September 25

Many Christians prefer teachers who are impressive and will tell them what they want to hear. Like a child, they believe them, whether their message is right or wrong (2 Corinthians 11:3-4). Like a small boat in a storm, he is in great danger. Beware, (know your Bible) some of those teachers are not serving Christ, but the devil (Acts 20:29-30; 2 Corinthians 11:13-15). Many are being deceived now and seem to have fallen asleep. The Bible warns us to be on watch. Please wake up and know your Bible for yourself (2 Timothy 2:15, 2 Timothy 4:3).

Isaiah 45:11-48:11
Ephesians 4:1-16
Psalm 68:19-35
Proverbs 24:3-4

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New Testament: Ephesians 4:1-16

Summary: Unity in the Body of Christ

… so that we may no longer be children, tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning, by craftiness in deceitful schemes.
~ Ephesians 4:14

God’s plan: to make weak Christians strong

A child’s parents worry if that child is not growing or developing properly. In the same way, Christians should care much about whether they themselves are developing in their relationship with Christ. The first Christian leaders often had to warn Christians about this matter (1 Corinthians 3:1-3; Hebrews 5:11-13).

Someone who has only recently become a Christian may know little about God, or about the Bible. That person, like a young child, needs much help and support from mature Christians. Otherwise, he will depend on his feelings and his impressions, and not on the word of God, the Bible.

Those feelings and impressions cause that new Christian to be in a very weak state. Paul compares him to a small boat in a great storm at sea. The new Christian prefers those teachers who are impressive. Like a child, he believes them, whether their message is right or wrong (2 Corinthians 11:3-4). Like a small boat in a storm, he is in great danger. Some of those teachers are not serving Christ, but the devil (Acts 20:29-30; 2 Corinthians 11:13-15).

Of course God does not want his people to remain in that weak state. Instead, God gathers his people into churches, with leaders who will teach them from the Bible. There, the people will learn to be mature Christians, who are able to help and to teach weaker Christians.

However, some Christians have not yet found a good church like that. So, of course, they should pray and study the Bible both privately, and with any Christians whom they know. In particular, they should pray for God to guide them into a suitable church, where they can learn more about him.

From: usefulbible.com – by Keith Simons

As believers, we should seek to “grow up into Christ in all things”

Whilst we are yet weak in the faith, we are in constant danger of being turned aside from the truth of God. Both men and devils will labour incessantly to draw us from the one foundation of a sinner’s hope. But we are to be “growing in grace and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.” We are not to continue “as children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine:” we are to be aware of the devices of our enemies: we are to get a deeper insight into the great mystery of godliness: we are to become daily more and more established in the truth as it is in Jesus, so as to be proof against all “the sleight of men, and the cunning craftiness whereby they lie in wait to deceive.” On whatever side we are assaulted, our enemies should find us armed. Are we attacked by the specious reasonings of false philosophy, or the proud conceits of self-righteous moralists, we should reject the dogmas both of the one and the other, and “determine to know nothing but Jesus Christ and him crucified.” “To him we should cleave with full purpose of heart,” making daily more and more use of him in all his offices. As our Priest, we should confide more simply in the atonement he has offered for us, and in his continual intercession for us at the right hand of God. As our Prophet, we should rely on him more entirely to instruct us in the knowledge of God’s will, and to guide us into all truth. As our King, we should look to him to put down all our enemies, and to bring every thought of our hearts into captivity to his holy will. In a word, we should live more simply and entirely by faith in him, receiving daily out of his fulness all that we stand in need of, and improving it all for the glory of his name. ~ Charles Simeons