Lessons From The Woman At The Well

1Corinthians 13: ⁴ Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. ⁵ It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. ⁶ Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. ⁷ It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.

Apostle Paul

 

Let’s set up the setting here for a moment. Jesus has decided to return back to Galilee from Judea but to do so He must travel through lots of desert terrain. It is hot, dry and while walking in the sun thirst builds. But to get from Judea to Galilee He chose to travel through Samaria, which the Jews at the time avoided doing and instead would opt to walk around than through. But He loved her, a gentile, so much that He chose to go through Samaria. At some point mid-day Jesus’ thirst built and so He headed into an area where there was a well. At the well was a woman.

You might be saying what is so strange about a woman being at the well it was common place that the woman of a household was gathering water. True in some sense, but there are a couple of hidden messages:

1. No one collected water in the heat of the mid-day sun. It was preposterous to do so, for this woman to do this she must have been some outcast amongst her people the Samaritans. Which is weird in and of itself for the Samaritans were an outcast group as it was. So she was an outcast within outcasts, so this must mean that she is a rather wicked person as far as her people go.

 

1. The other hidden message that I really want to focus on is how Jesus dealt with the woman. It is really the crux of the story. I think casual reading has made us really miss this point. It is glazed over with the sort of understanding of what the story is, which is a good point but not that I want to make here.

 

Jesus comes to the well and sits and rests for a moment because the journey was so tiring (John 4:6). While sitting there resting a woman comes out to the well and Jesus asks for a drink from her. He knows full well who she is and what her issue really is but he first establishes a relationship with her.

Nowadays we think it takes time to build a relationship but all it takes is just a few moments to establish a rapport. Jesus was doing just that with the woman, so that she would be more open to Him. But after asking the woman to get Him a drink of water she asks why would a Jew (they considered themselves to be above the Samaritans) speak to her a Samaritan. It is a good question with a good answer; Jesus loved her as He loves all of us.

Jesus then points out that if she knew who He truly was that she would be willing to ask for the real water which can only come from Him. It is the living waters which is the life in which those who have faith in Jesus receive from Him, everlasting life (John 4:10-14). Notice that Jesus is talking of normal things but leading her to talk of spiritual things.

At this point the woman asks for this water that only He can give; but look what Jesus does next. In John 4:16 Jesus then asks her to go and call her husband. Here Jesus is swinging the conversation from the natural to the spiritual. He is getting to the point by revealing the truth of her spiritual condition, the hidden sin in which she is separated from all the others is coming out of the darkness and into the light. And He is doing this without being combative or judgmental.

In other words He isn’t Bible thumping her. He isn’t screaming you harlot, adultress, or slut. He isn’t whacking her over the head with scripture brow beating her into submission. No not one bit. But neither does he wiggle around the truth.

Jesus gets the truth revealed about her sinful life in a manner that doesn’t beat her up and abuse her spiritually. He does it in love, leading her to the spiritual water with the truth. She then says she has no husband in John 4:17 and Jesus replies in verse 18 that she has spoke rightly in that she has had five husbands and the man that she is with now isn’t her husband. This is the truth (Jesus being the truth as stated in John 14:6) it has been brought to the light so that she may be set free (John 8:32,36) by Him. And she admits that what He says is true in John 4:19.

Of course I tell you this story because I think it is the perfect example of how we are to present the Gospel to others. Jesus here spoke the truth but he did it in a way that was respectful and with love. Paul wrote in 1Corinthians 13:

1  Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal. 2  And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing. 3  And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not charity, it profiteth me nothing. 4  Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up, 5  Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil; 6  Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth;

Love is the key when we present the truth to others. For whatever we do if we do not do it with love what good is it. This includes presenting the Gospel to those lost or straying from the truth.

However, too often people go for the attack of the jugular. We want to go for the instant kill. We feel that by being brutally honest that we will slay the beast which is sin. But what we are doing is like wielding a sword and swinging it around recklessly in hopes that we will slay the dragon. In other words we are trying to crack an egg with a hammer, and we know what will happen next: Splat.

Jesus was only brutally honest to the Pharisees and Sadducees because they should have known better. They were the learned men who were the spiritual leaders, so they should have known better. When Jesus confronted their hypocrisy He was brutally honest calling them out as hypocrites. Or when he turned over the tables and whipped the moneychangers in the temple court. Then and only then was Jesus combative.

However with the rest of the world, the sinners, the sick, and the lost Jesus confronted them in love and truth. He was respectful in his approach. He lead them to the truth not bash them over the head with the torah. What He did was show love and mercy but all the same time brought out the truth in them.

Leading people to the truth takes building a relationship and showing real love and concern. If we go in calling everyone Satan, liar, Jezebel, whore, slut or sinner, then how do we ever expect to get them to listen to the Gospel? Their defenses will be up and we will never break through. And every time they meet Christians their guard will come up and if they confront more Bible thumping their anger towards us will get deeper and deeper. When dealing with those that you come across that know not the Gospel or know the wrong Gospel keep “The Woman at the Well” in mind and lead people to the living waters and not bash them into submission. For if we have not love, what good is it? Don’t forget truth, but remember to do it in love and mercy.

Humility

Humility is to make a right estimate of one’s self.
Charles Spurgeon

In this latest installment of building character we are going to look at humility. It is important to be humble, it does build character in us. We are called to be humble, but why? It says in Proverbs 22:4:

By humility and the fear of the LORD are riches, and honour, and life.

But how do we get there?

Humility as Spurgeon puts it is making a right estimate of one’s self. It is an important key to understanding who we are in Christ and what we really believe. It is admitting to yourself as well as to others that you have faults and that you are open to learning how to be more Christ like. The Apostle Paul wrote of himself in 1Timothy 1:15:

This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief.

Paul had a deep understanding of God and who he was in Him. However, he was humble before God and men by admitting that he was chief among the sinners. How deep is that? Wouldn’t you like to be like Paul to have the courage to say that about yourself to others and really mean it?

Instead like most men we try to hide our faults from others in order to give the appearance of perfection. We feel  by showing this face when we are out in public, while all along we have a secret face no one sees, that we can be the light to the world that Jesus wants us to be. But who are we kidding?

All too often we Christians are called hypocrites by those around us. Maybe just maybe we are not kidding anyone but ourselves. Jesus says of the Pharisees in Matthew 23:28:

Even so ye also outwardly appear righteous unto men, but within ye are full of hypocrisy and iniquity.

Are we just as the Pharisees were? Are we hypocrites who proclaim righteousness when we are really filled with iniquity? So many people are saying we are just that, hypocrites. Maybe we need to take a good hard look at ourselves and take a reality check. We should be asking ourselves a couple of questions:

1. Are we living the life in which we are called to by Jesus?
2. If so are we living to His standards, why? Is it for God or ourselves?

Clearly I cannot answer those questions for you, but you’ll just have to answer them for yourself. As for me I know that I have my faults and I can identify them. These are the things that I must constantly be aware of in my walk in Christ as they can hinder me. To be honest I can be stubborn, especially when I think I am right, I can be prideful if not careful and anger can get the best of me especially when I feel an injustice has been committed. Yes, I confess those faults as the Bible tells us to in James 5:16:

James 5:16 Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.

Confessing our faults brings out the truth in us, and as we all know Jesus said, “Ye shall know the truth and the truth shall set you free” (John 8:32). When we confess our faults it is so freeing to us. Why?

Confessing our faults is freeing because we no longer have to spend the energy to hide that in which we don’t want known. We are trying to keep things in the darkness hoping it never comes to light. It is tiring, taxing and draining all our energy when we try to hide things from others. This is why we are told to confess our faults to one another.

All of us need a little grace from time to time. I’m no different. There have been times in my life when I hurt those around me. I was hurting and wanted others to feel my pain. So I would lash out at them with hurtful things and the worst part is I have always been gifted, even at a young age, with the ability to know a person even one that I just met.

I have the ability to understand what makes them work just after a few minutes of talking, knowing things like what kind of person they are and what their darkest fear might be. Don’t ask me how I just somehow know. As I said it is a gift but at times a curse. This can be used for good but it can also be used for that which is evil.  So I really have to keep it in check and I have spent many years bridling my tongue as the scripture says in James 1:26.

James also goes on to say in Chapter 3 verses 2-6 that the tongue is a dangerous thing and like a bit in the horse’s mouth to help steer its direction we too should control our speech. Verse 6 really tells you why:

6  And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity: so is the tongue among our members, that it defileth the whole body, and setteth on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire of hell.

Of course I’m mostly paraphrasing but you get the idea. It is a gift where I can heal people but a curse when I am angry and refuse to control it. It took time to humble myself and understand that I wasn’t right in using it to hurt others. Thank God that He gave me the chances to practices bridling my tongue. Without His help I would be very dangerous. But praise the Lord I have control now, because of years of work and practice.

But I digress and have gotten a little off course here. The point of the matter is by being humble we have the ability to change ourselves. As we change ourselves we grow and our character is built up. We become more Christ like. I think this is what Paul meant when he said that we are to work out our own salvation with fear and trembling (Philippians 2:12). It is a journey that we must take to become more like Him.

Look into your heart and meditate upon the word of God. Be with Him and seek out who you are in Him and what things need to be changed in your life. Don’t fear in bringing it to light by telling others, it is a freeing feeling. Listen to what the Lord has to say and take every opportunity you get to practice changing your ways.

Proverbs 29:23 says:

A man’s pride shall bring him low: but honour shall uphold the humble in spirit.

Being humble brings us honor that shall uphold us. Isn’t that a great feeling? When we have honor and our heart is in the right place we can be the light of the world and a city that is set on a hill that cannot be hid. Humility creates character in us. If we want to affect the world we must first change ourselves from within. To do that we must be honest with ourselves and make the right assessments that are needed to make the changes we need in our lives to become the person Christ has called us to be.

Power Of Prayer

“In the beginning of the contest with Britain, when we were sensible of danger, we had daily prayers in this room for Divine protection. Our prayers. Sir, were heard and they were graciously answered. All of us who were engaged in the struggle must have observed frequent instances of a superintending Providence in our favor.  .  .  And have we now forgotten this powerful Friend? Or do we imagine we no longer need His assistance? “I have lived, Sir, a long time, and the longer I live, the more convincing proofs I see of this truth: ‘that God governs in the affairs of man.’ And if a sparrow cannot fail to the ground without His notice, is it probable that an empire can rise without His aid? We have been assured, Sir, in the Sacred Writings that except the Lord build the house, they labor in vain that build it. I firmly believe this. I also believe that, without His concurring aid, we shall succeed [no better] in this political building than the builders of Babel.  .  . “I therefore beg leave to move that, henceforth, prayers imploring the assistance of Heaven and its blessing on our deliberation be held in this assembly every morning before we proceed to business.  .  .”

Benjamin Franklin

This is the first blog of the many to come which is about changing our characteristics to become the light of the world and thereby changing the society in which we live by setting the example. Prayer is where it begin. What can really be said about prayer, except it connects us to Jesus. It is the time we spend with Him who loved us so much that He gave His life for us on the cross. Prayer is our speed dial connecting us to our Heavenly Father when we want to talk with Him. I don’t know about you but I look forwards to spending time with Jesus every day. No excuses can be made for not making that important call. We cannot say that it costs too much for it is a free local call, we don’t need to wait on any special deals as free nights and weekends we have total and free access now. And there is no time like the present to make that call. He is waiting for you, if you want to do that now go right ahead I can wait….

Unfortunately many of us believers ignore him when times are good but as soon as the wind changes directions and we start getting of course we are calling him in a flash like he is a 911 call. We want our call to go something like this:

Me: Help me Lord.

God: God here, what can I do for you?

Me: Lord I’m struggling with my finances could please help me or I’m going to lose my house.

God: Help is being dispatched right away please hold on until it arrives

Me: Thank you Lord the money has arrived.

God: Okay glad to be of assistance.

Now I’m not making light of people or prayer here but many of us pray only when we need something. Rarely do we remember to say thank you for a regular average day, or for the cup of coffee we just received. We haven’t built a relationship with Him. We just call in times of need. But Christianity isn’t a religion it is a relationship with our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

Too often we treat God like we treat our earthly parents when we first moved away from home. Rarely did we call them just to say hi or that we love and miss them. We would call them and go through all the niceties acting like that is why we called then there would be that long awkward pause and perhaps a couple of ums. Then we would spring into it and say something like and yeah Mom/Dad I need a little cash would it be possible to help?”.

For some people it was because of the relationships they had with their parents, for others our lives were so busy. But God wants more with us. He wants us to let him in to our lives scripture says:

Revelations 3:20 Behold, 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.

God wants so much for us to let Him into our lives but we tend to shut him off. We don’t make those so awaited calls to the Lord until we are in dire need and we need Him to help us out of a jam.

How would you feel if your child would do that to you all the time? I’m sure you’d be like myself and be hurt and disappointed. But none the less we would try to help our child when they need us. But there comes a time when we must let them learn for themselves the importance of not treating us as a problem solver or an ATM. It says in  Proverbs 1:24-28:

24  Because I have called, and ye refused; I have stretched out my hand, and no man regarded; 25  But ye have set at nought all my counsel, and would none of my reproof: 26  I also will laugh at your calamity; I will mock when your fear cometh; 27  When your fear cometh as desolation, and your destruction cometh as a whirlwind; when distress and anguish cometh upon you. 28  Then shall they call upon me, but I will not answer; they shall seek me early, but they shall not find me:

God isn’t going to listen to us if we are indifferent to Him. If every day of our lives we seem to act as if He isn’t there, when the day comes when we need Him he won’t be there for us. Why?

Simple answer God desires a real relationship with us and a real relationship requires work. We must communicate with one another. We communicate with Jesus through prayer, meditation and studying His word. Spending time with Him daily and as scripture says without ceasing (1Thessalonians 5:17) is important to Him and to us. Scripture says:

Romans 12:12  Rejoicing in hope; patient in tribulation; continuing instant in prayer;

Ephesians 6:18  Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints;

Colossians 4:2 ¶  Continue in prayer, and watch in the same with thanksgiving;

Prayer is something we should do to give thanks, ask for wisdom, strength and etc. Prayer is a way to get to know God’s word. It is during prayer that we can ask for wisdom in matters of our lives. It says in James 1:5:

If 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.

God is an awesome God who loves His children and wants to give good gifts. But we must have a relationship with Him. It says in Matthew 7:22-23:

22  Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?

23  And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.

Jesus is saying that even if you do all these things in His name but don’t have a relationship with Him, He will deny that He knows you. Do you want to be known to Jesus?  Well that requires spending quality time with Him. Pray to Him, it will change you and your life. I have a challenge for you; For the next 30 days spend time with the Lord. Pray to Him, tell Him what is going on in your life, give thanks for what He has done for you, tell Him your needs and confess to Him when you mess up. But make that call, it costs you nothing but your time and it is time well spent. Remember also to give Him time to speak to you through His Word, study and meditate at the same time and God will answer. Blessings.

A Moral and Religious People

A Moral and Religious People

The time has come that Christians must vote for honest men and take consistent ground in politics or the Lord will curse them. . . . Christians have been exceedingly guilty in this matter. But the time has come when they must act differently. . . . Christians seem to act as if they thought God did not see what they do in politics. But I tell you He does see it – and He will bless or curse this nation according to the course they [Christians] take [in politics].

Charles Finney

 

With this political season heating up I just felt I should take a few moments to address this issue. For too long the church has been silent in the political arena, and no I am not advocating a church telling people who to vote for, if they do run away as fast as possible. What I am advocating however is for the church to preach on what qualities and character we should be looking for in a candidate. But more than that, we should be looking into the quality and character that “We the People” must have within ourselves and how we should stand “with a firm reliance on the protection of divine Providence” (Declaration of Independence). Over the next few months up to the election I will take time to address these issues at hand. But for now we will discuss the reasons for this need.

On July 4, 1776 our nation was born a free and independent nation from the tyranny of King George III of Britain. Our founding fathers risked their lives, fortunes and sacred honor knowing that if they failed they would be treated as traitors to the crown. Men such as General George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Ben Franklin, John Adams and many other men stood firm in their “reliance on the protection of divine Providence”. They created a nation which according to John Adams:

We have no government armed with power capable of contending with human passions unbridled by morality and religion. . . . Our constitution was made only for a moral and religious people. It is wholly inadequate to the government of any other.

Our nation “was made for a moral and religious people” according to Adams. But over the last century it seems we have lost our way, with it speeding up even faster over the last couple of decades. But why? Why is our nation, who overcame great odds by defeating the greatest nation on earth at the time of the Revolutionary War, the War of 1812, The Civil War, two World Wars, The Korean War, The Vietnam War, and most recently the War on Terrorism, coming apart at the seams?

Do you really want the Truth? Or would you rather remain blind? God said in Leviticus 26:

3  If ye walk in my statutes, and keep my commandments, and do them;

4  Then I will give you rain in due season, and the land shall yield her increase, and the trees of the field shall yield their fruit.

5  And your threshing shall reach unto the vintage, and the vintage shall reach unto the sowing time: and ye shall eat your bread to the full, and dwell in your land safely.

6  And I will give peace in the land, and ye shall lie down, and none shall make you afraid: and I will rid evil beasts out of the land, neither shall the sword go through your land.

7  And ye shall chase your enemies, and they shall fall before you by the sword.

8  And five of you shall chase an hundred, and an hundred of you shall put ten thousand to flight: and your enemies shall fall before you by the sword.

9  For I will have respect unto you, and make you fruitful, and multiply you, and establish my covenant with you.

10  And ye shall eat old store, and bring forth the old because of the new.

11  And I will set my tabernacle among you: and my soul shall not abhor you.

12  And I will walk among you, and will be your God, and ye shall be my people.

Now it is clear God said if we live according to His purpose we will be blessed. Of course this a promise made to Israel but it really can be applied anywhere. If we hearken unto Him and His way we will be blessed.

With that said there is the other side of the coin, God also in Leviticus 26 gives a stern warning:

14 ¶  But if ye will not hearken unto me, and will not do all these commandments;

15  And if ye shall despise my statutes, or if your soul abhor my judgments, so that ye will not do all my commandments, but that ye break my covenant:

16  I also will do this unto you; I will even appoint over you terror, consumption, and the burning ague, that shall consume the eyes, and cause sorrow of heart: and ye shall sow your seed in vain, for your enemies shall eat it.

17  And I will set my face against you, and ye shall be slain before your enemies: they that hate you shall reign over you; and ye shall flee when none pursueth you.

18  And if ye will not yet for all this hearken unto me, then I will punish you seven times more for your sins.

19  And I will break the pride of your power; and I will make your heaven as iron, and your earth as brass:

20  And your strength shall be spent in vain: for your land shall not yield her increase, neither shall the trees of the land yield their fruits.

21  And if ye walk contrary unto me, and will not hearken unto me; I will bring seven times more plagues upon you according to your sins.

22  I will also send wild beasts among you, which shall rob you of your children, and destroy your cattle, and make you few in number; and your high ways shall be desolate.

23  And if ye will not be reformed by me by these things, but will walk contrary unto me;

24  Then will I also walk contrary unto you, and will punish you yet seven times for your sins.

25  And I will bring a sword upon you, that shall avenge the quarrel of my covenant: and when ye are gathered together within your cities, I will send the pestilence among you; and ye shall be delivered into the hand of the enemy.

26  And when I have broken the staff of your bread, ten women shall bake your bread in one oven, and they shall deliver you your bread again by weight: and ye shall eat, and not be satisfied.

27  And if ye will not for all this hearken unto me, but walk contrary unto me;

28  Then I will walk contrary unto you also in fury; and I, even I, will chastise you seven times for your sins.

29  And ye shall eat the flesh of your sons, and the flesh of your daughters shall ye eat.

30  And I will destroy your high places, and cut down your images, and cast your carcases upon the carcases of your idols, and my soul shall abhor you.

31  And I will make your cities waste, and bring your sanctuaries unto desolation, and I will not smell the savour of your sweet odours.

32  And I will bring the land into desolation: and your enemies which dwell therein shall be astonished at it.

I understand there is a lot here but we must know why we as a nation are in the mess we are in. For almost a century now we have been falling further and further away from the Lord. He has given us opportunity and chance after chance to return to Him. But it seems like it is falling upon deaf ears. God will not take it much longer, we see warning sign after warning sign.

Over the last couple of decades we’ve seen economic crisis after economic crisis, we’ve seen the greatest act of terrorism strike our country that we have ever seen, we have to keep borrowing from others to make our payments, there has been an increase of natural disasters laying waste to our food supplies, little by little driving prices through the roof, and now we see our nation coming undone. How much more has to happen before we wake up? And even if we do wake up will it be too little too late? With man this is impossible but nothing is impossible with God (Matthew 19:26).

But as a nation we must turn back to God and seek His mercy and grace upon our nation. But before we can begin to do that we must first look into ourselves and see if we are bearing good fruit or bad fruit. Are we of the good tree or the bad tree? I believe that our leaders do not define who we are as a nation but we define our leaders because of who we are as a nation and where our hearts lie.

If our leaders are corrupt it is because we as a people are corrupt or are too lazy to fight it. If our leaders are immoral it is because we are immoral or too complacent to fight for what is right. If our leaders over extend our credit it is because we as a nation have no fiscal responsibility either. Our leaders reflect who we have become and the leaders in our church and the church itself remains silent.

Reverend Charles Finney once said:

Brethren, our preaching will bear its legitimate fruits. If immorality prevails in the land, the fault is ours in a great degree. If there is a decay of conscience, the pulpit is responsible for it. If the public press lacks moral discrimination, the pulpit is responsible for it. If the church is degenerate and worldly, the pulpit is responsible for it. If the world loses its interest in religion, the pulpit is responsible for it. If Satan rules in our halls of legislation, the pulpit is responsible for it. If our politics become so corrupt that the very foundations of our government are ready to fall away, the pulpit is responsible for it. Let us not ignore this fact, my dear brethren; but let us lay it to heart, and be thoroughly awake to our responsibility in respect to the morals of this nation. (The Christian Treasury Containing Contributions from Ministers and Members of Various Evangelical Denominations (Edinburgh: Johnstone, Hunter and Co., 1877), p. 203.)

I’ve said it once and I’ll say it again our nation is the reflection of the people. If we want to change our nation and make it great once again we must first turn to the Lord, each individually then as a nation. Then we must live the life that God has intended for us. If we are not right with God then we must become so, if our hearts have not fully or truly surrendered to the Lord then we must surrender it. We cannot worry about the risks of humiliation, persecution, financial costs, relationship costs or even the threat of death stopping us from being the light, the beacon on the hill. We must be who Jesus has called us to be.  We must know that before the world hated us it hated Him first (John 15:18).

Finally, to win our nation back we must look towards Jesus. We must fix those things in our lives that puts a distance between Him and us. Our lives must be lives that bear good fruits. If we do not have a right relationship with Jesus we cannot lead anyone to Jesus for we cannot give that in which we do not have. So as Jesus said in Matthew 22 when asked what the greatest commandment was:

37  Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.

38  This is the first and great commandment.

39  And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.

40  On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.

When we live as Jesus says here God works in and through our lives. We become the salt of the earth, the light the beacon on the hill and people see and lives will be transformed. When “We the People” are transformed, so too will or leaders and our nation, not because we demand it, but because we will command it through leading by example. Stand firm in faith and let God work in you and through you always.  I leave you with this quote from the book of Joshua:

Joshua 24:15 And if it seem evil unto you to serve the LORD, choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD.

The Power of Scripture

The Power of Scripture

If you board the wrong train, it’s no use running along the corridor in the other direction.

Dietrich Bonhoeffer

Dietrich Bonhoeffer is so on point in this quote. While the quote is not necessarily about scripture I do believe that it can cover so many areas in life. It so works for scripture as well. If you are not studying scripture as you should or are studying it in the wrong way then you will end up at the wrong destination. You have just boarded the wrong train and no matter how hard you try you will end up at the wrong end of the line.

Jesus really shows us the importance of scripture as a weapon of faith, in Ephesians 6:17 scripture is called the sword of the Spirit, in His temptation in the Desert in Matthew 4:1-11 He wields the word to thwart the temptations of Satan. And like any weapon we must learn to wield it properly otherwise people will get hurt, including yourself. How many of you have felt the sting of someone using scripture in a way that was spiritually harmful? Or how many of you know someone who refuses to go to church because they have been spiritually wounded by so called Christians, who just slash and cut with the sword of the Spirit without knowing what they are really doing with it? The damage is done and now someone who so loves Christ loses out in the fellowship in which God has put here for us.

During His temptation in the desert Jesus puts God first. Jesus knows that God’s plan cannot and should not be tossed aside for gain or comfort of one’s self. He knows that He has a purpose and that purpose is to go to the cross. Satan did everything He could to get Jesus on the wrong train, sort of speak. He tried tempting Him with something small just turn these rocks into bread and satisfy your hunger. And each temptation gets harder and harder. On the 3rd temptation Jesus is faced with an escape from going to the cross. Satan says if you will just bow down and worship me I will give you the kingdom. Jesus had an out, it was the easy path but fortunately for us He knew the consequences for us if He had chosen that path. God is good isn’t He and thank you Jesus for being faithful to us.

Secondly Jesus used the sword of the Spirit and wielded it as only the master could. He put Satan in his place when each temptation came to Him and he would say isn’t it written… Satan would twist scripture for His purpose, oh yeah Satan knows scripture, forwards and backwards. However, he misquotes it. He uses it to tempt people off the narrow path. He is very good at what he does but the only way we can be prepared for it is to know what scripture says, and what it really says not what man thinks it says. There are some keys to studying scripture properly.

First just as Jesus did put God first. If our relationship with God isn’t right then none of our relationships can be right, not even the one we have with ourselves. It says in the following scriptures:

• Exodus 20:1-3: And God spoke all these words, saying, “I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery. “You shall have no other gods before me.”

• Matthew 6:33: But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.

Notice in Matthew 6:33 seek the kingdom of God first and all these things will be added to you. Wow, here is a promise that we can put into the bank. Put God first then everything else falls into place.

Then study scripture. Learn what God has to say about things. There are so many Christians who don’t study the word. They think going to church once or twice a week or taking Bible classes are enough, it isn’t. Nice to hear and see you going to church but how do you know that what you are being taught is correct? Sure you trust the pastor or teacher they seem like nice people, but that is the problem they are people. Scripture says there is none righteous no not one (Romans 3:10) and if this is the case they may have a hidden agenda or just may be wrong (usually due to wrong methods of studying scripture a.k.a. hermeneutics). We have a duty to make sure that we understand scripture correctly and can use it correctly. Scripture says:

2Timothy 2:15 Study to show yourself approved unto God, a workman that needs not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.

Clearly God wants us to study so that we can be an approved worker that is able to rightly divide the word of truth. In other words we must study so that we can apply scripture to our lives and share it with others correctly.

Here we catch a bit of a snag. Most people don’t know how to study scripture correctly. All too often if people are studying scripture they are doing it incorrectly. Before we can get to the correct destination we must first make sure we are on the right train before we start. If we start off on the wrong track then who knows where we’ll end up, we may be hoping to reach the goal of getting to know Christ better but we might end up lost or even worse on the wrong track that leads us further and further away from the truth. So there are some key points that need to be considered when studying scripture:

1. Praying for wisdom: (James 1:5 ,Psalm 25:5)

2. Common sense (2Timothy 3:16-17)

3. Ask the right questions

4. Context

5. Two-step Process

Let’s take a look at prayer. I believe that James 1: and Psalm 25:5 say it best:

James 1: 5 If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that gives to all men liberally, and upbraids not; and it shall be given him.

Psalm 25: 5 Lead me in your truth, and teach me: for thou art the God of my salvation; on thee do I wait all the day.

As you can see James writes that if we want wisdom ask God and He will give it but Psalm 25:5 says why because He leads me to His truth and teaches me. So prayer is the first step to good hermeneutics, ask God to lead you to His truth and how you can apply it to your life.

Common sense is the next step when studying scripture to properly understanding what God is saying. 2timothy 3:16-17 says that all scripture is God inspired, but God used man to write to other men and as such they kept it simple. Common sense is the order of the day here. Don’t make things more complicated than they have to be. If the scripture you are reading makes sense just as they are, do not spiritualize it. Take it for what it says because that is how God meant it to be. God made things clear of what is supposed to be taken literally and what isn’t. Parables, signs and symbols are clearly marked or noticeable when reading. This does not mean that sometimes there isn’t a deeper truth in scripture but it will never contradict God’s word.

Now another important factor is are you asking the right questions? If you are not asking the right questions you will not get the correct answer. There are key questions that must be answered for you to get the most out of reading the Bible. Here are the questions:

1. Who wrote or spoke the passage and who was the original audience?

2. What is the passage saying?

3. Are there words or phrases in the passage that needs closer examining (Using commentaries or looking up the word or phrase in the original language via a Lexicon (Dictionary) or a Bible program on your computer) to help clarify meaning?

4. What is the immediate context? When reading in the surrounding words or sentences, what does it mean?

5. What is the broader context? Look at how the passage fits into the chapter or book it is in, what is it saying?

6. What are the related passages and when put into context of these other passages, what does it mean?

7. What is the historical and cultural background? Know about what was happening at the time, this will give a deeper understanding of why something was written and what it meant to the original readers and what it means today.

8. What is it that you conclude about this passage, what does it mean?

9. Does what I conclude agree or disagree with other related areas of scripture and what do others have to say that have studied it as well?

10. What is it that I learned and how can I apply it to my life?

As you can see there are some serious questions that require answers. Getting some of the answers may not be that difficult while others will require more thought or research.

Next we must put all things in context. Too often verses or passages are taken out of context. We use them in ways they were never meant to be used. This is what Satan was doing in the desert. Quote after quote Satan took out of context but Jesus always brought him back to the truth. He was on the right train, sort of speak. He didn’t let anything lead Him astray from God’s plan and He protected Himself like we can by making sure we put scripture in its right context. Scripture defines scripture, nothing in scripture stands alone. If there seems to be an apparent contradiction it is either you have come to the wrong conclusion because you used an improper studying method or it is out of context, either way you must go back to get back on the right track.

Then there is the two step process. I believe I have covered them elsewhere but really want to solidify them here. The first of the two step process is; what did it mean to the original readers or listeners, this is the key. If we are to truly understand what is being said in scripture we must understand from the view point of the original audience; what was the message to them? When we understand what the message to them was then we go to step two which is what does it mean to us today? Once we have answered these two questions it leads to the final step, do. For it is written in James 1:22 “But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves”. God bless and I pray that you get on the right train so that you can rightly divide the word of truth.