Path of Truth #18

 

Adam & Eve

1. God blessed him with kind advantages, including Eve, and showed him the path of truth.
2. The path of truth had personal fellowship with God, tree of life, and a perfect marriage, and its only condition was to not eat the fruit of the tree of knowledge of good and evil.
3. Source: Creator God told Adam directly about the path of truth without human helpers, which you have today in writing, for it is a divine library with answers for all questions.
4. Event: Satan was allowed into Eden to put our race to the test, which it horribly failed though represented by the best of our kind, choosing lies and death over truth and life.
5. Event: Question and contemplate a command of God rather than diligently obey it by doubting it, altering it, and thinking of other angles, when all that mattered is His words.
6. Enemy: Satan lied to Eve, and she seduced Adam (Gen 3:1-6), and this devilish trait of lies is repeated in the N.T. for a warning (II Cor 11:1-4,13-15), for this creature rejected the path of truth, because he has none and promotes lies as the father of lies (John 8:44).
7. Enemy: Family here was the enemy to truth, for Adam’s wife took him into sinful lies.
8. Lesson: Satan went after the woman for ease; it is the same way today (II Tim 3:6-7).
9. Lesson: Women are vulnerable to deception and must be protected/silent (I Tim 2:14).
10. Lesson: Questioning God is the devil’s device, and we should never allow it (Gen 3:1).
11. Lesson: Evil communications corrupt good manners, as questioning God (I Cor 15:33).
12. Lesson: Satan used all three lusts that tempt men away from the path of truth (I Jn 2:16).
13. Rule: Trust God’s word, even with minor doubts, and hate anything else (Ps 119:128).
14. Rule: Men should not allow their wives any pride or hear false teachers (II Tim 3:6-7).
15. Rule: We should protect women from those bringing false doctrine (II John 1:10-11).
16. Rule: Men must rule, especially spiritually, which requires them to apply themselves.
17. Rule: If a woman will learn anything, let her ask her husband at home (I Cor 14:34-35).
18. Rule: If you fail or fall, do not hide, do not cover your sin, repent at His feet (Pr 28:13).
19. For much more about the disastrous choice Adam made and God’s remedy of it … here.
20. Adam left the path of truth for love, marriage, sex and got the congregation of the dead.
21. Will you men be better than Adam for wife and family? Will women trust your husband?

 

Cain & Abel

1. Two brothers in the first generation of man disagreed over the path of truth for worship.
2. Source: We do not know how Abel knew the path of truth, but possibly by coats of skins.
3. Event: How should the worship of God occur, and can it allow our personal preferences?
4. Enemy: Family again is the enemy, but this time Cain murdered his righteous brother, which Jesus used to identify the vicious nature of Jews hating the path of truth (Jn 8:44).
5. Lesson: Enemies of the truth hate truth and those they hold it, and they will kill them if possible, which has occurred from the very start, and which fills the Bible’s last book.
6. Lesson: God does not care about your gifts, vocation, or person when it is His worship.
7. Lesson: Abel bought the truth and would not sell it and is highly honored (Heb 11:4).
8. Rule: Love His worship as He gave it with reverence and godly fear (Heb 12:28-29).
9. Rule: Love His worship as given and remember His judgment of the details … here, here.
10. Will men flush relationships (brother) and even their life (murder) for the path of truth?

 

Lamech

1. He invented polygamy against God’s perfect creation ordinance of marriage (Gen 4:19).
2. Source: The path of truth in marriage was known by creation per Jesus (Matt 19:4-8).
3. Event: Women multiply on the earth and the sinful family tree of Cain gives in to lusts.
4. Enemy: Lusts of man and their hard hearts against wisdom from Creator and Designer.
5. Lesson: The choice to overrule God’s word was foolishly wrong (Eccl 7:29; Mal 2:15).
6. Lesson: The choice to violate God’s word brought significant trouble later (Deut 17:17).
7. Lesson: Even the best of men were tempted by this invention e.g. Abraham, David, etc.
8. Rule: The three lusts within every sinner must be ruled and restrained by God’s words.
9. Rule: You do not have a better idea than God, not even close, so hate your vain thoughts.
10. Will men trust God and His perfect creation and design and learn to maximize marriage?

 

Seth & Enos

1. Abel died for the path of truth, so God replaced him with Seth and Enos (Gen 4:25-26).
2. Our glorious God and loving Father never left this vain world without the path of truth, though the amount and form of revelation has varied greatly by nations and individuals.
3. We have a revival here during the life of Enos, which leads us onward toward the Flood.
4. Source: We do not know what was passed father to son or initiated by direct inspiration.
5. Event: The language used implies a necessary reformation, a revival of sorts, for truth.
6. Enemy: If no one else were calling on the name of the LORD, most will not due to fear.
7. Lesson: God in mercy will not let truth disappear, though man often works against it.
8. Lesson: A man can choose truth, buck trends, differ from family, start a lasting revival.
9. Rule: Never worry what others have been doing, are doing, or will do; choose the truth.
10. Will men, each one individually, value God and truth enough to lead their own revival?

 

Noah & Flood

1. Sons of God in the path of truth went after beautiful women of Cain’s line (Gen 6:1-3).
2. So God sent a worldwide Flood to judge all men and sinful affinity; the only one to be spared (with his immediate family) was Noah, a preacher of righteousness (II Pet 2:5).
3. For more detail about this event and God’s hatred of affinity … here, here, here, here, here.
4. Source: The path of truth was well known by Seth’s line and rejected marriage to Cain’s.
5. Source: God revealed by direct revelation to Noah the coming worldwide flood of water.
6. Event: Widespread marital compromise by sons of God left only Noah in his generation.
7. Enemy: The world of unbelievers, attractive women, turned heads and hearts of many.
8. Enemy: In 120 years of living and preaching righteousness, Noah did not save one soul.
9. Lesson: The majority, or all men, are wrong in matters of morality, truth, and wisdom.
10. Lesson: Affinity – marrying unbelievers – causes incredible trouble, including Solomon.
11. Rule: God may ask you to do something from the Bible you have not seen done before.
12. Rule: You can only marry independent lovers of the path of truth and your children also.
13. Will you stand up to obey God, though family only cooperates, and no one else believes?

 

Nimrod & Babel

1. Success and fear led men to a united project against the path of truth God had ordered.
2. Nimrod from line of Ham and Cush, was a mighty one at Babel (Gen 10:8-10; 11:1-9).
3. Source: After the Flood, God instructed Noah’s family to multiply and replenish earth.
4. Event: But in the spirit of unity and togetherness, they chose a tower project for bonding.
5. Enemy: Success and fantasies of numbers and strength caused men to reject God’s word.
6. Lesson: The men of this world may be mighty and even intimidating, but truth will win.
7. Lesson: Unity by itself is dangerous and deceitful; it only has value in the path of truth.
8. Lesson: Our God is Author of Confusion, for He will hide the path of truth from sinners.
9. Rule: Choose the path of truth, or face God’s creative ability to tear your tower down.
10. Rule: It does not matter what anyone else or everyone else might be doing with truth.
11. Rule: Praise and thank God for any truth you know, for He blinds most men from truth.
12. Will you stand up against a majority or all men if God’s truth calls for something else?

 

Abraham & Lot

1. Both men had eternal life, but they treated truth differently for very different outcomes.
2. Abraham did not revert to the gods some of his fathers had worshipped (Joshua 24:15), and God knew him as a man that would lead his family in the path of truth (Gen 18:19).
3. Source: God showed the path of truth directly to Abraham and indirectly to nephew Lot.
4. Event: Asked to make incredible life changes and face many trials with his nephew Lot.
5. Enemy: Sarah pressured Abraham to not trust God and use Hagar to gain a son for them.
6. Enemy: The sight of the eyes, Lot viewing the Jordan Valley, is deceitful against truth.
7. Lesson: Not seeing the destination of the road of truth is irrelevant; trust God and move!
8. Lesson: Riches and comfort living are against truth; both destroy souls (I Tim 6:6-10).
9. Rule: You should believe the most unlikely promises, for such pleases God the most.
10. Rule: Be willing, even confident and eager, to offer the dearest thing on earth to God.
11. Rule: Do not desire riches or earthly success. Lot did; he lost all; Abram died very rich.
12. Rule: When convicted to return to the path of truth, do not look back like Lot’s wife did.
13. Will every man, against ignorance or rebellion of family, lead and command the truth?

 

Elihu Barachel

1. Elihu was Abraham’s relative by Buz, a son of his father Nahor (Job 32:2; Gen 22:21), and the only one in the book of Job to stay on the path of truth and answer the situation.
2. Here is a phenomenal example for young men to walk with God and grow in knowledge; the young man’s character and passion for God and His truth have no peer in the Bible.
3. Source: There is a spirit in man: inspiration of the Almighty giveth them understanding; which in Elihu’s case was direct and supernatural, exceeding greatness and age of four!
4. Event: Job and three friends by Satanic influence were led astray from the path of truth; though they said many right and true things, they applied them without true knowledge.
5. Enemy: Satan loves to use life afflictions and hardships to try to turn you against God.
6. Enemy: A wife valuing life by family and happiness, willing to curse a sovereign God.
7. Enemy: Self-righteousness on the part of Job, after initial perfection, that led him astray.
8. Enemy: Black and white thinking by friends that foolishly condemned Job of hypocrisy.
9. Lesson: Without inspiration, all must listen, focus, understand, analyze, review, and use.
10. Lesson: There is a time for anger against good men for corrupting truth (Job 32:1-3).
11. Lesson: Claim to love truth means you will convert any losing sight of it (Jas 5:19-20).
12. Rule: To be like Elihu, you must have a truth-loving spirit that begs for the Holy Spirit.
13. Rule: To be like Elihu, you must love God’s inspired word, especially preaching of it.
14. Rule: To be like Elihu, you start with sovereignty of God and identify truth from there.
15. For more about Elihu and his exceptional example for young men … here, here, here, here.

 

Joseph

1. Sold into slavery in Egypt at 17 years of age, he remained faithful to God and His truth.
2. Many chapters in the last part of Genesis tell about this committed and excellent man.
3. Source: We assume Jacob and Rachel taught Joseph the morality that he lived by in life.
4. Event: He believed God’s revelation (dreams) so thoroughly he spoke of them to others.
5. Event: When in a very difficult sexual trial, he appealed to sin against God (Gen 39:9).
6. Event: When confronted with brothers, Egypt’s policies, and death, he held to the truth.
7. Enemy: Family again did what they could to silence the truth by murdering a brother.
8. Enemy: Though marrying the daughter of a pagan priest, his sons/tribes held to truth.
9. Lesson: Christian ethics are part of truth, and Joseph knew how to apply them perfectly.
10. Lesson: You will at times be accused of wrongdoing for truth, but it is worth the trade.
11. Rule: Do not alter confidence or faith in God by setbacks. Endure for rewards (Jas 5:11).
12. Rule: Never forget your future that truth has revealed and live in light of it (Heb 11:22).
13. For more about Joseph and his exceptional example of character and truth … here, here.

 

Moses

1. Moses got the motherlode of truth by various means including the O.T. law and worship.
2. He was the mediator between Israel and God, ascending Mt. Sinai to bring truth back.
3. Source: God dealt with him directly in private (burning bush) and publicly (Mt. Sinai).
4. Event: He and truth were opposed by fear, a wife, a mighty monarch, the whole church.
5. Enemy: Family again – his wife rejected the bloody rite of his religion – circumcision.
6. Enemy: Fear of the Jewish elders and of Pharaoh prompted God for lessons and Aaron.
7. Enemy: The nation – the whole church – stood against him and truth more than once.
8. Enemy: Emotion – anger – provoked him to smite the rock rather than speak as ordered.
9. Lesson: He chose invisible truth for its reward over visible riches and pleasure of Egypt.
10. Lesson: He initiated the Passover, as strange a practice as can be imagined, but the truth.
11. Lesson: God’s religion and truth are definitely an if-then arrangement for obedience.
12. Lesson: Moses had to resist siblings and then princes and then the whole congregation.
13. Rule: God’s statements are so true you can use them in return in reasoning in prayer.
14. Rule: God’s future rewards – promised in the truth of the gospel – justify any suffering.
15. Rule: No matter how much truth God reveals, you can still be the meekest man on earth.
16. Who will be a Moses? Willing to sacrifice all, stand against all, submit to all, for truth.

 

Rahab

1. God saved Rahab and her family, for her faith in protecting the spies (Josh 2:8-14; 6:25).
2. This woman is an example of faith even in the New Testament (Heb 11:30-31; Jas 2:25).
3. God loved her greatly; she was the great-great grandmother of King David (Ruth 4:21).
4. God loved her so much that He even put her in the lineage of Jesus His Son (Matt 1:5).
5. Source: She and her city heard of what Jehovah had done to Egypt … but she believed!
6. Source: God had opened her heart sufficiently, like Lydia, to confess Jehovah as God.
7. Event: She had to commit treason against her city, friends, neighbors to trust in Jehovah.
8. Event: She had to put her trust in strangers that represented the new God she now knew.
9. Enemy: Political expedience, obeying civil rulers, trusting providence, humble waiting.
10. Lesson: This world, including Jericho and Greenville, are enemies of honest Bible truth.
11. Lesson: God can reveal truth to the strangest of persons and in the strangest of ways.
12. Lesson: God can save a person trusting Him and His truth even in bizarre circumstances.
13. Rule: Trust your pastor’s preaching more than Rahab trusted promises of enemy spies.
14. Rule: Jehovah forgives sinful pasts beyond human compare, like the woman of Samaria.
15. Are there any women with the character, courage, and commitment for truth like Rahab?

 

Joshua

1. Love this man’s name: Jehoshua (Nu 13:16) = Jesus = Jehovah saves (Mat 1:21); twice in the New Testament you will need to remember Jesus = this man (Act 7:45; Heb 4:8).
2. As with all places we stop on the path of truth through history, we only stop for minutes.
3. Source: He was a man committed to truth; he was Moses’ assistant and knew God well, from being with Moses in the tabernacle and up Mt. Sinai and 40 years of experience.
4. Event: He was charged by Moses to take former slaves and fight with Amalek by faith.
5. Event: He was one of the 12 spies of Canaan and rejected the ministerial majority of 10.
6. Event: Moses died and left him the hard job of conquering Canaan with unruly people.
7. Event: He did many things never done before against overwhelming odds in many ways.
8. Enemy: His peers united against him and turned the church to kill him (Numbers 14:10).
9. Enemy: He had an Achan in the camp that he had to discover and kill for truth to prevail.
10. Enemy: He emotionally compromised with Gibeon, but he turned them into bondslaves.
11. Lesson: With an opportunity to know God and truth better, he chose Jehovah (Ex 33:11).
12. Lesson: He obeyed the truth as well as he could different ways in very hard conditions.
13. Lesson: He chose for his wife and family – they would serve the LORD (Joshua 24:15).
14. Lesson: He knew those with him were not as committed, but he would be (Josh 24:19).
15. Rule: Any opportunity you get to approach God and learn from him, exploit the opening.
16. Rule: Success and prosperity are by courageous commitment to scripture (Josh 1:7-9).
17. Rule: Never follow the majority – they are always wrong – you will come out on top.
18. Rule: Men will lie, cheat, and steal around you but that will not move you from truth.
19. Are there any men with the character, courage, and commitment for truth like Joshua?

 

Israel / Judges

1. The church of the Old Testament, the children of Israel, were God’s people 1500 years.
2. We cannot study the whole history of this church, for it covers more than half the Bible.
3. Source: God gave them truth all kinds of ways like no others (Ps 147:19-20; Heb 1:1).
4. Event: They had divine truth and promises lifting them highly (Deut 4:5-8; Rom 3:1-2).
5. Enemy: Prosperity, complacency, envy, affinity with pagan neighbors ruined repeatedly.
6. Lesson: Preaching blesses a nation, but disobedience ruins life and happiness (Pr 29:18).
7. Lesson: Because they neglected truth, God took it from them and blinded (Is 29:9-16).
8. Lesson: Israel’s often backsliding and judgments should get our attention (I Cor 10:11).
9. Lesson: God knew how many prophets He sent; He knows how much truth we hear.
10. Rule: We nor our children nor our grandchildren can be allowed to forget gift of truth.
11. Rule: To whom much is given is much required, which justly burdens us (Luke 12:48).
12. Rule: We have been grafted into the olive tree of the LORD, but we can be cut off easily.
13. Rule: While reading over half the Bible about Israel, turn history/warnings to yourself.
14. He took His kingdom from Israel for Gentiles to bear fruit (Matt 21:43; Acts 15:13-18).
15. God has shown our church much truth, will we bear much more fruit than old Israel?

 

Samuel

1. When Hannah gave Samuel to the Lord, there was no open vision of truth (I Sam 3:1,7).
2. Things changed with Samuel, even as a lad about Eli’s sons, and more (I Samuel 3:21).
3. Source: God revealed truth by visions and the word of the Lord (Gen 15:1; Num 12:6).
4. Event: God revealed horrible news about what He would do to Eli (I Samuel 3:11-14).
5. Event: God led Samuel through selection of a king against God and judges (I Sam 8:7).
6. Event: God led Samuel through rejection of Saul and replacement with David as king.
7. Enemy: Conveying truth to Eli, David, and Saul was difficult, dangerous, but he did it.
8. Enemy: His first anointed king, Saul, disobeyed, so Samuel hewed Agag (I Sam 15:33).
9. Lesson: Worship of God is one of the doors to truth (I Samuel 1:28; 2:11,18,21; 3:1).
10. Lesson: Character and conduct pleasing God and good men is also (I Samuel 2:26).
11. Lesson: Israel rejected him, but like Moses and Paul, he prayed and taught (I Sam 12:23)
12. Rule: No matter what God asked you to do for truth, it is far better to do it like Samuel.
13. Rule: You can be better than Samuel (or David) by avoiding their huge mistakes (sons).
14. Are there women to remember what a mother can do by prayer and dedication to God?
15. Are there men to remember the poor stories of Eli and Samuel to be righteous fathers?

 

David

1. Though the youngest of eight son and nearly forgotten by the family, God loved him.
2. His great passion for God, His worship, His word, and His truth were second to none.
3. The contrast between Saul and David’s character and reign was great (Ps 75:2-3; here).
4. If you admire/desire the man after God’s own heart, see his great love of God’s truth.
5. Source: Though David had little of God’s word, he loved it like no other (Ps 19; 119).
6. Source: He did have prophets like Samuel and Nathan, for special messages/prophecies.
7. Event: He was tried in life from Goliath to Saul to Bathsheba to temple rejection to sons.
8. Event: He heard Goliath blaspheme, and that was it. All others guilty of sin of listening.
9. Enemy: Pagan champions, his own pride and lusts, and his own sons tested love of truth.
10. Enemy: Even a wife from Saul’s family mocked his love of worship (II Sam 6:20-23).
11. Lesson: The cause of God / truth was greater than any desire or fear, unlike most men.
12. Lesson: Spheres of authority include an inferior and rejected king that wants to kill you.
13. Lesson: God confronting terrible sins can be forgiven by full-blown, sincere confession.
14. Lesson: Above and beyond is what great men do for Jehovah – temple, then funding it.
15. Lesson: Though the greatest lover of truth, his diplomacy won him Gittites, Hiram, etc.
16. Lesson: Though a neglectful father, yet Solomon praised him for teaching (Prov 4:1-9).
17. Rule: Choose detailed love of God’s word, confidence in them, and prayer to keep them.
18. Rule: The true God loves praise and worship as part of true religion – excel others at it.
19. Rule: Learn David’s axioms of truth and teach your children (Ps 119:98-100,128; etc.).
20. For much more about David’s character to learn and to copy … here, here, here, here, here.

 

Asa & Hezekiah

1. The two men replaced wicked kings (Asa for Abijam; Hezekiah for Ahaz) to rule Judah.
2. Their revivals destroyed false worship of all kinds and restored the true temple worship.
3. Hezekiah began to reign at 25 and immediately in the first month reopened the temple.
4. Source: They had prophets (Oded, Isaiah) that encouraged them to restore true religion.
5. Event: They had to undo as much or more than they had to implement, but they did it.
6. Event: Asa faced the largest Bible army; Hezekiah faced the unbeatable Sennacherib.
7. Enemy: The greatness of the projects did not deter either man from enormous changes.
8. Enemy: The apparent invincibility of opponents did not keep either king from victory.
9. Lesson: When such revivals occur, God’s hidden 7000 can show up (II Chr 15:9; 30:25).
10. Lesson: Learning truth and seeing God endorse it cannot be lost for the next event (Asa).
11. Lesson: Hezekiah showed that God mercifully allowed alterations for greater revivals.
12. Lesson: After all the good Hezekiah had done, it was time for Sennacherib and disease.
13. Rule: The way things have been done or religious complacency are not reasons to quit.
14. Rule: You have Bible history, events of others, and your own experience to trust God.
15. Rule: You only deserve an epitaph like these men of truth if exceptional with exploits.
16. Rule: Never let God’s blessings (war; +15; sundial) cause pride like with ambassadors.
17. Are there men that are fearless in great danger that the rest of the church can hang on?
18. For much more about both men and the significant revivals of true religion … here, here.

 

Josiah

1. Josiah had father Amon and grandfather Manasseh, but he was different (II Kings 22:1).
2. He became king when only eight years old, but he did good things at age 16 and age 20.
3. At age 26 he found the book of the law and had it read to him and responded perfectly.
4. Source: Josiah had scribes, a college of prophets, and Jeremiah the prophet as well.
5. Event: The temple was in disrepair, and he raised the funds to restore it for full worship.
6. Enemy: Idolatry was in full swing and Jehovah’s temple in disrepair and hardly used.
7. Enemy: He was an island of virtue following wicked kings and preceding wicked sons.
8. Lesson: Josiah began to seek the Lord when he was 16, and his exploits came from it.
9. Lesson: For four years he sought the God of David and then began destroying idolatry.
10. Lesson: After he found the word of God and had it read, he held the greatest Passover.
11. Lesson: Hezekiah died at 54 (15 yrs added) and Josiah at 39 mercifully; both were great.
12. Rule: You will only be a man or woman of truth if you seek to know the true God better.
13. Rule: You must then act on knowing God better by purging all offences from your life.
14. Rule: You cannot turn aside (Josiah followed David perfectly). What causes you to turn?
15. Rule: Do not blame those before you, around you, or after you. Follow the truth yourself.
16. Rule: Forget others’ motes! Burn your own beams! Keep your heart fixed on heaven.
17. Rule: Learn to love preaching like Josiah did with the same humility and repentance.
18. Are there men (women) that will seek the Lord, purge out sin, and exalt true worship?
19. For more about this great revivalist and his exploits for God and truth … here, here, here.

 

Jeremiah

1. One man against a nation is not very encouraging when they ignore your preaching.
2. After Josiah’s death, in the 18^th year of Jeremiah’s ministry, the nation backslid greatly.
3. Jeremiah had the truth, but the nation did not care, and God could see it (Jer 5:1-3).
4. Source: God had chosen Jeremiah from the beginning of the world to be His prophet.
5. Event: Manasseh’s sins were too great for God to overlook, so He had to destroy Judah.
6. Enemy: False prophets preached a message everyone wanted to hear – peace would win.
7. Lesson: If God gives you content – especially preachers – they must not compromise it.
8. Lesson: Turning from God’s worship to any other is spiritual adultery that God despises.
9. Lesson: Having God’s temple, His word, or His ordinances do not allow rejecting truth.
10. Lesson: Inspiration and preservation of scripture with Jeremiah and Baruch is precious.
11. Rule: If you are convicted about truth, do not resist like Jonah or Jeremiah; preach it.
12. Rule: There is no place for fear of men when it comes to truth; Jesus said to fear God.
13. Rule: If you lose it momentarily like Jeremiah did at times, repent and get back on track.
14. Rule: To follow truth you will be unpopular with the majority against you (Jer 5:30-31).
15. Are there men (women) that do not care if all turn to fables rather than truth like today?
16. For more of this prophet and a difficult ministry of truth to Judah … here, here, here, here.

 

Esther

1. This poor girl was orphaned and in a foreign capital and raised by her cousin Mordecai.
2. The path of truth wound its way through palace drama of Vashti and Haman/Mordecai.
3. The kingdom of God was protected and prospered against severe and strict legislation.
4. Source: There is no direct mention of God in the book, but His providence is all over it.
5. Event: She was drafted into the king’s harem and by wisely using advice won first place.
6. Enemy: High in government was an arrogant man that planned to exterminate the Jews.
7. Lesson: Instead of choosing suicide for ending up in a pagan harem, she did like Joseph.
8. Lesson: When you learn that truth is being attacked, consider how you can help by God.
9. Lesson: If a situation looks dire and you need divine intervention, then bring out fasting.
10. Rule: Use counselors that God’s providence puts in your path; nothing is mere chance.
11. Rule: Look at your circumstances and events you might influence and see God’s hand.
12. Rule: If at first you do not fully succeed, try again and trust God’s providence for more.
13. Are there any girls or women here that will weigh their influence for great truth defense?
14. For more about this young woman and her bold choices in a pagan kingdom … here, here.

 

Nehemiah

1. Nehemiah, with Esther’s influence, went to Jerusalem from Persia to assist rebuilding.
2. Truth could have fallen and been destroyed if not for his exploits (and Esther and Ezra).
3. He loved the truth – beyond our Constitution – against all enemies foreign and domestic.
4. Source: We are not told much of revealed truth to him, but he clearly knew Moses’ law.
5. Event: The regathered Jews were discouraged by enemies, profits, affinity, compromise.
6. Enemies: Neighboring politicians and internal enemies tried to defeat Jehovah’s truth.
7. Lesson: Most men live with weak conviction and are not committed long to God’s truth.
8. Lesson: Only a few choose the strait and narrow way; many compromise or hate truth.
9. Lesson: Truth compromisers crept in here under Nehemiah and at Ephesus after Paul.
10. Lesson: It is men like Nehemiah that can pray for God to remember them for good.
11. Rule: Get rid of friends that compromise truth; they will take you down (I Cor 15:33).
12. Rule: Get rid of anything of false religion and replace it with the things of true religion.
13. Rule: Protect, defend, and encourage faithful preachers, as Nehemiah did the Levites.
14. Rule: Remember that only reverence and godly fear in worship is accepted by God.
15. Rule: Hate affinity with less than the very best spiritually, for it has ruined the greatest.
16. Are there any men that will do the fearless and thorough housecleaning this man did?
17. For more about this champion of truth against compromisers … here, here, here, here.

 

Maccabees

1. Before Jesus set up His kingdom, the Jews were under Babylon, Persia, Greece, Rome.
2. The Greek Seleucids, especially Antiochus IV (Epiphanes), were bad (Dan 11:30-35).
3. The Maccabees – meaning a hammer – is primarily for Judas and his four brothers.
4. They began what is called the Hasmonean dynasty for 130 years until Herod the Great.
5. Jesus honored these zealots for rededicating the temple – Hanukkah (John 10:22-23).
6. Since Paul wrote Hebrews 11 about 100 years after the Hasmoneans, see verses 32-38.
7. Source: God’s providence raised up this priest and his sons to wage guerilla warfare.
8. Event: Israel occupied with much of the populace willing to compromise for advantage.
9. Event: Horrible atrocities against faithful and any aspect of Jehovah’s religion possible.
10. Enemies: Both foreign pagans with military might and also lying and treasonous friends.
11. Lesson: God in His perfect providence will raise up men to stand and fight for the truth.
12. Lesson: The condition for warriors was that they knew their God, thus we emphasize it!
13. Lesson: We face the perilous times today – a different kind of conflict – yet dangerous.
14. Rule: You do not wait for others to defend the truth, you take the sacred duty on yourself.
15. Rule: You can do exploits, by your commitment to God and the path of truth over others.
16. Rule: The truth has always been held by a very small minority, but it survived this way.
17. Rule: Defenders of truth may die for it, like here, and like under pagan and papal Rome.
18. Are there any men here today that will be strong, do know their God, and will stand?
19. For more about the Maccabees and their exploits for the true religion … here, here, here.

 

Malachi

1. We come to the last prophet of the O.T. before some years of silence leading to Christ.
2. Time would fail to tell … of Jehoshaphat … Jehoiada/Joash … Jehu … Solomon … others.
3. It is terrible that after years in Babylon the Jews could possibly backslide as shown here.
4. God raised up this prophet to show them the path of truth once more before their ruin.
5. God can take away truth or blind to truth, or He can send reminders that should grab us.
6. Source: We know little of this prophet, but he had direct revelation from God to Israel.
7. Event: Israel was complacent and had forgotten God’s high honor and duties of religion.
8. Enemy: Difficult circumstances, despised Edom, faulty priests, lusts, stingy giving, etc.
9. Lesson: Never forget God’s distinguishing and eternal love for His own (Mal 1:1-5).
10. Lesson: God will only accept worship that matches His glorious Person (Mal 1:6-14).
11. Lesson: God’s ministers must be faithful to rightly divide and apply scripture (Mal 2:9).
12. Rule: The path of truth extends into your marriage, tears imply treachery (Mal 2:13-16).
13. Rule: God does not change, and men weary Him by accepting any conduct (Mal 2:17).
14. Rule: Truth includes giving, as history, Malachi, and LeTourneau prove (Mal 3:7-12).
15. Rule: God rewards faith and love toward Him in spite of circumstances (Mal 3:13-18).
16. Rule: Prophecy is true; the concluding curse came in 70 A.D. What prophecy is ours?
17. Are there men that will stand up in all the lessons of this short chapter for God’s truth?
18. For much more about the varied lessons of Malachi in much detail … here, here, here, here.

 

John the Baptist

1. Other than Maccabee prophecies, the Bible is silent 400 years from Malachi to Matthew, but prophecy told of persons that knew God and did exploits for the truth (Dan 11:32), and there were those expecting the Messiah and Redeemer around births of John/Jesus.
2. The path of truth was taken up by this wild, Spirit-filled man sent from God (John 1:6); John the Baptist was not that light but was sent to bear witness of the true light (Jn 1:8).
3. Jesus said His second cousin John was the greatest prophet ever born (Luke 7:24-30), though his ministry was so focused that the least pastor coming later would know more.
4. The two founders of our religion were by miracle births, Jesus’ greater (Luke 1:76-79); these two men truly turned the world upside down by their ministries, Jesus’ far greater.
5. Israel rejected revealed truth and mocked John/Jesus, so God blinded and destroyed it.
6. Source: God sent John by a miraculous birth and directly inspired him (John 1:29-36).
7. Source: God prepared him by the Holy Ghost and in seclusion in deserts (Luke 1:66,80).
8. Event: Israel was complacent, adoring ceremonial religion, without true righteousness.
9. Event: John was first and plain about reformation from Moses to kingdom (Luke 16:16).
10. Enemy: The Jews had racial and traditional trust in Abraham and missed men far greater.
11. Enemy: Pharisees in pompous arrogance diluted scripture and attacked John’s ministry.
12. Enemy: Herod gladly heard John and changed (Mark 6:20), but his wife had him killed.
13. Lesson: John did not come to casual Christians but to blameless and righteous parents.
14. Lesson: Content of a pastor is greater than appearance, diet, attire, venue, miracles, etc.
15. Lesson: The path of truth is reproof – you are wrong; do it this way – too much for most.
16. Lesson: His ministry was repentance, reformation, reconciliation (Luke 3:7-14,18-20).
17. Lesson: John exalted Jesus any way he could in strongest of terms and demoted himself.
18. Lesson: Mental assent, even with glad changes, is not salvation or path of truth (Herod).
19. Lesson: What John did preach and what John did not preach both condemn most today.
20. Rule: To please God greatly and prepare others for Christ call us to reject man’s ideas.
21. Rule: Acceptance with God requires fruit of good character and conduct over all else.
22. Rule: Truth is truth, no matter who is to be reproved, and even if reproof costs your life.
23. Rule: Two things make a man great – time with God and the Bible – not so much men.
24. Rule: The path of truth includes Baptist baptism that must never be compromised at all.
25. Rule: The path of truth exalts Jesus Christ to demotion or exclusion of all else (Jn 3:30).
26. For much more about John the Baptist and his revival and preparatory ministry … here.

 

Simeon & Anna

1. John Baptist is only seven months old when this event occurred with Jesus at the temple.
2. The path of truth was obscure by 400 years of silence and obsession with ceremonies.
3. Do not worry about age, for these two were very old in the path of truth (Luke 2:25-38).
4. The two get more attention and honor in the holy scriptures than the doctors of the law.
5. Simeon was a just and devout man, with the Holy Ghost, waiting for Israel’s Messiah.
6. Anna was very old, a widow about 105, but totally dedicated to God’s private worship.
7. Like Simeon (likewise), she was grateful to see the Christ and to speak of Him to others.
8. Source: They both were under direction and influence of the Holy Spirit of revelation.
9. Event: Joseph and Mary brought Jesus at 40 days to the temple to dedicate Him to God.
10. Event: Simeon and Anna were led to be in the temple at just the right time to see Jesus.
11. Enemy: Ignorance of Daniel’s timed prophecy and Messiah’s role diverted most Jews.
12. Enemy: Jesus was set for the fall and stumbling of many in Israel by God (I Peter 2:8).
13. Enemy: Jesus the Son of God was a sign of God’s mercy and wrath that many mocked.
14. Enemy: There was a division among the people because of Jesus (Jn 7:43; 9:16; 10:19).
15. Lesson: But even when most of the nation could not understand the times, some did.
16. Lesson: God had His plan of progressive revelation, and those seeking truth obtained it.
17. Lesson: The most important achievement of your life is to see the Lord’s Christ in truth.
18. Rule: Presence and power of the Holy Ghost for truth needs spiritual zeal like these two.
19. Rule: The more you bless God for His Son Jesus, the more truth He will reveal to you.
20. Rule: God has His 7,000 like He did in the days of Elijah, and here was a subset as well.
21. Rule: The most important thing for you to ever give thanks for is Jesus the Son of God.

 

Jesus Christ

1. While there are exciting things about John, he and we know Jesus is infinitely superior.
2. The Gospels are mainly about Jesus, and the epistles considerably, so we must be brief.
3. We speak often about this side of Christ (A.D.), and it sure does affect the path of truth.
4. He was and is the Light of the world shining in darkness (Jn 1:5; 3:19; 8:12; 9:5; 12:46); we emphasize Him as Savior, but He is also Teacher of truth (Matt 28:20; Gal 1:12), for though He came mainly to the Jews, He confirmed the truth to Gentiles (Rom 15:8-12).
5. The Jews were greatly divided because of our Lord Jesus (John 7:12,43; 9:16; 10:19).
6. He was Faithful and True, and He hated false doctrine (John 4:22; Mark 3:5; Rev 2:15).
7. Never forget how He must needs go through Samaria for a woman and her city (Jn 4:4).
8. Source: He is the Son of God; He had the Spirit without measure; the Father taught him.
9. Event: He was born in Israel with Jehovah’s religion and study and teaching of scripture.
10. Event: Never has one Man caused so much division, including His people killing Him.
11. Enemy: Subjected to extreme fasting and Satan himself, He defended the revealed truth.
12. Enemy: Without seminary or higher learning, He was confronted by the educated often.
13. Lesson: Moses was a great legislator, but Jesus brought grace and truth (John 1:14,17).
14. Lesson: The path of truth includes ethics, which Jesus mastered (Matt 22:15-22; etc.).
15. Lesson: How could Jesus be more the Path of Truth than the Way and Truth (John 14:6)?
16. Lesson: On trial before Pilate, He exposed the ignorance of education (John 18:37-38).
17. Lesson: His identity as God’s Son by three witnesses is incredible truth (I John 5:6-10).
18. Rule: Jesus declared the Father seeks worshippers in spirit and in truth (John 4:20-24).
19. Rule: The whole world is dark and wicked, but Jesus showed us truth (I John 5:19-20).
20. Rule: Jesus taught that consecration to God requires truth of God’s word (John 17:17).
21. Rule: He gives more truth to any using it; He takes it from any neglecting it (Matt 13:12).
22. Rule: Mary showed us the good and needful thing – hearing the Lord (Luke 10:38-42).
23. Rule: The Spirit of truth is key (John 7:39; 14:17; 15:26; 16:13; Eph 1:17; I Jn 2:20,27).
24. Rule: Outside Jesus and His apostles there is no truth or light (I Tim 6:3-5; Eph 4:21).
25. Rule: If you live a godly life in Christ Jesus, you will be persecuted (II Timothy 3:12).
26. For samples of truth taught by Jesus exceeding other teachers … here, here, here, here, here.

 

Apostles

1. Apostle = A messenger sent on an errand. Singular in Bible 19 times, plural 60 times. Jesus Himself is not ashamed of the title; He is the chief messenger of truth (Heb 3:1), though He is far more than a mere messenger, for He is King of kings and Lord of lords.
2. These special men are the foundation (Eph 2:20; Rev 21:14); we can hardly overstate their importance; they had the highest office, authority, gifts (I Cor 12:28; Eph 4:11), as Philip the deacon/evangelist needed and Simon the Sorcerer discovered (Acts 8:14-24).
3. There is no path of truth without them, by God’s wise plan; what they said or wrote is key (Matt 28:20; Acts 1:2; I Cor 4:15; Eph 3:5; II Pet 3:1-2; I John 4:6; Jude 1:17-18), and we are strong traditionalists, apostolic tradition (II Thess 2:15; 3:6,14; Acts 2:42).
4. Jesus chose and gifted them before and at Pentecost (Matt 10:1-15; John 20:19-23; Acts 1:8; 2:43; 4:33; 5:12-16; II Cor 12:12; Heb 2:3-4); they changed the world (Acts 17:6), so God inspired and preserved 28 chapters of their exploits in a book named after them.
5. Though unlearned and ignorant fishermen from Galilee, Jesus taught them (Acts 4:13); Peter’s sermon at Pentecost is fabulous Bible inductive reasoning (Jn 14:26); James’ Bible fix for Gentiles is perfect (Acts 15:13-21); Paul at Mars’ Hill is great … here, here.
6. They lived sacrificial lives of suffering and martyrdom not like RCC popes, cardinals, archbishops, bishops (Acts 5:18,40; I Cor 4:9; 15:30-31; II Cor 1:8-10; 4:8-12), but God will avenge persecution they endured (Luke 11:47-51; Acts 12:1-3,23-24; Rev 18:20).
7. Their effect and value are slighted by Great Commission heresy (Mark 16:15-20), by ignoring their fulfillment of it in the world (Col 1:6,23) that no one today can touch, so they ought to be your favorite team, handpicked by a Captain and beat the gates of hell.
8. They are mocked by Charismatic claims (William Branham; Ron Carpenter), Mormons (Quorum of Twelve Apostles), and other liars (I Cor 15:8; II Cor 11:12-15; Rev 2:22), for they fulfilled two parts of the great mystery of godliness that is indisputably great.
9. Source: Jesus chose them to travel with Him, and He gave them the Spirit (John 14:26; 20:22), enabling them to teach all things He had commanded them (Matt 28:18-20).
10. Source: As the top gift in the church and full of the Holy Ghost, they knew final truth of all kinds, including discerning of spirits of persons, and they wrote it down for us.
11. Event: A great reformation of religious worship took place by John, Jesus, and apostles (Heb 9:10), which dwarfs and destroys the whitewashing of the RCC by the Reformers.
12. Event: Jesus ministry was to the Jews, but He charged His apostles to teach the world, and they advanced from Jerusalem into Judea, then Samaria, and then the farthest parts
13. Event: As idolatrous and ignorant Gentiles, imagine where we would be without them, but God had planned for Jesus to explode the little Jewish church in size by the world.
14. Enemy: Without human pedigree, education, or authority, they were despised by those with such things, and they preached their leader was resurrected, ascended, and coming.
15. Enemy: Jesus promised they would be hated just like He had been hated (Jn 15:18-20), for God made Him a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Greeks various ways.
16. Enemy: Declaring justification by Christ even for Gentiles, Moses’ religion over, circumcision of no value, and the temple to be destroyed brought hatred from the Jews.
17. Enemy: Declaring Jesus king of the spiritual kingdom of God brought civil persecution by the Romans that would not tolerate any king but Caesar, especially a Jew they killed.
18. Lesson: Though uneducated from the country area of Galilee, they had absolute truth, for it had been given to them by direct inspiration (like Elihu), and thus ours indirectly.
19. Lesson: The Holy Ghost made a huge difference from ignorance before to truth after, which we call revelatory gifts; that Spirit also gave them might for signs and wonders.
20. Lesson: The devil is the liar that men love, but Jesus’ truth prevailed (Matt 16:16-18); they turned the world upside down, and their gospel should turn our lives upside down.
21. Lesson: All truth comes from God, sometimes in strange ways; they laid the foundation and taught the details and rules for our religion, and their acts and epistles are precious.
22. Rule: We hold to the apostolic faith of Jesus, meaning what apostles wrote down for us, though the term apostolic is lost to Baptists due to Charismatics seeing only their gifts.
23. Rule: This is the faith once delivered to saints that we earnestly contend for (Jude 1:3).
24. Rule: Paul was the last apostle, the last eyewitness of Jesus; all other claims are frauds.
25. Rule: The best apostolic gifts were inferior to scripture and ended when it was finished, so we now have the perfect law of liberty more sure than God’s voice from heaven.
26. For more about God’s apostles for the path of truth … here, here, here, here, here, here, here.

 

Paul

1. God chose men for truth to the world from Noah to John to Paul, and Paul was special; we know more about him and life details than any other person in the N.T. but for Jesus.
2. Of all the apostles, Paul was most educated and refined in the ways of Jewish religion, though he had to flush it all and cheerfully did so to know Christ (Philippians 3:7-8); his ordination to be an apostle was for faithfulness as Christian-killer (I Tim 1:12-17).
3. His resume before his ordination was special (Acts 22:1-5; 26:4-5; Philippians 3:4-6) His resume after his ordination was special (Rom 15:15-21; II Cor 11:22-33; 12:1-12); His exploits run from a basket escape to healing by hankies to mocking a shipwreck!
4. Of all the apostles, Paul was the primary apostle to the Gentiles, and his epistles to Gentile churches guide us (Rom 11:13; I Corinthians 3:10; 4:15; 11:1,16; 14:38; 16:2); the Gentiles had been without God, hope, or the path of truth for 4000 years (Eph 2:11-13), so it was right for elders at Ephesus and other believers to greatly love this apostle.
5. Source: Coming well after the twelve, he was taught directly by Jesus (Gal 1:11-12,17).
6. Source: God showed Paul more than other men about truth for Gentiles (Eph 3:1-13).
7. Source: Paul was born again before Damascus road, but he did not learn truth until then.
8. Event: Peter opened the path of truth to Gentiles, but Paul did much more and far away.
9. Event: Paul going west in Turkey was denied north or south to enter Europe (Acts 16:9).
10. Event: Paul explained the reformation of O.T. religion in a spectacular way in Hebrews.
11. Enemy: Jewish legalists opposed him like John and Jesus; see Romans, Galatians, etc.
12. Enemy: False brethren were perilous to him and the path of truth (Gal 2:4; II Cor 11:26).
13. Enemy: He had losers, some cruel, none like Tim (II Tim 4:10; Phil 1:12-18; 2:19-22).
14. Lesson: Educated far more than the other apostles, Paul did not exploit it (I Cor 2:1-5).
15. Lesson: With an incredible Jewish resume, he flushed it all to win Christ (Phil 3:8-11).
16. Lesson: His first chapter in the N.T. canon blasted abuse of the truth (Romans 1:18,25
17. Lesson: Paul was intolerant of deviations from truth (Rom 16:17-18; Gal 1:6-9; etc.).
18. Lesson: He warned Ephesus of false teachers from within and without (Acts 20:28-32).
19. Lesson: His pastoral epistles to Timothy and Titus are the basis for local churches since.
20. Rule: We follow Paul rather than Jesus, for Jesus came for the Jews (I Cor 11:1) … here.
21. Rule: He warned of another Jesus, spirit, gospel from Satan we must identify and reject.
22. Rule: He foretold perilous times of Christians/churches choosing sin/fables over truth.
23. Rule: He did not mind, nor should we, to be a heretic, cult, or mad (Acts 24:5,14; 26:25).
24. Rule: He was never content; he never relaxed; he flushed past successes (Phil 3:12-14).
25. Rule: His confidence of eternal life was diligence, patience, vigilance (II Tim 4:5-8).
26. For more about Paul, though far from an exhaustive study … here, here, here, here, here.

 

Aquila & Priscilla

1. Here is a power couple – a husband and wife – both mighty in kingdom service … here.
2. They are listed six times in the N.T., with Aquila listed first thrice and Priscilla thrice, indicating comparable character and knowledge, as both worked together for the truth.
3. From Rome to Corinth (Claudius) to Ephesus with Paul back to Rome back to Ephesus!
4. They did everything together, for even their tentmaking involved them both (Acts 18:3); she was more than a nanny; she was also a skilled craftsmen with a transferable skill.
5. After serving Corinth and Ephesus, we find them back in Rome (Rom 16:3-4), where Paul praised them highly as helpers for risking their lives for him to benefit many others.
6. Source: We are not told details of their conversion, but Paul lived and worked with them.
7. Event: God’s providence by Claudius forced them to Corinth, where they met our Paul.
8. Event: A formidable preacher named Apollos came to Ephesus, whom they converted.
9. Enemy: They did not get settled in Corinth; they trusted shaved Paul to move to Ephesus.
10. Enemy: Most would be very intimidated by Apollos, but not this couple for truth’s sake.
11. Lesson: They kept pagan laws, submitting to Caesar; they did not resist, riot, or meddle.
12. Lesson: Perfect personal credentials do not count when met by truth lovers like the two.
13. Lesson: When Apollos was converted, they sent their friend back to Corinth to preach.
14. Lesson: It was both of them that converted Apollos – very clearly stated (Acts 18:26).
15. Rule: Couples should choose before marriage they are all-in for the Lord or do it later.
16. Rule: Couples should review and renew or introduce such a purpose on a regular basis.
17. Rule: The path of truth has a perfect way; all else is error (Matt 5:19; II Thess 3:6-7,11).
18. Rule: You and your spouse must know much doctrine to be able to convert a gifted and passionate preacher that held much truth and knew scripture in detail (Acts 18:24-28).

 

Timothy & Titus

1. Timothy and Titus were not apostles, not even close; but they were trained by an apostle, and they are the pattern for all second-generation preachers coming after the apostles; they save us from any infatuation with miracles, and they exalt scripture over visions.
2. Paul converted Titus and took him to Jerusalem but would not circumcise him (Gal 2:1); he found Timothy on the resulting trip, circumcised him, ordained him (Acts 16:1-3).
3. Paul wrote three Pastoral Epistles for pastoral doctrine and conduct to the two bishops, and these thirteen chapters along with other ministerial sections should guide all pastors.
4. Source: With Paul as their teacher in person and then in writing, these two knew truth.
5. Source: Paul told Timothy he had heard Paul publicly teach sufficient content for others; and he told Timothy that the inspired scriptures were sufficient for a perfect ministry.
6. Event: They were not two ordinary Christians but faithful Baptist preachers, and from them, second-generation preachers, came true pastors today by ministerial succession.
7. Event: They were crucial for the path of truth going into the future after the apostle Paul, for the eyewitnesses of Jesus with miracle power died, so their epistles were the truth.
8. Event: They led in the new order of religion after Moses and priests and after apostles.
9. Enemy: Like Paul, they faced heresies like Corinth, Jewish legalists, false teachers, etc.
10. Enemy: They were warned about existing heresies but gravely warned of perilous times.
11. Enemy: Like Moses and Paul, they faced disrespect by skeptical or scornful, rebel types.
12. Lesson: Due to youth and limited power, both were told to be bold against any criticism.
13. Lesson: See the transfer of trust – path of truth (I Tim 1:11; 6:20-21; II Tim 3:14-15); they were to hold truth (I Tim 1:3-4,6-7,18-20; 3:15; 4:1-6; 6:1-5; II Tim 1:13; 4:1-4).
14. Lesson: They were to read, exhort, teach doctrine, study (I Tim 4:13-15; II Tim 2:15).
15. Lesson: They were to endure hardness as good soldiers in the war for truth (II Tim 2:3).
16. Lesson: They were to ordain more preachers like themselves – apt to teach and strongly holding the faith once delivered to crush lies (I Tim 3:2; 5:22; II Tim 2:2; Titus 1:9-14).
17. Lesson: Bishop qualification/ordination is by bishops, not churches (II Tim 2:2; Tit 1:5).
18. Lesson: Pastoral compromisers were shunned (I Tim 6:3-5; II Tim 3:1-5; Tit 3:10-11).
19. Lesson: Foolish questions were avoided (I Tim 1:4; 4:7; II Tim 2:14,16-18,23; Tit 3:9).
20. Rule: Only two N.T. offices – bishop and deacon, no ruling elders (Phil 1:1; Heb 13:7); there is no more scriptural basis, need, or value for multiple elders than is for cardinals.
21. Rule: A minister must take heed to himself and the doctrine to save himself and hearers, and it is not hard in the information era to know pastors compromising one or both.
22. Rule: A God-called man, properly trained, applying himself, plus scripture, is enough; he can provide everything a church needs by Christ’s gift and the perfect divine library.
23. Rule: It does not matter what hearers want, they must be taught doctrine (II Tim 4:1-4); all must learn to remember that preaching is warfare against false ideas (II Cor 10:4-6).
24. Rule: Pastors have a gift – ability/authority – in a clay vessel: Elijah, Jonah, Jeremiah! So if your pastor is imperfect, like you are in all your roles, then relax and pray for him.
25. Rule: Pastors no more need your help than you need/want his help for your unique job.
26. For more about ministers and their duty to defend the truth … here, here, here, here, here.

 

Local Church

1. We have studied the path of truth when others had a role, from Abel to Titus; now it is our turn; this is not the end, for we must go back to local church beginnings in 30 A.D.
2. We see three dispensations: the patriarchs like Abraham for 2500 years; the O.T. church established by Moses for 1500 years; and N.T. local churches worldwide for 2000 years.
3. Jesus promised to build His church and impact the world (Matt 16:15-19; 13:31-33); the first church had Holy Ghost power and Bible doctrine, which is truth (Acts 2:42).
4. Out of Jerusalem first, then Antioch, then Thessalonica, the path of truth was sent out, and we justify our form of evangelism by these examples, not the Great Commission.
5. God ordained local churches of His elect children to learn and defend truth (I Tim 3:15); He ordained pastors and teachers to perpetuate the truth from His apostles (Eph 4:8-16).
6. We earlier considered the apostles as a group, and we called them our favorite team, but God handpicked another team(s) we should value equally or even higher (I Cor 12:18).
7. Each local church and members are a team to be committed to the path of truth, for Paul had a conflict in himself to comfort churches in the truth against heretics (Col 2:1-4).
8. The church is the bride of Christ, temple of God, Spirit’s habitation, and the fulness of Christ; it is quite a team. We need to transfer our apostolic enthusiasm to our church.
9. Brotherly love is superior to apostolic gifts; we have finished scripture that is perfect and more sure than God’s voice from heaven and able to make the man of God perfect; the apostles had to see the risen Lord; He blessed us more for believing without seeing.
10. Source: The first church at Jerusalem had Holy Ghost power and apostolic truth galore; by direct Spirit inspiration, Peter used scripture to explain Pentecost and glorify Jesus; the Spirit inspired the apostles to recall all Christ’s teaching and write it down for us.
11. Source: The apostolic faith was once delivered to churches and to be earnestly defended.
12. Event: A group of 120 were faced with 3000 wanting to know what to do with Christ; they were baptized into Jesus Christ, and then they joined together for the truth’s sake; the character and conduct of this great church is a good pattern for all (Acts 2:42-47).
13. Event: As prophesied, this church and the rest of us were the Jewish church exploded, as many in foreign nations and far from Jerusalem embraced the truth to follow Christ.
14. Event: From the start men corrupted scripture, sought followers for themselves, and preached with cruel motives, and this has never slowed but is worse today (II Tim 3:13).
15. Enemy: Immediately there was great opposition from God’s rejected church of the O.T.
16. Enemy: Both religious and civil authorities were against the congregations of believers that rejected the status quo of Israel’s religion and pagan Rome’s might and superstition.
17. Lesson: The churches were bold to question or condemn errors (Acts 15:1-6; Rev 2:2); Jesus, the Head of the church, loves truth, hates error (Rev 2:2,6,9,13-16,20-25; 3:8-9).
18. Lesson: Especially at Corinth, Paul taught how the church had to submit to taught truth.
19. Lesson: The Bible is 75% O.T., but Paul showed it weak to the N.T. (Heb 9:10-12; 13:9).
20. Lesson: A church needs truth, but it also needs love and hot fellowship (Rev 2:4; 3:16).
21. Rule: Church members must unite in the truth against heretics (Jn 4:24; Rom 16:17-18).
22. Rule: All teachers are to be examined by doctrine and fruit (I John 4:1-6; Matt 7:15-20).
23. Rule: We practice closed communion to close out from our communion any other ideas.
24. Rule: We allow minor differences, like verses, if no sowing discord and humble hearing.
25. Rule: We must learn truth, hold truth, obey truth, send truth, defend truth (I Tim 3:15).
26. For glory of churches and duty to defend truth … here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here.

 

 

Supplement to Judge False Teachers, Churches, Denominations

 

1. What are fruits? A mistake defining fruits can destroy our Lord’s wisdom (by making it confusing or vague) or reverse it (by defining it in terms that approve false teachers).
2. Fruit = works, character, content, nature, product, effect. These are better synonyms.
3. Fruit ≠ results, numbers, popularity, impressions, opinions, feelings. These are risky.
4. Consider previous context … wide, broad, many … strait, narrow, few (Matt 7:13-14); if you want the easy and popular religion Jesus condemned, go to an easy, popular church; if you want the hard, unpopular religion He commended, go to a hard, unpopular church.
5. Next context … pride, self-righteousness, boasting, “Lord” … obedience (Matt 7:21-23).
6. Fruit = the following measures or standards are seen plainly and repeatedly in the Bible.
   1. True Bible doctrine (Isaiah 8:20; Psalm 119:128; Acts 17:11; Romans 16:17-18; Gal 1:6-9; II Thess 3:6; I Tim 4:6,13-16; 5:17; 6:3-5; II Tim 3:6-17; 4:1-4; Titus 1:9; 2:1,7,10; 3:9-11; I John 4:1-6; II John 1:9-11; Jude 1:3-4; Rev 2:14-15,24).
   2. Preaching emphasis (Nehemiah 8:8-12; Matthew 13:52; Romans 1:15; 10:15-17; I Timothy 3:1-7; 4:13-16; 5:17; II Tim 2:2,15; 3:14-17; 4:1-4; Titus 1:5-9; 2:11-15).
   3. Christ preeminent over any other person or thing (I Corinthians 2:2; 3:11; Gal 6:14; Colossians 1:18,27; 2:2; Eph 3:8; I Thess 2:3-6; I Timothy 1:15; 3:16; Heb 1:1-5).
   4. Glory of God emphasis, for He is the goal, object, and end of all things through Jesus in the church (Matthew 5:16; John 5:36; 6:28-29; 7:18; Ephesians 3:20-21).
   5. Holy Spirit emphasis, for spiritual witness rather than miracles (John 7:38-39; Acts 1:5; 2:1-4,38; Romans 8:1-9; Gal 4:4-6; 5:16-23; twelve ministries in Ephesians).
   6. T. emphasis rather than staying at Sinai or in the tabernacle (Luke 16:16; II Corinthians 3:6,12; Galatians 4:9-11; 5:1-4; Colossians 2:13-19; Heb 9:10; 13:9).
   7. Righteousness by obedience even in small matters (Matthew 5:19-20; 7:21; 23:23; Galatians 5:6; Col 1:28; 4:12; I Tim 4:16; 6:17-19; James 2:14-26; II Peter 3:18).
   8. Love emphasis, especially brotherly love as the old and new rule of our Lord (John 13:35; I Cor 12:27-31; 13:1-13; Gal 5:6; I Thes 2:7-12; II Pet 1:5-8; I John 2:7-11).
   9. Reproving rather than approving (II Corinthians 10:3-6; I Timothy 1:5-11; II Timothy 3:16-17; 4:1-2; Titus 1:13; 2:15; Hebrews 13:7,17; Revelation 3:19).
   10. Church discipline to keep the body pure from public sin (Exodus 32:25-29; Psalm 101:8; 144:7-11; John 10:12; I Corinthians 5:1-11; II Cor 10:4-6; I Tim 1:5-11).
7. For a PowerPoint sermon identifying popular sheep clothing of false teachers … here.

 

Great Falling Away

1. Having set local churches as defenders of the path of truth, Paul then made a warning.
2. A falling away, apostasy from truth, would seduce many (II Thess 2:1-4; I Tim 4:1-6).
3. Good ministers preach against these popular heresies of Rome (I Tim 4:1-6; Rev 18:4).
4. We studied this event, due to the death of Pope Frank, during this study … here, here, here.
5. The RCC is foretold and condemned (Dan 7:1-28; II Thess 2:1-12; Rev 12-13,17-18).
6. Because churches, especially at Rome, did not hold the apostolic truth, heresy occurred.
7. A diabolical start in Rome gave an abominable, persecuting church (Rev 17:1-6) … here.
8. For the last 1500 years, this hold of every foul spirit fiercely fought Bible Christianity.
9. Lying heretics worked in Paul and John’s time, but it got worse (II Cor 2:17; I Jn 2:18).
10. We include the apostasy or falling away occurring today, which is different from this.

 

Remnant Church

1. Millions were swept up in the falling away with Rome, but a remnant church survived.
2. This church was hunted and persecuted, and God gave papal Rome dominion over her.
3. It was a choice, a costly one, to be the remnant church with Christ’s truth (Rev 12:17).
4. Lesson: There is a price to pay for the truth (Rev 1:2,9; 6:9; 12:11; 14:12; 20:4; 22:14).
5. Rule: Never be ashamed of God’s commandments or doctrine and gospel of Jesus, for these two things – the details of God’s word – and right Christ doctrine – identify truth.

 

Reformation Churches

1. When the time came for God to let His remnant church have freedom from the little horn, beast, and great whore of papal Rome, a strange thing occurred to seduce more.
2. The Great Whore opened up a diabolical brothel of daughter churches, not quite as bad as she, but holding to some of her heretical doctrines and abominable practices.
3. The daughter churches, from Lutherans to Methodists, had no appreciation for Baptists, and the more aggressive ones, from Zwingli to Calvin to Congregationalists, persecuted.
4. We reject the designation of “Reformed” for much; we see one reformation (Heb 9:10).
5. These churches are sacramental … a word which no Baptist should ever use in any way.
6. These churches hold to infant baptism … and attach salvation one way or another to it.
7. These churches hold to creeds of men and thus terrible heresies like eternal sonship.
8. These churches hold to classical education or seminary Bible versions rather than KJV.
9. These churches if given their way want state churches to support and defend them.
10. These churches, the Methodists the least, despised and persecuted and killed Baptists.

 

Perilous Times

1. Paul used 21 verses to tell Timothy about a terrible enemy of truth (II Tim 3:1 – 4:4).
2. The perilous times are on us when Christians and churches want fables (II Tim 4:3-4).
3. These are Paul’s final words … before miscellaneous items closing out this chapter.
4. Here is the most important prophecy that should grip all Christians of the last 200 years.
5. Instead … they want to know the two witnesses and 144,000 Jews of John’s Revelation.
6. Instead … they think they need to waste hours on their source of “insider information.”
7. These are Christians and churches compromising; the world has not changed since Cain.
8. Christians and churches compromise to form a new carnal, effeminate, worldly religion.
9. Creeps go after women … James Dobson, Benny Hinn, etc. Men must protect homes.
10. Large ecumenical gatherings deceive many by compromise e.g. Gothard, McCartney.
11. There is no organization superior or higher or helpful above the local church of Jesus.
12. For much more about the perilous times, the most crucial prophecy for us … here, here.