Rightly Divide the Word - Part 1

Intro - purpose/importance

today begins our “Rightly Divide the Word” Series

Let me state the obvious, it is part of my job description/calling to teach the truths of the Bible correctly

and in the book of Timothy, Paul calls it, “Rightly Dividing the Word of Truth”

Now the truth is important because

John 8:32 (NASB95)

32 and you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free.

fancy words don’t make you free

feel good words don’t make you free

nothing wrong with fancy words, nothing wrong with feel good words, but if they are not based on the truth, they cannot make you free

ex. like giving a popsicle to a slave on a hot day

feels good for a little while, but won’t set him free

and sometimes we don’t have the truth, not because we have not heard the word, but because of misinterpretations of the word

Misinterpretations

definition - having an incorrect understanding of a scripture.

leads to misunderstanding about God: who he is, how he moves, how he works, how he thinks, and how we are to relate to him

That is why it is the job of every pastor to correctly explain the word of truth

Why and how do we deviate from the truth of the word?

one reason is that we read into the scripture what we want to see. We try to make the Bible fit us and - read into the scripture our ideas, our desires, our leanings, our culture . . .

laziness - don’t put in effort to dig for the truth

often not even reading the scripture for ourselves, just taking someone’s word for it, sounded good so we just run with it

then if we do read it, we often don’t take the context into consideration, just pull 10 words out of a chapter of 500 words and build a whole belief system . . . lazy

pride of the teacher/preacher - some get a kick out of coming across as deep and insightful. . . so they try so hard to be deep and insightful that they end up making up something that the Bible does not teach

ulterior motives - scammers

History of Misinterpretations

Misinterpretations of scripture have been around since the day of Jesus

use props

there was the Holy Word (our old testament), and the midrash (use props) - interpretations of the scripture, extra info, commentary, but not THE HOLY WORD . . . so midrash was not always right or accurate in what it said about the Holy Word

when you see Jesus said, “you have heard this, but I say unto you” . . . he was not changing scripture, he was correcting one of the misinterpretations of the midrash

Matthew 5:43–44 (NASB95)

43 “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ 44 “But I say to you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you,

the Holy Word = love your neighbor

midrash - so that means God must want us to hate our enemies because in our culture we hate those people over there, so that feels and sounds like a good interpretation . . . (they read into the scripture)

but that’s a misinterpretation . . . God did not say that or mean that

Jesus gives the true interpretation of love your neighbor - everyone you come in contact with is your neighbor, so love everybody, even pray for the neighbors who happen to be your enemies

So, this month we will investigate four common teachings that many people hold, (kind of like a modern day midrash) and see how correct they are

Here is our modern day midrash we will investigate today, let’s see how it holds up

Word of Faith, Name it and Claim it, Speak things into existence, Speak Life, Decree and Declare

Can you, should you speak what you want or need into existence

I speak prosperity over you

I speak health on you

I call forth blessings on you

I speak favor into your life

what does the Bible say?

Mark 11:23 (NASB95)

23 “Truly I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, ‘Be taken up and cast into the sea,’ and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that what he says is going to happen, it will be granted him.

Jesus says you can move mountains (insurmountable problem - Jewish saying) by speaking to them if you believe

Context of the chapter

Jesus speaks to a fig tree that had green leaves but no figs (show picture), “May no one ever eat fruit from you again”

next day is is dried up, and disciples are amazed that what Jesus spoke came to pass

context immediate preceding verse . . .and in response to the disciples’ amazement

Mark 11:22 (NASB95)

22 And Jesus answered saying to them, “Have faith in God.

the heart of this scripture (they go together) is to have faith in God

have faith and when you speak it shall come to pass

Jesus then goes on to say after this verse, that therefore when you pray, believe that you will receive, and you will receive

when you put it all together in context - whether speaking or praying, the key component is faith, and with faith nothing is impossible

that seems like a pretty good start and support for name it and claim it, but let’s continue our investigation

another scripture often referred to

Romans 4:17 (KJV 1900)

17 (As it is written, I have made thee a father of many nations,) before him whom he believed, even God, who quickeneth the dead, and calleth those things which be not as though they were.

this the popular scripture that many people say, “speak those things that are not, as though they were”

Context - in Romans, chapter 4, the apostle Paul is teaching how we are justified (made righteous by God, saved) through faith.

Paul uses Abraham as an example of a man who was considered righteous by God because of his faith

I counted and you see the the word faith or believe about 20 times . . . the theme of the chapter: we are not saved by our works, but by our faith

now let’s look at the actual scripture verse in NIV (a little easier to read)

Romans 4:17 (NASB95)

17 (as it is written, “A father of many nations have I made you”) in the presence of Him whom he believed, even God, who gives life to the dead and calls into being that which does not exist.

God told Abraham, before Abraham had any children, “i have made you the father of many nations”

Abraham believed God, and God considers Abraham our father in faith (popular song, Father Abraham)

Now the last part of the verse, according to this scripture, who calls into being, things that were not?

God - God who gives life to the dead and calls into being things that were not

correct interpretation: Abraham believed in a God who gives life to the dead. Abraham believed in a God who can call into being things that were not

Abraham did not declare that he would have a son in his old age . . . He did not speak that . . . God did

GOD calls things that are not as though they were

that’s how he created the world, God spoke things into existence

but someone read into this verse . . . we can call forth things that are not as though they were

and that is simply not what this scripture verse says

not a scripture that should be used to say that Christians need to speak things (speak to the mountain scripture is a much better verse if you want to teach that)

they even changed the words around a little - no version I could find has the exact words, “speak those things that are not as though they were”

but this scripture is all about what God spoke, and how Abraham believed what God spoke

the lesson is believe what God says, even if you don’t see it, even if it doesn’t exist yet, even it if seems impossible

believe that Jesus dying on the cross and rising again will get you saved and into heaven

another scripture that is used

Proverbs 18:21 (KJV 1900)

21 Death and life are in the power of the tongue: And they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof.

when talking about truly reading the actual verse

most people say life and death instead of death and life

most don’t there is a 2nd part of this verse

so what is the Bible saying?

Context

in a book of wisdom, book of godly advice

don’t be lazy, but work like an ant

stay away from prostitutes

listen to your parents

leave married women along

violence comes to the lives of wicked people

In chapter 18, it talks a lot about what people say

Proverbs 18:6 (NASB95)

6 A fool’s lips bring strife, And his mouth calls for blows.

the talk of a fool brings trouble, and he is going to get beat down (asking for a beating)

Proverbs 18:7 (NLT)

7 The mouths of fools are their ruin; they trap themselves with their lips.

you don’t have to trap a fool, a fool will trap himself with his own words

(grew up with the saying, “just let them talk, they will tell on themselves” . . .

Proverbs 18:8 (NASB95)

8 The words of a whisperer are like dainty morsels, And they go down into the innermost parts of the body.

gossip sounds so good when you hear it, but it will affect you

Proverbs 18:13 (NASB95)

13 He who gives an answer before he hears, It is folly and shame to him.

a person who talks before they listen will shame themselves

Proverbs 18:20 (NASB95)

20 With the fruit of a man’s mouth his stomach will be satisfied; He will be satisfied with the product of his lips.

good words/wise words from your mouth bring satisfaction to your life

and back to our main verse, NASB version

Proverbs 18:21 (NASB95)

21 Death and life are in the power of the tongue, And those who love it will eat its fruit.

taken in context of everything that has been said in chapter 18: What you say will affect you

your mouth can get yourself beat up

your words can ruin you - example people who post crazy things on social media

you can trap yourself, incriminate yourself by talking too much

gossip can affect people

if you talk before you listen, you will mess yourself up

good words bring satisfaction to your life

the Lesson - you have to be careful what you say, because you will have to eat those words, good or bad (those who love it will eat its fruit)

your words can get you killed or your words could bring good things to your life

if you love to talk be ready to bear the consequences (good or bad) of your words

it is a very practical scripture in the book of practical wisdom, it’s giving Godly advice, it’s not really talking about the power of spiritual manifestation through speaking

let me give you a today application: in Texans, a lot of people carry guns, so be careful what you say because somebody could get mad and shoot you . . . death and life are in the power of your tongue

Can you apply it in a more spiritual way?

if you tell a child they are a nobody . . . that’s killing their self esteem, confidence, that’s like speaking death

if you tell a person that God loves them and has plans for them . . . that word of encouragement is like speaking life/hope into them

saying you are healed is better than saying you won’t make it . . . even the world will say that patients with positive attitudes usually fair better with recovery

personally, if I am sick, to keep myself in the right frame of mind, I say, “I am fighting this sickness”

Then if you speak a scripture, you can increase your faith, for faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of God . . . and doubt can definitely come by hearing the wrong words

you can talk yourself into depression by complaining all the time. you can talk yourself into hope by counting your blessings

so words are important, words are powerful, but this verse in proverbs is not a speak and the power of God will be unleashed, and things will manifest for you

Also, too many use this scripture as a scary scripture instead of a wisdom scripture.

because of this scripture, My dear mother was scared to say when she was sick. We always had to guess how she felt.

she wouldn’t say my head hurt, my stomach aches, pain in my back . . . she would just shake her head because she was scared of saying the wrong thing . . . because of a misinterpretation of this scripture

and she put herself in bondage, couldn’t even communicate with her family how she felt.

but the truth makes us free

you are free to use your mouth to describe your condition or how you feel . . .

you are not going to speak bad things on yourself

it doesn’t mean that you don’t have faith

people told Jesus their exact situation

I am blind and I want to see

my servant is sick

my daughter is dying

so it’s ok to admit, “I have this but I believe God is going to heal me”

“I feel this pain, but I trust in God to heal me”

so of the main scriptures that are used for the “name it can claim it” teachings . . . . the “speak those things” teachings . . . . only one really fits . . . it is not a constant theme in the Bible as some would have you believe . . . . so what do we make of this? When do we speak a word of faith? name it and claim it?

1 John 5:14 (NASB95)

14 This is the confidence which we have before Him, that, if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us.

the most important thing is the will of God, what God wants, what God plans . . . it’s always about God’s will

thy kingdom come, thy will be done in earth as it is in heaven

John 5:19 (NASB95)

19 Therefore Jesus answered and was saying to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, the Son can do nothing of Himself, unless it is something He sees the Father doing; for whatever the Father does, these things the Son also does in like manner.

Jesus set the example for us. He says I do whatever I see the Father doing . . . I follow the Heavenly Father’s lead/will

I don’t just decided to walk on water, I am following orders to walk on water

I don’t just decided to feed 5000, God wanted me to feed 5000

In other words, Jesus is saying that I do what God wants to do . . . and How God wants to do it

healed one blind man by putting mud on his eyes

healed another blind man by speaking the healing

And that is what we are to do

Be used of God to do what God wants to do - heal, bless, make a way, deliver

and do it how God wants to do it - praying, speaking, anointing, fasting, praising your way through, giving, waiting

if you know the Character of God, he always changes things up to cause you to understand that you must rely on Him and stay connected him

he’s not going to ask you to speak every time

he is not going to want you to “praise your way through every time”

he it not going to ask you to anoint something every time

Example of Moses

two different times, the people wanted water (millions)

the first time God instructed Moses to strike a rock in order to get water for the people

the second time God instructed Moses to speak to the rock

now the second time, Moses got angry and frustrated with the people and hit the rock again

but people still got water because it was God’s will for them to get water out of the rock

but Moses got in trouble because he didn’t follow the how instructions

but the lesson here is that even facing the same situation, God wanted things done differently

In conclusion, the correct teaching/interpretation: speak to a mountain in your life, if God commands you to . . .

that’s simple, kind of anti-climatic

would have felt better to say: whatever the mountain, whatever the problem, everytime the devil comes your way . . . raise your voice and speak, raise your voice and command, raise your voice and shout

. . . a cool popsicle on a hot summer day, but it would not set you free

the truth will make you free

But how can I know what God wants me to do?

back to one our main points

Mark 11:22 (NASB95)

22 And Jesus answered saying to them, “Have faith in God.

HAVE FAITH IN GOD

have faith that if you sincerely ask, God will answer

have faith that if you seek you will find

have faith God will show you and whatever God tells you to do, have the faith to do it . . .

and again it might be just praying . . . . it might be calling on someone to pray with you . . .it might be giving when you barely have anything yourself . . . . it might be speaking to the problem . . . .anointing with oil, praising your way through . . . .thanking him in advance . . . . applying for a new job . . . .waiting . . . .fasting . . . . taking on new responsibilities . . . not giving up . . . decreeing and declaring . . . . humbling yourself and asking a person for help

what will be consistent is that it will take an act of faith, for without faith it is impossible to please God

that’s the truth and it will make you free

Now the biggest freedom is freedom from the penalty of sin: freedom from hell. And God speaks directly from his word and tells us what to do to receive our freedom.

Romans 10:9–10 (NASB95)

9 that if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved;

10 for with the heart a person believes, resulting in righteousness, and with the mouth he confesses, resulting in salvation.

have faith in God, and with your mouth confess Jesus as your Lord

that’s the most important name it and claim it

that’s the biggest decree and declare

according to the word of God, by faith speak that salvation over your life: I believe Jesus died for me, I believe Jesus rose again, and I am making him the lord of my life!

name that, claim that, decree that, declare that, speak that . . . that’s the truth and that will make you free!