Randy Bell
7 Aug 2017

Narrow Road Insights

The Biblical Way of Asking For Forgiveness When You Wrong Someone

The narrow way of abundant life that Jesus gives us through His grace pushes us to do everything in our power to make things right when we wrong others. The basics of the Old Testament law condemned murder, but Jesus made forgiveness and reconciliation so important in the narrow way that our norm is to be extreme in gaining forgiveness through humility. Nothing can stop us from a clear conscience but our pride.

The will of God is clear, “This is how I want you to conduct yourself in these matters. If you enter your place of worship and, about to make an offering, you suddenly remember a grudge a friend has against you, abandon your offering, leave immediately, go to this friend and make things right. Then and only then, come back and work things out with God.” [Matt 5:23-24 (MSG)]

Before you ask someone to forgive you for offending or wronging them, examine yourself. Ask these important questions and carefully answer them:

  • Is there a change I need to make in my behavior? What can I do more than making promises to change my attitude or action?
  • Should I make restitution for what I did? What kind of restitution is adequate to mend our relationship? Should I replace the expensive item I damaged or destroyed? Should I go back and thoroughly restore the reputation I destroyed? Should I publicly confess my sin?
  • Have I thought through my action now and relived my offense through their feelings and viewpoint? Only when I stop looking at the conflict through my eyes will I be able to see how I hurt them.
  • Can I say I have I fully forgiven them for any wrong they did to me? If I ignore the need to get right with my friend or family member, God will not allow me His blessings. What do I think gets me off the hook from forgiving them? Remember Matthew 18:34-35 (AMP) “And in wrath his master turned him over to the torturers (the jailers), till he should pay all that he owed. So also My heavenly Father will deal with every one of you if you do not freely forgive your brother from your heart his offenses.”

Then while preparing yourself to make things right…

1. Prepare your wording and make sure it does not imply blame to them or others? Do not say, “We both were wrong so I will forgive you if you forgive me.”

2. Make no excuses. Ask yourself, “Am I trying to justify my offenses in any way?

3. “Write out your words and make sure they are very specific.

4. Frame your words carefully showing genuine sincerity and humility. For example, your beginning is important, so say something like this, “I have acted foolishly and damaged the trust of our relationship. God has convicted me that my outburst of anger towards you this morning…”

5. Next clearly say “…I was wrong…” “I lied about you to hurt you. I was wrong. I have already gone back to your friends and confessed to them.”

6. Then make sure you finish with the question, “Could you please forgive me?” Then in humility wait for their answer.

Then after asking forgiveness ask…

  • Am I prepared to continue to respond correctly even if they will not forgive?
  • How can I sincerely thank them if they do forgive me?
  • Could I humble myself and ask them to reveal further “blind spots” I have that damage them and others?

Suggested Prayer to Develop a Spirit of Forgiveness

Lord Jesus, I ________________ [your name], do purpose in my heart, by Your grace, to believe that everything that happens to me You allow for a specific purpose—for my good. I know You promise me that all things, no matter how bad, You will work out for my good [Romans 8:28]. By faith, I will seek You for that purpose. I will not allow others to take [steal] my joy, by bitterness, but to forgive them as You have forgiven me.

I will remember…

“…Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself…” Daniel 1:8

Beware “…lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you, and thereby many be defiled;” Hebrews 12:15

Remember, in this context, bitterness is simply the result of not seeing suffering from God’s perspective. Use the hurts of your past to remember what it cost the Lord to forgive you. [Matthew 18:21-35]

Check the following qualities in yourself as you determine to forgive and build up your enemies:

  • LOVE [God’s way is giving to the needs of anyone]
  • JOY [God’s way is reproducing Christ’s character]
  • PEACE [Biblical principles define it as a conscience clear of all offense to God and man]
  • PATIENCE [God’s way is responding to irritations with love]
  • GENTLENESS [God’s character is the spirit of understanding]
  • GOODNESS [Biblical principles Christ-like actions and responses]
  • FAITH [fulfilling God’s purposes]
  • MEEKNESS [yielding all my rights to God]
  • SELF-CONTROL [developing moral freedom]
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Randy Bell
7 Aug 2017

Narrow Road Insights

How To Read Your Bible

I’ve noticed a real error of many Christians, a habit of when they come to a portion of scripture they do not like, they decide they can ignore and trivialize that teaching of God by saying it is not literal, not for today or simply proclaim in their self-expertise that it is an allegory. This, of course, gives them complete freedom from obeying it and they can create a new meaning that fits their fancy. No one does this with the newspaper, but they probably should, since many are being proved to lie and spew out political and social propaganda.

But God’s Word is the historical revelation from the all knowing God, and He demands that you accept it as literal fact. Paul warns Christians to take the Bible seriously. “Study and be eager and do your utmost to present yourself to God approved [tested by trial], a workman who has no cause to be ashamed, correctly analyzing and accurately dividing—rightly handling and skillfully teaching—the Word of Truth.” 2 Timothy 2:15 Amplified Bible

The Bible is God’s Word. Not an interpretation of what some zealous men think God says, but His very Words! The Bible is not a religious piece of literature, but a direct revelation from the mouth of the Living God. It is a supernatural book!

The Scripture itself claims this in 2 Tim. 3:16: “All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness,…” The only God is all powerful and able to communicate with man. He not only is able, He has through His written Word, the Holy Bible. To understand the Bible is to understand what God wants mankind to know at this time. To understand the Bible is to comprehend God’s will and direction for the purpose of becoming a faithful friend and child of God.

Therefore, it is imperative that we read the Bible the same way we read a newspaper, history book or a math book. This is the only valid way to understand God and His Word. We must study it at face value, literally accepting all the natural and normal sense of the text. Obviously, we must analyze it to discover what it’s expressions and terms meant to the original audience. For example, in Matthew 6:12 Jesus says “forgive us our debts” which today we would think means “Forget about our financial debts.” But He means sin.

Discover the Authors Intended Meaning

“The main thing to keep in mind here is that no prophecy of Scripture is a matter of private opinion. And why? Because it’s not something concocted in the human heart. Prophecy resulted when the Holy Spirit prompted men and women to speak God’s Word.” [2 Peter 1:20-21 (MSG)]

This must be clear, the Bible has only one meaning, but many applications. The meaning is not up to our interpretations, of what we each think it means to us. The author, God our Creator, had a specific meaning the moment He inspired human authors to pen the words and our duty is to discover that interpretation. Never substitute what you think it should say!

Instead, investigate the context of every scripture and make sure you do not masquerade your pet theology as truth or develop your spiritual whims by replacing the obvious literal meaning with supposed deeper hidden meaning, as all cults and false teachers do by using their books to explain away what God says. And you cannot turn the Bible into an allegory and therefore release yourself from the literal commands and statements of the Bible to make the Word say anything you want. You cannot bind it to the culture of the day it was written and therefore free yourself to disobey its “archaic moral values.” God is timeless.

Be clear on one more thing, the Bible does not have contradictions. If a contradiction appears to you, continue to analyze all possibilities using other portions of scripture to help you understand God’s Word. Remember the Bible is written in Hebrew and Greek, not English or any other modern language. There are not always direct English word equivalents for every ancient Greek or Hebrew text. This simply means an English word may mean less or more than a Greek word and more words are needed to actually translate the full meaning.

For example, let’s look at an English word “jack” and then think how hard this would be to make sense to a Greek speaking person.

Jack was doing his morning jumping jacks and remembered he needed to go to the store. So he jumped into his car and headed to town. Jack only traveled a short distance and felt a thumping noise and pulled over to find he had a flat tire. Irritated, Jack opened the trunk and pulled out the jack and jacked up his car and replaced the flat. Just as he was finishing, a car pulled over behind Jack and two men got out.

Jack thought, “these are nice guys stopping to help” until Jack realized they stopped to carjack his vehicle. One pulled out his jackknife, attacked Jack and jacked him in the jaw knocking Jack to the ground. They were both jacked up on drugs and carjacked his car, leaving Jack lying on the side of the road.

Dazed, Jack rolled over with his back to the road and saw two little girls eating cracker jacks and playing jacks on the sidewalk. Jack mumbled “too many jacks today” and passed out.

Jack did not get out of his car to take himself out of the trunk! Jack did not get under the car and push up the car with his body. Jack did not hit himself in the jaw, steal his own car, or was the object of the game on the sidewalk. We must know the context, usage, slang, and meanings of a simple word like “jack” to understand a silly story.

Our language uses “jack” for multiple unrelated uses. This happens in many cultures and languages including the Bible. In the Greek and Hebrew original languages of the Bible, we find a variety of word usages which forces us to not be simple minded when we study the Word of God or we will miss the heart and soul of what God is saying to us.

Also, bias and choices were made by the Bible translators and to find the answers you will need a good concordance. Free computer Bible programs like Wordsearch Starter have many free books that come with it, including the Strong’s Concordance. Use the Greek or Hebrew definitions you find in the concordance to compare Bible translations. This will help you understand clearer the actual word meanings, help you see why there can be slight differences in translation, or even why one translation can be weak or poorly rendered.

You will find “supposed contradictions” melt away with a deeper search to understand the Word. Psalm 119:160 warns, “The entirety of Your word is truth, And every one of Your righteous judgments endures forever.” Find the sum of all the passages that deal with an issue before you claim there are errors or contradictions. You must read the whole book before you can claim to understand what it is saying.

Always Allow Scripture to Interpret Itself

In our day, we have found that media can manipulate anyone’s words with small sound bites. Just a few words out of its context can make an enemy sound like a real idiot. But, when a further inspection is done to really find out what the person said in the full speech or written article a whole new light of meaning emerges. It is the same with scripture. Always allow God to define what he means, the Bible is a great dictionary of itself. You must find the meaning of words and ideas inside the context. Always compare the portion you are trying to understand with other passages of similar content or themes.

“A text without a context is no more than a pretext” is a famous axiom. Reading to see the full context demands finding the point and direction of the entire book of the Bible being studied. Then, focusing on the context of the specific portion being examined with knowing who is being spoken to, the historical backdrop, and the immediate circumstances will help you see the true meaning of what God is teaching. Proof texting builds an interpretation on the superficial reading of the passage and taken out of context creates an absurd conclusion never intended by God.

Define Figures of Speech

According to the book, Classical Rhetoric for the Modern Student, a figure of speech is “any deviation either in thought or expression, from the ordinary and simple method of speaking…” and it is a “form of speech artfully varied from common usage.” [Instit. Orat. IX, I. 11, cited by Edward P. J. Corbett, Classical Rhetoric for the Modern Student (New York: Oxford Press, 1971), page 640] Such an expression whether it is a simile, metaphor or an idiom is always used to artfully visualize a thought or idea.

A simile is easy to recognize and very useful. Rev. 1:14 is a simple example: “His head and hair were white like wool, as white as snow, and His eyes like a flame of fire;…” The comparison of simile helps John describe what he really saw, “white like wool, as white as snow” but His hair was not really wool; “His eyes like…fire” but not really a flame but very bright and glowing which helps all his readers understand the glorious appearance of the Lord Jesus.

The metaphor also compares but with an implication, not connecting words [like, as]. A good example is Rev. 12:4 “His tail drew a third of the stars of heaven and threw them to the earth. And the dragon stood before the woman who was ready to give birth, to devour her Child as soon as it was born.” A physical dragon did not stand before Mary when she gave birth to Jesus in Bethlehem. The context must be used to find the figure of speech’s meaning. Or a comparison of other scriptures. We find the definition given in verse 9, “So the great dragon was cast out, that serpent of old, called the Devil and Satan, who deceives the whole world; he was cast to the earth, and his angels were cast out with him.” Satan tried to devour the child, through Herod who sent soldiers to kill every baby in town, the literal fact behind this metaphor.

Idioms are used even today as expressions of comparison but distorting the literal words to intensify the point. When Jesus confronted Paul for the first time, found in Acts 26:14, Paul describes the incident like this, “And when we all had fallen to the ground, I heard a voice speaking to me and saying in the Hebrew language, ‘Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me? It is hard for you to kick against the goads.’ “ Notice the words Christ used were not literal, but an expression of Paul’s resistance to God’s will, like an ox kicking against the prodding of a farmer when using the beast to plow a field.

Another type of Biblical figure of speech is a substitution, where a writer replaces the normal word for a meaningful substitute to increase the impact of the statement. The Jews thought God so sacred to mistakenly even speak His name was sinful. Therefore, they would substitute the word heaven for God. They meant God, but said heaven.

The Bible also uses a form of parallelism to amplify and clarify its message. This is common in poetic forms such as Psalms and Proverbs. Psalm 2:4 states:

“He who sits in the heavens shall laugh;

The Lord shall hold them in derision.”

As you think about it, both lines say the same thought, and both amplify and expand that idea for greater impact. Like a poem, the Hebrew lines tend to have a flow not translatable into foreign languages.

God Wrote The Bible For Everyone to Understand

2 Cor. 1:13 “For we are not writing any other things to you than what you read or understand. Now I trust you will understand, even to the end …” God wrote the Bible for everyone to understand, not just scholars and preachers. This is why face value, basic reading is the only way an average Christian would understand God’s will.

For example, Biblical leaders and authors never gave any reason to think a secret, hidden meaning exists that only the Watchtower Society, or The Mormon Movement, or The Roman Catholic Institution would have the real answers exclusive to their secret knowledge. Give the Bible to a person who does not know God, put them on a deserted island, and they will be able to understand God’s plan for mankind, God’s opinion on man’s sinful rebellion, and God’s solution and salvation for mankind. And I guarantee you, he will not believe any of these exclusive, separate religious ideas preached by cults or practices privately kept by some religious denominations.

 

 

 

 

Instead, the plain and simple reading of the Bible leads to the plain and supernatural salvation through the sacrifice and resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ.

Ephesians 5:6 “Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience.”

Mark 13:22 “For false christs and false prophets will rise and show signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect.”

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Randy Bell
7 Aug 2017

Narrow Road Insights

Randy Bell | Are You Really God’s Friend? (read)

 

Jesus said to his disciples…

“Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one’s life for his friends. You are My friends if you do whatever I command you. No longer do I call you servants, for a servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all things that I heard from My Father I have made known to you.” [John 15:13-15 (NKJV)]

The Lord made it clear only repentant disciples that obeyed His commands were His friends. Others were his enemies! “For if when we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life.” [Romans 5:10 (NKJV)] Do we dare make God’s enemies our friends? “You adulterers! Don’t you realize that friendship with the world makes you an enemy of God? I say it again: If you want to be a friend of the world, you make yourself an enemy of God.” [James 4:4 (NLT)] Is that betrayal?

So to deal with those questions let me first examine how Jesus treated His enemies. First, He showered them with mercy and at the same time, loved them by boldly confronting them. He privately spoke to all people who asked about the truth of salvation. He busied Himself with reaching out to those that were sick, rejected, struggling, hurting, and sinful. His public ministry was visible to all, but he privately went off with his friends and taught them the secrets of the kingdom of God.

Matthew 13:10-11 (NLT) 
10  His disciples came and asked him, “Why do you use parables when you talk to the people?”
11  He replied, “You are permitted to understand the secrets of the Kingdom of Heaven, but others are not.

He continued preaching repentance to the crowds until they hardened their hearts to that message. Then most of those curious seekers turned into antagonists. Whether they watched or fought against Jesus they were still his enemies. “Anyone who isn’t with me opposes me, and anyone who isn’t working with me is actually working against me.” [Matthew 12:30 (NLT)] Sure, they still came around to watch Him do miracles and teach the kingdom stories, but found fault, began judging and fighting against the Lord. Are you afraid of this happening in your ministry?

But the Bible always makes a clear distinction between the disciples and the people who were the crowd. For example, the Sermon on the Mount is clearly for his disciples, not the crowd. “One day as he saw the crowds gathering, Jesus went up on the mountainside and sat down. His disciples gathered around him, and he began to teach them.” [Matt 5:1-2 (NLT)] This was outdoors in the open air and crowds would always come to listen, but not follow Jesus.

But when he preached to the crowd it was different. Look closely at these words, “And while the crowds were thickly gathered together, He began to say, ‘This is an evil generation. It seeks a sign, and no sign will be given to it except the sign of Jonah the prophet.’” [Luke 11:29 (NKJV)] He confronted them repeatedly. “The Pharisee noticed and was astonished [to see] that Jesus did not first wash before dinner. But the Lord said to him, Now you Pharisees cleanse the outside of the cup and of the plate, but inside you yourselves are full of greed and robbery and extortion and malice and wickedness.” [Luke 11:38-39 (AMP)]

They would not repent and become his disciples, but still kept gathering around Him. So did He stop confronting them about their sins with the truth?

From the beginning of His ministry, He preached to the lost crowds of Israel.“Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” [Matt 4:17 (NKJV)] He led His friends to join Him and also publicly confront and preach to the crowds, “Let us go into the next towns, that I may preach there also, because for this purpose I have come forth.” [Mark 1:38 (NKJV)] “Now it came to pass, when Jesus finished commanding His twelve disciples, that He departed from there to teach and to preach in their cities.” [Matt 11:1 (NKJV)] He did not become best friends with the community and hope someday by just being nice and quiet about their sins that they might accidentally evolve into Christians.

On December 4, 1873, The Independent published an article by Revivalist Charles Finney titled “The Decay of Conscience.” “Brethren, our preaching will bear its legitimate fruits. If immorality prevails in the land, the fault is ours in a great degree. If there is a decay of conscience, the pulpit is responsible for it. If the public press lacks moral discrimination, the pulpit is responsible for it. If the church is degenerate and worldly, the pulpit is responsible for it. If the world loses its interest in religion, the pulpit is responsible for it. If Satan rules in our halls of legislation, the pulpit is responsible for it. If our politics become so corrupt that the very foundations of our government are ready to fall away, the pulpit is responsible for it. Let us not ignore this fact, my dear brethren; but let us lay it to heart, and be thoroughly awake to our responsibility in respect to the morals of this nation.”

Today pastors and saints think we love people into the kingdom without ever speaking because it may hurt their feelings, or we will be rejected and charged with judging. We are told we must win the right to preach. But our silence leaves the wicked bold in their sins and overcome by strongholds of satanic deception. After years of this experiment, our nation is deeper in sin instead of clamoring to join the church. Their future is hell and they don’t believe it.

Friendship evangelism is popular, and being friendly to the wicked is a must. But hoping after years and years of silent friendship that they will somehow be saved without the word of your testimony is disobedience to Christ. “How then shall they call on Him in whom they have not believed? And how shall they believe in Him of whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without a preacher?” [Romans 10:14 (NKJV)]

Remember Jesus confronted them, “…you Pharisees cleanse the outside of the cup and of the plate, but inside you yourselves are full of greed and robbery and extortion and malice and wickedness. [Luke 11:38-39 (AMP)] Whether religious or average people he boldly told them to stop their sin.“Neither do I. Go and sin no more.” [John 8:11 (NLT)]

Christ loved them enough to speak the truth, and the truth is offensive to the wicked! But Jesus believes in preaching! The Bible believes in preaching! But today pastors seem to more and more disagree!  The practice today is to put the wicked to work in our ministries, be soft on speaking of sin to not offend them, and hope we “nice them and nudge them” into the kingdom. Many proclaim this works for them in their churches, but Jesus did not do this!

But today pastors seem to more and more disagree!  The practice today is to put the wicked to work in our ministries, be soft on speaking of sin to not offend them, and hope we “nice them and nudge them” into the kingdom. Many proclaim this works for them in their churches, but Jesus did not do this!

“Jesus was aware that his disciples were complaining, so he said to them, ‘Does this offend you? Then what will you think if you see the Son of Man ascend to heaven again? The Spirit alone gives eternal life. Human effort accomplishes nothing. And the very words I have spoken to you are spirit and life. But some of you do not believe me.’ (For Jesus knew from the beginning which ones didn’t believe, and he knew who would betray him.)”

“Then he said, ‘That is why I said that people can’t come to me unless the Father gives them to me.’ At this point many of his disciples turned away and deserted him.” [John 6:61-66 (NLT)] His disciples kept warning Him people were offended by His words. “His disciples came and said to Him, ‘Do You know that the Pharisees were offended when they heard this saying?’ But He answered and said, “Every plant which My heavenly Father has not planted will be uprooted.” [Matt 15:12-13 (NKJV)] Jesus intentionally offended the Pharisees with the truth!

Jesus intentionally offended the Pharisees with the truth!

Yes the Lord knew His words were offensive and even reminded John the Baptist, “Go and tell John the things which you hear and see:  The blind see and the lame walk; the lepers are cleansed and the deaf hear; the dead are raised up and the poor have the gospel preached to them.  And blessed is he who is not offended because of Me.” [Matt 11:4-6 (NKJV)]

If you are silent you will not offend the unbelieving! But you will not be like Jesus. “And when He had come to His own country, He taught them in their synagogue, so that they were astonished and said, ‘Where did this Man get this wisdom and these mighty works? Is this not the carpenter’s son? Is not His mother called Mary? And His brothers James, Joses, Simon, and Judas? And His sisters, are they not all with us? Where then did this Man get all these things?’ So they were offended at Him.” [Matt 13:54-57 (NKJV)]

Yes, people do not want to be preached to, and they did not like it when Jesus preached to them in Israel. And yet Christ ordered his disciples to preach, not become best friends with the lost and hope the truth might accidentally come to them. My friend, you must Intentionally minister to them as a follower of Jesus. And yes some people will accuse you of hatred, judging, and being an angry person just because you dare show them their need of the Savior.

“Then he appointed twelve of them and called them his apostles. They were to accompany him, and he would send them out to preach.” [Mark 3:14 (NLT)] “But go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. And as you go, preach, saying, ‘The kingdom of heaven is at hand.’” [Matt 10:6-7 (NKJV)] He kept ordering His disciples to boldly preach. “Whatever I tell you in the dark, speak in the light; and what you hear in the ear, preach on the housetops.” [Matt 10:27 (NKJV)]

Preaching the truth will offend many, it did when Jesus preached. Confronting people is the way Jesus and His apostles showed love to the sons of disobedience. They believed preaching was their only hope for salvation, and obeyed this command, even when it looked like it had no immediate effect on the people. After Christ Jesus preached for three years the Bible says hundreds believed, not thousands. But when Peter preached the sermon recorded in Acts 2, 3000 believed, and the church grew quickly for a time. But as the disciples fanned out across the Roman Empire the success rate was not as dramatic.

But that did not change the methods of Paul and others outside of Israel in later years. He still confronted sinners publicly and exposed their sin, and called them to turn and follow Jesus. His confrontational preaching was the same as Christ taught His first disciples, who preached to crowds of strangers in Israel. They did not waste years being best friends with the wicked of the Greek culture, but instead, quickly proclaimed the truth and trusted the Holy Spirit to work miracles. Then after preaching the gospel, Paul befriended those who responded to the Gospel message and decided to follow Jesus.

For example, he preached in many cities, but crowds rejected the truth and drove him out of town. Public outrage followed Paul in many cities. For example, he was taken to Athens to wait for his friends to join him.

“Now while Paul waited for them at Athens, his spirit was provoked within him when he saw that the city was given over to idols. Therefore he reasoned in the synagogue with the Jews and with the Gentile worshipers, and in the marketplace daily with those who happened to be there. Then certain Epicurean and Stoic philosophers encountered him. And some said, ‘What does this babbler want to say?’ Others said, ‘He seems to be a proclaimer of foreign gods,’ because he preached to them Jesus and the resurrection…”

He confronted the strangers and told them their idolatry was wrong. “God, who made the world and everything in it, since He is Lord of heaven and earth, does not dwell in temples made with hands. Nor is He worshiped with men’s hands, as though He needed anything since He gives to all life, breath, and all things. And He has made from one blood every nation of men to dwell on all the face of the earth, and has determined their preappointed times and the boundaries of their dwellings, so that they should seek the Lord, in the hope that they might grope for Him and find Him, though He is not far from each one of us; for in Him we live and move and have our being…”

“’Truly, these times of ignorance God overlooked, but now commands all men everywhere to repent, because He has appointed a day on which He will judge the world in righteousness by the Man whom He has ordained. He has given assurance of this to all by raising Him from the dead.’ And when they heard of the resurrection of the dead, some mocked, while others said, “We will hear you again on this matter.” So Paul departed from among them. However, some men joined him and believed, among them Dionysius the Areopagite, a woman named Damaris, and others with them.” [Acts 17:16-34 (NKJV)]

Here are the facts, Jesus did not join His enemies, His enemies repented and joined Him. Paul proclaimed the truth and some joined him and became his friends in the faith. The scripture says we are not to join them, they are to join us! “Don’t team up with those who are unbelievers. How can righteousness be a partner with wickedness? How can light live with darkness? What harmony can there be between Christ and the devil? How can a believer be a partner with an unbeliever? [2 Cor 6:14-15 (NLT)]

So how did Jesus treat His enemies, the sons of the wicked one?

1/ First He loved them. “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. “For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved. He who believes in Him is not condemned; but he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.” [John 3:16-18 (NKJV)]

2/ Next He showed them His love. In compassion, He did miracles to heal them, fed them, and spoke clear warnings of their eternal judgment. “When you give a dinner or a supper, do not ask your friends, your brothers, your relatives, nor rich neighbors, lest they also invite you back, and you be repaid. But when you give a feast, invite the poor, the maimed, the lame, the blind. And you will be blessed, because they cannot repay you; for you shall be repaid at the resurrection of the just.” [Luke 14:12-14 (NKJV)]

Jesus took his friends everywhere He went and practiced this principle.

3/ But all the time He invited the crowd to leave their sin and join His church. When feeding 5000 men and families the scripture says, “And He took the five loaves and the two fish, and looking up to heaven, He blessed and broke and gave the loaves to the disciples; and the disciples gave to the multitudes.” [Matt 14:19 (NKJV)]

Unlike many modern churches today, he did not use his enemies as volunteers, whether seekers or observers. Instead only the disciples helped him love the lost.

Now there was one disciple who was his enemy, but only Jesus knew this, the others were completely unaware. So does this mean Jesus wants us to use volunteers from the enemy camp to help reach the lost? “…Judas Iscariot, the disciple who would soon betray him, said, ‘That perfume was worth a year’s wages. It should have been sold and the money given to the poor.’ Not that he cared for the poor—he was a thief, and since he was in charge of the disciples’ money, he often stole some for himself.” [John 12:4-6 (NLT)] In this capacity we would be short of church funds!

Maybe we should use our friendly lost enemies only as far as we can trust them. But Jesus did not even let them share food. And in Acts, the church followed the same principle. “We apostles should spend our time teaching the word of God, not running a food program. And so, brothers, select seven men who are well respected and are full of the Spirit and wisdom. We will give them this responsibility.” [Acts 6:2-3 (NLT)] Maybe we can outnumber the lost and have two lost and five saved volunteers for this ministry? No, not according to scripture, which is supposed to be our example and source of doctrine.

No, not according to scripture, which is supposed to be our example and source of doctrine.

Well, maybe some of the women who served Christ and the apostles were his nice enemies, who wanted to volunteer. “Some women were there, watching from a distance, including Mary Magdalene, Mary (the mother of James the younger and of Joseph), and Salome. They had been followers of Jesus and had cared for him while he was in Galilee. Many other women who had come with him to Jerusalem were also there.” [Mark 15:40-41 (NLT)] Well it sounds like even the ones who washed clothes, cooked meals, and financed the ministry were disciples. But maybe the “many other women” were sympathetic volunteers, not followers of Christ yet. But it does not say

Well it sounds like even the ones who washed clothes, cooked meals, and financed the ministry were disciples. But maybe the “many other women” were sympathetic volunteers, not followers of Christ yet. But it does not say that instead, it says they went to Jerusalem with the group. In fact, it does not even say they helped but were women who followed Jesus from a distance.

All volunteers, called deacons [volunteer slaves] in the church, were given clear standards.  “Deacons must also be of good character. They must not be two-faced or addicted to alcohol. They must not use shameful ways to make money. They must have clear consciences about possessing the mystery of the Christian faith. First, a person must be evaluated. Then, if he has a good reputation, he may become a deacon.” [1 Tim 3:8-10 (GW)] All volunteers in the

All volunteers in the first-century church were required to be Christians of good reputation. Today churches have watered down the use of deacons, or went to the opposite extreme and falsely elevated them to a few special leaders who lead instead of serve. But as Acts illustrated, even the volunteers who fed the widows had to be Christians.

“And this is the condemnation, that the light has come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. For everyone practicing evil hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his deeds should be exposed. But he who does the truth comes to the light, that his deeds may be clearly seen, that they have been done in God.” [John 3:19-21 (NKJV)]

Face it, many will reject the truth, so stop second guessing God by deciding on your own that you can change this by disobeying Christ’s instructions and creating your own way of evangelism. The Lord says, “You are My friends if you do whatever I command you.” Are you really HIS friend?

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Randy Bell
1 Aug 2017

Narrow Road Insights

The Forgotten Role of Female Leadership in the Church

The more you study the Old Testament the more you see how over the years Israel forgot God’s word, His ways, and His Law. Over and over again God had to send prophets and leaders to call them back to His ways. After 2000 years the American church has the same issues of forgetting God’s ways and replacing them with the current culture’s practices. I find this a real issue today.

Part of the churches break past the teaching of scripture and follow the feminist doctrines of American society and place women in authority as pastors. Others react to this false doctrine and shut women out of their God given callings. But the Word of God gives us a clear and present direction on the importance of female leadership for the church. So we must look to the instruction the Apostle Paul gives us.

Titus 2:1-5
But as for you, speak the things which are proper for sound doctrine: [2] that the older men be sober, reverent, temperate, sound in faith, in love, in patience; [3] the older women likewise, that they be reverent in behavior, not slanderers, not given to much wine, teachers of good things— [4] that they admonish the young women to love their husbands, to love their children, [5] to be discreet, chaste, homemakers, good, obedient to their own husbands, that the word of God may not be blasphemed.

Character Requirements of Female Leadership
As you read through the above scripture you find strict demands for spiritual responsibility and leadership. The very first demand is “reverent in behavior.” Holy behavior is not a loose guideline, but a practical lifestyle! And remember holiness means an unusual relationship with God with strict obedience to God’s laws and will.

Only seasoned character molded by years of living with God’s Holy Spirit presence and a mind saturated by knowing God’s holy Word, matures a faithful, narrow road disciple of Jesus to this degree. This is why godly female leadership is essential. And a mighty army of spiritual “grand-mothers” of the faith will stabilize a local church.

But, “slanderers” [verse 3] will destroy the warriors of the Kingdom. This Greek word is the foundation of the English word diabolical, used for Satan and his evil work. How many pastors and church leaders have suffered great loss from diabolical stabs in the back from bitter old ladies!? The old and well known “Church Lady” from Saturday Night Live only exposes the sad truth of many, many supposed Christian ladies, “Whose mouth is full of cursing and bitterness.” [Romans 3:14]

The church must put its foot down and silence such wicked attacks upon its leaders. Ephesians 4:29 states, “Let no corrupt word proceed out of your mouth, but what is good for necessary edification, that it may impart grace to the hearers.” Only consistent faithful women can be allowed into spiritual leadership because God has great concern over gossip, backbiting and slander among women.

Paul also warns us in 1 Tim. 5:13 “And besides they learn to be idle, wandering about from house to house, and not only idle but also gossips and busybodies, saying things which they ought not.”

It is without argument that God demands holiness among women by ordering them away from wine. “Not given to much wine” really says “not enslaved to wine.” “Not given” is from the Greek word doulos, meaning slave. Any lady hooked up with booze is not a holy woman, according to God’s standards and therefore, not accepted by God for leadership. See our article, “Guidelines For New Believers: The Reasons You Must Not Drink Booze of Any Kind.”

Ministry Responsibilities of the Female Leadership
The reason for such high standards of moral character and life style is the great need for spiritual leaders, grandmothers of the faith! Notice in verse four that the mature Christian women are to focus on and take responsibility to pour out their lives into the younger Christian women and disciple them. This is not just Bible study and is not a small task.

“Teachers of good things” encompasses raising girls and young women in all aspects of Christian life. The weight of female discipleship training rests on the shoulders of the church’s spiritual ladies, not the male pastor! This huge task includes…

1/ teaching them how to be disciplined and correct in manners,
2/ raising children,
3/ showing consistent affection toward their husbands,
4/ being self-controlled [over emotions and passions],
5/ being modest and clean,
6/ knowing the skills of a good manager of the home [Proverbs 31],
7/ becoming committed to good works [a ministry],
8/ and being under subjection and obedience to their husbands God given authority.

Verse 8 states all this is necessary so that God’s reputation is upheld, stopping anyone from speaking evil of God’s Word. This again shadows the words of Jesus in Matthew 5:13-16 (NLT) “You are the salt of the earth. But what good is salt if it has lost its flavor? Can you make it salty again? It will be thrown out and trampled underfoot as worthless. You are the light of the world—like a city on a hilltop that cannot be hidden. No one lights a lamp and then puts it under a basket. Instead, a lamp is placed on a stand, where it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your good deeds shine out for all to see, so that everyone will praise your heavenly Father.“

Well Titus 2 obviously makes a clear case for church renewal in this area of ministry. We need to rethink and reprogram our methods of discipleship for ladies. The narrow road followers of Jesus take His commands literally and seriously. Church success demands that the women who have finished raising their children begin the work of spiritual shepherding, and they do not need a special call, this scripture is plain enough.

All the character development and discipline necessary for raising up the young women is only accomplished through being “doers of the word, not hearers only.” If a church is full of unbridled mid-aged to elderly women who try to control the church and pastor, or its ministries, instead of being submissive, obedient servants of the Lord a cycle of disunity and crippling stagnation will result.

But, the Word beams with joy over a faithful lady “deacon” as Paul brags – “I commend to you Phoebe our sister, who is a servant [deacon] of the church in Cenchrea” [Romans 16:1].

The Elite Spiritual Grandmothers

Now the very elite role of spiritual leadership rests on the shoulders of elder women in the local church. This is not an after thought, but an extremely important mission and ministry. Again Paul explains this vital responsibility.

1 Tim. 5:3-16
Honor widows who are really widows. [4] But if any widow has children or grandchildren, let them first learn to show piety at home and to repay their parents; for this is good and acceptable before God. [5] Now she who is really a widow, and left alone, trusts in God and continues in supplications and prayers night and day. [6] But she who lives in pleasure is dead while she lives. [7] And these things command, that they may be blameless. [8] But if anyone does not provide for his own, and especially for those of his household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.

[9] Do not let a widow under sixty years old be taken into the number, and not unless she has been the wife of one man, [10] well reported for good works: if she has brought up children, if she has lodged strangers, if she has washed the saints’ feet, if she has relieved the afflicted, if she has diligently followed every good work.

[11] But refuse the younger widows; for when they have begun to grow wanton against Christ, they desire to marry, [12] having condemnation because they have cast off their first faith. [13] And besides they learn to be idle, wandering about from house to house, and not only idle but also gossips and busybodies, saying things which they ought not. [14] Therefore I desire that the younger widows marry, bear children, manage the house, give no opportunity to the adversary to speak reproachfully. [15] For some have already turned aside after Satan. [16] If any believing man or woman has widows, let them relieve them, and do not let the church be burdened, that it may relieve those who are really widows.

What the church craves for are strong spiritual warriors of prayer and ministry. But here is the problem, a church full of “retired” widows is wasted by most churches. They are looked on many times as a burden of ministry to keep them entertained by taking them shopping, giving them parties, and other worthless events while the world is blinded and heading to hell. Our world around us is in great need of all our efforts to warn them and share the Good News with them.

But you must see, and Paul warns in our text, this pathetic practice is worthless to God. He stated, “But she who lives in pleasure is dead while she lives.”  Sadly, in most cases we have trained them to feel they are a burden. But, God’s Word states the sixty and older widow should be an elite “number” who can only enroll into the sacred rank of service and receive financial support with a proven record of Christian character, volunteer Christian service, and proof of discipleship.

He actually describes them as living examples of what He wrote in Titus 2, explaining what leaders are to train younger women to become. And what is their elite work?

“Now she who is really a widow, and left alone, trusts in God and continues in supplications and prayers night and day.“ [1 Tim. 5:5] What is more needed today in the church than this ministry? We must have a new army of mighty and faithful prayer warriors crying out to God to bring revival and spiritual awakening to the homes, church and nation.

Final Thoughts For You To Consider

To have passionate Christians we must have passionate leaders. The church needs to awake and use her untapped spiritual leaders, who in most part are wasting their lives, by merely attending church services. What will you do to strengthen the church? A revival of narrow road Christian discipleship must sweep the church, and our women must gain a new vision to see the mountain of ministries they are ignoring in our churches and communities. Until godly women arise and begin again the restoration of the Christian woman and family the church will lay paralyzed. But, watch the cities change when the Christian women renew their vows and fulfill God’s purposes by their good works and change the heart of the Christian family.

O Lord, send us dedicated, narrow road followers of Jesus once again!

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