The One Thing that God Left Out of the Bible – Your Opinion!!!

 

Thank you so much for tuning in and Welcome everyone – Hope you’re well!  I’m your host, Ben Lively, and you’re listening to “Shaken Awake” – Episode #34! 

 

I just want to thank you for tuning in, wherever you are and whatever you’re doing right this very moment.  Looks like we have some new listeners from South Africa tuning in with us – welcome aboard, thank you for listening and we’re certainly honored to have you with us!

 

And, as always, I promise you another great show – But, more than anything, my HOPE for you today, and always, is that you have an actual encounter with the Lord - He’s is always right there beside you.    If you find ANY value in these episodes, the greatest thank you of all is to pass the work to at least one person you know to help spread the word.

 

I want to give a shout out to our strong Christian Men’s group on Facebook known as “Men Who Follow Christ.”  If you’re a man of God or striving to be one, join us today on the Facebook Group, Men Who Follow Christ”.   And, although this group is for men, we do recognize the need for women to have a place like this so we support our sister page at: www.facebook.com/groups/theweepingwomenofchrist/

 

So, without further ado, let’s get ready to invite God in with us, right here, right now and allow Him to speak directly to your heart and minds.   

 

So here goes, here is today’s topic: “It’s Been Discovered the One Thing that God Left Out of the Bible – and, it’s Your Opinion!!!”

 

For those of you, I hope that’s the majority of you, who’s listened to my very first podcast episode, you know that I lived a life that more or less resembled the life of Saul of Tarsus, if not worse.  You know how God delivered me out of the worst afflictions I could ever imagine one having, and pulled me out of the fire I should still be burning in, for eternity.  You know where I’ve been, and know where I’m at now.  I say this to set the stage that I’m far from perfect, far from living a perfect, Godly life, and no different than any of you listening.  Why, because the Bible says that.  I don’t claim to be anything that God says I’m not, or that God doesn’t say that I am.  I sin, I repent, I pray, I worship, I love the Lord, and I’m learning how to love people all over the world, and it’s a daily work in progress from Above. 

 

What I’m discovering is so much angst, anger, division, frustration, arguing, divineness, accusing, blaming, shunning, and just plain hatred in the Body of Christ that I never knew existed and it seems to be getting worse by the week, at least form what I’m witnessing.  This is now surprise, as this was already prophesied by Jesus as he described to His disciples how we would be in the last days; nevertheless, it’s still shocking and saddening to see and witness.  We’ve been warned in the Bible, repeatedly, about the wolves in sheep’s clothing and we’re experiencing that scene now, like never before.  What’s most worrisome, however, is the fact that feelings and opinions are now superseding God’s Word in many of the disputes within the church.  I’m going to show a few scriptures to back these statements up, so that it’s not me making the statements, but rather God.  I’m seeing the Body or the claiming Body of Christ, claiming things that are not in the Bible, but that are born from their own ignorance, their own opinions, their own feelings, and their own understanding.  What’s happening is, many are turning their backs to the very Word of God that called them to begin with!  They’re doing what the Israelites did for so many years in the desert, by falling away from what they knew, and defaulting to what they felt should be.  If you don’t know or haven’t read in some time, it never worked out for them – in fact, it always led to their defeat, death, and prevention of true repentance and salvation.  We’re doing the very same thing guys, except it’s just a different point on the timeline.

 

When you replace God’s Word with your own version, you become your own god.  In fact, you place yourself above God and His Word.  The one that also did was satan, himself.  For this very pride caused his fall and removal from heaven, along with a third of the angels who were with him in his thinking and pride.  Why do we do this?  Why do we feel we know better than God?  Why do we feel we can justify what we do, think, feel, or act, by something that is more ‘right’ or ‘justified’ than the very Creator who created us?!??!!  That may not be your conscious intention, but that IS what you’re doing, regardless of intent.  There’s an old saying that holds no more or less true with this subject that any other, and that is, “The pathway to hell is often paved with the best of intentions.”  So, that makes it just a bit harder to control and prevent, right?  Because you believe your heart is in the right place, but your mind is not.  From what comes out of a man’s mouth defiles him, for it comes from the heart.  Where’s your heart at today?  Is it in lockstep with Christ, or in lockstep with you and your current direction in life?  Where do you dwell, in God’s Word, which reveals all things and is truly “Living,” or by your perception of what is, or what should be?  This is important.  The Bible says it’s important.  In fact, it’s ironic that most that state the Bible is infallible and perfect in its writing and meaning are more likely and often to use their perceptions and own understandings to win the arguments over what is right or wrong, what should or should not be, what God says and means vs what He does not.  How many of you are with me on this – do you understand what’s happening?  Are you following me on this?  Are you nodding your head or are you shaking your head, or are you just completely puzzled by what I’m saying here?

 

I’m going to give you a couple of more recent examples of arguments, battles, fights, and sin I’ve seen recently regarding what the Bible says or doesn’t say, and/or what the Word of God means, vs. what it doesn’t mean.  See if any of these resonate with you:

 

 

·      The timing of the Rapture

·      Tribulation timeline

·      Once saved, always saved

·      Loss of salvation

·      What’s a true Christian vs. a false one

·      OT vs. NT theology

·      Does God change with the times

·      True repentance vs. regret/remorse

·      The words of Jesus and His disciples – for their time, or ours?  Or both?

·      Loving God vs. a Judging God

·      Loss of salvation vs. salvation that can never be taken

·      Name blotted out of the Lamb’s Book of Life

·      Predestination and Election.

·      God created the men/women knowing they would not be saved

·      Homosexuality and being a Christian at the same time

·      Someone that believes in Christ, as John 3:16 states, is saved forever, regardless of how they live

·      The scriptures being literal or figurative

·      Man took away or added to the scriptures, and so unsure of what to believe or not

·      Watering down the severity of sin from what the Bible denotes

·      Misunderstandings of our role on Earth, once we’re born again

·      What a born-again Christian is like, vs. one that claims they are saved and believe.

·      That there is somehow different ‘levels’ of Christianity and being saved.

·      That some of the Bible is meant for us and some is not; or, some is obsolete.

·      Going with what man states, rather than what the Word of God states.

·      Leaning on pastors for wisdom vs. the Bible.

·      The Trinity – no such thing vs. it is an absolute, backed up by the Word of God

·      Complying with what’s convenient and comfortable while ignoring what’s not.

·      Seeing God only as love, but not the Judge.

·      Seeing God only as the Judge, but not love.

·      Seeing Jesus as the loving Messiah, but God as the one that is angry and the deciding factor of who goes to hell and who doesn’t.

·      The skin color of Jesus

·      The shape of the Earth

·      The role of government vs. God – what feels right/wrong vs. what God says

·      Mark of the Beast 

·      Who’s our “Neighbors” that we are to love, as Jesus commands is the second greatest commandment

 

Guys, I could go on for hours and still not even scratch the surface!!!!  How does the proclaimed Body of Christ claim it’s the Body of Christ, when they can’t even agree on what the very Word of God says?!?!?!?!  The inheritance of the Kingdom is not a buffet-style, ala-carte, menu of do’s and don’ts!!!!!  The Bible is very clear on what we must all do to be truly saved, born again, worshipping and praising of God, prayer, faith, love, loving God and our neighbors as ourselves, being servants, being the head and not the tail, and not leaning on our own wisdom as fools do, but by clinging to every word of God.  Why do we have the instruction manual for life and eternity, that has outlived everything since before Christ was born, but we aren’t smart or wise enough to believe everything from the first to the last page, the way God and the Holy Spirit designed it???  The reason you cannot answer that, is because there is no true answer.  It’s a fallacy!  Except this kind can cost you true believe, true direction for your life, and whether or not you steer others towards or away from the very God you claim to belong to and love with all your heart, mind, soul, and body!  

 

 

Proverbs 14:12 - There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way to death.

 

Proverbs 28:26 - Whoever trusts in his own mind is a fool, but he who walks in wisdom will be delivered.

 

Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths. (Proverbs 3:5–6)

 

When the Bible tells us in this verse not to lean on our own understanding, it is not encouraging us to be irrational. The Bible puts up no wall of separation between our intellect and faith. In fact, the book of Proverbs speaks very highly of understanding:

-  “[Incline] your heart to understanding” (Proverbs 2:2).

-  “Raise your voice for understanding” (Proverbs 2:3).

-  “Understanding will guard you” (Proverbs 2:11).

-  “Blessed is the one who . . . gets understanding” (Proverbs 3:13).

-  “Wisdom rests in the heart of a man of understanding” (Proverbs 14:33).

-  “The heart of him who has understanding seeks knowledge” (Proverbs 15:14).

-  “To get understanding is to be chosen rather than silver” (Proverbs 16:16).

-  “Buy wisdom, instruction, and understanding” (Proverbs 23:23).

So, if we’re supposed to get understanding, why are we not supposed to lean on it? 

What we’re told not to lean on is our “own understanding,” meaning conclusions based primarily on our own perceptions. Because our own understanding simply will not bear the full weight of reality. It was never intended to. 

Let’s go back to the garden of Eden. The one tree in the garden that humans were forbidden to eat from was not, interestingly, the tree of life (Genesis 2:9). It was not life that God denied human beings. He prohibited them to eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil (Genesis 2:17). 

The point of this prohibition was not to keep humans ignorant butto preserve for us the pleasures of the world.” It was as if God was saying,

If you eat of that one tree you will be saying to me, “I’m smarter than you. I am more authoritative than you. I am wiser than you are. I think I can care for myself better than you care for me. You are not a very good Father. And so, I am going to reject you.” 

 

So, don’t eat from the tree, because you will be rejecting me and all my good gifts and all my wisdom and all my care. Instead, keep on submitting to my will. Keep on affirming my wisdom. Keep on being thankful for my generosity. Keep on trusting me as a Father and keep on eating from these othertrees as a way of enjoying me.

 

You see, in order to handle the knowledge of good and evil, one must possess (1) the ability to completely comprehend all possible options and possibilities (omniscience), (2) the righteousness and wisdom to choose the right course, and (3) the power to make reality conform to the right course (omnipotence). 

In other words, only God can handle such knowledge.

What this means is that it is not the one who trusts in the Lord that is irrational, but the one who leans on his or her own understanding. It is insane to trust such pathetically limited understanding when one can trust the unlimited understanding of God. 

So many of the things that cause us the most difficulty and heartache in life, the source of so much of our anxiety, fear, doubt, and anger with others and with God, is the result of leaning on our own understanding. 

God does not want us to be miserable, even in this fallen and evil age.  He wants to relieve our anxiety (Luke 12:11–12; Philippians 4:6–7), fear (Psalm 118:6; 1 Peter 3:6), doubt (Matthew 21:21; Luke 24:38), and sinful anger (Ephesians 4:31). And so, he gives us Proverbs 3:5–6 as a priceless gift. 

In exercising faith — trusting fully in the Lord and not leaning on our own understanding — we’re not setting aside our intellect. We’re resting our intellect upon the intellect of God. Nothing is wiser or saner. To do so is to allow him to direct our paths, which not only lead to ultimate joy, but also make the journey itself, even when laden with sorrow, joyful (2 Corinthians 6:10). And it preserves for us all the pleasures God provides us in the world. To not do this is the height of foolishness and the path to misery.

So, let us choose joy today by not leaning on our own understanding but in sweet, childlike trust on the sure footing of our loving Creator’s wisdom.

Additionally, I was convicted again, just the other day!!!!  I love being loving correctly by God as to steer me away from the edge of that narrow path - I was reminded by the Holy Spirit, and so that’s especially the moments and messages I like to share with you, the Body, as well:

 

“Don’t have anything to do with foolish and stupid arguments, because you know they produce quarrels. And the Lord’s servant must not quarrel; instead, he must be kind to everyone, able to teach, not resentful. Those who oppose him he must gently instruct, in the hope that God will grant them repentance leading them to a knowledge of the truth…” (2 Tim. 2:23-25)

 

“Avoid foolish controversies and genealogies and arguments and quarrels about the law, because these are unprofitable and useless. Warn a divisive person once, and then warn him a second time. After that, have nothing to do with him. You may be sure that such a man is warped and sinful; he is self-condemned.” (Titus 3:9-11)

 

“If you keep on biting and devouring each other, watch out or you will be destroyed by each other” (Gal. 5:15).

 

The only way you will have the knowledge is by following the very words of God.  It is up to God to bring wisdom to the willing, and to help the unprideful understand His true word, not you.  As the scripture I just read states, we are told specifically to warn a divisive person once and even a second time; but after that, have nothing to do with them!!!!  There’s nothing left to discretion or misunderstanding on that, unless your pride kicks in and changes the very words of God.  Otherwise, that’s our direct and following it is imperative to our being a good and faithful servant….no?

 

In the notes from today, just take any of the bulleted issues that the Body and proclaiming Body of Christ argues about today and simply search good for Bible verses dealing with this subject.  Do not take man’s word, but by every word spoken in the Book of God that deals on each subject – this way, you no longer lean on your own understanding, but on the understand of the One who created everything, including the words and the meaning of every sentence in the Bible.  Seek Him, and you shall find Him – this includes His spoken Word – alive and true from before the Earth was even formed.

 

 

My final statement is this:   My guess is that, like me, you’ve been wrong or ‘off’ on many, many things you’re entire life – many small, many big.  The fact that you found out and then were able to gain the true understand, finally, made all the difference – almost as much as no longer being wrong about any given topic.  Once you sought the truth, you found the truth.  Up until that point, you believed you were right, but were wrong.  You (and I) were living by an untruth.

So, my final question to you is then this:    How possible it is then, that we are the same way with the very Word of the God we claim to love and worship and follow?  Before we claim we love Him with all of our heart, soul, mind, and body, we have to KNOW Him.  The only way to do so is to have a personal relationship with Him, which starts with His Word.  Read it, dwell in it, absorb it, believe it, rest on it, and acknowledge it as the only truth in this world that you can and should ever count on to continue on the narrow path that leads to everlasting life.  Don’t allow another day to go by, walking in the dark while professing to live in the light.  What don’t you know right now about God and His word?  What are you waiting for?

So, before we end today’s show, I just want to thank you all again for tuning in and I HOPE you were touched by today’s message and scripture.  I’d like to ask you a favor only IF you received any value out of today’s show – would you tell at least one person you know – call them, text them, email them, talk to them – tell them to give this show a listen.  

 

Check out the show at shaken-awake.com, email me at ben@shaken-awake.com or call or text me directly for any reason at (407)-493-3208 (repeat).  If you have ideas for the show – LET ME KNOW!

Next week!!!!  Tune in Next Sunday evening – or WHENEVER YOU’RE ABLE, as we dive into another important topic of our day, which is, “What Matters Most to God – Does it Matter Most to YOU?”

Next weeks episode is another powerful and DO-NOT-MISS episode – thanks for joining!  

Until next week, take great care of yourself and each other, and God Bless You all.  

 

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