1. SPIRITUAL MATTERS

A. CHAOS EVERYWHERE

• Unbelievers are confused. They can't fathom the chaos unfolding before their eyes. So many religious beliefs and so many stories about life after death. Who can blame them if they can't determine who and or what to believe?
  
  
• Believers in Christ are confused too. But should they be if truly they are in Christ? The reason for their confusion is very clear: They believe their leaders' (pastors, elders, general overseers, televangelists, etc) teachings more than those of God. Otherwise, why would they remain in churches and denominations teaching another gospel (Gal 1:8) and promoting anti-Kingdom practices?

B. QUESTIONS

• Are your beliefs anchored on the Truth (God's word)?
• Are the doctrines you subscribe to biblically based?
  
• Have you ever attempted to verify if the testimonies you have been hearing from your leaders have biblical precedents?
  
• Does the Bible corroborate ALL the teachings you have been hearing from your leaders (pastor, general overseer, elders, etc)?
• How do you see yourself in the Body of Christ: As someone who regurgitates whatever his pastor or church leader says or as someone who knows that he has as much responsibility as any pastor or general overseer to preach and contend for the gospel of Christ?
• Are you aware that for you to impart the truth to others, you must first know the truth yourself?
• Are you aware that you cannot give what you do not have?
  

C. FROM CONFUSION TO CERTAINTY

• If you desire to have certainty and not confusion, you must:

  1. Believe that God's word (the Bible) is the only authority on matters of faith and doctrine;
  2. Reject all doctrines that are in conflict (even by an iota) with any part of the Bible and by extension all churches, ministries, pastors, general overseers and televangelists promoting and teaching them;
  3. Accept that as a disciple of Christ, it is your responsibility to preach and to contend for the gospel once for all delivered to the saints at all times; and
  4. Recognize that your conduct in your neighborhood more than what you preach is what will draw unbelievers in your community to Christ.
  
  

Then Jesus said to those Jews who believed Him, "If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed. "And you shall know the truth,
and the truth shall make you free"
(John 8:31-32).

A Christian's victory goes through obedience to the Author of life. And no one can be obedient to God without regular meditative study of His word. It is in His word that one knows what pleases and displeases God.

"All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us to do what is right. God uses it to prepare and equip
his people to do every good work"
(2Tim 3:16-17 NLT).

B. THE HOLY SPIRIT IS BOTH TEACHER AND GUIDE

The All-knowing God, who sees the future, made provisions for His 21st century followers. He knew that that the 'love of many would wax cold' and that Satan would raise many false brothers and sisters to deceive gullible Christians as the time of the end approaches.

Peter's pronouncement on the Day of Pentecost that the 'Age of His word' through Joel (Joel 2:28) had commenced was not just for the early church alone—it was  for the entire period of the Church age.

"'In the last days,' God says, 'I will pour out my Spirit upon all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy. Your young men will see visions, and your old men will dream dreams. In those days I will pour out my Spirit even on my servants—men and women alike—and they will prophesy"
(Acts 2:17-18 NLT).

If we allow the Holy Spirit to be our Guide, Teacher and Captain, we can never be deceived. We will be able to discern what is true and what is false and we will never fall for the trickery of Satan, his demons and his human agents. There is always a disquiet (an inner witness) in the spirit when a true follower of Christ hears and or reads something that contradicts any aspect of the Scriptures. 

"But you have received the Holy Spirit, and he lives within you, so you don't need anyone to teach you what is true. For the Spirit teaches you everything you need to know, and what he teaches is true—it is not a lie. So just as he has taught you, remain in fellowship with Christ. And now, dear children, remain in fellowship with Christ so that when he returns, you will be full of courage
and not shrink back from him in shame"
(1John 2:27-28 NLT).

No follower of Christ is a passenger in His Church. Each of us has a role as a member of the Body of Christ. We fail the Head of the Body when out of cowardice we continue to follow, and or fail to challenge, those in our churches we know in our spirit are preaching a different gospel (Gal 1:8). In fact, we are complicit in their sins.

The victorious life is yours this month: Make that commitment (i.e., you are all in for Jesus), sanctify yourself (separate yourself to God by cutting your umbilical cord with the world - 2 Cor 6:14-18) and begin a meditative study of the Scriptures.

As you learn the truth and obey, Father, Son and Spirit will make their abode in you. You will find the Holy Spirit teaching you as you study God's word in your closet. The knowledge of the Truth as revealed in the Scriptures will liberate you from those desires and cultic practices you had imbibed previously (Rom 12:2).

"Jesus answered and said to him, If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word; and My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our home with him. He who does not love Me does not keep My words; and the word which you hear is not Mine but the Father's who sent Me"
(John 14:23-24).