TREMBLE AT GOD’S WORD – PART TWO
"This is the one I esteem : he who is humble and contrite in spirit, and trembles at my word." Isaiah 66:2b
Last week we learned that God calls to Himself students. He calls to Himself disciples. He calls to Himself "disciplined ones" – those who are studying His Word and follow His ways.
God esteems those students who trembles at His Word – those who take His Word seriously.
There are problems God identifies about students who are not "TREMBLERS"
Problem # 1 :
"These are rebellious people, deceitful children, children unwilling to listen to the Lord’s instruction. They say to the seers, ‘See no more visions!’ and to the prophets, ‘Give us no more visions of what is right! Tell us pleasant things, prophecy illusions. Leave this way, get off this path, and stop confronting us with the Holy One of Israel!" Isaiah 30:9-11
What does God call people who are unwilling to listen to His instruction ?
Problem # 2
"For the time will come when men will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear. They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths." II Timothy 4:3-4
What do people turn their ears to and away from ?
Problem # 3 :
"As for you, son of man, your countrymen are talking together about you by the walls and at the doors of the houses, saying to each other, ‘Come and hear the message that has come from the Lord.’ My people come to you, as they usually do, and sit before you to listen to your words, by they do not put them into practice. With their mouths they express devotion, but their hearts are greedy for unjust gain. Indeed, to them you are nothing more than one who sings love songs with a beautiful voice and plays an instrument well, for they hear your words but do not put them into practice."
What does God say twice about people who only listen to His Word ?
"Do what God’s teaching says; when you only listen and do nothing, you are fooling yourselves. Those who hear God’s teaching and do nothing are like people who look at themselves in a mirror. They see their faces and then go away and quickly forget what they looked like. But the truly happy people are those who carefully study God’s perfect law that makes people free, and they continue to study it. They do not forget what they heard, but they obey what God’s teaching says. Those who do this will be made happy." James 1:22-25
So, where it comes down to is TO STUDY THE WORD OF GOD.
So, where it comes down to is TO GET TO KNOW THE WORD – TO GET TO KNOW JESUS - not through meditation (which is also needed) – not through devotions (which is also needed) – not through just reading (which is also needed) – but through a systematic study of the Word. In Hebrew it is called YESHIVAH!!!
In the church calendar, Shavuot (or Pentecost) was celebrated about one week ago. Historically, this particular feast has long been associated with Torah study and the confirmation of one’s loyalty to the faith.
In certain Jewish communities, particularly in Eastern Europe, it was customary to introduce very young children (3 – 5 years old) to YESHIVAH.
In a modern hymn, we sing, "Jesus, Jesus, Jesus, your word is like honey to my lips." Well, on Pentecost (Shavuot), the children were given cakes, honey and sweets "that the Torah might be sweet on his lips".
In a place like the YESHIVAH, a true study of the Word, a person had to think of himself as striving to be a scholar.
But this was not scholarship for its own sake alone but it was a means of bringing about a religious transformation.
HOW TO CONDUCT A YESHIVA ?
------------------------------------
The primary difference between a "yeshiva" and an ordinary church Bible Study is to have the entire group participate rather than a teacher doing all the talking. A yeshiva is a dialogue not a monologue. Ministry is always allowed as the Holy Spirit speaks from the Word being studied.
The students sit at tables (not in a row in the church – not on couches in someone’s home) facing one another with plenty of room to have several books opened at the same time.
As explained last week, taking our example from the book of Ecclesiastes, the teacher, a scholar himself, should prepare an outline listing Scriptures that reveal an important Bible subject. The teacher should have had his own yeshiva prior to the public yeshiva.
The teacher introduces the subject and several passages that support that subject to open the teaching session. The teacher selects a "key word" in a passage and asks the students to work together finding that word firstly in a concordance and secondly in a lexicon. The first students to find the meaning of the key word are asked to read the definition. The teacher then leads the group into discussion about the principles revealed from the definition of the key word.
Questions should be encouraged.
The teacher encourages participation by all. The teacher asks the students to find supporting passages regarding the general subject. A yeshiva can be quite noisy but always following a set order.
The skill of the teacher is very important and is used to allow the group to change the subject to follow what the Holy Spirit is revealing. It is also used to affirm the input of all participants and move the discussions along.
So, the key to a good yeshiva is both homiletics and hermeneutics.
Homiletics means the proper and orderly presentation of a speech and a lesson. A teacher without a lesson plan is not a teacher. A preacher without sermon notes is not a preacher.
Hermeneutics is the science of interpreting the Bible. Again, a good teacher must know when the Bible is speaking literally or figuratively. He must know when a passage is speaking prophetically and when God is speaking to all men or to Israel.
The proper use of hermeneutics is found in II Tim 2:15 :
"Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth."
There are many commentaries written about the Bible. But commentaries are not the Bible, they are not the Word of God. The best commentary on the Bible is the Bible itself.
Jesus did this all the time. For instance, compare Deuteronomy 30:1-10 and Jeremiah 31:33 with John 15:1-17.
Compare Psalm 35:19 and Psalm 69:4 with John 15:25.
Jesus did not need Christian books to give himself an idea to have a Biblical yeshiva – he used the Scriptures to explain the Scriptures.
And we are to use the same Biblical technique – we are to use the same method.
And where does the true yeshiva start in the modern church. In Jesus’ time, it started in the church – at Shavuot, with the children. But in today’s church, it needs to start at home with the parents (or the grandparents).
More about that next week in Part III of this important series.
Deuteronomy 6:7
"Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, and when you lie down and when you get up."
DELIVERED BY PASTOR JOHN FRYTERS AT UNDER THE JUNIPER TREE CHAPEL ON MAY 31, 2009
Sunday, May 31, 2009
Saturday, May 23, 2009
TREMBLE AT GOD'S WORD
TREMBLE AT HIS WORD – PART ONE
Just recently, an article appeared on the Faith Page (Religion Section) of the Prince Albert Daily Herald. A United Church of Canada minister had made a statement at a ministers conference which was editorialized in the heading "Minister states that some parts of the Bible are not worthy to be called ‘divine words of God’".
I was appalled about the statement by this minister, called a "Christian minister". I reacted, and maybe in hindsight I should not have reacted, by writing a letter to the editor. I used the Word of God to disprove this minister and to point out that she might be what Jesus called a "scoffer".
I blind-copied my letter to the editor to a number of ministers in the city – ministers that I believed to be "men of god" who believed that the "Word of God" was indeed the "Word of God" meaning the total Bible, the total Word of God, not some portions of it.
Maybe I blind-copied the letter to these ministers to see if they would (at least) support me in my analogy. That they would (at least) be an encouragement to me in public stand I was taking.
It is interesting to note that only one gave me an encouraging call – the others remained quiet – not one phone call, not one word of encouragement, not one e-mail, nothing, nothing, nothing.....
However, what was more encouraging was that the usual writers to the editor also remained silent, except one, and that one did not get the point at all that we, as born-again believers, accept Jesus as our personal Lord and Savior, and that this really means that we, by faith, believe the whole Bible, the whole Word of God (Jesus according to the Gospel of John) and that this "minister" really makes a literal attack on our Lord and Savior by stating that parts of the Bible can not be called "divine" and that the Bible is really a book full of fables and myths.
Reflecting back on this week, this whole thing has not left me.
And than this week, Hannelore, my Bible College students, and myself attended a wonderful conference – a conference during which a re-commitment and total devotion to the Father, to Jesus and to the Holy Spirit was preached. It could not have been made more clear through teaching, preaching and testimonies.
It really encouraged me, and, more important, it really showed me that the stand I took was correct and that, no matter the silence by the ministers, we really need to go back to basics and start standing on what we, by faith, accepted – that Jesus, the Word of God, was sent by the Father to die for our sins, that He rose again, and whoever believes in Him (in the heart) will have eternal life.
So, this week Jesus drew me to a Scripture in Isaiah – Open up your Bibles and read Isaiah 66: 1-2 :
"Thus saith the Lord, The heaven is my throne, and the earth is my footstool: where is the house that ye build unto me ? and where is the place of my rest ? For all those things hath mine hand made, and all those things have been, saith the Lord: BUT TO THIS MAN WILL I LOOK, EVEN TO HIM THAT IS POOR AND OF A CONTRITE SPIRIT, AND TREMBLETH AT MY WORD."
So, no matter what that minister said, no matter the silence of the other ministers, what is important to me is what God said. He said that He will pay attention to those who tremble at His Word. He said that He will esteem those who tremble at His Word.
When you opened up your Bible a few minutes ago, did you tremble when you read this Scripture ? Do you really believe that what you have in your hand is the Word of God ? Do you really believe that whatever you read in the Scriptures is awesome ? Do you really believe that this Word, you have in your hands, is Jesus, the living Word of God ? What do you believe ?
Are you trembling ? Are you trembling right now ?
Psalm 119: 112 & 120 :
"I have inclined mine heart to perform thy statutes alway, even unto the end............My flesh trembleth for fear of thee; and I am afraid of thy judgments."
David trembled at the Word of God. This is why David is called a "man after God’s own heart. Acts 13:22 :
"And when he had removed him, he raised up unto them David to be their king; to whom also he gave testimony, and said, I have found David the son of Jesse, a man after mine own heart, which shall fulfill all my will."
The word "tremble" in Hebrew is "hareddee" or "haredim".
"This is the one I esteem : he who is humble and contrite in spirit, and trembles at my word"
A true student of God’s Word trembles at it. Those who tremble at God’s Word do not originate anything. They simply study and obey God’s Word. They do not add to it nor take away from it,
Deut 4:2 :
"Ye shall not add unto the word which I command you, neither shall ye diminish ought from it, that ye may keep the commandments of the Lord your God which I command you."
They do not add to it nor take away from it, because they do not wish to suffer its judgements, as written in Revelation.
Those who tremble at God’s Word share a desire to continue a biblical way of life believing the Bible lifestyle can withstand the cultural attacks of modern, secular society. Tremblers at God’s Word reject ideas of assimilating into their society, becoming acculturated to their society and reforming their faith to fit their society. They believe God’s Word is for all times, for all people and for all cultures.
Therefore, in order to fully obey God’s Word, a "trembler" must study the Word of God to know what and how to obey.
For instance, I believe that the Bereans were "tremblers" – Acts 17:11 :
"Now the Bereans were of more noble character than the Thessalonians, for they received the message with great eagerness and examined the Scriptures every day to see if what Paul said was true."
Jesus chose his disciples and appointed them to be with Him and to preach. You can found the account of the Gospel of Matthew, Luke and Mark (Matt 4:18-22; Luke 5:1-11, 6:12-16; Mark 3:13-19)
The word "disciple" actually means "student". In Luke 6:13, the word "disciple" is "mathetas" in the Greek text. However, in the Hebrew New Testament it is "talmid" which means "student"
Talmid (pronounced Talmeed) comes from the root "Talmud" which means "to study".
So, Jesus chose his "students". He frequently took them aside for deeper study.
It states in the Scriptures that Jesus taught his disciples, his students with one having authority – Matt 7:28-29 :
"And it came to pass, when Jesus had ended these sayings, the people were astonished at his doctrine. For he taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes."
Then, in Matt 28:18-20, he releases this same authority to his students (disciples) and us and commands us to do the same he did throughout his ministry. (READ)
Who does God consider a student ?
Ecclesiastes 12:9-14
"The Teacher was very wise and taught the people what he knew. He very carefully thought about, studied, and set in order many wise teachings. The Teacher looked for just the right words to write what is dependable and true. Words from wise people are like sharp sticks used to guide animals. They are like nails that have been driven in firmly. Altogether they are wise teachings that come from one Shepherd. So be careful, my son, about other teachings. People are always writing books, and too much study will make you tired.
Now, everything had been heard, so I give my final advice: Honor God and obey his commands, because this is all people must do. God will judge everything, even what is done in secret, the good and the evil."
Isaiah 50:4
"The Lord God gave me the ability to teach so that I know what to say to make the weak strong. Every morning he wakes me. He teaches me to listen like a student."
II Timothy 2:15
"Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a workman who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth."
Based on these three Scriptures, we can pose the following questions :
1. In all three passages, what is the purpose of study ?
2. In Eccl 12:9-14, what are the four steps a teacher must take to properly present a lesson?
3. According to Isaiah 50:4, is there a time to study ?
4. In II Tim 2:15, to whom does the student need to seek approval for his study ?
5. Is studying work according to Ecclesiastes ?
6. What does it mean to "correctly handle" the word ?
DELIVERED ON MAY 24, 2009 AT UNDER THE JUNIPER TREE CHAPEL BY PASTOR JOHN FRYTERS.
Just recently, an article appeared on the Faith Page (Religion Section) of the Prince Albert Daily Herald. A United Church of Canada minister had made a statement at a ministers conference which was editorialized in the heading "Minister states that some parts of the Bible are not worthy to be called ‘divine words of God’".
I was appalled about the statement by this minister, called a "Christian minister". I reacted, and maybe in hindsight I should not have reacted, by writing a letter to the editor. I used the Word of God to disprove this minister and to point out that she might be what Jesus called a "scoffer".
I blind-copied my letter to the editor to a number of ministers in the city – ministers that I believed to be "men of god" who believed that the "Word of God" was indeed the "Word of God" meaning the total Bible, the total Word of God, not some portions of it.
Maybe I blind-copied the letter to these ministers to see if they would (at least) support me in my analogy. That they would (at least) be an encouragement to me in public stand I was taking.
It is interesting to note that only one gave me an encouraging call – the others remained quiet – not one phone call, not one word of encouragement, not one e-mail, nothing, nothing, nothing.....
However, what was more encouraging was that the usual writers to the editor also remained silent, except one, and that one did not get the point at all that we, as born-again believers, accept Jesus as our personal Lord and Savior, and that this really means that we, by faith, believe the whole Bible, the whole Word of God (Jesus according to the Gospel of John) and that this "minister" really makes a literal attack on our Lord and Savior by stating that parts of the Bible can not be called "divine" and that the Bible is really a book full of fables and myths.
Reflecting back on this week, this whole thing has not left me.
And than this week, Hannelore, my Bible College students, and myself attended a wonderful conference – a conference during which a re-commitment and total devotion to the Father, to Jesus and to the Holy Spirit was preached. It could not have been made more clear through teaching, preaching and testimonies.
It really encouraged me, and, more important, it really showed me that the stand I took was correct and that, no matter the silence by the ministers, we really need to go back to basics and start standing on what we, by faith, accepted – that Jesus, the Word of God, was sent by the Father to die for our sins, that He rose again, and whoever believes in Him (in the heart) will have eternal life.
So, this week Jesus drew me to a Scripture in Isaiah – Open up your Bibles and read Isaiah 66: 1-2 :
"Thus saith the Lord, The heaven is my throne, and the earth is my footstool: where is the house that ye build unto me ? and where is the place of my rest ? For all those things hath mine hand made, and all those things have been, saith the Lord: BUT TO THIS MAN WILL I LOOK, EVEN TO HIM THAT IS POOR AND OF A CONTRITE SPIRIT, AND TREMBLETH AT MY WORD."
So, no matter what that minister said, no matter the silence of the other ministers, what is important to me is what God said. He said that He will pay attention to those who tremble at His Word. He said that He will esteem those who tremble at His Word.
When you opened up your Bible a few minutes ago, did you tremble when you read this Scripture ? Do you really believe that what you have in your hand is the Word of God ? Do you really believe that whatever you read in the Scriptures is awesome ? Do you really believe that this Word, you have in your hands, is Jesus, the living Word of God ? What do you believe ?
Are you trembling ? Are you trembling right now ?
Psalm 119: 112 & 120 :
"I have inclined mine heart to perform thy statutes alway, even unto the end............My flesh trembleth for fear of thee; and I am afraid of thy judgments."
David trembled at the Word of God. This is why David is called a "man after God’s own heart. Acts 13:22 :
"And when he had removed him, he raised up unto them David to be their king; to whom also he gave testimony, and said, I have found David the son of Jesse, a man after mine own heart, which shall fulfill all my will."
The word "tremble" in Hebrew is "hareddee" or "haredim".
"This is the one I esteem : he who is humble and contrite in spirit, and trembles at my word"
A true student of God’s Word trembles at it. Those who tremble at God’s Word do not originate anything. They simply study and obey God’s Word. They do not add to it nor take away from it,
Deut 4:2 :
"Ye shall not add unto the word which I command you, neither shall ye diminish ought from it, that ye may keep the commandments of the Lord your God which I command you."
They do not add to it nor take away from it, because they do not wish to suffer its judgements, as written in Revelation.
Those who tremble at God’s Word share a desire to continue a biblical way of life believing the Bible lifestyle can withstand the cultural attacks of modern, secular society. Tremblers at God’s Word reject ideas of assimilating into their society, becoming acculturated to their society and reforming their faith to fit their society. They believe God’s Word is for all times, for all people and for all cultures.
Therefore, in order to fully obey God’s Word, a "trembler" must study the Word of God to know what and how to obey.
For instance, I believe that the Bereans were "tremblers" – Acts 17:11 :
"Now the Bereans were of more noble character than the Thessalonians, for they received the message with great eagerness and examined the Scriptures every day to see if what Paul said was true."
Jesus chose his disciples and appointed them to be with Him and to preach. You can found the account of the Gospel of Matthew, Luke and Mark (Matt 4:18-22; Luke 5:1-11, 6:12-16; Mark 3:13-19)
The word "disciple" actually means "student". In Luke 6:13, the word "disciple" is "mathetas" in the Greek text. However, in the Hebrew New Testament it is "talmid" which means "student"
Talmid (pronounced Talmeed) comes from the root "Talmud" which means "to study".
So, Jesus chose his "students". He frequently took them aside for deeper study.
It states in the Scriptures that Jesus taught his disciples, his students with one having authority – Matt 7:28-29 :
"And it came to pass, when Jesus had ended these sayings, the people were astonished at his doctrine. For he taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes."
Then, in Matt 28:18-20, he releases this same authority to his students (disciples) and us and commands us to do the same he did throughout his ministry. (READ)
Who does God consider a student ?
Ecclesiastes 12:9-14
"The Teacher was very wise and taught the people what he knew. He very carefully thought about, studied, and set in order many wise teachings. The Teacher looked for just the right words to write what is dependable and true. Words from wise people are like sharp sticks used to guide animals. They are like nails that have been driven in firmly. Altogether they are wise teachings that come from one Shepherd. So be careful, my son, about other teachings. People are always writing books, and too much study will make you tired.
Now, everything had been heard, so I give my final advice: Honor God and obey his commands, because this is all people must do. God will judge everything, even what is done in secret, the good and the evil."
Isaiah 50:4
"The Lord God gave me the ability to teach so that I know what to say to make the weak strong. Every morning he wakes me. He teaches me to listen like a student."
II Timothy 2:15
"Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a workman who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth."
Based on these three Scriptures, we can pose the following questions :
1. In all three passages, what is the purpose of study ?
2. In Eccl 12:9-14, what are the four steps a teacher must take to properly present a lesson?
3. According to Isaiah 50:4, is there a time to study ?
4. In II Tim 2:15, to whom does the student need to seek approval for his study ?
5. Is studying work according to Ecclesiastes ?
6. What does it mean to "correctly handle" the word ?
DELIVERED ON MAY 24, 2009 AT UNDER THE JUNIPER TREE CHAPEL BY PASTOR JOHN FRYTERS.
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