My Biblical Three Step

 

 

Three steps, my friend,

In maximizing the Word,

All three are extremely critical

And not to be deferred.

 

The order is important

Hence, we must get it right

And not underestimate the Spirit

In bringing insight.

 

Commentaries are good

But only for step 2,

However, heed the Holy Spirit

All the way through.

 

For the life in the Word

Is the Holy Spirit

To bring to our elucidation

All that is in it.

 

Step number 1 is:

We must read the Word:

This is of critical importance,

Don’t be deterred!

 

Don’t rush it through

But make adequate time

To read it over and over again

To fill your mind.

 

Memorize it if you can

To aid in your reading

And practice reading chapters

From beginning to ending.

 

 

 

Observe the key words

And the context as well

And on the critical points there,

Be careful to dwell.

 

There is so much

In just reading the Word,

Don’t be too quick to interpret it

Or to commentators refer.

 

Trust the Holy Spirit

To open up your eyes

And reveal treasures of scripture

In surprise after surprise.

 

Meditate on the Word

And let it interpret itself,

This is especially important

For spiritual health.

 

Interpretation is critical

Arising from understanding:

Reading first then interpretation

To see what it’s demanding.

 

Reading is explicit

Interpretation is the implicit,

Interpretation is clearer and clearer

With each successive visit.

 

Sometimes it is needed

To visit another scripture

To clarify one that appears vague

And give a fuller picture.

 

Thus far, number 1 is read

And number 2 is to interpret

But there is still another to come

So, we’re not finished yet.

 

 

Number 3 is application:

It is necessary to apply

What we understand by the Word

And I will tell you why.

 

It’s our manual for life

Regarding our behaviour

And how best to walk in the steps

Of our beloved Saviour.

 

It is the mirror of liberty

In to which we look

To experience wonderful freedom

From this Holy Book.

 

 

And hear a voice say,

This is the way, walk ye in it

Knowing with the full assurance

It’s the Holy Spirit.

 

Yes, three steps, my friend,

In optimizing the Word:

Reading first; interpretation second

And application third.

 

Stewart Russell © March 17, 2025

 

Converted

 

 

Confused I was

There was no doubt,

As hard as I tried

I couldn’t figure it out.

 

But I showed a face

Full of confidence,

My life was a sham

In its truest essence.

 

 Confused I was

But only I knew,

Well, except for the Lord

That was true.

 

Convinced I was

When I heard God’s Word

Preached by someone

Who had not heard…

 

 But Spirit led that time

He ministered to me

Whereupon confusion left

And then I could see...

 

My sin, my wrong,

My every fault,

For a moment there

I felt quite distraught.

 

Convicted I was

And full of remorse,

I had been as stubborn

As an own way horse.

 

Then I was overcome

By a Godly sorrow

And on confessing my sin

Repentance followed.

 

 

I asked God to forgive me

For the sin I had done

And opened my heart

 To His precious Son.

 

Now, Converted I am

And that without a doubt,

I am so relieved

I feel I could shout.

 

Controlled I am

By the Holy Spirit

Ever since from Satan

I took my exit.

 

Configured I am

In my mind and my soul,

I am a new creation

Since I’ve been made whole.

 

Contented I am

With Jesus my Saviour.

I give God praise

For His Divine favour.

 

Composed I am

And truly confident in Him

Thank God Almighty

I am delivered from sin!

 

Stewart Russell © February 2020

 

Cotton Candy Christianity

 

 

Cotton Candy Christianity

Sweet to the taste

But what is the nutritive value?

It’s more like a waste.

 

What sustaining value?

None I can see

And what’s worse I will tell you

Is its devilry.

 

It is worldly tastes

Accepted by the church

And calculated not to stand out

Appearing like a jerk.

 

Jump-up and revelry

In the name of Christ

But pretty much indistinguishable

From worldly vice.

 

 

The lyrics giving way

To loud accompaniment

Unable to make proper meaning

In the merriment.

 

Capturing attention

And drawing a following

Who without careful examination

Are simply swallowing.

 

Bigging up the pulpit

And the platform,

Less counting those in the pew

Is now the norm.

 

 

Like sponges they come

With cups turned up

But by the time they leave church

Theirs is an empty cup.

 

They dance and shout

And take over the aisle

And are taken on a spiritual high

By hype and guile.

 

The preacher is hot

Like a raging fire

And the congregation rates him

Worthy of hire.

 

 

Cotton candy sweet,

With delicious corn curls!

A spiritual sugar spike is evident

With head in a whirl.

 

Boy, wasn’t he hot

But what did he say?

Girl, I really can’t remember now

But he had his way.

 

He shared a text

And he closed the Word

And then he spoke unlike any

I’ve ever heard.

 

Many were slain,

Others spoke in tongues

And the evidence of the Holy Spirit

Was all around.

 

Not much about Jesus

Or the glorious gospel

But mostly about the good time

When the Spirit fell.

 

 

Cotton candy Christians

Along for the ride

But who from serious Bible study

Prefer to hide.

 

No depth in the Word

But quite an experience,

Much emotional hype and feeling

Form their content.

 

I end with a caution

To dig into God’s Word

And whatever answers you seek

To His Word defer.

 

Stewart Russell © August 17, 2025

Not with Observation

 

 

Luke 17:20-21

 

And when he was demanded of the Pharisees,

When the kingdom of God should come,

He answered them and said,

The kingdom of God cometh not with observation:

Neither shall they say, Lo here!

Or, lo there! for, behold,

The kingdom of God is within you.

 

“The kingdom of God cometh

Not with observation:”

It is important that all understand

This piece of information.

 

Jesus was not speaking to us

But rather, to his generation,

And to be more precise, the Pharisees,

Who were in constant opposition.

 

They were keen to know

When the kingdom would come

For they were expecting much hoorah

Instead of God’s Son.

 

 

 

Not a location

As in the case of Bethlehem,

Neither a “lo here!” or, a “lo there!”

He had said to them.

 

Some are yet awaiting

For the kingdom to come

And this event they are anticipating

In the return of God’s Son.

 

Some believe otherwise

That he has already come

But this, in the coming of Holy Spirit

To vindicate the Son.

 

However, Jesus made it clear

The kingdom had come

And that kingdom is synonymous

With himself, God’s Son.

 

Once when he was accused

Of using Satan’s power,

He made it clear to his accusers

In that very hour.

 

He showed them the folly

Of their conflicting analogy

That if as Satan, he cast out Satan,

Such would be silly.

 

Matthew 12:25-26

 

And Jesus knew their thoughts

And said unto them,

Every kingdom divided against

Is brought to desolation;

And every city or house divided against itself

Shall not stand.

And if Satan cast out Satan

He is divided against himself;

How shall then his kingdom stand?

 

Matthew 12:28

 

But if I cast out devils

By the Spirit of God,

Then the kingdom of God

Is come unto you.

 

 

Why do we yet pray

“Thy kingdom come”?

God’s kingdom has come

In Jesus, His Son.

 

Why do we look for that

Which has already occurred

And when it has been clearly stated

Right in God’s Word?

 

But where is the kingdom

If it has already come?

Where did you get such an idea?

Where did it come from?

 

From Jesus, of course,

From his infallible word

And it’s to Luke chapter 17 again

To which I refer.

 

 Journey back there with me

If you have the time

And if you argue that you haven’t

Then you need to unwind.

 

For it means you are hooked

With things not nearly as critical

As this very important matter

That’s necessary for survival.

 

 

The kingdom has come

And is within you,

Meaning everyone that’s born again

And has been made anew.

 

Luke chapter 17

And verse number 21:

“The kingdom of God is within you.”

Once you are reborn.

 

The exact words of Jesus

As stated in the KJV:

Go to that location right now

And you will see.

 

The kingdom of God cometh not with observation:

Neither shall they say, Lo here!

Or, lo there! for, behold,

The kingdom of God is within you.

 

Stewart Russell © January 2, 2025

 

Is It Possible?

 

 

Is it possible

I sincerely ask,

To read and understand the word

When so tasked?

 

Can it be done

Without added help

Of theological interpretations

Based on what is felt?

 

And Holy Spirit,

Tell me, what is his role?

Can he truly lead us into all truth

As we’ve been told?

 

 

 

Is it possible

I sincerely ask,

To read and understand the word

When so tasked?

 

How do I know

Who’s right or wrong

Especially as a young born-again

When not yet strong?

 

Can I trust the Word

As it is plainly put

Or do I have to faithfully lock into

A denominational rut?

 

Is a world view key

In understanding

And is it absolutely necessary

To stop me falling?

 

How do I know

Which is right or wrong

Especially as a young believer

And not strong?

 

 

 

I have a Bible

Which I read daily,

Can I truly, definitively depend

On its accuracy?

 

What’s fundamental

That I need to know

And please tell me, if you can,

Does it show?

 

Do I need to know

Hebrew and Greek

To be able to understand concepts

Considered deep?

 

 

 

Is it possible

I sincerely ask,

To read and understand the Word

When so tasked?

 

Third iteration

If you are following,

Can you tell me if there is a way

Of knowing?

 

 

 

I’d like to know

Given what I’ve heard

If I need some specialized input

To grasp the Word.

 

For whom, I ask

Was it actually written?

Must I read it from cover to cover

To be forgiven?

 

 

 

And the doctrines?

Must I know them fully:

Like covenants and dispensations

Assuredly?

 

 

 

It seems like a lot

To keep in one’s mind

And there’s a lot of minors’ emphasis

Recently, I find.

 

Major on minors

At the majors’ expense

And the critical Gospel message

Is lacking defense.

 

Is it possible

I sincerely ask,

To read and understand the Word

When so tasked?

 

Stewart Russell © December 28, 2025

 

Sinners Wanted

 

 

Who are we seeking

In our evangelical search?

Certainly not the obvious sinners

No, not for our church.

 

No such dirty stain

Is to be allowed therein

For our church cannot allow

Such major sin.

 

No sinners allowed,

Come when you are clean

And yet, we advocate with gusto

Of a cleansing stream.

 

Full of sanctified saints

Sunday morning crew,

Such is the redeemed congregation

Except for one or two.

 

In the midweek service

Are the faithful few

And there’s not one single sinner-

Not even one or two.

What’s wrong, I ask,

With a sinner in church?

I am addressing this question to-

The sanctified expert.

 

The church is a hospital

But it is only for saints,

This practised, unspoken behaviour

I find rather quaint.

 

Of course, as you know,

Some sinners look clean

And these are the ones welcomed

At most church scenes.

 

Some fish we throw back

Into the beckoning sea,

Considering they are better off there

In that community.

 

I urge all of us today

Of a better approach:

It is the one that the Holy Spirit

Has invoked.

 

In the words of Jesus,

Come unto me

All that are weak and heavy laden-

Rest for the weary.

 

Change the billboard

That is positioned out front

Change it to: “Sinners apply within

For a new account.”

 

Or “Sinners are welcome,

Come as you are!

Christ Jesus will receive sinners

However marred.”

 

Jesus saves sinners

Of which I am chief,

He still offers to the sin-stained

Sweet relief.

 

Relief from sin’s burden,

Its penalty and guilt

And in the kingdom of heaven

He makes us to sit.

 

For sinners are all we

Saved by his wonderful grace

And one day by his faithfulness

We’ll see his face.

 

Who are we seeking

In our evangelical search?

I plea, let it be sinners, my friend,

Invite them to church.

For sinners are wanted

‘Tis the gospel quest,

It is to sinners the offer is made

To share in God’s rest.

 

Change that billboard

To sinners are welcome

For it is such that God is calling

Into His Kingdom.

 

Stewart Russell © August 18, 2025