Stumbling blocks from the world are inevitable, but woe to those who bring stumbling blocks into the church. What is a stumbling block?
Luke 17: 1-2 – Jesus said to his disciples: “Things that cause people to stumble are bound to come, but woe to anyone through whom they come. 2 It would be better for them to be thrown into the sea with a millstone tied around their neck than to cause one of these little ones to stumble.
Matthew’s gospel says it this way:
Matthew 18:7 – Woe to the world because of the things that cause people to stumble! Such things must come, but woe to the person through whom they come!
The ways of the world are full of compromise, justification, manipulation and exceptions. These are called ‘stumbling blocks.’ Denominational founders and teachers are the ones who bring these stumbling blocks into the church. They manipulate the doctrine of Jesus to suit the cultural norms of the present day. This results in stumbling blocks being presented before the body of Christ. These stumbling blocks become an obstacle to the Kingdom of Heaven (receiving the Holy Spirit).
How To Identify Stumbling Blocks
Matthew 16:23 – Jesus turned and said to Peter, “Get behind me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to me, you do not have in mind the concerns of God, but merely human concerns.”
As we can see Jesus is explaining that stumbling blocks are people who set their minds on the things of man, this is what the world teaches. Through the ways of the world, Satan is tempting us to do what we want to do. To suit our own desires and not that of God. The same Satan that tempted Eve with this concept.
Genesis 3:1-5 – Now the serpent was more crafty than any of the wild animals the Lord God had made. He said to the woman, “Did God really say, ‘You must not eat from any tree in the garden’?” 2 The woman said to the serpent, “We may eat fruit from the trees in the garden, 3 but God did say, ‘You must not eat fruit from the tree that is in the middle of the garden, and you must not touch it, or you will die.’” 4 “You will not certainly die,” the serpent said to the woman. 5 “For God knows that when you eat from it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.”
This same Satan, is trying to trick us, the body of Christ, just like he tricked Eve. He does this through denominational teachings. Denominational teachings justify concepts that are not biblical. They were created to suit human desires. These teachings justify sin and prevent any genuine repentance. They rationalize, compromise and create exceptions which nullify the words of God. In effect, denominations present a different Jesus altogether, and a completely different gospel. In return, this results in the receiving of a different spirit, which becomes the obstacle/stumbling block to the Kingdom of Heaven.
Romans 16:17-18 – I urge you, brothers and sisters, to watch out for those who cause divisions and put obstacles in your way that are contrary to the teaching you have learned. Keep away from them. 18 For such people are not serving our Lord Christ, but their own appetites. By smooth talk and flattery they deceive the minds of naive people.
Each denominational doctrine preaches a different Jesus. They spread a different gospel; an interpretation that is from a different spirit, and not the Holy Spirit. We should not be accepting this fabrication.
2 Corinthians 11: 3-4 – But I am afraid that just as Eve was deceived by the serpent’s cunning, your minds may somehow be led astray from your sincere and pure devotion to Christ. 4 For if someone comes to you and preaches a Jesus other than the Jesus we preached, or if you receive a different spirit from the Spirit you received, or a different gospel from the one you accepted, you put up with it easily enough.
Basically, the Devil is telling Eve to do what she wants to do; whatever she considers is wise in her own eyes. To create and follow her own version of right and wrong and not God’s.
Jeremiah 4:22 – “For My people are foolish, They have not known Me. They are silly children, And they have no understanding. They are wise to do evil, But to do good they have no knowledge.”
The same message that Satan tricked Eve with, he has tricked his fallen world with.
2 Corinthians 4:4 – The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so that they cannot see the light of the gospel that displays the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.
Ephesians 6:12 – For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.
Satan even tried to tempt Jesus with the world’s ways:
Luke 4:5-6 – The devil led him up to a high place and showed him in an instant all the kingdoms of the world. 6 And he said to him, “I will give you all their authority and splendor; it has been given to me, and I can give it to anyone I want to.
Jesus constantly responded according to the word of God and not according to his own beliefs and desires.
Luke 4:4,8,12 – Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Man shall not live on bread alone…8 Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Worship the Lord your God and serve him only…12 Jesus answered, “It is said: ‘Do not put the Lord your God to the test.
Jesus was very aware of the temptation Satan brought through his connection with the world and it’s ways of suiting one’s own desires over God’s.
John 14:30 – I will not say much more to you, for the prince of this world is coming. He has no hold over me,
Jesus has nothing to do with suiting his own desires. This is why he states that Satan has no hold over him.
In the same way, we must also have the same grasp on this concept. The world’s ways are built to suit our own desires. And the ruler of this world is Satan. So we must only follow the word of God and not our own desires.
When teaching, we must only do so from God’s word. Not our own teachings that we agree with and suit our own desires.
John 7:16-18 – Jesus answered, “My teaching is not my own. It comes from the one who sent me. 17 Anyone who chooses to do the will of God will find out whether my teaching comes from God or whether I speak on my own.18 Whoever speaks on their own does so to gain personal glory, but he who seeks the glory of the one who sent him is a man of truth; there is nothing false about him.
When we teach from our own desires, we are friends with the world.
James 4:4 – You adulterous people, don’t you know that friendship with the world means enmity against God? Therefore, anyone who chooses to be a friend of the world becomes an enemy of God.
Following The Ways of The World In The Church
The ways of the world have entered into the church through denominational teachings. This is because contrary to God’s word, we decide which doctrine suits us, instead of suiting the true doctrine of Jesus ourselves.
Ephesians 2:1-3 – As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, 2 in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient. 3 All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our flesh and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature deserving of wrath.
We must no longer follow a manipulated doctrine that gratifies our own cravings and spirit. We must only follow the teachings of Jesus through the Holy Spirit.
Satan, the ruler of this world tells the people of the world to do what suits their own desires. But the Bible tells us to do the opposite.
1 John 2:15-17 – Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. 16 For all that is in the world—the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride of life—is not from the Father but is from the world. 17 And the world is passing away along with its desires, but whoever does the will of God abides forever.
The world’s desire is to do whatever we want to do. It is not to fulfill God’s will for our lives in keeping with His commandments and the teachings of His Messiah Jesus.
Satan’s influence also comes into the church through stumbling blocks. These are people who claim to be brothers but really are ravenous wolves. They separate the sheep from the shepherd through false teachings that are full of exceptions, excuses and justifications. They have manipulated and distorted the scriptures to suit their own desires. These wolves are the denominational leaders, teachers and followers. They claim to be followers of Jesus yet they are not. They are followers of a man’s doctrine, not the Messiahs. These are the people that Jesus mentions in Matthew 18:7.
Matthew 18:7 – Woe to the world because of the things that cause people to stumble! Such things must come, but woe to the person through whom they come!
Paul also addresses this:
Acts 20:29-31 – I know that after I leave, savage wolves will come in among you and will not spare the flock. 30 Even from your own number men will arise and distort the truth in order to draw away disciples after them. 31 So be on your guard! Remember that for three years I never stopped warning each of you night and day with tears.
The men who distort the truth and lead away disciples after them, are the denominational founders and teachers. These false founders and teachers came from within the body of Christ. Through their disobedience, they manipulate scripture and doctrine to suit themselves.
1 John 2:19 – They went out from us, but they did not really belong to us. For if they had belonged to us, they would have remained with us; but their going showed that none of them belonged to us.
And they masquerade as disciples and apostles.
2 Corinthians 11:12-15 – And I will keep on doing what I am doing in order to cut the ground from under those who want an opportunity to be considered equal with us in the things they boast about. 13 For such people are false apostles, deceitful workers, masquerading as apostles of Christ. 14 And no wonder, for Satan himself masquerades as an angel of light. 15 It is not surprising, then, if his servants also masquerade as servants of righteousness. Their end will be what their actions deserve.
Jesus warned us of this:
Matthew 24:5 – For many will come in my name, claiming, ‘I am the Messiah,’ and will deceive many.
Rejecting False Teachers
We should know from Paul’s warning to the church, that even if an angel or the Apostles themselves contradict scripture and the doctrine of Jesus, that we should reject their teachings and consider them accursed by God.
Galatians 1:6-9 – I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting the one who called you to live in the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel— 7 which is really no gospel at all. Evidently some people are throwing you into confusion and are trying to pervert the gospel of Christ. 8 But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach a gospel other than the one we preached to you, let them be under God’s curse! 9 As we have already said, so now I say again: If anybody is preaching to you a gospel other than what you accepted, let them be under God’s curse!
Sadly, we do not consider these denominational leaders as accursed. We glorify them and follow after them instead of Jesus. We obey their interpretations instead of Jesus’. We need to maintain our integrity for Jesus, the way we originally intended when first coming to Christ and becoming a Christian.
We need to understand there is a difference between the pure teachings of Jesus, and denominational manipulations.
Galatians 1:10-12 – Am I now trying to win the approval of human beings, or of God? Or am I trying to please people? If I were still trying to please people, I would not be a servant of Christ.
11 I want you to know, brothers and sisters, that the gospel I preached is not of human origin. 12 I did not receive it from any man, nor was I taught it; rather, I received it by revelation from Jesus Christ.
The true gospel can only be received through the reading of God’s word, the Bible, with repentance and the direction of the Holy Spirit.
1 John 2:18-19, 26-27 – Dear children, this is the last hour; and as you have heard that the antichrist is coming, even now many antichrists have come. This is how we know it is the last hour. 19 They went out from us, but they did not really belong to us. For if they had belonged to us, they would have remained with us; but their going showed that none of them belonged to us…26 I am writing these things to you about those who are trying to lead you astray. 27 As for you, the anointing you received from him remains in you, and you do not need anyone to teach you. But as his anointing teaches you about all things and as that anointing is real, not counterfeit—just as it has taught you, remain in him.
Denominational teachers are the ones who are attempting to lead us astray.
Holding On To The True Gospel
We cannot simply accept man’s precepts (denominational teachings and doctrine) and think that we have the true gospel message.
Jeremiah 31:34 – No longer will they teach their neighbor, or say to one another, ‘Know the Lord,’ because they will all know me, from the least of them to the greatest,” declares the Lord. “For I will forgive their wickedness and will remember their sins no more.”
The anointing is the Holy Spirit and it is the Spirit that must teach us all things, not man.
Luke 4:18 – The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to set the oppressed free,
In the time of Jesus, the denominations that existed were the Pharisees and Sadducees. And Jesus warned us many times of the danger in following their doctrines.
Matthew 23:15 – “Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You travel over land and sea to win a single convert, and when you have succeeded, you make them twice as much a child of hell as you are.
Matthew 3:7 – But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming to where he was baptizing, he said to them: “You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the coming wrath?
Matthew 23:13 – Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You shut the door of the kingdom of heaven in people’s faces. You yourselves do not enter, nor will you let those enter who are trying to.
Matthew 16:6 & 12 – “Be careful,” Jesus said to them. “Be on your guard against the yeast of the Pharisees and Sadducees.”…12 Then they understood that he was not telling them to guard against the yeast used in bread, but against the teaching of the Pharisees and Sadducees.
These denominational teachers are false prophets and false shepherds.
Matthew 7:15 – Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves.
Matthew 10:16 – I am sending you out like sheep among wolves. Therefore be as shrewd as snakes and as innocent as doves.
Jeremiah 23:1 – Woe to the shepherds who are destroying and scattering the sheep of my pasture!” declares the LORD.
The Bible says that “all the ways of man appear right in his own eyes” (Proverbs 21:2). This is because people of the world simply change or reject any philosophy that doesn’t suit them. Which results in them justifying their sin. They see all their ways, even when sinful, as right but only according to their own understanding of right and wrong, not God’s. Jesus is stating that the people who belong to the world and think through the world’s philosophies (which suit their own desires), are expected to be stumbling blocks.
As Christians, however, we must have nothing to do with this behavior and thinking. We must not twist scripture to suit our own desires. Rather, we should condemn our desires to suit scripture. We must accurately identify and confess our sins so that we may be forgiven. We must not excuse our sin by making justifications. If we continue manipulating scripture to suit our own desires, and teach others through our words and example, our end will be just as Jesus stated.
Matthew 18:6 – but whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in Me to sin, it is better for him that a heavy millstone be hung around his neck, and that he be drowned in the depths of the sea.
Luke 17:1-2 – Jesus said to his disciples: “Things that cause people to stumble are bound to come, but woe to anyone through whom they come. 2 It would be better for them to be thrown into the sea with a millstone tied around their neck than to cause one of these little ones to stumble.
A Warning To False Teachers
Anyone who introduces manipulated beliefs into the church and causes the true believers to stumble and sin, it would be better if they were never born.
The one that the stumbling block comes through, is the Christian, who justifies sin and manipulates Jesus’ words and biblical scripture, to suit their own desires. They justify the exceptions they have added to God’s word and teach it to others, causing the little ones to no longer be repentant, which results in unconfessed, unforgiven sin. Denominational teachers are guilty of this and so is anyone who follows and teaches their false doctrines, whether it be through words or their example. They have compromised the integrity of Jesus’ concepts to suit their own desires. Thus, causing people in the church to no longer be able to identify their sin. Being able to identify one’s sin is precisely the reason why Jesus gave his life for us, so that people could be cleansed from their iniquity.
Acts 26:18 – …to open their eyes and turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God, so that they may receive forgiveness of sins and a place among those who are sanctified by faith in me.’
It would be better if that individual were forgotten and never born but this is not the case. God does not forget unconfessed sin and so eternal damnation is their end. This is a very strong statement that is made by Jesus since he spoke the same way about Judas.
Matthew 26:24 – The Son of Man goes as it is written of him, but woe to that man by whom the Son of Man is betrayed! It would have been better for that man if he had not been born.”
Knowing that stumbling blocks are inevitable is one thing. As Christians, we must recognize and be spiritually alert about the false teachings that we allow to enter into our heart and become part of our philosophy. If we are not careful to examine and question everything we hear and are being taught, we will blindly allow false teachings to take root in our beliefs. It is important to compare the things that we are being taught by our churches, leaders, bible studies, prayer groups, etc., to what the teachings of Jesus actually say. If what we are being told to believe does not line up with what Jesus taught, then we must reject the false teaching and accept Jesus’ version, like the Bereans did.
Acts 17:11 – Now the Berean Jews were of more noble character than those in Thessalonica, for they received the message with great eagerness and examined the Scriptures every day to see if what Paul said was true.
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