I have been blessed in my faith journey to have some really amazing mentors and teachers. They are fully devoted followers of Christ both in word and in deed. I give thanks for their influence and all the ways they have invested in my life and ministry. Over the years, we have had many conversations about discernment; especially when it came to discerning the doctrines of those who teach about Christ and the church. One of the more challenging things in my minstry has been learning to prayerfully discern sound teaching in other leaders and understanding how to redirect or remove those leaders that are not in line with God's teachings. I still don't have a perfect answer on how to do the later; but have learned along the way that if the teacher's gifts are discerned and developed before launching them into a teaching ministry, things tend to be a lot less messy. I say all of this to say that when we don't practice prayerful discernment and hold our leaders to accountability, we may fall into a trap that an early church fell into when they let a false prophetess influence the children of God.
Revelation 2:18-29 "To the angel of the church in Thyatira write: These are the words of the Son of God, whose eyes are like blazing fire and whose feet are like burnished bronze. 19 I know your deeds, your love and faith, your service and perseverance, and that you are now doing more than you did at first. 20 Nevertheless, I have this against you: You tolerate that woman Jezebel, who calls herself a prophetess. By her teaching she misleads my servants into sexual immorality and the eating of food sacrificed to idols. 21 I have given her time to repent of her immorality, but she is unwilling. 22 So I will cast her on a bed of suffering, and I will make those who commit adultery with her suffer intensely, unless they repent of her ways. 23 I will strike her children dead. Then all the churches will know that I am he who searches hearts and minds, and I will repay each of you according to your deeds. 24 Now I say to the rest of you in Thyatira, to you who do not hold to her teaching and have not learned Satan's so-called deep secrets (I will not impose any other burden on you): 25 Only hold on to what you have until I come. 26 To him who overcomes and does my will to the end, I will give authority over the nations-- 27 'He will rule them with an iron scepter; he will dash them to pieces like pottery'--just as I have received authority from my Father. 28 I will also give him the morning star. 29 He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.
Today's Prayer:
Gracious God, help us all to teach in accordance with your holy scriptures. If there is any error in us, help us to more fully understand that we may more fully share your truth with others. Help us to follow those whom you've gifted with teaching of your doctrines. Help us to be able to discern and know those whom are not called by you to teach us. Help us to be your hands and feet in those instances to correct where we need to correct, admonish when we need to admonish, and avoid when we need to avoid. Let us be ever mindful of all of our teachers of your word, that we may uphold them in prayer daily. Amen.
Revelation 2:18-29 "To the angel of the church in Thyatira write: These are the words of the Son of God, whose eyes are like blazing fire and whose feet are like burnished bronze. 19 I know your deeds, your love and faith, your service and perseverance, and that you are now doing more than you did at first. 20 Nevertheless, I have this against you: You tolerate that woman Jezebel, who calls herself a prophetess. By her teaching she misleads my servants into sexual immorality and the eating of food sacrificed to idols. 21 I have given her time to repent of her immorality, but she is unwilling. 22 So I will cast her on a bed of suffering, and I will make those who commit adultery with her suffer intensely, unless they repent of her ways. 23 I will strike her children dead. Then all the churches will know that I am he who searches hearts and minds, and I will repay each of you according to your deeds. 24 Now I say to the rest of you in Thyatira, to you who do not hold to her teaching and have not learned Satan's so-called deep secrets (I will not impose any other burden on you): 25 Only hold on to what you have until I come. 26 To him who overcomes and does my will to the end, I will give authority over the nations-- 27 'He will rule them with an iron scepter; he will dash them to pieces like pottery'--just as I have received authority from my Father. 28 I will also give him the morning star. 29 He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.
Today's Prayer:
Gracious God, help us all to teach in accordance with your holy scriptures. If there is any error in us, help us to more fully understand that we may more fully share your truth with others. Help us to follow those whom you've gifted with teaching of your doctrines. Help us to be able to discern and know those whom are not called by you to teach us. Help us to be your hands and feet in those instances to correct where we need to correct, admonish when we need to admonish, and avoid when we need to avoid. Let us be ever mindful of all of our teachers of your word, that we may uphold them in prayer daily. Amen.
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