speaking – Ministry of Grace Church

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2 Peter 2:18 – Symphonic Messages

Posted on May 8, 2017 by Will

For speaking empty, boastful words, by lustful desires of the flesh, they entice people who are just escaping from those who live in error.

Truth to Learn

Well written messages that are delivered by a skilled public speaker are not always messages from God.

Behind the Words

The word translated “speaking” is the Greek word phthengomai, which really means “to sound a musical note” or “putting sounds together to communicate something.” It is used of great orations that are like orchestrations of words.

The word “empty” come from the Greek word mataiotēs, which means “futile or worthless.”

The adjective “boastful” come from huperogkas, which is a compound word made up of huper or hyper meaning “over or excessive” and ogkos, which literally means, “a mass.” These teachers use big words, and lots of them, to present their great oratory messages.

Meaning Explained

For me this is one of the saddest verses in Peter’s writing and one that makes me the most indignant toward these false teachers. These preachers, according to Peter, “sound forth empty, boastful words.” The message that they present is full of words that sound great and probably stir up the souls of the people, but they are empty words that serve no spiritual purpose. Their objective, if you remember from Peter’s earlier writing, is to fill the pockets of the teacher, not to satisfy the spiritual needs of the people.

Peter now tells us that these teachers use these great oratory messages to lure the people through the lusts of the flesh. These are messages that are attractive to the people because they don’t criticize the sinful practices of the flesh, but excuse them away and make it so that the people think they can continue in their lustful ways without condemnation. Instead of the people recognizing the sinfulness of their actions and habits, they are led to believe that they can continue in them without humbling themselves before the Judge of the ages.

Now, here’s why I get incensed with these false teachers: Peter tells us that the people being deceived by these “great” messages are “people who are just escaping from those who live in error.” These are people who have come out of churches where they were being taught erroneous doctrine. They have recognized that they were not receiving the truth and have left those churches only to be entrapped by these false teachers who are catering to the lusts which the people should be confessing and forsaking.

Oh, the deceitfulness and selfishness of these false teachers! When the people want the truth and are fed a lie instead, when the people are seeking freedom and are given bondage instead, when the people want peace and are given guilt instead… Woe to these false teachers! God will judge them, as Peter has said, and their judgment will be both harsh and just!

Application

Are the sermons you hear every Sunday the kind that make you feel good about yourself and the way you’re living? Do you ever hear a message that God uses to drive you to your knees? There’s nothing wrong with feeling uplifted by the Word of God, but if you’re never challenged by a sermon, you may be listening to a symphony instead of the still, small voice of God.

In God's service, for His glory,

1 Thessalonians 2:16 – Proclaim It Fearlessly

Posted on April 19, 2016 by Will

hindering us from speaking to the Gentiles so that they may be saved, so as always to fill up the measure of their sins. But wrath has suddenly come upon them to the uttermost.

Truth to Learn

Christians are to share the Gospel, in spite of persecution.

Behind the Words

“Hindering” is translated from the Greek verb kōluō, which is related to the noun kolos, which refers to “a dwarf.” The verb kōluō means “to weaken” or “to cut off.” In its common usage, it means “to hinder, restrain, or prevent.”

Laleō is the verb translated “speaking.” It refers to verbal conversation in general, as opposed to the content of the conversation, which would be the word legō.

The word “Gentiles” is from the Greek noun ethnos. This word literally refers to “a group of people belonging and living together.” In Greek secular writing, it primarily refers to “a race of people” or “a nation.” The Jews used this word to refer to anyone who was not a Jew, that is, a Gentile.

“Saved” is translated from sodzō, which means “to rescue from danger or destruction.” It is expressed here in the subjunctive mood, indicating the possibility or probability of it happening.

“Always” is translated from pantote, which is made up of a form of pas, meaning “all” and tote, meaning “then.” Therefore, pantote means “all the time.”

The words “fill up” are from anaplēroō. This is composed of ana, meaning “up,” used as an intensifier, and plēroō, meaning “to fill.” Thus, anaplēroō means “to fill up completely.

The words “has suddenly come upon” are from the verb phthanō, meaning “to come suddenly and unexpectedly.”

“Uttermost” is from telos, meaning “the termination,” “the completion,” or “the end.”

Meaning Explained

The Thessalonian Christians were just told that they are suffering in the same way as the Christians in Judea, at the hands of their own countrymen. Paul now describes the motivation behind such persecution. He says that their countrymen were hindering them from having conversations with the people around them so that these people might not hear and believe the gospel message, thus getting saved.

This sounds very contemporary, doesn’t it? Even in our own country, which was originally based on religious freedom and the freedom of speech, our countrymen are trying to prevent us from spreading the good news. Prayer has been taken out of our schools and teachers are forbidden from sharing the Gospel message. Discussions about sin and salvation are hindered in the workplace and many government offices have forbidden the display of Christian materials.

But Paul tells us that the consequences of such hindering of the Gospel will be far worse for those who are hindering our witness than they will be for us. Their actions will be judged at the Great White Throne Judgment and they will experience the wrath of God, while we will only know the peace of God.

Application

Don’t be discouraged from sharing the Gospel message with people around you. Keep in mind that it is “… the power of God unto salvation …” (Romans 1:16) that causes people to believe, not your own persuasiveness.

In God's service, for His glory,

Ephesians 5:19 – Sing to God!

Posted on January 19, 2016 by Will

speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making music in your heart to the Lord,

Truth to Learn

Singing God’s praise is a sign of being filled with the Spirit.

Behind the Words

“Speaking” is from the Greek word laleō, meaning “to utter words,” that is, “to talk” or “to speak.”

The word “psalms” is transliterated from psalmos, derived from the verb psallō, meaning “to sing.” The words “making music” later in this verse are translated from psallō. Originally, psallō referred to the touching or plucking of a stringed instrument. Later it referred to the singing of a song accompanied by a musical instrument. A psalm tells a story of man’s deliverance or tells of God’s mercy to us.

The word “hymns” is transliterated from the Greek word humnos (hymnos), which is a declaration of praise regarding God’s greatness. According to the church father Augustine, a hymn had three characteristics: it was sung, it was praise, it was to God.

The words “spiritual songs” are translated from two words, pneumatikos and odē. Pneumatikos, derived from pneuma, meaning a spirit, refers to that which pertains to the spiritual world. Odē is the Greek word translated “songs.” Derived from the verb adō, it is a general term for a song.

“Singing” is from the Greek word adō. Throughout the Bible this word refers specifically to singing praises to God.

Meaning Explained

In the previous verse Paul commanded us not to be drunk with wine, allowing it to control our thoughts and actions. Instead he said, be filled with the Spirit of God, allowing Him to control our thoughts and actions.

Now you may ask, “How do I know when I am filled with the Spirit?” The Apostle answers that question with three different forms of evidence. The first is in today’s verse and the others are described in the following two verses. The first evidence of being Spirit filled is “singing and making music in your heart to the Lord.” When a person is filled to the brim with the Holy Spirit, he or she cannot help himself or herself. The Spirit within us will break out in song. This singing will usually be accompanied by musical instruments, and it will be songs of praise to God for who He is and for what He has done. These songs will be “spiritual songs” because they are the result of the Spirit of God bursting out through our voices.

What you may not realize is that the only singing that many early Christians heard before coming to Christ was singing that accompanied drunkenness and idolatry, but that’s not the type of singing we’re commanded to do. It’s interesting to note that Paul says that these songs are a form of “speaking to yourselves.” These are messages of praise and encouragement that church members sing to themselves and to other church members. Some people in church just sing the songs because they know they’re supposed to. Others sing these songs simply because they like to sing. And others sing the same songs as a form of worship. Paul, however, says that we should also be singing these songs to each other. I believe Paul intends this to be a form of encouragement and fellowship.

Application

When we realize what God has done for us, we are filled with joy. That joy is often expressed in the form of singing. How wonderful it is to join together with our brothers and sisters each week, lifting our voices up in song. So, be filled with the Spirit and lift up your heart with songs of praise to God and encouragement to others.

In God's service, for His glory,

Ephesians 5:19 – Sing to God!

Posted on February 13, 2012 by Will

speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord,

Truth to Learn

Singing God’s praise is a sign of being filled with the Spirit.

Behind the Words

“Speaking” is from the Greek word laleō, meaning “to utter words,” that is, “to talk” or “to speak.”

The word “psalms” is transliterated from psalmos, derived from the verb psallō, meaning “to sing.” The words “making melody” later in this verse are translated from psallō. Originally, psallō referred to the touching or plucking of a stringed instrument. Later it referred to the singing of a song accompanied by a musical instrument. A psalm tells a story of man’s deliverance or tells of God’s mercy to us.

“Singing” is from the Greek word adō. Throughout the Bible this word refers specifically to singing praises to God.

Meaning Explained

Now you may ask, “How do I know when I am filled with the Spirit?” The Apostle answers that question with three different forms of evidence. The first is in today’s verse and the others are described in the following two verses. The first evidence of being Spirit filled is “singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord.” When a person is filled to the brim with the Holy Spirit, he or she cannot help himself or herself. The Spirit within us will break out in song. This singing will usually be accompanied by musical instruments, and it will be songs of praise to God for who He is and for what He has done. These songs will be “spiritual songs” because they are the result of the Spirit of God bursting out through our voices.

What you may not realize is that the only singing that many early Christians heard before coming to Christ was singing that accompanied drunkenness and idolatry. It’s interesting to note that Paul says that these songs were a form of “speaking to one another.” The Greek actually says “speaking to yourselves.” These were messages of praise and encouragement that church members sang to church members.

Application

In God's service, for His glory,