Category: Series

Part 1: Jeremiah prophesied it. Jeremiah 24-29
Part 2: Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-nego lived it. Daniel 3-4
Part 3: Jesus died for it. Matthew 22:17-22; 27:11-14; John 18:28-20:29

(Psalms 139:1-24) “O LORD, thou hast searched me, and known me.  {2} Thou knowest my downsitting and mine uprising, thou understandest my thought afar off.  {3} Thou compassest my path and my lying down, and art acquainted with all my ways.  {4} For there is not a word in my tongue, but, lo, O LORD, thou knowest it altogether.  {5} Thou hast beset me behind and before, and laid thine hand upon me.  {6} Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; it is high, I cannot attain unto it.  {7} Whither shall I go from thy spirit? or whither shall I flee from thy presence?  {8} If I ascend up into heaven, thou art there: if I make my bed in hell, behold, thou art there.  {9} If I take the wings of the morning, and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea;  {10} Even there shall thy hand lead me, and thy right hand shall hold me.  {11} If I say, Surely the darkness shall cover me; even the night shall be light about me.  {12} Yea, the darkness hideth not from thee; but the night shineth as the day: the darkness and the light are both alike to thee.  {13} For thou hast possessed my reins: thou hast covered me in my mother’s womb.  {14} I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made: marvellous are thy works; and that my soul knoweth right well.  {15} My substance was not hid from thee, when I was made in secret, and curiously wrought in the lowest parts of the earth.  {16} Thine eyes did see my substance, yet being unperfect; and in thy book all my members were written, which in continuance were fashioned, when as yet there was none of them.  {17} How precious also are thy thoughts unto me, O God! how great is the sum of them!  {18} If I should count them, they are more in number than the sand: when I awake, I am still with thee.  {19} Surely thou wilt slay the wicked, O God: depart from me therefore, ye bloody men.  {20} For they speak against thee wickedly, and thine enemies take thy name in vain.  {21} Do not I hate them, O LORD, that hate thee? and am not I grieved with those that rise up against thee?  {22} I hate them with perfect hatred: I count them mine enemies.  {23} Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts:  {24} And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.”

LIVING BETWEEN LOYALTY AND SUBVERSION

Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-nego lived it.

(Revelation 2:13) “I know thy works, and where thou dwellest, even where Satan’s seat is: and thou holdest fast my name, and hast not denied my faith, even in those days wherein Antipas was my faithful martyr, who was slain among you, where Satan dwelleth.”

We will see by the end of this series a clearer picture of God’s sovereignty, His love for us, how patient He is toward us, and how His plans unfold to show us those things (and more). We will be able to practically apply God-honoring, Christian living in our own symbolic Babylon.

• We have learned about the prophecy that Jeremiah delivered by reading through several chapters of the book of Jeremiah. (Part 1)
• We will read an account of exactly how Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-nego aligned themselves with the prophecy, thus leading to their salvation. (Part 2)
• We will read how Jesus taught by example the first century Israelites how to live by this way of life, realizing yet how we are all still in exile. (Part 3)
• Each week, we will discuss further how this applies to our current lives and how we should live amongst a crooked and perverse nation (Phil 2:15). 

It isn’t meant to be a promise that the LORD will save you from affliction on earth, because it isn’t about us, but about His glory.

That Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-nego didn’t even smell of smoke after coming out of the furnace was God’s choice that brought glory to Him and a recognizing by Nebuchadnezzar of God’s holiness. 

If the fact that they were spared out of the furnace were the promise to focus on, then we could argue that the reading from Revelation might be different, and Antipas would not have been martyred. So then, this is a witness to us that there is something different, deeper that we are to discern from this passage from Daniel.

God has also empowered you with the Holy Spirit to overcome any temptation to sin and has provided sufficient resources for you to respond biblically to any situation of life.

(Romans 5:3-5) “And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience;  {4} And patience, experience; and experience, hope:  {5} And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.“

(Romans 6:22-23) “But now being made free from sin, and become servants to God, ye have your fruit unto holiness, and the end everlasting life.  {23} For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.”

(1 Corinthians 10:13) “There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.”

Did you know that your flesh will work against the Spirit, that your inclination will be to make the sinful choice? It influences, but cannot force. When presented with pressure, the flesh will do all to glorify itself (or preserve itself), but unto us, we are given the strength and resources to overcome the temptation, so with the defeating of the temptation comes blessings and maturation in our walk with Christ!

(James 1:2-4) “My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations;  {3} Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience.  {4} But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.“

You are incapable in your own strength and insufficient in your own resources to overcome the wiles and temptations of Satan.

(John 15:5) “I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.”

The branch withers without the vine (root) when cut away and cast on to the ground. But the same branch, being grafted in and growing as part of the whole, within the system of the vine, will receive nourishment and growth, abundantly producing all the fruit that it is intended because it is part of the tree. 

So, do not set yourself apart from Christ.

(Proverbs 18:1) “Through desire a man, having separated himself, seeketh and intermeddleth with all wisdom.”

The phrase “I’d rather ask for forgiveness than ask for permission” is a premeditated sin that runs rampant in our culture.

(Philippians 4:13) “I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.”

This is not a passage that speaks in context to being able to perform super-human feats. It speaks specifically to Paul telling the Philippians that in any and every circumstance, he’s learned the secret to facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need.

(Philippians 4:10-13) “But I rejoiced in the Lord greatly, that now at the last your care of me hath flourished again; wherein ye were also careful, but ye lacked opportunity.  {11} Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content.  {12} I know both how to be abased, and I know how to abound: every where and in all things I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need.  {13} I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.”

For Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-nego, they lived dead to their flesh. They were able to be Revelation 12:11 sons of God.

(Revelation 12:11) “And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death.”

(Daniel 3:1-30) “Nebuchadnezzar the king made an image of gold, whose height was threescore cubits, and the breadth thereof six cubits: he set it up in the plain of Dura, in the province of Babylon.  {2} Then Nebuchadnezzar the king sent to gather together the princes, the governors, and the captains, the judges, the treasurers, the counsellors, the sheriffs, and all the rulers of the provinces, to come to the dedication of the image which Nebuchadnezzar the king had set up.  {3} Then the princes, the governors, and captains, the judges, the treasurers, the counsellors, the sheriffs, and all the rulers of the provinces, were gathered together unto the dedication of the image that Nebuchadnezzar the king had set up; and they stood before the image that Nebuchadnezzar had set up.  {4} Then an herald cried aloud, To you it is commanded, O people, nations, and languages,  {5} That at what time ye hear the sound of the cornet, flute, harp, sackbut, psaltery, dulcimer, and all kinds of musick, ye fall down and worship the golden image that Nebuchadnezzar the king hath set up:  {6} And whoso falleth not down and worshippeth shall the same hour be cast into the midst of a burning fiery furnace.  {7} Therefore at that time, when all the people heard the sound of the cornet, flute, harp, sackbut, psaltery, and all kinds of musick, all the people, the nations, and the languages, fell down and worshipped the golden image that Nebuchadnezzar the king had set up.  

{8} ¶ Wherefore at that time certain Chaldeans came near, and accused the Jews.  {9} They spake and said to the king Nebuchadnezzar, O king, live for ever.  {10} Thou, O king, hast made a decree, that every man that shall hear the sound of the cornet, flute, harp, sackbut, psaltery, and dulcimer, and all kinds of musick, shall fall down and worship the golden image:  {11} And whoso falleth not down and worshippeth, that he should be cast into the midst of a burning fiery furnace.  {12} There are certain Jews whom thou hast set over the affairs of the province of Babylon, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed–nego; these men, O king, have not regarded thee: they serve not thy gods, nor worship the golden image which thou hast set up.  

{13} ¶ Then Nebuchadnezzar in his rage and fury commanded to bring Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed–nego. Then they brought these men before the king.  {14} Nebuchadnezzar spake and said unto them, Is it true, O Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed–nego, do not ye serve my gods, nor worship the golden image which I have set up?  {15} Now if ye be ready that at what time ye hear the sound of the cornet, flute, harp, sackbut, psaltery, and dulcimer, and all kinds of musick, ye fall down and worship the image which I have made; well: but if ye worship not, ye shall be cast the same hour into the midst of a burning fiery furnace; and who is that God that shall deliver you out of my hands?  {16} Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed–nego, answered and said to the king, O Nebuchadnezzar, we are not careful to answer thee in this matter.  {17} If it be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and he will deliver us out of thine hand, O king.  {18} But if not, be it known unto thee, O king, that we will not serve thy gods, nor worship the golden image which thou hast set up.  

{19} ¶ Then was Nebuchadnezzar full of fury, and the form of his visage was changed against Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed–nego: therefore he spake, and commanded that they should heat the furnace one seven times more than it was wont to be heated.  {20} And he commanded the most mighty men that were in his army to bind Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed–nego, and to cast them into the burning fiery furnace.  {21} Then these men were bound in their coats, their hosen, and their hats, and their other garments, and were cast into the midst of the burning fiery furnace.  {22} Therefore because the king’s commandment was urgent, and the furnace exceeding hot, the flame of the fire slew those men that took up Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed–nego.  {23} And these three men, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed–nego, fell down bound into the midst of the burning fiery furnace.  {24} Then Nebuchadnezzar the king was astonied, and rose up in haste, and spake, and said unto his counsellors, Did not we cast three men bound into the midst of the fire? They answered and said unto the king, True, O king.  {25} He answered and said, Lo, I see four men loose, walking in the midst of the fire, and they have no hurt; and the form of the fourth is like the Son of God.  

{26} ¶ Then Nebuchadnezzar came near to the mouth of the burning fiery furnace, and spake, and said, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed–nego, ye servants of the most high God, come forth, and come hither. Then Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed–nego, came forth of the midst of the fire.  {27} And the princes, governors, and captains, and the king’s counsellors, being gathered together, saw these men, upon whose bodies the fire had no power, nor was an hair of their head singed, neither were their coats changed, nor the smell of fire had passed on them.  {28} Then Nebuchadnezzar spake, and said, Blessed be the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed–nego, who hath sent his angel, and delivered his servants that trusted in him, and have changed the king’s word, and yielded their bodies, that they might not serve nor worship any god, except their own God.  {29} Therefore I make a decree, That every people, nation, and language, which speak any thing amiss against the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed–nego, shall be cut in pieces, and their houses shall be made a dunghill: because there is no other God that can deliver after this sort.  {30} Then the king promoted Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed–nego, in the province of Babylon.”

So then we crucify our flesh daily so that when the temptations come, the Spirit dwelling within us moves freely to bring glory to God. 

(Romans 12:1) “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.”

(Galatians 5:24-26) “And they that are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts.  {25} If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.  {26} Let us not be desirous of vain glory, provoking one another, envying one another.”

Paul describes “crucifying the flesh” as a radical form of repentance that believers must undergo. The “flesh” that is to be crucified is the sin that exists in human nature, and the body is considered a gateway to sin.

It is important to live in line with the laws of the land that we find ourselves in, yet uncompromising in the law of the LORD. We are aliens in this place, waiting on the LORD Jesus Christ’s second coming and rule. We are to be polite guests in this place, remembering our ambassadorship in Christ Jesus, not wavering in anything.

Sermon Scriptures:

Psalms 139:1-24

Revelation 2:13

Romans 5:3-5

Romans 6:22-23

1 Corinthians 10:13

James 1:2-4

John 15:5

Proverbs 18:1

Philippians 4:13

Philippians 4:10-13

Revelation 12:11

Daniel 3:1-30

Romans 12:1

Galatians 5:24-26

Part 1: Jeremiah prophesied it. Jeremiah 24-29
Part 2: Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-nego lived it. Daniel 3-4
Part 3: Jesus died for it. Matthew 22:17-22; 27:11-14; John 18:28-20:29

• Psalm 60
  The Father chastises His children so that they might know the banner He’s given over them (written around 1000-1100 BC)

• Psalm 119:104
  Being given to understand leads to hating false ways

• Proverbs 8:13
  The fear of the LORD is to hate that which is evil

• Philippians 2:14-15
  How to live amongst a crooked and perverse nation

LIVING BETWEEN LOYALTY AND SUBVERSION

Jeremiah prophesied it.

Did you know that we are all exiled? God sending the Israelites into exile for 70 years was a typological symbol of our exile while we await our Messiah. We are not of this world (John 17:16-26). Therefore, we are not to love this world or the things therein (1 John 2:15-17). But we are called to be in the world – thus the saying is true, “be in the world, but not of the world.”

We will see by the end of this series a clearer picture of God’s sovereignty, His love for us, how patient He is toward us, and how His plans unfold to show us those things (and more). We will be able to practically apply God-honoring, Christian living in our own symbolic Babylon.

• We will learn about the prophecy that Jeremiah delivered by reading through several chapters of the book of Jeremiah. (Part 1)
• We will read an account of exactly how Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-nego aligned themselves with the prophecy, thus leading to their salvation. (Part 2)
• We will read how Jesus taught by example the first century Israelites how to live by this way of life, realizing yet how we are all still in exile. (Part 3)
• Each week, we will discuss further how this applies to our current lives and how we should live amongst a crooked and perverse nation (Phil 2:15). 

Jeremiah 24:5, 7 – God will cause the calamity, why? For the Israelites’ good, so that they will receive a heart to know God.

Jeremiah 25:9 – Nebuchadnezzar was a servant to God in that God used a pagan king to accomplish His will. Much in the same manner that He used Pharaoh to show His strength, remembering Ezekiel 18:4 – that all souls belong to God

Jeremiah 25:15-17 – We revisit the wine cup of wrath/fury sometime in the 550-600 BC timeframe

Jeremiah 26:8, 16 – It is dangerous business being a messenger of the LORD. Jeremiah is apprehended unto his death, until he is released.

Jeremiah 27:6 – It is God who gave the land to Nebuchadnezzar, and it is He who will sustain him and keep him and his rule. 

Jeremiah 27:8 – So, it would be futile to go against King Nebuchadnezzar. 

Jeremiah 28:2 – The false prophet Hananiah prophesies a lie that would lead to destruction, that these are their options: To resist and rebel to break the yoke of Nebuchadnezzar. 

Jeremiah 29:5-9 – However, these aren’t the only two options they’re faced with. Jeremiah tells them to:

• Build houses and live in them
• Plant gardens and eat their produce
• Take wives, procreate
• Give your sons and daughters in marriage,
• that they may multiply and not decrease
• Seek the welfare of the city
• Pray on its behalf to the LORD for its welfare
• Do not be deceived (Matt 24:4-5)

Two mainstream responses came out of this exile for the Israelites, based on their own understanding (Proverbs 3:5-10): Submit in whole to King Nebuchadnezzar (part and parcel, to conform – take on their Babylonian gods and culture), or resist and rebel (outwardly fight, resist and evade). Neither of those are in line with the prophecy of Jeremiah.

It is apparent to me that Paul (Romans 13:1-2) and Peter (1 Peter 2:13-14) reached back into the book of Jeremiah when they wrote to be subject (or submit) to governments. It is important to understand that there is a huge difference between the words subject and obey. 

hoop-ot-as’-so

Subject (G5293):
reflexively, put under. Literally means to arrange stuff respectfully in an “orderly manner underneath”. This simple meaning of “social orderliness” would have been understood by original readers, but it is a little obscured in our English translation.

hoop-ak-oo’-o

Obey (5219): 
to listen attentively, conform to a command or authority, be obedient to. Which literally means to conform, to follow a command, or to kowtow to an authority as a subordinate.

Craig Greenfield:

After Jesus’ death and resurrection, King Herod got super mad and arrested some of the believers, including James and Peter, and put them on public trial. The night before the trial, an angel of the Lord woke Peter up, removed his chains, opened the prison doors and led him out the main gate of the prison. Yet after escaping from jail, where he had been imprisoned for breaking the law, Peter went on to write in a letter:

“Submit yourselves for the Lord’s sake to every authority instituted among men: whether to the king, as the supreme authority, or to the governors, who are sent by him to punish those who do wrong and to commend those who do right. For it is God’s will that by doing good you should silence the ignorant talk of foolish men.”

And similarly, while Paul was in Damascus, he escaped from a strongman city governor who was trying to arrest him, by concealing himself in a wicker basket and having himself lowered down the city wall through a window. Then after reaching safety, Paul wrote a surprising letter:

“Everyone must submit himself to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities which exist have been established by God. Consequently, he who rebels against the authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and those who do so will bring judgment on themselves.”

So are Peter and Paul hypocrites, asking Christians to do as they say, but not as they do?

Used twenty-one times in the New Testament, hoop-ak-oo’-o always suggests a hierarchical context, as in the relationship between children or slaves and their parents or masters (Ephesians 6:1, 5), and neither Peter nor Paul chose to use that Greek word for obedient but instead used the Greek word hoop-ot-as’-so,meaning submit/subject. The subtle nuance between the two is that in response to commands as opposed to blind obedience to ungodly living.

It is important to live in line with the laws of the land that we find ourselves in, yet uncompromising in the law of the LORD. The idea of Christian Nationalism is not biblical; we are aliens in this place, awaiting on the LORD Jesus Christ’s second coming and rule. We are to be polite guests in this place, remembering our ambassadorship in Christ Jesus.

Sermon Scriptures:

Jeremiah 24-29

Psalm 60

Psalm 119:104

Proverbs 8:13

Philippians 2:14-15

John 17:16-26

1 John 2:15-17

Romans 13:1-2

1 Peter 2:13-14

Ephesians 6:1, 5

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