Did You Ask God About That?
Part Two
Advancing disciples develope the spiritual discernment to detect the spiritual significance of what others refer to as our every day choices and activities.
Scriptural ignorance is a choice we make. In the spiritual realm, what one doesn't know, is what one chooses not to learn. Many don't want to face the challenges that learning and applying the truth will bring to them (2Tim. 3: 12/Luke 14: 26).
Rather or not we apply (James 1: 22) the Biblical knowledge that we do have are choices that we make from moment to moment each and every day.
Taking into consideration what God has to say about our moment to moment, day by day, choices is what trains us to do the same when facing potentially life changing decisions. Keep mind that what may seem like an insignificant choice at the time can later prove be a life-changing or even life ending decision!
Fallen Man has two basic hurdles to overcome when it comes to seeking and/or doing the will of God in any given situation.
Hurdle Number One is the hostile (Romans 8: 7) fallen nature with which Fallen Man comes into the world. This nature is hostile (Romans 8: 7 ) towards God and the things of God. This nature is inherently bent on doing evil (Gen. 6: 7). Not only does this evil nature NOT go away when one is born again, its potential influence actually increases with intensity, keeping pace with whatever spiritual advancement one makes.
Hurdle Number Two is that from the very beginning, Man has had a spiritual adversary (1Pet. 5: 8) promoting disobedience and independence. This adversary does so by promoting both adversity and prosperity, whichever serves his purposes best in any given situation.
This enemy is incapable of creating anything, but to the extent that God allows, is willing and able to wreak havoc and destruction of much of what God has created for His own glory.
The devil is well aware that our actions, both good and bad, are the manifestation of our conscious and unconscious thoughts (Prov. 23: 7). The primary battlefield in the spiritual realm is located in between the two ears of the human being.
The "dens of iniquity" are merely the means to satisfy our desires where we go AFTER having already made a decision to embrace whatever activity the dens of iniquity of this world have to offer. In this day and age of advanced technology, the nearest "den of iniquity" can be our very own homes.
The devil infiltrates these battlefields (between our ears) primarily through the eye and ear gates, appealing to the sin nature within us. As in the case of serpent in the Garden of Eden, the devil usually uses a third party to do his bidding. He knows that if he were identified as being involved at the get go, the intended target would not be so easily deceived.
Our first line of defense is to take heed of what we choose to see and what we choose to listen to throughout the course of any given day.
Our second line of defense is to effectively deal with the sin and evil makes it through the cracks in our Ephesians 6 armor.
When choices are being made, God the Holy Spirit will bring to our conscious mind the appropriate doctrine that we (should) have stored away in our edified soul structure.
At the same time, the devil will bring to mind all the accumulated trash that we have allowed to become a part of our soul structure.
If you don't think what one chooses to fill his/her head with isn't going to impact the choices he/she makes, you have been greatly deceived.
During the Old Testament dispensation, God audibly spoke directly to selected individuals (Adam, Eve, Noah, Abraham, Moses, and numerous prophets).
Here in the Church Age He speaks to born again believers primarily through the teaching of His Word (The Bible) and through the ministry (John 14: 26) of God the Holy Spirit whose temple (1Cor. 2: 16) we are. We hear His inaudible voice through the ears of the soul.
"... For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men who suppress the truth in unrighteousness, because that which is known about God is evident within them; for God made it evident to them. For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen, being understood through what has been made, so that they are without excuse. (Romans 1: 19- 21 NASB)."
God places the concept of eternity in every soul that He creates (Eccl. 3: 11). Rejecting this Eccl. 3: 11knowledge of God's existence throughout all of eternity (past, present, future) is the seed from which atheism grows.
Atheism is a choice one makes. Atheists, not believing in the existence of any god, will not be inclined to include divine viewpoint in the plans he/she makes. Neither are believers that choose to live independent of God and/or the things of God.
The details God's plan of salvation was revealed to Man over an extended period of time throughout the course of human history.
Each generation of Man is accountable for it's response to God's plan of salvation to the extent that it had been made known to them. As of the Church Age, the complete plan of salvation is spelled out in the Gospel Message, encapsulated in John 3: 16, 18, has been made known.
Believing (that is to put one's full trust and confidence), in the Person and atoning Work of the Lord Jesus is what saves a soul. Religious people HOPE they are saved. Believers KNOW that they are saved. Believers receive eternal life. Disbelievers receive eternal condemnation (John 3: 18/Rev. 20: 15).
Salvation is completely and forever (Romans 8: 1) secured the moment one is born again (John 3: 5, 7) while HERE on Earth, being sealed (baptized/identified) by the Work of God the Holy Spirit (Eph. 4:30).
That being said, the born again believer is then called to enter into God's plan for the believers of the Church Age. Success or failure in God's post (after) salvation plan neither increases nor diminishes the integrity of the salvation that a born again believer has already received, but there is divine discipline (Hebrews 12: 6) for disobedience. There can also be the loss of heavenly rewards (1Cor. 3: 15) and privileges (Rev. 2/Rev. 3) that are reserved for believers who choose to pick up the cross DAILY and follow Jesus (Luke 9: 23).
IF the plan of God only pertained to salvation (going to Heaven) the Canon of Scripture (aka The Bible) could have been reduced to the first few chapters of Genesis, John 3: 16, 18, and Rev. 21. In these few chapters and verses we are informed of where the physical universe and Man came from, The Fall, the need and means of salvation, and where the people of faith are headed in Eternity future.
If salvation was the end of the story, there would be no divine purpose for keeping a saved soul here in the devil's (Luke 4: 6/2Cor. 4: 4) world.
In each dispensation (period of time) there is both a Master Plan for Man at large, and an individual plan for each soul that God creates. When the divine purpose for each dispensation has been fulfilled, God's plan movers on to the next dispensation.
God's Master Plan for each dispensation will be fulfilled with or without the cooperation of individuals and groups. Rather or not each individual identified with the individual plan that God designed for him/her is a DAILY choice that he/she has to make. Each individual will receive either the blessings or the consequences of the choices he/she makes (Gal. 6: 7).
God, who creates our soul (not our parents), chose to place each one of us in the dispensation of His choosing (John 3: 6).
We are presently living in the dispensation of the Church Age. It began around 33-34 AD at the Feast of Pentecost in Jerusalem, Israel. The dispensation of the Church Age will come to it's prophesied end (Matt. 24: 14) when the event that theologians call The Rapture (1Thess. 4: 17) takes place.
The Rapture is NOT the end of the world, but it is thd end of the dispensation of the Church Age. No one with an edified soul structure will want to be here on Earth for what will follow (Matt. 24: 22) in a few (relatively) short years following the Rapture.
The primary purpose for the dispensation of the Church Age is laid out in the Great Commission (marching orders) that Jesus gave to the soon-to-be Church just before His Ascension.
Sad to say, but in many sectors of the present day Christian Community, the Great Commission has become the Great Omission.
The Great Commission (Matt. 28: 19, 20) calls for presenting the Gospel Message to unbelievers for their salvation, and sharing Biblical principles with fellow born again believers for their mutual, spiritual edification.
Our individual part, in the capacity of a Church Age, born again be!never in the fulfillment of the Great Commission is to carried out in our home, professional/labor, social, and recreational environments. It is a 24 - 7 calling. God, by giving us different human interests, talents, abilities, and opportunities, places each one of where are to take part in the Great Commission.
Our individual part also includes identifying the specific spiritual gift (1Cor. 12) and accompanying ministry (area of service) that God has in mind with which we are to serve the spiritual interests and concerns of OTHERS (1Cor. 12: 7).
Those who consider the spiritual status (dead or alive) of unbelievers and level of spiritual maturity of fellow believers in his/her personal periphery to be none of their business should take another look at the Great Commission (Matt. 28: 19, 20) and the warnings of (Mark 8: 38/Luke 14: 26). God made such things your business when you became a part of the Church that He designed!
This 24 - 7 commitment is what gives SPIRITUAL meaning and significance to each and every day in the midst of all the Ecclesiastes 1: 1 meaningless vanity and all the 1Cor. 3: 12 wood, hay, and straw that would otherwise dominate our lives.
It's not that we are not to produce wood, hay, straw, but that we are to prioritize and engage in the Great Commission while doing so.
Discipleship (the study and application of the Word of God) is initially for our personal edit edification and advancement in the plan of God, but with the long-term objectives of serving the spiritual interests and concerns of other people (1Cor. 12: 7).
The devil, by way of deceptive distractions, will do all he can to lead us away from seeking the guidance of God when making and carrying out our plans!
The devil, and those who knowingly or unwittingly do his bidding, will offer alternative means of guidance that have (or appear to have) the ability to make our earthly lives more pleasant and prosperous (Gen. 3).
Divination (fortune telling), omens, Man-made religion, traditions of men, and the deceitfulness of riches are among the devil's primary weapons of mass deception in his arsenal that he will use to achieve this goal.
For those who buck the world's system of doing things, the devil will attack with as much adversity as God allows. One of the ways the devil attacks the faith of God's people is to reward and prosper the ungodly. Not all prosperity comes from God (Luke 4: 6).
The devil's success in this regard has earned him the Biblical distinction of being called the god of this world (2Cor. 4: 4).
...
The "living" Word (John 1: 1, 2) and the "written" Word (2Tim. 3: 16) are in principle, inseparable. What you know (or don't know) about one, you know (or don't know) about the other. To obey (or to disobey) one is to obey (or to disobey) the other.
One of the most challenging things that an advancing disciples WILL encounter is developing the ability to discern the difference between what God is saying through His Word and what organized "Christian Religion" (an oxymoron) has to say.
The truth is that if all the products and practices of Christian Religion that are without Biblical substantiation were to be purged from within the Christian Community at large, what would remain would render it unrecognizable to many "Church-goers" of our day.
The rise in apostasy (false teachings/practices) WITHIN the Christian Community would raise many questions if it had not been clearly foretold (1Timothy 4: 1). False teachers (and their impact) have been a problem since the very beginning of the Church Age (Gal. 3), and will be on the increase in the end times!
My personal experience has been that 98% of the time, I have found clear and precise Biblical answers to the questions I have. Note, that not to have questions means that you have stopped growing. Finding the answer to one question inevitably opens the door to more. We are all a work in progress!
The remaining 2% (for which I have found no precise Biblical answer) involve situations in which the secret things (Deut.29: 29) exist. Note it's not that there aren't answers and explanations, but to date God has withheld such answers in order to generate faith (Heb.11: 6). There will often be a gap between how far the facts can take us and the end result. This gap can only be filled with faith.
God did not leave us as orphans (John 14:18). While not always telling us everything we would like to know, He does tell us everything that we need to know.
When facing a dilemma in which there is no easy answer, we should begin by making the issue a matter of prayer, asking God for wisdom (James 1: 5).
Wisdom is not just the acquisition of knowledge, but the discernment (1Cor.2: 14), willingness (Matt. 26: 39), and the ability (John 15: 5) to apply (James 1: 22) the information that we (should) already possess (Matt. 7: 24- 27).
After doing my best to make a Biblically sound decision, I ask God to step in and handle damage control if I have unwittingly misread or misaddressed an issue.
When the situation allows for it, a good teacher when asked for a definition or explanation will hand the student a dictionary or reference book. In doing so, he/she not only provides the student with the means to secure the immediate answer, but learns how to find other answers in the future.
God may chose to do the same with the Bible. With the help of search boxes in Bible apps, the amount of research time it takes to locate relevant Scripture has been greatly reduced.
Divine guidance is ours for the asking. Not only will we receive "the" answer, but a lot of wrong turns can be avoided by seeking God's input from the get-go forward.
Part Two
Advancing disciples develope the spiritual discernment to detect the spiritual significance of what others refer to as our every day choices and activities.
Scriptural ignorance is a choice we make. In the spiritual realm, what one doesn't know, is what one chooses not to learn. Many don't want to face the challenges that learning and applying the truth will bring to them (2Tim. 3: 12/Luke 14: 26).
Rather or not we apply (James 1: 22) the Biblical knowledge that we do have are choices that we make from moment to moment each and every day.
Taking into consideration what God has to say about our moment to moment, day by day, choices is what trains us to do the same when facing potentially life changing decisions. Keep mind that what may seem like an insignificant choice at the time can later prove be a life-changing or even life ending decision!
Fallen Man has two basic hurdles to overcome when it comes to seeking and/or doing the will of God in any given situation.
Hurdle Number One is the hostile (Romans 8: 7) fallen nature with which Fallen Man comes into the world. This nature is hostile (Romans 8: 7 ) towards God and the things of God. This nature is inherently bent on doing evil (Gen. 6: 7). Not only does this evil nature NOT go away when one is born again, its potential influence actually increases with intensity, keeping pace with whatever spiritual advancement one makes.
Hurdle Number Two is that from the very beginning, Man has had a spiritual adversary (1Pet. 5: 8) promoting disobedience and independence. This adversary does so by promoting both adversity and prosperity, whichever serves his purposes best in any given situation.
This enemy is incapable of creating anything, but to the extent that God allows, is willing and able to wreak havoc and destruction of much of what God has created for His own glory.
The devil is well aware that our actions, both good and bad, are the manifestation of our conscious and unconscious thoughts (Prov. 23: 7). The primary battlefield in the spiritual realm is located in between the two ears of the human being.
The "dens of iniquity" are merely the means to satisfy our desires where we go AFTER having already made a decision to embrace whatever activity the dens of iniquity of this world have to offer. In this day and age of advanced technology, the nearest "den of iniquity" can be our very own homes.
The devil infiltrates these battlefields (between our ears) primarily through the eye and ear gates, appealing to the sin nature within us. As in the case of serpent in the Garden of Eden, the devil usually uses a third party to do his bidding. He knows that if he were identified as being involved at the get go, the intended target would not be so easily deceived.
Our first line of defense is to take heed of what we choose to see and what we choose to listen to throughout the course of any given day.
Our second line of defense is to effectively deal with the sin and evil makes it through the cracks in our Ephesians 6 armor.
When choices are being made, God the Holy Spirit will bring to our conscious mind the appropriate doctrine that we (should) have stored away in our edified soul structure.
At the same time, the devil will bring to mind all the accumulated trash that we have allowed to become a part of our soul structure.
If you don't think what one chooses to fill his/her head with isn't going to impact the choices he/she makes, you have been greatly deceived.
During the Old Testament dispensation, God audibly spoke directly to selected individuals (Adam, Eve, Noah, Abraham, Moses, and numerous prophets).
Here in the Church Age He speaks to born again believers primarily through the teaching of His Word (The Bible) and through the ministry (John 14: 26) of God the Holy Spirit whose temple (1Cor. 2: 16) we are. We hear His inaudible voice through the ears of the soul.
"... For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men who suppress the truth in unrighteousness, because that which is known about God is evident within them; for God made it evident to them. For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen, being understood through what has been made, so that they are without excuse. (Romans 1: 19- 21 NASB)."
God places the concept of eternity in every soul that He creates (Eccl. 3: 11). Rejecting this Eccl. 3: 11knowledge of God's existence throughout all of eternity (past, present, future) is the seed from which atheism grows.
Atheism is a choice one makes. Atheists, not believing in the existence of any god, will not be inclined to include divine viewpoint in the plans he/she makes. Neither are believers that choose to live independent of God and/or the things of God.
The details God's plan of salvation was revealed to Man over an extended period of time throughout the course of human history.
Each generation of Man is accountable for it's response to God's plan of salvation to the extent that it had been made known to them. As of the Church Age, the complete plan of salvation is spelled out in the Gospel Message, encapsulated in John 3: 16, 18, has been made known.
Believing (that is to put one's full trust and confidence), in the Person and atoning Work of the Lord Jesus is what saves a soul. Religious people HOPE they are saved. Believers KNOW that they are saved. Believers receive eternal life. Disbelievers receive eternal condemnation (John 3: 18/Rev. 20: 15).
Salvation is completely and forever (Romans 8: 1) secured the moment one is born again (John 3: 5, 7) while HERE on Earth, being sealed (baptized/identified) by the Work of God the Holy Spirit (Eph. 4:30).
That being said, the born again believer is then called to enter into God's plan for the believers of the Church Age. Success or failure in God's post (after) salvation plan neither increases nor diminishes the integrity of the salvation that a born again believer has already received, but there is divine discipline (Hebrews 12: 6) for disobedience. There can also be the loss of heavenly rewards (1Cor. 3: 15) and privileges (Rev. 2/Rev. 3) that are reserved for believers who choose to pick up the cross DAILY and follow Jesus (Luke 9: 23).
IF the plan of God only pertained to salvation (going to Heaven) the Canon of Scripture (aka The Bible) could have been reduced to the first few chapters of Genesis, John 3: 16, 18, and Rev. 21. In these few chapters and verses we are informed of where the physical universe and Man came from, The Fall, the need and means of salvation, and where the people of faith are headed in Eternity future.
If salvation was the end of the story, there would be no divine purpose for keeping a saved soul here in the devil's (Luke 4: 6/2Cor. 4: 4) world.
In each dispensation (period of time) there is both a Master Plan for Man at large, and an individual plan for each soul that God creates. When the divine purpose for each dispensation has been fulfilled, God's plan movers on to the next dispensation.
God's Master Plan for each dispensation will be fulfilled with or without the cooperation of individuals and groups. Rather or not each individual identified with the individual plan that God designed for him/her is a DAILY choice that he/she has to make. Each individual will receive either the blessings or the consequences of the choices he/she makes (Gal. 6: 7).
God, who creates our soul (not our parents), chose to place each one of us in the dispensation of His choosing (John 3: 6).
We are presently living in the dispensation of the Church Age. It began around 33-34 AD at the Feast of Pentecost in Jerusalem, Israel. The dispensation of the Church Age will come to it's prophesied end (Matt. 24: 14) when the event that theologians call The Rapture (1Thess. 4: 17) takes place.
The Rapture is NOT the end of the world, but it is thd end of the dispensation of the Church Age. No one with an edified soul structure will want to be here on Earth for what will follow (Matt. 24: 22) in a few (relatively) short years following the Rapture.
The primary purpose for the dispensation of the Church Age is laid out in the Great Commission (marching orders) that Jesus gave to the soon-to-be Church just before His Ascension.
Sad to say, but in many sectors of the present day Christian Community, the Great Commission has become the Great Omission.
The Great Commission (Matt. 28: 19, 20) calls for presenting the Gospel Message to unbelievers for their salvation, and sharing Biblical principles with fellow born again believers for their mutual, spiritual edification.
Our individual part, in the capacity of a Church Age, born again be!never in the fulfillment of the Great Commission is to carried out in our home, professional/labor, social, and recreational environments. It is a 24 - 7 calling. God, by giving us different human interests, talents, abilities, and opportunities, places each one of where are to take part in the Great Commission.
Our individual part also includes identifying the specific spiritual gift (1Cor. 12) and accompanying ministry (area of service) that God has in mind with which we are to serve the spiritual interests and concerns of OTHERS (1Cor. 12: 7).
Those who consider the spiritual status (dead or alive) of unbelievers and level of spiritual maturity of fellow believers in his/her personal periphery to be none of their business should take another look at the Great Commission (Matt. 28: 19, 20) and the warnings of (Mark 8: 38/Luke 14: 26). God made such things your business when you became a part of the Church that He designed!
This 24 - 7 commitment is what gives SPIRITUAL meaning and significance to each and every day in the midst of all the Ecclesiastes 1: 1 meaningless vanity and all the 1Cor. 3: 12 wood, hay, and straw that would otherwise dominate our lives.
It's not that we are not to produce wood, hay, straw, but that we are to prioritize and engage in the Great Commission while doing so.
Discipleship (the study and application of the Word of God) is initially for our personal edit edification and advancement in the plan of God, but with the long-term objectives of serving the spiritual interests and concerns of other people (1Cor. 12: 7).
The devil, by way of deceptive distractions, will do all he can to lead us away from seeking the guidance of God when making and carrying out our plans!
The devil, and those who knowingly or unwittingly do his bidding, will offer alternative means of guidance that have (or appear to have) the ability to make our earthly lives more pleasant and prosperous (Gen. 3).
Divination (fortune telling), omens, Man-made religion, traditions of men, and the deceitfulness of riches are among the devil's primary weapons of mass deception in his arsenal that he will use to achieve this goal.
For those who buck the world's system of doing things, the devil will attack with as much adversity as God allows. One of the ways the devil attacks the faith of God's people is to reward and prosper the ungodly. Not all prosperity comes from God (Luke 4: 6).
The devil's success in this regard has earned him the Biblical distinction of being called the god of this world (2Cor. 4: 4).
...
The "living" Word (John 1: 1, 2) and the "written" Word (2Tim. 3: 16) are in principle, inseparable. What you know (or don't know) about one, you know (or don't know) about the other. To obey (or to disobey) one is to obey (or to disobey) the other.
One of the most challenging things that an advancing disciples WILL encounter is developing the ability to discern the difference between what God is saying through His Word and what organized "Christian Religion" (an oxymoron) has to say.
The truth is that if all the products and practices of Christian Religion that are without Biblical substantiation were to be purged from within the Christian Community at large, what would remain would render it unrecognizable to many "Church-goers" of our day.
The rise in apostasy (false teachings/practices) WITHIN the Christian Community would raise many questions if it had not been clearly foretold (1Timothy 4: 1). False teachers (and their impact) have been a problem since the very beginning of the Church Age (Gal. 3), and will be on the increase in the end times!
My personal experience has been that 98% of the time, I have found clear and precise Biblical answers to the questions I have. Note, that not to have questions means that you have stopped growing. Finding the answer to one question inevitably opens the door to more. We are all a work in progress!
The remaining 2% (for which I have found no precise Biblical answer) involve situations in which the secret things (Deut.29: 29) exist. Note it's not that there aren't answers and explanations, but to date God has withheld such answers in order to generate faith (Heb.11: 6). There will often be a gap between how far the facts can take us and the end result. This gap can only be filled with faith.
God did not leave us as orphans (John 14:18). While not always telling us everything we would like to know, He does tell us everything that we need to know.
When facing a dilemma in which there is no easy answer, we should begin by making the issue a matter of prayer, asking God for wisdom (James 1: 5).
Wisdom is not just the acquisition of knowledge, but the discernment (1Cor.2: 14), willingness (Matt. 26: 39), and the ability (John 15: 5) to apply (James 1: 22) the information that we (should) already possess (Matt. 7: 24- 27).
After doing my best to make a Biblically sound decision, I ask God to step in and handle damage control if I have unwittingly misread or misaddressed an issue.
When the situation allows for it, a good teacher when asked for a definition or explanation will hand the student a dictionary or reference book. In doing so, he/she not only provides the student with the means to secure the immediate answer, but learns how to find other answers in the future.
God may chose to do the same with the Bible. With the help of search boxes in Bible apps, the amount of research time it takes to locate relevant Scripture has been greatly reduced.
Divine guidance is ours for the asking. Not only will we receive "the" answer, but a lot of wrong turns can be avoided by seeking God's input from the get-go forward.