The Bible Provocateur
The Bible Provocateur
LIVE DISCUSSION: John the Baptist, Repentance, Apostasy (5 of 5)
What does true humility look like? Looking to Psalm 22, we explore Christ's ultimate example—becoming "a worm and no man" to save those who could never save themselves. This profound paradox reveals why God designed reality to magnify humility: to showcase the treasure of His character through the most unexpected means.
We dive deep into the nature of genuine repentance, moving beyond simplistic definitions. Drawing from Ezekiel 36, we discover that turning from sin requires something we can't generate ourselves—a new heart. "I will put my spirit within you and cause you to walk in my statutes." This divine promise reshapes our understanding of salvation as God's work from beginning to end.
The conversation takes a personal turn when a participant vulnerably shares her struggle to live faithfully amid past pain. The group's response demonstrates Christian community at its best—bearing one another's burdens with practical wisdom: "Go out of your way to annoy God. Beg Him, bug Him around the clock until He gives you what you need."
This journey through scripture reveals that humility isn't weakness but the very channel through which God's power flows. When we acknowledge our complete dependence on Him, He smooths our rough paths and makes straight our crooked ways. As one participant reminds us, true strength comes when we "seek Him wholeheartedly, first in everything we do."
Join our next live study as we continue exploring Galatians 5 and the contrast between the flesh and the Spirit. Connect with us to experience the power of biblical community where we walk together, learn together, and grow together in Christ.
Faith That Challenges. Conversations that Matter. Laughs included. Subscribe Now!
Listen on: Apple Podcasts Spotify
in the Lord that he would deliver him. Let him deliver him, seeing he delighted in him. Look at the cross. But you are he that took me out of the womb. You did make me hope when I was in my mother's breasts. I was cast upon thee from the womb. You are my God from my mother's belly. Be not far from me, for trouble is near and there is none to help.
Speaker 1:Bulls have compassed me. Strong bulls of Bashan have beset me around. They gaped upon me with their mouths and as a ravening and roaring lion, I am poured out like water. All my bones are out of joint. My heart is like wax. It melted in the midst of my bowels. My strength is dried up like a potsherd. My tongue cleaves to my jaws and you have brought me into the dust of death.
Speaker 1:Dogs have compassed me. The assembly of the wicked have enclosed me. They have pierced my hands and my feet. I may tell all my bones. They look and stare upon me. I may tell all my bones. They look and stare upon me. They part my garments among them and cast lots upon my vesture. But be not thou far from me, O Lord. My strength haste to help me, Deliver my soul from the sword, my darling from the power of the dog. Save me from the lion's mouth. You have heard me from the horns of the unicorns.
Speaker 1:I will declare thy name unto my brethren, In the midst of the congregation, I will. I praise thee, you that fear the Lord. Praise him all, ye, the seed of Jacob. Glorify him and fear him. All you see. Of Abraham, I mean of Israel. I would go on with this, but you get the picture here. Christ himself Shows what humility looks like. It starts off by saying I'm a worm and no man. Despised, despised, rejected and um, and he is the reproach we want to be Christ like. We aspire To subject ourselves To the type of affliction and trouble and persecution and mockery and scorning that Christ.
Speaker 2:John, can I say something here?
Speaker 1:Hold on one second. Let me me get to Four Gnome and then I'll come to you, jay. Next Four Gnome go ahead.
Speaker 3:So, yeah, that's fantastic and I was just trying to kind of get a bird's eye view, or maybe a God's eye view, of why he created a reality that magnifies humility. And I think, to answer that question, it really comes down to God wanting to show us the unsurpassing greatness and beauty and treasure of his character. He is telling us about himself. That's what he's doing in this reality and it's mind-blowing, it's beautiful, it's gorgeous.
Speaker 1:And brother. That's why I wanted to read this passage, because I think you got it right. It is showing the only way that we could be saved, and God wants to glorify himself in our salvation. And the only way that he could do that was to put on human flesh. So the divine God of all creation put himself in the flesh of men.
Speaker 1:There is no greater degree of humility that can ever be put on display than for God himself to become a man, a worm. And he says he became not only a man and a worm, but less than a man, less than a man, a worm, subjecting himself to be despised, the one who could crush us all with a blink and we would be gone forever. But he doesn't. He puts on flesh, comes to earth, preaches, deals with the contradiction of men, suffers the cross, a humiliating death by the way, a humiliating death, dies way, a humiliating death dies Taking on our sin on him. He puts our sin on him. You have to imagine that, because I would think that my sin alone, just from this morning till now, would be enough to burst a thousand worlds from existence. And that's just for me in the last few hours. Imagine a whole world of people having their sin put on him. There's no greater degree of humility.
Speaker 1:And so you're right, brother. It's a good question to ask, but the answer, the answer is right here in Psalm 22. And what we see Christ go through, what we saw he went through for us, takes our sin and then, if that's not enough, he takes our sin upon himself and then gives us his righteousness, under no obligation to do so. In either case, he was under no obligation to come here and put on flesh, he was under no obligation to take our sin upon him and he was certainly under no obligation to impart our his righteousness to our account in order that we can be justified before the father. It's an amazing thing. And so, and it's a beautiful thing, and um, who did I miss? There's somebody. Oh, brother, jay, go ahead, you were gonna say something.
Speaker 2:I wanted to talk. Get back to repentance. They say it's a change of mind. That's what it says in Greek. I agree with that. But here's what I noticed Jonathan go to uh Mass and Ezekiel, chapter 18, verse 21, 21 and I'll read it from the Legacy Standard Bible Ezekiel 18, verse 21. He says here but if the wicked man turns from all his sins, which he has done, and kept my statutes, and does justices and righteousness, he shall surely live, shall not die. Let's see what he says. That's the meaning of repentance Turning from your sins.
Speaker 1:No, no, no. Let me say this yes, you're right, yes and no. Alright, here's what I mean by that. Bear with me for a second. If the wicked Verse 21 but if the wicked will turn from all his sins that he has committed and keep all of my statues this is the key and keep all of my statues and do that which is lawful and right, he shall surely live and not die. Has anyone done that?
Speaker 2:Yeah, but it says why no?
Speaker 1:no no, no, no, Hold on, hold on, no, let's stick to it. Has anyone done? Why? No, no, no no, no, no.
Speaker 2:Hold on, hold on.
Speaker 1:No, let's stick to it. Has anyone done that? No, what's that, brother? No. Now let me ask you a second question Is it possible for anyone to do that? No, so what was he saying in that verse?
Speaker 2:Keep your statues.
Speaker 1:He's saying keep your statues. But what he statues Because he's saying this. What he's saying there is this If you can keep, if you keep the law, this is the will of God by precept this is what you need to do If you will live and not die. But no one was able to do that, and that's the reason. That's the reason why Christ came, because he's the only one who did and who could.
Speaker 2:Yeah, but my point is it's coming from your sins. What does the word coming from your sins mean?
Speaker 1:I get that, but what difference does turning mean in this particular verse if you can't do it?
Speaker 2:No, I understand your point. What I'm just saying is that repentance means that we don't want to sin no more, that we want to obey Jesus Christ, we want to obey God, meaning that, right, right. So that's my point. And so if we don't want to commit sin, then turn from your sin, right?
Speaker 1:Right. No, here's what you said, which is true. You said we don't want to sin. That's because we've had a change of heart, a change of mind. We don't want to do that. Why Does the unbeliever want to?
Speaker 2:No, why? Because they have a nature of sin well, why.
Speaker 1:And so having the nature of sin means what when it comes to repentance?
Speaker 2:I mean, this is not try not to uh sin and that we don't I'm talking about the unbeliever.
Speaker 1:All right, the the unbeliever, like you said, does not have the nature of God. They only have their sin nature, right, right, so can the person who only has a sinful nature, who only has a sinful nature, the spirit of God does not live in them, they only have a sinful nature. Can they turn?
Speaker 2:No, why? Because they're dead in their sins.
Speaker 1:Exactly, and that's my point. That's my point. So, in order, what is required To be what is required in order To be able to turn from your sin To repent.
Speaker 2:When we turn to make Jesus the Savior and Lord of our life.
Speaker 1:That's right, and he's the one that changes us, because that's why we are born again, born from above. Right, it requires a new birth, but what does? But here's brother follow me here. What does a new birth mean? What does it? How does a new birth give us the ability to turn to a salvific repentance?
Speaker 2:It's a change of nature, our spirit's condition.
Speaker 1:That's right. That's exactly right. Does it make sense, right? So you see, this is what's essential, for salvation is a change, is to be given a new nature. And it is that new nature, it is that new nature, that godly nature, that now you are led from within by the Holy Spirit, sealed by the Holy Spirit, to the day of redemption. It is that regeneration that allows you to to turn, in terms of repentance, in a way that you can be saved. Otherwise, if that new birth does not take place, any exercise of repentance is only temporal, is only on the outside, and there cannot be a change on the outside at all unless there's first a change on the inside.
Speaker 1:And that's what christ was saying, what, what he meant when he says that, that it is not what goes into the mouth that defiles a man, but what comes out, which is where the new heart is. Sister Faith got it right. He gave us a new heart, and you see this even in Ezekiel. So you know you're in Ezekiel 18, but if you go to Ezekiel 26, I believe you will see that he himself clears this up. It might be 27. Let me see. I know Meg knows this because she talks about this a lot, um 36, ezekiel 36 36 there you go, read it.
Speaker 1:Go ahead, read it, sister oh, I'm not.
Speaker 6:I'm not there, jonathan, I'm sorry, I'm not.
Speaker 1:I can get there though, if you can get there quicker than me, and there you go, thinking that you didn't have it. You didn't have it in your mind. You do All right, I do.
Speaker 6:Well, that's the spirit. There you go.
Speaker 1:There you go. So Ezekiel 36 says this in verse 26 or verse 25. Then I will sprinkle clean water upon you and you shall be clean From all your filthiness and from all your idols. I will cleanse you A new heart, will I give you a new spirit, will I put within you and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh and I will give you a new heart of flesh. I will put my spirit within you. And look what he says, brother Jay. He says I will put my spirit within you verse 27,. And cause I will cause you to walk in my statues. I will cause you to walk in my statues and you shall keep my judgments and do them.
Speaker 1:And that is what salvation is. It's what he does. It is that he enables us to turn from the heart. It is a he that gives us a new nature. It is he that makes us more than conquerors. It is he that says that nothing shall separate us from the love of God. It is he that says all of what is required for man to be saved. He is the one who provides it. He's the one who implements it. He's the one who keeps it intact. He's the one that ensures that we endure to the end and that we are not made partakers with those who go back to the world and apostatize.
Speaker 2:If we love God, if we love Jesus Christ, we will do the will, we will do his will, we will repay him right If we love him.
Speaker 1:That's right. And it says here, brother, because he says I'm going to put my spirit in you and then because by doing that I'm going to cause you to walk in my statutes, and so it doesn't get any more Beautiful than that. It doesn't get any, it doesn't get any more clear than that. And yet so many people Struggle with this whole idea. But the reason why so many people do it could be one because of just Immaturity in the faith, or it could be You're not in the faith at all, brother Kanan. Go ahead.
Speaker 7:I wanted to add on to Ezekiel, since you're already there, in verses four through six from chapter 37. Again, he said to me prophesy over these bones and say to them oh dry bones, hear the word of the Lord. Thus says the Lord God to these bones behold, I will cause breath to enter you, that you may come to life. Amen, amen, amen.
Speaker 1:Does anybody have a problem with any of this that we talked about? Sister Tina? How are you Amen? Does anybody have a problem with any of this that we talked about? Sister Tina, how are you, TNA?
Speaker 4:You there, sister, hey family how? Are you guys. I'm sorry I got on late, I just got home not too long ago. Sorry I got on late, I just got home not too long ago. But just hearing all these things, that's the kind of life that I would love to have I feel like I'm not going to lie. I'm still struggling to be that person, especially in my environment that I'm around, I think the old lifestyle and yeah, it's kind of yeah to get fully rid of all the pain and the hurt like from the past.
Speaker 4:fully rid of all the pain and the hurt like from the past, um, yes, but I'm just like thankful because you know, like I, I've given my bible to my sister, so like she also lost her first love, um, from gun violence and she was going through a tough time as well. So I feel like what you just spoke about being like strong and, I guess, faith and in the word I'm still not as there as I want to be, just with everything else. I just know it's not an excuse to not have enough time, especially for him. It's just a lot of my plate, but I really want to be there and just to have a new heart.
Speaker 2:Yeah, Listen.
Speaker 1:I'm telling you something right now. Everybody, you know like I can hear it in your voice. I can hear it in your voice. It's like you know, I believe that anybody who's truly a believer listening to you right now, they can't sense, they can't feel what you're feeling. To some degree you got to be kind of soulless not to catch it. But I want to tell you something You're definitely not alone.
Speaker 1:And we started this whole message talking about how John the Baptist came to prepare the way to make straight in the desert, a highway for our God and prepared the way of the Lord to make his path straight, and that every valley would be filled and every mountain and hill would be brought low, and that the crooked would be made straight and the rough ways would be made smooth. And what you have going on right now. It sounds very likely that you're dealing with a lot of crooked and rough roads that you're on. It's tough, it's tough, but the Lord has shown that he will make all these things smooth. He will make it so that your access to him will be smooth. But on that journey you're going to find yourself dealing with so many different things because we are still like brother uh, I think it was brother um michael, he was earlier here that we're in this wilderness, that right, that, right now, and we have to continue to persevere in the faith and continue to um seek our lord in all things and to seek his aid in all things. So if you can't read the scriptures, or you can't do this or that, whatever, find that little bit of time, a little bit of time to ask the lord's help. Now that may sound abc one, two, three, that's because it is. You have to seek his face in everything you have to like.
Speaker 1:I told my brother um, one of my other brothers, that when you who are struggling with something, you have to go out of your way to, to get your way with god. We belong to, we belong to the church. We are all the church of christ, all believers. We are the israel of god, and israel means people that prevail with god and we have power with him, you have power with him. So here's what I will start by telling you this Go out of your way to annoy God, try to annoy him, beg him, bug him around the clock until he gives you what you need and I'll tell you and I can promise you he will give it to you.
Speaker 1:He will give it to you, he will give it to you Whatever it is you're going through. I would never ask you to air what's going on with you here. But you know and he knows, and I can tell you for a fact that I am going to be praying for you and I hope others here are going to, and I know they are. And I'll tell you something else you have a couple of good sisters on here that are real good people for you to be able to have fellowship with Lisa, meg and Candy good people. Feel free to DM me for anything you want clear about, on the scriptures or whatever, or whatever, whatever. But what I want to point out to you you're not alone and we have to bear one another's burdens and we're going to start by bearing yours today thank you um yes, a sister, candy, has been a big help.
Speaker 4:Bless your heart. She's sent me, and my kids also, some bible study things and bibles. So, yes, I'm just excited. I really want to get my kids right too, because you know they also have healing to go through as well. I feel great just being on this live every time.
Speaker 1:So I'll just make sure I keep inviting you there and if I ever don't it's because somehow I missed it or something like that I will make sure you and everyone, and I'm sure Candy, will make sure you're there. You know, we'll make sure that you get here and I hope that we can, that we as a can continue to um feed you as we feed each other, uh, in god's word, and strengthen each other in the faith and uh, but again, sister, you're not alone. Hang in there and um, help is on the way I love you all thank you so much for all the love, all right.
Speaker 1:So I'm going to close it up right now. I'm going to give everybody their last word before I close now, before going live tonight. If I do, I think I might, but we'll see. Brother Jeffrey Manigai, your last word for today.
Speaker 8:I tell you I've really felt the spirit today. I usually do, but I felt the Spirit today and you know, I think when we pray for each other, lift each other up, that's what God wants for us, that's what we need. I mean, you know, I can't live without my sisters and brothers in Christ because as I stumble, somebody's there to hold me up. I'm not careful I'll start crying, but at any rate I love the word. It's like having steak dinner on Sunday. I really appreciate the time and I look forward to the next and my sister down there. I wish I knew your name, tnah310.
Speaker 1:Is your name Tina, or I'm not sure. What's your name, sister, if you don't mind?
Speaker 4:Yes, it's Tina or Christina, it's Christina, but for short.
Speaker 1:All right, christina, we'll know that next time. So, christina, jeff.
Speaker 8:All right. Well, Christina, I'll be praying for you. I have to write it down because I'm old. I'm actually older than Jonathan.
Speaker 1:If you could imagine. That.
Speaker 8:Yeah, imagine that. But you know what? It's great to be here and I love you too, tina, and the thing is, I love you in Christ, which is the best way to love, and I'll be praying for you. I know Jonathan's right he may not give us everything we want, but he always gives us what we need. Anyway, thank you.
Speaker 4:Yes, thank you.
Speaker 1:Brother Jay last word.
Speaker 2:I really enjoyed listening to your study.
Speaker 1:I wasn't too hard on you, was I?
Speaker 2:your study and, uh, it wasn't too hard on you, was it? Nah, nah, I still might a little disagreement, a little bit about turning from sin. So that's not a problem, you can agree with this, but that's not a problem. So, but I still enjoy it. I'll be coming here every day if I'm awake. The other night, was it last night? Was that a teaching last night, or the other night?
Speaker 1:I don't know, the second last night, or the night before Night, before Night before yeah, night before. I think I missed last night.
Speaker 2:I confess I fell asleep, but I was up for most of it anyway. But I usually don't do that, but it was so good I had to hear it. That's all right.
Speaker 1:You're always a blessing when you're on here. Like everybody and I really appreciate you being here Can you bring so much to the table as everyone here does, and so you know it's like you, you, you really feel, you really understand what it means to be a part of the body, because in these lives everybody brings so much to the table and so much that even helps me make this better for all of you. You know so we all get to. You know we all get to bounce off each other, and I just love it.
Speaker 2:I just love it brother, then when's your next teaching?
Speaker 1:I plan to go tonight at 730.
Speaker 2:I'll see if I can make it. Other than that, what are you going to be teaching about?
Speaker 1:What's that?
Speaker 2:Anything you can be talking about.
Speaker 1:I'll probably be back in Galatians, chapter 5, dealing with the lust of the flesh.
Speaker 2:Alright, alright, that's fine.
Speaker 1:If you miss it, then I'll be there on Monday at 730. Alright, alright, brother, Miss Meg. Last word.
Speaker 5:This is really good. I really enjoyed it. I think that there's, you know, hebrews chapter six, four through six is something that everybody talks about, and they use it as a way that a believer can lose salvation, right, um, and so I think it was really good going over that in detail today. And, uh, tina, you know, like brother Jonathan said, we're all here. Um, dm me if you would. Um, I just was sitting here thinking about you and, uh, I just want to tell you a couple of things. So, um, yeah, just DM me if you need anything. I'm always here. But, um, I would like to talk to you, sister, and we definitely have to, um, bear one another's burdens and we have to walk with people, um, and that's our job, um, it's our, our, our duty as fellow brothers and sisters, and to one another. And because we are always, we are one in the body of Christ, and when one of us hurts, we all hurt, you know. But glory to God that we have each other.
Speaker 5:So, thank you, brother. Jonathan, I'll be there at 730.
Speaker 1:All right, brother Kanan, go ahead, brother, last word.
Speaker 7:I want to thank you again. I love fellowship and digging into these deeper truths. I wanted to share Proverbs 3, 1 through 7. My son, do not forget my teaching, but let your heart keep my commandments For length of days and years of life and peace they will add to you. Do not let kindness and truth leave you. Amen, brother. Acknowledge him and he will make your path straight. Do not be wise in your own eyes. Fear the Lord and turn away from evil.
Speaker 1:Amen, brother Amen.
Speaker 9:Sister Candy, go ahead. I just want to go to 1 John. There's so much good that he tells us that are in him and so much of him in us. But I'm going to say let the truth abide in us. 1 John 2, verse 24. So, therefore, let that abide in you which you heard from the beginning. If what you heard from the beginning abides in you, you also will abide in the Son and in the Father, and this is the promise that he has promised us eternal life. These things I have written to you concerning those who try to deceive you. But the anointing which you have received from him abides in you and you do not need that anyone teach you. But as the same anointing teaches you concerning all things and is true and is not a lot, and just as it has taught you, you will abide in him. So the children now little children abide in him that when he appears, we may have confidence and not be ashamed before him at his coming. If you know that he is the righteous, you know that everyone who practices righteousness is born of him. So, just again, seek him wholeheartedly, first in everything we do.
Speaker 9:And, sister Tina, I don't. Yeah, you're down there, I see you now and, like Jonathan said, man, bug Jesus, bug him, make him your best friend, walking through the house constantly. Just keep talking to him. Like I tell you, man, people think I'm crazy because that's all I do. I'm like talking to myself. Who are you talking to God? Who are you talking to Jesus? Jesus, I thought you were talking to me. Well, if the shoe fits, wear it, you know.
Speaker 9:But at the same time, he is our best friend, he's our father. We seek him for everything. We seek him for protection. We seek him for everything. We seek him for protection, we seek him for guidance, we seek him for counseling. We seek him for for everything, cause he is in us. So that's, that's what he teaches us.
Speaker 9:Like he is, first and foremost, we have to let go of everything else in the world, like, even though we see it, but we have to seek him to get us past it, cause he's already overcome it. He's already made that path before us. He already knows what our plans are, he has for us, he knows where we're going and he's already made that path. So, once again, we're protected. This is for everybody, man, it is. It's a little more easier said than done, but when we get to a point in that walk that we realize nothing we can do will help us in any way, form or fashion. It's all about him. It's all about seeking him and asking him. Show me, please show me, help me get through this lord. Let me hurt instead of become that bitter person. We ask him for the opposite of what the world thinks is okay. The world is so corrupt and that's what he does for us. He helps us be incorruptible.
Speaker 1:Yep, he does. Thank you for that Candy, Sister Lisa.
Speaker 6:Well, as usual. This was an amazing study. I learned a lot today, jonathan, early on, with the study in Luke. Just so many amazing things here today the reminder that the humble shall be lifted up and the prideful shall be brought low, full shall be brought low.
Speaker 6:So many things we need to keep in mind as we get on our walk and remember that even the knowledge of God that we have is through him, it's through Christ Jesus. It is not because we are clever in our own right. It is the things that he reveals to us and it's so beautiful. It's so beautiful and we just have to remember that each person, each person, is on a journey and we just have to you know we're not going to recognize the terrors among us at times and just remember the character of Jesus, the one that we follow, and just always stay in character with him. And I'll tell you, I pray about it all the time.
Speaker 6:It's revealed to me truly who people are. Show me their hearts, lord, because I don't want to be deceived and I don't want to get into a relationship that I find fellowship and I find love. And then, all of a sudden, the rug is pulled out from under me. And he has been faithful to do that. So I would encourage everyone to to seek truth in all things, and thank you Jonathan, thank you everybody. It was so good.
Speaker 1:God bless everybody. Be provoked and persuaded and I hope to see you tonight. Have a good day.
Speaker 8:See you tonight, see you later, bye-bye, bye.