Hi all,
Last week we covered doctrines of demons, which are founded upon perversions of nature:Commands to eat or not eat certain foods, with animal and environmental doctrines (beliefs) derived from that. And commands of celibacy, with all the teachings on human s*xuality derived from that.
Remember that we know how demons work from what Jesus said in Matthew 12:43-45. He said weaker demons will seek out stronger ones to strengthen their effort to influence a person. Paul lists foundational doctrines of demons, and upon those founding demons of various strengths, they add more teachings as people who want to do those things believe them. Beliefs perverting the true nature of creation and humans are often rooted in the core 'doctrines of demons' Paul mentions in I Timothy 4.
God too has foundational doctrines
Hebrews 6:1-3 states the foundational doctrines of Christ:"Therefore having left the begining principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us continue on to maturity. Not laying again the foundation of 1) repentance from dead works, 2) faith in God, 3) of the doctrine of baptisms (water and Holy Spirit), 4) the laying on of hands, 5) resurrection of the dead, and 6) eternal judgment. And this we will do as God permits." 6 is the number of man, so these move from start to finish:Repentance to eternal judgment.
Satan revealed the foundational strategy for his attack when he tempted Eve:
"Has God said?" followed by an alternative answer:"You won't die, you'll be as gods." (Genesis 3:1-5)
Repentance? You don't need to repent (Greek; a change of the mind leading to a change of behavior), God loves you just the way you are. Repent? Is that really needed? Sin is gone, you can live however you like.
Faith in God? As long as you are a spiritual person you're okay. Find your own truth.
Baptized with the Holy Spirit? Really, that's just not for you. It may be a foundational teaching of Christ, but you don't need tongues, that's gibberish anyway and makes you look uneducated and ignorant.
Resurrection of the dead? We just come back in another form. (or) When we die that's it, like a dead bug on the ground. You're a product of evolution, a chemical spill of nature. Your purpose is what you make it.
Eternal judgment? Does it really mean that? Is God fair to allow you eternity in heaven for living a few years for Him on earth, while making others who don't know him for a few years on earth spend eternity in hell?
Satan always asks 'Has God said?' followed by an alternative answer. (Genesis 3:1-5)
I taught in a school that focused on everything except the foundational teachings of Christ
The school offered ministry certificates upon graduation, but I observed that most students didn't know the most basic teachings of Christ, including the above.
There were classes on how to pray down strongholds over cities, apostles and apostolic ministry, 'dominion', prophetic worship, deliverance, prophecy, signs & wonders, 'fire evangelism', Living from heaven to earth and Unlocking regional transformation, for example.
I asked the Director for permission to teach the above 6 foundational doctrines, but was told no:"No one would take that class." The opinion of school leadership was no one wanted to hear about repentance from dead works, faith in God, baptisms, laying on of hands, resurrection of the dead and eternal judgement.
Those are boring right?
It's much more fun to learn about someone's latest prophetic dream or vision. It's more fun to learn about something that teaches me how to get what I want, either by stopping the demonic attacks against me or finding a way to manipulate God or His principles of 'faith' to make my life better. Right?
In II Timothy 3:16 Paul wrote that scripture is good for:"...doctrine, reproof, correction, and instruction in righteousness."
Taking each of these apart in the Greek, the first word translated 'doctrine' (or teaching in some Bibles) means 'to teach especially as it extends to lifestyle applications.'
The word 'reproof' (rebuking) is 'proof' and 'inner conviction'. Why 'proof'? It is about the Spirit of Truth presenting us with proof, first of the claims of Jesus, then ranging from testifying to our spirit we are God's child, to proof we sinned, when we feel that conviction or grievance in our spirit.
The word for 'correction' means 'to set back on the path' or 'to straighten up something'.
The word 'instruction' (in righteousness), means 'tutoring' that includes discipline and applying oneself to the assignment.
Doctrine (foundational teachings and those built upon them), rebuke, putting us back on the right path, and tutoring in righteousness, is the very description of the life of a disciple of Jesus Christ. Not just a believer, but a disciple - which means 'a learner'.
The battle is the teachings through which a person learns
Demons teach. God teaches. Consider the battle for souls is really a battle of teachings. Jesus said; "Make disciples of all nations, teaching them to observe and do all the things I've taught you." The battle is over what is taught and observed in the lives of those teaching it - whether of demons or God. Mt 28:19-20
If we go back to Genesis 2 where Adam was created, we understand the Lord his Creator taught him all about the Garden of Eden and animals. The Jewish historian Josephus says that Adam, Seth, and Enoch had been taught by the Lord all about creation, even the stars, and how everything function and their place in creation. (Jewish Antiquities)
So when we read in Genesis 3:1-5 we see Satan introduced a lie directly the perversion of God's teaching:"Has God said?" And; "You won't die, you'll be like Him." The sin came after they believed the teaching of Satan - You won't die, you'll be like God. They believed the lie first, THEN the sin came. They believed the doctrine of Satan, which over the course of the conversation, seduced them away from God's teachings.
This is the process we see today, for Satan hasn't changed. There are still doctrines of demons which are thrown out into society by those who believed the lies, and subsequently sin - against nature and against human nature as it pertains to s*xuality.
For true disciples of Jesus, whose eyes are opened to the truth and who have rejected the lies taught be Satan, the battle is often between the doctrines of man added to the doctrines of God, which make the teachings of God of no effect.
And that's our subject next week. Until then, blessings,
John Fenn
cwowi.org and email me at [email protected]
Last week we covered doctrines of demons, which are founded upon perversions of nature:Commands to eat or not eat certain foods, with animal and environmental doctrines (beliefs) derived from that. And commands of celibacy, with all the teachings on human s*xuality derived from that.
Remember that we know how demons work from what Jesus said in Matthew 12:43-45. He said weaker demons will seek out stronger ones to strengthen their effort to influence a person. Paul lists foundational doctrines of demons, and upon those founding demons of various strengths, they add more teachings as people who want to do those things believe them. Beliefs perverting the true nature of creation and humans are often rooted in the core 'doctrines of demons' Paul mentions in I Timothy 4.
God too has foundational doctrines
Hebrews 6:1-3 states the foundational doctrines of Christ:"Therefore having left the begining principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us continue on to maturity. Not laying again the foundation of 1) repentance from dead works, 2) faith in God, 3) of the doctrine of baptisms (water and Holy Spirit), 4) the laying on of hands, 5) resurrection of the dead, and 6) eternal judgment. And this we will do as God permits." 6 is the number of man, so these move from start to finish:Repentance to eternal judgment.
Satan revealed the foundational strategy for his attack when he tempted Eve:
"Has God said?" followed by an alternative answer:"You won't die, you'll be as gods." (Genesis 3:1-5)
Repentance? You don't need to repent (Greek; a change of the mind leading to a change of behavior), God loves you just the way you are. Repent? Is that really needed? Sin is gone, you can live however you like.
Faith in God? As long as you are a spiritual person you're okay. Find your own truth.
Baptized with the Holy Spirit? Really, that's just not for you. It may be a foundational teaching of Christ, but you don't need tongues, that's gibberish anyway and makes you look uneducated and ignorant.
Resurrection of the dead? We just come back in another form. (or) When we die that's it, like a dead bug on the ground. You're a product of evolution, a chemical spill of nature. Your purpose is what you make it.
Eternal judgment? Does it really mean that? Is God fair to allow you eternity in heaven for living a few years for Him on earth, while making others who don't know him for a few years on earth spend eternity in hell?
Satan always asks 'Has God said?' followed by an alternative answer. (Genesis 3:1-5)
I taught in a school that focused on everything except the foundational teachings of Christ
The school offered ministry certificates upon graduation, but I observed that most students didn't know the most basic teachings of Christ, including the above.
There were classes on how to pray down strongholds over cities, apostles and apostolic ministry, 'dominion', prophetic worship, deliverance, prophecy, signs & wonders, 'fire evangelism', Living from heaven to earth and Unlocking regional transformation, for example.
I asked the Director for permission to teach the above 6 foundational doctrines, but was told no:"No one would take that class." The opinion of school leadership was no one wanted to hear about repentance from dead works, faith in God, baptisms, laying on of hands, resurrection of the dead and eternal judgement.
Those are boring right?
It's much more fun to learn about someone's latest prophetic dream or vision. It's more fun to learn about something that teaches me how to get what I want, either by stopping the demonic attacks against me or finding a way to manipulate God or His principles of 'faith' to make my life better. Right?
In II Timothy 3:16 Paul wrote that scripture is good for:"...doctrine, reproof, correction, and instruction in righteousness."
Taking each of these apart in the Greek, the first word translated 'doctrine' (or teaching in some Bibles) means 'to teach especially as it extends to lifestyle applications.'
The word 'reproof' (rebuking) is 'proof' and 'inner conviction'. Why 'proof'? It is about the Spirit of Truth presenting us with proof, first of the claims of Jesus, then ranging from testifying to our spirit we are God's child, to proof we sinned, when we feel that conviction or grievance in our spirit.
The word for 'correction' means 'to set back on the path' or 'to straighten up something'.
The word 'instruction' (in righteousness), means 'tutoring' that includes discipline and applying oneself to the assignment.
Doctrine (foundational teachings and those built upon them), rebuke, putting us back on the right path, and tutoring in righteousness, is the very description of the life of a disciple of Jesus Christ. Not just a believer, but a disciple - which means 'a learner'.
The battle is the teachings through which a person learns
Demons teach. God teaches. Consider the battle for souls is really a battle of teachings. Jesus said; "Make disciples of all nations, teaching them to observe and do all the things I've taught you." The battle is over what is taught and observed in the lives of those teaching it - whether of demons or God. Mt 28:19-20
If we go back to Genesis 2 where Adam was created, we understand the Lord his Creator taught him all about the Garden of Eden and animals. The Jewish historian Josephus says that Adam, Seth, and Enoch had been taught by the Lord all about creation, even the stars, and how everything function and their place in creation. (Jewish Antiquities)
So when we read in Genesis 3:1-5 we see Satan introduced a lie directly the perversion of God's teaching:"Has God said?" And; "You won't die, you'll be like Him." The sin came after they believed the teaching of Satan - You won't die, you'll be like God. They believed the lie first, THEN the sin came. They believed the doctrine of Satan, which over the course of the conversation, seduced them away from God's teachings.
This is the process we see today, for Satan hasn't changed. There are still doctrines of demons which are thrown out into society by those who believed the lies, and subsequently sin - against nature and against human nature as it pertains to s*xuality.
For true disciples of Jesus, whose eyes are opened to the truth and who have rejected the lies taught be Satan, the battle is often between the doctrines of man added to the doctrines of God, which make the teachings of God of no effect.
And that's our subject next week. Until then, blessings,
John Fenn
cwowi.org and email me at [email protected]
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