“Taste and see that the Lord is good; blessed is the man who takes refuge in him.” (Psalm 34:8 NIV).
“Discover for yourself that the Lord is kind. Come to Him for protection and you will be glad.” (CEV).
Have you ever had the experience of trying to get a child to taste some new food? At time it can be maddening. They sit there with the predetermined mind-set of dislike. Lips closed tightly, that little head turning as ferociously as it can away from the approaching spoon. It’s comical. Then the taste. One of two things happen: either the child spits it out without giving it a chance, or their little eyes light up as they discover the joy of this new delicacy. Suddenly they can’t get enough.
A similar thing happens with faith. It’s amazing to me how stubbornly we persist in unbelief insisting on setting in our misery when a simple taste of faith will convince us that this is what we needed all along.
Psalm 34:8 is the best apologetic for faith there is! Subjective? Certainly before the “taste” it would seem so. But once one has made the discovery it becomes apparent in our souls of the very objective nature of our faith.
Permit me to illustrate. If I were to tell you that when I was in third grade (back with Fred Flinstone and the boys), that I fell and horribly broke my right wrist so that the hand hung down at a 90 degree angle from the arm while my fingers curved back and touched the wrist, you would probably doubt that account. You might argue the physical impossibility of such a picture, assuming that I was exaggerating the facts. You might look at my wrist and hand today and state, “They look fine. There is no physical limitations, obviously you imagined that experience since all the physical evidence shows facts contrary to your belief.”
Now suppose I produced my X-ray taken at Children’s Hospital in Pittsburgh. The date was clearly marked, my name was on that film, the break was clearly seen, along with the angle of the wrist and curve of the fingers. You might look at that film and argue, “Hmmm . . . you know this doesn’t look anything like you. I think it is a forgery!”
We could argue the facts all day. I could say, “Look at the evidence!” While you maintained that the evidence was forged; a fake. You might even try to explain the new advances in medical technology and argue that things have changed greatly since that antiquated experience. I could tell you of the anesthesia, a gas that was administered by placing what looked like a strainer filled with cotton over my mouth and nose, and you could argue that there was no such think as that form of anesthesia, since you have never experienced it.
Bottom line: I know the story to be true because I lived it! You could try to convince me all day that I was delusional, but it would never work. Why? I experienced the whole frightful ordeal! While you can argue that my experience was “subjective,” it was very real and objective to me. I remember that cold, snowy Sunday evening when it happened. I remember the grey recliner I laid upon until my father returned home to take me to the hospital. I can recollect the sounds and smells and sights of that horrible night. I experienced it.
The best argument for faith is not the arguments of Josh McDowell, Lee Strobel, Ravi Zacharias and other notable apologists, the best argument for faith is experience: “Taste and see that the Lord is good; or “Discover for yourself that the Lord is kind. Come to Him for protection and you will be glad.”
Perhaps you are reading this devotional and you’ve never had a personal experience with the loving God of the Universe. I want to invite you, “Taste and see that the Lord is good. . . .” You will be pleasantly surprised. Christianity is a harsh, deny yourself religion; it is a wonderful, discover the love of Christ relationship. Come to Him.
Thursday, April 21, 2011
Monday, April 11, 2011
Stop Playin with Spiritual Spiders!
I have been dealing with the difficult subject of identifying false teachers, and as expected I have received both complements and criticisms for these columns. I have been encouraged by some and warned by others to “back off.” Many it seems feel that it is always wrong to say something negative about anything. They scream (literally), “Judge not, lest you be judged!” forgetting that they themselves are in fact making a judgment by their very cry of being non-judgmental.
In any case, I am in it, so let me finish my list of things that should always set off a flag of warning in the heart of anyone who is genuinely seeking to know truth. If your mind is already made up, just save yourself some time and skip this column today, you’ll only grow more upset.
Jeremiah 23:32 says, "Their made-up dreams are flagrant lies that lead my people into sin. I did not send them, and they have no message at all for my people, says the Lord." (Jeremiah 23:32, The Living Bible) and the prophet Ezekiel said, "Your ‘prophets’ describe false visions and speak false messages they claim are from God, when he hasn’t spoken one word to them at all. Thus they repair the walls with whitewash!" (Ezekiel 22:28, The Living Bible).
One of the major warning signs that a man is a false teacher is when he (or she) begins to claim that their personal perversion of Scripture takes precedence over the clear teachings of Scripture. I heard one such man declare, “People will tell you we are a cult. Don’t believe them! The only true preachers are the ones I have trained and ordained.” When I confronted one of this parishioners with this statement he responded, “Oh, yes. We may seem like a cult, but if you will only come and let the Bishop explain, you will begin to understand.” Really?
The Bible warns, " And now I make one more appeal, my dear brothers and sisters. Watch out for people who cause divisions and upset people’s faith by teaching things contrary to what you have been taught. Stay away from them. Such people are not serving Christ our Lord; they are serving their own personal interests. By smooth talk and glowing words they deceive innocent people." (Romans 16:17-18, NLT).
“Stay away from them” Paul warns. The reason false teachers are able to prosper and gain a following is because unsuspecting Christians are willing to put up with their teaching even when they know something is wrong. Here’s the trap. They say enough “good things” that undiscerning people are willing to put up with the questionable things. Before long, we find ourselves “understanding” the false as the gentleman mentioned two paragraphs above pointed out. Sadly, familiarity breeds compromise and that is why the Bible warns us over and over again to flee not flirt with that which is false.
Another tale-tell sign of false teachers today is their propensity to justify sexual sin. The Lord warned his church in Thyatira "“But I have this against you: You let that woman Jezebel spread false teachings. She says she is a prophetess, but by her teaching she leads my people to take part in sexual sins " (Revelation 2:20, NCV).
One final warning flag (there are many others, but I will end this series with this one), is the movement common today attempting to move believers today back into Old Testament practices. Galatians 2:4 warns of this dangerous trend and Paul gives this injunction, " As I urged you when I went into Macedonia, stay there in Ephesus so that you may command certain men not to teach false doctrines any longer nor to devote themselves to myths and endless genealogies. These promote controversies rather than God’s work—which is by faith." (1 Timothy 1:3-4, NIV). He completes that thought in his second letter to Timothy, "They’ll make a show of religion, but behind the scenes they’re animals. Stay clear of these people. These are the kind of people who smooth-talk themselves into the homes of unstable and needy women and take advantage of them; women who, depressed by their sinfulness, take up with every new religious fad that calls itself “truth.”" (2 Timothy 3:5-6, The Message).
Do you want to really know the true from the false? There is one sure way to do that. Familiarize yourself with the true Word of God and then you will be able to discern whether the teacher is telling you truth or leading you into a web of deception. And I plead with you, don’t play with spiritual spiders. Steer completely clear of them.
In any case, I am in it, so let me finish my list of things that should always set off a flag of warning in the heart of anyone who is genuinely seeking to know truth. If your mind is already made up, just save yourself some time and skip this column today, you’ll only grow more upset.
Jeremiah 23:32 says, "Their made-up dreams are flagrant lies that lead my people into sin. I did not send them, and they have no message at all for my people, says the Lord." (Jeremiah 23:32, The Living Bible) and the prophet Ezekiel said, "Your ‘prophets’ describe false visions and speak false messages they claim are from God, when he hasn’t spoken one word to them at all. Thus they repair the walls with whitewash!" (Ezekiel 22:28, The Living Bible).
One of the major warning signs that a man is a false teacher is when he (or she) begins to claim that their personal perversion of Scripture takes precedence over the clear teachings of Scripture. I heard one such man declare, “People will tell you we are a cult. Don’t believe them! The only true preachers are the ones I have trained and ordained.” When I confronted one of this parishioners with this statement he responded, “Oh, yes. We may seem like a cult, but if you will only come and let the Bishop explain, you will begin to understand.” Really?
The Bible warns, " And now I make one more appeal, my dear brothers and sisters. Watch out for people who cause divisions and upset people’s faith by teaching things contrary to what you have been taught. Stay away from them. Such people are not serving Christ our Lord; they are serving their own personal interests. By smooth talk and glowing words they deceive innocent people." (Romans 16:17-18, NLT).
“Stay away from them” Paul warns. The reason false teachers are able to prosper and gain a following is because unsuspecting Christians are willing to put up with their teaching even when they know something is wrong. Here’s the trap. They say enough “good things” that undiscerning people are willing to put up with the questionable things. Before long, we find ourselves “understanding” the false as the gentleman mentioned two paragraphs above pointed out. Sadly, familiarity breeds compromise and that is why the Bible warns us over and over again to flee not flirt with that which is false.
Another tale-tell sign of false teachers today is their propensity to justify sexual sin. The Lord warned his church in Thyatira "“But I have this against you: You let that woman Jezebel spread false teachings. She says she is a prophetess, but by her teaching she leads my people to take part in sexual sins " (Revelation 2:20, NCV).
One final warning flag (there are many others, but I will end this series with this one), is the movement common today attempting to move believers today back into Old Testament practices. Galatians 2:4 warns of this dangerous trend and Paul gives this injunction, " As I urged you when I went into Macedonia, stay there in Ephesus so that you may command certain men not to teach false doctrines any longer nor to devote themselves to myths and endless genealogies. These promote controversies rather than God’s work—which is by faith." (1 Timothy 1:3-4, NIV). He completes that thought in his second letter to Timothy, "They’ll make a show of religion, but behind the scenes they’re animals. Stay clear of these people. These are the kind of people who smooth-talk themselves into the homes of unstable and needy women and take advantage of them; women who, depressed by their sinfulness, take up with every new religious fad that calls itself “truth.”" (2 Timothy 3:5-6, The Message).
Do you want to really know the true from the false? There is one sure way to do that. Familiarize yourself with the true Word of God and then you will be able to discern whether the teacher is telling you truth or leading you into a web of deception. And I plead with you, don’t play with spiritual spiders. Steer completely clear of them.
Friday, April 8, 2011
Tale-Tell Signs of a False Teacher
For the last few days I have been writing on the importance of the church recognizing that not everyone who comes in the name of Christ is actually following Christ. Jesus warned, " “Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves." (Matthew 7:15, NIV).
The question is, how do we recognize the false from the true? After all, false teachers don’t announce themselves as false, just the opposite they claim to have a corner on truth! The Bible says, "God never sent those men at all; they are “phonies” who have fooled you into thinking they are Christ’s apostles. Yet I am not surprised! Satan can change himself into an angel of light, so it is no wonder his servants can do it too, and seem like godly ministers. In the end they will get every bit of punishment their wicked deeds deserve." (2 Corinthians 11:13-15, The Living Bible). So let me begin to wrap up this current series by giving you some things to watch out for; teachings that should raise a flag of warning in your heart.
One of the most common tactics of false teachers today is to claim that they never speak on anything “negative.” The Bible warns, "The visions of your prophets were false and worthless; they did not expose your sin to ward off your captivity. The oracles they gave you were false and misleading." (Lamentations 2:14, NIV) and Jeremiah warned, "They dress the wound of my people as though it were not serious. ‘Peace, peace,’ they say, when there is no peace." (Jeremiah 6:14, NIV).
The reason so many fall prey to these purveyors of prosperity is because it is such an easy message. Much of what passes as the Gospel today is little more than pop psychology aimed at making us feel good about ourselves. The problem comes when their message makes us feel comfortable within ourselves even when we are living in some known and clear sin. Paul warned, "For there is going to come a time when people won’t listen to the truth but will go around looking for teachers who will tell them just what they want to hear. They won’t listen to what the Bible says but will blithely follow their own misguided ideas." (2 Timothy 4:3-4, The Living Bible).
One prominent false teacher began his sojourn into error with the words, “I only teach what is positive; nothing negative and sin and hell are negative, so I won’t speak on them” and now has graduated to claiming that large parts of Scripture are written by “cranky old men” who had a (personal) problem with a certain lifestyle and therefore what they wrote is not really from God. Now that is a key mark of a false teacher. They claim that their insight supercedes Divine Inspiration.
Another common tactic among false teachers is to link obedience to prosperity. One false teacher declared for instance that “Jesus was filthy rich” because he obeyed the will of God perfectly. He went on to explain that Jesus’ apparent poverty was only because he hid his riches from his followers!
The Bible says, " Anyone who has a different teaching does not agree with the true teaching of our Lord Jesus Christ and the teaching that shows the true way to serve God. This person is full of pride and understands nothing, but is sick with a love for arguing and fighting about words. This brings jealousy, fighting, speaking against others, evil mistrust, and constant quarrels from those who have evil minds and have lost the truth. They think that serving God is a way to get rich." (1 Timothy 6:3-5, NCV).
Please note that last phrase, “They think serving God is a way to get rich.” These false teachers promise those they deceive that if they will show their faith by giving them “seed money” God will then be obligated to bless them monetarily. They grow rich while their followers desperately cling to their false promises and sacrifice many times beyond their means.
The question is, how do we recognize the false from the true? After all, false teachers don’t announce themselves as false, just the opposite they claim to have a corner on truth! The Bible says, "God never sent those men at all; they are “phonies” who have fooled you into thinking they are Christ’s apostles. Yet I am not surprised! Satan can change himself into an angel of light, so it is no wonder his servants can do it too, and seem like godly ministers. In the end they will get every bit of punishment their wicked deeds deserve." (2 Corinthians 11:13-15, The Living Bible). So let me begin to wrap up this current series by giving you some things to watch out for; teachings that should raise a flag of warning in your heart.
One of the most common tactics of false teachers today is to claim that they never speak on anything “negative.” The Bible warns, "The visions of your prophets were false and worthless; they did not expose your sin to ward off your captivity. The oracles they gave you were false and misleading." (Lamentations 2:14, NIV) and Jeremiah warned, "They dress the wound of my people as though it were not serious. ‘Peace, peace,’ they say, when there is no peace." (Jeremiah 6:14, NIV).
The reason so many fall prey to these purveyors of prosperity is because it is such an easy message. Much of what passes as the Gospel today is little more than pop psychology aimed at making us feel good about ourselves. The problem comes when their message makes us feel comfortable within ourselves even when we are living in some known and clear sin. Paul warned, "For there is going to come a time when people won’t listen to the truth but will go around looking for teachers who will tell them just what they want to hear. They won’t listen to what the Bible says but will blithely follow their own misguided ideas." (2 Timothy 4:3-4, The Living Bible).
One prominent false teacher began his sojourn into error with the words, “I only teach what is positive; nothing negative and sin and hell are negative, so I won’t speak on them” and now has graduated to claiming that large parts of Scripture are written by “cranky old men” who had a (personal) problem with a certain lifestyle and therefore what they wrote is not really from God. Now that is a key mark of a false teacher. They claim that their insight supercedes Divine Inspiration.
Another common tactic among false teachers is to link obedience to prosperity. One false teacher declared for instance that “Jesus was filthy rich” because he obeyed the will of God perfectly. He went on to explain that Jesus’ apparent poverty was only because he hid his riches from his followers!
The Bible says, " Anyone who has a different teaching does not agree with the true teaching of our Lord Jesus Christ and the teaching that shows the true way to serve God. This person is full of pride and understands nothing, but is sick with a love for arguing and fighting about words. This brings jealousy, fighting, speaking against others, evil mistrust, and constant quarrels from those who have evil minds and have lost the truth. They think that serving God is a way to get rich." (1 Timothy 6:3-5, NCV).
Please note that last phrase, “They think serving God is a way to get rich.” These false teachers promise those they deceive that if they will show their faith by giving them “seed money” God will then be obligated to bless them monetarily. They grow rich while their followers desperately cling to their false promises and sacrifice many times beyond their means.
Thursday, April 7, 2011
Does the Glove Fit? False Teachers part 2
Last week I wrote a warning about false teachers. Sadly we in the church put up with a lot of stuff we should really be putting out of the church. Of course I realize that having written what I wrote last week really leaves me open to the charge of “being a false teacher.” That charge certainly has been leveled at me in the past by some false teachers I know. One such person warned his congregation, “You have to be careful of that John Pearrell, he’s dangerous! He believes that the Bible is actually the Word of God!” When I heard that, I took it has a compliment rather than a criticism.
I tell my family at Gateway, “I will never purposefully mislead you, but I am a man and I can and do make mistakes. When I discover them, I will be quick to correct them and let you know that I was wrong. I always try to tell you truth, but don’t accept what I say, check it out in Scripture for yourself, because I am a man and I will, at times make mistakes.”
So if I claim someone else is perhaps a false teacher and they turn around and accuse me of being a false teacher, how is an individual to determine which of us is telling the truth? The simple answer is, check out what is claimed against the standard of Scripture. Does it fit with what the Bible says?
Do you recall the famous quote by O.J. Simpson’s defense attorney, the late Johnny Cochran? “If the glove don’t fit, you must acquit.” Same is true in determining if someone is a true preacher of the Gospel or a false prophet of the Gospel. If what is says fits with what is recorded, you can be certain that it is truth; if it doesn’t, if it appears to be a forced interpretation, you can be certain that it is a false interpretation. Paul wrote about some of the false teachers of his day, “I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting the one who called you by the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel— which is really no gospel at all. Evidently some people are throwing you into confusion and are trying to pervert the gospel of Christ. But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach a gospel other than the one we preached to you, let him be eternally condemned! As we have already said, so now I say again: If anybody is preaching to you a gospel other than what you accepted, let him be eternally condemned!" (Galatians 1:6-9, NIV).
Let’s make a quick practical application of that statement. There is a group today that is desperately trying to pass itself off as simply another denomination within the Christian faith. They have high morals, clean lifestyles, and show a lot of what we might label the Christian compassion. However, a study of their theology shows a great deviation from the Biblical record. For one thing, they claim that their new message was delivered to them by an angel (see Galatians 1:6-9 above). Furthermore they claim an infinite progression of gods. Their claim that the faithful can become gods of their own worlds certainly is appealing to our fallen natures (remember the first sin was the temptation that we could become like God), when you compare the claim to Scripture such as Isaiah 43:10, it becomes instantly apparent that the claim of multiple gods before our current God and the claim that other gods will follow, is clearly a false claim–if you believe Scripture that is. Therefore, as unpopular as this next statement will be with some, its truthfulness stands: the claims of this group are false when compared to Scripture and no amount of explanation really matters. Either the Bible is true or it is not. If it is not, then yes, anything goes. But if it is true, then we have a standard by which we can judge the truth or falsehood of a claim. That is how you can tell whether a person is a true minister of the Gospel or a false teacher looking to gather a following after themselves.
If I were to tell you that 2 plus 2 equaled 3, you would probably think me strange. According to the accepted rules of mathematics, we know that 2 plus 2 equals 4. Successful space missions are possible only because of our grasp and submission to the rules of math, in all its fields. My ability to understand it all, doesn’t change its validity one bit. The same is true spiritually. If a spiritual leader tries to convince you that 2 plus 2 is 3 or 5 or any other number beside 4, you can be certain that the leader is either woefully ignorant of the truth he is trying to convey or they are purposefully deceiving you for some personal gain. In such case, run, don’t walk away!
I tell my family at Gateway, “I will never purposefully mislead you, but I am a man and I can and do make mistakes. When I discover them, I will be quick to correct them and let you know that I was wrong. I always try to tell you truth, but don’t accept what I say, check it out in Scripture for yourself, because I am a man and I will, at times make mistakes.”
So if I claim someone else is perhaps a false teacher and they turn around and accuse me of being a false teacher, how is an individual to determine which of us is telling the truth? The simple answer is, check out what is claimed against the standard of Scripture. Does it fit with what the Bible says?
Do you recall the famous quote by O.J. Simpson’s defense attorney, the late Johnny Cochran? “If the glove don’t fit, you must acquit.” Same is true in determining if someone is a true preacher of the Gospel or a false prophet of the Gospel. If what is says fits with what is recorded, you can be certain that it is truth; if it doesn’t, if it appears to be a forced interpretation, you can be certain that it is a false interpretation. Paul wrote about some of the false teachers of his day, “I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting the one who called you by the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel— which is really no gospel at all. Evidently some people are throwing you into confusion and are trying to pervert the gospel of Christ. But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach a gospel other than the one we preached to you, let him be eternally condemned! As we have already said, so now I say again: If anybody is preaching to you a gospel other than what you accepted, let him be eternally condemned!" (Galatians 1:6-9, NIV).
Let’s make a quick practical application of that statement. There is a group today that is desperately trying to pass itself off as simply another denomination within the Christian faith. They have high morals, clean lifestyles, and show a lot of what we might label the Christian compassion. However, a study of their theology shows a great deviation from the Biblical record. For one thing, they claim that their new message was delivered to them by an angel (see Galatians 1:6-9 above). Furthermore they claim an infinite progression of gods. Their claim that the faithful can become gods of their own worlds certainly is appealing to our fallen natures (remember the first sin was the temptation that we could become like God), when you compare the claim to Scripture such as Isaiah 43:10, it becomes instantly apparent that the claim of multiple gods before our current God and the claim that other gods will follow, is clearly a false claim–if you believe Scripture that is. Therefore, as unpopular as this next statement will be with some, its truthfulness stands: the claims of this group are false when compared to Scripture and no amount of explanation really matters. Either the Bible is true or it is not. If it is not, then yes, anything goes. But if it is true, then we have a standard by which we can judge the truth or falsehood of a claim. That is how you can tell whether a person is a true minister of the Gospel or a false teacher looking to gather a following after themselves.
If I were to tell you that 2 plus 2 equaled 3, you would probably think me strange. According to the accepted rules of mathematics, we know that 2 plus 2 equals 4. Successful space missions are possible only because of our grasp and submission to the rules of math, in all its fields. My ability to understand it all, doesn’t change its validity one bit. The same is true spiritually. If a spiritual leader tries to convince you that 2 plus 2 is 3 or 5 or any other number beside 4, you can be certain that the leader is either woefully ignorant of the truth he is trying to convey or they are purposefully deceiving you for some personal gain. In such case, run, don’t walk away!
Wednesday, April 6, 2011
Out of the Frying Pan--Dealing with False Teachers
How does the saying go? “Out of the frying pan and into the fire.” I fear that is what I am about to do as I write this article. You see, there is a growing crisis in Christendom today, but it is a crisis few want to address. Attempt to broach the subject and you are immediately hit with responses like, “Who died and made you judge?” “You have no right to say (something negative) about any one else’s ministry.” And on and on the litany goes.
Because of this mentality false teachers have been able to not only safely enter the flock, but they find protection within the flock! The very people they are devouring are the people who scream bloody murder if anyone dares try rescue them. I am sorry, but there is something wrong with that picture.
Jesus warned his followers, "“Be wary of false preachers who smile a lot, dripping with practiced sincerity. Chances are they are out to rip you off some way or other. Don’t be impressed with charisma; look for character. Who preachers are is the main thing, not what they say. A genuine leader will never exploit your emotions or your pocketbook. These diseased trees with their bad apples are going to be chopped down and burned. " (Matthew 7:15-16, The Message)
Paul warned the church of his day, "I know that false teachers, like vicious wolves, will come in among you after I leave, not sparing the flock. Even some men from your own group will rise up and distort the truth in order to draw a following." (Acts 20:29-30, NLT).
The Apostle John wrote, "Dearly loved friends, don’t always believe everything you hear just because someone says it is a message from God: test it first to see if it really is. For there are many false teachers around," (1 John 4:1, The Living Bible). Jude warned, "I say this because some godless teachers have wormed their way in among you, saying that after we become Christians we can do just as we like without fear of God’s punishment. The fate of such people was written long ago, for they have turned against our only Master and Lord, Jesus Christ." (Jude 4, The Living Bible). And, "These men are blemishes at your love feasts, eating with you without the slightest qualm—shepherds who feed only themselves. They are clouds without rain, blown along by the wind; autumn trees, without fruit and uprooted—twice dead. They are wild waves of the sea, foaming up their shame; wandering stars, for whom blackest darkness has been reserved forever . . .These are the men who divide you, who follow mere natural instincts and do not have the Spirit." (Jude 12-13, 19 NIV).
We could go on and on. Every writer in the New Testament says something about false teachers–there are, as far as I can tell, no exceptions. Yet today very few ministers or teachers or even lay-men are willing to identify the false teachers in our midst. We put up with what we should be putting out! The result is the Christian message has been so distorted that it is nearly impossible for the average person to recognize truth from error. The consequences of our current condition are many. Political correctness has replaced bold proclamation in many pulpits and a spirit of deception has invaded the pews. Those who have come to believe an illusion about the message of the Gospel quickly become disillusioned and many leave the church hurt and angry.
Because of this mentality false teachers have been able to not only safely enter the flock, but they find protection within the flock! The very people they are devouring are the people who scream bloody murder if anyone dares try rescue them. I am sorry, but there is something wrong with that picture.
Jesus warned his followers, "“Be wary of false preachers who smile a lot, dripping with practiced sincerity. Chances are they are out to rip you off some way or other. Don’t be impressed with charisma; look for character. Who preachers are is the main thing, not what they say. A genuine leader will never exploit your emotions or your pocketbook. These diseased trees with their bad apples are going to be chopped down and burned. " (Matthew 7:15-16, The Message)
Paul warned the church of his day, "I know that false teachers, like vicious wolves, will come in among you after I leave, not sparing the flock. Even some men from your own group will rise up and distort the truth in order to draw a following." (Acts 20:29-30, NLT).
The Apostle John wrote, "Dearly loved friends, don’t always believe everything you hear just because someone says it is a message from God: test it first to see if it really is. For there are many false teachers around," (1 John 4:1, The Living Bible). Jude warned, "I say this because some godless teachers have wormed their way in among you, saying that after we become Christians we can do just as we like without fear of God’s punishment. The fate of such people was written long ago, for they have turned against our only Master and Lord, Jesus Christ." (Jude 4, The Living Bible). And, "These men are blemishes at your love feasts, eating with you without the slightest qualm—shepherds who feed only themselves. They are clouds without rain, blown along by the wind; autumn trees, without fruit and uprooted—twice dead. They are wild waves of the sea, foaming up their shame; wandering stars, for whom blackest darkness has been reserved forever . . .These are the men who divide you, who follow mere natural instincts and do not have the Spirit." (Jude 12-13, 19 NIV).
We could go on and on. Every writer in the New Testament says something about false teachers–there are, as far as I can tell, no exceptions. Yet today very few ministers or teachers or even lay-men are willing to identify the false teachers in our midst. We put up with what we should be putting out! The result is the Christian message has been so distorted that it is nearly impossible for the average person to recognize truth from error. The consequences of our current condition are many. Political correctness has replaced bold proclamation in many pulpits and a spirit of deception has invaded the pews. Those who have come to believe an illusion about the message of the Gospel quickly become disillusioned and many leave the church hurt and angry.
Saturday, April 2, 2011
Security in an Insecure World
Those who look to him are radiant; their faces are never covered with shame. 6 This poor man called, and the Lord heard him; he saved him out of all his troubles. 7 The angel of the Lord encamps around those who fear him, and he delivers them. (Psalm 34:5-7 NIV).
We looked at verse 5 in yesterday’s thought. When we call on Jesus not only are all things possible, but there is a radiant confidence that shows! “Their faces are never covered with shame.” The Bible says, “See, I lay in Zion a stone that causes men to stumble and a rock that makes them fall, and the one who trusts in him will never be put to shame.” (Romans 9:33 NIV).
Do not misunderstand what I am saying. In this life there are setbacks and disappointments. But never forget that we were not made for this life! We were made for eternity! The Christian never has to hang his or her head in shame (if they are living an obedient life), because ultimately the believer has the promise of God that our faith and faithfulness will one day be rewarded!
Next promise: “This poor man called, and the Lord heard him; he saved him out of all his troubles.” God always hears the cries of His faithful. Please note those last two words. The Bible reminds us, “Surely the arm of the Lord is not too short to save, nor his ear too dull to hear. 2 But your iniquities have separated you from your God; your sins have hidden his face from you, so that he will not hear.” (Isaiah 59:1-2 NIV).
There is an appalling tendency today among those who claim to be believers to live self-centered lives that reflect the patterns of this world rather than the pattern Christ set for us. We live sinful lives and wonder why “God didn’t answer my prayers.” To pray in Jesus’ Name is not some magical mantra that procures our every want. To pray in Jesus’ Name means we pray with the authority of heaven behind us. I like what Adrian Rodgers has said regarding this: “Prayer that God answers is prayer that begins in Heaven; we just complete the circuit!”
Finally there is the marvelous promise, “The angel of the Lord encamps around those who fear him, and he delivers them.” Now of course if we only understand this verse in light of this life we have to conclude that this promise has failed miserably. Look at the millions of martyrs down through the centuries. Where was the angel of the Lord then? I’ll tell you where: He was right there beside them!
As marvelous as the promise of verse 7 is, we miss its impact if we don’t know some basic rules of Biblical interpretation. Whenever you see the phrase, “The angel of the Lord” (with the term Lord in small caps) you can be certain that this is a reference not to any angel but the pre-incarnate second person of the Trinity–The Lord Jesus Christ! Jesus Himself guards those who love Him! What an awesome thought! He guards you carefully today. Hear his promise, 40 For my Father’s will is that everyone who looks to the Son and believes in him shall have eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day.” (John 6:40 NIV). 27 My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. 28 I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one can snatch them out of my hand. 29 My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all; no one can snatch them out of my Father’s hand. 30 I and the Father are one.”(John 10:27-30 NIV). It is He who guards you.
We looked at verse 5 in yesterday’s thought. When we call on Jesus not only are all things possible, but there is a radiant confidence that shows! “Their faces are never covered with shame.” The Bible says, “See, I lay in Zion a stone that causes men to stumble and a rock that makes them fall, and the one who trusts in him will never be put to shame.” (Romans 9:33 NIV).
Do not misunderstand what I am saying. In this life there are setbacks and disappointments. But never forget that we were not made for this life! We were made for eternity! The Christian never has to hang his or her head in shame (if they are living an obedient life), because ultimately the believer has the promise of God that our faith and faithfulness will one day be rewarded!
Next promise: “This poor man called, and the Lord heard him; he saved him out of all his troubles.” God always hears the cries of His faithful. Please note those last two words. The Bible reminds us, “Surely the arm of the Lord is not too short to save, nor his ear too dull to hear. 2 But your iniquities have separated you from your God; your sins have hidden his face from you, so that he will not hear.” (Isaiah 59:1-2 NIV).
There is an appalling tendency today among those who claim to be believers to live self-centered lives that reflect the patterns of this world rather than the pattern Christ set for us. We live sinful lives and wonder why “God didn’t answer my prayers.” To pray in Jesus’ Name is not some magical mantra that procures our every want. To pray in Jesus’ Name means we pray with the authority of heaven behind us. I like what Adrian Rodgers has said regarding this: “Prayer that God answers is prayer that begins in Heaven; we just complete the circuit!”
Finally there is the marvelous promise, “The angel of the Lord encamps around those who fear him, and he delivers them.” Now of course if we only understand this verse in light of this life we have to conclude that this promise has failed miserably. Look at the millions of martyrs down through the centuries. Where was the angel of the Lord then? I’ll tell you where: He was right there beside them!
As marvelous as the promise of verse 7 is, we miss its impact if we don’t know some basic rules of Biblical interpretation. Whenever you see the phrase, “The angel of the Lord” (with the term Lord in small caps) you can be certain that this is a reference not to any angel but the pre-incarnate second person of the Trinity–The Lord Jesus Christ! Jesus Himself guards those who love Him! What an awesome thought! He guards you carefully today. Hear his promise, 40 For my Father’s will is that everyone who looks to the Son and believes in him shall have eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day.” (John 6:40 NIV). 27 My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. 28 I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one can snatch them out of my hand. 29 My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all; no one can snatch them out of my Father’s hand. 30 I and the Father are one.”(John 10:27-30 NIV). It is He who guards you.
Friday, April 1, 2011
Prayer: Key to Personal Joy
“4 I prayed to the Lord, and he answered me, freeing me from all my fears. 5.Those who look to him for help will be radiant with joy; no shadow of shame will darken their faces” (Psalm 34:4-5 NLT).
The song-writer was right, “O, what peace we often forfeit, O, what needless pain we bear, all because we do not carry everything to God in prayer.” “Those who look to him for help will be radiant with joy; no shadow of shame will darken their faces.”
As I write this thought, I am in the midst of preparing Sunday’s sermon. This week I am speaking on the ministry of the Holy Spirit and in my text Jesus reminds His followers of coming persecution. The world is no friend to the Christian. So many struggle today because they have forgotten this basic truth. We live in the world, but we are not to be of the world; we live in the world but the world is not to live in us. Now because we live in a fallen world, we suffer. There are those misguided souls today who believe and teach that faithful Christians should have no problems. While that skewed theology may sound inviting, it has no basis in Scripture, no basis in truth. God’s people have suffered since Cain killed Abel! So do not be surprised if you are suffering. Jesus said, “I have told you all this so that you may have peace in me. Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33 NLT).
Again I remind you that in our passage in Psalm, David rejoices not because he is delivered from troubling circumstances but because he is freed from fear of those circumstances. Paul said, “For to me to live is Christ and to die is gain.” (Philippians 1:21 NIV). How would you deal with a guy like that? How could you discourage him? If he lives he’s happy in Christ and if he dies he is happy with Christ. That should be the attitude of every believer! “Those who look to him for help will be radiant with joy.” Nothing can shake the believer whose eyes stay fixed on Christ.
The song-writer was right, “O, what peace we often forfeit, O, what needless pain we bear, all because we do not carry everything to God in prayer.” “Those who look to him for help will be radiant with joy; no shadow of shame will darken their faces.”
As I write this thought, I am in the midst of preparing Sunday’s sermon. This week I am speaking on the ministry of the Holy Spirit and in my text Jesus reminds His followers of coming persecution. The world is no friend to the Christian. So many struggle today because they have forgotten this basic truth. We live in the world, but we are not to be of the world; we live in the world but the world is not to live in us. Now because we live in a fallen world, we suffer. There are those misguided souls today who believe and teach that faithful Christians should have no problems. While that skewed theology may sound inviting, it has no basis in Scripture, no basis in truth. God’s people have suffered since Cain killed Abel! So do not be surprised if you are suffering. Jesus said, “I have told you all this so that you may have peace in me. Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33 NLT).
Again I remind you that in our passage in Psalm, David rejoices not because he is delivered from troubling circumstances but because he is freed from fear of those circumstances. Paul said, “For to me to live is Christ and to die is gain.” (Philippians 1:21 NIV). How would you deal with a guy like that? How could you discourage him? If he lives he’s happy in Christ and if he dies he is happy with Christ. That should be the attitude of every believer! “Those who look to him for help will be radiant with joy.” Nothing can shake the believer whose eyes stay fixed on Christ.
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