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Thursday, August
7, 2008
Turn Up The Sound
2 Timothy 4:3-5 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. (5) But
watch thou in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist,
make full proof of thy ministry. (KJV)
Williams New Testament translation
of 2Timothy 4:3-5
3. For a time will come when they will
not listen to wholesome teaching, but to gratify their own evil desires
will surround themselves with teachers who teach to gratify their own evil
desires, because their ears are itching so to be tickled, 4. and they will
cease to listen to the truth and will turn to listen to myths. 5. But you,
on your part, must always keep your head cool, suffer hardship, do your
work as a herald of the good news, and so fill your ministry to the brim.
Thayer’s definition for ‘sound’:
5198
hugiaino-
1) to be sound, to be well, to be in good
health
2) metaphorically:
a) used of
Christians whose opinions are free from any mixture of error
b) used of one
who keeps the graces and is strong
Rather than turning up the sound, that
being the voice of God, many would rather turn down the volume and in
essence drown out the source of life. When one looks around especially in
this country, we see so many that are not in good health but rather out of
shape and weak. Spiritually the same holds true, though the spirit is
willing it’s the flesh that is weak and so are those that choose to stay in
that realm rather than stepping out into the realm where our Lord operates,
that being the spiritual one. Oh but it is the fastest growing church in
the area, because they have learned how to reach out to those in the
community and draw them in. Instead of drawing the people closer to God
which can only be done with truth, many use gimmicks, worldly methods with
worldly preachers who tell people what they want to hear and not what they
truly need to hear. Case in point; though our Lord had a following for a
season, when it came down to dieing to self and dealing with sound doctrine
many chose a different path.
Titus 2:6-8 Young men likewise exhort to
be sober minded. (7) In all things shewing thyself a pattern of good works:
in doctrine shewing uncorruptness, gravity, sincerity, (8) Sound speech,
that cannot be condemned; that he that is of the contrary part may be
ashamed, having no evil thing to say of you. (KJV)
You will not and cannot have sound speech
unless you are giving ear to sound doctrine which can only come from the
source Himself. With what measure you mete or allow, is what is measured
back your way; so the more you turn up the volume, that being your
spiritual ears, the stronger you will become in the Lord and in the power
of His might.
Thus the term ‘young men’; not a child or
childish people who listen to childish doctrine because it makes them feel
good. You know you can eat a lot of candy and get a sugar rush that feels
good, like a child who isn’t concerned about their health or the
consequences of their actions, but if one desires to mature and grow up in
the Lord it will take more of the meat of the word of God in order to
accomplish this. Sound doctrine is not always fun to hear, or even easy to
endure at times, but afterwards it yields the peaceable fruit of
righteousness to those that keep their spiritual senses exercised to
discern between good and evil. You wonder why your body is out of shape and
you are weak? It’s because you did what you wanted to and not what you
needed in order to keep it maintained. You wonder why you are weak and
unable to stand spiritually? Well, it’s because rather than give ear to
sound doctrine you chose someone that would tickle you rather than build
you up.
John 6:63-66 It is the spirit that
quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you,
they are spirit, and they are life. (64) But there are some of you that
believe not. For Jesus knew from the beginning who they were that believed
not, and who should betray him. (65) And he said, Therefore said I unto
you, that no man can come unto me, except it were given unto him of my
Father. (66) From that time many of his disciples went back, and walked no
more with him. (KJV)
You know, our Lord Himself delivered
sound doctrine, pointing the people to the spiritual realm and away from
the flesh and its fallen nature. I know of no one that delivered a more
sound doctrine, as well as demonstrating what it is truly like to walk the
walk, and yet with that in mind it says many went back and walked no more
with Him. Just where do you think the many went? Well, there were plenty of
ear tickling people pleasers back then as there are today; so rather than
continue in their search for truth they chose a different path, you know
that easy fun one where all the people are hanging out. Even today when
someone holds fast to sound doctrine and denounces things that are
unhealthy (like we spoke about yesterday how people think it is ok to live
together before marriage), or doesn’t agree with homosexuality or
alternative lifestyles as some put it (which the only alternative they will
end up with is hell instead of heaven because they held to the flesh which
is weak and not to the Spirit which would make them strong and able to
overcome what God says is an abomination), that which their life ministers
or they preach is termed old fashioned or out of touch.
2 Timothy 1:7-8 For God hath not given us
the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind. (8) Be
not thou therefore ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, nor of me his
prisoner: but be thou partaker of the afflictions of the gospel according
to the power of God; (KJV)
You are not going to have a sound mind
unless you give ear to sound doctrine. That spirit of fear that is
tormenting you did not come from God, but obviously the enemy was given a clear
shot at the heart that should have been protected by the shield of faith,
you know the one that is established by hearing, hearing the word of God
and not man’s versions. You know that fun guy that tickled your ear last
Sunday and told you everything you wanted to hear, he won’t be around on
Monday when it comes time to take a stand for the Lord and the afflictions
that come with being one of His. Kind of like that slick used car salesman
that gave you a line about the car he just sold you the other day, you know
the one that would now be described as a lemon. Well that guy is long gone,
laughing all the way to the bank, standing in line right behind the
preacher that sold you a lemon of a doctrine also.
2 Timothy 1:13-14 Hold fast the form of
sound words, which thou hast heard of me, in faith and love which is in
Christ Jesus. (14) That good thing which was committed unto thee keep by
the Holy Ghost which dwelleth in us. (KJV)
The spirit is willing, the flesh is weak
and so are those that don’t get built up in the word of God and stay built
up. A perfect mature love will cast out all fear, because you are more
willing to give ear to the Holy Ghost looking within to find that strength
and peace. Turn up the sound, because the more you give ear and practice
sound doctrine the more sound you will be in your walk.
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