Robbing God

Hudson Taylor made the statement, “God’s work done in God’s time never lacks God’s funds.”  Isn’t that exemplified by Pharaoh’s daughter taking care of Moses?

Yes, that’s true to a point.  The Body of Christ operates like our physical bodies.  The Body of Christ is suffering right now because God’s money is being extorted and being given to ministries that do not rightly divide the Word.

Every red cent that a blood-bought believer gives to ministry is supposed to go to the Pauline Grace message, but we know it doesn’t.  Paul says a lot about money, for instance...

Philippians 4:17

Not because I desire a gift: but I desire fruit that may abound to your account.

Ministries that don’t rightly divide are stealing God’s money, like the people did in Christ’s day.  Every member of the Body of Christ is to give back to the Pauline Grace message.  You’re not going to learn that in a denominational church.  You’re going to have to come to that understanding by seeking the truth from God.  You’ll hear someone like me give you the Word rightly divided.

God will provide; but the Body is still suffering because saints aren’t doing their part.  Just like your physical body – if one of your body parts isn’t operating right, you feel it; your body suffers.  So we have to make known the Mystery to our brethren.  We’ll get a few; not many, but a few will come over to this truth, and once they do they’ll begin to supply the need.  God will never have us lack.  He’ll  make a way; God’s grace abounds:

2 Corinthians 9:8

And God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work:

But most of God’s money is going to other causes.  People think they’re doing it for God but they’re not.  They don’t understand God’s Word.

2 Timothy 2:7

Consider what I [Paul] say; and the Lord give thee understanding in all things.

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...Transcribed from an informal Q&A session at NCGF on 10/26/2011.

Consider…

2 Corinthians 8

1 Moreover, brethren, we do you to wit of the grace of God bestowed on the churches of Macedonia;

2 How that in a great trial of affliction the abundance of their joy and their deep poverty abounded unto the riches of their liberality.

3 For to their power, I bear record, yea, and beyond their power they were willing of themselves;

4 Praying us with much intreaty that we would receive the gift, and take upon us the fellowship of the ministering to the saints.

5 And this they did, not as we hoped, but first gave their own selves to the Lord, and unto us by the will of God.

6 Insomuch that we desired Titus, that as he had begun, so he would also finish in you the same grace also.

7 Therefore, as ye abound in every thing, in faith, and utterance, and knowledge, and in all diligence, and in your love to us, see that ye abound in this grace also.

8 I speak not by commandment, but by occasion of the forwardness of others, and to prove the sincerity of your love.

9 For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, that ye through his poverty might be rich.

10 And herein I give my advice: for this is expedient for you, who have begun before, not only to do, but also to be forward a year ago.

11 Now therefore perform the doing of it; that as there was a readiness to will, so there may be a performance also out of that which ye have.

12 For if there be first a willing mind, it is accepted according to that a man hath, and not according to that he hath not.

13 For I mean not that other men be eased, and ye burdened:

14 But by an equality, that now at this time your abundance may be a supply for their want, that their abundance also may be a supply for your want: that there may be equality:

15 As it is written, He that had gathered much had nothing over; and he that had gathered little had no lack.

16 But thanks be to God, which put the same earnest care into the heart of Titus for you.

17 For indeed he accepted the exhortation; but being more forward, of his own accord he went unto you.

18 And we have sent with him the brother, whose praise is in the gospel throughout all the churches;

19 And not that only, but who was also chosen of the churches to travel with us with this grace ['this,' their offering: their ‘abounding in grace’ v7, the ‘proof of the sincerity of their love in faith’ v8, their ‘performance’ v11], which is administered by us to the glory of the same Lord, and declaration of your ready mind:

20 Avoiding this, that no man should blame us in this abundance which is administered by us:

21 Providing for honest things [Pauline doctrine], not only in the sight of the Lord, but also in the sight of men.

22 And we have sent with them our brother, whom we have oftentimes proved diligent in many things, but now much more diligent, upon the great confidence which I have in you.

23 Whether any do enquire of Titus, he is my partner and fellowhelper concerning you: or our brethren be enquired of, they are the messengers of the churches, and the glory of Christ.

24 Wherefore shew ye to them, and before the churches, the proof of your love [v8], and of our boasting on your behalf.

Lifting holy hands

What is the significance of lifting up holy hands in Paul’s instruction regarding prayer in I Timothy?

1 Timothy 2:8

I will therefore that men pray every where, lifting up holy hands, without wrath and doubting.

When Paul talks about lifting up holy hands, he’s referring to ‘defeating the flesh’ through prayer and the word. 

John 6:63

It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life.

Ephesians 6:17-18

And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God: Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints;

Paul is referencing Exodus 17 where Israel is fighting Amalek and would prevail only when Moses held up his hand.

Exodus: 11-12

And it came to pass, when Moses held up his hand, that Israel prevailed: and when he let down his hand, Amalek [a type of the flesh] prevailed. But Moses’ [who represents to Israel God’s Word, the Law] hands were heavy; and they took a stone, and put it under him, and he sat thereon; and Aaron and Hur stayed up his hands [a symbol of prayer], the one on the one side, and the other on the other side; and his hands were steady until the going down of the sun.

There is a lot of symbolism in this passage.  Moses represents—to Israel—God’s word,  the Law; and Moses’ upheld hands represent prayer.  Through the word and prayer you defeat the flesh (Amalek).

Galatians 5:16-17

This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh.  For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would.

Romans 12:12

Rejoicing in hope; patient in tribulation; continuing instant in prayer;

1 Thessalonians 5:17

Pray without ceasing.

Hopefully this helps! 

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Northern California Grace Fellowship

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 Heir of God or Joint-Heirs with Christ? 

Wrongly Deriding Joint-heirs with Christ

Job’s authorship

Who wrote the book of Job?

Some say it was written by one of his “three miserable, comforter” friends.  Eliphaz is the one usually accredited with penning it.  (However, of course, God, the Holy Spirit was the author!)

2 Peter 1:21

For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.

Job is one of the grandsons of Jacob.  His father was Issachar, one of the 12 sons of Jacob and, thus, head of the 12 tribes of Israel.

Genesis 46:13

And the sons of Issachar; Tola, and Phuvah, and Job, and Shimron.

Job was written around the time when Jacob and his sons went down into Egypt.

Job means ‘persecute.’  The book of Job is actually a type of the future Tribulation when the Little Flock is persecuted.  How do we know that?  James tells us about Job and uses him as an example of how the Little Flock should endure.

James 5:10-11

Take, my brethren, the prophets, who have spoken in the name of the Lord, for an example of suffering affliction, and of patience. Behold, we count them happy which endure. Ye have heard of the patience of Job, and have seen the end of the Lord; that the Lord is very pitiful, and of tender mercy.

Hopefully this helps!

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Northern California Grace Fellowship

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Works of Grace

What are we supposed to be doing today as grace believers?

Let me start by saying we need to be fed to grow.  We can grow from being fed either bad food or good food—both physically and spiritually speaking.  Most believers are being fed bad spiritual food (unsound words, not rightly divided), not good spiritual food (sound, wholesome words according to Pauline doctrine).  That’s why they’re not capable of fighting the good fight of faith.

1 Timothy 6:12

Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, whereunto thou art also called, and hast professed a good profession before many witnesses.

You can learn the basics of what salvation is about in denominational churches (spiritual milk), but then you need to grow from there in a church that rightly divides (spiritual meat).

1 Corinthians 3:2

I [Paul] have fed you with milk ["my gospel"], and not with meat [necessary for spiritual growth]: for hitherto ye were not able to bear it, neither yet now are ye able.

As a minister I can’t tell you what you should be doing ‘out there.’  That’s legalism.  My job is to feed you so full of truth [scripture] that you’re just bursting and you can’t help but tell others. 

2 Timothy 3:17

All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, throughly [past full...to the point of 'bursting' out] furnished unto all good works.

I can exhort you, but the minute I stand up here and tell you that you should be doing this, this and this, and start whipping you for not doing it, I’m no better than the denominations.  But whatever we do, it must be done God’s way—as laid out in Paul’s epistles in this dispensation of grace.

When we’re fed properly, we will grow so that we’ll know what to do.  The life of the Lord Jesus Christ will be so manifest in our mortal flesh, that we will do things, as he lives out his life in us.

Galatians 2:20

I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.

What you want to be particularly wary of in a grace ministry is not putting a performance-based anything on people.  That’s the biggest thing that people who come from a denomination to the grace message learn.  “Do’s and dont’s” are so engrained in them that it’s a long process to break from that mindset and come to a real understanding of our liberty in Christ.  You have to be an adult. 

God is so patient.  If you’re doing something sinful, and God’s word hasn’t taught and convicted you, God isn’t mad at you and ready to pound you.  He lets his word convict you.  It can’t come from a person; it has to be God’s word, his Holy Spirit that convicts a person.  So my job is to get you the word.

2 Corinthians 1:24

Not for that we have dominion over your faith, but are helpers of your joy: for by faith ye stand.

Now then, your question:  What are we supposed to be doing today as grace believers?  If we read and study Paul’s epistles we can see what God would have believers do.  Here are just a few…

1 Timothy 2:4

[God] Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth.

Romans 12:1-2

I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.

Ephesians 4: 22-32

That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts;

And be renewed in the spirit of your mind;

And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.

Wherefore putting away lying, speak every man truth with his neighbour: for we are members one of another.

Be ye angry, and sin not: let not the sun go down upon your wrath:

Neither give place to the devil.

Let him that stole steal no more: but rather let him labour, working with his hands the thing which is good, that he may have to give to him that needeth.

Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers.

And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption.

Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice:

And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you.

With a mind renewed daily, feeding on the word rightly divided, it is then as we come to a situation in life, we know what God has to say about it and we can react on the basis of that Truth that we have built up in us.

1 Corinthians 3:9-10

For we are labourers together with God: ye are God's husbandry, ye are God's building. According to the grace of God which is given unto me [Paul], as a wise masterbuilder, I have laid the foundation, and another buildeth thereon. But let every man take heed how he buildeth thereupon.

Hopefully this helps! 

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Northern California Grace Fellowship

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 Heir of God or Joint-Heirs with Christ? 

God bless you!

Since we are already blessed with every spiritual blessing, is it correct in this dispensation to say "God bless you?”

Yes, you can say "God bless you"! You are simply acknowledging the truth of God's amazing grace to which we say amen!

It is okay culturally, as well as biblically and dispensationally to say "God bless you!"

So go ahead and say it! I do all the time...agreeing with the truth that our Apostle Paul says.

Ephesians 1:3

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ:

Hopefully this helps! 

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Northern California Grace Fellowship

Do you have a question for Pastor Ron?

 Heir of God or Joint-Heirs with Christ? 

Saved by grace

Some teach that men have always been saved by grace through faith apart from works.  Is that true?

Romans 3:22

Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference:

No.  What we learn through Paul’s epistles is that everyone in time past was justified by grace through faith plus works.  Two verses in Paul’s epistles tie it up perfectly. 

Philippians 3:6

Concerning zeal, persecuting the church; touching the righteousness which is in the law, blameless.

Romans 3:21

But now [the dispensation of grace] the righteousness of God without the law is manifested, being witnessed by the law and the prophets;

It was impossible for David or anyone else before the dispensation of grace to know that they were justified by grace through faith and no works, because it was impossible to be justified that way and here’s why…

Romans 3:21

But now the righteousness of God without the law is manifested, being witnessed by the law and the prophets;

This is the same terminology Paul uses later in Romans about the mystery.

Romans 16:25-26

Now to him that is of power to stablish you according to my gospel, and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery, which was kept secret since the world began, But now is made manifest, and by the scriptures of the prophets, according to the commandment of the everlasting God, made known to all nations for the obedience of faith:

Before the ‘but now,’ the righteousness of God without the law was not manifested, so they couldn’t know justification without the law.  It wasn’t made known! 

So then what was the righteousness of God?  According to the verse it was the righteousness of God in the law.  There is the righteousness of God with the law; there is the righteousness of God without the law.  But now the righteousness of God without the law was manifested; before it wasn’t. 

So what was manifested before?  The righteousness of God in the law!  That’s why Paul says this when he gives his testimony of who he was in ‘time past’ as Saul of Tarsus.

Philippians 3:6

Concerning zeal, persecuting the church; touching the righteousness which is in the law, blameless.

Paul is saying that when looking back at his salvation when he was Saul of Tarsus, that—touching the righteousness which is in the law—he was blameless.  In that former dispensation of Law, he was indeed righteous and blameless.  He did everything that the Law required.

The point in Romans 3 is that “But now,” the righteousness of God without the Law is manifested and he calls it the faith of Jesus Christ.  No one knew that before Paul.  Saul and the Pharisees should have but did not move forward into the righteousness of God in Christ – the faith of Jesus Christ.

If there wasn’t a difference in righteous standing (one of Law and one of grace and grace didn’t happen until Paul), this verse wouldn’t make any sense:

Romans 1:17

For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith.

Paul is saying this:  in the gospel of the grace of God (I Corinthians 15:1-4), the issue is the faith of Jesus Christ.  But before that was the issue of a different faith.  He quotes the book of Habakkuk,

Habakkuk 2:4

Behold, his soul which is lifted up is not upright in him: but the just shall live by his faith.

But now, ‘the just’ doesn’t live by his own faith; he lives by the faith of Jesus Christ.  We live eternally by Christ’s faith and trusting in it.  Before this was revealed, mankind lived by his own faith.  Each system (Law and Grace) when in effect has to do with man’s believing and walking by faith.  It’s not until the dispensation of grace that Paul says in Galatians that before God dealt with man by pure grace it was by doing the law by faith.  That was the faith then.  The information to be believed now in the dispensation of grace is not Law, but grace.

People try to read Paul into dispensations past and future.  You cannot because “But now, [not then] the righteousness without the law is manifested.”  We’re in the “but now,” the current, present, dispensation.

In time past before the dispensation of grace, the Law was of faith.  They did it by faith.  God said to offer sacrifices and if they did they could be blameless like Saul. 

Philippians 3:4,6

Though I might also have confidence in the flesh. …Concerning zeal, persecuting the church; touching the righteousness which is in the law, blameless.

To do the law then was faith; to do it now is not faith because we’re not under law, we’re under grace. 

For example, to tithe in time past was faith under the law.  In Malachi, the Lord said they were cursed because they were not keeping the law about the tithe.  They were robbing God.

Malachi 3:8

For it is written, Cursed is every one that continueth not in all things which are written in the book of the law to do them.

Today, you need to give the way the Apostle to the Gentiles in the dispensation of grace, Paul, tells you to give…

2 Corinthains 9:7

Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver.

If a grace believer today believed he should give to a church tithes and offerings, Paul is saying that he is not doing that by faith because that’s not the doctrine today.

Paul is saying in Galatians, that trying to keep the law was scriptural for Israel in Time Past but not dispensational for us today.

Galatians 3:10-12

For as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse:  But that no man is justified by the law in the sight of God, it is evident: for, The just shall live by faith. And the law is not of faith:...

Paul is not making a blanket statement about Time Past; he’s telling the Galatians that what is happening now is that… the law is not of faith:

When Paul wrote Galatians, the Law was still being observed by the Jews.  He’s warning them not to go back to the Law.  In Acts 15 there were believing Pharisees at the Jerusalem Council.  They had been following behind Paul and going to his grace believers telling them they had to be circumcised and keep the law.

Paul is saying that if you work for it in this dispensation it is not of grace, it’s of works – it’s of debt.  You’re not depending upon God’s grace if you’re working for eternal life. You’re saying, ‘You owe me, God.  You’re a debtor to me.’  And that debt is…

Galatians 3:12

…but, The man that doeth them shall live [have eternal life] in them.

There is a performance of the Law, but it is made manifest today that you can’t keep it (the Law) perfectly.

Galatians 3:10

For as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse: for it is written, Cursed is every one that continueth not in all things which are written in the book of the law to do them.

Hopefully this helps! 

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Northern California Grace Fellowship

Do you have a question for Pastor Ron?

 Heir of God or Joint-Heirs with Christ?