Month: August 2023

Every believer is called to be a witness.

 “But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth” (Acts 1 :8). Not all are called to be pastors or teachers, but we are all called to be witnesses if we are born again. It is not necessary to change your honourable, honest occupation in order to be a witness. “Abide in you calling but take the Lord into partnership.”

God desires to save every lost soul that you have an opportunity to deal with.

“Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth” (1 Timothy 2:4). Remember that contact is opportunity. The first may be the only opportunity you will ever have. Therefore aim to lead to immediate decision. Never allow any fatalistic theory of election to cool your zeal for the salvation of lost souls. Facility of approach is the result of daily activity. Skill is not acquired by spasmodic effort.

You are responsible to God for the salvation of these lost ones.

“When I say unto the wicked, Thou shalt surely die; and thou givest him not warning, nor speakest to warn the wicked from his wicked way, to save his life; the same wicked man shall die in his iniquity; but his blood will I require at thine hand” (Ezekiel 3:18). Acts 20:26 implies that Paul believed their blood would have been upon him if he had been unfaithful in witnessing. He no doubt alludes to Ezekiel where this principle is stated. Never forget your ambassadorship (2 Corinthians 5:20). Can you say with Paul, ” … I am pure from the blood of all men” (Acts 20:26).

The Word of God is the appointed means by which souls are saved.

“So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God” (Romans 10:17). “Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever” (1 Peter 1:23). The sower must bear seed when he goes forth. Therefore acquire power in handling the Word. Answer human reason with Divine revelation. “God has not promised to bless our word, but He has promised to bless His.”

Every testimony should be preceded by, accompanied with, and followed by prayer.

 “And when they had fasted and prayed, and laid their hands on them, they sent them away” (Acts 13:3) “And at midnight Paul and Silas prayed, and sang praises unto God: and the prisoners heard them” (Acts 16:25). “And he kneeled down, and cried with a loud voice, Lord, lay not this sin to their charge.And when he had said this, he fell asleep” (Acts 7:60). The book of Acts is a book of witnessing, and it is filled with references to prayer. No wonder the early church got results.

The personal worker should completely rely on the Holy Spirit.

“Then the Spirit said unto Philip, Go near, and join thyself to this chariot” (Acts 8:29). Keep in mind the fact that the Holy Spirit convicts every unsaved person to whom you proclaim the Gospel. “And when he is come, he will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment” (John 16:8). Therefore strike for conviction. Arouse the conscience, and then press the will for a choice.

The witness should be a child of God walking in the light.

“Having your conversation honest among the Gentiles: that, whereas they speak against you as evildoers, they may by your good works, which they shall behold, glorify God in the day of visitation” (1 Peter 2:12). The average person will not read the Gospel according to John, but they will watch your life to see the nature of the Gospel according to you. We should be careful not to do anything that would bring reproach on the Gospel. Let us do everything in our power to wins souls for Christ. Let us refrain from anything that would be a hindrance. “The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life; and he that winneth souls is wise” (Proverbs 11:30).

–The Gospel Standard –

Note: To bring up scripture references hold down ctrl key and click

1. To worship God in Spirit (Php. 3:3; Jn. 4:24).

2. To rejoice in Christ (Php. 3:1,3; 4:4).

3. To have no confidence in flesh (Php. 3:3-8).

4. To count all things loss (Php. 3:7-8).

5. To count all things but dung (Php. 3:8).

6. To have no self-righteousness (Php. 3:9).

7. I follow after knowledge (Php. 3:8,12).

8. I forget the past (Php. 3:13).

9. I reach out for future things (Php. 3:13).

10. I press toward the prize (Php. 3:14).

11. I strive to be an example (Php. 3:15-19).

12. I look for the Savior (Php. 3:20).

Dake’s Annotated Reference Bible.

“Because I have called, and ye refused; I have stretched out my hand, and no man regarded;” (Proverbs 1:24”

1. Refusal of wisdom’s call

2. Disregard of her invitation

“Because I have called, and ye refused; I have stretched out my hand, and no man regarded;” (Proverbs 1:24)

3. Setting at naught her counsel

4. Rejection of her reproof

“For that they hated knowledge, and did not choose the fear of the LORD:” (Proverbs 1:29)

5. Hatred of her knowledge

6. Refusal of fear of the Lord

“They would none of my counsel: they despised all my reproof.” (Proverbs 1:30)

7. Rejection of wisdom’s counsel

8. Despising her reproof

^“Therefore shall they eat of the fruit of their own way, and be filled with their own devices.” (Proverbs 1:31)

9. Reaping fruit of own way

10. Being filled with own schemes

^“For the turning away of the simple shall slay them, and the prosperity of fools shall destroy them.” (Proverbs 1:32)

11. Turning away or backsliding

12. Being satisfied with prosperity

Wisdom is personified here indicating that every man is endowed with natural faculties to know right from wrong and to make godly decisions.

“That was the true Light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world.” (John 1:9)

^“For as many as have sinned without law shall also perish without law: and as many as have sinned in the law shall be judged by the law; (For not the hearers of the law are just before God, but the doers of the law shall be justified. For when the Gentiles, which have not the law, do by nature the things contained in the law, these, having not the law, are a law unto themselves: Which shew the work of the law written in their hearts, their conscience also bearing witness, and their thoughts the mean while accusing or else excusing one another;) In the day when God shall judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ according to my gospel.” (Romans 2:12-16)

It is man’s own God-given wisdom which will laugh and mock at the calamity he brings upon himself through folly and rejection of her pleading.  See Psalm 1

Dake’s Annotated Reference Bible

Eight If’s of Blessing

1. If you receive My words (Prov. 2:1)

2. If you hide (as a treasure) My commandments

3. If you incline your ear to wisdom (Prov. 2:2)

4. If you apply your heart to understanding

5. If you cry after knowledge (Prov. 2:3)

6. If you lift your voice for understanding

7. If you seek for knowledge as for silver (Prov. 2:4)

8. If you search for knowledge as for hidden treasure

Eight Blessings of Obedience — First Conclusion:

1. Then you will understand the fear of the Lord (Prov. 2:5).

2. Then you will find the knowledge of God.

3. Then you will receive wisdom from God (Prov. 2:6).

4. Then you will receive knowledge from God.

5. Then you will receive understanding from God.

6. Then you will receive protection from God (Prov. 2:7).

7. Then you will have security in God (Prov. 2:8).

8. Then you will have preservation in life.

Eight Blessings of Obedience — Second Conclusion:

1. Then you will understand righteousness (Prov. 2:9).

2. Then you will understand judgment.

3. Then you will understand equity.

4. Then you will understand every good path.

5. Then wisdom will enter your heart (Prov. 2:10).

6. Then knowledge will be pleasant to your soul.

7. Then discretion will preserve you (Prov. 2:11).

8. Then understanding will keep you.

^“Let a man so account of us, as of the ministers of Christ, and stewards of the mysteries of God. Moreover it is required in stewards, that a man be found faithful.” 1 Corinthians 4:1-2

• Intro:
  • Paul was a minister of Christ and a steward of the mysteries of God.  
  • There are 7 mysteries of God in the New Testament.  
  • These mysteries are easy to find by simply cross-referencing the word “mystery.”
  • Today, we will identify each mystery and briefly describe it.  
  • The mystery of godliness – 1 Tim 3:16 –
    • The mystery of godliness is God was manifest in the flesh.  It is a mystery that God, who inhabits the entire universe, manifested himself as a baby who was born of a virgin.  It is a mystery that Jesus Christ was all man and yet all God at the same time.  He performed miracles, on the one hand, and hungered and thirsted, on the other.  Jn 1:1, 14 establishes the truth of 1 Tim 3:16.  
  • John said, “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God… And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us.”
• The mystery of the body of Christ – Eph 5:30-32 –
  • The mystery of the body of Christ is that, when we are saved, we are baptized by the Spirit of God into the body of Christ [1 Cor 12:13] and become literal members of his flesh and of his bones [Eph 5:30].  
  • Therefore, we are seated with Christ in heavenly places [Eph 2:6].  
  • The reason Paul refers back to Gen 2:24 in Eph 5:31 is that “the first man Adam” and “the last Adam,” [1 Cor 15:45] are very similar when it comes to their wives.  
  • As Adam’s wife came forth from his flesh and bones [Gen 2:23], we come forth from the flesh and bones of Jesus Christ to be married to him [Rom 7:4; Rev 19:7-9].
• The mystery of the indwelling Christ – Col 1:27 –
  • The mystery of the indwelling of Jesus Christ is that, when we are saved, Jesus Christ literally dwells in us.
  • It is a mystery how the second person of the Trinity [1 Jn 5:7], who is currently seated at the right hand of God [Heb 10:12], can indwell every Christian who is alive today [Jn 14:20].  
  • When the Lord said, “I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee,” [Heb 13:5] he meant it literally.
• The mystery of the rapture – 1 Cor 15:51 –
  • The mystery of the rapture is that Jesus Christ, as part of his Second Coming, will first return for all those who have been born again.  
  • The bodies of those who are dead in Christ will rise first and then the bodies of all those who are alive at his coming will be changed [1 Cor 15:50-55; 1 Thes 4:16-18; Phil 3:21].  
  • It’s a mystery because no one knows when this will happen, or how this will happen.  
  • How does God instantly change our vile bodies and fashion them like unto his glorious body?  
  • After the rapture will be the Tribulation, followed by the return of Jesus Christ to rule and reign on the earth.
• The mystery of iniquity – 2 Thess 2:7 –
  • The mystery of iniquity is the spirit of Antichrist.  
  • The reason this is a mystery is that the spirit of antichrist is already working in the earth but people can’t detect it [1 Jn 4:1-4].  
  • Another reason that the spirit of antichrist is a mystery is that when the antichrist shows up, the world will regard him as God [2 Thess 2:4] and not the devil.  
  • The revelation of his true identity will be withheld [2 Thess 2:6-8].
• Mystery Babylon the Great – Rev 17:5 –
  • Mystery Babylon the Great is the city [Rev 17:3-5, 18] of the Antichrist during the Tribulation.  
  • The reason this city is a mystery is that Babylon was destroyed.  
  • Currently, the ruins of the ancient city are in Hillah, about approximate 53 south of Baghdad.  
  • Restoration is being done to Ishtar Gate and Ishtar Temple.  
  • Nevertheless, it is not this city to which John was referring.  
  • The city to which John refers in Rev 17 is like Babylon in its idolatry, political influence and global economy, yet it is a mystery.  
  • Many believe that mystery Babylon is Rome because of its historical influence over kings, its lavish wealth and its idolatrous connections with Ishtar.
• The mystery of the blindness of Israel – Rom 11:25 –
  • The mystery of the blindness of Israel is that Israel, as a nation, is currently blind to the fact that Jesus is their Messiah.  
  • When he was crucified at the demand of the chief priests and elders, they did not realize they were killing their Messiah [Matt 13:15], the Lord of glory [1 Cor 2:7-8], the Prince of life [Acts 3:14-15].  
  • Many individual Jews have trusted Jesus Christ. But the nation is still blind to the truth and will be until a remnant finally accepts him as their Lord and Christ at the Second Advent.  
  • And then all Israel will be saved [Rom 11:25-29; Jer 31:31-34].
• Conclusion:  
  • 1 Cor 4:2 says that it is required in stewards that a man be found faithful.  
  • We must be faithful to these mysteries.  
  • Religions, false teachers and worldly Christians have departed from these mysteries.  
  • Translators of modern bibles have not been faithful to the mystery of godliness and have attacked the deity of Christ.  
  • Many have confused the mystery of the body of Christ, by their interpretation of the church.  
  • More and more believers are changing their beliefs about the pre-tribulation rapture of the church.  
  • And for centuries, some believers have taught that the church replaced Israel in the covenant and Old Testament promises, not realizing that Israel’s blindness will be healed when Jesus returns.