THAT YOU MAY BE WISE

There is a reason I teach fellowship and put these articles out every week and it is not to make money!
The reason I teach and write is so people get an understanding of God, Jesus Christ and the Bible. But, it
is more than that. I teach and write so that it will inspire YOU to study the Bible for yourself, for you to
make it your own. For you to be so knowledgeable of the Bible that no one can lead you astray from
God’s Word.
I had two conversations that brought this to the forefront of my mind and thinking. The first was when I
was witnessing to a man that, rather than look at the Truth of God’s Word, looked at the negative things
that people have done in the name of Christianity. The other was when I was talking to a friend that was
going through a hard time and yet her denominational church was requiring her to pay them so that she
could keep going to their church. I call it payment because to call it tithing would be an insult to God. I
will get to the why of that in a couple of minutes.
Both of these conversations had the same problem at the core. No one knew what the Bible says. That
left my friend and the person I witnessed to in the dark and since others said “this is what the Bible
says” the folks that I talked to were left defenseless.
If my friend had only known II Corinthians 9:6-8 she would have been saved from a lot of heartache and
doubt.
2 Corinthians 9:6-8 (KJV)
6 But this I say, He which soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly; and he which soweth
bountifully shall reap also bountifully.
7 Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of
necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver.
8 And God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye, always having all sufficiency in
all things, may abound to every good work:
You see, we are no longer under the Law (Levitical Law) it is by grace that we are saved not of works lest
any man should boast. (Eph. 2:9) tithing was a part of the Levitical Law. Now we tithe by freewill. When
we see the greatness of what God will do for us and we are thankful for what he has done for us we give
so that others have a chance to have what God has given us.
Malachi 3:10-12 (KJV)
10 Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in mine house, and prove me now
herewith, saith the LORD of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a
blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it.
11 And I will rebuke the devourer for your sakes, and he shall not destroy the fruits of your ground;
neither shall your vine cast her fruit before the time in the field, saith the LORD of hosts.
12 And all nations shall call you blessed: for ye shall be a delightsome land, saith the LORD of hosts.
As I told my friend “any time someone says you have to do something you should take a step back
because God says the only thing we need to do, once we are born again of God’s spirit (Romans
10:9,10), is to love God and love your neighbor.God wants the Christian to know the Bible for themselves. Not what people say, not what the clergy say,
but, what does the Bible say.
2 Timothy 2:15 (KJV)
15 Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing
the word of truth.
God put gift ministries in the Church so that we don’t get deceived.
Ephesians 4:11-15 (KJV)
11 And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and
teachers;
12 For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:
13 Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man,
unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ:
14 That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of
doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive;
15 But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ:
There are people in the World that want to deceive us. They want us to follow them rather than God
and they will use enticing words and philosophical logic to deceive us. We won’t allow it if we know the
Bible and by “know it” I mean an intimate knowledge of the Bible. Where you can say “thus saith the
Lord!”
Let me ask you, do you know how many books are in the Bible? Can you recite the books of the Bible?
What books are written to you? What books are written for your learning but not written to you? Do
you know what the mystery is? Do you know what our hope is? Do you have a clear understanding of
what happens when someone dies? Do you know that the thread that ties every book of the Bible
together is Christ? Do you know the spiritual power that is in you and how to operate it? Do you know
how Satan works and his devices? God wants us smart or wise regarding all of these things.
Romans 11:25 (KJV)
25 For I would not, brethren, that ye should be ignorant of this mystery, lest ye should be wise in your
own conceits; that blindness in part is happened to Israel, until the fulness of the Gentiles be come in.
1 Corinthians 10:1-4 (KJV)
1 Moreover, brethren, I would not that ye should be ignorant, how that all our fathers were
under the cloud, and all passed through the sea;
2 And were all baptized unto Moses in the cloud and in the sea;
3 And did all eat the same spiritual meat;
4 And did all drink the same spiritual drink: for they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed
them: and that Rock was Christ.
1 Corinthians 12:1 (KJV)
1 Now concerning spiritual matters, brethren, I would not have you ignorant.2 Corinthians 2:11 (KJV)
11 Lest Satan should get an advantage of us: for we are not ignorant of his devices.
1 Thessalonians 4:13 (KJV)
13 But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye
sorrow not, even as others which have no hope.
Ephesians 5:6 (KJV)
6 Let no man deceive you with vain words: for because of these things cometh the wrath of God upon the
children of disobedience.
Again, the point of this article is to get you to make a decision to study the Bible and make it your own
so that you are not deceived or blown about by every wind of doctrine, but are strong and capable in
handling God’s Word. I have given you enough understanding through these articles to give you a
foundation in studying God’s Word and for those of you that are new to the group you can go to
www.truthandtheamericanway.com and have access to all of my articles. If you can’t find the answers
there write me or talk to me and I will help you.
Paul, in writing to Timothy, says that the holy scriptures are able to make thee wise and that they are
profitable for doctrine, reproof and correction for instruction in righteousness.
2 Timothy 3:13-17 (KJV)
13 But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived.
14 But continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of, knowing of whom
thou hast learned them;
15 And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto
salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.
16 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for
instruction in righteousness:
17 That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works.
In the days of Jeremiah the Temple of God had been destroyed. Most of the scrolls of the Bible had been
lost. But, one day someone found the scrolls under the debris and Jeremiah said:
Jeremiah 15:16 (KJV)
16 Thy words were found, and I did eat them; and thy word was unto me the joy and rejoicing of mine
heart: for I am called by thy name, O LORD God of hosts.
He didn’t literally eat the scrolls, but, he read them and studied them until they became the joy and
rejoicing of his heart. That is what I want for you. I want you to so know the Bible that it is the joy and
rejoicing of your heart. When that occurs you will no longer be swayed about with every wind of
doctrine. You will no longer be deceived. But you will be free as a bird to walk in the power and glory of
God in Christ in in you.
John 8:36 (KJV)
36 If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed.Ephesians 4:8 (KJV)
8 Wherefore he saith, When he ascended up on high, he led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men.
Galatians 5:1 (KJV)
1 Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled
again with the yoke of bondage.