Teaching the Bible by Challenging the Mind

Much detail is often missed when we read our Bibles and it is in fact those small details that end up having the biggest impact on what we believe, how we understand our God and how we live our lives according to that understanding.

Under usual circumstances we would sit, listen, pray, get up and leave every Sunday and then 5 minutes later we cannot recall what it was that was spoken of. It is only when our beliefs and understanding is challenged that we tend to remember what was said.

If someone was to come up to you and say “Jesus is the Antichrist” you would remember those words for the rest of your life because it was challenging to your beliefs and understanding, but if that same person said to “Jesus is Christ our Lord” you would agree with him and 15 minutes later those words would be the furthest thing from your mind.

It is with such challenges that the Greatest Teacher of all time taught His disciples. It is also such challenges that make us become better Bible students because it is then that we meditate on The Word. It is such challenges that make us want to go back to our Bibles and look deeper in it (research it).

The Importance of Understanding God's Word

The understanding of God’s Word is vitally important to spiritual growth. It is due to a lack of understanding that we experience such a huge separation of the church and also within the church today.

One of the most important reasons for placing an emphasis on understanding is that every believer in Jesus Christ lives their lives according to how they understand God and His Word. If God’s Word is not understood, then how do we know what pleases God? How do we know our lives are truly in accordance with the Will of God? How do we know if we really treat others as God expects us to?

Jesus commended understanding

In the context of Mark 12:32-34 Jesus was questioned by a scribe about what the most important commandment is and when Jesus answered the scribe replied in verses 32-33 “"Well said, Teacher. You have spoken the truth, for there is one God, and there is no other but He. And to love Him with all the heart, with all the understanding, with all the soul, and with all the strength, and to love one's neighbor as oneself, is more than all the whole burnt offerings and sacrifices." (NKJV)

Notice the scribe stating we should love God with all understanding and to this the Holy Spirit has written through Mark in verse 34 that “Now when Jesus saw that he answered wisely, He said to him, "You are not far from the kingdom of God." But after that no one dared question Him.” (NKJV)

So even Jesus commended the scribe for being wise in stating that we should love God with all understanding.

Paul prayed for the Colossians to have understanding

In Col 1:9-10 we find the apostle Paul writing to the Colossian church “For this reason we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to ask that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding; that you may walk worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing Him, being fruitful in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God” (NKJV)

Notice that Paul does not only pray that they be “filled with knowledge” but also that within this knowledge they also have “all wisdom and understanding”.

I have come across many who are able to quote Scripture accurately, yet they do not understand fully what the Scripture actually means. Hence why having knowledge of the Scriptures was and still is not good enough, but rather to have and understanding of the Scriptures which, as Paul writes in the above passage, will ensure “that you may walk worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing Him…”

Paul desired Timothy to have understanding

When we look at the background of Timothy we find that he was already knowledgeable of the Scriptures. He was taught the faith by his mother and grandmother from a very young age (2Tim 1:5). Despite him already being knowledgeable, Paul yet writes to him in 2Tim 2:7 “Consider what I say, and may the Lord give you understanding in all things.” (NKJV)

Emphasize understanding

Scripture gives us clear indications that besides growing in knowledge, with this knowledge should also come understanding. We need to always strive towards gaining an understanding of God’s Word and not just a knowledge of it or else we will not know how to truly live our lives according to the Will of God.

The challenge we should take upon ourselves is to give due diligence to the study of God’s Word which is the only way in which we will be able to gain the understanding which is truly pleasing to God.

The challenge is to sacrifice our time to gather together with the pure and only purpose of studying and discussing God’s Word with open minds and without preconceived ideas. This is how we will truly understand the Bible and properly apply it to our lives.

Marketing a Witchcraft Website

I have recently started my own Internet Marketing company in Cape Town and yesterday I received an email from some professor guy saying he needs to make use of my services since he was no longer generating website traffic even though he advertises regularly (where and how I do not know).

I then replied asking for a link to his website so I could have a look at it and just give it a surface analysis and once he sent me the link later in the evening I found the guy to be a herbalist who offers (on his website) to “Cast a spell for all your problems & enemies to disappear quickly!”.

Needless to say I declined immediately (within myself), but I still need to send him the email explaining my rejection, which I will do right away.

This was clearly another test to see if I would compromise my faith and beliefs just to gain an extra buck… I am in no way prepared to do so.

Proposition to become assistant pastor

As I mentioned in a recent post, I was invited to be a guest preacher at a 3 Day Revival service at a church in my local community. Today my wife and I attended a meeting with the pastor of that same church since my wife offered to assist with establishing a youth group.

The pastor then first asked me if I was currently already serving in a church to which I answered “yes” (apparently for the few months that we have come to know each other it never occurred to him that I was already part of and serving regularly at a church).

With this he then mentioned that he was actually hoping he could appoint me as an assistant pastor in the church he serves, which of course I declined, but did offer to still serve in his church from time to time and also assist in the Sunday evening Bible Study Open Discussion teaching.

I also offered to assist my wife with the youth ministry so I guess I will be very active within the church he serves in any event.

It is evident that the teaching and the idea I left them with when I preached there definitely left an impression (by the Hand of our Heaven Father).

Google and Twitter Helps Egypt Stay Connected

With Egypt being virtually shut out from the outside world by having their internet and mobile services shut down, Google has teamed up with Twitter and SayNow to help Egyptians get their messages out using any voice connection.

All they need to do is dial one of three international phone numbers (+16504194196 or +390662207294 or +97316199855), leave a voicemail and the service will instantly tweet the message using the #egypt hashtag.

An internet connection is not required to make use of this service and anyone can listen to these messages by dialing the same numbers or by visiting www.twitter.com/speak2tweet

Internet Shutdown in Egypt

It has been reported that the Egyptian government has shut down internet and all mobile services yesterday, Friday 28 January. It is believed that this came as a result of the riots which have been happening in Egypt this past week.

Why would a government shut out the outside world and all communications within its country due to riots? Do they have something that they are attempting to hide from the outside world perhaps?

Some have asked “if the government won’t allow their people to Tweet on certain situations, what else will government not allow its citizens to do?”

That’s a pretty scary question if you ask me.

Guest Preacher at 3 Day Revival

A local poster in the area I am focusing my personal ministry on has asked me to be a guest preacher at a 3 day revival service which starts today at 7pm.

I was honored that he would ask me to do this and accepted his invitation with gratitude. The theme of the 3 day effort is “Change” and though I will only be preaching tomorrow, Saturday 29 January, he called me up again last night to ask me to do the opening and welcoming speech.

This task was originally to be fulfilled by another pastor who was scheduled to preach at the event tonight, but for some unknown reason he will not be present so I will have to do it.

Now with my lesson already prepared, I now have to prepare a welcoming speech (which I seem to be doing a lot lately). So off I go in further preparation for this event…

Illuminati spelt backwards

I just came across something very interesting that I read in a forum.

Take the word “Illuminati” and spell it backwards. It will give you “itanimulli”… now add “.com” to it and type it in your browser then see where it takes you.

Ok to make it easier I’ll just give you the address: www.itanimulli.com

Now go check it out.

My Own Online Marketing Business

I am starting my own Internet / Online Marketing business and have placed a blog entitled RWM Internet Marketing Blog where I post articles specifically related to Online Marketing.

I ask everyone to please keep me in prayer while I go on this venture. I aim to use this business as my “tent making” which will allow me to work from home, giving me free time to focus full time on ministry taking the example from the apostle Paul.

I want to work to support myself and my family and also to support my ministry of spreading the gospel and teaching the Word of God. I do not want to be a “burden” to anyone financially lest the gospel be hindered and I get accused of preaching for money (as so many preachers are accused of doing).

I ask again, please keep me in prayer.

God bless.