promises.

the promise (s) i’m letting sink in today.

“Indeed, all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted, while evil people and imposters will go on from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived.”                                                                                        

2 Timothy 3:12-13

persecuted- oppressed, abused, victimized, ill-treated, mistreated, tyrannized, tormented, tortured; martyred.

just as He promised,, things and people of this world are going on from bad to worse,, being deceived and deceiving others. and while persecution is a daily reality in other parts of the world,, as Christians in America we haven’t even begun to experience it….yet. 

thankfully,, there’s another promise,, and “{this} saying [promise] is trustworthy, for:

        [if we have died with Him, we will also live with Him;

          if we suffer [endure], we will also reign with Him…]

                                                                                     2 Timothy 2:11-12a

but let us also soberly consider that the rest of His promise is just as trustworthy and true.

                       

              [… if we deny Him, he also will deny us…]

                                                                                         2 Timothy 12:b

and finally, rejoice in the last part of this promise,, {the beauty of His nature},,

              […if we are faithless, He remains faithful—for He cannot deny Himself. ]

                                                                                          2 Timothy 2:13

promises.

the promise  i’m thankful for today.

“…do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”                                         Phil. 4:6-7

the spirit of anxiety is replaced by the spirit of peace through prayer and giving thanks.

[[pour out your heart before Him,, let thanks spill over, and you will have the peace of God, that cannot be understood, imitated or explained,, calming your restless heart, quieting your busy mind]].

promises.

the promise  i am clinging to and chewing on today…

[“I am coming soon. hold fast…”]

                                                                    Revelation 3:11 

lets be honest.

There’s two different ways to interpret Scripture.

exegesis --> Greek ‘ex’- lead out of ; to pull the meaning out of the text.

eisegesis --> Greek ‘eis’- lead into; to interpret the text by reading into it one’s own ideas

the first lays aside all desires, preconceived ideas, even the theological framework we’ve known and been taught all our lives, and looks solely at the text to understand it. Its pulling the meaning out of  the text alone.

  the second interprets by putting our own ideas into the text,, or even looking to prove our thought/idea by pulling Scripture to defend it.

[drawing truth out of the text vs. reading our views into the text,, making it mean whatever we want.]

Exegesis allows us to agree with the Bible; eisegesis seeks to force the Bible to agree with us.

Clearly, interpreting the Word exegetically is key.

But now,, I am forced to question..

am I living exegetically?

am I allowing what I see when I look around me in our American Christian culture to dictate and influence how I live?

am I stuck in what is comfortable?

am I trapped in a theological framework I was raised in?

am I redefining Christianity and His call?

am I actually living Biblically,, or have I used the Bible to defend a "Christianity" that meets my desires and level of comfort?

am I really obeying Him?

am I really walking in the Spirit as I’m commanded?

am I actually making disciples?

am I truly living and fellowshipping with the Body as I see laid out in Scripture?

do I really see the power of the Holy Spirit in my life?

am I truly living supernaturally?

am I fulfilling His call to love as He loves?

is there any tangible difference between my life and the life of someone down the street who denies the existence of God? 

is Jesus redefining my life,, or am i redefining His? 

honestly?.

these are some of the questions He’s asking me.

and as I seek to align my life with His Word, I’m allowing God to

                                            [[search me deep]].

       to dig up all that our culture, and American idea of church, and my own personal preference has planted in me,, and

       root me firm in how [He alone] defines following Jesus. 

implementation.

“what you have learned and received and heard and seen in me--
                  [practice these things],
                                                  and the God of peace will be with you.”                  

                                                                                                                                            Philippians 4:9

“but be doers of the Word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.”
                                                                                          James 1:22

walk out the truths I’ve shown you.

 put skin on the revelations I’ve given you.

don’t merely seek more intellectual and theological understanding. don’t merely ask for more revelations in My Word.

any study, revelation, knowledge or theology that doesn’t bring us into greater intimacy and personal experience with Jesus leads to spiritual pride and deception.

[[seek to actually live daily what I’ve already taught you]]. 


-kelsey