"Oops. Did I Loose Hell?"
TEXT: Matt. 16:20-23; 1 Peter 4:7-11
TRUTHS:
1. False doctrine often consists of truth claims that make the following error: they elevate man to God’s position and/or bring God down to humanity’s level. In other words, this teaching subtly changes the divinity of Jesus Christ. Changing the divinity (or humanity) of Jesus is a distinct sign of unbiblical teaching.
2. God has provided many physical realities or “pictures” to help us understand His character and nature. Male and female, husband and wife, and the concept of family all reveal significant truths about our Creator (such as God’s Trinitarian nature).
3. “The Gates of Hell” in Caesarea Philippi represented a place that Jews would not have even went to look at, yet Jesus has His disciples standing there so that He can communicate an important message to them (and to us). What was there? Temples to practice and promote the worship of false gods. What did they all have in common? The worship practices would somehow include the sacrifice of children and the perversion of human sexuality.
4. What has the Church of Jesus Christ been called to? Our intent should be to build the Church, not to change the pagans.
5. Jesus strictly charges His disciples to remain silent about the truth that He will build His Church on. Why? The people zealously desired power. They were motivated to have an earthly kingdom ruled by an earthly king that they approved of. Jesus did not want His gospel to mix with such motivations.
6. It is not loving to let people think that sin brings life and fulfillment. The Church has an obligation to tell the truth about what the Bible declares to be sin (motivated by love and mercy).
7. Although modern Charismatics have tragically taught many aberrant doctrines about the power of our words, we should not let that hinder us from properly understanding the biblical reality concerning the power of what comes out of our mouths. Just like Peter, we can speak in ways that either loose heaven or hell. We loose heaven when we speak anointed words that build the Church, but we can also loose hell when we speak in ways that the Bible clearly condemns. And remember, this is in no way connected to the fake doctrines popularized by the “Word Faith” teachers.
TALK TO EACH OTHER:
1. Do you notice the practices of false worship (mentioned in 'Truth 3') anywhere in our modern culture and context? Additionally, what (or who) does it seem like those practices are connected to?
2. Why do you think Jesus is so cautious about His gospel and truth being mixed with the desire for human power?
3. What do the physical "pictures" mentioned in 'Truth 2' reveal about the character and nature of God?
4. How can we discern if we are being motivated by love and mercy when we (the Church) speak the truth? How can we tell if we are simply speaking the truth in order to fulfill some fleshly desire? Also, what are some examples of fleshly desires that could wrongly motivate us to speak the truth?
5. In what ways does 'Truth 7' differ from the false practices of the 'Word Faith' movement (that we can control the physical and spiritual worlds with our words)? Additionally, how can we tell when we are anointed to speak words that build the Church? How can we discern what words build the church?
TALK TO GOD:
Pray into the following areas:
To be discerning body of believers
To speak the truth motivated by love and mercy
Wisdom concerning the power of our words
Empowerment to build the Church
Yorumlar