Bible lesson

My son's Bible lesson he prepared for his youth group April 2015.

I read a review on Mike Bickle. I think it's perfectly fine for someone to have a different interpretation of eschatology. I also think it's ok to be a little flexible using our best understanding of the culture, language, knowledge of the author, and the context of what and when the book was written. When it comes to the prophetic, and the pursuit of the prophetic, I am very cautious. For the Word says:

Preach the word of God. Be prepared, whether the time is favorable or not. Patiently correct, rebuke, and encourage your people with good teaching. For a time is coming when people will no longer listen to sound and wholesome teaching. They will follow their own desires and will look for teachers who will tell them whatever their itching ears want to hear. They will reject the truth and chase after myths. But you should keep a clear mind in every situation. Don’t be afraid of suffering for the Lord. Work at telling others the Good News, and fully carry out the ministry God has given you. (‭2 Timothy‬ ‭4‬:‭2-5‬ NLT)

I listen to a lot of the prophetic. Probably more than I should sometimes. Even the prophetic that may be of the enemy can give us an idea of what's going on. As the verses speak of above, I am learning that although the prophetic is interesting, I need to focus and teach the Good News and not change nor alter the Word in any way. For Jesus is the Word (John 1:14), the Way, the Truth and the Light. People love quoting John 3:16, but they don't read it in context. 

“For this is how God loved the world: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life. God sent his Son into the world not to judge the world, but to save the world through him. “There is no judgment against anyone who believes in him. But anyone who does not believe in him has already been judged for not believing in God’s one and only Son. And the judgment is based on this fact: God’s light came into the world, but people loved the darkness more than the light, for their actions were evil. All who do evil hate the light and refuse to go near it for fear their sins will be exposed. But those who do what is right come to the light so others can see that they are doing what God wants. ” (‭John‬ ‭3‬:‭16-21‬ NLT)

It says "anyone who does not believe in him has already been judged".  As well, satan believes in Jesus, but he doesn't "... come to the light". It's also too late for him:
Judgment will come because the ruler of this world has already been judged. (‭John‬ ‭16‬:‭11‬ NLT)

1Co 12 tells us to pursue the gifts. I fear too many see the gifts for their own self and not for His glory. That is why I have stop pursuing the gifts and and focusing on the gospel.  If He so chooses, if and when (if ever) I'm ready in His eyes, the gifts will come:

Put on your new nature, and be renewed as you learn to know your Creator and become like him. In this new life, it doesn’t matter if you are a Jew or a Gentile, circumcised or uncircumcised, barbaric, uncivilized, slave, or free. Christ is all that matters, and he lives in all of us. (‭Colossians‬ ‭3‬:‭10-11‬ NLT)

I love the Word! All those years I lost searching for the Truth.  I studied and read so much, ignore the Bible all that time believing the lie.  All that ever gave me was the "mental ascent" I craved, but was left all the more empty. It was only when I read the Word that I learned the Truth and received the Holy Spirit; praise God!

Geesh, it's after 12:30. Gotta go to bed.

Hope you decide to accept my challenge one day to read the New Testament with me. Perhaps we could do a chapter a day and share our thoughts by Email.  

Amen...