For the first five months of 2023 we have been doing a study from the Old Testament. I decided to do something different for a while. I ma going to share some thoughts from the reading I am doing along with some comments from the author.
I have been reading a book entitled “Kicking Over Sacred Cows” by Charles Capps. He was a farmer from England, Arkansas that became an internationally known Bible teacher, who had published twenty-four books prior to his death. I think you will enjoy and grow from what he has to say.
Chapter One – “The Chastening of the Lord”
Hosea said in 4:6 “My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge. Because you have rejected knowledge, (NKJV).
Capps says God didn’t say people are destroyed by the devil but by a lack of knowledge.
John 8:31 – 32 tells us “Then Jesus said to those Jews who believed Him, “If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed. 32 And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.”
The truth is what sets us free from Satan. We all have the truth in our homes and many of us have it on our phones, the truth is the Bible. But to have it and to know it are two different things. Notice John says “And you shall know the truth…”
Capps says when we rightly divide the Word of God, we will kick over sacred cows.
Faith pleases God. “But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.” (Hebrews 11:6 NKJV). Every promise of God is given to us through faith. Think about that statement for moment. What have you ever received that was not received in faith?
Faith is a law of God. Under the old covenant (or the time before Jesus) people lived under the law in essence they found righteousness under the law but under the new covenant we find righteousness through faith in the new covenant.
Capps says this from Romans 3:31 “Do we then make void the law through faith? Certainly not! On the contrary, we establish the law.” (NKJV). The law Paul is referring to is the law of faith. We know without faith it is impossible to please God and that He will reward all who seek Him. We must believe that God rewards those who seek Him. In order to be rewarded we must come to Him.
Many of us have heard that an undercurrent in religious circles is that God gives us trials, troubles, and times of testing to make us stronger. Nothing could be farther from the truth.
Looking at the Israelites on their journey through the desert for some insight on that idea. It was not God’s desire for them to travel for forty years – it was because of their disobedience. If we think trials and tests make us stronger, we must ask ourselves – did it help the Israelites? In fact it killed them it did not make them stronger. I love what Capps says about this idea “It will kill you, if you stay there long enough.” God rewards those who seek Him with all they have.
Asbury Chapel 