Books
New Release! Soaring Servants: Women in God's Service by Linda Sedrick Pearson is now available at PS Publishing.
Envy and Strife or Good Will Preaching
Philippians 1:15-16 “Some indeed preach Christ even of envy and strife; and some also of good will.” (KJV)
Some preach Christ with envy and strife. Some preach with good will.
One preaches Christ with selfish ambition, not sincerely, expecting to add to my chains (or troubles and trials). Philippians 1:17 “But the other of love, knowing that I am set for the defense of the gospel.”
The other preaches with love, knowing that I am appointed to defend the gospel of Jesus Christ.
Philippians 1:18-19 “What then? notwithstanding, every way, whether in pretense, or in truth, christ is preached; and I therein do rejoice, yea, and will rejoice. For I know that this shall turn to my salvation through your prayer, and the supply of the Spirit of Jesus Christ.”
Either way, whether preached by a pretender or by one true preacher of Christ, Christ is preached. Rejoice because Christ is preached. Because these will all cause salvation through prayer and supply the Spirit of Jesus Christ.
(By Linda Sedrick Pearson)
Fighting Against Self
Romans 7:15-17
For that which I do I allow not: for what I would, that do I not; but what I hate, that do I. If then I do that which I would not, I consent unto the law that it is good. Now then it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me.
I always like it whenever I find places in the Bible where those people had the same problems that I do. It means they were human just like we are. They had the same battles, the same shortcomings, as the rest of us. Maybe it shouldn’t, but it gives me a little peace about myself.
I am always doing things that I really never meant to do – I go against my own spiritual warnings and do it anyway. I fight against my flesh everyday, every hour, every minute. Sometimes I get tired of fighting against myself and just give in. Not that I want to sin, it’s just that I sometimes get tired and give in.
That’s what Paul was telling us in these verses – that he was battling constantly with himself. He never meant to sin, but he was always doing things he knew were not right. He was human – just like us. He was a great preacher and teacher, but he was also human and made mistakes.
I thank God for putting that in His word, the Bible, so that I could find it, read it, and learn from it. He is telling me that even though there will be times when my flesh will win battles over my spirit, I am still His child. I am not to give up and quit trying – I am to continue forward and forgive myself. I am to ask God to forgive me and move on. I am to continue to battle and fight with myself while stepping on forward toward God and the salvation of Jesus Christ.
If you are going through the same thing, don’t give up. I know you get tired and sometimes wonder why you should keep trying. You have to continue on your path to salvation – keep stepping forward toward the kingdom of God. God knows you will fail at times – forgive yourself, pray for God to forgive you (confess your sin to God), then pick yourself up, dust yourself off, and start again moving toward Jesus Christ. If you do that, you will succeed in your battles!
Bible Study for Sep 9 2009
by Linda Sedrick Pearson
Rev 22:16-19
I Jesus have sent mine angel to testify unto you these things in the churches. I am the root and the offspring of David, and the bright and morning star. And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely. For I testify unto every man that heareth the words of the prophecy of this book, If any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book: And if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book.
God tells us that it is our job to put the word out there for people and to do our best to testify for him. It is up to the people to accept or reject the word and Jesus Christ. We cannot force them to accept him and should never try to do that. The word is powerful. Put the word out there. God’s word will never come back void (meaning your teachings and testimonies are never in vain). At the very least you have done what God has instructed all Christian to do – testify and teach about the Lord Jesus Christ.
We have to be careful that we don’t add or subtract from God’s word. Do not tell people that the Bible says something unless you know for a fact that is what it says. Jesus tells us in Revelation that “if any man shall add unto these things [meaning God's word], God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book. And if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy God shall” remove that person’s name from the book of life, out of the new Jerusalem, and from the things (promises) which are written in this book (the Bible).
That shows us how serious God is about his word and his protection of it. Remember, your job is not to rewrite or edit the Bible. Your job is to put it out there as God gave it to us and let the people do their part to accept or reject it.
