Whole Testament Discipleship Overview Pt. 1

Defining Whole Testament & the 3 Core Questions for Effective Bible Study By Brother Michel Lankford What Is Whole Testament Discipleship? In the interest of Keeping It Simple Saints (K. I. S. S.), Whole Testament Discipleship (WTD) is merely the functioning engine for obeying (2 Timothy 3:12-17), in a practical way. Let us get this established at the outset before going any further. At a MINIMUM a Bible study MUST accomplish three basic things to be considered a truly “GOOD” Bible study. It can do more than these three basic things, but these three basic things must NEVER be absent. Read more…

“It’s ALL Good”?! Are You SURE?!

By Brother Michel Lankford Here is an important “TRUTH Nugget” to ponder and keep in your truth file. Consider the phrase… “It’s ALL Good.” I confess, that I have often used that phrase myself. We usually mean to express that something someone did, or something they said does not offend us or we are not going to hold it against them. The intent and desire to be forgiving and magnanimous is a good and gracious thing. However, using the phrase “It’s ALL Good,” to express that noble desire to be forgiving, is a HORRIBLE and unclean way to express that Read more…

Great is Thy Faithfulness?

By Brother Michel Lankford Question: Is the word faithfulness in the song “Great is Thy Faithfulness” misused, since faith is trusting on things not seen and God can see us? Your confusion is completely understandable on one level. This is WHY CONTEXT matters. The big problem is that you are making a classic mistake when it comes to Scripture interpretation. Don’t feel bad. Many people fall into this classic mistake. You are operating on the incorrect ASSUMPTION that a key Bible word or phrase has only ONE meaning. Every language, (including the Bible languages of Hebrew, Aramaic, and Greek), all Read more…

Self Control IS a Salvation Issue

Brother Michel Lankford Question: What are some scriptures that talk about self-control? To be “Self-Controlled” is a FRUIT of the Holy Spirit (Galatians 5:22-26). That means that self-control is a RESULT that will occur when we allow the Holy Spirit to rule over us instead of being dominated by our sinful nature. To be self-controlled means that you are MODERATE and NOT extreme or excessive in anything. It means that you are balanced and temperate. A person who lacks self-control is like an unprotected city with no defenses (Proverbs 25:28). In other words, a person with no self-control is unprepared Read more…

How Can I Repent From Evil Speech?

By Brother Michel Lankford Here is a highly practical ‘how do I live Biblically’ question: Question: How can I repent for saying bad things about someone who I don’t know? He lives in the apartment building where I live at. So, keeping in mind the core precept that we need to use EVERYTHING as a teachable moment to remind us of Godly Principles (Deuteronomy 6:4-9; Joshua 1:7-9; Psalm 1:1-3). Here are some keen ideas we can use to overcome in situations like this one: Very Simply. Make Up Your Mind to ALWAYS T.H.I.N.K. Before You Speak Let us Pray: Blessed Read more…

Does Scripture Offer Any Guidance About Overcoming Sin?

By Brother Michel Lankford Yes, overcoming could hardly be more important. In fact, the bulk of Scripture is all about overcoming. Thank you so much for your kind attention. If the Holy Bible had a subtitle it would likely be, ‘God’s Practical Manual for Overcoming Life’s Challenges.’ That is the WHOLE goal of Scripture. ANY good thing that you want to do is going to REQUIRE that you overcome SOMETHING in order to successfully accomplish it. There is NO REAL accomplishment WITHOUT OVERCOMING in some way. The BIGGEST Promise in the entire Bible centers on overcoming: As it is written: Read more…

ONLY Saved People CAN Do “Good Works.”

By Brother Michel Lankford Salvation is a free gift. You CAN NOT earn it. I have known and believed that precept for more than three decades. However, it was not until a few days ago that I gained a fresh perspective as to WHY this is true. We MUST be transformed, Born-Again, and saved BEFORE we CAN even truly do ANY “Good Works.” We can’t really do “good works” unless we are saved and have a renewed nature first. That’s the whole point. The thing is, that Scripture repeatedly teaches that IF the free gift of salvation and the New Read more…

21 Outstanding Reasons Why We Can KNOW that Paul Was NOT AGAINST Honoring Torah.

By Brother Michel Lankford Notes We just gave 21very strong biblical examples where Paul was not preaching or teaching against the Law of YHWH in written Scripture. Paul was FALSELY accused of preaching against Moses, (Acts 21:21). Much like Stephen was falsely accused, (Acts 7), and Messiah himself was FALSELY accused of violating the Law. FACT: The original language word, “DECREES” in Colossians 2:14 is “DOGMASIN” So verse 14 actually reads: “Having canceled out the certificate of debt consisting of decrees (DOGMASIN) against us, which were hostile to us, and He has taken it out of the way, having nailed Read more…

Do Not Deny the Messiah for the Sake of Bacon

Brother Michel Lankford Whenever the topic of YHWH’s food Laws and Instructions enters the discussion, most Christians RUN to Mark 7:19, to try and defend the FALSE idea that Messiah allegedly said we could eat anything we wanted. In other words, the idea is that Messiah supposedly suspended the Creator’s Laws and Instructions regarding food. This is a FALSE doctrine that Christians have established by stringing together some Scriptures without their context. As it is written: since it enters not his heart but his stomach, and is expelled?” (Thus he declared all foods clean.)” (Mark 7:19, ESV) Please, I beg and Read more…

The SAME Grace that Saves Me is the SAME Grace that Helps to OBEY God’s Commandments

“I COULDN’T Obey Successfully WITHOUT His Grace, BUT With His Grace, I CAN.” As a 30-year veteran of discipleship ministry, I always find it more than a little bit staggering Whenever I try to help Christians to obey any Biblical Principle so that they can overcome their challenges in life. You can give people clear sound and direct Biblical advice, and the knee-jerk response will almost always be the same. You know what it is. All of us have heard this reply, and many of us have used it before: “We don’t have to do that, we’re Under Grace.” Sometimes Read more…