No Longer Tossed To And Fro
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The Apostle Paul presented a vivid picture of the effects of false doctrine in Ephesians, Chapter 4. Imagine children in a boat assaulted by tempestuous waves, determined to overturn the boat and cause those who were trembling inside the boat to perish in a watery grave. Paul used this analogy to describe those being tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine. It also describes those today who choose to disregard God’s Holy Word. God’s desire is that His church should no longer be tossed to and fro.
GOD’S PROVISION FOR HIS CHURCH
“And He gave some, apostles; and some prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers, for the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ: till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ: that we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive” (Eph. 4:11-14).
In these verses we see that God made provisions for the church’s ongoing process of edification and perfection. When the fivefold ministry is properly working in the body of Christ through the working of the Holy Spirit, the result is spiritual growth.
THE FRUIT OF TRUE MINISTRY
When the ministerial gifts are properly operating in the church, then the saint of God will be seen in a constant state of maturing. Members will draw closer to God. They will love His Word more. The fruit of the Spirit will manifest in them. They will play an active part in reaching the world with the Message of the Cross, and they will not walk in error.
FALSE PREACHERS
However, that will not be the case when preachers disregard God’s Word. You see, God promises to bless His Word, not man’s word. Most preachers today have abandoned God’s Word and preach a feel-good gospel. No longer is the Scripture their source for “sermons” but instead they seek humanistic stories meant to encourage the people to feel good about themselves. When the church deviates from God’s Word, then saints cannot grow spiritually. Their spirits will not be edified. They will find themselves in tumultuous waters. Sad to say, there is no shortage of false apostles, false evangelists, false prophets, false pastors, and false teachers who refuse to make sure that their ministry lines up to God’s Word!
HERE COME THE WAVES
Unless the Bible is a believer’s foundation, they will be tossed to and fro, carried about with every wind of doctrine. Doctrine will be accepted or rejected based solely on whether you feel it’s right or not. In reality, you’ll end up following the crowd. The majority isn’t always right. Without God’s Word to evaluate the newest movements, you will do what pleases the flesh. The waves will come and beat against your boat. You will be tossed to and fro as children not discerning between right and wrong. But that shouldn’t be the case.
TEACH MY PEOPLE
Ezekiel prophetically talked about a time when those in false doctrines would be taught to discern between God’s will and man’s false ways.
“And they shall teach my people the difference between the holy and profane, and cause them to discern between the unclean and the clean” (Ezekiel 44:23).
Those genuinely operating in true ministry will teach God’s people to discern between the holy and the profane. Then the church will no longer be tossed to and fro by the newest fad or the newest revelation that goes contrary to God’s Word. Let’s fall in love again with His Word.
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