We have to be careful what teaching and preaching we are listening to. There are many who claim to be servants of God, preaching in the name of Jesus, who are not preaching the Word of God. What they say will sound good and motivational, but it will not be sound doctrine. These teachers have become tools in the hands of the enemy to feed people who no longer want to listen to sound and wholesome teaching. People will follow these teachers because they follow their own desires, and are looking for teachers who will tell them whatever their itching ears want to hear. May we never allow ourselves to become itchy ear Christians. (2 Timothy 4:2)We need to follow the example of the Berean people that Paul and Silas preached to. These people eagerly listened to Paul’s teaching; however, they searched the Scriptures day after day to see if Paul and Silas were teaching the truth. We too should see if what we are being taught is truly the Word of God. (Acts 17:11)
We have the Spirit of Truth living inside of us, the Holy Spirit. He is our Teacher who will guide us into all truth. (John 14:17, 15:36) The Spirit of God testifies about Christ, so when we hear teaching that does not line up with the Word of God, we can trust the Holy Spirit to gently nudge us. It will be like a red flag going up in our spirit that says, ‘You need to check that out. Compare it with the Word. Dig deeper.’
Don’t let anyone capture you with empty philosophies and high-sounding nonsense that come from human thinking and from the spiritual powers of this world, rather than from Christ. Don’t believe every spirit, but test the spirits, whether they are of God; because many false prophets have gone out into the world. By this you know the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is of God, and every spirit that does not confess that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is not of God. (Colossians 2:8-10, I John 4:1-3)
When receiving teaching, here are some things to consider:
• Is it Christ centered? – Do they mention Christ? Is He just a prophet or teacher? Do they confess Him as Lord?“So I want you to know that no one speaking by the Spirit of God will curse Jesus, and no one can say Jesus is Lord, except by the Holy Spirit.” 1 Corinthians 12:3, 1 John 4:2-3
• Does it direct us to the Word? – Are they walking you through the bible? Do they have their own translation? Do they direct you to search truth somewhere other than the bible?
Someone may say to you, “Let’s ask the mediums and those who consult the spirits of the dead. With their whisperings and mutterings, they will tell us what to do.” But shouldn’t people ask God for guidance? Should the living seek guidance from the dead?
Look to God’s instructions and teachings! People who contradict his word are completely in the dark. Isaiah 8:19-20
• Does it preach repentance of sin? – Does it help people see their sinful state and need for the Savior?
“Now repent of your sins and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped away.” Acts 3:19 “Repent of your sins and turn to God, for the Kingdom of Heaven is near.” Matthew 4:17
• Does it build up the church? – Does it help you grow in your knowledge of Christ and faith? Does it prepare you for service?
“Now these are the gifts Christ gave to the church: the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, and the pastors and teachers. Their responsibility is to equip God’s people to do His work and build up the church, the body of Christ.” Ephesians 4:11-12
• Is it governed by love? – Does it teach to love and serve others? Does it create a love for righteous? Does it lovingly correct and admonish?
“But anyone who does not love does not know God, for God is love.” 1 John 4:8, 1 Timothy 6:11, Matthew 22:39, Hebrews 12:6
• Does it set you free from the law? – Free from following a set of rules? Free from traditions or religion?
“For if you are trying to make yourselves right with God by keeping the law, you have been cut off from Christ! You have fallen away from God’s grace.” Galatians 5:4
There will be those that are false apostles, deceitful teachers, and false prophets who will try to present themselves as servants of God. They will show signs and wonders to deceive, if possible even the elect. We must test those who say they are teachers of Christ, and be sure that we abide only in His teachings. Don’t just receive anyone’s teaching, but let it be confirmed by God's Word and by His Spirit in you. (2 Corinthians 11:13-15, Matthew 24:24-25)
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4 comments:
When the Bible says try the spirits and says if a spirit confesses that Jesus came in the flesh that they are of God what do you think it means?
If it confesses not then it is the Spirit of anti-Christ... A false Christ, a false prophet as you are talking about apparently, but yet don't they preach that Christ came in the flesh? That Jesus came and was crucified? Doesn't it say if they do this then they are "of God?" How can we distinguish the true from the false?
Thanks for stopping by and reading Consecrated to Him..
To answer your first question I think it means that when we are listening to a teaching we need to be sure that this person confesses with their mouth and life that Jesus is the visible image of the invisible God. God incarnate..
Some teachers preach that Jesus is a prophet, teacher, God's son, or a god, but they do not recognize Christ as God in the flesh. (John 1:1)They do not preach that Christ is the visible image of the invisible God (Colossians 1:1)
Sure they can say that He was crucified,that is still not confessing Him as Lord & God.
Anyone confessing Jesus Christ as Lord and God has the Spirit of God. "No one speaking by the Spirit of God will curse Jesus, and none can say Jesus is Lord, except by the Holy Spirit." (1 Corinthians 12:2)
I heard it said once that when people are trained to identify counterfeit money they spend lots of time looking and studying the real dollars.
We need to do the same thing to distinguish true from false teaching.. We must closely examine the Word of God. Study and meditate on the Word daily. Then when a counterfeit presents themselves we will know them because we have already studied the Truth. The Holy Spirit will bring to remembrance the things that He has taught us and we can trust Him to lead us into truth.
You said something very interesting there... you said by their mouth and life... you covered the mouth part, but could you expound on the life part?
sure..the verse that comes to my mind is
Matthew 7:15-20
15"Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves. 16By their fruit you will recognize them. Do people pick grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? 17Likewise every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. 18A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit. 19Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. 20Thus, BY THEIR FRUIT YOU WILL RECOGNIZE THEM.
Their fruit is their actions, their attitudes, and how they live their life..
If they are lead by the Holy Spirit the fruit that they will be producing will be love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. (Galatians 5:22)
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