Introducing - The Catch of the Week

I'm toying with the idea of posting a summary of significant articles that I've read over the past week. Over the course of my discernment readings I come across a number of articles that from time to time I pass out to a few friends. Perhaps it is easier to just catalogue them in one place and let those interested check my site weekly and look at the list and read those that seem of interest.

For now I will name this series of posts: The Catch of the Week

Since not only do I have a Justwalkingtogether theme, but I also sometimes refer to my blog as spawning Rainbow Trout, which is one of my favorites as a High Sierra Flyfisherman. These verses in John's Gospel are among my favorites:

Joh 21:6  And he said unto them, Cast the net on the right side of the ship, and ye shall find. They cast therefore, and now they were not able to draw it for the multitude of fishes.

Joh 21:10  Jesus saith unto them, Bring of the fish which ye have now caught.

Joh 21:11  Simon Peter went up, and drew the net to land full of great fishes, an hundred and fifty and three: and for all there were so many, yet was not the net broken.

Over the years I have noticed that the level of information and the quality of writing in the discernment blogs has increased significantly. Many of these articles make significant points which the reader may have not considered.

I intend to try to limit the posts I gather to those that show light on some Biblical doctrinal or false doctrinal point, and as such some may have a negative spin. I ask the reader to use wise judgment as to the validity of what the writers write. The nature of deception is that is deceiving! Not only check if they have use valid logic and reasoning to present their points, but also that they are scripturally sound. 

Act 17:11  These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so.

Often a blogger will quote or link to another writer's material. It's not possible for me to review all of the blogger's and writer's material so my posting a link to them is not an endorsement of everything they might have or will say. If you find material that doesn't seem correct or is not Biblical let me know, and I will look deeper into it and throw those fish back...culling the catch, so to speak.

I will end this introductory post with these words from Matthew's Gospel. Maybe next time I read through this chapter I will post some detail comments on the text, for now just consider: Is the way/gate wider or narrow? What do false prophets actuall look like? What is fruit? Can Sound Biblical Doctrine be good fruit, or is it only good "works"? Are lemons good fruit?  Who are those who cry "Lord, Lord", and what aboout those who do "wonderful works"? Just what is doing and what does it cost? What kind of peacemaking will get the disciple persecuted? Who are those who are persecuted for "righteoousness' sake", or for "Jesus' sake"? What are the historical examples of persecution that come to mind? And finally where does Jesus get his authority and what does it imply?

Mat 5:9  Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God.

Mat 5:10  ♥️  Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness' sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

Mat 5:11  Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake.

Mat 5:12  Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you.

Mat 7:12  Therefore all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them: for this is the law and the prophets.

Mat 7:13  Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat:

Mat 7:14  Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.

Trees and Fruit

Mat 7:15  Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves.

Mat 7:16  Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles?

Mat 7:17  Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit.

Mat 7:18  A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit.

Mat 7:19  Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire.

Mat 7:20  Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them.

Mat 7:21  Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.

Mat 7:22  Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?

Mat 7:23  And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.

Building on the Rock

Mat 7:24  Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock:

Mat 7:25  And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock.

Mat 7:26  And every one that heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man, which built his house upon the sand:

Mat 7:27  And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell: and great was the fall of it.

Jesus' Authority

Mat 7:28  And it came to pass, when Jesus had ended these sayings, the people were astonished at his doctrine:

Mat 7:29  For he taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes.

Mat 4:8  Again, the devil taketh him up into an exceeding high mountain, and sheweth him all the kingdomsof the world, and the glory of them;

Mat 4:9  And saith unto him, All these things will I give thee, if thou wilt fall down and worship me.

Mat 4:10  Then saith Jesus unto him, Get thee hence, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve.

Or as Luke recounts it...

Luk 4:5  And the devil, taking him up into an high mountain, shewed unto him all the kingdoms of the world in a moment of time.

Luk 4:6  And the devil said unto him, All this power will I give thee, and the glory of them: for that is delivered unto me; and to whomsoever I will I give it.

Luk 4:7  If thou therefore wilt worship me, all shall be thine.

Luk 4:8  And Jesus answered and said unto him, Get thee behind me, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve.

The Truth is:

Mat 28:18   ♥️  And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth.

Mat 28:19  Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:

Mat 28:20  Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.