Bible Studies

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1 Tim 6:3-10
If anyone teaches false doctrines and does not agree to the sound instruction of our Lord Jesus Christ and to godly teaching, he is conceited and understands nothing. He has an unhealthy interest in controversies and quarrels about words that result in envy, strife, malicious talk, evil suspicions and constant friction between men of corrupt mind, who have been robbed of the truth and who think that godliness is a means to financial gain.

But godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it. But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that. People who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge men into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.
NIV

What is the importance of the gospel? Is it the benefits of serving the Lord, his promises of prosperity, and long fruitful lives to those that love him with all their heart, and obey all of his commandments? To eat the good of the land, flowing with milk and honey, and to all that you put your hand to will be blessed. To be the head, and not the tail, and to lend to many, but borrow from none. To have exceedingly abundantly above all we could ask or think. Is this really the importance of the gospel? True it is a great benefits package offered to all who believe in the Son of God, but the benefits are not the most important thing.

So maybe it is the miracles, and gifts of the spirit, we receive, when we become born again. Speaking in tongues of angles, laying on the hands, and prophesying; interpreting dreams, casting out demons, and divine visions. However, even these precious gifts of God are not the most important reason for the gospel. Jesus said in the day of judgment, many will say, “Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name cast out demons and perform many miracles? Then I will tell them plainly, I never knew you. Away from me you evil doers. (Math 7:22,23)”

So what is the most important thing about the gospel? Well, Jesus is the most important, for God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten son, so all who call upon his name shall be saved! This is the gospel that is to be preached unto the ends of the earth. The Son of God became the Son of Man, and came down to his own, but his own knew him not. He was cursed, beaten and hung to death upon a tree, but he arouse on the third day, and ascended to heaven; to sit at the right hand of the Father, and all who call upon his name shall be saved from the lake of fire. All who do not seek him are dead were they stand.

Well what can be said then, and why are some churches moving towards the benefits, and not the important things? Jesus said seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness and all these things will be given to you. He did not say seek first the benefits, and what God can do for you. Is it not written that man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God? In fact, the apostles did not seek after gifts of the spirit, it was given unto them as they prayed and forsook God’s face. So why then do you hear preachers and evangelist wailing of prosperity, and blessings, and all that God will give you? Why do they say, “send in your tithes and you will be blessed?” This is not the gospel, no, it is robbery, for that is not tithing. When the Jews were commanded to tithe, they were to take a tenth of their first fruits, and the best of their flocks, and then they were to take it to the place were the Lord commanded them, and they were to all gather together, and share the tithe with the Levites and all were to eat and rejoice in the blessings of the Lord, and every third year they were to invite the aliens, widows, and orphans to share in it also. However, today, tithing is being warped into making one rich. You robbers, you will pay the penalty. No, what you need is a gift offering, do not warp the word of the Lord! Take the tithes and share them with the poor, and the widows. Share them with the aliens, the orphans, and the widows. Oh how wicked men are, it is disgusting to see one man or woman taking a tithe from one who is driving an old beat-up vehicle, while the one taking the tithe is driving a brand new BMW. You wicked servant, do you not know that those who teach will be judged more severally.

This writer once applied to a large world wide ministry, and during the interview I was told that the evangelist did not draw a salary from the church, but from the royalties of the books that they sold. However, the editorial department was paid by the church, so the evangelist was using church money to create his books, and all of the royalties were going straight into his pocket. It was on that day, that this writer had learned a valuable lesson, be as wise as a serpent, but gentle as a dove. Take your tithe and do what is right with it. Feed and clothe the poor, and help the widows and orphans in their time of need. This is the religion that our Father finds pure and without fault. If God moves you to support a ministry, then by all means send them an offering, but with your tithes do what is right, and do what the scriptures says to do, for Jesus stated, “what ever you do to the least of these, you do to me.”

You can not serve God and money, and if you say you can, then you call Jesus a liar. If you say you have no sin, then you are a liar, and the truth is not in you (1 John). In fact, why would you seek after these things? Are you in it for the money? Is it for your benefit, or is it for God’s benefit? A poor man who serves the Lord is rich in faith, and his peace is in the Lord, and not in money. Surely he lacks nothing, for his dependence is on God. Sure, seek and you shall find, but how much more if it is for God’s benefit? If you are at peace because you are well off financially, then your peace is limited, for all things will pass away, but if you are poor, then your only option is God, for your dependence is fully on him to provide all of your needs. This is what Paul stated, when he boasted that he preached the gospel free of charge, for in the time of judgment, he would be able to stand in front of our Lord, boldly, for his motive was not for sale, but for God’s benefit. So is this writer stating that making a living on the gospel is wrong? By no means, for those that preach the gospel have every right to make their living by the gospel, but that should not be the reason for preaching it.

The reasons for preaching the gospel is apparent, it is to do the will of our Father in heaven, and his will is to believe in the one that he had sent, and the one he had sent was our perfect example. He did absolutely nothing for himself, but only what his Father commanded him to do, and Jesus stated that a student can not be greater than his master, but it is enough to be just like him. To each miracle he performed, there was a divine purpose to it. If he had performed the miracles for his own glory, then it would be for evil, and not God. However, the Lord was obedient unto death, and then the LORD said to my Lord, “come sit at my right hand as I make your enemies your foot stool.” So with this said, the importance of the gospel is crystal clear, and Jesus is the focal point.

So am I saying that all ministries are evil? Not at all, however, some are, and some are not. Jesus said you will know them by their fruit, but even the very elect can be fooled if they are not paying attention. Even so, Jesus also stated that those who are for us, are not against us, and if they bring people over from darkness unto the light, then Jesus will take care of it, when they call out for him. Be aware though, and listen with caution. Read the full scriptures for yourself, and do not pull out verses for your own desires. Sure, the word of the Lord will not return void, but you have to read the entire paragraph before it, and after it, in order to fully understand what you are reading.

In all things know this, that Jesus is the gospel, and that all things are empowered by him, for him, and through him. He is the key that will open the gate of darkness, and the guiding light, so you will find your way through. Do not place your dependency upon men, for all men’s hearts are evil from birth. Instead, seek after God, and he will guide you in paths of righteousness. Read the scriptures for yourself, and do not place human intellect into them, for our intelligence can not comprehend it, we can only analyze what we know, but God’s knowledge is far superior than ours. Instead, know his nature. Know that he is the great I AM. Know that he is full of mercy, rich in kindness, and overflowing with compassion; know that he is gentle, slow to anger, and yearns for what is good for his people. Also know that he requires us to do good unto all our fellow man, even to those who hate us, or sin, and have mercy upon everyone, just as his mercy extends over to those who hate him, even though he despises the vileness of their nature.

Those who teach are not shepherds, but only messengers, for how can one sinner guild another sinner. Both may trip and fall, or stub their toe in the darkness. No man can be called teacher, and there is no man who can be called master. No, only Jesus is the true teacher, and only he is the true master. He is the good Shepherd, for he is untainted by the world, for who among men can say, “I am pure on my own?” He who says this is a liar, for no man or woman can be pure on their own. Only Jesus can make us pure, even though we are not pure. Let no man or woman have glory, but only by Jesus our Lord, and may only he be exalted, for he is worthy of praise. He is the gospel that is to be preached unto the ends of the earth, for God’s will is that none should parish, but receive life though his Son, and all who have a sincere heart for him, will be saved from wraith, but those who practice iniquity, will be thrown into the lake of fire, even those who prophesy in his name, and cast out demons, and perform many miracles. However, those whose walk is blameless, and who does what is righteous, and who speaks the truth from his heart, and has no slander on his tongue. Whoever does his neighbor no wrong and casts no slur on his fellowman, but despises the nature of a vile man, but honors those who fear the LORD, and keeps their oath even when it hurts, and who lends their money without charging interest; these are the true honorable servants of our Lord (Psalm 15).

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