TAKE HEED UNTO THYSELF AND UNTO THE DOCTRINE II

In the last edition of this magazine, we dabbled with this discourse.  It was our conclusion that it would take a person who has taken care of himself to take care of the doctrine.  We did mention some special care of himself, that is, mentally, spiritually, physically and morally.  We concluded with a focus to continue when next we meet.

WHY THE DOCTRINE?

Christians need to  know Christian doctrine.  Christ and His apostles were preachers of doctrine (Mark 4:2v., Acts 2:42:2v., 2 Tim. 3:10v.), and we are exhorted to preach doctrine (2 Tim. 4:2v., Titus 1:9v.). Believers who are thoroughly indoctrinated with the Word of God will be able to be effective Christian workers and stanch defenders of the faith.  Only as we know what we believe will we be able to withstand the attacks of the evil one and move forward in the victory provided for us in Christ.

WHAT THE DOCTRINE IS NOT:

You cannot say what the doctrine is if you don't know what it is not.  The genuine money is known by , knowing the counterfeit.  So, let us see what the doctrine is not.

1.  IT IS NOT "A DOCTRINE":  Make no mistake in your reading of the passage understress.  It qualifies doctrine with difinite article, "The Doctrine" We do not preach "a doctrine" but  "the doctrine".  Most doctrinal  errors will be averted if preachers stop preaching "a doctrine".  It is quite intriguing to see people of God called to preach "the whole counsel of God" narrowing themselves to a particular doctrine that interests then with the result that most of these doctrines are destroyed whenever emphasis are placed upon them.  When a preacher preaches one doctrine, he ignores others.  The result will be to speak, teach and preach on one topic until all that is to say about that doctrines exhausted.  When there is nothing else to say, then the preacher will start saying what he thinks.  Why?  He has branded himself a preacher of "a doctrine".  Perhaps you are guilty of what we are saying, there is no way you can be a prosperity or faith or holiness preacher alone.  You should preach the 'whole counsel of God' that is, "the doctrine".  To insist on preaching "a doctrine" instead of "the doctrine" is to behave like a man who has two legs, but decides to walk with one.

2.  IT IS NOT THE DOCTRINE OF THE DEVIL:  I Timothy 4:1v, speaks of the doctrines of the devil.  The spirit in-charge of the doctrines of the devil is called "seducing spirits".  Bear in mind that if satan is a god, then he must have a doctrine.  The Bible indicates that he has prophets and angels Rev. 19:20v.  The work good prophets and angels do for Christ is what evil prophets and angels do for satan.  Thus, the practical outworking of the false prophets and angels of satan are called doctrines of the devil.  One of the main reasons we should take heed unto the doctrine is so as to be able to refute the doctrines of the devil and avoid it in our lives.  Be informed however that doctrines of the devil may look innocent and attractive.   Messengers of devils doctrines are masters of enticing words of men's wisdom I Cor. 2:4v.  They speak what their audiencewant to hear.  Errors, deceits, and lies must have some elements of truth to be accepted.  They do not stand alone or else they will be dictated, so they perch at the back of truth.

As the world draws to a close, one of the signs of the days we live in is the increase of false prophets and with it false doctrines.  But if one is well groomed in "the doctrines" he will no be a victim of "the doctrine", of the devil".

3.  IT IS NOT UNSOUND DOCTRINE:  Paul in I Timothy 4:3v. speaks of sound doctrines.  When you put a doctrine and doctrines of the devil together, they produce unsound doctrine.

The preacher who has taken heed unto himself and unto the doctrine, will never be a messenger of unsound doctrine.  Most doctrines are made unsound by men.  Some good doctrines are converted into  imperfection by lazy evil minded preachers.  Some unsound doctrines are the product of ignorance.

A lot of things lead to undsoundness which I will not recount here. I will therefore warn you that the doctrine must be sound.  If it fails to be sound, it will not be "the doctrine".