…’ NASB (New American Standard Bible)
Is the Gospel of Grace, not more important than reminding a member how much they need to tithe to a church?
Is it not better to save a soul than it is to remind a congregation of a Jewish rite and then lying to those members informing them how they too, must tithe 10% of their income to be a member of that church.
Where in the Bible are we told we MUST tithe 10% of our income to the church?
Is it not amazing, every verse is found in the Old Testament? Verses written to the Jewish people. I wonder how many of these churches remind their congregation of this on Sunday mornings when they’re being reminded about tithing?
1 Corinthians 3
vs10 ‘…According to the Grace of God, which was given to me, like a wise master builder I laid a foundation, and another is building on it. But each person must be careful how he builds on it…’
vs11 ‘…For no one can lay a foundation other than the one which is laid, which is Jesus Christ…’ NASB (New American Standard Bible)
These churches are lying to their members.
The Bible uses the metaphor of ‘MEAT’ to refer to multiple things, including spiritual food, spiritual comfort, and the more complex doctrines of the gospel. Some Christians believe that the ‘MEAT of the Word’ is a way to gain God’s strength, vision, and hearing, and to learn the first principles of God’s oracles. Others believe that ‘strong spiritual MEAT’ is a way to become skilled in righteousness by using one’s mind and God’s Spirit to discern right from wrong.
The Word of God is often referred to as spiritual MEAT, providing believers with wisdom and guidance to grow in their faith. MEAT symbolizes the physical body, sin and the need to submit ourselves to God’s power.
What is some of the MOST significant MEAT found in our Bibles?
Ephesians 2
vs8 ‘…For by grace you have been saved through faith; and this is not of yourselves, it is the gift of God…’
vs9 ‘…not a result of works, so that no one may boast…’ NASB (New American Standard Bible)
Vs8, to me, must be one of the meatier meals found in our Bibles.
vs8 ‘…For by grace you have been saved through faith…’ ‘…IT IS THE GIFT OF GOD…’
It is through our FAITH that we’re saved. There is no tithing! There is no we MUST go to church on Sunday mornings!! There are no bells to ring or hoops to jump through!!!
Rather it is a GIFT that God has given to each one of us. It’s FREE.
Why don’t our churches JUST focus on this FAITH?
During Jesus’ Ministry to the people of this earth, we were told a fact that many have overlooked today.
Matthew 15
vs22 ‘…A woman was living in this part of the country. She was one of the Canaanite people. She came to see Jesus. She was shouting with a loud voice, Son of David, help me, sir! A bad spirit is living inside my daughter. It is giving her much pain…’
vs23 ‘…Jesus did not say anything to the woman. So, his disciples came to him. They said, please, send this woman away. She is following us, and she is making a lot of noise…’
vs24 ‘…Jesus replied to his disciples, God has sent me to help only the people of Israel. They are like sheep that have lost their way…’
vs25 ‘…Then the woman came to Jesus, and she went down on her knees in front of him. Sir, please help me,’ she said…’
vs26 ‘…Jesus did answer the woman this time. He said, it is not right to take food from the children and then throw it to the dogs…’
vs27 ‘…The woman replied to Jesus. Yes sir, that is true. But even the dogs eat the small pieces of food that fall from their master’s table…’
vs28 ‘…Jesus answered her, Woman, you show clearly that you believe in God. God will do what you have asked. At that moment the woman’s daughter became well again…’ EASY (Easy English Bible)
There are so many things in just these few verses.
1st off the woman was a Gentile, she was a Canaanite (vs22).
2nd Jesus came to this earth to only serve the House of Israel [the Jews] (vs24).
3rd at the time of Jesus’ ministry, Gentiles were referred to as ‘dogs’ (vs26).
4th it was the woman’s FAITH (her BELIEF) that made her daughter well (vs28).
The Bible can teach us much about this FAITH.
Hebrews 11:6
‘…And without faith it is impossible to please Him, for the one who comes to God must believe that He exists, and that He proves to be One who rewards those who seek Him…’ NASB (New American Standard Bible)
‘…No one can please God without faith, for whoever comes to God must have faith that God exists and rewards those who seek him…’ GNT (Good News Translation)
Romans 10
vs8 ‘…What it says is this: God’s message is near you, on your lips and in your heart—that is, the message of faith that we preach…’
vs9 ‘…If you confess that Jesus is Lord and believe that God raised him from death, you will be saved…’
vs10 ‘…For it is by our faith that we are put right with God; it is by our confession that we are saved…’
vs11 ‘…The scripture says, whoever believes in him will not be disappointed…’
vs12 ‘…This includes everyone, because there is no difference between Jews and Gentiles; God is the same Lord of all and richly blesses all who call to him…’
vs13 ‘…As the scripture says, everyone who calls out to the Lord for help will be saved…’
vs14 ‘…But how can they call to him for help if they have not believed? And how can they believe if they have not heard the message? And how can they hear if the message is not proclaimed…’
vs15 ‘…And how can the message be proclaimed if the messengers are not sent out? As the scripture says, how wonderful is the coming of messengers who bring good news…’
vs16 ‘…But not all have accepted the Good News. Isaiah himself said, Lord, who believed our message…’
vs17 ‘…So then, faith comes from hearing the message, and the message comes through preaching Christ…’ GNT (Good News Translation)
There are many verses in the Bible regarding FAITH. It is up to each one of us to seek and learn those verses so we can apply what we learn into our daily lives so we can be sure that we’re following how
God wants us to live.
I searched and searched and searched for the perfect verse on FAITH …
… but think about it, if I need to show a physical verse on ‘FAITH,’ to a person to have that faith, I have just given the explanation for what it means to NOT have ‘REAL’ FAITH.
Continue studying His Word. I love y’all.
Jesus, I pray that those ears and eyes, either listening or seeing this message today would be opened to the very fullest and allow Your love to come inside their lives and comfort them. Teach us Jesus. Protect us. We love You. Amen
InHIM. ><)))o>