SOUND DOCTRINE
Just the other day, I received a message from a brother advising that he needed help and asking me to pray for him. I asked what he needed prayer for. “Pray for me that I read God’s Word more,” he replied. I told him I would be happy to pray for him, but wanted him to understand that God would not force him to do anything against his own will—that the choice was ultimately up to Him. He replied, “I know! I’m talking about studying God’s WORD!!” (Like that made a difference?) I continued by telling him that no matter “who prayed” or “how much they would pray” it was still up to him -- He had to choose to do it. Thereafter, the man’s responses were riddled with anger and sarcasm. I can only assume because I wasn’t giving him the answer he wanted to hear (a/k/a “itching ears”).
His itching ears wanted me to assure him that God would MAKE HIM do what he refused to do on his own. He was already condemned by his own words: (1) he knew “he was supposed to read the Bible more” and (2) he wasn’t. Hello?! That’s not how it works, Warriors! Those of you who have been following me for a while know that (1) God does His part (He is faithful in keeping His promises to us) and (2) we do our part (obey His commands). God won’t “make us” obey. He wants us to obey out of love for Him.
John 14:15-31 KJV “If ye love me, keep my commandments.16 And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you forever; 17 Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you. 18 I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you.19 Yet a little while, and the world seeth me no more; but ye see me: because I live, ye shall live also. 20 At that day ye shall know that I am in my Father, and ye in me, and I in you. 21 He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him. 22 Judas saith unto him, not Iscariot, Lord, how is it that thou wilt manifest thyself unto us, and not unto the world? 23 Jesus answered and said unto him, “If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him. 24 He that loveth me not keepeth not my sayings: and the word which ye hear is not mine, but the Father's which sent me. 25 These things have I spoken unto you, being yet present with you. 26 But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you. 27 Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid. 28 Ye have heard how I said unto you, I go away, and come again unto you. If ye loved me, ye would rejoice, because I said, I go unto the Father: for my Father is greater than I. 29 And now I have told you before it come to pass, that, when it is come to pass, ye might believe. 30 Hereafter I will not talk much with you: for the prince of this world cometh, and hath nothing in me. 31 But that the world may know that I love the Father; and as the Father gave me commandment, even so I do. Arise, let us go hence.”
Don’t forget—there are consequences if we disobey because disobedience = “INIQUITY” (a/k/a willful sin). He loves us but hates our sin and when we repent, He forgives us! AMEN. WILLFUL, CONTINUAL SIN (unrepentant) is what creates a breach in the hedge of protection God places around us at the time of our Salvation. That “breach” gives Satan and his evil minions LEGAL right to DEMONIZE us AT WILL, which includes but is not limited to: all kinds of addiction (alcohol, drugs, gambling, sexual, smoking, etc.), acts born out of compulsion, anxiety, depression, despair, suicidal thoughts, suicide, inability to concentrate, sickness/disease, mental disorders, sleep disorders, financial trouble, relationship issues (spouse, family, friends), etc. The only remedy for this condition is deliverance.
God’s desire is that everyone believes in and accepts Jesus as their personal Lord and Savior too, but God will not MAKE anyone do it. God does not mess with anybody’s free will. Make a note of that! He may alter circumstances to assist in bringing us to a point where we would reconsider our choice(s) and/or so we contemplate His great love for us so that we then choose to obey, but He won’t force us to do what He commands us to do.
Fellows Warriors, don’t be one of those people with “itching ears.” Take heed to sound doctrine. Don’t expect any less. If you are receiving less than sound doctrine [Anything apart from or that sets itself up against God Word's is false/erroneous doctrine] at your regular place of worship . . . TIME FOR A CHANGE and do it now! –End Transmission.
Crying Out in the Wilderness,
Delann Conrad
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