OFTENTIMES, the Bible is not read as much and as often as every well-meaning preacher desires for the congregation.
I would be fulfilled if the discourse was about interpretation differences not the reading culture.
Let’s not teach and build biblical doctrine from the Bible we don’t read, study and meditate on.
The body of Christ is often thrown off rail by human testimonies, stories, suppositions, opinions and conclusions.
Apostle Paul says in Colossians 2:8, New Living Translation, “Don’t let anyone capture you with empty philosophies and high-sounding nonsense that come from human thinking and from the spiritual powers of this world, rather than from Christ.”
Unfortunately there are many Christians who have been captured.
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The King James Version uses the word that means being duped of victory by the loser.
When the Gospel of Christ is preached and the Word of Truth is rightly divided it ministers to the spirit that will ultimately instruct the soul and body.
Regrettably many want stories that tickle the soul.
The Bible says of such in 1 Timothy 4:7, “But refuse profane and old wives’ fables, and exercise thyself rather unto godliness.”
What are fables? A fable is a short story, typically with animals as characters, conveying a moral.
People want things that excite them in the fleshly realm but those who are spiritually growing detest going to church to feed the soul.
We don’t go to church for circus. Biblical prophecy saw this about our times; 2 Timothy 4:3-4, New Living Translation, “[3] For a time is coming when people will no longer listen to sound and wholesome teaching. They will follow their own desires and will look for teachers who will tell them whatever their itching ears want to hear. [4] They will reject the truth and chase after myths.”
That’s why we have Christians who can’t differentiate between an African movie and a Gospel message, a motivational speaker/success/life coach and a minister of the mysteries of God.
Christians can spend the whole day watching movies and everything trending on social media.
They don’t have time for what’s trending from the Holy Spirit from the Bible.
We want to have a look at these fables today.
Two weeks ago I began to look at hearing from the dead and cultural issues.
Some were excited because they thought I was doing a series on African traditional religion.
Oh no. I teach the Bible and I present Jesus Christ, the risen Lord and King.
Where the Bible is silent I’m silent and where it makes noise, I follow suit.
There are many people, some of them archbishops, bishops, apostles, prophets among a host of people highly esteemed in Christendom who experienced near death and came up with stories that have in most instances contradicted the Bible.
The general line is that they strike fear in believers.
For that alone, they’re dubious.
Some saw only a handful of “genuine” believers in heaven.
This contradicts God and the ministry of Jesus Christ Who said the saved are multitudes.
We read 1 Timothy 2:3-4, “[3]For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour; [4] Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth.”
God’s desire is for salvation of us all.
Christianity is not an exclusive club for a few but the openest faith in the world advocating for the accommodation of the whole world and embracing of every religion collapsing in Jesus Christ.
According to Romans, whoever accepts the Gospel is saved.
No matter how much you regard those who died and came back, the moment they contradict the Bible, run for safety.
Every week I’m proclaiming to you someone who died.
He didn’t come with stories to capture us but to free us from the captor.
He didn’t just die but rose again and defeated death.
His name is Jesus and He came to set the captives free.
I like how He doesn’t threaten us with hell fire or try to justify His death and resurrection by stories and special anointing.
His only defence and proof is the Bible as we see from 1 Corinthians 15:3-4, “[3] For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; [4] And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures”: The Gospel of Christ doesn’t need human testimonies and fables to authenticate it.
Only the Bible is the surest proof.
Jesus Christ didn’t try to justify Himself by anything except by quoting the Scriptures.
I don’t doubt that people can die and come back to life because the Bible teaches and empowers us to raise the dead.
For three days and three nights, Jesus was in the womb of the earth.
What did He see which is different from the false reports we hear?
This is the true story of the Gospel of Christ which I preach on this platform.
Did the people who mislead you really die?
Which heaven did they go to.
I present to you dear reader the One Who died, rose again and went to heaven, Jesus Christ.
Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy, To the only wise God our Saviour, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and ever. Amen. Grace and peace be multiplied to you through knowledge.