“…the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.” Ephesians 6:17b

“And it shall come to pass, when Pharaoh shall call you, and shall say, What is your occupation? That ye shall say, Thy servants’ trade hath been about cattle from our youth even until now, both we, and also our fathers: that ye may dwell in the land of Goshen; for every shepherd is an abomination unto the Egyptians.” Genesis 46:33-34

It is a very common thing for people to only concern themselves with what is an abomination in the sight of the “Egyptians”, while at the same time ignoring what is an abomination in the eyes of the Lord. It is possible for this confusion to deceive people. Some cry a church should not take a stand on certain Biblical issues, that if some hear of it they won’t want to come to church. But if that be the case, the church should quit preaching the true gospel, because it would be disagreeable to all who don’t believe the truth.

Contrary to those ideas, the law of the Lord, which exposes sin and identifies the will of the Lord, is what God uses to affect the conversion of sinners: “The law of the Lord is perfect, converting the soul: the testimony of the Lord is sure, making the wise simple. The statutes of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart: the commandment of the Lord is pure, enlightening the eyes.” Pslam 19:7-8 So the manifestation of God’s laws is not a stumbling bloc to sinners, but is the eye opener unto the reality of sin– “…I had not known sin, but by the law…” “Wherefore the law is holy, and the commandment holy, and just, and good.” Romans 7:7,12 The offense to God’s laws comes from people rejecting the work of the Holy Spirit, which convicts the sinner unto the knowledge of the truth. John the Baptist wasn’t out of line when he told Herod it was unlawful for him to have his brother Philip’s wife, but rather Herod and his gal, Herodias, were offended due to their refusal to let the Holy Spirit convict their hearts unto repentance and faith in God (Matthew 14:1-5).

When the children of Israel came down to Egypt, Joseph knew ahead of time that shepherds were an abomination in the eyes of the Egyptians. Joseph instructed his brethren, not to conceal the fact they were shepherds, but rather to declare openly that they were shepherds unto the Egyptians. WHY? Not as a matter of offense, but as a matter of their true occupation.

Joseph knew that the ways of the Egyptians were contrary to the ways of God’s people, especially in matters of the worship of God (see Exodus 8:26–their sin offerings were an abomination to the Egyptians.) Joseph knew when the Egyptians found out the Israelites were shepherds, they would want to separate Israel from their company. This separation would work to Israel’s advantage, keeping them out of Egypt’s influence, ways, and persuasions, as well as keeping them a separate people unto the Lord’s blessing, favor, and distinct watch care.

“Blessed are ye, when men shall hate you, and when they shall separate you from their company, and shall reproach you, and cast out your name as evil, for the Son of man’s sake.” Luke 6:22 Wherever there are lives after the order of Christ, the reproaches of unbelievers will be upon them.

Anytime our identity with the teachings of God’s laws causes people to separate from us, we need to see it as a needed separation. And rather than refrain from those things that those who reject God’s laws are offended at, we need to be up front with our identification with the truth. Whenever God’s Word turns people away, we need to recognize it to be the working of God’s “two-edged sword, as a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.” Hebrews 4:12

“Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.” Proverbs 3:5

There are so many things about life, that even though you believe in them and want to do them, YET you still have to learn how to do them. Take learning to ride a two-wheeled bike, for example. If you do not approach this as something you have to learn to do, your first attempt can be very surprising.

When it comes to trusting in the Lord, even if we believe in this truth with our whole heart, yet still, as the song says, it is all about “Learning to Lean.”

The learning process usually involves both trial and error. Sometimes, we learn convincingly, from our mistakes. Abram believed in trusting in the Lord. So much so that (Genesis 12:1) in following the Lord, he forsook his native country, left his kindred and his father’s house: “….and went out, not knowing whither he went.” Hebrews 11:8

But as he was sojourning in the land of promise, due to trusting in the Lord, on two occasions he was confronted with circumstances (Genesis 12:10-20 & Genesis 20:1-18) where he failed to lean on the Lord. By trusting in his own understanding, he would have lost his beloved wife, Sarah, had God not intervened.

Divine intervention (deliverance) has been and is essential for all of God’s children, time and again. But after sufficient time and opportunity has passed for us to have learned to lean, eventually we will have to stand by faith, or suffer the consequences.

THE BIGGEST OBSTACLE to learning to lean on the Lord, is the leaning unto our own understanding. This creates skepticism, even unto unbelief. We all have our own ways, our own thoughts, that we rely on for our everyday living. Our conscience and intelligence serve us well, if we use them (they are from God for this purpose.)

But when it comes to spiritual understanding, God tells us it will be necessary for us to forsake our ways and our thoughts to accept His. We must follow Christ’s example, “Not my will, thine be done.”

All too often, our deep-seated views and feelings may not agree with what God’s Word places before us. We are commanded, “If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me.”

Following God out of trust and leaning not unto our own understand, will prove to have been the right way: “Then shall we know, if we follow on to know the Lord.” Hosea 6:3

“For we walk by faith, not by sight.” 2 Corinthians 5:7

“And blessed is he, whosoever shall not be offended in me.” Luke 7:23

ONLY BELIEVE!

“Holding fast the faithful word as he hath been taught, that he may be able by sound doctrine both to exhort and to convince the gainsayers.” Titus 1:9

“Hold fast the form of sound words, which thou hast heard of me, in faith and love which is in Christ Jesus.” 2 Timothy 1:13

“The prophets prophesy falsely, and the priests bear rule by their means; and my people love to have it so…” Jeremiah 5:31

Any position taken that is a step away from sound doctrine, is loved and praised by man: “For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears.” 2 Timothy 4:3. Since man’s ways and thoughts are not God’s ways and thoughts, he has an inner appetite for any religious justification that will move things a step away from God’s way unto a step closer to man’s ways.

We see working in our society, the revolution against God’s moral laws. The same spirit is working in religion against God’s spiritual laws. God’s laws are no longer considered suitable to be the constitution for church doctrine and practice. People have closed their ears to the fact that God’s Word is eternally righteous, and God’s wisdom is omniscient, and that God’s laws are omnipotent! Instead, they are putting their trust in the lies of men-pleasers, who preach that God’s Word is outdated and no longer fitting for today’s world.

So the religious excitement and energy is unto moving everything a step away from the way the Bible reads. The idea is to still maintain a form of godliness, but approve the opposite of the way God’s Word reads.

The acceptance of new versions of the Bible, which God’s Word forbids, is justified and lauded on the grounds it is easier for man to understand than the KJV. Yes, a first grade reader is easier to understand than a legal document. Should we abandon legal documents and let the first graders decide how they should be written?

Churches are moving a step away from the local church ordinance of the Lord’s Supper, allowing any of the same denomination to partake. God’s Word on separation and dress has been nullified and voided. The verse by verse study of the Bible has been set aside for “topical studies” that only emphasize the preferred point of view. Local churches have surrendered their positions and functions into the hands and visions of the fellowships, conventions, and associations.

To take one step away is to abandon the principle of true faith in God’s Word. This little hole in the dam will lead to a total washout.