Professionally, I work in the field of clinical research, and have spent much of my career in the managing oncology trials – looking for anything that may cure or ease the impact of cancer on our society. On yesterday, God began to speak to me about the nature of cancer in the natural and how it relates to the Body of Christ, even in the spiritual realm.
During our Sunday morning worship service, God instructed me to tell the people that they must stop the spread of cancer in the Body of Christ. “Cut it off!” This is ringing in my spirit for God's people... CUT IT OFF!
In the natural, cancer begins when a perfectly normal cell experiences a very small and minute mutation. The cell begins to grow and eventually displays uncontrollable growth that begins to invade healthy cells and tissue. This growth results in a tumor that generally displays the characteristics of its cell of origin, which is how we know to label it brain cancer, breast cancer, colon cancer, etc. Occasionally, the tumor will even spread to other parts of the body, referred to as metastasis.
In the Body of Christ, which in indeed a body, there are many parts, according to the Scriptures (Romans 12:4-5; 1 Corinthians 12:12; Ephesians 4:16). All of us are vital “organs” used to build the Kingdom of God. We are instructed to duplicate ourselves, by making disciples. We do so by teaching the things that Jesus taught us. We grow the Body of Christ by preaching the Gospel. Unfortunately, there are cancerous saints among us.
Many of us have met those who did run well (Galatians 5:7). Yet, something or someone convinced them to look away from God for just a moment. At that point, though they’ve been taught the word of God, they err from the faith and begin to follow strange doctrines. They begin to teach that you have to do “extra” in order to be in right standing with God. They begin to follow “new” teachings and forget the grace given to us by the blood of Jesus Christ. They become increasingly pessimistic and disgruntled about “the church,” always pointing out faults, but never offering solutions. Watch out for these. In fact, the Bible says that such should be cut off (1 Timothy 6:3-5).
Why is this so important? These cancerous people are causing division in the Body of Christ. While growth is good and education is great, we must be careful of those who become self-righteous in their course of salvation. It is a cancer to the Body of Christ. When we befriend and entertain this spirit, we are only feeding the cancer, making it stronger.
As it is in the natural, so it is in the realm of the spirit. They start out as part of the healthy body, but undergo some very small mutation. They begin twisting Scripture or adding new, subtle nuances, claiming that it’s the “right” way. They look the same on the outside for a little while. By the time we realize there is a difference (unless we discern by the Spirit), they have formed a gathering. They have now broken off and metastasized – moving on to other people and groups to infect them as well. Before you know it, their voice is seemingly louder than that of the truth.
Don’t allow your ministry to die! Don’t allow the curiosity to overtake you. Mysticism is not of God, and knowledge will never earn salvation. Be careful of any “new” doctrine or those teachings that make us feel we are “better” than other saints (1 Peter 1:20). We must be so careful not to allow pride to take our eyes off a merciful God and our need for REPENTANCE. Pride has caused many, in this season, to feel that their knowledge has made them equal to God… the DEVIL! Do not feed the cancer. Cut it off, or it will kill you!
Selah.
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