Holding Fast The Faithful Word As he Hath Been Taught, That he May Be Able To By Sound Doctrine, Both To Exhort And To Convince The Gainsayers - Part 1936

Peter said to Simon, which before time in the same city used sorcery and bewitched the people of Samaria giving out that himself was some great one -- it was he that Peter told, "thy money perish with thee because thou hast thought that the gift of God may be purchased with money; thou hast neither lot in this matter; for thy heart is not right with God. Repent therefore of this thy wickedness and pray God, if perhaps the thought of thine heart may be forgiven thee." (Acts 8:20-22; Matthew 10:8; Acts 2:18, 36-41; Acts 10:45; Acts 11:17; Jeremiah 17:9; II Timothy 2:5)

To be clear, the Kingdom of God cannot be purchased with money. We cannot pay our way into heaven through our worldly riches. In fact, the Lord does not desire our earthly substance. Rather, the Lord wants our hearts to respond to Him, and similarly, for us as believers in Jesus by faith to stand in the offering plate, loving Him with all our heart, mind, soul, and strength, and then, from His abundant love to love one another -- so that none are without. (Acts 2:36-47)

We know this to be true from the very first commandment given in both the old and new.  Jesus confirmed the first commandment again when speaking to the scribe who asked Him, "What is the first commandment of all?" (Mark 12:28) Jesus said, "Hear O Israel the Lord thy God is one Lord. And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all they heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength; this is the first commandment." (Deuteronomy 6:4-5; Mark 12:29-31; Deuteronomy 10:12; Deuteronomy 30:6)

When we truly understand what Jesus intends for His people, and we are directed by His wisdom and knowledge, our hearts begin to change. And, because of His love for His people, as His beloved, we become a flow thru for His good news gospel, loving one another so that none are without His gift of salvation. (Acts 2:1-47)

So that none are without the many gifts that the Lord gives severally as He will to those who trust and believe in Him. (I Corinthians 12:1-11) So that each and every one of us becomes able to hold fast the faithful Word as we have been taught, and that we may be able - by sound doctrine -- to exhort and convince the gainsayers.

And so too, that we can acknowledge the truth which is after godliness; in hope of eternal life which was promised before the world began, but hath in due times manifested His Word through preaching ... according to the commandment of God our Saviour. (Titus 1:2-3; I Timothy 3:16) For this, as the scripture saith, is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour, who will have all men to be saved, and to come to the knowledge of the truth. (I Timothy 2:3-4; Romans 12:2; II Timothy 1:9; John 17:3)

Therefore, after the kindness and love of God our Saviour toward man appeared in our hearts, and being justified by His grace, according to His mercy He saved us, by the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Ghost -- His love was manifest -- so that we should be heirs according to the hope of eternal life. (Titus 3:4-7)

This is why we are instructed, as servants of the Lord not to strive or quarrel but instead to be temperate and to "be gentle unto all [men], apt to teach, patient, in meekness instructing those that oppose themselves, if God peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth, and that they may recover themselves out of the snare of the devil, who are taken captive by him at his will." (II Timothy 2:24-26)

If I take this example further, think of the man who desires and/or aspires the office of a bishop. What does the scripture say? That first and foremost, this man desires a good work. But with an overseer role, there should also be a heart responsibility that comes with the role. in this context, apostle Paul is very clear on the criteria. First, a bishop must be blameless, and the husband of one wife, vigilant, sober, of good behaviour, given to hospitality, apt to teach, not given to wine, no striker, not greedy of filthy lucre; but patient, not a brawler, not covetous. One that rules well his own house, having his children in subjection with all gravity (for if a man know not how to rule his own house, how shall he take care of the church of God?)

Sober minded and able, and not violent or greedy for filthy lucre -- earthly manna. Someone whose testimony includes reverence and complete submission to the King of kings and Lord of lords, and as well, an inward desire to reach those unbelievers who live in opposition to the Word, so that these may know and come to their senses when they hear about the Lord Jesus.

As well, this man cannot be a novice, lest being lifted up with pride he fall into the condemnation of the devil. And he must be of good report of them which are without: lest he fall into reproach and the snare of the devil. (I Timothy 3:1-7)

To speak evil of no man, to be not brawlers or contentious but instead, gentle, shewing all meekness unto all men ... for we ourselves were sometimes foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving divers lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful, and hating one another. (Titus 3:2-3)

As a husband, these are to dwell with their wives according to knowledge, giving honour unto the wife, as unto the weaker vessel, and as being heirs together of the grace of life; "that your prayers be not hindered." (I Peter 3:7; Ephesians 5:25; I Corinthians 12:23; Job 42:8)

Therefore, let us continue to aspire to become the man or woman our Lord God and Saviour Jesus the Christ encourages us to be. "For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour, who will have all men to be saved, and to come to the knowledge of the truth. " (I Timothy 2:3-4; Romans 12:2; II Timothy 1:9; John 17:3)

Stand in the offering plate.