In Psalms, chapter one hundred and forty-one, verse five, if we sincerely desire to please our Lord, we will welcome rebuke that convicts us of anything contrary to the holiness of God. When a righteous person cries out fervently against sin and compromise in the church, the individual should be supported, not rejected, as in Proverbs fifteen, verses five and thirty-two, John sixteen, verse eight, Ephesians five, verse eleven, and Second Timothy four, verse two, respectively. Our attitude towards such servants of God reveals our spiritual state.
Some church people throughout history have refused to love sound doctrine, yet as the end draws near, the situation will get worse, as in First Timothy four, verse one, and Second Timothy three, verses one to five. “They will not endure sound doctrine.” Many will profess to be Christians, gather at churches, and appear to revere God and not tolerate the original New Testament apostolic faith with its emphasis on the manifestation of the Holy Spirit’s power and its call to holiness in an evil and perverse generation. “They will turn their ears away from the truth.” Many within the churches will no longer tolerate sound Biblical preaching.
Those who turn away from the truth will want preaching that demands less than the true gospel. They will not accept God’s Word when speaking of repentance, sin, and judgments of God, the power demonstrations of the Holy Spirit, and the necessity of holiness and separation from the world.
These professing believers will not seek pastors according to the standards of God’s Word but will look for those who conform to their self-seeking worldly desires. The Holy Spirit warns all who remain faithful to God and submit to His Word to expect persecution and suffering because of righteousness. Separate from those who deny God’s power.