There are many people today who are not satisfied with understanding
the Word of God. They must constantly find new obscure interpretations
of scripture. These I call foolish doctrines. While I must admit
that every once in a while one of these 'doctrines' makes sense
(maybe is even true), I must also caution you that God, Jesus Christ
or the Holy Spirit of God has never in Holy Scriptures told us to
figure out what we are to do based on 'our own understanding' of the
way things appear to be. The Bible is a very clear book, if we take it
as it is presented we can understand the things of God very clearly.
(
John 5.19
clearly says only do what the Father says to do or shows you to do) - IF -
our heart and relationship to our Lord Jesus Christ is correct and pure.
Unfortunately most of the people who spend their time on these 'doctrines'
feel that they are beyond being a part of a LOCAL CHURCH, and also feel
they must have a mailing list to send their 'great revelations' out into
the church. The purpose of this study is to help you learn to determine
if a study (teaching, book) will be of benefit to you or not as you
pursue your relationship with our Lord and with the Local Church.
If it will not help you in your pursuit of holiness why read it? The
following points are a means of judging any teaching that is presented to
you.
1. Does this cause me to LOOK at MYSELF and MEASURE MY MATURITY
ACCORDING TO SCRIPTURE?
Any teaching that is based on scripture should as one of its main abjectives
cause us to look at our life and measure our present condition against the
scriptural parameters concerning this subject.
2. Does it bring CONVICTION to me?
Any teaching that does not bring conviction, (it may even 'hurt') is not
of much use to us unless it pertains to an area of our life that the Lord
has already purged and purified or to an area of understanding such as
proper church government that is necessary to our growth, but not
necessarily directly personal.
3. Does it have a useful practical application in MY life?
Any teaching that does not have a useful, practical, present purpose in
changing me to be more like Jesus Christ is not something that I should
spend my time with. If I cannot put it in to practice now it would
probably be best to set it aside until I have a present need for it
(If I ever do).
4. Does it help to bring me to the PLACE of MATURITY that Scripture
shows I need to be pursuing?
The whole purpose of Christianity is to become Like CHRIST, who Scripture
says is our example. If this is not the purpose of the teaching, then
why should I waste my precious time with it?
5. Does it increase my desire to be involved with my brethren in
my Local Church? Or does it cause me to foster an 'Elitist' attitude?
The most important growth process for a Christian occurs when we must
interact within a close personal relationship to our brothers and sisters.
Only when we must associate closely with other imperfect people can God
show us what we are really like and convict us to change. Many (most)
false and useless teachings cause people to develop an 'elitist' attitude
(the feeling that you walk on a 'higher level' than others do with God),
instead of promoting humility and solid relationships. Though there are
some things we cannot fellowship with (catholicism, mormonism, universalism,
jehovah witness and others that do not follow the Real Jesus Christ), we
should be able and desire to have fellowship with our real brothers and
sisters in Christ. Anything that does not promote these proper
relationships is not worth reading.
6. Does it have a POSITIVE SCRIPTURAL influence TOWARD the Lord
Jesus Christ?
Does it advance the place and influence of Jesus Christ in my life?
Anything that does not as its main purpose lead me to a closer more
intimate relationship with my Lord is not worth spending my precious
time with.
7. Does it allow 'God to BE GOD' or does it limit Him?
We must understand that there are scriptural laws and principals that
govern EVERYTHING - INCLUDING what God can and cannot do. God said so.
Outside of these God given principals - We MUST NOT LIMIT God. We must
allow Him to do things AS HE WISHES.
Any study (teaching) that does not fulfill the above 7 points is probably
a waste of your time (at least for now). SO WHY READ IT? Instead get
out your BIBLE and let God show you by His Holy Spirit, something that is
presently useful to you - something to enhance your relationship to Him -
to help you mature to the stature of the fullness of Christ. To become
a complete man in Christ.
This is part one of The Holy Spirit Teaching Series
