Strictly For Teachers Of The Word!

A pastor friend of mine remarked recently that the messages of a particular Ministry was ‘too hard’. She was not alone in her conclusions; members of the said Ministry believe same and were determined to call the attention of the elders to this as it was causing quite a number of them to leave the Ministry. The argument is that with the goings on in the world (fears, rumors of war, famine, drought, financial meltdowns, religious persecutions, genocides and so many terrible things), the messages of Ministries should be about encouragement, hope, breakthroughs and the likes. They argue that messages should focus on the grace of God to always provide for His people no matter the circumstances around and within them. This quality of God is undeniably true; however, it calls to mind an almost similar scenario that played out in the wilderness several thousand years ago. According to the account in Exodus 32, Moses, the then leader of the children of Israel had gone up the mountain to take instructions from the Lord for the people and Aaron was left in charge of them. Because he was gone for quite awhile, the people despaired and presumed that he may either be missing or dead. They then approached Aaron and asked him to make ‘gods’ for them that will go before them. Aaron agreed! When reading this account, several questions come to mind like: Did Aaron not hear when God spoke to the whole congregation in Exodus 20; did he lose faith as well despite the display of God’s existence and power throughout their ordeal? The interesting and sad part of this narrative was that he was the one that suggested building an altar for sacrifice to the molten image and he equally declared a feast!

Friend, it is true that with the way things are going, it seems God’s answers are slow in coming or when the answers come, they are not what we expected; however, you cannot afford as a teacher of the word to allow the people or the circumstances you are in change the message you received from the very beginning because of yours and their desire for quick answers, fixes, numerical and financial growth! These times, so many teachers of God’s word have become Aaron in leading and encouraging the people away from the truth of God because: “…You know the people that they are set on evil. For they said to me, ‘make us gods that shall go before us; as for this Moses, the man who brought us out of the land of Egypt, we do not know what has become of him’” (Exodus 32:22b-23). Please note that Aaron was not threatened or coerced by the people, he purposely agreed with them: “…(for Aaron had not restrained them, to their shame among the enemies)” (Exodus 32:25b). As a teacher of God’s word, what pressure are you facing that is causing you to exchange the truth of God’s word for a lie? Do you not know that God will never deny Himself? If your ‘revelation’ negates the written word of God, what are you expected to do? Do you not know that your ‘revelation’ of a ‘new truth’ is meant to emphasize God’s word rather than negate it? God expressly, unequivocally tells us that we should: “Preach the word! Be ready in season and out of season. Convince, rebuke, exhort, with all long-suffering and teaching” (2Timothy 4:2). At no time were we given the mandate to twist, bend, hide or water down the truth of God’s word as the circumstances may warrant. Unfortunately, these are the times when some people (believing-unbelievers) are no longer interested or can endure the truth of God’s word because their minds are blinded by the god of this age so that they will not see the light of the glory of Christ, Who is the very image of  Almighty God (2Corinthians 4:4). Such people want messages that will massage their egos and their view of a false god. Such teachers amongst them have so twisted Scriptures that it takes a discerning heart to differentiate the truth from the ‘seemingly truth’! For instance, God tells us to shun evil and love the good. Now they teach: To hate evil is to be uncharitable and unchristian-like. In the face of all these glaring lies, will you as a teacher of the gospel stand for the truth as the Levites did or you would rather go with the populist flow? Remember, as His appearing gets closer, so would it be increasingly difficult to decipher the truth unless one is in Him. Enough of dilly-dallying, choose the truth and stand unwavering on it and just as God honored and blessed the Levites, He will honor and bless you as well. God bless you as you take this decision for Him!