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Wednesday, April
9, 2008
Simple Doctrine
Romans 16:17-18 Now I beseech you,
brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the
doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them. (18) For they that are such
serve not our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly; (KJV)
So how does one know the difference
between the doctrine of Christ and that of man? One simple way of knowing
is revealed in their messages that are being taught and what realm they are
pointing the people to. If the messages are more to the flesh and the
things of that realm then it is not of God, but rather self serving ones
that appeal more to the flesh than the Spirit. If the messages are
constantly telling the people how much one is doing for the Lord or
basically how literally the Lord couldn’t operate without them that would
be a sign of a doctrine that should not be welcomed into one’s house but
rather discarded. Not only should one be avoiding these messages, but one
should definitely not be bidding them God speed or God bless; giving
credence to their doctrine as if it came from God.
Strong’s definition for God speed:
5463
chairo (khah'-ee-ro); a primary verb; to be "cheerful",
i.e. calmly happy or well-off; impersonally, especially as salutation (on
meeting or parting), be well:
KJV-- farewell, be glad, God speed,
greeting, hall, joy (-fully), rejoice.
2 Timothy 4:2-4 Preach the word; be
instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all
longsuffering and doctrine. (3) For the time will come when they will not
endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to
themselves teachers, having itching ears; (4) And they shall turn away
their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables. (KJV)
Be prepared for opposition; because when
you bring this doctrine of Christ to a fallen world many are not interested
in dying to self, but rather they are looking to lift up themselves rather
than the name of Christ. So for every taste, for every lust of the flesh,
there are those that are willing to compromise and bring a doctrine that
will suit their flesh, thus cutting the life off to the Spirit. For many
claim this idea of crucifixion and dying was fine for the Lord and His
apostles, but it is not something we need to concern ourselves with
anymore; and it does not go over to well with the congregation either. So
in order to keep the congregation happy, which by the way means a happy
congregation is a happy giver, one needs to keep this stuff about dying spiritually
out of the teaching and keep it in the realm of the new age stuff of a life
of prosperity in the flesh.
Isaiah 30:9-11 That this is a rebellious
people, lying children, children that will not hear the law of the LORD:
(10) Which say to the seers, See not; and to the prophets, Prophesy not
unto us right things, speak unto us smooth things, prophesy deceits: (11)
Get you out of the way, turn aside out of the path, cause the Holy One of
Israel to cease from before us. (KJV)
Don’t think for a moment this stuff
hasn’t been going on for a long time; rather than teach and hold to sound
doctrine the devil and his workers have been infiltrating God’s field with
false workers, teaching things they shouldn’t be teaching; many times for
filthy lucre’s sake, the love of money drowning out the love of God which
was what the real intention should have been in the first place. So are you
learning and hearing more about the things of God and the doctrine of
Christ in the places you worship at, or is it more of a Mr. Rogers teaching
nice things, a smooth way of life? Are you hearing more about the Christ in
you the only hope of glory, or are you being pointed and directed elsewhere
for the answer, mostly to man’s work and not the working the Lord has begun
within you?
1 John 4:1-4 Beloved, believe not every
spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false
prophets are gone out into the world. (2) Hereby know ye the Spirit of God:
Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of
God: (3) 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.
(4) 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. (KJV)
When you look at your fellow mankind that
is around you, are looking at the outward appearance or are you looking to
the spirit to see what doctrine they are bringing forth? Are they truly
teaching and preaching Jesus Christ and the good work He has begun and
continues to do within you, or are they pointing you elsewhere, mostly
keeping the focus and attention on themselves and away from the Lord? Do
you know the difference for yourself so that you will not be taken in by
these false doctrines; but rather are able to rightly divide the word of
truth for yourself by the leading and guidance of the Spirit of Christ
which is within you and should be your only source for truth? The only way
you will be able to overcome and be more than a conqueror is by this
greater teaching and doctrine which is within each and every believer; not
by looking to those of the world that are being deceived and deceiving by
their carnal understanding and not a spiritual one. So what has the greater
influence on you today; the doctrine of Christ or the many man-made ones
that claim much, but deliver of so little on His behalf?
Philippians 2:12-15 Wherefore, my
beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much
more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.
(13) For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good
pleasure. (14) Do all things without murmurings and disputings: (15) That
ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the
midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in
the world; (KJV)
It is up to you to seek the Lord for
yourself and to come to a working knowledge of Him by looking inwardly and
not relying so much on the outward anymore. It is God, by His working and
the doctrine of Christ that is working and is willing to work within you so
that you can be blameless and harmless, teaching and being an example of
the believers in truth, allowing the light of the glorious gospel of Christ
to shine in you and enlighten those around you as well. Are you allowing
God to have His way in you so that He can continue to do those things that
are pleasing in His sight through you, or have you shut off the only source
of life by trying to follow some man-made doctrine that is more self
serving than God serving?
Philippians 1:3-6 I thank my God upon
every remembrance of you, (4) Always in every prayer of mine for you all
making request with joy, (5) For your fellowship in the gospel from the
first day until now; (6) Being confident of this very thing, that he which
hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus
Christ: (KJV)
My prayer for each and every believer
today is that they will continue in the simple doctrine of Christ and
continue in the confidence of what He has done for them and not what many
others claim they are doing on His behalf. Keep it simple saints; your
answer in your search for truth is within you, in the doctrine of Christ
which will bring life to your spirit man and keep you built up in Him and
not falling for man’s cheap imitations and self serving doctrines.
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