Jan 24, 2017

A good soldier of Christ in times of apostasy.


1Co 4:20 For the kingdom of God is not in word, but in power. 

2Ti 2:14 Of these things put them in remembrance, charging them before the Lord that they strive not about words to no profit, but to the subverting of the hearers. 

1Ti 6:4 He is proud, knowing nothing, but doting about questions and strifes of words, whereof cometh envy, strife, railings, evil surmisings.

λογομαχίας disputes of word, “strive with words”: “not to have a (mere) war of words” (2Ti_2:23, 2Ti_2:24; 1Ti_6:4) where the most vital matters are at stake (2Ti_2:17, 2Ti_2:18; Act_18:15). 

To strive and contend for the form of sound words, for the wholesome words or doctrines of our Lord Jesus, but not about mere words, and especially such as were to no profit; to no advantage to truth, nor to themselves nor others; were not to edification, to spiritual edification, to godly edifying, which is in faith: 

Words, not things, have been a most fruitful source of contention in the Christian world; and among religious people, the principal cause of animosity has arisen from the different manner of apprehending the same term, while, in essence, both meant the same thing. All preachers and divines should be very careful, both in speaking and writing, to explain the terms they use, and never employ them in any sense but that in which they have explained them.

O how many unnecessary things are thus unprofitably, nay hurtfully, contended for.

Some professors of religion are like vessels of wood and earth. When the vessels of dishonour are cast out to be destroyed, the others will be filled with all the fulness of God. We must see to it that we are holy vessels. Every one in the church whom God approves, will be devoted to his Master's service, and thus fitted for his use. (Matthew Henry)

Charging . . . that they strive not about words. We see proofs in both letters to Timothy that the idle speculations which did the church such damage a little later had already begun. 

Strifes of words are very destructive to the things of God. That they strive not about words to no profit. If people did but consider of what little use most of the controversies in religion are, they would not be so zealous in their strifes of words, to the subverting of the hearers, to the drawing of them away from the great things of God, and occasioning unchristian heats and animosities, by which truth is often in danger of being lost. Observe, People are very prone to strive about words, and such strifes never answer any other ends than to shake some and subvert others; they are not only useless, but they are very hurtful, and therefore ministers are to charge the people that they do not strive about words, and they are most likely to be regarded when they charge them before the Lord, that is, in his name and from his word; when they produce their warrant for what they say. - Study to show thyself approved unto God, 2Ti_2:15.

Tongue Speaking

1 Cor. 14:2 Speaks not to men but to God indicates that Paul views tongues as a form of prayer and praise, but in a language that the speaker does not understand. No one understands him implies that Paul expected tongues in Corinth in most cases to be unknown languages, unlike the evangelistic situation in Acts 2:1–13. 

1 Cor. 14:4 The one who speaks in a tongue builds up himself because his spirit is praying to God even though he does not understand what is being said (see vv. 2, 14, 28).

"tongues" - Speech in a language the speaker does not know, and that sometimes does not follow the patterns of any known human language (1 Cor. 13:1). Paul sees this gift as a means of expressing prayer or praise to God (14:2, 14–17, 28; cf. Acts 10:46) in which the speaker's human spirit is praying even though the speaker does not understand the meaning (see 1 Cor. 14:2, 11, 13–19, 23).

copied from ESV study Bible.

Jan 23, 2017

Let us love

1Jn 3:18 Little children, let us not love in word or talk but in deed and in truth. (ESV)

1Jn 3:18 My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth. (KJV)

We are now still quarreling for "word" and "tongue," But John say we are to love in deed and in truth!

John does not condemn kind words which are comforting and cheering, but warm words should be accompanied by warm deeds to make real “in deed and in truth” (en ergōi kai alētheiāi). Here is a case where actions do speak louder than mere words and tongue speaking!

In such acts as shall show that our professed love is sincere and real. Let us do the deed of love, whether anything is said about it or not. 

Christian charity stands not in word nor tongue speaking, but in deed, and proceeds from a sincere affection.

When the venerable John could no longer walk to the meetings of the Church but was borne thither by his disciples, he always uttered the same address to the Church; he reminded them of that one commandment which he had received from Christ Himself, as comprising all the rest, and forming the distinction of the new covenant, “My little children, love one another.” When the brethren present, wearied of hearing the same thing so often, asked why he always repeated the same thing, he replied, “Because it is the commandment of the Lord, and if this one thing be attained, it is enough” [Jerome].

About tongue speaking in B-P Churches

Mark 16:17 And these signs will accompany those who believe: in my name they will cast out demons; they will speak in new tongues

The tongue in Corinthian Church is the new tongues, the tongue in Acts is the old tongues!

1Co 12:28 And God has appointed in the church first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then miracles, then gifts of healing, helping, administrating, and various kinds of tongues. 

There were and are various kinds of tongues, so, Charismatic tongue speaking is a kind of tongue!

Paul wants us to speak in tongues

1 Cor. 14:5 "I want you all to speak in tongues." Paul's desire to set boundaries on speaking in tongues does not mean that he thinks the Corinthians should abandon this gift. It builds up the individual who has it (v. 4), and, if interpreted, builds up the church. (See also vv. 13, 18, 27, 39.) Still, prophecy is greater because, as intelligible speech that needs no interpretation, it is more directly useful to the church. Unless someone interprets implies that if there is an interpreter, then prophecy and tongues have equal value, since then they would both be understandable. But equal value does not imply that the gifts have the same function, for prophecy is based on something that God suddenly brings to the mind of the speaker, and thus is communication from God to man (vv. 25, 30; cf. Acts 11:28; 21:4, 10–11), while tongues is ordinarily prayer or praise from man to God (1 Cor. 14:2, 14–17, 28; cf. Acts 10:46).

VPP is heresy?

You like to say "God has preserved 100% of His words." 

But where? Which Manuscript? Which Text? 

Show me!

Be honest! Do not tell lie, if you do not know, just say I do not know!

If you are not sure, just say, I am not sure!

When you tell a lie in the first place, people will not trust you anymore, especially doctrinal issues, and you are son of the devil in telling lies.

You became a false prophet, false teacher, heretic!

Cat Dog fight in court

Life Bible Presbyterian Church is now fighting with Far Eastern Bible College, verbally and spiritually, they are indulge in close range warfare. It is sad to see these things happened to Christians. 

What I can say is, they are still human. Easily fallen in sin.

The funny mentalist.

We have ordinary hard head fundamentalists, I called them the funny mentalist.

Their arrogance with their man-made VPP-KJV-only theory.

They want every one to talk and walk like them.

First step they probably take on you: they will try to turn over you, they want to brain wash you to accept their funnymental, VPP-KJV-only. They want you to respect them at the same time.

If you reject their view at this point of time.

They will take the Second step: they try to stay away some distances from you, but they are still warning you. Hoping you will repent from sin of rejecting their "truth"

If you still reject them at this point of time.

They will take the third step: they will try to say to you, "stay away from us," and they will call your name names, like "Neo-Evangelical, liberals, modernist...."

If you still reject them at this point of time.

They will take the forth step: they will see you like seeing ghosts, they treat you as an unbeliever. 

They probably will take the last stand to ask you to leave fundamentalists alone, they want you to avoid criticize them, do not touch them, be silent and serve the Lord as usual...and it is suggested to me by these funny mentalist, it is better for me to leave fundamentalism, since I do not like fundamentalism so much, just leave fundamentalism, go away and take another stand like Evangelical or Neo-Evangelical...They indirectly said to me, "I do not like to see your face in fundamental circle!"

I had met many of these funny mentalist in Bible Presbyterian Churches, still they want some respects from us in the end after all those unnecessary squabbles!

They like to say to every one, "For you cannot do anything against our truth, but only for the truth."

Funny but it is true.

A leader

"A leader is one who knows the way, goes the way, and shows the way" - quoted by American author John C Maxwell.

Direction

I would like to share a quotation from Jim Rohn with all of you, "You cannot change your destination overnight, but you can change your direction overnight".

Jewish Folk Song, ידיד נפש אב רחמ

I dedicated this song to Life Bible Presbyterian Church and Far Eastern Bible College.. 

Here's the words in Hebrew and English, 

Beloved of the soul, Compassionate Father, ידיד נפש אב הרחמן

draw Your servant to your will; משוך עבדך אל רצונך

then Your servant will hurry like a hart ירוצ עבדך כמו איל

to bow before Your majesty; ישתחוה אל מול הדרך

to him Your friendship will be sweeter יערב לו ידידותיך

than the dripping of the honeycomb and any taste. מנפת צוף וכל טעם

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