Most people are confused about Gods will for salvation and his purpose.

Talking with people today I'm finding many people who simply have never truly looked for God, though he is not far from any. I find many people in a state of great confusion about Gods will for their life today, why? Is God the author of confusion and does he want mankind confused in the world, saying where is this God we've heard of in time past? The answer is unequivocally no, God is not the author of confusion! God doesn't want mankind confused about his plan, will or purpose. So why is mankind confused about God and his will today? I suppose it should be worded; why am I confused about Gods will for my life? making it personal.

You will have one test question at the end of this message, answer correctly, it's a life or death question, it's your litmus test. The above question is truly a personal question, though it's also a blanket question to all mankind. God is personal, when we meet the creator I imagine it will be very personal. Your family and grand parents, parents, spouse, children, friends and pets will be missing from the equation. Your meeting is determined and foreknown, it will be the Creator and the created, very personal and transparent.

The thought of why so many people are confused brings me to scripture which the apostle Paul declares to the Athenians of Greece, he stated in Acts 17:22-31: Then Paul stood in the midst of Mars' hill and said, Ye men of Athens, I perceive that in all things ye are too superstitious. For as I passed by, and beheld your devotions, I found an altar with this inscription, TO THE UNKNOWN GOD. Whom therefore ye ignorantly worship, him declare I unto you. God that made the world and all things therein, seeing that he is Lord of heaven and earth, dwelleth not in temples made with hands; Neither is worshipped with men's hands, as though he needed any thing, seeing he giveth to all life, and breath, and all things; And hath made of one blood all nations of men for to dwell on all the face of the earth, and hath determined the times before appointed, and the bounds of their habitation; That they should seek the Lord, if haply they might feel after him, and find him, though he be not far from every one of us: For in him we live, and move, and have our being; as certain also of your own poets have said, For we are also his offspring. Forasmuch then as we are the offspring of God, we ought not to think that the Godhead is like unto gold, or silver, or stone, graven by art and man's device. And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men every where to repent: Because he hath appointed a day, in the which he will judge the world in righteousness by that man whom he hath ordained; whereof he hath given assurance unto all men, in that he hath raised him from the dead. God raised Jesus Christ from the dead, did you hear, believe and trust it? God raised Jesus Christ from the dead, a very special human and none else.

Have you ever felt for God? Paul stated "feel after him" in Acts 17:22! I imagine people in complete darkness and feeling around for God hearing those words, I've been there. Have you ever realized you've been in darkness, a dark place where it's so dark you can't see anything, not even a hand in front of your face? Have you stumbled in the darkness because you couldn't see what is on the path or where the path is even located? Paul paints a picture of the worlds inhabitants being in darkness, being so confused or confounded they even named one of their gods "The Unknown God". I ask, is God unknown by you and are you in darkness, are you also confused about God, are you stumbling around in darkness? Don't make light of the question, are you in darkness and confused or do you see Gods will for your life? Be honest with yourself, it does no good to lie to oneself. If you answered yes, your like most people! If you heard the question, there still is hope, keep reading!

So the question remains, why are most of the worlds inhabitants still in darkness 2000 years after the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus the Christ? I believe the answer is in Acts 17:22. Paul states: I perceive that in all things ye are too superstitious. He did not say in some things ye are too superstitious, but all things! Paul is talking about all things concerning God!

Now have things really changed since Paul painted that picture approx. 2000 years ago, unfortunately they haven't. I've many loved ones whom I care deeply about wondering around this world in deep darkness. They are confused, not knowing the Godhead or rather aren't known of the Godhead. They have kept themselves separated from God, they never have accepted Gods Son, Jesus the Christ. God ONLY accepts his Son, he doesn't accept you, you must get into his Sons ship to have recognition. God must see you in Christ in order to be known or recognized. You won't be accepted of God upon your merits, it's not about you anyway, it's all about his Son and his Sons-ship!

If you desire a way out of the grave to have eternal life with the Creator, quiz yourself.

1)  When did you see yourself in darkness, confounded and confused?

2)  When did you see your need of a Saviour?

3)  When did you accept Gods only begotten Son, Jesus Christ as your ticket into His ship and into eternity?

4)  Jesus paid for all your sin, even the sin of the world, all sin. When did you trust and believe Jesus Christ was the payment or ransom for all your sins? Past, present and future? ALL

6)  When did you believe and trust with all your heart and mind, body and soul, Christ Jesus is Gods only way you can get into this ship.

In Gods knowledge and because of sin you died at the cross, you were buried with his Son and if you believed and trusted, you were also raised with his Son. God accepted the righteous payment of his Son at the cross. There is nothing you do can do other than believe and trust, accepting his Son did all the works on and for you at the cross. Only when you truly trust and believe will God accept you into the body of his Son, there are not two ways for you to enter life. Folks it's all spiritual, you weren't even born when this happened and you on your own can NEVER exit the grave. You must account Christ death, burial and resurrection to be your ticket out of the grave, remembering it was your sin and his love for you which put him there in the first place. Bottom line, God must see you in his Sons resurrection! I'm talking to you, does God know you, does God see you in his Son, if so when did that happen, when did you believe and trust?

One day it shall come to pass, many shall proclaim they did many works for God, and he will say "depart from me, I know you not", that's a serious. Again, they will have done good, even good works in the name of Jesus Christ and Jesus will say "depart from me, I never knew you, you workers of iniquity".  The first commandment is to trust thy God with all thy strength, mind, body, soul and spirit. He said to trust His Son, when did you trust His Son? Certainly you weren't born trusting his Son or this message would be s foolish and silly one. Don't walk in darkness any longer, Gods will and purpose for you is to be in his Sons body, his Sons ship and the only way in is to believe and trust.

Here's your litmus test, yes or no are only accepted, no partial or maybe answers are or will be accepted. If you say you truly believe and trust with all your heart that all your sin is forgiven, because of what Jesus did on the cross, then why are you still asking for forgiveness of your sin, past, present and future? Either he forgave you 2000 years ago or he didn't, what say ye?  How superstitious are you?

God's Alive

God is alive and well and he has a purpose for you on this earth. Wouldn't it be good to know the Master Artisans or the Creator’s plan for your life. Is he the God of Israel only and only the God of times past? Where did he go and what is he doing? Is he long forgotten because we haven't seen or experienced him in our life? I'm here to tell you God is alive. Listen from within, deep within yourself, you know you believe in God and you keep asking yourself about his existence (who, where, why and how). Therefor your proving that which you already know and believe, God is alive! So where's this elusive God and why is the world we live such a mess?

God doesn't want you confused, robbed or cheated, especially when lending your ear to his words and authority.

Ask yourself these questions:

Do you feel empty when you walk away from church services or bible study, does the rush wear off? Are you tired of hearing the same old thing every week and your questions aren't answered in ways which make sense? Do you feel robbed of resources when attending church? You shouldn't feel an emptiness after being fed the word of the living God, so what's going on?

Why not try a bible study dispensationally taught? You can do it right where you sit and you don't need to be a Greek or Hebrew scholar.

The brief meaning of dispensation: dis•pen•sa•tionˌdɪs pənˈseɪ ʃən, -pɛn-(n.)

1) an act or instance of dispensing; distribution.

2) something that is distributed or given out.

3) a certain order, system, or arrangement; administration or management.

4) the divine ordering of the affairs of the world. a divinely appointed order or age.

To study the scripture dispensationally means to study the word of God rightly divided (2 Timothy 2:15). Read the bible as it says it, to whom it says it, where it says it, in what context. The Spirit unfolds the truth of God’s words to the believer by hearing.

e.g. Did God tell you to build the Ark? No, he did not, but he did tell you, he told Noah to build the Ark. If you attempt what God told Noah (build the Ark to save yourself and your family) your neighbors would think you've lost it!

e.g. Did God tell you to lead Israel out of Egyptian captivity as he told Moses? 

God did not tell you any such thing. Those things were not written to you, but they are preserved for you, for your learning and admonition. Those commands were never delivered to Moses for Israel. So what did God say to you today? Which part of the bible is written to you and which part is for you?

We will all be judged by his words, is he the God of confusion? No, he is not! So where has mankind gone wrong in worshiping the One Holy and true God? Mankind continues to treat Gods word as though he’s eating at a buffet table. The bible isn’t laid out like a smorgasbord, but has a systematic presence.

Miles Coverdale, Prologue to the 1535 Coverdale Bible stated "It shall greatly help thee to understand Scripture, if thou mark, not only what is spoken or written, but of whom, and to whom, with what words, at what time, where, to what intent, with what circumstances, considering what goeth before and what followeth after".

Colossians 2:9-15 For in him (Jesus) dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily. And ye are complete in him, which is the head of all principality and power: In whom also ye are circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, in putting off the body of the sins of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ: Buried with him in baptism, wherein also ye are risen with him through the faith of the operation of God, who hath raised him from the dead. And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses; 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; And having spoiled principalities and powers, he made a shew of them openly, triumphing over them in it.

Jesus Christ died, was buried and rose again, paying for all of your sins; how many sins, ALL! Don't allow yourself to be brought under the religious systems bondage. Jesus said: know the truth and the truth shall make you free! Sinner you are indeed, but made free from the penalty thereof due to the faith of Jesus the Christ, God's anointed. Do you love what Christ did for you?

Feel free to contact me anytime with your questions or concerns.

https://www.gracebelieversbatonrouge.com/index.html

www.understandingyourbible.com 

https://www.youtube.com/user/ATXBibleFellowship

 
May God bless you!

Brian Miller

512-887-2878 or austinbiblefellowship@gmail.com

What does 2 Timothy 2:15 actually mean?

What does Rightly Dividing actually mean or 2 Timothy 2:15? Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. (kjv)

Miles Cloverdale hit the nail on the head when he said "It shall greatly help thee to understand Scripture, if thou mark, not only what is spoken or written, but of whom, and to whom, with what words, at what time, where, to what intent, with what circumstances, considering what goeth before and what followeth after." 

Paul states in 2 Timothy 2:7, Consider what I say; and the Lord give thee understanding in all things. How many things will you have an understanding of if you consider what he states? Again, all things "spiritual". Does God say consider what Peter or John say and the Lord give thee understanding in all things? No, he says to consider what Paul says and that's thirteen books, plus a portion in the book of Acts. So we are to compare Paul's 13 epistles to the rest of Gods word.

2 Timothy 2:15 commands believers: Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. Paul's command is given by the Lord himself, we know this because Paul states in 1 Corinthians 14:37 "If any man think himself to be a prophet, or spiritual, let him acknowledge that the things that I write unto you are the commandments of the Lord". So we see how we have a direct order from the Lord through Paul telling us what to do with the word of truth, we are to study it, rightly (not wrongly).

We are to divide the word from itself, in particular Paul's 13 epistles from the other books of God's word and of course we need to rightly divide Paul's early epistles from his later epistles.

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www.understandingyourbible.com