As has been shown in earlier entries on this site, prophecy provides proof that 1) the prophet of old prophesied truth, and thus 2) spoke of the future in a way that no man, apart from the power of an all knowing being, could. Therefore, we can deduce that if the prophets of old were confirmed by what they spoke, there must be a Higher power providing these men with the ability to foreknow.
The Gospel Saves Posts
There are seven things that are an abomination to God (Proverbs 6:16). Among them are “a lying tongue” and “a false witness who speaks lies” (Proverbs 6:17, 19). This speaks to us clearly. God hates lying.
“And there was war in heaven: Michael and his angels fought against the dragon; and the dragon fought and his angels, And prevailed not; neither was their place found any more in heaven.” Rev.12:7-8 This passage is a kind of prophetic flashback providing a prelude to unfolding events.
On the surface the book of Job is quite simple. It deals with the testing of Job’s faith. But the book become much more involved once you dissect the wranglings of Job and his friends. (If I dare call them friends.) There is a passage in Job 33 that I have been pondering, and I would like your thoughts on it meaning. In Job 33 Elihu, a young man (Job 32:6), is speaking with Job and trying illustrate the point that Job has gone too far in his self justification.
By over-generalizing God’s nature or character, we can form false impressions. As an example I cite the oft stated summation, “The God of the Old Testament was a God of judgment and condemnation.” Is this an accurate statement? How would we reconcile such a statement with Hosea 11:1-4?
The Apostle Paul wrote in Ephesians 4:1-5: “I, therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you to walk worthy of the calling with which you were called, 2 with all lowliness and gentleness, with longsuffering, bearing with one another in love,3 endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. 4 There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called in one hope of your calling; 5 one Lord, one faith, one baptism; 6 one God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all.”
In Matthew 16:13 Jesus asks his disciples, “Who do men say that I, the Son of Man, am?” After providing various responses, Jesus goes a little deeper, “but who do you say that I am?” (Matthew 16:15). Peter answers, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” Jesus response to this has been the focus of much confusion over the past couple thousand years, and continues to bring confusion to us.
From a study of 1 Corinthians 14:26-40, the following truths emerge:
1. Corinth was experiencing confusion in the Lord’s Day assembly, hence Paul’s instructions, and his concluding admonition: “Let all things be done decently and in order” (1 Corinthians 14:40).
2. Many members customarily played a public part in Corinth’s Lord’s Day assembly: “How is it then, brethren? Whenever you come together, each of you has a psalm, has a teaching, has a tongue, has a revelation, has an interpretation” (1 Corinthians 14:26).
3. Paul had no intention of depriving them of this mutual ministry–he intended only to order it: “For you can all prophesy one by one, that all may learn and all may be encouraged” (1 Corinthians 14:31).
I came from a religious system where there was a sharp difference between those who handled the services of the assembly and those who came to worship. It was difficult to disengage from a such system inasmuch as I was raised to respect it. And some of those who taught me so, were respectable as well. However, through the scriptures I came to see there is a “royal priesthood” made up of those who were called “out of darkness into His marvelous light.” I also came to understand that the distinction between clergy and laity is not a scriptural concept.