“For do I now persuade men, or God? or do I seek to please men? for if I yet pleased men, I should not be the servant of Christ.” -Galatians 1:10.
People really just don’t get it; we could never be tricked if the devil actually appeared to be evil, but would avoid him; and he therefore transforms into an angel of light to bait the hook for us poor fish;
“For man also knoweth not his time: as the fishes that are taken in an evil net, and as the birds that are caught in the snare; so are the sons of men snared in an evil time, when it falleth suddenly upon them.” -Ecclesiastes 9:12.
Put a handsome man in a suit behind a pulpit, and everyone sees a successful businessman, whose “fruit” must be from God, right (Genesis 3:3-6)? Have we forgotten warnings from scripture not to judge only by appearance (John 7:24), or that God doesn’t see like men do?
“But the LORD said unto Samuel, Look not on his countenance, or on the height of his stature; because I have refused him: for the LORD seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the LORD looketh on the heart.” -1 Samuel 16:7.
“And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light. Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works.” -2 Corinthians 11:14,15.
Jesus warned about the deception in these Last Days, saying,
“ For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect. Behold, I have told you before.” -Matthew 24:24,25.
To distinguish between true and false teachers can be challenging, but one simple principle we may apply is found through Jesus’ words in Luke 6:26;
“Woe unto you, when all men shall speak well of you! for so did their fathers to the false prophets.”
This verse shows that when ANYONE is regarded favorably by nearly everyone, it should alert Christians that something is spiritually amiss, and needs further scrutiny. Ultimately, we need to compare the scriptures with what the person teaches, and also compare them directly to Jesus’ life. False teachers often flatter with messages of self-esteem, while leaving out sin and the need for repentance.
“For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.” -2 Timothy 4:3,4.
“Then Jesus said unto them, My time is not yet come: but your time is alway ready. The world cannot hate you; but me it hateth, because I testify of it, that the works thereof are evil.” -John 7:6,7.
And while the multitudes loved Jesus for the miracles He helped them with, our blessed Lord really wasn’t spoken well of by all, as we see in John 7:12;
“And there was much murmuring among the people concerning him: for some said, He is a good man: others said, Nay; but he deceiveth the people.”
Jesus was accused of having a devil in Matthew 10:24,25, and John 8:48; the congregation of His home town synagogue once tried to push Him off a cliff in Luke 4:28,29; He & His disciples risked their lives upon going to raise Lazarus from the dead John 11:7-16; and Jesus told His disciples they’d be hated like He was (John 15:18,19). Related scriptures are listed below.
So how can some Christian teachers today achieve what the perfect Son of God could not? Why are they loved by nearly all, but Jesus’ very life was often in jeopardy? A closer look at this spiritual fruit may show it to be a negative indicator of the person’s real relationship with Christ.
“15 Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves. 16 Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles? 17 Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit. 18 A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit. 19 Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire. 20 Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them.” -Matthew 7:15-20.
It’s strange to think that popular, well thought of individuals are actually exhibiting evil spiritual fruit, but such is typically the case. We’re still remembering that our enemy doesn’t present himself for who he really is, but as an angel of light; so we’ll need to patiently look beyond mere appearances, and taking time to test the spirits like we were told in 1 John 4:1, examining them in the light of God’s Word (John 3:21).
We do well when we consider false teachers with compassion (2 Timothy 2:23-26), yet still being ready to point out those who cause divisions and offences that are contrary to the doctrines we have learned; and avoid them (Romans 16:17).
The Bible gives us serious warnings about Satan’s deceptions, and we need to take them that way.
“But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction.” -2 Peter 2:1.
“And the brethren immediately sent away Paul and Silas by night unto Berea: who coming thither went into the synagogue of the Jews. These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so.” -Acts 17:10,11.
Bold type added for emphasis.
I also did a short YouTube teaching on this subject. It can be found at https://youtube.com/shorts/hn7G8exY2gI?feature=share.
No comments:
Post a Comment