Educating and Entertaining or Equipping*

      We are in the middle of holy days, which are Hanukkah and Christmas. Many people, especially young people, as they get older and go through the educational system, even Christian educational institutions, are losing their faith. I sought the Lord as to why this should be. This resulting message is vital to the sheep but also to the shepherds. Our education is often by rote and memorization, not delving into the deeper areas of knowledge, wisdom, and understanding in the Lord. Our churches have often become centers of entertainment, rather than places where the true and deeper things of the Lord are taught and experienced. This brings us to the question that must be asked: "Do you know Jesus?" 

     As opposed to being educating and entertaining, what does it mean for the church to be equipping the saints? Paul wrote that equipping the believers was one of the main focuses of the ministry of apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors and teachers. He wrote that these offices were given to the church: "For the perfecting (katartismos - complete furnishing, equipping, perfecting) of the saints for the work (ergon - labor, work, act, deed, doing) of the ministry, for the edifying (oikodome - building up, promoting of growth in Christian wisdom, piety, happiness and holiness) of the body of Christ: Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and the knowledge (epignosis - precise and correct knowledge of things ethical and divine) of the Son of God, unto a perfect (teleios - lacking nothing to completeness, perfect, consummate human integrity and virtue, maturity) man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness (pleroma - a body of believers which is filled with the presence, power, agency and riches of God and Christ) of Christ..." (Eph. 4:11-13). This is necessary so that: "we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro (klydonizoma - to be mentally agitated), and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness (panourgia - trickery, false wisdom [see also 1 Tim. 6:20-21], treacherous, deceitful), whereby they lie in wait to deceive; But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ: From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love." (v. 14-16).

     Looking at the Greek meanings of the words that describe above what the shepherds should be teaching, and the believers should be receiving within the Body of Christ, the Church, this is a far cry from being a place of mere rote education or entertainment.

     Paul also wrote that 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 perfect, thoroughly furnished (exartizo - to equip fully) unto all good works." (2 Tim. 3:14-17, excerpt). Furthermore, Paul wrote that we were to "Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing (or cutting straight) the word of truth," and not to be involved in profane and vain babblings (kenophonia - discussion of vain, empty and useless matters, fruitless discussions) that subvert (katastrophe - overthrow, destruction, apostacy, extinction of a spirit of consecration) the hearers. (2 Tim. 2:14-16).

     The proper equipping of the believers in Christ is necessary in order for the Church to fulfill its purpose in spiritual warfare also. Paul wrote that our warfare is not against flesh and blood but spiritual strong holds of wickedness: "Casting down imaginations (logismos - a reasoning, computation, judgment such as is hostile to the Christian faith), and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ.; and having in a readiness to revenge all disobedience, when your obedience is fulfilled." (2 Cor. 10:3-6). Correction and confession of sin begin in ourselves, and as we are effective in this, that obedience then becomes an active demand against the powers of spiritual wickedness that try to rule in the high places. Ignoring or denying sin in ourselves, as it is ignored in rote education or empty entertainment, will not equip and perfect us for the greater works which have been ordained for us to be doing.

     In order to be successful in our spiritual warfare against our enemy Satan, the Lord has equipped us with both armor and weaponry. Satan is not a cartoon character depicted as a man wearing a red suit and having a pitchfork, but he is an angel who, scripture indicates, led worship in heaven until his pride led to his downfall. He coveted the worship that was to be directed towards God. Paul wrote: "Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places (see also 2 Cor. 10 above). Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand." (Eph. 6:10-13, see also Mal. 3:2). We are certainly in evil days. Without being properly equipped in this manner we will not be able to withstand the evil powers. 

     Our equipment includes having our loins girded with truth. God hates lies and liars after the same spirit as Satan. We are to be protected by the breastplate of righteousness - which is the righteousness of God received through the blood of Christ and the Word of our testimony in Christ, and not the deception of the false righteousness of man without God. We are to have the peace of the Gospel covering our feet in every step that we take. This peace testifies of our relationship with Christ in all circumstances. "Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked." (v. 14-16). No wonder faith is under such attack - rote education and entertainment that passes as Church for the unequipped will not strengthen overcoming faith but extinguish it.

     We are also to be equipped with the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God. (v. 17). Our true knowledge of salvation through Jesus Christ protects our minds from the constant attack of lies and deceptions. The Sword that we have been given, the Word of God, is not achieved with empty readings and teachings, but in the Spirit-led depth of study in the knowledge of the power of Word of God in us and through us. Using all of these things with which we are to be equipped, we are to pray always in the Spirit for all of our fellow saints. (v. 18). Many believers across the world are being martyred for their faith in Christ. Is the Church being taught to be fully equipped and praying always?

     The apostle Peter wrote that false prophets and false teachers will be among the believers in order to bring heresies, speak evil of the way of truth, and even deny the Lord who bought them. (2 Pet. 2:1-3). Those who have not been properly equipped will believe these false prophets and teachers. John also wrote about false prophets that have gone out into the world. We are to try every spirit to see if they are of God or not. The spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is of God. Those that refuse to confess Jesus Christ are of the spirit of antichrist, which is already in the world: "Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he (referring to Christ) that is in you, than he that is in the world....Hereby know we the spirit of truth, and the spirit of error." (1 Jn. 4:1-6). Jeremiah wrote that the false prophets do not call the people out of their iniquity. (Lam. 2:14). Will the members of the Body of Christ be able to discern the difference between true and false prophets and teachers, or will they be satisfied instead with the entertainment that they provide? 

     There are churches on every corner, but the cities are not saved. There are megachurches prospering while the homeless are on the streets. There is contentment and comfort in the church while others are being martyred for the faith. There are those who are not content with the church as it is but are believing for a fully equipped church to rise up into what it is supposed to be doing: sharing truth with others and rescuing those who are perishing.

*Based upon Dr. Kenneth E. Stevenson, Jr.'s 12/28/25 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, which is evidence of Christ's suffering, death, and resurrection, 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.