Doctrine to Equip or Doctrine to Destroy?*

      There are two types of doctrines in the Church. True doctrine, based upon the Word of God and given to the Church through apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors and teachers, equips the Church to do the work of the ministry, as Ephesians Ch. 4 tells us. False doctrines destroy the work and purpose of the Church and hinder the kingdom of God from being received.

     Jesus called first His twelve disciples together and "gave them power and authority over all devils, and to cure diseases...And they departed, and went through the towns, preaching the gospel, and healing everywhere." Jesus also told them that if anyone does not receive them, they were to shake that city's dust from their feet when they left "for a testimony against them." (Lk. 9:1-6, excerpt).

     This authority given by Christ was not limited to just the twelve disciples. Jesus also later appointed seventy to prepare the way for Him in every place to which He also would be coming. He told them that the harvest was great: "...pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he would send forth labourers into his harvest. Go your ways: behold, I send you forth as lambs among wolves." (Lk. 10:1-3). Their assignment would not be easy because the wolves would be waiting. Jesus told them that in every city that they were, to heal the sick and tell them, "The kingdom of God has come nigh unto you." Again, Jesus told the seventy as He told the twelve that if the city would not receive them, that they were to wipe the dust of that city off their feet because of the unbelief of that city. Jesus said that Sodom, Tyre and Sidon, cities that experienced destruction from God, would fare better at the time of judgment than the cities that refused to receive the gospel confirmed by the miraculous works of the seventy: "He that heareth you heareth me; and he that despiseth you despiseth me; and he that despiseth me despiseth him that sent me." (v. 9-16, excerpt).

     The seventy returned to Jesus with joy telling Him that even the devils were subject to them through the name of Jesus. Jesus answered them: "I beheld Satan as lightning fall from heaven. Behold, I give unto you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall by any means hurt you. Notwithstanding in this rejoice not, that the spirits are subject unto you; but rather rejoice, because your names are written in heaven...Blessed are the eyes which see the things that ye see: For I tell you, that many prophets and kings have desired to see those things which ye see, and have not seen them; and to hear those things which ye hear, and have not heard them." (v. 17-24, excerpt).

     The twelve and the seventy both carried out their instruction announcing the kingdom of God, preaching the gospel of salvation, healing the sick, and casting out devils, before Jesus went to the cross. Their only qualification was that their names were written in heaven because Jesus was their Lord. That being the case, where are miracles in the Church today? Some argue that miracles are no longer necessary, but those miracles confirm the Gospel of Christ and the kingdom of God in order to give people the opportunity to believe. 

     This miraculous ministry in Christ is not just for the twelve or the seventy. Peter wrote to (all) those who believe: "But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light: Which in time past were not a people, but now are the people of God: which had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy. Dearly beloved, I beseech you as strangers and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts, which war against the soul." (1 Pet. 2:9-11). Like the "wolves" mentioned above by Jesus, our own flesh and its desires will work against our miraculous calling and purpose as priests and kings in the kingdom of God. Even back in Exodus, the LORD said that His people would be a peculiar treasure to Him above all people, that they would become a kingdom of priests and a holy nation if they would obey His voice and keep His covenant. (Ex. 19:5-6). Jesus came and established a covenant for us. The prophet Isaiah wrote: "But ye shall be named the Priests of the LORD: men shall call you the ministers of our God: ye shall eat the riches of the Gentiles, and in their glory shall you boast yourselves." (Isa. 61:6). The people of God are supposed to manifest!

     This is a doctrine based upon the Word of God that edifies the Church.

     Jesus said that His return would be at an hour that is not expected. (Mt. 24:42-44). He tells us to "Therefore, be ye ready...Who then is a faithful and wise servant, whom his lord hath made ruler over his household, to give them meat in due season? Blessed is that servant, whom his lord when he cometh shall find so doing (poieo - do, make, bring forth, work, show, fulfill, to carry out, execute, to make ready the celebration of the Passover). Verily, I say unto you, That he shall make him ruler over all his goods." (v. 45-47, see also Lk. 12:41-43).  The faithful and wise servant is doing. He is giving meat to the household of his lord. The meat here is the Word of God. We are to share the meat of the Word with those who are ready to hear.  

     The apostle James wrote for us to be doers of the word, and not hearers only..."this man shall be blessed in his deed.". (James 1:22, 25). Our faith requires an action, a doing. James also wrote: "Even so faith, if it hath not works (ergon - work, deed, doing, labor, thing done), is dead, being alone." (James 2:17). He gives the example of seeing someone in need of food or clothing and saying to them "I will pray for you." Faith becomes alive when we do the work of giving the food and clothing to the one who has need. (v. 14-16). Show your faith by doing the works of faith.

     Daniel wrote that in the last days, "...the people that do know their God shall be strong, and do ('asa - do, make, show, work, perform, produce, bring about, accomplish) [exploits]." (Dan. 11:32).  Do you know God? Some have a head knowledge of God but not a heart knowledge of Him. In these end times of which Daniel wrote above and according to the signs, are we doing?

     Jesus warned the Churches in the Book of Revelation against doctrines that destroy, of which He warned the Churches to repent, or He would come and fight them with the sword of His Word. One of the doctrines was and is the doctrine of the Nicolaitans, "...which thing I hate." (Rev. 2:6, 15). The meaning of the word "Nicolaitan" in Greek is "the conquering or destruction of the laity/people)."  We see this kind of destructive doctrine also as Jesus warned in Mt. 23:1-12 of the oppressive teachings of the scribes and Pharisees, who were the religious elite: "...do not ye after their works: for they say, and do not. For they bind heavy burdens and grievous to be borne, and lay them on men's shoulders; but they themselves will not move them with one of their fingers." They coveted honors, titles, and position in the community rather than the honor given by God to those who humble themselves in His service: "But he that is greatest among you shall be your servant. And whosoever shall exalt himself shall be abased; and he that shall humble himself shall be exalted."

     Another destructive doctrine that Jesus warned against was the doctrine of Balaam. (Rev. 2:14). Balaam was a man who taught an enemy king of Israel to cast stumbling blocks before the children of Israel, to join the worship of foreign idols with offerings and fornication. The doctrine of Balaam undermines the people of God with deception. The Church has compromised and accepted doctrines, including the allowing of children to pass through fire (destruction of the unborn). Sexual immorality and fornication have become acceptable in many churches, but these are stumbling blocks placed before God's people to cause their destruction.

     In His continued warning concerning the Pharisees and religious leaders in Mt. 23, Jesus began to list the woes that will be connected to those who bring destructive doctrines and ways to the people of God. The woes will come against those who: shut up the kingdom of God for themselves and for others; devour widows' homes and make pretentious prayers; search to make proselytes (disciples) for themselves who will be twice more the child of hell because of it; are blind teachers who teach others to revere and make offerings and oaths to temple buildings and furnishings rather than the God who inhabits them; pride themselves on their giving of tithes but ignore the weightier matters of the law such as judgment, mercy and faith when they should do both of those things; care more for the outward religious false appearance of righteousness while inside, they are full of uncleanness; build tombs honoring past prophets whom their fathers killed while saying that they would not have done so. Meanwhile, they will kill and persecute the righteous messengers that Christ has sent to them. They shall be held guilty of spilling that blood. Jesus describes them as "hypocrites" for the false doctrines and practices that these religious leaders have used to destroy themselves and the people. Desolation will come to Jerusalem, Jesus said as He wept over the city, because they refused to receive His salvation. (v. 13-39).

     Are we doing and sharing the Word and the gifts given to us? Jesus gave the same glory to us, we who have heard and received Him because of the words of His disciples, that He had with the Father. Are we flowing in that glory? Jesus is the Son of God, the Messiah of Israel and our soon coming King, and we are called to be priests and kings, and to be doing!

*Based upon Dr. Kenneth E. Stevenson, Jr.'s 11/9/25 message to the church. If you would like to hear the complete message, you can find it on the Facebook page of Kenneth E. Stevenson Jr. Dr. Stevenson's video messages are also found on You Tube at the Kenneth Stevenson channel. To contact or support this ministry, or to request prayer, you can write to PO Box 154221, Waco, TX, 76705. To find out more about the Shroud of Turin, and to receive a free e-book now available in several languages, go to http://www.theshroudofturin.org/freebook. Also the book NAZAH: White Linen and the Blood of Sprinkling, written by Dr. Stevenson, is available on Amazon.