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.
Sometimes Teachers of Biblical Times
Had to Learn Things the Hard Way.
Some taught prophetically ...
Thus saith the Lord God; Woe unto the foolish prophets, that
follow their own spirit, and have seen nothing!
The prophets prophesy falsely, and the priests bear rule by
their means; and my people love to have it so: and what will ye
do in the end thereof? The prophets prophesy lies in my name: I
sent them not, neither have I commanded them, neither spake unto
them: they prophesy unto you a false vision and divination, and a
thing of nought, and the deceit of their heart.
I have not sent these prophets, yet they ran: I have not
spoken to them, yet they prophesied. Behold, I am against them
that prophesy false dreams, saith the Lord, and do tell them, and
cause my people to err by their lies, and by their lightness; yet
I sent them not, nor commanded them: therefore they shall not
profit this people at all, saith the Lord. For they prophesy
falsely unto you in my name: I have not sent them, saith the
LORD.
Thy prophets have seen vain and foolish things for thee: and
they have not discovered thine iniquity, to turn away thy
captivity; but have seen for thee false burdens and causes of
banishment.
Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's
clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves ... wolves
ravening the prey, to shed blood, and to destroy souls, to get
dishonest gain. Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the
spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are
gone out into the world.
Some taught legally ...
And I was afraid, and went and hid thy talent in the earth:
lo, there thou hast that is thine. For this they willingly are
ignorant of, that by the word of God the heavens were of old, and
the earth standing out of the water and in the water. Woe unto
you, lawyers! for ye have taken away the key of knowledge: ye
entered not in yourselves, and them that were entering in ye
hindered. But even unto this day, when Moses is read, the vail
is upon their heart.
I speak to your shame. Is it so, that there is not a wise
man among you? no, not one that shall be able to judge between
his brethren? But brother goeth to law with brother, and that
before the unbelievers. Out of the same mouth proceedeth
blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not so to
be.
Some were fed spiritual things, but kept it to themselves.
As I live, saith the Lord God, surely because my flock
became a prey, and my flock became meat to every beast of the
field, because there was no shepherd, neither did my shepherds
search for my flock, but the shepherds fed themselves, and fed
not my flock; Therefore, O ye shepherds, hear the word of the
Lord ...
And strangers shall stand and feed your flocks, and the sons
of the alien shall be your plowmen and your vinedressers. And I
will give you pastors according to mine heart, which shall feed
you with knowledge and understanding. For the wrath of God is
revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness
of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness; Because that which
may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath shewed it
unto them.
Some taught others, but didn't apply it to themselves.
Thou therefore which teachest another, teachest thou not
thyself?
Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than
lovers of God; Having a form of godliness, but denying the power
thereof. The husbandman that laboureth must be first partaker of
the fruits.
Thou that preachest a man should not steal, dost thou steal?
Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that entereth not by the
door into the sheepfold, but climbeth up some other way, the same
is a thief and a robber. But he that is an hireling, and not the
shepherd, whose own the sheep are not, seeth the wolf coming, and
leaveth the sheep, and fleeth: and the wolf catcheth them, and
scattereth the sheep. The hireling fleeth, because he is an
hireling, and careth not for the sheep.
Thou that sayest a man should not commit adultery, dost thou
commit adultery? But as a wife that committeth adultery, which
taketh strangers instead of her husband ... For thy Maker is
thine husband; the Lord of hosts is his name; and thy Redeemer
the Holy One of Israel; The God of the whole earth shall he be
called.
For they loved the praise of men more than the praise of
God. Thus were they defiled with their own works, and went a
whoring with their own inventions. Except the LORD build the
house, they labour in vain that build it: except the LORD keep
the city, the watchman waketh but in vain.
Thou that abhorrest idols, dost thou commit sacrilege?
Is it not written in your law, I said, Ye are gods? For
great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised: he also is to be
feared above all gods. And yet they would not hearken unto their
judges, but they went a whoring after other gods, and bowed
themselves unto them: they turned quickly out of the way which
their fathers walked in, obeying the commandments of the LORD;
but they did not so.
Thou shalt have no other gods before me.
Now as touching things offered unto idols, we know that we
all have knowledge. Knowledge puffeth up, but charity edifieth.
And if any man think that he knoweth any thing, he knoweth
nothing yet as he ought to know.
Each were destined to fail ...
But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit
of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know
them, because they are spiritually discerned.
Let no man deceive himself. If any man among you seemeth to
be wise in this world, let him become a fool, that he may be
wise. For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God. For
it is written, He taketh the wise in their own craftiness. And
again, The Lord knoweth the thoughts of the wise, that they are
vain. Therefore let no man glory in men. For all things are
yours.
Each had missed an important ingredient in their teaching ...
Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock,
over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed(s)
the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood.
Which things also we speak, not in the words which man's wisdom
teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual
things with spiritual.
Some chose a path of resistance and found success.
In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy
paths.
For do I now persuade men, or God? or do I seek to please
men? for if I yet pleased men, I should not be the servant of
Christ. But I certify you, brethren, that the gospel which was
preached of me is not after man. For I neither received it of
man, neither was I taught it, but by the revelation of Jesus
Christ.
But as then he that was born after the flesh persecuted him
that was born after the Spirit, even so it is now.
For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man:
but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.
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.
For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but
righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost. For he that
in these things serveth Christ is acceptable to God, and approved
of men. Let us therefore follow after the things which make for
peace, and things wherewith one may edify another.
Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old
things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. And
have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the
image of him that created him. For there is one God, and one
mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus. But the
anointing which ye have received of him abideth in you, and ye
need not that any man teach you: but as the same anointing
teacheth you of all things, and is truth, and is no lie, and even
as it hath taught you, ye shall abide in him.
Success Guaranteed
This is my commandment, That ye love one another, as I have
loved you. As every man hath received the gift, even so minister
the same one to another, as good stewards of the manifold grace
of God. If any man speak, let him speak as the oracles of God;
if any man minister, let him do it as of the ability which God
giveth: that God in all things may be glorified through Jesus
Christ, to whom be praise and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.
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.
® by Joyce C. Lock
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About the Author:
Joyce C. Lock founded and maintains the email ministries
"Heavenly Inspirations"
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/HeavenlyInspirations/ and
"Share a Smile" http://groups.yahoo.com/group/smilesharing/ .
She also has a published e-book, "The Difference",
which can be purchased here:
http://www.theeaglesgarden.com/