Open Heaven 3 September 2024: Take Heed to Doctrine
MEMORISE: 1 Timothy 4:16
“Take heed unto thyself, and unto the doctrine; continue in them: for in doing this thou shalt both save thyself, and them that hear thee.”
READ: 2 Timothy 4:2-5 (KJV)
2 Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine.
3 For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears;
4 And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.
5 But watch thou in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, make full proof of thy ministry.
Read Yesterday’s Open Heaven Devotional Here
These days, many Christians look for ways to water down certain doctrines and prove that they are useless. When the doctrine of their Bible-believing church dictates that they should not dress in a certain way, for example, they go about looking for Hebrew and Greek interpretations of Scriptures to say that the doctrine is useless – this is not right. Doctrines are a major part of your Christian walk. Although they can sometimes appear to be tough to live by, they are codes of conduct that will keep you consecrated. A doctrine may not seem interesting when you are living by it, but if you keep doing so, over time, you will realize that it has helped you to stay strong in the faith.
God is always solidly behind doctrines. In fact, (2 Timothy 3:16) says that one of the reasons God gave us Scriptures is so that we can get doctrines from them:
All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:
You must note, however, that doctrines are gotten from the Scriptures by the representative of God in the leadership of a denomination. The head of another denomination may not develop a doctrine from that same Scripture, but as long as the fellow whom you call your Father in the Lord develops a doctrine from a Scripture, you have to live by it. The early Church was strong with very fervent Christians because they continued steadfastly in the doctrines of their leaders, the Apostles, as we see in Acts 2:42:
And they continued steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers.
Note that you are not to choose which doctrine to follow based on convenience but based on your conviction that the one who brought the doctrine developed it from the Scriptures. You should also be convinced that the person is the spiritual leader that God wants you to submit to.
Doctrines raised from the Scriptures will set you apart from the world. They are a great catalyst for your spiritual growth and well-being.
KEY POINT:
Doctrines are not there to imprison you but to further strengthen your consecration to God.
BIBLE IN ONE YEAR:
Ezekiel 33-35
Open Heaven 3 September 2024
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