Rainbow Lake Bible

Author: Pastor Brian

  • Did you know (Psalm 118)?

    • Psalm 118 is the middle chapter of the entire Bible?
    • Psalm 117, before Psalm 118 is the shortest chapter in the Bible?
    • Psalm 119, after Palm 118 is the longest chapter in the Bible?
    • The Bible has 594 chapters before Psalm 118 and 594 chapters after Psalm 118?
    • If you add up all the chapters except Psalm118, you get a total of 1188 chapters.
    • 1188 or Psalm 118 verse 8 is the middle verse of the entire Bible?

    Should the central verse not have an important message? “It is better to trust and take refuge in the Lord than to put confidence in man.”

  • Faith Without Works is Dead, a Familiar Phrase

    The Great Debate of Paul and James.

    Paul taught:

    (Ephesians 2:8-10) “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: {9} Not of works, lest any man should boast. {10} For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.”

    v10 says that we are HIS workmanship – meaning the ‘works’ you receive of a Christian are works of God given through that person. If I perform a baptism, or preach a message that is given from inspiration of the Holy Spirit and you marvel at that, don’t marvel at me, but of God, because it is He that did the work. A violin alone is not so impressive until the musician plays the tune of Mozart or Beethoven. And even then, the musician is not accredited for the music they play, but the composer. The musician is like the clay pot, the Potter is the composer of the piece, and the music that is produced are the works held in the clay pot at the behest of the Potter. In other words, without the composer, the musician could not play the piece and make music. Therefore, the faith (practice) must come first.

    James taught:

    (James 2:14-18) “What doth it profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not works? can faith save him?  {15} If a brother or sister be naked, and destitute of daily food,  {16} And one of you say unto them, Depart in peace, be ye warmed and filled; notwithstanding ye give them not those things which are needful to the body; what doth it profit?  {17} Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone.  {18} Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works.”

    v15 gives an example of a musician who has an audience to perform their work for, yet they do not perform it well. While they claim to practice faith, the faith is dead because they are not producing the music for which they claim to have practiced. Therefore, the question begs; do they even have faith? For the works that they would perform would come only from God, according to the passage we read above. And if God does not give unto them the works to perform, logic would deduce that there is no relationship between the composer and the musician.

    So, which is it? These passages are often misunderstood and used to show contradictions within the Word of God, but let it not be so! They actually agree with each other, they are not a matter of “the chicken or the egg”, but rather that of “which produces which”. Some see the passage (incorrectly) from James as being, “Do works and you will have faith,” and Paul’s point being, “Have faith, works do not save.” The complimentary understanding of them lies in knowing first, A.) what true works are, understanding that this passage states that one produces the other, and B.) whether works save or faith saves. It’s a comparison of apples to oranges.

    Without the Holy Spirit, you are unable:

    (Romans 3:10-18) “As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one:  {11} There is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God.  {12} They are all gone out of the way, they are together become unprofitable; there is none that doeth good, no, not one.  {13} Their throat is an open sepulchre; with their tongues they have used deceit; the poison of asps is under their lips:  {14} Whose mouth is full of cursing and bitterness:  {15} Their feet are swift to shed blood:  {16} Destruction and misery are in their ways:  {17} And the way of peace have they not known:  {18} There is no fear of God before their eyes.”

    Why can’t we do good (according to God’s standard of good) works?

    (Romans 3:23) “For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;”

    (Romans 5:12) “Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned:”

    Because we are in our sin, we will be eternally separated from God:

    (Romans 6:23) “For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.”

    But God…

    (Romans 5:8) “But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.”

    Therefore, believe and confess:

    (Romans 10:9-10, 13) “That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.  {10} For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.  {13} For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.”

    And so, in believing in one’s heart, one will profess with their mouth and therefore be baptized in the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit.

    (Acts 8:26-39) “And the angel of the Lord spake unto Philip, saying, Arise, and go toward the south unto the way that goeth down from Jerusalem unto Gaza, which is desert.  {27} And he arose and went: and, behold, a man of Ethiopia, an eunuch of great authority under Candace queen of the Ethiopians, who had the charge of all her treasure, and had come to Jerusalem for to worship,  {28} Was returning, and sitting in his chariot read Esaias the prophet.  {29} Then the Spirit said unto Philip, Go near, and join thyself to this chariot.  {30} And Philip ran thither to him, and heard him read the prophet Esaias, and said, Understandest thou what thou readest?  {31} And he said, How can I, except some man should guide me? And he desired Philip that he would come up and sit with him.  {32} The place of the scripture which he read was this, He was led as a sheep to the slaughter; and like a lamb dumb before his shearer, so opened he not his mouth:  {33} In his humiliation his judgment was taken away: and who shall declare his generation? for his life is taken from the earth.  {34} And the eunuch answered Philip, and said, I pray thee, of whom speaketh the prophet this? of himself, or of some other man?  {35} Then Philip opened his mouth, and began at the same scripture, and preached unto him Jesus.  {36} And as they went on their way, they came unto a certain water: and the eunuch said, See, here is water; what doth hinder me to be baptized?  {37} And Philip said, If thou believest with all thine heart, thou mayest. And he answered and said, I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.  {38} And he commanded the chariot to stand still: and they went down both into the water, both Philip and the eunuch; and he baptized him.  {39} And when they were come up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord caught away Philip, that the eunuch saw him no more: and he went on his way rejoicing.”

    (v35, faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God. Rom 10:17)

    Sermon Scriptures:

    Ephesians 2:8-10

    James 2:14-18

    Romans 3:10-18

    Romans 3:23

    Romans 5:12

    Romans 6:23

    Romans 5:8

    Acts 8:26-39

    Romans 10:17

  • The Foolishness of Preaching, Pt 2

    Part 2: Reasons for Preaching

    If you haven’t yet read Part 1 of this series, click here to read that first.

    Now, the second part answers the question of why we have the offices of Ephesians 4:11-12. Why does God do it this way? Why does he plan for there to be fallible (and I’m talking about myself here) human teachers and preachers in the church, who teach and preach to the people on the basis of God’s infallible word, when the people have that infallible word right there in their hands?

    • Because we are commanded to preach.

    As stated earlier, Timothy was commanded by Paul to preach according to 2 Timothy 4:2. It is imperative to follow the commandments of scripture for the body needs these commandments in order for the bride to continue on in her preparations for the coming Bridegroom.

    • Pastors/Shepherds, while fallible, are uniquely gifted to teach.

    Preachers and teachers (shepherds), according to 1 Timothy 3:2, are to be gifted — or apt or able — to teach, which means that they should have the time, the inclination, the skill, and the spiritual discernment to see things in God’s infallible Word that many may not see. 2 Timothy 2:2 also exhorts likewise to commit to faithful men able to teach others. It is the pattern of the LORD for tending to His flock. 

    (John 21:15-17) “So when they had dined, Jesus saith to Simon Peter, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me more than these?  He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my lambs.  {16} He saith to him again the second time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me?  He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my sheep.  {17} He saith unto him the third time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me?  Peter was grieved because he said unto him the third time, Lovest thou me? And he said unto him, Lord, thou knowest all things; thou knowest that I love thee. Jesus saith unto him, Feed my sheep.”

    Significance of 3’s:

    1. The Trinity
      The Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost
    2. Patriarchs
      Judaism began as a family religion practiced by three generations of fathers and sons, known as the patriarchs: Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. The central Jewish prayer, the Amidah, refers to God as the God of these three.
    3. Torah
      The Torah is divided into three parts: Pentateuch, Prophets, and Scriptures. Moses, the third child of his parents, received the Torah in the third month of the Jewish calendar.
    4. Festivals
      The Jewish festival calendar is made up of three pilgrimage festivals: Passover, Shavuot, and Sukkot.
    5. Prayers
      Jews pray three times a day, and many stanzas in prayers are repeated three times. The priestly benediction, birkat kohanim, is a threefold blessing.
    6. Other examples
      Abraham was visited by three angels three days after his circumcision, and God told him to sacrifice his son Isaac at a place three days away. Adam and Noah also had three sons

    A first century Jew knows the significance of the Messiah. Peter believed Jesus as the Messiah, so for him to be asked 3 times if he loved Him, this would bring a panic to any sane Christian.

    Remember that this came as no surprise to Jesus that He’d have a fallible man as Peter, who denied Him 3 times, to be charged with caring for the flock.

    • Sermons can help us read the Bible better.

    As read in 1 Timothy 3:2, being apt or able to teach means that the pastor should have the time, the inclination, the skill, and the spiritual discernment to see things in God’s Word. That in doing so, they are able to dedicate themselves to the ministry in ways that not everyone can. It is a call to a work that requires much time, effort and dedication. One who pastors and shepherds effectively is often unable to work another profession and be so effective for their ministry. For this reason, Paul exhorts the body of Christ to care for the needs of the servant minister amongst them. The full time ministry that the pastor/shepherd endeavors unto will take his time from providing otherwise for their families and responsibilities.

    (1 Timothy 5:17-18) “Let the elders that rule well be counted worthy of double honour, especially they who labour in the word and doctrine.  {18} For the scripture saith, Thou shalt not muzzle the ox that treadeth out the corn. And, The labourer is worthy of his reward.”

    (Galatians 6:6) “Let him that is taught in the word communicate unto him that teacheth in all good things.”

    (Luke 10:7) “And in the same house remain, eating and drinking such things as they give: for the labourer is worthy of his hire. Go not from house to house.”

    (Philippians 4:16-19) “For even in Thessalonica ye sent once and again unto my necessity.  {17} Not because I desire a gift: but I desire fruit that may abound to your account.  {18} But I have all, and abound: I am full, having received of Epaphroditus the things which were sent from you, an odour of a sweet smell, a sacrifice acceptable, wellpleasing to God.  {19} But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.”

    (Acts 20:28) “Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood.”

    • Preaching awakens new affections for God.

    Preaching is the communication of both seeing and savoring the reality in the text. This means that those who listen to such preaching, over time, will not only have their heads stocked with new thoughts, but will have their hearts awakened to new affections for God and His word and His ways and His people.

    We might think that the Bible itself should be enough to awaken all the affections and emotions that Christians ought to feel. Well, the plain fact is that that does not happen by itself. God has planned that we be inspired and encouraged and humbled and thrilled by the things of God, which we see more movingly through faithful, Spirit-filled preaching, amongst other endevours. Bible studies, discipleship and counseling can offer a degree to this as well. But the point is to not forsake the preaching simply for the other avenues that are taken.

    (Romans 10:17) “So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.”

    That’s why he says this to those teachers in Thessalonica:

    (1 Thessalonians 5:14) “Now we exhort you, brethren, warn them that are unruly, comfort the feebleminded, support the weak, be patient toward all men.”

    Encouragement happens in preaching. That’s a change of emotions and affections. Affections are changed, not just minds, through God-ordained preaching.

    • God saves through the foolishness of preaching.

    God has ordained that the eyes of the spiritually blind be open and that salvation come through the foolishness of fallible human preaching.

    (1 Corinthians 1:21) “For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe.”

    “We might imagine, in our own heads, that all the world needs are Bibles dropped from airplanes into people’s lives. Well, we can imagine all we want. But God’s plan is that people are saved through the preaching of the Bible, through the preaching of biblical truth, not just the reading of the Bible. The foolishness of preaching is appointed as one of the important means of saving sinners.” – John Piper

    We need to hear the word from other believers, from those appointed according to Eph 4.

    (1 Corinthians 12:21) “And the eye cannot say unto the hand, I have no need of thee: nor again the head to the feet, I have no need of you.”

    Behind all five of those previous points lies the truth that God intends for the church to be a mutually interdependent body of believers. The eye cannot say to the hand, “I have no need of you. I’ve got my Bible. I don’t need you.” In other words, Father God has determined that Jesus Christ, through the ministry of the Holy Spirit, will get more glory through the Christ-exalting, Spirit-dependent, word-saturated, mutual ministry in the church than he would if people only read their Bibles.

    Christ is always more glorified when we doing things by the will of God, rather than by forsaking God’s way while presuming to love the Bible

  • The Foolishness of Preaching, pt 1

    What does the Bible say about Church Leadership?

    (Jeremiah 3:15) “And I will give you pastors according to mine heart, which shall feed you with knowledge and understanding.”

    (1 Corinthians 1:21) “For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe.”

    Specifically, why do we have roles such as a shepherd, teacher, pastor, elder? And in so investigating the why behind those roles, can we come to a conclusion as to what the LORD is looking for in an obedient Shepherd and Flock?

    (2 Timothy 2:15) “Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.”

    It will be my aim to encourage you, the flock, that in light of my studying to show myself approved before God (not man), that I take my responsibility seriously that the appointed coarse set before me is one that I am attuned with to unashamedly and rightly divide the Word of God – and not for my benefit, but to the benefit of the flock, the body of Christ, in order to bring paramount honor and glory to our God. 

    With the table set thusly before us, we will be looking at a number of passages from the Bible to indicate God’s plan and design. 

    1. Namely, that besides the infallible word of God in the Bible, the church is to be led, underneath that infallible word, by fallible elders — sometimes called pastors or teachers, and in our case, the term shepherd has been appointed — who are gifted to lead and to teach the flock. 
    2. Then, we ask the question why: Why did God set it up that way, so that the members of the flock (church), who have in their hand an infallible Bible, should listen to and respect and esteem and follow and rejoice in the ministry of the word through fallible preaching?

    Part 1: God’s plan. 

    Shepherds for the Flock

    Consider the direct and indirect commands given in:

    (Ephesians 4:11-12) “And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers;  {12} For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:”

    Overseer, Elder, Pastor – these are three that are seen as one in Scripture (G4245)

    Strong’s: pres-boo’-ter-os

    Comparative of πρέσβυς presbus (elderly); older; as noun, a senior; specifically an Israelite Sanhedrist (also figuratively, member of the celestial council) or Christian “presbyter”: – elder (-est), old.

    Thyer 2b) among the Christians, those who presided over the assemblies (or churches) The NT uses the term bishop, elders, and presbyters interchangeably

    (1 Peter 5:1-5) “The elders which are among you I exhort, who am also an elder, and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, and also a partaker of the glory that shall be revealed:  {2} Feed the flock of God which is among you, taking the oversight thereof, not by constraint, but willingly; not for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind;  {3} Neither as being lords over God’s heritage, but being ensamples to the flock.  {4} And when the chief Shepherd shall appear, ye shall receive a crown of glory that fadeth not away.  {5} Likewise, ye younger, submit yourselves unto the elder. Yea, all of you be subject one to another, and be clothed with humility: for God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble.”

    So, what’s direct and clear in this passage is that the risen Christ intends for churches to have pastors and teachers (and other offices) that, through their preaching and teaching, they equip the saints to do the work of the ministry and build themselves up in love and faith. The indirect command here is that the saints would be members of churches that submit to the fallible leadership of said offices. That’s the divine plan.

    How do we know that God wants us to be under the fallible teaching of a particular teacher/preacher? Why not float from church to church, learning from many different pastors or shepherds?

    At the end of Paul’s first letter to the church in Thessalonica, he addresses both the members of the house churches and those who are leading them.

    (1 Thessalonians 5:12-13) 

    Paul gives two instructions to the members of the church:

    First, to KNOW them who shepherd you:

    “{12} And we beseech you, brethren, to know them which labour among you, and are over you in the Lord, and admonish you;  

    Second, to love them greatly, which will bring peace amongst the congregation:

    {13} And to esteem them very highly in love for their work’s sake. And be at peace among yourselves.”

    Next, Paul specifically speaks to them which labour among the members; the teachers and pastors. While all members of the body of Christ should hold these commands, they are uniquely directed to those charged with shepherding:

    (1 Thessalonians 5:14-22) 

    Now, to the shepherds, much is required. Twelve things listed, to be exact:

    {14} Now we exhort you, brethren, 

    1. warn them that are unruly, 
    2. comfort the feebleminded, 
    3. support the weak, 
    4. be patient toward all men.  
    5. {15} See that none render evil for evil unto any man; but ever follow that which is good, both among yourselves, and to all men.  
    6. {16} Rejoice evermore.  
    7. {17} Pray without ceasing.  
    8. {18} In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.  
    9. {19} Quench not the Spirit.  
    10. {20} Despise not prophesyings.  <— (Preaching?)
    11. {21} Prove all things; hold fast that which is good.  
    12. {22} Abstain from all appearance of evil.”

    Strong’s Definition:

    From G4396 (“prophecy”); prediction (scriptural or other): – prophecy, prophesying.

    Thayer Definition (G4394):

    1) prophecy

    1a) a discourse emanating from divine inspiration and declaring the purposes of God, whether by reproving and admonishing the wicked, or comforting the afflicted, or revealing things hidden; especially by foretelling future events

    1b) Used in the NT of the utterance of OT prophets

    1b1) of the prediction of events relating to Christ’s kingdom and its speedy triumph, together with the consolations and admonitions pertaining to it, the spirit of prophecy, the divine mind, to which the prophetic faculty is due

    1b2) of the endowment and speech of the Christian teachers called prophets

    1b3) the gifts and utterances of these prophets, especially of the predictions of the works of which, set apart to teach the gospel, will accomplish for the kingdom of Christ

    Here’s the Apostle Paul writing to the Thessalonians and handing off a large measure of responsibility for the ministry of the Word of God within the church. He’s entrusting it to fallible people. He’s telling the teachers how to minister the Word, and he’s telling the members how to receive the Word and how to respect the teachers. 

    This always takes me to (2 Timothy 2:1-2) “Thou therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus.  {2} And the things that thou hast heard of me among many witnesses, the same commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also.”

    Paul is constantly instructing Timothy to feed the sheep.

    (1 Timothy 4:12-16) “Let no man despise thy youth; but be thou an example of the believers, in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity.  {13} Till I come, give attendance to reading, to exhortation, to doctrine.  {14} Neglect not the gift that is in thee, which was given thee by prophecy, with the laying on of the hands of the presbytery.  {15} Meditate upon these things; give thyself wholly to them; that thy profiting may appear to all.  {16} Take heed unto thyself, and unto the doctrine; continue in them: for in doing this thou shalt both save thyself, and them that hear thee.”

    Then consider what Paul says to the young shepherd Timothy, whom Paul had left behind as a pastor in Ephesus,

    (2 Timothy 4:1-2) “I charge thee therefore before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing and his kingdom;  {2} Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine.”

    In season: convenient, friendly opportunities, in church.

    Out of season: inconvenient, in rebuke, when in danger.

    That’s just such a clear command to Timothy: “Preach.” 

    The question isn’t whether or not the church wants to be preached to (because, after all, they have the INFALLIBLE Word of God, the letter to Ephesus from Paul, at their fingertips)… 

    The question is whether God, in his perfect, sovereign will, is telling them to listen to Timothy preach the word. He’s saying, “Timothy, preach the word.” And God intends for people to hear the word preached if he commands his pastors to preach the word. 1 Timothy 4:14 says that it is the very congregation that affirmed the word from God that Timothy shepherd that flock, it is they who need shepherding and he that shall shepherd.

    The New Testament is rife with even more passages than cited thus far that are plain examples of the need to institute the God-given hierarchy that we have been following. This is no small doctrine to consider when approaching the Creator’s tabernacle to worship in obedience. Consider the following NT books where such exhortations, guidance for the care of a flock, and instructions are mentioned:

    The Gospels (where Jesus’ commands come directly from Him)

    Acts

    Romans

    1 & 2 Corinthians

    Galatians

    Ephesians

    Colossians 

    Philippians

    1 & 2 Thessalonians – some mentioned above

    1 & 2 Timothy – some mentioned above

    Titus – I left you in Crete to set up elders, bishops, etc

    Hebrews

    James – if any be sick, let them call for the elders of the church

    1 & 2 John

    Jude

    Revelation

    Philemon may be the only book where it is not outright mentioned, however, the inference is certainly there that there be leadership installed. 

    We haven’t even touched the OT.

    Next let us consider the reasons that the Bible gives us as to why we follow these commands. Click to read Part 2.