Beware of false teachers….2017.
We live in a time in church history that the Bible warns us to be beware of false teachers. Nearly half of the New Testament is continually teaching and warning us about false teachers.
Where do they come from?
2Pe 2:1 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.
In all the years I have been surfing or down the beach, I have never had a false teacher approach me or invite me into their ‘special meeting’.
Yet, if you answer the door to a false teacher and say, “I am a born again Christian”, they don’t say in return, “Praise God” and move on. No, they now scent blood. You are just what they are looking for! They stay!
Likewise in the 37 years of Pastoring, I have never seen false teachers gather to themselves, a bunch of non-believers to start a bible study or a prayer group.
No, they start attending a church and then begin to gather unto themselves disciples – Paul warned of such, 1 Tim 1:5 The purpose of my instruction is that all believers would be filled with love that comes from a pure heart, a clear conscience, and genuine faith. 6 But some people have missed this whole point. They have turned away from these things and spend their time in meaningless discussions. 7 They want to be known as teachers of the law of Moses, but they don’t know what they are talking about, even though they speak so confidently.
False teachers seek to have you under their control and not the Lord’s.
Jesus warned us also of false teachers and what they really are under their façade of the “special anointing they alone have from God”.
Jesus said Mat 7:15 “Beware of false prophets who come disguised as harmless sheep but are really vicious wolves.
Paul followed Jesus lead with these words, Act 20:29 I know that false teachers, like vicious wolves, will come in among you after I leave, not sparing the flock.
How do I stay safe from false teachers?
Be actively involved in a local church that has God appointed leadership and teaches the Bible from Genesis to Revelation.
Be careful of splinter groups where there is no accountability to a local church.
Jesus created His body the church to be the vessel through which He would work.
Eph 4:11 Now these are the gifts Christ gave to the church: the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, and the pastors and teachers.
Eph 4:12 Their responsibility is to equip God’s people to do his work and build up the church, the body of Christ.
God has no special ‘people’ who have the inside run on things.
False teachers always claim to have ‘special knowledge” or “revelation” from God that no one else has!
It’s ‘special’ all right but it is NOT from God but from the father of all lies.
The Bible teaches us that in times past God spoke to ……our ancestors through the prophets. Heb 1:1
Now God speaks to us through His precious Word the Bible and a Bible teaching church is what we all should be part of.
Heb 1:2 And now in these final days, he has spoken to us through his Son. God promised everything to the Son as an inheritance, and through the Son he created the universe.
This week, take full opportunity of the services and studies available here at Calvary Chapel Secret Harbour.
Tuesday mornings at 9:30 am – Women’s Bible studies.
Wednesday evening 7:00pm – Corporate prayer/ Expository teaching through the Book of James.
Wednesday evening / month – Calvary Community Group studies.
Friday evenings 5:30pm – Calvary Kids
Friday evening 7:00pm – Calvary Youth
Sunday morning 10:00am – Studies in the Book of Judges
Sunday evening 6:00pm – Studies in the Book of Ecclesiastes
If you are part of the body of Christ here at CCSH, I urge you to seize the many opportunities to grow in the grace of God by being part of the weekly services listed above.