What on Earth is the Millennium? | David Jeremiah

Legalist and their Scriptures Out of Context

Legalists snatch scriptures out of context to make them say what they want them to say. They pay little attention to the context of the passage and that passage in context with the rest of the Bible.

I once attended a lady's Bible study in which the leader asked the ladies to tell her what a particular passage means to them.

I raised my hand first to say that it is not a matter of how "I" see the passage, it is a matter of what God meant to tell me. There were blank stares all around while others raised their hands to tell what the passage meant to them personally, everyone had a different meaning and what God meant was entirely unimportant to them. When I left that study I never returned. I knew the truth would not be taught there.

I have also been judged about things the one who judged me knew nothing about. They wanted to believe things about me to elevate themselves and diminish me, but their ideas about me were nothing more than imaginations in their own mind. I am sure if you have narcissists in your life you have encountered this. Those who must elevate self to feel a sense of importance. There is no humility in the hearts of those who cannot feel whole unless they are judging and mocking others over matters they really know little about.

When we view the scriptures out of context depending on seeing what we want to fulfill our desired meaning, we are going to be led deeply astray.

Every verse must be in context with its passage and every passage with the rest of the Bible. This takes knowing the bible well and the desire to know God's heart.

Many people read the word of God with the mentality of accommodating their own personal idea of righteousness. This is why so many defend their sin and refuse to listen to correction. In other words, they are their own gods determining truth without regard to the One True God, His Son Jesus Christ and His Holy Spirit led teachings.

Many groups of people make up rules they determine to keep people acting rightly, that God never made. They go beyond what God said to make sure others will obey them, without regard to God changing the heart.

When we make rules God never made we are playing god. We should be teaching the Word of God without adding anything to it or taking anything from it. Everyone has their own idea about many things that seem right, but in making these rules for others they are attempting to control others.

Proverbs 14:11-12 "…11 The house of the wicked will be destroyed, but the tent of the upright will flourish. 12 There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way of death. "

"Prophesy" meaning to declare the word of God.

2 Peter 1:20-21

"20 Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation.

21 For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost."

Revelation 22:18-19

"18 I warn everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this scroll: If anyone adds anything to them, God will add to that person the plagues described in this scroll. 19 And if anyone takes words away from this scroll of prophecy, God will take away from that person any share in the tree of life and in the Holy City, which are described in this scroll."

Matthew 23:3-5 "…3 So practice and observe everything they tell you. But do not do what they do, for they do not practice what they preach. 4 They tie up heavy, burdensome loads and lay them on men’s shoulders, but they themselves are not willing to lift a finger to move them. 5All their deeds are done for men to see. They broaden their phylacteries and lengthen their tassels.…"

We must never play god by adding rules to out of context scriptures to cause guilt, intimidation, manipulation, and diminishment of another human being. Adding to the Word extra rules to make a person become the way you want them to become is the height of arrogance and intolerable to God.

Matthew 23:4-6 "…4 They tie up heavy, burdensome loads and lay them on men’s shoulders, but they themselves are not willing to lift a finger to move them. 5 All their deeds are done for men to see. They broaden their phylacteries and lengthen their tassels. 6 They love the places of honor at banquets, the chief seats in the synagogues,…"

There is pride involved in judging every little thing in someone's life to see if they are doing it perfectly enough for your liking. God hates this sort of pride.

Matthew 23:24-26 "…24 You blind guides! You strain out a gnat but swallow a camel. 25 Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You clean the outside of the cup and dish, but inside they are full of greed and self-indulgence. 26 Blind Pharisee! First clean the inside of the cup and dish, so that the outside may become clean as well."

May those who love the Lord with all their heart seek the Holy Spirit, to be led by Him so that they are not burdened down with a desire to poke at others to feel superior. This need to be superior is a monstrous burden not only to the person doing it but to others they attempt to control. Jealousy drives these mentalities of control, it is not loving.

Love does not parade itself or attempt to control others. Love speaks the truth and leaves the results to God.

1 Corinthians 13:4-8

"4 Love is patient, love is kind, it is not jealous; love does not brag, it is not arrogant.

5 It does not act disgracefully, it does not seek its own benefit; it is not provoked, does not keep an account of a wrong suffered,

6 it does not rejoice in unrighteousness, but rejoices with the truth;

7 it keeps every confidence, it believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things."

Forcing, accusing, mocking, intimidation to win and other tactics are not present in a heart that uses these tactics. They are the devil's tools. If this has been you, elevating self to win over others, then please repent and begin to seek the Holy Spirit for His fruit.

Galatians 5:22-23

"22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,

23 gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law."

When we are led by the Holy Spirit we enjoy loving others His way. Self is not dominant in our lives, the Holy Spirit is in control.

You may notice that the narcissist often thinks you are bad in many ways, but they are projecting, this means they think you are this way because it is the way they are and they expect you to be just like them. Therefore they dismiss the real you, ignoring it and replace their thoughts about you with their own flawed character.

This is why the devil tempted Christ to turn the rocks into bread, he thought Christ would do what the devil would do, that is give into temptation. The devil refused to see Christ as He was, that is God!!!!!