Follow who?

Romans 11:13 [AKJV]:  "For I speak to you Gentiles, inasmuch as I am the apostle of the Gentiles, I magnify mine office:"

By Paul God has given us His Word:  "For this cause I Paul, the prisoner of Jesus Christ for you Gentiles,  if ye have heard of the dispensation of the grace of God which is given me to you-ward:  how that by revelation he made known unto me the mystery; (as I wrote afore in few words, whereby, when ye read, ye may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ) which in other ages was not made known unto the sons of men, as it is now revealed unto his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit;  that the Gentiles should be fellowheirs, and of the same body, and partakers of his promise in Christ by the gospel:  whereof I was made a minister, according to the gift of the grace of God given unto me by the effectual working of his power." Ephesians 3:1-4

"For God is not the author of confusion, but of peace, as in all churches of the saints." 1 Corinthians 14:33.  That being "God is not the author of

confusion" why is it manifested in our fellowships by the unprecedented number of opposing denominations?  It is not intended by God but the saints have allowed satan to enter as had warned [Matt 7:17, 10:16; Luke 10:3; Acts 20:29].  Paul warned by writing: "Therefore seeing we have this ministry, as we have received mercy, we faint not; but have renounced the hidden things of dishonesty, not walking in craftiness, nor handling the word of God deceitfully; but by manifestation of the truth commending ourselves to every man’s conscience in the sight of God. But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost: in whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them." 

2 Corinthians 4:1-4.

Instead of man listening what saith the Spirit through His Word, by prayer and fasting refuses to engage God by that Word.  "So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God." Romans 10:17.  Not the word of man, "But I certify you, brethren, that the gospel which was preached of me is not after man. For I neither received it of man, neither was I taught it, but by the revelation of Jesus Christ."  Galatians 1:11-12; and what is that gospel?  "Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand; by which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain. 3 For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; 4 and that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:" 1 Corinthians 15:1-4

 Man gathers in small groups at first and debates God's Word as if they have an inside track on that Word; as cream separates from the milk.  Those listening will then separate what they like about the leader of the group as he presents what he believes and follow him, contrary to what Paul instructed;  "Be ye followers of me, even as I also am of Christ."  1 Corinthians 11:1.  Again Paul was given the completed Word of God:  "whereof I am made a minister, according to the dispensation of God which is given to me for you, to fulfill the word of God;"  Colossians 1:25.  "I charge thee therefore before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing and his kingdom;  preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine.  For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears;  and they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables. But watch thou in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, make full proof of thy ministry." 2 Timothy 4:1-4.  

  

 Man will make decisions of what is available to him, translations of a huge variety, how to books with TV and radio programs to build his belief.  "According to the grace of God which is given unto me, as a wise masterbuilder, I have laid the foundation, and another buildeth thereon. But let every man take heed how he buildeth thereupon. For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ. Now if any man build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble; every man’s work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man’s work of what sort it is. If any man’s work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward. If any man’s work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire. Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you? If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are." 1 Corinthians 3:10-17

In practicality here is what happens.  Instead of man learning at the feet of the Holy Spirit by the admonishment of Paul will go off and take up other teachings.  God not being the author of confusion has a path for one to follow in their personal spiritual growth.  All saints are on this path but in different progression on that path [Phil 2:13 & 2 Cor 3:5]  When one gets out of step with the Holy Spirit and what he presents he can grow no farther.  So then man will follow what he perceives as the right way;  "In those days there was no king in Israel: every man did that which was right in his own eyes." Judges 21:25.  No different today, we have all that is needed to be made complete but as Israel whined and bemoaned the way given them by Moses we today whine and bemoan the teachings of Paul.

Paul's prayer for the church:  "For this cause I bow my knees unto the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, of whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named, that he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man;  that Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love, may be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height;  and to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God.  Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us, unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen.

Ephesians 3:14-21.