Showing posts with label truth. Show all posts
Showing posts with label truth. Show all posts

Sunday 4 February 2024

Science vs. God's Truth

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Scientist's Truth vs. God's Truth


The Purpose to Teach the Truth -
  "...and that they may come to their senses and escape the snare of the devil, 
having been taken captive by him to do his will," 
2 Timothy 2:26 NKJV


Author's note: 

This commentary is one of hundreds of commentaries found in a Google search. This article  is directed solely towards the church's denominations, not The Church as a whole." The Church is a body of true believers in Christ, baptized by one Spirit to form one body—whether Jews or Gentiles, enslaved person or free (1 Cor 12:12-14) scattered all over the world, members of a local church or part of a home group. Do you seek the truth? The CHURCH does not seek division but unity within the body.

“With all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love; Endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.

Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ,”  Eph 4:2-3, 13.

Imagine a Church where everyone worked towards the same goal. A Church where unity is valued above all else. This is the Church we should strive for, and it's a Church that only abides in Christ's word. Let's choose unity over division and work together to improve the churches and ultimately produce fruit. You know them by their gentle and patient instruction (2 Tim 2:24). 

"Therefore, judge nothing before the time, until the Lord come, who both will bring to light the hidden things of darkness and will make manifest the counsels of the hearts: and then shall every man have praise of God," 1 Cor 4:5 

Muses, The god of Science vs. God's Truth.




“Trust the science,” the most misused and abused rhetoric exploited by politicians, NASA, the World Health Organization, and believe it or not, Christian ministries.

What is Truth?

Again, as explained, this message is intended explicitly for Christian organizations. This commentary is a follow-up to an article I wrote in 2016 titled "The Love of The Truth." You may view it from this link:  https://www.simplicityinthegospel.com/2016/04/the-love-of-truth.html



What makes humanism and Christianity apart from each other? The answer: The truth.

"Sanctify[a] them by Your truth. Your word is truth. As You sent Me into the world, I also have sent them into the world. And for their sakes I sanctify Myself, that they also may be sanctified by the truth," John 17:17-19 NKJV.

[a] set apart as or declared holy

If we believe that the inerrancy of God's word is true, why do expert theologists insist on proving that God is the Creator of all things through science? Why try to prove the Bible is true through scientific evidence? Who are we trying to convince? The Gentiles or our unbelief? Are we not compromising so that the Gentiles may accept us? Are we ashamed or embarrassed to admit the validity of God's word without scientific evidence? After all, didn't God promise to give understanding in all things to Christians as He did to Timothy (2 Tim 2:7, Jn 14:26)?

Besides, doesn't the Charter of Rights and Freedom protect our religious beliefs and not the other way around, protecting scientific evidence?

Many firm believers quote (2 Timothy 3:16-17)

"All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work," NKJV

What is the intent? "That we may be complete" and "to know the love of Christ which passes knowledge; that you (us) may be filled with all the fullness of God" (Eph 3:19)?

'Us,' this generation has the blessing and privilege to hold in our hand the written testimonies of God-appointed men from the time of the creation of the heaven and the earth till now.

All preachers make this statement - "Do not take my word but the words found in the bible."

In John 8:31-32, the New King James Version states,

"Then Jesus said to those Jews who believed Him, "If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed. And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free."

Was this truth limited to only one truth? The truth is undeniable: those who believed in Jesus as the Messiah were, without a doubt, Jewish. They declared Jesus the Messiah and acknowledged it as fact according to prophecy. Jesus will reveal more truth if they continue to abide in Him. In this context, it’s an agreement to be taught by Jesus, abiding in Him, and therefore becoming His disciples. To be a true disciple is to accept that the Word is God (John 1:1).

To abide in Him, we must also have fellowship with Him and one another.

"This is the message which we have heard from Him and declare to 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 practice the truth. But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ, His Son, cleanses us from all sin," 1 John 1:5-7, NKJV.

Does walking in darkness refer to walking without the truth? Humanism appears to promote charity, kindness, and goodness towards others without regard for divine truth. Doesn't Paul describe humanism as self-seeking and not obeying the truth but unrighteousness (Rom 2:8)? The humanist does not recognize God as the Creator and provider of all good things, that God gives life and all that surrounds him. Ungrateful (2 Tim 3:2), although God continues to bless them with His grace and mercy (Luke 6:35).

Back to John’s moving statement, "we lie and do not practice the truth." Do we take this statement seriously? It should stir up the fear of God (Proverbs 2:5) if we say that we walk in the light when we walk in darkness (without the truth). Could it be the reason why Christians are divided and have no fellowship with one another? Accusing of heresy anyone whose belief is contrary to their own. Didn't Jesus's blood deliver us (all of us) from the power of darkness and convey (translated) us into the kingdom of the Son of His love (the truth, Col 1:13)?

The Parable of the Soil (Matt 13:1) describes four locations where the seed failed: by the wayside, upon the stony place, among the thorns, into the good grown. Only one location produced good fruits. It was among believers, represented by the good grown. What do we conclude from this? The churches consist of believers and unbelievers, the tares among the wheat (Matthew 13:24). They speak like Christians, appear at church service like Christians, and act like Christians but don't bear fruits like Christians. Who are they? Are they not workers of iniquity who do wrong? 

What does Jesus say to them on the day of judgment?

"But He will say, I tell you, I do not know you, where you are from. Depart from Me, all you workers of iniquity," Luke 13:27 NKJV

Does Jesus reject those who don't accept the truth and don't try to understand God's words? These Scriptures come to mind:

"But the natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; nor can he know them because they are spiritually discerned," 1 Cor 2:14 NKJV.

"Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might know the things that have been freely given to us by God," 1 Cor 2:12 NKJV.

Are there some people in the churches who still need to receive the Holy Spirit? Aren't we all saved? Do we have the love of the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth? The Bible is God's gift to every believer: the poor, the needy, the rich, the smart and not too bright. Therefore, knowledge is not limited to scholars. We all are responsible for being connected to the vine to produce fruit. God has appointed some teachers (Eph 4:11, 1 Cor 12:28). They have a tremendous responsibility. In the Book of Eccl, 12:9-12 describes the whole duty of a teacher.

"And moreover, because the Preacher was wise, he still taught the people knowledge; yes, he pondered and sought out and set in order many proverbs. The Preacher sought to find acceptable words; and what was written was upright—words of truth. The words of the wise are like goads, and the words of scholars are like well-driven nails, given by one Shepherd. And further, my son, be admonished by these. Of making many books there is no end, and much study is wearisome to the flesh."

In John 18:38, Pilate said to Him (Jesus), "What is truth?" I sought the truth all my Christian life. I wrote many articles in my blog sharing what I needed to learn. But when I came to new evidence that proved me wrong, I quickly accepted my wrong understanding and deleted or rewrote my articles. I was born in the lie (darkness of the Catholic tradition). I understood that my journey in abiding in Christ would be long. It is part of God's sanctification period of growth. I started to read my first Bible at the age of twenty. It was eye-opening. Even though I didn't understand any of it or very little of it, the Holy Spirit stirred up the desire to learn. And learning I did. "The hardest part for me was to convey my passion for my discoveries to another person." It was rare. Being part of a trustworthy community of believers who share knowledge through Bible study and fellowship is a true blessing.

My statement of belief is the whole Bible.

"Then He said to them, "Therefore every scribe instructed concerning the kingdom of heaven is like a householder who brings out of his treasure things new and old," Matt 13:52.


In June 2013, I wrote an article titled "My Statement of Belief - The Whole Bible." I invite you to read it.

 https://www.simplicityinthegospel.com/2013/06/my-statement-of-belief-whole-bible.html

God's treasures are to be found and shared. I do not claim that I am 'a know it all'. I am a student who loves to share what I've learned. I teach best what I need to learn most. I have written things contrary to reputable theologians, yet I agree with so much more than I disagree. Sometimes, I make an assumption, an opinion, that is what it is, not asserting my opinion as God's truth.

Sharing what I have learned is to fulfill God's will. The goal is to help each other grow stronger in faith and knowledge. We are to do this until Jesus returns.

"And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, for the equipping of the saints, for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ, till we all come to the unity of the faith and the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ," Eph 4:11-13.

"till we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God." Are we there yet? In the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God?

I've worked with big high-tech companies such as Nortel Network. One requirement for employment is to agree with their Standard Operating Procedure. Nortel Network has a tick manual, then. From Wikipedia: A standard operating procedure is a set of step-by-step instructions compiled by an organization to help workers carry out routine operations. SOPs aim to achieve efficiency, quality output, and uniformity of performance while reducing miscommunication and failure to comply with industry regulations. It took me two days to go through it. Ultimately, I signed off, testifying that I had read and agreed to the rules.

“And also if anyone competes in athletics, he is not crowned unless he competes according to the rules,” 2 Tim 2:5 NKJV.

The Bible is the Standard Operating Procedure of God's Kingdom and is unique in its structure. By acknowledging Jesus's blood as payment for our sins, confessing Jesus as Lord, and believing with all our hearts that God has resurrected Him (Rom 10:9), we agree to the terms and conditions that the Scripture is God's inspiring word`. If you don't believe, you are still in darkness and do not abide in Him. I will never understand it all, but the first step is to agree wholeheartedly, even if we do not understand. That is faith. As we start working for a new employer, we agree with the terms and conditions, or our career will be short-lived, and so it is if we do not abide in Christ. We produce no fruit. "We can only produce fruit by applying faith."

“For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may be recompensed for his deeds in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad,” 2 Cor 5:10 NASB 1995.

"Behold the proud, His soul is not upright in him; But the just shall live by his faith," Habakkuk 2:4 NKJV.

I understand the context is about producing fruit as we faithfully await God's promise according to prophecy. What about Christians who work applying the law? Galatians 3:10-12. 

"For as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse; for it is written, "Cursed is everyone who does not continue in all things which are written in the book of the law, to do them." But that no one is justified by the law in the sight of God is evident, for "the just shall live by faith." Yet the law is not of faith, but "the man who does them shall live by them." 

Observing the law will not bring salvation; only the work of Christ on the cross does. What about the law of science? Is it sufficient to dismiss God's word since it does not scientifically provide evidence? Are we Christian cherry-picking? The Bible shows miracles, phenomena that are unexplained scientifically. Are we ashamed to declare God's miracles (blessings) without proof? Are these miracles only for children's fairy tale stories?

How, as Christians, can we expose the lies if we reject the truth?

"And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather expose them," Eph 5:11 NKJV

Some churches are so vulnerable due to their perspective; one foot is in the light, and one is in the darkness. We are deceiving ourselves because some churches have both feet in darkness. Some have partially received the truth because of supported scientific evidence; they are deceived and likely to be corrected. Why? They keep teaching a lie even after the truth is revealed to them. Why? Because they reject God's supremacy over all things by believing in man's science instead.

Naaman, commander of the army of the king of Syria, was a great and honourable man in the eyes of his master, but Naaman was a leper (in darkness). Naaman became furious when the prophet told him to go and wash in the Jordan seven times. There are great teachers and Pastors, great men of God who are quick to reject the truth and some to accuse others of being a heretic if their beliefs are different. How many attempts are required to bring someone to their senses to believe a truth shared by a loving and caring fellow Christian? Seven times?

Can we trust in science to teach the origin of the creation?

“Lead me in thy truth, and teach me: for thou art the God of my salvation; on thee do I wait all the day,” Psalm 25:5 KLV.

"Thus saith the Lord; Cursed be the man that trusteth in man, and maketh flesh his arm, and whose heart departeth from the Lord," Jeremiah 17:5 KJV.

I sometimes read the context with a different Bible version. The easy-to-read version is one I often use to clarify KJV.

"This is what the Lord says: Bad things will happen to those who put their trust in people. Bad things will happen to those who depend on human strength. That is because they have stopped trusting the Lord."

What part of the Bible do you find it hard to believe? Did Jesus change water to wine or grape juice? Did the Red Sea open up to let the Israelites cross to the other side? Is Jesus the Son of God? Is Holy Spirit God? Does the dispensation of grace mean to forgo the Old Testament? Does the Church replace the role of modern-day Israel? Is there more than one resurrection? Did God create the heavens and the earth with all living creatures on the earth, in the sea, and in the sky precisely in six days? Is the sun, the moon, and the stars located between the water below and the water above, as described in Genesis 1:6, 14? Is the concept of the rapture a human invention? Is the KJV the only reliable version to be trusted? If you answer any of those questions with 'I don't know", you are honest. There is hope for you. What makes the Bible so difficult to accept as truth?

Our perception. It often leads us to prefer falsehoods, obscurity, and relinquishing the truth." Another possibility is: what lie are we afraid to question and let go of?

Any other gospel?

"I marvel that you are turning away so soon from Him who called you in the grace of Christ, to a different gospel,  which is not another; but there are some who trouble you and want to pervert the gospel of Christ.  But even if we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel to you than what we have preached to you, let him be accursed.  As we have said before, so now I say again, if anyone preaches any other gospel to you than what you have received, let him be accursed," Gal 1:6-9.

There are many other gospels,  all counterfeit. There is only one true gospel. It is found in these simple verses;

"For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God,"   Eph 2:8, NKJV

"Moreover, brethren, I declare to you the gospel which I preached to you, which also you received and in which you stand, by which also you are saved, if you hold fast that word which I preached to you—unless you believed in vain.

For I delivered to you first of all that which I also received: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, and that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day according to the Scriptures," 1 Corinthians 15:1-4 NKJV


Photo by JeremyBishop from Freerange Stock

Have we not been delivered from the power of darkness (lies) and conveyed into the kingdom of the Son of His love (Col 1:13)? We live in Satan's kingdom era. His kingdom is short-lived and will soon end at Christ's return (Isaiah 65:17). Until then, as part of our sanctification, preparing us for our role in the kingdom of God, we seek knowledge and wisdom to walk according to the Bible's Standard Operating Procedure of God's Kingdom. 




The first four books of Proverbs describe the purpose of studying God's word.

1 The proverbs of Solomon, the son of David, king of Israel:

2 To know wisdom and instruction,

To perceive the words of understanding,

3 To receive the instruction of wisdom,

Justice, judgment, and equity;

4 To give prudence to the simple,

To the young man, knowledge and discretion—

5 A wise man will hear and increase learning,

And a man of understanding will attain wise counsel,

6 To understand a proverb and an enigma,

The words of the wise and their riddles.

7 The fear of the Lord is the beginning of     knowledge,

Aren't Christians dedicated to uncovering the truth, no matter the cost, whether it is scientifically lacking evidence? With a deep passion for justice and a fearless pursuit of truth, aren't we a beacon of hope in a world that often values deception over honesty?

After all, it is God's intent that we may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding," (Col1:9 NKJV). And to attain to all riches of the full assurance of understanding, to the knowledge of the mystery of God, both of the Father and of Christ, (Col 2:2 NKJV). 


"Consider what I say, and may the Lord give you understanding in all things," 2 Tim 2:7 NKJV.

The Bible is the only resource that preserves history. However, there are many attempts to destroy the truth for the sole purpose of hiding God as the Creator and, therefore, its legitimacy. 



Therefore, where do we begin to accept God's word as truth? From the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth. 

The beginning of true knowledge started in the Book of Genesis. God is the Creator of time and all things, acts of miracles before the law of science and nature. It describes the Supremacy of God, the Creator (Deut 3:24). After all, God is the Possessor of heaven and earth (Genesis 14:19). If we drift from recognizing the valid account of when and how God created the heavens and the earth, we fall prey to lies and deceptions, (Romans 1:25).

"Thus the heavens and the earth, and all the host of them, were finished," Genesis 2:1

"This is the history of the heavens and the earth when they were created, in the day that the Lord God made the earth and the heavens," Genesis 2:4

"For ask now concerning the days that are past, which were before you, since the day that God created man on the earth, and ask from one end of heaven to the other, whether any great thing like this has happened, or anything like it has been heard," Deut 4:32

How important is it to remember the account of the origin of the creation? It is so vital that God reminded the Jews every time they forsake His laws and precepts to commit adultery (Exodus 20:4). Exodus 20:11, Eccl 12:1, Isaiah 40:28, Isaiah 42:5, Isaiah 43:15, Isaiah 45:8, Isaiah 45:12, Isaiah 45:18, Colossians 1:16, Revelation 10:6.

"Should Christians also be reminded?"

Are we wiser (smarter) than God by trusting science over His word? In the Book of Job, The Lord Reveals His Omnipotence to Job. I suggest that Christians read Chapters 38, 39, 40, and 41. In short, were we there when God created the heavens and the earth? Where was NASA when God created it?

God immediately started with a rebuke. "Who is this who darkens counsel by words without knowledge?" Job 38:2.

Easy-to-Read Version

"Who is this ignorant person saying these foolish things?

God had listened to the conversation between Job and his four companions and had enough of its foolishness. Where did God start His argument? That is right, from the beginning of the creation. Do you see the importance of it?

Verse 4: "Where were you when I laid the foundations of the earth? Tell Me, if you have understanding," NKJV.

Where was NASA when God created it? Can NASA explain the miracle of creation? Go on and read the four chapters. Many Christians tend to label things as nonsense simply because they feel uneasy about the truth, which defers from scientific evidence. Aren't we quick to rely on science?

Are you ready to accept the truth over science?

The truth will make you free (John 8:32). Using scientific rhetoric alone cannot free us from the lies and deception of Satan. Hearsay is not God's word. Cultural and traditional beliefs are not God's word. Human common sense is not God's word. Feeling and intuition are not God's word. Even your eyes will deceive. It is called an optical illusion. As for the Christian establishment, they cannot even agree with one another. Only a few can provide the guidance and support that we seek. They are men of faith who fear the wrath of God. Everyone will be accountable once God's truth is revealed, and reject it or refuse to share it because fearing man's opinion.

"For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness; Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath shewed it unto them," Rom 1:18-19 KJV

Admit it: We live in an ocean of lies in need of a lifeguard. The Word is our lifeguard. The Word alone is not enough; faith is required.

"So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God," Romans 10:17 (not by scientific evidences)

Do not despair. No one has the whole truth. Yet, seek it and look for those who also have the love for the truth. Keep asking, seeking, knocking. Share your passion for truth in love and avoid disputes.

"Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened," Matthew 7:7-8.

I hope that this article encourages you to trust God's word. If there is any doubt, trust The Word.

"Trust in the Lord with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding," Pro 3:5

You are not alone.

There is more than believing - by faith we must accept God's historical description of His creation. 

Here is an example of a church's statement of believe about creation:

We believe in the Genesis account of creation, and that it is to be accepted as literally – not allegorically, or figuratively; that man was created directly by God and specifically in His own image and after His own likeness; that man's creation was neither a matter of evolution or evolutionary changing from one species to another, nor was it a development or growth through years or time from lesser to higher forms; and that all animal and vegetable life was made by God with a mandate to produce or bring forth only “after their kind” whose “seed was in itself”. (*Genesis 1-3; Col.1:15; Heb.1:1,2; 1 Tim.4:3-5)

What about the blue sky above? Is it not water as described is Genesis 1:6, 14. 




Now are you ready to have your mind blown away?


Biblical Cosmology vs. Scientific Cosmology

Shared in Love


King James Version is used throughout the video.


And Much More






"I'd like to remind you to check out my blog for more reading material."

“They Traded the Truth of God For Lies” 

https://www.simplicityinthegospel.com/2015/05/they-traded-truth-of-god-for-lies.html


“My Statement of Belief - The Whole Bible” https://www.simplicityinthegospel.com/2013/06/my-statement-of-belief-whole-bible.html


Thursday 7 June 2012

Faith - I need more faith

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Faith is like flying gracefully against the wind.



Let Faith Do The Work

Watching over the bay on a windy day, I observed how easy it was for a seagull to glide forward against the strong wind without flapping its wings. I saw other birds vigorously flapping their wings in an attempt to move against the wind. In some instances, the wind was too strong for them that instead of gaining ground, they lose some. Observing the seagull gracefully glide compared to the awkward attempt by the other birds flying against the wind brought faith into my mind. 



So many Christians attempt to apply faith to their life in a time of difficulties, however, some end up struggling to a point of discouragement and fall short to rise above. The emotional feeling is more of a battle to make faith works rather than to let faith do the work. 




"Believe me when I tell you, if your faith is only as big as a mustard seed you can say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move. You will be able to do anything,” Matthew 17:20 ERV

Some Christians are like birds that flap their wings hard and vigorously yet become tired and lose ground instead.  I was one of those birds. My mind was full of anxiety, doubts, and fear. I wanted to believe yet I failed miserably. I would not write this commentary unless I’ve learned an important lesson. This is not to put down Christians but primarily an exhortation. I share freely as God intended all Christians to do.




Once and a while we see a Christian going through life as if the wind was behind his/her back when in fact, the wind is strongly against him/her. He/her mastered flying like a seagull going through all obstacles that life can throw at him/her. How does he/she do that? What makes this seagull so different from the other birds? 



What makes some Christians face life so differently than any other Christians? Is it all in the technique?


Ray Stedman explained it this way:
“Some seem able to learn it, and from time to time we see someone virtually come alive and their Christian life is simply transformed by learning to operate on this principle. They lose their egotism, as extroverts; or they lose their introverted feeling of self-consciousness...They begin to do things and to enjoy them, experiencing the blessing and excitement of Christian living. Others say, "I see all this, and I want to do it too. I know what is said about how to rest, but I try it and it doesn't work. Why? Why do we fail?”


What principles have they learned to apply? They learned to rest in the Lord, but how? This is where most Christians hit a hurdle. It is like an athlete who practices improving his/her skill, yet, has shown no improvement, no gain in their performance. Why? Is it because he/she practices under the same principle and the same technique? 

In (1 Timothy 6:12(a)), we received this analogy: "Keeping your faith is like running a race.  (b) Try as hard as you can to win that race,"(ERV).  What does it consist of? An athlete is up early in the morning practicing all day long, putting great effort to follow precisely the instruction given, yet by the end of the day no gain, no personal record broken. So many athletes then believe that they have reached their full potential and accept the status quo. But then, there is this one athlete who refuses the status quo and will question the technique and look elsewhere for resources.



This is why some Christians fall into a rut. They keep applying the same principle taught over and over again without showing any improvement in their Christian lives, living a defeated life as if it was intended to be, according to God’s will. I myself experience being stuck in a rut. 

Some are exemplary Christian; nonetheless, they are not at rest.  When life conditions challenged them, they feel defeated and some burn out.  The feeling of abandonment is great, and rejection from God sinks in. They question everything, many doubt their salvation status and seek answers. They consult, only to be told to keep on going, double the effort, and blamed Satan for causing these defeated feelings.




James described these Christians has to be like waves of the sea driven and tossed by the wind. They are double-minded Christians, unstable in all their ways, (James 1:5-8).  Doubts cause them to be unstable.  I know! I was exactly like that.  

What caused me to doubt? I doubted due to the principle that I lived by.





Ray Stedman described a Christians living a defeated life:

“I'm afraid most of us fit the self-description of someone who said he was a mouse studying to be a rat. By our best efforts we can rise to a high level of mediocrity -- inadequate, unable. Why? Simply because we are depending on our effort. We are either extroverts, confident that we can do things and therefore frequently falling flat on our face; or we are introverts, so afraid to try anything that we don't even dare show our face. It is all because we are looking to ourselves as our resource; our background, our training, our gifts, our talents, our education, etc. It either results in feeling that we have what it takes and can be confident, able, and powerful; or, as we look at ourselves we say, we don't have what it takes and therefore we can't take it and we won't even try. So, we become either over-confident and under-equipped, or under-confident and overworked, trying constantly to make up by activity what we lack in results.”
Does this describe a bird attempting to fly against the wind? Is this what life is to you, a constant struggle? Is it time that you question the principles that you are constantly applying day after day? Some of those principles are taught in some churches (not all). This is one of the reasons I am so against some church denomination's “Statement of Belief”. It’s served its purpose to guide its members; unfortunately, the “Statement of Belief” becomes a cap to further understanding God’s word. Most “Statement of Belief” has never been reviewed since the church's foundation.


 A messenger from God instructed Daniel that at the end time, knowledge will increase, (Daniel 12:4).  We are instructed to seek God and to learn from Him. Doesn't the bible teach that we wrestle against principalities, (Ephesians 6:12), against the wrong technique that we were made to believe that if applied correctly we will have victory over all hurdles? Wrong principalities have crept into the body of Christ,- its foundation nonetheless many are unchallenged.

In many cases, it is not the church leaders' fault, but members, who are benchwarmers and who refuse to apply the good teaching of their ministers or pastors.

In my commentary title, “What kind of truth do you want God’s word to be?” I point out that most Christians are victims of their own demise. Most Christians do not question what is being taught to them or live by. What principalities and beliefs had they accepted as God’s word when actually it is not?  For one example, “God helps those who help themselves” is not in the bible. Another one is, “Faith and obey to keep your salvation” which is also not in the bible. Both statements implied that work (a condition) is needed either to gain and keep your salvation or work is required to have your prayers answered. How many pay tithes to buy favor from God? How many promises to do this or that if God answers their prayers? 


Some Christians will even quote to you that “faith by itself if it does not have works, is dead,” (James 2:17).  What is misunderstood is that it is a faith that produces work not the other way around, works that produce faith. As pointed out in (1 Thessalonians 1:3), “We remember before our God and Father your work produced by faith, your labor prompted by love, and your endurance inspired by hope in our Lord Jesus Christ.”


Even with this understanding most of us will pray and asks God for His intervention yet do not wait. Most of us will act like Sarah, Abraham's wife, taking the matter into her own hand guessing God’s will. This is where the wrong principle “God helps those who help themselves” is applied. The bible is specific. It instructs us to wait on the Lord. “The LORD is good to those who wait for Him, To the soul who seeks Him,” (Lamentations 3:25) and “Therefore the LORD will wait, that He may be gracious to you; And therefore He will be exalted, that He may have mercy on you. For the LORD is a God of justice; Blessed are all those who wait for Him,” (Isaiah 30:18).


The specific reason why God wants all Christians to wait is so that no one can boast of their own works that they received His blessing. To wait on the Lord is to show the world, your friends, and family members that it is God that did all the works.  God wants you to testify by doing nothing but wait on Him. “Where is boasting then? It is excluded. By what law? Of works? No, but by the law of faith,” Romans 3:27

The Perfect Law of Faith

To see the perfect law of faith at work, we are to go to the Old Testament, in the Book of 1 Samuel chapter 17. David, son of Jesse of Bethlehem, was the youngest of all his sons. Let us take the time to read the whole story. This is a commentary.  It is not a daily devotional study.  This is for Christian who seriously wanted to make a difference in their life. Therefore it is important to view this lesson from all its perspectives. The ERV will be used to make it easy to read. As you read please look for the motive in David's battle against Goliath and what gives him the assurance of victory over Goliath. 

1 Samuel 17 - Goliath vs. David

1 The Philistines gathered their armies together for war. They met at Socoh in Judah. Their camp was between Socoh and Azekah, at a town called Ephes Dammim.

2 Saul and the Israelite soldiers also gathered together. Their camp was in the Valley of Elah. Saul’s soldiers were lined up and ready to fight the Philistines. 

3 The Philistines were on one hill. The Israelites were on the other hill. The valley was between them.

4 The Philistines had a champion fighter named Goliath, who was from Gath. He was over 9 feet tall. Goliath came out of the Philistine camp. 

5 He had a bronze helmet on his head. He wore a coat of armor that was made like the scales on a fish. This armor was made of bronze and weighed about 125 pounds.  

6 Goliath wore bronze protectors on his legs. He had a bronze javelin tied on his back. 

7 The wooden part of his spear was as big as a weaver’s rod. The spear’s blade weighed 15 pounds. Goliath’s helper walked in front of him, carrying Goliath’s shield.

8 Each day Goliath would come out and shout a challenge to the Israelite soldiers. He would say, “Why are all of your soldiers lined up ready for battle? You are Saul’s servants. I am a Philistine. So choose one man and send him to fight me. 
9 If that man kills me, he wins and we Philistines will become your slaves. But if I kill your man, then I win, and you will become our slaves. You will have to serve us.”

10 The Philistine also said, “Today I stand and make fun of the army of Israel. I dare you to send me one of your men and let us fight.”

11 Saul and the Israelite soldiers heard what Goliath said, and they were very afraid.

12  David was the son of Jesse. Jesse was from the Ephrathah family in Bethlehem, Judah. Jesse had eight sons. In Saul’s time Jesse was an old man. 

13 Jesse’s three oldest sons went with Saul to the war. The first son was Eliab, the second was Abinadab, and the third was Shammah. 

14 David was the youngest son. The three oldest sons were in Saul’s army, 

15 but David left Saul from time to time to take care of his father’s sheep at Bethlehem.

16 The Philistine came out every morning and evening and stood before the Israelite army. Goliath insulted Israel like this for 40 days.

17 One day Jesse said to his son David, “Take this basket of cooked grain and these ten loaves of bread to your brothers in the camp. 

18 Also take these ten pieces of cheese for the officer who commands your brothers’ group of 1000 soldiers. See how your brothers are doing. Bring back something to show me your brothers are all right. 

19 Your brothers are with Saul and all the Israelite soldiers in the Valley of Elah. They are there to fight against the Philistines.”

20 Early in the morning, David had another shepherd take care of the sheep while he took the food and left as Jesse had told him to. David drove their wagon to the camp. The soldiers were going out to their battle positions just as David arrived. The soldiers began shouting their war cry. 

21 The Israelites and Philistines were lined up and ready for battle.

22 David left the food with the man who kept supplies. Then he ran to the place where the Israelite soldiers were and asked about his brothers. 

23 While David was talking with his brothers, the Philistine champion fighter came out from the Philistine army. This was Goliath, the Philistine from Gath. Goliath shouted things against Israel as usual. David heard what he said.

24 The Israelite soldiers saw Goliath and ran away. They were all afraid of him. 

25 One of the Israelite men said, “Did you see that man? Look at him! He comes out each day and makes fun of Israel. Whoever kills him will get rich. King Saul will give him a lot of money. Saul will also let his daughter marry the man who kills Goliath. He will also make that man’s family free from taxes in Israel.”

26 David asked the men standing near him, “What did he say? What is the reward for killing this Philistine and taking away this shame from Israel? Who is this Goliath anyway? He is only some foreigner, nothing but a Philistine. Why does he think he can speak against the army of the living God?”

27 So the Israelite told David about the reward for killing Goliath. 

28 David’s oldest brother Eliab heard David talking with the soldiers and became angry. Eliab asked David, “Why did you come here? Who did you leave those few sheep with in the desert? I know why you came down here. You didn’t want to do what you were told to do. You just wanted to come down here to watch the battle.”

29 David said, “What did I do now? I didn’t do anything wrong! I was only talking.” 

30 He turned to some other people and asked them the same questions. They gave him the same answers as before.

31 Some men heard David talking. They took David to Saul and told him what David had said. 

32 David said to Saul, “People shouldn't let Goliath discourage them. I am your servant. I will go fight this Philistine.”

33 Saul answered, “You can’t go out and fight against this Philistine. You’re not even a soldier! Goliath has been fighting in wars since he was a boy.”

34 But David said to Saul, “There were times when I was taking care of my father’s sheep that wild animals came to take some sheep from the flock. Once there was a lion and another time, a bear. 

35 I chased that wild animal, attacked it, and took the sheep from its mouth. The wild animal jumped on me, but I caught it by the fur under its mouth. And I hit it and killed it. 

36 I killed both a lion and a bear like that! And I will kill that foreigner, Goliath, just like them. Goliath will die because he made fun of the army of the living God. 

37 The LORD saved me from the lion and the bear. He will also save me from this Philistine.”  Saul said to David, “Go and may the LORD be with you.” 

38 Saul put his own clothes on David. He put a bronze helmet on David’s head and armor on his body. 

39 David put on the sword and tried to walk around. He tried to wear Saul’s uniform, but David was not used to all those heavy things.  David said to Saul, “I can’t fight in these things. I’m not used to them.” So David took them all off. 

40 He took his walking stick in his hand and went to find five smooth stones from the stream. He put the five stones in his shepherd’s bag and held his sling in his hand. Then he went out to meet the Philistine.

41 The Philistine slowly walked closer and closer to David. Goliath’s helper walked in front of him, carrying a large shield. 

42 Goliath looked at David with disgust. He saw that David was only a handsome, healthy boy. 

43 Goliath said to David, “What is that stick for? Did you come to chase me away like a dog?” Then Goliath used the names of his gods to say curses against David. 
44 He said to David, “Come here, and I’ll feed your body to the birds and wild animals.”

45 David said to the Philistine, “You come to me using sword, spear, and javelin. But I come to you in the name of the LORD All-Powerful, the God of the armies of Israel. You have said bad things about him. 

46 Today the LORD will let me defeat you. I will kill you. I will cut off your head and feed your body to the birds and wild animals. And we will do the same thing to all the other Philistines too. Then all the world will know there is a God in Israel. 

47 All the people gathered here will know that the LORD doesn’t need swords or spears to save people. The battle belongs to the LORD, and he will help us defeat all of you.”

48 Goliath the Philistine started to attack David. He slowly walked closer and closer toward David, but David ran out to meet Goliath.

49 David took out a stone from his bag. He put it in his sling and swung the sling. The stone flew from the sling and hit Goliath right between the eyes. The stone sank deep into his head, and Goliath fell to the ground—face down.

50 So David defeated the Philistine with only a sling and one stone! He hit the Philistine and killed him. David didn’t have a sword, 

51 so he ran and stood beside the Philistine. Then David took Goliath’s own sword out of its sheath and used it to cut off his head. That is how David killed the Philistine.

 When the other Philistines saw their hero was dead, they turned and ran. 

52 The soldiers of Israel and Judah shouted and started chasing the Philistines. The Israelites chased them all the way to the city limits of Gath and to the gates of Ekron. They killed many of the Philistines. Their bodies were scattered along the Shaaraim road all the way to Gath and Ekron. 

53 After chasing the Philistines, the Israelites came back to the Philistine camp and took many things from that camp.

54 David took the Philistine’s head to Jerusalem, but he kept the Philistine’s weapons at home.

In all the Israeli army under Saul’s command, what made David so different? To David's brother Eliah, David was cocky, snotty, and full of himself. David kept asking the same question concerning the reward given to the one who would defeat Goliath. The king would offer his daughter to marry, the highest position of command within his army and the victor’s parent would be exempted from all taxes. Wow! That last one would make a daddy proud.

Sources: MGB

What was David’s motive behind questioning the men facing the Philistine? Was David interested in the reward and receiving honor and glory? Let's read that verse 26 again: David asked the men standing near him, “What did he say? What is the reward for killing this Philistine and taking away this shame from Israel? Who is this Goliath anyway? He is only some foreigner, nothing but a Philistine. Why does he think he can speak against the army of the living God?”

As you can see David was not interested in the reward. David was offended to hear Goliath insulting his God and God’s people. He loved so much the Lord that hearing Goliath speaking against the God of Israel made his blood boil in his vein. You should know how it felt to David. It felt the same as you feel when you hear someone swearing, and using God's name in vain, doesn't it? Why did David keep questioning the men? I believe that is because David was seeing the fear in Saul’s army, the hopelessness, and the lack of conviction toward God of Israel.



Out of the thousands of Saul soldiers only David had the audacity to confront Goliath. David's faith was exceptional. Why was David's faith so different than all other soldiers? Did they not hear of the same stories of what their God did to the Egyptians, and to the occupant of the land promised to Abraham and his generation?  Yet these stories did not give any of them the courage to confront Goliath. Jack Kelly from gracetrufaith.com hit the nail right on the head.  David had a purpose. This is how Jack explains it in his commentary title David’s Story Part 1 by impersonating David:

“ Now before you accuse me of an excessive dose of youthful bravado, consider this. The Lord had sent Samuel to anoint me as Israel’s next king. Then he empowered me to kill a lion and a bear, showing me that he wouldn’t let anything happen to me before His promise came true.”
http://gracethrufaith.com/the-bible-thru-the-eyes-of-its-writers/davids-story-part-1/


David's faith was based on God’s promise.  He believed that he had a purpose in life ordained by God. David believes in God’s words. He literally took God by His words.  He chose to believe. He took the decision to believe.  That is the principle that Christians are to apply. It is to make a commitment to trust in the Lord as He commanded in (Pr 3:5-6):

Sources: www.biblebios.com




“Trust in the Lord with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths.”


This is not a suggestion. It is a commandment to believe. It offends our Lord when the Israelites refused to walk into the Promised Land. The consequence was 40 years in the desert until the unbelief generation died.



God’s mercy never fails. 


His grace endures forever.  Although they refused to trust in the Lord, the Lord took care of all their needs for those 40 years.  The same Jesus is with His Church.  He takes care of each individual no matter what level of faith each is experiencing. He will never forsake His own.  Once saved, we are always saved. Inasmuch Israel is God’s people to perpetual so is anyone who by an act of faith, believed that Jesus is the one sent by God to forgive our sins, and believed that Jesus is God, that He died and bodily resurrected.



We are sealed with the presence of God’s spirit in us. (2 Cor 1:22, Eph 1:13). The Oxford Dictionary defines a seal as a device or substance that is used to join two things together so as to prevent them from coming apart, a design resembling a seal embossed in the paper as a guarantee of authenticity, and a thing regarded as a confirmation or guarantee of something.

Only Jesus has the heavenly authority to remove any seal, (Revelation 5:5) or to ascribe a seal (Revelation 7:3, John 20:22). Jesus will never leave you nor forsake you, (Hebrews 13:5).  We are at one with Jesus.

So you see, as much as Saul’s soldiers were of God’s army, no one trusted God. So it is among Christians, where few take the extra commitment by faith to trust Jesus in all parts of their life.  A seagull was taught young to fly gracefully against a strong wind. Few Christians once born again learned to trust in the Lord. Jesus commands us to learn from Him in the early part of our Christian life so that we might be prepared to face the difficulties that life challenges us, (Matthew 11:29). We are not like a seagull who learned by instinct. Yet, we have been given a teacher by the name of the Holy Spirit to help us along the way, (John 16:13). Enoch lived 365 years. He walked with the Lord for 300 years.  It took him 65 years to learn to trust God. Do you have 365 years to live? No, life is much shorter.

What is the wrong principle are you living by that keeps you from trusting God?  What causes you to doubt?  The consequences are that when a storm shows up in your life, you are too weak to fly in faith and therefore fail.  In your feeling of failure, you asked why God allow difficulties in your life. You can’t have one foot in the church and the other in the secular society. The teaching principle of the secular society is 180 degrees opposite to Jesus' teaching. 

Christians live with a purpose: We are the beacon of hope.

Yes, Jesus is merciful, yet He commands us to grow in trusting Him, to let Him live through us, and that is for a purpose, which is so that we may be a beacon of hope to this world, to let our light shine so that whoever sees us may ask us what make us so different.  That is how we can give glory and honor to Jesus. Not by just attending church service once a week, but by letting Jesus live in us daily. That, my Christian friend, is what we called 'bearing fruits'. The promise made to David applied to us also. God will never forsake us for we have a purpose, even to death.




As long as we fulfill God’s purpose in our life, God will keep on blessing us, even when living in poverty.  James explained that “if a believer is poor, he should be proud because God has made him spiritually rich,” (James 1:9).  It is not your lack of faith that makes you poor; for it is God's purpose to make you spiritually rich in the knowledge of His words. Wealthy or poor, God has a purpose for each one of us and that is to bear fruit no matter what is the circumstance and condition we find ourselves in.  No matter what life throws at us, learn to fly like a seagull gracefully against the wind. How do we do that? By letting Christ live in us, (Gal 2:20). Did we not die in Christ (Romans 6:8)?

By Jim Richardson

Therefore, ask the Lord to show you the wrong principal, the false teaching, and the myths that cause you to struggle in your life.  Please read my article titled, "What kind of truth do you want God’s word to be?  I promise you, that God will answer your prayer.  I encourage you to read my commentary titled, “Rest”

 Everything that I have written, I personally experienced, therefore, be assured that this is a testimony of God working in my life.  Everything I share is free. It is my way to share God’s blessing with you. It is my goal to live by what I preach as my commentary titled “Faith applied is faith invested “ suggests. Growing in faith is continuous, (Romans 1:17, Romans 10:17).






Wrong Principals which are Stated as Truth


  • There are some crimes or sins which people might commit which cannot be forgiven by God.
  • The Bible teaches that God helps those who help themselves.
  • When He lived on earth, Jesus was human and committed sins.
  • The Bible is not totally accurate in all of its teachings.
  • It doesn't matter what religious faith you follow because they all teach the same lessons.
  • The whole idea of sin is outdated.
  • All people will experience the same outcome after death, regardless of their religious beliefs.
  • If a person is generally good or does enough good things for others, they will earn a place in Heaven.
  • The devil, or Satan, is not a living being but is a symbol of evil.
  •  He was crucified and died, Jesus did not return to life physically.
  • The Holy Spirit is a symbol of God's presence or power but is not a living entity

LET FAITH DO THE WORK




Sources:


Late Ray Stedman, at http://www.raystedman.org. His library is full of commentaries, available in audio also.  

Lambert Dolphin, at http://www.ldolphin.org/.  Very resourceful web site.  I suggest that you download a free book title, “Thy Kingdom Come, Thy Will Be Done”

Jack Kelley, at http://gracethrufaith.com/. Question and answer.  He will reply pertaining to any scriptures that you have difficulty understanding. He also has available, Bible study in MP3 format and ebooks. I recommend that you read this excellent commentary title, "Cognitive Dissonance"