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Sunday 5/10/26
Title: Unscripted – Faith of our Fathers Pt. 5
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Devotion to Sound Doctrine – Faith of our Fathers Pt. 5
From Faith to Faith – that is our topic, even though at times it may not appear so. Are you familiar with those Stacking Dolls? Those hollow little wooden painted dolls, which open up to another doll inside, which in turn also opens up to another doll inside and so on? Well that is what our lesson here is like. It’s a lesson, within a lesson which is within another lesson.
What we are targeting is a life lived by faith – especially in regard to our life IN Christ. Where we, like Paul, have died yet nevertheless we live, and the life we live we live by relational trust in Jesus, the One Who loved us and gave Himself for us. We WILL NOT set aside the grace (the influence) of God upon our hearts which leads to lives lived in righteousness.
When we come to the wedding feast or as Revelation 19:8 calls it, “the marriage of the Lamb”, we are all dressed in pure and white clothing which, we are told are the righteous actions – deeds if you will or works which came to define our nature while on the earth and was the product of God’s work in us THROUGH our trust in Him.
We actively believed that He Who began His work in us, was actively continuing it daily within us with the end goal in mind of our adopting as our own the very nature and likeness of Jesus our Messiah.
So THAT is the doll inside the other two dolls.
The way we are learning to do this is by examining the churches Jesus calls to repentance in Revelation 2 & 3, beginning with the Ephesian church. That is the second doll.
The final and exterior doll is that of our passage in Acts which gives us a snapshot of what the early church looked like, long before these letters of correction in Revelation had to be written.
So let’s turn again to Acts 2 and we will begin reading in verse 42.
The Ephesian church was very diligent about study, and searching the scriptures so as to stay well grounded in the established and confirmed doctrine of our Lord. Jesus personally acknowledged that and praised them for it, but He had something against them.
Can anyone tell me what that was? What was Jesus calling this church to repent of?
Forsaking (neglecting) their first love.
Was this letter which was recorded by John and passed on to the churches, the first time Ephesus had heard of this need to repent? No, the Holy Spirit within them would have been leading them into the truth of that awareness for some time. Additionally, the angel of the church of Ephesus was given this message to disseminate to this church. Thus, making this the third and perhaps final warning.
Now I feel as if I need to explain why I am NOT explaining the role of the Angels of these churches. In short the answer is – I don’t know!
The scriptures are just about anything but talkative regarding the authority and scope of influence angels have regarding humans.
We see in Daniel a protectiveness and an ongoing battle if you will between fallen angels and God’s angels, but I’m cautious about assumptions and Jesus’ death, burial and resurrection stripped satan from certain forms of authority and so I don’t know if what we see in Daniel is still relevant today under the New Covenant.
Also in Jesus’ ministry the legion of demons He cast into the swine seemed very interested in not being removed from the physical/geographical region of Gadara. Why is anyone’s guess and again, that was BEFORE the powerful work of the cross. [See – Matthew 8:28-34; Mark 5:1–20; Luke 8:26-39]
You do see angels in Revelation given certain tasks with respect to nations and God’s people, but again, not enough to go on to even offer an educated guess as to their role in regard to the churches.
What we do see in Revelation are:
- Mediators of Truth: An angel was sent to communicate the revelation to John (Revelation 1:1).
- Proclaiming the Gospel: After the church has been raptured, an angel flies in mid-heaven proclaiming the “everlasting gospel” to those on earth. (Revelation 14:6).
- Announcing Judgments: Specific angels announce the fall of Babylon (“Babylon is fallen“) and warn against worshipping the beast (Revelation 14:8-9).
But again other than their mention in Revelation 2 & 3 we do not know how they disseminate the message they were given to the churches they were assigned to. So for that reason, I will not seek to explain what I have so far, seen the scriptures be silent on.
Jesus’ command was to remember from what lofty heights they had fallen from, change their minds and do the works they did at the first.
The word “remember” not only means to call to mind but to continue to be mindful of. Additionally it means to mention or speak of.
So Jesus is calling for both an individual and communal response which will in fact facilitate the very change of mind He sought for in them.
He was saying, “I want you to call to memory what it was like when your love for Me was new. I want you to take long walks reminiscing on those early days. Those were the best days. Days filled with wonder, excitement and starry eye devotion.”
By “repent” or “change your mind” Jesus was calling them to “Desire” those days again, not like a memory of things lost which can never be regained, but as a beckoning and open door an invitation back to the lofty place of first love – first in chronology and priority.
Then pursue that loving devotion again, by talking about it. Write about it, Sing songs about it. Eat meals together and talk about those days in ways which stir you up by way of remembering.
Though a somber and strong warning demanding a quick and whole hearted response, where some tears might even need to be shed – in the end it was an invitation back into a celebration of love which would lighten the heart, rather than weigh it down.
Have you reached Acts 2:42 yet?
“(42) And they devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and THE prayers.
(43) And awe came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were being done through the apostles.
(44) And all who believed were together and had all things in common.
(45) And they were selling their possessions and belongings and distributing the proceeds to all, as any had need.
(46) And day by day, attending the temple together and breaking bread in their homes, they received their food with glad and generous hearts, (47) praising God and having favor with all the people.
And the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved.”
We condensed these words into four things the early church DEVOTED themselves to. They were:
- Sound teaching
- The fellowship (koinonia)
- Breaking of bread (the Lord’s supper)
- The prayers
The Word “devote” meaning to tarry, remain, continue steadfastly with someone or something; to cleave faithfully to.
Sound teaching/doctrine:
These believers committed themselves to the teachings of the apostles and eventually to their pastors.
This required having a relationship with them, submitting to their authority, following their example and taking their education in the faith very, VERY seriously.
Owning this for ourselves, this requires that we NOT be complacent about our growing in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. Even as Peter taught us,
“(17) You therefore, beloved, knowing this beforehand, take care that you are not carried away with the error of lawless people and lose your own stability. (18) But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be the glory both now and to the day of eternity. Amen.” – 2 Peter 3:17-18
Now Pastors are not your only conduit to sound doctrine. God also places within your life teachers and prophets as well as other brothers and sisters, for we all have grace from God.
A personal question you need to ask yourself and in fact I am asking is, “Are you hungry and devoted to seeking out these ‘headwaters’ of grace?”
None of us are beyond the need for this. Even pastors are in constant need for refreshment, further education and examples set before them. You NEVER stop growing in the knowledge and grace of our Lord!
So, rather than rush through this – take a moment now to search your hearts regarding this. It will be one of the main focuses of our entering into Christ’s death and resurrection this morning when we end with communion.
Again we are not seeking to be legalistic. Hunger is not legalism, it is relational fervor and devotion – a word we will witness several times this morning.
You do not drive it, it drives you and that is the key difference. It also speaks directly to what was lacking in our Ephesian example.
Paul wrote to Timothy who he left in Ephesus to address some of these very issues.
1 Timothy 1:3-11 gives us an account of some of the Holy Spirit’s direction for Timothy as their teacher and living example,
“(3) As I urged you when I was going to Macedonia, remain at Ephesus so that you may charge certain persons not to teach any different doctrine, (4) nor to DEVOTE themselves to myths and endless genealogies, which promote speculations rather than the stewardship from God that is by faith.”
So Paul is saying that sound doctrine was a stewardship. As such it is something we not only devote ourselves to growth in – in terms of learning and practice but also in avoiding those things which run contrary to it. Furthermore, as a stewardship it is one of the many things which you will have the Lord confront you regarding when you stand before Him.
“(5) The aim of our charge is love that issues from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith.”
“(6) Certain persons, by swerving from these, have wandered away into vain discussion, (7) desiring to be teachers of the law, without understanding either what they are saying or the things about which they make confident assertions.”
“(8) Now we know that the law is good, if one uses it lawfully, (9) understanding this, that the law is not laid down for the just but for the lawless and disobedient, for the ungodly and sinners, for the unholy and profane, for those who strike their fathers and mothers, for murderers, (10) the sexually immoral, men who practice homosexuality, enslavers, liars, perjurers, and whatever else is contrary to SOUND DOCTRINE, (11) in accordance with the gospel of the glory of the blessed God with which I have been entrusted.”
So sound doctrine is not just what one studies, but something one practices or even allows themselves to be influenced by via exposure. This next passage supports this…
Titus 1:9-16,
“(9) He must hold firm to the trustworthy word as taught, so that he may be able to give instruction in sound doctrine and also to rebuke those who contradict it. (10) For there are many who are insubordinate, empty talkers and deceivers, especially those of the circumcision party. (11) They must be silenced, since they are upsetting whole families by teaching for shameful gain what they ought not to teach.
(12) One of the Cretans, a prophet of their own, said,
“Cretans are always liars, evil beasts, lazy gluttons.”
(13) This testimony is true. Therefore rebuke them sharply, that they may be sound in the faith, (14) not DEVOTING themselves to Jewish myths and the commands of people who turn away from the truth.
(15) To the pure, all things are pure, but to the defiled and unbelieving, nothing is pure; but both their minds and their consciences are defiled. (16) They profess to know God, but they deny Him by their works.
They are detestable, disobedient, unfit for any good work.”
And aren’t good works which conform to Jesus’ likeness and character, our high call from heaven and great and glorious hope?
Titus 2:1,
“But as for you, teach what accords with sound doctrine.”
Finally let’s consider the noble Bereans in Acts 17:10,11 and use them as our example…
Acts 17:10-11,
“(10) The brothers immediately sent Paul and Silas away by night to Berea, and when they arrived they went into the Jewish synagogue. (11) Now these Jews were more noble than those in Thessalonica; they received the word with all eagerness, examining the Scriptures daily to see if these things were so.”
They received the word with eagerness (like the second heart in the “Parable of the Heart Soils”) but they went further by examining and studying the scriptures to confirm the truth of the Gospel message.
To “receive” means to admit with the mind and heart, by implication to approve, embrace & follow.
“Eagerly examine” is the compound Greek word ana-krinṓ. Krino means to judge and ana means earnestly. So this essentially means they poured effort into studying to see if the message of the Gospel accorded with what the Old Testament scriptures foretold of Messiah and the New Covenant. This eager and diligent study was said to be a daily affair.
It has been my experience that this is one of the things most often neglected among modern Christians who somehow have deluded themselves into thinking that just because they don’t like reading or study that somehow absolved them from doing so.
Now let me take a verbal step back from this and use an illustration which is not so close to home. Imagine that a Pastor, a Godly Pastor had just taught a lesson about not being brought under the power of anything but Christ and who used substance abuse as his token example. After the message a brother under his charge comes to him and says, Pastor I know you’re right. I just wish I had no control over how much I drink. I mean I start off a little bored, or maybe a little down or I just get home from work and I’m hot and tired and so I reach for a beer – intending to only have one mind you. And before I know it, I’ve cleared an entire 12 pack. I just wish I was the kind of person who could be more disciplined with alcohol.
What do you believe might be the advice of a Godly Pastor to this brother?
Well brother, you’ll never get good at something you don’t take steps to change. Since your problem is so pervasive, you might want to start by not having alcohol available to you in your home.
Now this brother might counter this by saying that there is nothing unscriptural about having a drink. To which the Pastor would reply, “You are correct, but you just confessed that you don’t ever seem to be able to exercise control. So your first line of action is to ‘set no wicked thing before your eyes’”. Instead of buying it and bringing it home in hopes that you will do it right this time – just don’t buy it!
Make the quality decision of devotion to Christ by practice abstinence.
Do you think this would be good advice?
Well, let’s circle back to our subject of being devoted to eagerly studying the Word of God with interest.
I have someone I know who I like quite a lot who is a thinker but not a reader. They typically reach out to me a few times a year with questions they are intrigued over regarding scripture.
When I share what the scriptures say about the subject they commonly say that they wish they were more of a reader, but that they have a hard time with reading and comprehension.
If I offer a rebuke it is always a mild one since I am not their shepherd, but I do encourage them that one never gets good at something they never do.
It’s funny how we judge some actions with sharpness and yet treat with a light hand those things we are guilty of and justify them in the most simple and dismissive way.
You know in my youth I was also not very good and not lusting, but if I had offered that to virtually any thinking Christian back then as an excuse as to why I don’t stop lusting, they would have told me that I had better learn to get good at it! And they would have been correct!
The same applies here and I am inviting you to judge yourself in the light of it.
The next thing we are going to look at is The Fellowship…
Take away questions –
- A personal question you need to ask yourself and in fact I am asking is, “Are you hungry and devoted to seeking out these ‘headwaters’ of grace?”
- Are you eagerly examining the scriptures both regarding what you are taught and in areas of personal concern and interest?
Blessings!
Blessings!
