In this Age of Grace, the Acceptable Year of the Lord ( Luke 4:19), we live in the information age. We have more access to information and knowledge than ever. This is due to the Internet, the World Wide Web. At the touch of our fingers, we can get information about anything. We can watch videos on almost everything. This can be good, but it can also be detrimental. We are bombarded with images, people’s thoughts, and viewpoints, both good and bad. We must understand that not everything we see and hear is for our benefit. In our culture, there is a war of words. Light versus darkness, good versus evil. That which is truth and that which is a lie. We hear a lot about misinformation, disinformation, and what the media is broadcasting. We have to understand there is a spirit of truth and a spirit of error. 1 John 4:5-6 (NKJV)-5 They are of the world. Therefore, they speak as of the world, and the world hears them.6 We are of God. He who knows God hears us; he who is not of God does not hear us. By this, we know the spirit of truth and the spirit of error. Unfortunately, many believe there is no absolute truth that everything is relative. Your truth is not my truth. To say there is no absolute truth is prideful, egotistical, and humanistic thinking. I believe God is the source of all truth. The Word of God is truth! Jesus speaking in John 17:17 (NKJV)-17 Sanctify them by Your truth. Your word is truth. Whose truth? God’s truth! Apostle Paul tells his son in the faith, Timothy, what will characterize the last days. Do you believe we are in the last days?
- 2 Timothy 4:3-5 (NKJV)-3 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;4 and they will turn their ears away from the truth, and be turned aside to fables.5 But you be watchful in all things,… Another translation reads this way….
- 2 Timothy 4:3-5 (TLB)-3 For there is going to come a time when people won’t listen to the truth but will go around looking for teachers who will tell them just what they want to hear.4 They won’t listen to what the Bible says but will blithely follow their own misguided ideas 5 Stand steady, ….
From a Christian perspective, we have access to so much teaching in the Body of Christ. A host of ministries, blogs, podcasts, and videos. We are exposed to the Five-fold ministry ( Eph. 4:11) gifts like never before. The Apostle Paul and Jesus warn believers that there would be false ministries, prophets, teachers, etc. Those who do not hold fast to sound doctrine or teaching. We cannot change who they are, what they do, and teach, but we can be in charge of who we listen to. There is a spirit of truth and a spirit of error. We need to be discerning and be led by the Word of God and by the Holy Spirit. In a general sense, with so much information and knowledge available today, has it made us better, stronger, more holy and moral, or are we more confused than ever? I like what James says in James 3:14-17 (NKJV)-14 But if you have bitter envy and self-seeking in your hearts, do not boast and lie against the truth.15 This wisdom does not descend from above, but is earthly, sensual, demonic.16 For where envy and self-seeking exist, confusion and every evil thing are there.17 But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality and without hypocrisy. Remember, God is not the author of confusion but of peace.
We notice that James speaks of wisdom from above and wisdom from below. Wisdom that is pure without hypocrisy or wisdom that is demonically inspired. There is nothing in between. There is either a truth or a lie. Are we exposing ourselves to that which is truth or a lie? Apostle Paul tells Timothy that people will turn from the truth. They will only listen to people who agree with their viewpoint and their certain lifestyles, even in the Christian community. Many are turning towards teaching and preaching that are more motivational, feel-good messages and psychological than Bible truth-based. People will have no tolerance for sound, wholesome teaching. The foundational teachings of Christianity. Quoting Bible teacher Rick Renner: According to the Holy Spirit, teachers will appear on the scene in a specific (time-kairos) season to satisfy the hankerings of a generation that adheres to the world’s progressive approach. What these spiritual leaders teach will appeal to people’s emotions and intellect instead of to the deepest part of their being, where actual transformation takes place. Because these teachers will speak what the crowds want to hear, they will enjoy great popularity among this audience of listeners. (Sparkling Gems from the Greek).
Brother Renner goes on to say, “These people have itching ears. The words “itching ears” is used figuratively to depict a person (or a crowd of people) who wants to hear something new as compared to what he has already heard and known. (To want one’s ears “tickled” is to desire massages rather than messages—sermons that charm rather than challenge, entertain rather than edify, and please rather than preach.) Having his “ears” filled with something he wants to be told is the only thing that relieves this “itching-ear” syndrome. They will only listen to what supports their lifestyle, their viewpoints, and ideology, even if it is unbiblical. 1 Timothy 4:1 (NKJV)-1 Now the Spirit expressly says that in latter times some will depart from the faith, giving heed to deceiving spirits and doctrines of demons. This scripture makes it clear what is behind false doctrine and teaching.
With more information and knowledge comes a greater chance of deception. That is why we need to stand firm in the truth of God’s Word! 2 Timothy 1:13 (NKJV)-13 Hold fast the pattern of sound words which you have heard from me, in faith and love which are in Christ Jesus. God has given us the Spirit of truth. John 16:13 (NKJV)-13 However, when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth; for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak; and He will tell you things to come. The Holy Spirit will always agree with God’s Word, the Word of truth. Apostle Paul told Timothy to: 2 Timothy 4:2 (NKJV)-2 Preach the word! Be ready in season and out of season. Convince, rebuke, exhort, with all longsuffering and teaching. To give people what they need to hear, not what they want to hear. Itching ears lead to itching feet that leave the truth behind. The website “Got questions” puts it this way: “Itching ears” is a figure of speech that refers to people’s desires, felt needs, or wants. It is these desires that impel a person to believe whatever he wants to believe rather than the actual truth itself. When people have “itching ears,” they decide for themselves what is right or wrong, and they seek out others to support their notions. “Itching ears” are concerned with what feels good or comfortable, not with the truth—after all, truth is often uncomfortable.
Let us, in these last days, not be swept away by novelties, myths, by some new revelation, or by some secret text not revealed before. Let us get back to what Apostle Paul told Timothy: 2 Timothy 2:15 (KJV)-15 Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. Let the scriptures interpret themselves and not by our personal opinions and religious denominational background. We want the milk and meat of God’s word and not a watered-down gospel. As one minister said, “Let us eat the hay and leave the sticks.” With all that is at our disposal to grow as Christians, is our Christianity stronger, more impactful, and more transforming? Has all the knowledge and information made us more shallow or deeper? Apostle Paul made this statement that said” Always or ever learning but never coming to the knowledge of the truth” (2 Tim. 3:7). The great need today is transforming Biblical discipleship! John 8:31-32 (KJV)-31 Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed;32 And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.
We can’t take everything we see, hear, and read without confirming it with the Word of God. It is biblically sound, and does it represent the true nature and character of God? Does it bring forth godly character and fruit? Did the Apostles and Jesus preach it? Does the Holy Spirit bear witness to it? Is it legalistic or grace-filled? Is it in the context and spirit of the scriptures or taken out of context to prove a personal and unbiblical point? I like what Apostle Paul told the Corinthians: 2 Corinthians 4:1 (Phillips NT)-1 This is the ministry of the new agreement which God in his mercy has given us and nothing can daunt us. We use no hocus-pocus, no clever tricks, no dishonest manipulation of the Word of God. We speak the plain truth and so commend ourselves to every man’s conscience in the sight of God. That is powerful. Do you know some people won’t let the Bible get in the way of what they believe?
In closing, let us take a long look at how we are allowing ourselves to be disciples. Are we staying away from spiritual junk food? Are we getting into God’s Word for ourselves? Are we getting into the full counsel of God’s Word and not just our favorite topics? Are we asking the Holy Spirit to lead and guide us into God’s truth? Let us be like the people in the book of Acts who searched the scriptures: Acts 17:11 (NKJV)-11 These were more fair-minded than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness, and searched the Scriptures daily to find out whether these things were so. Our goal is not to have our ears itched but for our hearts and our lives to be transformed by the Word of God.( Rom 12:1-2, 1 Thess, 2:13, 2 Thess. 2:13-14).
In Christ’s Love;
Brent and Linda
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