Message #31536

[Psalm 51:17]

Another thing  - for a new believer, maybe it would be better to balance it b/w reading a chapter in the 1st 4 gospels one day, and a chapter in the epistles b/w Romans and Jude the next day. Suggesting this b/c from my own experiences when I was a new believer a few years ago, I ended up having these misperceptions that all of the healings Jesus did in Matthew - John(for the sick and demon possessed) is something that could be applied to all of the churches today...when in fact that it was a SIGN to the JEWS/Pharisees during the time of Jesus's earthly ministry. And to make matters worse, the modern-day "church" system folks just don't seem to have a full understanding of this either(ie-the stuff you hear in these buildings today are "You see what Jesus did to heal the sick and drive out people's demons? It shows God has a purpose for your life!").

But when you read the epistles b/w Romans - Jude - where in these passages do they say anything about demon possession? If you include the book of Revelation, ONLY the passages talking about the Antichrist and False Prophet in the end times. So what I'm suggesting is that especially for new believers, having a balancing act in terms of studying the scriptures is important. Not all of the epistles lean on the spiritual meat side - Colossians, in particular, is a short book that heavily talks about salvation and charity for the brethren.

And also, once Genesis is completed reading through once, the next likely book in the OT to read is Leviticus, so that the new believer can get a good understanding of the OT Levitical law/1st covenant, so that when they proceed to read other OT books, they'll have a good understanding in terms of discerning the 1st covenant and the new covenant of grace we're under.

As for Revelation - well, Churchianity says this book is for "mature Christians". So pretty much anything they say, the opposite is true. Rev 1:3 Blessed is he that readeth, and they that hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written therein: for the time is at hand.

Act 28:25  And when they agreed not among themselves, they departed, after that Paul had spoken one word, Well spake the Holy Ghost by Esaias the prophet unto our fathers,
Act 28:26  Saying, Go unto this people, and say, Hearing ye shall hear, and shall not understand; and seeing ye shall see, and not perceive:
Act 28:27  For the heart of this people is waxed gross, and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes have they closed; lest they should see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their heart, and should be converted, and I should heal them.
Act 28:28  Be it known therefore unto you, that the salvation of God is sent unto the Gentiles, and that they will hear it.