Post by pitbull on Oct 30, 2008 3:58:48 GMT -5
DAILY WISDOM
“Remove far from me vanity and lies: give me neither poverty nor riches; feed me with food convenient for me: Lest I be full, and deny [thee], and say, Who [is] the LORD? or lest I be poor, and steal, and take the name of my God [in vain].” [Proverbs 30:8-9]
FOOD FOR THOUGHT
DOES THE COMMANDMENT APPLY?
Throughout the Bible, we find various commandments. When we do, we need to determine if they were specific to that particular dispensation/covenant or if they apply to us today. There are seven covenants recorded in the Bible between God and man:
1. Adamic Covenant (Genesis 2:16-17) – The commandment to not eat of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil was specific to this covenant and doesn’t apply to us. The principle of tithing that is behind this commandment still applies.
2. Noahic Covenant (Genesis 9:8-13) – The commandment to build an ark to save all of the animals of the earth does not apply to us today, but God’s commandment to execute murderers still exists as a blueprint for societal justice.
3. Patriarchal/Abrahamic Covenant (Genesis 12:1-3) – The commandment of circumcision was given specifically and only to the Jewish people as a symbol of this covenant.
4. Sinatic/Mosaic Covenant (Exodus 19:5) – The ceremonial aspects [everything from circumcision to holy days to sacrifices and symbols] no longer apply to us. Used to reveal the nature, character, and glory of God to the Jewish people. Jews tried to abuse it as a means to gain salvation. However the moral aspects [points out the sinfulness of man and his inability to please God] still apply to us. This makes man feel helpless and drives him to rely on God’s grace alone for salvation by faith (Galatians 3:22-25).
5. Restoration Covenant (Deuteronomy 30:3-10)
6. Davidic Covenant (2 Samuel 7:12,16; 22:51)
7. Messianic/Grace Covenant (Jeremiah 3:31-34; Hebrews 8:8) - This ushered in a new dispensation (Ephesians 1:10; 3:2; Colossian 1:25) in which we are now considered dead to the law and are hence no longer under the law (Romans 6:14-15; 7:6; Galatians 2:19-21; 3:25; 5:18; etc.). This new liberty however doesn’t give us a “license” to sin but the liberty to serve (Romans 6:1-2; 1 Corinthians 6:12; 10:23)
RELIGIOUS AWARENESS
Are you compromised? Remember that the lost are looking for real and genuine Christians, not religious. Too often, we see professing “Christians” who are proselytizing rather than obeying Biblical soul winning. They are promoting religion rather than Christ. Here are some of the religious “Christians” you will meet:
1. Pharisees (Matthew 23:1-7): They are mentioned 83 times in the Scriptures. These were the religious leaders that did things for others to see their good deeds [prayers, tithes, etc.]. Today, this is the crowd [e.g. television evangelists] that is friends with Hollywood, wears the diamond rings, had the big and fancy church buildings, wore the expensive suits, has the fancy cars, etc. They put on a hypocritical show to be seen of man and only do lip service to God.
2. Sadducees (Acts 23:8): They are mentioned 14 times in the Bible. These were the religious leaders that deny angels, miracles, and the resurrection. Today, this is the modernist and liberal crowd that denies the Authorized King James Version 1611 and doesn’t want the conviction of the Word of God. They promote Satan’s lie: “Hath God really said?” They use the NIV, NASB, RSV, NKJV, the Living Bible, or any of the thousands of perversions that add to, delete from, or change the Word of God. They use the footnotes to contradict and cast doubt upon the Bible.
3. Zealots: They are only mentioned twice in the Bible. These were violent religious leaders that wanted to overthrow Roman control of Israel. Today, this is the crowd that advocates using any means necessary to bring about “God’s kingdom” on earth, here and now. This is the Mandela, Malcom-X, Louis Fariquons, Adolf Hitler, the KKK, and others that call for violence to promote their religious ideals.
4. Herodians: They were mentioned three times in the Scriptures. These were the religious leaders that were involved in politics. Today, this is the crowd that is picketing abortion clinics, the 7-11’s, marching on Washington, etc. This is the people that are political activists, such as Jessie Jackson, Pat Robertson, or Jerry Falwell. They would rather be in the White House than be in the Word of God.
5. Essenes: This was a religious group that separated themselves from the world unto absolute purity. They were so separated that the Bible doesn’t even mention them. Groups today that fit this description are the Amish or those that followed Jim Jones or David Karesh. But it is not limited to them. Ever hear someone say one of these unbiblical statements:
• “Sure I believe in the Bible, but I keep my views to myself. I don’t want to get in an argument.”
• “Sure I go to church, but I don’t force my religion on other. That is a personal decision.”
• “Sure I believe the ‘Great Commission’, but I don’t believe in solicitation.”
If so, they fit the description of this type of religious group. They separate themselves and leave God’s commandments unfulfilled. This is the people who won’t give out a Gospel tract or tell someone the Gospel because they don’t want to offend others.
If you are religious, repent and get right with God and the Bible. Religion is the greatest hindrance to a person getting saved and a Christian living for God. Obey the Biblical commandment to “come out from among them”.