Welcome to the MOR-Bible website

June 2023 Printable 199 KB .pdf

MOR-Bible, which is in God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. Peace to you and grace from God our Father, the Lord Jesus Christ, and us. Almighty God, in whom every heart is known, we pray that our love may abound yet more and more in knowledge and in all judgment. We pray that we may approve things that are excellent; that we may be sincere and without offense until the day of Christ. We ask that we be filled with the fruits of righteousness which are by Jesus Christ, the humble one now glorified, unto the glory and praise of you, Father. In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, Amen.

In the May 2023 teaching, we learned how our understanding and thinking is part of our mind which is the Greek word nous. We learned the Greek word phroneo means "to have understanding to think." We also learned about the Greek root word phren which mean "the diaphragm, midriff; hence, as the supposed seat of all mental emotions and facilities, the mind, including the intellect, disposition, feeling, etc. understanding." Phren is where we get our English word "diaphragm" which regulates breathing. In this way, we can see how our understanding and thinking regulate our life! Our understanding and thinking controls our bodies and the Christ within us the hope of glory!

In the May 2023 teaching, we reviewed scriptures that instructed us to:

• Not be children in understanding but in contrast, in understanding be men.
• Be of the same mind [phroneo - minding the same] one toward another.
• Be likeminded [phroneo] one toward another according to Christ Jesus.
• Be of one mind [phroneo - mind ye the same].
• Think [phroneo].
• Be likeminded [phroneo], having the same love.
• Let this mind [phroneo] be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus.
• Be of the same mind [phroneo] in the Lord.
• Set your affection on [phroneo] things above.
  

We also learned that Philippians 3:18-19 are a parenthesis, and we are to read verse 16 and then read verse 20 to learn the reasons we have already attained, why we walk by the same rule, and why we mind (phroneo) the same thing!

As a reminder, this year we are tracing, tracking, and researching the Greek words which were translated to our English words as documented in Romans 12:2:

And be not conformed [by the five senses information] to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind [to God's revealed Word], that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.

In this month's teaching, we will trace, track, and search in God's Word the Greek word dokimazo which is translated to our English word "prove" as documented in Romans 12:2.

Note: The sources for all Greek-English words are Strong's Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible, The Critical Lexicon and Concordance to the English and Greek New Testament (Bullinger), Young's Analytical Concordance to the Bible, and The Word Study Concordance by George V. Wigram and Ralph D. Winter. Harper's Bible Dictionary, Sixth Edition is also used.

The goal of a Biblical Word study is to determine the exact meaning of a word as God utilized it in the context of the verse(s). We will do a Biblical Word study on the Greek words used in the New Testament as translated later into English to understand the word's original Biblical usage and meaning.

Let's start with the root word for dokimazo which is dokimos; it means "tested, approved." We will bold this word and its translation for emphasis. There are seven (7) usages of the Greek word dokimos. It is translated to our English word "approved' five (5) times and "tried" and "approved" one (1) time each. Please read the surrounding verses to enhance understanding of the context.

The first occurrence of dokimos we will look at is in Romans 14:18. We will read Romans 14:17 to understand the context:

For the kingdom of God [all seven administrations] is not meat and drink; but [in contrast] righteousness, and peace, and joy in [through] the Holy Ghost [holy spirit].

Remember in Romans 10:9, we have joy in the new birth, which is Christ in you the hope of glory (Colossians 1:27)! Romans 14:18:

For he that in these things serveth Christ [the anointed One] is acceptable to God and approved [dokimos] of men.

The phrase "in these things" refers to righteousness, peace, and joy through the holy spirit (mentioned in Romans 14:17 above). We that are "in these things" serve Christ, the anointed one that is the head of the body of the Church. We that are "in these things" are acceptable, which means well-pleasing, to God and approved of men of the church of the body!

The next usage of dokimos is in Romans 16:10:

Salute [greet] Apelles approved [dokimos] in Christ. Salute them which are of Aristobulus' household.

What a tremendous greeting to be tested and approved, in Christ, the Anointed One, the Messiah!

Let's next look at 1 Corinthians 11:19. The context is documented in 1 Corinthians 11:3-5.

But I would have you know, that the head of every man is Christ; and the head of the woman is the man; and the head of Christ is God.

Every man praying or prophesying, having his head covered, dishonoureth his head.

But every woman that prayeth or prophesieth with her head uncovered dishonoureth her head: for that is even all one as if she were shaven.

1 Corinthians 11:18-19:

For first of all, when ye come together in the church, I hear that there be divisions among you; and I partly believe it.

For there must be also heresies [choice or opinion] among you, that they which are approved [dokimos] may be made manifest among you.

2 Corinthians 10:18:

For not he that commendeth himself is approved [dokimos], but [in contrast] whom the Lord commendeth.

The word "commendeth" is the Greek word sunistémi which means "to set together." It is the Lord that approved us and sits together with us!

The next usage of dokimos is in 2 Corinthians 13:8. We will look at verses 1-7 for context.

This is the third time I [Paul] am coming to you. In the mouth of two or three witnesses shall every word be established.

I told you before, and foretell you, as if I were present, the second time; and being absent now I write to them which heretofore have sinned, and to all other, that, if I come again, I will not spare:

Since ye seek a proof of Christ speaking in me, which to you-ward is not weak, but is mighty in you.

For though he [Christ] was crucified through weakness, yet he liveth by the power of God. For we also are weak in him, but we shall live with him by the power of God toward you.

Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates?

But I trust that ye shall know that we are not reprobates.

Now I pray to God that ye do no evil; not that we should appear approved [dokimos], but [in contrast] that ye should do that which is honest, though we be as reprobates [the Greek word adokimos].

The Greek word adokimos is used three (3) times in 2 Corinthians 13 in verses 5-7 which translates to our English word "reprobates." Reprobates means unapproved, unworthy; spurious, will not stand proof. Void of judgment."

2 Corinthians 13:6:

But I [Paul] trust that ye shall know that we are not reprobates.

2 Corinthians 13:8:

For we can do nothing against the truth, but for the truth.

What can we do against the truth of God's Word? Nothing! Not one thing! The truth of the Word of God can stand any investigation because God's Word is the truth! The more you examine God's Word, the clearer the exact truth of God's Word reveals itself! This is the reason why I would rather obey God's Word than people's words! God's Word will not lie to us or disappoint us! It is the Word of life (see Philippians 2:16)! The June 2022 teaching expounds on this point.

Continuing with the usages of dokimos in the Bible, turn to 2 Timothy 2:15:

Study to shew thyself approved [dokimos] unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.

We are instructed here to study to show ourselves approved to whom? God!

The last of the seven (7) usages is found in James 1:12:

Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried [dokimos], he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him. [See August 2019 teaching.

Now we will re-read the first usage (Romans 14:18) with the last usage (James 1:12 see above) of dokimos to see what God's Word reveals to us. Romans 14:18:

For he that in these things serveth Christ [the anointed one] is acceptable to God and approved [dokimos] of men.

When we read these two verses together, we see we are to serve Christ, the anointed one, in righteousness, peace, and joy through the holy spirit which is acceptable, well pleasing to God, and approved of men. James 1:12 tells us that blessed is the man or woman that endures temptation. We are tempted to not serve Christ, the anointed one, that is the head of the body of the church, in righteousness, peace, and joy through the holy spirit. We must endure the temptation when we are tried in order to receive the crown of life, which the Lord has promised to them that love him! Remember, salvation is by grace! Ephesians 2:8 tells us:

For by grace [God's unmerited divine favor] are ye saved through faith [of Jesus Christ]; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God.

When I confessed the Lord Jesus and believed in my heart that God raised him from the dead, I was saved by God's grace (Romans 10:9)! And by his grace I received the faith of Jesus Christ, which is Christ in me the hope of glory (Colossians 1:27)!

Now we will trace, track, and search some of the usages of the Greek word dokimazo which translates into our English word to "prove" which means "to test, by implication to approve. To try, prove. To assay, to make trial of, put to the proof, examine; hence, to examine and judge of; prove by test; approve on trial." There are 23 usages of the Greek word dokimazo. It is translated to the English word "prove" 10 times, "try" four (4) times, "approve" three (3) times, "allow" two (2) times, "discern" two (2) times, "examine" one (1) time, and "like" one (1) time. We will review the first two (2) usages, then some usages documented in the Doctrine Epistles (i.e., Romans, Ephesians, and Thessalonians), and the last usage. I exhort you to review all 23 usages.

The first two usages are documented in Luke 12:56. We will read the verses around this verse for a better understanding. Luke 12:54-57:

And he [Jesus] said also to the people, When ye see a cloud rise out of the west, straightway ye say, There cometh a shower; and so, it is.

And when ye see the south wind blow, ye say, There will be heat; and it cometh to pass.

Ye hypocrites, ye can discern [dokimazo] the face of the sky and of the earth; but [in contrast] how is it that ye do not discern [dokimazo] this time?

Yea, and why even of yourselves judge ye not what is right?

This sounds like what is going on in this world today! Each day we see where lies take over the truth. The truth is treated as a lie. We are presented with information where light is like darkness and darkness is like light. Many people refuse to hear the truth and color their world with lies as they are present in the news, social media, friends, family, and others. As God's children, we are to judge what is right when it comes to the Word of God! I exhort you to read God's Word daily to test what you hear against God's Word.

For example, Romans 1:28 tells us:

And even as they [homosexuals] did not like [dokimazo] to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind [void of a righteousness judgement], to do those things which are not convenient. [See February 2022 teaching.]

The next Doctrine Epistle usage of dokimazo appears in Romans 2:18. We will read Romans 2:12-18 to enhance our understanding.

For as many as have sinned without law shall also perish without law: and as many as have sinned in the law shall be judged by the law;

(For not the hearers of the law are just before God, but the doers of the law shall be justified.

For when the Gentiles, which have not the law, do by nature the things contained in the law, these, having not the law, are a law unto themselves:

Which shew the work of the law written in their hearts, their conscience also bearing witness, and their thoughts the mean while accusing or else excusing one another).

Please note that in the Bible Romans 2:13-15 are in parenthesis. You should read verse 12 then verse 16 to answer the when, who, and how people shall be judged!

Romans 2:16-18:

In the day when God shall judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ according to my gospel.

Behold, thou art called a Jew [Judean], and restest in the law, and makest thy boast of God,

And knowest his (God's) will, and approvest [dokimazo] the things that are more excellent, being instructed out of the law.

Romans 12:2:

And be not conformed [by the five senses information] to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind [to God's revealed Word], that ye may prove [dokimazo] what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.

Romans 14:22:

Hast thou faith [believing]? have it to thyself before God. Happy is he that condemneth not himself in that thing which he alloweth [dokimazo].

Ephesians 5:8-10:

For ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord: walk as children of light:

(For the fruit of the Spirit [light] is in all goodness and righteousness and truth)

Proving [dokimazo] what is acceptable unto the Lord.

Because we are light in the Lord, we walk as children of the light proving what is acceptable (well pleasing) to the Lord our master!

1 Thessalonians 2:4:

But as we were allowed [dokimazo] of God to be put in trust with the gospel, even so we speak; not as pleasing men, but God, which trieth [dokimazo] our hearts. [See October 2019 teaching.]

1 Thessalonians 5:21:

Prove [dokimazo] all things; hold fast that which is good. [See February 2020 teaching.]

Action is always the fruit of belief! What you believe in the inner most part of your mind, you will manifest that in your life. It is written in Proverbs 23:7:

For as he thinketh in his heart [mind], so is he.

The last usage of dokimazo is documented in 1 John 4:1:

Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try [dokimazo] the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world.

Now we will re-read the first usage of dokimazo in Luke 12:56 with the last usage in 1 John 4:1 (see above) to see what God's Word makes known to us.

Luke 12:56:

Ye hypocrites, ye can discern [dokimazo] the face of the sky and of the earth; but how is it that ye do not discern [dokimazo] this time?

My beloved brothers and sisters when we read these two verses (Luke 12:56 and 1 John 4:1) together we can see that in this time we are currently living we are not to believe every spirit. We are to try or dokimazo the spirits to determine whether they are of God or of the many false prophets that are of this world!

How do we try the spirits to see whether they are of God? 1 John 4:2-4 tells us:

Hereby know ye the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God:

And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that spirit of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world.

Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world.

In this month's teaching, we learned the root word for dokimazo is dokimos which means "tested, approved." There are seven (7) usages of the Greek word dokimos and we reviewed all usages.

We then tracked, traced, and searched God's Word for the Greek word dokimazo translated to our English word "prove" as documented in Romans 12:2. There are 23 usages of the Greek word dokimazo which means "to test, by implication to approve. To try, prove. To assay, to make trial of, put to the proof, examine; hence, to examine and judge of; prove by test; approve on trial." We reviewed the first two usages of dokimazo, usages in the Doctrine Epistles (Romans, Ephesians and Thessalonians), and the last usage. We saw how we must use God's Word to dokimazo or test or prove all that we hear in this world so we can walk and talk true to the Word of God.

We pray Father thanking you for empowering us with your gift of holy spirit so that we can serve you in righteousness, peace, and joy through the holy spirit. Father, it is written in your Word there has no temptation taken us, but such as is common to man. Your Word teaches us that it is you, God our Father, who is faithful and will not suffer us to be tempted above that we are able. We know Father that with temptation you will make a way to escape so that we may be able to bear it and receive the crown of life. May we walk worthy and pleasing to you Father. May we be fruitful in every good work and increase in the knowledge of your Word. May we be strengthened with all might according to your glorious power to all patience and longsuffering with joyfulness. We give thanks to you Father, who has made us adequate to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light. Father, thank you for your Word that makes known your Will. In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, Amen.

In the Lord,

Ministry of Reconciliation
Son of God through Jesus Christ
Ambassador for Christ

Return to the Top