The ACTS 2020 July/August
DISCERN BOTH GOOD AND EVIL
Many believers do not understand the wondrous works of the Holy Spirit although they have received the Truth. When they witness lawlessness abound in the church or fellow believers stumbling on the path of Truth, they doubt and stop believing in the words of the Lord Jesus Christ. They may even question why such incidents are happening in the true church. If they have truly understood the words of the Bible, they will comprehend that it is inevitable for such incidents to happen in God’s church for they are neither new nor unusual.
The Bible describes the Lord Jesus Christ as Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace, Lord of All and Proclaimer of the Gospel of Peace.
Isa. 9:6 For unto us a Child is born, unto us a Son is given; And the government will be upon His shoulder. And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
Acts 10:36 The word which God sent to the children of Israel, preaching peace through Jesus Christ-He is Lord of all.
The Lord Jesus Christ rode on a donkey into Jerusalem and entered into a holy temple. There, He began to drive out those who bought and sold in the temple. He also overturned the tables of the money changers and the seats of those who sold doves. The priests and Scribes who were prejudiced against Him became astounded after witnessing His actions. They mocked Him, saying, “What sign do You show to us, since You do these things?”
Mark 11:1 So they came to Jerusalem. Then Jesus went into the temple and began to drive out those who bought and sold in the temple, and overturned the tables of the money changers and the seats of those who sold doves.
John 2:13-18 13Now the Passover of the Jews was at hand, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem. 14And He found in the temple those who sold oxen and sheep and doves, and the moneychangers doing business. 15When He had made a whip of cords, He drove them all out of the temple, with the sheep and the oxen, and poured out the changers' money and overturned the tables. 16And He said to those who sold doves, "Take these things away! Do not make My Father's house a house of merchandise!" 17Then His disciples remembered that it was written, "Zeal for Your house has eaten Me up." 18So the Jews answered and said to Him, "What sign do You show to us, since You do these things?"
It can be inferred from the speech of the Jews that they did not believe that the Lord Jesus was Christ Himself for Christ should be the Prince of Peace.
It is indisputable that the Lord Jesus Christ is the Prince of Peace. However, Prophet Malachi said that He would appear to purge man as gold and silver.
Mal. 3:2-3 2"But who can endure the day of His coming? And who can stand when He appears? For He is like a refiner's fire and like launderer's soap.3He will sit as a refiner and a purifier of silver; He will purify the sons of Levi, And purge them as gold and silver, That they may offer to the Lord An offering in righteousness.
The Lord Jesus Christ’s gospel of peace is not without principle and rules. However, it is completely different from the unrestrained, corrupted and distorted teachings of man. The Truth can purge away man’s dross so that he can be just as pure gold.
Isa. 1:25 I will turn My hand against you, and thoroughly purge away your dross, And take away all your alloy.
The Lord Jesus Christ may be the Prince of Peace but yet He came to send fire on the earth in order to test man’s work.
Luke 12:49 I came to send fire on the earth, and how I wish it were already kindled!
1Cor. 3:13-15 13each one's work will become clear; for the Day will declare it, because it will be revealed by fire; and the fire will test each one's work, of what sort it is. 14If anyone's work which he has built on it endures, he will receive a reward. 15If anyone's work is burned, he will suffer loss; but he himself will be saved, yet so as through fire.
The Lord Jesus Christ intends to save man through trials of fire. Only those whose work can withstand and endure the heat of the fire will be selected. If the chosen ones are deemed to be clean and without blemish, the Lord Jesus Christ need not
test their work with fire. However, He has done so for the good, the bad, the blemished and the abominable ones are all gathered together, standing in the holy place.
Matt. 13:47 "Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a dragnet that was cast into the sea and gathered some of every kind,
Matt. 24:15UP "Therefore when you see the 'abomination of desolation,' spoken of by Daniel the prophet, standing in the holy place"
With the winnowing fan in His hand, the Lord Jesus Christ will thoroughly clean out His threshing floor. Similarly, Paul had no choice but to exercise the great authority of the Lord Jesus Christ by delivering adulterers to Satan.
Matt. 3:12 His winnowing fan is in His hand, and He will thoroughly clean out His threshing floor, and gather His wheat into the barn; but He will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire."
1Cor. 5:5 deliver such a one to Satan for the destruction of the flesh, that his spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus.
Peter taught us that false teachers who secretly brought in destructive heresies brought on themselves swift destruction.
2Pet. 2:1 But there were also false prophets among the people, even as there will be false teachers among you, who will secretly bring in destructive heresies, even denying the Lord who bought them, and bring on themselves swift destruction.
John had a great and perfect love but yet he refused to pray for those who had committed sin leading to death.
1John 5:16 If anyone sees his brother sinning a sin which does not lead to death, he will ask, and He will give him life for those who commit sin not leading to death. There is sin leading to death. I do not say that he should pray about that.
Jude refused to feast with murderers like Cain, coveters like Balaam and rebels like Korah for he did not want to defile himself.
Jude 1:11-12 11Woe to them! For they have gone in the way of Cain, have run greedily in the error of Balaam for profit, and perished in the rebellion of Korah. 12These are spots in your love feasts, while they feast with you without fear, serving only themselves. They are clouds without water, carried about by the winds; late autumn trees without fruit, twice dead, pulled up by the roots;
The true church must be sanctified so that she can be presented to the Lord Jesus Christ without blemish or spot, just as a chaste virgin.
Eph. 5:26-27 26that He might sanctify and cleanse her with the washing of water by the word, 27that He might present her to Himself a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing, but that she should be holy and without blemish.
The wicked must be separated from the good. We must take heed and discern both good and evil.
(Holy Spirit Times: Volume 11, Issue 3)