Learn to Discern - Part 2
By Nancy Leigh Demoss
May 22, 2008
Learn to Discern: How to Recognize and Respond to Error in the Culture (Part 2 of 2)
by Nancy Leigh DeMoss and team @ Revive Our Hearts
["Beloved, while I was very diligent to write to you concerning our common salvation, I found it necessary to write to you exhorting you to contend earnestly for the faith which was once for all delivered to the saints." Jude 1:3, NKJV.]
Be Courageous – Identify and expose the works of darkness.
God wants us to defend the gospel (1 Cor. 15:1) by exposing lies. We must identify the sources of error that may be influencing our lives or the lives of those we love. Perhaps it is a cult or New Age thinking or theological errors. First John 4:1 instructs us to test the spirits, attempting to determine whether they are from God. Whatever their words—whether they are spoken by preachers, teachers, psychologists, authors, talk show hosts, or radio speakers—all teachings are to be judged by the eternal Word of God (John 17:17b).
The character and methods of false teachers are exposed in the Scriptures.
• They preach another gospel and a different Jesus from the one revealed in Scripture (1 Cor. 16:22; 2 Cor. 11:4; Gal. 1:6-9).
• They speak "a vision of their own heart, not from the mouth of the LORD" (Jer. 23:16) and prophesy lies in God's name, trying to make His people forget about Him and His Word (Deut. 18:20-22; Jer. 23:25-27).
• They dismiss guilt and justify sin, calling evil good and good evil (Isa. 5:20).
• They "make captives of gullible women" who are loaded down with sinful lusts—women who are "always learning" some new "truth" but never embrace the truth (2 Tim. 3:6-7).
• They "secretly bring in destructive heresies" (2 Peter 2:1).
• They speak great "swelling words of emptiness" and entice people through the flesh, promising them liberty but enslaving them (2 Peter 2:18-21).
• They cause dissension in the church (Rom. 16:17) as "untaught and unstable" people follow their example and twist Scripture for their own purposes (2 Peter 3:16). False apostles often appear to be apostles of Christ (2 Cor. 11:13).
In the end times, false prophets will be joined by false christs, who will "show great signs and wonders" to deceive many (Matt. 24:24). Christians are warned to have no fellowship with these teachers and their "unfruitful works of darkness" but rather to "reprove" them (Eph. 5:11) and be careful not to be "spoiled" (taken captive or cheated) by their false doctrines (Col. 2:8). False teachers are empowered by Satan, and we must be courageous and vigilant against this cunning enemy who seeks to "devour" us (1 Peter 5:8-9a).
Be Prayerful – Intercede for those caught in Satan's snare.
Prayer is often the forgotten element in the battle against false teaching. Beyond gently and firmly sharing the truth, we can pray—from a heart of compassion and concern—that God will correct those "who are in opposition" and "grant them repentance, so that they may know the truth, and that they may come to their senses and escape the snare of the devil, having been taken captive by him to do his will" (2 Tim. 2:24-26).
We can also pray for those who have fallen prey to these teachers, that they will recognize the error of false teachings and embrace the truth of the Word of God. We must be alert and keep on praying for believers everywhere, that they will stand for truth and righteousness (Eph. 6:18).
We must be "serious and watchful" and develop keen discernment in our prayers (1 Peter 4:7). Just as King Solomon asked for wisdom so that he could discern wisely and govern his people well (1 Kings 3:5-14), so we need to pray for understanding as we seek wisdom and truth in the Word (Psalm 119:125, 130).
Be Proactive – Protect yourself against the poison of error.
There is no such thing as a safe dose of poison, so we must be careful about what we allow to enter our lives. It is wise to surround ourselves and those we love with a clear understanding of what God teaches in His Word. After we pray for protection, we can stand firm with the "belt of truth" (Eph. 6:14a). In fact, we should put on the whole armor of God, for our struggle is not against flesh and blood but against the "powers of this dark world" (Eph. 6:12-17).
To be proactive, we can learn to correctly handle the Scriptures, knowing these truths about the Word of God:
• It is eternal and unchanging (Psalm 119:89).
• It is trustworthy (Psalm 119:137-138).
• It is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting, and training in righteousness (2 Tim. 3:16).
• It originates in God Himself by the Holy Spirit (2 Peter 1:20-21).
• It will be fulfilled—unlike the prophecies of false teachers (Deut. 18:22; Matt. 5:18; Luke 24:44).
• It is understandable through the Holy Spirit's teaching (John 14:26; 16:13; 2 Cor. 1:13).
• It means what it says and is not to be altered (Deut. 4:2; 12:32; Prov. 30:5-6; Eccles. 12:11-12; 1 Cor. 4:5-6; Rev. 22:18-19).
• It is unified, neither contradictory nor inconsistent (Num. 23:19; Psalm 119:160; Matt. 4:4; Acts 20:27).
• It is the standard for testing all spiritual teaching (Acts 17:11; 2 Cor. 11:4; 1 Thess. 5:21; 1 John 4:1).
We test teachings by asking questions. Does the teaching present Jesus biblically (John 8:24; 10:33)? Does the teaching represent truth from the Spirit of God—as portrayed in the Word of God—or from another spirit? Is the message consistent with the Scriptures that teach the physical death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ and salvation by grace alone (1 Cor. 15:1-4; Eph. 2:8-9)?
With the increase of spiritual error in these perilous days, we must be courageous to confront false teachings in confidence, with compassion and wisdom. We must know, share, and live the truth, prayerfully asking God to use us to change the hearts and minds of those ensnared by Satan's lies.
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Part 2 of 2
(Learn To Discern booklets available at www.Store.ReviveOurHearts.com.- $10.00/package of 20) © Revive Our Hearts. Used with permission. www.ReviveOurHearts.com Info@ReviveOurHearts.com
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