Regarding Tradition

Thes 2:15, "Therefore, brethren, stand fast, and hold the TRADITIONS which ye have been taught, whether by word, or our epistle".

Galatians 1:6-11, "I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel: which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ. But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed. As we said before, so say I now again, If any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed. For do I now persuade men, or God? or do I seek to please men? for if I yet pleased men, I should not be the servant of Christ. But I certify you, brethren, that the gospel which was preached of me is not after man. For I neither received it of man, neither was I taught it, but by the revelation of Jesus Christ".

Here's an example of how we must rightly divide the Word of Truth. In 2 Thessalonians, the Apostle Paul is exhorting the church to hold the traditions they've been taught by word or epistle. But, hear the same Apostle Paul make it clear that the gospel (good news) originally preached is what they need to cling to, even if he, or another Apostle, or an Angel from Heaven should preach something else, (Galatians 1). These are strong words indeed, and he repeats himself for added emphasis. Then he declares that he received this gospel by the revelation of God, he did not confer with the other men, not even the other Apostles, but was separated from them for three years being taught by the Holy Spirit, verses 15-19, "when it pleased God, who separated me from my mother’s womb, and called me by his grace, to reveal his Son in me, that I might preach him among the heathen; immediately I CONFERRED NOT WITH FLESH AND BLOOD: neither went I up to Jerusalem to them which were apostles before me; but I went into Arabia, and returned again unto Damascus. Then after three years I went up to Jerusalem to see Peter, and abode with him fifteen days. But other of the apostles saw I none, save James the Lord’s brother". Just before saying that, he said that before being saved, he had 'held to the traditions of the fathers' with great zeal. So, Paul is not about to instruct the church to make the same mistake he did. He is specific about what to hold on to. He was full of the Holy Spirit and lived his life being poured out. He says 'follow me'. But, when we hear others saying that, we must beware. Others take on the same office, and declare that others should follow them, and it is not the same, for they do not have the same spirit. How many preachers, teachers, and others in the church have received their message from the Holy Spirit? By revelation, not from other's writings, not from a specific doctrinal teaching! Read Jeremiah 23! Doctrinal teachings assume that all the work has been done, that someone else long ago figured it out, wrote it down, and made it 'understandable'. Preachers then, simply research the research and preach it over and over. They have NOT heard from God, and that is why you leave church empty. Now, having said that, God is gracious, and merciful. He is loving and kind, so from time to time there are evidences of His love. God's mercy and love in our lives does not mean WE are right! He calls us to repentance! PAUL'S MINISTRY WAS MARKED BY SELF-DENIAL. He put his very body on the line over and over. It wasn't just words. If you compare Paul's life to those that the Lord speaks to in Mat 15:6-9, "Thus have ye made the commandment of God of none effect by your tradition. Ye hypocrites, well did Esaias prophesy of you, saying, THIS PEOPLE DRAWETH NIGH UNTO ME WITH THEIR MOUTH, AND HONOURETH ME WITH THEIR LIPS; BUT THEIR HEART IS FAR FROM ME. BUT IN VAIN THEY DO WORSHIP ME, TEACHING FOR DOCTRINES THE COMMANDMENTS OF MEN". Can you see the difference? Philippians 3:17-20, " Brethren, be followers together of me, and mark them which walk so as ye have us for an ensample. (For many walk, of whom I have told you often, and now tell you even weeping, that they are the enemies of the cross of Christ: whose end is destruction, Whose God is their belly, and whose glory is in their shame, WHO MIND EARTHLY THINGS.) For our conversation is in heaven...".Now, if you read what Paul says in the first 16 verses you will be able to understand a little about this man's heart. God had done a work and continued to work, the outworking of life in the Holy Spirit, could be seen in Paul, praise God! May it be seen in us also.

Beware of men and women who use the Scriptures to uphold whatever it is that they follow when their lives and what they say are about self. The lives of those preachers with huge congregations are certainly not being poured out...they are taking in. They are filling themselves full of every thing the world has to offer, whether its expensive clothing, houses, planes, and whatever their hearts desire. And YOU are being taken in. They make merchandise of you. Many times the Scriptures are used in their sermons, and in the books the pump out to add weight to what they say, but you need to FIND OUT WHAT THE REST OF THE CHAPTER AND BOOK SAYS! Don't just accept their interpretation or usage of it. This started in the first century! Paul and the other Apostles were already dealing with those who had figured out how to make this new 'ideology' enrich them. Remember Simon? Acts 8:18-19, " And when Simon saw that through laying on of the apostles’ hands the Holy Ghost was given, he offered them money, saying, Give me also this power...". Yes. It's too often about power. Power, authority, riches, validation, but not about Christ. He gets used, and the Word gets abused, while they are 'lovin' life'. And it trickles down. Jude 1:4, "... there are certain men crept in unawares, who were before of old ordained to this condemnation, ungodly men, turning the grace of our God into lasciviousness, and denying the only Lord God, and our Lord Jesus Christ". Jude 1:3, "

 Beloved...it was needful for me to write unto you, and exhort you that ye should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints".