22/04/2015 - AVOID THEM

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Now I urge you, brethren, note those who cause divisions and offenses, contrary to the doctrine which you learned, and avoid them. Romans 16.17

We are oriented to abandon a certain group of people, which have become offensive and dangerous.  Although they were already enlightened, they let themselves be led by the lies of the enemy and therefore have lost communion with God. Now, the devil uses them to promote dissensions in the divine work. Some have a soft voice, look friendly, but are capable of obeying Satan and helping financially a fool.

These individuals are dangerous for the faith in Jesus. Paul urged the brethren to note them and avoid them. The devil is pernicious, and the same can be said about those who are allied to him. In the work of God, there must be peace, harmony, and respect to differences, such as in the various ministries. Those who put themselves in the condition of judging the servants of God will pay a high price for leading the weak towards perdition.

In a moment of weakness, even the greatest saint of God can be a victim of these fools. It happened so with the prophet that left Judah to prophesy against the altar built by Jeroboam. Undoubtedly, he was a true prophet, but he heard a lying old prophet in the middle of the way, and so he was killed by a lion (1 Kg 13). Be careful, for there are many old and lying “prophets” everywhere.

There are others who promote scandals. They have been completelylost, and what they most want is to turn away other people from the way of the Lord. Some are avid for prostitution, easy profit, enrichment with politics and in other areas. These people do not measure efforts to achieve their goals. If they are questioned, they do not care about someone’s perdition and answer that, since they are good, God will not condemn them.

The order is to avoid them. If you do not see any harm in joining them at a table or in other places, because they are your friends, you are disobeying the Biblical order, in such a way that you become the same as them. He who loves Jesus stays far away from these fools. Whoever thinks he is adult enough to not obey this order does not know what it means to love God and also works against the doctrine of faith.

The person that has the habit to comment about the weak that stumble, are undoubtedly causing scandal, therefore, the Master warns them that they will pay a high price for it (Luke 17.1,2). Do not let your mouth speak evil about any servant of the Most High, for if you do so, you will pay a high price for scandalizing a small believer in the Lord. It is better to run away from he who causes divisions and scandals.

If it is difficult or impossible to deviate from those who stay at the doors of the church or corners of the streets speaking bad of those who fell, pray so that the Father may move them away from you, your church, and that their bad example might not contaminate anyone. These “strange children” only rejoice when they make someone fall astray from God’s way. While we still have time, we must do good to all, but mainly, to the believers (Gal 6.10).

In Christ, with love,

R. R. Soares