All
Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for
doctrine (a belief or set of beliefs held and taught by a Church,
political party, or other group), for reproof (an expression of blame or
disapproval), for correction
(a change that rectifies an error or inaccuracy), and for instruction
(detailed information telling how something should be done, operated, or
assembled)
in
righteousness (the quality of
being morally right or justifiable), that the man or woman of God may be
complete (having all the necessary or appropriate parts),
thoroughly equipped (prepared mentally for a particular situation or
task)
for every good work.
~ 2Timothy 3:16-17
~ 2Timothy 3:16-17
Let's examine (inspect someone or something in detail to determine their nature or condition; investigate thoroughly) the exact wording of this Scripture. Notice the word doctrine means beliefs held and taught, not necessarily what is true. How can we know the truth?
Both the Old and New Testaments give us the clear answer for knowing the truth.
The entirety (the whole of something) of Your word is truth, And every one of Your righteous judgments endures forever (for all future time; for always).
~
Psalm 119:160
Sanctify (set apart; free from sin; purify) them by Your truth. Your word is truth.~ John 17:17
A Lesson in Truth
This event actually happened in the
Kansas House in Topeka on January 23, 1996. Joe Wright,
the pastor of Central Christian Church in Wichita, was guest
chaplain that day. He prayed a prayer of repentance (regret for past wrongs which is accompanied by commitment to change for the better)
that was written by
Bob Russell, pastor of Southeast Christian Church in Louisville,
Kentucky. According to an article in the Kansas City Star from January
24, 1996, his prayer did stir controversy and one member of the
legislative body walked out. Others criticized the prayer. The
controversy didn’t end there. Later that year in the Colorado House,
Republican representative Mark Paschall angered lawmakers by using Joe
Wright’s prayer as the invocation. Some members there also walked out
in protest.Heavenly Father, we come before you today to ask Your forgiveness and to seek Your direction and guidance. We know Your Word says, "Woe to those who call evil good," but that is exactly what we have done. We have lost our spiritual equilibrium and reversed our values.
We confess:
We have ridiculed the absolute truth of Your Word and called it pluralism.
We have worshipped other gods and called it multiculturalism.
We have endorsed perversion and called it alternative lifestyle.
We have exploited the poor and called it the lottery.
We have rewarded laziness and called it welfare.
We have killed our unborn and called it choice.
We have shot abortionists and called it justifiable.
We have neglected to discipline our children and called it building self-esteem.
We have abused power and called it politics.
We have coveted our neighbor's possessions and called it ambition.
We have polluted the air with profanity and pornography and called it freedom of expression.
We have ridiculed the time-honored values of our forefathers and called it enlightenment.
Search us, Oh God, and know our hearts today; cleanse us from every sin and set us free.
Guide and bless these men and women who have been sent to direct us to the center of your will. I ask it in the Name of Your Son, the living Savior, Jesus Christ.
Amen.
The response was immediate. A number of legislators walked out during the prayer in protest. In six short weeks, Central Christian Church, where Rev. Wright is pastor, logged more than 5,000 phone calls with only 47 of those calls responding negatively. The church is now receiving international requests for copies of this prayer from India, Africa and Korea.
Commentator Paul Harvey aired this prayer on his show "The Rest of the Story" on the radio and received a larger response to this program than any other he has ever aired.
With the Lord's help, may this prayer sweep over our nation and wholeheartedly become our desire so that we again can be called one nation under God.
When the truth is spoken, it always causes controversy because people do not like to hear the truth. It makes them uncomfortable and it shines the Light on their own false beliefs. Every human being is capable of knowing the truth, but it's easier to believe a lie.
The biggest lie is that man's laws are equal, or superior, to God's Laws. When you break man's laws, you're a criminal. When you break God's Laws, you're a sinner. Both sets of laws require a penalty. Man's law puts you in prison even if you tell the judge you are sorry and will never break the law again. Tell God you are sorry and really mean it, HE will set you free.
Who would you rather have for your Judge... Man or God?
And if it seems evil (profoundly immoral and wicked) to you to serve the Lord, choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the River, or the gods of the Amorites (Bitter, a rebel, a babbler, a blowhard, a windbag), in whose land you dwell. But as for me and my house (family), we will serve the Lord. ~ Joshua 24:15
The modern day Amorites are
the people who still babble on about things that any rational person
knows are not true. They know evolution is false because there cannot be
a creature without a Creator. A clock is proof positive that there has
to be a clock maker. They have never met the clock maker, but they
accept on faith that he exists. The Earth is proof positive that there
is an Earth Maker and He exists. Believing that the universe started
with a "big bang", and over billions of years "evolved" is like believing
there was an explosion in a watch factory and over time evolved into a
Rolex.
They know abortion is wrong because they want their life. They know stealing is wrong because they don't want their stuff stolen. They know breaking and entering a home (or country) is wrong because they don't want their house broken into. They know lying is wrong because they don't like to be lied to.
They know that the Republican and Democrat Parties are the right and left wings of the same bird of prey. They know term limits is the right way to serve their country. They know public service is a brief civic duty, not a career, but they don't care about right and wrong. They live by man's so-called laws of legal and illegal. They will continue to lie, cheat, and steal for as long as they can get away with it.
Man supposes (thinks and does things that are completely crazy and confusing). God disposes (places, distributes, or arranges things in an orderly way).
God Has The Final Word
But I say to you that for every idle (without purpose or effect; pointless)
word men may speak, they will give account of it in the day of judgment. ~
Matthew 12:36
When the time is right, I, the Lord, will come quickly. I will make these things happen. ~ Isaiah 60:22
Truly, these times of ignorance God overlooked, but now commands all men everywhere to repent because He has appointed a day on which He will judge the world in righteousness by the Man (Jesus) whom He has ordained. He has given assurance of this to all by raising Him from the dead. ~Acts 17:30-31
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