Author: -Travis

Introduction To Psalm 119

Humans exist. If you are here reading this sentence you surely understand that fact. But where we seem to part ways is when we ask “why”? It’s the age old question, right? What is the purpose of life? What is the meaning of man’s existence?

I’m reminded of the Preacher in the book of Ecclisiastes who set out to answer that very question.

Ecclisiastes 1:12,13 says, “I, the Preacher, was king over Israel in Jerusalem. And I set my heart to seek and search out by wisdom concerning all that is done under heaven; this burdensome task God has given to the sons of man, by which they may be exercised.” He spared no expense either! He sought to fulfill every desire of the flesh in search of something that was meaningful and would explain the meaning of life. So what was his conclusion? “Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God and keep His commandments, For this is man’s all. For God will bring every work into judgment, Including every secret thing, Whether good or evil (Ecclesiastes 12:13‭-‬14).

Genesis 1:1 tells us, “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.” It goes on to describe how God created everything that exists in six days. Everything that He created has a purpose and is bound by His law. The rise and fall of the sun and moon, the boundaries of land and sea, everything is bound by His natural law.

Genesis 2:7, “And the Lord God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living being.” He then goes on to place the man in the Garden of Eden in order that he may tend to it. In other words, his purpose was to serve God and keep His commandments, the same purpose that Solomon concluded.

It seems like it is pretty cut and dry, but as the bible student will come to find out, mankind has a long history of rebellion. Over and over again the Israelites, whom God had chosen as His own special people, repeatedly disobeyed God. They rejected His laws and sought after their own paths and made their own gods to worship. That pattern of rebellion still continues today and leaves people feeling lost and confused, unsure of what the truth is. Lucky for us, we have a God who is merciful and good. He has given us a book in which we can trust to tell us the truth. To tell us the purpose for our lives.

In future posts I will be going through a series on Psalm 119. This is a psalm that declares the greatness of the word of God. I will try to keep each section brief, which will be a challenge since there’s a lot that can be learned in each section. I am looking forward to it. Stay tuned!

Hope In Christ

We’ve been through a lot in the past two years. The global pandemic has brought many challenges and interruptions to our lives that perhaps we never saw coming and weren’t prepared for. Heartache and loss have certainly been a large part of the struggles that we have encountered. On top of that, restrictions were put in place that interrupted our daily routines and what we considered to be normal life. A new reality took over. A reality that didn’t ask permission or allow for our opinions before taking hold. Change forced itself upon us all.

Change is inevitable in life. Everything we know, everything we see, everyone we love will change. We ourselves change, our interests, our desires, our physical bodies will change. With each change comes the necessity for us to adapt to that change and move forward. Some changes are relatively easy to adapt to and live with. Others bring us trouble, stress and grief. Adapting to those changes isn’t always so easy.

Working in healthcare, I see the effects of change on a daily basis. I see how different people react to the changes in their lives. Some seem to take the changes in stride, while others are quite down trodden, sad, and angry. I am alarmed at the increasing frequency which I see of younger and younger people attempting to end their lives. I see an increase of young individuals in need of psychiatric help. Life’s changes are bringing about troublesome times that some people just don’t know how to handle, or they’re seemingly incapable of accepting and adapting. They lose hope.

Hope in our modern language and hope in the Bible carry different definitions. When we speak of hope today, it is normally used in a way that whatever it is that we are hoping for is uncertain. “I hope we win the ball game.” “I hope I get that promotion at work.” When hope is spoken of in the Bible, there is no uncertainty to speak of. Instead it is a declaration of anticipation of what is certain. The inspired apostle Paul wrote to the Galatian church, “For we through the Spirit eagerly wait for the hope of righteousness by faith.” (Galatians 5:3) So, there is the “hope of righteousness”, but what is righteousness? “My tongue shall speak of Your word, For all Your commandments are righteousness.”  (Psa 119:172) God’s word is righteousness. God’s word gives us hope. It is in God’s word that we learn how we got here, why we exist, and the purpose for our lives. We learn how we should live and we learn of what is to come after this life. We read the promises of God to those who are obediently faithful to His word. We also learn of the punishment to come for those who reject God. We learn about Jesus, the Son of God, who bore our sins on the cross. We read His words and His commands. Everything we need to know in this life is revealed to us in the word of God.

God tells us that in an ever changing world, “”For I am the LORD, I do not change;…(Mal 3:6)

God is a God “who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.”  (1Ti 2:4)

God’s word tells us how we can be saved.

Peace and hope are found in Jesus Christ. His promises are certain if we remain faithful until death. The world will continue to change, will continue to bring hardship. All we need to do to overcome is to deny ourselves, take up our cross daily, and follow Christ (Luk 9:23).

Are you feeling hopeless? Are you feeling alone? Are you seeking purpose in life? I encourage you to seek out the truth that is found in God’s word, to seek out the gospel of Christ, and to become a faithful child of God. Please reach out via email or on the Facebook page and I will be happy to help you in your search for truth.

God bless.

World So Cold…

We are living in increasingly dark times, it seems. America is struggling to hold on to freedoms and liberties that have been the pillar of what makes this country so great. What started out as a country based on laws and moral principles has turned into an anything goes society with a “rules for thee, but not for me” mentality. Truth is subjective, laws are immaterial, morals are based in humanism. These are cold and dark times, indeed, and can bring people to their brink with worry and stress and fear.

But….

For the Christian, there is no fear. Concern? Absolutely! But not fear, because fear cannot coexist with FAITH. They are incompatible. Christians know and place their faith in certain truths, that when realized, eliminate fears that may crop up. Let’s go over a few of them.

Nothing New

(Ecc 1:9) That which has been is what will be, That which is done is what will be done, And there is nothing new under the sun.

What is happening now in our time has already happened in past times. Sure, there may be differences in technology or circumstances, but basically the evil that exists today is the same evil that has existed in the past and can be overcome.

God Is In Control

(Heb 2:14) Inasmuch then as the children have partaken of flesh and blood, He Himself likewise shared in the same, that through death He might destroy him who had the power of death, that is, the devil,

Jesus gave Himself to be crucified on the cross, was buried, and resurrected. He has conquered death and is sitting at the right hand of God today.

(Mat 28:18) And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth.

It is Jesus who has all authority, granted to Him by God Almighty. Why then should we fear?

(Heb 13:6) So we may boldly say: “THE LORD IS MY HELPER; I WILL NOT FEAR. WHAT CAN MAN DO TO ME?”

Peace In Christ

(Rom 5:1-11)  Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ,  (2)  through whom also we have access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.  (3)  And not only that, but we also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance;  (4)  and perseverance, character; and character, hope.  (5)  Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us.  (6)  For when we were still without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly.  (7)  For scarcely for a righteous man will one die; yet perhaps for a good man someone would even dare to die.  (8)  But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.  (9)  Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from wrath through Him.  (10)  For if when we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life.  (11)  And not only that, but we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received the reconciliation.

This world is certain to bring us much tribulation. But if we are in Christ, we have the surety of knowing that He is with us every step of the way. Loving us, guiding us, helping us, forgiving us. When all is said and done and we are found to have been faithful until the end, we are promised a home with Him in heaven. Therefore, I ask again: What is there to fear?

Are you in Christ? Are you unsure? Do you need someone to assist you in studying the Bible? Please make it known by emailing info@toreachthelost.com, or reaching out on our Facebook page.

God bless you.

Truth Came Once

In the book of Jude, verse 3, Jude exhorts his readers, namely fellow believers in Christ, by writing: “Beloved, while I was very diligent to write to you concerning our common salvation, I found it necessary to write to you exhorting you to contend earnestly for the faith which was once for all delivered to the saints.”

There are three things we can derive from this exhortation.

First, the faith of which he is writing was delivered. God delivered the faith through the Holy Spirit to the apostles, who then taught it and wrote it down. The scriptures reveal that God is the source of the faith. It did not originate with man. We are told in Ephesians 4:5 that there is only “one Lord, one faith, one baptism.”

Second, this one faith was delivered “once for all”. God delivered it only one time for all people in all generations in all the earth. This secures for us that what was delivered by God the one time He delivered it, is the only revelation we should be expecting! There are no further revelations, there are no changes being made, there are no additions or subtractions. What was delivered will remain unchanged for all of time. All we need is the Bible to teach us and guide us in the faith that we find in its pages. No other creed or additional “revelations” from man are necessary, and in fact, they work against our salvation.

Lastly, God is not subject to our culture. No matter the hot topics of the day, no matter the social agendas making the most noise…….what God delivered once still stands.

“All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.” 2 Timothy 3:16,17

May His Word enlighten you, teach you, guide you, and comfort you this day.

Shouting in Silence

In Matthew’s gospel account, we read of the events that took place as Jesus was arrested and sent before Caiaphas, the high priest:

Mat 26:59-63  Now the chief priests, the elders, and all the council sought false testimony against Jesus to put Him to death,  (60)  but found none. Even though many false witnesses came forward, they found none. But at last two false witnesses came forward  (61)  and said, “This fellow said, ‘I am able to destroy the temple of God and to build it in three days.’ ”  (62)  And the high priest arose and said to Him, “Do You answer nothing? What is it these men testify against You?”  (63)  But Jesus kept silent. (emphasis mine).

We’re told a few verses before how Peter was following at a distance to see what was going to happen. No doubt, he was concerned about the situation and what they were doing to Jesus. What do you imagine was going through his mind as he watches Jesus be questioned and ridiculed? I imagine him silently imploring Jesus to answer their questions, to tell them who He was and why He taught the things that He taught. “Tell them Lord, oh please, tell them!” But Jesus kept silent.

Consider what had happened before, when Jesus was brought first before Annas the high priest:

Joh 18:19-22  The high priest then asked Jesus about His disciples and His doctrine.  (20)  Jesus answered him, “I spoke openly to the world. I always taught in synagogues and in the temple, where the Jews always meet, and in secret I have said nothing.  (21)  Why do you ask Me? Ask those who have heard Me what I said to them. Indeed they know what I said.”

Jesus makes the point that it is no secret at all who He is and why He’s here. Ask anyone, and they’ll tell you! But look what happens….

 (22)  And when He had said these things, one of the officers who stood by struck Jesus with the palm of his hand, saying, “Do You answer the high priest like that?”

Their hearts were darkened. They were dead set against Jesus and His teaching. It would make no difference if He had elaborately explained everything to them…again!

Perhaps the silence of Jesus takes on more meaning when we look to what Isaiah had prophesied regarding Him:

Isa 53:7  He was oppressed and He was afflicted, Yet He opened not His mouth; He was led as a lamb to the slaughter, And as a sheep before its shearers is silent, So He opened not His mouth.

Have you ever considered why Jesus endured what He did, in silence? Do you ever stop and think about why Jesus had to face this abuse and the torment of the cross?

Heb 9:27-28  And as it is appointed for men to die once, but after this the judgment,  (28)  so Christ was offered once to bear the sins of many. To those who eagerly wait for Him He will appear a second time, apart from sin, for salvation.

For you. He did it for you.

God’s love for us, His creation, was shouting through the silence of Jesus.

Ask God First

I’d like for you to consider with me human reasoning and why it is not capable of guiding us in this life on its own.  

How do most people make decisions in life?  Well, typically we draw off of experiences we’ve had in the past, or we draw from the experience of others in similar situations.  We use what we’ve been able to gather with our five senses in order to draw a conclusion.  We hear the admonition from others to “follow our hearts” or “follow your gut”, and it will all work out.  I would submit to you today that it would be foolish to follow that advice.

The prophet Jeremiah wrote in Jeremiah 10:23, “O Lord, I know the way of man is not in himself; It is not in man who walks to direct his own steps.”  Also it is written twice in the book of Proverbs, “There is a way that seems right to a man, But its end is the way of death.” (14:12, 16:25)  Hearing these verses, is it becoming clear why it is not wise to rely on human reasoning to direct our lives?  

Consider this….we’ve all set out to make plans for the future, whether they be business plans or plans for our personal finances, or plans for how we will handle life circumstances.  The Bible records for us two individuals who ended up being punished for making plans!  

Luke 12:20ff, “Then He spoke a parable to them, saying: “The ground of a certain rich man yielded plentifully.  And he thought within himself, saying, ‘What shall I do, since I have no room to store my crops?’  So he said, ‘I will do this: I will pull down my barns and build greater, and there I will store all my crops and my goods.  And I will say to my soul, “Soul, you have many goods laid up for many years; take your ease; eat, drink, and be merry.”’  But God said to him, ‘Fool!  This night your soul will be required of you; then whose will those things be which you have provided?’

Here this man has worked hard and earned in abundance and is making plans to retire and take his ease.  It seemed reasonable to him, but what was the problem?

James 4:13ff, “Come now, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go to such and such a city, spend a year there, buy and sell, and make a profit”; whereas you do not know what will happen tomorrow.  For what is your life?  It is even a vapor that appears for a little time and then vanishes away.  Instead you ought to say, “If the Lord wills, we shall live and do this or that.”  But now you boast in your arrogance.  All such boasting is evil.”

Do you see the problem?  The problem was that they left God out of their plans.  They did not consider His will or His truth.  We live in a society that is pushing God away.  We’ve pushed Him out of our schools, out of the workplace, and out of our government.  We want to rely on human wisdom, fleshly wisdom to guide our paths.

Romans 8:6 says, “For to be carnally minded is death, but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.”  Friends, we need to consider God’s will for our lives.  We need to include Him in our plans and in our decision making.  We need to think spiritually and not carnally.  We need to allow God’s word to direct our lives and not allow emotionalism to rule the day.  

I pray that you’ve read this message today and it has caused you to reflect on your life and how you’re living it.  I hope you’ve considered the path that God would have you to take in your life.  God’s desire is for all of man “to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.” (1 Tim. 2:4)  I encourage you to read the Bible daily to find God’s truth and to seek out a local church of Christ in your area where you will find like-minded individuals who are doing the same.

Think About It…

In the Gospel accounts (Matthew 20:29-34; Mark 10:46-52; Luke 18:35-43), we read about Jesus who is on His way to Jerusalem and He’s passing through Jericho. Jesus has a multitude of people travelling with Him. As they pass through, there are two blind beggars that hear this commotion of the multitude and they inquire of it. They are told that Jesus of Nazareth was passing by, so they begin to cry out “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on us!!”. Of course, they are beggars, the most lowly of citizens, so they are warned to keep quiet. They refuse and continue to keep shouting all the more, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on us!!” Jesus hears their cries and stands still. He asks them, “What do you want Me to do for you?” They request that their eye sight be granted them. Jesus gives them their sight telling them that their faith has made them well. They then joined the multitude in following Jesus.

How does this apply to us today? We all have something that is plaguing us: SIN (Romans 3:23). Jesus has the power to remove that sin from us (Mark 16:16). What is it that’s keeping us from Jesus and what are we doing about it? For the two beggars it was the multitude of people that were between them and Jesus. What is it for us? It could be one thing, it could be a number of things. We need to identify whatever it is and we need to decide what we will do about it. The beggars shouted all the more! What will we do to overcome and access Jesus Christ? Think about it…

Victim Or Victor

Two movements of today are at odds with one another: Black Lives Matter and Blue Lives Matter. In several different places I’ve seen Black Lives Matter supporters hurl the argument that Blue Lives Matter isn’t an equal opposite to Black Lives Matter because being a police officer is a choice, whereas being born black is not a choice. While on the surface this statement is true, there’s a much deeper implication that you are automatically a victim because of the color of your skin. Is that true? I wonder, do all black people agree with this statement?

Have you ever considered Joseph? When he was a young man, his own brothers sought to kill him. Instead, they ended up selling him into slavery (Genesis 37:19-36). This was by no means Joseph’s choice and surely put him at a disadvantage. He was a victim of evil. What hostility and anger and hurt that must have produced within him. But he had a choice to make, didn’t he? He could choose what to do with his circumstances. He didn’t seek revenge and he didn’t play the victim. He became a trusted individual in the eyes of Pharaoh, and ended up saving the lives of many people from the famine in the land, including his brothers that sold him into slavery (Genesis 45:5).

We all are dealt certain circumstances in life, many of which we don’t choose for ourselves. We still have a choice to make in what we do under those circumstances. Do we lash out at others and place blame, burn down buildings, riot in the streets? Or do we seek the good that God has planned to come from our trials (Romans 8:28)?

What will you be when you are dealt unwanted circumstances? A victim? Or will you look to God, seek His righteousness, and be a victor?

The Nature of Man

2 Corinthians 4:16 “Therefore we do not lose heart. Even though our outward man is perishing, yet the inward man is being renewed day by day.”

There is a strong belief today among many people that mankind is just another animal, no different than a dog or a monkey. Yet scripture teaches us otherwise. In the verse above, Paul confirms that there is something unique about our makeup that distinguishes us from the rest of the animal kingdom. He speaks of the inward man and the outward man. What does he mean? Let’s go back to the account given in Genesis chapter 1 regarding the creation of man.

Genesis 1:26,27 “Then God said, ‘Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness: let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over the cattle, over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth. 27 So God created man in His own image, in the image of God He created him: male and female He created them.”

So we see the creation of man having something additional than that of the animals that were created. Man was created in the image of God. Not meaning that we physically look like God, but that we have His “likeness”. We have an eternal spirit. This is what Paul called the “inward” man. Paul refers to the spirit of man in 1 Corinthians 2:11, “For what man knows the things of a man except the spirit of the man which is in him?…”

Unlike the animal kingdom, we have two aspects of life: physical and spiritual. The former is temporary, while the latter is eternal. Our spirit will remain living even after our physical body has perished. We are God’s special creation. We are created in His likeness. While we must tend to our physical life, we must also have concern for our spiritual life.

The Hebrew writer wrote “Furthermore, we have had human fathers who corrected us and we paid them respect. Shall we not much more readily be in subjection to the Father of spirits and live?” (Heb. 12:9) As children, we receive discipline and correction from our earthly fathers that help us to grow and mature and be successful in our earthly life. But what about our spiritual life? Do we make ourselves subject to the discipline of God so that we may grow and mature spiritually?

Death occurs when the spirit is removed from the body. Our physical body will return from where it came (Genesis 3:19). Ecclesiastes 12:7, “Then the dust will return to the earth as it was, And the spirit will return to God who gave it.” Physical death is the first death. But, it is not the end as some would have you believe.

Jesus said in Matthew 10:28, “And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. But rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.” Man is able to kill the physical body but cannot kill the soul. As stated earlier, the soul returns to God who gave it. God will determine the fate of the soul, and he will determine that fate based upon how we lived our lives while existing on the earth. Therefore, we must tend to our spiritual life while we exist physically upon this earth, knowing that physical death is not the end.

Matthew 16:24-27, “Then Jesus said to His disciples, ‘If anyone desires to come after Me let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me. 25 For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it. 26 For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world and loses his own soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul? 27 For the Son of Man will come in the glory of His Father with His angels, and then He will reward each according to his works.'”

A judgment day is coming. Hebrews 9:27, “And as it is appointed for man to die once, but after this the judgment.” We will be judged according to how we lived our lives before our physical death. Did we live according to God’s will? Or, did we neglect God and do whatever our physical bodies willed us to do? This will determine whether we have an eternal existence in the presence of God, or whether we will live on in everlasting torment having been separated from God forever. So the answer to the all important question that is asked by most people, “What is my purpose for living?” is answered for us by our Creator.

Ecclesiastes 12: 13,14, “Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God and keep His commandments, for this is man’s all. 14 For God will bring every work into judgment, including every secret thing, whether good or evil.”

He Shall Direct Thy Paths

Proverbs 3:5-6  Trust in the LORD with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding;  (6) In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths.

It isn’t always easy to trust in someone who isn’t ourselves. It’s even worse when said trusting may result in pain, suffering, or even death. This proverb teaches us to trust in the Lord with all our heart and put aside our own understanding. As is usually the case, we have some examples in scripture to look to regarding this truth.

Job lost everything. His own wife and even his friends instructed him to just curse God and die. End your own misery! Wisely, Job did not heed their instruction. Instead, he trusted in the Lord to see him through. Job 13:15  Though He slay me, yet will I trust Him. Even so, I will defend my own ways before Him. Oh, he certainly questioned God, but he never cursed Him. Job surely knew that God could slay him, but be that as it may, he would still trust Him.

John 21:18-19  Most assuredly, I say to you, when you were younger, you girded yourself and walked where you wished; but when you are old, you will stretch out your hands, and another will gird you and carry you where you do not wish.”  (19)  This He spoke, signifying by what death he would glorify God. And when He had spoken this, He said to him, “Follow Me.” Jesus is making known to Peter that he would one day suffer and die because of his faith. Yet even knowing this, Peter continued in the doctrine of Christ, trusting God to fulfill all of His promises.

We trust him unto death knowing His great and precious promises. 2Pe 1:4  by which have been given to us exceedingly great and precious promises, that through these you may be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust. Can you count the promises of God? Is there anything of more value to us than what God has promised us?

When you think you’ve got it all figured out and your understanding is complete, remember Job. Job 38:1-4;Then the LORD answered Job out of the whirlwind, and said:  (2) “Who is this who darkens counsel By words without knowledge?  (3) Now prepare yourself like a man; I will question you, and you shall answer Me.  (4) “Where were you when I laid the foundations of the earth? Tell Me, if you have understanding.” Job had questioned God regarding his dealings with him and his afflictions. God is very direct with him and puts him in his rightful place as a mere man who is not even close to fathoming the knowledge and wisdom of God. Aren’t we sometimes like Job? Don’t we often think too highly of ourselves? Let’s also remember these scriptures:

Prov. 14:12 There is a way that seems right to a man, But its end is the way of death.

Jer. 10:23 O LORD, I know the way of man is not in himself; It is not in man who walks to direct his own steps.

Jesus implores us to always acknowledge Him. Matt. 11:28-30 Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.  (29) Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.  (30) For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.” We must acknowledge Christ and his doctrine and abide in it if we are to succeed in our endeavor to have heaven as our eternal home.

By putting our faith and our trust in Jesus Christ, God will direct our paths. How? Through His divine word. 2 Tim. 3:16-17 All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness,  (17) that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.

Jude 3 Beloved, while I was very diligent to write to you concerning our common salvation, I found it necessary to write to you exhorting you to contend earnestly for the faith which was once for all delivered to the saints. God’s word is truth, it is all sufficient.  Hold on to it and do not compromise! It is truly the most valuable possession one could have in this life.

John 12:48 He who rejects Me, and does not receive My words, has that which judges him— the word that I have spoken will judge him in the last day. So tell me again, why wouldn’t I let God’s word direct my path? His word is what will judge us in the end!

Let us be diligent in contending earnestly for the faith. Trusting in the Lord and never wavering.

Rom. 1:16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek. 

1 Cor. 2:4-5 And my speech and my preaching were not with persuasive words of human wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power,  (5) that your faith should not be in the wisdom of men but in the power of God.

Who is it that leads you? Do you walk according to your own understanding? Do you follow some other doctrine thought up by man? Or, do you walk according to the pattern that God has laid out in His word? The choice is all yours to make. Choose wisely.