Smyrna: The (Persecuted) Suffering Church

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Smyrna
The (Persecuted) Suffering Church

Revelation 2:8-11

And unto the angel of the church in Smyrna write; These things saith the First and the Last, Which was dead, and is alive; I know thy works, and tribulation, and poverty, (but thou art rich) and I know the blasphemy of them which say they are Jews, and are not, but are the synagogue of Satan. Fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer: behold, the devil shall cast some of you into prison, that ye may be tried; and ye shall have tribulation ten days: be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life. He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; He that overcometh shall not be hurt of the second death.

The messages to the churches have a threefold meaning:

Firstly, each letter has a primary association, having a local and direct bearing upon the church to which it was written. Each letter was a measuring rod by which each church could know its standing in the sight of the risen Lord.

Secondly, each letter has a personal application. Even though Christ addresses each church as a whole, the message to overcome is addressed to the individual.

Thirdly, each church individually, and the seven churches combined, set forth prophetic anticipation. We see in them seven eras of the life of the church on earth. Seven in the Bible is the number of perfection, completion, fullness. In these letters we have a prophetic picture of the church's complete history on earth.

Each of the seven letters follows the same general format:
1) Name (of the church that particular letter is addressed to).
2) Its Description of Christ.
3) Commendation: What that church is praised for.
4) Warning: What that church is rebuked for.
5) Promise.
6) To The Overcomers.
7) Prophetic Application (As revealed in church history, found throughout the letter.)

Name: Smyrna - meaning "myrrh" from root meaning "bitter." Myrrh is a tree resin with a bitter taste that was crushed and used in perfume, in incense, and as a preservative in burial. It is a symbol of death. It is interesting to note that it was one of the three gifts brought to Jesus by the Wise Men. (See Matthew 2:11) All three gifts pictured something about the Messiah, Jesus Christ, and His mission. The gold symbolized His deity and His kingship; the frankincense symbolized His priesthood and His offering of Himself for our sins, which was a sweetsmelling savour to our Heavenly Father (Ephesians 5:2); and the myrrh symbolized His suffering and death on the cross.

Description: The first and the last, which was dead, and is alive.

The first and the last. The Lord Jesus Christ was the one who had the preeminent place in these believers' lives. Colossians 1:15 and 18 say, Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature: And He is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things He might have the preeminence. Preeminence means "first in rank or influence." The church in Smyrna was able to overcome because Jesus Christ had the first place in each of their lives. Does He have first place in yours? Does Jesus have first place in every area of your life, or just the parts that you've decided to give Him, the leftovers so to speak? The word firstborn is the Greek word prototokos. Protos means "foremost (in time, place, order, or importance)." These verses in Colossians teach us that Jesus is the most important person in all creation, greater than every creature He ever created. He is the most important person that ever rose from the dead. Is Jesus Christ the foremost person in your life? Does He have the priority when it comes to your schedule? Does He have first place in your day to day life? Does He come first before your family and friends, before your dreams and goals? Is Jesus the most important person in your life? If you are saved, He should be!

Matthew 6:33 says, But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and His righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you. Do you give the Lord the first part of your day in prayer and Bible reading? Do you give Him the first day of your week by attending a solid, Bible-believing church? Do you give Him your firstfruits? This is an Old Testament word that referred to the tithe (10% of your gross income), which were the first fruits gathered when the harvest began to come in. (See Proverbs 3:9-10) He wants all these, but He especially wants the priority, the first place in your life. He wants to be your first love. (See Revelation 2:4) Is He?

"Let me shoot a quiver full of interrogatory arrows into your heart. Has Jesus the supreme place in your desires? Do you esteem all things but loss in comparison with the excellency of Jesus Christ, your Lord? Is He to you as a city of refuge to the manslayer? Is He to you as a spring of water in a dry place? Is He to you as the shadow of a great rock in a weary land? Is He to you, having had experience with Him, a refuge and fortress, a very present help in time of trouble? Is everything in Jesus desirable in your eyes? Do you desire to obey His commandments? Do you desire to have His spirit? Are His holiness and government, His cross and sufferings desirable to you? Are you longing at all times for Him? Have your eyes been opened to see His "want and worth?" Is His righteousness the righteousness you desire? Do you want to do His will - no matter what it may be? Are you willing for Him to dictate wholly your plans, actions, and speech? Is He really your Lord?" (James Crumpton, The Seven Sayings On The Cross)

Jesus was also the author and finisher of their faith. They endured the trials they were facing by keeping their focus on Christ and what He endured to save them. Hebrews 12:1-2 says, Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God. The word author is from a Greek word (Strong's #747) meaning "chief leader; also rendered captain, prince." In other words, He was the leader of their salvation, the pioneer who blazed the trail they were to follow. (See also Hebrews 5:8-9, though the word here for author is #154, meaning "causer, ie. He that causes; the agent by which an effect is produced," in this case our salvation.) The word finisher (Strong's #5051) means "completer, consummater." Jesus not only was the focus of their salvation, He was the only person who could bring their faith to completion. He will do that for every one who believes in Him. Hebrews 7:25 Wherefore He is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by Him, seeing He ever liveth to make intercession for them. Philippians 1:6 Being confident of this very thing, that He which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ.

Which was dead, and is alive. Here Jesus is identifying with the church in Smyrna, by stating that He has already gone through what they are about to face, in this case, death. (See Hebrews 2:9) The fact that He has risen again is proof that those who believe in Him need not fear death, because on some future day they too will also be resurrected. (See John 11:25) John 14:19 says, Yet a little while, and the world seeth Me no more; but ye see Me: because I live, ye shall live also. 1 Corinthians 15:20 states, But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the firstfruits of them that slept. While there were other believers that God had raised throughout the Old Testament and during Jesus' personal ministry, Jesus was the first person to ever be raised immortal, never more to die. This He did by His own power! Death could not hold Him in the grave because He was God Almighty manifested in the flesh! (See Acts 2:23-24) Just as the firstfruits of the crop indicated that there was a full harvest yet to come, even so Jesus was the firstfruits from the dead, indicating that all who truly believed on Him for salvation would one day rise from the dead as well! For the believer, death is referred to as a sleep, a brief transition that carries us into the presence of the Lord. (See Philippians 1:21-23 and 2 Corinthians 5:6-8)

Romans 5:10 states, For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of His Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by His life. This is referring to Jesus' resurrected life in Heaven. Yes, He died on the cross for our sins, was buried in the tomb for three days, but He arose triumphantly from the grave and is alive forevermore! Praise the Lord! Jesus is now glorified in Heaven with the glory He had before His incarnation. One day, when He returns in His glory, all true believers will be made like Him. We will then have immortal, glorified bodies for all eternity. (See Romans 8:29-30; 1 John 3:2; and Philippians 3:20-21)

He is our faithful High Priest who can sympathize with our weaknesses and afflictions because He has gone through anything we could or will ever have to face in this life.

Hebrews 2:14-18 Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, He also Himself likewise took part of the same; that through death He might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil; And deliver them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage. For verily He took not on Him the nature of angels; but He took on Him the seed of Abraham. Wherefore in all things it behoved Him to be made like unto His brethren, that He might be a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make reconciliation for the sins of the people. For in that He Himself hath suffered being tempted, He is able to succour them that are tempted.

Hebrews 4:14-16 Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession. For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.

The words succour and help from the above passages are from two Greek words (Strong's #s 996 and 997) meaning literally "to run to the cry." Whatever trials or afflictions you are going through in life, call out to Jesus in faith for help, and the Bible teaches He will run to your cry. That's comforting! I don't have to face any trial alone. Jesus can be touched with the feeling of our infirmities. This phrase is from the word sumpatheo, where we get the word sympathy from. He will have compassion on us, so let us run to Him in all our afflictions.

Commendation: I know thy works, and tribulation, and poverty, (but thou art rich). Suffering purifies the church. Even in the midst of their trials, persecutions, and poverty these Christians in Smyrna faithfully served the Lord. It is so sad today that many of us in our ease and prosperity will not do so! As the prophet Amos said, Woe to them that are at ease in Zion! (See Amos 6:1) Are we at ease in our churches today, comfortably warming our pews in God's House, but refusing to work in the Lord's field? It is interesting to note that, out of these seven churches in Revelation 2-3, except for the churches in Sardis and Laodicea, all the other churches were commended for their works. Jesus knows what service we have done in His name, and will remember it. (See Hebrews 6:10-11)

I know thy ...tribulation. Jesus here commends the godly believers at Smyrna for patiently enduring trials and afflictions for His name's sake. 2 Timothy 3:12 Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution. Being faithful does bring some persecution from the lost world and from carnal believers, but it also brings rewards and the blessings of the Lord upon our lives. Jesus knows all about our troubles, and He is right there with us as we go through them! All the trials in believers' lives are there to purify them, and to conform them to the image of Christ. (See Romans 8:28-29) God is working out all things to that end, and He will perfect the work that He has started in us; therefore we can fully trust Him and commit ourselves into His hands. Jesus knows what suffering we have endured in His name, and will reward it. (See 1 Peter 4:12-19 and Matthew 5:10-12)

Revelation 1:9 I John, who also am your brother, and companion in tribulation, and in the kingdom and patience of Jesus Christ, was in the isle that is called Patmos, for the word of God, and for the testimony of Jesus Christ.

John 16:33 These things I have spoken unto you, that in Me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.

Acts 14:22 Confirming the souls of the disciples, and exhorting them to continue in the faith, and that we must through much tribulation enter into the kingdom of God.

Romans 8:35, 37-39 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him that loved us. For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Romans 12:12 Rejoicing in hope; patient in tribulation; continuing instant in prayer; (See also Romans 5:3-5)

I know thy ...poverty, (but thou art rich). Jesus, the Son of God, left the splendour of Heaven's glory, humbled Himself and became a man so He could die for our sins. (See Philippians 2:6-8) He took on our weaknesses, and was in all points tempted as we are, yet He never sinned. (Hebrews 4:15) 2 Corinthians 8:9 For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though He was rich, yet for your sakes He became poor, that ye through His poverty might be rich. Though these believers in Smyrna were physically poor, they were spiritually rich in God's sight. They were rich through placing their faith in the finished work of the Lord Jesus Christ on Calvary; rich through laying up treasures in Heaven; and rich through their good works to others. (See Revelation 3:18; Matthew 6:20-21; 2 Corinthians 6:10; 8:2; Philippians 4:19; 1 Timothy 6:18) Jesus knows what we've relinquished and sacrificed in His name, and He will repay it. (See Mark 10:28-30)

"But thou art rich (v. 9), poor in temporals, but rich in spirituals - poor in spirit, and yet rich in grace. Their spiritual riches are set off by their outward poverty. Many who are rich in temporals are poor in spirituals. Thus it was with the church of Laodicea. Some who are poor outwardly are inwardly rich, rich in faith and in good works, rich in privileges, rich in bonds and deeds of gift, rich in hope, rich in reversion. Spiritual riches are usually the reward of great diligence; the diligent hand makes rich. Where there is spiritual plenty, outward poverty may be better borne; and when God's people are impoverished in temporals, for the sake of Christ and a good conscience, he makes all up to them in spiritual riches, which are much more satisfying and enduring." - Matthew Henry.

I know the blasphemy of them which say they are Jews, and are not, but are the synagogue of Satan. Many Israelites in the first century prided themselves on being Jews, the children of Abraham. While it was true of them physically, the Bible teaches that in the Lord's eyes it was more important to be one spiritually! Any Jews that rejected the Messiah had no special favour with God. (See Luke 3:8) It is interesting that the word Jew comes from a root word meaning "praise." But look at what the Lord states in Romans 2:28-29, For he is not a Jew, which is one outwardly; neither is that circumcision, which is outward in the flesh: But he is a Jew, which is one inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart, in the spirit, and not in the letter; whose praise is not of men, but of God. Galatians 3:26, 29 For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus. And if ye be Christ's, then are ye Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise.

The devil, and those who say they are Jews and are not, cast some of these believers into prison by falsely accusing them before the Emperors. To take the heat off of themselves during the ten persecutions (see below), these unsaved Jews betrayed the Christians and turned them over to those who wanted to kill them. These particular Jews proved they were not the people of God by killing and betraying those who truly were. The word Satan means adversary, enemy, and truly they were the synagogue of Satan! Satan, otherwise known as the Devil, is known as the accuser of the brethren (Revelation 12:10), and these blasphemous Jews followed in his traitorous footsteps. It is believed that both the Apostles Peter and Paul were executed under the persecution by Nero, and the Apostle John was banished to the isle of Patmos during the reign of Domitian. But it wasn't the Lord's will that John be executed; the Lord still had some work for him to do. The keys of hell and of death were in Jesus' hands, and no one could kill one of His servants unless the Lord Himself willed it! (Rev. 1:18; John 19:10-11) John was inspired by the Holy Spirit to write the book of Revelation during his banishment.

Warning: This letter to the believers in Smyrna contains not one word of rebuke in it, though they were exhorted to keep being faithful and to keep their eyes on Jesus Christ.

Promise: Fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer: behold, the devil shall cast some of you into prison, that ye may be tried; and ye shall have tribulation ten days: be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life.

Polycarp was a personal disciple of the Apostle John. As an old man, he was the bishop of the Church at Smyrna in Asia Minor (present-day Turkey). Persecution against the Christians broke out there and believers were being fed to the wild beasts in the arena. Polycarp was brought before the proconsul. Then, the proconsul urging him, and saying, "Swear, and I will set thee at liberty, reproach Christ;" Polycarp declared, "Eighty and six years have I served Him, and He never did me any injury: how then can I blaspheme my King and my Savior?" After repeated threatenings, in which Polycarp sought to witness to the proconsul, the proconsul said to him, "I will cause thee to be consumed by fire, seeing thou despisest the wild beasts, if thou wilt not repent." But Polycarp said, "Thou threatenest me with fire which burneth for an hour, and after a little is extinguished, but art ignorant of the fire of the coming judgment and of eternal punishment, reserved for the ungodly. But why tarriest thou? Bring forth what thou wilt." Polycarp was tied to the stake, but their efforts to burn him to death failed. Instead they chose to stab him and then burn his body. Truly, he was an example of a martyr who was faithful unto death, and I have no doubt there was a crown of life awaiting him in Heaven! (Quotes in italics taken from The Anti-Nicene Fathers, Volume 1, pages 83, 84)

that ye may be tried; and ye shall have tribulation ten days. Every trial that the Lord allows or brings into our lives is for a purpose: to try us, prove us, purge and refine us. (See Malachi 3:3) Just as the specific trial the believers in Smyrna faced was only for ten days, even so all the trials and afflictions that we face will be only for a season. (See Ecclesiastes 3:1; James 1:2-4; 1 Peter 1:6-8) The refiner uses the furnace to heat up the ore and remove all the dross and impurities, and then he removes the precious metal from the heat so it will not be damaged. Likewise, the Heavenly Refiner uses the furnace of affliction to try us and remove our impurities, then when the fiery trial has achieved it's purpose in His precious child's life, He will remove it from us. We can trust that our Heavenly Father does in fact know what He is doing, that He will perfect the work that He has started in us, and that we are safe in His hands. (See Psalm 138:8; Philippians 1:6; 2 Timothy 1:12; Psalm 31:15)

be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life. There are five crowns that are given as rewards to the faithful Christian. The word for crown in all of the following passages is stephanos, which is the victor's crown.

1. The Incorruptible Crown - 1 Corinthians 9:25 And every man that striveth for the mastery is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a corruptible crown; but we an incorruptible. This crown is promised to those Christians who keep themselves in subjection and are temperate (self-controlled), and do not let the flesh dominate in their spiritual walk.

2. The Crown Of Rejoicing - 1 Thessalonians 2:19 For what is our hope, or joy, or crown of rejoicing? Are not even ye in the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ at His coming? This crown will actually be those believers we have had a part in leading to the Lord and will one day spend eternity with in Heaven. (See also Philippians 4:1) No wonder it is called a crown of rejoicing!

3. The Crown Of Righteousness - 2 Timothy 4:8 Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love His appearing. This crown is the reward for those who faithfully yearn and look for the Lord's appearing. (See also Titus 2:13)

4. The Crown Of Life - James 1:12 Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love Him. This crown is promised to those who endure temptation or are faithful unto death. The word for life in this passage and Revelation 2:10 means "spiritual life." This crown is also referred to in Revelation 3:11.

5. The Crown Of Glory - 1 Peter 5:4 And when the chief Shepherd shall appear, ye shall receive a crown of glory that fadeth not away. This crown is the one that is promised to faithful Pastors (elders).

To The Overcomer: He that overcometh shall not be hurt of the second death. The first death is physical - the separation of the spirit and soul from the body. This is an appointment all will face, except for those believers who are still alive when Jesus Christ returns for His bride (the church) at the rapture. (See James 2:26) The second death is spiritual - eternity in the Lake of Fire, which all those who reject Christ as their personal Saviour will dwell. This is the separation from the presence of God forever. (See Revelation 20:11-15; 21:8; 2 Thessalonians 1:8-9) The true believer, who has overcome by his faith in the Lord Jesus Christ and His free gift of salvation, will never face this second death (No Never!), but will dwell with the Lord forever in Heaven. (See 1 John 5:4-5)

Prophetic Application: This period of church history corresponds from the first to the third centuries. (Approximately 100-312 A.D.) The ten days refer to the ten persecutions of the Christians by the Roman Emperors. (Though two of the persecutions were in the first century. There is some overlap on these periods.)

Martyr's Mirror (by Thielman J. Van Braght) lists these Roman Emperor's names and the approximate dates for the beginning of each of these ten periods of persecution: (See also John Gill's Exposition Of The Whole Bible, Foxe's Book Of Martyrs, Halley's Bible Handbook.)

Nero (66 A.D.)
Domitian (93 A.D.)
Trajan (102 A.D.)
Marcus Aurelius Antoninus and Lucius Verus (166 A.D.)
Septimus Severus (201 A.D.)
Maximin (237 A.D.)
Decius (251 A.D.)
Valerian (259 A.D.)
Aurelian (273 A.D.)
Diocletian (302 A.D.)

I know the blasphemy of them which say they are Jews, and are not, but are the synagogue of Satan. There is also a secondary application to this phrase which I believe is very important to Christians today. "... the strong intellectual temptation of Greek philosophy began its subtle encroachment with the apex of Judaic defection realized under the Jewish scholar, Philo (B.C. 20-A.D. 50) [in Alexandria, Egypt]. With a ministry that spanned both Testaments, this 'renegade son of Abraham' established a theological school to promote the merger of Old Testament Judaism with Greek philosophy." In a city that housed a library that was famous for its 700,000 scrolls, we can see that intellectualism was more important to the apostate Jews of this city than true Biblical spirituality. (2 Timothy 3:7 Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.) (Quote by William Grady, Final Authority, pg.74)

The first "Christian" headmaster of this school was Pantaenus (about 150 A.D.). This school is where many Jews who were dispersed to Africa studied theology; however, Pantaenus mixed his brand of Christianity and Bible doctrine with pagan philosophy; therefore these professing Jews were in fact apostates - much like many of the Jews during the time of the Maccabees. (Note: I am not recommending the first two books of Maccabees - which is part of the Apocrypha, but many do believe that though those specific books are not inspired Scripture, the basic history they portray is true.) This school was continued by Clement of Alexandria (about 190-202 A.D.), and later brought into prominence by Origen, their most famous student. Origen, among his many false doctrines, denied the inspiration of the Scriptures, was responsible for the corruption of Biblical texts (specifically in the Alexandrian stream of texts), and allegorized/spiritualized the Bible. He has been referred to by some as the father of textual criticism, and we can see by his many changes and editing of the Biblical texts that he was the one to lay the foundation for modern Bible versions. It is also believed that before the time of Christ, the Greek Septuagint only contained the books of Moses - until Origen took and translated the rest of the Hebrew Old Testament into Greek, according to his fanciful suppositions. "From this account we may at least derive as historical these facts: that the Pentateuch - for to it only the testimony refers - was translated into Greek, at the suggestion of Demetrius Phalareus, in the reign and under the patronage - if not by direction - of Ptolemy II. (Philadelphus)." (Alfred Edersheim, The Life And Times Of Jesus The Messiah, Volume 1 Page 24) In other words, this corrupt text that modern version editors and translators like to use and justify their corrections with was in fact not written until several hundred years after Christ. It is not reliable at all.

The Emperor Constantine commissioned Eusebius (who lived 270-340 A.D.), a church historian and follower of Origen, to make a Greek Bible for his realm - this Bible, of which 50 copies were made, was taken from Origen's text. Many believe that the Sinaiticus and the Vaticanus are two of the surviving copies of this Bible, and these two corrupt manuscripts are the primary sources that Westcott and Hort and other modern textual critics used to translate their modern Bible versions from. (More about these two supposedly "oldest and best" manuscripts in David Cloud's study: The Right Bible.) Jerome also used this Origen/Eusebius text to produce his Catholic Latin Vulgate. It is therefore not too difficult to see where this stream of texts has obtained its pollution, and how this corrupt stream has come down to us today.

Instead of reading the modern Bible versions, put together by those apostates who say they are Christians but are not, cling to the English Bible that has stood the test of time - the King James Bible!

He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.

The Holy Spirit is still speaking to the churches today - are you listening?

August 31st, 2004
Jerry Bouey

The Seven Churches of Revelation 2-3 (older version of these studies):

Revelation Chapter One - An Overview
Ephesus: The Backslidden (Loveless) Church
Smyrna: The (Persecuted) Suffering Church
Laodicea: The Lukewarm Church

The Rock Of Horeb

The Rock Of Horeb

Water Out Of The Rock - Living Water

Exodus 17:1-6 And all the congregation of the children of Israel journeyed from the wilderness of Sin, after their journeys, according to the commandment of the LORD, and pitched in Rephidim: and there was no water for the people to drink. Wherefore the people did chide with Moses, and said, Give us water that we may drink. And Moses said unto them, Why chide ye with me? wherefore do ye tempt the LORD? And the people thirsted there for water; and the people murmured against Moses, and said, Wherefore is this that thou hast brought us up out of Egypt, to kill us and our children and our cattle with thirst? And Moses cried unto the LORD, saying, What shall I do unto this people? they be almost ready to stone me. And the LORD said unto Moses, Go on before the people, and take with thee of the elders of Israel; and thy rod, wherewith thou smotest the river, take in thine hand, and go. Behold, I will stand before thee there upon the rock in Horeb; and thou shalt smite the rock, and there shall come water out of it, that the people may drink. And Moses did so in the sight of the elders of Israel.

As the nation of Israel wandered through the wilderness, they became parched, thirsty, desperate for water, but there was no water to be found for the people to drink. They came to the rock in Horeb, which means "desolate" from a root word meaning "to parch (through drought)". Truly, it was an arid, hot, barren land that they wandered in! They began to complain and argue with the man of God, Moses. He, in turn, cried unto the Lord, and the Lord responded with a beautiful picture of the salvation found in Jesus Christ - water from the Rock. What did all this mean?

Moses was commanded to smite the rock of Horeb with his rod and the water would flow forth. He promptly did so in the sight of the people, and there was enough water to quench the thirst of all the nation of Israel.

In the New Testament, we learn that the Rock represented Jesus Christ in 1 Corinthians 10:4. And did all drink the same spiritual drink: for they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them: and that Rock was Christ. Drinking the living water from the Rock pictured salvation.

What had to happen first before the living water could flow forth from the Rock and the people could partake of it? It needed to be smitten! This word means to "strike severely," and is also translated in other passages as "kill, slay, slaughter." (You will understand in a moment why I am emphasizing the definition of this word!) What had to happen before Jesus could freely offer the gift of eternal salvation found only in Him? He needed to die for our sins - He needed to be smitten on the cruel cross of Calvary! Isaiah 53:4-6 Surely He hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem Him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted. But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon Him; and with His stripes we are healed. All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD hath laid on Him the iniquity of us all.

He was sacrificed once for all! His sacrifice paid the complete price for our salvation, and now His gift of salvation is freely offered to all who will receive it by faith. Revelation 22:17 And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely.

John 4:14 But whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life.

John 6:35 And Jesus said unto them, I am the bread of life: he that cometh to Me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on Me shall never thirst.

Have you come to Jesus Christ for salvation? Have you turned from your sins and accepted His free gift of eternal life believing that He died on the cross for your sins, was buried, and three days later physically arose from the grave? Have you tasted of the Living Water? If you come to Him, Jesus will fill the aching void - the emptiness - you have inside. You need never thirst again! Come to Jesus today.

We have another incident recorded in Scripture where water was to flow forth from a rock. But this situation is a little different than the first. Here Moses is only commanded to speak to the rock:

Numbers 20:2, 7-12 And there was no water for the congregation: and they gathered themselves together against Moses and against Aaron. And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, Take the rod, and gather thou the assembly together, thou, and Aaron thy brother, and speak ye unto the rock before their eyes; and it shall give forth his water, and thou shalt bring forth to them water out of the rock: so thou shalt give the congregation and their beasts drink. And Moses took the rod from before the LORD, as He commanded him. And Moses and Aaron gathered the congregation together before the rock, and he said unto them, Hear now, ye rebels; must we fetch you water out of this rock? And Moses lifted up his hand, and with his rod he smote the rock twice: and the water came out abundantly, and the congregation drank, and their beasts also. And the LORD spake unto Moses and Aaron, Because ye believed Me not, to sanctify Me in the eyes of the children of Israel, therefore ye shall not bring this congregation into the land which I have given them.

In both of these situations, the Lord was attempting to teach the Israelites something about the coming Messiah. Moses obeyed the Lord's command in the first case, and clearly brought across the picture that the Lord wanted to give. The second time he disobeyed, with tragic consequences - being barred from entering the Promised Land. What was the type being illustrated, and why were the consequences so serious?

Where did Moses go wrong the second time? This time he was commanded to only speak to the rock, and the rock would bring forth water. Instead, he disobeyed and struck the rock. Why just speak to the Rock this time? Because it had already been smitten! Jesus has already died for our sins - once for all - and He doesn't need to be offered again and again! The New Testament, especially the book of Hebrews, makes this fact so plain to all who will see.

Hebrews 7:27; 9:12, 26-28; 10:10, 12, 14 Who needeth not daily, as those high priests, to offer up sacrifice, first for His own sins, and then for the people's: for this He did once, when He offered up Himself. Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by His own blood He entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us. For then must He often have suffered since the foundation of the world: but now once in the end of the world hath He appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of Himself. And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment: So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for Him shall He appear the second time without sin unto salvation. By the which will we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all. But this Man, after He had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever, sat down on the right hand of God; For by one offering He hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified.

Jesus Himself said in John 19:30 It is finished. The salvation He offers is full and complete! You cannot add to or take away from His finished work upon the cross!

The second time, the water flowed forth from the rock abundantly. Now, to receive the blessings of salvation and to drink of the abundant life in Jesus Christ, the Rock, we only need to speak to Him in faith (call on His name, cry out in prayer); we don't need Him to be sacrificed for us again. He already paid the full price for our redemption! This was the beautiful picture that Moses had marred. No wonder the terrible consequences! The Lord wanted to emphasize that salvation (and the Bible's pictures of it) was a serious matter.

Romans 10:13 For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.

Have you called upon the Lord for salvation? Have you received Jesus' gift of eternal life by believing that He paid the complete penalty for your sin and trusting Him to save you? If not, please come to the Saviour today. The Living Water is available for whosoever will come.

Springs Of Living Water
(John W. Peterson)

I thirsted in the barren land of sin and shame,
And nothing satisfying there I found;
But to the blessed cross of Christ one day I came,
Where springs of living water did abound.

Chorus:
Drinking at the springs of living water,
Happy now am I, my soul they satisfy.
Drinking at the springs of living water,
O wonderful and bountiful supply.

How sweet the living water from the hills of God!
It makes me glad and happy all the way.
Now glory, grace, and blessing mark the path I've trod
I'm shouting "Hallelujah" every day.

0 sinner, won't you come today to Calvary?
A fountain there is flowing deep and wide.
The Saviour now invites you to the water free,
Where thirsting spirits can be satisfied.

The Cleft Of The Rock

Exodus 33:18-23 And he (Moses) said, I beseech Thee, shew me Thy glory. And He (the LORD) said, I will make all My goodness pass before thee, and I will proclaim the name of the LORD before thee; and will be gracious to whom I will be gracious, and will shew mercy on whom I will shew mercy. And He said, Thou canst not see My face: for there shall no man see Me, and live. And the LORD said, Behold, there is a place by Me, and thou shalt stand upon a rock: And it shall come to pass, while My glory passeth by, that I will put thee in a clift of the rock, and will cover thee with My hand while I pass by: And I will take away Mine hand, and thou shalt see My back parts: but My face shall not be seen.

Moses asked to see the glory of the Lord. The Lord agreed to give him his request, but he first needed to be hid in the cleft of the rock. Hidden within this cleft, he would then be able to see the glory of the Lord.

A careful studying of this and related passages reveals that this is the same Rock, which is Christ. The Bible teaches that God is a Spirit and that no man can see the Father at any time. It is only in Jesus Christ that we can see God, because He is in fact God manifested in the flesh.

Hebrews 1:1-3 God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets, Hath in these last days spoken unto us by His Son, whom He hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also He made the worlds; Who being the brightness of His glory, and the express image of His person, and upholding all things by the word of His power, when He had by Himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high;

The fullness of the Godhead dwells bodily in Him. (See Colossians 2:9) Jesus said in John 14:9 He that hath seen Me hath seen the Father.

If you want to know God the Father, you must come to Him through Jesus Christ, the Son of God. John 14:6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by Me. In order to see the Lord's glory, we must first be hid in Christ. There is no other way. When we come to Jesus for salvation, we are then placed in Christ forever, and no one (not even ourselves) can separate us from His love.

2 Corinthians 4:6 For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.

Some of our most loved hymns are based on Exodus 33:22, including the two wonderful ones I quote below:

He Hideth My Soul
(Fanny Crosby)

A wonderful Savior is Jesus my Lord,
A wonderful Savior to me;
He hideth my soul in the cleft of the rock,
Where rivers of pleasure I see.

Chorus:
He hideth my soul in the cleft of the rock
That shadows a dry, thirsty land;
He hideth my life with the depths of His love,
And covers me there with His hand,
And covers me there with His hand.

A wonderful Savior is Jesus my Lord,
He taketh my burden away;
He holdeth me up, and I shall not be moved,
He giveth me strength as my day.

With numberless blessings each moment He crowns,
And filled with His fullness divine,
I sing in my rapture, oh, glory to God
For such a Redeemer as mine!

When clothed in His brightness, transported I rise
To meet Him in clouds of the sky,
His perfect salvation, His wonderful love
I'll shout with the millions on high.

Rock Of Ages
(Augustus Toplady)

Rock of Ages, cleft for me,
Let me hide myself in Thee;
Let the water and the blood,
From Thy riven side which flowed,
Be of sin the double cure;
Save me from its guilt and power.

Not the labor of my hands
Can fulfill Thy law's demands;
Could my zeal no respite know,
Could my tears forever flow,
All for sin could not atone;
Thou must save, and Thou alone.

Nothing in my hand I bring,
Simply to the cross I cling;
Naked, come to Thee for dress;
Helpless, look to Thee for grace;
Foul, I to the fountain fly,
Wash me, Savior, or I die.

While I draw this fleeting breath,
When mine eyes shall close in death,
When I soar to worlds unknown,
See Thee on Thy judgment throne,
Rock of Ages, cleft for me,
Let me hide myself in Thee.

Are you trusting in Jesus' payment for your sin? The moment you turn to Him for salvation, the Father hides you in Christ, the Rock.

Are you hidden in the cleft of the Rock?

For those who are interested in a little more in-depth study on Mount Horeb, read Exodus 3, about Moses' call to service and the burning bush where the Angel of the Lord revealed Himself. (See especially verses 1 and 12) Also read 1 Kings 19, about the account of Elijah's flight from Jezebel. The mountain that he fled to was Horeb. (See verse 8)

Written February 4th, 2003
By Jerry Bouey

Tongues: To Speak Or Not To Speak by Dennis Corle

 

TONGUES
TO SPEAK OR NOT TO SPEAK

Study By Dennis A. Corle

There are, it may be, so many kinds of voices in the world,
and none of them is without signification.
Therefore if I know not the meaning of the voice,
I shall be unto him that speaketh a barbarian,
and he that speaketh shall be a barbarian unto me.
(1 Corinthians 14:10-11).

In chapter fourteen of 1 Corinthians, the term tongues appears fifteen times. We have been programmed and conditioned to assume that this term refers to ecstatic utterances such as those associated with the Charismatic confusion of today. This is a passage of Scripture that is so misunderstood and misused by today's Charismatic movement. Tongues in the New Testament were never ecstatic utterances, nor were they always miraculous, as was true on the day of Pentecost. In most instances the term tongues is used in the same way that we use the term languages. This was a very relevant subject in New Testament times, and especially at this particular church to whom the letter was written.

Corinth was a major trade center which meant there was a constant flow of believers from other countries passing through. Many of these visitors did not speak or understand the native dialect of Corinth, yet they would be invited to speak or pray, even without an interpreter, without regard to the fact that no one was able to understand. This caused great confusion in the church services.

By the same token, some of the believers at Corinth were bilingual or multi-lingual, especially those who were well educated. The gift of tongues, or the ability to speak and understand multiple languages was considered (and is) a special gift. Those who had this ability were set up on a pedestal and admired as great spiritual leaders. Many people in our churches today are considered spiritual super-heroes because they are gifted in music or some other area, even though they may be very carnal and unspiritual people. These carnal church members took advantage of every opportunity to demonstrate their gift and speak in tongues even though it was sometimes unnecessary and chaotic to the services. The entire epistle of 1 Corinthians was a rebuke for carnality and sin, and this chapter dealt with their abuse of tongues and disorderly conduct in the church.

There are several other key words in this chapter that are important in understanding it. Prophesying is mentioned ten times. Edify is mentioned no less than seven times. This word indicates to build up or strengthen. Understanding is mentioned nine times. Order is mentioned once. It was these things that were lacking in the Corinthian church. I wonder why the Charismatics ignore all these other key words and emphasize only the word tongues.

Our text verses occur right in the midst of one of the most misinterpreted passages in the Bible that the Charismatics twist to justify their unscriptural practices. It clearly refers to people speaking in different languages who are unable to communicate and understand one another otherwise. There are, it may be, so many kinds of voices in the world, and none of them is without signification. Therefore if I know not the meaning of the voice, I shall be unto him that speaketh a barbarian, and he that speaketh shall be a barbarian unto me (v. 10-11). There are many different languages, and none of them without significant, understandable meaning. Paul said that if he did not know the meaning of what was said it did nothing to help him, even though it may be a very helpful and needed message.

1 Corinthians 14 breaks down into four basic sections:

Tongues and Public Preaching
Tongues and Public Prayer
Tongues and Prophecy
Tongues and Public Worship

*Note: This chapter has nothing to do with a private prayer language. Everything in the chapter deals with a public gathering.

TONGUES AND PUBLIC PREACHING
(1 Corinthians 14:1-13)

Follow after charity, and desire spiritual gifts, but rather that ye may prophesy (v. 1). There are different kinds of spiritual gifts that the Lord may bestow upon people to be used to serve and glorify Him, and all of them are good, important, and desirable. But God has put a premium on preaching, and He sets it up from the others in importance. It pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe (1 Corinthians 1:21).

It is not by tongues-speaking that God has chosen to get the Gospel message to the world, but by the preaching of His word. Paul's exhortation to Timothy was to preach the word, not to speak in tongues. Time after time we see in the scriptures that God has placed a premium on preaching. For he that speaketh in an unknown tongue speaketh not unto men, but unto God: for no man understandeth him; howbeit in the spirit he speaketh mysteries (v. 2). If a Chinese man praises God in the midst of English-speaking people who are not bilingual, the only one who understands him is God.

Verses 3-6 talk about the purpose of preaching. But he that prophesieth speaketh unto men to edification, and exhortation, and comfort. He that speaketh in an unknown tongue edifieth himself; but he that prophesieth edifieth the church. I would that ye all spake with tongues, but rather that ye prophesied: for greater is he that prophesieth than he that speaketh with tongues, except he interpret, that the church may receive edifying. Now, brethren, if I come unto you speaking with tongues, what shall I profit you, except I shall speak to you either by revelation, or by knowledge, or by prophesying, or by doctrine?

Paul told them it would be good if they spoke with tongues, and it would be better if they prophesied or preached. The purpose in preaching is to edify, to build up or strengthen the church. If people do not understand what is said, it matters not how great or needed the truth may be, they leave in the same condition in which they came. The three main purposes of preaching are:

1) edification - to build up or strengthen,
2) exhortation - to instruct or train, and
3) comfort - to encourage or uplift.

None of these purposes can be accomplished if the message is given in a foreign language without an interpreter.

Not only is it important to speak in a language that is understood by the people, it is also vital to use simple, down-to-earth terms. And even things without life giving sound, whether pipe or harp, except they give a distinction in the sounds, how shall it be known what is piped or harped? For if the trumpet give an uncertain sound, who shall prepare himself to the battle? So likewise ye, except ye utter by the tongue words easy to be understood, how shall it be known what is spoken? for ye shall speak into the air (v. 7-9).

There are, it may be, so many kinds of voices in the world, and none of them is without signification (v. 10). Every language in the world is a distinct, significant language: German, French, Chinese, English, Latin, Greek, etc. Tongues in the Bible never referred to ecstatic utterances. Even on the day of Pentecost, when speaking in tongues was a miraculous event, people from all over the world heard the message of the Gospel in their own native tongue. This is speaking ONLY of literal, known languages. Therefore if I know not the meaning of the voice, I shall be unto him that speaketh a barbarian, and he that speaketh shall be a barbarian unto me (v. 11). If I am unable to understand the language spoken, there is no communication. When God confounded the languages at the tower of Babel, the result was confusion. (Genesis 11) The result of unlearned or unknown tongues being spoken in the church was confusion, as well.

The overall rule of church procedure is Do All To Edify. If what you are going to say or do is not going to build up and strengthen God's people in the faith, then sit down and be quiet. Even so ye, forasmuch as ye are zealous of spiritual gifts, seek that ye may excel to the edifying of the church (v. 12). We are exhorted to EXCEL in everything that we do for the Lord, to be the very best that we can be, to give our all. Wherefore let him that speaketh in an unknown tongue pray that he may interpret (v. 13). Let that person of another dialect pray that God will help him to communicate a Bible message to the people in their own language.

This is what took place at Pentecost. As the result of a ten day prayer meeting, the Spirit-filled Galileans spoke to people of 16 different languages, and God caused them to hear and understand in their native tongue. There were no ecstatic babblers there, and I might add, no interpreters, just Spirit-empowered soulwinners sharing the Gospel with those from foreign lands. Throughout this passage, no one is encouraged to speak in tongues, but rather the emphasis is on preaching the Gospel in a known language.

It is a shame that the passages of scripture the Charismatics refer to the most are the ones that they understand the least. The tongues in the Bible had nothing to do with what is going on in these assemblies today.

The carnal Corinthians sought to be recognized and exalted, so they showed off if they had special ability in the area of languages. There were people in the services who understood very little of the preaching and praying because of the disorderly, carnal confusion that reigned. After Paul dealt with Tongues and Public Preaching in verses 1-13, he proceeded to address the Corinthian church concerning Tongues and Public Praying.

TONGUES AND PUBLIC PRAYER
(1 Corinthians 14:14-20)

For if I pray in an unknown tongue, my spirit prayeth, but my understanding is unfruitful. What is it then? I will pray with the spirit, and I will pray with the understanding also: I will sing with the spirit, and I will sing with the understanding also (v. 14-15). Paul knew several languages because of his extensive education and travels, but he said, Why should I pray in another language? My own spirit speaks to God, but the understanding of my prayer is unfruitful to those around me. They are unable to agree with me in prayer, or to be edified by my communication with the Lord. Therefore, I will pray in the language understood by the people so that my spirit can pray and their understanding can be fruitful as well. In a preaching service, prayer ought to be understandable to the people, and in the Corinthian church foreign visitors were often asked to pray publicly in spite of that fact.

I had a dear friend from Ghana, Africa who roomed with me in college, and because of his difficulty with English he often prayed in his own language. Jonathan knew what he was praying, and the Lord knew what he was praying, but I was left out in the dark!

In verse 15 Paul said he would pray with the spirit AND with understanding. He would communicate with God in a language that was understandable to himself and those around him, too. The Charismatics would have us to believe that ecstatic babbling is a sign of the Holy Spirit, and if you haven't received the gift you're not saved. This passage is clear that it is not the lack of salvation or the lack of the Holy Spirit that is the hindrance from speaking with other tongues, but the lack of training. These are literal languages that are learned.

Else when thou shalt bless with the spirit, how shall he that occupieth the room of the unlearned say Amen at thy giving of thanks, seeing he understandeth not what thou sayest? For thou verily givest thanks well, but the other is not edified (v. 16-17). Again the explanation is given as a lack of training. He that occupieth the room of the unlearned is someone whose limited education has not given him the opportunity to learn to communicate well in more than one language. Prayer should be understandable because Spirit-empowered prayer will edify those who hear.

A close friend of mine, Joe Hampton, is now in Heaven, but he used to have a prayer meeting at his house every Saturday morning. I have never prayed with Joe about anything that it didn't strengthen me and draw me closer to the Lord. He loved the Lord with all of his heart, and when he prayed that spiritual fervor was communicated to those around him as well as to the Lord.

Again I say unto you, That if two of you shall agree on earth as touching any thing that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of my Father which is in heaven (Matthew 18:19). It is impossible to agree or symphonize in prayer when one is praying in a language that the others do not understand. Hence, a very important aspect of group prayer is cancelled when one prays in a foreign or unknown tongue.

I thank my God, I speak with tongues more than ye all: Yet in the church I had rather speak five words with my understanding, that by my voice I might teach others also, than ten thousand words in an unknown tongue (v. 18-19). Paul was an intellectual person and knew many languages but he used only what was necessary to communicate the Gospel. This is well illustrated in Acts 21 and 22. In chapter 21 the soldier said, Canst thou speak Greek? In chapter 22 it says, When they saw that he spake in the Hebrew tongue He said that he would rather speak five words in a known tongue than 10,000 words in an unknown tongue. Perhaps these were the five words he had in mind: Ye must be born again!

It would be useless and vain for even the most oratorical preacher in America to get up and preach his greatest message in English to a church full of Spanish-speaking people. It would be equally foolish for a preacher to speak in English but to use words that his crowd does not understand. God does not give any kind of gift for people to glory in their flesh. Every gift from Him is to be used to minister to others and to bring glory to God.

Brethren, be not children in understanding: howbeit in malice be ye children, but in understanding be men (v. 20). Spiritual understanding is something that we are to seek, rather than abilities or gifts to be demonstrated before the multitudes. God's power is not a plaything for the immature, carnal church member, but a resource to be used for the glory of God and in communicating the Gospel to a lost world.

TONGUES AND PROPHECY
(1 Corinthians 14:21-22)

In the law it is written, With men of other tongues and other lips will I speak unto this people; and yet for all that will they not hear me, saith the Lord. Wherefore tongues are for a sign, not to them that believe, but to them that believe not: but prophesying serveth not for them that believe not, but for them which believe (v. 21-22). God said that tongues were a sign to unbelieving Jews. Men from other nations who spoke other languages would prophesy or preach to the Jews about the Messiah the Jews awaited and the grace of God, but God told us in advance that the nation as a whole would still reject the message.

Isaiah 28:11-12 also prophesies of this. For with stammering lips and another tongue will he speak to this people. To whom he said, This is the rest wherewith ye may cause the weary to rest; and this is the refreshing: yet they would not hear. This text is not speaking of miraculous tongues or ecstatic languages but Gentiles giving testimony of salvation in their native tongue.

Two instances are recorded in Acts which signify the fulfillment of this prophecy. When Peter went to the house of Cornelius, the centurion of the Italian band, they believed on Christ and magnified God in their native language. These were Gentiles, and to the Jews this was a shocking new phenomenon - that God would save a Gentile. While Peter yet spake these words, the Holy Ghost fell on all them which heard the words For they heard them speak with tongues, and magnify God (Acts 10:44, 46). The key here is not the word tongues which means languages but it is the magnifying of God for salvation by the Gentiles.

In Acts 19:1-7 Paul met some men who had repented under the preaching of John the Baptist, but knew nothing of the Holy Spirit or doctrines of the New Testament church. Then said Paul, John verily baptized with the baptism of repentance, saying unto the people, that they should believe on him which should come after him, that is, on Christ Jesus. When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. And when Paul had laid his hands upon them, the Holy Ghost came on them; and they spake with tongues, and prophesied (Acts 19:4-6). Again, these men were located in Ephesus, which was Gentile citizenry and they spoke a different tongue than the Jewish missionary team with Paul. The Jewish nation as a whole disregarded this prophecy and fulfillment just as God said they would.

After reasoning with them about Tongues and Public Preaching, and Tongues and Public Prayer, Paul moved on to teach the church at Corinth about Tongues and Public Worship.

TONGUES AND PUBLIC WORSHIP
(1 Corinthians 14:23-40)

Paul had already instructed the Corinthian church that they were not to use multiple languages in the church unless there was an interpreter present to repeat the message in a tongue that was understandable to everyone present. He is giving an explanation for this instruction in verse 23. If therefore the whole church be come together into one place, and all speak with tongues, and there come in those that are unlearned, or unbelievers, will they not say that ye are mad?

There is a tongue-speaking church on the corner of the street where I grew up. When I was a kid I would ride my bike down there and sit out on the sidewalk in the summer when they left the windows and doors open. I thought they were all crazy, and whenever one of them would invite me to come inside I would take off as fast as I could pedal my bike. They scared me to death!

How does the Charis-mania Confusion affect lost people in their attitude toward the Gospel? A good friend of mine, Evangelist Stewart Payne, was exposed to the Tongues Movement shortly before he was saved. Here is his reaction:

I knew I was going to hell, but I didn't know what to do about it. I was searching and I felt the answer would be in the Bible, but I wouldn't read it. I was raised in the Lutheran church and in the United Church of Canada, so the Bible was virtually a closed book to me. In my search, never one time did someone witness to me or hand me a gospel tract.

During this time a lady whom I had dated found out that I was thinking of spiritual things, and she suddenly became very religious. She invited me to a Kenneth Copeland meeting. Nothing that was said or done in that service did anything to bring conviction to me or make plain the way of salvation. It was all flesh and emotion and foolishness.

Later she invited me to a Full Gospel Business Men's Association meeting where Demas Shakarian was speaking. Before the meeting even started, I heard a voice off to one side of the crowd saying something over and over, as well as louder and louder, but I was unable to distinguish any understandable words. I thought it must be someone who had escaped the mental hospital or who needed to go to one. I was wondering if I ought to go help the man out of the service when silence came and the man on the platform issued a short prayer. I learned later that this had been my first encounter with the devil's tongues movement and so-called interpretation.

I don't recall any Bible being quoted or used during the service. Shakarian said he went to the hospital to visit someone and God was in it, because the patient was so happy to see him and then he wept for 10 minutes. (When I was a lost man in the hospital with a broken leg ANYBODY could have come to see me day or night, and I would have been glad to see them!)

Then he reminisced about a time when he was in need of money. He opened his mail and there was a check for $10, and then he wept for a while longer. I wasn't a church goer, and I knew that I sometimes received money in the mail. When I did attend a dead church service I could make more sense out of what was being said than all this emotional hype.

The next thing I knew, all the men were getting out of their seats and going to the front. There was no clear invitation or Bible message, no Holy Spirit conviction. I'd had enough of this foolishness, so I just remained in my seat. But when I looked around I was surrounded with women, and it was very evident that I was out of place. So I rose to my feet and followed the men to the front. While I was up there in that line, I experienced the scariest time I had faced in my entire life. I already knew I was on my way to hell, and I didn't know what to do about it. In this huge line of men they were talking, chanting, pulling, even frothing at the mouths. I couldn't think; it seemed to be coming at me from every direction. The closest thing I had ever known to this was the heathen discos where the strobe lights are flashing and the music is loud and it seems to be just a mass of bodies and noise and flashing lights.

While I was in this line, I began to feel angry at God for getting me into this mess, and when I realized what I was thinking a great fear swept over me. I wondered if, perhaps, this kind of carrying on really could be of God. I broke into a sweat and silently prayed, God, if You'll get me through this night, tomorrow I'll go to my friend at work and see if this is really from You. I knew that he would show me the Bible, and I was sure I could trust the Bible. After I'd settled this in my heart, a peace came over me and I was able to watch and listen until the whole mess of confusion was over. The next day I did ask him, and he showed me enough from the Bible to satisfy me that this kind of thing was unscriptural. But still he never showed me how to get saved.

This same lady whom I had met at the dance, who drank and partied, got me to go to one more meeting with her. It was a regular service in a Charismatic church. The service had hardly begun, and they started their wild music. I was accustomed to the beat, since the disco had been a big part of my life. They were chanting and running down the aisles. Again, no Bible, no message, just confusion and madness. I determined that this was my last time to have any connection with churches of this sort. I had been to 3 different services. I had been scared to death. I had been disgusted with the emotional outbursts, the wild mass of confusion and noise, and the senseless gibberish. And the one thing I had come for I never received. No one ever gave me a clear message of how to be saved.

As before stated, this passage in 1 Corinthians is not speaking of ecstatic utterances as Charismatics today insist. They were known languages spoken by travelers and well-educated believers in this busy seaport. The result, however, would be the same among the uneducated if they were to come into a church service where people were standing up preaching or praying in many languages with which they were unfamiliar. They would feel out of place, leave without any spiritual help whatsoever, and probably think that everybody in the place had gone crazy. Paul explained this as support for his teaching that the services of the church should be conducted in the tongue of the common people - only.

But if all prophesy, and there come in one that believeth not, or one unlearned, he is convinced of all, he is judged of all: And thus are the secrets of his heart made manifest; and so falling down on his face he will worship God, and report that God is in you of a truth (verses 24-25). On the contrary, if the same person were to come in and hear the truth of the scripture in a language he could understand, it would bring conviction upon his heart and help him. For all to prophesy does not necessarily mean that each person gets up to speak publicly. They may prophesy by saying AMEN to the preaching. This will bring conviction to the unbeliever as he realizes that the preacher is not the only one who believes what he is preaching. The more amens he hears, the more conviction it brings, and the more credible the message is to him.

How is it then, brethren? when ye come together, every one of you hath a psalm, hath a doctrine, hath a tongue, hath a revelation, hath an interpretation. Let all things be done unto edifying (verse 26). If everyone insists on being before the people in every service, all having something to do publicly, it results in chaos. It also points out the fact that some people must be doing their thing for show and self-exaltation rather than for the edification of others.

If any man speak in an unknown tongue, let it be by two, or at the most by three, and that by course; and let one interpret. But if there be no interpreter, let him keep silence in the church; and let him speak to himself, and to God (verses 27-28). Paul left instruction for the exception when it might be necessary for someone to speak in the service who is unskilled in the language of the people. He said there should not be more than two, and at the very most three in a service. They must speak one at a time, with an interpreter to relay the message to the congregation. If there is no one present who is capable of interpreting in that language, the messenger must remain silent, no matter how needed he may consider his message to be.

For example, if a person who speaks only Portuguese comes to a service, he can understand himself and God can understand him, but no one else can. So he is instructed to speak to himself and to God. He is not to speak publicly unless an interpreter can make the message understandable to the assembly.

Paul also gave guidelines for the number of preachers to deliver a message in a service. Let the prophets speak two or three, and let the other judge (v. 29). Let the preachers do the speaking, not the whole congregation. Even the preachers should limit themselves to two or three speaking per service. The statement let the others judge, does not indicate they are to critique, but to come to a conclusion or verdict as would a judge in a courtroom from the evidence and testimony presented to him.

If any thing be revealed to another that sitteth by, let the first hold his peace. For ye may all prophesy one by one, that all may learn, and all may be comforted (verses 30-31). All the preachers may preach one by one, (but only two or three per service) and the result of their preaching will be that all learn and are comforted.

And the spirits of the prophets are subject to the prophets. For God is not the author of confusion, but of peace, as in all churches of the saints (verses 32-33). This does away with the popular excuse for misconduct in the church I just couldn't help myself. The Spirit took control. The Bible says clearly that the spirits of the preachers are under the control of the preachers, so they can't blame their unscriptural practices on the Lord.

The Holy Spirit is not a seducing Spirit. He does not seize control, but accepts what we yield. When the Holy Spirit is in control of my life, He will bear His fruit in my life; one of which is temperance, or self-control. (Galatians 5:22-23) If a spirit does take over then it is not the Holy Spirit. That does away with getting slain in the spirit, and about 99% of the testimonies of ecstatic tongues. This warm feeling came over me and I had no control. If the Holy Spirit had nothing to do with it, I wonder what kind of a spirit is in control? This is not of God.

Let your women keep silence in the churches: for it is not permitted unto them to speak; but they are commanded to be under obedience, as also saith the law. And if they will learn any thing, let them ask their husbands at home: for it is a shame for women to speak in the church (verses 34-35). Paul rebuked the Corinthian church for all sorts of unscriptural practices in the church, and one was female dominance in church services and church government.

God NEVER calls a woman to pastor a church or to assume authority over the men in any way. As only Joe Boyd could say it, "God never called a rooster to lay an egg, and He never called a hen to crow." Let the woman learn in silence with all subjection. But I suffer not a woman to teach, nor to usurp authority over the man, but to be in silence (1 Timothy 2:11-12). For a movement that claims to have a special handle on this passage of scripture, the Charismatics have certainly missed the high points of 1 Corinthians 14! The Charismatic movement has scores of women preachers who don't seem to notice that they are in direct opposition to the Word of God.

Women are commanded not to teach the congregation when men are present, and since 1 Corinthians 14 is dealing specifically with the Tongues issue, it is plain that where scriptural tongues are needed (the use of other languages with the help of a qualified interpreter), it is not permitted unto them to speak. Even if they were not so terribly mistaken about what Tongues are in the Bible, they would still be guilty of error because a very high percentage of tongue-speaking episodes are experienced by the women rather than the men. This is not Biblical, and therefore the Holy Spirit could not possibly have anything to do with it.

What? came the word of God out from you? or came it unto you only? (verse 36). Paul asked the Corinthians, Do you people think that you have a corner on the Word of God? I have met hundreds of Charismatics at the door while soulwinning, and they all seem to be sure that if you aren't what they are, you aren't anything. They are convinced that they understand the Bible and no one else does. Does your church have the Holy Ghost? they always ask. Yes - we are seeking to follow the leadership of the real One!

If any man think himself to be a prophet, or spiritual, let him acknowledge that the things that I write unto you are the commandments of the Lord (verse 37). Paul is reminding and reaffirming that he has, as an apostle, the God-ordained authority to rebuke the church and set matters straight as he does throughout this entire epistle. He rests his case as having settled the tongues issue scripturally.

Wherefore, brethren, covet to prophesy, and forbid not to speak with tongues. Let all things be done decently and in order (verses 39-40). Paul's final exhortation is to covet to prophesy, since God has placed His premium on preaching. He said not to forbid speaking in foreign languages, provided that it is needed and practiced in accordance with the rules laid out in verses 18, 19, 27, and 28.

The key to the entire chapter is the closing verse, Let all things be done decently and in order. The word decently means "gracefully, becomingly, in a seemly manner." The word order means "an arrangement, to draw up an order, due order which is in direct contrast to confusion."

A missionary from another land was in the United States on deputation, and visited a church whose members had been swept up in the modern tongues craze. While the people thought that they were glorifying God by their practices, he clearly understood at least one of them cursing God profusely in a language that he had learned on the mission field.

To surrender one's self to a seducing spirit that masquerades as the very Spirit of God and yet is clearly in defiance to the truth of scripture is at best unwise and most likely much more dangerous than we could begin to understand.

Tongues - To Speak Or Not To Speak? For anyone that is honest and allows the Bible to decide for him, the answer is clear. Today's ecstatic tongues-speaking movement has nothing in common with the scripturally directed use of foreign languages in the church. May God's Word be made plain to expose the falsehood being propagated in the name of Christ in our day.

Used With Permission
From the book:
How To Explain The Modern Day Tongues Phenomena
By Dennis A. Corle.
Copyright 1992. Used with author's permission.
Dennis Corle Evangelistic Association
This book can be ordered from:
Revival Fires!
RD #1, Box 940
Claysburg, PA 16625
(814) 239-2813.

You might also be interested in reading this study:
1 Corinthians 13:12 - Jerry Bouey

1 Corinthians 13:12

 

1 Corinthians 13:12

1 Corinthians 13:12 For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known.

As with other passages of Scripture (such as John 8:32; Isaiah 11:6; 1 Corinthians 2:9), this verse is one that is often misquoted in such a manner as to give a meaning contrary to what the context states. Many use this verse to justify ecumenical gatherings and doctrinal confusion by stating that now we can only see through a glass darkly, and we will not be able to see clearly (ie. understand the Scriptures completely - at least in a way to remove all doctrinal confusion) until we get to Heaven, but is this verse really teaching that? I emphatically say, "no, it isn't!"

As a matter of fact, this verse and whole passage is stating that when we get the perfect (complete) canon of Scripture we will be able to see clearly. The Holy Spirit has revealed the truth and opened up many things to us in the New Testament that clearly shed light on the Old Testament, things that the believers living prior to the end of the first century could not fully understand apart from that inspired written revelation.

1 Corinthians 2:9-10 But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love Him. But God hath revealed them unto us by His Spirit; for the Spirit searches all things, yea, the deep things of God.

I know that my study on this verse will be controversial to some, but I have studied out each word in its proper context, as well as diligently compared parallel passages, and I believe that I am interpreting this verse correctly, and not according to my own private interpretation. (See 2 Peter 1:20; Isaiah 28:9-13; 1 Corinthians 2:12-14) I have also studied out what solid men of God had to say on this verse, and I believe that I am standing on the same ground as they stood on, as declared in their own writings. This would include fundamental Baptist preachers such as Charles Spurgeon, Oliver B. Greene, Dennis Corle, David Cloud, among others.

In this study on 1 Corinthians 13:12, I want to first cover a little bit of the context, and then take an in-depth look at the 12th verse. Chapters 12 to 14 of this book are dealing with the use of spiritual gifts in the church, to build up the body and equip the individual believers for service - so that the Gospel of Christ would be proclaimed to a lost and dying world. (See chapter 15)

Chapter 12 deals how all the members of a local New Testament church are to work together, and all need to have a part and be in their place in order for the whole body to work effectively. The gifts were distributed by the Holy Spirit to equip the believers for service (they were not given to unbelievers, nor for personal gain or edification). Notice that not all Christians have the same gift(s). (See verses 7, 11, 29-30)

Chapter 13 deals with charity (love towards God and man), and how it is more important than any specific spiritual gift. The spiritual gifts - especially what is referred to as the sign gifts - were temporary, and it is only charity (the greatest motivation) that will endure forever. (See 13:13)

Chapter 14 deals with the edifying of the body and the proper use of these spiritual gifts, especially tongues (which were literal foreign languages) and prophesying (which is preaching). In Acts chapter 2, the tongues spoken of were earthly languages that the Apostles and other early Christians did not know; though in 1 Corinthians 14 the tongues spoken of there were foreign languages that the members of a local church assembly did not know - hence the need for an interpreter.

It is also interesting to note that chapter 15 goes to show that preaching and witnessing of the Gospel are more important than any specific gift - as that is how an individual receives the saving knowledge of Jesus Christ. In fact, it was a shame when a church was not actively engaged in witnessing to their community or city and people did not know the Gospel of Jesus Christ. (See verses 1-4, 34)

First a little of the context. All I am presenting here, in verses 8-11, are word definitions as defined by Strong's Concordance and Webster's 1828 Dictionary. I am asking you to prayerfully consider each definition in its context.

1 Corinthians 13:8 Charity never faileth: but whether there be prophecies, they shall fail; whether there be tongues, they shall cease; whether there be knowledge, it shall vanish away.

Fail

Strong's Concordance defines this word as: to be (render) entirely idle (useless), literally or figuratively.

Webster's 1828 Dictionary gives these definitions:
To decay; to decline; to sink; to be diminished.
To be extinct; to cease; to be entirely wanting; to be no longer produced.
To be entirely exhausted; to be wanting; to cease from supply.
To cease; to perish; to be lost.

Cease = to stop (transitively or intransitively), i.e. restrain, quit, desist, come to an end.

Webster's:
To stop moving, acting or speaking; to leave of; to give over;
To fail; to be wanting.
To stop; to be at an end;
To be forgotten.
To put a stop to; to put an end to.

Vanish away = to be (render) entirely idle (useless), literally or figuratively.

Webster's:
Eng. to wane. The primary sense is to withdraw or depart.
To disappear; to pass away; to be annihilated or lost.

From the context of 1 Corinthians chapter 13 and from this verse we can see that these sign gifts were only intended to be temporary, that there would come a time when they would be done away with. When would that be? Read on:

1 Corinthians 13:9 For we know in part, and we prophesy in part.

Part = (to get as a section or allotment); a division or share.

Webster's:
A portion, piece or fragment separated from a whole thing;
A portion or quantity of a thing not separated in fact, but considered or mentioned by itself.

These sign gifts were needed because we had only partial knowledge at the time of Paul's writing to the Corinthians. This first letter to the Corinthian church was one of the first New Testament books written. The early church did not yet have God's complete revelation; they only had it in part up till this point in time.

1 Corinthians 13:10 But when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away.

Perfect = complete.

Webster's:
Finished; complete; consummate; not defective; having all that is requisite to its nature and kind;
To finish or complete so as to leave nothing wanting; to give to any thing all that is requisite to its nature and kind.

There would be coming a time when the church would have the complete Word of God. That did not happen until the Apostle John wrote the last word of the New Testament in the final chapter of the book of Revelation. This was approximately 96 A.D.

1 Corinthians 13:11 When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things.

The three concepts expressed here (spake, understood, thought) correspond to the three specific temporary sign gifts mentioned in verse 8 (the gift of tongues, prophecy, knowledge). According to this verse, they were intended until the church became more mature - in this case, until the church received God's complete, finished, inspired revelation. Once the Bible was completed, there was no more need for the church to have or use these "childish things."

The following verse, taken in its context and cross-referenced with related passages in the New Testament, will bear out this meaning and help us better to grasp what the Apostle Paul and the Holy Spirit are teaching us.

1 Corinthians 13:12 For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known.

The word for "see" here means "to behold; perceive." "Glass" means "mirror", and is a compound word. The second part (Strong's #3700) means "to gaze (i.e. with wide-open eyes, as at something remarkable.)" This is in contrast with Strong's #3708, which means "to stare at, i.e. (by implication) to discern clearly (physically or mentally)." "Darkly" is from the Greek word that we get "enigma" from. Webster's defines enigma as "A dark saying, in which some known thing is concealed under obscure language; an obscure question; a riddle." In other words, something that we haven't figured out yet, or that we don't have the whole picture. This corresponds to having only part of the New Testament written at this point in time. (Remember that the Apostle Paul's first letter to the Corinthian church was one of the earliest, if not the earliest, letter he penned.)

"Face to face" doesn't necessarily mean that we see someone's face, but that we see the front of an object, i.e. that it is towards our view. (#4383) "Now" means "just now; this day (hour); present." The first word for "know" (know in part) is "ginosko" which means "be aware (of), feel, (have) know(-ledge), perceived, can speak, be sure, understand." In other words, at that point in time the believers only had partial revelation, partial knowledge.

The second word for "know" is "epiginosko", and means "to know upon some mark, i.e. recognize; by implication, to become fully acquainted with, to acknowledge." This doesn't have to refer to when we get "full knowledge" in Heaven, but when we get the finished (perfect), full canon of Scripture, which was completed when the Apostle John wrote the final book of the Bible: the book of Revelation. Now that we have the complete Bible we can understand the types and pictures of Christ, prophecies, etc. in the Old Testament which were just enigmas to us before. We need the New Testament to completely understand and properly interpret the Old Testament. Up until the end of the first century, believers were missing part of the picture; they only knew in part. Now we can know fully what the Lord intends to reveal to His children, by interpreting the Old Testament in light of the New. (See 2 Peter 1:3-4 and Deuteronomy 29:29) There will not be further revelation beyond the complete (perfect - Psalm 19:7; James 1:25) Bible. (See the warning at the end of the Bible: Revelation 22:18-19)

James 1:22-25 is a perfect capstone to this train of logic, and is a parallel passage of Scripture speaking about the same things.

But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves. For if any be a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a glass: For he beholdeth himself, and goeth his way, and straightway forgetteth what manner of man he was. But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed.

Here we have many of the same Greek words again. "Beholding" (#2657) means "to observe fully:--behold, consider, discover, perceive." "Face" is Strong's #4383 again. The idea here is being face to face with our own reflection, not face to face with the Saviour. I believe the first passage I covered is referring to the same thing. And James said that as we look into the Scriptures we "observe fully" ourselves. The word for "looketh" in verse 25 means "to bend beside, i.e. lean over (so as to peer within); look (into)."

Finally, there is one more parallel passage:

2 Corinthians 3:18 But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord.

The word for "open" means "to unveil." Face is the same word. To "behold as in a glass" means "to mirror oneself, i.e. to see reflected (figuratively)." We are seeing ourselves (our own reflections) in the glass (mentioned in all three passages.) As we see ourselves as we really are, and as we see Jesus Christ in the Scriptures we are changed into His image, His likeness. We are transformed, "metamorphosized" (Strong's #3339) through the reading and studying of God's Word! (See Romans 12:2 and Colossians 3:10)

I have written a poem based on Romans 1:17 and 1 Corinthians 13:12. I hope it is a blessing to you.

Faith To Face

Looking through a glass darkly,
I find many things hard to explain,
But as I steadfastly gaze within God's Word,
The Lord makes all things plain.

Faith to faith is what I'm living.
Day by day, I learn to see,
In a life that's so uncertain,
I know that Jesus still walks with me.

Faith means I learn to trust Him
And forget walking by sight.
As I'm filled with His peace and wisdom,
God's Word lights up the night.

Faith to face, it's a tiring journey,
Walking through this pilgrim land.
Though I cannot see around every corner,
I'm clinging tightly to my Saviour's hand.

He's preparing me for service,
Enabling me to walk through open doors;
I fight the battles that Christ gives me,
Knowing that He's already won the war.

Face to face, the day of His return is coming,
Until then, there are mountains to climb.
I will keep looking for that blessed hope -
Someday soon - It's just a matter of time.

Faith to face, I look forward to seeing Jesus -
What a glorious day that will be.
It will no longer be by faith,
Because, face to face, my Lord I will see.

Faith to face.

Poem written November 23rd, 2002
Study written September 22nd, 2004
Jerry Bouey

The Cost Of Losing Our Separation

 

The Cost Of Losing Our Separation

1 Kings 13 relates to us the story of a man of God (a prophet in this case) who was commanded to bear a message of judgement to King Jeroboam. After the message was relayed, the prophet was then invited to stay and visit with this ungodly king.

1 Kings 13:7-10 And the king said unto the man of God, Come home with me, and refresh thyself, and I will give thee a reward. And the man of God said unto the king, If thou wilt give me half thine house, I will not go in with thee, neither will I eat bread nor drink water in this place: For so was it charged me by the word of the LORD, saying, Eat no bread, nor drink water, nor turn again by the same way that thou camest. So he went another way, and returned not by the way that he came to Bethel.

The man of God kept himself separated in his association with this ungodly king. He would not fellowship, eat or drink, or even stay at this king's (Jeroboam's) home; nor would he accept a reward from him. In this, he did well. There is much we can learn from here.

The Lord does not want His children to fellowship with the lost, with the ungodly, with the friends of the world. We had better stay separated if we want to please our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ. He Himself has said in John 14:15, If ye love Me, keep My commandments.

2 Corinthians 6:14-18 exhorts us to stay separated and faithful to the Lord: Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness? And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel? And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be My people. Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you, And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be My sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.

When we lose our separation, our lives are affected and we find that there is a cost to ourselves and to others. Many of these points overlap and we find the cost may be more than we bargained for.

1) The Cost To Ourselves:

Shortly thereafter, the man of God met an old prophet who claimed to have instructions from God (received by an angel) that contradicted the clear instructions the man of God had already received. Upon listening to this new counsel, the man of God disregarded his separation, compromised in his way, and harsh consequences soon followed.

1 Kings 13:11-19 Now there dwelt an old prophet in Bethel; and his sons came and told him all the works that the man of God had done that day in Bethel: the words which he had spoken unto the king, them they told also to their father. And their father said unto them, What way went he? For his sons had seen what way the man of God went, which came from Judah. And he said unto his sons, Saddle me the ass. So they saddled him the ass: and he rode thereon, And went after the man of God, and found him sitting under an oak: and he said unto him, Art thou the man of God that camest from Judah? And he said, I am. Then he said unto him, Come home with me, and eat bread. And he said, I may not return with thee, nor go in with thee: neither will I eat bread nor drink water with thee in this place: For it was said to me by the word of the LORD, Thou shalt eat no bread nor drink water there, nor turn again to go by the way that thou camest. He said unto him, I am a prophet also as thou art; and an angel spake unto me by the word of the LORD, saying, Bring him back with thee into thine house, that he may eat bread and drink water. But he lied unto him. So he went back with him, and did eat bread in his house, and drank water.

Many times, we as Christians (those of us who have received Jesus Christ as our Lord and Saviour), know what the Word of God says about various areas of our lives (or we can easily learn these things by looking them up in our Bibles). In obedience, we strive to live the way the Lord Jesus would have us live, but then along comes a professing Christian and says that it's alright to compromise. Don't be too godly; don't be too radical. You will have more of an impact on the lost if you become more like them - more like the world. Even King Solomon agrees that this is the philosophy of those under the sun, without God. Ecclesiastes 7:16-17 Be not righteous over much; neither make thyself over wise: why shouldest thou destroy thyself? Be not over much wicked, neither be thou foolish: why shouldest thou die before thy time? The world says don't be too righteous, don't be too wicked. The world likes lukewarm believers, but the Lord Jesus Christ is sickened by them. (See Revelation 3:16) Unfortunately, this ungodly counsel tickles our ears and we give in to compromise. Our old flesh likes to be involved in worldly activities, worldly entertainment, and get caught up in fair sounding worldly philosophies. It is easy for us to remove the boundaries of separation that we have placed around ourselves (in accordance with and in obedience to the Word of God), and we reap the harvest that we have sown: loss of joy and peace, lack of contentment, the consequences of our ungodly living, and the chastisement of the Lord.

Galatians 6:7 Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.

The Lord wants us separated in two ways: separated from this compromising, Christ-rejecting world, and separated unto God. God's children (those who are born again) are to be with and be identified with their Saviour, Jesus Christ, who dwells outside the camp of this world. Hebrews 13:12-13 Wherefore Jesus also, that He might sanctify the people with His own blood, suffered without the gate. Let us go forth therefore unto Him without the camp, bearing His reproach. (See also Leviticus 20:26)

1 Kings 13:20-26 And it came to pass, as they sat at the table, that the word of the LORD came unto the prophet that brought him back: And he cried unto the man of God that came from Judah, saying, Thus saith the LORD, Forasmuch as thou hast disobeyed the mouth of the LORD, and hast not kept the commandment which the LORD thy God commanded thee, But camest back, and hast eaten bread and drunk water in the place, of the which the LORD did say to thee, Eat no bread, and drink no water; thy carcase shall not come unto the sepulchre of thy fathers. And it came to pass, after he had eaten bread, and after he had drunk, that he saddled for him the ass, to wit, for the prophet whom he had brought back. And when he was gone, a lion met him by the way, and slew him: and his carcase was cast in the way, and the ass stood by it, the lion also stood by the carcase. And, behold, men passed by, and saw the carcase cast in the way, and the lion standing by the carcase: and they came and told it in the city where the old prophet dwelt. And when the prophet that brought him back from the way heard thereof, he said, It is the man of God, who was disobedient unto the word of the LORD: therefore the LORD hath delivered him unto the lion, which hath torn him, and slain him, according to the word of the LORD, which he spake unto him.

Being disobedient to the clear instructions and commandments found in the Word of God have unpleasant consequences. In the case of the once godly prophet, we find that the Lord delivered him unto the lion. The prophet was then torn and slain by this wild beast.

The enemy of our souls, the devil, is also referred to as a roaring lion. As we can see from 1 Peter 5:8-9, we don't want to lose our steadfastness because he is near waiting to tear and devour the children of God. Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour: Whom resist stedfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world.

The devil, our adversary, wants us to walk contrary to God and His Word; he wants us to disobey the Lord's clear instructions and wander out of the way. He is always lurking nearby and waiting to pounce on those Christians who let down their guard - their guard of separation and obedience. Don't let your enemy chew you up, maintain your separation. For your own safety and spiritual peace of mind, walk in the old paths of separation and obedience. Jeremiah 6:16 Thus saith the LORD, Stand ye in the ways, and see, and ask for the old paths, where is the good way, and walk therein, and ye shall find rest for your souls. But they said, We will not walk therein. Don't be like the Israelites mentioned in this chapter of Jeremiah, choose to walk in the good way, the way of peace and holiness, and you will find daily rest for your souls - the rest of victory in Christ.

1 John 1:6-7 teaches us to walk in the light and have our fellowship with the Lord and with godly Christians. If we say that we have fellowship with Him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth: But if we walk in the light, as He is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanseth us from all sin. The reverse is also true: if we choose to walk in compromise and lose our separation, then we will lose our fellowship with Jesus Christ until we repent of our sins and get right with the Lord.

When we lose our separation, we lose our spiritual power and influence, and are no longer the salt and light we are commanded to be in this lost world. Matthew 5:13-16 Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be salted? it is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men. Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid. Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.

2) The Cost To The Lost And To The Cause Of Christ:

Separation from ungodly and worldly friends. This includes guarding our hearts and not courting or marrying someone who is unsaved. Also, not making business partnerships with the ungodly. Eventually, if you are serious about serving Jesus Christ and walking with Him in daily fellowship, you will find yourselves spiritually torn between walking the paths of holiness and the paths of ungodliness. Keep reaching out to the unsaved around you, keep sharing the Gospel, but don't put yourself in danger by becoming like the lost and losing the ground you have gained in your walk with the Lord. (This is called backsliding - sliding back from the spiritual heights you have already obtained.) I recently heard a saying that is so true and applicable here: To make a difference, you must be different! We will have more impact on the lost if they can see the difference that knowing Jesus Christ makes in our lives. They don't need friends that wallow in the mud with them, but ones who are willing to strive to pull them out of the mire!

By our participation in ungodliness and the entertainment of the world (covered in the next section), we give the lost the message that their lifestyles and worldliness is not wrong, that God is pleased by whatever we do. That is simply not true. So many unbelievers are led to believe that they do not need to repent and turn from their sin and come to the Saviour, because they see Christians involved in those same sinful activities. If a Christian can live like the devil, why do the lost need to turn to the Saviour? Our influence for the cause of Christ and our testimonies are marred or ruined! And the lost are still on their way to a fiery, eternal Hell!

3) The Cost To Lukewarm Or Professing Believers:

Separation from ungodly and worldly entertainment. The Bible clearly teaches that we are not to be involved in the occult (including witchcraft and sorcery), neither follow after false gods and religions, nor to be involved in fornication and adultery (this includes lusting in our hearts for someone whom we are not married to). (See Matthew 5:28) Ephesians 5:3-4 But fornication, and all uncleanness, or covetousness, let it not be once named among you, as becometh saints; Neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor jesting, which are not convenient: but rather giving of thanks. If it is wrong for us to practice these things in our lives, then it is wrong for us to be entertained by them - whether it be through TV, through movies, through video and computer games, through the Internet, or through music, or other forms of entertainment.

The Lord doesn't want His children listening to the ungodly music of the world! Yet too many professing "Christians" believe it is alright to listen to Rock music or "Christian" Rock (Contemporary Christian Music, a.k.a. CCM). We need to stay separated in these areas!

If I have struck a nerve in regards to music, I challenge you to do one thing first before you get upset with me: thoroughly research these musicians and their songs! Then tell me I'm wrong after you have:

1) critiqued their lyrics - are they in accordance with the Word of God and do they correctly teach about salvation in Jesus Christ, or are they vague or clearly ungodly?

2) critiqued their lifestyles and beliefs - especially if you are listening to so-called Christian Rock or CCM.

I was caught up in CCM for almost half of the ten years I have been saved and, then about five years ago, I started researching the beliefs and lifestyles of these groups. I can honestly say that of all of the groups that I listened to or were familiar with (that were involved in CCM), not one of them was in accordance with the Word of God! In regards to the lyrics, many of the songs by CCM groups were vague or outright contradicted the Scriptures. Some of these groups were members of cults and false religions (ie. Catholics, Oneness Pentecostals, Seventh Day Adventists, or even involved in New Age). If some of these artists do not even understand the Gospel (that salvation is by grace alone through faith alone in Jesus Christ alone), how can they write godly lyrics? It is impossible as the unsaved cannot understand the things of God, according to 1 Corinthians 2:14! I have read accounts of so many members of CCM groups being involved in adultery or fornication (even while they were supposedly being led by God to write the songs on their albums!), or being addicted to pornography. There are others that are caught up in the partying lifestyle or play their concerts in bars and other ungodly places. There are many men in CCM who have long hair, in disobedience to God's clear command in 1 Corinthians 11. Many of these groups are Charismatic/Pentecostal in practice and doctrine; the majority of them are ecumenical. It all boils down to a lack of separation. They look like the world; they sound like the world; they sing about the same philosophies of the world. The Bible teaches in James 4:4: Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God. What are you doing fellowshipping with the enemies of God?

1 John 2:15-17 Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever.

Separation from unsaved or false teachers. There are too many professing Christians who follow after ungodly or outright heretical spiritual leaders. If they are preaching and teaching heresy, we need to stay away from them. The Lord doesn't want us listening to (or reading) the vain philosophies of the world, nor absorbing the teachings of false teachers. If the person is wrong about what the Gospel is (ie. how to be saved), denies the fundamentals of the faith, or is just outright ecumenical, we are not to get caught up in their books, tapes, or TV programs. In Proverbs 19:27, we find this clear command from the Lord: Cease, my son, to hear the instruction that causeth to err from the words of knowledge. Don't just pick out the bones - stop eating the tainted meat! Philippians 4:8 teaches us what types of things we are to meditate on (and focus on): Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things. Whatever we fill our minds with will influence us - whether it is godly OR ungodly. Like the saying I have heard countless times in regards to our minds being like computers: Garbage in, garbage out. What we put in our hearts will eventually come back out again! (See Matthew 15:18-19 and Proverbs 23:7)

Separation from heretical denominations and ecumenical alliances/groups. It seems almost redundant to say this, but I feel it is necessary. I know too many people that attend solid, fundamental, Bible-believing churches that participate in Bible studies, fellowships, or conferences put on by wacky or watered-down churches or organizations. If these churches are too heretical for us to attend their services, what are God s children doing attending their Bible studies? What do we think they are presenting in these studies? Their doctrines, of course! Some examples of these types of studies are Women's Aglow (which is Catholic in doctrine/influence), and the Alpha Course (which is Charismatic in doctrine/influence).

You may think that you can have an influence on the lost or confused in these denominations by attending their studies and fellowships, but I ask you to consider this: What impression are you giving these people? By your participation in their church studies and activities, you are causing them to believe that their church is alright; that it is not heretical or that is doesn't believe false teachings. By your lack of separation, you are encouraging others to stay on their path of religiousness. This will not save them; only personal faith in the Lord Jesus Christ can, believing in His death for their sins, His burial, and His physical resurrection.

Stay away from ecumenical organizations, like Promise Keepers, and ecumenical churches. So many denominations and cults are blurring the lines of their doctrines so they can be united together. This is just preparing the religious world for the one world church that the book of Revelation predicts will come together in the end times. By the way that's what ecumenical means: one world, the whole world, or all the world. The uses of this Greek word in the book of Revelation show that the devil clearly has this goal in mind, and the ungodly world rushes madly to fulfill his ecumenical plans. (See Revelation 3:10; 12:9; 16:14)

There are many names of CCM artists and false teachers that I could give in regards to my comments above, but I felt if I mentioned certain ones, someone reading this may just limit themselves to separating from those specific groups and individuals. Put everything in your life under the authority of the Scriptures and you will not go wrong!

As mentioned above, our compromising and lack of separation hinder our influence on the lost and religious crowd, but it also hinders our exhortation and encouragement towards lukewarm believers. We are giving other Christians the impression that they can stay in their backslidden state and still live a life pleasing to God. That is impossible! It is our responsibility to maintain our fellowship and walk with the Lord and then we will be able to properly obey commands to exhort one another. The word exhort means to call near, and Biblically carries the idea of calling other Christians to come nearer to the Lord and obey His Word, to draw closer to Him.

Hebrews 3:12-13 Take heed, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief, in departing from the living God. But exhort one another daily, while it is called To day; lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin.

Hebrews 10:23-25 Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; (for He is faithful that promised;) And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works: Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.

4) The Cost To The Lord:

For a Christian who wants to please the Lord and see others come to a saving knowledge of Jesus Christ, this cost is probably the most damaging. When we lose our separation, we cause the world to brand us (Christians) as hypocrites and to disregard the message of salvation we desire to share with them. Many times the Gospel message is confused or perverted in the minds of the lost because we contradict God's Word in the way we live.

When King David sinned with Bathsheba, Nathan the prophet came and told the King what the consequences of his sin were. There was one effect that grieved the Lord most of all, and should cause His children sincere regret and sorrow: David's enemies used his sin and compromise as an excuse to blaspheme the Lord and His Word. Instead of glorifying the Lord through all we say and do, we find the all too real danger of Jesus being blasphemed when we break down the walls of our separation.

2 Samuel 12:13-14 And David said unto Nathan, I have sinned against the LORD. And Nathan said unto David, The LORD also hath put away thy sin; thou shalt not die. Howbeit, because by this deed thou hast given great occasion to the enemies of the LORD to blaspheme, the child also that is born unto thee shall surely die.

When we as Christians disregard the boundaries of our separation, and become like the world, our hypocrisy has a damaging effect.

Romans 2:17-24 Behold, thou art called a Jew, and restest in the law, and makest thy boast of God, And knowest His will, and approvest the things that are more excellent, being instructed out of the law; And art confident that thou thyself art a guide of the blind, a light of them which are in darkness, An instructor of the foolish, a teacher of babes, which hast the form of knowledge and of the truth in the law. Thou therefore which teachest another, teachest thou not thyself? thou that preachest a man should not steal, dost thou steal? Thou that sayest a man should not commit adultery, dost thou commit adultery? thou that abhorrest idols, dost thou commit sacrilege? Thou that makest thy boast of the law, through breaking the law dishonourest thou God? For the name of God is blasphemed among the Gentiles through you, as it is written.

A perfect example of this cost and the solution is found in 1 Samuel chapter 17. Here we have the account of David's battle with Goliath. The Israelites were being challenged by the Philistines. Because of their compromise and worldliness, they did not have the strength to face their enemies, and the God of Israel, the true and living God, was blasphemed and defied. That is until David, a godly shepherd, stood up for the truth, withstood the giant Goliath, and defeated him by the power of God.

1 Samuel 17:45-46 Then said David to the Philistine, Thou comest to me with a sword, and with a spear, and with a shield: but I come to thee in the name of the LORD of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom thou hast defied. This day will the LORD deliver thee into mine hand; and I will smite thee, and take thine head from thee; and I will give the carcases of the host of the Philistines this day unto the fowls of the air, and to the wild beasts of the earth; that all the earth may know that there is a God in Israel.

Let's live our lives in such a way that the Lord Jesus Christ is glorified and those around us know that He is the true and living God!

Let's Stay Separated!

Let's be consistent in our stands! Let's not be hypocrites - professing one thing and living another! Let's not cause the name of the Lord to be blasphemed. Let's let the world, including the religious crowd, know whom we believe in (Jesus Christ), why we are persuaded that He is the only way to Heaven, and why we are to follow Him closely each day. (See 2 Timothy 1:12) Let's show them that the Bible is our sole authority in life and doctrine. Let's be separated unto the Lord!

If we stay separated and faithful to the Lord, Satan may desire to sift us through testing and temptations, BUT he will not be able to devour or destroy us. Let's stay on guard against that old roaring lion! Let's stay steadfast, sober, and vigilant in our walks with the Lord.

Psalms 1:1-3 Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful. But his delight is in the law of the LORD; and in His law doth he meditate day and night. And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper.

Isaiah 35:8-10 And an highway shall be there, and a way, and it shall be called The way of holiness; the unclean shall not pass over it; but it shall be for those: the wayfaring men, though fools, shall not err therein. No lion shall be there, nor any ravenous beast shall go up thereon, it shall not be found there; but the redeemed shall walk there: And the ransomed of the LORD shall return, and come to Zion with songs and everlasting joy upon their heads: they shall obtain joy and gladness, and sorrow and sighing shall flee away.

Psalms 18:30 As for God, His way is perfect: the word of the LORD is tried: He is a buckler to all those that trust in Him.

Let's stay on the good paths of godliness and separation. Let's walk in the Lord's way. Let's govern our lives by the Word of God. It is the way of safety and spiritual prosperity. Let's stay separated!

Written May 14th, 2003
By Jerry Bouey