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]