After I had my come to Jesus moment I was encouraged to read different books written by different Pastors about different topics. The challenge that I faced was that I have never really liked reading, I was more of an active person and it has always been difficult for me to sit still, much less focus on one thing for a prolonged period of time. My practice since becoming a follower of the Lord Jesus has been that if I am going to take time to read, I am going to read my Bible. Some of the Pastors that I was encouraged to study from were some of the most well known to the world and yet when I did my due diligence I found flaws in some of their reasoning when compared to what I learned through reading the scriptures. One predicted the rapture of the church in 1981 and the Second Coming in 1988. Another made a statement “I think that everybody that loves Christ or knows Christ, whether they’re conscious of it or not, they’re members of the body of Christ.” And another said, “Even if a believer for all practical purposes becomes an unbeliever, his salvation is not in jeopardy”. I am not saying that everything these Pastors shared, wrote, or spoke was flawed, but if one thing is said that does not align with scripture it must be called to account and then everything else they say must be evaluated to see if there are other fallacies or errors in reasoning that will undermine the logic of the rest of their statements. The word of God must be the final authority, and priority must be set to compare all that is related to God against the scriptures. It is written in *2 Timothy 3:16 All Scripture is God-breathed [given by divine inspiration] and is profitable for instruction, for conviction [of sin], for correction [of error and restoration to obedience], for training in righteousness [learning to live in conformity to God’s will, both publicly and privately – behaving honorably with personal integrity and moral courage]; 17 so that the man of God may be complete and proficient, outfitted and thoroughly equipped for every good work.* Just because it is spoken or written by a religious man doesn’t make it “truth.” So many people have been misguided by Pastors, teachers, writers, not because of what was presented by these different individuals, but because those who received what was said or written did not do their due diligence to compare everything to scripture. These individuals are bringing judgment upon themselves because of their complacency, and downright laziness. Because of technology it has become so much easier to follow after Pastors and speakers than to be a genuine follower of the Lord Jesus. The Word of God is the ultimate and only infallible authority for the Christian faith and we must live like it. I am convicted by what is written in *2 Timothy 2:15 Study and be eager and do your utmost to present yourself to God approved (tested by trial), a workman who has no cause to be ashamed, correctly analyzing and accurately dividing [rightly handling and skillfully teaching] the Word of Truth.* I like what Smith Wiggelsworth said, “The Bible is the Word of God: supernatural in origin, eternal in duration, inexpressible in valor, infinite in scope, regenerative in power, infallible in authority, universal in interest, personal in application, inspired in totality. Read it through, write it down, pray it in, work it out, and then pass it on. Truly it is the Word of God. It brings into man the personality of God; it changes the man until he becomes the epistle of God. It transforms his mind, changes his character, takes him on from grace to grace, and gives him an inheritance in the Spirit. God comes in, dwells in, walks in, talks through, and sups with him.” My beloved, this is what the Bible is to me, is it the same for you? In Christ Love, douglas. HE>i. pastord.blog

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