Beyond Survival – Overcoming Failure and Weaknesses
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Beyond Survival Series
- Beyond Survival – Overcoming Failure and Weaknesses
- Beyond Survival – An Overcoming Ministry
Is the expression ‘God helps those who help themselves’ in the Bible? As you answer that question, you will most likely fall into one of three groups. Group 1 – 42% will say, “Yes, it is a Bible quotation.” Group 2 – 38% will say, “No, it is not a Bible quotation.” Group 3 – 20% will have no idea if it is or is not in the Bible.
More and more the writer is convinced that there is one simple core principle at the root of the majority of failures and weaknesses we see in today’s society, church, leadership, and youth. This core principle is summed up in six words from 2 Timothy: “rightly dividing the Word of truth.”
Consider the meaning and intent of the author as the Holy Spirit prompted him to pen the words ‘rightly dividing.’ In these words, the Spirit of God is directing you to more than merely knowing the Word. The Spirit is directing you to know the Life within the Word, to be empowered by the fullness of the Almighty, to instantly and masterfully apply the Word with power and potency to daily living. It is expedient for you to thoroughly understand the declaration in 2 Peter 1:3 that through your knowledge of Him who called you by His own glory and goodness, and by His divine power He has already given you everything you need for life and godliness! The answer to or supply for everything you need now, have ever needed, and will ever need is conveniently located in the Word of Truth.
So then, the question arises, why are so many found wanting or anemic in their Christian faith? The answer lies in the inability to rightly divide the Word of truth. Hosea 4:6 shouts throughout the earth that God’s people are destroyed not by the attacks of the enemy but from a mere lack of knowledge.
Did you know?
During a Barna Research Group survey it was discovered that:
-22% of Christians thought there actually is a Book of Thomas in the Bible, while 13% said they did not know whether Thomas is a book of the Bible or not. 65% correctly stated that Thomas is not a book of the Bible.
-61% Christians knew that Jonah is a book of the Bible, 27% said it is not, and 12% had no idea.
-Three quarters of the Christians surveyed knew that the Book of Isaiah is located in the O. T. , while 11% thought it is in the N. T, and 13% did not know where Isaiah could be found.
-7 out of 10 Christians knew where Christ was born while 16% named Jerusalem as Jesus’ birthplace, 8% said it was Nazareth, and 6% did not know.
During the same survey, it was determined that the majority of all born-again Christians read the Bible once or twice a week, or not at all. From this basic study one can quickly resolve that the anemia throughout Christianity is directly related to the sparse diet of the Word of Truth.
Living by faith means to live in power, success, fulfillment, authority, and hope. Church tradition has cultivated an inappropriate view that true believers should be poor and depressed, barely making it from day to day, surviving on the crumbs that fall from the table. Is that what Christ said? No! He said, “Greater works shall you do.” He said, “I am sending you a Comforter.” “You shall be clothed with power from on high.” “I have come that you may have life abundantly.”
The reason today’s church, youth, and children are not walking in power and authority nor living by faith brings us back to that simple core principle of “rightly dividing.” Romans 10:17 says, “So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.” If one is never or hardly ever in the Word, then one simply cannot live the fulfilled life of faith intended by the Creator.
In order to lead others into the Word, you must first get into the Word. You cannot lead where you have not been. Get there! Then lead. Teach your children to rightly divide the Word of Truth. Lead your children into the life of faith. Pass onto your children the knowledge of the Word of truth that will lift them into success, power, authority, hope, and life-giving wisdom in Christ.
Rev. Gary R. Linn
Children’s Ministry Today
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I was appalled at the statistics regarding Christians and their basic bible knowledge. It leaves me to wonder what they do in times of difficulty. Ephesians 6 admonishes us to use the sword of the spirit which is the word of God. I guess many swords and dull and therein lies the reason for defeat in many instances.
Ria