I wanted to prepare you guys for our next study. For those who remember, this blog was created in an effort to save copy paper and ink. Now it will be where I give my commentary on what we are studying, and also a means for you to know the direction the study will be going before you come. The Lord willing, I will try to have the study notes posted on Fridays. If I have to say something critical of the book we're studying, I will opt for a lesson sheet like I used to do just to prevent the World from using my thoughts as a battering ram against Christian unity. If you don't believe it happens, just look at the struggles between the Apostle Paul, and the disciples. People amplified the 'works' focus of the Apostle James with the freewheeling grace of Paul. This debate continues well into our present day and has been the focus of many books. Even in our own midst, we all have varying ideas of how our life in Christ should look. To that I always say be gracious, and kind as much as possible, and punch each other out somewhere out of sight of others. (You'll figure that one out if you are at rest in your knowledge of Christ.) LOVE is always our guide. As all of you know, I often react negatively to new ideas when they are given without warning, and in a group environment. It is only after I get alone and pray that I am able to hear from Holy Spirit whether that thought was valid or not. My point being, be ready to give your thoughts on what we're studying, please respond when I ask for input, but know that my initial reaction may seem to be...tough.
As always, my hearts desire for all of you is that you do take at least an hour at minimum to read the chapter we're in and make notes while you are reading. As many of you know it can take us months to study a chapter, or we can zoom through one in two lessons. When you open up your books to study, ask Holy Spirit to give you revelation that will benefit and edify the entire group. To Resolve a couple of semantics, I will address Holy Spirit without the qualifier of "THE". Until God reveals His name to us, I am uncomfortable referring to Holy Spirit as an object without feelings or individual attributes. The 'the' in "the Holy Spirit" was created by us and we have failed to grasp how it denigrates Him to a lower status when He is an equal part of the triune godhead.
TOOLS OF STUDY
Some of you remember my favorite study materials, but for those who never studied under me, I believe you should study with a yellow legal pad, or at least a spiral notebook to write YOUR thoughts down as they come. I also believe you should at least have one physical Bible with which to underline and highlight passages. Nothing thrills me more than a highly marked up Bible, it's better than chocolate. I also believe you need a good five pack of highlighters so that you can isolate words, and phrases. Highlighters also give you a means to make your note taking remind you of what was important in your own notes. I also highly recommend a good physical edition of Strongs Exhaustive Concordance, Vines dictionary, and the Webster's 1828 Dictionary. I also use the Complete Jewish New Testament commentary for greater insight into Jewish understanding of Jesus as the Jewish Messiah.
BIBLES: As I've stated many times before, the KJV isn't my study Bible. At the same time, I always default to the KJV whenever I am thinking of a scripture verse because I grew up reading it, and hearing it for well over twenty years when I was growing up. I won't knock it, nor demean it, but as someone who grew up reading the KJV, I have issues with how it was translated. As you've heard me say hundreds of times, if you can read the KJV with comprehension, you can read anything written by man. BUT, For simple readability, I prefer the NLT. For beauty, and the poetic style of the Bible, I love the ESV. My go to Bible for understanding Hebrew culture and how it applies to the Word is the Complete Jewish Bible. Before we leave the whole Bible issue, let me explain that the NIV was translated by men and women who wanted to provide a readable, contextual version of the Bible. Despite its many detractors, the NIV is currently the most popular English Translation. The NIV has often been criticized for emphasizing a more modern view of the Bible with emphasis upon living a 'spiritual' life. It always amazes me how many negative comments are made about the NIV on the internet, yet it is so popular with the masses. On my study table I have three versions of the Bible that I use for comparison. I have the CJB for context and history, the NRSV for accuracy (New Revised Standard Version), and the ESV for flow and readability. As a side note; the ESV is considered an academically satisfactory translation. Personally as I stated earlier, I love the way it translates the poetic style of the Old Testament passages. Please feel free to USE whatever translations you are comfortable with, but at least have the maturity to know what the pros and cons of your choices are. IF you think in English, and read in English, it doesn't matter what you choose, because they will all be translations. EVERY 'version' of the Bible carries an inherent bias of the translator even when there are other translators 'checking' their translation. This has been one of the biggest complaints about the NIV for instance. It's emphasis upon Spiritual life and favorable interpretations toward Pentecostalism, and Charismatic concepts is obvious. Choose your sweet stuff and don't feel the need to defend it. That is not what we are about. Feel free to bring whatever version you feel comfortable reading from. Nobody in our study group will confront you about what you bring with you.
THE BOOK WE ARE STUDYING
Due to copy-write restrictions in this blog format, I will try everything within me to avoid mentioning in the blog the source material for what we are studying. Another reason for avoiding mentioning the author and the book is because the author, and the book have come under a lot of criticism from Christians. (Go figure) The fellowship the author pastors has also come under a great deal of criticism for their focus on the supernatural, and focus on Holy Spirit. This is a public blog, and I want to avoid as much outside controversy as possible over the internet. Trolls will troll, internet vandals will vandalize, and creeps will...creep. If someone wants to disagree, I'd prefer they be in our study, and have facts ready. We know what we are studying and don't need references to know where we are at.
As far as my own criticisms of the material go, as you know from the last book we studied, I believe we can all have questions about an author's conclusions, and even find them to be incorrect. That doesn't mean that the author isn't a mighty man of God with a spiritual experience I can only dream of. However, there were a few times I took a dim view of some of his ideas. The same is true of our coming study. I don't agree with everything the author says. Actually, I agree with a lot more than I disagree with. We'll have those discussion in private in our study group because the enemy of the Church likes it when believers disagree with each other. He enlarges it, feeds it, and then exhibits it to the world so that the powers of this world can use it to dismiss our faith. Disagreements in bias should never be reasons for believers to stop fellowship with one another. At the same time, I want to encourage you to read the book with your spirit man listening to Holy Spirit. Let discernment and wisdom guide your study, and seek out deeper truths that can help us be renewed, transformed, and guided into deeper revelation of the Kingdom of God. When all else fails remember one word: EDIFICATION.
Before we step into the study, please remember that much of what we battle with among one another is not actually interpretation of the Bible, but when an idea challenges long held 'traditions'. The statement; 'That's the way we've always done it' is not acceptable. Traditions of men is exactly what Christ came to abolish. Please have the malleability to recognize when what you are clinging to might just be a tradition based upon scripture taken out of context. Context is everything.
I strongly encourage you to PRAY that what we are about to study will be added to our study of intercession, and that we will become the disciples that Jesus desires us to be. I am seeing more and more fellowships being led by Holy Spirit into deep and abiding prayer. It is in prayer that our minds are renewed, and that we are guided into all righteousness. It is no accident that we were led to study about intercessory prayer for the last two years. Nothing is done in the Spirit without a purpose. If you believe we are in the last days, then act accordingly, and PRAY as the days become more and more evil. It is easy to look at this present moment and think that good has overcome evil because our present government is amenable to Christianity. Even now, the evil one is preparing his next attack, and we must be alert, praying, and interceding for those around us. Just as Jesus would go out alone and seek God for revelation about what He was supposed to do the next day, so too should we be given over to prayer as we see this world in need of the Kingdom power that is within each of us. I still believe there will be one more great outpouring before the final page is turned. The one verse that has come to 'temper' my view of end time events is Matthew 24:14. " And this gospel of the Kingdom will be proclaimed throughout the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come." ESV
Let's get busy!
