Over the past
few newsletters, we have talked about and addressed the mediocrity or
complacency that was in the churches of
The
majority of people that claim to be Christian, will
tell you that they are committed to God and His Word, but in reality, they are
committed only to themselves. Yes, they may have a zeal for God in some instances, however, it is not according to a working, living
knowledge of God and His Word. They will call Him Lord, Lord; but they will not
do that which He asks of them.
2 Timothy 4:3-4, 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
Definition for fables: 3454 muthos
(moo'-thos); perhaps from the same as 3453 (through
the idea of tuition); a tale, i.e. fiction ("myth"): KJV-- fable.
Definition for myth: a legend (of doubtful
certainty); a traditional story, often founded on some fact of nature, or an
event of early history of a people, thing or event. (Winston college
dictionary)
Galatians 3:1 You foolish Galatians! Who put
you under a spell? Was not Jesus Christ clearly portrayed as crucified before
your very eyes? (International Standard Version)
Magic: the pretended art of working by power over
the hidden forces of nature or by the assistance of supernatural beings;
sorcery; witchcraft; enchantment; sleight of hand. (Winston college dictionary)
As
people or children of God, where or how does one draw the line in how or what
means they will use to present the gospel of Jesus Christ? Is it the truth or a
lie that is able to liberate a person?
FABLE: Primitive man conceives of the objects around
him as possessing his own characteristics. Consequently in his stories, beasts,
trees, rocks, etc., think, talk and act exactly as if they were human beings.
Of course, but little advance in knowledge was needed to put an end to this
mode of thought, but the form of story-telling developed by it persisted and is
found in the folk-tales of all nations. More particularly, the archaic form of
story was used for the purpose of moral instruction, and when so used is termed
the fable. Modern definitions distinguish it from the parable (a) by its use of
characters of lower intelligence than man (although reasoning and speaking like
men), and (b) by its lesson for this life only. (from
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia, Electronic Database Copyright (C)
1996 by Biblesoft)
Psalms 118:24, This
is the day which the LORD hath made; we will rejoice and be glad in it. KJV
This day, today, now faith is the day which the Lord has made. It is this day, because of the birth of Jesus of Nazareth, a life filled, led and guided by the Spirit of Christ within Him, and obedient to the death of the cross and the grave, and rising victoriously with the keys of hell and death, and thus presenting to the Father a perfect sacrifice of reconciliation in and on the behalf of each and every person, so that salvation is available, today.
What
if salvation were only available one or two days out of the year?
For
God so loved the world that He gave the ultimate gift. As Paul tells us, the
gift given is the measure of the gift of Christ. Yet, what kind of gifts do
people look for at this time of year? Where do they look for these gifts?
Isaiah 57:5, Enflaming yourselves with idols
under every green tree, slaying the children in the valleys under the clifts of the rocks? KJV
Between flying reindeer, and talking snowmen, trees that they worship, or expectance of some fat man coming down the chimney; where or how have these lies gotten into the Church, and maintained such a hold on the people?
Even
if we removed the obvious lies and deceptions, what about all of those manger
scenes that have three wise men, or some character
called santa claus standing
there? Matthew chapter two verse eleven is quite clear
to show us that the wise men never arrived in time to see the baby Jesus in the
manger soon after His birth. So, if those who are instructing you, are not able
to discern something as plain and obvious as this; what about their ability to
instruct you in the things which are essential to and for your spiritual well
being? What kind of discernment do they have or possess? (Heb 5:14)
Paul
told Timothy that the time would come, when the people would not endure, hold
onto or cherish sound doctrine; but rather would be turned unto fables. Don’t
you think that is a very appropriate depiction of much of the so-called church
today?
[But after their
own lusts] They will seek such kind of preaching as will accord with their
carnal desires; or such as will palliate (to cover with any excuse)
their evil propensities, and deal gently with their vices; compare <Isa. 30:10>. "Speak unto us smooth things; prophesy
deceits."
(Barnes notes)
They
want spoken to them, that which they want to hear, not
that which they need to hear. With so many lies, and so much deception that is
out there, it is only as one will study for God’s approval, they will be able
to find the facts that will give them the proper guidance to the strait and
narrow path.
Such persons would
have teachers according to "their own lusts;" that is, their own
tastes, or wishes. They would have those who would coincide with their whims;
who would foster every vagary (wandering of thoughts)
which might enter their imagination; who would countenance every wild project
for doing good; who would be the advocates of the errors which they held; and
who would be afraid to rebuke their faults. These are the principles on which
many persons choose their religious teachers. The TRUE principle should be,
to select those who will faithfully declare the truth, and who will not shrink
from exposing and denouncing sin, wherever it may be found. (from
Barnes' Notes)
Who
is it that has given you much of the wrong spiritual counsel; family, friends?
Will people be as apt to point out those who have taught them wrong? Or, even
admit that they have been taught and counseled wrong?
Paul, who had been
brought up amidst these superstitions, saw at once how they would tend to draw
off the mind from the truth, and would corrupt the true religion. One of the
most successful arts of the adversary of souls has been to mingle fable with
truth; and when he cannot overthrow the truth by direct opposition, to
neutralize it by mingling with it much that is false and frivolous.
(from Barnes' Notes)
God
has presented us with His Word to instruct us, and His Holy Spirit to lead and
guide us in and through the truth of His Word. Yet, people have allowed myths
to cloud their vision and path. They have placed more credence in fables then
the plain and simple facts of His Word. They look for magic to dazzle them,
rather then the truth to liberate them. (Jer 5:31, The prophets prophesy falsely, and the priests
bear rule by their means; and my people love to have it so: and what will ye do
in the end thereof? KJV)
[For the time will
come] There is a time coming to the church when men will not hear the practical
truths of the Gospel, when they will prefer speculative opinions, which either
do no good to the soul, or corrupt and destroy it, to that wholesome doctrine
of "deny thyself, take up thy cross and follow me," which Jesus
Christ has left in his church.
[But after their own lusts] For
these they will follow, and hate these preachers and that doctrine by which
they are opposed.
[Shall they heap to themselves teachers] They will add one teacher to another, run and gad
(move about
with no fixed purpose) about after all, to find out those
who insist not on the necessity of bearing the cross, of being crucified to the
world, and of having the mind that was in Jesus. In this disposition
interested men often find their account; they set up for teachers, "and
widen and strew with flowers the way, down to eternal ruin," taking care
to soothe the passions and flatter the vices of a trifling, superficial people.
[Having itching ears] Endless
curiosity, an insatiable desire of variety; and they get their ears tickled
with the language and accent of the person, abandoning the good and faithful
preacher for the fine speaker. (from Adam Clarke Commentary)
When
will the time come when they will not endure sound doctrine? This is what most
people think, is that the time has not yet been. Ignorance is always applicable
to some other time, some other generation, but never applies to them. People
today want a feel good message, since their relationship with God is based upon
emotions and feelings, rather then acknowledgment and acceptance of His Word.
In
periods of unsettled faith, scepticism, and mere
curious speculation in matters of religion, teachers of all kinds swarm like
the flies in
Have you ever stopped to contemplate, that after all
God did to deliver the children of
How
many people run from building to building, until they find the message that
they want to hear? Until they find the calf-maker that is best suited for their
lifestyle?
[And they shall
turn away their ears from the truth] The truth strips them of their vices,
sacrifices their idols, darts its lightning’s against their easily besetting
sins, and absolutely requires a conformity to a
crucified Christ; therefore they turn their ears away from it.
[And shall be
turned unto fables.] Believe any kind of stuff and nonsense; for, as one
has justly observed, "Those who reject the truth are abandoned by the just
judgment of God to credit the most degrading nonsense." This is remarkably
the case with most deists; their creed often exhibits what is grossly absurd. (from
Adam Clarke Commentary)
We
have been delivered from the power of darkness, and translated into the kingdom
of His dear Son; in whom we have redemption, even the forgiveness of sins. Yet,
how many choose to accept and follow that which Father has given to us? Aren’t
people quicker to follow men, rather then God and His Word? Why do the people
seek after and yearn for the weak and beggarly elements?
Galatians 4: 8.
But at that former time, as you did not know the true God, you were
slaves to gods that do not really exist, 9.
but now, since you have come to know God, or
rather have come to be known by Him, how can you turn back to your own crude
notions, so weak and worthless, and wish to become slaves to them again? 10. You are observing days,
months, seasons, years. 11. I am
beginning to fear that I have bestowed my labors on you for nothing.
(Williams NT)
[Ye
observe] The object of this verse is to specify some of the things to which
they had become enslaved
[Days] The days here referred to are
doubtless the days of the Jewish festivals. They had numerous days of such observances, and in addition to those specified in the Old
Testament, the Jews had added many others as days commemorative of the
destruction and rebuilding of the temple, and of other important events in
their history. It is a fair interpretation to apply it to all those days which
are not commanded to be kept holy in the Scriptures; and hence, the passage is
as applicable to the observance of saints' days, and days in honor of
particular events in sacred history, as to the days observed by the Galatians.
There is as real servitude in the observance of the numerous festivals, and
fasts in the papal communion and in some Protestant churches, as there was in
the observance of the days in the Jewish ecclesiastical calendar, and for
anything that I can see, such observances are as inconsistent now with the
freedom of the gospel as they were in the time of Paul. We should observe as
seasons of holy time what it can be proved God has commanded us, and no more. (from Barnes' Notes)
It
is supposed to be the spirit of truth that leads us and guides us into all
truth. Yet, how often does one allow the influences of this world to have more
of a hold on their life, rather then the Spirit of God and the truth of His
Word? His kingdom is not of this world, yet, most try to have, hold onto and
maintain all that this world has.
People
are following myths, supported by magic, to find and obtain an inner peace that
can only come by and through the gift of God. They are looking for physical,
carnal things to satisfy a spiritual craving that can only be filled and
satisfied by the Spirit of God.
People
are looking for presents and gifts according to this world, and thus miss the
ultimate gift which God has made available to mankind. They are more concerned
with what the world might give them, then that which Father has made available
to them. Paul tells us that we should present ourselves to God, a
living sacrifice; that is, alive and living for the Father by, in and through
Christ Jesus.
God
has given us, and made available to us, the ultimate gift, His only begotten
Son, Jesus Christ of Nazareth, our Lord and savior. Now, it is up to you whether
or not you receive this gift. If you should choose to accept it (the measure of
the gift of Christ), then will you present or give yourself to God, as a living
sacrifice, today?
That
you may know Him,
In the service of Jesus Christ.
Larry
Gazelka
J
Copyright
© 2002