Thursday, July 11, 2013

Helper of your joy



2 Corinthians 1:24
Not for that we have dominion over your faith, but are helpers of your joy: for by faith ye stand.
  
I listened to some of your audio messages and now I have a better understanding of some passages that were hard for me to understand before; but now they are so clear to me when I read them in context.


I praise the Lord that you have a better understanding.  That is my number one prayer to Almighty God, that through my study over the years I can help others have a better understanding of God’s word.  Ultimately the reason we saints are here is to help others.  It is a work of faith to get the word into our own souls, the inner man.

Ephesians 3:16
That he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man;

It is a labor of love to get the word out to others. 

1 Thessalonians 1:3
Remembering without ceasing your work of faith, and labour of love, and patience of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ, in the sight of God and our Father;

We are to love our brethren in many different ways, but the number one way is to edify them in the truth of God’s grace. 

Romans 14:19
Let us therefore follow after the things which make for peace, and things wherewith one may edify another.

So if I can help you get greater understanding of some scriptures, particularly those of the Apostle Paul, and help you have a better understanding of God’s word and what God is doing today through and for the church the body of Christ, then I am very happy to do that.

There are many things that we need to be made aware of as we study the bible, but we learn them over time— it takes time, it is a process.    That is why there is an element of trust for those who have been teaching the word rightly divided for years.  We can help point out these things; that is really what my job is.

You question why it was so hard before for you to understand some things in scripture that you can clearly see now.  It just takes time, being in the word, rightly dividing and hearing sound bible teaching and preaching.  Again, it is my prayer to the Lord is to be able to help people like you who have the desire to see things in scripture that you haven’t been able to, and to add to your understanding.

It does take some time to be able to see certain things in God’s word; it requires doctrine built up in your soul. 

Colossians 2:7
Rooted and built up in him, and stablished in the faith, as ye have been taught, abounding therein with thanksgiving.

When I am studying a passage, I study it in light of all the other verses that are in my head. I am blessed to be able to remember everything that I read. Sometimes when I am preaching, I may say, “this is that,” or “that is this.”

Acts 2:16
But this is that which was spoken by the prophet Joel;

In a way it is like when the Lord was opening up the understanding of his disciples.

Luke 24:43-45
And he took it, and did eat before them.  And he said unto them, These are the words which I spake unto you, while I was yet with you, that all things must be fulfilled, which were written in the law of Moses, and in the prophets, and in the psalms, concerning me.  Then opened he their understanding, that they might understand the scriptures,

People have said to me that they didn’t see something before in scripture when they read it on their own, but when we went over it in church or in a Q&A session, then it made sense. 

Someone can open up your understanding if they are studying the scriptures rightly divided and with understanding – with doctrine built up in them.  Brother Richard Jordan calls it ‘reserve power.’

There are certain men whose part in the body of Christ is to be used of Almighty God to be teachers and preachers because of how they can see things in scripture and because they have the ability to teach.

1 Timothy 3:2
A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, vigilant, sober, of good behaviour, given to hospitality, apt to teach;

Paul tells us that is how God has but the body together.

1 Corinthians 12:24
For our comely parts have no need: but God hath tempered the body together, having given more abundant honour to that part which lacked.

If our ministry can help you understand and enjoy your bible more, which in turn should increase your faith, then we have done our job.  In addition to this blog that posts our answers to questions in written form, video answers to questions are posted on our YouTube channel NorCalGrace.  You can also listen to our radio program Rightly Dividing the Word on the internet (KFIA.com) or on the radio in Sacramento County on KFIA at 12:30 PT every Sunday.  The radio sessions are also video-taped if you prefer to watch a simulcast. 

Hopefully this helps!
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

No comments:

Post a Comment