The More Subtle Crisis Of The Hour.
There is a growing agitation and revolution against the corruption and perversion of the gospel of Christ by covetous preachers who peddle a polluted gospel, having turned the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ into a mere success key/kit for achieving one's ambitions and dreams in life.
This polluted gospel has seen it's main proponents build great religious empires, and prosper/fare sumptuously in this world, while remaining so impoverished and destitute of the truth of the gospel. It is a gospel through which satan has subtly offered the world, it's wealth, glory and fame to preachers in exchange for true spiritual verities and the eternal hope.
On the other hand, those riding in the current waves and tides, going against these gospel perverts and merchants are men of like passion, and not immune to embracing another side/facet of the hydra-headed/multi-faceted monster of corruption.
We are not as many, which corrupt the word of God yet we are not immune from becoming one of them, but as of sincerity, as of God, and in the sight of God speak we in Christ; and such trust have we through Christ to God-ward. 2 Corinthians 2:17-3:5.
The solemn consideration of this fact, brings us to a very pertinent truth, which is this: that the more subtle and complicated situation is not the perverted word(the seed of the devil) and the false ministers/children it breeds; but the reception of the true/genuine word(seed of God/sincere milk of the word), in hearts not wholly yielded/submitted to the life it brings, as to grow unto fruitfulness.
The parable of the wheat and tares reveals to us the inroads of satan even in the midst of that which is of God; how he finds a way to come in and introduce his own seed; which is an imitation/pervesion of the true. However, the parable of the sower presents to us a much more fearful reality, of how the genuine word can fail to grow unto fruitfulness in the hearts of those who received it. It is with the heart that man can receive and believe the word of God(Romans 10:8-10); thus in receiving/believing the word of God, the state of the heart matters a great deal, for it is the state of the heart that determines how far that person can go in the faith. The heart is to be thoroughly prepared, ploughed and tilled to wholeheartedly receive the word of God. Where the word of God is not wholeheartedly received and believed in, with no reservations, the heart cannot go/grow all the way in the faith unto fruitfulness.
True reception/belief in the word of God, is not partial but absolute, and it is that which abides/stands the test of time. Never be in a haste to get men to believe and receive the Lord Jesus as though it is some automated system which a man can turn on/power at his own will. The Berean Jews were not in a haste to believe, neither was the apostle in a haste to get them to say the sinner's prayer and confession of faith. They received the word with all readiness/preparedness of mind/heart, and took their time to search the scriptures daily, to confirm the veracity of the words they heard Paul preach, lest they end up believing in the wrong message. They were not in anyway careless about the issue of faith. Acts 17:10-12.
The Importance Of A Ready Heart To Understand And Believe The Word.
Today millions have heard and believed or even compelled by preachers, to believe in the wrong message, while some were hasty to believe in what they neither understood nor were convinced of; thus they have become a false breed of believers/christians, established on the broad way to destruction. It is the breed, spread and growth of a spurious profession of christianity, powered by the hasty spirit of the age, and the unbridled quest/lust of men, for the success/growth of the religious enterprises they set up in the name of the Lord/'church'.
*Amazingly, after writing on this issue of faith/believing as inspired of God, i was shocked when i came across a post on facebook which reads: "Many Jews understood the import of what Jesus said, but didn't believe...many of u don't understand Him, but believe...thats grace"
This is the bane of professing christendom; the profession of faith by hearts that are waxed gross and not given to understanding, believing in and teaching what they neither understand nor are convinced/assured of.
Matthew 13:14-15, 18-19
And in them is fulfilled the prophecy of Esaias, which saith, By hearing ye shall hear, and shall not understand; and seeing ye shall see, and shall not perceive: For this people's heart is waxed gross, and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes they have closed; lest at any time they should see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and should understand with their heart, and should be converted, and I should heal them.
18-19 "Hear ye therefore the parable of the sower.When any one heareth the word of the kingdom, and understandeth it not, then cometh the wicked one, and catcheth away that which was sown in his heart. This is he which received seed by the way side"
The emphasis of Jesus on understanding is further buttressed by the question he asked his disciples when he finished telling them the parables; he asked thus: "Have ye understood all these things? They say unto him, Yea, Lord"(Vs 51).
2 Timothy 3:14-15
But continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of, knowing of whom thou hast learned them; And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.
It is spiritual carelessness and not grace, to believe in what you don't understand.
This polluted gospel has seen it's main proponents build great religious empires, and prosper/fare sumptuously in this world, while remaining so impoverished and destitute of the truth of the gospel. It is a gospel through which satan has subtly offered the world, it's wealth, glory and fame to preachers in exchange for true spiritual verities and the eternal hope.
On the other hand, those riding in the current waves and tides, going against these gospel perverts and merchants are men of like passion, and not immune to embracing another side/facet of the hydra-headed/multi-faceted monster of corruption.
We are not as many, which corrupt the word of God yet we are not immune from becoming one of them, but as of sincerity, as of God, and in the sight of God speak we in Christ; and such trust have we through Christ to God-ward. 2 Corinthians 2:17-3:5.
The solemn consideration of this fact, brings us to a very pertinent truth, which is this: that the more subtle and complicated situation is not the perverted word(the seed of the devil) and the false ministers/children it breeds; but the reception of the true/genuine word(seed of God/sincere milk of the word), in hearts not wholly yielded/submitted to the life it brings, as to grow unto fruitfulness.
The parable of the wheat and tares reveals to us the inroads of satan even in the midst of that which is of God; how he finds a way to come in and introduce his own seed; which is an imitation/pervesion of the true. However, the parable of the sower presents to us a much more fearful reality, of how the genuine word can fail to grow unto fruitfulness in the hearts of those who received it. It is with the heart that man can receive and believe the word of God(Romans 10:8-10); thus in receiving/believing the word of God, the state of the heart matters a great deal, for it is the state of the heart that determines how far that person can go in the faith. The heart is to be thoroughly prepared, ploughed and tilled to wholeheartedly receive the word of God. Where the word of God is not wholeheartedly received and believed in, with no reservations, the heart cannot go/grow all the way in the faith unto fruitfulness.
True reception/belief in the word of God, is not partial but absolute, and it is that which abides/stands the test of time. Never be in a haste to get men to believe and receive the Lord Jesus as though it is some automated system which a man can turn on/power at his own will. The Berean Jews were not in a haste to believe, neither was the apostle in a haste to get them to say the sinner's prayer and confession of faith. They received the word with all readiness/preparedness of mind/heart, and took their time to search the scriptures daily, to confirm the veracity of the words they heard Paul preach, lest they end up believing in the wrong message. They were not in anyway careless about the issue of faith. Acts 17:10-12.
The Importance Of A Ready Heart To Understand And Believe The Word.
Today millions have heard and believed or even compelled by preachers, to believe in the wrong message, while some were hasty to believe in what they neither understood nor were convinced of; thus they have become a false breed of believers/christians, established on the broad way to destruction. It is the breed, spread and growth of a spurious profession of christianity, powered by the hasty spirit of the age, and the unbridled quest/lust of men, for the success/growth of the religious enterprises they set up in the name of the Lord/'church'.
*Amazingly, after writing on this issue of faith/believing as inspired of God, i was shocked when i came across a post on facebook which reads: "Many Jews understood the import of what Jesus said, but didn't believe...many of u don't understand Him, but believe...thats grace"
This is the bane of professing christendom; the profession of faith by hearts that are waxed gross and not given to understanding, believing in and teaching what they neither understand nor are convinced/assured of.
Matthew 13:14-15, 18-19
And in them is fulfilled the prophecy of Esaias, which saith, By hearing ye shall hear, and shall not understand; and seeing ye shall see, and shall not perceive: For this people's heart is waxed gross, and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes they have closed; lest at any time they should see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and should understand with their heart, and should be converted, and I should heal them.
18-19 "Hear ye therefore the parable of the sower.When any one heareth the word of the kingdom, and understandeth it not, then cometh the wicked one, and catcheth away that which was sown in his heart. This is he which received seed by the way side"
The emphasis of Jesus on understanding is further buttressed by the question he asked his disciples when he finished telling them the parables; he asked thus: "Have ye understood all these things? They say unto him, Yea, Lord"(Vs 51).
2 Timothy 3:14-15
But continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of, knowing of whom thou hast learned them; And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.
It is spiritual carelessness and not grace, to believe in what you don't understand.
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