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HOW READETH THOU?AVOIDING UNLEARNED QUESTIONS

Dr. Kenneth W. Jones, Pastor, Practical Living Ministry

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1/27/2016

copyright@PLM TEACHINGS

Scripture

1/27/2016copyright@PLM TEACHINGS

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2 Corinthians 4:2 - But have renounced the hidden things of dishonesty, not walking in craftiness, nor handling the word of God deceitfully; but by manifestation of the truth commending

ourselves to every man's conscience in the sight of God.

2nd Timothy 2:22,23Flee also youthful lusts: but follow righteousness, faith, charity,

peace, with them that call on the Lord out of a pure heart. 23 But foolish and unlearned questions avoid, knowing that

they do gender strifes.

http://www.studylight.org/desk/?q=2ti 2:23&t1=en_kjv&sr=1

Introduction


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We are to share the truth of God’s Word in good

conscience and spirit

We are not to share the doctrines of the Gospel to serve

any secular or carnal purpose

We are called to preach the gospel in such a way that

everyone can understand and receive it

Realize that people are capable of seeing the truth even

when they do not receive or obey it; they can perceive that

it has demonstration that it is from God.

The woman at the well in John 4 is a good example how revelation

of God’s Word can lead to a transformed life

The Apostle Paul preached a gospel of integrity based on

truth, and not an elaborate scheme of hidden mysteries and

philosophies

Avoid Unlearned Questions

What does this mean?

The word “unlearned,” here, refers to “trifling, or that which

does not tend to edification; in other words, stupid.”

The Greeks and the Hebrews were greatly given to controversies of

various kinds, and many of the questions discussed pertained to points

which could not be settled, or which, if settled, were of no importance.

Foolish and unlearned questions distract us from our God-given purpose

of preaching the gospel

As we pursue our God-given purpose and make full proof of our ministry,

we are to avoid and stay clear of endless and fruitless disputes and

arguments which can distract us and hinder us in exercising the Great

Commission


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“But I Have Questions”

Consider the Amplified Version of 2 Tim 2:23

and judge your questions by this:

2 Timothy 2:23 - But refuse (shut your mind against,

have nothing to do with) trifling (ill-informed, unedifying,

stupid) controversies over ignorant questionings, for you

know that they foster strife and breed quarrels.

Immediate Checklist:

Is your question one to understand a truth or to expose and

discuss a controversy?

Is your question in search of a biblical principle or an attempt

to validate a worldly mindset?

Will this question distract from what is being preached; from

the doctrine of salvation, and would it lead to strife, division,

and contentions?


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Scriptures

2 Timothy 2:16 - But avoid worldly and empty chatter, for it will

lead to further ungodliness,

This refers to anything that takes the focus off of the gospel and God's Word.

Man’s opinions, philosophies and teachings are profane and vain when

compared to God’s Word

Vain – even though people like to discuss these things, they have no intrinsic value

Profane – unholy in contrast to the holiness of God’s Word

1st Timothy 6:20: Timothy, guard what has been entrusted to you,

avoiding irreverent, empty speech and contradictions from the

"knowledge" that falsely bears that name. (Berean Bible)

Carefully preserve that doctrine which I have delivered to thee

Why is the Apostle Paul keep stressing this? It must be important


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Why Is This Message Important?

You are to guard what was committed to your trust: The gospel is a trust

committed to pastors like Timothy; but also to all believers.

The world is full of error and false teachings with one purpose: to

overthrow the faith of others and distract many from the faith

As we share the gospel and the Word of God with others, we may be

challenged by others whose only purpose is to distract us from teaching and

distract others from receiving the truth

It is important that we know how to respond to questions and answers

appropriately and if necessary avoid questions regarding issues that does

not lend itself to edifying the body of Christ


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Point of Emphasis

Many today accept and honor teachers who are way off in one

area or another; and they justify it by saying, "I eat the meat and

spit out the bones." This kind of thinking will certainly overthrow the

faith of some, because some will certainly choke to spiritual death

on the bones you say you spit out.

(Guzik’s Commentary)

We are encouraged to cleanse ourselves from everything that

can defile our body or spirit (2 Cor 7:1). I believe doctrines that

divide, foolish controversies and biblical error can allow trash to

lodge in our spirit, rendering us ineffective to serve God.


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Sin Began With a Discussion

Genesis 3:1-5:

Now the serpent was more subtle than any beast of the

field which the LORD God had made. And he said unto

the woman, Yea, hath God said, Ye shall not eat of every

tree of the garden?

2 And the woman said unto the serpent, We may eat of

the fruit of the trees of the garden:

3 But of the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the

garden, God hath said, Ye shall not eat of it, neither shall

ye touch it, lest ye die.

4 And the serpent said unto the woman, Ye shall not surely

die:

5 For God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then

your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods,

knowing good and evil.


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http://www.studylight.org/desk/?q=ge 3:2&t1=en_kjv&sr=1




Satan’s Strategy

Sin has a dual source (Dr. Ed Murphy: Handbook on Spiritual Warfare)

Human sources – one’s wrong choices

Spiritual (Supernatural) source – Satan’s temptations

Through deception, Satan plant seeds of evil thoughts and imaginations into

human minds and hearts

Deception means “to give a false impression.”

Satan’s plan or strategy is the following: (The Deadly D’s)

He conceals his evil wisdom by Disguising himself so that the woman is unaware of his

evil – Just as we allow false brethren to enter into our homes and churches unaware

By carefully “choice” words, the serpent Distorted her view of what God had said


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Satan’s Strategy….Cont’d

With her mind now distorted, she is ready to embrace a total

misinterpretation of God’s Word … “You will not surely die.”

Eve now embraces Satan’s thoughts and now sees the forbidden tree from an entirely new

and wrong perspective

Is as if she believes that God was “short-changing” her and withholding something from her

She begins to Doubt God’s Word and His Goodness – she allowed a different line of

thinking to enter her minds (2nd Cor 10:4,5) – Satan’s assaults God’s motives and purpose

With thoughts and vain philosophies, Satan attacks our minds with doubts, attacking our faith,

confidence, pointing towards perceived “inconsistencies” in God’s Word

When Eve followed the wrong course of thinking, she overtly Denied God’s Word

Satan’s Word appealed to her senses over what God had said

She ate of the fruit and gave some to her husband

Adam exercises free will and eats the forbidden fruit, Disobeying the Word of God

Without the presence of God’s Word in Adam’s thoughts, his mind was on evil continually

(Genesis 6:5; Proverbs 6:14) causing strife and confusion

People being deceived, in turn become deceivers (2nd Tim 3:13)


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Unlearned Questions Complicate

2 Corinthians 11:3 - But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent

beguiled Eve through his subtilty, so your minds should be

corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ.

Beware when leaders and churches make the gospel too “complicated”

Satan is subtle and cunning – using words to stir doubt and confusion

So your minds should be corrupted - So your thoughts should be perverted

or distracted from the prize. So your hearts should be alienated from the

life of God

We are to avoid corrupt and unlearned questions that will take away from

the message of Christ


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What is the Simplicity That is in Christ?

Trust and confidence in the work of Christ completed through the cross

Luke 19:10: ‘For the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost

Trust and obedience to a pure doctrine, free of opinions, ideas, and

philosophies that distract our attention from God and His promises

Psalms 119:105 - NUN. Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.

True Devotion and Worship in response to God’s precious gift

John 4:24 - God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in

truth.

Simplicity in manner of living

1 Timothy 4:12 - Let no man despise thy youth; but be thou an example of the

believers, in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity.


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Nothing Has Changed

For those who will not accept the “simplicity that is in Christ”

(2nd Cor 11:3), Satan still offers liars, philosophies, and

other sources of “spirituality”

Pagan philosophies and practices, New Age Thinking,

Certain Movements are orchestrated by the rebellion of

men and the tactics of Satan to:

Discredit the Work of Christ and the Gospel – i.e. Focus on

“works” and “religion”

Take away from Deity of God, Jesus, & the Holy Spirit

Defuse vs. Diffuse - The gospel was meant to be diffused or

spread out; To defuse means to disarm or pacify the power of

the gospel (Romans 1:16)


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Wait A Minute! Another Question

What about all these teachings on the Occult, New Age

Movements, Yoga, and such? Don’t they distract churches

who are supposed to be focusing on the gospel message?

Jesus said that he came to expose the works of the devil

and we are too (1st John 3:8

Remember Satan and his actions are the antithesis of the

gospel – to distract, divert, and deceive the message

Therefore we must expose Satan's lies that he uses to

draw people away from hearing and receiving the good

news of the gospel


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Conclusion

The world, even the church world, grows weary of hearing the simplicity of the

gospel. We try our best to make it seem more and more confusing and

complicated. We add our little doctrines and subjective knowledge. We add

our rituals and traditions of men. We give our own little private interpretations

of every word that God speaks. We try to stimulate our understanding of

God and the bible by searching after philosophies and questions that add

nothing to our acceptance of the good news. We try to make ourselves seem

more knowledgeable than God himself concerning the message of the gospel.

Yet the message is still simple and it still changes lives

today.


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Practical Living Ministry

Practical Living Ministry exists to assist individuals, groups, and

organizations to operate to their full God-given ability by sharing life

changing principles for spiritual growth and development.

If this message touched you, please let me hear from you.

If you would like to encourage us financially to keep sharing these

kind of messages, please go to our donation section on our website

at www.practicallivingministry.org

If you would like to contact Dr. Jones for a speaking engagement at your

church or event concerning biblical leadership, mentoring, and Christian

culture. Please contact Pastor Kenneth Jones at

[email protected]

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