NO GOOD THING DOES GOD WITHHOLD
Part Four
God commands (not an option) Church Age believers to continue to grow in His knowledge and grace (1).
God the Father, being true to His own character and nature, will not command His children to do something without providing them with the means to do so. The means for disciples to continue to grow in the knowledge of the Lord are among the good things that God will provide.
Jesus made asking for our daily bread a part of our ongoing prayer life in Matthew 6:11.
“Give us this day our daily bread (Matt. 6: 11 NASB).”
Jesus was not simply speaking about the food for the body, but food for the soul (2).
For an advancing disciple, he or she treasures the food for the soul more than the food for the body (3).
The physical body is the house of the soul during our appointed time, here on Earth. During his or her time on Earth, the body of a born-again believer is a temple of God (4).
Just as our natural bodies need food to maintain good health and function-ability, our souls need to be fed, as well.
“But He answered and said, "It is written, 'Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God.' (Matt. 4: 4 NASB) "
While not neglecting the needs of the body, the advancing disciple’s primary concern is for the soul that will continue to live on throughout all of eternity, after leaving the body behind.
Many of the local assemblies or ministries in the times in which we are living are experiencing a decline in attendance. With the decline in attendance comes the decline of financial support and its logistical means to stay afloat.
I believe the basic problem is spiritual starvation that can be attributed to the pulpits, the congregations, or both. In this the devil is well-pleased.
In the natural realm, when a physical body is starved, the individual can lose the desire to eat, with an accompanying denial of the seriousness of his or her eating disorder, and its pending consequences. The same scenario can develop in the spiritual realm.
“Because you say, "I am rich, and have become wealthy, and have need of nothing," and you do not know that you are wretched and miserable and poor and blind and naked… (Rev. 3: 17 NASB).”
When the flock has lost its appetite, or the flock hasn’t had a nourishing serving of the Word of God in such a long time, it can come to the point that one feels he or she can “get by” without it.
When the heart is not in it (6), it’s only a matter of time before the desire to attend and to financially support what should be his or her source of spiritual edification, will diminish.
“Getting nothing out of it,” or developing the mistaken idea that one doesn't need the ongoing feeding on the Word of God are early indicators that spiritual anorexia may be on the horizon.
Satan works long and hard at identifying and attacking local assemblies and ministries that provide the nutritional spiritual food that an advancing disciple needs to take in on a regular basis.
On the other hand, Satan is more than happy to promote any denomination, local assembly, or ministry that promotes false doctrine (7), or that spends its time and resources on making his (Luke 4: 6) world a better place to live while neglecting the primary work that God gave His Church to do.
For the devil, it's a win-win scenario. His independent world receives the logistical support, while God and the things of God are put on the back burner.
The Church that God designed actively proclaims the unadulterated Gospel Message, in good times and in bad. It does not compromise its teachings or it’s practices to obtain or to retain attendance and their financial support.
I for one, would rather minister to a congregation of 50 advancing disciples, than have a congregation of 5000 members who are only there doing time, with no genuine interest in identifying and or executing the post salvation spiritual life of discipleship.
There is nothing wrong with the traditional face-to-face local assembly, but with the modern day means of communication, pastor-teachers are no longer subject to the limitations and problems associated with maintaining a physical structure in a fixed location. Where the Internet is available, a global, international, 24- 7 ministry, is only a click away!
The devil is certainly making use of modern-day technology, whereas some of the Christian Community is falling behind, spinning it’s traditional wheels.
At the end of the day, it’s not the location or the means by which congregations gather together (8), but rather or not spiritual fruit (saved/edified souls) is being produced.
Paul did much to edify the believers of his day, and the believers of all the future generations of the Church Age, during the time he was in jail, physically separated from his congregations. It was there and then that he composed what theologians now refer to as the “prison epistles” portion of the New Testament. These epistles, are now more commonly known as the New Testament books of Philippians, Ephesians, Colossians, and Philemon that are replete with doctrinal material.
The primary purpose for a Biblically-qualified and ordained pastor-teacher is to equip the members of his congregation (9) via the teaching of the Word of God. Discipleship is initially for the edification of the individual believer, but with the long-term objective of his or her participation in the Great Commission (10).
Each advancing disciple has his or her own individual pulpit, sending out messages in the unspoken testimony of his or her lifestyle and priorities, and his or her spoken messages as he or she is given opportunities to share his or her faith with others (11).
Yes, every edified Church Age believer has a pulpit with opportunities to present the Gospel Message for salvation, and edifying Bible Doctrine for the development of discipleship in the lives of those he or she interacts with on a daily basis at home, work, school, or play.
If one has to announce to others, in order for them to be aware that he or she is a Christian, there is something missing in his or her walk with the Lord.
Spiritually mature believers do not have to go around looking for people to evangelize or to edify. Their unspoken message of an advancing disciple’s daily life will draw inquirers to them, providing the disciple with opportunity to share the Gospel Message and edifying principles of Scripture with those he or she crosses paths with on a regular basis.
This is why God places individual believers in virtually every walk of life and circumstances that this world has to offer. It is this that gives spiritual significance to whatever one is doing 24 – 7.
This divine placement is not always pleasant. Our next pulpit and opportunity may be while we are in line at a food pantry, or standing in line for our unemployment benefits, taking overnight cover in a homeless shelter, in a bed or space in a hospital, nursing home, cancer center, dialysis center, or prison. It may be at a wake or funeral.
Our last pulpit may be on our death bed. Our outlook concerning death, and how we handle the process of potentially or actually dying, will either solidify or bring into question in the eyes of those around us, all that we have claimed to be, and to have believed in, along the way.
Experiencing (and exhibiting) the Phil. 4: 7 peace that surpasses all understanding in times of great adversity is one of the greatest benefits and opportunities that one can receive. Such a mindset provides a tremendous unspoken testimony in the realm of spiritual warfare.
Be it in fear, doubt, disinterest, or insecurity, or in faith and confidence, most people will pass with the same mindset in which they have lived.
Compare the two different attitudes expressed by the two men who were crucified on either side of the Lord. One was still focused on the here and now, seeking a way out of his present circumstances. The other was focused on what eternity had in store for him (See Luke 23: 39, 42).
There are “deathbed conversions” in which some souls are saved, but one should not assume that he or she will have the opportunity or the mental capacity to do so. Every time one says NO to God and or to the things of God, his or her heart becomes harder and more resistant, even when facing death.
If one’s “religious” experience did not do all that much for them along the way, it should not be expected that it will do all that much for them when the time and circumstances for one’s departure arrives.
Religion is all about Man’s futile attempt to make himself right with God. Spirituality is all about placing one’s trust and confidence in what God has done, what God is doing, and what God will do for those who BELIEVE.
Edified believers do not pass worrying about what THEY did or did not do in life, but in the comforting confidence in what God did at the moment they were saved, and what God will do, when their souls depart the body.
Acknowledging the inevitable and facing one’s impending departure with the joy of the Lord are two very different experiences.
Paul was called to endure beatings, stoning, whippings, jail, illness, shipwreck, and death by decapitation. Job suffered the loss of ten adult children, great wealth, and endured great physical suffering.
As a result of taking a stand for God, many believers have been and continue to be persecuted, tortured, and even put to death by adversaries from outside and from inside their familial, political, and religious surroundings.
When called for in the plan of God, He sends or allows maximum adversity to be experienced by His servants.
God the Son endured the agony of crucifixion while suffering spiritual death (separation from God) in our place.
The joy of the Lord can be experienced in any situation. Its shines the brightest in the darkest of environments.
Salvation is instantaneous and complete, no matter when it takes place. But developing the spiritual maturity to experience the joy of the Lord when facing death takes time, and will not be the experience of luke-warm believers.
. . .
The unadulterated Gospel Message is one of the good things that God has given to the world. He has placed it in the hands of His followers for them to pass it on to others.
Most of the evangelization part of the Great Commission takes place when its members are outside and away from their Hebrews 10: 25 meeting places or means of edification.
When born again believers are gathered together, it is then and there that the Church that God designed reiterates their eternal security (12), and teaches them accurate Bible Doctrine, while providing them with encouragement and the opportunity to embrace and advance in post salvation discipleship.
Discipleship, that being the study and the application of the Word of God, is initially for the edification of the individual believer, but with the long-term objective of his or her participation in the Great Commission (13).
"For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life. He who believes in Him is not judged; he who does not believe has been judged already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God (John 3: 16, 18 NASB).”
“Therefore (because of our faith in what He did) there is now NO condemnation for those (born-again believers) who are in Christ Jesus (Romans 8: 1 NASB parentheses mine).
Apostate pulpits promote a different agenda.
“But in vain do they worship Me, Teaching as doctrines the precepts of men (Matt. 15: 9 NASB)'"
They reinforce their agenda by threatening non-conformists and non-supporters with the loss of salvation, or at the very least, the loss of good standing with them that entitles them to receive the services (weddings/funerals) they provide.
Other apostate pulpits promote an “everything goes” environment, condoning choices that many will come to later regret (14).
End of Part 4
________________
(1) 2Pet. 3: 18) (2) Matt. 4: 4 (3) Job 23: 12 (4) 1Cor. 3: 16 (5) Gen.3: 19 (6) Matt.15: 8 (7) Matt. 15: 9 (8) Heb. 10: 25 (9) Eph. 4: 11, 12 (10) Matt. 28: 19, 20 (11) 1Pet. 3: 15 (12) Romans 8: 1 (13) Matt. 28: 19, 20 (14) Matt. 7: 21 – 23/1Cor. 3: 15.
Part Four
God commands (not an option) Church Age believers to continue to grow in His knowledge and grace (1).
God the Father, being true to His own character and nature, will not command His children to do something without providing them with the means to do so. The means for disciples to continue to grow in the knowledge of the Lord are among the good things that God will provide.
Jesus made asking for our daily bread a part of our ongoing prayer life in Matthew 6:11.
“Give us this day our daily bread (Matt. 6: 11 NASB).”
Jesus was not simply speaking about the food for the body, but food for the soul (2).
For an advancing disciple, he or she treasures the food for the soul more than the food for the body (3).
The physical body is the house of the soul during our appointed time, here on Earth. During his or her time on Earth, the body of a born-again believer is a temple of God (4).
Just as our natural bodies need food to maintain good health and function-ability, our souls need to be fed, as well.
“But He answered and said, "It is written, 'Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God.' (Matt. 4: 4 NASB) "
While not neglecting the needs of the body, the advancing disciple’s primary concern is for the soul that will continue to live on throughout all of eternity, after leaving the body behind.
Many of the local assemblies or ministries in the times in which we are living are experiencing a decline in attendance. With the decline in attendance comes the decline of financial support and its logistical means to stay afloat.
I believe the basic problem is spiritual starvation that can be attributed to the pulpits, the congregations, or both. In this the devil is well-pleased.
In the natural realm, when a physical body is starved, the individual can lose the desire to eat, with an accompanying denial of the seriousness of his or her eating disorder, and its pending consequences. The same scenario can develop in the spiritual realm.
“Because you say, "I am rich, and have become wealthy, and have need of nothing," and you do not know that you are wretched and miserable and poor and blind and naked… (Rev. 3: 17 NASB).”
When the flock has lost its appetite, or the flock hasn’t had a nourishing serving of the Word of God in such a long time, it can come to the point that one feels he or she can “get by” without it.
When the heart is not in it (6), it’s only a matter of time before the desire to attend and to financially support what should be his or her source of spiritual edification, will diminish.
“Getting nothing out of it,” or developing the mistaken idea that one doesn't need the ongoing feeding on the Word of God are early indicators that spiritual anorexia may be on the horizon.
Satan works long and hard at identifying and attacking local assemblies and ministries that provide the nutritional spiritual food that an advancing disciple needs to take in on a regular basis.
On the other hand, Satan is more than happy to promote any denomination, local assembly, or ministry that promotes false doctrine (7), or that spends its time and resources on making his (Luke 4: 6) world a better place to live while neglecting the primary work that God gave His Church to do.
For the devil, it's a win-win scenario. His independent world receives the logistical support, while God and the things of God are put on the back burner.
The Church that God designed actively proclaims the unadulterated Gospel Message, in good times and in bad. It does not compromise its teachings or it’s practices to obtain or to retain attendance and their financial support.
I for one, would rather minister to a congregation of 50 advancing disciples, than have a congregation of 5000 members who are only there doing time, with no genuine interest in identifying and or executing the post salvation spiritual life of discipleship.
There is nothing wrong with the traditional face-to-face local assembly, but with the modern day means of communication, pastor-teachers are no longer subject to the limitations and problems associated with maintaining a physical structure in a fixed location. Where the Internet is available, a global, international, 24- 7 ministry, is only a click away!
The devil is certainly making use of modern-day technology, whereas some of the Christian Community is falling behind, spinning it’s traditional wheels.
At the end of the day, it’s not the location or the means by which congregations gather together (8), but rather or not spiritual fruit (saved/edified souls) is being produced.
Paul did much to edify the believers of his day, and the believers of all the future generations of the Church Age, during the time he was in jail, physically separated from his congregations. It was there and then that he composed what theologians now refer to as the “prison epistles” portion of the New Testament. These epistles, are now more commonly known as the New Testament books of Philippians, Ephesians, Colossians, and Philemon that are replete with doctrinal material.
The primary purpose for a Biblically-qualified and ordained pastor-teacher is to equip the members of his congregation (9) via the teaching of the Word of God. Discipleship is initially for the edification of the individual believer, but with the long-term objective of his or her participation in the Great Commission (10).
Each advancing disciple has his or her own individual pulpit, sending out messages in the unspoken testimony of his or her lifestyle and priorities, and his or her spoken messages as he or she is given opportunities to share his or her faith with others (11).
Yes, every edified Church Age believer has a pulpit with opportunities to present the Gospel Message for salvation, and edifying Bible Doctrine for the development of discipleship in the lives of those he or she interacts with on a daily basis at home, work, school, or play.
If one has to announce to others, in order for them to be aware that he or she is a Christian, there is something missing in his or her walk with the Lord.
Spiritually mature believers do not have to go around looking for people to evangelize or to edify. Their unspoken message of an advancing disciple’s daily life will draw inquirers to them, providing the disciple with opportunity to share the Gospel Message and edifying principles of Scripture with those he or she crosses paths with on a regular basis.
This is why God places individual believers in virtually every walk of life and circumstances that this world has to offer. It is this that gives spiritual significance to whatever one is doing 24 – 7.
This divine placement is not always pleasant. Our next pulpit and opportunity may be while we are in line at a food pantry, or standing in line for our unemployment benefits, taking overnight cover in a homeless shelter, in a bed or space in a hospital, nursing home, cancer center, dialysis center, or prison. It may be at a wake or funeral.
Our last pulpit may be on our death bed. Our outlook concerning death, and how we handle the process of potentially or actually dying, will either solidify or bring into question in the eyes of those around us, all that we have claimed to be, and to have believed in, along the way.
Experiencing (and exhibiting) the Phil. 4: 7 peace that surpasses all understanding in times of great adversity is one of the greatest benefits and opportunities that one can receive. Such a mindset provides a tremendous unspoken testimony in the realm of spiritual warfare.
Be it in fear, doubt, disinterest, or insecurity, or in faith and confidence, most people will pass with the same mindset in which they have lived.
Compare the two different attitudes expressed by the two men who were crucified on either side of the Lord. One was still focused on the here and now, seeking a way out of his present circumstances. The other was focused on what eternity had in store for him (See Luke 23: 39, 42).
There are “deathbed conversions” in which some souls are saved, but one should not assume that he or she will have the opportunity or the mental capacity to do so. Every time one says NO to God and or to the things of God, his or her heart becomes harder and more resistant, even when facing death.
If one’s “religious” experience did not do all that much for them along the way, it should not be expected that it will do all that much for them when the time and circumstances for one’s departure arrives.
Religion is all about Man’s futile attempt to make himself right with God. Spirituality is all about placing one’s trust and confidence in what God has done, what God is doing, and what God will do for those who BELIEVE.
Edified believers do not pass worrying about what THEY did or did not do in life, but in the comforting confidence in what God did at the moment they were saved, and what God will do, when their souls depart the body.
Acknowledging the inevitable and facing one’s impending departure with the joy of the Lord are two very different experiences.
Paul was called to endure beatings, stoning, whippings, jail, illness, shipwreck, and death by decapitation. Job suffered the loss of ten adult children, great wealth, and endured great physical suffering.
As a result of taking a stand for God, many believers have been and continue to be persecuted, tortured, and even put to death by adversaries from outside and from inside their familial, political, and religious surroundings.
When called for in the plan of God, He sends or allows maximum adversity to be experienced by His servants.
God the Son endured the agony of crucifixion while suffering spiritual death (separation from God) in our place.
The joy of the Lord can be experienced in any situation. Its shines the brightest in the darkest of environments.
Salvation is instantaneous and complete, no matter when it takes place. But developing the spiritual maturity to experience the joy of the Lord when facing death takes time, and will not be the experience of luke-warm believers.
. . .
The unadulterated Gospel Message is one of the good things that God has given to the world. He has placed it in the hands of His followers for them to pass it on to others.
Most of the evangelization part of the Great Commission takes place when its members are outside and away from their Hebrews 10: 25 meeting places or means of edification.
When born again believers are gathered together, it is then and there that the Church that God designed reiterates their eternal security (12), and teaches them accurate Bible Doctrine, while providing them with encouragement and the opportunity to embrace and advance in post salvation discipleship.
Discipleship, that being the study and the application of the Word of God, is initially for the edification of the individual believer, but with the long-term objective of his or her participation in the Great Commission (13).
"For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life. He who believes in Him is not judged; he who does not believe has been judged already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God (John 3: 16, 18 NASB).”
“Therefore (because of our faith in what He did) there is now NO condemnation for those (born-again believers) who are in Christ Jesus (Romans 8: 1 NASB parentheses mine).
Apostate pulpits promote a different agenda.
“But in vain do they worship Me, Teaching as doctrines the precepts of men (Matt. 15: 9 NASB)'"
They reinforce their agenda by threatening non-conformists and non-supporters with the loss of salvation, or at the very least, the loss of good standing with them that entitles them to receive the services (weddings/funerals) they provide.
Other apostate pulpits promote an “everything goes” environment, condoning choices that many will come to later regret (14).
End of Part 4
________________
(1) 2Pet. 3: 18) (2) Matt. 4: 4 (3) Job 23: 12 (4) 1Cor. 3: 16 (5) Gen.3: 19 (6) Matt.15: 8 (7) Matt. 15: 9 (8) Heb. 10: 25 (9) Eph. 4: 11, 12 (10) Matt. 28: 19, 20 (11) 1Pet. 3: 15 (12) Romans 8: 1 (13) Matt. 28: 19, 20 (14) Matt. 7: 21 – 23/1Cor. 3: 15.