That Old Man

Philemon

The Servant

The Workman

The Model Servant

Misconceptions - Service

Where are we missing the mark?

I have been doing some studying lately on a particular doctrine and have come across some amazing truths that some folks just do not want to believe.  The question came to mind, “What will happen to those who have accepted Christ, properly, yet do not live their lives based upon the proper doctrine?” 

I know of a man who decided to build a deck using rocks as the main support for the four-by-four posts which would hold the deck off of the ground.  This is something he would do quite often because that is the way he was taught to build.  Today, that deck is falling to pieces; it is uneven, and unsafe for anyone to walk across.  He was building based upon the knowledge that he had.  Yet, if an inspector came along to inspect the work, he would not pass the deck when it was originally constructed.  If the builder really believes that he built the deck properly, does that mean the inspector will accept the work he is shown?  Absolutely not!  Neither how vehemently the builder feels about the work, nor how strong his convictions are about the deck; his work will not pass inspection.  However, had the builder built the deck using the proper foundation and the proper building materials, then his work would be accepted by the inspector? 

What if the same builder built a deck using the proper foundation, but he used pipe cleaners to build the deck.  Would the work be accepted by the inspector?  Absolutely not!  Once again, the strong feelings, or the strong convictions do not make the work acceptable. 

In Act 18:24-28, we read of a certain Jew, whose name is Apollos.  This man was eloquent and mighty in the scriptures.  He was instructed in the way of the Lord and was fervent in the spirit.  This man spake and taught diligently.  Is this certain Jew passionate about what he is teaching?  Does he feel as though he has gotten everything he needs to understand God’s word?  The answer, of course, is yes!  Yet we find out that there is much he needs to know.

“And a certain Jew named Apollos, born at Alexandria, an eloquent man, and mighty in the scriptures, came to Ephesus. This man was instructed in the way of the Lord; and being fervent in the spirit, he spake and taught diligently the things of the Lord, knowing only the baptism of John. And he began to speak boldly in the synagogue: whom when Aquila and Priscilla had heard, they took him unto them, and expounded unto him the way of God more perfectly. And when he was disposed to pass into Achaia, the brethren wrote, exhorting the disciples to receive him: who, when he was come, helped them much which had believed through grace: For he mightily convinced the Jews, and that publickly, shewing by the scriptures that Jesus was Christ.” KJV

Aquila and Priscilla, hears this man speaking boldly in the synagogue.  Yet, they know something that he does not know.  Their response is to take that man aside and expound unto him the way of God, more perfectly.  They had some information that would change the way this man thinks.  Do you think he told them that he had an experience that only he could understand and that he just knows he is right?  I am sure he did. 

This is what is going on in many churches today.  Some people have the wrong foundation while others have the proper foundation.  Some of those who have the proper foundation, which is Christ, are building with the wrong material.  Therefore, the inspector will not approve your work.  Once again, it does not matter how much you think you are building correctly, or how sure you are using the proper materials.  If you are not using the proper material, it will not be accepted. 

Of course, this automatically brings to mind 1^st Corinthians 3:9-15.

“For we are labourers together with God: ye are God's husbandry, ye are God's building. According to the grace of God which is given unto me, as a wise masterbuilder, I have laid the foundation, and another buildeth thereon. But let every man take heed how he buildeth thereupon. For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ. Now if any man build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble; Every man's work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man's work of what sort it is. If any man's work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward. If any man's work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire.” KJV
“As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in him: Rooted and built up in him, and stablished in the faith, as ye have been taught, abounding therein with thanksgiving. Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ. For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily. And ye are complete in him, which is the head of all principality and power:” KJV

Paul makes a statement that we must make mention of, “…I have laid the foundation…which is Jesus Christ…”. 

Questions – Has anyone in scripture ever preached about Jesus Christ?  Absolutely!  How can Paul make such a bold statement?  There is something in this message, given to Paul, which is unique to him and him alone.  How are we then built up?  By the gospel revealed to the Apostle Paul. 

Colossians 2:6-10 states:

You received Christ by trusting God’s word by faith.  You believed the verses where it says you are saved by grace through faith.  You agreed with God when He said you are saved by trusting that Jesus Christ died for your sins, was buried, and rose the third day.  (Romans 10:17; Ephesians 2:8, 9; I Corinthians 15:1-4)  That is how you are to walk in Him.  You trust the words on the pages of scripture; rightly dividing the word of truth.  Your faith should not be found in any other books.  Your faith should not be blindly trusting in an experience. Your faith should not be found in some ceremony. Your faith should solely rest in the word of God to you.  Build, with the proper materials, upon the only foundation.  This foundation is Jesus Christ.  The building material is found in the books of Romans through Philemon.

Grace and Peace,

Greg Resor
Complete in Him

I Would Not Have You to be Ignorant, Bretheren.

Ignorance is bliss.  How true is this statement?  There are many today who go about establishing their own religion in the cloak of Christianity and I am personally shocked how easily people fall in line with these doctrines.  However, when I study scripture, I find out that this is exactly how Satan works.  Paul speaks about the course of this world in Ephesians chapter 2, which we understand to be the teaching of doctrine just as a course in school.  

Ephesians 2:2,3 Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience: Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others.

Of course, Paul is speaking to saved individuals who used to live according to the doctrine Satan created.  The problem is, some "Christians" are still under that doctrine but have no idea. They take scripture and twist them to mean what they want them to mean, just to prove their doctrine. They are in good company though.  In Isaiah chapter 56, we see how Israel's religious leaders were falling for the course of the world and were ignorant of this fact as well.

Isaiah 56:9-12 All ye beasts of the field, come to devour, yea, all ye beasts in the forest. His watchmen are blind: they are all ignorant, they are all dumb dogs, they cannot bark; sleeping, lying down, loving to slumber. Yea, they are greedy dogs which can never have enough, and they are shepherds that cannot understand: they all look to their own way, every one for his gain, from his quarter. Come ye, say they, I will fetch wine, and we will fill ourselves with strong drink; and to morrow shall be as this day, and much more abundant.

Notice Isaiah says the watchmen are blind.  They have one job and they can not perform that job because they are blind.  He does not stop there letting the religious leaders know how far they are from the truth.  The question is, did they learn their lesson?  Absolutely not!  They did not understand their redeemer was in their midst when they reject Jesus Christ.  

Paul does not want the bretheren to be ignorant, so he gives them a warning in 1 Corinthians chapter 14. 

1 Corinthians 14:36-38 What? came the word of God out from you? or came it unto you only? If any man think himself to be a prophet, or spiritual, let him acknowledge that the things that I write unto you are the commandments of the Lord. But if any man be ignorant, let him be ignorant.

Paul says to the church in Corinth to learn what he wrote them.  He does not stress to them that they should read the red letters of the Bible, because he understood the entire Bible was the word of God.  He understood that Jesus was the word.  He understood that he was given a revelation that contained information that was never before revealed.  He knew that his gospel was not taught by anyone before him.  He KNEW, because he was not ignorant.

Grace and peace,

Greg Resor

Complete in Him