Jesus appears to John on the Isle of Patmos…telling John to “write”. Jesus then speaks to 7 Churches…and Jesus would have words of warning for those who have allowed FALSE TEACHING to enter into the Body of Christ!
Revelation 2:14-16 (NKJV)
14 But I have a few things against you, because you have there those who hold the doctrine of Balaam, who taught Balak to put a stumbling block before the children of Israel, to eat things sacrificed to idols, and to commit sexual immorality. 15 Thus you also have those who hold the doctrine of the Nicolaitans, which thing I hate. 16 Repent, or else I will come to you quickly and will fight against them with the sword of My mouth.
- Jesus is speaking to the Church of Pergamos. He tells them that they have accepted doctrines from other sources…sources other than His Word and His teachings…namely the doctrines of Balaam and also doctrines of the Nicolaitans. (See other passages from Revelation 2 & 3 which are quoted and referenced at the end of this article.)
Jesus warns the Church that PARASITES have entered the BODY!
A PARASITE is (according to Merriam-Webster):
1. An organism living in, with, or on another organism
2. Something that resembles a biological parasite in dependence on something else for existence or support without making a useful or adequate return
3. A person who exploits the hospitality of the rich and earns welcome by flattery
Synonyms for PARASITE are:
1. Sycophant - A servile self-seeking flatterer
2. Toady - One who flatters in the hope of gaining favors
3. Leech - A hanger-on who seeks advantage or gain
4. Sponge - One who lives on others
Parasites act in specialized ways. They can live OUTSIDE of the host (ECTOPARASITES) or they can live INSIDE of the host (ENDOPARASITES). I will not delve into the FULL evaluation of PARASITES…which actually goes much deeper.
Suffice it to say…PARASITES live off of the HOST. And, in doing so, the health and vitality of the HOST is affected in ADVERSE ways….ranging from MILD changes in health and vitality to actual DEATH.
Many fail to see the PARASITIC aspects of FALSE DOCTRINE…yet it is wreaking havoc in their bodies and in their lives!
NOTICE THIS:
Parasites do not PREVENT a person from eating HEALTHY food…but a PARASITE robs the body of the necessary NUTRIENTS!
FALSE DOCTRINE works the same way!
Although FALSE DOCTRINE is taught side-by-side with TRUTH (attached to it like a PARASITE)…the introduction of the PARASITIC false doctrine into a person’s system actually allows the “fruit” of the TRUTH to be USURPED or STOLEN by the PARASITE!
When FALSE DOCTRINE is INCLUDED in teachings/sermons…the FALSE DOCTRINE can actually DESTROY the effects of TRUTH…causing the TRUTH TO BE INEFFECTIVE!
Paul once wrote “For Christ did not send me to baptize, but to preach the gospel, not with wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should be made of no effect.” (1 Corinthians 1:17 - NKJV)
We CAN “add to” the TRUTH…by allowing “man’s wisdom” (false doctrine) to make the TRUTH “of no effect.”
2 Peter 2:1-3 (NKJV)
1 But there were also false prophets among the people, even as there will be false teachers among you, who will secretly bring in destructive heresies, even denying the Lord who bought them, and bring on themselves swift destruction. 2 And many will follow their destructive ways, because of whom the way of truth will be blasphemed. 3 By covetousness they will exploit you with deceptive words; for a long time their judgment has not been idle, and their destruction does not slumber.
A PARASITE is introduced SECRETLY into the HOST…just as FALSE DOCTRINE is introduced SECRETLY into the CHURCH.
In what we now call “Third World Countries”, we find that PARASITES are frequent causes of sickness and disease: Malaria, River Blindness (Onchocerciasis), Sleeping sickness (human African trypanosomiasis), Elephantiasis, Lyme Disease…the list can go on and on.
In most cases…these diseases are caused by UNSANITARY CONDITIONS….or CONTAMINATION.
Pure, clean water can become CONTAMINATED…and, once CONTAMINATED, the water is then in an UNSANITARY CONDITION.
NOTICE THIS:
When something PURE (truth) becomes CONTAMINATED (mixed with false doctrine)…the PARASITE can gain entrance into the HOST.
Beware of drinking from contaminated wells: parasites thrive in the midst of contamination!
Then…NOTICE THIS:
The PARASITE comes in to STEAL the life from the HOST!
John 10:10 (NKJV)
The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.
Just as with a PARASITE…FALSE DOCTRINE is introduced secretly…and its purpose is DESTRUCTION. Yet…we most often think of this as a PHYSICAL and/or SPIRITUAL death…which it is. But…in the realm of FALSE DOCTRINE…the purpose of the false doctrine is to “steal, kill, and to destroy” the TRUTH!
We too often view FALSE DOCTRINE by evaluating its effects on its FOLLOWERS…and we WRONGLY deduce “it must be correct doctrine” when we see no visible “effects”…often basing our evaluation on the health or financial status of the FOLLOWER. We measure SUCCESS by the wrong standards in such cases in the first place! Our WALK WITH GOD cannot…CANNOT…be measured by our financial wealth!
The TRUE evaluation of FALSE DOCTRINE, then, is NOT in some visible status of the FOLLOWER of that FALSE DOCTRINE…but that evaluation MUST BE how it measures up to the Word of God. And…from that…we can see that the TRUE danger of FALSE DOCTRINE is in its power to USURP and WEAKEN the power of TRUTH in a person’s life!
Just as a PARASITE can rob the body of nutrients which come from the food we have ingested…so TOO can FALSE DOCTRINE rob the Body of Christ of nutrients which SHOULD come from the TRUTH which we have ingested!
So…we see that not only is FALSE DOCTRINE a PARASITE which is introduced through CONTAMINATED TEACHING…but it continues to rob the TRUTH of its nutrients which are for the purpose of strengthening our bodies!
Sadly…rarely is the HOST (the follower of false teachers who preach false doctrines/false teachings) aware of the presence of the PARASITE! Thus…the PARASITE does its work SECRETLY…slowly destroying the body until it is in such a weakened state that the SLIGHTEST attack can no longer be withstood!
In most cases…much like AIDS…the death of the HOST is due to SOME OTHER attack of the body…it is usually NOT due to the PARASITE ITSELF!
The PARASITE simply weakens the body…and the body becomes so weak that it can no longer fight off any attacks!
The Church needs to return to PURITY again…TRUTH!
When our SOURCE for WISDOM and DISCERNMENT is from a PURE source…the Word of God ALONE…absent of any and all FALSE DOCTRINE…then the TRUTH will once again be strong and effective in the lives of those who hear it!
DO NOT allow the TRUTH to CONTAMINATED with the PARASITE of FALSE DOCTRINE!
In Christ,
Ron
(Scripture References)
Revelation 2:20-25 (NKJV)
20 Nevertheless I have a few things against you, because you allow that woman Jezebel, who calls herself a prophetess, to teach and seduce My servants to commit sexual immorality and eat things sacrificed to idols. 21 And I gave her time to repent of her sexual immorality, and she did not repent. 22 Indeed I will cast her into a sickbed, and those who commit adultery with her into great tribulation, unless they repent of their deeds. 23 I will kill her children with death, and all the churches shall know that I am He who searches the minds and hearts. And I will give to each one of you according to your works. 24 Now to you I say, and to the rest in Thyatira, as many as do not have this doctrine, who have not known the depths of Satan, as they say, I will put on you no other burden. 25 But hold fast what you have till I come.
- Jesus is speaking to the Church of Thyatira. He tells them that they have allowed Jezebel to teach in their midst. She uses her teachings to “seduce” the flock.
Revelation 3:1-4 (NKJV)
1 "And to the angel of the church in Sardis write, 'These things says He who has the seven Spirits of God and the seven stars: "I know your works, that you have a name that you are alive, but you are dead. 2 Be watchful, and strengthen the things which remain, that are ready to die, for I have not found your works perfect before God. 3 Remember therefore how you have received and heard; hold fast and repent. Therefore if you will not watch, I will come upon you as a thief, and you will not know what hour I will come upon you. 4 You have a few names even in Sardis who have not defiled their garments; and they shall walk with Me in white, for they are worthy.
- Jesus is speaking to the Church of Sardis. Jesus tells them that they may possess a name which says they are “alive” (they are known in the community as a vibrant church), but they are in fact almost completely dead. What IS left alive MUST BE strengthened! And…Jesus tells them that their “near-death” existence has so weakened them that they can barely stay awake. If they fail to “wake up”…they are in danger of being “left behind”!
Revelation 3:15-20 (NKJV)
15 I know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot. I could wish you were cold or hot. 16 So then, because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will vomit you out of My mouth. 17 Because you say, 'I am rich, have become wealthy, and have need of nothing'--and do not know that you are wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked-- 18 I counsel you to buy from Me gold refined in the fire, that you may be rich; and white garments, that you may be clothed, that the shame of your nakedness may not be revealed; and anoint your eyes with eye salve, that you may see. 19 As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten. Therefore be zealous and repent. 20 Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me.
- Jess is speaking to the Church of Laodicea. Jesus says that they consider themselves to be Christians, yet they are simply “Christian” in name only. What they BELIEVE about themselves is actually nothing more than a DECEPTION. The reality of their existence is the OPPOSITE of what they believe! They have chosen to depend on EARTHLY WEALTH…falsely believing that their earthly existence…the life of luxury…is a sign of God’s hand of blessing on them. Yet…it is NOT! While living in wealth and riches…they have forgotten their need for JESUS! Their dependence is in THEMSELVES…and they have left their dependence on GOD. They are SELF-SUFFICIENT…and no longer GOD-SUFFICIENT!
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