Presents
Pamphlet 1955 Hebrews kc 11-1
Do not harden your heart and stubbornly hold on to the traditions of men
Presents
Pamphlet 1955 Hebrews kc 11-1
Do not harden your heart and stubbornly hold on to the traditions of men
If someone, even someone you know has integrity, makes you a promise, you have only that person's word that he will carry out that promise, right? However, what if that person was so sincere in his purpose to fulfill his promise to you that he goes before a higher authority, such as a justice of the peace or a judge in a court of law, and swears an oath under penalty of law thereby making the surety of his promise subject to the enforcement by the court? You would certainly feel much more confident in believing that he was going to fulfill his promise to you, now knowing it is even backed by a higher authority, wouldn't you? Just keep that thought in mind as we proceed through this study.
In our last study, Paul admonished us to move beyond the basic principles of Christianity and begin to do some work and dig deeper into our Father's Word. In fact, he drew the analogy to that of a farmer, by George, and said that if you want to receive God's bountiful blessings then you need to do some labor and work the ground as it soaks in the rain from heaven. Else if the ground is left uncared for, the briars and thorns will have their way and soon possess the garden. Then in verse 10 of Hebrews chapter 6 he told us that God is "not unrighteous to forget your work and labour of love, which ye have shewed toward his name, in that ye have ministered to the saints, and do minister." In other words, He has promised to bless you if you will trust and rely on Him and keep His Word. Paul continues:
Paul's desire is that we all become workmen right up to the very end, laboring with diligence and earnestness with full assurance of hope, which means being entirely confident of the hope of His blessings and promises. How does one obtain that full assurance and confidence in Him? Stick to God's Word and do some ploughing! Soak up the rain and prayerfully study and follow the examples of those who have gone before us who exercised their faith and trust in Him, whose witness our Father has recorded for our benefit (1 Cor. 10:11).Hebrews 6:11
And we desire that every one of you do shew the same diligence to the full assurance of hope unto the end:
The whole point is, do not be led astray from the truth of His Word. Do not harden your heart and stubbornly hold on to the traditions of men. Begin also, To Day, to wean yourself from a milk-only diet in order that you may grow and mature in His Word. Otherwise you will end up not having what it takes to endure unto the end for your lamp will go out in the hour of darkness because you were an unwise virgin and did not fill it with the oil of His Spirit from His Word (Mat. 25:1-13).
You see, contrary to the erroneous "theory" that is so commonly taught that Christians are not going to be here during the great tribulation of Satan because they will be taken up in a "Rapture of the Church" when he shows up, the Word of God declares that it is he that endures with faith and patience unto the end that shall be saved. God's strong army of Christian soldiers are here to take a stand against the fiery darts of the wicked one (Eph. 6) and to finish the work right up to end of the great tribulation by giving witness and heralding the coming of the kingdom of God during that time when some of them are delivered up.
Here are the words of Jesus Christ declaring it to be so.
Either Christ was telling us the truth concerning false prophets in these last days or He Himself is found to be a false prophet. If the former is correct, which it is! then let us use some common sense and think for a moment and realize that the probability is extremely high that any given preacher or minister is a false prophet, which simply means he or she prophesies (teaches) church traditions instead of God's Word chapter by chapter and line by line. One should then ask the question, "How is it that they are so able to get away with teaching that stuff?" It is because milk bottle Christians, who although they may love going to church and singing songs of praise and worship, do not intelligently check out what their leaders teach to see if it aligns with their Father's Word. That in itself shows a lack of respect for His name and His authority, i.e. His Word! Have they not read that it is their responsibility to try the spirits (doctrines) to see if they are of God, i.e. to see if they are contained in His Word before they believe them? 1 John 4:1 "Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world."Matthew 24:11-14
And many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many.
It is because of the great deception by preachers teaching fables like "snakes and apples" and traditions like "Ishtar's (Easter) Day" and theories like "the rapture", which are all iniquitous indeed, that the love of so many for God's Word has waxed cold. We have become a nation of Biblical illiterates and our people have lost their love for His Word as evidenced by the fact that they ignore it. Plain and simply, if you do not love the Word of God and keep His commands (even like the command to try the spirits, i.e. test the doctrines before you believe them) then you do not really love Jesus Christ. Hey, don't take my word for it. Check it out for yourself by reading John 14:[12] And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold.
Did you grasp how it is Christ manifests Himself to you? Judas, not Iscariot, wasn't quite clear so he asked for clarification.John 14:15
If ye love me, keep my commandments.[21] He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him.
You better well know the answer to this question.[22]Judas saith unto him, not Iscariot, Lord, how is it that thou wilt manifest thyself unto us, and not unto the world?
Do you labor in His Word and keep His commands or are you too busy with other things like your job and going to church (not that there is anything wrong with going to church, especially one that teaches His Word chapter by chapter and line by line). You see, Jesus Christ just told you that He manifests (makes known or reveals) Himself to you though His Word! Don't you get it?[23] Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him.
Whose words, whose voice, are you listening to? If you never check out what you are being taught then you'll never know... until it is too late! So get with the program and begin to show Him you love Him by becoming strong, strengthened through the meat of His Word.[24] He that loveth me not keepeth not my sayings: and the word which ye hear is not mine, but the Father's which sent me.
Mat. 24:13
But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved.To study the Bible is the noblest of all pursuits; to understand it, the highest of all goals.
We pray that with the guidance of the Holy Spirit, you accomplish both.
The "American Wisdom Series"is
Published by:
Rhine Publishing Co.
E-mail address - americanwisdomseries@verizon.net
If you would like to have your essay published
as part of the American Wisdom Series
submit your manuscript to Rhine Publishing Co
at the address above for consideration, or e-mail us
at the address shown on our home page.Click Here to Return to "The American Wisdom Series" home page.