Our teachers of God’s Word are not always to be trusted. In fact, we should not follow any of them unconditionally, for God will call us to account for the use of our understanding. When even our pilot errs, it is necessary for us to follow the chart of the Word of God closely, so we might be able to save the vessel.
C.H. SPURGEON
In His Love, Cindy
Do you want to know more about Jesus? See my page Who Is Jesus?
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“But do not forget this one thing, dear friends: With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day. 9 The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.” 2 Peter 3:8-9 NIV
In His Love, Cindy
Do you want to know more about Jesus? See my page Who Is Jesus?
Pray for Israel
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“Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is.” Ephesians 5:15-17 NIV
In His Love, Cindy
Do you want to know more about Jesus? See my page Who Is Jesus?
Pray for Israel
RealChristianWomen.blog
“Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers.” Galatians 6:9-10 NIV (emphasis mine)
My thoughts: Teaching children in your church is a great way to do this!
In His Love, Cindy
Do you want to know more about Jesus? See my page Who Is Jesus?
Pray for Israel
RealChristianWomen.blog
“After removing Saul, he made David their king. God testified concerning him: ‘I have found David son of Jesse, a man after my own heart; he will do everything I want him to do.’” Acts 13:22
There are no words I would rather hear from the Lord than “She is a woman after my own heart; she will do everything I want her to do.”
I sought to understand how David did this. How was he able to do everything God wanted him to do? How did he know and do God’s will? How was he so different than others that God would say such a beautiful thing about him?
The answer is found in Psalm 119. David repeatedly proclaims how much he loves God’s Word. Here are a few important verses, but I urge you to read the entire Psalm HERE. Notice that this man whom God called “a man after my own heart” loved and cherished God’s Holy Word.
“I will speak of your statutes before kings
and will not be put to shame,
for I delight in your commands
because I love them.” Psalm 119:46-47
I think David is saying, “I will not be intimidated by anyone’s status. I will speak God’s Truth.”
“The law from your mouth is more precious to me
than thousands of pieces of silver and gold.” vs. 72
If we want to be a woman (or man) “after God’s own heart”, we must be a lover of His Word. This is how we will do “everything He wants us to do.” There is no other way.
New Age-influenced “Bible teachers” have taught a way to pray called contemplative prayer. This method teaches Christians to have a conversation or dialog with God. They say, “God said this. I said that. Then God said…” etc.
There is nothing in the Bible to back this up. This is New Age mysticism. The Bible is our treasure. Why must we always search for something more? (Read a brief description of contemplative prayer HERE, or an in-depth description HERE.)
If we want to know God’s will, we must read and study the Word of God: the Bible. Then we must obey what it says.
This may not always be easy. Social pressure to go along with the world is tremendous. But the person who does God’s will is the person who knows His Word and obeys it.
“The statutes of the Lord are trustworthy,
making wise the simple.” Psalm 19:7
This verse tells me that God’s Word can and should be trusted. It will make even the simple person wise. But contemplative prayer seeks more than what is written in God’s Word. The person engaging in contemplative prayer seeks a supernatural experience. But God’s Word is sufficient.
“Never take your word of truth from my mouth,
for I have put my hope in your laws.” Psalm 119:43 NIV
“Indignation grips me because of the wicked,
who have forsaken your law.” vs.53
“I am your servant; give me discernment
that I may understand your statutes.” vs. 125
“Streams of tears flow from my eyes,
for your law is not obeyed.” vs. 136
“My zeal wears me out,
for my enemies ignore your words.” vs. 139
These proclamations by David reveal his heart, his love for, and his respect for God’s Word. Remember, it is God’s Word that equips you for service.
“All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.” 2 Timothy 3:16-17 (emphasis mine)
In His Love, Cindy
Do you want to know more about Jesus? See my page, WHO IS JESUS?
Pray for Israel
All Scripture references are NIV.
RealChristianWomen.blog
“And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.” Hebrews 10:24-25 NIV
In His Love, Cindy
Do you want to know more about Jesus? See my page Who Is Jesus?
Pray for Israel
RealChristianWomen.blog
“For we do not have a High Priest who is unable to sympathize and understand our weaknesses and temptations, but One who has been tempted [knowing exactly how it feels to be human] in every respect as we are, yet without [committing any] sin. 16 Therefore let us [with privilege] approach the throne of grace [that is, the throne of God’s gracious favor] with confidence and without fear, so that we may receive mercy [for our failures] and find [His amazing] grace to help in time of need [an appropriate blessing, coming just at the right moment]. Hebrews 4:15-16 AMP
In His Love, Cindy
Do you want to know more about Jesus? See my page Who Is Jesus?
Pray for Israel
RealChristianWomen.blog
“My flesh and my heart may fail,
but God is the strength of my heart
and my portion forever.” Psalm 73:26 NIV
In His Love, Cindy
Do you want to know more about Jesus? See my page Who Is Jesus?
Pray for Israel
RealChristianWomen.blog
The Bible warns us about false teachers. Yes, they exist today. But how do we know what is true and what is false? This is an important question. The answer is we must be discerning Christians.
A few weeks ago, I wrote about The Skill of Discernment. (Read it HERE.) Since then, I came across an excellent comparison that I want to share with you. In his book, The Discipline of Spiritual Discernment, Tim Challies compares spiritual discernment with identifying counterfeit currency.
Challies writes, “We can best know what is wrong by first knowing what is right. Experts on counterfeit currency know this as well. They train others first to know the traits of genuine currency because such knowledge will make apparent what is fraudulent.”
Experts in counterfeit money study every aspect of their currency including how it feels and every detail of its appearance and color. Only after they do this are they shown counterfeit currency. And guess what? They know immediately what is not real!
In the same way, it is only after we know the Bible well that we will be able to recognize false teaching. A mature Christian is a Christian who knows the Bible well. This is an important point because the Bible says that the immature Christian can be blown here and there by every kind of teaching (meaning false teaching). That makes sense, right? Ephesians 4:12-14 NASB says,
“… for the building up of the body of Christ; 13 until we all attain to the unity of the faith, and of the [b]knowledge of the Son of God, to a mature man, to the measure of the stature [c]which belongs to the fullness of Christ. 14 [d]As a result, we are no longer to be children, tossed here and there by waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of people, by craftiness [e]in deceitful scheming;“
One thing about children, they’ll believe almost anything. And like children, immature Christians will believe almost anything, especially if it sounds good.
So the question is: How well do you know the Bible? How many times have you read it from cover to cover? How many times have you read the New Testament? Are you reading the Bible for yourself? Or do you rely on books about the Bible?
I challenge you to read the Bible from cover to cover at least twice before you read the Christian Best Sellers. Otherwise, how can you discern if what you are reading is true? Maybe you are thinking, “Oh I just know.” – I wouldn’t be so sure of that. But don’t take my word for it. Consider what the Bible says.
“I know that after I leave, savage wolves will come in among you and will not spare the flock. Even from your own number men will arise and distort the truth in order to draw away disciples after them. So be on your guard! Remember that for three years I never stopped warning each of you night and day with tears.” The Apostle Paul (Acts 20:29-31 NIV) Read full chapter
15 “Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves. …21 “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. 22 Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name and in your name drive out demons and in your name perform many miracles?’ 23 Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’ 24 “Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock.” Jesus (Matthew 7:15, and 21-24 NIV) Read full chapter
“2 But there were also false prophets among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you. They will secretly introduce destructive heresies, even denying the sovereign Lord who bought them—bringing swift destruction on themselves. 2 Many will follow their depraved conduct and will bring the way of truth into disrepute. 3 In their greed these teachers will exploit you with fabricated stories. Their condemnation has long been hanging over them, and their destruction has not been sleeping.” The Apostle Peter (2 Peter 2:1-3 NIV) Read full chapter
Remember this: “We can best know what is wrong by first knowing what is right.”
In His Love, Cindy
Do you want to know more about Jesus? See my page Who Is Jesus?
Pray for Israel
RealChristianWomen.blog
“For ever since the creation of the world His invisible attributes, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen, being understood through His workmanship [all His creation, the wonderful things that He has made], so that they [who fail to believe and trust in Him] are without excuse and without defense.” Romans 1:20 AMP
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In His Love, Cindy
Do you want to know more about Jesus? See my page Who Is Jesus?
Pray for Israel
RealChristianWomen.blog
Real Christian Women 