Chosen by God!
We must not allow our personal and subjective agendas to cause us to misinterpret God’s Word. Leaders in various religious movements today can misinterpret Scripture to further their personal agendas, if they are not careful. Sometimes Scripture, preached and taught out of context, has been used to manipulate people. I believe the prosperity message has been mishandled, especially when using III John 2. (“Beloved, I pray that you may prosper in every way and [that your body] may keep well, even as [I know] your soul keeps well and prospers.” III John 2 AMPC) Too much focus is given to prospering materially without tying in what true prosperity is – our souls. God is not waiting to hear our shopping list! He wants relationship.
It is important that those teaching should rightly divide the Word of Truth. Teaching correctly is so important that James addresses this in his epistle:
“Not many [of you] should become teachers (self-constituted censors and reprovers of others), my brethren, for you know that we [teachers] will be judged by a higher standard and with greater severity [than other people; thus we assume the greater accountability and the more condemnation].” (James 3:1 AMPC)
Jesus made it clear just how important it was for anyone, not just teachers, to not be responsible for causing others to fall:
“And whoever causes one of these little ones (these believers) who acknowledge and cleave to Me to stumble and sin, it would be better (more profitable and wholesome) for him if a [huge] millstone were hung about his neck, and he were thrown into the sea.” (Mark 9:42 AMPC)
We can avoid the pitfall in misinterpreting God’s Word by doing what His Word says:
“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.” (II Timothy 2:15 AMPC)
Be Encouraged! ❤
Leisa Wilkins Ministries
"Encouraging and Empowering you to become who God created you to be, God's Masterpiece, a Divine Original!"
Pastor | Author | Bible Teacher | Speaker | Encourager
www.leisawilkins.com