“and if there be any praise”
NT:1868 concretely, a commendable thing:
This may be a hard saying but it is amazing that some have strayed from what is concretely established in the word of God. There are true prophets among us and yet many are ignored. Their words sound out with sound doctrine yet they are not heard. They are prophets and teachers among us who hold the line to the scriptures and will not stray from the teaching of the Apostles. Some Christians have itching ears and find teachers that tickle their fancy and make them think they have more understanding than all the Apostles had when they wrote under the power of the Holy Spirit. These Christians are like the Athenians on Mars Hill and spend their time either to tell, or to hear some new thing. But I tell you, We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts: Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation. For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost. ..That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled, of the Word of life; (For the life was manifested, and we have seen it, and bear witness, and shew unto you that eternal life, which was with the Father, and was manifested unto us;) KJV2 Peter 1:19-21; I John 1:1-2; Acts 17:21
Paul used the word "doctrine" 12 times in his letters to Timothy instructing him to be sure to teach only what Paul had taught him and no other doctrine and give attendance to reading, to exhortation, to doctrine, (until I come). 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. This is a commendable thing and worthy of much praise. Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. We do not have our own truth. We have the truth that was delivered by the Apostles as they were moved by the Holy Spirit and we are to contend for the faith that was once and for all delivered to the Saints. 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. For if he that cometh preacheth another Jesus, whom we have not preached, or if ye receive another spirit, which ye have not received, or another gospel, which ye have not accepted, ye might well bear with him. I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel: Which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ. But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed. 1Tim. 4:16; 2Tim. 2:15; 2Cor. 11:3-4; Gal 1:6-8
What is the test of another Gospel? It is the departure from the Bible. Do your meetings give attendance to reading, exhortation and doctrine? Or does the leader ramble on about being one with the universe, conversing with angels or comparing the physical to the spirit? The only thing that is excellent and praiseworthy is the word of God spoken by them who were moved of God to do so. If anything is excellent or praiseworthy think on those things and meditate on those things. Let the word dwell in you richly as it revolves in your mind. Revolving in your mind is a process of meditation in which you take some quiet time and think on the scriptures on a daily basis. Pray always, read always but give yourself time to meditate on the word. Col 3:15 And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful. 16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord. Phil. 4:8 Think about all you can praise God for and be glad about.
the voice
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