ENDTIME DANGER
We live in the age when men are desirous of giving acceptance to the multitude of religious teachings in the world, paying little heed to their worth or their Spiritual foundations. We take our text from the book of II Timothy3:1-7, ''Perilous times shall come in the last days, we are in the last days.
The word peril, means dangerous or hazardous. Dangerous to the soul, dangerous to life! Our own days, so many Christians should be careful, we are warned! I John 4:1-3, also warned us not to believe every Spirit. He commanded that we should try the spirit to know if it is of God. How can we try these spirits? Every spirit that confesseth not Christ. Is an antichrist . He went further to tell us that the anti-Christ are already here. But some will have us to believe that the advent of the anti-Christ is out there in the future.
The Scriptures says they are already here in the world. If they were already there in the days of John, they are in every corners of our streets today. We have a duty to fish them out, by reading our Scriptures. You never can tell, may be they are the ones occupying the pulpits where we worship. Christ came into the earth to show a way, the will of God (John 6:38). If our doctrines is not of Christ it is the doctrines of the devils.
The book of I Timothy 4:1-3, the spirit warned us that ''in the latter days some people shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits and as result of that,- they preach the doctrines of the devil'. As a Christian if your doctrines is not of Christ, is of the devil, no matter whom you got it from.
The book of Titus 2:1 also warned, that we should preach sound doctrine, also in the book of Isaiah 8:20 which says, “if anyone does not speak according to this word it is because there is no light in that man”. Absence of light is darkness. Romans 6:17 informs us that we should only embrace that form of doctrine which was delivered to us by Christ. That doctrine is what every Christian is compelled to obey.
The book of Ephesians 4:14, warned us about being carried about with every wind of doctrines. Titus 2:10, also encourages us to be adorn with doctrine of our savior in all things. Has it occur to us that our Savior has a doctrine? I Timothy 4:16 Timothy was warned by Paul to continue in the doctrine which was delivered unto him, that is the place his salvation is secured. Paul held the same which he also reminded Timothy of, as his own doctrine in II Timothy 3:10. The Scriptures also informed us that time shall come when men will not endure sound doctrine. II Timothy 4:3. that time is with us now, no one is interested in the beautiful Gospel of our lord Jesus. Men are busy building kingdoms around themselves. The book of I Corinthians 3:10-11, warned us against laying another foundation apart from that of Christ. So many of us today are building our Spiritual structures upon the foundation of their religious leaders without knowing their worth. Christ warned the Christians not to entangle themselves with doctrines of religious world, which is of no value, is all about covetousness. Matthew 16:6-12, Luke 12:15.
People of God, let us therefore take heed to the Master's warnings if we are sincere in running this race that is set before us. The book of II John 7-11 also warned, “For many deceivers are entered into the world, who confess not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh. This is a deceiver and an anti-Christ.
(9) Whosoever transgresseth, and abideth not in the doctrine of Christ, he hath not God. He that abideth in the doctrine of Christ hath both the Father and the Son.
(10) If any come unto you and bring not this doctrine, receive him not into your house, neither bid him God speed:
(11) For he that bideth him God speed is partaker of his evil deeds”. Let us meditate on this Scriptures. Many deceiver entering into the world: They are all around us to deceive, going extra miles to convince us that they are for Christ in every of their appearances, both in performance of miracles and holiness, (II Thessalonians 2:8-11). They will never stay with Christ and His teachings, a little of Moses, Elijah, David and even Idol worship. Moses, Elijah and David where not Christians, they did not see Christ let alone being like Him. What those men practiced was Jewish religion. It was these same Jewish-religious people that saw the uniqueness of disciples' worship, and called them Christians (Christ-like) in Antioch (Acts 11:26). Christians never took the name to themselves, it was the custodians of the old covenant that gave them the name (Christians). They never practiced the Old and New covenants together.
The Scriptures called the Christians, “ministers of the new Testament” II Corinthians 3:6. You cannot minister the two together. The table serving the two are different tables. If you do that you are an anti-Christ. Whosoever transgress and abide not in the doctrine of Christ: the word to abide is to stay in, to live in. child of God you are not allowed to approach it half way, or to go beyond it. Stay in that doctrine of Christ! I am the way, the truth and the life no man cometh unto the Father but by me (John14:6), There is none other name given among men, whereby we must be saved (Acts 4:12).
Christ also told His disciples to teach whatsoever He has commanded them to teach. They never preached Moses or Elijah or any other man. Preach Christ Christian! He died for you! Every other man died for themselves.(Matthew 28:20) Christ is the only savior, that's what Christians preaches. Moses did not save you neither did Elijah, they all waited for the coming of the Savior but were not fortunate to see His days. Blessed are eyes…… many prophets and kings desired to see…. (Luke 10:23-24). Receive him not neither bide God's speed: you must not encourage those people that teach contrary or give them any support. If you do, you are a co-worker (anti-Christ) with such person and God will reward you accordingly, (Romans 16:17)
Let us look at what the first Timothy 4:1 says “Now the spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of the devils.” In our meditations we can understand the Spirit of God was talking about our days when men had decided not to accept the doctrines of Christ, they want to revive the doctrines of David which is not acceptable to God. Some will still have us to believe that God said, David was a man after His heart, was Jesus a man against God's heart?
David in his days, was a man after God's heart to be a king over the nation of Israel and not a man who has fulfilled God's heart desire. David didn't, if he did, God would have allowed him built a house for Him. Jesus Christ was the only one that fulfilled God's heart desire (Matthew 17:5). David was not a Christian, he did not see Christ.
Giving heed to seducing spirits and doctrines of the devils: the result of giving heed to another spirit, which is not of Christ. 'Is a satanic doctrines', that is not of Christ. Thereby whatsoever you are doing is not of Christ. You are not of Him. You are under another man's influence. (Galatians 1:6-9). Seduction is to lure someone to do what ordinarily you will not like to do. They can deceive by signs and wonders, or any thing. Some will say, “but brother David, when I did it, there was a result” (Deuteronomy 13:1-3, II Thessalonians 2:3-11).
In the book of Mark 7:6-7 the master was repeating Isaiah's prophecy: “hypocrites, as it is written, this people honoureth me with their lips, but their heart is far from me.
(7) Howbeit in vain do they worship me teaching for doctrines the commandment of men”. Calling ourselves Christians is not enough. But living or staying or abiding in that doctrines of Christ is the real thing. Are you living in Christ's doctrines or your religious doctrines? If you are still abiding in your religious doctrines, Christ says such practices are nothing, but a useless worship.
Please let us note here that we are not trying to discourage any sincere soul, but to encourage us to know if we are doing the right thing. “For you shall know the truth and the truth shall make you free” so says the Master. (John 8:31-32). It is the truth we know and act upon, will make us free. Its not our fasting and prayers or our religious practices. When we run not according to the truth of the Scriptures, we've ran contrary, we will also be rewarded contrary.
Christ also promised us the Spirit of truth who will guide us into all truth (John 16:13). Why must we need the guidance of this Spirit? Anything added or removed from the truth is nothing but lies. Its not the truth! Paul cried out for Israelites, his brethren in the book of Romans 10:1-3.”they having the zeal of God, but not according to knowledge”. That puts their salvation in doubt.
Titus 1:9 encourages us to hold fast that sound doctrines of Christ. If we are for Christ we are not permitted to have our own doctrines made by men. We can not reform the body of Christ. The church is Christ's body, we have no power to recreate Christ. Such doctrines, no matter how beautiful it may look to the understanding of man, brings darkness rather than light. Christ's doctrines brings light and life to the soul (John 6:63). Timothy in his own days was warned by Paul that men will not endure sound doctrines in II Timothy 4:3 and was advised to continue in that same doctrine that Christ delivered to us is our salvation dwells, even if the world rejects it, I Timothy 4:16. We must not follow them. The world has never served God and they can never serve Him in our own days. So what we are seeing today is not Christianity and it can never be. Christ have a standard. The church is not the world, and the world can never be the church. We are called out from the world.
I must warn again, we are not preaching for or against any religious settings. We are presenting the teachings of Jesus Christ without watering down and also to encourage a sincere soul to experience the power Christ promised Christians, Christians are not to live at the mercy of kingdom of darkness Luke 10:19, John1:11. It is an awakening call to every sincere soul, lovers of the gospel of Christ to stand up and defend the Gospel that is committed into our hands as good soldiers of Christ.
Paul did in his own days (Philippians1:17). If there was an attack on the Gospel in his days, there is much attack on her in our own days and we can not fold our hands watching as if nothing is happening.
Where is our mandate to occupy till He comes? We can't just stand on the isles watching unconcerned, without defending her. Should it continue to be money, money thing or prosperity thing? For there are great attack on the Gospel of Christ. As a lover of the Word of God you are part of these great commission. It must be our concern in our own days that there is a great falling away from what Christ delivered to us, rather men are busy building kingdoms for themselves. That is why we have so many pulpits all around us, but crimes, prostitution, wickedness and insincerities are in the increase. Most of those pulpits are not for Christ. If they are, Christ is more than able to save any soul that approach it.
We invite you to join us to fight this great battle that is set before us. Your contributions, questions, and comments are welcomed. God bless you as you answer this call. The grace and peace of Christ fill our heart.
