Right-Wrong Doctrine

In the midst of our Christian walks, I realize we need discretion everyday, coupled along discernment especially when we have passed a specific threshold, or a level in maturity. Wisdom becomes the principal thing before our eyes; if indeed we long to keep the narrow path narrow instead of widening it.

Along life, scripture can as well become a basic excuse for many of us, being used in scenarios where it never was needed. It is right yes! But it gets applied in the wrong places or wrong times. This is pretty much what the enemy did with Jesus while He was being tempted in the wilderness.

When we have lost our loved ones — and this is quite common — how do we deal with it? What scriptures do we apply? What scriptures would you apply? Many brush off quickly, ‘The Lord giveth and the Lord taketh.’ Those were Job’s words. And even if it’s written in the scriptures, it might not necessarily make it the truth! Or the truth in that moment.

Jesus is truth. He said the thief comes to steal, kill and destroy. But He came that we might have life and life abundantly. So before we claim that He took — should we forget that we are labelling Him a thief? A murderer? And an annihilator? — which He is not!

Other times we say ‘It was God’s will.’ ‘He willed she lived for only 20 years.’ People rarely blame the enemy. The Job-doctrine took over. Even when we know the devil was the actual villain.

Other times it’s simply someone’s decision. The deceased spirit could decide that it is done! Done fighting! Done believing! Done holding on. Paul said it was his choice whether to stay on earth or go to heaven. It’s in the power of someone to hang around or not.

Exodus 20:12 said that if we honored our parents we’d live long. Shall we say it was God’s will for someone to go, even when they were so dishonorable to their parents and life judged them unworthy of a long life? I think not.

Besides, why don’t we hasten to quote scriptures that can counter what has happened? For instance Matthew 10:8 which says ‘heal the sick, raise the dead …’ (Selah)

How about delays in our lives? We should discern as well which are God-ordained, which are Satan’s fault, and which are a function of our own? If we do not, we will misapply scripture to comfort our realities.

For example; one might stumble in faith, if they are believing for a child and they haven’t conceived. They’d easily give up and say “Even the matriarchs were barren until their old age.”

Would that be worthy of a new creation that Jesus has given all authority to say? With the same Bible, one could choose to war with Psalm 90 declaring that God would satisfy them while it’s still early! Another could understand that Heaven can’t withhold a child if purpose is tagged to it; just as the manner of Hannah.

One could choose to war with Exodus 23:36 which says ‘none shall miscarry nor be barren in your land’ as opposed to misinformed doctrine that will keep the promise away; cementing all the anomalies.

Satan quoted the word for Jesus. It was right, but wrong for all the situations Jesus was in. It was true that God would not let Jesus’ foot dash against the stone. But that didn’t validate the fact that He should throw Himself off the highest point of the temple.

When I take this through the lens of preparation for marriage; yes some are indeed waiting on the Lord, but a preacher said others could be afraid of: getting their hearts broken, of divorce, of parenting, or any other fear while using the cover of ‘waiting on God.’ To some, God has even actually revealed the person, but they could not be ticking all the items on the other gender’s list.

I am not cajoling anyone to neglect God’s place in regard to this. I’m simply asking us to be sincere with ourselves and torch into our hearts whilst asking the bitter question: what verily is it?

Waiting on God for a spouse is diverse (if I may dive into the topic a bit). The selection is relative and so is the wisdom of that selection. 1 Samuel 16 shows that it is bespoke. Tailor made. Samuel thought Eliab or Abinadab were God’s choice but none were until the eighth son. We look at outward appearances but God looks at the heart. He must as well help you examine what you can’t see before you ‘anoint’ them your spouse. This is for those that are unmarried yet.

Others will go on with the trial and error. Some date so many before they finally settle. And for you God would tell you to go and He’ll show you. For another they would sleep and wake up a rib less; and when they look up, behold — Eve. Others could be helped like Naomi helped Ruth.

A preacher recently said that because God spoke to Moses through a fire, doesn’t mean He would do the same with Elijah. For Elijah, God wasn’t in the fire. He was but in a still small voice.

With that, it’d therefore be wrong to say there should be one equation to marriage, or one by which God speaks. He’s multifaceted. And you need to know how He speaks to you, or how He’ll choose for you.

I digress.

How about prayer! You could have altars to attend to as some sort of covenant with God perhaps in the night or early morning. Laziness or weariness sometimes takes over us and the devil whispers ‘He gives His beloved sleep,’ and so we dive into bed or roll to the other side of the bed, pulling the blanket over our faces, instead of getting up to pray.

Yes it is scripture! But we mustn’t allow it if it is disrupting a God-ordained activity. God won’t contradict Himself. We shouldn’t fail to discern that the enemy wishes to tamper with our destinies. And so as we sleep, he sows tares!

Let me end with the wealth aspect. Many have embraced the doctrine: blessed are the poor in spirit. They have literally taken on the ‘poor’ and so they reject any form of prosperity or ‘too much money.’ Many even go on to condemn preachers who campaign for christians taking over the economy. They dub it ‘the prosperity gospel’ — but the gospel itself can’t leave you in a poor state. Isaiah 61 verse 1 demonstrates that the author was anointed to take the gospel to the poor! Why? Definitely to undo their poverty, as the verses that follow explain other antidotes and their toxins — such as ‘comforting the brokenhearted.’

Wholehearted ones may not really need any comforting.

And having even not gone that far, the Bible said ‘poor in spirit’, and perhaps many don’t know the true definition of that. The Bible never said ‘poor in flesh.’ Besides, many cling to that one portion as an excuse for their victimization, for not daring to dream big — or having given up on their big dreams; which God would have used to open financial gates for them. Be careful not to be one of them.

Don’t turn a blind eye to Psalms 112:3 that says ‘wealth and riches are in the house of the righteous.’ Don’t turn a blind eye to Psalms 71:21 ‘Thou increases my greatness, and comforts me on every side.’ Not forgetting Deuteronomy 8:18 — He has given you power to get wealth that you may establish the covenant He swore to your fathers in faith!

So as we walk on this salvation journey, let us employ craftiness of a serpent, and yet remaining composed in the humility of a dove at the same time; applying the knowledge of the truth rightly. So help us Holy Ghost!

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I Timothy‬ ‭2‬:‭3‬-‭4‬ For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.

John 14:26 But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you.

Luke 12:12 For the Holy Spirit will teach you in that very hour what you ought to say.