Morning Moments

HAVE YOU EVER NOTICED?


(2 Tim 4:3) 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. 


(Titus 1:9) Holding fast the faithful word as he hath been taught, that he may be able by sound doctrine both to exhort and to convince the gainsayers. (10) For there are many unruly and vain talkers and deceivers, specially they of the circumcision...


BUT what is this SOUND TEACHING?


(Titus 2:1) But you must say the things that are consistent with sound teaching. 


OLDER MEN
(2) Older men are to be level headed, worthy of respect, sensible, and sound in faith, love, and endurance. 


OLDER WOMEN
(3) In the same way, older women are to be reverent in behavior, not slanderers, not addicted to much wine. ⌊They are⌋ to teach what is good, 


YOUNGER WOMEN
(4) so they may encourage the young women to love their husbands and to love their children, (5) to be self-controlled, pure, homemakers, kind, and submissive to their husbands, so that God’s message will not be slandered. 


YOUNGER MEN
(6) In the same way, encourage the young men to be self-controlled 


TEACHERS
(7) in everything. Make yourself an example of good works with integrity and dignity in your teaching. (8) Your message is to be sound beyond reproach, so that the opponent will be ashamed, having nothing bad to say about us. 


SLAVES, SERVANTS, EM{:PYEES, WORKERS
(9) Slaves are to be submissive to their masters in everything, and to be well-pleasing, not talking back (10) or stealing, but demonstrating utter faithfulness, so that they may adorn the teaching of God our Savior in everything. 


THE GRACE OF GOD THAT ACCOMPANIES SALVATION
(11) For the grace of God has appeared with salvation for all people, (12) instructing us to deny godlessness and worldly lusts and to live in a sensible, righteous, and godly way in the present age, (13) while we wait for the blessed hope and appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ. 


BUT WAIT JUST A MINUTE!!!!


Isn't SOUND DOCTRINE the teaching of eternal security, predestination/election, tongue/healings, and all those petty doctrines we cling to so tenaciously?  Isn't sound doctrine being a Calvinist or an Arminian?  Isn't it being a follower of Charles Hadden Spurgson?  Isn't it being a follower of your favorite TV preacher of conference speaker?  Surely THEY KNOW what sound doctrine really is!


WAIT A MINUTE MORE!


It must be the preachers that have the biggest churches and the biggest names and that are the most articulate, dynamic, prosperous, and successful!  SURELY this must be THE SIGN that they have SOUND DOCTRINE!


Well, according to the Bible and Church History, the early church focused on the PERSON of JESUS CHRIST, His deity, death, burial and resurrection, fulfillment of Old Testament Prophecy and His COMING AGAIN!  And as DOCTRINAL STRUCTURE FORMED, it focused upon the following:


1. The Inspiration, Authenticity, and Authority of the Word of God - the BIBLE
2. The VIRGIN birth of Jesus Christ by Mary who conceived of God - the BIRTH
3. The Sinless Sacrifice of Jesus Christ for our sins on the cross - the BLOOD
4. The Physical Resurrection of Jesus Christ from the death - the BODY
5. The Physical Bodily Return of Jesus Christ for and with His saints - The BLESSED Hope


Now HAVE YOU NOTICED a movement AWAY from these things that are considered SOUND DOCTRINE IN SCRIPTURE AND THE EARLY CHURCH and a substitution of novels, tricks, twisted text, and polished preachers with padded pockets?  What is more important, the MESSAGE or the MESSENGER?  We MUST create substitute with our little MOVEMENTS!!!!  If GOD ever does bring true revival to the WESTERN "church", it will probably not be through fancy preaching but through faithful pray-ers!  BUT wouldn't it spoil our party?  Would we then STOP negotiating packages and start falling prostrate before the MIGHTY and HOLY PRESENCE OF GOD, who is not a Basketball, football, baseball, or any other ball player, nor a movie actor, producer, or director.  HE IS GOD!!!  GOD, IS SAY, to be awed and reverenced -  according to SOUND DOCTRINE!


BLESSINGS!