A Clear Warning

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“Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go.” --Joshua 1:9 Reggie Jackson is one of the greatest baseball players in the history of the sport. He was known as “Mr. October” by many because he was constantly leading his team to the playoffs. He was named to 14 All-Star teams and hit 563 career home runs. But there’s another statistic about Jackson you’ve probably never heard. Reggie Jackson struck out at the plate more times than any person in the history of the sport. In fact, he finished his career with 14 more strikeouts than hits. But no one focuses on his failures, only that he was an incredible baseball player. Failure happens to the best of us. There are always going to be times when the breaks don’t go our way. This is especially true the more we really try to do things that matter. Sticking your neck out and taking risks is the only way to really make a difference in the world – and it doesn’t always pay off with success. The life God calls you to lead is going to sometimes lead you to failure. But for the Christian, failure is never final. Use your failures as opportunities to prepare yourself for future success and develop a deeper trust in God! USE YOUR FAILURES AS LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES TO PREPARE YOU FOR SUCCESS AND DEVELOP A DEEPER FAITH IN GOD.

A Clear Warning

Wednesday, October 16, 2019

by Dr. Paul Chappell

“Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils; Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron; Forbidding to marry, and commanding to abstain from meats, which God hath created to be received with thanksgiving of them which believe and know the truth.”

1 Timothy 4:1–3

In 1965, Congress passed a law requiring cigarette packages to contain a warning label regarding the contents. The first warning was vague, simply saying: “Caution, Cigarette smoking may be hazardous to your health.” Numerous studies revealed that these warnings had very little impact on people’s behavior when it came to smoking. In the 1980s, many European countries, starting with Iceland, began putting pictures and graphics carrying the warnings. These more pointed statements and illustrations did significantly reduce the number of smokers in the countries where they were used. In 2019 the Food and Drug Administration in the US proposed using them in America.

Clear warnings make it much easier for people to recognize danger and respond. And Paul shared with Timothy such a warning from God—that there would come a time when people abandon the truth for the sake of their own desires and appetites. These are not just people who have not had the truth, though there are many of those. Instead it specifically warns that people will “depart from the faith.” Those who once spoke truth are now speaking falsehoods.

We need this warning because of Satan’s effectiveness at deceiving people and he delights in using people who claim to be teaching and preaching the truth to work that deception. “For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ. And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light” (2 Corinthians 11:13-14). There is no excuse for us to fall for these lies because we have been clearly warned they are coming.

Today's Growth Principle: 

It is critically important that we evaluate every teacher and teaching by the Word of God.