Jacob
2006-07-14 03:03:19 UTC
God says that the last days will be difficult times, especially for
Christians (2Ti.3:1 LB). Deceiving spirits will be more active than
ever before because Satan knows that his time is short (Re.12:12).
False prophets and teachers will increase in number with strange
doctrines and practices (Mt.24:11;1Ti.4:1). Jesus said that it would be
so bad that even the elected saints could be misled (Mt.24:24). "Be on
the alert" is the word for the times.
If Peter who loved Jesus and who was willing to lay his life down for
Him could be deceived by Satan to the extent that Satan could use him
to try and mislead Jesus (Mt.16:22,23), we cannot rule out the
possibility of any preacher of today making mistakes in doctrine or
practice. We mustn't just fall for people or blindly accept every new
idea that comes up.
Be careful of 'prophets' giving us personal directions, especially of
the type that tends to bloat up our ego. In these days when the least
in the Kingdom can know the Father directly (He.8:11), we should want
to hear the Father tell us directly what He would want us to do.
Perhaps He would tell someone else to confirm what He has already told
us. He seems to have told Paul and Barnabas about their missionary call
before He showed it to the church (Ac.13:2). Don't be scared of
prophets. Be bold enough to examine everything with the revealed word
of God (1Th.5:20,21).
Don't let anyone make God's forgiveness complicated. If we have
repented from our sins and placed our trust in Jesus for forgiveness,
we must simply take it that God has forgiven us. Some people insist on
trying to remember and confess every single sin down to the childhood
days. Others tell us to confess all sins publicly and 'bring them into
the light.' Do you imagine God likes to torture or humiliate us rather
than cover our sins? (Ps.85:2).
If you ask God for healing in Jesus' name and you are not healed don't
let anyone tell you it's because you don't have faith. If you didn't
have faith would you have asked Him? And hasn't Jesus said that faith
as small as a mustard seed is enough? (Mt.17:20). Ask the Father why He
hasn't answered your prayer, and you may learn many things. But don't
let anyone bully you.
God has provided mature people to help the younger ones. That doesn't
mean that younger ones become dependent on them. Don't fear people who
make out that you need them badly. Listen to those about whom you sense
that they sincerely want to help you, and don't give in an inch to
those who want to control you.
There are many "new" ideas and techniques coming up these days which
sound interesting and intriguing. Don't fall flat for them without
checking to see if they fit in with the principles of the gospel.
Clearer understanding of known truths are welcome, but discoveries of
"new" truths and "revelations" may be received with a pinch of salt
till they are proved to fall in line with other truths.
If we walk carefully, we can avoid a lot of danger.
http://www.c-n-c.org
Christians (2Ti.3:1 LB). Deceiving spirits will be more active than
ever before because Satan knows that his time is short (Re.12:12).
False prophets and teachers will increase in number with strange
doctrines and practices (Mt.24:11;1Ti.4:1). Jesus said that it would be
so bad that even the elected saints could be misled (Mt.24:24). "Be on
the alert" is the word for the times.
If Peter who loved Jesus and who was willing to lay his life down for
Him could be deceived by Satan to the extent that Satan could use him
to try and mislead Jesus (Mt.16:22,23), we cannot rule out the
possibility of any preacher of today making mistakes in doctrine or
practice. We mustn't just fall for people or blindly accept every new
idea that comes up.
Be careful of 'prophets' giving us personal directions, especially of
the type that tends to bloat up our ego. In these days when the least
in the Kingdom can know the Father directly (He.8:11), we should want
to hear the Father tell us directly what He would want us to do.
Perhaps He would tell someone else to confirm what He has already told
us. He seems to have told Paul and Barnabas about their missionary call
before He showed it to the church (Ac.13:2). Don't be scared of
prophets. Be bold enough to examine everything with the revealed word
of God (1Th.5:20,21).
Don't let anyone make God's forgiveness complicated. If we have
repented from our sins and placed our trust in Jesus for forgiveness,
we must simply take it that God has forgiven us. Some people insist on
trying to remember and confess every single sin down to the childhood
days. Others tell us to confess all sins publicly and 'bring them into
the light.' Do you imagine God likes to torture or humiliate us rather
than cover our sins? (Ps.85:2).
If you ask God for healing in Jesus' name and you are not healed don't
let anyone tell you it's because you don't have faith. If you didn't
have faith would you have asked Him? And hasn't Jesus said that faith
as small as a mustard seed is enough? (Mt.17:20). Ask the Father why He
hasn't answered your prayer, and you may learn many things. But don't
let anyone bully you.
God has provided mature people to help the younger ones. That doesn't
mean that younger ones become dependent on them. Don't fear people who
make out that you need them badly. Listen to those about whom you sense
that they sincerely want to help you, and don't give in an inch to
those who want to control you.
There are many "new" ideas and techniques coming up these days which
sound interesting and intriguing. Don't fall flat for them without
checking to see if they fit in with the principles of the gospel.
Clearer understanding of known truths are welcome, but discoveries of
"new" truths and "revelations" may be received with a pinch of salt
till they are proved to fall in line with other truths.
If we walk carefully, we can avoid a lot of danger.
http://www.c-n-c.org