HOW CAN YOU KNOW THE
TRUTH FROM A LIE?
Here are some practical check points in helping discern
false teachings/teachers, and being on the defense against them.
1) If
someone/something is exalting themselves and not glorifying Jesus Christ. **Note:
I say Jesus Christ, because His Name is Higher and above all
others. Many people use the term
"god" - but who is their "god"? themselves?
Who is the focus of their teaching?
them, you, who? This includes
someone exalting the flesh (ours or theirs) as having authority/power (watch for a spirit of pride). All power and authority belong to Jesus
Christ, and only His glory should be sought.
“Beware
of the false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but
inwardly are ravenous wolves. You will know them by their
fruits." Matthew 7:15
"For false Christs and false prophets will arise and will show great signs and wonders, so as to mislead, if possible, even the elect." Matthew 24:24
"But false prophets also arose among the people, just as there will also be false teachers among you, who will secretly introduce destructive heresies, even denying the Master who bought them, bringing swift destruction upon themselves." 2 Peter 2:1
**There is a high accountability for those who choose to teach...
"He said to His disciples, “It is inevitable that stumbling blocks come, but woe to him through whom they come! It would be better for him if a millstone were hung around his neck and he were thrown into the sea, than that he would cause one of these little ones to stumble." Luke 17:1-2
"He said to His disciples, “It is inevitable that stumbling blocks come, but woe to him through whom they come! It would be better for him if a millstone were hung around his neck and he were thrown into the sea, than that he would cause one of these little ones to stumble." Luke 17:1-2
2) If someone is
teaching there are other ways to "God" other than Jesus Christ. Example: Some very popular/positive self-proclaimed
Bible teachers are on-record as stating that they believe Mormons and Muslims
will be with followers of Jesus Christ in Heaven; because we all have our own
ways to God. LIE !!! why?
Because this is completely against the teachings of Jesus Christ and the
Bible.
JESUS SAID: “I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one
comes to the Father but
through Me." John 14:6
***Often making a
stand against this lie, we are called "un-loving" and
"intolerant" of others. Here
is what Jesus had to say on this matter,
**He is a Holy God...
3) If something is
not completely true (meaning lines up
wholly with the Bible and not just a verse taken out of context) - then it is a
LIE !
"And
Jesus answered and said to them, “See
to it that no one misleads you. For many
will come in My name, saying, ‘I am the Christ,’
and will mislead many."
Matthew 24:4
4) DO NOT LET YOUR
EMOTIONS BE YOUR FAITH COMPASS. The
enemy deceives us first in our minds and through our emotions (he will even use
the word of God); church and our faith are not based on our emotions and how we
"feel". Hold fast to the Truth
- that is only found in the Word of God.
We all want to hear good, positive, uplifting things, but Jesus wants us
to hear and walk in the Truth. LET THE BIBLE BE YOUR COMPASS
***BEWARE of teachers who preach their ideas and fit the Bible/verses into their ideas.
***BEWARE of teachers who preach their ideas and fit the Bible/verses into their ideas.
"For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but wanting to have their ears tickled, they will accumulate for themselves teachers in accordance to their own desires" 2 Timothy 4:3
"So faith comes from hearing, and hearing by the word
of Christ." Romans 10:17
5) DO NOT LOOK TO BE TAUGHT BY OTHERS:
Receive Biblical reproof, teaching and correction BUT always test the
Spirit by which it is given. Does it match
up to Biblical truth? Is it in line with
the characteristics of God? Was it given
in a spirit of humility or self-promotion?
Ask the Lord to be your teacher and guide. Ask the Holy Spirit - He wants to guide/help
you; you just have to ask.
"Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world."
1 John 4:1
"But if any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all
generously and without reproach, and it will be given to him. But
he must ask in faith without any doubting, for the one who doubts is like
the surf of the sea, driven and tossed by the wind. For
that man ought not to expect that he will receive anything from the Lord, being a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways." James 1:5-8
6) CONFUSED? what is being said is not making sense or the
person proclaiming it, is all over the place and throwing out many different
ideas, etc. God is a God of Order and
satan is the author of confusion. When
you know the characteristics of God, and those of the enemy, it is easy to
discern where something is coming
from.
"For God is not a God of confusion but of [a]peace, as in all the churches of the saints."
1 Corinthians 14:33
7) KNOW THE TRUTH & WALK IN IT; STUDY YOUR
BIBLE DAILY. How to go into battle
without your sword in your hand every day?
Satan used scripture against Jesus - he used it in a twisted way (he is
the father of lies and the great "deceiver"). Jesus was able to slay down/overpower the
lies of satan in the wilderness by quoting scripture in its true context.
"For the word of God is living and
active and sharper than any two-edged
sword, and piercing as far as the division of soul and spirit, of both joints
and marrow, and able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the
heart." Hebrews 4:12
"So then, my beloved, just as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your salvation with fear and trembling" Philippians 2:12
