One thing that is critical when developing as a believer is to allow the word of God get in the way of what you believe really.
I am aware that most of us learnt by observation the things of the spirit and the relationship with the word of God without proper doctrinal approach.
Now it’s not unlikely you would have heard someone say “OH THAT PASTOR WAS TALKING ABOUT MY STORY…HOW DARE HIM”
You then take the same posturing assuming it’s right and then at some point in your growth as a believer, you too then say oh…he was talking about me in his sermon…I will not go to that church again. Hmmmnnnn, that’s dangerous if you are privileged to be in a sound church really. Don’t let Satan deceive you.
Reminds me of an incidence that occurred circa 10 years ago at a retreat…i was preaching at Ede in Osun State and then after the meeting someone walked over to me and said “if this was church and my Pastor said all these, I would have left the church thinking because I told him my story…he made a sermon out it. Here you are, we have never met”
I had preached his whole life using exact examples and mistakenly mentioned the real name of someone in his life.
Truth is, this plays out a lot when I teach, addressing people’s cases just as though we had a prior conversation, any pastor that approaches God’s word prayerfully and believes in the prophetic dimensions of teaching most likely has been accused of such at one point or the other.
Let’s see some things in the word of God really
2 Timothy 3:16-17
All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works.
I like for you to see 4 main things here that the word of God will do to you either by reading it or by it being preached to you.
1) DOCTRINE : teaching passed across through interconnectivity of scriptures to establish a thought or a believe system on topic or discuss. It will build a consciousness in you. It will connect scriptures to establish the mind of God on certain things to you.
2) REPROOF : reroof here means something different from how it’s used in English language. It doesn’t mean to censure or chide. The Greek word used here is ELEGCHOS…the same word used as evidence in many places in the bible. It means Gods word will give evidence to certain things in your life.
It will give evidence to your salvation…evidence to your healing…evidence to your stance before God…EVIDENCE not CHIDE..
3) CORRECTION : the Greek word used here is amazing really…it’s EPANORTHOSIS…it means to straighten out something that is bent. Restoration to an upright state. Meaning Gods word when received never leaves you bent…bent in thought…bent in behavior…bent in manners becoming of who you truly and already are in Christ. It comes to straighten you out not romance your curves and bends.
4) INSTRUCTION IN RIGHTEOUSNESS : this means instruction on how to give expression to DIKAIOSUNE this word is used more for your righteous state in God not acts of righteousness. It means it will give you directions on how to give practical expression to an invisible state really.
Now tell me…is possible to be under this QUADRUPLE dimension and not have the effect of at least one dimension touch you one way of the other. It’s impossible. Gods word is not afraid of you now.
The funny things is…if you are reading the word yourself and saw it straight from the Bible that something is wrong most people will accept and make adjustment but if it happens that your pastor shows it or say it to you…you squeeze your face and say…i will leave that church.
Let’s see something here.
1 Thessalonians 2:13
For this cause also thank we God without ceasing, because, when ye received the WORD OF GOD WHICH YE HEARD OF US, YE RECEIVED IT NOT AS WORDS OF MEN, but as it is in truth, the word of God, which effectually worketh also in you that believe.
Notice how they received the word of God…they did not say ehn shebi it’s you people talking…you are not God now. They received the word they got from these men as the words of God.
Usually it’s arrogance and pride that gets in the way of you receiving it as such most times.
THE WORD OF GOD IS LIKE METHYLATED SPIRIT REALLY…WHEN YOU ARE DOING WHAT IS RIGHT…it will soothe you but when you are doing what is wrong…it will bring pain. It’s not the pain of destruction but that there can be adjustment to make in your life with joy. I notice if you allow the application of the spirit for a while…your wound gets healed. Allow the word speak to you without suspicion really. Just receive and grow…learn….make adjustments etc.
It’s the decoy of the enemy to make you focus on a lie that they were talking about you and make you miss the point. Look, just face it Gods word will come face to face with you several times. The Holy Spirit will move in the direction you ought grow and help you.
Don’t walk away from a church where GODS WORD IS EDIFYING YOU THROUGH DOCTRINE…BRINGING YOU INTO DEEP CONSCIOUSNESS THROUGH REPROOF AND EVIDENCE…WHERE GODS WORD IS STRAIGHTENING YOU OUT FROM ALL WRONG PHILOSOPHIES AND THEOLOGY IN CORRECTION AND WHERE YOU ARE BEING SHOWN THE PRINCIPLES OF LIVING OUT THE LIFE YOU HAVE RECEIVED WITHIN.
I HOPE YOU GET THE GIST.
WELCOME TO FREEDOM