Dear Christian, this is a ‘BE CAREFUL!’ kind of blog entry. It seems to be much more prevalent now, those things people say that make their listeners lean back, nod their heads in contemplation, chin in hand and say ‘Rhema’…’Preach’. I am reminded of Paul’s charge to Timothy:

2 Timothy 4: 1-5. I charge you therefore before God and the Lord Jesus Christ, who will judge the living and the dead at His appearing and His kingdom: preach the word! Be ready in season. Convince, rebuke, exhort, with all longsuffering and teaching. For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, because they have itching ears, they will heap up for themselves teachers; and they will turn their ears away from the truth, and be turned aside to fables. But you be watchful in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, fulfil your ministry.

It is no wonder we have this uptake of fancy preachers and churches pulling crowds of people. The first challenge is to preachers, those that ‘labor’ over the Word in any capacity: are you a false teacher? Whether out of malicious intent or ignorance, a false teacher is a false teacher. Do you preach the Word? Do you know the Word? Do you twist words, mince words, to soothe the emotions of your followers? It is becoming increasingly prevalent that the least likely place to hear the Word of God is the church. But you will be sure to learn about business and the likes, and you will certainly be entertained. Yeah there are comedians on the pulpits now. Not funny preachers, literal comedians.

This one has been with us a while with regards to the interpretation of Scriptures: “This is what it means to me”. Paul warned Timothy that people will turn to fables instead of Scripture. Listen to what Peter has to say as well. It is a long read, but worth it.

2 Peter 1: 16-21. For we did not follow cunningly devised fables when we made known to you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but were eyewitnesses of His majesty. For He received from God the Father honor and glory when such a voice came to Him from the Excellent Glory: “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.” And we heard this voice which came from heaven when we were with Him on the holy mountain. And so we have the prophetic word confirmed, which you do well to heed as a light that shines in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts; knowing this first, that no prophecy of Scripture is of any private interpretation, for prophecy never came by the will of man, but holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Spirit.

Phew. Powerful message there. Peter reminded believers that what they taught were not fables. They were there. They saw! They heard! Who better to confirm an event than an eyewitness? The first thing to know is that no prophecy of Scripture is of any private interpretation. The Bible does not conform to us, we conform to the Bible. Don’t add to it. Don’t embellish it. With all due respect, what you feel about the Words therein or what they mean to you personally as far as interpretation is concerned, is of little importance. How the Word and interpretation as Biblically intended affects your life and behavior is what is important. To say this another way in an example, Romans 6:23 talks about the wages of sin being death, but the gift of God is eternal life. It simply means just that. How you to choose to act on that interpretation is on you and can vary from person to person, but it means just that. Any form of ‘Did God really say…?’ ‘You shall not surely die’ and the likes that try to change the interpretation is the language of the ancient serpent. You will often find yourself having to use Scripture to interpret Scripture. That is good! If you desire to teach the Word, you must be a student of the Bible. Take it like a doctorate degree that you won’t graduate from.

To the listeners. This passage should suffice:

Galatians 1: 6-9. I marvel that you are turning away so soon from Him who called in the grace of Christ, to a different gospel, which is not another; but there are some who trouble you and want to pervert the gospel of Christ. But even if we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel to you than what we have preached to you, let him be accursed. As we have said before, so now I say again, if anyone preaches any other gospel to you than what you have received, let him be accursed.

Not all pastors are Christians o. As you dey carry eye enter market, carry sense enter Church too! The Bible is sufficient. You just need to read it for yourself. Confirm what you hear carefully and develop your convictions. Be a student of the Bible. It doesn’t matter what title the preacher has in front of his name. But then again, do you go to Church to be entertained? How often do you play that ‘judge not’ card? Even once is one time too many. The Bible was used to show you that you are in sin and you need to repent and your response is ‘judge not’. That’s a major symptom of itchy ears. Some people don’t have a regular local Church, but go to Church every Sunday, from one fancy place to the next. another symptom. When our doctrine comes from song lyrics, that may be another symptom of itchy ears. Worship leaders, no be to sing song, is it doctrinally correct? Doesn’t matter that it is Hillsong or Maverick or another group that sang it; it doesn’t matter if when you heard the song, you broke down in tears, is it doctrinally correct? And also, how is it pointing you to the Cross, or are you using it to call attention to yourself while the service is going on? Taking pictures and recordings for the Gram of you lifting holy hands. Itchy ears. When it is Bible study, fellowship is empty; when it is games, you can’t keep people away. We need to wake up from this entertainment-driven worship to worship that is in spirit and truth.

Remember, there is more than one spirit out there. But there is only one Holy Spirit. The true Author of the Text is the Holy Spirit. So if someone says ‘The Holy Spirit just told me…” “God told me to tell you”…as though there is some mysticism attached to it, pull up a Bible, crack it open, and ask him/her to show you were! The Bible is sufficient for life (2 Tim. 3: 14-17). If it is not in the Bible, or a twist/modification of teachings in the Bible, a spirit may have told him/her that, but it certainly was not the Holy Spirit! Doesn’t matter how many days they stayed on the ‘mountain’.

Bottom line is that we have to be watchful. First examine yourself to be sure that you are in the faith. Then get to know Him and be known by Him. Everything is contained in the Bible. Get to know Him for yourself. We all have that potential for your itchy ears. Draw your ear every morning and tell it “You MUST endure sound doctrine!”