Rightly dividing the word of truth…..

There are different dispensations in the Bible and in each dispensation God dealt with people of that dispensation differently. God required different things from people in each dispensation. When God speaks to a definite dispensation, it does not apply to other times and places. For example, when God speaks to Israel, He is not speaking to the church. When God is speaking to the Jews, He is not talking to the gentiles. When He speaks to the Jews and the gentiles, He is speaking to everyone! This is very important to understand because when God spoke to Paul, He is speaking to the born again believers.

Unfortunately, many Christians find themselves in a place where their whole belief system is made up of a collection of scriptures of God talking to someone else, and missing the scriptures where God is talking directly to them. Let me give you an example: There is a movement of “Jewish Christians”, that say that Christians are not allowed to eat pork and are not allowed to buy meat at a normal butchery. They believe that their own priests must slaughter their cows and bless them in order for the meat to be clean. These people use the Jewish laws, and apply them to their belief system. This is an extreme case, and yet many “normal Christians”, are guilty of the same kind of thing. What I mean by this is that they co-mingle the law and grace. The reason this problem exists, is that they have not rightly divided the Word of truth.

2 Timothy 2:15 MKJV Study earnestly to present yourself approved to God, a workman that does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the Word of Truth.

When we rightly divide the scriptures, we will know when God is speaking to us directly. Paul’s books are written directly to us, and the “content” thereof, which is the “in-Christ message”, is not found written anywhere else in the bible.

You may say that you disagree with what is said here because of this scripture:

2 Timothy 3:16-17 MKJV All Scripture is God-breathed, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, (17) that the man of God may be perfected, thoroughly furnished to every good work.

This scripture does not mean that we must not rightly divide the Word of truth. It is the believer’s responsibility to “rightly divide”.

Rightly dividing the Word of truth, is not taking God’s word out of context. Do not use what was said to someone in the Old Testament, as God’s direct Word to you. I have heard so many believers, say that they are going to walk around a building 7 times, so that they can get a breakthrough!! This is fine if that is what God told them to do, but to use this scripture as a blanket verse and apply it wherever it suits man’s program, is completely in error. The “church” is guity of this especially in “prophetic movements”. It really shocks me how often “prophetic people” use scripture that was spoken to the Jews thousands of years ago, and use them on and “apply” them to innocent babes. Why is it that every time someone gives me a “prophetic word, the scripture used is always an Old Testament scripture???? Could it be that this is what the writer of Hebrews writes about in Hebrews 1:1-2

Do not take what is written to the Jews, as God speaking to you. We must rightly divide the word of truth!!!!!
What books are written to us as born again believers? Pauls Epistles. The message of Grace!!!! In the Epistles, and only in the Epistles, you will hear that Christ comes and lives in you. People mixing what God says in different dispensations and to different people causes a lot of confusion and a lot of problems to arise.

Look at this scripture and how it explains that God speaks differently to different people in different dispensations:

Hebrews 1:1-2 MKJV God, who at many times and in many ways spoke in time past to the fathers by the prophets, (2) has in these last days spoken to us by His Son, whom He has appointed heir of all things, by whom also He made the worlds,…….

In closing this section:

We need to start with the Epistles of Paul, and then the rest of the bible will be understood in the right context. We first centre on the epistles, to see who we are in Christ, and from this foundation, the bible will open up. When we read the Bible understanding who we are in Christ, we will see God’s purpose revealed, we will see the Living Word – Jesus Christ. When we read the bible with “Christ in us” spectacles on, then the Word will become clear.

Windows of Heaven

Anyone who works with computers and “Microsoft Windows” software will know the terms: “maximize the window,”  “minimize the window” and “resize the window.” This is done by clicking on the top right hand corner of their “Windows” screen.

Here are the definitions of these three terms in short:

“Maximize” is an option available for any open window that allows a user to enlarge a window to its maximum size, commonly the full display area of the screen.

“Minimize” is an action available that allow a user to hide a window but keep the application running and accessible.

“Resizing” is the act of changing the dimensions of an object on the screen to allow the user  to view other windows on their screen or help arrange other open windows on their screen. The most common method to resizing a window is to move the cursor to the edge of a window and using the double – headed arrow to increase or decrease the size of the window.

These functions however are not limited to the Technological Industry. Strange as it may seem, but these functions of “maximize”, “minimize” and “resize” are functions that many Christians make daily use of in their faith walk. What do I mean by this statement? Let me explain:

For illustrations sake, imagine that a computer monitor represents the Christians mind – his soul realm. Initially, when a person receives Christ as Saviour, their mind focusses upon only One “thing”, and that is Jesus Christ. They are in a glorious state of being newly born again and the only “Window” open on their souls monitor is Jesus Christ. They think of Him continuously as His image is “projected” on their monitor of their soul. Jesus Christ is the only “window” open and this “window” is maximized! There are no other “windows” open as this babe in Christ is besotted with Him and Him alone.

Unfortunately, after a period of time, this babe in Christ gets taught that Christ is not the only “window” that must be open on their monitor, and that they must also have another “window” open in order to be a successful Christian. So the babe in Christ, has to “resize” the “Jesus Christ window”, in order to fit in the other “window” on their monitor. In order to make the extra “window” fit onto the monitor, the “Jesus Christ window” has to be “resized” – it has to be made half the size of the original. How sad this truly is?  Unfortunately more “religious” teaching comes the way of the babe, and another “window” needs to be opened! In order to fit in all three windows onto the monitor’s screen, the babe has to resize his “Jesus Christ window” once again, and Jesus Christ becomes less and less prominent on the screen. This process continues over and over again, each time with a different “window” needing to be opened. Eventually the babe has minimize “Jesus Christ” so that he can “handle” all the different “windows” on his screen. The “Jesus Christ Window” is reduced to just another “tab” at the bottom of his Windows toolbar.

What does your souls monitor look like today?  Do you have many different “windows” open? What “windows” do you have open? Financial prosperity maybe? What sizes are the different windows on your screen? Which ones are “maximized?” The bigger the “window” is, the more important it is to you. Is it a “prophecy” window? The lists are as varied as are people.

All the while, Jesus Christ is the Way , The Truth and The Life. He has been side-lined, reduced to an open “tab” and religion has taken His rightful position in our lives. The truth of the matter is in Him we live and move and have our being. In Him we have received everything pertaining to life and godliness. In Him we have received every spiritual blessing. The list goes on and on. Why then, do we continue to look outside of the Christ in us for ANYTHING? It is time to close all other “windows”, and “resize” Jesus Christ to His rightful position on the monitor of our souls.

Pentecost

Pentecost historically occurred 10 days after Jesus Ascension, and 50 days after his resurrection.

One area of Christianity that needs to be examined and carefully studied is the Holy Spirit. Christian radio and television promotes the Holy Spirit to such an extent, that Jesus Christ has almost been “evicted” off the air. So much emphasis is placed on the work, the ministry and the gifts of the Holy Spirit! There is a huge range of Holy Spirit seminars and conferences offered to Christians out there, which is not wrong in itself, but we can get side tracked and lose focus of God’s eternal purpose if we concentrate on the Holy Spirit. This teaching seeks to enlighten believers, although briefly on the purpose and work of the precious Holy Spirit as found in the scriptures.

Jesus Christ Himself explained the role of the Holy Spirit:

Joh 15:26 KJV But when the Comforter is come, whom I will send unto you from the Father, even the Spirit of truth, which proceedeth from the Father, he shall testify of me:

Who will the Holy Spirit testify of? That’s right. Jesus Christ! The Holy Spirit does not testify of Himself.

Joh 16:13-14 KJV Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come. (14) He shall glorify me: for he shall receive of mine, and shall shew it unto you.

The first thing that Jesus says about the Holy Spirit in verse 13, is that He is the Spirit of Truth, and that He will guide you into all truth. Who is Truth? Jesus Christ is:

Joh 8:32 KJV And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.

Joh 14:6 KJV  Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: ….

Then Jesus goes on to say that the Holy Spirit does not speak of Himself. The Holy Spirit does not “boast” of Himself. He does not speak about Himself and exalt Himself. He always points to Someone else – Jesus Christ. His whole ministry is to speak of Another – Jesus Christ. In verse 14, Jesus says that the Holy Spirit will glorify Jesus Christ. The Holy Spirit will not bring attention to Himself or to His gifts but to Jesus Christ.

Joh 14:26 KJV  But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.

The Holy Spirit is the Teacher. He teaches us Christ. This is His primary role and ministry.

From this brief overview we get a better idea of what the Holy Spirit’s role is in the believers life is.

So let’s move on to the day of Pentecost.

“What was God’s purpose of Pentecost?”

Many people will answer that the purpose of Pentecost was so that we can receive “power”. This answer is based on this scripture:

Luk 24:49 KJV And, behold, I send the promise of my Father upon you: but tarry ye in the city of Jerusalem, until ye be endued with power from on high.

It is true that we will receive power. But what power is Jesus talking about. Is He speaking solely about healing the sick, and casting out demons, and raising the dead?

We need to remember that Jesus’ disciples did all these things with power that Jesus Himself gave them, healing the sick, casting out demons and the other miracles PRIOR to Pentecost. We see this in:

Mat 10:1-8 KJV And when he had called unto him his twelve disciples, he gave them power against unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal all manner of sickness and all manner of disease. …. (8) Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out devils: freely ye have received, freely give.

If Jesus’ was meaning “power” to do miracles as stated in Luke 24:49, then why would it be necessary for Him to tell His disciples to wait in Jerusalem for the same? I propose that Jesus was speaking of a different power – something completely different to what the disciples had already experienced. In fact not only did the disciples do miracles while Jesus was on earth, but 70 appointed others did as well:

Luk 10:1-20 KJV After these things the Lord appointed other seventy also, and sent them two and two before his face into every city and place, whither he himself would come. … (9) And heal the sick that are therein, ….. ….. (17) And the seventy returned again with joy, saying, Lord, even the devils are subject unto us through thy name. …..(19) Behold, I give unto you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy: ….

If the power Jesus was talking about was doing miracles, then why did Jesus say this:

Luk 24:49 KJV And, behold, I send the promise of my Father upon you: but tarry ye in the city of Jerusalem, until ye be endued with power from on high.
The first part of this verse Jesus is talking about “the promise of my Father.” Jesus was referring to the promise of the Holy Spirit. We read this in:

Isa 44:3 KJV For I will pour water upon him that is thirsty, and floods upon the dry ground: I will pour my spirit upon thy seed, and my blessing upon thine offspring:

In the second part of this verse Jesus says that they must wait in Jerusalem to “be endued with power from on high ‘The word “endued” means “sinking into a garment”.

Pentecost was the fulfilment of what Jesus says in John 3:

John 3:3 Amplified Bible (AMP) ³ Jesus answered him, I assure you, most solemnly I tell you, that unless a person is born again (anew, from above), he cannot ever see (know, be acquainted with, and experience) the kingdom of God

No one before Pentecost was born again. In other words, no one before Pentecost was “in Christ.” No one had Christ in them as their life!!!

On the day of Pentecost, the believers were baptized into the Body of Christ –

1Co 12:13 KJV  For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit.

The believers were immersed into Christ! On the day of Pentecost, they were baptized into His death and into His life. They were placed IN to HIM. This was the fulfilment of Gods eternal purpose as stated in Ephesians 1:4.

Eph 1:4 KJV According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love:

They were born again by God placing His Seed Christ into them by the Holy Spirit. Before Pentecost, no one could be born again. Pentecost ushered in the most incredible age: Christ in us the hope of Glory. It was now possible for believers to be placed into Him – into Christ.

Now coming back to the power that Jesus said the believers would be clothed in from on high. Jesus explains in detail exactly what the power was that they were to receive:

Joh 14:16-20 KJV And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever; (17) Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you. (18) I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you. (19) Yet a little while, and the world seeth me no more; but ye see me: because I live, ye shall live also. (20) At that day (The day of Pentecost) ye shall know that I am in my Father, and ye in me, and I in you.

Jesus is clear. He says that on the day of Pentecost, they will know something! Jesus does not say that on Pentecost, they would heal and do miracles! Jesus said that they will know something! They would know that Christ is in them – just like Christ and God are One, they are one with Them because they have been joined to the Lord – 1 Cor 6:17. Unfortunately none of the people in the upper room on the day of Pentecost knew or understood what had actually happened to them. They were so excited that they missed what Jesus Himself told them would happen. They prophesied and spoke in tongues and the gifts of the Giver were flowing, but they missed the true meaning – Christ in them!!!!! They did not understand that The GIVER OF THE GIFTS was in them.

This is the reason for Pentecost. The purpose of Pentecost and the coming of the Holy Spirit was not solely to give miraculous power  – THE GIFTS OF THE SPIRIT. The purpose of Pentecost was so that men could be born again, born of incorruptible Seed by God The Father. The purpose of Pentecost was that men would know that Christ lived in them as born again believers.

The power Jesus was talking about was to give the believer a ‘knowing’. It says in Jn 14 verse 20 that we are to know something! Or should I say know “SOMEONE” – To know Christ in us!!! To know Christ in us is the greatest power any believer could ever receive – because Christ is the power of God!!!

1Co 1:24 KJV ….. Christ the power of God, ….

If we know Him – Christ in us, who is the power in us, then signs and wonders will follow as a natural outflow of Him out of us. By not ‘knowing’ that Christ is in us and we are “in Christ”, we are stifling the Person of Christ in us. We are actually limiting Him and frustrating His working through us. We are limiting His outflow through us by our lack of understanding in our soul.

Let me give you an illustration to help you understand: Our minds are like a tap, a tap reduces the flow of water from the main supply into the basin. The tap regulates the water flow. Our minds can be likened to a tap. Because we do not ‘know’ Christ in us, we have a very limited ‘flow’ of living water from the Living Fount within us. Our minds reduce Him to a ‘trickle’, but in reality, He is a ‘torrent’ waiting to be ‘released’ through us to a lost world.

The more our minds come to ‘know’ Him in us, the stronger He will be able to flow through us. This is when the true power of God, Christ in us, will be revealed to the world. This is the teaching ministry of the Holy Spirit. He will teach us Christ in us to us.
This is why Paul stated so many times that he would know Christ in him.

Look at these verses emphasizing knowing Christ:

Php 3:10 KJV That I may know him, …..

1Jn 5:20 KJV And we know that the Son of God is come, and hath given us an understanding, that we may know him that is true,

1Co 2:2 KJV For I determined not to know any thing among you, save Jesus Christ, and him crucified.

1Co 2:12 KJV Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God.

2Ti 1:12 KJV For the which cause I also suffer these things: nevertheless I am not ashamed: for I know whom I have believed, ……

In closing, Power is knowing Christ in you. As long as we think that power is something else, we will live powerlessly praying for something that God has already given us – His Son Christ. Everything we need for life and Godliness is already ours in Christ.

This is why Jesus tells his disciples that they will receive ‘power’ AFTER the Holy Spirit has come upon them:

Act 1:8 KJV But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.

Why does He say ‘after’? Because the Holy Spirit is The Teacher. He is there to teach us Christ in us! Only after the Holy Spirit has revealed Christ in us to us – is there true Power. It takes time to teach someone Christ – therefore “AFTER.”

When we preach Christ, the power of God goes forth. Lives will be changed and people will be amazed when Christ is preached.

The Holy Spirit is the Christ Teacher. He reveals Christ in us to us. This is His role and a vital one at that. Without the Holy Spirit we will never know what is ours in Christ!!!

1Co 2:5-11 KJV That your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God. (6) Howbeit we speak wisdom among them that are perfect: yet not the wisdom of this world, nor of the princes of this world, that come to nought: (7) But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, even the hidden wisdom, which God ordained before the world unto our glory: (8) Which none of the princes of this world knew: for had they known it, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory. (9) But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him. (10) But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God. (11) For what man knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in him? even so the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God.

The Gospel of Christ video

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nPIOkdNL-QQ&feature=relmfu

Himself

By: A. B. Simpson

Once it was the blessing,
Now it is the Lord;
Once it was the feeling,
Now it is His Word.
Once His gifts I wanted,
Now the Giver own;
Once I sought for healing,
Now Himself alone.

Once ’twas painful trying,
Now ’tis perfect trust;
Once a half salvation,
Now the uttermost.
Once ’twas ceaseless holding,
Now He holds me fast;
Once ’twas constant drifting,
Now my anchor’s cast.

Once ’twas busy planning,
Now ’tis trustful prayer;
Once ’twas anxious caring,
Now He has the care.
Once ’twas what I wanted
Now what Jesus says;
Once ’twas constant asking,
Now ’tis ceaseless praise.

Once it was my working,
His it hence shall be;
Once I tried to use Him,
Now He uses me.
Once the power I wanted,
Now the Mighty One;
Once for self I labored,
Now for Him alone.

Once I hoped in Jesus,
Now I know He’s mine;
Once my lamps were dying,
Now they brightly shine.
Once for death I waited,
Now His coming hail;
And my hopes are anchored
Safe within the vail.

Faith – Hebrews 11

As Christ-ins, we need to know how to please our Father. The scripture says that without faith it is impossible to please God, so we need know what this faith really is and where do we get it!

Because of this, a lot of “pulpit time” is given to the subject, but not necessarily in accordance to the Truth. Because faith is so very important, we as new creations need to hear what the Holy Spirit is telling us. As new creation Christ-ins, we need to grasp that we do not “operate” from our “own” or “self” faith any longer. What do I mean by that? Let me explain: Before Jesus was glorified, God required people to have and “operate” in and by their own or self faith. This is why Jesus of Nazareth spoke so often about the faith of people:  He commended some on their “great faith”, and he rebuked others for their “little faith”. The truth of the matter is prior to His glorification, no one had Christ in them and because of this fact people could only operate by their very own or self faith. However now that Jesus Christ has been glorified, we as new creations Christ-ins, we have Christ living in us, and we do not live by our own or self faith. We live by the faith of Christ in us.

Gal 2:20 KJV  I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, …..

This scripture is very clear on this point that we live by HIS Faith.

In the Book of Hebrews, we read in Chapter 11 about faith. We read how people from the Old Covenant  received things by their own or self faith. This chapter goes into a lot of detail about their faith.

In verse 13 we read the following:

Heb 11:13 KJV  These all died in faith, not having received the promises, …..

Then we read at the end of Chapter 11 from verse 39 about these “faithful” saints of old:

Heb 11:39-40 KJV  And these all, having obtained a good report through faith, received not the promise:  (40)  God having provided some better thing for us, that they without us should not be made perfect.

This scripture says that they did not receive the promise even though they had faith. It goes on to say that God Himself, has provided “some better thing” for us – us new covenant people. This verse is pointing to God giving His only begotten Son Jesus Christ, and in Him we have the “some better thing”!

Then let’s read on in Hebrews into Chapter 12. Please remember that the Books were not divided up as they are for us today. The original writings have no Chapter breaks.

Heb 12:1-2 KJV  Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,  (2)  Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; ……

Verse 2 tells us that we must look to Jesus Christ – THE AUTHOR AND FINISHER OF OUR FAITH!!!  The writer of Hebrews is clear. We are not to look to ourselves for “self or own faith” as the Old Covenant  people needed to do in order to please God. We are under a new dispensation and we are no longer under the Law, we are under grace. We have such a better covenant in Christ.” The only way to please God is with the Living Way – through and in the person of Jesus Christ in us, “This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased”. It is Christ’s faith through and in us that pleases the Father and not our own “self” or “own” faith.

In closing, let’s read this scripture:

Gal 3:22-29 KJV  But the scripture hath concluded all under sin, that the promise by faith of Jesus Christ might be given to them that believe.  (23)  But before faith came, we were kept under the law, shut up unto the faith which should afterwards be revealed.  (24)  Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith.  (25)  But after that faith is come, we are no longer under a schoolmaster.  ……  (29)  And if ye be Christ’s, then are ye Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.

Unlike the saints of old who died in faith without receiving the promises, we as new creations in Christ have the following:

2 Cor 1:20 For all the promises of God in him are yea, and in him Amen, unto the glory of God by us.

Amen!

Some more scriptures talking of Christ’s faith from the KJV:

Rom 3:22;  Gal 2:16;  Eph 3:12;  Php 3:9. 

Strongholds

Man likes to build reasons around his thought, yet these reasons must be destroyed and thought taken captive. These reasons that we surround a thought with are strongholds. In spiritual warfare, the strongholds need to be stormed before the thought can be taken captive.  If reasons are not cast aside there is no possibility of bringing man’s thought into the obedience to Christ.

There must come a day when God’s authority overthrows all strongholds of reasoning which Satan has erected and recaptures all a man’s thought to make him a willing slave of God. This is where we no longer think independently of Christ and are completely obedient to Him in us.  This is what full deliverance really is.

 

Repentance

I have often heard Christians telling others that they must “repent”. The problem with telling someone to repent is this: Repentance is not “something” that we as humans just whimsically decide to do because someone tells us so. As new creations, everything we need for life and godliness has been given to us already – 2 Peter 1:3. God doesn’t ask or require anything from us that He Himself has not already provided in the Person of His Son Jesus Christ, for He shall provide all of our needs according to His riches and mercy BY CHRIST JESUS – Php 4:19.

With this statement in mind, let us look at 2 scriptures pertaining to the source of true repentance:

2Ti 2:25 KJV In meekness instructing those that oppose themselves; if God peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth;

Act 11:18 KJV When they heard these things, they held their peace, and glorified God, saying, Then hath God also to the Gentiles granted repentance unto life.

As new creations with Christ living in us as our life, we need to know that repentance is “something” that God gives us and it is not something generated or initiated in our own strength. It is a gift from God and this not of ourselves for it is grace from God – Gal 2:21. It is only He that opens the eyes of the understanding, and works conviction in the mind, so that we will know what He has freely given us in Christ – 1 Cor 2:12.

Repentance is a “grant” from God and it is not in the power of man’s free will. If we are not enabled through grace to repent, we cannot truly repent. This is why Paul said that the life he now lives he lives by the faith of the Son of God – Gal 2:20. He understood that Christ is everything to us – including repentance.

2Co 5:17 KJV Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.