But the Spirit explicitly says that in later times some will fall away from the faith, paying attention to deceitful spirits and teachings of demons, by means of the hypocrisy of liars seared in their own conscience as with a branding iron, who forbid marriage and advocate abstaining from foods which God has created to be gratefully shared in by those who believe and know the truth. For everything created by God is good, and nothing is to be rejected if it is received with gratitude; for it is sanctified by means of the word of God and prayer. 1 Timothy 4:1-5
What leads people to ‘fall away from the faith’? The hypocrisy of liars who have seared their own conscience and make up all sorts of ‘religious’ rules that they impose on others. Some preach some forms of sexual immorality as acceptable and that eating animals is against the natural order of things. Some authorities preach science as the ‘ultimate’ truth of things and worship the ‘medical’ industry. What is the truth?
Do you have a close intimate relationship with the Holy Spirit within you to be able to converse and ask Him questions? Can you hear His voice? Do you seek His voice and counsel? If you prioritize listening to ANY other voice BEFORE His… you are opening yourself to be deceived and deluded. Who is your first ‘go to’ when you need answers? If it isn’t the Holy Spirit, you’ve already missed the right direction. Can you bring EVERYTHING to the ‘foot of the cross’? What level of authority do you put Jesus in your life? In your decision making? In your purchasing habits? Is He really the Owner of everything in your life? This is the discipline that one must learn and practice if you want to grow in spiritual maturity and Godliness.
Are you discipling anyone? Are you following what Jesus has asked you personally to do? Are you reproducing the fruit He has given you? Are you serving and teaching others? What was the command Jesus gave to ALL His followers?
“Go, therefore, and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to follow all that I commanded you; and behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” Matthew 28:19-20
This MEANS YOU! Not the institution of the business Church … but YOU personally! How many have you personally baptized into the faith … that you have discipled? How many are you teaching now? How long have you been a “Christian”? In all that time … have you discipled anyone? Have you baptized anyone? Why not? Do you believe that these verses only mean someone who is in the ‘professional ministry’? What requirements does Jesus give in this command to do these things?
Are you grateful for the salvation you have received from Jesus? Have you followed any of His commands to you? I’m not talking about joining a ‘religious community’ like a Church, but actually learned to follow Him … personally, via the inward Holy Spirit’s instructions? This IS the necessary discipline of a follower of Jesus – to follow His personal instructions as closely as possible. This means you actually have to listen to Him! You actually have to have conversations with Him. You actually have to step out in faith and DO what He is asking you to do!
As the time counts down to the end… each of us are losing opportunities to invest into His eternal kingdom … by NOT doing what He is asking of each of us… personally. This ISN’T religion! STOP going down that track of thinking! This is an intimate PERSONAL relationship with Jesus and the Holy Spirit! This is the marker we will ALL be judged by.
Father … help us to understand YOUR love for us! Jesus … I praise YOU for YOUR example to me. Holy Spirit … teach me!