The Real Difficulty...

THE REAL DIFFICULTY

By late Pastor Win Johnson

In our study recently, we came across this pungent statement: "It is surprising when we really come to examine ourselves closely in this matter, how much of what we already believe has been received by tradition from our fathers. How little has actually been derived from our own direct personal study of the Word of God itself. We believe what we have received from man; and we do our best to get it confirmed by the Bible. When we are unable to get the confirmation we are in search of, then we find what we call a 'difficulty.' But the difficulty is not in the Word of God itself; it is in our own minds. The real difficulty is in giving up our own views because we fail to make the Bible conform to them. It does not, at first, occur to our minds that we may have to abandon some of our views if we would get rid of the difficulty." (From "How To Enjoy The Bible")

Multitudes of religious people attend church and like a baby robin, swallow anything and everything that is put before them. Few there are who like the Bereans of old "search the Scriptures daily whether those things are so" (Acts 17:11).

This writer has admonished his people never to believe what they hear simply because "the preacher said so." The preacher could be wrong! After all, he is human and prone to err as anyone.

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What a different world this would be if Eve would have been in submission in her role as wife and [RE]checked with Adam (her "head") what God had said, rather than taking Satan's word when he beguiled her with "Yea, hath God said?"

But I fear, lest by ANY MEANS, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ. [2 Corinthians 11:3 KJB]

Now the serpent was more subtil than any beast of the field which the LORD God had made. And he said unto the woman, YEA, HATH GOD SAID …? [Genesis 3:1 KJB]

If we take a preacher's word (be an 'he'...or an unscriptural 'she'), whether in a small country church or world-famous TV evangelist (or somewhere in between), without searching it out for yourself, are you not taking a man's word over God's?  Take heed!!!

For there MUST BE also HERESIES among you (because all are human and have ‘feet of clay’), that they which are APPROVED (of God…showing themselves to be faithful ministers of sound doctrine for the dispensation of grace) may be made MANIFEST (evident as such) among you.  [1 Corinthians 11:19 KJB]

Therefore, let us be the Bereans God would have us be, and "search the scriptures to see whether those things are so."  [Acts 17:11 KJB]

What's a person to believe?

With so many denominations (and 'non-denominations') in Christendom, it can be confusing to the thinking Christian as to what to believe. 

For myself, I have come up with a simple Litmus test to determine what if any stock to put in what is said:

First, does the speaker use the KJB as their Final Authority and, just as important, how to rightly divide it?

Second, does the speaker know/recognize the unique and distinct apostleship of Paul to the Gentiles in this present day of the grace of God.

If they pass that test, then and only then will I ‘consider’ and ‘search out’ what they say; because, otherwise, they only gender questions and confusion.

Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned [of Paul]; and avoid them. FOR THEY THAT ARE SUCH SERVE NOT(!!) our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly; and by good words and fair speeches deceive the hearts of the simple. [Romans 16:17-18 KJB] ...emphasis mine.

It is as simple and clear as that...to me. But don't take my words--or any man's words--for it, alone. Study it for yourself and let the Holy Ghost confirm it for you!

Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. [2 Tim 2:15 KJB]

Which things also we speak, not in the words which man's wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual. [ 1 Cor 2:14 KJB]

Saved and Sealed

by Barry C Bumpus April 2011 

In January I decided to trust what you did for me Jesus

I chose to believe that you died for me as payment for all my sins.

I willingly placed my faith in what the scriptures said,

that you were crucified and buried and then rose from the dead.

For me. In my stead.

In February my friend said the Bible was a lie.

In March I read a book that questioned whether you were real.

In April I began to doubt and in May I struggled.

June tugged at me, July and August burned me to the core.

September saw me losing my grip and as

Winter returned I rejected your gospel.

I died in December and awoke to see you, Jesus.

I asked, “What am I doing here? I have rejected your gift.”

And you said:

When you chose to trust in my faith, you were sealed,

Can the seed, deny it's fruit ?

Can the rain refuse to be wet or the fragrance of a flower

be an orphan?

When you chose me and believed, you were crucified with me

And yet you live. But it's not you that lives, it's me that lives in you, 

and you live by my faith

and I abideth faithful, I cannot deny myself.

You are my body, I cannot harm myself. Only your reward is at risk.

My gift of eternal life is yours.

You did not die in December. The year began and never ended.

What's your pleasure? Meat and potatoes or baby food?

If one doesn't believe they have a Final Authority (aka, God's wisdom) that extends past (and outside) the wisdom of the world, one has to then pick and choose who will be their final authority:  themselves, relatives, friends or someone with extensive 'seminary' learning.   The trouble is, ALL these so-called 'authorities' have feet of clay and are simply regurgitating seminary and/or traditions-of-men drivel crafted by none other than Satan, himself.  

“Having the understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God through the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart: … In whom the god of this world [Satan] hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.” [Ephesians 4:18; 2 Corinthians 4:4 KJB]

Should not our Final Authority therefore be the pure and perfectly preserved words of God of which we along with Job should esteem more than our necessary food [Job 23:12 KJB]?

Jesus answered and said unto them, Ye do err, not knowing the scriptures, nor the power of God. [Matthew 22:29 KJB]

Let us not err, but walk in the Spirit so as to not fulfill the lusts of the flesh… 

That ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God; [Colossians 1:10 KJB]

It's all up to you...

And as it is appointed unto men once to die, 
but after this the judgment:

Hebrews 9:27 KJB

We know by faith--because God told us in his word--that everyone will one day stand before him in judgment.  God also tells us in his word that there are two judgments: one for believers and one for unbelievers.

Speaking to believers, Paul writes…

2 Corinthians 5:10 KJB

For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad.

Speaking of unbelievers, John, the Revelator writes…

Revelation 20:11-12 KJB

And I saw a great white throne, and him that sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them. And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works.

The question is, do you know exactly what it is that is required by God "to believe" that determines which judgment you'll be in?   If you're in the least bit unsure, please take a couple minutes to view this beautiful presentation put together by one of my Facebook friends, John W. Baker.  

It's your decision...

a decision that will last you an eternity, 

you must decide.

Got questions?

Having “a lot” of questions when starting to see scripture from a mid-Acts dispensational viewpoint is nothing short of God working “in you” as you consider Pauline doctrine.   

…when ye received [rather than reject] the word of God which ye heard of us, ye received it not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the word of God, which effectually worketh also in you that believe.” [1 Thess 2:13 KJB]

 Which things [words of God] also we [Paul, Timothy, Titus, Philemon, and others] speak, not in the words which man's wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual. [1 Cor 2:13 KJB]

Consider [rather than reject] what I [Paul] say; and the Lord give [will] thee understanding in all things.  [2 Tim 2:7 KJB]

Let nothing deter you from asking your questions.   Believe me every one has lots of questions at the start.   Even I questioned if I was getting into a cult of some kind because it was so “180 degrees” different from what I’d heard all my life.  (But, then again, God’s MYSTERY program is 180 degrees different from God’s PROPHECY program. That’s why it’s crucial to not ‘wrongly divide’ God’s word and embrace that which is not written to or meant for us in the dispensation of the grace of God.)

The things that kept me hanging in there was that Christ said in Matt 4:4 and Luke 4:4 that “man should not live by bread alone but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God” and then “search the scripture to see whether those things were so.”   [Acts 17:11 KJB]

It was from only men that acknowledged Paul’s unique and distinct apostleship and took God at his word to rightly divide, that I gained answers to my questions…and even had answers to questions I didn’t know to ask yet! (I thank God for faithful teachers true to the word of God.)

If any man think himself to be a prophet, or [to be] spiritual, let him acknowledge that the things that I [Paul] write unto you are the commandments of the Lord:   [1 Corinthians 14:37 KJB]

If you have questions, let me encourage you to keep asking questions.  A great place to search is: http://bibleanswersrightlydivided.blogspot.com/    If after reading and listening to the audio files available there, you too have questions, don’t hesitate to email Pastor Ronronkrista3@yahoo.com, yourself.   Praise God, there are many faithful grace teachers for one to avail themselves of but Pastor Ron Knight loves questions and personally provides in depth, scriptural answers from a mid-Acts point of view to all who are honestly seeking the truth.   

It takes time and it takes ‘receiving and then searching the scriptures’ not ‘rejecting and doubting’.  Rather, search out the words of faithful men by lining them up with the actual words found in the Authorized Text, the King James Bible. If man's words are in agreement with God's words, then you can know you are on solid ground. 

...yea, let God be true, but every man a liar; as it is written, That thou mightest be justified in thy sayings, and mightest overcome when thou art judged. [Romans 3:4 KJB]

Bible study is rich and rewarding when you do it God’s prescribed way—in faith with readiness of heart, believing—rightly dividing the word of truth.  

But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him. …  Therefore came I forth to meet thee, diligently to seek thy face, and I have found thee. [Hebrews 11:6; Proverbs 7:15 KJB]

Study and you will grow ‘in the Lord’ and become established in his word so as to not be as tossed to and fro by every wind of doctrine.

Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. … That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive;  [2 Timothy 2:15; Ephesians 4:14  KJB]

You won’t regret it. Abundant grace and peace await you.  

What's the big deal about the KJB?

A study in manuscript evidence can be a real eye-opener.  

Episode 1

Episode 2

Episode 3

Episode 4

Episode 5

Episode 6

Ye shall not add unto the word which I command you, neither shall ye diminish ought from it, that ye may keep the commandments of the Lord your God which I command you.

[Deuteronomy 4:2 KJB]

Every word of God is pure: he is a shield unto them that put their trust in him.  add thou not unto his words, lest he reprove thee, and thou be found a liar.

[Proverbs 30:5-6 KJB]

 For I testify unto every man that heareth the words of the prophecy of this book, if any many shall add  unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book:

And if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book.

[Revelation 22:18-19 KJB]

The words of the Lord are pure words: as silver tried in a furnace of earth, purified seven times. Thou shalt keep them, O Lord, thou shalt preserve them from this generation for ever.

[Psalm 12:6-7 KJB]