Wolf In Sheep’s Clothing?

Each day that we find out what exactly a person believes and it is contrary to Scripture is a very sad day indeed.  It becomes even harder when it is someone we have admired and felt stood for the truth.  It becomes even harder when you have researched that person and they never really believed what you thought they believed or stood for!  We see a trend in this past year of many known pastors and publications going downhill and buying into the contemplative mysticism.  This isn’t just minor people, pastors and publications that have bought into this dangerous doctrine but well-known people, pastors, and publications.  Today, we are discussing John Piper!  We have watched him slide slowly but surely into the abyss of being counted as teaching false doctrine.  May the Lord help each one of us to stand firm on the Word of God.  Count the cost because one day…maybe even soon YOU might be the one that has to take a stand.  Will you do it or will you be too afraid?

Piper – The Slope to Heresy?!

November 5, 2009 by The Desert Pastor

Galatians 1:6-9, “I marvel that you are turning away so soon from Him who called you in the grace of Christ, to a different gospel, which is not another; but there are some who trouble you and want to pervert the gospel of Christ. But even if we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel to you than what we have preached to you, let him be accursed. As we have said before, so now I say again, if anyone preaches any other gospel to you than what you have received, let him be accursed.”

It is a tragedy when those who claim the name of Christ are being duped by the myriads of false teachers who have no desire for truth. An even greater tragedy occurs when false professors and/or their false teachings begin to be endorsed by well-respected ministers of the gospel. However, the greatest tragedy is when well-respected ministers of the gospel not only endorse false teaching and heresy but then allow it to be preached as truth in the midst of those sheep whom they have been supposedly called upon to protect. The man in question is none other than John Piper, pastor of Bethlehem Baptist Church in Minnesota.

Finish reading here.

Persecution and Suffering…For What?!? (Part 5)

As we have seen in the previous posts, it is becoming the last days!  We can know this due to what we see from Scripture and what is happening in our world today!  Things are growing worse, people want teachers who will only tell them what they want to hear because they really don’t want to hear the truth.  We have people claiming to be Christians because they said a prayer, they go to church, they think they’ve kept the 10 commandments, they’re good and moral people, they’ve given to charities, they’ve become a social gospel missionary, or they simply think that God has to accept them because they think their good deeds outweigh their bad deeds.  They don’t read the Bible and don’t really know what the Bible says and don’t want to know what the Bible says!

Everyone quotes the worn out mantra of, “Don’t judge lest you be judged,” when you try to tell them what the Bible actually says, little realizing they have just judged and the Bible does give true believers leeway of  “judging righteous judgment,” and, “by their fruit you will know them (speaking of whether or not a person is judged to be a true believer).”

As we continue on, it only gets worse in our country as well as elsewhere.  People don’t want to hear the truth about themselves because they are lovers of themselves more than lovers of God.  They tend to think more highly of themselves then they ought so we will continue to see things grow worse towards true believers.  The Bible even goes on to say in Philippians 1:28-29, “and not in any way terrified by your adversaries, which is to them a proof of perdition, but to you of salvation, and that from God.   For to you it has been granted on behalf of Christ, not only to believe in Him, but also to suffer for His sake.”

As we see the persecution and suffering intensify, the questions need asking:

1. Why am I suffering?
2. How should I respond in times like these?
3. Why is it that those who do what is right are the ones who are treated with the most hatred and anger?
4. What should be my response during a time of persecution and suffering?
5. It’s so easy to become bitter and angry at the Lord while I am going through this time.  How can I keep from doing that?
6. Where does it say in Scripture that there will be persecution and suffering in a true believer’s life?
7. I’ve been told over and over again that God has a wonderful plan for my life if I just accept Him into my heart, how do you justify your beliefs with Scripture?
8. Why is it that Christians tend to persecute other Christians or that’s what it seems like?

If you have other questions about persecution and suffering feel free to ask them or if you have anything you would like to add that follows what Scripture has to say.  In my next posts, I will be addressing these questions and anymore that might be added!

To be continued…

Persecution and Suffering…For What?!? (Part 4)

2 Tim. 3:4-5 continues on with, “traitors, headstrong, haughty, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, having a form of godliness but denying its power. And from such people turn away!”

In our culture, we see so many people that are traitors both to our country as well as to friends.  It’s so easy to turn on someone who seeks to be a true friend by giving godly counsel.  Headstrong is the next word which gives the idea of rash.  How many people rashly do something and end up in serious trouble?  We see in the news how people, who have never been in trouble with the law, suddenly end up in jail because they have done something without thinking it through.  Impulsive seems to be the in thing now because impulse gives way to thinking things through or seeking godly counsel.  We have a nation of impulsive people that get themselves in trouble due to this.

Haughty is the next word and the meaning is the same thing as proud!  Pride is what caused Satan to fall and what causes us the most problems.  Most sins committed stem from pride.  The Bible is clear that pride comes before destruction and a haughty spirit before a fall!  Beware pride!

The next on the list is “lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God.”  This is definitely true of our nation.  How many people would rather go running, watch football, watch tv, do whatever on Sunday instead of go to church to worship Christ with other believers?  Church is not just there for our benefit!  Church is there for us to serve other believers, to encourage other believers and for all within the church to enjoy the fellowship of other believers based on the TRUTH of God’s Word!  We not only have a nation full of people that love pleasure on Sundays but even a lot of so-called Christians please themselves throughout the week  then put on a face when they go to church on Sundays as if they were the best Christians ever lived.  How hypocritical and yet that is being a lover of pleasure rather than a lover of God!

This progression is going downhill and now we have someone who has a form of godliness but denies it’s power.  How is this possible? you might wonder.   Let’s look at the average church and see what the Lord is doing within the hearts and lives of believers.  Is anyone changing and becoming more like the Lord Jesus Christ?  Unfortunately, we have a nation of so-called Christians who are not changing because they’d rather please themselves.  Let’s look at a couple of  the big name pastors.

What about Rick Warren’s church?  This is the man that prayed at the inauguration of our new president and prayed for God’s blessing on a man who is not saved.  This is also the same man that met up with a homosexual not too long before the inauguration.  He refused to give out the gospel to an unsaved homosexual man!  He used to take a stand against homosexuality and now he condones it because he was given the opportunity to pray at the inauguration!  This is contrary to the Word of God but most churches model their church after Rick Warren.  This is also the same man that is now saying that unbelievers should give Jesus a try for 40 days and if they don’t like it  they will receive a money back guarantee!  This is blasphemous!   Jesus doesn’t have a money-back guarantee!

How about Mark Driscoll at Mars Church?  This is the man that uses sexual inuendoes and swearing in the middle of his preaching!   This has become the norm rather than exception to the rule!  Pastors are stealing from the churches or have become men-pleasers because they are afraid of losing their paycheck!  If the sheep don’t see the pastor living a godly life, then why should they do it?  Not only that, but if people are getting a diet of only a little bit of truth mixed with error then they will begin to believe a lie instead of the truth.  These are the ones that we should be turning away from.

When we were in England, there were many times we had to take a stand for truth and we lost many friends through this.  When a pastor has to take a stand for truth and eventually has to use church discipline because someone within the flock has done something wrong and refuses to make it right, it is our responsibility as the flock to back the pastor!  If church discipline has been enacted then whenever we meet up with that person, we should be willing to share with them that they are in sin and need to repent.  It doesn’t matter whether we want to or not, or hope they will come back to the church.  We are commanded by Scripture to do this, whether we like it or not!!!  A church that is not willing to enact church discipline whether by the pastor or the members will DIE or will become one that has a form of godliness and denies it’s power!  These are the churches, the pastors, the people that we should turn away from just as the Word of God commands.

Let us make sure we continue seeking and striving to serve the Lord in every area of life!  Let us make sure we are becoming more like the Lord Jesus Christ today then we were yesterday!

To be continued….

Persecution and Suffering…For What?!? (Part 3)

2 Timothy 3:3 goes on to say, “unloving, unforgiving, slanderers, without self-control, brutal, despisers of good.” How many times in our culture and all other cultures have we seen or heard about this. Women kill their own babies, a dad kills the children then kills himself, children kill their parents or their siblings, etc. Their is no natural affection and most families don’t care about each other, they only care about what they can get from the family! There is lack of forgiveness within the cultures of this world. Go to the news and find out how many families seem to hold grudges against each other and how the family closeness is lacking even in Christian families.

People LOVE to slander other people especially if other people are taking a stand for the truth all in the name of love. Doctrine divides and will do so as long as there is sin on this earth.  The unity thing is not based on whether or not we all just ignore sin.  Unity is based on the TRUTH of God’s Word and if someone is not willing to follow the truth of God’s Word then it is important that there is someone in place who will take a stand.  God always brings men to the forefront who will be willing to stand regardless of the cost!   There is so much slandering going on in our country!  Our news media started off as a way to bring the truth to light but our news media has turned it into a biased liberal opinion!  If a person doesn’t agree with them then they accuse that person of being biased.  The reality is that they are so biased for sin that the truth doesn’t matter to them.  They even go so far as to say there is nothing set in stone as far as what is right and wrong so they slander the person who takes a stand for truth.

Not many people in this day and age have or use much self-control.  In fact, if a person has self-discipline or self-control they are normally laughed at, considered the odd one out, or even considered a legalist (if they are in church).

Brutality seems to be encouraged within most cultures.  Look at what is put on television and the regular diet of brutality that most children watch!  There is very little gentleness encouraged within our culture or even the cultures of other countries.

We also see a LOT of people who despise what is good.  This could include and does include even churches within our society.  If you do what is right then you are despised because you don’t have some kind of bad habit.  A few years ago, I watched a movie about a boy that was a robot.  I don’t remember the whole gist of the movie but I do remember how this boy robot was being very good and helping out others and basically being very kind and loving towards others.  Someone took him to the side and told him that he needed to be bad at some point because parents “need their children to be bad!”  What kind of nonsense is this?  We don’t “need“ our children to be bad.  Our children are already bad because they are depraved sinners.  You don’t have to teach your child how to lie or steal as this comes automatically due to their depraved nature!  They need to be taught how to be good and how to love the Lord!

Go talk to someone who is an evolution  fanatic (just about anyone who is not a creationist fanatic) and she will make it very plain where she stands and how creationists are freaks and crazy to boot.  People don’t care about what kind of problem you have but if you start serving the Lord with all your heart, then suddenly they have problems with you because you are “no longer kind and loving.”  Funny, isn’t it?

As we continue on, we will see just how far we have come in our societies but we will also see what the Bible says about persecution and suffering!

God Only Saves BAD People

Are you a good person or a bad person?  Do you feel you can get to heaven on your merits or do you realize that you are a wicked person in the sight of God?  Art Azurdia reminds us that only BAD people get to heaven.  God didn’t come to save good people but He did come to save bad people!

HT: The Desert Pastor on Defending Contending

Persecution and Suffering…For What?!? (Part 2)

The next things are, “…lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers…”  These things are prevalent in our society, and not just ours but also other societies.   Even in churches it seems money rules the day.  The health, wealth, prosperity gospel has set the church up to be greedy.  Pastors hate the truth and would rather be wealthy than to preach the Word of God.  This is a blight on the church as well as those in leadership positions.  It isn’t just the church that has this problem but if you look at our society, people elect those to leadership in hopes of monetery gain.  Look at how Clinton was able to become president.  He addressed the economic situation and there were loads of people that thought Clinton would be the one to set our economic situation right!

Please notice that boasters, proud and blasphemers all go together.  The person that boasts has pride in her heart and also the person that blasphemes the Lord also has pride in her heart.  The boaster thinks she has gotten to where she is on her own merits so therefore she can boast about what she has done, never realizing (or purposefully seeking to forget) that God is the one Who gave her the very life she has.  Since all things come from God, the very breath we take does not belong to us, it belongs to God.  Any ability we have comes from God as does the money, the material possessions, positions of authority, etc.  So where are we allowed any pride?  We’re not!

Disobedient to parents, unthankful and wicked are part and parcel because if we allow our children to be disobedient to us then the lack of thankfulness becomes evident as does the wicked behaviour.  This wicked behaviour grows worse as the child gets older.  Things we laugh about when the child is a toddler such as talking back, being very independent, speaking with the wrong tone of voice, ordering the adults around, as well as many other things show forth their depraved nature.  Our children start off as little heathen that have to be taught about the things of the Lord.  We have to share the gospel with them and disciple them in every area of life.  Our little girls need to be taught how to be godly young ladies while our little boys need to be taught how to be godly young men.  This means consistency in discipline, godly examples on the parents’ part, continued daily discipleship, training in the things of the Lord, overall showing our children love the way the Lord shows us love.   We see from Dr. Spocks teaching of how to raise children has brought forth adults that know nothing of discipline!  This is part of the reason why our society has such wicked people.  They were allowed to grow up being disobedient to their parents.  They lack the thankfulness that should be an integral part of our lives as adults.

Which of these things are in our hearts?  What needs to be changed in our lives?  May we all be willing to seek forgiveness for every area of sin within our hearts and lives.

To be continued…

Women in the Church (Part 2) — CAL.VINI.ST

Here is the continued part 2. Hope this helps to explain the role within the church! It has been a great encouragement to me! Thanks for part 2, Nathan!

Introduction

“As discussed in Part 1, there is much controversy in the modern church regarding the role of women. This series is briefly examining the apostle Paul’s words in 1 Timothy 2:11-14 as it is a passage that deals directly with the issue at hand. Part 1 explored vv. 11-12 which gave Paul’s prohibition in regards to the role of women in the church. That is, in the formal assembling together of the saints women are to remain “quiet” (v.11a & v.12c). Paul defined “quiet” as “receiving instruction” (v.11a) rather than “teach[ing]” (v.12a), with an attitude of “submissiveness” (v.11b) never “excercis[ing] authority over a man” (v.12b).

“Paul’s clear prohibition in vv.11-12 is sufficient to establish the limitations upon a woman’s role, and prevent a woman – based solely on her gender – from becoming a Pastor and Teacher within the church. However, Paul continues in vv.13-14, giving explanations for his prohibition, and it is these explanations that we will briefly examine today.”

Read here to finish the rest of the post!

Women in the Church (Part 1) — CAL.VINI.ST

At one point I had planned on going through these verses but as Nathan Bingham on Defending Contending and his own blog CAL.VINI.ST is going through this in a series, I felt it was important to post it on my blog. As he writes up the parts I will be posting a little blip of it on my blog. Feel free to go to his site and finish reading the rest of it!  (NOTE:  I went ahead and added the rest of the post as I feel it’s important to read the rest of it.)

“There is much controversy in the modern church regarding the role of women. This series will briefly examine the apostle Paul’s words in 1 Timothy 2:11-14 as it is a passage that deals directly with the issue at hand. This first post will explore vv. 11-12 which give Paul’s prohibition in regards to the role of women in the church, and the subsequent and concluding post will explore vv. 13-14 which are explanatory of Paul’s prohibition.
vv. 11-12.

11 “A woman must quietly receive instruction with entire submissiveness. 12 But I do not allow a woman to teach or exercise authority over a man, but to remain quiet.” (1 Timothy 2:11-12)

It is important to notice several aspects to the structure of Paul’s words. (1) Paul’s primary emphasis through the use of an inclusio is for women to remain “quiet” whilst assembled together formally as an assembly (v.11a & v.12c); (2) there are parallels that women are to “receive instruction” (v.11a) as opposed “to teach” (v.12a), and are to receive instruction “with entire submissiveness” (v.11b) as opposed to “exercis[ing] authority over a man” (v.12b); and (3) that the principle can be said that women are not to “exercise authority over a man”1 (v.12b) with the direct application of this principle that women are forbidden “to teach” (v.12a).2″

Paul’s command for women to quietly receive instruction is not harsh, rather it is positive in two ways.  Firstly it expresses Paul’s “tender sympathy” according to William Hendriksen, as he is saying “let a woman not enter a sphere of activity for which by dint of her very creation she is not suited”, similarly as you would say, “let not a bird try to dwell under water…”³ Secondly, as Douglas J. W. Milne notes, Paul is making it clear that in the church women have the right and should “learn as genuine disciples…of Christ.”⁴

Paul continues that a woman’s learning is to be performed “with entire submissiveness” (v.11b).  The object of whom the woman is to submit is vacant from the text, however given the context and the possible parallel with v.12b it is likely that her submission is directed toward men, but not all men, rather to her male overseers.⁵ Belleville argues against this asserting that “no authority resides in the act of teaching (or in the person who teaches)”, however the overseers and by implication the one teaching does have authority for the writer of Hebrews instructs both men and women to “[o]bey [their] leaders and submit to them…” (Hebrews 13:17).

As previously stated, Paul’s primary emphasis is that women remain “quiet” (v.11a & v.12c) and as such continues to explain further how a women is to perform their act of being “quiet”.  Paul gives two clauses, women are (1) forbidden “to teach” and (2) to “exercise authority over a man” (v.12ab).  In this small section it is these two prohibitions that have caused the most controversy.  Many egalitarians reject this clear reading of Paul’s words.  C. K. Barrett attempts to limit these prohibitions to within a marriage, narrowing the possible usage of the Greek. ⁶ However, with the consistent broad use of “men” and “women” found in vv.8, 9 & 10, this gives strong support that v.12ab are also to be taken broadly.⁷

I. Howard Marshal interprets v.12ab as not prohibiting teaching per se, instead he states “teaching is regarded as the expression of an attitude of superiority to the man, and it is essentially this attitude of superiority which is opposed.”⁸ This interpretation does not do justice to the text.  Kenneth S. Wuest notes Paul’s use of the present tense didaskein, which he suggests prohibits women not from teaching (for they are encouraged to teach young women in Titus 2:3-4), but that the prohibition is of a woman becoming “a teacher” or one who has “authority in the Church in matters of doctrine and interpretation.”⁹ This understanding of “to teach” is agreed by Douglas Moo who sums it up in modern vernacular as “preaching”.¹⁰

Belleville suggests that v.12ab be translated “I do not permit a woman to teach with a view of dominating a man”.¹¹ This translation is to be rejected for several reasons, (1) her preference of translation is based upon her own reconstruction of the events at Ephesus¹²,  which should caution further exegetical conclusions.¹³ (2) To translate in such a way as to suggest ‘domineering’ over a man is to change the Greek into a negative.  This verb is commonly expressed in the positive, and especially should be translated as such given that here it is coupled with a positive Greek verb didaskein.¹⁴ Furthermore, Mounce notes the research of Köstenburger which concludes the Greek verb authentein “should be seen as denoting an activity that is viewed positively in and of itself”.¹⁵ (3) To suggest that the Greek usage of oude (“and not,” “neither,” “nor”) should join “teach” and “exercise authority” together as one verb in Paul’s thinking does not stand as even though these two verbs are closely related, Paul does keep them distinct and clearly acknowledges that there is authority overseers have which is separate than teaching later in this same epistle (3:2, 4-5; 5:17).¹⁶ Finally, (4) it does not make logical sense why Paul would prohibit women from teaching in a domineering way, or in a way which is false, and not prohibit men from the same thing?  Surely this kind of teaching, if it was Paul’s intent, would be prohibited to all, gender non-specific?¹⁷

Summary

In summary, from vv.11-12 the apostle Paul states that in the formal assembling together of the saints women are to remain “quiet” (v.11a & v.12c).  He defines “quiet” in the following verses as “receiving instruction” (v.11a) rather than “teach[ing]” (v.12a), with an attitude of “submissiveness” (v.11b) never “excercis[ing] authority over a man” (v.12b).  Paul’s instruction to Timothy as to the function and role of women clearly prohibits a woman – based solely on her gender – from becoming a Pastor and Teacher within the church.

In vv.13-14 Paul gives explanations for his prohibition, and it is these explanations that we will briefly examine in the next post.

1. This is highly debated by some, for example Belleville (p. 81) suggests that women cannot teach in a way that attempts to dominate men.  Objections will be dealt with later in this series. Belleville, L. L. (2005). Women in Ministry: An Egalitarian Perspective. In Two Views on Women in Minstry (pp. 19-103). Grand Rapids, Michigan: Zondervan.) [↩]
2. Mounce, W. D. (2000). Word Biblical Commentary – Pastoral Epistles (Vol. 46). (B. M. Metzger, D. A. Hubbard, & G. W. Barker, Eds.) USA: Thomas Nelson Publishers. p.117 [↩]
3. Hendriksen, W. (1968). New Testament Commentary – Exposition of Galatians, Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, and Philemon. Grand Rapids, Michigan: Baker Academic. p.109 [↩]
4. Milne, D. J. (1996). 1 Timothy 2 Timothy Titus. Great Britain: Christian Focus Publications Ltd. p. 54. [↩]
5. Mounce, p. 120 [↩]
6. Barrett, C. K. (1963). The Pastoral Epistles. Oxford: Clarendon Press. p. 55. [↩]
7. Knight, G. W. (Spring 1975). The New Testament Teaching on the Role Relationship of Male and Female with Special Reference to the Teaching/Ruling Functions in the Church. The Journal of the Evangelical Theological Society (Vol. 18, No. 2), 81-91. (p.85) [↩]
8. Marshall, I. H. (1984). The Role of Women in the Church. In S. Lees (Ed.), The Role of Women – When Christians Disagree (pp. 177-197). England: Inter-Varsity Press. p. 192 [↩]
9. Wuest, K. S. (1952). The Pastoral Epistles in The Greek New Testament. In Wuest’s Word Studies From the Greek New Testament (Vol. II). Grand Rapids, Michigan: Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Company. p. 48. [↩]
10. Moo, D. (2006). What Does it Mean not to Teach or Have Authority Over Men? 1 Timothy 2:11-15. In J. Piper, & W. Grudem (Eds.), Recovering Biblical Manhood & Womanhood (pp. 179-193). Wheaton, Illinois: Crossway Books. p.186 [↩]
11. Belleville, p. 88 [↩]
12. Ibid, p. 89 [↩]
13. For further discussion on this point see (Moo, p. 187) [↩]
14. Milne, p. 55 [↩]
15. Köstenburger cited in Mounce, p. 130 [↩]
16. For further discussion on this point see Moo, p. 187 [↩]
17. Mounce, p. 128 [↩]

HERE is the rest of the post!

Romans 12:1-2

“I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice; holy, acceptable unto God which is your reasonable service; And be not conformed to this world but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind that ye may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.” Rom. 12:1-2.

Before we go any further with our “Older Women Teaching Younger Women” series I just wanted to address the important issues of our hearts as women.

In chapter 11, Paul was talking about how the Gentiles had been grafted into the olive tree due to the disobedience of the Jews.  He continued on toward the end of the chapter by saying, “Oh, the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God!   How unsearchable are His judgments and His ways past finding out!  For who has known the mind of the LORD?  Or who has become His counselor?  Or who has first given to Him And it shall be repaid to him?  For of Him and through Him and to Him are all things, to whom be glory forever.   Amen.”

So because of these things, Paul told the Romans, “I beg of you; therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God that you provide your bodies a living sacrifice.” In looking up this part of the verse I felt it would be important to find out what the actual meaning of it was.  The word living is also used to mean a “lifetime”.  Paul began by pleading with the Romans to make sure that they were willing to make this a lifetime effort of sacrifice.  Remember that Christ died for us and the sacrifice He gave is far superior to any sacrifice we could ever give even if it was a sacrifice for eternity.

He continues on by sharing how we can present our bodies in this lifetime as a sacrifice.  The first part of the equation is that we are to be holy.   We are to make sure that we are pure, morally blameless, consecrated.  This means that even if we are called ‘prudes’ because we don’t watch the filthy programs on tv or read the dirty books then that is what must be done.  On the other hand, let’s examine how it affects the heart.  Before a person ever picks up the dirty books to read them or watches the filthy programs something has happened within the heart.  That person has been thinking and meditating on things they shouldn’t be.  It’s easy to get caught up within the mind and heart on those things that are contrary to the Word of God.  We are to guard our hearts with all diligence for out of it spring the issues of life.  There’s a little chorus that I’ve been teaching my youngest called “Oh, Be Careful!”  It goes something like this:

Oh, be careful, little eyes, what you see!
Oh, be careful, little eyes, what you see!
For the Father up above is looking down in love,
So be careful, little eyes, what you see!

The other verses are , little ears, little mouth, little mind, little heart, little hands, and little feet.  It is so important for us to remember that our heavenly Father is watching us and we need to keep our focus on Him in every area of life.

Paul goes on with “acceptable unto God.”  This second part of how we need to present ourselves to God says much about how our Christian life should be run.   How can our lives be ‘well-pleasing, fully agreeable, and accepted’ in God’s eyes?  The only way for that to be done is through obedience to the Word of God!

Why should we do this?  Because this is “our reasonable service.”  This is rational (“logical”) ministration of God (i.e.) worship.  1 Cor. 6:20 tells us, “For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God’s.” There is a reason that our rational ministrations of God (or worship) should be done and this is because we belong to God.  If you are a true believer then there should be that desire to worship God in HIS prescribed way with your total heart and in every area of life!  (Here are some more verses that also give you understanding why we should be doing things God’s way! 1 Cor. 7:23; Rom. 6:13, 16, 19; Gal. 3:13; 1Pt. 1:18-19)

Verse two says, “And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable will of God.”

We should not be fashioning ourselves according to this age or the way the world does things.  There should be a metamorphosis or transformation by the renovation of our intellect (i.e. mind) and understanding.  We are not changing due to our emotions or our experiences!   These things are good but we cannot put our faith in these things since even these can trick us.  No, our intellect and understanding should be looking at what the Bible says and we should be changing according to what the Word of God says.

This is so we can “prove” God’s will and how are we going to do that?  We do this by testing, discerning, and examining.  There are several other verses that use this word to encourage us to prove.  In 2 Cor. 8:8, Paul wants to prove the sincerity of the love of the Corinthian church.  In 2 Cor. 13:5, he tells the Corinthians to examine themselves whether they are in the faith and they need to prove their own selves.  In Gal. 6:4, Paul  tells the Galatians that every man should prove his own work.  Paul speaks to the Thessalonians in 1 Thess. 5:21 to remind them to prove all things and hold fast that which is good.  It is important for us to remember that everything that pertains to life and godliness is revealed in His word.

2 Pt. 1:2-12 states, “Grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord,  as His divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us by glory and virtue,  by which have been given to us exceedingly great and precious promises, that through these you may be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.   But also for this very reason, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue, to virtue knowledge, to knowledge self-control, to self-control perseverance, to perseverance godliness, to godliness brotherly kindness, and to brotherly kindness love.  For if these things are yours and abound, you will be neither barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.  For he who lacks these things is shortsighted, even to blindness, and has forgotten that he was cleansed from his old sins.  Therefore, brethren, be even more diligent to make your call and election sure, for if you do these things you will never stumble; for so an entrance will be supplied to you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.   For this reason I will not be negligent to remind you always of these things, though you know and are established in the present truth.”

So what are we going to prove?  We will prove what is that good, acceptable and perfect will of God!  If it’s contrary to the Word of God then you’d better not do it, no matter how emphatically your feelings tell you that you have peace to do it!  How gracious God is to do such a work in our lives and to transform us from a worldling to a child of God.  He  transformed us spiritually as well mentally and emotionally.  Praise His holy name for all that He has done in and through us!

Conclusion of Series on Worship

The following is an excerpt from The Desert Pastor’s conclusion to his series entitled, “Which God Do You Worship??” This was a 10 part series and you can find it by going to his site at The Desert Pastor.

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“Let us conclude this short series by considering a few answers to these three questions. Our churches today are full of lost, unregenerate people who are headed for a Christ-less eternity. Yet, it is not difficult to read past history to find that when the Word of God was preached in its entirety that lives were changed. Ministers stood to give forth the Word and would address the minds of those who were sitting in the pews. They would encourage the listener that if they had ears to hear, that they (the listener) should be attentive to the Word and show forth fruits of obedience. The preacher could stand and preach for 2-3 hours and the people returned week after week to be convicted of their sin once again.”