What Are You Believing?
Christians attend the church where they feel that God has led them. Certainly, they may not agree with every single thing that is said or done; but the majority of the Word ministered and the church’s operations are acceptable. The most important aspect of our church should be that we believe the leadership is preaching sound doctrine. No pastor can teach the members of his/her church everything that they need to know. If God’s child is only receiving the Sunday morning message, they will be spiritually weak. We must study God’s Word daily. It is surely our strength. Paul writes it this way in 2 Timothy 3:15-17, “And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness; That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works.” Notice, the Word gives us the wisdom that we need to walk out the salvation that was provided for us through the finished work of Calvary. We then have the promise that we can become perfect (an integer or whole number in arithmetic, to which nothing needs to be added to make it complete). The child of God is born of His Spirit; justified—just as if he/she had never sinned. The blood of Jesus has washed away all sin. We are born again; babes in Christ. A baby can be “perfect” (healthy). The baby will grow on “the sincere milk of the Word” (1 Pet. 2:2). The child of God is “perfect” if sins are confessed; yet, we are growing (maturing in the Lord).
Our pastor may be preaching sound doctrine; but oftentimes, our believing is not in line with scripture. There are times that our believing is based on the way we were raised, teachings we received while in school, what friends or peers have said, or how our feelings dictate. Paul said that the false teaching of Hymenaeus and Philetus eats like gangrene (2 Tim. 2:17). Wrong teaching (wrong doctrine) can eat away at a believer until he/she is destroyed.
I was a Spirit-filled believer and knew the Word. I was a Bible teacher and used in the gifts of the Spirit. I was raised in the church and loved the Lord. A thought came to me after I found out that I was pregnant with Chaunta. The thought was, “You will die after your baby is born.” I believed it. Jesus said to the two blind men, “According to your faith (your believing) be it unto you” (Mt. 9:29). I believed satan’s lie and died right after Chaunta’s birth. The saints prayed for me, and God's mercy allowed me to come back. I should have rather believed God’s Word that said He would satisfy me with long life (Ps. 91:16).
What do you believe? Is your believing biblically based. If not, it is not “sound doctrine,” and it will eat like gangrene. If you are tormented with fear and worry, I encourage you to seek counsel from those who are Spirit-filled and have a sound knowledge of God’s holy Word. Don’t harbor satan’s lies in your heart like I did, where you are eaten like gangrene.