Introduction

There is no such thing as a dumb question when trying to understand the Word of God. Often times we go to church and sit for an hour listening to a sermon we don't fully understandand we get discouraged and say what's the use. My purpose here is to encourage you to continue following Jesus and helping you with some of your questions pertaining to God's Word. I am not a theologian but I have walked with Jesus 40 years plus, studying with all my heart; I've heard many different views and interpretations of the Word. If your heart really wants to pursue the truth of Jesus, who He is, why He came, to understand your purpose in life, and if you want positive interaction, please feel free to respond. Diligent follower.

Take the Test!

Take the Test!

2 Corinthians 13:5  Test yourselves to see if you are in the faith; examine yourselves! Or do you not recognize this about yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you—unless indeed you fail the test?

What does God’s Word say on this issue? It’s  better we challenge ourselves and not miss than not be challenged and miss. We still have time on this side of heaven, because on the other side, the challenges are over, it is written! 

Note, what I am not saying is that we never miss the mark, for God’s mercy endures forever through the blood of Jesus (what he accomplished on the cross), and if we repent of our sins [1John 1:9] (turn from it) (pick up our cross) He is faithful and just to forgive us [1 John 2:1] (as we forgive others)! 

What I am saying and challenging is this, do I have an intellectual commitment to Jesus so I don’t go to hell (fire insurance-- which is born out of deception), or do I really have a new heart desiring to obey Jesus, [1 John 3:7] allowing His Word to renew my mind to the truth of His will with the desire to obey Him! Am I Jesus’ friend or the world’s friend??? [James 4:4] (Better to find out now than later)! (One of the strongest spirits to overcome and break the deception of-- is religion) 

Proverbs 16:25 There is a way which seems right to a man that leads to death. 

Proverbs 16:18 Pride goes before destruction and a haughty spirit before a fall. 

If these words do not apply to you and do not convict you, receive them as encouragement. Be encouraged you are in right relationship with Jesus and walking joyously and confidently, boldly, continually with your master Jesus, for He will never fail you, and never be ashamed of Him, He’s proud of you! If the opposite is true, I pray the knowledge of the truth be revealed to you as your will submits to His!  Eternity is a long time!!!

Is our conversion mental assent only?

Matthew 7:21  Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father who is in heaven will enter.  Many will say to Me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your name, and in Your name cast out demons, and in Your name perform many miracles?’ And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you.

Is my heart to love and obey Jesus through His Word?

John 6:40  For this is the will of my Father, that every one that beholdeth Jesus, and trust and relies on Him, should have eternal life; and I will raise Him up at the last day.             

Romans 10:17 So faith comes from hearing, and hearing by the words of Jesus.

Galatians 5:24 Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.

This does not mean you never fail? No, temptation will always come; but what it means is we have submitted our wills to God’s Word, renewing our minds and with all our heart we resist the temptations , the fiery darts shot at us by the enemy! When we have this attitude grace is released and God’s power strengthens us to win over temptation. To walk in this kind of grace takes a consecration unto Jesus putting Him first place in everything.  Look at it this way - grace is the power to overcome, not a blanket of excuses that covers over my worldly lusts.

Colossians 3:5-6  Consider the members of your earthly body dead to sin. Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry.Because of these, the wrath of God is coming.

Titus 2:11,12  For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all men,  instructing us to deny ungodliness and worldly desires and to live sensibly, righteously and godly in the present age,

Romans 8:1 Therefore, [there is] now no condemnation (no adjudging guilty of wrong) for those who are in Christ Jesus, who live [and] walk not after the dictates of the flesh, but after the dictates of the Spirit. 

This can’t be done without putting God’s Word first place in your life. When I was a youngster I would occasionally go to confession, some of you can identify with me, I had no more intention to change my life’s behaviors and habits when I went in than when I came out, I had no godly sorrow, just a ritual I was taught without any meaning to me. In other words hurry up let me get out of here, I have a date with sin outside these church doors! (Sad but true).

John 3:18 He who believes in Jesus [who clings to, trusts in, relies on Jesus in obedience to His word] is not judged [he who trusts in Jesus never comes up for judgment; for in him there is no rejection, no condemnation—he incurs no damnation]; but He who does not believe (cleave to, rely on, trust in Jesus in obedience to His word) is judged already [he has already been convicted and has already received his sentence] because he has not believed in (through obedience to his word and trusted in the name of the only begotten Son of God. [He is condemned for refusing to let his trust rest in Jesus’ Word.]

Romans 8:2-14 For the law of the Spirit of life [which is] in Christ Jesus [the law of our new being] has freed me from the law of sin and of death. For God has done what the Law could not do, [its power] being weakened by the flesh [the entire nature of man without the Holy Spirit]. Sending His own Son in the guise of sinful flesh and as an offering for sin, [God] condemned sin in the flesh [subdued, overcame,  deprived it of its power over all who accept that sacrifice], So that the righteous and just requirement of the Law might be fully met in us who live and move not in the ways of the flesh but in the ways of the Spirit [our lives governed not by the standards and according to the dictates of the flesh (human nature without the Spirit of God), but controlled by the Holy Spirit] (new nature, God’s Word). For those who are according to the flesh and are controlled by its unholy desires set their minds on and  pursue those things which gratify the flesh(selfishness), but those who are according to the Spirit and are controlled by the desires of the Spirit set their minds on and  seek those things which gratify the [Holy] Spirit. (selflessness) Now the mind of the flesh [which is sense and reason without the Holy Spirit] is death [death that  comprises all the miseries arising from sin, both here and hereafter]. But the mind of the [Holy] Spirit is life and [soul] peace [both now and forever].  [That is] because the mind of the flesh [with its natural human thoughts and purposes] is hostile to God, for it does not submit itself to God’s Law; indeed it cannot. So then those who are living the life of the flesh [catering to the appetites and impulses of their natural and human nature] cannot please or satisfy God, or be acceptable to Him. But you are not living the life of the flesh, (if) you are living the life of the Spirit, (if) the [Holy] Spirit of God [really] dwells within you [directs and controls you]. But if anyone does not possess the [Holy] Spirit of Jesus, he is none of His [he does not belong to Christ, is not truly a child of God].  But if Jesus lives in you, your [natural] body is dead by reason of sin and guilt, the spirit is alive because of [the] righteousness [that He imputes to you]. And if the Spirit of Him Who raised up Jesus from the dead dwells in you, [then] He Who raised up Christ Jesus from the dead will also restore to life your mortal (short-lived, perishable) bodies through His Spirit Who dwells in you. So then, brethren, we are debtors, but not to the flesh [we are not obligated to our worldly nature], to live [a life ruled by the standards set up by the dictates] of the flesh.  For if you live according to [the dictates of] the flesh, you will surely die. But if through the power of the [Holy] Spirit you are [habitually] putting to death (making extinct, deadening) the [evil] deeds prompted by the body, you shall [really and genuinely] live forever. For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God.

First, the only way to be led by the Spirit of God is to be led by His Word and if I’m not in His Word how can I be led by His Spirit???    

Secondly, if I’m not in His Word and faith cometh by hearing His Word how can I be walking in faith???    

  

Thirdly, worldly religion will tell me I’m okay because after all I go to church and drop a buck in the plate. Bottom line is this: if God’s Word is not going into your spirit on a regular basis you are drying up and in danger of falling out of the Jesus kind of faith and entering into a dead religion of which I would not trust the consequences!   (Jesus and His Word are synonymous (one and the same)   don’t go into the Word of God as a duty but as in a relationship! (With Jesus) you may say, the Bible is dry to me, I don’t understand it. The Holy Spirit is in you if you are born again to bring God’s Word alive in you. We must personalize God’s Word. Jesus doesn’t love anybody He walked with in the flesh any more than He loves each one of us. 

If He did it for them, He’ll do it for you! Can you believe??????

Luke 18:8 I tell you that he will avenge them speedily. Nevertheless when the Son of man cometh, shall he find faith on the earth?

Matthew 11:12 And from the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffers violence, and men of violence take it by force.

The current of the world is going downstream --of which we can sit in our canoe and lay back and let the current take us where it will, to walk with Jesus we have to turn that Canoe around and go upstream against the current of which takes effort!

Matthew 7:13-14 Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.

You and I can be part of the few!

John 3:6  Jesus answered, I assure you, most solemnly I tell you, unless a man is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot [ever] enter the kingdom of God. [Ezek. 36:25-27.] What is born of the flesh is flesh [of the physical is physical]; and what is born of the Spirit is spirit. Marvel not [do not be surprised, astonished] at My telling you, You must all be born anew (from above).

Those who only experience natural birth are limited to only perceiving natural things. Those who receive the spiritual birth are able to comprehend spiritual things.

What does this mean in reality?

Is Jesus really 1^st place in my life?

Do I love His Word?

If I say I love Jesus but not His Word, I am a liar! God said if you seek me with all your heart you will find me! 

Do you care enough about your soul to look up the following verses and meditate on their meaning?  Psalm 119 |Jeremiah 29:11-13 | Luke 11 | Luke 12:31

Luke 11:28  But He said, Blessed (happy and  to be envied) rather are those who hear the Word of God and obey and practice it!    

James 1:21 So get rid of all uncleanness and the rampant outgrowth of wickedness, and in a humble (gentle, modest) spirit receive and welcome the Word which implanted and rooted [in your hearts] contains the power to save your souls. But be doers of the Word [obey the message], and not merely listeners to it, betraying yourselves [into deception by reasoning contrary to the Truth]. For if anyone only listens to the Word without obeying it and being a doer of it, he is like a man who looks carefully at his [own] natural face in a mirror; For he thoughtfully observes himself, and then goes off and promptly forgets what he was like. But he who looks carefully into the faultless law, the [law] of liberty, and is faithful to it and perseveres in looking into it, being not a heedless listener who forgets but an active doer [who obeys], he shall be blessed in his doing (his life of obedience).

John 6:63 It is the Spirit Who gives life [He is the Life-giver]; the flesh (human nature) conveys no benefit whatever [there is no profit in it]. The words (truths) that I have been speaking to you are spirit and life. 

If we say we are followers of Jesus but do not regard his word first place in our life in all our choices and decisions we are in religious deception.  I’m not talking about never missing the mark, but ask yourself  “am I aiming at the mark?” 

Romans 13:14  Make no provision for the flesh

    

James 4:7 Submit to God resist the devil and he will flee   

Do I submit to the Word?   Do I even desire to resist evil temptations?   Do I love and cherish (value) God’s Word?  How often am I in and trying to understand His Word?  Am I a friend of the world?

James 4:4 to be a friend of the world is to be an enemy with God.

Am I unwilling to die to my selfish ways?

Luke 14:26 If anyone comes to me and does not hate (put their primary preference behind Jesus) father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters—yes, even their own life—such a person cannot be my disciple.  And whoever does not carry their cross (deny our selfish ways through obedience to his word )and follow me cannot be my disciple.

The word disciple just means a follower of Jesus.  What have we gained if we gain the whole world and all its pleasures, (fame, fortune, power, pleasure and end up living apart from God in eternal torment?  Do we ever stop to think where am I?, who am I? and is Jesus really my first love or am I my first love? It’s not a matter of living perfectly but it is a matter of our heart! If our heart is in the wrong place we will be blinded from truth!

James 1:22-25  Do not merely listen to the Word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. Anyone who listens to the Word but does not do what it says is like someone who looks at his face in a mirror and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. (Doesn't change) But whoever looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues in it—not forgetting what they have heard, but doing it—they will be blessed in what they do.

Jude 4 For certain individuals whose condemnation was written about long ago have secretly slipped in among you. They are ungodly people, who pervert the grace of our God into a license for immorality and deny Jesus Christ our only Sovereign and Lord.

John 14:15 If you love Me, keep My commands. And I will ask the Father, and He will give you another advocate to help you and be with you forever— the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept Him,because it neither sees him nor knows Him. But you know Him, for He lives with you and will be in you.  I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you.

2 Corinthians 11:3 But I fear, (very concerned) lest (by any means), as the serpent beguiled Eve in his craftiness, (your minds) should be corrupted) from the simplicity and the pure devotion that is toward Jesus.

You may ask, why this subject?  It is constantly heavy on my heart to expose the deception of religion (tradition) that I believe many fall into. Only the truth will set us free!

John 3:21  But whoever lives by the truth comes into the light, so that it may be seen plainly that what they have done has been done in the sight of God.

The heart of our God through the person of Jesus is mercy, but that does not mean a heart of selfishness and covetousness, it means I am a new creation in Christ Jesus, the old has passed away.

2 Corinthians 5:17 Therefore if any man be in Jesus, he is a new creature: old things are passed away (old way of living); behold, all things are become new (way of life.)

 Just be sure at the time of the rapture of the church you and I will be able to look Jesus in the face and say, I lived my life through You! You Jesus were and are and always will be my purpose for life!

I will make this challenge to you, if you are not around strong Christians who can encourage you, challenge your walk, being in prayerful agreement, (accountability) you are prey for the enemy!

1 John 1:6-10  If we say that we have fellowship with Him, (God) and walk in darkness, (unbelief) we lie, and do not live by the truth: But if we walk in the light, as He (Jesus (Word) is the light,  [John 8:12 | 9:5] we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin. If we say that we (don’t) sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth (Jesus,Word) is not in us. If we confess & turn from our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.

1John 2:3-6  We know that we have come to know him if we obey his commands.  The man who says, "I know him,(born again)" but does not do what he commands is a liar, and the truth is not in him.  But if anyone obeys his word, God's love is truly made complete in him. This is how we know we are in him: 6 Whoever claims to live in him must walk as Jesus did. (faith & love).

I John 2:9-17 Anyone who claims to be in the light but hates his brother is still in the darkness. Whoever loves his brother lives in the light, and there is nothing in him to make him stumble. But whoever hates his brother is in the darkness and walks around in the darkness; (blind) he does not know where he is going, because the darkness has blinded him. I write to you, dear children, because your sins have been forgiven on account of the blood of Jesus. I write to you, fathers, because you have known him who is from the beginning. I write to you, young men, because you have overcome the evil one. I write to you, dear children, because you have known the Father  [John14:8,9|. I write to you, fathers, because you have known him who is from the beginning. I write to you, young men, because you are strong, and the word of God lives in you, and you have overcome the evil one.  Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For everything in the world--the cravings of sinful man, the lust of his eyes and the boasting of what he has and does--comes not from the Father but from the world. The world and its desires pass away, but the man who does the will of God lives forever. (in heaven)

I John 2:21-29 I do not write to you because you do not know the truth, but because you do know it and because no lie comes from the truth. Who is the liar? It is the man who denies that Jesus is the Christ (by not loving and obeying him). Such a man is the antichrist--he denies the Father and the Son. No one who denies the Son has the Father; whoever abides in the Son has the Father also. And this is what He promised us--even eternal life. has taught you, remain in Him. And now, dear children, continue in Him, so that when He appears we may be confident and unashamed before him at his coming. If you know that He is righteous, you know that everyone who does what is right(obeys the word) has been born of Him.

1John 3:3-24  Everyone who has this hope in him (purifies himself), just as He (Jesus) is pure. Everyone who sins breaks the law; in fact, sin is lawlessness. But you know that Jesus appeared so that he might take away our sins. And in Jesus is no sin. No one who lives in Jesus keeps on sinning. No one who continues to sin has either seen him or known him.  Dear children, do not let anyone lead you astray. He who practices righteousness is righteous, just as he is righteous.  He who does what is sinful is of the devil, because the devil has been sinning from the beginning. The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the devil's work.  No one who is born of God will continue to sin, because God's seed remains in him; he cannot go on (practicing) sinning, because he has been born of God.  By this it is made clear who take their nature from God and are His children and who take their nature from the devil and are his children: no one who does not practice righteousness [who does not conform to God’s will in purpose, thought, and action] is of God; neither is anyone who does not love his brother (his fellow  believer in Jesus).  This is the message you heard from the beginning: We should love one another. Do not be like Cain, who belonged to the evil one and murdered his brother. And why did he murder him? Because his own actions were evil and his brother's were righteous.  Do not be surprised, my brothers, if the world hates you. We know that we have passed from death to life, because we love our brothers. Anyone who does not love remains in death.  Anyone who hates his brother is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life in him.  This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers.  If anyone has material possessions and sees his brother in need but has no pity on him, how can the love of God be in him?  Dear children, let us not love with words or tongue but with actions and in truth. This then is how we know that we belong to the truth, and how we set our hearts at rest in his presence whenever our hearts condemn us. For God is greater than our hearts, and he knows everything.  Dear friends, if our hearts do not condemn us, we have confidence before God  and receive from him anything we ask, because we obey his (Word) and do what pleases him.(believe Him) And this is his command: to believe(obey) in the name of his Son, Jesus Christ, and to love one another as he commanded us. Those who obey his Word  live in him, and he in them. And this is how we know that he lives in us: We know it by the Spirit he gave us.

1 John 4:1-21 Dear friends, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world.

( is it scriptural?). This is how you can recognize the Spirit of God: Every spirit that acknowledges that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God, (make sure their confession is consistent with chapter 1&2) but every spirit that does not acknowledge Jesus (as the only way) is not from God. This is the spirit of the antichrist, which you have heard is coming and even now is already in the world. Little children, you are of God [you belong to Him] and have [already] defeated and overcome them [the agents of the antichrist], because He Who lives in you (Jesus) is greater (mightier) than he (devil) who is in the world. They are from the world and therefore speak from the viewpoint of the world, and the world listens to them.  We are from God, and whoever knows God listens to us;(Word) but whoever is not from God does not listen (Gods Word). This is how we recognize the Spirit of truth and the spirit of falsehood. Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love.  This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son (Jesus) into the world that we might live through him. This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins.  Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us. We know that we live in him and he in us, because he has given us of his Spirit. And we have seen and testify that the Father has sent his Son to be the Savior of the world. If anyone acknowledges that Jesus is the Son of God,(through obedience to His Word)  God lives in him and he in God. And so we know and rely on the love God has for us. God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in him. In this way, love is made complete among us so that we will have confidence on the day of judgment, because in this world we are like him. There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love. We love because he first loved us.  If anyone says, "I love God," yet hates his brother, he is a liar. For anyone who does not love his brother, whom he has seen, cannot love God, whom he has not seen.  And he has given us this command: Whoever loves God must also love his brother.

1John 5:1-21 Everyone who believes (obeys) that Jesus is the Christ is born of God, and everyone who loves the father loves his child as well. This is how we know that we love the children of God: by loving God and carrying out his commands.(Word) This is love for God: to obey his Word. And his commands are not burdensome, for everyone born of God (overcomes the world). This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith. Who is it that overcomes the world? Only he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God.(if we are not overcoming does that mean we are not believers in Jesus???)  This is the one who came by water and blood--Jesus Christ. He did not come by water only, but by water(His baptism) and blood (His cross). And it is the Spirit who testifies, because the Spirit is the truth. For there are three that testify: the Spirit, the water and the blood; and the three are in agreement. We accept man's testimony, but God's testimony is greater because it is the testimony of God, which he has given about his Son,Jesus. Anyone who believes in the Son of God has this testimony in his heart. Anyone who does not believe God has made him out to be a liar, because he has not believed the testimony God has given about his Son. And this is the testimony: God has given us eternal life, and this life is in his Son Jesus.  He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life. I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God (Jesus) so that you may know that you have eternal life.  This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything (according to his will), (he hears us.)  And if we know that he hears us--whatever we ask--we know that we have what we asked of him. (according to His Word). If anyone sees his brother commit a sin that does not lead to death, he should pray and God will give him life. I refer to those whose sin does not lead to death. There is a sin that leads to death. I am not saying that he should pray about that.  All wrongdoing is sin, and there is sin that does not lead to death. We know that anyone born of God does not continue to sin; the one who was born of God keeps him safe, and the evil one cannot harm him.  We know that we are children of God, and that the whole world is under the control of the evil one. We know also that the Son of God has come and has given us understanding, so that we may know him who is true. And we are in him who is true--even in his Son Jesus Christ. He is the true God and eternal life.  Dear children, keep yourselves from idols.

What are idols today? Anyone or anything that distracts us from growing into our simple devotion to JESUS!!! -- sports and various forms of entertainment, children, employment, sexual distractions, FAME,  FORTUNE, POWER, and PLEASURE!!!

2 John 2:8-9  Watch out that you do not lose what you have worked for, but that you may be rewarded fully. Anyone who runs ahead and does not continue in the teaching of Christ does not have God; whoever continues in the teaching has both the Father and the Son.

Luke 13:24-27  “Make every effort to enter through the narrow door, because many, I tell you, will try to enter and will (not be able to). Once the owner of the house gets up and closes the door, you will stand outside knocking and pleading, 'Sir, open the door for us.' "But he will answer, 'I don't know you or where you come from.'  "Then you will say, 'We ate and drank with you, and you taught in our streets.'  "But he will reply, 'I don't know you or where you come from. Away from me, all you evildoers!'  

John 10:27  My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. 

John 10:14  I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me.

James 1:22  Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says.

Luke 11:28  He replied, "Blessed rather are those who hear the word of God and obey it."

Romans 2:13 For it is not those who hear the Word who are righteous in God's sight, but it is those who obey the Word who will be declared righteous

1 John 3:7 Dear children, do not let anyone lead you astray. He who does what is right is righteous, just as he is righteous

2 Timothy 2:19-24 But God's truth stands firm like a foundation stone with this inscription: "The Lord knows those who are his," and "Those who claim they belong to the Lord (must turn away from all wickedness.)"  In a large house there are articles not only of gold and silver, but also of wood and clay; some are for noble purposes and some for ignoble.  If a man cleanses himself from the latter, he will be an instrument for noble purposes, made holy, useful to the Master and prepared to do any good work.  Flee the evil desires of youth, and pursue righteousness, faith, love and peace, along with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart.  Don't have anything to do with foolish and stupid arguments, because you know they produce quarrels. And the Lord's servant must not quarrel; instead, he must be kind to everyone, able to teach, patient when wronged.

Proverbs 1:10    My son, if sinners entice you, do not give in to them.  

Psalm 1:1-6  Oh, the joys of those who do not follow the advice of the wicked, or stand around with sinners, or join in with scoffers. But they delight in doing everything the LORD wants; day and night they think about his Word.  They are like trees planted along the riverbank, bearing fruit each season without fail. Their leaves never wither, and in all they do, they prosper.  But this is not true of the wicked. They are like worthless chaff, scattered by the wind. They will be condemned at the time of judgment. Sinners will have no place among the godly. For the LORD watches over the path of the godly, but the path of the wicked leads to destruction.

Ephesians 5:1 Take no part in the worthless deeds of evil and darkness; instead, rebuke and expose them 

Proverbs 1:5 A wise man will hear and increase in learning, And a man of understanding will acquire wise counsel, [so that he may be able to steer his course rightly] .

Proverbs 9:9 Give instruction to a wise man, and he will be yet wiser: teach a just man, and he will increase in learning.  The (reverence)(take Him seriously) of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom: and the knowledge of the holy is understanding. For by me thy days shall be multiplied, and the years of thy life shall be increased. If thou be wise, thou shalt be wise for thyself: but if thou scornest, thou alone shalt bear it.

Proverbs 1:14  Throw in your lot with us, and we will share a common purse"-- my son, do not go along with them, do not set foot on their paths; for their feet rush into sin, they are swift to shed blood. How useless to spread a net in full view of all the birds! These men lie in wait for their own blood; they waylay only themselves! Such is the end of all who go after ill-gotten gain; it takes away the lives of those who get it.

Proverbs 15:27-29  A greedy man brings trouble to his family, but he who hates bribes will live. The heart of the righteous weighs its answers, but the mouth of the wicked gushes evil. The LORD is far from the wicked but he hears the prayer of the righteous

1Timothy 6:5-10 …and constant friction between men of corrupt mind, who have been robbed of the truth and who think that godliness is a means to financial gain. But godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it.  But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that.  People who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge men into ruin and destruction.  For the love of money is the root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.

  

Deuteronomy 4:9  Only be careful, and watch yourselves closely so that you do not forget the things your eyes have seen or let them fade from your heart as long as you live. Teach them to your children and to their children after them.  

 

Deuteronomy 11:13-14  So if you faithfully obey the commands I am giving you today—to love the Lord your God and to serve him with all your heart and with all your soul — then I will send rain on your land in its season, both autumn and spring rains, so that you may gather in your grain, new wine and olive oil.    

Joshua 22:5   But be very careful to keep the commandmentand the law that Moses the servant of the Lord gave you: to love the Lord your God, to walk in obedience to him, to keep his commands, to hold fast to him and to serve him with all your heart and with all your soul. ”

Proverbs 4:20-25   My son, pay attention to what I say; turn your ear to my words.  Do not let them out of your sight, keep them within your heart; for they are life to those who find them and health to one’s whole body.   Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it.  Keep your mouth free of perversity;keep corrupt talk far from your lips. Let your eyes look straight ahead;fix your gaze directly before you.

Matthew 22:29  Jesus replied, “You are in error because you do not know the Scriptures or the power of God. [Mark 12:24] 

Do we???

Luke 8:10  He said, “The knowledge of the secrets of the kingdom of God has been given to you, but to others I speak in parables, so that,“‘though seeing, they may not see;though hearing, they may not understand.’”

Matthew 13:19-23 parable of the sower Listen then to what the parable of the sower means:  When anyone hears the message about the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what was sown in their heart. This is the seed sown along the path.  

How does the enemy do this?  By us not committing to what we heard from God’s Word; because familiarity and comfort from old fleshly habits causes us to return to the old ways.

The seed falling on rocky ground refers to someone who hears the word and at once receives it with joy. But since they have no root, they last only a short time. When trouble or persecution comes because of the word, they quickly fall away.   

This is the person, who when they are in the presence of hearing God’s Word, are encouraged in their heart and convinced of their need for Jesus, but when they get back to worldly situations and are now known to be another one of those Bible thumpers, the rejection causes this one to let go of the truth.   

The seed falling among the thorns refers to someone who hears the word, but the worries of this life and the deceitfulness of wealth choke the word, making it unfruitful. 

This is the person, who for a season is encouraged by God’s Word and what they consider to be their new relationship with Jesus, but when the everyday pressures of life, and desire for materialism  distract and draw them away, they lose their Christian focus and commitment. They choose no longer to believe God’s Word, but trust in their circumstances and without faith it is impossible to please God, so they become spiritually unfruitful, empty.

But the seed falling on good soil refers to someone who hears the word and understands it. This is the one who produces a crop, yielding a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown.”

This is the person who receives Jesus for who He is and not for who they are but recognizes their need for Him. They know He is worthy so they put their trust in Jesus through His Word! If it says it in His Word they commit to trust in Him! The word understand is important here. It does not mean we totally understand God’s ways and timing but it means, by the power of the Holy Spirit we receive revelation of the meaning of the Word of God especially in regards to our walk with Jesus [John 14:21]--our heart is tender towards Him! We are told if we ask, seek, and knock we will receive from Him.

Seek understanding!

Daniel 2:20 | Ephesians 1:8; 3:10 | Colossians 2:2, 3 | Luke 21:50 | Job 2:12 | Job 12:24 |]Psalm 49:3 | Psalm 111:10 | Psalm 119:34 | Psalm 119:73 | etc……………. many. 

Matthew 9:29 According to your faith it shall be done to you.

The fruit of Jesus will abundantly flow through us!