Understanding The Word

The Gospel is important and very simple to know and understand, but the Lord would have me go into detail on what is going on in the church. This is a warning; a warning to all that we need to get back to hearing His voice….hearing Him calling…..and teaching what is right and true and not fall by the wayside for time is short and He wants us to look to Him, for Him….and trust in Him. Do not fall for false doctrines, false hopes, false teachings…..BELIEVE in Jesus….He will guide you the right way if you but listen.

Looking around today….I see something that is of great concern,  I see that the Body of Christ has such contention within it that it is startling sorrowful that Satan, through his demons, has infiltrated us and has torn apart the body so that we are all going in different directions.

Jesus warned us repeatedly Himself and thru His Apostles, Prophets, disciples, and even thru many of His children that wolves would enter into our churches….leading many astray.

“Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine. For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.” 2 Timothy 4:2-4

We are all reproving and rebuking each other with verses in scripture….but scripture can NOT contradict itself…..so which ones are rebuking, reproving, and exhorting thru the Holy Spirit?  How can we know the difference….and how can we know when we are rebuking or reproving someone correctly?

The answer to anyone who really wants to know and understand…..it’s in scripture….

Sometimes we make scripture so hard to understand…we think it could mean this or it could mean that….but if you really just take it for what it says, (as a child does), then you should be able to see clearly that the Bible is quite plainly spoken of what we are to know, what we are to trust, and what we are to believe.

Today….there are so many people who know they are doing Satan’s work, they do it purposely….there are many people today who follow their own wants, so make the scripture say what they want….and there are many, many saved people who are turning into wolves themselves because they no longer hear the Holy Spirit…but hear a spirit that is demonic in nature telling them things that lead them and make them lead others away from the true teachings of Christ….the truth about Christ….and the True Gospel of Christ….

“I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel: Which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ. But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed.  As we said before, so say I now again, If any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed.  For do I now persuade men, or God? or do I seek to please men? For if I yet pleased men, I should not be the servant of Christ. But I certify you, brethren, that the gospel which was preached of me is not after man. For I neither received it of man, neither was I taught it, but by the revelation of Jesus Christ.” Galatians 1:6-11

Religions and traditions are tearing the body of Christ apart…and we have let it….instead of coming together as we should…we get prideful, and don’t want to admit we can be wrong or might be wrong….

“Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ.” Colossians 2:8

If you in your ignorance leads people away from Christ….do you stay ignorant or do you chose to learn more, understand more, or know more?

We all at times, have let people live their own lives knowing they are heading to Hell….we do not always warn them because we usually are attacked when we try….so we in our humanness do make choices in types of situations we might be in or put ourselves in……

But the Holy Spirit burdens us and shows us that we must grow and learn continuously in Him, in His word…so we can trust and have faith that God is in control….and let Him lead you.

I see people, including Saved people, (or those that claim to be saved), leading people further and further away from Christ, not only are some of these people leading people straight to Hell and to Satan, they are taking the chance of rewards from others by not teaching them the right way to go, and this includes sometimes their brothers and sisters in Christ.

“Now I pray to God that ye do no evil; not that we should appear approved, but that ye should do that which is honest, though we be as reprobates. For we can do nothing against the truth, but for the truth.  For we are glad, when we are weak, and ye are strong; and this also we wish, even your perfection.  Therefore I write these things being absent, lest being present I should use sharpness, according to the power which the Lord hath given me to edification, and not to destruction.” 2 Corinthians 3:7-10

It also includes taking hope from people in the body of Christ….do you realize how many of believers in the Body of Christ are filled with confusion and torment….and worry because they are told hope in Christ only comes at the end?

How sad it is that God is looking at each of us every day…hearing our teachings, our preaching’s, our beliefs…..how sad it must be and upsetting to Him that His own children do not listen, do not want to hear….and do not come to Him and study His word thru the Holy Spirit.

The Shepard is Calling

“But he that is an hireling, and not the shepard, whose own sheep are not, seeth the wolf coming, and leaveth the sheep, and fleeth: and the wolf catcheth them, and scattereth the sheep.” John 10:12

Are you listening to a hireling?  A wolf?  Or our Shepard?

“So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.” Romans 10:17

(To Be Clear…this is regarding the turning away from the Holy Spirit to other spirits, other doctrines….this is about His own sheep who are leading His flock astray…..about His own sheep who can’t always hear His voice, because it doesn’t say what we want it to….and how His own sheep are letting wolves lead them instead of the Shepard…and how the flock is not growing or is stagnate because of the confusion in the herd.  We can and will sin as believers, but still teach the flock correctly according to scripture)

“Woe be unto the pastors that destroy and scatter the sheep of my pasture! saith the LORD.” Jeremiah 23:1

This does not mean they are not saved…..it means….they have chosen to hear a different Teaching….a more complex Gospel, a different Spirit…. the Holy Spirit is always there….and if we all have the same Spirit…..we should not have such contention, and confusion within the Body of Christ. 

“How think ye? If a man have an hundred sheep, and one of them be gone astray, doth he not leave the ninety and nine, and goeth into the mountain, and seeketh that which is gone astray?” Matthew 18:12

Jesus in is infinite knowledge, knew many of His sheep would go astray from His voice and His word….it is why He states this…..in order to tell us He will come calling you and trying to pull you back to Him….

Another point I need to stress….is that going astray does not mean you are not still God’s, it just means you are falling away to different Doctrines….and it is not the same as someone who stops believing….those who make claim they no longer Believe In God or Jesus…or the Gospel, was never God’s to begin.

Every one of the sheep, of the flock, should have our eyes focused on our Shepard Jesus Christ….and while everyone will claim they are….. this isn’t always the case….

It all boils down to what does scripture say, and the most important thing to teach and understand is the Gospel, because it is this teaching that is causing mass confusion all around….something so simple….yet we make so hard, something so profound….we make inconsequential.

“But even after that we had suffered before, and were shamefully entreated, as ye know, at Philippi, we were bold in our God to speak unto you the gospel of God with much contention.  For our Exhortation was not of deceit, nor of uncleanness, nor in guile: But as we were allowed to God to be put in trust with the gospel, even so we speak; not as pleasing men, but God, which trieth our hearts.  For neither at any time used we flattering words, as ye know, nor a cloke of covetousness; God is witness:” 1 Thessalonians 2:2

For those that are Unsaved…..not knowing, understanding, and believing the Gospel…..can lead these away from Christ and into the open fires of Hell….For unbelievers are listening….some are looking for answers and the majority of the time, they are finding incorrect information from many wolves and false prophets…..and yes, even from many in the Body of Christ. 

For those that are saved….because they are either new in Christ or just leading a very carnal life in the world today….they start to question if what they believe is right…or is there more to it….they began to listen to men and demonic sprits instead of the Holy Spirit….and this leads to many to believe they have to do more….

There’s blindness in different areas going on inside the Body of Christ….and while none of us are perfect and understand all things….when we go to the Lord…He is quick to point us to the truth….But in order to SEE the truth….you must first HEAR what the scripture says……

And it is why you need know the Gospel…..why you need to understand the Gospel….why you need to BELIEVE the Gospel….but, it must be the RIGHT GOSPEL.

What is the Gospel?

Let’s take a look at the actual Gospel, (aka The Good News), from Jesus Christ Himself in His word to Paul and to all of us…..

 “Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preach unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand; By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain.  For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:” 1 Corinthians 15:1-4

There are many people who say the word Gospel….but do they preach it? Do they teach it? Do they believe it?

There are many people who say Lord Jesus…..but do they preach His word?  Do they teach His word? Do they believe it?

There are many who make claim they are saved……but do they know of Jesus….or know Jesus?  Do they believe in Him…..or do they believe what they want?  Do they believe Jesus is dead….or do they believe He is alive?  Do they believe in His sacrifice….or do they believe in their own self/works? Do they have faith in Jesus…..or do they have faith in Man?

“But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost: In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.  For we preach not ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord; and ourselves your servants for Jesus’ sake. For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.” 2 Corinthians 4:3-6

Do you know the Gospel? Do you believe the Gospel?  Or are you listening to another Gospel….believing in another Gospel?

What Gospel are you spreading? Are you preaching and teaching the right Gospel? Or one that is of Man and doctrines of demons?

I have heard so many different things from so many people and I find it overwhelmingly sad, sad that so many people are in such confusion or don’t even understand how to get saved….how to find it in the bible….who they should listen to in order to be saved….what they need to do….

Many people will even tell you that they got saved by saying a prayer after someone else…..some really believe….some are afraid of what if…so they say the prayer….and think, ’Ok, I’m saved now….I said the prayer and was told I was saved….so I am…’; and yet when you ask them what they believe….they don’t even really believe in Heaven or Hell…the prayer was a just in case they are wrong….

I have seen people get baptized….claim they are saved only to find out later they just did it because they felt pressured by a loved one….or they were told by a leader of a church that if they get baptized they will be washed clean from all sins…..knowing that they do not understand that isn’t the way to Jesus.

I have seen people who actually will pray during a crisis to God….sometimes He answers their prayer, sometimes He doesn’t, (and sometimes its answered but not the way they wanted)…..only to watch them afterward walk away and claim God doesn’t exist…(yet they prayed)….

You can say all the prayers you want to…the majority of people pray to something or someone,  but this doesn’t mean they are saved….or even know the Lord….you see, being and getting saved comes from one place and only one place…..YOUR HEART….

Only by your heart…..can you believe the Gospel.

“For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.” Romans 10:10

If your heart does not believe….if your heart does not yearn to know….yearn to see….yearn to understand Jesus…..where in your heart are you saved?

Knowing the Gospel and understanding salvation…always starts with curiosity….because in curiosity you have questions…..and that is the basis of finding answers….it will sometimes lead a person to Christ and they will then believe in said Gospel and receive salvation….sometimes it won’t…sometimes it’s because of much conflicting information….sometimes, it’s because they just don’t hear what they want or like.

As a part of the Body of Christ…it is all of our responsibility to preach, teach, and live the Gospel…..

“Even so hath the Lord ordained that they which preach the gospel should live of the gospel.” 1 Corinthians 9:14

If you are not….then by what are you living, preaching, and teaching?  Are you guiding people to Christ or away into false doctrines that will lead to more false teachings of scripture…..

When we as saved believers teach the Gospel of Christ….what are we trying to say?  Are we telling people what the Gospel actually means?  Or are we just telling people to call upon the Name of the Lord?

Are we explaining  that just knowing about the Gospel, is different from believing in the Gospel…..that the purpose of the Gospel comes with it the responsibility to understand Who Jesus is, What He did, and Why.

Without understanding why we need to believe the Gospel….can we understand the actual Gospel….for you must understand you need a savior for your sins….before you can understand the death and resurrection of Christ….because you cannot believe one without the other.

The Gospel IS the Grace

Only when we believe in the Gospel of Christ; are we saved in Christ….You cannot have salvation without the faith and belief in the Gospel….

In the Gospel is the truth, the faith, the belief, the Hope in Jesus Christ….not yourself, not any other person or name, not works, etc.  IT is a gift if you but Believe.

We as Christ’s should be shouting from the rooftops….should be standing and telling all even those who walk by….that the grace of the Gospel is their only hope….their only salvation….for we are running out of time everyday….and so many are lost…and many saved are not on the right path…..we need to help the Lord bring them back to their rightful place…..

“And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.” Mark 16:15

It is love of our neighbor and love for our King and Savior that we should want to do this…that we should want to hear His voice….that we should want others to be closer to Him.

There will be many who will claim I am not hearing His voice; but I know I do…because I know and believe what The Bible says….and it’s plain as day and easy to read and understand….if you want to…..

For it is no one’s fault but our own when and if we are deceived….it is our duty to use the discernment from the Holy Spirit to tests all things with the Word of God and Jesus told us to trust in Him and trust in His word…..If we are deceived it was because we were lax in our discernment…..or lax in understanding the Word…..or just not listening to the Holy Spirit…..some have become arrogant in their knowledge believing no one can deceive them……

“As we said before, so say I now again, If any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed.” Galatians 1:9

We all must be on our toes at all time, and yes, it can be very exhausting, but if you keep Jesus and His word at the forefront of all things…you will begin to see more and more clearly the truth of all things….

For all those that are confused, for all those that are troubled…rest in this knowledge of the Gospel and your salvation….do not let anyone torment you.

“And to you who are troubled rest with us, when the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty angels, In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ:” 2 Thessalonians 1 7:8