God, Send Us a Timothy!

If anyone comes to your meeting and does not teach the truth about Christ, don’t invite that person into your home or give any kind of encouragement. Anyone who encourages such people becomes a partner in their evil work.” ‭‭2 John‬ ‭1:10-11‬ ‭NLT‬‬

As believers in Jesus Christ, we are to guard the true gospel. When we hear someone teach things that are contrary to the truth, we are to respond by refusing to fellowship with that person. This doesn't mean that we hate the person, it simply means that we are indicating to that person that we cannot, and will not, receive them as a true believer. False teaching is a raging disease that spreads like wildfire and infects the entire body. The only way to stop it is to get rid of it. We must take the necessary steps to rid ourselves of the deadly parasite of false teaching. Staying healthy, physically speaking, requires us to recognize the things that threaten our health. Once we identify the things that contribute to the decline of our health, we must make a decision to disallow them willful access to us. Things like overeating, smoking, alcoholism, and other things can destroy our bodies and bring premature death. Things like poison can bring immediate death. We must mark (label) things that are not to be consumed in order to identify them. Once they are identified, we can know what they are and how to handle them. The same is true with the spiritual health of the church. We must recognize what is unhealthy and decisively reject what would bring about our demise. We must label those who are poisonous and put them where they belong. We MUST mark false teaching and teachers. We must reprove and rebuke them. If they do not repent, we must reject them and refuse their fellowship. “Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them. For they that are such serve not our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly; and by good words and fair speeches deceive the hearts of the simple.”
‭‭Romans‬ ‭16:17-18‬ ‭KJV We need to make an appointment with the Great Physician and let Him give us an examination, diagnosis, and the prescribed treatment for our condition. The disease of sin runs rampant through our world and even finds its way into our pulpits and pews. The Great Physician is able to make perfect diagnosis, perform the necessary surgery to remove it from our midst, and prescribe the medication we need. TRUTH is the medication we must take in order to stay healthy. This will heal all of our infirmities and keep us away from the poison of false teachers and their teaching. I'm afraid that many of our churches today are infected and don't even know it. What we need is the potent dose of the Holy Spirit to revive us and renew us. Come, O Blessed Holy Spirit, and baptize everyone. We need your presence. We need your power. Send us preachers of truth that we may live and not die. Give us Biblical preachers and teachers. Shortly before Paul was executed he wrote these words to younger Timothy. He wanted this young protege of the faith to carry on the true gospel of Jesus Christ. Here is what he said: "I solemnly urge you in the presence of God and Christ Jesus, who will someday judge the living and the dead when he comes to set up his Kingdom: Preach the word of God. Be prepared, whether the time is favorable or not. Patiently correct, rebuke, and encourage your people with good teaching. For a time is coming when people will no longer listen to sound and wholesome teaching. They will follow their own desires and will look for teachers who will tell them whatever their itching ears want to hear. They will reject the truth and chase after myths.” ‭‭2 Timothy‬ ‭4:1-4‬ ‭NLT‬‬ God, send us a Timothy!!