Text for Menu-Driven Bible Study given 3 September 2016  See Menu     MP3     Menu-Driven Bible Study Homepage

Topics Discussed:

Item 36 - Infallibility of the Minister [at the beginning of the audio]
Item 28 - The 24 Elders [begins at 5:36 of the audio]
Item 07 - Song Service and Prayer [begins at 17:17 of the audio]
Item 11 - New Church Starts [begins at 25:30 of the audio]
Item 66 - 1 Thessalonians 5:22: --"Abstain from all appearance of evil." [begins at 34:10 of the audio]
Item 88 - Christ: What if Christ were returning in 30 days? [begins at 1:02:40 of the audio]
 

Are ministers infallible?  If the sermon is inspired does this mean the sermon will be perfect?  Bible Studies and counseling?

Clearly God works through fallible human beings.  Notice these excerpts from our doctrine:

From our doctrine on God:
--Yet it is God's mercy and compassion that are paramount in giving full hope and confidence to fallible human beings who are sinners all.

From our doctrine on the Bible:
--Only one who sincerely seeks to apply the biblical way to his own life will eventually learn that the practical instructions, timeless wisdom, spiritual depth and living laws come from a Supreme Being, and not merely from fallible, mortal men. 
 

From our doctrine on the Laying on of Hands:
-- The act of laying on of hands itself has special symbolic meaning.  It shows that God works through fallible human beings in administrating church government.

--The laying on of hands is a simple but deeply symbolic ceremony which has special application in special circumstances as explained above.  It is of critical importance to Christianity, because it shows that God works and deals with mankind through other human beings whom He chooses and sets apart for His purpose, though they are fallible and imperfect.

From our doctrine on Traditional Christian Doctrines:
-- Truth, the doctrinal truth of the Bible, is absolutely essential for those who will follow Jesus Christ.  This is not to claim that doctrinal perfection is necessary for either God's collective Church or for the individual Christian.  Indeed, this is unrealistic to demand, considering the fact that God works through fallible human beings; such doctrinal perfection can be achieved when Jesus Christ returns as King of kings and Lord of lords. 

Our doctrine, faith and belief is clear: men, even men and women in the Body of Christ, with God's Holy Spirit are fallible. 

There is no such thing as perfection in this physical life, whether we speak to the human condition, our skills or our level of righteousness. 

--- Man loves to look for imperfection in others.
--- Men look for imperfection in Christ, the disciples and Paul.
--- They have looked for it in all church leaders, ministers and members.
--- How many times have I seen imperfect man seek to throw out a minister because of his imperfections.

--- If perfection is the standard, then all must go and churches disbanded.

--- Members and ministers can be disfellowshipped for openly sinning without repentance or ministers for preaching false doctrines.
--- However, there is not instruction for getting rid of a minister for being fallible.

So, not every sermon will be perfect and your minister does not walk on water. 

He will have good days and not-so-good days just like you. 

He will, from time to time make mistakes. 

No true minister will ever claim infallibility.  Beware of any minister or member who does.  Only God, Christ and God's Word are perfect and infallible.  Your fallible minister will be preaching Christ from that infallible Word.

We read about the twenty-four elders in Revelation 4, 5, 11 and 19

I will discuss this topic in two parts.  The second part is partly speculation but speculation based on our spirit-driven understanding of the Word of God.

In our doctrine on the Angelic Realm, it says...

A number of specific types of angels are generally described. Cherubim are explained in Ezekiel 1 and 10 as having four wings and four faces (of a lion, ox, eagle and man) and covering (or carrying) God's throne. Seraphim are "full of eyes before and behind," having six wings and appearing either like a lion, a calf, an eagle or with the face of a man (Is. 6:2-3; Rev. 4:6-8). "Twenty-four elders" who apparently serve as counselors for God Himself are described in Revelation 4:4, 10-11.

So, to answer the first part of topic, the twenty-four elders are spirit beings in the angelic realm.

The reason we have this on the menu is because we sometimes receive e-mails from people who believe the elders are Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, David, Elijah and others.  We have five spirit-driven conclusions that collectively proof this cannot be the case.

1) John 3:13 says that no man has ascended into the third heaven.

2) If these were individuals such as Abraham and others who were once human, this means that God has had this collection of counselors for a VERY SHORT TIME as eternity goes.  Man was only created 6,000 years ago.  The collection of elders would not even be complete until more recent times if we are to place Paul and John among this group.

3) There are more than 24 righteous people in the Bible.  Whom do you include in this number?  Whom do you leave out?

4) Because of scripture such as we have on David, who would clearly be a prime candidate for the 24 Elders if they were, in fact, ascended humans.

Men and brethren, let me freely speak unto you of the patriarch David, that he is both dead and buried, and his sepulchre is with us unto this day.  For David is not ascended into the heavens: but he saith himself, The LORD said unto my Lord, Sit thou on my right hand. –Acts 2:29, 34

5) The fact that many of these individuals are mentioned in Hebrews 11 [the Faith chapter] which concludes with these words...

These all died in faith, not having received the promises. –Heb 11:13

This should be more than enough to prove that the twenty-four elders are not ascended humans.

Now a moment of speculation as we look to the future.  It would appear to this minister that we, too, will have a collection of elders or angels who will act as our counselors.  Notice a scripture...

Are they not all ministering spirits, sent forth to minister for them who shall be heirs of salvation? –Heb 1:14  This verse gives rise to my spiritual conclusion that they will continue to be ministering spirits to us AFTER we become spirit beings.  It appeals to my spiritual logic that these ministering spirits are assigned to each firstfruit from before his or her birth.  Won't they have stories to tell you....about YOU.

Why do we have the opening prayer AFTER the song service?  Doesn’t it sound more logical to enclose everything we do within prayer?

This question comes in from time to time.  It sounds quite logical to enclose everything in prayer, but we need to understand a couple of concepts here.  The current service outline we have is the product of many, many years of experience, study and meditation.

Concept 1: The opening song service is CALL TO WORSHIP. 

We are dealing with humans here and humans, by definition, are weak and finite.  Prior to any service, we have people in the restrooms, changing infants or in the lobby talking to other brethren. 

How do you get everyone into services?  Do we hope that everyone's watches are synchronized? 

Do we make resounding announcements on the sound system, assuming we have one?  How do we do this?  "Services will begin in ten minutes."  "Services will begin in just five minutes."  "Services are beginning, please find your seats now." 

The problem with this is that it comes across as rather infantile or as something a cult would do.  Can you imagine doing this week after week? 

How much more subtle it is to simply begin the song service and let the music and singing call everyone to service. 

I have witnessed this for decades and it works every time. 

When the song service begins and everyone is singing, there is no doubt in the entire building that services are beginning

Concept 2:  The song service IS prayer and worship before our God.  Notice...

Serve the LORD with gladness: come before his presence with singing. –Ps 100:2

Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord; Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. –Eph 5:19-20

Let us come before his presence with thanksgiving, and make a joyful noise unto him with psalms. –Ps 95:2

When I remember these things, I pour out my soul in me: for I had gone with the multitude, I went with them to the house of God, with the voice of joy and praise, with a multitude that kept holyday. –Ps 42:4
 

It is clear that God loves the song service and it is another form of prayer and/or worship.

How this is done (viewpoint of Web Site Office---present status and future plans).

How does the ICG raise up new churches?
 
---There is certainly more than one way.  Here is ours.
 
---At the EA web site is a Literature Order form. 
---Visitor may ask about a church near them.

1) If we have a church within 25 miles of them, we give them the contact information.

2) If not, we let them know there is no church nearby.  We then outline just how we will establish one in their town or region.

---We keep track and record every inquiry about a local ICG church.
--- When we have three or more households within 25 miles, we turn this information over to HQ.

---They assign the new church start to the appropriate minister and/or AC who then sets up a Sabbath Service and/pr Public Bible Study or Campaign.

Mailing go out from HQ on this event to all on the mailing list in the nearby zip codes.

Keep in mind that only God can truly establish a local ICG church and He does this by Godly Calling of the potential members who will be in that congregation.  It all begins with Godly Calling.  The church itself, cannot make a church happen.  See the Minister's Notebook piece on, "Numbers, Numbers, Numbers!!".   
 
See also Menu Item 9, Growth in the Church.

1 Thessalonians 5:22: -- “Abstain from all appearance of evil.”  
--Mistranslated, misapplied and often misunderstood scripture.
--What is the more correct rendering of this verse?  To whom is this scripture directed?
---How is it misused?  What is an “appearance of evil?”

Key word: "Appearance"
A more accurate rendering of this verse is, "abstain from every form of evil."  The key word, "appearance" is the Greek word, eidos or Strong's word, 1491

NT:1491
eidos (i'-dos); from NT:1492; a view, i.e. form (literally or figuratively):

Most Bible translations render the verse this way.  Notice:

1. Stay away from every form of evil (Jewish New Testament)
2. Abstain from every form of evil (New American Standard)
3. Avoid every kind of evil (New International Version)
4. Keep away from every kind of evil (Living Bible)
5. Abstain from evil—shrink from it and keep aloof from it—in whatever form or whatever kind it may be (Amplified Bible)

Note: quoting these versions of the Bible is in no way a recommendation you use any of them as a main source for understanding the Word of God.

Notice these now from Wycliffe Commentary and Vine's Expository Dictionary

Paul's negative command is actually: Abstain from every kind of evil. Eidos (appearance,, AV) is often used in the papyri of the Greco-Roman period to denote "class," "sort," "kind." It has frequently been noted that while "the good" in verse 21 is singular, evil is said to take many different forms. The wording recalls Job 1:1,8; 2:3.  ~from The Wycliffe Bible Commentary

APPEARANCE

1. eidos NT:1491, properly "that which strikes the eye, that which is exposed to view," signifies the "external appearance, form, or shape," and in this sense is used of the Holy Spirit in taking bodily form, as a dove, Luke 3:22; of Christ, 9:29, "the fashion of His countenance."

It has a somewhat different significance in 1 Thessalonians 5:22, in the exhortation, "Abstain from every form of evil," i. e., every sort or kind of evil (not "appearance," KJV). This meaning was common in the papyri, the Greek writings of the closing centuries, B. C., and the New Testament era.  ~from Vine's
 

I will quote I Thessalonians 5, verse 22 from the Textus Receptus (Received Text) first and then from the Nestle-Anland, as these are the "closer to" the original text than what we read of in the KJV.

Textus Receptus -- from every form of evil, hold back
Nestle-Anland -- abstain from every form of evil.

What "form of evil" means
In each case these words relate not the real thing but to a type, form or fashion of the real thing. 

---do not approach area of sin.  ---not pushing envelope   ---crossing border

---Evil and/or the committing of sin does not just happen. 

---Everything is a process. 

---Process of salvation as well as a process of sin. 

--- We examine ourselves ---avoid beginning of process
 

This Verse is Personal

---1 Thess. 5:22 is an admonition from Paul to the lone individual

--- Firstfruit must make these judgments about evil, sin & approach towards it. 

---The individual has to decide what he or she is going to do regarding his proximity to evil.

---Verse 22 clearly cannot be used by third party firstfruits or other individuals

---This is the problem with the misapplied word "appearance" rather than "form".  -----with utterance, we see third parties looking at firstfruit

---Carnal nature loves to judge the other person.  ---It’s self-justification. 

---This verse must remain out of the hands of third parties
 

Misuse of this Scripture by Would-be Judges
---The primary problem of third parties using: THEY define "appearance of evil"

---If a common practice, we would all be forced to remain home forever

---In my 35 years --EVERYTHING as being an appearance, form or type of evil. ------This was true in the first century of this church.

Consider the cases of...
Jesus making so much wine at the wedding.

Jesus fellowshipping with wind bibbers, prostitutes and tax collectors.
Jesus picking corn on the Sabbath.

Paul walking among idols in Athens.

---Most of these instances were seen as being evil and/or inappropriate in the day

---Today members looking for every appearance of evil and others fearing

---This is why this verse needs to be taken out of third party hands.

Being Spring-loaded to the Negative

 There is a situation I call, "happenstance appearance of evil". 

1) Cafe window.      Assumption:      Truth:  (story on audio)

2) Marijuana cigarettes.  Assumption:   Truth:  (story on audio)
 
Casting of Stumbling Blocks a Separate Issue
…is a specific act.  

Keeping to Design
1 Thessalonians 5:22 is a specific tool for the firstfruit in his or her own Salvation Process.  Do all you can to keep it there.

What would you do?  What would you change about yourself?  What would your attitude be?  What does the Bible have to say on the subject?

--probably the most important we could ask of a firstfruit
--what would your Bible study like be like knowing this?
--what would your prayer life be like?
--imagine the adrenalin that would run through your veins.

--would you not have a renewed sense of urgency?
--wouldn’t you be on your knees with an open Bible.
--fact is, we should always operate with this expectation.
--Our Salvation Process must be charged with fervency.

--What does the Bible have to say about fervency?

Whom we preach, warning every man, and teaching every man in all wisdom; that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus: Whereunto I also labour, striving according to his working, which worketh in me mightily. –Colossians 1:28-29

--Paul is preaching fervency.
--how can we get close to perfection without fervency?
--Paul says he works “mightily” to this end.

No man that warreth entangleth himself with the affairs of this life; that he may please him who hath chosen him to be a soldier. -2 Timothy 2:4 [see Lesson]

--Soldiers are expected to give 100% to their missions.
--in training, soldiers learn discipline for the heat of battle.
--the verse says God does not want a man warring with himself.
--less entanglements in your life, the more fervent in Process.
--remember that Satan is looking to eat up your time.
--He is the entangler.

The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much. –James 5:16

Note: "Fervent prayer" availeth much.  Not now-and-again prayer or only when we become afraid or in need but continued, fervent prayer everyday in the Salvation Process.

Not slothful in business; fervent in spirit; serving the Lord. –Romans 12:11

--before God, is there anyway to serve Him but fervently?
--this fervency comes from the power of the Holy Spirit.
--we must invoke this power.  God demands it be on FULL.

Wake up each day with the same urgency you would have had you just been told that your Lord was returning in just thirty days.

See my Notebook piece, "The Time is Short' ...another perspective"  One may want to tell himself that his Lord is not coming back in thirty days but can he guarantee he will be around in thirty days?  Our life is but a breath and then we are gone.

Seek the LORD and his strength, seek his face continually. –1 Chronicles 16:11

Seek ye the LORD while he may be found, call ye upon him while he is near. –Isaiah 55:6
 

---End of Text---

 

Questions Covered as of 2 September
The questions handled thus far highlighted in green.  If you wish to hear one again, feel free to ask for that one again.
Up for this coming Friday are 41-70-77-79