The Feast

There is a statement of Christ’s that many people in the Church tend to shunt to the side. Jesus says “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me” (Matthew 16:24). Notice He didn’t say “Follow Peter,” “Follow Paul,” “Follow Jacobus Arminius,” “Follow John Calvin,” “Follow RC Sproul, Charles Spurgeon, John MacArthur,” and He definitely doesn’t say “Follow Brian Doyle.” The doctrines of men are limited. There is truth in much of them, and there are much of them that are in error. It is why we need wisdom, discernment, and the Holy Spirit through God’s Word.

Biblical teachers exist to give us the pure milk of God’s word. Yet, the flesh we’re wrapped in makes us fallible. To follow Jesus, we need to set aside our assumptions, our traditions, our ways of thinking, and drink the pure milk, and, when ready, eat the meat of God’s word. All of it. So many of us look to and dissect the parts that fit our beliefs. Some latch on to the more Holy Spirit aspect of things, others to the more strict and legal points of scripture, and still, some latch on to various parts that suit their needs. The Scriptures are not a buffet for us to pick and choose; they are a feast provided by God, and each part is necessary, even if it is sweet to our tongue and bitter to our stomachs. All of God’s word is breathed out by Him, and not one portion of it negates another. It is all good, as it all comes from Him, and, as such, we ought to consider what is said.

Am I saying we, then, ought to follow the Law? By no means (as Paul would say)! We have died to the Law, so we no longer can live in it! But just because we have died to the Law, does not invalidate it! We live under Grace! By Grace through faith we are saved! We have been crucified with, buried in and have risen again in Christ Jesus! Therefore, with cheerful and gladdened hearts, let us delight in His word, seeking to walk in step with the Spirit, and being lights of the world! Let us Feast on the entirety of God’s word, being rebuked, corrected and trained in righteousness by it, that we may be fully equipped for every good work. Let us enjoy His presence as His word transforms us by the renewing of our minds, that we may open the door, and He may eat with us and we with Him.

2 Timothy 3

But understand this, that in the last days there will come times of difficulty. For people will be lovers of self, lovers of money, proud, arrogant, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, heartless, unappeasable, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not loving good, treacherous, reckless, swollen with conceit, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, having the appearance of godliness, but denying its power. Avoid such people. For among them are those who creep into households and capture weak women, burdened with sins and led astray by various passions, always learning and never able to arrive at a knowledge of the truth. Just as Jannes and Jambres opposed Moses, so these men also oppose the truth, men corrupted in mind and disqualified regarding the faith. But they will not get very far, for their folly will be plain to all, as was that of those two men.

You, however, have followed my teaching, my conduct, my aim in life, my faith, my patience, my love, my steadfastness, my persecutions and sufferings that happened to me at Antioch, at Iconium, and at Lystra—which persecutions I endured; yet from them all the Lord rescued me. Indeed, all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted, while evil people and impostors will go on from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived. But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have firmly believed, knowing from whom you learned it and how from childhood you have been acquainted with the sacred writings, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.

Romans 12

I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.

For by the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think with sober judgment, each according to the measure of faith that God has assigned. For as in one body we have many members, and the members do not all have the same function, so we, though many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another. Having gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, let us use them: if prophecy, in proportion to our faith; if service, in our serving; the one who teaches, in his teaching; the one who exhorts, in his exhortation; the one who contributes, in generosity; the one who leads, with zeal; the one who does acts of mercy, with cheerfulness.

Let love be genuine. Abhor what is evil; hold fast to what is good. Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor. Do not be slothful in zeal, be fervent in spirit, serve the Lord. Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer. Contribute to the needs of the saints and seek to show hospitality.

Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse them. Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep. Live in harmony with one another. Do not be haughty, but associate with the lowly. Never be wise in your own sight. Repay no one evil for evil, but give thought to do what is honorable in the sight of all. If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all. Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, “Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.” To the contrary, “if your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink; for by so doing you will heap burning coals on his head.” Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.