QUESTION: IS SPIRITUAL IMMATURITY THE PROBLEM?
2 TIMOTHY 4: 3-4 (ASV)
"The time will come when they will not endure sound
doctrine; but wanting to have their ears tickled, they will
accumulate for themselves teachers in accordance to their own
desires; and will turn away their ears from the truth, and will
turn aside to myths."
Why do you suppose some Christians in the post-modern Church
enjoy the "tickling of their ears" by unsound doctrine? Why do
they tolerate the teaching of the world's popular teachers who
teach them all about self-improvement and not sound Almighty God
improvement? Is it obvious to you as to this writer, that God's
Holy Word is no longer where mankind turns for truth and for
sound guidance? Most would rather listen to whatever new
message or trend of thought comes down the pike. Anything that
feels good, is acceptable and worn as truth without any
question. 1 John 4: 1-6 says it better than I could
ever put into clear words. John warns against this kind of
worldly thinking. Listen to him. It is though he is with us
today as everything he speaks about, is so very appropriate for
"such a time as this!" Here are his profound words, don't miss
the warnings. "Dearly loved friends, don't always believe
everything you hear just because someone says it is a message
from God: test it first to see if it really is. For there are
many false teachers around, and the way to find out if their
message is from the Holy Spirit is to ask: Does it really agree
that Jesus Christ, God's Son, actually became man with a human
body? If so, then the message is from God. If not, the message
is not from God but from one who is against Christ, like the
"Antichrist" you have heard about who is going to come, and his
attitude of enmity against Christ is already abroad in the
world. Dear young friends, you belong to God and have already
won your fight with those who are against Christ, because there
is someone in your hearts who is stronger than any evil teacher
in this wicked world. These men belong to the world, so, quite
naturally, they are concerned about worldly affairs and the
world pays attention to them. But we are children of God; that
is why only those who have walked and talked with God will
listen to us. Others won't. That is another way to know
whether a message ia really from God; for if it is, the world
won't listen to it."
NEED I SAY MORE? JOHN HAS MADE IT SO VERY CLEAR! WHAT
ABOUT THAT MESSAGE DO YOU NOT UNDERSTAND? WHY DO YOU LISTEN TO
EVERYTHING FALSE DOCTRINE TEACHES AND DENY THE LIVING GOD THAT
CREATED YOU AND THE WORLD? WHY HAVE YOU TURNED AWAY FROM HIS
TRUTH? GO TO GOD'S WORD, READ IT, HOLD ON TO IT...IT IS THE
ONLY TRUTH! IT IS OUR ONLY WAY TO EVERLASTING LIFE FOREVER WITH
HIM! (Prov. 3:13,18 ASV) "How blessed is the man who finds
wisdom. And the man who gains understanding. She is a tree of
life to those who take hold of her. And happy are all who hold
her fast."
Look again at the key passage above, 2 Timothy 4: 3-4,
read it aloud, and come back... My beloved friends,
without God's Word and Spiritual discernment, the Church of
Jesus Christ is in deep trouble, for they won't know who they
are following and more likely it will be the devil and his
demons! The majority of today's Church goers do not study God's
Word to be well informed to detect and determine false doctrinal
error. That is the reason they only want their "ears tickled"
and will believe anything that sounds somewhat okay. What they
fail to keep in front of them as truth, is...the enemy and his
demons are out to devour as many as God's children as possible
to block God's witness in this world. They want to take with
them as many to Hell, as they possibly can. Are you giving him
your attention? Are you a Christian that does not mind watered
down Biblical messages? Or, are you one of those that would not
know if it is watered down or not...because you do not read
God's Word for yourself or study it? You must do better!
Well, my friend, may I ask, are you attending one of
those churches that have replaced "Absolute Truth" with the
world's accepted "Tolerance?" Shame on you if this is so! You
must become more discerning! I'm sure you are following this
practice because you do not want to offend anyone. But, is it
really "well with your soul" if it offends Almighty God? All I
can say is, be assured God's truth will always stand against
Satan's error, because sound Biblical doctrine is "Absolute
Truth!" It will always divide and confront false teachings and
it's teachers. Matt. 7: 13-17 says it all so very plain. Read
it along with James 4: 7 that is bold enough to tell us what to
do.
So, in closing, begin praying for God's wisdom, and
stop letting the Devil and all his associates deceive you and
yours. Come out of his dark world! God's kids must be ALERT &
ALWAYS WATCHING! Peter puts it this urgent way, "Be careful!
Watch out for attacks from the Devil, your great enemy. He
prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for some victim to
devour. Take a firm stand against him, and be strong in your
faith. Remember that your Christian brothers and sisters all
over the world are going through the same kind of suffering you
are." (1 Peter 5: 8-9 TLB) STAND FIRM IN THE WORD! "EAR
TICKLING" WILL ONLY TAKE YOU FURTHER AND FURTHER AWAY FROM THE
LIGHT OF TRUTH THAT IS ONLY FOUND IN GOD'S HOLY BIBLE!