The will of God is that the path that His children walk on should be one of increasing light(Prov 4:12). For this purpose, He has given us His Word as a light for our pathway(Paslms 119:105). God has exalted His Word according to all His Name(Psalms 138:2). This implies that just as we respect the Name of the Lord and don't equate any other name with it, even so we must respect the Word of God. The Jews in Jesus' day gave equal importance to the "traditions of the elders" as they did to God's Word. Jesus blasted this attitude with strong words in Mark 7:6-13 saying that thereby they had invalidated the Word of God. These things are written for our instruction. We too must be careful to eliminate unscriptureal traditions from our midst. God's Word opposes sin as well as human traditions, for both these belong to the darkness. We must hate both and avoid both.
When Paul came to the Bereans, it is recorded that they compared Paul's teaching with the Scriptures before accepting what he said. Therefore he Holy Spirit calls them 'more noble-minded' than other believers (Acts 17:11). This was such a habit with them, that as a result, they were never tossed about with 'every wind of doctrine' from the various preachers that came their way. Therefore Paul never had to write an epistle to the Bereans correting false doctrine in their midst. The example of the Bereans is a good one for all of us to follow. No man must ever become so great for us(even if he be an Apostle like Paul) that we accept what he teaches, without searching the Scriptures to see whether his teaching is based on God's Word. A man can be very God-fearing and still be mistaken in some matter. David, for example, was 'a man afer God's own heart'. Yet he permitted the Israelites to workshop the bronze serpent. It was Hezekiah, a lesser man, who recognised this as an evil practice and abolished it. (2 Kings 18:4)
Christian history likewise gives us the examples of great men of God who were mistaken on certain matters. These men were far more godly than most of us. Yet because of their 'blind spots', they taught things that were not found in the New Testament; and their followers today carry on proclaiming the 'blind spots' of their dead leaders! This is the result of 'worshipping the creature more than the Creator' (Romans 1:25) and of accepting the creature's word more than the Creator's Word.
When Peter equated Moses and elijah (godly men) withJesus, a cloud came between the Lord and him and God rebuked him (Math 17:4,5). No man's name must be mde equal to the name of Jesus and no man's word must be made equal to God's Word. "Let God be found true, though every man (however great or saintly he may be) be found a liar (if he is preaching what is not foud in Scripture)[Rom 3:4]. No man is infallible. Therefore whoever comes to us preaching the Word, we must be bold to challenge him to show us Scriptural authority for his teaching.
When you discover that something you have always believed in, has no foundation in God's Word, and this is confirmed in your spirit and mind, after careful study of the Word and after consultation with others who know the scriptures better than you, then remains onlyone course of action open to you, if you want to retain your integrity; that is to be honest with God and men and to change your view immediately, no matter what the consequences. This is where our love for the truth is often tested. Our desire for honour before others who hold the faulty view can hinder us from being honest. God may speak to us again to see whether we will be honest with the truth with which He has confronted us. If He sees us that we lack integrity, either because we lack the humility to acknowlede that we were mistaken at first or because we lack the courage to stand against others whose opinion we value, then He will allow us to remain with our 'blind spot' and to believe what is false. (2 Thes 2:10,11). If, onthe other hand, we choose the pathway of honesty, God will lead uson to greater light from His Word.
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Zac Poonen ( - Present)
God called brother Zac Poonen to a new work early on in his Christian experience. The movement is now called Christian Fellowship Churches where the New Covenant of New Testament Christianity is clearly preached.Brother Zac Poonen has written 25 books most of them being on the deeper Christian life. Many of these have been translated into a number of languages and have been circulated widely around the world. He clearly and passionately shares the narrow way of Christian discipleship that is neglected by so many modern preachers.
Recommends these books by Zac Poonen:
Through The Bible by Zac Poonen
The Final Triumph-A verse by verse study of the book of Revelation by Zac Poonen
Beauty for Ashes by Zac Poonen
Zac Poonen is a former Indian Naval Officer who has been in full time ministry in India for nearly 50 years as a Bible teacher and preacher. He holds responsibility for a number of churches in India and abroad. He currently pastors the Christian Fellowship Church in Bangalore, Karnataka.
He has written more than 25 books and numerous articles in English - which have been translated into many Indian and foreign languages. His messages are available on audio and video format.
Like the other elders in his church, Zac Poonen also supports himself and his family through what he describes as "tent-making" and does not receive any salary for his services. He does not receive any royalties for any of his books, CDs or DVDs, that are published by Christian Fellowship Centre, Bangalore.