It is a dangerous thing for a church to set its sights for success on programs or events and not on the character of teaching that is embraced by the body. You can have the best ministries and a growing congregation, but if you sacrifice purity in the doctrines of the church you will have pollution in the lives of the people.
Observations & Conclusions:
1. Good deeds are threatened by false teachings
2. Teachings lead to beliefs, beliefs lead to actions
3. God is holy and will not tolerate immorality and idolatry
4. God sees the motives behind your actions, He searches hearts and minds
5. The commands of God are not burdensome
6. God is giving you time to repent
7. God’s reward is ruling with Him
Application:
1. Hold on
– Take God seriously
– Discern false teaching
– Practice what you preach
2. Repent
– Be specific
– Be genuine
2 Peter 2:1-3
“But there were also false prophets among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you. They will secretly introduce destructive heresies, even denying the sovereign Lord who bought them—bringing swift destruction on themselves. Many will follow their depraved conduct and will bring the way of truth into disrepute. In their greed these teachers will exploit you with fabricated stories. Their condemnation has long been hanging over them, and their destruction has not been sleeping.”
Matthew 18:7-9
“Woe to the world because of the things that cause people to stumble! Such things must come, but woe to the person through whom they come! If your hand or your foot causes you to stumble, cut it off and throw it away. It is better for you to enter life maimed or crippled than to have two hands or two feet and be thrown into eternal fire. And if your eye causes you to stumble, gouge it out and throw it away. It is better for you to enter life with one eye than to have two eyes and be thrown into the fire of hell.”
1 Corinthians 6:18-19
“Flee from sexual immorality. All other sins a person commits are outside the body, but whoever sins sexually, sins against their own body. Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own.”
1 Corinthians 3:16-17
“Don’t you know that you yourselves are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit dwells in your midst? If anyone destroys God’s temple, God will destroy that person; for God’s temple is sacred, and you together are that temple.”
Hebrews 4:12-13
“For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart. Nothing in all creation is hidden from God’s sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account.”
Matthew 11:28-30
“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”
Psalm 2:9
“You will break them with a rod of iron; you will dash them to pieces like pottery.”
Revelation 12:5
“She gave birth to a son, a male child, who “will rule all the nations with an iron scepter.”
Revelation 19:15
“Coming out of his mouth is a sharp sword with which to strike down the nations. “He will rule them with an iron scepter.” He treads the winepress of the fury of the wrath of God Almighty.”
Revelation 22:16
“I, Jesus, have sent my angel to give you this testimony for the churches. I am the Root and the Offspring of David, and the bright Morning Star.”