The Book of HEBREWS
James J. Barker
Lesson 13
BIBLICAL DISCERNMENT
INTRODUCTION:
- I would like to preach
tonight on the subject of Biblical discernment (cf. Hebrews 5:14).
- Today we hear much talk of
tolerance and pluralism and compromise, etc.
- We are told to be
“open-minded,” especially when it comes to religion. Those who take the Bible literally are
criticized and labeled “narrow-minded.”
- I heard a preacher say that
an open mind is a narrow mind lying down.
- Have you noticed that
liberals are very tolerant of criminals, homosexuals, Muslim terrorists, and
communists, etc. but they happen to be very intolerant of fundamental
Christians?
- We are supposed to tolerate
just about everything – homosexuality, abortion, pornography, sex-change
operations, transvestites, etc.
- We are told no one is to say
what is good and what is evil.
- We are told that all
religions are basically the same. A
person would have to be very stupid to believe
that!
- Our Lord said, “I am the
way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me” (John
14:6).
- That is not very politically
correct. Some would say it is very
narrow. Well, it is narrow. Jesus also said, “Enter ye in at the
strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to
destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: Because strait is the gate,
and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be
that find it” (Matthew 7:13, 14).
- Then in the next verse, our
Lord said, “Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep’s clothing, but
inwardly they are ravening wolves” (Matt. 7:15).
- To recognize a false
prophet, one needs Biblical discernment.
Biblical discernment is lacking these days, and that is why there are so
many false prophets all over radio and television.
- I do not know enough about
this pastor in Florida to identify him as a false prophet, but he is certainly
being foolish in putting on a big show and threatening to burn the Koran. Innocent Christians could get killed as
a result of his big desire for media
attention.
- To develop Biblical
discernment, one needs to study the Bible and be led by the Holy Spirit (cf. I
Corinthians 2:9-16).
I.
MANY CHRISTIANS ARE SPIRITUALLY DULL
(5:11, 12).
- The word translated “dull” means “sluggish.
- The author
is specifically writing to Hebrew Christians, who could not understand New
Testament teaching about Christ being a high priest after the order of
Melchisedec (cf. 5:10).
- But we can
apply this today, because there are many dull and sluggish Christians in
churches that cannot grasp Bible doctrine.
What is worse, many have little appetite for it.
- Not long ago, there were
many strong Christian publishers and bookstores, but now most of them have
disappeared.
- I am told that most
publishers do not want to publish conservative doctrinal books because they do
not sell. People would rather buy
slop by Joel Osteen and Rick Warren and Joyce Meyer,
etc.
- Furthermore, secular
(ungodly) companies now operate most of the big Christian publishers. I could preach all night about this, but
let me just cite one big publisher as an
example.
- Zondervan Publishers was
founded in 1931 in Grand Rapids, Michigan, by two brothers – Peter and Bernard
Zondervan, who were the nephews of publisher William Eerdmans (another big
Christian publishing house that went
apostate).
- In their early days they
only published good conservative Christian books. Then in the 1960’s, Zondervan
started publishing some of these new, inaccurate Bible versions. In the 1970’s
Zondervan went into partnership with the International Bible Society (which is
now very ecumenical), and published the New International Version of the Bible
(NIV). They own the copyright to
the NIV.
- Later on, Zondervan was
bought out by Harper Collins, a big secular publisher. Harper Collins publishes the Satanic
Bible and pornography star Jenna Jameson’s best-selling book, How To Make
Love Like a Porn Star.
- Furthermore, both Harper
Collins and Zondervan are owned by News Corp, which is owned and operated by
Rupert Murdoch, an Australian publisher and
pornographer.
- Murdoch also owns the FOX
Network. Some of the sleaziest
garbage on TV is on that network.
Conservatives have pointed out that there is a disconnect between Fox
News, which is fairly conservative, and Fox network programs, which are among
the sleaziest on television.
- Three years ago, Rick Warren
boasted that he was Rupert Murdoch’s pastor, but when he was told Murdoch
publishes pornography, he changed his story and said that Murdoch attends his
church but is not actually a member.
Warren is a phony.
- I should mention that
Murdoch publishes and promotes Warren’s “Purpose-driven” books. Do not expect to hear Warren speak
out against Murdoch’s pornography or trashy TV
shows.
- Though they used to be
conservative, today Zondervan publishes all sorts of new age books, emerging
church books, liberal books, and other anti-Christian books.
- Most Christians care little
about any of this. They read all
these junky books, but they do not read much of the Bible. Or if they do take time to read the
Bible, they read some inaccurate
translation.
- Consequently most Christians
lack discernment, and most churches are very weak and worldly. If a church puts
on a worldly show with lots of music and lots of laughs, they can draw a good
crowd. But if it is just prayer and
Bible preaching – shallow, worldly church members will not
come.
II.
TO GROW SPIRITUALLY WE MUST STUDY THE
BIBLE
- Here is
where many Christians fail. As HA
Ironside traveled around the country preaching, he used to ask his audience,
“How many have read the Bible through from cover to cover?”
- Very few hands went up. After a while he got discouraged and
stopped asking. And that was well
over 50 years ago. It is far worse
today.
- Christians who have been
saved for a few years should be teaching the Bible to others, but there are
Christians who have been saved for many years who cannot even handle teaching a
Sunday School class (cf. Heb. 5:12-14).
- John Phillips, in his
commentary on the book of Hebrews, points out that, “Spiritual babyhood is
fostered by ritualism.” He is
right.
- He goes on to say, “An
elaborate ritual was acceptable in Old Testament times because that was the
infancy stage of divine revelation, but with the coming of Christ the nursery
should have been left behind. The
Hebrew believers had to put away the cramping and inhibiting rituals of their
former faith.”
III.
DISCERNMENT COMES FROM “REASON OF USE”
(5:14).
- There are no shortcuts to
developing spiritual discernment.
- Note the word “exercised”
(5:14).
- First Timothy 4:8 says, “For
bodily exercise
profiteth little: but godliness is profitable unto all things, having
promise of the life that now is, and of that which is to
come.”
- We need Christian
discipline.
CONCLUSION:
Hebrews 5:14 says, “But strong meat
belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have
their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.” It has been pointed out that all
five bodily senses have their counterparts in the spiritual
realm:
- Taste – “If so be ye have tasted
that the Lord is gracious” (I Peter
2:3).
- Hearing – “He that hath ears to hear, let him
hear” (Matt. 11:15).
- Sight – “Open thou mine eyes, that I may behold
wondrous things out of thy law” (Psalm
119:18).
- Smell – “But I have all, and
abound: I am full, having received of Epaphroditus the things which were sent
from you, an odour of a sweet smell, a sacrifice acceptable, wellpleasing to God” (Phil.
4:18).
- Feeling – The ungodly are said to
be “past feeling” and “have given themselves over
unto lasciviousness, to work all uncleanness with greediness” (Eph. 4:19). We need a touch from God! (Adapted from
William R. Newell, Hebrews)
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