The last days will produce many false teachers and shepherds who will teach outright lies, twist the truth, or leave out those things that are unpopular or politically incorrect. They will lead many astray with their unbiblical teaching. What can we do so we will recognize them and not fall victim to their deceit?
Today’s Readings:
2 Chronicles 7 & 2 Chronicles 8
Psalm 80.1-6
Proverbs 20.15
Acts 13.26-52
How to Recognize False Teachers
Psalm 80.1-6:
True Under-Shepherds & False Teachers
Psalm 80 begins:
Oh, give ear, Shepherd of Israel,
You who lead Joseph like a flock;
You who are enthroned above the cherubim, shine forth!
Jesus is the Shepherd of Israel, but God also gives us under-shepherds in the form of Pastors, who are under the authority of the Great Shepherd (Jn. 10.11). The Bible teaches submission to pastoral authority, as well as, in the home, the workplace, and in civil affairs (Rom. 13.1-2; Eph. 5.22-24, 6.5-8).
Obey those who rule over you, and be submissive, for they watch out for your souls, as those who must give account. Let them do so with joy and not with grief, for that would be unprofitable for you (Heb. 13.17).
But this isn’t blind obedience. Our responsibility is to be sure that we are in a church where the Pastor(s) are under the authority of the Lord Jesus and His Word because there are many “false shepherds” and their numbers will increase as we approach the return of Christ. All authority is to be “in the Lord.” If we are ever asked to do something that does not line up with Scripture, we are to humbly and respectfully refuse (Acts 4.18-20).
The Full Counsel of God
Those who are truly under the authority of Christ will teach the full counsel of God in its proper context without omitting those things that are unpopular or politically incorrect.
False Shepherds will add to His Word, take things out of context, or twist the truth. They will, often, deny the deity of Christ, the reality of the Trinity, the sufficiency and inerrancy of Scripture, and other essential doctrines. Even if they don’t openly deny those doctrines, their teaching will demonstrate that fact.
But, we won’t be able to recognize them unless we get to know the True Shepherd through His Word. We will recognize a counterfeit by knowing and handling the real thing (2 Tim. 2.15). But if we don’t, we’re easy prey for false teachers.
Knowing His Voice
3 … The sheep hear his voice, and he calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. 4 When he has brought out all his own, he goes before them, and the sheep follow him, for they know his voice. 5 A stranger they will not follow, but they will flee from him, for they do not know the voice of strangers (Jn. 10.3-5 ESV).
If we’re to recognize the voice of the Great Shepherd we should:
- Read the Word for ourselves, not just a passage here and there, but systematically, whether that’s reading through the Bible every year, every two years, or some other plan.
- Pray as the psalmist prayed “open my eyes that I may see wondrous things from Your law.” (Ps. 119.18). We can ask God to give us understanding and illumination as we read His Word.
- Take our Bibles to church or access one on our phones or other devices and follow along during services.
- Read the Scriptures in context by going back a few verses, reading a few verses further, or reading an entire chapter.
- Jesus said we would know a tree by its fruit (Lk. 6.43-44). We should ask ourselves, does the person teaching exhibit the character of Christ in his or her life?
- Study those books of the Bible that were written to address false teachers (Galatians, Colossians, 2 Peter, 1 John, 2 John, and Jude).
If we belong to Christ, the Holy Spirit who lives in each of us will help us learn and understand God’s Word, so we can become proficient at handling the Word of Truth and recognize the voice of the True Shepherd (Jn. 14.26; 2 Tim. 2.15; Jn. 10.3-5). But we must be faithful to do those things that will prepare our hearts to know and recognize that truth.
If you would like to read more about recognizing false teachers, you might check out this helpful article at GotQuestions.org.
You might, also, enjoy my bible study on Colossians.
Today’s Other Readings:
2 Chronicles 7 & 8:
The God Who Answers Prayers
Chapter 7 contains God’s beautiful response to Solomon’s prayer of dedication at the completion of the temple:
I have heard your prayer, and have chosen this place for Myself … Now My eyes will be open and My ears attentive to prayer made in this place (vv. 12, 15).
Although God is omnipresent—present everywhere—He no longer dwells in a “place,” but in His people.
Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own? For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God’s (1 Cor. 6.19-20).
Think about that awesome truth—the God of the Universe, the God who answers prayers—lives in us!
You can read more about the kind of prayers God answers in my post from a couple of days ago, “Prayer, Bible Interpretation & Blank Checks with God”
Proverbs 20.15:
What Do You Value?
There is gold and a multitude of rubies, but the lips of knowledge are a precious jewel.
Solomon, who had an abundance of gold and jewels, understood that wisdom and knowledge are much more valuable.
We live in an unprecedented time, when so much biblical knowledge is available to us in our churches, through Christian books, on the airwaves, and to be downloaded from the internet. But it’s easy to take it for granted and fail to take advantage of it.
Of course, we need to be discerning because there is just as much unbiblical teaching and information out there. So, the principles I mentioned above are important for this reason, as well.
Acts 13.26-52:
Willful Hardening of the Heart Followed by Judicial Hardening
As I said yesterday, Paul sought to reach the Jews by helping them see how Jesus fulfilled the prophecies of the Old Testament. But when they rejected the truth, he also warned them in verses 40-41:
40 Beware therefore, lest what has been spoken in the prophets come upon you.
41 ” Behold, you despisers,
Marvel and perish!
For I work a work in your days,
A work which you will by no means believe,
Though one were to declare it to you.”
Willful hardening of the heart by men will eventually be followed by judicial hardening of the heart by God. That’s why the Scripture says:
Today, if you will hear His voice, Do not harden your hearts as in the rebellion (Heb. 3.15).
Coming Up:
In the coming days, we’ll talk about the importance of godly friends, the consequences of bad advice, discuss whether parenting is a formula, spiritual gifts, good works, and how to fight back when mistreated.
I hope you’ll sign up so you don’t miss any of them. You might also like to check out our YouTube channel.
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Blessings as you grow in Christ,
Donna ♥
Note about this post:
I began blogging through the Bible in 2012 and have done so every year since then. These posts are the product of many edits and additions throughout those years. Some days I make major changes, other days fewer.
A while ago, I read Jen Wilkin’s book None Like Him about the attributes of God. One is His incomprehensibility. In it, she says, “God is incomprehensible. This does not mean that he is unknowable, but that he is unable to be fully known.”
I have found that to be true each year as I’ve gone back through the Bible. Sometimes I find myself feeling as if a passage just appeared there for the first time. I’m reminded that no matter how many times we read through the Bible, we have only scratched the surface. I hope you feel the same.
Indeed these are the mere edges of His ways,
And how small a whisper we hear of Him!
But the thunder of His power who can understand?” (Job 26.14)
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