Author: Joshua Maynard

We never seem to live as holy as we try.

That is the lesson that the Mosaic Law teaches us: the harder we try to keep the Law, the less we are able to keep it.

When Grace is revealed in us, we should stop trying to live up to a standard that we can’t meet and truly start living free of guilt and free from sin.

– Bishop Joshua Maynard

We were not designed to be able to do everything by our own strength.
Even the disciples were sent in pairs.

When we are alone, Christ is always with us in Spirit working with us to do the things that we cannot do alone.

Together with Chris, we can do all things by His power.

– Bishop Joshua Maynard

Fear cancels out faith.

You can empower fear with your faith by perceiving it to have power in your imagination that it doesn’t really have.

When you do that, you are giving fear and the Devil a foothold in your mind.

We must cast down such imaginations that exalt themselves above the knowledge of God by Christ Jesus.

– Bishop Joshua Maynard

You cannot base a belief or a set of beliefs on scriptures taken out of context and expect God to honor your ignorance of His Word. 
Because He is faithful, however, He honors our faith, even when it is based on something that we fail to understand or have completely wrong.

– Bishop Joshua Maynard

Sin-consciousness is believing that anything you do that is wrong has an effect on being in right-standing with God.

Self-righteousness is believing that anything you do that is good has an effect on being in right-standing with God.

Both are ARROGANCE, and neither affect your right-standing with God.

– Bishop Joshua Maynard

Man was not designed to die.

Every part of our being fights to live.

God did not create death. Death is an enemy of God.

He is not in it.

Jesus conquered death.

Don’t say then that God takes lives.

He is not sovereignly taking lives.

Death entered into the world because of sin.

– Bishop Joshua Maynard

  • Consider the Scriptures Series – Article #17 has been posted.
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Consider the scriptures

#17 – 2 Timothy 3:16-17

 

‭‭2 Timothy‬ ‭3‬:‭16‬-‭17‬ – “All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: that the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.”

These verses start with “All scripture”, but what is “All scripture”? Paul and other New Testament believers had the Old Testament as their scriptures. “All” as it is used here in the Greek means “every”. It is given by inspiration of God and that translated literally means “God-breathed”.

Just as God breathed life into man, it is said that the scriptures were breathed into man by the Holy Spirit to be written. Jesus quoted the Old Testament scriptures and bore witness to their authenticity.

This means that the scriptures were written with a divine quality and that they were not interpreted by the writers.

The Bible is profitable for “doctrine” means that we can learn it and believe it, trusting in the One who gave the Word.

The Bible is profitable for “reproof” meaning that  it reproves our wrong ways of thinking, believing and acting. Next, the scripture says it is profitable for “correction”. Reproof and correction go hand-in-hand. This “correction” can be translated to mean “conviction” or “evidence”. So in convicting us of our wrongdoing, does it provide evidence against us or for us? Perhaps both! In providing evidence that we have violated God’s law, the Bible also qualifies us as forgiven and righteous by the perfection of the law in Christ Jesus. By giving us not just the problem, but also the solution, we are able to apply what we learn and correct our way of thinking.

The scriptures then go on to say “for instruction in righteousness”.  This is not to mean just “instruction” or “teaching” but also discipline. It takes discipline to build character, courage and good habits. The word used here for discipline, “paideian”, means “training through correction” which is different than “paideuō” used elsewhere in the New Testament which means “training through punishment”.

If we read the Bible without the enlightenment of the Holy Spirit, we are liable to see judgment and punishment when God wants us to see mercy and grace.

You see, the Bible is not about training us through punishment. It is about raining us in the ways to live rightly by educating us.

Righteousness used here is not particularly about living a moral and ethical way, but specifically in belonging to God and submitting yourself under his Lordship.

You are righteous because He is your God, He is your Lord and you are His child.

“that the man of God may be perfect” refers to something suitable, usable or capable. While most people see “perfect” and think of “perfection”, I think you would be hard-pressed to find any Christian that feels they are “perfect” or even close to it.

Therefore, let’s just accept that maybe this scripture is referring to the “man of God” being made suitable, usable and capable.

When we know the scriptures and know God’s Word, we are suitable, usable and capable of doing the will of God, whatever that may be.

None of us remember as many scriptures as we would like to, and it certainly takes practice to keep them fresh in our minds. Don’t judge yourself to be unworthy or incapable of doing what God has called you to do. He will always make a way for you when you step out in faith and are doing His will.

The scripture goes on to say, “throughly furnished unto all good works”.

We are fully equipped with everything we need when we are sent out to do God’s work.

He is faithful and we must remember to have faith in ourselves as well. Not that we are capable of doing His will on our own, but we realize that we are never “on our own” because He is with us and in us, and His Spirit empowers us for every good work.

Some Christians say:
“If I don’t want to be close to you, it’s because I don’t approve of your behavior.”
“If I don’t spend time with you, it’s because I don’t approve of your lifestyle. I want you to know that God is displeased with you.”
“If I don’t fellowship with you, it’s because God has told me that you are a bad influence on me.”
“I don’t hate you; I just hate your sin.”
Jesus says:
“I took care of your sins!”
“They don’t scare me away.”
“I don’t hide my face from you when you mess up.”
Come to me with your faults and let me show you how to live healthy.
I won’t condemn you and I’ll never reject you.”
Disciples say:
“Let’s get to know one another.”
“Let’s hang out together.”
“God loves you in spite of whatever you may do.”
“I’m not scared of your behavior rubbing off on me. Our behavior doesn’t change the love of God.”
“I can be your friend even if I don’t approve of the decisions you make.”
“I want you to be healthy and full of life, so I will pour all the life that I have into you.”
“You are worth my time.”
“You are loved and a friend.”
“Jesus loves you and He wants me to represent that love to you.”
– Bishop Joshua Maynard

what ‘being blessed’ means

 

Many go around saying how blessed they are.
Do you know what “being blessed” was to those in the early church, or even going back to the Old Covenant?
Romans 4:8
“Blessed is the man to whom the Lord will not impute sin.”
This really stirred something up in me today.
We cannot continue to go around saying we are “blessed” and still believe that our sins have any bearing whatsoever on God’s love for us.
This means that God’s blessing is opposed to tradition and legalism.
We are blessed because He does not count our sins against us.
We are blessed because He has an everlasting covenant that says we are righteous and justified.
We are blessed because He has chosen not to remember our sins.
We are not merely blessed financially or with material things of this world.
These things cannot compare to what God considers “being blessed”.
The Holy Spirit is saying to me, “You do not know what blessing is, because you do not know what I brought you out of!”
“You have not seen what the Devil had planned for you if you had continued on your original path.”
“You cannot fully appreciate what it means to have your sins forgiven and forgotten because your focus is still on your sins!”
Your sins do not define who you are to me!
You are forcing yourself to look upon and remember sins that I have already forgiven and forgotten!”
“Awake! Awake! Awake from your own imaginations that exalt themselves above the knowledge of God and bring every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ!”
Your sins are forgiven and forgotten!
Now soak in this blessing that I have given you.
Let this blessing be a revelation that transforms your life!
Look no more at the past or the present or worry about the future.
You are My child; you have My Name and you have been blessed!”
“No man can take it from you!
No devil can take you from Me!
Nothing can separate you from My Love!”
– Bishop Joshua Maynard