“But above all things, my brethren, swear not, neither by heaven, neither by the earth, neither by any other oath: but let your yea be yea; and your nay, nay; lest ye fall into condemnation.” James 5:12
God is not against us making an oath. He is against the premise that if we don’t say something under oath that we therefore don’t have to keep our word. When we speak it should be as if we are always under an oath.
“And these all, having obtained a good report through faith, received not the promise:” Hebrews 11:39
So many of the false prophets today preach that faith is marked by what you have in your possession. If there is something that marks faith it is living and believing in what is yet coming.
“Esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt: for he had respect unto the recompence of the reward.” Hebrews 11:26
What an awesome God we serve. Experiencing the reproach that comes from serving Christ, is better than any of the treasures this world can offer. Let me say it another way. The worst of situations that result from serving Christ, far surpass the best of situations that the world gives.
“By faith Moses, when he was born, was hid three months of his parents, because they saw he was a proper child; and they were not afraid of the king’s commandment.” Hebrews 11:23
When we think of faith, we know it has so much to do with believing God. Here we see that it also has something to do with not believing and not fearing someone else.
“But shewed first unto them of Damascus, and at Jerusalem, and throughout all the coasts of Judaea, and then to the Gentiles, that they should repent and turn to God, and do works meet for repentance.” Acts 26:20
Though you will not find the word “surrender” in the KJV Bible, the principle is seen in many places. The words, “repent” and “turn to God” allude to that principle. That is what the Christian life is, it is a life that is surrendered to the Lord. If it wasn’t for man’s pride, surrendering would be one of the easiest things he could ever do.
“To open their eyes, and to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins, and inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith that is in me.” Acts 25:18
Jesus called Paul to open the eyes of the people and turn them from darkness. The simplest way there is to help people see is to turn on a light. Saints, the answer to the darkness this world is in is to show them the light of Christ. If we don’t have that light, then they won’t be able to see anything else we can do for them.
“Ye are all the children of light, and the children of the day: we are not of the night, nor of darkness.” I Thessalonians 5:5
Whenever we participate with the heathen in those things they do in darkness, then we are not walking as “children of light” nor are we walking as “children of the day.”
“And his servants came near, and spake unto him, and said, My father, if the prophet had bid thee do some great thing, wouldest thou not have done it? how much rather then, when he saith to thee, Wash, and be clean?” II Kings 5:13
It is a wonderful thing, when we have those moments of doubt, to be encouraged by the brethren to believe God.
“Neither give heed to fables and endless genealogies, which minister questions, rather than godly edifying which is in faith: so do.” I Timothy 1:4
I think I can say that I have seen Christians argue over the bible more than I have seen them use it to edify one another. I know I have had to repent for doing that many times in my life. How is it that when we have the book of Truth, Christians seem to like to fight over things that are incidental and have no spiritual value? Let’s all set our mind to bless and edify one another with the Word of God.
“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: 17For 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. 18He 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.” I Kings 13:16-18
Yes church, prophets can lie to you. Discern everything that is said to you through the word of God.
