We are walking in today: Test The Spirits.
Thank You,
Elohim for sending Your servant Pastor Lucinda to teach on testing the
spirits. Thank You for coming to teach us the good and right way, that
we will be aligned with the Lord God Almighty! Thank You for her
obedience and preparation to her assignment. Praise His holy and
wonderful name! To hear this again click here.
GOD IS SO CONFIDENT IN WHAT HE IS DOING THROUGH HIS WORD THAT HE IS CHALLENGING US TO “TEST THE SPIRITS” BY THE WORD OF GOD, TO SEE WHETHER THEY ARE OF HIM OR NOT. THIS WALK WITH HIM HAS BEEN DEEP ALL ALONG AND SOME OF US HAD NOT CAUGHT ON YET!!
DO WE KNOW In what ways has HE called US in OUR life?
IF YOU DO NOT BELIEVE ANYTHING THAT IS GOING FORTH, TEST THE SPIRITS OF THE PEOPLE WHO ARE PRESENTING THESE MESSAGES TO YOU. HE HAS TAUGHT US THROUGH HIS WORD HOW TO TEST OUR UNBELIEF, HE HAS TAUGHT US HOW TO TEST OUR DOUBT, HE HAS TAUGHT US HOW TO TEST HIS WORD.
HE WANT US TO KNOW HOW TO TEST AND APPROVE WHAT HE IS SAYING AND GIVING TO US
all I want is your obedience, WHO IS LIKE THE LORD ALMIGHTY? NOBODY! I will have compassion, I am the God Almighty- El Shaddai, dead things don’t change, THEN WE HAD ON LAST SATURDAY We are in a transition.
AND with ALL this, “TEST THE SPIRITS” TO SEE WHETHER THEY ARE OF GOD. FOR SOME, THIS IS NEW AND IT IS DIFFERENT, BUT IT IS CRUNCH TIME NOW AND WE HAVE TO OPEN OUR EYES AND EARS. IN THIS TIME OF SERIOUSNESS, HE WILL TAKE HIS HANDS OFF OF US, IF WE WALK IN DISOBEDIENCE. IF WE WALK IN DISOBEDIENCE AT THIS TIME, IT WILL CAUSE US TO LOOSE THIS WAR. YES IN 2 CHRONICLES: 20:17. HE HAS TOLD US TO STAND STILL, BUT IN THIS STANDING STILL HE NEEDS OUR OBEDIENCE, IN THIS STANDING STILL, HE NEEDS US ALL TO KNOW THAT HE IS COMPASSIONATE , IN THIS STANDING STILL, HE NEEDS US KNOW THAT HE IS EL-SHADDAI (GOD ALMIGHTY),
IN THIS STANDING STILL HE NEEDS US TO KNOW SOME OF HIS NAMES, AND WHAT THEY MEAN. IN THIS STANDING STILL HE NEEDS US TO UNDERSTAND THAT “DEAD THINGS DON’T CHANGE”, IN THIS STANDING STILL, HE NEEDS US ALL TO UNDERSTAND THAT WE ALL ARE IN A SERIOUS “TRANSITIONING OF THE MIND”, THE WAY WE THINK, THE WAY WE TALK, AND THE WAY WE VIEW THINGS HAS TO CHANGE AT THIS POINT.
IN THIS STANDING STILL HE NEEDS US ALL TO “TEST THE SPIRITS” TO SEE WHETHER THEY ARE OF HIM.
WHAT I AM SEEING FROM THIS SCRIPTURE FAMILY IS THAT, THIS IS A SERIOUS TRUE FORM OF STRICT OBEDIENCE! THIS CONVERSATION FROM HIM THROUGH THIS SCRIPTURE IS NOTHING TO TAKE LIGHTLY:
READ: 2 CHRONICLES 20:17(NKJV) YOU WILL NOT NEED TO FIGHT IN THIS BATTLE. POSITION YOURSELVES, STAND STILL AND SEE THE SALVATION OF THE LORD, WHO IS WITH YOU, O JUDAH AND JERUSALEM!’ DO NOT FEAR OR BE DISMAYED; TOMORROW GO OUT AGAINST THEM, FOR THE LORD IS WITH YOU.”
GOD WANTS US TO EXAMINE THIS QUESTION:
What providential circumstances have led you to this time and place, WITH HIM?
MEANING:
WHAT circumstances THAT ARE Happening in your life RIGHT NOW, that divine intervention, OR WHAT YOU PERCEIVE AS DIVINE INTERVENTION has taken over THAT has led you to this time and place?
Providential- Occurring at a favorable time; opportune, Involving divine foresight or intervention.
OPPORTUNE: (of a time) Well-chosen or particularly favorable or appropriate.
Done or occurring at a favorable or useful time; well-timed.
Believe it or not this is an opportune time in our lives, MEANING THAT THIS IS A WELL-CHOSEN TIME, THIS IS A USEFUL TIME, THIS IS WELL-TIMED, AND THIS IS ALWAYS, WHEN GOD ALMIGHTY IS INVOLVED. believe it or not, SAINTS, this is a favorable time in our lives, a divine intervention, believe it or not this is a DIVINE FORESIGHT, that is happening in our lives
FORESIGHT MEANS: A MANAGEMENT PLANNING PRINCIPLE, AN ABILITY TO PREDICT OR PLAN FOR THE FUTURE;
SO THIS IS A DIVINE MANAGEMENT PLANNING PRINCIPLE TIME IN OUR LIVES, A STRICT TEACHING TIME IN OUR LIVES. (THE 613 PRINCIPLES, THE 613 LAWS) IS GOING FORTH.
DID YOU ALL KNOW THAT Foresight Consulting and Foresight Revolution together offer a highly unique, specialized and integrated set of solutions for our LIVES
A REVOLUTION (FROM THE LATIN REVOLUTIO, IS "A TURN AROUND") THERE IS THAT NOT CONFORMING, THERE IS THAT TRANSFORMING, THAT TRANSITIONING. A REVOLUTION, FAMILY, IS A FUNDAMENTAL CHANGE IN POWER OR ORGANIZATIONAL STRUCTURE THAT TAKES PLACE IN A RELATIVELY SHORT PERIOD ...
A REVOLUTION- A Complete change from one constitution to another OR - A Modification of an existing constitution.
A MODIFICATION OR A COMPLETE CHANGE FROM ONE OLD TRADITION, OR ONE OLD WAY
I WANT TO LET YOU IN ON SOMETHING FAMILY IF I MAY:
PROVIDENTIAL PLANS IS NOT ALWAYS PAIN FREE! I WANT YOU ALL TO GET THIS: IN OTHER WORDS, DIVINE PLANS ARE NOT ALWAYS PAIN FREE! DIVINE FORESIGHT OR INTERVENTION ARE NOT ALWAYS PAIN FREE!
BECAUSE SEE WHAT I PERCEIVE, IS THAT IT IS TAKING (PRESENCE TENSE) DIVINE INTERVENTION TO KEEP YOU DIALING INTO THIS LINE, IT IS TAKING DIVINE INTERVENTION FOR US TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT THIS IS A DEEP, DEEP STUDY OF SELF-EXAMINATION, IT IS TAKING DIVINE INTERVENTION TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT THIS IS A DEEP DEEP STUDY OF WHO GOD IS TRULY REVEALING WHO WE ARE IN HIM. IT IS A DEEP DEEP EXAMINATION PERIOD OF WHO AND WHAT WE THOUGHT WE WERE, IN HIM, WHICH IS PROVING TO BE VERY SURPRISING, I KNOW IT IS FOR ME. SO HE IS TELLING US IN ORDER TO GET TO THE PLACE THAT WE THINK WE ARE IN HIM, CONFORM NOT, BUT TRANSFORM.
YOU KNOW THAT SAYING: “ TRANSFORMERS, MORE THAN MEET THE EYE”. “WE HAVE TO BECOME MORE THAN MEETS THE EYE”.
ROMANS 12:2 (NIV) DO NOT CONFORM TO THE PATTERN OF THIS WORLD, BUT BE TRANSFORMED BY THE RENEWING OF YOUR MIND. THEN YOU WILL BE ABLE TO TEST AND APPROVE WHAT GOD'S WILL IS--HIS GOOD, PLEASING AND PERFECT WILL.
***IT IS IMPORTANT TO BE ABLE TO TEST AND APPROVE WHAT GOD’S WILL IS—HIS GOOD, PLEASING AND PERFECT WILL.
TRANSFORMED- TO CHANGE MARKEDLY THE APPEARANCE OR FORM
MARKEDLY- CLEARLY DEFINED AND EVIDENT; NOTICEABLE
THEN- IMMEDIATELY OR SOON AFTERWARD. SO WE WILL BE ABLE TO TEST AND APPROVE WHAT GOD'S WILL IS, IMMEDIATELY AFTER NOT CONFORMING AND RENEWING OUR MINDS. SO THIS IS VERY SERIOUS FOR US TO DO, IN ORDER TO SEE WHERE HE GOING WITH THE WHOLE 2 CHRONICLES 20:17 SERIES.
IT HAS TO BE CLEARLY DEFINED AND EVIDENT AND EVEN NOTICEABLE THAT WE ARE NOT CONFORMED TO THE PATTERN OF THIS WORLD.
IT HAS TO BE CLEARLY DEFINED AND EVIDENT AND EVEN NOTICEABLE THAT WE ARE TRANSFORMED BY THE RENEWING OF OUR MINDS.
THEN ONCE THIS HAPPENS, WE WILL BE ABLE TO TEST AND PROVE WHAT GOD’S WILL IS, HIS GOOD, PLEASING AND PERFECT WILL IS. THIS IS A VERY IMPORTANT STEP IN OUR WALK, RIGHT NOW!!
HE IS SO CONFIDENT THAT ONCE WE DO THIS, THAT WE WILL BE ABLE SEE WELL ENOUGH TO TEST AND PROVE WHAT HIS WILL IS.
GOD REVEALED TO ME, WHEN I WAS UP IN THE MOUNTAINS LAST WEEK WITH NO CELL PHONE RECEPTION, AND THROUGH ANOTHER PASTOR’S SERMON, IS THAT THIS IS A SERIES THAT WE ARE GOING THROUGH AND AT THAT IT HAS BEEN THIS WAY FROM THE BEGINNING, WHEN HE FIRST GAVE MIN. JEANETTE THIS SCRIPTURE.
NOW WE HAVE TO UNDERSTAND AND GET WISDOM ON WHAT A SERIES IS, AMEN.
A SERIES IS A number of OBJECTS (CONCEPTS) OR events (OUTCOMES) THAT ARE arranged or coming one after the other in succession THAT IS OF IMPORTANCE.
1 JOHN 4:1-6 (ESV) 4 BELOVED, DO NOT BELIEVE EVERY SPIRIT, BUT TEST THE SPIRITS TO SEE WHETHER THEY ARE FROM GOD, DEARLY LOVED, DO NOT BELIEVE EVERY SPIRIT, BUT TEST THE SPIRITS TO SEE WHETHER THEY ARE OF MY SOUND DOCTRINE, FOR MANY FALSE PROPHETS HAVE GONE OUT INTO THE WORLD. 2 BY THIS YOU KNOW THE SPIRIT OF GOD: EVERY SPIRIT THAT CONFESSES THAT JESUS CHRIST HAS COME IN THE FLESH IS FROM GOD, 3 AND EVERY SPIRIT THAT DOES NOT CONFESS JESUS, IS NOT FROM GOD. THIS IS THE SPIRIT OF THE ANTICHRIST, WHICH YOU HEARD WAS COMING AND NOW IS IN THE WORLD ALREADY. 4 LITTLE CHILDREN, YOU ARE FROM GOD AND HAVE OVERCOME THEM, FOR HE WHO IS IN YOU IS GREATER THAN HE WHO IS IN THE WORLD. 5 THEY ARE FROM THE WORLD; THEREFORE THEY SPEAK FROM THE WORLD, AND THE WORLD LISTENS TO THEM. 6 WE ARE FROM GOD. WHOEVER KNOWS GOD LISTENS TO US; WHOEVER IS NOT FROM GOD DOES NOT LISTEN TO US. BY THIS WE KNOW THE SPIRIT OF TRUTH AND THE SPIRIT OF ERROR.
*****THE TRUE DOCTRINE AS TO THE SAVIOUR'S PERSON, AS LEADING MEN FROM THE WORLD TO GOD, THE GOD OF ABRAHAM, THE GOD OF ISSAC, THE GOD OF JACOB, IS A MARK OF THE SPIRIT OF TRUTH IN OPPOSITION TO THE SPIRIT OF ERROR.
THE MORE PURE AND HOLY ANY DOCTRINE IS, THE MORE LIKELY TO BE OF GOD; NOR CAN WE BY ANY OTHER RULES TRY THE SPIRITS WHETHER THEY ARE OF GOD OR NOT.
QUESTION: "WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO TEST THE SPIRITS?"
IN THIS VERSE BELIEVERS ARE COMMANDED TO “TEST THE SPIRITS TO SEE WHETHER THEY ARE FROM GOD.” THIS SAME COMMAND IS ECHOED IN OTHER PARTS OF SCRIPTURE AS WELL. FOR EXAMPLE, IN 1 THESSALONIANS 5:20-21 WE FIND PAUL EXHORTING THE CHRISTIANS TO NOT “DESPISE PROPHECIES, BUT TEST EVERYTHING; HOLD FAST WHAT IS GOOD.”
THESE TWO PASSAGES ARE JUST A FEW OF THE MANY THAT WARN CHRISTIANS TO TEST THE MESSAGE THAT PEOPLE OR SPIRITS PROCLAIM. THIS IS TRUE IN ALL SITUATIONS BUT MOST IMPORTANTLY WHEN A PERSON OR SPIRIT IS CLAIMING TO SPEAK FOR GOD. AS CHRISTIANS, WE ARE TO BE DISCERNING HEARERS AND READERS OF ALL MESSAGES. THE REASON FOR THE ADMONITION TO “TEST THE SPIRITS” OR “TEST ALL THINGS” IS THAT THERE ARE “MANY FALSE PROPHETS” OR “WOLVES IN SHEEP’S CLOTHING” THAT TRY TO LEAD CHRISTIANS ASTRAY.
ADMONITION: COUNSEL OR WARNING AGAINST FAULT OR OVERSIGHT. WE CAN’T AFFORD TO OVER LOOK ANYTHING RIGHT NOW!
SYNONYMS: TO ADMONITION:
THE REASON FOR SUGGESTION, FOR WARNING TO “TEST THE SPIRITS”
THE REASON FOR THE TIP: THE URGING TO “TEST THE SPIRITS”
THE REASON FOR A HINT, FOR A LECTURE TO “TEST THE SPIRITS”OR “TEST ALL THINGS” IS THAT THERE ARE “MANY FALSE PROPHETS” OR “WOLVES IN SHEEP’S CLOTHING” THAT TRY TO LEAD CHRISTIANS ASTRAY.
SADLY, THERE ARE MANY PEOPLE WHO CLAIM TO SPEAK FOR GOD WHO ARE PRESENTING A FALSE GOSPEL THAT IS POWERLESS TO SAVE. SUCH ERRANT TEACHING LEAVES PEOPLE WITH A FALSE HOPE OF SALVATION AND, IN A WAY, INOCULATES THEM FROM THE TRUE MESSAGE.
IN OTHER WORDS: SUCH TEACHING THAT STRAYS OUTSIDE THE PROPER PATH OR BOUNDS, LEAVES PEOPLE WITH A FALSE HOPE OF SALVATION AND, IN A WAY, INOCULATES THEM FROM THE TRUE MESSAGE.
SO THE THINGS THAT ARE TAUGHT OR PREACHED AND THAT ARE INSTILLED, PLANTED, FILLED, SATURATED, AND FLOODED WITH IN US STEERS US FROM THE TRUE MESSAGE OF GOD.
PEOPLE WHO ARE DECEIVED INTO THINKING EVERYTHING IS FINE WILL BE MORE RESISTANT TO THE TRUTH.
IN SECOND CORINTHIANS 11:12-15 PAUL STATES THAT:
12 AND I WILL KEEP ON DOING WHAT I AM DOING IN ORDER TO CUT THE GROUND FROM UNDER THOSE WHO WANT AN OPPORTUNITY TO BE CONSIDERED EQUAL WITH US IN THE THINGS THEY BOAST ABOUT.
SO IN THIS VERSE, PAUL KNOWS THE WILL OF GOD FOR HIS LIFE, HE SAYS: IN VERSE 12 AND I WILL KEEP ON DOING WHAT I AM DOING IN ORDER TO CUT THE GROUND FROM UNDER THOSE WHO WANT AN OPPORTUNITY TO BE CONSIDERED EQUAL WITH US IN THE THINGS THEY BOAST ABOUT.
PAUL IS NOT ABOUT BOASTING OUTSIDE THE WORK OR WILL OF THE LORD, BUT THE FALSE TEACHERS, AND APOSTLES ETC… ARE
13 FOR SUCH PEOPLE ARE FALSE APOSTLES, DECEITFUL WORKERS, MASQUERADING AS APOSTLES OF CHRIST. 14 AND NO WONDER, FOR SATAN HIMSELF MASQUERADES AS AN ANGEL OF LIGHT. 15 IT IS NOT SURPRISING, THEN, IF HIS SERVANTS ALSO MASQUERADE AS SERVANTS OF RIGHTEOUSNESS. THEIR END WILL BE WHAT THEIR ACTIONS DESERVE.
WE HAVE TO REALLY UNDERSTAND AND DEVELOP STRICT WISDOM CONCERNING THIS!!!!
”SO THE REASON FOR TESTING THE SPIRITS, FOR TESTING ALL RELIGIOUS TEACHING IS TO SEE IF IT IS TRULY FROM GOD OR IF IT IS A LIE FROM SATAN AND HIS SERVANTS.
THE TEST IS TO COMPARE WHAT IS BEING TAUGHT WITH THE CLEAR TEACHING OF THE BIBLE. THE BIBLE ALONE IS THE WORD OF GOD; IT ALONE IS INSPIRED AND INERRANT. FREE FROM ERROR
WE HAVE TO UNDERSTAND WHAT INERRANCY IS:
Biblical inerrancy is the doctrine that the Bible, in its original manuscripts, is accurate and totally free from error of any kind; that "Scripture in the original ... MANUSCRIPTS DOES NOT AFFIRM ANYTHING THAT IS CONTRARY TO FACT".
THEREFORE, THE WAY TO TEST THE SPIRITS IS TO SEE IF WHAT IS BEING TAUGHT IS IN LINE WITH THE CLEAR TEACHING OF SCRIPTURE. IN ACTS 17:10-11 THE BEREAN JEWS WERE COMMENDED BECAUSE, AFTER THEY HEARD THE TEACHINGS OF PAUL AND SILAS, THEY “EXAMINED THE SCRIPTURES DAILY TO SEE IF THESE THINGS WERE SO.” THE BEREANS WERE CALLED “NOBLE” FOR DOING SO.
TESTING THE SPIRITS MEANS THAT ONE MUST KNOW HOW TO “EXAMINE THE SCRIPTURES.” RATHER THAN ACCEPT EVERY TEACHING, DISCERNING CHRISTIANS DILIGENTLY STUDY THE SCRIPTURES. THEN THEY KNOW WHAT THE BIBLE SAYS AND THEREFORE CAN “TEST ALL THINGS AND HOLD FAST TO WHAT IS TRUE.”
THEN: MEANING, IMMEDIATELY OR SOON AFTERWARD, EXAMINING THE SCRIPTURES, THEY SHOULD KNOW WHAT THE BIBLE SAYS AND THEREFORE CAN “TEST ALL THINGS AND HOLD FAST TO WHAT IS TRUE.”
FAMILY: IN ORDER TO DO THIS, A CHRISTIAN MUST “BE DILIGENT TO PRESENT THEMSELVES APPROVED TO GOD, A WORKER WHO DOES NOT NEED TO BE ASHAMED, RIGHTLY DIVIDING THE WORD OF TRUTH” (2 TIMOTHY 2:15). THE WORD OF GOD IS TO BE “A LAMP” AND “A LIGHT” TO OUR PATH (PSALM 119:105).
WHAT JOURNEY AM I ON IN MY LIFE THAT HAS BEEN INITIATED BY GOD?
ANSWER:
1 JOHN 4:1-6
1 BELOVED, DO NOT BELIEVE EVERY SPIRIT, BUT TEST THE SPIRITS TO SEE WHETHER THEY ARE FROM GOD,
2 TIM 2:15- STUDY TO SHOW THYSELF APPROVED
ACTS 17: 11-12-SPEND TIME DAILY IN THE WORD. LIKE THE BEREANS
Luke 4:16-23 (NKJV)
16 So He came to Nazareth, where He had been brought up. And as His custom was, He went into the synagogue on the Sabbath day, and stood up to read.
Acts 17:1-17 (NKJV)
1 Now when they had passed through Amphipolis and Apollonia, they came to Thessalonica, where there was a synagogue of the Jews. 2 Then Paul, as his custom was, went in to them, and for three Sabbaths reasoned with them from the Scriptures, 3 explaining and demonstrating that the Christ had to suffer and rise again from the dead, and saying, “This Jesus whom I preach to you is the Christ.” 4 And some of them were persuaded; and a great multitude of the devout Greeks, and not a few of the leading women, joined Paul and Silas. 5 But the Jews who were not persuaded, becoming envious, took some of the evil men from the marketplace, and gathering a mob, set all the city in an uproar and attacked the house of Jason, and sought to bring them out to the people. 6 But when they did not find them, they dragged Jason and some brethren to the rulers of the city, crying out, “These who have turned the world upside down have come here too. 7 Jason has harbored them, and these are all acting contrary to the decrees of Caesar, saying there is another king—Jesus.” 8 And they troubled the crowd and the rulers of the city when they heard these things. 9 So when they had taken security from Jason and the rest, they let them go. 10 Then the brethren immediately sent Paul and Silas away by night to Berea. When they arrived, they went into the synagogue of the Jews. 11 These were more fair-minded than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness, and searched the Scriptures daily to find out whether these things were so.
THESE WERE MORE JUST AND IMPARTIAL; NOT PREJUDICED THAN THOSE IN THESSALONICA, IN THAT THEY RECEIVED THE WORD WITH ALL READINESS, AND SEARCHED THE SCRIPTURES DAILY TO FIND OUT WHETHER THESE THINGS WERE SO.
12 Therefore many of them believed, and also not a few of the Greeks, prominent women as well as men. 13 But when the Jews from Thessalonica learned that the word of God was preached by Paul at Berea, they came there also and stirred up the crowds. 14 Then immediately the brethren sent Paul away, to go to the sea; but both Silas and Timothy remained there. 15 So those who conducted Paul brought him to Athens; and receiving a command for Silas and Timothy to come to him with all speed, they departed.
HOW MANY OF US RECEIVING COMMAND FROM GOD TO COME TO HIM WITH ALL SPEED, WILL DEPART?
The Philosophers at Athens
16 Now while Paul waited for them at Athens, his spirit was provoked within him when he saw that the city was given over to idols. 17 Therefore he reasoned in the synagogue with the Jews and with the Gentile worshipers, and in the marketplace daily with those who happened to be there.
REASONED- a statement presented in justification or explanation of a belief
17 THEREFORE, HE PRESENTED A STATEMENT OF EXPLANATION OF HIS BELIEF IN THE SYNAGOGUE WITH THE JEWS AND WITH THE GENTILE WORSHIPERS, AND IN THE MARKETPLACE DAILY WITH THOSE WHO HAPPENED TO BE THERE.
WHAT DO YOU THINK PAUL WAS SAYING TO THE JEW AND GENTILE WORSHIPERS IN THE SYNAGOGUE DAILY? I THINK HE WAS SAYING
2 Corinthians 6:16-18 (CEV)
16 Do idols belong in the temple of God? We are the temple of the living God, as God himself says,
“I will live with these people
and walk among them.
I will be their God,
and they will be
my people.”
17 The Lord also says,
“Leave them and stay away!
Don’t touch anything
that isn’t clean.
Then I will welcome you
18 and be your Father.
You will be my sons
and my daughters,
as surely as I am God,
the All-Powerful.”
AS SURELY AS I AM GOD, EL-SHADDAI
18 Then certain Epicurean and Stoic philosophers encountered him. And some said, “What does this babbler want to say?”
Others said, “He seems to be a proclaimer of foreign gods,” because he preached to them Jesus and the resurrection.
18 THEN CERTAIN PHILOSOPHERS OF INDULGENCE AND WITHOUT FEELINGS encountered him. And some said, “What does this babbler want to say?”
Others said, “He seems to be a proclaimer of foreign gods,” because he preached to them Jesus and the resurrection.
19 And they took him and brought him to the Areopagus, saying, “May we know what this new doctrine is of which you speak? 20 For you are bringing some strange things to our ears. Therefore we want to know what these things mean.” 21 For all the Athenians and the foreigners who were there spent their time in nothing else but either to tell or to hear some new thing.
AREOPAGUS- The highest judicial and legislative council of ancient Athens
Addressing the Areopagus
22 Then Paul stood in the midst of the Areopagus and said, “Men of Athens, I perceive (I COME TO REALIZE OR UNDERSTAND) that in all things you are very religious; 23 for as I was passing through and considering the objects of your worship, I even found an altar with this inscription:
RELIGIOUS- Religious is a general word, applying to whatever pertains to faith or worship. extreme conformity with, outward observances. THE DEFINITION ALSO SAYS IT CAN PERTAIN TO HYPOCRISY
RELIGIOUS- scrupulously FAITHFUL
scrupulously- acting in strict regard for what is considered right or proper
22 Then Paul stood in the midst of the Areopagus and said, “Men of Athens, I perceive( I COME TO REALIZE OR UNDERSTAND) that in all things you are very religious; 23 for as I was passing through and considering the objects of your worship, I even found an altar with this inscription
TO THE UNKNOWN GOD.
Therefore, the One whom you worship without knowing, Him I proclaim to you: 24 “God, who made the world and everything in it, since He is Lord of heaven and earth, does not dwell in temples made with hands. 25 Nor is He worshiped with men’s hands, as though He needed anything, since He gives to all life, breath, and all things. 26 And He has made from one blood every nation of men to dwell on all the face of the earth, and has determined their pre-appointed times and the boundaries of their dwellings,
THIS IS A PRE-APPOINTED TIME AND BOUNDARY OF OUR DWELLING, FAMILY
27 so that they should seek the Lord, in the hope that they might grope for Him and find Him, though He is not far from each one of us;
27 THAT THEY MIGHT TO FEEL ABOUT WITH THEIR HANDS; FEEL ONE'S WAY FOR HIM AND FIND HIM, THOUGH HE IS NOT FAR FROM EACH ONE OF US;
28 for in Him we live and move and have our being, as also some of your own poets have said, ‘For we are also His offspring.’ 29 Therefore, since we are the offspring of God, we ought not to think that the Divine Nature is like gold or silver or stone, something shaped by art and man’s devising. 30 Truly, these times of ignorance God overlooked, but now commands all men everywhere to repent, 31 because He has appointed a day on which He will judge the world in righteousness by the Man whom He has ordained. He has given assurance of this to all by raising Him from the dead.” 32 And when they heard of the resurrection of the dead, some mocked, while others said, “We will hear you again on this matter.” 33 So Paul departed from among them. 34 However, some men joined him and believed, among them Dionysius the Areopagite, a woman named Damaris, and others with them.
AGAIN:
THE WORD OF GOD IS TO BE “A LAMP” AND “A LIGHT” TO OUR PATH (PSALM 119:105).
WE MUST LET ITS LIGHT SHINE ON THE TEACHINGS AND DOCTRINES OF THE DAY; THE BIBLE ALONE IS THE STANDARD BY WHICH ALL TRUTH MUST BE JUDGED.
SO FAMILY THE QUESTION THAT PRESENTED TO YOU TODAY IS WHAT JOURNEY ARE YOU ON IN YOUR LIFE THAT HAS BEEN INITIATED BY GOD?
We seal this prayer in the precious blood of Jesus of Nazareth, the only Begotten of the Heavenly Father and by the Holy Spirit: Fiveamprayer, we must test the spirits to be sure that we are doing what is good and pleasing unto our Heavenly Father!
No comments:
Post a Comment