Zuno's Per Diem

[Zuno_Yazh]

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Hello;

It's said that an apple a day keeps the doctor away. Well; I propose a new proverb: Instruction per day, lights the way.

"God is light; in him there is no darkness at all. If we claim to have fellowship with him yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live by the truth." (1John 1:5-6)

Some years ago, just for the fun of it, I set out compiling a home-spun catalogue of instructions from the new Testament that apply to all Christians regardless of denominational affiliation. In time I realized that a few of these per day, accompanied by a little commentary, would make a pretty good Daily Bread style devotion.

BTW: I chose to start in the book of Acts because that's pretty much where the apostles began telling Christ's believing followers what to do in accord with the Lord's instructions as per Matt 28:19-20.

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[Zuno_Yazh]

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Acts 15:20a . . Abstain from pollutions of idols

Here's the text of a common Christian prayer.

"Bless us, Oh Lord, and these thy gifts which we are about to receive from thy bounty through Christ, Our Lord. Amen."

That prayer credits the providence of God and His son for the nourishment on the table. Well; in the old Roman world, they sometimes credited the providence of a pagan god for their nourishment. More on this later.

Acts 15:20b . . Abstain from fornication

The koiné Greek word for "fornication" is porneia (por-ni'-ah) which refers to harlotry; viz: promiscuity, e.g. adultery, incest, shacking up, one night stands, sleeping around, and/or carnality related to one's religious ideology, e.g. the Rajneesh movement that once operated a large community in Antelope Oregon.

Acts 15:20c . . Abstain from things strangled

The meat of a strangled animal is different than that of a butchered animal. Though a strangled animal may be brain dead, it's flesh will be viable for a bit because the blood in its veins still has usable oxygen in it.

Acts 15:20d . . Abstain from blood

There are cultures that poke holes in cows' necks in order to drink blood straight out of the animal utilizing its own blood pressure like a tap to fill their cups. Other cultures cut open the thorax of animals freshly taken in hunting in order to take blood-soaked bites of the animal's heart. Those examples are probably about as close to vampirism as one can get without actually joining Edward Cullen's family and undergoing the conversion process.

This commandment has a history going all the way back to Gen 9:4 when Noah and his passengers came off the Ark. It's reiterated in Lev 7:26.

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[Just Mike]

Very interesting Zuno. Did you finish it, and did you publish it?

[Just Mike]

WOW 1500 that's pretty nice. Praise God I am able to keep on keeping on!

[Zuno_Yazh]

Did you finish it, and did you publish it?

I finished my project several years ago but have no plans to publish because it's too amateurish; and besides, I'm a retired, uneducated welder. Most people want their study materials to be composed by accredited scholars rather than an armchair theologian whose highest achievements have been X-ray welding.

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[Just Mike]

Projects you do for yourself are important, and if nothing else you enjoyed the time spent and gained more working knowledge.

[Zuno_Yazh]

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Rom 6:11 . . Count yourselves dead to sin but alive to God in Christ Jesus.

"dead to sin" in this case doesn't mean Christ's sheep don't sin (cf. 1John 1:8-10). It means that sin can no longer give God cause to slam them with the sum of all fears.

"I tell you the truth, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life and will not be condemned; he has crossed over from death to life." (John 5:24)

Note the grammatical tense of the "has" verb in the above verse. It's present tense rathe than future; indicating that people who listen to Christ's word, and believe God, have everlasting life right now-- no delay and no waiting period.

I'm guessing that where Jesus said "hears my word" he's not just talking about an auditory experience like listening to music. I'd say that he means taking what he says seriously enough to move you.

For example: it's quite possible for someone to sit through an entire week-long Billy Graham crusade and go away feeling entertained but not so much enlightened; while others lives are changed; i.e. some hear and some, though they hear, don't listen.

Rom 6:12-13 . . Do not let sin reign in your mortal body so that you obey its evil desires. Do not offer the parts of your body to sin, as instruments of wickedness, but rather offer yourselves to God, as those who have been brought from death to life; and offer the parts of your body to him as instruments of righteousness.

Whether Christ's believing followers sin or don't sin will make no difference in their eternal destiny. However, they really should make an effort to walk as people in heaven rather than people in hell.

A pretty good example of "as those who have been brought from death to life" is Jonah. When God first tasked him to preach to Nineveh, Jonah took ship and went the other way. Well; after God brought him back from death, Jonah reconsidered.

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[theophilus]

I finished my project several years ago but have no plans to publish because it's too amateurish; and besides, I'm a retired, uneducated welder. Most people want their study materials to be composed by accredited scholars rather than an armchair theologian whose highest achievements have been X-ray welding.

God expects us to use what he has given us for the benefit of others. Have you ever thought of starting a blog so you allow others to have access to what you have learned? If you need help in starting a blog I suggest you check this site: WordPress.com: Create a free website or blog

[William]

We also offer member blogs which can be created in the Blog menu option. I think it is a good way to keep notes etc.

[Zuno_Yazh]

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Rom 12:2 . . And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.

Personal Bible reading is a good place to begin with Rom 12:2; however, the will of God isn't meant to be self-taught; it's meant to be instructed by teachers empowered by God for that specific purpose. (Rom 12:4-8, 1Cor 12:1-30)

†. 1Cor 12:29 . . Are all teachers?

No, not all are teachers; which of course precludes self-teaching. Only some are teachers and the rest of Christ's believing followers are supposed to be students.

†. Eph 4:11-13 . . And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; for the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ: till we all come in the unity of the faith

According to that passage, the goal of gifted teaching is unity. Well, when Christians come together with differing perspectives, we're in danger of becoming divided and taking sides as intolerant bigots instead of unified. Like it's said: Too many cooks spoil the soup.

Sermons and Sunday school classes are Christianity's traditional sources of teaching. But there's radio programs too, e.g. Thru The Bible with Dr. J.Vernon McGee. These days with radio, television, and the internet; gifted teaching is wide-spread and readily available.

In centuries gone past, it was necessary to go where the teachers were in order to hear them speak. Nowadays, they come to speak right where we are by means of electricity and electronic gadgetry.

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[Zuno_Yazh]

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Rom 12:3 . . I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith.

"soberly" is from the Greek word sophroneo (so-fron-eh'-o) which means to be of sound mind, i.e. sane.

A popular saying going around is this: "You can be anything". No, you can't be anything, and it's unreasonable to think otherwise. Know your limits and stay within them; don't be setting impossible goals for yourself; especially in matters of faith and practice.

"Just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, so in Christ we who are many form one body, and each member belongs to all the others. We have different gifts, according to the grace given us. If a man's gift is prophesying, let him use it in proportion to his faith. If it is serving, let him serve; if it is teaching, let him teach; if it is encouraging, let him encourage; if it is contributing to the needs of others, let him give generously; if it is leadership, let him govern diligently; if it is showing mercy, let him do it cheerfully." (Rom 12:4-8)

Some church managers have a really bad habit of recruiting people to teach Sunday school who don't have a gift for it in accordance with 1Cor 12:1-30 and Eph 4:7-12. Well; if teaching is not your spiritual specialty; then you have to turn them down. Stay within your limits like Rom 12:3 says, and don't let those managers pressure you into submission by making you feel guilty for refusing.

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[reformed baptist]

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Some church managers have a really bad habit of recruiting people to teach Sunday school who don't have a gift for it in accordance with 1Cor 12:1-30 and Eph 4:7-12. Well; if teaching is not your spiritual specialty; then you have to turn them down. Stay within your limits like Rom 12:3 says, and don't let those managers pressure you into submission by making you feel guilty for refusing.

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So, no scope for stepping outside of your comfort zone?

How do you know if you have a gift to be a Sunday school teacher if you don't try?

[Zuno_Yazh]

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So, no scope for stepping outside of your comfort zone?

Don't play games with God. Paul's instructions are meant to be obeyed.

†. 1Cor 14:37 . . If any man think himself to be a prophet, or spiritual, let him acknowledge that the things that I write unto you are the commandments of the Lord.

†. 1Thess 4:1-2 . .We beseech you, brethren, and exhort you by the Lord Jesus, that as ye have received of us how ye ought to walk and to please God, so ye would abound more and more. For ye know what commandments we gave you by the Lord Jesus.

How do you know if you have a gift to be a Sunday school teacher if you don't try?

The instructions I posted regarding church managers pertain to folk who know what their spiritual specialty is in accordance with 1Cor 12:1-30 and Eph 4:7-12.

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[reformed baptist]

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Don't play games with God.

I'm not playing games with God - i am asking you a simple question nothing more or less

Take for example the person who doesn't feel gifted to share the gospel does that preclude him from the great commission?

[Zuno_Yazh]

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the person who doesn't feel gifted to share the gospel does that preclude him from the great commission?

According to Rom 12:3-8, 1Cor 12:1-30, and Eph 4:7-12, Christians are supposed to exercise only their own particular spiritual gift rather than attempt to exercise a spiritual gift that they don't have; i.e. know your limits and stay within them.

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[reformed baptist]

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According to Rom 12:3-8, 1Cor 12:1-30, and Eph 4:7-12, Christians are supposed to exercise only their own particular spiritual gift rather than attempt to exercise a spiritual gift that they don't have; i.e. know your limits and stay within them.

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So the great commission isn't for everyone, only those who 'feel' gifted for it - is that what you are saying?

[theophilus]

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According to Rom 12:3-8, 1Cor 12:1-30, and Eph 4:7-12, Christians are supposed to exercise only their own particular spiritual gift rather than attempt to exercise a spiritual gift that they don't have; i.e. know your limits and stay within them.

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But the only way they can find out what their spiritual gifts are is to try doing different things.

[Zuno_Yazh]

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Rom 12:6 . . If God has given you the ability to prophesy, speak out when you have faith that God is speaking through you.

The koiné Greek word for "prophesy" in that verse is from propheteia (prof ay-ti'-ah) which encompasses predictions. Predictors were common in the early church; for example Agabus' predictions at Acts 11:27-28 and Acts 21:10-11.

Hunches don't count as God speaking through you. You have to really know it. Don't ask me how to really know it because I don't have the gift of prophecy; nor do I want it 'cause these days prophecy mongers are written off as kooks. There was quite a bit more acceptance of supernatural stuff back in those days than there is now.

Rom 12:7a . . If your gift is that of serving others, serve them well.

"serving well" implies serving conscientiously and whole-heartedly rather than half-baked, grudging, and/or hit and miss.

One of my brothers has been a construction foreman for decades and one of his perpetual complaints is that he never knows from one day to the next whether some of the men he hires for jobs will show up. In other words: they aren't reliable-- he can't count on them. What I'm saying is: if you're thinking about becoming helpful in some way, don't do it unless you're willing to commit to the long haul because people need to know that they can depend on you to stay the course.

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