Doctrine Not Lived is Doctrine Lost to You and Lost to Others

It is manifest that doctrine we no longer practice, teach, speak about, or observe, is, for all practical intents and purposes, forgotten.

"Beware that thou forget not the LORD thy God, in not keeping His commandments, and His judgments, and His statutes, which I command thee this day" (Deuteronomy 8:11).

If we are concerned that False and Faulty Doctrine should not be taught, now or after we have departed (if the LORD should tarry the Rapture), then we need to be presently living "by every Word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God"

(Matthew 4:4). Doctrine is not preserved simply by books or web pages, but by the lively practice of Willing Hearts abiding in Christ.

"1 I am the True Vine, and My Father is the Husbandman.

2 Every branch in Me that beareth not fruit He taketh away: and every branch that beareth fruit, He purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit.

3 Now ye are clean through the Word which I have spoken unto you.

4 Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in Me.

5 I am the Vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in Me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without Me ye can do nothing" (John 15:1-5).

Faith in the God of Love can only be exercised in the Present, even when talking about the Future. "Wherefore, sirs, be of good cheer: for I believe God, that it shall be even as it was told me" (Acts 27:25).

If our Adversary the Devil could wipe the planet clean of the Practicing People of God-- which he cannot, for the "gates of hell shall not prevail against it [the Church]" (Matthew 16:18)-- he could destroy the Remnant that testifies to the Truth of the Word of God, and Good Doctrine would cease.

But, "when the enemy shall come in like a flood, the Spirit of the LORD shall lift up a Standard against him" (Isaiah 59:19). We even have a promise from Jesus that the Elect will ultimately resist the Deception of the Antichrist and the False Prophet.

"For there shall arise false Christ's, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very Elect" (Matthew 24:24).

Our goal must be to continue to live the Word of God and testify of Its Truth, as long as we have breath, and to the extent that the Providence of God gives us opportunity.

"But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto Me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the Earth" (Acts 1:8).

Though we must approach the business of preserving Good Doctrine as if it were solely up to Finite Us, we know that it is the appointed way that we can be assured that the Infinite God has been enlisted to carry the burden.

"My Father worketh hitherto, and I work" (John 5:17).

How can we be assured that the Doctrine Lived will not be Doctrine Lost?

• First, by our own confidence in the Doctrine, it secures or own steps, i.e.,

• "The Law of his God is in his heart; none of his steps shall slide" (Psalm 37:31).

• Second, by our own modelling of the Doctrine, it gives the LORD the opportunity to demonstrate the successful application of His Word, i.e.,

• "Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid" (Matthew 5:14).

• Third, by our teaching and preaching the Doctrine, we will give vent to benefit others from what is naturally in us, i.e.,

• "18 For I am full of matter, the spirit within me constraineth me.

• 19 Behold, my belly is as wine which hath no vent; it is ready to burst like new bottles.

• 20 I will speak, that I may be refreshed: I will open my lips and answer" (Job 32:18-20).

• Fourth, by our securing of promises about the promotion and preservation of the Doctrine, we are assured by the Almighty about the prosperity of His Word, i.e.,

• "So shall My Word be that goeth forth out of My mouth: it shall not return unto Me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it" (Isaiah 55:11).

• And finally, by our application of prayer concerning the Doctrine, we commit the success of His Word to His Omnipotence, i.e.,

• "Call unto Me, and I will answer thee, and shew thee great and mighty things, which thou knowest not" (Jeremiah 33:3).

Conclusion My Doctrine Is Not Mine

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