If, or doubting God.

Gen_3:1  Now the serpentH5175 wasH1961 more subtilH6175 than anyH4480 H3605 beastH2416 of the fieldH7704 whichH834 the LORDH3068 GodH430 had made.H6213 And he saidH559 untoH413 the woman,H802 Yea,H637 H3588 hath GodH430 said,H559 Ye shall notH3808 eatH398 of everyH4480 H3605 treeH6086 of the garden?H1588

Mat_4:3  AndG2532 when theG3588 tempterG3985 cameG4334 to him,G846 he said,G2036 IfG1487 thou beG1488 the Son ofG5207 God,G2316 commandG2036 thatG2443 theseG3778 stonesG3037 be madeG1096 bread.G740

Mat_4:6  AndG2532 saithG3004 unto him,G846 IfG1487 thou beG1488 the SonG5207 of God,G2316 castG906 thyselfG4572 down:G2736 forG1063 it is written,G1125 He shall give his angels chargeG1781 G848 G32 concerningG4012 thee:G4675 andG2532 inG1909 their handsG5495 they shall bear thee up,G142 G4571 lest at any timeG3379 thou dashG4350 thyG4675 footG4228 againstG4314 a stone.G3037

The passages above (definitions below) were part of a sermon I heard recently.  The focus was how Adam (via Eve) failed because they bought into an ‘IF’ question.  Doubting God and His goodness.

Whereas, Jesus, when tempted by the enemy with an ‘IF’ question, didn’t fail.  He trusted God and was obedient.

We were exhorted to trust God, His goodness, provision, or allowance of trials and tribulations in our lives for His glory.  To be wary when there are doubts or questions, which as evidenced by Adam (and Eve) can lead to serious consequences.

Which leads me to the issue of concern.  The IF:Gathering.  Several ladies encouraged me to attend an upcoming event, hosted and promoted by the local body.

The irony of the ‘message’ on IF (in essence – doubting and questioning God) didn’t hit me until I started researching, “What is IF?” (Acts 17:11).  Here are a few of my discoveries:

From the Lighthouse – Booklet Tract:  IF it is of God – Answering the questions of IF: Gathering

“The speakers at the IF:Gathering are barkers. They are luring many professing Christian women with persuasive and captivating words. A repetitive error I noticed in the Conference was that a speaker would set up a straw man, and then mix the answer to it with Scripture. She would then insist that the conclusion was a valid point. An example was when Jen Hatmaker argued that we cannot possibly know all of God. She quoted a Scripture from Romans 11:33. Her conclusion was that because we cannot know God fully, it is not detrimental to faith to have doubt. However, faith does not depend on knowledge, but trust. Lack of knowledge should not make us doubt, but rather a lack of trust. This was a prevailing theme at IF.”

From Truthkeepers: If: Gathering…is it a movement of God?

“Okay, but I still have questions. I understand the “gather” part, but isn’t the “equip” part the work of the Holy Spirit and the five leadership offices? Further, one can only be unleashed if one is on a leash. Do the women involved believe that the next generation is on a leash (biblical Christianity?)? Last, if the focus of their efforts is about the next generation, what about the present generation(s) of women that must necessarily be on leashes?”

Another quote:

“But an individual whom God supernaturally calls to accomplish a significant work should give a credible and unambiguous account of that call. One could say, “I saw a need and did my best to meet it.” However, when one says, “I heard a voice from God,” a different standard is involved. The reason is because something that has a supernatural event as an origin will have a much greater weight of influence. It presents the individual as a special agent of God, just as any of the figures in the Bible whom God used to accomplish unprecedented purposes. It almost immunizes the revelation and the individual from critical examination.”

From Theology That Matters:  If: Gathering – Another Gospel…Again…

“Sounds good on the surface, but from what I can tell from their website, there is not much gospel there and they are actually offering another gospel all together. The other gospel is a form that comes from moral-therapeutic Deism where all the messages are centered upon telling their followers to pull themselves up by their panty hose and get out there to save the culture. It’s basically Oprah with Bible verses attached to it.”

The above is just a small representation of concerns for the body of Christ, specifically the women.  Remember it was Eve who was deceived.  Sisters, it is imperative we study the Word, submit to His authority and follow Him, not charismatic or enthusiastic speakers, no matter how ‘good’ the message may appear.  Do your homework, be a Berean!

If – OT:

H518 - A primitive particle; used very widely as demonstrative, lo!; interrogitive, whether?; or conditional, if, although; also Oh that!, when; hence as a negative, not:

H3588 - A primitive particle (the full form of the prepositional prefix) indicating causal relations of all kinds, antecedent or consequent; (by implication) very widely used as a relative conjugation or adverb; often largely modified by other particles annexed.

H194 - From H176; if not; hence perhaps.

H2006 - (Chaldee); corresponding to H2005; lo! also there, therefore, unless, less, whether, but, if.

If – NT (602 matches)

G1487 - A primary particle of conditionality; if, whether, that, etc.

G1437 – From G1487 and G302; a conditional particle; in case that, provided, etc.; often used in connection with other particles to denote indefiniteness or uncertainty: