.  Living Hope Fellowship Church....Sermons by the Pastor 

SOUND DOCTRINE

by Pastor Kevin Badgley

Mathew 24:24 says, “For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect.”  Deceiving wonders and signs have been exhibited by some who call themselves men of God, and great power has been exhibited by cults.  Therefore, people are torn this way and that. 

2 Timothy 4:3-4 says, “For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.”  False teachers have been manifested by the devil in these last days to lead human beings away from God to the whore of Babylon, the antichrist spirit.  False teachers prosper when people will not endure sound doctrine! 

In order to have sound doctrine, you have to endure it; it is an endurance test.  Following sound doctrine from the Word of God may make you poor or sad.  It may cause your family to hate you or cause them to think you are nuts.  I’m not talking about game playing religion, but the real truth and following the Word of God.  You can go off and get into the church world at large, and you will not be repulsed; you will just float along.  Living by sound doctrine can be difficult.  You have to fight the good fight of faith as Paul told Timothy.  He said you have to turn away from the things of the world and turn your back on sin. 

People find Scriptures in the Bible and put them together as a puzzle that they cut out themselves.  They are assembling an image of the antichrist.  It is coming through teachers and fools of heart who will not yield to the Spirit of God.  Some have rewritten and revised the King James Version Bible and given it other names.  God didn’t rewrite His Word.  He wants you to let the Holy Ghost teach you how to read it.  Matthew 7:14 says, “Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.” 

People don’t want to endure sound doctrine, because of the many things they have coveted after.  I don’t care how much money they make.  I want to see God’s signs, wonders, and miracles, because somebody sought God and endured the doctrine of the Lord.  The devil is not going to seduce the truth out of my mouth.  I am going to preach the truth. 

There are a lot of ways to go to hell, but there is only ONE way to make heaven, and that is holiness.  (See Hebrews 12:14.)  Does it feel like the devil is standing at your right hand to resist you?  He probably is, but you must endure sound doctrine until the trumpet sounds.  Then you will have a great reward in heaven. 

Hebrews 4:12 says, “For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.”   Hard preaching will get right down next to you.  A lot of people don’t believe the lie they live.  They know that you are preaching the truth, but they have to see someone live it so they can get real with God.  They are tired of hypocrisy, but they don’t know what to do. 

The devil is not going to come to you like a dragon faced idiot.  He can come to you smoothly and with a Bible in his hand.  He is going to come to you with a god that just fits your needs, and he will tell you just what you want to hear.  If you will perpetually endure sound doctrine and walk in the straight and narrow way with Jesus, it will keep you from being deceived. 

In 1 Kings, Chapter 22, King Ahab had 400 prophets who were deceived by a lying spirit (sent by God).  It caused him to be deceived and die.  Ahab asked Jehoshaphat to go to war with him, but Jehoshaphat asked for another prophet after the 400 said they would prosper at Ramothgilead.  Ahab said there was one man, but he hated Micaiah, because he told him he was sinful. Ahab called for Micaiah, and the Spirit of the Lord came on him, and he prophesied.  1 Kings 22:17 says, “And he said, I saw all Israel scattered upon the hills, as sheep that have not a shepherd: and the LORD said, These have no master: let them return every man to his house in peace.”  Micaiah was not popular.  Ahab died in the battle and is in hell.  He did not listen to that final call as God dealt with him. 

In Ezekiel 14:9 God said if a prophet is deceived, the Lord has deceived him, because of his rebellion.  We need a closer touch with God.  Maybe the devil has lied to you, and you have believed some things he has told you.  God wants to set you free.  I pray that the Lord will give you strength to endure sound doctrine so that you will not be seduced away by lying spirits.  I pray that the Father will cause you to hate sin, because it stands between you and Him.   

This is an endurance race.  Hebrews 12:1-2 says, “Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.”  Walking for Jesus in reality is an anointed walk.  It is demanding, but it will bring forth joy unspeakable and full of glory.  The Bible clearly shows us the way.