Bible Studies

---

One of the appliances that comes with a modern, up-to- date kitchen, is a garbage disposal.

In the spiritual realm, God has installed a garbage disposal device in the edified soul structure (1) Matt. 7: 24-27 of an advancing disciple.

However, a garbage disposal can only get rid of what we choose to place into it. Any garbage that we choose to hang onto, remains and continues to be a part of our thought processes.

Unfortunately, a garbage disposal can also grind up things of value if they are accidentally or unwittingly sent through the device.

Therefore, one must exercise due care when making use of the device, and not throw the baby out with the wash water.

It is what we have (or don’t have) in our soul structures that determines the way we think (2) Proverbs 23: 7a.

The way we think is what sets the stage for ALL that we say and do.

“But the (negative) things that come out of the mouth come from the heart (soul structure), and those things defile the person. For out of the heart (soul structure) come evil thoughts, (leading to) murders, acts of adultery, other immoral sexual acts, thefts, false testimonies, and slanderous statements (Matt. 15: 18, 19 NASB2020 parentheses mine).”

At the same time, God will use the accurate Bible Doctrine that we have stored away in our soul structures for our benefit, and for the evangelization and or edification of others (3) John 14: 25, 26.

Advancing disciples are commanded to make regular inspections (4) 2Cor. 13: 5 of their soul structures for the purpose of detecting and removing the garbage that they have allowed to become a part of their soul structure and accompanying thought processes.

2Cor. 13: 5 NASB2020 speaks of being “in the faith.” Being “in the faith” means to be consistently applying the doctrine that one has learned to all that one thinks, says, and does, 24/7.

When our physical body metabolizes the natural food and liquids we feed it, the food and liquids are converted into the means to maintain life and to support physical activity.

In the same way, spiritual metabolism in the soul structure takes place when it is fed with the Word of God, supplying the necessary knowledge needed to execute the post salvation spiritual life.

All the damage that malnutrition can do to the physical body, spiritual malnutrition can do to the soul. A body or soul that is not fed and exercised on a regular basis, can become weak, inactive, and unproductive.

Garbage in the soul can be divided into two categories.

Category number one is information that challenges or contradicts what Scripture has to say about any thought, word, or activity that it labels as sin. Through human reasoning (5), encouraged and promoted by the desires of the fallen nature within us, we can easily rationalize, and even self-justify, just about anything, as fallen Man has mastered the art of calling what is evil good, and what is good evil (6).

Yet in our heart of hearts, we DO know when what we are doing (or not doing) is contrary to what an open-minded examination of Scripture would reveal.

The truth is that many of us would rather live in the comfort zone of ignorance or denial, than face the challenges that the truth would bring.

Category number two is harder to identify. The reason is that, like counterfeit currency, it APPEARS to look right, feel right, and to accomplish its intended purpose.

Category number two consists of, but is not limited to, false religious teachings, often coming from wolves clothed in sheep’s clothing (7) Matt.7: 15); spiritually blind religious leadership (8) Matt. 15: 14); trusted, well-intentioned, but misguided family members and friends (9) Luke 14: 26); our own fallen nature within us (10) that is open to human viewpoint, but inherently hostile (11) towards the things of God; demons (12); all having the full endorsement of the devil himself.

With spiritual discernment, one can see that in the realm of spiritual warfare, the devil has many sources through which garbage can be placed in our soul structures.

“Be of sober spirit, be on the alert. Your adversary, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour (1Pet. 5:8 NASB2020).”

The devil can do nothing to the integrity of the salvation that a born again believer has already received (13), but can do much to dissuade and to distract a born-again believers from participating in the Great Commission. When successful, God is denied the glory, and the believer forfeits reward (14).
. . .

Our primary means of defense is accurate knowledge of what the Bible has to say (15). With this knowledge, we can detect and destroy the (16) incoming missiles of (false information) launched by our aforementioned spiritual adversaries.

Sometimes these missiles of erroneous information are launched maliciously, but often times they are launched with the best of intentions. As the old saying goes, the road to Hell is paved with good intentions. A bullet fired in ignorance can be just as lethal as the one that is fired with malicious intent.

In the times in which we are living, the soul structures of advancing disciples are under a daily bombardment of false information and garbage, promoted in the media, forms of entertainment, apostate religious institutions, and sad to say, that include some that are WITHIN the Christian Community (17).

Some of these missiles WILL get through. They are designed to appeal to the fallen nature within us. If the fire of the exploding missile is not put out, it will promote a desire to satisfy the demands of our fallen nature.

1Cor. 13: 5 examinations, based on Acts 17:10 guidance, will identify the garbage that is in our soul structures. But such examinations will not do us any good if it is not followed up by repentance and correction (18).

Our memory banks in our soul structure is like that of a computer. Whatever information (good or bad) we put in, is going to impact the quality of its output.

The advancing disciple will make it a daily practice to continue to supply his soul structure with accurate or corrected Bible Doctrine, and to rid itself of any accumulating garbage.

--------

(1) Matt.7: 24-27 (2) Prov. 23: 7a (3) John 14: 25, 26 (4) 2Cor. 13: 5 (5) Gen. 3: 6 (6) Isa. 5: 20 (7) Matt. 7:15 (8) Matt. 15: 14 (9) Luke 14: 26 (10) Rom. 7:23 (11) Rom. 8: 7) (12) Gal.3: 1/1Tim. 4: 1 (13) Romans 8: 1 (14) 1Cor. 3: 15 (15) Hosea 4: 6) (16) Eph. 6: 16 (17) 1Tim. 4: 1 (18) James 1: 22

---

PLEASE ENCOURAGE AUTHOR BELOW LEAVE COMMENT ON ARTICLE