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1 Timothy 4:13 Till I come, give attendance to reading, to exhortation, to doctrine. (KJV)
Again, a few of the definitions for ‘give attendance’ are: to hold the mind towards, pay attention to, apply oneself to, adhere to, or be given to. Strong’s definition for ‘doctrine’: 1319 didaskalia (did-as-kal-ee'-ah); from NT:1320; instruction (the function or the information): KJV - doctrine, learning, teaching. 2 John 9-11 Whosoever transgresseth, and abideth not in the doctrine of Christ, hath not God. He that abideth in the doctrine of Christ, he hath both the Father and the Son. (10) If there come any unto you, and bring not this doctrine, receive him not into your house, neither bid him God speed: (11) For he that biddeth him God speed is partaker of his evil deeds. (KJV) What doctrine or instruction are you holding your mind towards? Is it from God or man? Did you receive it by the revelation of Jesus Christ or having it been taught to you by man? Are you paying attention so that you don’t end up pleasing man instead of God? Because if you are holding to man-made doctrines (which include its traditions) and not that which you have received and been taught through the leading of the Holy Spirit you will end up pleasing man and not God. Remember, if we yet seek to please man we can’t be the servant of Christ. Flesh and Spirit are contrary; and they that are Christ’s are instructed by God through Christ, and strengthened, in that they are able to crucify the affections and lusts of the flesh which are contrary to sound doctrine. Sound doctrine is those things that we have heard and have been assured of in the Spirit. The doctrine of Christ which is revealed to us personally by the Spirit in that the eyes of our understanding is enlightened to the things of God and what He requires of us to remain in good standing with Him. This sound doctrine enables us to continue to walk by faith and not by sight; to hold God to be true and every man a liar; to discern between what is of God and what is of man. It is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, easy to be entreated, full of mercy and good fruits, it is without partiality and without hypocrisy. It produces the fruit of righteousness which is sown in peace of them that make peace with God. We are known by our fruit that is produced in our manner of life. What are you teaching through your manner of life whether it be in word or in deed? Is it the doctrine of Christ which has been revealed to you through the Spirit, or are you instructing others to follow man’s traditions and doctrines? Who has taught you or is teaching you? Do you know for sure? If not, it is time that you look to Christ for your instruction and allow His Spirit to lead and guide you into all truth so that you know that you are holding your mind toward His doctrine and not man’s. Today, abide in the doctrine of Christ and pay attention to your walk; examine the things which you have heard and know whether they line up with the word of God; His Spirit bearing witness with your spirit. Allow Him to instruct you through this life so that you are able to be a written epistle of the doctrine of Christ. And be ready in season and out of season to give an answer of the hope that is within you when asked; let it be the doctrine of Christ that then flows forth from your mouth. Most importantly, if there come any unto you, and bring not this doctrine, receive him not into your house, neither bid him God speed. 1 Timothy 4:16 Take heed unto thyself, and unto the doctrine; continue in them: for in doing this thou shalt both save thyself, and them that hear thee. (KJV) God bless dearly loved, and have a prosperous day in Christ Jesus our Lord. 1 Timothy 4:13 Till I come, give attendance to reading, to exhortation, to doctrine. (KJV)
Remember the definition for ‘give attendance’? A few of the definitions are: to hold the mind towards, pay attention to, apply oneself to, adhere to, or be given to. Strong’s definition for ‘exhortation’: 3874 - paraklesis (par-ak'-lay-sis); from NT:3870; imploration, hortation, solace: KJV - comfort, consolation, exhortation, intreaty. Exhortation is stirring one up in remembrance of things that pertain to God which encourages them in continuing to live their life in accordance to the truth of God’s Word, and not becoming conformed again to this world. Instead, they are being transformed by the renewing of the mind that they may continue to prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect will of God. Exhortation is also to comfort one another with the truth and life that can only come in and through Christ. Exhortation can be in the form of prayer and supplication, word or deed; however the Spirit leads and guides you. It doesn’t have to be prepared ahead of time; we should be instant in season and out of season, ready and willing to be given to it. Exhortation is speaking the truth in love with the wisdom from above that it may rouse others into action. Are you applying yourself to stir up the gift of Christ within one another so that it does not become stale and of no use; keeping the living waters fresh and flowing? If not, why not? Isn’t this what we are instructed to do? Well, let’s do it today, right now, give and it shall be given. Matthew Henry Concise Commentary on 2 Peter 3:1 The purified minds of Christians are to be stirred up, that they may be active and lively in the work of holiness. Matthew Henry Concise Commentary on 2 Corinthians 9:5 The duty of ministering to the saints is so plain, that there would seem no need to exhort Christians to it; yet self-love contends so powerfully against the love of Christ, that it is often necessary to stir up their minds by way of remembrance. So be given to exhorting one another daily, while it is called today; lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin. God bless dearly loved, and have a prosperous day in Christ Jesus our Lord. 1 Timothy 4:13 Till I come, give attendance to reading, to exhortation, to doctrine. (KJV)
Strongs definition for ‘give attendance’: 4337 - prosecho (pros-ekh'-o); from NT:4314 and NT:2192; (figuratively) to hold the mind (NT:3563 implied) towards, i.e. pay attention to, be cautious about, apply oneself to, adhere to: KJV - (give) attend (-ance, -ance at, -ance to, unto), beware, be given to, give (take) heed (to unto); have regard. Webster’s New America Dictionary (copyright 1961) definitions for:
When you give attendance to God’s Word and what He asks of you, then you are being an intelligent hearer. One who makes the choice to walk or live on His side of the fence so to speak; being a doer or one who lives the Word and not just a hearer only. Why should you give attendance to reading? So that you can know; and to know is, to understand the will of God. So that you can know what the hope of His calling is (Eph 1:18) and be delivered from your sins and this present evil world (Gal 1:4). To know what His will is for your life (Eph 5:17, 1Thes 4:3-6), and what He is asking of you. Reading, to study or examine the life of Jesus Christ and the example He gave you so that you can make a good report upon it and allow the manuscript of His life to be published through you. 2 Corinthians 3:2-3 Ye are our epistle written in our hearts, known and read of all men: (3) Forasmuch as ye are manifestly declared to be the epistle of Christ ministered by us, written not with ink, but with the Spirit of the living God; not in tables of stone, but in fleshy tables of the heart. (KJV) Reading enables the mind to be renewed and enables you to remain familiar with God’s Word. So pay attention to that which Father is having you study so that you are prepared as He knows you have need of; adhering to His instruction in righteousness. These things write I unto you, that you may know how you are to behave thyself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth. Today, hold your mind toward reading the Word of God allowing the Spirit to enlighten the eyes of your understanding; absorbing the Word into your life being a written epistle of Christ known and read of all men. That you…. Ephesians 3:18-19 May be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height; (19) And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God. (KJV) God bless dearly loved, and have a prosperous day in Christ Jesus our Lord. 1 Thessalonians 5:21 Prove all things; hold fast that which is good. (KJV)
Strong’s definition for ‘hold fast’: NT:2722 katecho (kat-ekh'-o); from NT:2596 and NT:2192; to hold down (fast), in various applications (literally or figuratively): KJV - have, hold (fast), keep (in memory), let, make toward, possess, retain, seize on, stay, take, withhold. Seize on, possess, those things which are good, and acceptable, and of the perfect will of God. An example is, the fruit of the Spirit which is in all goodness and righteousness and truth; so possess it, let it not go or slip away from you, but continue in it for in doing this you shall never fall. The Lord encourages us …. Revelation 2:25 But that which ye have already hold fast till I come. (KJV) Did you first prove it? Is it good? If so, then hold fast! How about to sound words? Because we are encouraged to hold fast the form (pattern) of sound (true in doctrine, uncorrupt, whole) words (something said, including the thought; utterance; reasoning or motive). Don’t deviate from the pattern of soundness in speech; that which ministers grace to the hearers. Let your words be from the throne of God, true in doctrine, uncorrupt, true in motive in all goodness, righteousness, and truth. Hold to that which is good; remember, evil communications corrupt good morals or manners which translate into a pattern of soundless words that are not fit for the kingdom of God. How about the profession of faith? Without wavering? Remember, He is faithful that promised. God promised us eternal life in His Son Christ Jesus if we continue in Him. So continue in the faith grounded and settled (holding fast), and don’t be moved away from the hope of the gospel, which ye have heard, and which was preached to every creature which is under heaven. So what is the implication of not holding fast to that which we have heard and have been assured of? There is no guarantee that our name will be in the book of Life. Therefore we ought to give the more earnest heed to the things which we have heard, lest at any time we should let them slip. For if the word spoken by angels was steadfast, and every transgression and disobedience received a just recompense of reward; How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation; which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed unto us by them that heard him; God also bearing them witness, both with signs and wonders, and with divers miracles, and gifts of the Holy Ghost, according to his own will? (Hebrews 2:1-4 - KJV) The only way of escape is to hold fast our crown of life, which is Christ in us the only hope of glory. He is the way, the truth, and the Life. Revelation 3:11-12 Behold, I come quickly: hold that fast which thou hast, that no man take thy crown. Lord, to whom shall we go? Thou hast the words of eternal life. Jesus Christ proved that God is good and all that He promised. So dearly loved don’t let go, continue to prove Him unto yourself, and hold fast to that which you do know to be true; for God is true and so is His only begotten Son Christ Jesus. God bless, and have a very prosperous day in Christ Jesus our Lord. 1 Thessalonians 5:21 Prove all things; hold fast that which is good. (KJV)
Strong’s definition for prove: NT:1381 dokimazo (dok-im-ad'-zo); from NT:1384; to test (literally or figuratively); by implication, to approve: KJV - allow, discern, examine, like, (ap-) prove, try. Prove all things. How? By not being conformed to this world: instead be transformed by the renewing of your mind in the Word of God so that you may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God. Then continue to operate with the mind of Christ being approved of God. By lining those things that you see or hear up with the Word of God; are they approved of God, in line with His word? If not, then reprove them by bringing them in to captivity to the obedience of Christ, not allowing them to propagate any further in you or through you. By trying the spirits whether they be of God. Always hold God to be true and man the liar; if the Spirit does not bear witness then flee, run away, don’t follow the stranger’s voice nor his ways. Prove all things whether they be of God, and hold fast to that which is good and acceptable and is the perfect will of God. Is it good in the sight of God? If it is then you know you have the confidence to continue to hold fast and move forward in that which He has approved. God bless dearly loved, and have a very prosperous day in Christ Jesus our Lord. Ecclesiastes 5:2 Be not rash with thy mouth, and let not thine heart be hasty to utter any thing before God: for God is in heaven, and thou upon earth: therefore let thy words be few. (KJV)
Ecclesiastes 5:1-3 (4.) It is not enough that what we say comes from the heart, but it must come from a composed heart, and not from a sudden heat or passion. As the mouth must not be rash, so the heart must not be hasty; we must not only think, but think twice, before we speak, when we are to speak either from God in preaching or to God in prayer, and not utter any thing indecent and undigested, 1 Cor 14:15. (from Matthew Henry's Commentary) We must be swift to hear and slow to speak so that the words that come forth from our heart and mouth will not be those of ourselves but of our Father’s words of life and truth. The words that He speaks unto us are Spirit and they are life, and in them death is swallowed up in victory; this is what should be coming forth from our heart and into our life bringing joy, peace, and the liberty to serve and worship our Father in Spirit and in truth in Christ. Don’t be foolish and unlearned; but learn to walk in the wisdom from above where Christ is seated on the right hand of God; be ready and willing to listen to His guidance and counsel in and through all things; trust with all thy heart being of a sound mind (the mind of Christ) so as not to utter foolishness. And last, don’t be afraid and be of a faint heart; be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might letting your words be few to utter anything that would alter your course home to Him. Dearly loved, be more ready to hear than to give the sacrifice of fools. God bless and have a very prosperous day in Christ Jesus our Lord. Hebrews 13:15 By him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to his name. (KJV)
Death and life are in the power of the tongue; and remember, what goes into a man is not what defiles him but that which comes out of the mouth. Our heart produces the fruit of our lips. So that which is in our heart is what will come forth. Is it the fruit of the Spirit that comes forth from your heart continually, enabling you to be a living sacrifice singing praise unto God for the life that He has blessed you with in Christ? Our Father doesn’t want to hear or see empty lifeless words producing lifeless fruit in our lives. Matthew 15:8-9 This people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth, and honoreth me with their lips, but their heart is far from me. (9) But in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrine the commandments of men. (KJV) – Isaiah 29:13 Many have been taught that worship is singing, dancing, waving around like a bunch of lunatics; and yet in the Word it says: Ephesians 5:19 Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your hearts to the Lord. (KJV) – Colossians 3:16 Colossians 3:16 The singing which is here recommended is widely different from what is commonly used in most Christian congregations; a congeries of unmeaning sounds, associated to bundles of nonsensical, and often ridiculous, repetitions, which at once both deprave and disgrace the church of Christ. Melody, which is allowed to be the most proper for devotional music, is now sacrificed to an exuberant harmony, which requires, not only many different kinds of voices, but different musical instruments to support it. And by these preposterous means the simplicity of the Christian worship is destroyed, and all education totally prevented. And this kind of singing is amply proved to be very injurious to the personal piety of those employed in it; even of those who enter with a considerable share of humility and Christian meekness, how few continue to sing with GRACE in their hearts unto the Lord? (from Adam Clarke Commentary) It is an inward worship that God desires; the reconstruction of our lives in the fruit of the Spirit with the fruit of our lips being Spirit and life. What better way is there to thank our Father in heaven for all that He has given us in His Son Christ Jesus, than letting our lives be a reflection of who He is and the love He is giving. For many the fruit of their lips are empty promises so to speak, because the fruit in their lives do not reflect a willingness to offer themselves up a living sacrifice of praise to Him continually; they are not thanking Him with their lives; they say they live for Him yet the fruit of their lips demonstrate otherwise. God is a Spirit; and those who worship Him must worship Him in spirit and in truth. Let the fruit of your lips be in Spirit and in truth today; singing praise with thanksgiving continually unto Him who has given you life in Christ. God bless dearly loved, and have a prosperous day in Christ Jesus our Lord. Isaiah 40:31 But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint. (KJV)
Isaiah 40:27-31 It is bad to have evil thoughts to rise in our minds, but worse to turn them into evil words. What they had known, and had heard, was sufficient to silence all these fears and distrusts. Where God had begun the work of grace, he will perfect it. He will help those, who in humble dependence on him, help themselves. As the day, so shall the strength be. In the strength of Divine grace their souls shall ascend above the world. They shall run the way of God’s commandments cheerfully. Let us watch against unbelief, pride, and self confidence. If we go forth in our own strength, we shall faint, and utterly fall; but having our hearts and our hopes in heaven, we shall be carried above all difficulties, and be enabled to lay hold on the prize of our high calling in Christ Jesus. (from Matthew Henry Concise Commentary) Wait upon the Lord; let your strength be in Christ having your mind renewed in things above; for in this you will continually mount up with wings as eagles letting the Spirit take you above the cares and concerns of this life so that you are able to run and not be weary, walk and not faint. So dearly loved, let patience have its perfect work. God bless and have a very prosperous day in Christ Jesus our Lord. Proverbs 25:11 A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in pictures of silver. (KJV)
The wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be intreated (easily obeying or compliant), not only for Christians but for all of mankind. This is how we should relate to others, with the wisdom from above. But how do we do this? By studying to be quiet; then we are able to hear clearly what we should say and then how we should say it (John 12:49-50). Jesus Christ, when they brought the woman caught in adultery before Him; He didn’t immediately begin to speak, He remained still in heart closing off the storm that was brewing around Him, and when He spoke it was the wisdom from above that was able to set the woman free and silence the storm. It was full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy. Many of us are quick to speak and respond to situations before we hear the whole matter. Thus why we are encouraged to be swift to hear and slow to speak so that it would be the wisdom from above that comes forth from our heart and our mouth, and not that of ourselves. Proverbs 15:1 A soft answer turneth away wrath: but grievous words stir up anger (KJV) Today, let the wisdom from above come forth and paint the picture, apples of gold in pictures of silver, setting us free as well as those around us. God bless and have a prosperous day in Christ Jesus our Lord dearly loved. Psalms 37:3-6 Trust in the LORD, and do good; so shalt thou dwell in the land, and verily thou shalt be fed. (4) Delight thyself also in the LORD; and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart. (5) Commit thy way unto the LORD; trust also in him; and he shall bring it to pass. (6) And he shall bring forth thy righteousness as the light, and thy judgment as the noonday. (KJV)
As one continues in their commitment to the Lord they learn to trust in Him knowing that He will bring to pass all that He has said that He would do in and on our behalf. Continue to do good, and acknowledge every good thing that is in you in Christ Jesus and you will dwell in heavenly places in Him and thou shall be fed with food convenient for your soul. Delight thyself in the Lord and He will withhold no good thing from you, but will give you the desires of your heart. Commit thy way unto the Lord letting Him order your steps, trusting that He knows what is best and will bring all things to pass that are to your benefit. And He shall bring forth thy righteousness (Christ) as the light of your life and will stand with you in the end at the time of judgment so that you can hear those words spoken unto you ‘well done my good and faithful servant; come and sit with me forever more’. Revelation 2:7 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the tree of life, which is in the midst of the paradise of God. (KJV) Revelation 2:17 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the hidden manna, and will give him a white stone, and in the stone a new name written, which no man knoweth saving he that receiveth it. (KJV) Revelation 3:21 To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne. (KJV) Forever more dearly loved. God bless and have a prosperous day in Christ Jesus our Lord. |
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