Colossians 2:8 King James Version (KJV)
8 Beware lest ANY MAN spoil you [do not be taken captive] through *philosophy and vain **deceit, after the ***tradition of men, after the ****rudiments of the world, and not after Christ.
DEFINITIONS FROM MERRIAM-WEBSTER:
*PHILOSOPHY: 1) ethics; 2) a discipline comprising as its core logic, aesthetics, ethics, metaphysics, and epistemology; 3) a general understanding of values and reality by chiefly speculative rather than observational means, 4) an analysis of the grounds of and concepts expressing fundamental beliefs, 5) a theory underlying or regarding a sphere of activity or thought]
**DECEIT: 1) the act of causing someone to accept as true or valid what is false or invalid : the act or practice of deceiving; 2) an attempt or device to deceive, 3) the quality of being dishonest or misleading : the quality of being deceitful.
***TRADITION: 1): an inherited, established, or customary pattern of thought, action, or behavior (such as a religious practice or a social custom); a belief or story or a body of beliefs or stories relating to the past that are commonly accepted as historical though not verifiable; 2) the handing down of information, beliefs, and customs by word of mouth or by example from one generation to another without written instruction.
****RUDIMENTS: 1) a basic principle or element or a fundamental skill —usually used in plural; 2) something unformed or undeveloped.
Christ is the “LIVING WORD.” Anyone who preaches or practices anything in opposition to the Word of God is against Christ (intentional or unintentional). The lack of knowledge of God’s Word creates an optimal environment for the Enemy to THRIVE, and Scripture tells us that God’s people perish (or are destroyed) for lack of knowledge (Hosea 4:6). So if you’re not reading and studying your Bible for knowledge of what God says, who He is, what He wants from you and what His TRUTH is, you will assuredly fall for any and all false teaching/teachers out there and its associated consequences. WAKE UP brothers and sisters! I cannot stress how important it is to become increasingly familiar with God’s Word. You can’t do that opening your Bible in Church on Sundays! Today scripture is shown on a projector screen--so it’s not even necessary to bring Bibles to church anymore!
We know that it is the Enemy who causes divisions and strife. Can we all agree on that? So, generally, when there is division “within the Church” it does not come from the Holy Spirit. The exception being if pastors/teachers are not preaching the true Word of God (a/k/a false doctrine). Yet another reason to know God’s Word for yourself! How would you know if your pastor/teacher, was rightly dividing the Word of God if you don’t know it?? Some pastors/leaders/teachers have opened doors through SIN which allow demons legal entrance onto the Battlefield of their mind. When that happens, God’s Word can easily be twisted. God’s Word tells us to “work out your own salvation with fear and trembling” (Philippians 2:12) . . . it does NOT SAY: “Accept everything your pastors or teachers say/preach as a matter of fact.” A lot of Christians believe their pastor/teachers are the first and last word on interpreting the Bible. While that may be true most of the time, it is not true ALL of the time. Satan is working overtime in our churches. Amen?!
There are those who have been “groomed” (by their churches) to FIGHT anyone using another Bible translation other than King James Version. I have experienced that “fight” even though King Jim is my preference for many reasons. I refuse to fight anyone about it. The Holy Spirit is capable of leading us into ALL TRUTH regardless of what version is used. After all, He is GOD!!
John 16:13 King James Version (KJV) "Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, He WILL GUIDE YOU INTO ALL TRUTH: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come."
There are churches that believe Spiritual Warfare is “mumbo jumbo.” I find that TOTALLY INCREDIBLE! Do these pastors/denominations literally skip Ephesians 6 altogether or maybe it’s missing from their (King James) Bibles!? We are called to Spiritual Warfare the moment we accept Jesus as our personal Lord and Savior. The Battle rages on until we leave this world and take residence in Heaven (I CAN’T WAIT!!). There are many more areas the Enemy uses for the purpose of DIVISION. You probably know of a few yourself!
We are commanded NOT TO PARTICIPATE IN THESE KINDS OF DISCUSSIONS (division) – Hello?!! Jesus used this phrase a couple of times: “He that hath ears to hear, let him hear.” Obviously everyone listening to Jesus had ears (duh), so why did He say that? Because as it is with anything we are told/hear, it is up to us to RECEIVE IT OR NOT. So we must be willing to RECEIVE the FULL WORD OF GOD. If we only receive 98% and leave 2% then we are not receiving TRUTH. You are aware that if it’s only 98% true that it is a LIE – right? As I have written many times (and I’m sure more times are coming), the Father of Lies (Satan) uses this tactic. You are held accountable if you do not leave a church where this is happening. They are also accountable, but you are accountable for your own salvation. Amen.
A few weeks ago, an acquaintance told me he was starting to read his Bible every day. WOO HOO – Praise God! A week or so later, he told me that he was reading in the Old Testament!!! That’s not the place for New Christians to begin (or anyone not used to reading the Bible). I advised him that it’s better to begin in the New Testament. You see, the Old Testament points TO Christ, Believers already know Christ, so it is best to start reading in the New Testament. Here is a reading “guide" (for optimal growth):
1. Gospel of John
2. Gospel of Mark
3. Ephesians
4. Philippians
5. Galatians
6. I John, II John, III John
7. Romans
8. I Corinthians
9. II Corinthians
10. Psalms
11. Proverbs
12. Genesis
See https://www.facebook.com/tbir777/posts/356716661462485 for more on How to Study Your Bible/Rightly Divide the Word of God.
Ephesians 6:12 KJV "For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places."
To discern what is of God or of the Enemy simply use this RULER: THE WORD OF GOD. Anything that goes against what the Word of God teaches/commands in any way is the Enemy trying to pull you away from the Truth. It really isn’t rocket science and it doesn’t take a bona fide “reverend” with a Master’s Degree in Divinity to discern it. Once again, if you don’t know the Word, you won’t know the difference regardless.
2 Corinthians 10:5 KJV “Casting down imaginations [thoughts], and every high thing that exalteth itself AGAINST the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ.”
Be aware of what God’s Word says about these things and stop giving THE ENEMY GROUND ALL OF YOU WHO ARE DIVISIVE, ARGUMENTATIVE brothers and sisters!! Stop defecting to the other side – it’s embarrassing for the rest of God's Warriors!
2 Timothy 2:23-26 KJV "23 But foolish and unlearned questions AVOID, KNOWING that they do gender strifes [breeds quarrels]. 24 And the servant of the Lord MUST NOT strive; but be gentle unto all men, apt to teach, patient, 25 In MEEKNESS instructing those that oppose themselves; if God peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth; 26 And THAT THEY MAY RECOVER THEMSELVES OUT OF THE SNARE OF THE DEVIL, WHO ARE TAKEN CAPTIVE BY HIM AT HIS WILL."
Titus 3:9-11 “But avoid foolish disputes, genealogies, contentions, and strivings about the law; for they are UNPROFITABLE and USELESS. 10 Reject a divisive man after the first and second admonition (Warn them twice), 11 knowing that such a person is warped and sinning, being self-condemned.”
Contending for the Faith and our Captain in Battle,
Delann Conrad
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