HOW READETH THOU? AVOIDING UNLEARNED QUESTIONS

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1 1 HOW READETH THOU? AVOIDING UNLEARNED QUESTIONS Dr. Kenneth W. Jones, Pastor, Practical Living Ministry

2 Scripture 2 2 Corinthians 4:2 - But have renounced the hidden things of dishonesty, not walking in craftiness, nor handling the word of God deceitfully; but by manifestation of the truth commending ourselves to every man's conscience in the sight of God. 2 nd Timothy 2:22,23 Flee also youthful lusts: but follow righteousness, faith, charity, peace, with them that call on the Lord out of a pure heart. 23 But foolish and unlearned questions avoid, knowing that they do gender strifes.

3 Introduction 3 We are to share the truth of God s Word in good conscience and spirit We are not to share the doctrines of the Gospel to serve any secular or carnal purpose We are called to preach the gospel in such a way that everyone can understand and receive it Realize that people are capable of seeing the truth even when they do not receive or obey it; they can perceive that it has demonstration that it is from God. The woman at the well in John 4 is a good example how revelation of God s Word can lead to a transformed life The Apostle Paul preached a gospel of integrity based on truth, and not an elaborate scheme of hidden mysteries and philosophies

4 Avoid Unlearned Questions 4 What does this mean? The word unlearned, here, refers to trifling, or that which does not tend to edification; in other words, stupid. The Greeks and the Hebrews were greatly given to controversies of various kinds, and many of the questions discussed pertained to points which could not be settled, or which, if settled, were of no importance. Foolish and unlearned questions distract us from our God-given purpose of preaching the gospel As we pursue our God-given purpose and make full proof of our ministry, we are to avoid and stay clear of endless and fruitless disputes and arguments which can distract us and hinder us in exercising the Great Commission

5 But I Have Questions 5 Consider the Amplified Version of 2 Tim 2:23 and judge your questions by this: 2 Timothy 2:23 - But refuse (shut your mind against, have nothing to do with) trifling (ill-informed, unedifying, stupid) controversies over ignorant questionings, for you know that they foster strife and breed quarrels. Immediate Checklist: Is your question one to understand a truth or to expose and discuss a controversy? Is your question in search of a biblical principle or an attempt to validate a worldly mindset? Will this question distract from what is being preached; from the doctrine of salvation, and would it lead to strife, division, and contentions?

6 Scriptures 6 2 Timothy 2:16 - But avoid worldly and empty chatter, for it will lead to further ungodliness, This refers to anything that takes the focus off of the gospel and God's Word. Man s opinions, philosophies and teachings are profane and vain when compared to God s Word Vain even though people like to discuss these things, they have no intrinsic value Profane unholy in contrast to the holiness of God s Word 1 st Timothy 6:20: Timothy, guard what has been entrusted to you, avoiding irreverent, empty speech and contradictions from the "knowledge" that falsely bears that name. (Berean Bible) Carefully preserve that doctrine which I have delivered to thee Why is the Apostle Paul keep stressing this? It must be important

7 Why Is This Message Important? 7 You are to guard what was committed to your trust: The gospel is a trust committed to pastors like Timothy; but also to all believers. The world is full of error and false teachings with one purpose: to overthrow the faith of others and distract many from the faith As we share the gospel and the Word of God with others, we may be challenged by others whose only purpose is to distract us from teaching and distract others from receiving the truth It is important that we know how to respond to questions and answers appropriately and if necessary avoid questions regarding issues that does not lend itself to edifying the body of Christ

8 Point of Emphasis 8 Many today accept and honor teachers who are way off in one area or another; and they justify it by saying, "I eat the meat and spit out the bones." This kind of thinking will certainly overthrow the faith of some, because some will certainly choke to spiritual death on the bones you say you spit out. (Guzik s Commentary) We are encouraged to cleanse ourselves from everything that can defile our body or spirit (2 Cor 7:1). I believe doctrines that divide, foolish controversies and biblical error can allow trash to lodge in our spirit, rendering us ineffective to serve God.

9 Sin Began With a Discussion 9 Genesis 3:1-5: Now the serpent was more subtle than any beast of the field which the LORD God had made. And he said unto the woman, Yea, hath God said, Ye shall not eat of every tree of the garden? 2 And the woman said unto the serpent, We may eat of the fruit of the trees of the garden: 3 But of the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the garden, God hath said, Ye shall not eat of it, neither shall ye touch it, lest ye die. 4 And the serpent said unto the woman, Ye shall not surely die: 5 For God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil.

10 Satan s Strategy 10 Sin has a dual source (Dr. Ed Murphy: Handbook on Spiritual Warfare) Human sources one s wrong choices Spiritual (Supernatural) source Satan s temptations Through deception, Satan plant seeds of evil thoughts and imaginations into human minds and hearts Deception means to give a false impression. Satan s plan or strategy is the following: (The Deadly D s) He conceals his evil wisdom by Disguising himself so that the woman is unaware of his evil Just as we allow false brethren to enter into our homes and churches unaware By carefully choice words, the serpent Distorted her view of what God had said

11 Satan s Strategy.Cont d 11 With her mind now distorted, she is ready to embrace a total misinterpretation of God s Word You will not surely die. Eve now embraces Satan s thoughts and now sees the forbidden tree from an entirely new and wrong perspective Is as if she believes that God was short-changing her and withholding something from her She begins to Doubt God s Word and His Goodness she allowed a different line of thinking to enter her minds (2 nd Cor 10:4,5) Satan s assaults God s motives and purpose With thoughts and vain philosophies, Satan attacks our minds with doubts, attacking our faith, confidence, pointing towards perceived inconsistencies in God s Word When Eve followed the wrong course of thinking, she overtly Denied God s Word Satan s Word appealed to her senses over what God had said She ate of the fruit and gave some to her husband Adam exercises free will and eats the forbidden fruit, Disobeying the Word of God Without the presence of God s Word in Adam s thoughts, his mind was on evil continually (Genesis 6:5; Proverbs 6:14) causing strife and confusion People being deceived, in turn become deceivers (2 nd Tim 3:13)

12 Unlearned Questions Complicate 12 2 Corinthians 11:3 - But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ. Beware when leaders and churches make the gospel too complicated Satan is subtle and cunning using words to stir doubt and confusion So your minds should be corrupted - So your thoughts should be perverted or distracted from the prize. So your hearts should be alienated from the life of God We are to avoid corrupt and unlearned questions that will take away from the message of Christ

13 What is the Simplicity That is in Christ? 13 Trust and confidence in the work of Christ completed through the cross Luke 19:10: For the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost Trust and obedience to a pure doctrine, free of opinions, ideas, and philosophies that distract our attention from God and His promises Psalms 119:105 - NUN. Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path. True Devotion and Worship in response to God s precious gift John 4:24 - God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth. Simplicity in manner of living 1 Timothy 4:12 - Let no man despise thy youth; but be thou an example of the believers, in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity.

14 Nothing Has Changed 14 For those who will not accept the simplicity that is in Christ (2 nd Cor 11:3), Satan still offers liars, philosophies, and other sources of spirituality Pagan philosophies and practices, New Age Thinking, Certain Movements are orchestrated by the rebellion of men and the tactics of Satan to: Discredit the Work of Christ and the Gospel i.e. Focus on works and religion Take away from Deity of God, Jesus, & the Holy Spirit Defuse vs. Diffuse - The gospel was meant to be diffused or spread out; To defuse means to disarm or pacify the power of the gospel (Romans 1:16)

15 Wait A Minute! Another Question 15 What about all these teachings on the Occult, New Age Movements, Yoga, and such? Don t they distract churches who are supposed to be focusing on the gospel message? Jesus said that he came to expose the works of the devil and we are too (1 st John 3:8 Remember Satan and his actions are the antithesis of the gospel to distract, divert, and deceive the message Therefore we must expose Satan's lies that he uses to draw people away from hearing and receiving the good news of the gospel

16 Conclusion 16 The world, even the church world, grows weary of hearing the simplicity of the gospel. We try our best to make it seem more and more confusing and complicated. We add our little doctrines and subjective knowledge. We add our rituals and traditions of men. We give our own little private interpretations of every word that God speaks. We try to stimulate our understanding of God and the bible by searching after philosophies and questions that add nothing to our acceptance of the good news. We try to make ourselves seem more knowledgeable than God himself concerning the message of the gospel. Yet the message is still simple and it still changes lives today.

17 Practical Living Ministry 17 Practical Living Ministry exists to assist individuals, groups, and organizations to operate to their full God-given ability by sharing life changing principles for spiritual growth and development. If this message touched you, please let me hear from you. If you would like to encourage us financially to keep sharing these kind of messages, please go to our donation section on our website at If you would like to contact Dr. Jones for a speaking engagement at your church or event concerning biblical leadership, mentoring, and Christian culture. Please contact Pastor Kenneth Jones at kenjones@practicallivingministry.org