False Teachers? by Rebecca Knox What an exciting time to be alive and serving the Lord Jesus Christ! As we observe the world in all of it's perplexities, we have the peaceful assurance that comes only from having a personal relationship with Him! Hallelujah! We believe that time as we have always known it has ceased to exist! It's like everything around us is accelerating, and we are being jet-propelled into the 21st Century at an incredible rate of speed! Time left on this earth is short! We believe that Jesus will be coming for His bride (the Church) very soon! In the meantime...we have much work to do folks! Satan knows that his times s short and he is on a rampage! He is seeking out people who are weak, unarmed, and unlearned so as to utterly destroy them; others he seeks out to aid him in his evil tactics, doing as much damage as possible to the name of Christ. Many times he uses people who are found within "the church" itself to achieve his undermining tactics. These are those that the Bible refers to as "false teachers." So...how do we know what's what and who's who? In Matthew 7:16 Jesus tells us that we shall know these false teachers"...by their fruits..." Verse 15 tells us that these false teachers appear righteous, but "inwardly...are ravening wolves." The fruit of a false teacher will be unwholesome characteristics evident in the lives of his or her followers such as those listed below: (1) They will be professing Christians whose loyalty is more to certain individuals or personalities than to the Word of God (vs. 21). They will worship the creature (pastor, evangelist, teacher, Christian writer, missionary, etc.) more than the Creator. 2) They will be more concerned with their own desires than with the glory and honor of God. Their doctrine will be man-centered rather than God-centered (vs. 21-23). 2 Timothy 4:3 tells us that "...the time is coming when [people] will not tolerate (endure) sound and wholesome instruction, but, having ears itching [for something pleasing and gratifying], they will gather to themselves one teacher after another to a considerable number, chosen to satisfy their own liking and to foster the errors they hold." (The Amplified Bible) Many will profess to be Christians, gather at churches, appear to reverence God, but will not tolerate the original New Testament apostolic faith or the Biblical demand to separate from unrighteousness. Sound Biblical doctrine will no longer be tolerated by many within the churches, and those who will turn from the truth will want sermons that demand less than the true gospel. They will not accept God's Word when it speaks of repentance, sin, damnation, and the necessity of holiness and separation from the world. They will choose preachers with gifts of oratory, the ability to entertain, and a message that reassures them that they can remain a Christian while living according to the flesh. (3) They will accept human teachings and traditions even when those teachings contradict the Word of God (vs.24-27). 1 John 4:6 says, "We are of God: he that knoweth God heareth us; he that is not of God heareth not us. Hereby know we the spirit of truth and the spirit of error." (4) They will seek after and respond to religious experiences and supernatural manifestations as their final authority in validating truth, rather than grounding themselves in the whole counsel of God's Word. In other words...these false teachers and their followers are constantly looking for an experience...an emotion...a feeling...a supernatural happening or display of some sort, and rather than digging into God's Word for themselves and making it their final authority, they kind of pick and choose what they want to out of context, and leave the rest. Friends....the Word warns us of these false teachers time and time again. In Matthew 24:11 Christ Himself warns us that "...many false prophets will rise up and deceive and lead many into error." In verse 24 He tells us that many of these false teachers will be so good at their deception, that they will ...deceive and lead astray, if possible, even the elect (God's chosen ones). As believers, we must get down to brass tacks! We need to stop gossiping, stop bickering among ourselves, get our own spiritual houses in order, and get serious about the things of God! We can not afford to sit straddle of a fence any longer! It's time to get off on one side or the other! If you choose to get off on the side of God...be warned! The Holy Spirit warns all those who remain faithful to God and submit themselves to His Word to expect persecution and suffering for righteousness' sake (see 2 Timothy 3:10-12; Matthew 5:10-12). Furthermore, they must separate from people, churches, and institutions who deny the power of God in salvation and who preach a compromising gospel (see 2 Timothy 3:5; Galatians 1:9; 1 Timothy 4:1-2; 2 Peter 2:1; Jude 3; Revelations 2:24). We must ever be loyal to the New Testament gospel and to God's faithful ministers who proclaim it. Doing this, we can be assured of the close fellowship of Christ (Rev. 3:20-22) and times of refreshing from the presence of the Lord Acts 3:19-20). John and Rebecca Knox West Liberal Mission Outreach P.O. Box 13 Liberal, MO 64762 (417) 843-6469 |
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Featured Song is Jesus Calls Us Courtesy of Larry's Song of Praise & Worship |
This page was created by Arise & Shine Productions Copyright © 2001 Arise & Shine Productions is a service of Arise & Shine For Jesus Ministry |
False Teachers? by Rebecca Knox What an exciting time to be alive and serving the Lord Jesus Christ! As we observe the world in all of it's perplexities, we have the peaceful assurance that comes only from having a personal relationship with Him! Hallelujah! We believe that time as we have always known it has ceased to exist! It's like everything around us is accelerating, and we are being jet-propelled into the 21st Century at an incredible rate of speed! Time left on this earth is short! We believe that Jesus will be coming for His bride (the Church) very soon! In the meantime...we have much work to do folks! Satan knows that his times s short and he is on a rampage! He is seeking out people who are weak, unarmed, and unlearned so as to utterly destroy them; others he seeks out to aid him in his evil tactics, doing as much damage as possible to the name of Christ. Many times he uses people who are found within "the church" itself to achieve his undermining tactics. These are those that the Bible refers to as "false teachers." So...how do we know what's what and who's who? In Matthew 7:16 Jesus tells us that we shall know these false teachers"...by their fruits..." Verse 15 tells us that these false teachers appear righteous, but "inwardly...are ravening wolves." The fruit of a false teacher will be unwholesome characteristics evident in the lives of his or her followers such as those listed below: (1) They will be professing Christians whose loyalty is more to certain individuals or personalities than to the Word of God (vs. 21). They will worship the creature (pastor, evangelist, teacher, Christian writer, missionary, etc.) more than the Creator. 2) They will be more concerned with their own desires than with the glory and honor of God. Their doctrine will be man-centered rather than God-centered (vs. 21-23). 2 Timothy 4:3 tells us that "...the time is coming when [people] will not tolerate (endure) sound and wholesome instruction, but, having ears itching [for something pleasing and gratifying], they will gather to themselves one teacher after another to a considerable number, chosen to satisfy their own liking and to foster the errors they hold." (The Amplified Bible) Many will profess to be Christians, gather at churches, appear to reverence God, but will not tolerate the original New Testament apostolic faith or the Biblical demand to separate from unrighteousness. Sound Biblical doctrine will no longer be tolerated by many within the churches, and those who will turn from the truth will want sermons that demand less than the true gospel. They will not accept God's Word when it speaks of repentance, sin, damnation, and the necessity of holiness and separation from the world. They will choose preachers with gifts of oratory, the ability to entertain, and a message that reassures them that they can remain a Christian while living according to the flesh. (3) They will accept human teachings and traditions even when those teachings contradict the Word of God (vs.24-27). 1 John 4:6 says, "We are of God: he that knoweth God heareth us; he that is not of God heareth not us. Hereby know we the spirit of truth and the spirit of error." (4) They will seek after and respond to religious experiences and supernatural manifestations as their final authority in validating truth, rather than grounding themselves in the whole counsel of God's Word. In other words...these false teachers and their followers are constantly looking for an experience...an emotion...a feeling...a supernatural happening or display of some sort, and rather than digging into God's Word for themselves and making it their final authority, they kind of pick and choose what they want to out of context, and leave the rest. Friends....the Word warns us of these false teachers time and time again. In Matthew 24:11 Christ Himself warns us that "...many false prophets will rise up and deceive and lead many into error." In verse 24 He tells us that many of these false teachers will be so good at their deception, that they will ...deceive and lead astray, if possible, even the elect (God's chosen ones). As believers, we must get down to brass tacks! We need to stop gossiping, stop bickering among ourselves, get our own spiritual houses in order, and get serious about the things of God! We can not afford to sit straddle of a fence any longer! It's time to get off on one side or the other! If you choose to get off on the side of God...be warned! The Holy Spirit warns all those who remain faithful to God and submit themselves to His Word to expect persecution and suffering for righteousness' sake (see 2 Timothy 3:10-12; Matthew 5:10-12). Furthermore, they must separate from people, churches, and institutions who deny the power of God in salvation and who preach a compromising gospel (see 2 Timothy 3:5; Galatians 1:9; 1 Timothy 4:1-2; 2 Peter 2:1; Jude 3; Revelations 2:24). We must ever be loyal to the New Testament gospel and to God's faithful ministers who proclaim it. Doing this, we can be assured of the close fellowship of Christ (Rev. 3:20-22) and times of refreshing from the presence of the Lord Acts 3:19-20). John and Rebecca Knox West Liberal Mission Outreach P.O. Box 13 Liberal, MO 64762 (417) 843-6469 |
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