Knowing the will of God by Knowing the Word of God

One may ask why we chose the four words Exhort, Encourage, Equip and Excite to encapsulate the totality of To Die Is Gain and be the springboard for our vision and mission and how this ministry would proceed.  

In the beginning we labored over how to communicate the vision in a concise way. During the process of brainstorming, with the Holy Spirit’s help, we realized while jotting down words, we had created an alliteration, a group of words that start with the same letter.

 We wrestled over the very flow of the words and their placement on the website and print, in particular the life of the believer after a true conversion has taken place. Salvation isn’t given to us to simply bring about excitement in our lives, nor were we saved with only encouragement to be given. There must be instruction given first, this is exhortation, a call or urge to respond, or to teach.  One cannot be fully or adequately equipped without receiving exhortation. Which leads then to the need to have a teacher.  Perhaps we have the best example of this displayed in Scripture through Jesus Christ and his disciples, Paul and Barnabas, Paul and Timothy, etc.  

Therefore, there is an urgency to move forward with uncompromising sound teaching and doctrine to equip to train up, within the body of Christ. The avenue of sound doctrine comes by way of properly studying the Word of God and sitting under sound teaching. In essence, this again is exhortation.

“But as for you, speak the things which are fitting for sound doctrine.”

Titus 2:1

With so much ear tickling, false teaching going on in the church today, as well as blogs abounding with self help, self focused and the least amount of Scripture that can be eked out alongside gorgeous photography, we must ask ourselves some questions. 

If we have sat and listened to a sermon on Sunday morning and our toes have not been stepped on, our hearts leave without being convicted, then what is the purpose? Afterall, Christ’s will for each of His followers is  – Christlikeness through sanctification.  If we walk out every time feeling good, when a pastor has more to say about himself, or tells story after story after story, yet hardly reads and teaches from the Word of God – well, my friend, one should ask themselves – is this the right church, and is it God-honoring in all things, most especially in its teaching and preaching of the Word of God? The very words that God Himself has breathed! If our hearts have been burdened and grieved, how much more our Heavenly Father? 

The remedy is fully knowing that Sunday morning simply is not enough. K-Love Radio is not enough, the most popular worship song IS NOT ENOUGH. One cannot know the will of God without knowing the Word of God. One certainly cannot bear the image of any person or thing without first knowing the One to whom they have been made to emulate.