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by David Neal
Have you ever noticed how different people can look at the
same verse of scripture and come up with very different
interpretations of the meaning? A person’s perspective may
be biased based upon various reasons such as
denominational/religious doctrine (doctrines of men), the way
they were brought up or taught (traditions of men), pre-conceived
notions, or perhaps a cherished lifestyle. In other words, scripture
tends to be examined in light of the individual’s desired outcome
or prior knowledge (2 Cor 2:17, 4:2). These things interfere with
God’s will and are idols in your heart. If the desired meaning is
not clearly apparent or is in doubt, then justification is sought.
Offensive scriptures are downplayed and desired ones are
emphasized. The Word becomes tailored to meet an end. These
look at God’s Word through the eyes of the flesh. We must
examine God’s Word through the Spirit.
God will confirm our own idols back to us if we love not the
truth. Ezekiel 14:3-5, "Son of man, these men have set up their
idols in their heart, and put the stumblingblock of their iniquity
before their face: should I be enquired of at all by them?
Therefore speak unto them, and say unto them, Thus saith the
Lord GOD; Every man of the house of Israel that setteth up his
idols in his heart, and putteth the stumblingblock of his iniquity
before his face, and cometh to the prophet; I the LORD will
answer him that cometh according to the multitude of his idols;
That I may take the house of Israel in their own heart, because
they are all estranged from me through their idols." Do you see
the magnitude of these verses? When we approach God with idols
in our hearts (favorite doctrines, beliefs, notions, traditions,
justifications, wants) or for any reason other than to know the
truth (even if it disagrees with our entire understanding) and to
live within that truth, then God just confirms our own error back
to us according to the multitude of our idols (2 Thess 2:11). God
validates what we want to hear because we reject His truth. Our
own error becomes a huge stumblingblock that we now suppose
God endorses. This becomes the strong delusion that is believed
and accepted as truth. God doesn’t force us to hear the truth, and
if we’re not seeking to follow it there is no benefit anyway. This
happened to Ahab and Jehoshaphat in 1 Kings Chapter 22 (also 2
Chr 18:19-22). These men wanted an affirmative answer so: 1
Kings 22:23, "Now therefore, behold, the LORD hath put a lying
spirit in the mouth of all these thy prophets, and the LORD hath
spoken evil concerning thee." The kings received the answer they
wanted to hear (2 Chr 18:11), but it was to the undoing of Ahab
(wrong path).
God doesn’t tear down the idols that are in your heart, they are
there because you want them to be. You have set them up of
your own free will and you defend them. The result is: John
12:40, "He hath blinded their eyes, and hardened their heart;
that they should not see with their eyes, nor understand with
their heart, and be converted, and I should heal them." God will
not force you against your will. God’s truth is eternal and will
remain whether you choose to believe it or not. If you seek God’s
truth to perform it, then you will receive it as you obey. If you
seek confirmation of your own idolatry, you will receive such
confirmation to your own demise. The religious, who seek God
through the flesh, have never understood this. God responds to
us in like manner: Psalms 18:25-27, "With the merciful thou wilt
shew thyself merciful; with an upright man thou wilt shew thyself
upright; With the pure thou wilt shew thyself pure; and with the
froward thou wilt shew thyself froward. For thou wilt save the
afflicted people; but wilt bring down high looks."
John 6:63, "It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth
nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and
they are life." If we attempt to understand God’s Word apart from
the Spirit we will fail to understand the truth. The flesh profits
nothing (Jn 6:57). The flesh wants its dominance and will
interpret God’s Word in that disposition. The flesh wants to live in
darkness yet profess to be in the light. The Spirit works on us to
completely change us - our attitudes and desires. The flesh does
not want to be changed it’s a hindrance, a stumbling block and
will keep us from truly coming to Christ. The flesh will see God’s
love, forgiveness, blessings and grace, but will not see self denial,
sacrifice, obedience, forsaking worldliness and crucifixion of self.
The flesh does not want to forsake anything, it wants to
accumulate. Since the beginning, men living in the flesh have
interpreted God’s Word into all manner of erroneous doctrines.
Men can be led to follow many a doctrine when the flesh is
soothed and pacified and emotions are enticed. We may profess,
but will we follow? Jesus said: Luke 9:23, "And he said to them
all, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take
up his cross daily, and follow me." Jesus also said whosoever does
not bear his cross and forsake all that he hath and come after
cannot be Christ’s disciple (Lk 14:27 & 14:33). This is not a
message for the flesh and is rarely preached in context. Only
when we allow the Spirit to quicken will we see the truth and have
life. The Holy Spirit regenerates! When we die to ourselves and
seek God’s will, we change into something beautiful like a seed
planted in the ground or a butterfly emerging from a cocoon.