Dr. Stephen Phinney
Greetings, IOM Reader,
For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but wanting to have their ears tickled, they will accumulate for themselves teachers in accordance to their own desires, and will turn away their ears from the truth and will turn aside to myths. (2 Timothy 4:3-4)
Recently, I met with a young pastor who suffers from impreciseness and inexactness of the absolutes of the Word of God. Whenever I asked what he believed regarding some of the simplest absolutes in the Word of God, a cloudy, hazed look would come over his face. When he did respond, his speech was cloaked in such vagueness the word obscurity would have been justifiable. While he battled between people-pleasing and pride, he tripped over every absolute I threw his way. My conclusion? He was stuck in a dreamy state of befuddlement.
Later that night, I found myself in a state of sorrow. Ok, I admit, when I come in contact with a person who is not clear & precise in communication, I tend to avoid such people. However, due to my love and devotion for this young pastor, I slipped into the sorrow that only our Lord understands. I pleaded with the Lord over the soul of the indistinctness of this pastor as well as the thousands of supposed teachers of our Lord’s Holy Word. As per my norm, I waited on the Lord to speak. And He did.
Before the Lord grants me understanding or a Word of Wisdom, He classically clears my head of selfishness. He gave me this passage.
I am telling the truth in Christ, I am not lying, my conscience testifies with me in the Holy Spirit, that I have great sorrow and unceasing grief in my heart. (Romans 9:1-2)
My grief and sorrow were for a generation of “Bible teachers” who are lost in a world of looseness of the immovable doctrines of our Lord. Once my motives were clear, the Lord spoke and asked me to write His words down.
Stephen, now write My words, inscribe it on a scroll for the rebellious people of this generation, that it may serve in the time shortly before I gather My Son’s Bride. As a witness forever.
For this is a rebellious people, false sons, sons who refuse to listen to the instruction of the LORD, who say to those I have appointed to see My prophecies, ‘You must not see visions,’ and to the prophets, ‘You must not prophesy to us what is right. Speak to us pleasant words, and we prefer they prophesy illusions. Get out of the way, turn aside from the path, let us hear no more about the Holy One of Israel.’
Therefore, thus, says the Holy One of Israel, 'Since you have rejected this word and have put your trust in oppression and deception, and have relied on them, therefore this gross injustice will be to you like an obligation about to fall, a bulge in a high wall, whose collapse comes suddenly in an instant. Their collapse is like the smashing of a potter’s jar, so ruthlessly shattered that fragments of their lives will not be found among its pieces. They will be a people who cannot take the living water from My cistern.'
Thus, the Lord GOD, the Holy One of Israel, has said, 'In repentance and rest, you will be saved. Quietness and trust are your strength. But you were unwilling and said, ‘No, for we will flee from those who deliver Your instruction. Therefore, we want You and Your prophets to flee. We will run swiftly from them,’ Therefore, I, the Lord, will cause them to pursue you swiftly. One thousand will flee at the threat of one prophet, one of my faithful teachers, until you are left as a flag on a mountaintop and as a fire signal on a hill that stands alone in your rebellious demands.
Lack of precision, certainty, or distinctness is common for the teachers of our Church today. This truth leads me to question the amount of clarity of the Scriptures our up-and-coming generation is missing out on. In this reality, I am left with the authentic vulnerability this generation will suffer. Will this generation of “believers” endure to the end? Will they be duped into following a Christ figure that preaches half-truths? Will they become an enemy of Truth? And worse yet, will they be led away from authentic indwelling salvation? Not only are these great questions, but the many of the parents, pastors, and generalized leaders of this generation are also what Jeremiah called “stupid.”
“For My people are foolish, they know Me not; They are stupid children and have no understanding. They are shrewd to do evil, but to do good they do not know.” (Jeremiah 4:22)
However, I ask the Lord often, what is the point in preaching to the lukewarm “believers” when they almost always unsubscribe, ignore, or disregard Your poignant words of warning? Folks, all I get, typically, is to do what I have asked of you. So…if you have ears to hear, please listen to the prophetic words of the Lord.
Study Jeremiah chapter four & Isaiah chapter thirty.
Watch our latest documentary, "The Enemy of Truth." HERE
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