Just a Thought: How easily swayed are you? Do you think you could not be hoodwinked by false teaching or false doctrine? Are you so sure you couldn’t be pulled in be words you would rather hear and that are more pleasing than convicting? Are you certain that feel good, be good, everyone’s alright, motivational kind of teaching doesn’t appeal to your senses perhaps a little more than just plain sin confronting, spiritual conforming truth. We live in a day when many have left the church “as the church (1 Tim 3:15b,16)” and gone in search of something that makes them feel better, more important, uplifted and self confident. What’s wrong with feeling these things? Actually nothing; in Christ we ought to feel confident for greater is He who is in us than he who is in the world (1 Jn.4:4) and we can do all things through Christ who is our strength (Phil. 4:13). Being full of the Holy Spirit ought to bring about in me peace, joy, love…(Gal. 5:22). So why have some left the truth of the church in search of these things elsewhere? Paul said it would happen: “The Spirit clearly says that in later times some will abandon the faith and follow deceiving spirits and things taught by demons.” (1 Tim 4:1) Just as God uses men to spread the truth, Satan uses men to spread his lies. And those who are not grounded in the truth will be easily pulled away. What is one of Satan’s biggest lies? “Hey it’s your relationship with God that matters most; you don’t have to be in the word, know the word, or be grounded in the word to be a faithful Christian.” But how would one know what a faithful Christian was or how to walk with Christ apart from being a student of the word? They don’t! And so they find themselves open to private interpretation, misguided teaching, and false hope and feel good sermons that make false promises and lead weak Christians astray. Three things immediately need to be stated; first, you are susceptible to these falsehoods if you are not deeply grounded in the good doctrine of God’s truth. Second, if you are deeply grounded – you will clearly see and be able to tell the difference between false doctrine and truth. Third, for those who are grounded – we are to do the very unpopular, difficult and important right thing and warn others to avoid the lies and stick to the truth. Here’s how Paul says it: “If you point these things out to the brothers, you will be a good minister of Christ Jesus, brought up in the truths of the faith and of the good teaching that you have followed.” (1 Tim 4:6) WARNING! If you are not well grounded in God’s truth you are susceptible to being swayed by Satan’s liars. WARNING! If you are well grounded in God’s truth, even though it is hard sometimes to tell the truth; you must stand up and expose Satan’s lies and liars. A well grounded believer is stable and more secure faithful Christian and a shallow believer is ripe for Satan’s picking; How easily swayed are you?
Posted on: Tue, 11 Mar 2014 12:00:46 +0000