Preacher Filters

 

1 Timothy 6:11-16

Have you had anyone address you in this manner: “But as for you, O man/(woman) of God, flee these things.  Pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, steadfastness, and gentleness.  Fight the good fight of the faith.  Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called and about which you made the good confession in the presence of many witnesses.”  (1 Timothy 6:11-12)  If you answer no, you may want to rethink that answer!  Because your preacher, priest, or teacher of the gospel has surely said these words, it may have been in a different format and often we go to church with our preacher filters on and filter out much of the message.  My dear friend and mentor Carroll Ray Jr. told me about preacher filters, they are designed by the enemy of our soul, and they tell the mind and emotions to tell the will that preacher/priest are suppose to say those things, and that is how a preacher filter works, and it seems to work very well. 

Now you might find yourself in this fix, you are between churches, I also use the example of being between jobs, it sounds so much better than telling people you are retired, but for some of my friends who hear that line often, it is getting a little old, in that I’ve been between jobs for 5 years; how long have you been between churches?  If you have been there for sometime, who is speaking the message above into your soul?  Not the enemy of your soul, that’s for sure, in fact he is reminding you often of how many hypocrites are in the church.  So let me give you a definition of hypocrite: “Someone who is acting in a manner not keeping with his/her real character,” so when a person who is a Christian is in church, it may be the only time of the week (to their shame) that they are not being a hypocrite.  And yes, church is a place open to messed up people and sinners, so come on back.

What is the Holy Spirit telling us to flee; the hunger for riches and letting the world system put you under the control of deception, and that deception is; “That your identity is found outside of Christ.”  Once we lose sight of that truth, we begin to buy into all kinds of lies that are fostered by the flesh, the world system, and the enemy of our soul.

As we take hold of eternal life, that is a real cool truth that we can take hold of eternal life, our earth suit is heading for the dirt, but the real you is already enjoying eternal life.  And the Spirit is telling us, who are eternal beings, to take hold of eternal life and be a light to our families, neighbors, dogcatcher, and all others, and to look forward to the return of Christ.  And while we are waiting for His return, do these things listed in verses 13-16 and the verse above.  “I charge you in the presence of God, who give life to all things, and of Christ Jesus, who in his testimony before Pontius Pilate made the good confession, to keep the commandment unstained and free from reproach until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ, which he will display at the proper time – he who is the blessed and only Sovereign, the King of kings and Lord of lords, who alone has immortality, who dwells in unapproachable light, whom no one has ever seen or can see.  To him be honor and eternal dominion. Amen.

From the Back Porch,

Bob Rice