Apostle Allison Smith Conliff delivers a message on spiritual endurance and scriptural integrity. She encourages the congregation to prioritize the eternal rewards of Christ over worldly wealth or political activism, specifically advising against joining student protests. She warns against counterfeit doctrines and misleading teachers, urging believers to remain rooted in the original gospel rather than shifting their allegiance. Emphasizing the reality of spiritual warfare, the Apostle shares personal stories of divine protection and the necessity of living a holy life to resist demonic challenges. Summarily, it serves as a call for followers to maintain spiritual discipline and rely on God's strength to navigate a modern world filled with moral and doctrinal confusion.

Key Points:

Believers must distinguish between the original gospel and counterfeit teachings because following the wrong message leads to negative spiritual results and can ultimately end in destruction. There are people "masquerading as teachers" who "disturb and confuse" the church with misleading, counterfeit doctrines.

Drawing from the provided sermon, here are the primary reasons why this distinction is vital:

If a believer listens to the "wrong teacher," they will inevitably get the "wrong results". False teachings often distort the gospel of Christ into something it is not, such as the erroneous belief that a person must convert to Jewish traditions to be saved rather than relying on the grace of Christ. These misleading messages "disturb and confuse" the believer’s faith, shifting their allegiance away from God.

Distorting the original gospel is considered a grave offense. Even if an apostle or an "angel from heaven" were to preach a gospel contrary to the original one, they should be "accursed or condemned to destruction". Believers must be vigilant because anyone, including those in leadership, who preaches a different gospel faces these severe spiritual consequences.

Distinguishing the truth is necessary for spiritual protection. The Apostle highlights that:

• Knowledge of God is required for strength: Only those who "know their God" will be strong and "do exploits".
• A personal relationship is essential: Attempting to use the name of Jesus or engage in spiritual warfare without a personal relationship or "living the life" can lead to being overtaken by evil forces, much like the "sons of [Sceva]" who were beaten and stripped by demons.
• Avoiding the "Spin" on Doctrine: Believers are warned not to "tempt God" by giving their own "spin on doctrine". The Apostle cites an example of a man who misinterpreted scripture to justify playing with a snake in church, which led to his death when the snake "squeezed him to death".

Maintaining the original word provides the "order" necessary to live successfully in an "evil world". Without this foundation, believers may start their spiritual journey with passion but "stop running" at a young age because they were chasing after various doctrines "without order". To "endure to the end," a believer must build their life upon the foundation of Jesus Christ and the word rather than worldly things or misleading influences.

Rec. Date: 2nd May, 2024