THE RELATIVE IMPORTANCE BETWEEN STUDYING THE WRITTEN WORD and PRAYING TO GOD, THE LIVING WORD
Paul Roberts, Copyright © 2019
I’ve been diligently studying the Word of God since 1974, but lately I’ve come to the realization that I am not experiencing the consistent spiritual manifestation of His glorious and peaceful presence and power as
I once did. After I was born again, initially, and for months thereafter, I spent hours in His presence and enjoyed fellowship with Him. His presence was palpable. Then, His presence faded for some reason. I thought maybe this was just the way it is with God, so I adjusted to it. In doing so I lost my perspective or the relative importance between knowing the living Word intimately and personally through lively communication with him through prayer and the mere gaining of lifeless knowledge from the letter of the written word through diligent study.
I made gaining knowledge through study of the written word an “end” in itself as though an increase in my knowledge of scripture would in and of itself, somehow, bring me into a closer personal relationship with the living God along with His manifest spiritual presence rather than using study to gain knowledge merely as a “means” to validate and authenticate the source of the spoken words coming to me from the mouth of the living God to my spirit by way of revelation from the Holy Spirit (John 16:13-15 KJV). That “means”, or “my knowledge from study of the written word”, is not to be the object of my worship. The living Word of God, not the written word, is to be the object of my worship. The written word, inspired by God, is merely the infallible and legally admissible evidence of things not seen from the realm of the kingdom of God which is spiritual in nature and therefore invisible (2nd Corinthians 4:17-18; Hebrews 11:1-3, 6 KJV), that has been recorded for all generations to bear witness to or testify to the truth, who is Jesus, the living Word of God, who was made flesh and dwelt among us (Psalms 12:6-7; Luke 24:27; John 5:39; John 1:1, 14 KJV). In Jesus, who is the living Word or the Word made flesh, dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily (Colossians 2:9 KJV).
Jesus is not the letter of the written word. The letter killeth, but the Spirit giveth life (2nd Corinthians 3:6 KJV). The written word only comes to life by way of the living God bringing it to life by opening His mouth and speaking it to the Holy Spirit according to God’s sovereign will and purpose for that particular time and season (Isaiah 55:11; Matthew 4:4; John 6:63b & 16:13-15; Hebrews 4:12 KJV):
“So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it.” – (Isaiah 55:11 KJV)
- “But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.” – (Matthew 4:4 KJV)
- “—–the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit and they are life.” – (John 6:63b KJV)
“Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear ( e. whatsoever he shall hear of the living Word from God’s own mouth, my addition), that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come. He shall glorify me: for he shall receive of mine, and shall shew it unto you. All things that the Father hath are mine: therefore said I, that he shall take of mine, and shall shew it unto you.” – (John 16:13-15 KJV)
- “For the word of God is quick ( e. living and operative, translation), and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.” – (Hebrews 4:12 KJV)
We live by every anointed word that proceeds out of the mouth of God by way of revelation from the Holy Spirit in response to our daily prayers for such, not by the words we come to know initiated by our own self-willed study (Matthew 4:4 KJV). In turn the Holy Spirit then glorifies that living Word (i. e. Jesus) from the mouth of God by revealing His anointed words of faith directly to our spirit by-passing our sight or sense-based knowledge received from our five (5) physical senses. These words of faith to direct our paths come in response to our acknowledging God through daily prayer (John 16:13-15; Proverbs 3:5-6; 2nd Corinthians 4:17-18 & 5:7; Hebrews 11:1; Matthew 6:10-11 KJV). The living words we receive from God through prayer, that we believe in our heart, and speak with our mouth are anointed with the Holy Ghost and power and will be effectual in accomplishing the thing whereunto God sends it (Isaiah 55:11 KJV). The effectual fervent prayers of a righteous man availeth much power (James 5:16b KJV). Our effectual (1st John 5:14-15 KJV) and fervent prayers to God, not self-willed study, brings the supernatural creative miracle-working power of God to bear on that situation or circumstance which concerns us if we are walking uprightly with God (Psalms 138:8 & 84:11; 1st John 1:7, 2:10-11, & 3:22 KJV).
The written word bears witness to or testifies to the truth that Jesus, the living Word of God, is the only name under heaven, given among men, whereby we must be saved (Acts 4:12 KJV). Jesus is God’s sole and sovereign plan of salvation for both Jew and Gentile. Listen to the perspective or relative importance Jesus gave us between searching the lifeless letter of the written words of scripture (i. e. the Logos) and our personal communication with the living Spirit of the spoken (i. e. the Rhema) Word of life received from the mouth of God through revelation to our spirit in response to our acknowledging Him in prayer along with the purpose of the writings of scripture in bearing witness to the Word of life which the Holy Spirit gave to us through the apostle John as well as other apostles:
- “Ye are our epistle written in our hearts, known and read of all men: 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 fleshly tables of the heart. And such trust have we through Christ to God-ward: Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think any thing as of ourselves; but our sufficiency is of God: Who also 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.” – (2nd Corinthians 3:2-6 KJV)
- “Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me.” – (John 5:39 KJV)
NOTE: The written word merely testifies of the living Word but is not the living and eternal Word itself. Studying the scripture through self-determination and self-effort apart from revelation from the Spirit of truth in response to our daily prayers for both revelation and an understanding heart produces nothing but pride and is just an exercise in futility (John 15:5b & 16:13-15; 1st Corinthians 8:1b-2 KJV).
“Knowledge puffeth up, but charity edifieth. And if any man think that he knoweth any thing, he knoweth nothing yet as he ought to know. But if any man love God (i. e. the living Word, my addition), that same is known of him.” – (1st Corinthians 8:1b-3 KJV)
The necessary prerequisite to a fruitful study of the written word is to receive fresh daily bread (i. e. fresh manna from heaven) from the living word spoken by the mouth of our heavenly Father which daily bread comes to our spirit by way of revelation through the Spirit of truth to direct our line of study in response to our daily prayers for such revelation of God’s will and purpose (John 16:13-15; Proverbs 3:5-6; Philippians 4:6-7; Ephesians 1:17-23 KJV).
Annual study plans, devised by organized religion, to read the Bible from cover to cover in one year or less, are all bereft of revelation through daily prayer. Since it is not given to us to know the times or the seasons (Acts 1:7 KJV) which God has reserved for His personal use and power, we are, therefore, of necessity, bound to the need to acknowledge God daily in prayer in order to receive timely revelations from the Spirit of truth to direct our path (Proverbs 3:5-6 KJV). Otherwise, we will operate as did Martha rather than Mary (Luke 10:38-42 KJV). Martha was concerned with “doing things right” according to tradition regardless the time or season, whereas Mary was concerned with “doing the right thing” at the right time according to revelation from the living Word spoken by the mouth of God. We are to be still before the Lord each day in daily prayer, knowing that He is God and asking Him to direct our paths without leaning to our own understanding according to tradition.
- “That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled, of the Word of life; (For the life was manifested, and we have seen it, and bear witness, and shew unto you that eternal life, which was with the Father, and was manifested unto us;) That which we have seen and heard declare we unto you, that ye may have fellowship with us: and truly our fellowship is with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ. And these things write we unto you, that your joy might be full.” – (1st John 1:1-4 KJV)
NOTE: Those who saw and handled the living Word of eternal life were inspired by the Holy Spirit to use the written word to bear record and testify to us of the same so that our joy might be full. That is to say, our joy will be full if we come to Him in prayer, believing through faith that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him. However, the written word is not that living Word who became flesh and dwelt among us whom we seek and communicate with in a living way through daily prayer. Remember this obvious distinction between the written word and the living Word made flesh; the Bible doesn’t bleed, therefore, it is not the living Word of God made flesh who was nailed to the cross.
While I certainly gained knowledge through my study of the written word, that knowledge by itself was cold, sterile, impersonal, and bereft of love. Therefore, my knowledge was lifeless (1st Corinthians 13:1-3 KJV). My knowledge of the written word through diligent study did not bring the presence of God which is the fullness of joy (Psalms 16:11 KJV). I became so hungry for the presence of the Lord and the initial joy of my salvation after all these years of study that I began in earnest to ask Him for the spiritual manifestation of His presence as a living Person like I had at the beginning of my walk with Him. Over time, here’s what the Spirit began revealing to me in my spirit which has given me a new perspective that has made my prayer life to the living Word of God preeminent to my study of the written word for the purpose of obtaining my spiritual direction (Proverbs 3:5-6; John 16:13-15; Philippians 4:6-7 KJV).
In the beginning, the living God spoke the living Word and the anointing of the Holy Ghost (i. e. the anointing means the Christ or the wisdom and power of God – 1st Corinthians 1:24 KJV) upon the spoken Word of God caused all things visible and invisible to come into existence in both the spiritual and the natural or physical realm. The Greek word Christ is an exact translation of the Hebrew word Messiah, and the English word anoint is an exact translation of the Greek word Christ. The word “Christ” or “Anoint” means to rub on or smear all over. The word “Christ” refers either to the anointing of the wisdom and supernatural power of God of Isaiah 10:27 upon the spoken word from God’s own mouth, which He sends to us in response to our prayers for such, or the “Anointed One” of Isaiah 61:1 which is Jesus or the Word of God made flesh. So, when translating the word Christ translate it as the “Anointed One” and his “anointing” and God will reveal to you whether it is referring to the “Anointed One” or the “anointing” or both since we really can’t separate the “anointing” from the “Anointed One” and visa versa.
For example, “I can do all things through Christ which (not who) strengthens me.” In this passage of scripture the word Christ is referring to the anointing of Isaiah 10:27 not the Anointed One of Isaiah 61:1. Jesus Christ, the “Anointed One”, brought the “anointing” into our midst during his earthly ministry and demonstrated the anointing of the Holy Ghost and power in Luke 4:18 when he stood up in the synagogue and opened the book of Isaiah to Isaiah 61:1 where it is written:
- “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to bind up the broken hearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised, to preach the acceptable year of the Lord” – (Luke 4:18 KJV)
Before Jesus ascended, he instructed his disciples that they should not depart from Jerusalem, but wait for the promise of the Father. He told them that they would receive power after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth. After receiving this instruction from Jesus, his disciples went into an upper room and continued with one accord in prayer and supplication, with the women, and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brethren, the number of them was about 120. At the day of Pentecost while they were still in one accord and in one place they received power from on high as the Holy Ghost came upon them for effective service.
This power from on high is still available to us today if we’ll persistently ask for it through fervent and prevailing prayer. Ask and you shall receive, seek and you shall find, knock and the door will be opened to receive the promise of the Father or the anointing of the Holy Ghost and power with the evidence of speaking in tongues. Regretfully, the body of Christ in large measure does not believe in the baptism of the Holy Ghost and power with the evidence of speaking in tongues and remain bereft of the supernatural creative miracle-working power of God. Mistakenly, they think they have received all the power of God there is to receive upon being born again of the Spirit and being water baptized with the baptism of John unto repentance. Yet Acts 19:1-6 contradicts such heresy.
When those who won’t believe in the baptism of the Holy Spirit pray, they pray from a carnally minded perspective which is confined to the low level of the limited power of the natural laws of physics rather than from a spiritually minded perspective which is not so confined. A spiritually minded perspective believes in the supernatural nature of the immeasurable, unlimited, and greatly surpassing power of the Holy Spirit and His ability to override the natural laws of physics. This carnally minded perspective of those in the church who refuse to believe in the Promise of the Father (i. e. the baptism of the Holy Spirit with the evidence of speaking in tongues) is why the church, for the most part, remains powerless in combating the deception and wiles of the devil. In Texas, we refer to those who claim to have something they can’t demonstrate as being all hat and no cattle. The living Word spoken by the mouth of living God and the anointing (i. e. the Christ) of the Holy Ghost upon that spoken Word created all things visible and invisible, not the written word which came after God spoke the living Word.
So, the Word spoken out of the mouth of the living God or the living Word of God which was made flesh and dwelt among us has preeminence in all things including the written word even though the written word testifies of him (John 5:39 KJV). For in him (i. e. in Jesus, the living Word of God) dwelleth all the fullness of the Godhead bodily (Colossians 2:9 KJV). The word bodily in Colossians 2:9, refers to the physical flesh and blood body of Jesus according to the Greek translation shown in Strong’s Concordance. According to Isaiah 9:6 the name of Jesus is called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace. So, Jesus, according to the written word, is the fullness of the Godhead bodily or physically in the flesh.
After we’re born again of the Spirit, thereafter we are to take no thought for tomorrow nor are we to be careful for anything concerning those things we need for the support of biological life. Instead, we are to seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness and all these things will be added to us. Additionally, upon being born again of the Spirit, old things are passed away and all things are become new. Rather than going our own way by leaning to our own intellectual understanding based on what we learned in the past through sight or sense-based knowledge received through our five (5) physical senses, in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving we are to let our requests be made known unto God for His direction in our lives through faith or the evidence of things not seen by way of the revelation to our spirit from the Spirit of truth which by-passes our five (5) physical senses. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep our hearts and minds through Christ Jesus (Matthew 6:31-34; Philippians 4:6-7; John 16:13-15 KJV, my paraphrase). Matthew 6:31-34, Philippians 4:6-7, and John 16:13-15 are companion verses of scripture to the verses of scripture in Proverbs 3:5-6 which state:
- “Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not to thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.”
Acknowledging God means to pray to Him for direction (Proverbs 3:6 KJV). Being directed by the LORD by acknowledging Him in all our ways by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving is tantamount to being led by the Spirit who guides us into all truth and those who are led by revelation of the Spirit’s direction in response to their prayers to God are the sons of God (Proverbs 3:6; Philippians 4:6-7; John 16:13-15; Romans 8:14 KJV). Through prayer and supplication to God with thanksgiving, His Spirit is able to restore our soul or transform us by the renewing of our minds from a carnally minded perspective to a spiritually minded perspective such that we might prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect will of God (Titus 3:5; Psalms 23:3a; Romans 12:2 KJV).
The paths into which we’re being directed according to Proverbs 3:6 or, rather, the paths into which we are being led of the Spirit, are the paths of righteousness for His names sake (Psalms 23:3 KJV). The steps of a righteous man are ordered by the LORD: and he delighteth in his way (Psalms 37:23 KJV). These steps are ordered by faith which is the evidence of things not seen (Hebrews 11:1; 2nd Corinthians 4:17-18 KJV) and without faith it is impossible to please Him (Hebrews 11:6 KJV). When we walk by believing through faith or the evidence of things not seen by way of direct revelation to our spirit from the Holy Spirit, who reveals only that which He hears from the spoken word of God at just the right time or just the right season (John 16:13; Acts 1:7 KJV), rather than walking by our own intellectual understanding from sight or sense-based knowledge received through our five (5) physical senses, we will, in a living way, experience the spiritual manifestation of God’s presence and fellowship. In His presence there is fullness of joy and the joy of the Lord is our strength ((Nehemiah 8:10b; Psalms 16:11 KJV).
Once the Holy Spirit provides revelation of faith or the evidence of things not seen to our born again spirit to direct our paths in response to our sincere and fervent prayers for such direction, then our study and learning from the written word based on that revelation of faith will become fruitful such that we can understand it, meditate on it and, over time, become fully persuaded to believe or establish that faith, or that evidence of things not seen, in our hearts. Believing this revelation of faith in our hearts or believing in the evidence of things not seen from the Holy Spirit through the spiritual eyes and ears of our born again spirit (i. e. the spiritual eyes and ears of our spiritual or inner man), will restore our soul by renewing the thoughts in our mind such that we will do by nature the things contained in the righteous laws of the kingdom of God, which kingdom is spiritual in nature and therefore invisible to the natural eye of the natural man also known as the outward or physical man (Romans 10:10; 2nd Corinthians 4:13; Hebrews 11:1; 2nd Corinthians 4:17-18; John 3:3; Psalms 23:3; Romans 12:2 & 2:14-15; Psalms 1:1-3; 1st Corinthians 2:14 KJV).
In other words, by the renewing of our minds through revelation of faith to our spirit from the Holy Spirit, in response to our prayers which acknowledge God as a living Person, we will be transformed from a carnally minded perspective to a spiritually minded perspective. To be spiritually minded is to be mentally directed from the thoughts produced by the words engrafted into our spirit which represent faith or the evidence of things not seen that pertain to the invisible kingdom of God. It is by grace through believing in the gift of faith through revelation in response to our prayers that we establish and fulfill the law such that God’s will can once again be done in earth as it is in heaven (Matthew 5:17-19; Romans 3:31; Ephesians 2:8-10; Romans 8:3-4 KJV).
The Holy Spirit is showing me that I spend too much time in the scripture increasing my intellectual knowledge of the “written” word and too little time in prayer communicating with God to build a personal relationship with Him through the “Living” or “Spoken” Word. Face time with the Lord in prayer to build an intimate or close personal relationship with Him is no different than face time with another human being to build a personal relationship——especially one’s own spouse. Marriage is a great mystery concerning Christ and the church according to Ephesians 5:30-33 (KJV).
To emphasize once again the distinction and relative importance between having knowledge of the written word and having an intimate or close spiritual and personal relationship with Jesus as a living Person is to keep foremost in our mind at all times the obvious truth that the Bible wasn’t nailed to the cross because the Bible is not flesh and blood, and, therefore, it does not bleed. This distinction between communicating with the living Word through prayer and studying the written word to establish an intimate and close personal relationship to enjoy God’s presence is in no way a put down of the written word. Instead, it is to establish the relative importance between the “living Word made flesh” and the “written word which testifies of the Word made flesh”. I was impressed by the Spirit to compare the amount of time I spend studying to the amount of time I spend in prayer. The amount of time I spend studying the written word far outweighs the time I spend in prayer and supplication with thanksgiving——my unfortunate misstep in developing a closer personal relationship with God such that I could have more of His fellowship and His manifest spiritual presence which comes along with that fellowship.
The Lord impressed upon my spirit that studying the Bible at the expense of my face time with Him in communicating with Him in every thing by prayer is somewhat akin to the younger generation of my own children sitting at the dinner table with me with their face glued to their cell phone at the expense of acknowledging me and conversing with me in a face-to-face conversation. This distraction of my children’s time away from communication with their own living father at the dinner table by virtue of their spending an inordinate amount of time infatuated by an inanimate cell phone has always impressed me as a father as their being indifferent towards me and my being set far below the respect and honor that is due me which is obviously disrespectful, dishonoring, and rude. So, if my children are indifferent, disrespectful, and dishonoring in my presence, why would I want to visit them often and bless them with my presence? The Lord seemed to be saying to me that’s how He feels when I’m being indifferent towards Him by my being distracted in spending an inordinate amount of time studying the inanimate or lifeless written word at the expense of seeking His face and spending quality time in communication with Him, the living Word, through prayer.
What an enormously subtle deception is the devils insidious subterfuge of causing us to disrespect and dishonor the living Word of God through quality face time with Him in daily prayer by distracting us with the legitimate need to study the lifeless or inanimate written word of God. Following is the definition of the words “insidious” and “subterfuge” which will open our eyes to how the devil works his deceptions against both believers and unbelievers:
- “Insidious in it’s word definition means: 1a : awaiting a chance to entrap: TREACHEROUS b: harmful but enticing: SEDUCTIVE 2 a : having a gradual and cumulative effect : SUBTLE b : developing so gradually as to be well established before becoming apparent.”
- “Subterfuge suggests: the adoption of a stratagem or the telling of a lie in order to escape guilt or to gain an end.”
Organized Denominational Religion, through their traditions, have for the most part all fallen for this subtle deception concerning the false preeminence of study over prayer. However, this masterful deception is not surprising since the devil, in his prideful knowledge as the anointed Cherub, was able to deceive and take with him a third of the angels in his fall from the 3rd heaven while they were all in the very presence of God.
Most people will tell you that knowledge is power, but it is not the power of life itself. There is no life-giving power but that power which emanates from the self-existent God Who is life itself and the creator and sustainer thereof. Apart from Him there is no power of life. Only when we love God and are known of Him and become one with Him do we have life. We don’t have eternal life unless and until we are made a part of God. God, according to His mercy, by grace through faith, has made it possible for each of us to become one with Him as members of His body through a blood covenant relationship called the New Blood Covenant. The essence of a blood covenant relationship is that two become one by the shedding of blood which is also the essence of marriage.
Marriage is the great mystery concerning Christ and the church (Ephesians 5:32 KJV). When a man has sexual intercourse with his wife, the hymen is broken and there is the shedding of blood. The hymen has no medical function whatsoever other than to break when joined to a husband in the marriage bed. Then the man and the woman become joined together as one flesh. In the same manner, when the Lord comes into our hearts by grace through faith we become bone of his bones and flesh of his flesh in a blood covenant relationship (Genesis 2:23; Ephesians 5:28-33 KJV).
Once joined together with Jesus he becomes our sovereign head or, in other words, the head of the body. As in marriage, we are given his name and the authority to act in his name provided we are being led by his Spirit in response to our daily prayers for his guidance into all truth which causes us to walk in accordance with his will and purpose for that particular time and place. Apart from Him, that is the life-giving Vine, we can do nothing, even if we have understanding of all knowledge from the written and lifeless words of scripture (John 5:39-40 KJV). Jesus, the living Word of God, said this: “I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life.” No one knows how to create or sustain life except the One and only life-giver—the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus (Romans 8:2 KJV). If the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead now dwells in us he shall also quicken our mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwells in us (Romans 8:11 KJV).
According to the written word, “if any man thinks he knows anything, he knows nothing yet as he ought to know” – (1st Corinthians 8:2 KJV). Mere knowledge puffs up or makes us prideful such that we begin to think of ourselves above measure (1st Corinthians 8:1 KJV). We become independent of God and become slack in our daily prayers to God for His direction. Those, who, like the devil, think that knowledge is power and that knowledge in and of itself is eternal life, know nothing yet as they ought to know. Therefore, they will not experience the presence of God nor the peace and fullness of joy that only His presence can bring us (John 5:39-40; Psalms 16:11; Nehemiah 8:10 KJV).
God refers to those who consider themselves able to understand all mysteries and have all knowledge and have all faith to remove mountains from diligently studying the written word as being nothing, if and/or when their understanding, knowledge, and faith are bereft of the nature and character of love which is the essence of the living God Himself. Faith works by love. Apart from love who is God Himself, we can do nothing. Since God is love it can also be said that the words of faith only work when spoken by the mouth of the living God Who is love. Listen to what scripture says concerning those who exalt the relative importance of studying the written word above our prayer life or our personal time communicating with God. When we exalt studying the written word above our praying to the living Word, that is the essence of leaving our first love which is warned against in Revelation 2:4-5 (KJV). When we put studying ahead of prayer, our prayers become impersonal, sterile, and rote which has an adverse effect on the quality of our personal relationship with God and being able to experience the joy of His presence:
- “Knowledge puffeth up, but love edifieth. And if any man think that he knoweth any thing, he knoweth nothing yet as he ought to know.” – (1st Corinthians 8:1b-2 KJV)
- “And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not love, I am nothing.” – (1st Corinthians 13:2 KJV)
- “But if any man love God, the same is known of him.” – (1st Corinthians 8:3 KJV)
- “For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous.” – (1st John 5:3 KJV)
- “Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you. These things I command you, that ye love one another.” – (John 15:14, 17 KJV)
- “Owe no man any thing, but to love one another: for he that loveth another hath fulfilled the law. For this, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not kill, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness, Thou shalt not covet; and if there be any other commandment, it is briefly comprehended in this saying, namely, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself.” – (Romans 13:8-9 KJV)
NOTE: God speaks of keeping all his commandments which commandments altogether are plural. But, since “loving one another as he loved us” briefly comprehends obedience to all the other commandments, he refers to keeping all the commandments with the singular command of “love thy neighbor as thyself”.
- “He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him. Judas saith unto him, not Iscariot, Lord, how is it that thou wilt manifest thyself unto us, and not unto the world? Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him and make our abode with him.” – (John 14:21-23 KJV)
NOTE: Loving God, evidenced by loving others, is the key to God’s presence. Loving others fulfills all the law (Jeremiah 31:31-33 [prophecy of the new covenant]; Romans 8:3-4 & 13:8 KJV). Our ability to love others comes by acknowledging God in all our ways through prayer for His direction and guidance (i. e. Love’s direction and guidance since God is love). His direction and guidance come through revelation from the Holy Spirit to our spirit in response to our prayers and our ability to walk in His direction and guidance is empowered by Christ or the wisdom and power of God which is the anointing of the Holy Spirit (Proverbs 3:5-6; John 16:13-15; Ezekiel 36:26-27 [prophecy of the new covenant]; Acts 5:32; Philippians 4:13 KJV).
- “That which we have seen and heard declare we unto you, that ye may have fellowship with us: and truly our fellowship is with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ. And these things write we unto you, that your joy may be full [Remember, in His presence is fullness of joy]. This then is the message which we have heard of him, and declare unto you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all. If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth: But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin. He that loveth his brother abideth in the light, and there is none occasion of stumbling in him. But he that hateth his brother is in darkness, and walketh in darkness, and knoweth not whither he goeth, because the darkness hath blinded his eyes.” – (1st John 1:3-7 & 2:10-11 KJV)
- “For the commandment is a lamp; and the law is light; and reproofs of instruction are the way of life.” – (Proverbs 6:23 KJV)
NOTE: The law, as well as being a light, is also the truth (Psalms 119:142 KJV). However, it acts as a light only if and when it is securely hinged to love as it’s guiding principle or unchanging rule of governing action. When the law is ministered in the letter, untempered by love, it is being used unlawfully with our born again brothers and sisters and, as a result, it kills rather than making alive (Romans 7:10 & 8:2; 2nd Corinthians 3:6 KJV). Relationships with others in the body of Christ are to be cultivated by believing through faith in the words of the righteous laws of the kingdom of God all of which are fulfilled by loving one another as he loved us. The truths of the law must always be applied toward others in the body of Christ by a loving and merciful temperament as described in 1st Corinthians 13:4-7 (KJV). Remember, loving one another as he loved us, by grace through faith, fulfills all the commandments of the law. To those outside the body of Christ who haven’t been born again, the law works death in them rather than life by exposing their sinful state as shown in Romans 7:14-25 (KJV).
What we are to take away from the above verses of scripture is this. Unless we develop a close personal relationship with God through prayer and hear His spoken word to us by way of revelation from His Holy Spirit to our spirit, then we will walk in darkness apart from the light of His love. If we don’t have a close personal relationship with love, Who is God Himself, then we will not love our brothers and sisters in the Lord and, as a consequence, we will not experience God’s manifest spiritual presence. Revelation from the Holy Spirit in response to our daily prayers is the evidence of things not seen which is otherwise known as faith (2nd Corinthians 4:17-18; Hebrews 11:1 KJV). The evidence of things not seen, otherwise known as faith, pertains to those things of the kingdom of God which kingdom is spiritual in nature and therefore invisible to the natural eye. This faith is the light of the truth and we are to walk by this faith rather than sight. This faith works by love which is God Himself.
While spending time studying the written word is important and necessary, it won’t replace or supersede the priority and importance of spending quality time in daily prayer in coming to know Jesus personally as the resurrected and living Person that he is. According to 2nd Timothy 3:16-17 the written word is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: that the man of God may by perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works. But, while “good works” are necessary they won’t replace the priority of our first coming to the Lord in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving to build an intimate or close personal relationship with Him such that He will open the scriptures to us by way of direct revelation to the eyes of our understanding of our inner man of the heart to direct our path into those “good works” and strengthen us with the anointing of the Holy Ghost (i. e. the Christ) to accomplish those works (Philippians 4:6-7; Proverbs 3:5-6; Ephesians 2:3-10; Ezekiel 36:26-27; Philippians 2:13 & 4:13 KJV).
Jesus’ intimate or close personal relationship with his heavenly Father motivated him to spend the early morning hours of each day communing with God in prayer——-not study. Through listening to his heavenly Father while communing with Him in prayer, Jesus received his fresh daily bread or his revelation from God necessary to direct his path into the will and purpose of God for that day along with the necessary supernatural creative miracle-working power of the gifts of the Holy Spirit to accomplish that purpose (Acts 5:32 KJV).
God also showed Jesus “things to come” so that he would always be prepared and never be taken by surprise. It is by diligently seeking God through daily prayer that I acknowledge that God is or that He exists as a living Being or Person. By diligently seeking God and acknowledging that He exists as a living Person who speaks, He in turn rewards us by way of revelation from the Holy Spirit who opens the spiritual eyes of our heart to understand faith or the evidence of things not seen necessary to direct our paths into His will and purpose at a particular time or season along with the necessary supernatural creative miracle-working power of the gifts of the Holy Spirit to accomplish that purpose (Proverbs 3:5-6; John 16:13-15 KJV). These revelations should all be validated by scripture to verify their source as being from God Who is the Truth.
Those ordained of God and called to teach His people are commanded to study to show themselves approved unto God, workman that need not be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth (2nd Timothy 2:15 KJV). However, rightly dividing the word of truth for teachers and all members of the body of Christ comes only by way of revelation of the evidence of things not seen which is the gift of faith from the Spirit of truth which by-passes our five (5) physical senses and goes directly into our spirit in response to our requests for such revelation by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving (Ephesians 1:17-23 – prayer for revelation KJV). The words of truth in our spirit concerning the evidence of things not seen (i. e. faith – Hebrews 11:1) then causes both workers and other members of the body of Christ to become spiritually minded or mentally directed by the thoughts produced from these seeds (i. e. words) of faith that have been revealed directly to our spirit by the Spirit of truth, a. k. a. the Holy Spirit:
- “Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come. He shall glorify me: for he shall receive of mine, and shall shew it unto you. All things that the Father hath are mine: therefore said I, that he shall take of mine, and shall shew it unto you.” – (John 16:13-15 KJV)
NOTE: These verses of scripture are key in understanding the need for prayer to the living God to obtain the spiritual revelation necessary to open up the scripture or the written word to the spiritual eyes of our understanding (Ephesians 1:16-19 KJV). Listen to what the above verses in John chapter 16 tell us in this regard: (1) The Spirit of truth is the living or 3rd Person of the Trinity assigned to guide us into the truth from the spoken or living Word initially received in response to our prayer by way of direct revelation to our spirit by-passing our five physical senses rather than through our study of the written word; (2) The Spirit of truth will not speak of himself, but whatsoever he shall hear of the spoken or living Word from the mouth of God is that which he shall speak, not write; (3) the Spirit of truth will show us “things to come” when God is ready to reveal them to us since none of us know beforehand the times or the seasons which God has reserved for His personal use and power (Acts 1:7 KJV); and lastly, (4) what the Spirit of truth reveals to us will glorify Jesus whose name is the only name under heaven given among men whereby we must be saved (Acts 4:12 KJV). Once we receive words spoken by the mouth of the living God by way of revelation from the Spirit of truth in response to the prayer in Ephesians 1:17-23 for such, we can then use that revelation from the spoken word to begin a fruitful study in the written word to the glory of God the Father and His Son Jesus Christ.
- “Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In ”all” thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.” – (Proverbs 3:5-6 KJV)
NOTE: Being spiritually minded or walking by faith doesn’t mean we are to presumptuously disregard what we understand by sight or through sense-based knowledge received through our five (5) physical senses. For example, Jesus walked by faith but when the devil took a verse from the written word of God out of context to tempt Jesus to jump off the pinnacle of the temple, Jesus refused to presumptuously disregard the natural law of gravity at the behest of the written word quoted from the mouth of the devil to attempt to override the natural laws of physics. Jesus would have never attempted to override the natural laws of physics unless he was first specifically authorized to do so by a spoken word from the mouth of the living God by way of revelation from the Holy Spirit to his spirit provided that word proved out to be true within the context of the full counsel of God’s wisdom as measured against two or three witnesses from the testimony of the written word as to the truth of that revelation.
Reading and studying the written word as the basis for mountain moving faith that can override the natural laws of physics by leaning to our own intellectual understanding should never be used to blind us to the reality of the dire consequences of breaching those things which are seen which are governed by the natural laws of physics. Instead, real mountain moving faith that can overcome the natural laws of physics can only come by way of revelation spoken from the mouth of the living God—-not the written word (i. e. the Logos) standing alone apart from the spoken word (i. e. the Rhema).
Real mountain moving faith comes only by way of revelation from the Spirit of truth directly to our spirit by-passing our five (5) physical senses. The Spirit of truth receives His revelation of the truth directly by word(s) spoken from the mouth of God the Father. This faith from the Rhema Word of God gives us a perspective which provides us with the relative importance between those things which are seen of the physical realm and those things which are not seen of the spiritual realm. Those things which are not seen concern evidence pertaining to the spiritual or unseen realm of the kingdom of God we never knew about until we were born again of the Spirit through believing in the faith provided by way of revelation from the Holy Spirit concerning the gospel of Jesus Christ and him crucified dead, buried, and resurrected. Except a natural man born only of the flesh be born again of the Spirit, he cannot see the kingdom of God (John 3:3; 1st Corinthians 2:14 KJV).
By believing through revelation of faith or the evidence of things not seen from the realm of the spiritual or invisible kingdom of God, we understand that the physical and visible realm was created (Hebrews 11:1-3 KJV). Therefore the power of the law of faith of the spiritual realm which rests solely on the spoken word of the living God is superior to and reigns supreme over the power of the natural laws of physics of the physical realm of the creation. We also understand that this unseen realm of the Spirit is eternal and unchanging whereas the visible realm of that which is created is temporal and therefore subject to change (2nd Corinthians 4:17-18 KJV). So, if things go from good to bad in the physical realm of that which can be seen with the natural eye, they can be changed back from bad to good by the supernatural creative miracle-working power of those things or words from the mouth of the living God which cannot be seen or heard except with the spiritual eyes and ears of our heart or our inner man:
- “For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory; while we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal ( e. equally translated as being subject to change); but the things which are not seen are eternal.” – (2nd Corinthians 4:17-18 KJV)
- “Be careful for nothing; but in every thing, by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.” – (Philippians 4:6-7 KJV)
- “If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.” – (James 1:5 KJV)
Remember, it is not given to us to know “the times or the seasons” which God has reserved for His personal use and power (Acts 1:7 KJV). Since it is not given to us in the written word to know the times and the seasons, we must stay in close communion with the living God through daily prayer to know what He’s doing or going to do at any given time and how He wants us to do to accomplish His will and purpose at that particular time. However, only those who have become “the friends of Jesus” by an intimate or close personal relationship with him through face time in daily prayer will be shown what the Lord is doing at any given time or season. Recall in John 16:13-15 we are told that by way of revelation from the Spirit of truth, we would be shown “things to come” but not by intellectual understanding learned through studying the written word on our own beforehand:
- “Abide in me, and I in you, as the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except It abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me. I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, that same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ( e. the Rhema or the living Word, my paraphrase) ye can do nothing. If a man abide not in me, he is withered; and men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned. If ye abide in me, and my words (i. e. my Rhema words, my paraphrase) abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you. Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you. Henceforth I call you not servants; for the servant knoweth not what his lord doeth: but I have called you friends; for all things that I have heard of my Father I have made known unto you. Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain: That whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it you. These things I command you, that ye love one another.” – (John 15:4-7 & verses 14-17 KJV)
To emphasize my “misuse” of the written word as the means to build and obtain an intimate or close personal relationship to the living God and to experience His manifest presence, spiritually speaking, He gave me several scripture verses to make this point.:
- “And if any man think that he knoweth any thing, he knoweth nothing yet as he ought to know. But if any man love God, the same is known of him.” – (1st Corinthians 8:2-3 KJV)
NOTE: You can understand all mysteries and all knowledge available from study of the written word, but if you don’t have a personal relationship with the living Word of God you’re not known of God as a friend. Jesus said, “If ye love me, keep my commandments” (John 14:15 KJV). His commandments were “spoken” words before they were “written” words. Believing comes through faith and faith comes by hearing and hearing by the “Rhema” Word of God (i. e. the spoken Word of God).
- “For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous.” – (1st John 5:3 KJV)
NOTE: One of the commandments of Jesus to us, after we’re born again, is to seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness by seeking, asking, and knocking for it through prayer and supplication with thanksgiving (Matthew 6:33 & 7:7-11; Luke 11:5-13 & 12:32). Remember, the kingdom of God is in the Holy Spirit according to Romans 14:17 which states: “For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost.” So, seeking first the kingdom of God is essentially the same thing as persistently asking, seeking, and knocking for the anointing or baptism of the Holy Spirit with the evidence of speaking in tongues which is the blessing of Abraham or the promise of the Father along with continually acknowledging God daily through prayer and supplication with thanksgiving allowing Him, through the Spirit of truth, to guide us into all truth to direct our paths (Matthew 6:33 & 7:7-11; Luke 11:5-13 & 12:31-32; Acts 19:1-7; Galatians 3:13-14; Proverbs 3:5-6; Romans 8:14; Philippians 4:6-7; John 16:13-15 KJV).
That the baptism of the Holy Spirit and power with the evidence of speaking in tongues is a separate issue from the baptism of John or the baptism unto repentance when we first believed and were sealed with the holy Spirit of God unto the day of redemption (Ephesians 1:13-14 & 4:30 KJV) as the earnest of our inheritance, is evidenced by the fact Jesus breathed on his disciples long before the day of Pentecost and said receive ye the Holy Ghost (John 20:22 KJV). That these two baptisms are separate events is further reinforced by Acts 19:1-7. Also, since the kingdom of God is in the Holy Ghost why would Jesus tell us to seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness which is in the Holy Ghost after we had already received and believed in the gospel message of Jesus Christ and him crucified through faith, been born again of the Spirit, received the baptism of John unto repentance, and received the holy Spirit as the earnest of our inheritance?
- “And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not love, I am nothing.” – (1st Corinthians 13:2 KJV)
- “For if any man think himself to be something, when he is nothing, he deceiveth himself.” – (Galatians 6:3 KJV)
NOTE #1: If a man or woman studies the written word and by virtue of their pride in their knowledge of the written word they think themselves to be something when they are nothing apart from an intimate or close personal relationship with the living Word, they deceive themselves.
NOTE #2: We are as nothing without abiding in Him and the Rhema word (i. e. the spoken Word of God) abiding is us through revelation by prayer.
- “Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me.” – (John 5:39 KJV)
NOTE: The written word once revealed to our spirit by the Holy Spirit points to and glorifies the eternal and living Word who was made flesh and dwelt among us (John 1:1, 14 & 16:13-15 KJV). Jesus existed before the Bible was written and I knew Jesus personally as a living person immediately after I was born again of the Spirit and before I knew one word from the written word recorded in scripture. Again, the distinction between written word and Jesus, the living Word, is that Bible isn’t flesh and blood and, therefore, doesn’t bleed. I would never have been able to understand and know the written word or any of the things of the Spirit as a natural man had not Jesus, who is the Word made flesh, opened my spiritual eyes through the new birth (1st Corinthians 2:14; John 3:3 KJV). Jesus, the living Word of God made flesh, made it possible for me to come to God and be born again of the Spirit by the shedding of his sinless and innocent blood on my behalf through his death on the cross as my kinsman redeemer according to the flesh through a virgin birth.
Jesus is the Rhema or Living Word of God who was made flesh and dwelt among men (John 1:14 KJV), not the Logos or the written word which was inspired by God and penned by men to establish the scripture as an attestation or witness to the truth of Word of Life. Therefore, once again, the living Word has the preeminence in all things. The Greek word Rhema is useful to distinguish between two meanings of God’s word which are (1) the “spoken word” and (2) the “written word”. Rhema refers to “the spoken word” whereas Logos refers to “the written word”. Rhema is that personal word from God that comes to us by way of direct revelation from the Holy Spirit to our spirit by-passing our five (5) physical senses. Once the Rhema word is received by way of revelation then we can validate and authenticate it’s source or prove it’s spiritual source by measuring it against God’s standard and unchanging measure of truth—–the written word authored and inspired by the Holy Ghost and penned by men.
Studying the written word doesn’t replace communion with my heavenly Father in prayer. When Jesus said, “the words that I speak unto you they are spirit, and they are life – (John 6:63b; Hebrews 4:12 KJV)”, we overlook a very important aspect of what he said in that verse which is: “the words that I speak.” Jesus is a Living Person who is the living Word of God that comes to us by way of revelation from the Father’s own mouth to the Holy Spirit who in turn reveals the living Word to our spirit in a living way as he did to his disciples on the road to Emmaus. The words that I speak refer to that still small voice or Rhema word from the mouth of God that we hear personally in our spirit which goes directly into our heart by-passing our five (5) physical senses (1st Kings 19:11-13 KJV). The written word, in addition to it’s uses according to 2nd Timothy 3:16-17, also allows us to validate or prove whether or not the spoken word that comes to our spirit by way of revelation is actually from the living Word of God or not.
When Father God, by way of revelation, speaks to us personally through Jesus the living Word, or the Word made flesh, it is always effectual because it is spoken at the right time or season and therefore carries upon it the anointing of the Holy Spirit or the supernatural creative miracle-working wisdom and power of the kingdom of God to make that personal word from God come to pass (Isaiah 55:11 KJV). Remember, the kingdom of God is not in word but in power (1st Corinthians 4:20 KJV). While the written word is absolutely true and inspired of God, it is not eternal life itself (John 5:39 KJV). Instead, Jesus said that the written word merely testifies of those things concerning himself who is, the Living Word made flesh (Luke 24:25-27; John 5:39; John 1:1, 14; Romans 8:3-4 KJV). The scribes and the Pharisees had the written word but they didn’t know the living Word. My personal testimony does not testify to my knowledge of the written word but of my personal encounter with the living Word who is God and who is love Himself. Listen to how the living Word spoken from the mouth of the living God opened up the written word to the spiritual eyes and ears of the hearts (i. e. the inner man of the heart) of the disciples on their way to Emmaus:
- “And, behold, two of them went that same day to a village called Emmaus, which was from Jerusalem about threescore furlongs. And they talked together of these things which had happened. And it came to pass, that, while they communed together and reasoned, Jesus ( e. the living Word of God, my addition) himself drew near, and went with them. But their eyes were holden that they should not know him. Then he said unto them, O fools, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken: Ought not Christ to have suffered these things, and to enter into his glory? And beginning at Moses and all the prophets, he expounded unto them in all the scriptures the things concerning himself. And they drew nigh unto the village, whither they went: and he made as though he would have gone further. But they constrained him, saying, Abide with us: for it is toward evening, and the day is far spent. And he went in to tarry with them. And it came to pass, as he sat at meat with them, he took bread (i. e. the living Word of God took bread, my addition), and blessed it, and brake, and gave to them. And their eyes were opened and they knew him; and he vanished out of their sight. And they said one to another, Did not our hearts burn within us, while he talked with us by the way, and while he (i. e. the living Word of God, my addition) opened to us the scriptures?” – (Luke 24:13-16 & 25-32 KJV)
Spending time studying on my own through self-effort and self-determination apart from prayer in order to experience his presence and gain more knowledge of God, is futile. Any knowledge I obtain through my own efforts apart from revelation by the Holy Spirit in response to prayer merely puffs me up with pride (1st Corinthians 8:1 KJV). However when I commune with God in prayer, whatever the Holy Spirit reveals to me through faith as a result of prayer humbles me to glorify Jesus instead of myself since I know I received it as a gift from God, not through my own study efforts (Ephesians 2:8-9; James 1:5 KJV). There is nothing I have that I didn’t receive, so why do I boast as though I didn’t receive it (1st Corinthians 4:7 KJV). I can study from daylight to dawn ‘til my eyes burn, but unless and until I pray and receive revelation from the Holy Spirit in response to my prayers, the eyes of my understanding won’t be enlightened and my words and actions will be ineffectual in their application (Ephesians 1:16-19 KJV).
The call of God in 2nd Chronicles 7:14 for us to humble ourselves, and pray, and seek His face (i. e. seek the spoken word at His mouth which is on His face through daily prayer), and turn from our wicked ways so that He will hear us from heaven and heal our land is not a call to one prayer or several prayers asking Him to heal our land. Instead, it is a call to a lifestyle of prayer, to start acknowledging Him daily, so that He is able to continually direct our paths into the paths of righteousness for His name’s sake from now on and forever. Our “wicked ways” referred to in 2nd Chronicles 7:14 are those wicked ways of a lifestyle directed by set traditions, like Martha (Luke 10:38-42 KJV), based only on the stale knowledge of what we have already come to know through study of the written word and doing that which we intellectually reason to be right in our own eyes but not based on our awaiting the words of wisdom from God’s own mouth in answer to our daily prayers for such fresh manna to direct our ways. God’s direction comes to us only by means of revelation from the Holy Spirit to our spirit in response to our daily prayers to God, trusting and acknowledging Him and asking Him for such direction (Proverbs 3:5-6; Matthew 6:9-13; Philippians 4:6-7 KJV). The Holy Spirit’s revelation is made directly into the spiritual eyes and ears of our spirit (i. e. the eyes and ears of our heart or our inner man) by-passing our sight or sense-based intellectual knowledge received from our five (5) physical senses.
We must continually remember that to “every thing” there is a season, and a time for every purpose under heaven, yet it has not been given to us to know the times or the seasons which God has reserved for His personal use and power (Ecclesiastes 3:1; Acts 1:7 KJV). We must also remember that “all things” work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose (Romans 8:28 KJV). Since I do not know the times or the seasons, I must acknowledge God in all my ways through daily prayer so that he can direct my paths that I might continually be in sync with his purpose for the particular season and time at hand so that all things will work together for good for me and my family individually and for all members of the body of Christ collectively (Proverbs 3:5-6; Philippians 4:6-7 KJV). So, prayer is a must, not a luxury, if I’m going to see all things working together for good. Therefore, I must give as much or more time in prayer to God, the Living Word, as I do in studying the inanimate letter of the written word if I want to build an intimate or close personal relationship with God to obtain the manifestation of His spiritual presence as a living Person. In His presence is fullness of joy and the joy of the Lord is our strength (Nehemiah 8:10b; Psalms 16:11 KJV).
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Mission Mexico Elvita Dejected then Blessed [video]

“Wow! God is sure blessing this ministry! And given you the heart of a servant. As I listened to these stories and saw all the pictures all I heard was Jesus! This whole Mexico Mission is all about Jesus! Not Todd but Jesus. Hallelujah!” Karen Cochran
Spanish Content on SafeGuardYourSoul | The JESUS tract in English and Spanish
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Articles
What Did Paul mean by “Double Honour”? [podcast]

“Let the elders that rule well be counted worthy of double honour, especially they who labour in the word and doctrine. 18 For the scripture saith, Thou shalt not muzzle the ox that treadeth out the corn. And, The labourer is worthy of his reward.” 1 Timothy 5:17-18
“Double honour” is generous but not lavish. “Double honour” limits the income of “the elders that rule well.” This would be in contrast to the many pastors today who make themselves rich in this world, as they “make merchandise” of their prey, the people they lead (2 Peter 2:1-3).
Do we not realize that “double honour” actually prevents making merchandise of God’s people by making millionaires our of con men? You are not wiser than God, sinner. You don’t decide what His Word says. It’s best to shut up in humility and simply render humble obedience on this topic, doctrine, and all others.
“Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice …” 1 Samuel 15:22
Tithing is not taught in the New Testament. Giving is to be done out of worship, gratitude, and the honor of the LORD. Christ’s New Testament disciples are to give out of a “cheerful” heart (2 Corinthians 9:7). Here is what the apostle Paul wrote about our giving under the New Covenant:
“But this I say, He which soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly; and he which soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully. 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. 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: 9 (As it is written, He hath dispersed abroad; he hath given to the poor: his righteousness remaineth for ever. 10 Now he that ministereth seed to the sower both minister bread for your food, and multiply your seed sown, and increase the fruits of your righteousness;) 11 Being enriched in every thing to all bountifulness, which causeth through us thanksgiving to God. ” 2 Corinthians 9:6-11
It’s actually sickening to see how some, out of their own darkened and corrupted hearts, want to starve out the God-called elders from carrying out their divinely ordained duties to feed and equip the flock and to watch for their souls.
Some people are so deep in darkness and therefore blinded that they don’t realize that the work that they do in this world to earn money is not even important compared to the paramount divine work of an elder that God has prepared, sent forth, and diligently feeding His blood-bought flock.
“Remember them which have the rule over you, who have spoken unto you the word of God: whose faith follow, considering the end of their conversation. … 16 But to do good and to communicate forget not: for with such sacrifices God is well pleased. 17 Obey them that have the rule over you, and submit yourselves: for they watch for your souls, as they that must give account, that they may do it with joy, and not with grief: for that is unprofitable for you.” Hebrews 13:7, 16-17
1 Timothy 5:17-18 is specifically of those called-by-God elders “who labour in the word and doctrine.”
“Double honour” here is twice the average earning in the specific economy and time. This apparently is so that they have no financial worries and can concentrate on the most important work in the earth, the kingdom of Christ—feed His flock (John 21:15-17; 1 Peter 5:1-6, etc.). “The elders that rule well” are those who are to be given “double honour” and not the greed-driven enterprising salesmen …..
Of “double honour” one source notes the following (1 Timothy 5:17-18):
“In 1 Timothy 5:17, the “double honor” refers to giving financial support, respect, and esteem to elders who lead the church well and especially to those who work hard at preaching and teaching. This concept is rooted in the Old Testament principle that a laboring ox should not be muzzled, and a worker deserves their wages, highlighting the importance of caring for those who labor in ministry.”
What kind of men does the LORD look for to servant lead?
“Moreover thou shalt provide out of all the people able men, such as fear God, men of truth, hating covetousness; and place such over them, to be rulers of thousands, and rulers of hundreds, rulers of fifties, and rulers of tens:” Exodus 18:21
Paul’s refusal to covet what is not his own, in no way negates the compensation God has ordained for those who labor in His Word and doctrine to feed His sheep (1 Corinthians 9). There is no contradiction. Paul’s refusal to receive of the Corinthians doesn’t mean he didn’t receive from others. Take a look:
“And when I was present with you, and wanted, I was chargeable to no man: for that which was lacking to me the brethren which came from Macedonia supplied: and in all things I have kept myself from being burdensome unto you, and so will I keep myself.” 2 Corinthians 11:9
The above verse, revelation proves the argument wrong that suggests that ministers of the Gospel of Christ should reject receiving any giving to do His work.
The fact that “double honour” is appropriate to the elders described in 1 Timothy 5:17-18 is in NO way means this “double honor” compensation should be demanded. No. Yet God has stated such and in my opinion, from this passage and 1 Corinthians 9 and the Levites of the Old Testament, He says it should be a sufficient portion, a sufficient, a generous compensation that is supplied to “the elders that rule well.” Perhaps He stated double honor in order to be a measure of what is not enough and what is too much and so the elders defined here do not have to feel guilty. Also, is it not conducive to peace in one’s calling to know his bills are paid? As in no muzzling, no starving out the elder ox who treads out the corn of God’s Word, who works to feed the flock of God.
“Double honor – Διπλης τιμης. Almost every critic of note allows that τιμη here signifies reward, stipend, wages. Let him have a double or a larger salary who rules well; and why? Because in the discharge of his office he must be at expense, in proportion to his diligence, in visiting and relieving the sick, in lodging and providing for strangers; in a word, in his being given to hospitality, which was required of every bishop or presbyter.” Adam Clarke
“[Let the elders that rule well be counted worthy of double honour, especially they who labour in the word and doctrine] Ruling elders, especially preaching and teaching elders are to receive double honor or wages (1Ti_5:17-18; 1Co_9:6-14; Gal_6:6; Heb_7:1-10). See note, Act_14:23.” Dake
“Let him that is taught in the word communicate (give) unto him that teacheth in all good things.” Galatians 6:6
The Greek word for “communicate” here is:
“koinōneō
koy-no-neh’-o
From G2844; to share with others (objectively or subjectively): – communicate, distribute, be partaker.”
We are privileged to supply those who feed us, to fund those who feed us God’s Word. Such men perform the most important and only eternal work in our lives in this world as we look for the soon return of our LORD.
Is “double honour” also not a demarkation…. where those who would dare exceed double honour to make themselves rich in this world are known as those who are making merchandise of the people? See 2 Peter 2:1-3. What the self-righteous who attempt to change “double honour” into something other than what it is don’t understand, is that “double honour” is a parameter that actually keeps men from making merchandise of the people, making themselves millionaires at the expense of, while exploiting the people. God is all wise….
John Wesley notes:
“Let the elders that rule well – Who approve themselves faithful stewards of all that is committed to their charge. Be counted worthy of double honour – A more abundant provision, seeing that such will employ it all to the glory of God. As it was the most laborious and disinterested men who were put into these offices, so whatever any one had to bestow, in his life or death, was generally lodged in their hands for the poor.”
It’s quite amazing how some expect the men who are prepared, called out by God to do the infinitely most important work in the earth are to do it for free. The origins of this lie which directly contradicts God’s Word, is “another spirit,” Satan—who wars against the LORD and His servants.
It seems that perhaps some become disillusioned when they realize they’ve been deceived by wolves in sheep’s clothing. Then they don’t give at all and yet the Word instructs us to give and to specifically give to the ministries that feed us the pure Word (Galatians 6:6; 1 Timothy 5:17-18).
The lost will never supply, support God’s work. And that’s because they are not of God and that the LORD has left that opportunity for His own people – to lay up treasure in glory which He instructed us to do (Matthew 6:19-21).
God’s people are divinely called and are to be allowed and granted the blessed opportunity to give to HIS work—not forcefully coerced but given opportunity (2 Corinthians 9:7). This is clear in Scripture. When we give, we thereby learn to trust Him who replenishes our supply as He so often promised to do (Proverbs 3:9-10; 2 Corinthians 9:6-11, etc.). It would be wrong to disallow God’s people from giving actually. Moses did not stop God’s people from giving until there was so much given by God’s people that there was nowhere else to contain it! He had to tell them to stop bringing their things to the work of the LORD because they had nowhere else to store it—there was too much of it (Exodus 35). To tell people not to give to God’s work(ers) would mean he forbade them from doing what the LORD told His people to do from the beginning—give. The Levites were one of the twelve tribes of Israel set forth to continually worship and serve the LORD and His people, and Paul, Christ’s apostle, draws from this very truth/fact in 1 Corinthians 9 below.
God provides, yes, and His stated desire to supply, at least in part, is through His body—and that is so that they partake of the blessings both now and eternally (Galatians 6:6; 1 Corinthians 9:1-14; 1 Timothy 5:17-18). A proper and more thorough view of God’s kingdom reveals that to shut off the opportunity of giving and forbid His children from giving, stifles blessings.
When your reaction to evil produces more evil (causes you to trample on the clear contents of God’s Word, to pervert it), you know you fit what Paul calls men of corrupt minds (1 Timothy 6). While over reacting you perfect what Satan and his wolves perverted, you also are guilty of teaching against the LORD you falsely claim to serve and thereby bear false witness against the Almighty. “Let God be true and every man a liar” (Romans 3:4). You have joined the ranks of those you condemn in that you too have “limited the holy one of Israel” while denying His truth, as you pretend to defend the faith (Psalms 78:41).
“For we are not as many, which corrupt the word of God: but as of sincerity, but as of God, in the sight of God speak we in Christ.” 2 Corinthians 2:17
“Jeremiah 3:15: ‘And I will give you pastors according to mine heart, which shall feed you knowledge and understanding.’ These are pastors who live according to God’s word and understand the very heart of God, which is His Word (Psalm 33:11). We have very few of these in this late hour! Most are too consumed with self.” Karen Cochran
Your ill-advised inner embattlement that consumes you doesn’t change the very Word of God. You have over reacted and dismissed the very Word of the God you claim to serve. This puts you in the same camp as those you condemn. Isn’t it time for you to step back and get into the place of repentance before a holy God? That way you will cease perverting the right ways, the Word of God – trampling its contents out of the imbalance.
“Sow to yourselves in righteousness, reap in mercy; break up your fallow ground: for it is time to seek the LORD, till he come and rain righteousness upon you. 13 Ye have plowed wickedness, ye have reaped iniquity; ye have eaten the fruit of lies: because thou didst trust in thy way, in the multitude of thy mighty men.” Hosea 10:12-13
“He that answereth a matter before he heareth it, it is folly and shame unto him.” Proverbs 18:13
Tithing? No. Levitical Priesthood Pattern brought into light by the apostle Paul? Yes.
It seems some are basing things on the wolves’ exploitation of the people and putting their weight there more than on the Scriptures which are clear concerning the compensation of certain elders, such as in 1 Corinthians 9 and 1 Timothy 5:17-18, etc. The Levites also. No the New Testament doesn’t teach tithing. No I am not trying to get anyone’s money, yet this ministry outreach accepts any cheerful giving from Christ’s saints…. which helps allow many to be reached with God’s Word.
Some novices on this thread seem to be making presumptuous conclusions of those who simply seek to stand on top of the whole counsel of Scripture on this topic. We must never abandon truth, God’s doctrine, due to others abusing it. Never abandon to abuse as it’s been put. We never throw out any part of the Word due to the abuse of it by others (Psalms 119:104, 128; 2 Corinthians 2:17).
A common misapplication of Scripture happens when people say “Freely ye have RECEIVED, freely GIVE.” (Matthew 10:8)
Watch closely what they quote – “Freely ye have RECEIVED, freely GIVE.” (Matthew 10:8) How are the men, the elders whom GOD has prepared and called out to serve HIM going to “GIVE” unless they are receiving? Some are misusing this verse. In the context of Matthew 10, the apostles had RECEIVED the Word, the Gospel from Christ and therefore were to GIVE it to others freely. That’s what ministry is and this is spoken in context of Jesus sending forth His disciples to minister. This in no way negates that God’s people are to be givers as they obey His command to lay up treasure in Heaven, to work so they “have to give”, but supporting His work – the going forth of His Word to feed, nourish, and equip Christ’s saints (Matthew 6:19-21; Ephesians 4:28). “How dwelleth the love of God in” those who don’t give? And where else to give but to poor Christians and the elders and work of Christ?
“But whoso hath this world’s good, and seeth his brother have need, and shutteth up his bowels of compassion from him, how dwelleth the love of God in him?” 1 John 3:17
Are God’s people not instructed to fund those who feed them God’s Word? Yes. (Galatians 6:6)
How nonsensical for God to send forth men to be used of Him without the plan in place to provide for them. (1 Corinthians 9:1-14)
How nonsensical for the LORD to instruct His saints to give, to lay up treasure in Heaven and not waste it on earth, without the plan in place for where they are to give? (Matthew 6:19-21)
Some make the common novice mistake of concluding that God’s Word should be disobeyed, His true elders should not be funded but rather starved out, all because his enemy, Satan, has used false prophets to make merchandise of many (2 Peter 2:1-3).
What Does the Bible Say about the Compensation of Christ’s True Ministers? Is this topic addressed in God’s Word? If so, what does it say?
Compensation for true ministers is the stated ordained will of God (1 Timothy 5:17-18; 1 Corinthians 9:1-14)… problem is not pay but rather the hirelings who are getting paid…. to mislead!
“Let the elders that rule well be counted worthy of double honour, especially they who labour in the word and doctrine. 18 For the scripture saith, thou shalt not muzzle the ox that treadeth out the corn. And, The labourer is worthy of his reward.” – 1 Timothy 5:17-18
Reading these 2 verses together makes it clear that “double honour” includes financial compensation. Otherwise the command of v. 18 is being violated—when called out elders are labouring in the Word and doctrine are being muzzled. Seems this could not be more clearly stated than the Holy Ghost through Paul penned it.
“Double honour” is to be given to divinely called-out elders “especially they who labour in the word and doctrine” (1 Timothy 5:17-18).
“Do ye not know that they which minister about holy things live of the things of the temple? and they which wait at the altar are partakers with the altar? 14 Even so hath the Lord ordained that they which preach the gospel should live of the gospel.” – 1 Corinthians 9:13-14 KJV
Recently one man attempted to reduce “double honour” to mere respect until shown the never verse, verse 18. He blocked me instead of amending his ways to believe the contents, the Word of Holy Writ.
“Double Honour”
“And in the same house remain, eating and drinking such things as they give: for the labourer is worthy of his hire. Go not from house to house.” Luke 10:7
What does the Bible tell us concerning those who minister the Gospel?
“Let the elders that rule well be counted worthy of double honour (sufficient of generous financial reward), especially they who labour in the word and doctrine. For the scripture saith, Thou shalt not muzzle the ox that treadeth out the corn. And, The labourer is worthy of his reward.” 1 Timothy 5:17-18
“Double honour” specifically means twice the average pay of the present economy. In general that means that God wants those He calls out into ministry to be well taken care of. And, that’s the responsibility of those who are fed by that ministry.
“Elders (5:17-25) 5:17 The rest of this chapter deals with elders. First of all, Paul lays down the rule that elders who rule well should be counted worthy of double honor. Rule might be translated ‘take the lead.’ It is not a question of control, but of example, such elders are worthy of double honor. Honor might mean respect, but it also includes the idea of financial reimbursement (Matt. 15:6). Double honor includes both ideas. First of all, he is worthy of respect from God’s people because of his work, but also, if his time is devoted to this work fully, he is also worthy of financial help. Those who labor in the word and doctrine are probably the ones who spend so much time in preaching and teaching that they are not able to carry on regular employment.
5:18 Two scriptures are introduced here to prove the statement that the elder is worthy of recompense. The first is Deuteronomy 25:4, and the second is taken from Luke 10:7. … These scriptures teach that an ox which is used in the harvesting process should not be deprived of a share of the grain. Also, a laborer is entitled to a portion of the fruit of his labor. So it is with elders. In spite of the fact that their work not be be physical, yet they are worthy of the support of God’s people.” William MacDonald, Believer’s Bible Commentary, pp. 2096-297
Let’s address a very important, core issue: Do you believe that you are worthy of the money you are paid to do the work you do for a living? Do you believe in your heart, that those who do the work of the ministry are worthy to receive financial blessings from doing this all-important work? If you don’t, may I suggest that there may be a poverty curse on your life that needs to be broken (Deuteronomy 26,28). At the very least, there could be a lack of what the LORD has stated about this.
Many of the servants of the LORD are suffering at the hands of those who have the opportunity to give to the work of the ministry and haven’t. Beloved, let’s turn things around for those who bring us the Word and do the most important work in the earth.
When we truly begin to aggrandize divine truth, we will then begin supporting only those who truly preach all of it (full-counsel) fearlessly and cease from funding the ministries of false prophets who allow most of their ministry revenues to be absorbed on things other than that which is at the core of importance in the divine economy, like the true building up of the saints – getting them into the Word for themselves, and winning lost souls.
Concerning the work and workers of God’s kingdom, the Bible instructs us in Ezra 6:8 – “forthwith expenses be given unto these men, that they be not hindered” – that is, that God’s Gospel laborers be not hindered in carrying out His work.
The reason all of God’s people are to give to His authentic work is “that they (Christ’s workers) be not hindered” (Ezra 6:8).
It’s quite alarming how some have a death grip on their earthly riches and so come running to defend their refusal to give to the LORD, to HIS work.
“All things come of thee, and of thine own have we given thee.” 1 Chronicles 29:14
May our LORD bless each of us to be cultivated in a heart filled with sincere and true worship and thanksgiving to Him.
“Freely ye have received, freely give.” Matthew 10:8
We should understand that we have freely received the salvation of our God in Christ and that those who don’t give out of the mercy, forgiveness, love, supply that He has given us, are not in God’s will. Out of what God gives us we give out and this clearly proves we have given ourselves to the LORD. We are not still serving the false god of self and therefore mammon (Matthew 6:19-24). When Jesus spoke of giving and it will given back to us, He’s speaking of all these things and not just giving out of the monies God has prospered us with (Luke 6:38).
These darkened souls seem to attempt to reduce giving to merely giving out the Gospel that we received. The Bible says there’s much more to the stewardship of the LORD’s resources (Matthew 25).
RECEIVING and GIVING in God’s Word expands far being saved and giving others the Word.
Every disciple is to give his life to the LORD as Jesus came and gave His life freely to saved us (Luke 14:33; 17:33; 19:27; John 12:23-25, etc.). BUT first that life, eternal life, is to RECEIVE from Christ and we give it back to Him.
There is no giving until we have received of the hand of God.
“ALL THINGS COME of THEE and of thine own have we given thee.” 1 Chronicles 29:14
Have we really given our lives to Christ who gave all if we don’t have a giving heart and hand?
There are seriously some people who HATE giving. They blame their refusal to be generous givers on the many false prophets who have made merchandise of them and many others. Also, they are greed driven hoarders who don’t want anyone suggesting that they should be cheerful, generous givers.
“Charge them that are rich in this world, that they be not highminded, nor trust in uncertain riches, but in the living God, who giveth us richly all things to enjoy; 18 That they do good, that they be rich in good works, ready to distribute, willing to communicate; 19 Laying up in store for themselves a good foundation against the time to come, that they may lay hold on eternal life.” 1 Timothy 6:17-19
Read that passage again and note that there is no “foundation against the time to come (eternal judgment),” no laying “hold on eternal life” if one doesn’t have saving faith, whereby he would otherwise be a giver. And everyone has something to give—just as the widow with the 2 mites (Mark 12:41-44). She gave all she had and Jesus honored it and yet did not honor those who gave a token tip, small percentages of what they possessed.
Every saint is to give of his substance, as he has received of God, so he is to give with a cheerful heart (Matthew 10:8; 2 Corinthians 9:6-11; Ephesians 4:28, etc.).
It seems that the hoarding covetous, greed driven among us are possessed with deep hatred at the idea of giving. Their earthly gold is their god and they have rejected Christ (Matthew 6:21-24; Philippians 3:18-19). They have a deep and dark issue. Luke 12 and 16.
“For this ye know, that no whoremonger, nor unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, hath any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God.” Ephesians 5:5
“(For many walk, of whom I have told you often, and now tell you even weeping, that they are the enemies of the cross of Christ: 19 Whose end is destruction, whose God is their belly, and whose glory is in their shame, who mind earthly things.)” Philippians 3:18-19
The following scathing rebuke was sent to a woman who denies that God has a plan in place to compensate the men, the elders He has prepared and called out to “labour in the word and doctrine.”
“Let the elders that rule well be counted worthy of double honour, especially they who labour in the word and doctrine. 18 For the scripture saith, Thou shalt not muzzle the ox that treadeth out the corn. And, The labourer is worthy of his reward.” 1 Timothy 5:17-18
You have no biblical clue on this topic. It’s obvious from such a false statement.
Have you ever read, studied 1 Corinthians 9?
You’ve placed your personal issues above the Word of God which He has magnified above His own holy name and are in need of repentance (Psalms 138:2).
Were the Levites compensated? Yes.
So you like that the men who are prepared and ordained and sent out by God, to do the infinitely most important and only eternal work in the earth starve, and their families as well? Repent now.
Not one thing they state in arguing against Christ’s ministers being compensated undoes, negates the following Bible truth, facts:
1 Corinthians 9
Paul Surrenders His Rights
1 Am I not an apostle? am I not free? have I not seen Jesus Christ our Lord? are not ye my work in the Lord?
2 If I be not an apostle unto others, yet doubtless I am to you: for the seal of mine apostleship are ye in the Lord.
3 Mine answer to them that do examine me is this,
4 Have we not power to eat and to drink?
5 Have we not power to lead about a sister, a wife, as well as other apostles, and as the brethren of the Lord, and Cephas?
6 Or I only and Barnabas, have not we power to forbear working?
7 Who goeth a warfare any time at his own charges? who planteth a vineyard, and eateth not of the fruit thereof? or who feedeth a flock, and eateth not of the milk of the flock?
8 Say I these things as a man? or saith not the law the same also?
9 For it is written in the law of Moses, Thou shalt not muzzle the mouth of the ox that treadeth out the corn. Doth God take care for oxen?
10 Or saith he it altogether for our sakes? For our sakes, no doubt, this is written: that he that ploweth should plow in hope; and that he that thresheth in hope should be partaker of his hope.
11 If we have sown unto you spiritual things, is it a great thing if we shall reap your carnal things?
12 If others be partakers of this power over you, are not we rather? Nevertheless we have not used this power; but suffer all things, lest we should hinder the gospel of Christ.
13 Do ye not know that they which minister about holy things live of the things of the temple? and they which wait at the altar are partakers with the altar?
14 Even so hath the Lord ordained that they which preach the gospel should live of the gospel.
Many are biblically illiterate on this topic and yet argue in their ignorance (Proverbs 18:13). Note that they will say things like:
“Paul worked and said for them to follow his example. We are NOT in the Old Testament.”
Paul specifically refers in the New Testament to the Old Testament divine pattern of God-called elders who wait upon and serve the LORD and His people to be compensated—for doing the most important and only eternal work in the earth. Paul ties together and builds on his argument by drawing from the divine pattern as it was with Levites, the Levitical priesthood.
“Say I these things as a man? or SAITH NOT THE LAW THE SAME ALSO?” 1 Corinthians 9:8
“Do ye not know that they which minister about holy things live of the things of the temple? and they which wait at the altar are partakers with the altar? 14 Even so hath the Lord ordained that they which preach the gospel should live of the gospel.” 1 Corinthians 9:13-14
“9:13 Paul next introduces the argument from the support of those who served in the Jewish temple. Those who had official duties in connection with the temple service were supported from the income the temple received. In this sense they lived off the things of the temple. Also, the priests themselves who served at the altar were given a certain portion of the offerings that were brought to the altar. In other words, both the Levites, who had the ordinary duties around the temple, and the priests, to whom were entrusted the more sacred duties, were alike supported for their service.” Believer’s Bible Commentary
Under the Old Covenant, the giving of the people went to the ordained set-apart full time ministers, servants of the LORD—the Levites, the Levitical priesthood. Paul brings that pattern into New Testament giving, supplying for the work of the LORD.
“And, behold, I have given the children of Levi all the tenth in Israel for an inheritance, for their service which they serve, even the service of the tabernacle of the congregation.” Numbers 18:21
Clearly in his discourse on the compensation of God-called ministers, Paul is referring to this provision the LORD made for His servants under the Old Covenant in the middle of declaring and arguing that such is to be so under the New Covenant, in this time of the Church.
“Say I these things as a man? or SAITH NOT THE LAW THE SAME ALSO? … 13 Do ye not know that they which minister about holy things live of the things of the temple? and they which wait at the altar are partakers with the altar? 14 Even so hath the Lord ordained that they which preach the gospel should live of the gospel.” 1 Corinthians 9:8, 13-14
It is quite an indictment some dare level against God to say that He had, has a plan to call out and use His elders to feed and equip His blood bought flock and somehow has no plans, no provisions to provide for them. Nonsense. The LORD is the One who declared that “the labourer is worthy of his hire” (Luke 10:7). Oh and He needed not nor asked for the puny permission of any mere sinner, man.
There was no money in the New Testament Scriptures collected to build a separate “church” building. The money went to the believers in need (the poor), elders teaching sound doctrine, etc. (Acts 2:44-45; 4:32-35; Romans 15:26; 1 Timothy 5:17-18; 1 Corinthians 9:1-14, etc.). Also, we discussed that the highest paid elders are to be “they who labour in the word and doctrine” (1 Timothy 5:17-18). They are a type of New Testament full time servants of the LORD and His people—such as were the Levites, the Levitical priesthood under the Old Testament who were set apart to seek God and serve His people.
“Let the elders that rule well be counted worthy of double honour, especially they who labour in the word and doctrine. 18 For the scripture saith, Thou shalt not muzzle the ox that treadeth out the corn. And, The labourer is worthy of his reward.” 1 Timothy 5:17-18
It’s interesting that you are not arguing that plumbers, accountants, attorneys, teachers, etc., should not be compensated for their work. Wow. That’s the spirit of antichrist in you, make no mistake.
Your thinking is very convoluted at best, speaking of things being twisted. The King James Bible is the pure preserved Word of God (Psalms 12:6-7). Paul established as did Jesus that the workman of the Gospel is worthy of his hire. This is irrefutable. The way the individual works out his own salvation with fear and trembling is between him and God (Philippians2:12-13).
Clearing Up the Confusion
The lengths some go to in order to dismiss their clear teaching of Scripture is telling, revealing their are antichrists who are speaking against the Word of God. Notice these same people who want God’s pastoral oxen starved out, removed from their posts have never argued that plumbers, accountants, teachers, and doctors, etc. should provide their own way, to refuse to be paid for what they do. Yet what those laborers do is a temporal work, an infinitely inferior work compared to those God calls out to do the most important and only eternal work transpiring in the earth. Repent now.
The abuse of some, of wolves, in no way negates the LORD’s plain teaching that His workers are to be compensated.
“The labourer is worthy of his hire.” Luke 10:7
God’s pattern of the Levites continues:
“Say I these things as a man? or SAITH NOT THE LAW THE SAME ALSO?” 1 Corinthians 9:8
Paul uses the illustration of how the military are worthy of their hire—to be compensated for carrying out their duties to provide protection for a nation.
“Who goeth a warfare any time at his own charges? who planteth a vineyard, and eateth not of the fruit thereof? or who feedeth a flock, and eateth not of the milk of the flock?” 1 Corinthians 9:7
“Who goeth a warfare any time at his own charges?” In other words WHO within the military comes home from war and has to pay the bill he incurred by defending our nation? Does the USA give a bill to its military when they return from war? Such would be ludicrous and yet you foolishly suggest that men called to the infinitely most important warfare for the souls of men should be forced to fund their own way? God plainly disagrees.
To continue to make his point Paul then argues: “Who planteth a vineyard, and eateth not of the fruit thereof?” Yet you argue that those who plant gardens should refrain from eating of the fruits of that garden? And those who feed their flocks should not be able to drink of the milk of that flock.
Greedy, hoarding counterfeits hate the instruction to give. They have a death grip on their temporal trinkets and rusted gold which will be their eternal undoing (Luke 12, 16). Eternal damnation awaits (Ephesians 5:5).
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Articles
Sabbath Keeping, Justification, Sports, and Non-Essentials [podcast]

Hint: If something is not specifically named as a sin in God’s Word, leave others alone about it. MYOB, right? (Mind Your Own Business)
In this podcast, you will hear about a Recent Phone Call from Hell I received and how it was dealt with.
Over the years, I’ve conversed with men who are religious but not saved. Oh and boy are they fervent and sincere, and yet sincerely dead wrong. This particular phone conversation was no different. Many times Paul’s writings were born out of his defense of the faith of the original Gospel and this message is the same. Perhaps there’s a two-fold blessing in this:
- Continuing to established the essentials set forth in the original Gospel of Christ (John 21:15-17; 1 Timothy 1:5; 2 Timothy 3:15-17, etc.).
- A constructive example of how to biblically handle religious people like this (remember Jesus was most stern and straight with the rich and the religious. See Matthew 23, etc.).
“There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death.” Proverbs 14:12
If all your religious activity hasn’t produced “righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost”, all you have thus far is religion, not Jesus. Listen closely to what happens when Jesus saves you:
“For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost.” Romans 14:17
This is the truth of God, the fruit granted to all who’ve truly believed on the LORD Jesus Christ and thereby been saved. One thing’s for certain: The LORD desires to give you “righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost”.
Jesus is the Sabbath of Every Saved-by-Grace New Testament Saint – Not a Certain Day
“Sabbath” means intermission, to rest. All of God’s people now rest from attempting to keep the law perfectly and instead rest in the righteousness of Christ, the only One who ever kept the law perfectly.
“For we which have believed do enter into rest, as he said, As I have sworn in my wrath, if they shall enter into my rest: although the works were finished from the foundation of the world.” Hebrews 4:3
“Hebrews 4:3: For we which have believed do enter into rest – The great spiritual blessings, the forerunners of eternal glory, which were all typified by that earthly rest or felicity promised to the ancient Israelites, we Christians do, by believing in Christ Jesus, actually possess. We have peace of conscience, and joy in the Holy Ghost; are saved from the guilt and power of sin; and thus enjoy an inward rest.” Adam Clarke
“There remaineth therefore a rest to the people of God. 10 For he that is entered into his rest, he also hath ceased from his own works, as God did from his.” Hebrews 4:9-10
“In Hebrews 4:10 we are directed to our risen Lord, who has finished the work of Redemption and rests, as God did when He pronounced Creation to be ‘very good.’ When we understand what He meant by ‘It is finished’, we, too, shall rest.” FB Meyer
Some today uphold a certain day instead of the LORD who makes all days (Galatians 4:9-11). They prove to be lost souls. False teachers are known in that they uphold something, ANYthing other than Christ.
“Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross; 15 And having spoiled principalities and powers, he made a shew of them openly, triumphing over them in it. 16 Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of an holyday, or of the new moon, or of the sabbath days: 17 Which are a shadow of things to come; but the body is of Christ. 18 Let no man beguile you of your reward in a voluntary humility and worshipping of angels, intruding into those things which he hath not seen, vainly puffed up by his fleshly mind, 19 And not holding the Head, from which all the body by joints and bands having nourishment ministered, and knit together, increaseth with the increase of God.” Colossians 2:14-19
Justification
It has been wisely stated that “If you’re flirting with Moses, you’re cheating on Jesus.”
Have you memorized John 1:17 ?
“For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ.” John 1:17
How does God save us?
“For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: 9 Not of works, lest any man should boast.” Ephesians 2:8-9
The law finds us all guilty of breaking it. Even if it were just once, just one law we broke, we are guilty of breaking all of it and 100% fully worthy of death.
“For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all.” James 2:10
God alone can justify us and He does such exclusively through the perfect sacrifice of Jesus Christ His only begotten Son. “It is finished” means “paid in full.”
“When Jesus therefore had received the vinegar, he said, It is finished: and he bowed his head, and gave up the ghost.” John 19:30
“Now to him that worketh is the reward not reckoned of grace, but of debt. 5 But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness.” Romans 4:4-5
“Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ: 2 By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.” Romans 5:1-2
“For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to every one that believeth.” Romans 10:4
Sports are Not a Sin – Unless they become One’s Idol or put before God.
Paul uses three different sports/games to illustrate spiritual truths, realities. This alone informs us, proves that sports in and of themselves, games, are not a sin. Running (track and field), boxing, and wrestling (1 Corinthians 9:24, 26; Ephesians 6:12).
In all the lists of soul damning sins found in Scripture, not one of them names sports or playing a game as a sin. If that were the case, playing a game of cards with grandma, or going to a nephew’s soccer game, would be a sin. Not. However, the misuse of anything on this earth can come out of a sinful heart of idolatry. Use and misuse. Work out YOUR own salvation with fear and trembling and cease being a busybody in the lives of other believers concerning things not essential to one’s salvation (Romans 14; Philippians 2:12-13; 1 Peter 4:15).
“And they that use this world, as not abusing it: for the fashion of this world passeth away.” 1 Corinthians 7:31
What the Bible Teaches about Non-Essentials, Things not Essential to Salvation.
Never judge or destroy God’s work in the life of another saint for things that are non-essential, NOT essential to salvation.
“Who art thou that judgest another man’s servant? to his own master he standeth or falleth. Yea, he shall be holden up: for God is able to make him stand. 5 One man esteemeth one day above another: another esteemeth every day alike. Let every man be fully persuaded in his own mind. … 15 But if thy brother be grieved with thy meat, now walkest thou not charitably. Destroy not him with thy meat, for whom Christ died. … 20 For meat destroy not the work of God. All things indeed are pure; but it is evil for that man who eateth with offence.”
Justification | Support | STORE | Podcasts |
Support | STORE | Podcasts | The Bridegroom is Calling His Bride | Purifying Ourselves as He is Pure [podcast] | 10 Clues Your Love for God is Waxing Cold [podcast]



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