Amos 8:11 Behold, the days come, saith the Lord GOD, that I will send a famine in the land, not a famine of bread, nor a thirst for water, but of hearing the words of the LORD:
12 And they shall wander from sea to sea, and from the north even to the east, they shall run to and fro to seek the word of the LORD, and shall not find it.
Because Israel did not listen to their prophets there would come a time when they would want to hear from God when they were in trouble and God would not answer. That is an extremely bad place to be. Notice they ran all over the place trying to find it. Much like people today going from conference to conference hoping to get a Word from some speaker or someone in the audience. Sometimes it is a Mars Hill thing where they are looking for some new thing because what has already been said is a bit stale to them. The Western World, especially America, is hungry for the words of the Lord, not the hoo-ha of man’s logic and religion.
I was going to speak on an entirely different issue, but I had a conversation with a young man who wanted to go deeper in God’s Word and then the visiting pastor spoke about biblical illiteracy. Hence this message because in many years of ministry I have seen few who wanted to go much deeper than being saved and how to get God to bless them here. Interest in prophecy equated to who is the Anti-Christ, the Harlot and when will the Rapture happen or some other point folks wanted to argue about whether it was very clear or clearly the issue was not defined to the level people wanted.
Having the advantage or disadvantage of moving about the country to live or for training is that I have heard many things that have left me shaking my head. Sometimes I could tell the person most likely did not read one page of Scripture. Others got their opinion from a dear great-grandparent or from Dr. Goodwords over some media form. I have asked often for a scripture from where they got their belief and could not get one. If they took a verse out of context I could at least know they were looking in the right place and could possibly clarify and end their confusion. Sometimes I would say something and the person would tell me that is not in the Bible. So I turned my bible to face them and said show me where it says that I am wrong. I might get a “I don’t where it is but I know you are not right.”
Quoting Scripture does not always help them. I quoted Mark 16:16 “he that believeth and is baptized shall be saved...” to a person who believed or at least his denomination believed in infant baptism. I asked how can a baby believe and he still held his position though he had no argument against what I shared. There is no Scripture that says people become angels when they die or that there are little chubby baby angels like you see on Valentine’s Day, but people believe that. Unfortunately, because of chapter divisions in the Word people miss the context of some passages and believe things that are not true.
Chapter divisions are not inspired, but were given to help with the way we read. In the Greek text you either have all lower case or upper case without spaces or punctuation. I tried doing that in English and it is fairly easy and does not take too long to grasp it. I cannot imagine how much better a grade I would have gotten on my term papers in college if I did not have to worry about those things.
Here is how we fix the illiteracy problem.
2 Ti 3:16 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:
17 That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.
First we have to believe that all scripture is given by inspiration. In theological terms were to believe the Word is verbal-plenary inspired meaning God wrote every word and meant what He said. That is why it is good for doctrine and reproof, identifying the error, and correction to the error. Once you start there you will have a lesser tendency to write off things or try to read into what you want it to say which is called eisegesis. We are to exegete the Word pulling out of it what it means even when we do not like it. Many cults got started because their founders did not like Hell, monogamy or some other doctrine so they rewrote the Word or changed the meanings of words to fit their agenda.
I do not like Hell and if God asked if there was one thing I would like Him to change that would be it. I would really like soul sleep or people just burning up like paper to be true, but it is not. I will not fully understand the reason for that until we are at the Great White Throne so until then I will trust in the Judge of all the earth to do right.
A fancy word for a means of interpreting the word is hermeneutics. A solid hermeneutic will bring you to a right interpretation. We already know part of that is believing the Word is His Word, not man’s especially yours or mine. The next phase it to use historical-grammatical interpretation meaning what did the word mean at the time it was written. The English language changes all the time so what a word meant in the Greek or Hebrew and translated into English may not be what it means today. Even our newest version will have archaic words in them in a short period. We really just need a concordance not a constant turnout of new versions. Even a word like righteous has had a cultural twist. In some groups if a girl is righteous it means she is very attractive especially dressed in immodest clothing, but not necessarily right with God.
Because words change some groups have used that as a basis to eisegete instruments out of their worship. They say that the word psalmos changed in meaning and only means to sing with your voice. There is nothing to indicate such a thing. Besides what it meant at the time the Scripture was written is what you are looking at not the changed meaning. The Hebrew word we translate as psalms means instrumental music and comes from the word that means to touch strings. Mennonites sing very well using only a pitch pipe to start a song and have some of our melodies with different words so I was able to sing along when I was in an Old Order Mennonite church while on vacation. Ours was the only non-black car in the lot and Karen and Misty had to sit on the other side of the room with my granddaughter. It was a good experience, but I still like instruments. Most of the time when I have sung at nursing homes, jails and a rescue mission I had no one to play or a good way to use a sound track so I sang a Capella but that was out of necessity not biblical mandate.
2 Tim 2:14 Of these things put them in remembrance, charging them before the Lord that they strive not about words to no profit, but to the subverting of the hearers.
15 Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.
16 But shun profane and vain babblings: for they will increase unto more ungodliness.
Striving over words is not a new thing as we see Paul dealt with the same thing. All that does is show that one or both of the ones striving or disputing what the Bible says has a goal of subverting the other and in the end it only causes hearers to apostatize or fall away from truth and faith. At best it divides the Body and at worst it destroys faith.
False prophets can twist a word to where it sounds like they are saying what you believe but they are not. Remember, in one of our sub-cultures a person may look at an attractive prostitute and say she is righteous. Not biblical righteousness, but rather perfect to the eyes of lust. It happens in theology as well. A. W. Tozer said, “So skilled is error imitating truth, that the two are constantly being mistaken for each other. It takes a sharp eye these days to know which brother is Cain and which is Abel.” If you ask someone if they were baptized they might say yes, but they were sprinkled or poured as an infant when the word baptizo comes from the word bapto meaning to fully cover with a fluid or to immerse. We also know that you are not to be baptized until after you believe and an infant cannot believe. Some have taken Paul’s argument for the resurrection saying what good is it to be baptized for the dead, meaning Jesus, if the dead rise not twisting it to allow for a person to be baptized in the name of a dead person so they can have a second chance after death to be saved. You have to wonder what word or verse did Hymenaus and Philetus twist to say the resurrection had already happened which overthrew the faith of some. Sometimes heresy is not just dealing with the deity of Christ or the vicarious atonement.
This is why we are to study or be diligent or use speed to show ourselves as acceptable or approved workmen unto God properly interpreting or rightly dividing the Word. It is not just the duty of the pastors, deacons and Sunday School teachers to know the Word well. It is incumbent upon every Christian to be able to give a reason for the hope that lies within them and to contend for the faith once delivered to the saints. You cannot do that without diligent study of the Word.
As a young Christian, I got to where I went out knocking on doors on my own and that was a learning experience. You never know who is coming to that door and what they will say or do. One lady told me that you Baptists really know your Bible. Little did she know I had used the only four verses I knew. I did not even have a six shooter only two derringers. Another man asked if I was the pastor and I replied no. Deacon? No. Sunday School teacher? No. He said, “Who are you then?” I replied I guess just a member. He was a bit stunned. I had not been told that I needed a title of any kind to witness. The community expects the titled people to do something like that, but someone without a title may well have a greater impact because they think you have no dog in the hunt, but what they do not know is that the hunt is for souls and we have the Lion of Judah looking for their soul so no title is needed but His.
I have heard some pretty strange things in talking to strangers, but I have heard even stranger things among folks that call themselves Christian. I have answered biblical questions online for quite a few years and I meet a great many people in various arenas of life. Some of the misunderstandings of Scripture that I have heard boggled my mind. I wanted to find out who taught this person that and what was wrong with them. As I said, I have had to ask many times for a verse for what they were saying to no avail.
One lady visitor at a former church saw the music leader training a lad on the guitar and yelled loudly, “I can’t believe you have that in the sanctuary! That’s the devil’s instrument!” She made the pastor take her home right then so I did not get ask for a verse. You take a twelve string lyre like in David’s time and turn it horizontally give it one neck instead of two and you pretty much have a twelve string guitar. Can a guitar, like any instrument, be played in an ungodly way? Absolutely, but there is nothing wrong with the instrument.
I would love to speak with the pastor who told her that. I suspect we would have some intense moments of fellowship over that and whatever other strange teaching he would bring up. However, at some point it would have to end. Shunning profane or wicked and useless babblings has to happen. Paul said that it only increases more ungodliness. The false prophet, babbler or wicked person just dumps the junk on you that does not help you. You can go from righteous contending for the faith to righteous indignation to unrighteous anger saying or doing something you would not normally do. I know, for some of these people can make you crazy with the foolishness. Paul reiterates this command in
Titus 3:9 But avoid foolish questions, and genealogies, and contentions, and strivings about the law; for they are unprofitable and vain.
10 A man that is an heretick after the first and second admonition reject;
11 Knowing that he that is such is subverted, and sinneth, being condemned of himself.
I have been on many forums over the years and the same questions come up all the time. Some of the same people go from forum to forum to ensure these questions come up. The arguments fly back and forth and in the end neither side has changed their positions. Usually they started out as legitimate debates then the losing side starts with the insults and then it becomes a digital brawl until the Administrator shuts it down. Those who lurk or read but do not comment are probably left confused or may even lose their faith.
Thus rather than doing that mess you admonish or correct a heretic twice and then have nothing to do with him/her not argue ad infinitum. Note, it does not say to do him/her harm like some interpreted this passage and tortured and killed those who disagreed with them on doctrine. Paul says that the heretick is subverted or perverted. His is sinning condemning himself. You are not condemning him/her. You do your duty and move on to find someone who you can edify or win to Christ. Do not waste your time and energy on a heretic. Kick off the dust and commit him/her to God. The same goes for gossips or those trying to gain power in the church by causing division. Those folks are also heretics to avoid.
So, are you an approved workman? Can you give a reason for the hope that lies within you? Can you tell people why you are Pentecostal instead of believing the gifts have ceased? I mean by Scripture, not just your experience? If I quoted 1 Corinthians 13:8-10 saying that the gifts are no longer in effect because we have the Bible could you show me how I am wrong? If someone said that you must worship on Saturday or must not eat meat can you counter that with Scripture? How do you prove to someone that Jesus is not just a holy man the Spirit came on and then left at the Cross or that Jesus and Lucifer are not brothers?
You say, Brother Ron, I did not go to college like you or have a pastoral ministry. How can I know these things? You have the same Bible and Holy Spirit I have so all you have to do is study. The Holy Spirit will sometimes give you a verse you did not even remember reading if you are putting the Word in you. It happened to me. During a chat with a superior shortly after I was saved I heard “Seek not the counsel of the ungodly.” I was surprised and shut down the conversation quickly. Later, I dug to find if that was a verse. I found Psalm 1:1 that said I should not walk in the counsel of the ungodly so definitely I should not seek it. Other times when I could not think of the verse I wanted another would come to mind. Did the Holy Spirit use what I put in there even though I could not recall reading it and choose the proper verse for me to quote instead of what I was thinking? Absolutely! Could He plant a verse I never read in my mind? He is God, so it is possible. However, with all the commands, exhortations and testimonies in the Word about taking in the Word I would say He will more often use what we have put in there in our obedience. Study! Be approved! You need it and the world needs it!
Maybe you are hungry? You have not heard from God in a long time. You attend church and hear the messages. Your have been to every conference you can go. You have had people prophesy over you and yet you feel like God is silent. Maybe you are searching in the wrong places. Maybe you just need time alone with Him and ask Him to show you what is stopping up your ears or what is keeping Him from speaking. It may be some sin(s) small or large. It may just be submission.
A young lady in the 19th century was seeking God and the filling of the Holy Spirit and just not seem to achieve. She was not a rich girl. Her only prized possession was a cheap rhinestone hair bow. One day she thought she heard God say to throw it away. She shrugged it off as God would not care about such a small thing. She prayed and prayed begging God to be filled with no avail. Again she heard throw it away and shrugged it off. She became so desperate to be filled that when she heard it the next time she pulled it from her hair and threw it into the trash can. Immediately, she was filled and praised God. Why was that trinket so important? Maybe is was a source of pride because it made her feel pretty. It may have been the need for her to be willing to submit to what God said no matter if it made no sense to her. Whatever the reason she only received what she wanted when she submitted. What is God wanting you to surrender? Lay it down! You need to be filled to hear what God has for you. The Body needs you to hear from God. There is someone outside of the Body that needs you to use the gift God has given you and energizes when you submit to His voice. Do it now! Time is short! The Battle is hot! Souls are at stake. Get filled and get approved! Maranatha!
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A sermon is never done. This morning's thought. Mother Eve got in trouble by adding one concept to God's command and here we are in the last days of a fallen world where apostasy and error abounds. How much more so should be well versed in the Word if she could err with only one simple command?
