On our journey though life, we meet many people,
some are on the same path, even going the same direction that we are,
others are not
I met a man rich in man’s doctrine as well as biblical doctrine
He knew much
It was obvious putting together this doctrine had taken him many years
and many pain-staking hours
He was very proud of his doctrine
He professed it loudly
Many parts of his doctrine were teachings of correction and reproof
He was a specialist in pointing out the imperfections in the body of Christ
“Jesus is coming for a pure church, one without spot or wrinkle”
This is true, however, Jesus is the One who will expose the imperfections
so they can be remedied,
not any man
“You will fall away if you don’t do these things I am telling you to do”
He asked a question such as this often,
“Are any Christians truly serving the Lord?”
This question was spoken as though he was the authority on sin
As though he is certain he knows exactly how God will judge each person
Apart from the Holy Spirit, our works of righteousness mean nothing
If Jesus leads someone to point out imperfection or faults, by all means,
listen, take heed and realize it as a warning
Condemnation vs Correction from the Lord is often difficult to decipher Correction of sin is generally to bring us closer to God,
to teach us to stop justifying or hiding our sin from God
which can cause a separation between us and God
“Who is really saved?” he would cry aloud
I saw this man’s station along the path of life like a booth with a large sign
There were many books and manuscripts that he had put together
There were stacks and stacks of them and he opened them
and showed them to people
and taught people from the books he had written,
as many as would listen
I noticed while I was looking through his books that this man lacked love,
he also did things in his own strength and was not led by the Holy Spirit
This man did not like the workings of the Spirit
People can be uncomfortable with the Holy Spirit for many reasons,
their lack of control, not knowing what is going to happen
or what will be said
When Jesus walked on earth, He did much corrective teaching.
Jesus’ teaching was quite different from the teaching of this man
Jesus listened to the Father
Jesus did not correct in the flesh, with man’s doctrine
He said what He heard the Father say (John 12:49)
Jesus’ corrective words gave people
a definitive way to repent and be forgiven
A way to get closer to God, a way to be reconciled to God
This particular man with his human doctrine did not offer a closeness to God nor point people to God,
He was filled with condemnation of how terrible the church is
How if people don’t follow his criteria for getting right with God,
they will be lost and tossed into the fire
He did not value the Holy Spirit
He did not think the prophetic word was important
“Too many people have prophesied falsely,” he protested
We have the word of God
Read instead my books which are based on the word of God
Everything we need is in the word of God
He pointed to his books, his teachings
This is true that the word of God is all we need
and that God’s word has everything in it we need
to be successful in our walks with God,
but interestingly, in the very word of God that has everything,
we are told not to resist the Holy Spirit
and not to despise prophetic utterings
as they are for the edification of the body of Christ
Joel talked about the pouring of the Holy Spirit on all flesh
and your sons and daughters shall prophesy
And that God does nothing but what he reveals to his servants the prophets
As we get closer to the end, we will see similar miracles and workings of the Holy Spirit as were done in Acts and even when Jesus walked on the earth
He did not like me pointing out these things
These things did not fit into his laws and ordinances
The doctrine that he cherished and loved and preached
to anyone that would listen
The empty, vacant doctrine, his doctrine, man’s doctrine
I had stopped at his booth but for a moment, then, I went on,
following the Lord and seeking God and what He has for me
Getting distracted is wasting time
I gave his teachings a chance
He became angry I didn’t swallow his rules,
that I was not impressed with his doctrine
Those heavy books that that man had written,
full of his decrees were cumbersome and heavy
He was weighted down at his booth
There would be no way to carry his cross and follow the Lord
at the same time as he carried those books
And he said to them all, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me. Luke 9:23
I choose to follow the Lord Jesus Christ and not any man
I choose to obey God and not man (Acts 5:29)
That is the only way I will be able to complete my journey
The only way I will not get deceived
The only way I can hear what He is asking of me
The only way I can hear the still small voice leading me (1 Kings 19:12)
If ever a teacher or preacher or leader in the church
is not pointing you to the Lord Jesus Christ,
get as far away from that person as you can
Do not be fooled by their apparent closeness to God
If they are not helping you and encouraging you
to work on your own relationship with God, helping that relationship to grow,
then they are not worthy of your time
unless perhaps you are trying to win their soul for the Lord
Strengthening others, each other,
including our brothers and sisters in their walk with Christ
should be our primary focus
We should point people to, exhort them to walk with Christ
He is the only One who can save them and cleanse them from their sins
There is no other name by which men can be saved (Acts 4:12)
Scriptural References:
Which all are to perish with the using; after the commandments and doctrines of men? Colossians 2:22
But in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men. Matthew 15:9
Then understood they how that he bade them not beware of the leaven of bread, but of the doctrine of the Pharisees and of the Sadducees.
Matthew 16:12
Howbeit in vain do they worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men. For laying aside the commandment of God, ye hold the tradition of men, as the washing of pots and cups: and many other such like things ye do. And he said unto them, Full well ye reject the commandment of God, that ye may keep your own tradition. For Moses said, Honour thy father and thy mother; and, Whoso curseth father or mother, let him die the death: But ye say, If a man shall say to his father or mother, It is Corban, that is to say, a gift, by whatsoever thou mightest be profited by me; he shall be free. And ye suffer him no more to do ought for his father or his mother; Making the word of God of none effect through your tradition, which ye have delivered: and many such like things do ye. Mark 7:7-13
Ye stiffnecked and uncircumcised in heart and ears, ye do always resist the Holy Ghost: as your fathers did, so do ye. Acts 7:51
Despise not prophesyings. 1 Thessalonians 5:20
But he that prophesieth speaketh unto men to edification, and exhortation, and comfort. 1 Corinthians 14:3
And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out my spirit upon all flesh; and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions: And also upon the servants and upon the handmaids in those days will I pour out my spirit. Joel 2:28&29
Surely the Lord God will do nothing, but he revealeth his secret unto his servants the prophets. Amos 3:7
Wonderful