What happens if we do not reprove, rebuke and exhort?

 What happens if we do not reprove, rebuke and exhort?

2Ti 4:3 For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears;

2Ti 4:4 And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.

I want you to understand here what this says.

It does not say the false prophet will lead them away. It says their itching ears will lead them away to a false gospel, false teachers and false prophets.

They will not endure sound doctrine, this is fairly self explanatory here folks, it means the people will not want to hear the truth they will want to hear what makes them feel good.

Are we not there today in this world? Sound doctrine churches are struggling to stay alive while false prophets have mega churches and why?

Because we stopped the discipline, reproving, rebuking and exhorting.

The church stopped doing this some years ago and why?

Because the churchgoer was chasing after false teachers that would tell them they are ok and they do not have to do a thing in the Christian life, they did not have to live a Godly life.

They found someone that would validate them rather than challenge them, hold them accountable preach sin and hellfire.

Because they want to hear what they want to hear, they want a God that doesn’t scare them or hold them accountable. They want to have their sin and feel good about it.

They got exactly that and now look at our nation, our world.

Do not place all the blame at the feet of the false prophets. The people have to hear it and want it, if the people rose up and said no more to them, they would be out of a job. No it is the people that propagate the falsehoods and give the false theologies a purchase.

Put on the Armor of God

I saw a video today, a man talking of Christians and how if he took the Lord’s name in vain, or swore from the pulpit people would be upset. If he brought people to make out in the pulpit during the Sunday morning service, there would be a riot.

He is absolutely correct (or at least I hope so) but his main point, is why do we call that entertainment on Saturday or Friday but not on Sunday at church.

If it is suitable entertainment on Friday, Saturday, Monday, Wednesday, or Thursday or any time of the week, then why not in the church?

So many will say I am being absurd, exaggerated, or overly legalistic. Yet why is it appropriate for the man of God but not appropriate in God’s house?

Christian, you are a man of God, a woman of God if you have called on the name of Jesus.

You are supposed to be consecrated and sanctified, washed in the blood Monday through Saturday. For if your God is only God on Sunday morning, then He is not much of a God at all is He? More of a “god” than The God.

Smoke the cigarette in the pulpit, or pull out the alcohol for the social in the church. If it is ok for everywhere else then it is ok for the church building, right? If it is sin in the church, it is sin outside too. If you won't do it in the church why would you do it elsewhere? If you would not do it in the House of God then do not do it anywhere else.

It is time for the church to realize they are the Body of Christ Sunday morning to Saturday night.

If you are ok being seen doing these things in the world or in the home, then why not in the church too? God is God of all, Right? He is everywhere, right? So why is it ok out there but not in the church? He sees you no matter where you go.

Have you ever thought about the full armor of God? We often talk of how we need it to protect ourselves from the wiles of the devil, but have you ever thought that you need to do things to get the armor ready?

That you have to PUT ON the armor of God?

Eph 6:10 Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might.

Eph 6:11 Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.

Eph 6:12 For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.

Eph 6:13 Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.

Take unto you the whole armor of God. Put on the whole armor of God.

You must actively prepare yourselves for the armor of God. It doesn’t get put on you by chance, you must deliberately gird yourselves.

Do you pray? Do you live righteously? Do you read your Bible? Do you prepare yourself in the Gospel?

All of these are how you put on your armor.

We have lost sight of this in our comfort and complacency.

It is time for us to realize, it does not just happen. It takes times and study, commitment and perseverance.