*Giving a boost to our day and life, with this 10-minute Weekday Blog*
Our 2nd Blog Mini-Series, each Weekday in JULY!
Thank you for joining us as we
continue this JOURNEY...
digging in to the 2nd - 3rd CHAPTERS of Keith's book,
“Keep the FAITH…Keep Your VISION”!
If you will read this book in its entirety, then you will be equipped to begin walking with the confidence and authority that Jesus Christ came and died to provide for us, in order that we may work *with* Him, be *fulfilled* in our work, lead a *successful life*, and...
Day #9 of 20-day Blog mini-series #2
Chapter THREE, "Rightly Dividing The Word of Truth"
"Rightly Dividing The Word of Truth"
In the same 2 Timothy 2:15-16 passage (from yesterday's focus), the phrase, "rightly dividing The Word of Truth" is contrasted with being able to "shun profane and vain babblings." The latter are evil in that they result in the increase of ungodliness. One very important way we avoid "profane and vain babblings" is by not taking one portion of Scripture out of context and running with it. This one gross error, alone - taking portions of Scripture out of context - has resulted in many wacky teachings and crazy practices (how about snake handling... anyone?). Rather important for us to embrace as a principle we practice is, as the Scripture tells us, "In the mouth of two or three witnesses shall every word be established." (2 Corinthians 13:1)
Question to ponder:
Have you ever heard the matchless and wonder-full spoken Word of God for yourself, or have you only settled for the interpretation of His written Word from others? _________________________________________
Have you ever heard the matchless and wonder-full spoken Word of God for yourself, or have you only settled for the interpretation of His written Word from others? _________________________________________
Keith's "Comments from the Author":
"Misinterpreting the Scriptures has a deadly effect. When we try to "figure out" God's Holy Word, using our carnal minds, and don't seek The Person of The Holy Spirit for the true definitions, what we are doing is misrepresenting God, Himself. God and His Word are ONE.
When I was in the 3rd grade, our teacher had all of us stand up and push our desks back to the walls of the classroom. She had all of us get into a big circle, facing into the middle of the circle and join hands. She, then, took a little note she had written on a piece of paper and told us she was going to read it into the ear of one of the students in the circle. She then told us that the person that she read the note to was supposed to tell the person to his or her right what she has told them was written in the note. Then that person would whisper it into the ear of the next person to their right, and so on, until the whispered message from the note reached the last person in the circle. Once the message reached the last person in the circle, the teacher walked to the student and asked him or her to whisper back to her what the note was supposed to have said, according to what they were told. After the teacher wrote down on a piece of paper what that last student whispered to her, she went to the chalkboard and wrote down each of the notes, the original from the 1st piece of note paper on the left side, and the last note from the last student in the circle on the right side of the board, so all of us could see them for ourselves. It totally amazed all of us when we saw that the original message had nothing in common with the final message that made its way around the circle. What does this have to do with 'rightly dividing God's Word of Truth'? It's much more than we may realize.
You see, when we as Christians, do not receive, by way of The Person of The Holy Spirit, God's original meaning for a particular verse, what happens is we wind up with the same kind of misinterpretation as took place in my 3rd grade classroom that day. This is how God and His Word become misrepresented. That is why we have so many denominations and separate groups of people who claim to be Christians. What's the difference? It's the involvement of our Teacher, our Tutor, our Mentor - The Person of The Holy Spirit. Without Him, God's Word becomes distorted, twisted, confusing, and misleading, producing the stench of dead religion. Herein lies the birthplace of God-less cults.
If, like us, your passion is to n-e-v-e-r be guilty of the abomination of misrepresentation, Brenda and I pray for God to give each of us a fresh outpouring of His Spirit into our heart and life with Christ Jesus, today. Selah."
"Forasmuch as ye are manifestly declared to be the epistle of Christ ministered by us, written not with ink, but with The Spirit of The Living God; not in tables of stone, but in fleshy tables of the heart. And such trust have we through Christ to God-ward: Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think anything as of ourselves; but our sufficiency is of God; Who also hath made us able ministers of the new testament; not of the letter, but of the spirit: for the letter killeth, but The Spirit giveth life." (2 Corinthians 3:3-6)
*See you tomorrow, and please make sure to invite your friends who are lost or who just need encouragement too! God bless you!*
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Find this blog mini-series message, and more on the topic, in our book Keep the FAITH Keep Your VISION based on crucial, real-life matters for each of us. To ask questions, make a special donation, request a large quantity of books, or to share a testimony or prayer request with us, please click for e-mail, or write a letter and mail it to the address shown on our website, and as provided below.
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To Show GOD BIG in a World that Sees Him small…
sums up the reason Keith stepped out in faith 35+ years ago to focus full-time on reaching the lost and strengthening believers everywhere, through Toward The Mark, Inc. Keith and Brenda's prayer is that you will be encouraged and edified by the Secrets from God's Word that Keith recounts in our written and recorded products. The complete collection of original podcasts, music, blogs, books, CDs, and other resources of Toward The Mark, Inc. are made possible thanks to the faithful prayer and financial contributions of the TTM Support Family. We'd like to invite you to join our family, and welcome you to become a special part of our regular sponsorship team TODAY!
sums up the reason Keith stepped out in faith 35+ years ago to focus full-time on reaching the lost and strengthening believers everywhere, through Toward The Mark, Inc. Keith and Brenda's prayer is that you will be encouraged and edified by the Secrets from God's Word that Keith recounts in our written and recorded products. The complete collection of original podcasts, music, blogs, books, CDs, and other resources of Toward The Mark, Inc. are made possible thanks to the faithful prayer and financial contributions of the TTM Support Family. We'd like to invite you to join our family, and welcome you to become a special part of our regular sponsorship team TODAY!
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