1 Thessalonians 5:11 "Therefore encourage one another and build up one another…"

Perspicuity: plain to the understanding especially because of clarity and precision of presentation. (https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/perspicuity)

For more than thirty years I worked at a law firm with many of the most brilliant legal minds in the world. My positions throughout much of my time with the firm was in the field of Information Technology. I was a techy and a techy manager and most times I had a very limited understanding of what the lawyers were talking about when they were speaking in legal-eze. To be honest, I expect there were times when my techno-babble was not too clear either. To use an old adage, legal language was often “…all Greek to me”. No matter how hard I could ever try to understand complex legal language, the reality is that I was not trained in a manner that would equip me to understand.

So what about the Bible? Do you have to be a trained seminarian or have your doctorate in order to be able to understand Scripture? Praise the Lord the answer to that question is a resounding NO!

One of the doctrines relating to the Bible, and related to the doctrines of sufficiency, inerrancy, and inspiration of Scripture, is the doctrine of perspicuity, also known as the doctrine of clarity. There are numerous verses in scripture that promise us that Scripture, as it relates to the things relating to salvation, can be understood. No special training is required.

Psalm 119:130 says “The entrance of Your words gives light; It gives understanding to the simple.” This passage is stating that God’s word is understandable. The difference in the completeness of understanding however, comes with the illuminating work of the Holy Spirit. In 1 Corinthians 2:14 Paul wrote of this Holy Spirit enabled discernment in this way: “But the natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; nor can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.”

While we are assured in Scripture that we can understand all that is needed, through the illuminating work of the Holy Spirit, why do we stop there? Why do we hesitate to learn things like “doctrines”, or to dig into things like apologetics or systematic theology? Is it perhaps because we feel that they are beyond our understanding? Is it because it might take some work on our part?

Let me challenge us with this passage from Paul’s letter to Timothy. In his letter Paul was writing to Timothy exhorting him to teach and preach the people well. In 2 Timothy 2:16 Paul writes “Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.” Now, I expect that you might look at that and say that Paul was writing to a Timothy…a pastor and he is expected to know the Word of God and all that doctrine stuff!

OK…but I would then point you to 2 Timothy 3:16-17 which says “All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.” All Scripture is given by “inspiration of God“, again, there is that working of the Holy Spirit, and it is “profitable for doctrine“. In other words, we are expected to learn these things. There is no gray area in this language. There is nothing here that says it is reserved for the highly educated or advanced theologians. With the Holy Spirit giving us understanding we are to dig into the Word with the goal of being “thoroughly equipped“.

How about we start today to learn something new from Scripture. Something deeper than a post-it note passage that we share on social media. How about we learn something new today that will cause us to grow deeper in our knowledge and to work towards being thoroughly equipped to do the incredible work that He has called us to!

Just think…you may have just started by learning the doctrine of perspicuity!

Blessings in Christ

Intercessory prayer is perhaps one of the highest privileges and callings that we have as believers. There are countless references to intercessory prayer throughout all of scripture. Intercessory prayer is, in fact, one of the behaviors that we see modeled over and over in scripture especially in the life of Christ.

In John 17 we read Christ’s high priestly prayer. In verse nine Christ specifically says “I pray for them.” He goes on in verse twenty to say “I do not pray for these alone, but also for those who will believe in Me through their word…” To be Christ-like in our prayer is to be interceding for others to God that His will might be done in their lives.

Another example of intercessory prayer is seen in the life of Abraham as he prayed for Sodom. In Genesis 18:16-33 Abraham intercedes on behalf of those of faith that lived in Sodom. Sodom was a city replete with sin and sinners, yet in the midst of the city there were righteous that were God’s very own.

Abraham was burdened to intercede on behalf of the righteous in fervent, persistent prayer. His prayers to God almost appear to be a negotiation with God but they are not. God wanted Abraham to know His will in the situation. In fact, in verse seventeen the Lord posits the rhetorical question “Shall I hide from Abraham what I am doing…” but as we see in the passage God wants to tell Abraham his plans because he knows Abraham’s future and what he has promised to do in and through him and his descendants. As Abraham’s prayed to God with persistence and in humility, God made his perfect will known.

There are three aspects to intercessory prayer that captured my attention in these passages as well as elsewhere in scripture. We see that those that pray for others are:

…burdened to intercede in prayer with urgency on behalf of others to almighty God.

…compelled to intercede in prayer in love with fervency for others to a just and holy God.

…driven to intercede in prayer with persistence to a sovereign God that His will is accomplished.

As we intercede on behalf of others we find ourselves turning our focus away from our needs and wants, and to the act of petitioning God to provide and intervene in the lives of others. As we intercede we are no longer caught up in wanting our way in other folks lives, but that God will have his way. As we intercede we no longer act in our own human effort to accomplish a change, but we engage God to do a powerful and mighty work in the lives of others. As we intercede in prayer, we yield ourselves to God that we might see Him glorified.

Who has God burdened you with this very moment that you are compelled to go to God, interceding in prayer on their behalf? What situation fills your heart and mind and drives you to your knees seeking God’s intervention? Who will you intercede for in prayer today?

In the midst of this election season I wanted to remind myself of biblical truth and divine purpose for my Christian walk. So here is some Biblical passages that remind me of how I am to live today, tomorrow, and the days ahead.

Living in Unity

“I, therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you to walk worthy of the calling with which you were called, with all lowliness and gentleness, with longsuffering, bearing with one another in love, endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called in one hope of your calling; one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all.” Ephesians 4:1-6

Being a Blessing

“Finally, all of you be of one mind, having compassion for one another; love as brothers, be tenderhearted, be courteous; not returning evil for evil or reviling for reviling, but on the contrary blessing, knowing that you were called to this, that you may inherit a blessing.” 1 Peter 3:8-9

Demonstrating Humility

“Yes, all of you be submissive to one another, and be clothed with humility, for

“God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble.”

Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time, casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you.” 1 Peter 5:5-7

Praying Fervently…Regardless of the Outcome

“Therefore I exhort first of all that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men, for kings and all who are in authority, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and reverence. For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. For there is one God and one Mediator between God and men, the Man Christ Jesus, who gave Himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time, for which I was appointed a preacher and an apostle—I am speaking the truth in Christ and not lying—a teacher of the Gentiles in faith and truth.” 1 Timothy 2:1-7

Trusting God

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths.” Proverbs 3:5-6

Rejoice, Pray, & Give Thanks

“Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.” 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

Live Christ-like and Obediently

“So then, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath; for the wrath of man does not produce the righteousness of God.

Therefore lay aside all filthiness and overflow of wickedness, and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls. But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man observing his natural face in a mirror; for he observes himself, goes away, and immediately forgets what kind of man he was. But he who looks into the perfect law of liberty and continues in it, and is not a forgetful hearer but a doer of the work, this one will be blessed in what he does.

If anyone among you thinks he is religious, and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his own heart, this one’s religion is useless. Pure and undefiled religion before God and the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their trouble, and to keep oneself unspotted from the world.” James 1:19-27

Love One Another

“A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another. By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.” John 13:34-35

Pray that God’s Will is Done

“Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever. Amen.” Matthew 9:10-13 (KJV)

Prayer to God Leads to the Peace of God

“Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:6-7