JUDGE, OR NOT TO JUDGE? PTL!

SR.PASTOR MARVIN W. WILLS DILIGENTLY SEARCHES THE HOLY SCRIPTURE

 Let us, by GOD's precious HOLY SPIRIT, partake in a spiritual love feast of: Bread, Water, Milk, Meat and Wine. Of course this bread, water, meat, and wine are metaphors (representations) i.e. a declaration that one thing is --or represents-- another, in this case the other would be the precious Word of GOD.

The Bread being the intake of the Holy substance--The WORD of GOD-- as it is GOD breathed. "And JESUS said to them, I am the bread of life. He who comes to ME shall never hunger, and he who believes in ME shall never thirst" (Jh 6:35) (2 Tim 3:16).

   The Water being the refreshing, exhilarating power of the HOLY SPIRIT, for the Word of GOD proves this when "JESUS stood and cried out, saying, if anyone thirst let him come to ME and drink, he who believes in ME, as the Scripture has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water. But HE spoke concerning the SPIRIT, whom those believing in HIM would receive" (Jh 7:37-39).

   The Milk  being the doctrine of the first principles of the Gospel as our brother so said, "and I brethren, could not speak to you as to spiritual people but as to carnal, as to babes in CHRIST. I fed you with milk and not solid food...for I delivered to you all that I also received: that CHRIST died for our sins according to the Scriptures. and HE was buried, and that HE rose again the third day according to the Scriptures" ( 1 Cor 3:1-2; 15:3-4). Oh how I just love milk for it leaves a ring of Holy glow around the saint that drinks of its nutrition.

   The Meat, is the Holy substance which puts the sinew on the bones; meat is the Christian's muscle. It is through the meat that we are able to gain the proper muscle and power to spiritually exercise, yea, and big muscles. This kind of meat is what gives us the strength to yield that powerful double-edged sword that is able to penetrate even to the dividing  soul and spirit, joint and marrow properly. This meat makes the body:- which "is the temple of the HOLY SPIRIT who is in you" (1 Cor 6:19-20), strong enough to boldly wear the precious armor of GOD. "for everyone who partakes only of milk is unskilled in the word of righteousness, o he is a babe. But solid food belongs o those who are of full age, that is , those who by reason of use have their senses exercise to discern both good and evil" (Heb 5:13-14).

  Last but certainly not the least is the oh sweet drink of the spiritual Wine. Oh how sweet this elixir is, the tasting of the exhilarating fullness of that GODLY wine, which is the HOLY SPIRIT. "and do not be drunk with wine, in which is dissipation; but be filled with the SPIRIT" (Eph 5:18).

   Though we have a table laden with a great GODLY substance it is at the moment in or course where we will be served the meat, and let us be glad for this meat. For the LAMB without spot nor blemish, which knew no sin became sin for us that we may become the perfect righteousness of GOD, has sacrifice HIS life to bring forth such a supper of divine victuals (2 Cor 5:21). Since it has come from GOD it is the meat of GOD. Therefore beloved let us be sure of the garment we adorn, for it is the HOLY SPIRIT garment of the elect which will enable us to enter into this supper with gladness and rejoicing in our heart. (Eph 1:4)

   Let us be so bold to call this portion of meat: "JUDGE, OR NOT TO JUDGE?"

   Now if you will take up your sword and turn it to the rubied page of Matthew chapter 7 and verses 1-5. I will, by GOD'S grace, share that which is sweeter than honey and the honey comb, and which is more desired than gold, yea, than much fine gold (Ps 19:10). 

   (Mat 7:1-5) "v1. Judge not, that you be not judged. v2. for with what judgement you judge, you will be judged; with the measure you use, it will be measured back to you. v3. and why do you look at the speck in your brother's eye, but do not concerned the plank in your own eye? v4. or how can you say to your brother, let me remove the speck in your eye; and look, a plank is in your own eye? v5. Hypocrite First remove the plank from your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother's eye."

   In (Mat 7:1) JESUS said, " judge not, that you  be not judge." In (Rom 2:1) Paul said "therefore you are inexcusable, o man, whoever you are who judge, for in whatever you judge another you condemn yourself; for you who judge practice the same thing." Look beloved, from these two verses we can see so clearly that we are not to judge others.

   JESUS went on to say in (Mat 7:2) "for with what judgement you judge, you shall be judged." Now as a minister of GOD I have come to know that this has made any Christian who is pure of heart literally scared to death to judge anyone. Even when a judgement is needed-he or she won't. He or she can't. We must not judge any one of anything. 

   Well, the question of JUDGING seems very clearly settled in these two verses. "JUDGE NOT." Its all find and dandy, no hassle about "judging"-until we turn over to (1Cor 2:15) and read , "but he that is spiritual judges all things, yet he himself is judged of no man." 

   What is this? If you're spiritual you'll judge all things. Everything. What does that mean? Has GOD elected YOU only and set YOU up to be a judge over ALL things? Wait a minute. Remember (Mat 7:2) " for with what judgement you judge, you shall be judged." ? 

   What are you suppose to do? Judge or not Judge? Maybe its a trap? You want to be spiritual don't you? Then you must Judge all things.

   As you read on in (1Cor 6:5) you read, "I speak to your shame. Is it so, that there is not a wise man among you? No, not one that should be able to judge between his brethren?" Again in (1 Cor 14:24) Paul tells the whole Church to judge. "But if all prophesy, and there come in one that believeth not, or one unlearned, he is convinced of all, he is judged of all." So it looks dear beloved as if you want to be wise you must judge between your brethren as it says in (1 Cor 14:29) "let two or three prophets speak, and let the others judge." Man, what is this? Whats happening? JESUS said not to judge. Paul even said not to judge. Now he is saying that we should judge. Is he contradicting himself?

   A good sharp atheist will tell you that this is one of those many contradictions which the Bible is full of. They, as I have heard many times since the day GOD put HIS ministry in my stead, will tell you, "see in one place it says not to judge and then just a few pages late it says to judge. Contradiction!?"

   Well, this problem of judging has bothered many, many Christians for a very long time. At least as  long as I've been in the ministry (Jh 6:44). Being afraid of judging people has caused a lot of mental distress. If you are afraid to judge false teachers beloved you will be vulnerable to any and all deceptions and condemnations people want to put on you. Listen, you will be open to any seducing spirits that come around! On the other hand, judging people has caused much gossip, lies and aching hearts. I know this to be true - especially in church (Jam 3:4-18). So whats the answer, should we judge or not?

   Ok, let us take a bite of this delicate and oh so sweet meat and savor the sauteed spiritual juices with a heart full of gladness.

   The word "JUDGE," as it appears in the King James Version, was translated from five different Greek words in the original writing, with the exception of two instances. These five different Greek words can be organized into three groups by definition. Listen beloved, even though there are five original words translated as JUDGE there are only three different meanings and definitions.

   1)   The first Greek word that we will examine is KRINO#2919.  Krino was translated as JUDGE 87 times. It was also translated as the following words in the KJV: determine; condemn; damn; decree; my sentence is; go to the law; sue at law; avenge; conclude.

   It is easy to see the original true meaning of KRINO from the list of words in our Bible to translate it. The Strong's Exhaustive Concordance states that KRINO means: mentally or judicially decide, to condemn, punish, avenge, damned.

   This is the word JESUS used in (Mat 7:7) to tell us what Not to do. Yes dear saint, it is the same word KRINO That Paul used in (Rom 2:1) to say we are inexcusable if we KRINO anyone. Look-it you who have ears to hear, this word KRINO, is strictly is a judicial judgement. Listen, it calls for an investigation, trial, conclusion and a passing sentence. This is exactly what a judicial judge at a murder trial does. KRINO.

   2)    The next Greek word ANAKRINO#350-303+2919. As you can see this word is KRINO with a prefix ANA. ANA#303 by itself literally means; in, by. in compound (as a prefix) it often means repetition, intensity, reversal. ANAKRINO is also translated: example; judge; search; ask questions, discern.

   Again, you can easily see what ANAKRINO actually meant in the original by the other words that it was translated to. However dear beloved, Strong's says it literally means: "to scrutinize, investigate, ask, question, interrogate, determine, discern, examine, search and judge." We can readily see the difference that the prefix ANA makes. ANAKRINO allows for absolutely no damning, condemning or passing sentence.

   There is a relationship of meaning but yet a vast different. One example would be to compare a detective to a judge in our legal system.A detective is suppose to ANAKRINO but he can not KRINO. A detectives comes to his own conclusions but he cannot pass sentence or condemn a murderer to death. However, a judge does both. 

   ANAKRINO simply means to discern, search and examine. It also includes coming to an conclusion. Listen and take heed my dear beloved, it leaves absolutely no room for indifference, ignorance or lack of decision. It does not mean to back away and remain indecisive. It simply means to make a decision after careful investigation and act on that decision WITHOUT damning or condemning.

    For example: if you hear someone teach a false doctrine you should investigate, reach a conclusion and act accordingly without condemning that person to hell. Look, it isn't necessary for you to sentence them to hell in order to warn others that the teaching is not correct. This is especially true when deciding for yourself what to believe and who to listen to or not. Listen you who have ears to hear, if you are going to be spiritual you MUST learn to discern all things. Ahh! that should give you a clue. Yes. It was this word ANAKRINO that Paul originally use to write (1 Cor 2:15) to say "that he who is spiritual judgeth all things."

   The answer should be getting clearer to you now in regards to this problem of judging. Paul uses two different words in writing (Rom 2:2) and (1 Cor 2:15) because he meant two different things. The last word of (1 Cor 2:14) is "discerned" yet in the original Greek this is the same exact word ANAKRINO, that was translated "judgeth" in verse 15. Our brother Paul uses the same word ANAKRINO in both verses (1 Cor 2:14-15) because he meant the same thing. Verse 15 is repeating and continuing verse 14. Yet most people do not tie the two verses together because the translator chose discern in verse 14 and judge in verse 15 to translate the Greek word ANAKRINO in both verses. Verse 14 proves to us what is meant in verse 15 concerning the original word ANAKRINO. We would better understand verse 15 if we would replace the word "judgeth" with the word "discern."

   In every single place where there seems to be a contradiction in the precious Holy Bible it can be traced to a simple misunderstanding on our part as to what was originally meant. Usually this misunderstanding can be easily cleared up by simply going back to the original and researching the true meaning. One of the main reasonings for misunderstanding what the Bible really says is that we must read a translation of the original writings. And even if we are able to do this, some times it is very difficult, even impossible at times. To translate the exact technical meaning from one language to another. However, beloved, this problem can be somewhat remedied by the use of a good analytical concordance.

   3)   Now the third word is categorized with the second and is very similar: DIAKRINO#1252 from#1223 DIA and #2919. As you can see this is a compound word of KRINO, the only difference is being a different prefix, DIA. Alone DIA means almost the same as ANA#303 in the original Greek: in, of (out of), and by. DIA is a primary preposition-which means its a principle prefix governing a noun or pronoun- denoting a channel of an act. In the KJV DIAKRINO was translated as: discern; distinguish; put a difference; make to differ; contend; be partial.

   Everything which we said of ANAKRINO can be safely said for DIAKRINO also. If we group these two words together we can see their original meanings- DIAKRINO is the original word Paul used to write (1 Cor 6:5) and (1 Cor 14:24,29) "I speak to your shame, is it so, that there is no wise men among you? no, not one that should be able to judge between his brethren." 

   What Paul is saying here is that Christians should not have to go to a none Christian judge to settle a difference between two brothers in CHRIST it is a shame for a church to be without at least one man who has discernment because it is a gift of the HOLY SPIRIT and a function in the church (1 Cor 12:4-11). Now, speaking of the HOLY SPIRIT, which enables us to become an individual stone of  a growing church and administrators thereof, we see in ( 1 Cor 12:10) it is given to us to judge, to discern. "to another a working of miracles: to another prophecy; to another a discerning of spirits..." 

   4 & 5)   The last two words we will study together as they virtually have the same meaning. DIASTES and KRITES. as you may have guessed KRITES is the root word from which our English word CRITIC comes and means just that- a critic. Both of these words were limited to the judicial type of judge in the original therefore, they would be very near their original meaning to KRINO and almost opposite to ANAKRINO and DIAKRINO in that a judicial verdict IS part of these two words. Strong's Exhustive Concordance says: 

   DIKASTE#1348;- a judger, judge.

   KRITES#2923;- a judge (general or specific).

    They were both translated as "judge", and that is exactly what they mean in the original Greek - strictly a judicial judge. A person who always overly critical would be guilty of this kind of judging. Listen my beloved brethren, if you want to be spiritual, you better learn to "judge all things" (1 Cor 2:15). This means to investigate, study and discern. JESUS said in (Mat 24:5) that "for many will come in MY Name, saying I am the CHRIST, and will deceive many." Listen, the ONLY way to keep from being "deceived" is to "judge all things." "Discern all things."

   Look-it, not everyone that profess, confesses to be a Christian really is one. JESUS told us to exam their fruit (Mat 7:20) "therefore by their fruit you will know them." That calls for a judgment. Not a judicial type judging with a sentence or condemning but a discernment;- ANAKRINO. Listen and take heed you who have ears to hear, INDECISION (NOT MAKING A DECISION) displeases GOD very much. Discernment as we just learned in (1 Cor 12:10) is the gift of the precious HOLY SPIRIT. HE gave us discernment to use so that we will know. Therefore, it is ignoring the HOLY SPIRIT to be indecisive. No dear saint, indecisiveness is cowardly and has no place in the Spirit-filled life. Again in (1 Cor 2;15) "but he who is spiritual judges all things." You, my beloved brethren, must learn to judge, (discern) with a (discernment) or you definitely will be prey [victim, quarry, game, a target, a dupe and a fall guy] to every evil spirit in hell and on earth. as GOD says in (Hose 4:6), "MY people are destroyed for lack of knowledge"

Pastor William T. Grajeda with a representation of the ears, eyes and mouth of the world

   I will now take my leave, yet, we serve a GOD of proper order in the utmost etiquette, whom will not let us depart from such a meal as this without a bit of a sweety, a bit of dessert, and what can be at the moment better than a bit o honey upon our lips as we depart? (Ps 199:130,103) "the entrance of YOUR WORD give light;  gives understanding to the simple...how sweet are YOUR WORDS to my taste, sweeter than the honey to my mouth."

   This bit-o-spiritual-honey will be in the from of a conclusion, and this is the conclusion: the precious Holy Bible teaches us to discern all things. distinguish between those who are filled with the HOLY SPIRIT and those who are not. JESUS said that we- you and I- will know people by their fruit- not their work. Look-it beloved, too many times people such as us get caught up in some funky bag called "ME" or "I" and we start judging works rather than waiting to see the fruit- which is what the "WORKS" will produce. Remember dear saint, "FRUIT" is the product of the "WORKS"- not the work itself.

   JESUS said you will know them by what their works produce. Listen, an evil tree may produce good works but it will absolutely not produce good fruit "these are spots in your love feast, while they feast with you without fear, serving only themselves, they are clouds without water, carried about by the winds. Late Autumn trees without fruit, twice dead, pulled up by the root" (Jude 12). A good tree will only produce good fruit. However, brethren, consider a rose bush. It produces thorns before it does the rose. But the thorns only serve to protect the roses. Can you my dear beloved question such wisdom? Oh the honey is so good. May GOD bless us all for JESUS sake. amen. PTL!

BROTHERS & SISTERS FULFILL YOUR DESTINY

"As thou [the FATHER] hast sent ME into the world, even so I have also sent them [those who believe on ME] into the world." (Jh 17:18).
  
   "What's GOD's plan for my life?" You know that we all asked that profound question in our lives. I believe Christians everywhere  are longing to answer GOD's call;  is that true for you? We're eager to fulfill the divine purpose for which we were created, "for we are HIS workmanship , created in CHRIST JESUS for good works, which GOD prepared before hand that we should walk in them" (Eph 2:10). But we need direction in finding out what that plan is...
   Beloved, (Titus 2:11-14) says, "for the grace of GOD that brings salvation has appeared to all men, teaching us that denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in this present age, looking for the blessed hope and glorious appearing of our great GOD and SAVIOR JESUS CHRIST, who gave HIMSELF for us, that HE might redeem us from every lawless deed and purify for HIMSELF HIS own special people, zealous for good works." GOD never intend for us to be in the dark about HIS awesome plan for our lives. HE left us clear, written instructions concerning HIS will for us. Whats more dear beloved saint, HE gave us a pattern to follow so that we can carry out those instructions. As we like to say here at New Birth Christian Ministry Center, GOD put us on a boulevard called Mission with a mission.
   Like I said HE gave us a pattern and that pattern is JESUS. We've been sent forth into the world to continue HIS ministry. I know that sounds like a tall order, but its true. HE said to HIMSELF in (Jh 17:18), "as YOU sent ME into the world, I have also sent them into the world."
   Once we realize that JESUS  is the pattern we need to find out exactly what JESUS was sent to do: "for this purpose the SON of GOD was manifested, that HE might destroy the works of the devil" (1 Jh 3:8).
   Think about that dear brothers and sisters, You're called to finish what JESUS began: to destroy, undo and bring to naught, loosen and dissolve the works of that dust suckin' worm of old called the devil and Satan on earth. That beloved saint is the job GOD wants us to do. PTL!
   "That's a big job, Pastor! how on earth am I ever gonna do that?" by not fighting as this ole bunk world fights! JESUS said in (Jh 17:14-19), "I have given them YOUR WORD; and the world has hated them because they are not of the world, just as I AM not of the world. I do not pray that YOU should take them out of the world. But that YOU should keep them from the evil one. They are not of the world, just as I AM not of the world. Sanctify them by YOUR truth. YOUR WORD is truth. As YOU sent ME into the world, I also have sent them into the world. And for their sakes I sanctify MYSELF, that they also may be sanctified by the truth." We fight the way we've been taught in (2 Cor 10:3-5) and (Eph 6:13,14,18), "for though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh. For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in GOD for pulling down strongholds, casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of GOD, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of CHRIST, and being ready to punish all disobedience when your obedience is fulfilled...therefore take up the whole armor of GOD, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth...praying always with all prayer and supplication the SPIRIT." We fight, dear beloved, the same way JESUS  did. After all, HE promised, "I assure you, most solemnly I tell you, if anyone steadfastly believes in  ME, he will himself be able to do the things that I do; and he will do even greater things than these, because I go to the FATHER" (Jh 14:12).
   In short my brothers and sisters, the works, or ministry of JESUS was threefold; like it is to be for us:
   1) HE healed the sick (Mark 5:21-43). 
   2) HE cast out demons (Mark 5:1-20).
   3) HE preached the good news of the kingdom of GOD  (Mat 4:23).
   Now, I know its easy to do the preaching and not the other works. But the gospel was never designed to be preached without proof that JESUS was alive today "to whom HE also presented HIMSELF alive after HIS suffering by many infallible proofs, being seen by them during forty days and speaking of the things pertaining to the kingdom" (Act 1:3). JESUS just didn't say , "the kingdom of GOD is here." HE demonstrated it. HE proved the truth HE was saying by operating in the supernatural power of GOD.
   And HE expects you and I to do the same dear brothers and sisters. THAT'S GOD'S plan for your life!
   GOD's program is still the same.  "JESUS CHRIST is the same yesterday, today, and forever" (Heb 13:8), It didn't change when JESUS went to sit at the right hand of the FATHER. HE is still expecting us to do things HE did and finish what HE started. HE is sitting at the right hand of GOD this very moment, waiting for us...waiting for YOU beloved brother, waiting for you beloved sister to rise up in the SPIRIT of GOD and make HIS enemies HIS footstool PTL! So what are you waiting for? Fulfill GOD's plan in the earth. Fulfill your destiny.
   
  

THE WILL OF GOD IS FOUND IN HIS WONDERFUL WORD! PTL!

Sr.Pastor Marvin W. Wills & Asst.Pastor William T. Grajeda

 Dear beloved brothers and sisters, I have come to find out through a life of servantude (as a huperetes 5257) that there are many of us in Christendom that haven't the foggiest idea what "he will

of GOD" for our life really is.

It is sad to say that many of us who call ourselves Christian

haven't the time to read our Bibles because the cares of this world, tribulation or persecution, the deceitfulness of gaining riches in the here and now seem to be more overwhelming for us than the intimacy of the true and living GOD.

    Our heart's desire should be to cry out like the man after GOD's own heart did (Acts 13:22) in (Ps 143:10) "teach me to do YOUR WILL, for YOU are my GOD, YOUR SPIRIT is good, lead me in the land of uprightness." Dear beloved the will of GOD must not be thought of as finding a certain vocation, nor obtaining a career, or is it receiving a higher education whether it be secular or a Bible college, its not having a regular fellowship or faithfully tithing, nor is it an outstanding church attendance. Now all these things are a small part of GOD's WILL, rather the WILL of GOD is for everyone of us to conform and to be transformed to HIS revealed WILL in HIS written WORD.

    (a)   First of all and the most important is that we believe that JESUS is WHO HE said HE is and that is SON and SAVIOR.

    The WORD of GOD says in (1 Jh 5:1-5) that "everyone that believes that JESUS is the CHRIST is born of GOD, and he who loves HIM who begat also loves HIM whom has been born of HIM. By this we know that we love the children of GOD if we keep HIS commandments, for in this is the love of GOD that we keep HIS commandments and HIS commandments are not burdensome. Whatever is born of GOD has overcome the world, and this is the victory that has overcome the world, or faith. Who is he that overcomes the world he who believes that JESUS is the SON of GOD."  We must emphatically believe that JESUS is SON and SAVIOR, "nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved" (Act 4:12).  JESUS HIMSELF said in (Jh 6:40), "and this is THE WILL of HIM who sent ME, everyone who sees the SON and believes in HIM may have eternal life and I will lift him up in the last day."  Look, if we don't take heed and do HIS will we will not be saved from the judgment. For no man will be exempt from the judgment that is promised to come whether it be sinner or saint; for every knee will bow and every toung confess that JESUS is LORD. (Jh 5:27-30; Rom 14:10-11; 2 Cor 5:10; 2 Thes 1:7-10; Rev 20:11-15;), "what man shall live and not see death can he deliver his soul from the power of the grave?" (Ps 89:48), or "as for man, his days are like grass, he flourishes like a flower of the field; the wind blows over it and it is gone and its place remembers it no more" (Ps 103:15-16), and (Heb 9:27) emphatically tells us that "it is appointed for man to die once but after this the judgment." Again, if we don't take heed to do  GOD's WILL we will not be saved from the judgment for JESUS said in (Mat 7:21-22), "not everyone who comes to ME and says LORD, LORD will enter the kingdom of heaven, but those who do THE WILL of MY FATHER in heaven. In that day many will come to ME and say LORD, LORD have we not prophesied in YOUR Name, cast out demons in YOUR Name, and did many wonders in YOUR Name, and I will declare to them, I never knew you depart from ME you workers of iniquities."  HE also said in (Mat 12:50), "whoever does THE WILL of MY FATHER in heaven is MY brother, MY sister, and mother." Isn't that an awesome promise of a beautiful heavenly family? One that I am hoping to be a part of then as I am at present PTL!

Now, dear beautiful brothers and sisters, if we take heed according to HIS WILL -- which is to believe on the SON and have eternal life-- then we will live forever. "For GOD so greatly loved and dearly prized the world that HE [even] gave up HIS only begotten (unique) SON, so that whoever believes in (trust in, clings to, relies on) HIM shall not perish (comes to destruction,be lost) but have eternal (everlasting) life" (Jh 3:16). You know what is so wonderful about this awe-inspiring way, life and truth? we are allowed by grace to have a glimpse of this beautiful glory Divine in (Rev 21:4), "And GOD shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away." This verse is really outasite grammatically, because it is in the aorist tense which tells us that what is being said is a simple undefined action JESUS can and will do, and it refers to the reality of the event and action that HE promises for "this is the heritage of the servants of the LORD, and their righteousness is from ME, says the LORD" (Is 54:17).

Are not those some really wonderful words of hope? Yet, the WORD of GOD also says this, "do not love the world or the things of the world, for he who loves the world the love of the FATHER is not in him, for all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life is not of the FATHER but is of the world, and the world is passing away and its lust but he who does THE WILL of GOD will abide (lives, remain) forever" (1 Jh 2:15-17).

 (b)   There are clear statements of Scripture in the precious Holy Bible that tells us GOD's will for every Christian this includes:

     1.  Your sanctification. (1 Thes 4:3-4) says, "for this is THE WILL of GOD, your sanctification, that you should avoid sexual immorality. That each one of you know how to possess his own body in sanctification and honor." Now this word for sanctification in its original language is the word (hagiasmos 38), and this word denotes a manifestation of new life given solely and exclusively by the precious HOLY SPIRIT.

     2.  GOD's will for you is to give thanks. "Rejoice always. Pray without ceasing. In everything give thanks for this is THE WILL of  GOD in CHRIST JESUS for you" (1Thes 5:16-18).

     3.   GOD's will is for you to do good. "For this is THE WILL of GOD  that by doing good you might put to silence the ignorance of foolish men" (1Pet 2:15).

     4.   This next point many of us will never have to experience yet it may be  in GOD's perfect purpose for us to suffer for doing the right thing as (1 Pet 3:15-17) says, "but sanctify the LORD GOD in your heart and always be ready to give a reason for the hope that is in you with meekness and fear, having a clear conscious that when they defame you as evil doers, when they revile against your good conduct in CHRIST may be ashamed. For it is better if it be THE WILL of GOD to suffer for doing good rather than doing evil" and (1 Pet 4:19) says, "therefore let those who suffer according to THE WILL of GOD commit their souls to HIM in doing good as to a faithful CREATOR."

(c)    GOD's will for us is that we desire to do HIS  will. This should be out of a heart full of desire .  JESUS HIMSELF being our number one perfect example.

       1.    JESUS, knowing that HIS whole purpose for coming to HIS Earth from Heaven was to show an example to a rebellious people that GOD's will can be kept in word and in deeds. HE says in (Jh 6:38) "for I have come down from heaven not to do MY will but to do THE WILL of HIM who sent ME." When we are in a dire state we are to believe that  GOD's will is being played out according to HIS perfect planing, "FATHER, if YOU are willing, take this cup form ME, Yet Not MY will, But YOURS be done" (Lk22:42). As JESUS said in Matthew chapter four verse four, "man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that precedes out of the mouth of GOD." In other words we should make HIS  WORD and WILL our food, "MY food, said JESUS is to do THE WILL of HIM who sent ME and to finish HIS work" (Jh 4:34). This is The Will of GOD for everyone of us and frankly our will should coincide exactly with The Will of HIM who created us.

(d)  The Bible is GOD's Will therefore we must conform to it. We must without a doubt allow it to transform us. In Romans 12:1-2 (AMP) we read, "I appeal to you therefore, brethren, and beg of you in view of [all] the mercies of GOD, to make a decisive dedication of your bodies [presenting all your members and faculties] as a living sacrifice, holy (devoted, consecrated) and well pleasing to GOD, which is your reasonable (rational,intelligent) service and spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this world (this age), [fashioned after and adapted to this external, superficial customs], but be transformed (changed) by the [entire] renewal of your mind [ by its new ideals and its new attitude], so that you may prove [for yourselves] what is the good and acceptable and perfect WILL of GOD, even the thing which is good and acceptable and perfect [in HIS sight for you]." 

The Bible is the will of GOD and in Deuteronomy 29:29 it says to us, "the secret things belong to the LORD our GOD but those things which have been revealed belong to us and to our children forever that we may keep all the will of YOUR word (law)." This involves:

     1.     Commandments to be obeyed.

     2.     Principles to be followed.

     3.     Prohibitions of things to be avoided and

     4.     Living examples to be imitated or shunned.

This is a very useful tool for all of us, for it shows us in what kind of people that GOD is well pleased with. What does this mean? Well, we'd rather be an Able than a Cane, a Moses than a Pharaoh, a Joshua  than a Balaam, a David than a Saul, a Peter than a Judas, and we are to ultimately be imitators of JESUS. (Eph 5:1) "Be imitators of GOD as dear children, and live and act lovingly as CHRIST also loved you and gave HIMSELF up to death on our behalf."  Beloved, an attitude of delightful desire should fill all attempts to do GOD's Will. As David so eloquently wrote; which incidentally was a man after GOD's own heart. He wrote, "I delight to do YOUR WILL, O my GOD; and YOUR law is within my heart"  (Ps 40:8). JESUS says, "when you bear (produce) much fruit, MY FATHER is honored and glorified, and you show and prove yourselves to be followers of Mine"  (Jh15:8).
Although the Bible is the complete will of  GOD there will always be decissions that we must make that are not covered by specific statements of Scriptures. To know the will of GOD in such instances as these we must be:

     1.     In fellowship with the LORD, "if any one says that he has fellowship with the LORD and walks in the darkness he is a liar and does not practice the truth. If we walk in the light as HE is in the light we have fellowship one with the other and the blood of  CHRIST JESUS HIS SON cleanses us of our sin" (Jh 1:6-7)           

     2.      We must take examples from the Bible. "Therefore these things became our examples, to the intent that we should not lust after evil things as they also lusted" (1 Cor 10:1-6).

    

     3.     This next one may be a bit hard for the most of us because it means that we have to come out of holding onto our pride, we must come out of that bag that most of us are stuck in called self. We must seek advice from godly counselors. This is so important that we see it interwoven throughout the whole of the Bible. In Proverbs, which is the Book of Wisdom, I'll give three: "without counsel the people fall, but in the mulitude of counselors there is safty" (Pro 11:14), " without wise counsel plans go astray, but in a multitude of counselors they established" (Pro 15:22), " with wise counsel you will wage your own war, and in a multitude of counselors there is safty" (Pro 24:6). Now this next one is so vitally important that I do not have to back it up with a Scripture, but it is;

    

      4.     WE MUST USE COMMON SENSE!  And remember that GOD uses are mind to work for HIS good pleasure, "for it is GOD who works in you both to will and do for HIS good pleasure" (Phil 2:13).

 When none of these principles seem to work, we must realize that GOD will close the door on anything that isn't in HIS will. Pual, for example wanted to go visit the Roman Christians but he did not know if GOD would actually permit it so he wrote in (Rom 15:22-32), "that I may come to you with joy, by the Will of GOD, and be refreshed together with you." Therefore we must, and this is very important, we must read the WORD of GOD that we may know The Will of GOD. It would be foolish not to. "Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the LORD's WILL IS" (Eph 5:17). However, the believer who studiously searches the precious Holy Scripture will, beyond a doubt, find an intelligent decision, but as (Jam 1:4-6) says, "let patience have its perfect work that you may be perfect and complete lacking nothing, if any of you lacks wisdom let him ask of GOD who gives liberally and without reproach and it will be given to him, but let him ask in faith with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea tossed to and fro."

With all this said I will now take my leave with GOD's WORD; " may the GOD of peace,who through the blood of the eternal covenant brought back from the dead the  LORD JESUS that SHEPHERD of the sheep, equip you with everything good for doing HIS  Will,  and may HE work in us what is pleasing to HIM, through JESUS CHRIST, to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen" (Heb 13:20-21). 

THE IDEAL BIBLE TEACHER! PTL!

Sr.Pastor Marvin W. Wills & Asst.Pastor William T. Grajeda

"A servant of the LORD must not quarrel but be gentle to all, able to teach, patient, in humility correcting those who are in opposition, if GOD perhaps will grant them repentance, so that they may know the truth, and that they may come to their senses and escape the snare of the devil, having been taken captive by him to do his will" (2 Tim 2:24-26).

   JESUS was born to die, but he lived to teach (Mat 4:23: Mrk 1:21; Lk 4:15;Jn 18:20; Act 10:38). Most of us in any long time circle of studying, fellowship or just listening to a preaching, have heard that saying, and as you may know there are some statements that we hear over and over again that never get old. We also heard that Christianity is “caught" as well taught. PTL! That is so very true; for I myself was caught by my MASTER's wooing words of the first seven chapters which HE allowed Matthew to write for HIM. Thenceforth I have been humbly taught by my MASTER's precious HOLY SPIRIT, and as far as I expect will retire being taught.

    I am fond of the statement that says, "teaching GOD's WORD should be the magnificent obsession of every Christian." Isn't that awesome? "the magnificent obsession." That should be each and every one of our heart's joy, our heart's zeal...our heart's magnificent obsession!

   The precious Holy Bible states in (Ezra 7:10) "for Ezra had prepared his heart to seek the law of the LORD, and to do it, and to teach statues and ordinances in Israel."

Ezra is a prime example of an ideal Bible teacher:

   1. Ezra had prepared his heart to seek GOD's WORD. This shows each of us that we can not just approach GOD's WORD anyway we so desire. Nothing about GOD is arbitrary. HE made a way to come to HIM and we must seek that way.

   2. Ezra seeked, Ezra, so to speak, laid the WORD of GOD out before him, got himself a dictionary and slowly started to struggle his way through it while taking notes and praying with a heartful desire of seeking.

    3. Ezra then, after finding many things that seemed practical to life, applied that word to his lifestyle, finding that it worked, then started applying those things in GOD's WORD that didn't seem to make sense.
    4. Ezra, finding that the WORD of GOD actually did change his life dramatically even those things that didn't make much sense, he began-with zeal- to teach others what he knew beyond a doubt to be true.

   a) One's heart is prepared by GOD, it is up to you to reciprocate to the wonderful wooing of the ONE who has created the heart and continues to woo you.

   b) To apply the principles of GOD to your life will be at first a very big struggle and you will fall flat on your face at times, but you get right back up and continue to press forward to a break through. AS our dear brother Paul says, "I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do. And if I do what I do not want to do, I agree that the Law is good. As it is no longer I myself who do it, but it is sin living in me. I know that nothing good lives in me, that is, in my sinful nature. For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out. For what I do is not the good I want to do; no, the evil I do not want to do-this I keep doing. Now if I do what I do not want to do, it is no longer I who do it, but it is sin living in me that does it. So I find this law at work: When I want to do good, evil is right there with me. For in my inner being I delight in GOD's law; but I see another law at work in the members of my body, waging war against the law of my mind and making me prisoner of the law of sin at work within my members. What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body of death? Thanks be to GOD-through JESUS CHRIST our LORD" (Rom 7:15-25).

   c) It is through this experience of falling and getting back up that you look back and realize that you're not falling as often and a change has most definitely taking place.

This is the Bible Teacher's experience; one that has personally walked and continues to walk the road of application.

   Teaching GOD's WORD is a very great responsibility. We are warned in (Jam 3:1), "my brethren, let not many of you become teachers, knowing that we will receive a stricter judgment." Yet, in (Heb 5:12) another admonition is giving; "for though by this time you ought to be teachers..." In other words he is saying, "look, when I left you you were all on your way with zeal to becoming mighty men and women in the knowledge and wisdom of GOD our SAVIOR JESUS CHRIST what hindered you? By now you should be fathers and mothers of teachers who are now teaching their own students!" These two passages blend and simply mean that it is a very serious responsibility to teach the WORD of GOD and by no means to be taken lightly, but one that must be taken up.

William Barclay interprets this verse as; "my brothers , it is a mistake for many of you to become teachers, for you must be well aware that those of us who teach will receive a greater condemnation.

    In the New Testament itself, we get glimpse of teachers who failed in their responsibility and became false teachers. There were teachers who tried to turn Christianity into another kind of Judaism and tried to introduce circumcision and the keeping of the Law (Act 15:24). There were teachers who lived out nothing of the truth which they taught, who's lives were a contradictions of what they taught and who did nothing but bring dishonor on the faith they represented (Rom 2:17-29). There were some who tried to teach before they knew anything (1 Tim 1:6-7), and others who pandered to the false desires of the crowd (2 Tim 4:3).

   However, quite apart from the false teachers, it seems to me that it is our brother James conviction that teaching is a dangerous occupation for any one. The instrument of teaching is speech and its agent is the tongue. As J.H.Ropes puts it, James is concerned to point out 'the responsibilities of teachers and the dangerous character of the instrument they have to use'.

    Beloved, there are two dangers which all teacher must avoid. Because of the position, you will be teaching either those who are young in years or those who are children in the faith. You must struggle, therefore, throughout your lives to avoid two things. You must take every care that you are teaching the truth, and not your own opinions or your own prejudices. It is fatally easy for teachers to distort the Truth and to teach not God's version but your own. You must take great care that you do not contradict your teaching by your lives, continually, as it were, having to say not 'do as I do' but 'do as I say. ‘Listen dear heart, we must never get into the position where scholar and student cannot hear what they say for listening to what they are. As the Jewish rabbis themselves said, 'not learning but doing is the foundation, and he who multiplies words multiplies sins.' (saying of the fathers, 1:18).

    It is are brother James' warning that teachers have of their own choice entered into a special position and are, therefore, under the greater condemnation if they fail in their task.! The people to whom James was writing coveted the prestige given to the teachers; James demanded that they should never forget the responsibility.

   Yet, beloved, teaching is a joy and a privilege. John wrote in (Rev 10:10), "then I took the little book out of the angel's hand and ate it, and it was as sweet as honey in my mouth. But when I had eaten it, my stomach became bitter." look, it was a really sweet thing to be entrusted by GOD with that WORD of GOD, and yet dear heart, as our brother John realized the many different layers of GOD's wrath upon the ungodly, it became a bitter thing. IT WAS A SERIOUS RESPONSIBILITY. PTL!

   The prophet Hosea wrote, "MY people are destroyed for lack of knowledge..." (Hos 4:9), but sometimes we fail to continue to read in that same Book: "oh Israel, thou hast destroyed thyself..." (Hos 13:9). Beloved when we as people lack the knowledge of GOD it is because we have rejected the knowledge already received, which could lead us to ,GOD "unto you that hear shall more be given" (Mrk 4:24). GOD says that Israel went into bondage because of their ignorance (Is 5;13),"therefore MY people have gone into captivity, because they have no knowledge." Listen beloved, its not because they had no one to teach them. Israel from the time GOD gave her birth has sent, by GOD, prophets, preachers, teachers and servants, one after another. dear heart, when I read the WORD of GOD and it tells me that "Noah was a preacher of righteousness, who preached for one hundred years and only eight people were saved," or Jeremiah who said that "this is the twenty-third year which the word of the LORD has come to me; and I have spoken to you, rising early and speaking, but you have not listened" (1 Pet 2:5; Gen 5:32; 7:6; Jer 25:3). When I read Scripture like that I have to wonder if I have the tenacity, am I that determined? One hundred years and only eight saved? Twenty-three years and none listened? One preacher after another but, alas! GOD's good news was in fact their bad news. It was the marvelous light that exposed their dirty dark deeds and they were not having any of it. "For GOD did not send HIS SON into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through HIM might be save...for everyone practicing evil hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his deeds should be exposed..." (Jh 3:17-20).

   Beloved, America is in the anguish of the all-time worst spiritual bondage in our history because so many people are ignorant of GOD’s WORD. JESUS our MASTER said "and you shall know the truth and the truth shall make you free" (Jh 8:32).PTL!

   There is this most wonderful verse in the Bible which every time I recite it or have the pleasure of receiving a recitation of it, my heart-so to speak-gets a lump in it. It is (2 Cor 5:14-15 AMP), " for the love of CHRIST controls and urges and compels us, because we are of the opinion and conviction that [if] ONE died for all, then all died; and HE died for all, so that all those who live might live no longer to and for themselves, but to and for HIM Who died and was raised again for their sake." "The love of CHRIST compels us". “The love of CHRIST compels, controls, urges our inner being. Christians are compelled to teach! This very love is a vital element in the live of the reborn person. Again in the language of (1 Jh 4:7-8) "he who loves is born of GOD and knows GOD. He who does not love does not know GOD; for GOD is love." The love to which GOD speaks of is called [agape #25]. Agape is the original Bible Greek word and this kind of love is an outgoing love that has replaced self-love (the natural condition of sinful man) with the love and devotion to GOD through our LORD JESUS CHRIST. It also is a love that reaches out to other persons whatever their status or situation is. The regenerated person beloved, accordingly, is at last in the position to fulfill his or her great mandate to "go therefore and make disciples of all the nations baptizing them in the name of the FATHER and of the SON and of the HOLY SPIRIT, teaching all I have commanded you..."(Mat 28:19-20).

   One of the greatest teaching verses in the Holy Bible is (2 Cor 4:13), " I believe, therefore I speak."
    Look dear heart, if we really, truly, I mean to the core of our soul really believe the Truth of the Bible(I am the way, the truth, and the light Jh 14:6), then we will beyond a doubt, have to tell others about it. Perhaps one of the greatest qualifications of the ideal Bible teacher is to have his or her head and heart so full of the WORD of GOD that he cannot keep from teaching.PTL!

    Let us look at Jeremiah in chapter one of his book, he is perhaps as young as eighteen when GOD called him to preach and teach with the promise of protecting him and since that initial calling: Jeremiah has been tossed up, beat down, thrown into a hole, thrown into jail, and excommunicated, etc.. We see as soon as chapter 20 of the 52 chapter book that Jeremiah is on the verge of just giving up, his soul is so much in despair as he says in (Jer 20:9) "I will not make mention of HIM, nor speak anymore in HIS name. But HIS word was in mine heart as a burning fire shut up in my bones, and I was weary of holding it back, and I could not." In other words; "I'll just sit back and watch you people ignorantly walk headlong into eternal hell and damnation without telling you about the Good News of JESUS CHRIST and HIS grace of repentance, and forgiveness." Beloved, the WORD of GOD simply cannot be quenched for one who truly loves GOD and HIS salvation and realizes what HIS WORD has done for his or her life and what it means for a lost world. The greatest evangelistic refrain of(Jer 22:29) should fill the heart of every Bible teacher. "O earth, earth, earth, hear the word of the LORD." And again he wrote in (Jer23:29), "is not MY word like fire? Says the LORD, and like a hammer that breaks the rocks in pieces?" The revealed WORD of GOD is very prominent and has great power to convict sin and shatter pride and complacency.

   In (Eph 6:17) we have a powerful weapon, "the sword of the SPIRIT, which is the WORD of GOD," that we must wield properly. And in (Heb 4:12) that word "is living and powerful sharper than any two-edged sword." Beloved, there is an urgency about this teaching (Ps 89:47-48) tells us point blank, "remember how short time is...what man can live and not see death? can he deliver his life from the power of the grave?" And (Ps 103:15-16) says, "as for man, his days are like grass; as a flower of the field, so he flourishes, for the wind passes over it and it is gone, and its place remembers it no more." We do not, at all, have much time on this earth. That is why our brother Paul beseeches [begs, pleas, implores] us in (Eph 5:16) that we should capitalize on every opportunity to teach others what we have learned from the WORD of GOD. The number one thing that we must teach to a dying world is that we are great sinners, lost and hopelessly, helplessly under sin and that there is a GREAT SAVIOR who is able to redeem us from such vileness that pleases the wicked one. "Do you not know that to whom you present yourselves slaves to obey, you are that one's slaves whom you obey, whether of sin leading to death, or of obedience leading to righteousness? But GOD be thanked that through you were slaves of sin yet you obeyed from the heart that from of doctrine [teaching] to which you were delivered. And having been set free from sin, you became slaves of righteousness" (Rom 6:15-16).

   There is this commercial that comes on television once or twice a year, it's a wholesome commercial from Hallmark. Its about a woman coming back to visit the university that she graduated from some years ago. She enters her old professor's office and sees that it is in a disarray, for he is retiring his tenure, boxes everywhere, and the man who taught her as a young lady was now much older than she'd remembered. She says, "hello, you may not remember me my name is Copper, I used to be a student of yours." He says wittily, "no, it doesn't ring a bell , my apologies, I hope I didn't ruin your life." The remark set her back a bit but before she had a chance to answer he asked her, "Copper where do you stand on Bonsai trees?" He rambles on for a spell, then she says, "I was thinking of you and wanted to give you this card." She hands the card to him. He then claims not to remember where he laid his glasses down at in all the mess his office was in and hands it back to her to read to him. Now she thinks that the professor may have become a bit senile, but you can tell that this old coot is still sharp as a whip. She removes the card from the envelope and starts to read it; I'll paraphrase it. "Who in life hasn't planted a seed and hope it didn't grow? The seed that was planted in me sprouted, and I thank you for the time in my life." You can see his face slightly change. She hands the card back to him and heads for the door, about half way there the old teacher starts to recite her dissertation, now her face is in total shock. "You remembered?" He answers, "in my 35 years of teaching only three students have made me proud to be a teacher, you're one of them Copper." She starts off again to leave and right when she gets under the door frame he asked her, "Copper. so what did you become, one of those Starbucks computer gurus?" She replied with a solemn face, "no, a teacher like you." Now his face was in total amazement...

   A good teacher plants and waters the student with the truth, for the truth does not change nor does it bend, neither is it supple. The truth is consistent, unlike a lie which continues to grow and is hard pressed to remember.

   This brings me to the next point; What Is The Bible Teachers Qualification? Well, first of all you must have a profound respect for GOD's WORD as the writer of (Ps 119:97,130) so eloquently puts it, "oh, how I love YOUR law! it is my meditation all the day...the entrance of YOUR WORD gives light." That reminds me of (Rev 3:20) "behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears MY voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him and he with ME." When JESUS speaks of the door HE is speaking of your heart. When you open up your heart to JESUS HE comes in and sets up-so to speak- a lighthouse containing a beacon of pure light to warn all the vile blackness that abides in the innermost darkness of your heart that it has to leave , and there you are with the HEALER of your soul JESUS dining under candle light. This, beloved, is a certainty that CHRIST is not dead as some teacher spew out but alive "CHRIST in you," says Paul is "the hope of glory" (col 1:27). It is the certitude of HIS resurrection from the dead and His continuing reality.PTL!

   I once read where a Bible teacher had taken all his students to the Metro Dome to prove a point. He arranged for all the windows to be closed and the Dome itself shut, he then placed his students in various places of the lower and upper decks of the Dome, while all this was taking place there was a man in the middle of the field on the 50 yard line. On the Bible teacher's word the lights went out. Some of the testimonies that I heard from the students were: "I could not even see my own hand." Another said, "if I had to find my way out of here I would of just sat down and waited for someone to find me it was so dark." Beloved, I've been in that kind of darkness, it was for fun of course, I remember that it was so dark that I started to play a game with my eyelash seeing how close I could get to it before touching it, you see, I couldn't even see my finger just millimeters away. This is how dark the Dome was, and all there agreed to that fact. Then on the Bible teacher's word the man on the 50 yard line lighted up a plain paper match which burned for four seconds and went out. Every single student there testified that they saw the light, and get this, every student had taken a step forward! PTL!

   "The entrance of YOUR WORD gives light, it gives understanding to the simple." (Ps 119:130). This testimony of the psalmist should convict us today. He had only a small portion of scriptures to study, much of which were portions that many of us modern day Christians don't read at all, whereas dear beloved, we have GOD's complete revelation.

Look, unless we have a deep respect for the WORD of GOD, and believe within all our heart that (2 Tim 3:16), "all scripture is given by inspiration of GOD," and that (2 Pet 1:21) "the holy men of GOD spoke as they were moved by the HOLY SPIRIT," and that it is in truth (2 Thes 2:13), "not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the WORD of GOD."  Then we are not fit subjects for the KING of kings and the LORD of lords JESUS CHRIST...then we are not fit subjects to be teachers of GOD's WORD! As JESUS said in (Mat 4:4) " man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that proceeds from the mouth of GOD." Dear heart, Scripture is the result of GOD's precious intimate touch- HIS “moving" HIS "breathing"-upon those who set forth HIS truth.PTL!

   The ideal Bible teacher my beloved must have a deep regard for GOD's WORD because he or she has a deep regard for GOD. So we equip ourselves to be "ready to give a defense [apologia #627] to every one who ask you for a reason for the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear" (1 Ps 3:15), as we  (Tim 2:15). The teacher seeks to provide, insofar as possible, a rational defense of the Christian faith. The teacher is directed to the world of unbelief and attempts to establish certain aspects of Christian faith-for example, the truthfulness of Scripture, the existence of GOD, the deity and resurrection of CHRIST, and the immortality of the soul- as true on the basis of rational and empirical evidence only (that is what you teach originated in/or was based on what you have observed and experienced so it is capable of being verified or disproved by observation or experiment).

   You know, there is this statement that I agree with, I don't quite know who said it whether it be Sir Walter Scott, or Charles H. Spurgeon, one of them said of men and the Bible: "better had he ne'er been born who reads to doubt or reads to scorn."

I will now take my leave with this last point and may the precious HOLY SPIRIT open our spiritual understanding for JESUS sake.

   We must live consistent with GOD's WORD. We must not only affirm our belief in the precious Holy Bible, but we must live in harmony with it! (Phil 1:27) says, and listen real good because this little verse is one of the deepest verses in the Bible. "Only let your conduct be worthy of the gospel of CHRIST..." That is deep. "Only let your conduct be worthy of the gospel of CHRIST." In other words dear saint, we must "practice what we preach." We must let our civic behavior be becomingly to our allegiance to the gospel.        Christians are to be "the salt of the earth" and "the light of the world" (Mat 5:13-16). It is still true that a person can not teach what he or she does not know. You also can not lead where you don't go. We must be happy, joyful, optimistic children of GOD. Many act like it is just killing them to live the Christian life-then they wonder why they can't win anyone to Christ! They come up to me and say "Pastor, you're always pointing someone to CHRIST, I don't know why I can't." Listen, not only must we know the WORD of GOD, but the Christian teacher must share that WORD - longingly, lovingly and willingly. We have, like our brother the apostle Paul, been "entrusted with the Gospel" (1 Thes 2:4),and say with him, "woe is me if I do not preach the gospel" (1 Cor 9:16).

Beloved, are we Christians? Then, "having the same SPIRIT of faith, according as it is written, I believe, and therefore have I spoken; we also believe, and therefore speak" (2 Cor 4:13). Let us be teachers to those who are weary of soul and to those who are spiritually blind, to those who are lost in heart aches of addictions beyond there realm of understanding, Let us boldly teach the way, the truth, and the life, let us go out and teach them JESUS! PTL!