Sound Teaching

You have heard of it, have you ever wondered what Paul’s “thorn in the flesh” really was?  The reference is to the first 10 verses of 2 Corinthians 12. Let’s consider a bit of context:

First, Paul referred to himself in the third person, by writing, “I know a man in Christ…” He referred to an occasion fourteen years previous where he had received a vision from the Lord. Interestingly, an examination of Paul’s timeline indicates that this vision is only related here. In other words, there is no indication he had mentioned it before. The nature of the vision is not known by Paul (3), but it is not the only vision he had received or would again receive (1).

His reference to this vision is to establish to the Corinthians his standing as an apostle. Though, as a humble man, such self-referencing was not a comfortable thing.  In fact this is what his opponents did, which may have had an effect upon some Christians, necessitating Paul’s boasting of his vision on this occasion. Normally he was reticent, “But I refrain, lest anyone should think of me above what he sees  me to be or hears from me” (6). Continue reading “Thorn in the Flesh” →

Among the instructions Paul gave to the church in Colossae was the need for prayer. He wrote, “Continue earnestly in prayer, being vigilant in it with thanksgiving; meanwhile praying also for us, that God would open to us a door for the word, to speak the mystery of Christ, for which I am also in chains, that I may make it manifest, as I ought to speak” (Colossians 4:2-4).

Persistence in prayer is a teaching consistently emphasized in scripture. One example of this is a parable Jesus taught, recorded by Luke in his gospel. It is commonly called the Parable of the Persistent Widow. A woman makes an appeal to an unjust judge who initially had no desire to help her, but because of her persistent petitions, was eventually moved to do as she asked. “…He said within himself, ‘Though I do not fear God nor regard man, yet because this widow troubles me I will avenge her, lest by her continual coming she weary me.’  Then the Lord said, ’Hear what the unjust judge said. And shall God not avenge His own elect who cry out day and night to Him, though He bears long with them? I tell you that He will avenge them speedily’” (Luke 18:4-8). Continue reading “Continue Earnestly in Prayer” →

The birth and circumcision of John the Baptist are here described. (Earlier in the chapter we see the significance of John’s conception, re: Zacharias and Elizabeth, 5-23).

The Lord’s blessing upon Elizabeth was a cause for great joy to her neighbors and relatives, who rejoiced with her (58).

It was required of the Jews by law to circumcise male children on the eighth day following birth.  At this time they named him John. John was not a family name, so it had to be confirmed by both Elizabeth and Zacharias his name would be John, as directed by the Lord in a vision to Zacharias in 1:13.

At this time, the Lord also loosed the mouth of Zacharias (he had been mute since the vision of 1:5-23. However, though God had indicated to Zacharias the nature of the boy, it was not yet known to the friends and relatives, who rejoiced at the miracle of the return of Zacharias’ voice, and asked in wonder, “What kind of child will this be?” One who would be a great servant of God!

In John 4 we see a casual meeting between Jesus and a Samaritan woman. Jesus was tired, and rested at Jacob’s well while his disciples left to by some food in Sychar.

A woman came by to draw water and Jesus asked for a drink. Since Jesus was a Jew, and the woman a Samaritan, it was not a normal request (“for Jews have no dealings with the Samaritans” [9], and so this simple request became a conversation, one that Jesus quickly turned to a spiritual discussion.

This discussion led to Jesus’ declaration (believed by the woman) that He was the Christ! [26] The burgeoning faith of the woman, opened the door to an opportunity for Jesus to share his message with the entire city, bringing faith to many more! [39-42].

Yes, Jesus was a special teacher, but rather than excusing ourselves as being less capable, why can’t we seek to emulate His practice?  The next time you have an opportunity to start a conversation, be it with family, friends, or perhaps even a stranger, do it and see where it goes! Can you direct it to spiritual matters? Will this person be convinced and become a believer? Will other opportunities arise because of a simple effort on your part? Yes, all of this is possible!

In Acts 4:8-12 the apostle Peter admonished the Sanhedrin for rejecting the Christ, whom the Father in Heaven declared to be the chief cornerstone. Jesus Christ is the singular name by which all men are saved!

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Paul was not ashamed of the gospel of Christ. His conviction made him always to be willing to proclaim boldly God’s message. His example is one we seek to emulate (2 Timothy 1:8-12).

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In his second epistle, the apostle Peter had much to say about the prophets of old. He used them to explain the difference between God’s message and the counterfeit teaching of men, both in old times and now.

In the latter part of the first chapter, he wrote of the blessed nature of prophecy. He noted that Jesus was identified as the Christ, the Son of God, by the fulfillment of the prophecies of old. His conclusion: “Knowing this first, that no prophecy of Scripture is of any private interpretation,  for prophecy never came by the will of man, but holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Spirit” (2 Peter 1:20-21). Continue reading “False Prophets Among the People” →

In 2 Thessalonians 2, Paul refers to an important and often misunderstood part of our experience as Christians, our being God’s “chosen” or “elect.” Paul wrote in the 13th and 14th verses, “But we are bound to give thanks to God always for you, brethren beloved by the Lord, because God from the beginning chose you for salvation through sanctification by the Spirit and belief in the truth, to which He called you by our gospel, for the obtaining of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.” Continue reading “Understanding Our Choosing” →

Here we see a pattern of Jesus during his adult life, seeking solitude to pray to His Father in heaven. It shows us the importance of such conversations with God, which help to  sustain us and provides comfort and strength to handle whatever comes our way.

As the pattern begins here, near the beginning of his Galilean ministry, it took the followers by surprise. Their teacher had disappeared! We are told that when they finally found the Lord, they said, “Everyone is looking for You.”

Instead of apologizing (He was not sorry for His prayerful preparations, Jesus told them it was time to go to the next towns to continue his ministry. Verse 39 tells us that he went throughout all Galilee, preaching and casting out demons.

Understand the significance of his words, “for this purpose I have come forth” (38). This is the central truth of the entire New Testament, Him coming to establish His covenant for sinful man.

Back in 1979 the funny Peter Sellers starred in a movie called Being There.  It is a story of an uneducated gardener who is thrown into society for the first time and by his simple, cryptic allusions to gardening is taken to be a wise man. He eventually becomes a major advisor to the President of the United States, and is touted by some to replace him in the next term.

It turns out he was a fool. Inscrutable, but a fool. I don’t think I have seen the entire movie, but excerpts I saw showed a masterful performance by Sellers. The movie comes to mind when I read Proverbs 27:27-28, “He who has knowledge spares his words, and a man of understanding is of a calm spirit. Even a fool is counted wise when he holds his peace; when he shuts his lips, he is considered perceptive.”

A knowledgeable, but humble person sees no reason to flout his knowledge.  His words are few.  Reticence does not indicate ignorance as in the movie. But, conversely a man can be construed as wise if he keeps his mouth shut.

What doesn’t work is a fool, through his words, trying  to convince someone he is wise! As Solomon said in Ecclesiastes 5:3, “…a fool’s voice is known by his many words.” Something to think about next time before we speak up and show our ignorance!

Every Christian parent wants to raise their children to be faithful disciples of the Lord. Here are 7 things we can implement that will help to ensure that eventuality.

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Some observations we can make and learn from taken from the miraculous walk of Jesus in Matthew 14:22-33

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The Old Testament taught a harsh form of justice, especially under certain circumstances. For example, if two men fight, with the pregnant wife of one man losing her child,  Exodus 21:23-25 states, “then you shall give life for live, eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot, burn for burn, wound for wound, stripe for stripe.”

Things are different under the New Covenant.  That doesn’t mean that the civil government does not have a responsibility to impose punishment (sometimes harsh) upon the evildoer.  “Therefore whoever resists the authority resists the ordinance of God, and those who resist will bring judgment on themselves. For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to evil. Do you want to be unafraid of the authority? Do what is good, and you will have praise from the same. For he is God’s minister to you for good. But if you do evil, be afraid; for he does not bear the sword in vain; for he is God’s minister, an avenger to execute wrath on him who practices evil. Therefore you must be subject, not only because of wrath but also for conscience’ sake” (Romans 13:2-5). Continue reading “Old Fashioned Punishment” →

After Matthew records the departure of the young Jesus to Egypt (a fulfillment of Hosea 11:1), the massacre of the infants in Bethlehem, and finally the death of Herod; an angel appeared to Joseph to return with the child and His mother back to Israel.

However, Joseph was afraid to return to Judea because the son of Herod,  Archelaus was reigning the place of his father.  Apparently Joseph’s fear was legitimate as God warned him in a dream about the danger there, and Joseph instead turned to Galilee.

The city of Nazareth was where Joseph settled, and where Jesus was raised. In fact, he was often referred to and known as Jesus of Nazareth in the New Testament.  Nathanael, in John 1:46 asked about Jesus, “Can anything good come out of Nazareth?” Indicating the city did not have a good reputation in Israel at the time.

This was also a fulfillment of a prophecy concerning the Christ. “He shall be called a Nazarene”, which was written hundreds of years previously, in Judges 13:5.

In 1 Corinthians 16:1-2, Paul wrote, “Now concerning the collection for the saints, as I have given orders to the churches of Galatia, so you must do also: On the first day of the week let each one of you lay something aside, storing up as he may prosper, that there be no collections when I come.”

Nothing is surprising about this text. It relates an obligation that we have to support the Lord’s work in a systemic and regular way. It denotes the Lord’s day as the day when the collection will be taken. We know this to be the day that Christians came together to worship the Lord (cf. Acts 20:7). I states an obligation that we help those in our number (other Christians) who have a physical need (cf. Galatians 6:10).

This is the only place in scripture where there is a pattern established for this financial obligation we as Christians are given toward the Lord’s work. There are other places which give authority to practice benevolence, to support efforts of evangelism and to edify the church, but here alone is the passage that tells us how money is to be gathered in the local church.

What remains is for us to do our duty in a manner that the Holy Spirit prescribes. “So let each one give as he purposes in his heart, not grudgingly or of necessity; for God loves a cheerful giver” (2 Corinthians 9:7).