Some Random Thoughts of My Great God, This Morning

Church is not a service, it is people. If it’s too long, or boring, or if a spiritual gift offends you, your focus is not correct. When you come to have an encounter with God, meet, and give out to people, it’s a dynamic living place. If you are coming to a service with a time limit in mind, and scrutinize the preacher’s sermon you might end up very bored. You need a change of mind!

For many years church has not bored me. When I began to go not looking for what I could get, but what I could give, everything changed. When I go to church, I go to give away God’s love, and display His power and His kingdom to others. Before, during, and after yesterday’s service I spent 6 hours dynamically interacting with many wonderful, beautiful and fantastic people. I came back home energized and grateful at the opportunity that God gives me to invest in people’s lives. Some were believers, and some were not believers. For me, people are people. I do not differentiate if they are Christians or not. I feel comfortable with everybody and I am convinced that everybody in this world hungers for the power and glory of God. I am what God made me to be. This is the identity of Christ is me. This is why I know that He is the real deal and whoever rejects Him is seriously missing out on life.

There is one universal language amongst all nations that needs no translation. It is the language of the power and glory of God. I have preached in many Maasai villages of Kenya. I have gone to the Luo towns of Western Kenya where Mr. Obama is from. I have taught in the remote parts of Tanzania and in the churches of Uganda. I have ministered in the Navajo Nation of Arizona and in the unsaved Pueblo Indian Nations of New Mexico. Many times when praying I have not had the luxury of a translator. I have had no communication except to talk the language of the power and glory of God. Kids, teens, young adults, and the elderly have thronged to have an encounter with His glory.  Maasai youth have waited until 1:00 AM just to get a word from God. Luos, who speak no English line up in a row of four or five at 11:00 PM to hear a prophecy.

I have seen plenty of people manifesting under God’s power and it’s all been beautiful.  Whether Kenyan, Navajo, American, Tanzanian, Ugandan or Apache, I have seen them all weep, shout, scream, shake or bake and get slained by the Spirit. I have seen the demon of AIDS manifest numerously, and baby bound in witchcraft released. I have seen demons talk to me in the Luo language from a woman that was in an unconscious demonic trance. She later awoke. I have felt evil come out of witchcraft powder made out of goat’s feet and later see the whole family who dabbled in it come to God.  It’s all been beautiful, majestic and real. As Pastor Ralph so eloquently says, it’s the holy power of the God of the whole universe coming into contact with sinful human flesh. This why I will not apologize for the power of God and any Spirit birthed manifestation upon anyone at any time.

I amazed that people in the USA ever complain about the length of a church service. In Africa, the elderly and pastors ride bicycles for 6 hours, in shirts and ties to come and hear us teach. The Masaais walk for countless hours, sleep on floors, or come with tents, eating corn flour and spinach for five days at a time. There are no Burger Kings or hotels in Maasai land. Whoever comes to a conference stays there.

Tanzanians praise the Lord at night with magical voices in a pitch black church that does not have a gas lamp or candles.

A lady pastor rode 14 hours on a bus without a/c to hear us preach.  

Teens in remote Luo land praise the Lord until 4:00 AM by a generator powered keyboard, having no electricity in their village, and rejoiced in song when we rented a generator for them.

 I find it a privilege to serve the Lord in all of these places. I find it a privilege to spend five days in the bush, without toilets, electricity or internet or phones, truly relating, laughing and joking with others, undistracted, under the power of a kerosene lamp.  Many do not speak English and we do not speak Luo, but both of us speak the language of God’s love.

I find it a privilege to be invited to the Pueblo Indian festivals amongst people who do not know Jesus Christ and whom I hardly understand.

I find it a privilege to preach in a Navajo church and asking the congregation to forgive me and the white man for the atrocities that we enacted, to have the service totally stop, and all of us weep and embrace each other.

I find it a privilege to go to the bathroom in the middle of the night in the bush, flashlight in hand, just to look up in awe at a sky whitened with stars, a perfectly delineated Milky Way , peppered with comets and moving satellites.

I find it a privilege to take a bath in the trees, a bright sun and chirping birds in a leave woven cubicle or with muddy water. I have felt like a real tourist doing that.

I find it a privilege to eat fresh tilapia from Lake Victoria, ostrich and buffalo  burgers, chai with raw warm milk from a “just milked cow” , barbequed goat, vegetables “just picked” from a garden, or eggs “just taken” from the hen’s stall,  fried meat from a “just slained” bull or warm yogurt, “just made.” I find it a privilege to eat delicious fried bread or taco burgers with beautiful Navajo people or green and red chile with the unsaved Pueblo Indian Nations or amazing elk meat with friends in Santa Fe and drink great Dutch coffee at Amsterdam’s Schiphol Airport.

I have found it a privilege to sleep with my wife on a tiny bed in a dung hut in Maasai land with flashlight, toilet paper and bottled water next to us. Also to sleep on hard tough cow hide in a windowless and hot Maasai manata, fire burning inside the house, is a luxury that very few white people will ever have. I have found it a privilege to rub 100 percent deet on my body and bald head against malaria carrying mosquitos knowing that God protects us.

I have felt sorry for my American friends that have missed out on such incredible and amazing adventures.

I thank my God that I have stepped into Ernest Hemingway’s home in Kenya overlooking majestic Mt. Kilimanjaro. No doubt that he wrote “The Snows of Kilimanjaro” from here. I thank my God that I have been to the Indian Ocean, crossed the mighty Nile River, and the Rio Grande, gasped in wonderment at the 19,000 feet Kilimanjaro, been to the painted desert, the Four Corners, seen Old Faithful gush, preached in the middle of Lake Victoria, seen the Carlsbad Caverns, gasp in wonderment at the Grand Canyons under a full moon, ate burgers under the shadow of the Rockies, and slid down the powdery slopes of the White Sands.

I am grateful that I got to talk to Todd Bentley at London Heathrow Airport.

I am privileged that I was the personal secretary to one of the great Navajo men of God globally used in the 1990’s.

I thank my God that I have been on safari with my family, stopped for crossing giraffes, or grazing zebras, or standing ostriches, or closed the windows of my car from roaming baboons. I have seen the running fox in a forest, a giant elk in front of my car, a huge tarantula crawling on my roof, the black widow in my room, rattle snakes on stones, road runners going as fast as my car, beautiful coyotes shyly fleeing, bison herding,  or a bear in the distance.

 I am grateful that I have been just miles from where Mr. Obama and his family came from and have had a chance to pray for him from there.

These are some of my random Christian thoughts this morning of where the great God has taken me so far!

Ephesians Three

Eph 3:2  If ye have heard of the dispensation of the grace of God which is given me to you-ward:

If indeed you have heard of the management of the unlimited, boundless, and without strings attached, favor of God which has been given to me, and which will only be fully released when I am not self-focused but focused into ministering it into you. King Jose Version

The word management ( the management of God’s favor by following the blueprints created out of the revelation of rhema words).  Management is in the accusative case. Just as it sounds, the accusative Greek noun case talks about accusation or the pointing of a finger at something. In the Greek, the accusative case it where the finger is pointed.  Our management of God’s inheritance and graces is where God points His finger. He pints to us and says” you are my manager of that I want to give to humanity.” “ Manage it by revelation and the rhema word.

 For Paul, every believer is called to manage the graces and giftings of God according to schematic or blueprints which are revealed from moment to moment, as they step out in faith. Revealed blueprints are called the wisdom of God.  The more we step out in faith the more is the revelation of the managements which God gives to us to be release on behalf of others.

3  How that by revelation he made known unto me the mystery; (as I wrote afore in few words,

That by the process of uncovering was progressively known to me the mystery as I wrote to you briefly. King Jose Version

The prayer of revelation or uncovering of God’s blueprints of how you manage His unlimited riches is the most important of all types of prayers. Generally this type of prayer comes through much listening, little talking and then implicitly obeying to the hilt that blueprint.

4  Whereby, when ye read, ye may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ)

With the purpose that when you read, you will be able to apprehend mentally by your reading, my understanding into the mystery of The Anointed. King Jose Version

Paul’s ultimate desire is to know the beauty of the Person of The Anointed (Christ Jesus), Himself, locked up in a mystery within Paul. Our management of the Person of the Anointed in us is the most important thing which we will ever do in this life.  Our understanding of that mystery is the most important thing that we can ever attain to.

5  Which in other ages was not made known unto the sons of men, as it is now revealed unto his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit;

Which in ages or generation which were of a different type or nature to the ones that we have today, the mystery of the Anointed was not progressively known to the sons of humanity, as it was fully revealed to and by His holy apostles and prophets in Spirit. King Jose Version

I am not sure all what this verse means; except that the generations that we are part of today have the luxury of entering into the fullness of the progressive revelation of the mystery, and our management in spirit of this mystery, mainly ,The One who lives through us as The Anointed.  A son is an heir. We need to be sure that we are continually receiving and inheriting. The whole Christian life is one of receiving.

6  That the Gentiles should be fellowheirs, and of the same body, and partakers of his promise in Christ by the gospel:

To be the nations, coinheritors and co receivers of God’s allotted inheritance, and of the same co body, and co havers of his promise in the Anointed by means of the gospel. King Jose Version

The believer is to become a receiver. We must learn to receive of the grace or favor of God which is unlimited and boundless. We limit His favor by the strongholds, imaginations and opposing knowledge which dwells in our unrenewed minds. We must renew our minds by spiritual transformation. The transformation which Paul talks about in Romans 12:2 in actuality, is metamorphosis. We must go through the process of metamorphosis until the old man is fully putt off from us and the new man Christ Jesus is fully put on.

The word partaker in verse 6 is the Greek words “ to be a haver with or one that has something” The believer must renew himself until he becomes one who has. Everything lies in receiving, having, and partaking of the inheritance of God which is boundless and unlimited.

7  Whereof I was made a minister, according to the gift of the grace of God given unto me by the effectual working of his power.

Of which I became a minister in accordance to my spiritual gifts. My ministry is to dispense the unlimited, boundless, freely given, without strings attached, gift of the favor of God given to me by the energy of His ability. I minister this favor through my spiritual gifts. King Jose Version

We see the progression of Paul in these verses. The unlimited and boundless gifts of God ministered through us by spiritual gifts are all locked up in mysteries with us. The believer must have a progressive knowledge of the mysteries of God and release them through the managements which God give to him or her.  In reality, the Christian is the household manager of all of God’s graces and inheritance to humanity. This is the greatest and most important job in all humanity. 

The Hyper God

Hyper / ( Greek: Huper)

Over; beyond; above, transcendental, exceeding, boundless, limitless and excessive, above normal; literally hitting a homerun beyond the fence.

Our English word for “hyper” is derived from the Greek word “huper” which Google and Strong’s define above.     


There are those today who will describe a Christian as being “hyper spiritual” or “hyper charismatic “, in an uncomplimentary manner.

Really, by saying that, these folks are ignorant of one of the most significant attributes of God. He indeed is a hyper or a huper God, bestowing all good things upon humanity in excessive, abundant, exceeding, limitless transcendental ways, in proportion to our obedience of Him.

 I understand these comments in the light of Christians which act “legalistically or attempt to please God by their fleshly mind”. At the same time we need to be careful that we use the term “hyper” in a fair and theologically correct manner. To be “hyper charismatic” is not a bad thing if indeed the believer is using the charismatic gifts of God in a transcendental, measureless, and exceedingly powerful fashion rightly by the Spirit of God. To be “hyper spiritual” is good thing if the believer is transcendentally and excessively manifesting  God’s Spirit, power and the glory. We need to speak as “rightly dividing” the word of truth.

Look with me at the following scriptures which describe some of the qualities of our magnificent and glorious “hyper” God.

Huperano; excessively and exceedingly above in distance, rank, and order.

Eph 1:21 Far above <5231> all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come:

Eph 4:10 He that descended is the same also that ascended up far above <5231> all heavens, that he might fill all things.)

Heb 9:5 And over <5231> it the cherubims of glory shadowing the mercyseat; of which we cannot now speak particularly.

Huperauxano : Excessive and exceeding growth

2Th 1:3 We are bound to thank God always for you, brethren, as it is meet, because that your faith groweth exceedingly <5232>, and the charity of every one of you all toward each other aboundeth;

Huperballo – An excessive, exceeding, transcendental throwing beyond, surpassing or excelling.

2Co 3:10 For even that which was made glorious had no glory in this respect, by reason of the glory that excelleth <5235>.

2Co 9:14 And by their prayer for you, which long after you for the exceeding <5235> grace of God in you.

Eph 1:19 And what is the exceeding <5235> greatness of his power to us-ward who believe, according to the working of his mighty power,

Eph 2:7 That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding <5235> riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus.

Eph 3:19 And to know the love of Christ, which passeth <5235> knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God.

Huperekchunoo ; an excessive and abundant pouring out, overflowing or running over.

Lu 6:38 Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over <5240>, shall men give into your bosom. For with the same measure that ye mete withal it shall be measured to you again.

Huperentugchano – Excessively, superabundant, and transcendental hitting of the target; the meaning of true intercession in the Spirit

Ro 8:26 Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession <5241> for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.

Huperecho; To transcendentally or superiorly have or hold over one.

Php 3:8 Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency <5242> of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ,

Hupernikao- Excessive, superlative and transcendental conquerors.

Ro 8:37 Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors <5245> through him that loved us.

What About The Indian Dude That did not Hear the Gospel?

 Rom 2:14 For whenever they of the nations that have no law, by nature may be doing that which the law demands, these, having no law, are a law to themselves,

Rom 2:15 who are displaying the action of the law written in their hearts, their conscience testifying together and their reckonings between one another, accusing or defending them,

Rom 2:16 in the day when God will be judging the hidden things of humanity, according to my evangel, through Jesus Christ."

We hear the saga of the dude in India who never heard the gospel. Will he end up in hell? What about the Muslim fella that never knew about Jesus, will he end up in the fiery lake?

Romans 2:14 states that the nations which have never heard the gospel, still have the moral principles of God stamped in their hearts, and a compass of integrity built in their conscience, to do what pleasing to God.  This is because God has given every human being a heart and a conscience to hear His voice. These folks, though not having the gospel of Jesus Christ, become the gospel unto themselves.  If they do their best to live up to God’s light, they will do just fine with Him.

Every human being automatically comes into this world with God’s moral codes stamped in their hearts.  When she naturally obeys His instructions, her conscience excuses and approves what she does.  When she disobeys God’s precepts, that same conscience convicts and accuses her. This is the reality for every individual, in every nation.


Now mind you, I firmly believe in the narrow way; that there is forgiveness of sins and eternal life in no one else but Jesus Christ, and that holds for all of mankind. I think of that man who has never had an opportunity to hear and evaluate the gospel for himself before his death and the following scriptures come to mind.

They show us that though sin was always in the world, no one was held accountable until there was a law that pointed it out and made man guilty of committing it.

Rom 5:13  For prior to the Law sin was already in the world; only it is not entered in the account against us when no Law exists.

Ro 3:20  Therefore by works of the law no flesh shall be justified in His sight, for through the law comes the knowledge of sin.

God will judge the Indian dude in proportion to how he handled God’s code of ethics from the heart and the umpiring of his conscience. God will be totally just and fair according to the light of the knowledge of Him.

 Luke 12:47  That servant, who knew his lord’s will, and didn’t prepare, nor do what he wanted, will be beaten with many stripes,

 Luke 12 :48  but he who didn’t know, and did things worthy of stripes, will be beaten with few stripes. To whomever much is given, of him will much be required; and to whom much was entrusted, of him more will be asked.

People, like the Indian gusy who know little about God and do not obey His gospel will be beaten with just a few beatings. What does a man do with the gospel, however, when he has it in abundance, at his fingertips, as in America? We are the ones to whom much has been given by God. Much is required from us in return. Did we obey or reject the good news of eternal life? Did we receive the Lord Jesus when we heard about Him, or did we arrogantly disparaged Him?

It is the guy, which has all of the gospel assets at his fingertips and still pushes God away that will be in big trouble.  The American and the European stand as the guiltiest ones.  We are the ones to be pitied.  If we are not careful, we will be the ones that will be beaten, big time.

 So stop wondering about the guy in India who has done his best, to live out of his decent conscience, when he never had a chance to hear the gospel. He is in a good place.  Rather worry about yourself!  You, who has so much of the gospel accessible and still mock it. You, who hardens your heart at the outstretched arms of Jesus! This is the serious issue facing our country! If we don’t acknowledge God after He has enfolded us with so much, we will be like Humpty Dumpty who will have a big fall.

The Conscience

I Tim 1:5 ¶ Now the end of the commandment is charity out of a pure heart, and of a good conscience, and of faith unfeigned:

·         Secondly is our conscience.  Watchman Nee tells us that the conscience is a component of or a barometer of the voice of the Holy Spirit.  Let us look at what the apostle Paul has to tell us about the conscience.

Romans 2:15  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;

·        Greek: Their consciences also bearing witness with their hearts, and between one another (in their conscience) their collective thoughts constantly accusing or defending. (Seems like the operation of the voice of the Holy Spirit!)

·         

Romans 9:1  I say the truth in Christ, I lie not, my conscience also bearing me witness in the Holy Ghost,

·        My conscience bears witness to me in the realm or world that belongs to the Holy Spirit. (My conscience operates within the world that belongs to the Holy Spirit.)

2 Corinthians 1:12  For our rejoicing is this, the testimony of our conscience, that in simplicity and godly sincerity, not with fleshly wisdom, but by the grace of God, we have had our conversation in the world, and more abundantly to you-ward.

·        We use the testimony (of accusing or defending) that our conscience gives to conduct ourselves in this world.

2 Timothy 1:3  I thank God, whom I serve from my forefathers with pure conscience, that without ceasing I have remembrance of thee in my prayers night and day;

·        I thank God whom I render religious service to…in a world that belongs to a pure conscience.

I Tim 1:5 ¶ Now the end of the commandment is charity out of a pure heart, and of a good conscience, and of faith unfeigned:

·         Third and finally, “faith unfeigned” has to do with having an authentic walk with the Lord.  In other words is it mean to “walk the talk.”

1       Tim 1:6 From which some having swerved (have deviated from to miss the bull’s eye) have turned aside unto (into) vain jangling(fruitless talk)

·        The result of turning away from a genuine Spirit led walk of absolute purity.

7 Desiring to be teachers of the law; understanding neither what they say, nor whereof they affirm.

·        They not know what they say, or what is the reality concerning the things that they speak with so much confidence about.  They are confident in their errors.  My friends, this is the definition of being deceived!

·         

10    According to the glorious gospel of the blessed God, which was committed to my trust.

 Greek: According to the gospel of the glory of the happy God…

·        As I always teach, the glory of God is to make the invisible God, visible, to a lost and dying world. Church and ministry can never be about agendas, programs or the likes, but must always aim to make the invisible God visible through them.

Ministry

11    ¶ And I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who hath enabled me, for that he counted me faithful, putting me into the ministry;

Greek: I thank Christ Jesus our Lord who endued me with His power (only as He found me dependable.) The gift of His power was given to me as He found me worthy of trust. Once that the trust and power were there God placed me into my ministry.

·        We must never seek ministry on our own.  We must never seek to raise ourselves up. We only need to seek to be faithful and obedient to the Lord.

·        Our obedience develops the character of the Lord and allows us to become partakers of His liberty. The Lord entrusts us with His power as He sees that our godly character is being developed to the point that we will not abuse it or be puffed up by it. There comes a day when the Lord sees that we have enough of His character, liberty, and power to be placed into His calling for us. He then raises us up.

·        God’s ministry must always be executed in His power.  If we know little about God’s power we have no business being in ministry until His power is developed in us. 

14  and the grace of our Lord was exceeding abundant with faith and love which is in Christ Jesus.

Greek: And the grace of our Lord super abounded along with the faith and love, which reside inside Christ Jesus.

·        Verse fourteen is the result of Paul being placed into the ministry which he spoke about in verse twelve. As we have discussed before, the grace of God is the Person of the Lord Jesus Christ laboring within us, and accomplishing all in us. Christianity can be defined wonderfully in one single verse, as first taught to me by Watchman Nee.

Philippians 2:12  Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.

13  For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.

·        The Lord “works in” you by His grace. Every work of grace is translated into a rhema word.  Every time we obey His rhema word we have “worked out.”  That is Christianity!

·        Every time the Lord works in His rhema word, it carries His measure of faith and power for us to work it out.   This is grace.

·        When we work out   without receiving the rhema word we fall away from grace.  This is the law.

Galatians 5:4  Christ is become of no effect (useless, broken down and non-operational) unto you, whosoever of you are justified by the law; ye are fallen from grace.

·        Another way of seeing the grace of God can be found in the following verse.

Colossians 2:6  As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ( conduct your lives) ye in him:

·        The areas of our lives in which Christ has been revealed in us, to labor on our behalf and give   us freedom, is the same areas that we are responsible to walk in and maintain our freedom and victory. A believer cannot quit smoking unless Christ has spotted that area, then revealed Himself to the believer in order to labor and set him or her free by His grace. Once the freedom has come through the superhuman labor of the Lord then the Christian has the responsibility not to fall back into the bondage of smoking but to conduct his or her life in the freedom of Christ

 I tim 1:18 ¶ This charge (as military orders) I commit (I entrust to you as a valuable deposit) unto thee, son Timothy, according to the prophecies which went before on thee, that thou by them mightest war a good warfare;

·        In accordance with the words of prophecy or in the sphere of God’s power found within them, you are to war to ultimate success (God’s) military campaigns and expeditions.

·        This is Paul’s definition of “faith unfeigned”.

·        It makes us wonder how the Lord’s battles can be successfully carried out if the prophet and prophecies are not welcomed with open arms in our churches and ministries today?

19  Holding faith, and a good conscience; which some having put away(repudiate and reject)concerning faith have made shipwreck:

·        Verse nineteen are the requirements for the soldier of the Lord as depicted in verse eighteen, if he or she are to carry out successfully the Lord’s military campaigns to utter completion.

·        Everything must be done by the faith of God, which is always resident within the voice of His Holy Spirit. 

·        A good conscience is a barometer of the voice of the Holy Spirit.  It is good because the voice of the Holy Spirit within it bears constant witness that the believer is restricting his or her life to the voice of God within the conscience.

·        Those believers that thrust away, repudiate and reject the walk of faith , which administers God’s affairs, as well as the voice of the Holy Spirit within the conscience become like a ship that wrecks and destroys itself.

·        Finally the person that rejects God and considers Him as worthless becomes Romans one and twenty eight.

Romans 1:28  And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient;

Greek (paraphrase): Because they did not like to acknowledge God in their thinking as someone that is more precious and valuable than the finest of metals after having an opportunity to do so, God decreed their thinking as failing the test given to a fine metal, rendering their thinking unfit, and worthy only to be rejected and cast away to do those things which are unbecoming.

 1 Tim 4:2  Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron;

·        There comes a point when the person reject God long enough to have their conscience becomes cauterized, numbing its spiritual senses, removing the discernment of God’s voice, and losing the personal consciousness of what is right and what is wrong.  Hence all the aberrant form of human behaviors found today.

2 Thess 2:11  And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie:

·        Go will send them an energizing work of error so that they believe what is false.

1 Tim 4:1 ¶ Now the Spirit speaketh expressly (“speaking plainly”; probably through the mouths of prophets), that in the latter times( not specific times) some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils;

•  Shall depart- The word is to “apostatize.”
• Seducing spirits.  The same word for that of “error.”  The word for error in scriptures is from where our word “planet” comes.  A planet is defined as a “wonderer”, and error means to wonder from the truth.
• Doctrines of devils are promoted through teachers that have fallen into error wondering from the truth through their own sins and the influence of demons.  Please observe Paul’s order. Seducing spirits, which cause to wander, allow us to pay heed to doctrines of devils.

2       Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron;

·        Speaking lies in hypocrisy; should read – Through the hypocrisy of those that speak lies.

·        Conscience seared with a hot iron; should read- Branded in their conscience.

·        Let us look at the progression of deception;

·        When Christians do not know and live by the truth of the gospel that is molded as a pattern of “sound words” (healthy words) they will pay heed to doctrines of devils.

·        We are brought to believe the doctrines of devils when seducing spirits, which cause the believer to wander from the truth or fall into error, deceive us.

·   These doctrines are brought about through the hypocrisy of teachers that speak lies.  These teachers can so comfortably bring these lies because their consciences have been cauterized through their disobedience to God, so that they can no longer discern right from wrong.

Rom 1:18For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold(suppress) the truth in unrighteousness;

·        The wrath of God is constantly revealed upon all the ungodliness and unrighteousness of men and women who hold down or suppress the truth of God in the realm of unrighteousness.

·        Unrighteous living automatically holds back, down, or suppresses the truth concerning God. With every act of unrighteousness there is an automatic suppression of truth.  As believers we must be very carefully not to willfully disobey. Every willful act of disobedience on our part suppresses God’s truth to the same measure as that of our disobedience.

Ephesians 2:2  Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh(that is energized or activated) in the children of disobedience(that will not be persuaded to obey God)

·        There are believers that draw a line in the spiritual sand to the Lord and will not be persuaded to go further with Him. Christians that conduct their lives in such a way become “children of disobedience.”

·        Every willful act of disobedience activates or energizes the working of the devil.

Rom 1:19 ¶ Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath shewed it unto them.

·         Greek: All that humanity can know about God right now is at our disposal because God already made sure that it is all manifested, and prepared for us. (There is no excuse for the existence of agnostics and atheists!

20  For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse

·        Greek: The things that cannot be seen of Him from the creation of the world are perceived clearly, and are likewise thoroughly seen and understood, by the things that God made…. so that they are defenseless (in their agnosticism and atheism) 

21  Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened.

·        Greek: Having known God, they absolutely refused to glorify Him as God or were thankful to Him.  The end result of pushing God away is that their reflections and reasonings about life became futile and pointless, allowing them to fall into deception and make wrong decisions. The end result is that their heart, now void of understanding, became darkened.

22  Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools,

·        Greek- Professing to be wise, they became morons.

23  And changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and fourfooted beasts, and creeping things.

·        Greek:  And exchanged the glory of the undecaying and sinless God for the likeness of the image of decaying and sinful….

24  Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonour their own bodies between themselves:

·        Greek:  Wherefore God handed them over by the cravings and lusts of their hearts into uncleanness so that they would dishonor their own bodies between themselves.

25  Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen.

·         Greek: Who exchanged the truth about God for falsehood, thus religiously reverencing and serving the created thing more than Him who created it.

28  And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient;

·        Greek:  In regards to things of this life that these people make it their goal to have an accurate and full knowledge about, they found God to have failed their test and not worthy of holding the place of one these things. Therefore God handed them over to a rejected mind, which failed His test, to now do these inappropriate and unfitting things.

1 Tim 4: 6 ¶ If thou put the brethren in remembrance of these things, thou shalt be a good minister of Jesus Christ, nourished up in the words of faith and of good doctrine,whereunto thou hast attained.

·        Being continuously fed on the words, which are made up of faith and find their expression and life by a walk of faith.

·         Also the “words of faith and of good teaching” are the words, which are in accordance with God’s truth and through which the gospel finds its expression and life. This is our defense against seducing spirits and doctrines of devils.

·        Whereunto thou hast attained   Should read, “which you have closely followed.”

1Tim4:7  But refuse profane and old wives’ fables, and exercise thyself rather unto godliness.

·        Exercise thyself; Comes from the word for gymnastic which in turn comes from the word gymnos, which is defined as “being naked.”

·         The practice in the days of Paul was for athletes to exercise almost naked so as to be unhindered as possible for vigorous training.

·        Godliness is our manner of life, which makes us pleasing unto God. For us to attain to all that the Lord has for us, we must vigorously train in His will, spiritually naked, as to be untangled from distractions, idols, and worldly affairs.

1 Timothy 6:19  Laying up in store for themselves a good foundation against the time to come, that they may lay hold on eternal life.

·        There is big difference between getting saved, going to church and performing religious activities versus that of “laying a hold on eternal life.” To lay hold on, is to grab on to, pull in, and make it our own possession   The Lord is never satisfied with our simple conversion and even our faithful attendance in church.  He wants us to experience as much of the fullness of eternal life as possible while in our earthly tent, which is to know God through the fullness of the revelation of His Son within our lives.

John 17:3  And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent.

1 Tim 4:8  For bodily exercise profiteth little: but godliness is profitable unto all things, having promise of the life that now is, and of that which is to come.

·        Literally: “For a little (useful in a few things) is bodily exercise profitable”.  Exercising in godliness is useful for everything because it has an eternal impact on the next life and this one.

10  For therefore we both labour and suffer reproach, because we trust in the living God, who is the Saviour of all men, specially of those that believe.

·        Of the three Greek versions that are used in our English translations the Byzantine and Textus Receptus say “labor and suffer reproach” while the Wescott Hort says “labor and struggle”. 

·        Our word for struggle is “to  agonize.”  This is the same word that our New Testament uses for the agonizing efforts exerted in athletic competition.

·         Labor always implies painful toil with wearisome effort, which sometimes ends up in exhaustion.  The bottom line is that in any great work done for the Lord, or with any believer that desires to be greatly used of the Lord, he or she must become aware that this dual satisfaction can only be attained through wearisome spiritual labor and an exhilarating agony in following the Lord comparable to those exerted by Olympic athletes.

·        One of the greatest onslaughts that Christians face in Western societies is that of complacency, comfort, and prosperity.  These three things many times oppose and wage war against the spiritual toil and athletic struggle, which makes Christians into great men and women of God.  Christianity in western societies in great part tends to be mediocre at best.

·        Godliness likewise is only developed in the confines of a spiritual gymnasium.

Some Athletic Agonizing(s) in the NT

Luke 13:24  Strive to enter in at the strait gate: for many, I say unto you, will seek to enter in, and shall not be able.

1 Corinthians 9:25  And every man that striveth for the mastery is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a corruptible crown; but we an incorruptible.

Colossians 1:29  Whereunto I also labour, striving according to his working, which worketh in me mightily.

Colossians 4:12  Epaphras, who is one of you, a servant of Christ, saluteth you, always labouring fervently for you in prayers, that ye may stand perfect and complete in all the will of God.

1       Tim 4:11 These things command and teach.

·        These things transmit to others and teach.

12     Let no man despise thy youth; but be thou an example of the believers, in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity.

·        Despise –To think down

·        Example- This comes from the word that means to “strike a blow which leaves a mark.”

·         Paul here commands us to become believers who can leave a mark for other Christians to follow. God desires every one of us to live in such a way that we become a pattern for, or create a mold that others can imitate.

·        Word – Different things can be inferred from this.

   The words that come out of our mouths must be wholesome to the building up of others.

§        As Moses was mighty in “word and deed,” we must learn to hear, operate by, and restrict our lives to the rhema word of God.

§        Our doctrine and teaching must follow the healthy words, which make up the gospel, and our life must conform to that doctrine.

Conversation – Behavior

Charity- Divine, self-sacrificial love.

§        Spirit – Some translations omit “spirit” in this verse.

§        Faith – Restrict our lives to the voice of the Lord, which is the faith of God.

§        Purity -This word in reality means “sinlessness”.  It talks not only about purity in our actions but also in our motives. We realize that it is humanly impossible to be sinless in this life, but our goal should always be to attain this as we labor and athletically strive in the Lord’s calling.

14  Neglect not the gift that is in thee, which was given thee by prophecy, with the laying on of the hands of the presbytery.

§        Greek: Do not become careless about the spiritual gift, which was given to you by (the Holy Spirit) through prophecy and the laying of hands.

15  Meditate upon these things; give thyself wholly to them; that thy profiting may appear to all.

§        Meditate- Care for, attend to, and keep practicing “the things that we have discussed”

§        Give thyself wholly to them – Literally “to become one with them”.

§        Paul tell us throw ourselves fully, or become submerged and consumed with the things that lead to godliness, purity, charity, spiritual gifts, and so forth.

§        That thy profiting   Literally “pioneers cutting a way for an army”

§        Every Christian is called to a blaze a new pioneer trail, through which the Lord can effectively travel, in accordance with their unique calling. There are now pew sitters, and no room for mediocrity in God’s kingdom.

§        May appear to all  - Will become evident to all.

16  Take heed unto thyself, and unto the doctrine; continue in them: for in doing this thou shalt both save thyself, and them that hear thee.

§        Take heed unto thyself, and unto the doctrine: Fasten your attentions to, observe, and attend to yourself first, and to your doctrine second. This doctrine is what you teach. It must be in accordance with the truth of the scriptures and your life must line up with it.

§        Continue in them – Be sure to remain in these things!