DEALING WITH DECEPTION

PART 2

‘Muyiwa Omole

SOURCES OF DECEPTION

…Continued

1.      Deception through people in the World

Not only do we have to confront deception from ourselves through the fallen nature and deception from deceiving spirits, we also have to confront deception from our fellow humanity. Deception from other people can be influenced by their own fallen nature or they could be influenced by deceiving spirits.

The Bible says,

“But evil men and impostors will grow worse and worse, deceiving and being deceived,”

Timothy 3:13.

Evil people are those with wrong motives in life, always willing to gain even through taking advantage of others. Impostors are people who pretend to be something that they really are not.

Apart from being deceived by individuals in our lives like our parents, teachers or friends, we can be deceived by the system of this world we live in. The whole of the world's system is set up against God under the influence of the prince of this world. Strongholds have been erected. The world's system of trade, commerce, false religion and independence of God is designed to lure us away from the counsel of God for us on this earth. Our generation is one that is pervaded by sensationalism and sensualism of hip-hop music and promotion of nudity is increasing at an alarming rate. The mass/social media of television, movies, advertisement, computer, video games and internet generally bombard us with sensations and sound and pictures and information, yet cleverly drowning out truth in the process. We must open our eyes to see that there is a satanic 'mind' behind the systems of this world, that we live in a world controlled by the 'prince of this world'. There is nothing is neutral about contemporary society. Contemporary society is engineered to the hiding of the truth about God, to the closing of the minds of our youths and to the ultimate destruction of our souls.

As Christians we’re expected to rise above the deception that is sweeping masses through the media through some parts of news, some entertainment, and other “weapons of mass deception” in the arsenal of our media.  The media world has largely grown to be a tool to serve three main purposes:

• To promote consumerism and materialism to make people to keep spending on material goods
• To influence people into adopting certain beliefs and behaviors (such as accepting premarital sex, sex outside marriage, unfaithfulness, and divination).
• To serve as a tool of distraction, diversion, or interference from focusing on matters that are really important to the masses: education, empowerment, equal opportunity, dealing with poverty, health-care, crime, discrimination and so on.

Even the so called Christian programmes on air are propaganda and many of them have compromised the truth of the Gospel. That takes us to the next point.

2.      Deception through other people in the Church

“A simple believes every word, but the prudent consider well his steps,”

Proverbs 14:15.

People from the secular world are by no means the only potential culprits of being sources of deception. Other people right close to each of us can potentially attempt to deceive us if their intentions are not well aligned to the Scriptures. Yes, we too can deceive others if our desires and intentions are not well aligned. But let’s focus on deception in the church or the body of Christ from leadership positions.

 In the body of Christ, for the most part, people who deceive others do it out of one or any combination of the following reasons:

(i)     They are themselves deceived (whether through deceiving spirits, self-deception, or deceived through other people in the church). Thus they‘re merely blind or ignorant on certain matters. It becomes Jesus’ scenario of the blind leading the blind (Matthew 15:14) on matters one is blind in. For example, the false teachings on spiritual warfare and deliverance have spread to people and groups who are not aware of or who are in denial of long established biblical doctrine in these areas.

(ii)   Others out of a desire to embrace the ways of this fallen world compromise or twist the scriptures to suite their aims. They also compromise the Christian fundamental tenets and focus primarily on teachings that are peripheral or secondary in the Christian faith.

The most prominent of such deceptive teachings in our times include glorification of earthly riches, worldly pleasures, power, and status.

In such circles people are so preoccupied with their material success, comforts, and welfare that the major Christian concerns become secondary. In many cases the major Christian concerns are seen as tools to serve their own long-term welfare.

“Now I urge you, brethren, note those who cause divisions and offenses, contrary to the doctrine which you learned and avoid them. For those who are such do not serve our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly, and by smooth words and flattering speech deceives the hearts of the simple,”

Rom. 16:17-18 (emphasis added)      

(iii) For some it’s out of compromise to make the message of the gospel more pleasing to certain groups. Instead of sticking with God’s standard some choose to embrace the people’s standards. It could be out of financial reasons to keep the offering flowing or out of wanting to please people without offending anyone.

(iv) Some who fail to live up to Christian standards of righteousness, holiness, love, charity and other Christian disciplines end up projecting their compromised standards to other people. Thus out of personal failures of living up to the righteousness requirements in God’s word some adopt the lukewarm gospel. Their teachings are variously labeled as the liberal gospel, lukewarm gospel, all-grace gospel, and once-saved-always-saved gospel. This all-grace gospel with little personal input or responsibility is a major form of deception that is a thorn in the body of Christ.

(v)   Through occult infiltration into Christianity. Some deceptive and false teachings end up in the body of Christ through the infiltration of people from occult groups into Christianity. There are some occult groups with an agenda to destroy Christianity. Many Christian leaders have adopted these false teachings without question and without any sound biblical scrutiny.

So far we have dealt with how strongholds are formed through deception and the various sources of deception. We have leant that strongholds are built upon deception and lies that we've accepted into our minds. In the concluding part, we will look at how to discover and expose deception in our lives and the church.

            …to be continued…

DEALING WITH DECEPTION
(Part 1)By 'Muyiwa Omole

Deception is a deliberate attempt to make something that is false to appear as if it is true. It is a lie made in such a way that the liar deliberately makes it to appear as if it’s true. To deceive means to cause to believe what is false, and to disbelieve what is true.  Similar words for deceiving include: lie, mislead, beguile, delude, dupe, defraud, trick, bamboozle, fool, swindle.

The following statement is of such importance that I want you to make a special note of it, perhaps even memorizing it.

When we believe a lie and receive it, whether by passive consent or by positive confession, we give the enemy legal right to wrap that lie in a system of deceit that will make it look like the truth.

Read the statement and be sensitive as the Holy Spirit reminds you of how you might have cooperated with the enemy’s plan to hold you in bondage in any area of your life

How does the enemy construct a spiritual stronghold in our lives? He starts with a foundation of lies. On this foundation, he builds brick by brick: vain philosophies, erroneous interpretations of Scripture, inaccurate ideas about the Person of God, and distorted perceptions of the word of God. Held together by the mortar of mistaken reasoning, the walls rise higher and higher. Soon lofty towers of stubborn pride and vain imaginations loom above the shadows.

An idea, thoughts, words, and actions may be considered right or wrong from different perspectives. These include: from a moral perspective, cultural perspective, legal perspective, physical health perspective, religious perspective, or even a combination of any. It is the Biblical perspective that’s more important for us as Christians. Applying the Christian faith in its true sense, with God’s Spirit effectively working in our lives, fulfills all fundamental human perspectives.

Countless believers are living in defeat because they have been deceived. The enemy has deceived them and caused them to believe and live a lie. If we allow deception to take hold, strongholds can then be formed in our minds.

For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;) Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;

II Corinthians 10:4,5

Strongholds are incorrect thinking patterns based on falsehood. Demonic spirits love to use these strongholds to their advantage against a child of God. Strongholds have tremendous power to affect our feelings and emotions. Many blood-bought children of God Almighty feel guilt-ridden and worthless because they don't see themselves the way they ought to. Many Christians feel unloved and not good enough to be accepted by God because they see Him wrongly. Their perception of Him has been damaged and causes them to see Him as a distant and cruel taskmaster instead of a close loving Father who longs (deeply desires) to have an intimate loving relationship with them!

"But I fear, lest somehow, as the serpent deceived Eve by his craftiness, so your minds may be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ."

                                                                                                            2 Corinthians 11:3

SOURCES OF DECEPTION

Strongholds are built upon deception and error. These errors and deceptions which form strongholds can come from a wide variety of sources. I have identified four sources of deception and I have attempted to explain them below.

1.      Deception through Satan and deceiving spirits (fallen angels)

The greatest deceiver of all time is Satan. He and his fellow fallen angels (demons) are called deceiving spirits.

“The Spirit clearly says that in later times some will abandon the faith and follow deceiving spirits and things taught by demons,”    

1 Timothy 4:1 (emphasis added).

Deceiving spirits, including Satan, do not operate the same way they did in the Garden of Eden. We do not see snakes or other animals talking to us with evil intent. Satan and his evil team endeavor to work against us in the unseen spirit realm

Being in this fallen world all of us have fallen to some deception at some point in our lives and in various ways. Deceiving spirits do have their areas of success in each of us. Fortunately we have the Holy Spirit. This is such a blessing. The Holy Spirit is God inside each of us. He is the “Spirit of truth” (John 16:13) that equips us with the truth against all the lies that deceiving spirits constantly throw at us.

The reason Satan tries to deceive us, is to get us to believe something that is simply not true. Believers who are ignorant of God's Word are more likely to be deceived and if they begin to accept Satan's lies as truth, the devil will start to build a stronghold in their minds.

The devil has convinced many of God's children to believe in a lie that is making them feel just downright defeated and hopeless! Is that the way a child of the Almighty God should be thinking or feeling? Especially after the very Son of God has shed His blood to remove those sins?? Good grief!

Another common way the devil tries to deceive us is getting us to see God incorrectly. Satan wants God's people to see their heavenly Father as a cruel dictator that is cold and distant. Why? Because it will keep them from drawing close to Him and having the intimate relationship that God so deeply longs to have with them! Many people fear God so much that they can't even get near Him! God's Word is clear that love casts out fear... the two are opposites:

1 John 4:18, "There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love."

It is true that we are to 'fear' the Lord, but that's a different kind of fear. That's a respectful attitude and reverence for the Lord. A person who properly fears the Lord isn't going to be out mocking His Holy name, but they will not be afraid of Him either.

As you can see, many believers are deceived and fall into a thinking mode that makes them feel hopeless and condemned... all because they accepted error as truth and allowed a stronghold to form in their minds! The devil has fed them a lie that their heavenly Father is cold, cruel and distant... and because they accepted that lie, their feelings reflect the error.

God's Word clearly tells us to watch out, because the devil would love to get our minds muddied up concerning our relationship with God through deception:

2 Corinthians 11:3, "But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled (deceived) Eve through his subtlety, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ."

The Holy Spirit is the “Spirit of truth” (John 16:13) while demons are deceiving spirits. The two spiritual camps are complete opposites in their work. Satan and his fellow fallen angels are the ultimate deceivers in all the depravity in this world. The Holy Spirit on the other hand is the ultimate conveyer of truth convicting each person through his/her conscience on what’s right and what’s wrong.

2.      Self-Deception

“No man was ever so much deceived by another as by himself,”

Brook Fulke Greville (1554 - 1628)

A good definition of self-deception is given by Wikipedia, an online encyclopedia. It says, “Self-deception is a process of denying or rationalizing away the relevance, significance, or importance of opposing evidence and logical argument,” (Wikimedia Foundation, Inc., Wikipedia, “Self-deception”).

From a Christian perspective we can say self-deception is a process of denying or rationalizing away the relevance, significance, or importance of promptings from the Holy Spirit in order to satisfy the desires of the flesh.

Some (if not many) of the deception that people experience is self-made. It is true that Satan and his fellow deceiving spirits do labor to take advantage of our fallen nature. However, there are instances where it is purely out of our own exercise of the freedom of choice that results in willful wrong choices. In such instances demons play no role in influencing us.

We are in charge of the thinking process, what preoccupies us and how we respond to our thoughts. That is why everyone, including unbelievers, will be judged on how they acted upon the thoughts in their minds. God gave us full custody over our own minds and will judge us on how we allowed our minds to do the things we did – good or bad. Satan will not be part of the excuse. Our biggest enemy is therefore within us. It is our own fallen nature – The Flesh

“Let no one say when he is tempted, “I am tempted by God." For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does He Himself tempt anyone. But each one is tempted when he is drawn away, by his own evil desire and enticed

James 1:13,14 (emphasis added).

Notice in the passage that it says a person is tempted by his own evil desire. It does not say tempted by Satan. There is a realm of temptation and wrong thinking that can go on in our minds without any input from evil spirits. The wrong or bad thoughts that go on in our minds without any input from evil spirits are what constitute our own evil desires. They are products of our own fallen nature.

…to be continued

10 REASONS CHRISTIANS DON’T HEAR FROM GOD

PART 2

By ‘Muyiwa Omole

…continuation

6.       LAZINESS (LACK OF PASSION)

Some believers are too lazy to develop their spiritual life. They are too lazy to study the word, too lazy to pray, too lazy to observe their quiet time. These go about looking for “prayer contractors,” going from one mountain to the next, from one “prophet” to the next. They become victims of counterfeit prophecies, do things that are not convenient and remain shallow and spiritually dry simply because they fail to sharpen their spiritual antennae. To enjoy smooth communication with God you need to be passionate and consistent.

7.       LACK OF NURTURING ENVIRONMENT

The spiritual atmosphere you build around yourself and the environment you expose yourself to are very important in hearing from God. Receiving direction from God is a product of the kind of church you attend, the kind of fellowship you expose yourself to and the kind of people you choose to befriend. Are you attending a church where the truth is being taught? Are you in constant fellowship with mature, spirit-led believers? When you befriend people who hear and follow the voice of God you are putting yourself under a conducive environment to hear from God.  Samuel did not hear God speak to him while he was still in the house of Elkanah and Hannah. He started hearing from God when he was brought to the house of God.

8.       BEING SCRIPTURALLY BANKRUPT

 Sometimes we “hear God” through the Scripture. God sometimes speaks to us by impressing a particular scripture on our heart. Sometimes while reading the Bible a particular verse or phrase can minister to you or become relevant to your circumstance and you have a confirmation in your spirit that God is speaking to you. At this time Logos becomes Rhema to give you direction, instruction, warning or comfort at that point in time. But if you don’t have enough word of God in you it becomes difficult to recognise the fact that God is trying to speak to you.

Psalm 119:11 says:

                Your word I have hidden in my heart,

                That I might not sin against You.

Another word for hidden here is “stored.” By studying the Word of God you are storing it (like saving money in a bank) till the day you’d need it. In others words when you don’t have enough word of God inside of you, you become “scripturally broke “and miss the voice of God when He is trying to speak to you

9.       WRONG MOTIVES

Seeking to hear from God for the wrong reason(s) is another reason Christians don’t hear from God. Seeking to hear from God for selfish ambition, to boost ego or for merchandize are all wrong. Remember Simon the Sorcerer (Acts 8:13 -20). He was seeking the gift of God for the wrong motive and so was disqualified from partaking in this wonderful honour.

10.   IMPATIENCE

Rushing in and out of quiet time is another reason believers don’t hear from God. We need to learn from Habakkuk:

I will stand my watch

And set myself in the rampart,

And watch to see what He will say to me,

And what I will answer when I am corrected

 Habakkuk 2:1

Here, he is painting a picture of remaining in the presence of God until He speaks. Note this: He said “I will watch to see what he will say to me…”

Normally, you cannot see what is being said, you can only hear what is said.

The focus here is there is a level you tarry so much in the presence of God that you do not only hear what He says but you begin to see what it is said. You begin to visualize the reality of divine revelations

When you come to the presence of God position yourself to hear from God not just for you to pray. So many times we come to God in the place of pray, we talk to God, command God, request from God, remind God etc. but we do not wait to hear from him. We do not come with the expectation to hear Him speak to us.

God is still speaking today. And you as a believer can hear from God because it is your kingdom heritage. I pray for you that every obstacle to your communications with God will be removed and grace shall be given to you to flow in deep revelations from the God.

10 REASONS CHRISTIANS DON’T HEAR FROM GOD

PART I

By ‘Muyiwa Omole

It has always been the desire and intention of God to speak to and with man.

In the Garden of Eden, He had an arrangement for having fellowship with Adam. And even since after The Fall God has been seeking to speak to Man. From Enough to Noah, from Abraham to Moses, from Isaiah to Paul till now. God still speaks today.

If God is still speaking why am I not hearing his voice? Let us examine 10 reasons we don’t hear from God.

1.       IGNORANCE (Hosea 4:6)

One of the reasons most Christians don’t hear from God is that they are ignorant about what it means to hear from God. Many perceive the word “speak” as being “audible words” coming from out of the atmosphere instead of God speaking to us through our own inner spirit. Since most believers have never heard an audible, deep, booming voice piercing the atmosphere, they assume God is silent. God uses different methods to speak to us today: He speaks to us through our conscience; through our inner man (spirit); He speaks to us using others’ counsel; through the vocal gift of the Holy Spirit; through visions and dreams etc.

2.       SIN

When you live a sinful life or persist in sinful behaviour; when you don’t acknowledge your sin and fail to live in a way that pleases God, you cannot hear Him speak to you. You cannot live in sin and expect God to speak to you. Although, there are occasions where God has to speak to a sinner or unbeliever (in cases of Adam, Pharaoh, Abimelech, Eli, Cornelius etc.) it is for the purpose of repentance, restoration or salvation. When you perpetually live in sin or fail to repent of known sin in your life your heart becomes hardened and it becomes impossible for God to reach you.

3.       DISOBEDIENCE TO PREVIOUS INSTRUCTIONS

It is difficult to imagine that God will continue to unfold the great mysteries of His Word if we have regularly failed to act on the revelation He has already shown. It doesn’t work that way. Until you discover where the axe head fell, you will not be able to receive help. Until Abraham fully obeyed God by separating from Lot, God did not give further instruction concerning his destiny (Genesis 15). Trace your steps back to the last instruction you received from the Lord and obey and you will see the heavens open once again.

4.       NOISE -  (I Kings 19:11-13)

By noise I mean anything that interferes with or reduces the clarity and accuracy of our communication with God.  In the world of Technology noise, we have Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, LinkedIn, MyTube and YourSpace or is it YouTube and MySpace? These plus the noises in our head, cultural noise around us make it very challenging to hear from God. In all these we need to learn how to be quiet and hear the still small voice.

5.       STEREOTYPE (OR FAMILIARITY)

When you think you have known God too well that He must always speak through a particular method, you might miss His voice when He is trying to speak to you through other means. Elijah made this mistake (I Kings 19:11-13). He was the “prophet of fire,” he was expecting to hear God from the fire, the earthquake and the wind. But God decided to come in that still small voice. We need to be open so that we don’t become like Balaam, who God had to by-pass to appear to his donkey (Numbers 22:22-35).

….to be continued

GET OUT OF THE BOAT

4 Positions of Faith

‘Muyiwa Omole

There is a problem in Church today: There is an epidemic of “Unbelieving Believers.”

How do I mean? There are lots of Christians who know the scriptures well, the read and hear the word and they have wonderful insight into the truth of the word. They can teach awesome messages from the scriptures and can even preach the message of faith so well, but they are not believers in real sense of it.

Many Christians live their lives as victims rather than as victors. They live in perpetual defeat rather than live as people made in God’s image with a dominion mandate. Knowing the Scriptures is not enough, you have to really believe them and be able to apply them to your daily living in this world.

“Believer” is not just a term used to describe people who come to Christ; it is a term that is supposed to characterize our lifestyle. Believers believe in God and what He says about them, their destiny, future and purpose in life.

Is it really possible to be close to God, to study His Word daily, raise hands in worship and yet be an unbelieving believer? Yes, even the disciples of Jesus struggled with this issue. The disciples were close to Jesus, had been chosen by Him, went about with Him everywhere and were given authority by Him, yet they still had unbelief in their hearts. There were unbelieving believers in some situations (Read Matthew 14:25-36; Matthew 17:14-20). This is why I will not presume that this is something we have mastered. For if the closeness of the disciples to Jesus did not eradicate their unbelief, how much more must we the church remain aware of this potential footbrake on our life and ministries.

So how do you know if you are a believing believer? By what you do. Believers are doers. Faith is a motivator; it is a force that energizes people to do something. Faith gets things done.

Let’s study Matthew 14:25-36 closely to see reactions of the disciples in a particular event that occurred.

Matthew 14:25-33. New International Version (NIV)

25 Shortly before dawn Jesus went out to them, walking on the lake. 26 When the disciples saw him walking on the lake, they were terrified.  “It’s a ghost,” they said, and cried out in fear.27 But Jesus immediately said to them:  “Take courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid.”28 ”Lord, if it’s you,” Peter replied, “tell me to come to you on the water.” 29 “Come,” he said. Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus. 30But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, “Lord, save me!”31Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him. “You of little faith,” he said, “why did you doubt?”32And when they climbed into the boat, the wind died down. 33Then those who were in the boat worshiped him, saying, “Truly you are the Son of God.”

From the reactions of the disciples that night let’s look at four positions we can find ourselves in when it comes to believing God:

1.       THE TERRIFIED BELIEVER

If you are in the boat, then like the disciples you love God, are saved, you go to church and are not a bad person as it were. In the boat you have found a safe place and you intend staying there. You don’t like waves and commotion. But suddenly, as with the disciples, storms started challenging where you are at. It is as if a voice is saying, ‘You can do more, you can be more than this, step out to a new level, get out of your comfort zone.’ God is calling you to a new level but you identify with the terrified disciples in the boat.

Getting out of the boat can be frightening, especially in the middle of turbulence. It means embracing the unknown. The challenge is: do you believe God of the boat is also the God of the unknown ocean? You may be scared of moving on but it is your choice to decide whether or not you really believe God when he says ‘come’ or not.

2.       THE INQUISITIVE BELIEVER

You may be in the boat but like Peter you immediately recognize the voice of God. Even though scared, you are inquisitive. Though surrounded by people who refuse to get out of the boat, your heart is pounding and you know you will have to do something about it. Like Peter your response is, ‘if this is you, tell me to come!” Jesus answered with one word, ‘come.’ He didn’t explain how to come or what to do, it was simply a test of faith.

If you know that God has asked you to do something, then stop hanging around with the terrified unbelievers in the boat and change your environment by stepping out.

3.       THE DECISIVE BELIEVER

Someone out there is reading this and you are thinking, ‘I’ve already got out of the boat.’ You made a decision, you went for it and now you are walking on water. But having decided to move forward into what God told you doubts are now creeping in. the waves of circumstances and disappointment are crashing around you and you wonder whether it was a mistake.

To you God is saying, ‘Don’t look at the waves, believe. God hasn’t changed His mind, He still believes in you. It’s just a storm and His love for you is stronger than any adversity you will face, so keep going.

Never let adverse circumstances alone determine whether you should continue or not. Jesus promised us that ‘in this world you will have trouble.’ Your faith should grow strong with every storm you face because fundamentally you are convinced that in Christ you have ‘overcome the world’ and your destiny is secure in his hands.

4.       THE SINKING BELIEVER

And to all of you who feel like you are sinking fast I will like to say two things. First, well done for getting this far, and second, get back up and believe again! Remember what got you out of the boat in the first place. Ask yourself what’s changed? God is still in control; He still believes in you and is still calling you. To the sinking Peter Jesus reached out a hand and caught him. To you he also says ‘I’m here, why did you doubt? Doubt will sink your life every time. So, let your doubt be drowned out by your faith.

God believes in you, He loves you and you are special to Him but are you willing to get out of the boat? Peter is not remembered today as the disciple who sank, he is remembered for being the one who walked on water. Do you want to be remembered for being a doubting Thomas or for being the Believing Peter? The choice is yours.

ARE YOU A LEARNER?

3 Marks of the Teachable Christian

By ‘Muyiwa Omole

Are you a learner?

This question could well be phrased: Are you teachable? All believers are called to be students of the most important school—the study of the Word of God—our success as learners will be determined by how teachable we are.

Every believer should ask himself: Am I a learner? Am I teachable? Am I in tune with the Spirit of God? The Bible is like no other course of study. It is impossible for the Christian in his natural ability to understand the things of God—they are foolishness to Him. Consequently, God has graciously equipped every child of His with this built-in tutor. “But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things” (Jn. 14:26).

Although this is a privilege afforded to every believer, not every believer is teachable.  We have all known Christians who fail to advance in their walk with the Lord because they are not teachable. And if we are honest, we realize that there are many times when we approach the Word of God or sit under its ministry and our hearts similarly are not receptive.

The Scriptures provide us with several criteria that should characterize every student of God’s Word who desires to be taught. Let us examine three of them.

1.     Eagerness

Are you eager to learn? Do you approach the Scriptures with an attitude of eagerness and enthusiasm?

Notice how Acts: 17:11 describes the Bereans as those who “received the Word with great eagerness.”  We have all met new-born Christians who seem to just explode in their faith and understanding. Even in a short period of time they seem to surpass other believers who have been in the faith far longer. Why is that? A teachable spirit is hungry! They cannot get enough. Like new-born babes, they long for the pure milk of the Word (1 Pet. 2:2). We can learn from their example. If I am to be teachable, I need to rekindle this attitude as I approach God’s Word.

2.     Humility

Do I come to the Word of God with a humble attitude and submissive spirit? Young Samuel responded to the divine call in 1 Samuel 3:10 with the words, “Speak, for your Servant is listening.” How vital to emulate Samuel’s attitude as we open God’s Word with this same prayer.

Throughout the Gospels, Mary is often described at the feet of the Lord Jesus. In John 11, she is weeping. In John 12, she is worshiping. But in Luke 10:39, while her sister was

“cumbered about much serving,” we notice Mary “listening to the Lord’s words, seated at His feet.” Her posture reflects her heart, the attitude of the servant with an open ear, listening to the Master’s instructions. Lacking this spirit is a great impediment to being taught by God.

The Holy Spirit desires to do business with the student of God’s Word and teach us some things about ourselves that we are not going to appreciate. We must pray that we will have the attitude of Mary and young Samuel as we open the Book.

3.     Action

There is at least one other criterion to determine whether or not we are teachable. That is:

How do we respond to God’s Word?

The Lord tells His disciples in John 10:27, “My sheep hear My voice and I know them, and they follow Me.” It is not only that we have an ear for the Shepherd’s voice, but also that it affects our conduct—it leads to obedience.

The Lord’s commendation in Luke 6:47 is not to those who “hear His words” but to the one who also “acts upon them.” To be teachable is far more than to acquire knowledge. The study of the Word of God needs to be translated into a changed life.

Furthermore, it is difficult to imagine that God will continue to unfold the great mysteries of His Word if we have regularly failed to act on the revelation He has already shown.

Why Learn?

I do not believe it is possible to come to the Word of God with eagerness, the humble heart of a servant and willingness to obey and not leave forever changed. Therefore as we ask the question of ourselves, “Am I teachable?” we also need to answer the question, “What is the ultimate purpose in being taught?” Christ Himself needs to be the subject and motivation for our study. Paul wrote of putting off, renewing and putting on the new self “which in the likeness of God has been created in righteousness and holiness of the truth.” To learn Christ is to become like Him. To be teachable, ultimately, is to be made like Him. “Am I a learner?” can really be rephrased, “Am I becoming like Christ?”

“I WILL FOLLOW YOU, BUT...”

  -  4 Would-be Disciples.

‘Muyiwa Omole

The Lord Jesus called everyone to come to Him. He said, “Come unto Me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you, and learn of Me” (Mt. 11:28-29).

While this general call went forth to come to Him, He also called individuals to come follow Him as His disciples. We know the names of the twelve disciples that He called. There are some, however, that were called but remain nameless, nameless because they did not follow Him. He called them and they knew what they could be, what they should be. They came close, but fell short. They started in, but gave out. The Gospel of Luke tells us about these would-be disciples (9:57-62; 18:18-30) and their stories will help us know what we should be as we follow Him.

MR. TOO QUICK - Count the Cost (Luke 9:57-58)

⁵⁷ Now it happened as they journeyed on the road, that someone said to Him, “Lord, I will follow You wherever You go.” ⁵⁸ And Jesus said to him, “Foxes have holes and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay His head.”  Luke 9:57-58. New King James Version (NKJV)

This first would-be disciple met the Lord as He journeyed and said to Him, “Lord, I will follow You wherever You go.” He was a volunteer! It warms the heart to hear someone stand up and be counted a follower of Jesus Christ. “Where He leads me I will follow” might well have been his theme song on the way to meet the Lord. But when he heard about the accommodations, he suddenly lost the tune. Ruth, a Moabitess, was more committed that this Jewish scribe. “Foxes have holes and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay His head.”  How good to rest where He rests, in His finished work. What would you call a man like this? Let’s call him Mr Too Quick. He hadn’t stopped to count the cost. It’s one thing to sing the songs of commitment but another to collect the hymnbooks and stack them on the book table after the meeting is over. This would-be disciple chose the way of comfort instead of the way of the cross.

MR. PRO - Don’t Delay (Luke 9:59-60)

⁵⁹ Then He said to another, “Follow Me.” But he said, “Lord, let me first go and bury my father.” ⁶⁰ Jesus said to him, “Let the dead bury their own dead, but you go and preach the kingdom of God.”

Luke 9:59-60 New King James Version (NKJV)

Our next would-be disciple was actually invited personally by the Lord saying, “Follow Me.” His response is very instructive: “Lord, let me first go and bury my father.” How considerate he was of his dearly departed dad! The problem was that his father was probably very much alive and in good health. It was a proverbial saying of the day, “After I bury my father.” He wasn’t about to let his dad down—not even into a grave! We don’t use that proverb today, but we surely know how to procrastinate! We say, “One day I’m going to serve the Lord with all my heart.” If it’s one day, that day will never come. Don’t be fooled by the devil into thinking that tomorrow is a better day to know and serve the Lord. The Bible declares, “Now is the day of salvation” (2 Cor. 6:2) and that we should “Choose… this day whom [we] will serve” (Josh. 24:15). This second would-be disciple didn’t refuse to follow. He just put it off. The Lord Jesus responded truthfully saying, “Let the dead bury their own dead, but you go and preach…” In other words, follow our Lord’s example who was about His Father’s business. Redeem the time for the days are evil. We don’t know this man’s name but we know he was a “pro” – at procrastination!

MR. ME FIRST

Christ First (Luke 9:61-62)

⁶¹ And another also said, “Lord, I will follow You, but let me first go and bid them farewell who are at my house.”

⁶² But Jesus said to him, “No one, having put his hand to the plow, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.”

Luke 9:61-62. New King James Version (NKJV)

The third would-be disciple has something in common with the first two. He promises like the first disciple and procrastinates like the second. He uses the same contradictory combination of words: “Lord, let me first...” You can say, ‘Lord’ or you can say, ‘Me first’, but you cannot say, “Lord, me first.” If He is Lord, He is first. It’s a matter of priority. This man’s request was to bid his family farewell. Elijah permitted Elisha to kiss his father and mother goodbye. He did so with a feast. He had been ploughing the field. Now he was leaving his family to follow the prophet. Do you remember what he offered? The oxen for sacrifice and the yoke for burning! (1 Ki. 19:19-21). There was no turning back for him. He had come to the end of the row, as it were.

This would-be disciple, however, was just at the beginning of the row and had just put his hand to the plough. The Lord warns that, “No one, having put his hand to the plough, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.” Family relationships are good, but not when they turn you around from following the Lord Jesus Christ!

MR. FOOL

True Riches (Luke 18:18-23)

¹⁸ Now a certain ruler asked Him, saying, “Good Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?” ¹⁹ So Jesus said to him, “Why do you call Me good? No one isgood but One, that is, God. ²⁰ You know the commandments: ‘Do not commit adultery,’ ‘Do not murder,’ ‘Do not steal,’ ‘Do not bear false witness,’ ‘Honor your father and your mother.’ ”^[a]

²¹ And he said, “All these things I have kept from my youth.” ²² So when Jesus heard these things, He said to him, “You still lack one thing. Sell all that you have and distribute to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me.” ²³ But when he heard this, he became very sorrowful, for he was very rich.

Luke 18:18-30. New King James Version (NKJV)

There is one more would-be disciple who may be more convicting that we’d like to admit. Luke tells us that he was a ruler and very rich. Matthew adds that he was young. He had it all: power, wealth, and youth. He came to the Lord in a humble way, running to Him and kneeling, calling Him “Good Master” asking. “What shall I do to inherit eternal life?”

Using a legal term such as “inherit” certainly prompted discussion of the Law. The Lord named a few of the commandments, and the young man still justified himself. But one thing was lacking: when the Lord Jesus touched his pocketbook, he discovered where his heartstrings were attached. He became very sorrowful and went away grieved. Mark’s Gospel tells us that Jesus looked at him and loved him. He could leave unsaved, but not unloved. He chose the temporal wealth of this world over eternal treasure in heaven! What would you call a man who takes the world at the expense of his soul? God calls him a fool. As Jim Elliott put it, “He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain that which he cannot lose.” Leave it to Peter to put two and two together and voice the concern that the other disciples were still calculating. He said, “See, we have left all and followed You.” The Lord assured them that they would “receive many times more in this present time, and in the age to come eternal life.”

Bottom line: it will be worth it all. These four men teach us not to jump too fast, wait too long, get turned around, or live for this world. Don’t be a would-be disciple.