A Nugget from New Life Network
(by Dr. Larry Ollison)
Scripture for the Day Feb.18, 2019
Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth (2 Timothy 2:15).
My desire has always been to teach God’s Word clearly. I was raised in a Southern Baptist household. My mother taught the youth Sunday School class and my father was an ordained Southern Baptist deacon. We were at church every time the doors were open and I attended all of the classes and Bible schools that were offered. As a teenager I knew God had called me into the ministry and immediately after high school I attended Southwest Baptist University, majoring in theology.
I met my wife at Southwest Baptist University. She was there to prepare for missions. Shortly after we were married, I began the process of finishing my formal education and I accepted the position of pastor of a rural Baptist church.
On July 4, 1973 the professor, who was head of the theology department of the Baptist University I was attending, laid hands on me and I was filled with the Holy Spirit. My life has not been the same since.
I thank God for my Baptist roots. As a young boy at Spring Valley Baptist Church in Raytown, Missouri, my pastor, Rev. Joe C. Porter, taught the uncompromised Word of God. One thing he instilled in me – God’s Word is always true.
Second Timothy 2:15 tells us that we are to rightly divide the Word of God. It is logical that if the Word can be rightly divided, it can also be wrongly divided. Much of the division and doctrinal disputes in the church today come from wrongly dividing the Word of Truth.
When our current ministry and church was young, people would ask me what kind of a ministry we were. I told them that we believed and taught the same things that Paul the Apostle believed and taught. Paul said in Romans 10:8 that he and those who ministered with him were preaching “word of faith.” I decided “if it’s good enough for Paul, it is good enough for
me.”
But what does it say? “The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart” (that is, the word of faith which we preach) (Romans 10:8).
Word of Faith is not an organized denomination, but actually is a belief in what the Word of God teaches without preconceived ideas. I have often wondered how a person would perceive God’s Word if, as an adult, they could read it without ever having been previously influenced.
The church needs to grow up, mature, and quit the internal doctrinal finger pointing. God’s Word is true in spite of what we decide.
I love to discuss God’s Word all the while leaving my mind and heart open for new revelation and for correction. To argue God’s Word in order to build a coalition or to prove a point is the result of pride and there is no room for pride in God’s kingdom. So, whether you are Presbyterian, Lutheran, Baptist, Catholic, Charismatic, Word of Faith, Assembly of God, or whatever, let’s apply the command of Jesus to our Christian walk.
They will know we are His disciples by the love we show to one another.
By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another (John 13:35).
