Mind Control 2 Series

It is important to be alert to false doctrine, at all times. It is especially needful for a church that has "Systematic Teaching" as its foundation to be on high alert. False doctrine allowed to go unchecked can and often will destroy a Bible teaching church.

Almost any Spiritual action can be imitated by the energy of the flesh, or the control of the mind OR by demons. Therefore, we must be very careful to make sure that what we attribute to God is not, at its best carnal or at its worst demonic.

Imitation Spiritual actions are founded on false and improper teachings of some areas of Scripture. These false teachings usually have to do with some pseudo ease of living the Christian Life.

Today I want us to look at a couple of false teachings. By looking at these false teachings and their foundation or lack thereof will pave the way for a careful look at a false teaching that is floating around today.

False teachers

take a small portion of Scripture

and

twist it to say that:

(1) If we live right, we will have no sickness or pain. If we have sickness or pain it is because of sin in our lives.

As I pointed out in the first lesson of this series, these false teachings have some aspects that are true or close to the truth. All sickness, pain, sorrow, etc. are a result of the Spiritual Fall of Adam and the curse given by God.

God does, at times, allow sickness as punishment for personal sin, and God does often bring healing through prayer and repentance. Ultimately, God will do away with all pain, sorrow, sickness and death. However, that is yet a future aspect of redemption, and has nothing to do with our present day by day life, except as a blessed hope.

Revelation 21:3 And I heard a loud voice from heaven saying, "Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and He will dwell with them, and they shall be His people, and God Himself will be with them and be their God. 4 "And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying; and there shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away." 5 Then He who sat on the throne said, "Behold, I make all things new." And He said to me, "Write, for these words are true and faithful."

Even though the abolition of pain, death and all associated with these are part of the plan of redemption, we must remember it is a future aspect of redemption and is not a present fact that we can claim for our daily lives, at this time.

If God heals, or prevents sickness it is a miracle, but is not a universal provision of God’s redemptive program during this Age of Grace. These false teachers, of course, have a Scripture to back-up their false teachings. In this area of false teaching they often use as one of their passages…

Isaiah 53:5 But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities; the chastisement for our peace was upon Him, and by His stripes we are healed.

There is more than one form of healing mentioned in the Bible. There is physical healing, there is Spiritual healing, etc. The context will give us directives as to which healing is referred to in a passage.

We could look at the context of this phrase in the Isaiah passage, however this phrase is referred to in 1 Peter and it is much easier and quicker to look at the context in Peter than Isaiah.

1 Peter 2:24 who Himself bore our sins in His own body on the tree, that we, having died to sins, might live for righteousness -- by whose stripes you were healed.

There’s the reference to being healed by Christ’s stripes. Now let’s look at the context and see if there is any way we can claim physical release from suffering, sorrow, sickness, etc. because Christ was beaten with many stripes, before He went to the cross.

1 Peter 2:19 For this is commendable, if because of conscience toward God one endures grief, suffering wrongfully. 20 For what credit is it if, when you are beaten for your faults, you take it patiently? But when you do good and suffer for it, if you take it patiently, this is commendable before God. 21 For to this you were called, because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that you should follow His steps: 22 "Who committed no sin, nor was guile found in His mouth"; 23 who, when He was reviled, did not revile in return; when He suffered, He did not threaten, but committed Himself to Him who judges righteously; 24 who Himself bore our sins in His own body on the tree, that we, having died to sins, might live for righteousness -- by whose stripes you were healed. 25 For you were like sheep going astray, but have now returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls.