Sunday, March 18, 2018

Third Sunday Meditation: Instructions For 21st Century Bereans




"As soon as it was night, the brethren sent Paul
and Silas to Berea. Upon arrival, they made their way to
the Jewish synagogue. Now these were more noble-minded
than those in Thessalonica, because they received the message
with goodwill, searching the Scriptures each day to see
whether these things were true. Therefore, many of
them believed, as well as quite a few prominent
Greek men and women."
Acts 17:10-12







AN EXCERPT FROM PAUL'S FIRST LETTER
TO TIMOTHY

CHAPTER FOUR



But the Holy Spirit distinctly and expressly declares
that in the latter times some will turn away from the faith,
giving attention to deluding and seducing spirits
and the doctrines that demons teach.

Through the hypocrisy and pretensions of liars whose
consciences are seared.

Who forbid people to marry and teach them to abstain
from certain kinds of food which God created to be received
with thanksgiving by those who believe and have an
increasingly clear knowledge of the truth.

For everything God has created is good, and nothing is
to be thrown away or refused if it is received with thanksgiving.

For it is hallowed and consecrated by the Word of God and by prayer.

If you lay all these instructions before the brethren, you will be a
worthy steward and a good minister of Christ Jesus, ever nourishing
your own self on the truths of the faith and of the good 
(Christian) instruction which you have closely followed.

But refuse and avoid irreverent legends (profane and impure and
godless fictions, mere grandmothers' tales) and silly myths, and express
your disapproval of them. Train yourself toward godliness, (piety),
keeping yourself spiritually fit.

For physical training is of some value (useful for a little), but
godliness (spiritual training) is useful and of value in everything 
and in every way, for it holds promise for the present life
and also for the life which is to come.

This saying is reliable and worthy of complete acceptance by everybody.

With a view to this we toil and strive, yes, and suffer reproach,
because we have fixed our hope on the living God, Who is the Savior,
Preserver, Maintainer, and Deliverer of all people, especially
those who believe, trust in, rely on, and adhere to Him.

Continue to command these things and to teach them.

Let no one despise or think less of you because of your youth,
but be an example for the believers in speech, in conduct, in love,
in faith, and in purity.

Till I come, devote yourself to public and private reading, 
to exhortation, preaching and personal appeals, and to teaching
and instilling doctrine.

Do not neglect the gift which is in you, that special inward 
endowment which was directly imparted to you by the Holy Spirit
by prophetic utterance when the elders laid their hands upon you
at your ordination.

Practice and cultivate and meditate upon these duties;
throw yourself wholly into them as your ministry, so that your
progress may be evident to everybody.

Look well to yourself, to your own personality, and to your
teaching; persevere in these things, hold to them, for by so doing
you will save both yourself and those who hear you."




Part One





 Part Two




"So faith comes by hearing what is told, and what
is heard comes by the preaching of the message that
came from the lips of Christ the Messiah Himself."
Romans 10:17





"True and False Christs"
Derek Vaughan Prince
(1915-2003)










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