Beware of Those "Itching Ears"

"....I give you this charge:  Preach the Word....For the time will come when people will not put up with sound doctrine.  Instead, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear."  (2 Timothy 4;3, NIV)

"Preach the Word," and, "itching ears," are two different worlds. 

If I read the Bible daily, nothing any preacher, Bible teacher, fellow Believer in Jesus says should ever come as a shock.  That only happens when I am not a person committed to, "the Words of God."  If, on the other hand, I am an, "itching ears," person, those who preach and teach, those whose lives are totally surrendered to Jesus, "the Word," will be a continual "shock."

For far too many, "itching ears," is the way they choose a local church.
Of course, this is not the only reason some leave a local church; there are indeed legitimate reasons.  But I choose not to dwell on that.  What came to me this morning is, How much of that, "itching ears," doctrine really helps people?

You and I know that a life of just pursuing justification for our beliefs, our life style, going to church services and conferences where they, "prophesy smooth things," keeps us from the real help, the real healing that we all need.  Anyway, if life were a "smooth" journey, "smooth things," would be the answer.  Have you found it, "smooth"?

"Sound doctrine," the Truth in Jesus, is that which alone can heal what the Bible calls, "a broken spirit." Paul told Timothy, and our Lord Jesus, "The Word of God," tells us in the, "Preach the Word," command that the only "source" of life, healing, "and the pursuit of happiness" is in daily reading, meditating, and obeying the, "God-Breathed," Words.  You know my continual testimony.

Whatever suffering, heartache, rejection, shattered dreams a person may be facing today, "itching ears," and, "prophesy smooth things," is not the answer; you and I know that.  The thought occurred to me the other day: An absolute commitment to Jesus Christ is synonymous with continual submission to His Words.  I cannot talk of, "born again," or, "saved," or Christian, or preacher, or missionary, or active church member if "The Book" does not dominate my life.

The hymn says that when heartache comes, "take it to the Lord in prayer."  I would add, Let Jesus "take it to you" in His Words.

Father, in Jesus' Name, thank You that I see in Your Words to me a very fine Father.  Amen.

When Peter, an 18 year old Norwegian, "heard the call to evangelize China, on that day he not only emptied his wallet into the collection plate, but included a small note with the words, 'and my life.'"

Hebrews 12:2

KTBTIB Nottingham sent you a video

"If it had not been the Lord Who was on our side--LET ISRAEL NOW SAY-- if it had not been the Lord Who was on our side..., then.., then.., then...." (From Psalm 124:1-4, ESV)

This includes, of course, you and me.

There are many opinions as to just what these Psalms were written for, but it is for sure that they were written for the People of The Covenant, People of Jesus Christ.  They are to me "reminder Psalms," Psalms which tell me to remember and never forget that, "If it had not been the Lord Jesus Christ who was on [my] side...," well, unimaginable.

I was reading/listening to my Psalms today, 121-125.  I cannot tell you the blessed time I had, and am still having.  The version is not that important, but it happened to be in the ESV.  I kept wondering why I was "experiencing" what I was.  It does not surprise me, of course; the Words are the very Breath of, "The Word of God," Jesus.  I highly recommend you give it a try.  Now if you are so inclined to say, "O, I've done that before," well, so have I, many, many times.  But remember the nature of, "God-Breathed," Words, "....They are life to those who find them, and medicine to all their flesh."  They are, "alive and active...."  I think the word can be, fresh.
 
Psalm 124 was of particular blessing this morning.  Our text seemed to be shouting out to me, "If it had not been the Lord...."  Whatever follows those words in life, the answer is still the same: "I don't want to think about it."  Those persons or things, "....would have swallowed us alive....The flood would have swept us away....Then over us would have gone the raging waters.

But, ah, my friend, "Blessed be the Lord Jesus Who has not given us as prey to their teeth!  We have escaped like a bird from the snare of the fowlers....Our help is in the Name of the Lord [Jesus Christ], Who made heaven and earth."

Father, in Jesus' Name, thank You so much for, well, right now.  Amen.

KTBTIB Nottingham has shared a video with you on YouTube

It's Psalm 119 Day-- Yippee

"I have more insight than all my teachers, for Your testimonies are my meditation." (Psalm 119:99, NASB)

"Insight," is not your, "smarter than."  "Insight," is only in, "The Word of God," Himself, Jesus, in His Words.  "Insight," does not come from "book learnin'.  It comes from Book-reading.  Whatever, "insight," you and I have comes only in, "Your Testimonies/Word."  Never, ever think that it is your "natural ability." 

Here are some verses of which I took particular "note," this month as I read Psalm 119.  "....Your Word...produces reverence for You....And I will walk at liberty, for I seek Your Precepts (Words)....This is my comfort in my affliction, that Your Word has preserved me alive....From Your Precepts (Words) I get understanding; therefore I hate every false way....Trouble and anguish have found me, yet Your Commandments (Words) are my delight....Many are my persecutors and adversaries, yet I do not turn aside from Your Testimonies (Words)....Those who love Your Law (Words) have great peace."

Dietrich Bonhoeffer wrote that if we ignore "morning prayers," the rest of the day is "lost."  I add to that, If we ignore, "the Words of God," the rest of the day is "lost."  Has this day been a "lost" day so far.  You know where the "lost and found department" is.

Father, in Jesus'  Name, there have been way too many lost days in my life.  I pray that I have learned something.  Amen.
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* Fall Mission:  October 28-November 15

When Peter, an 18 year old Norwegian, "heard the call to evangelize China, on that day he not only emptied his wallet into the collection plate, but included a small note with the words, 'and my life.'"

Hebrews 12:2

"Hurrying To Be" Somewhere

"For Paul had decided to sail past Ephesus, so that he would not have to spend time in Asia; for he was hurrying to be at Jerusalem, if possible, on the Day of Pentecost." (Acts 20:16)

Wait!  Paul acted like this, "....hurrying to be..," some place just to mark an anniversary?!?  How very un-spiritual of him, a waste of "support money."
 

Un-spiritual?  When I read this yesterday, I thought of our "hurrying to be at" Wittenberge, Germany, on October 31, the 500th anniversary of Luther's posting there of the 95 Thesis on the church building door.  This has to rank as one of the "top 5" historical events in the Church, and as a theologian, it is very important to me. 

Un-spiritual?  Last week when I was in DC, I visited the man with whom I used to spend the most time praying during those weekly times there.  I had not seen him for quite a while, and some things had changed in his life situation.  We talked and later had dinner together, enjoyed fellowship.  We did not spend a lot of time in prayer.  Shame on us.

Un-spiritual?  I had lunch with a pastor friend of ours who had been my in-laws' pastor for many years.  He is 83 and still goes to church camps and cooks for the camp.  He was an avid fisherman.  We talked of some of his fishing excursions to Canada, etc., even my motorcycling.  And we talked of our Lord Jesus, his mercy and care for us in the loss of our sons, and just the goodness of Jesus to us.  I often wonder if we might be better company to other Believers, and better, "fishers of men," if we were more like "men," you know, as Jesus was in all those dinner parties He went to.

Wouldn't it be better for all to read the Bible without those preconceived, religious glasses as to how Followers of Jesus should live their daily lives?  People would be more prone to see things they never saw, to see the "day-to-day" life of the Early Church closer perhaps to what it really was rather than what our 21st Century evangelical/charismatic glasses allow us to see.  Maybe we could see Paul sitting with the others while making tents.  Now most religious people imagine Paul sitting there endlessly quoting Scripture, speaking in tongues, singing, teaching the "deep things of God," an endless chatter of "spirituality."  Really?  You don't think he ever would have stooped so low as to talk of the sports events in the arenas, which, by the way, he used as illustrations in his teachings many times?  He just may have reminisced about the time they were seeking the Lord's guidance as to where to "minister" next, and missed it twice.  He may have even laughed at himself.

Father, in Jesus' Name, I pray that my life manifests Your Life.  Amen.
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October 28-November 15, 2017, "hurrying to be at" 500th Anniversary of the "Reformation."

When Peter, an 18 year old Norwegian, "heard the call to evangelize China, on that day he not only emptied his wallet into the collection plate, but included a small note with the words, 'and my life.'"

Hebrews 12:2