When The Door Slams
But The Holy Spirit tells us clearly that in the last times some in the church will turn away from Christ and become eager followers of teachers with devil-inspired ideas. These teachers will tell lies with straight faces and do it so often that their consciences won't bother them. 1 Timothy 4:1-3
Think about this: Those of us who are trying to recover from addiction of all kinds, we are caught in a real dilemma. Our recovery requires dependence on a Higher Power. It also works best if we are intimately involved in supportive, insightful groups within our local church. And yet today's passage warns us to beware of man-made "religion," day or night time talk programs.
What we see here is that before Christ returns, many believers will depart from the faith. Their children may grow up in Sunday school but never even hear that salvation is by grace through faith (Ephesians 2:8-9). Religious leaders will be forbidden to marry, and people will be instructed not to eat certain foods for "religious" reasons. Paul taught us not to pay any attention to all these rules and rituals. We are living in an age of grace, where all things are permissible, though not all are beneficial.
Jesus said the Bible is perfect. He said not to put our faith in religion or religious leaders. Even Paul complimented believers who took notes on what he taught them to search the Scriptures for themselves to see if he was right. We can trust God's Word. We should avoid religious codependency, but not the loving believers who can and will support us by God's grace through faith in The Holy Spirit.
Ask the Spirit to search your heart and reveal any areas of unconfessed sin. Acknowledge these to the Lord and thank Him for His forgiveness.
Never Rest Ministries
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