Pardon my silence over the past few weeks. I have been trying to be still, not striving, and trying to let the LORD lead on my journey through this life.
Today and over the coming weeks I wish to revisit 1 Timothy chapter 6. There are things going on the name of Christ that simply ignore what Paul is teaching Timothy in these passages. Let’s start at verse 3 and continue to verse 5:
1 Timothy 6:3-5
“3 If anyone teaches otherwise and does not agree to the sound instruction of our Lord Jesus Christ and to godly teaching, 4 they are conceited and understand nothing. They have an unhealthy interest in controversies and quarrels about words that result in envy, strife, malicious talk, evil suspicions 5 and constant friction between people of corrupt mind, who have been robbed of the truth and who think that godliness is a means to financial gain.” NIV
There has been a movement afoot for some time now that teaches that if you are truly born again, that you should be prosperous. This teaching runs contrary to the above, particularly to verse 5. It out born out of materialism, the want for more and more stuff and this drive for stuff actually becomes the GOD that they worship which is idolatry. The worst part is that sincere believers start to question their salvation if they are not well off financially.
It is a satanic trap laid by the master of lies to ensnare even the most sincere believer and render them useless, which is what he wants.
Remember this, Jesus taught about spiritual things, the people who were listening often mistook his teaching as for the physical. “unless one is born again”, “ I am the bread of life”, "If you knew the gift of God and who it is that asks you for a drink, you would have asked him and he would have given you living water." “I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.” Or “more abundantly” is the translation the teachers of this error like to emphasize.
All these statements of the LORD the hearer commonly mistook as teaching about the physical, that were intended as spiritual teaching. This error is still prevalent today.
Remember this, when a teaching you hear contradicts anything in the Bible the teaching is in error. People who grew up on these erroneous teachings will go to the grave defending them so it is best to broach these things cautiously, with agape love, and not rail against the error. Pray that their eyes be opened, that they heed the full council of God and learn to recognize and avoid error.
More next week.
Video for this week: Tenth Avenue North "By Your Side"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xHgNCj4DU_M
Until next time, may the LORD bless us and keep us, in Jesus name I pray.
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