HOW DO I DISCERN A FALSE TEACHER?

II PETER 2:1-3: “But false prophets also appeared among the people, just as there will also be false teachers among you, who will secretly introduce destructive heresies, even denying the Master who bought them, bringing swift destruction upon themselves. Many will follow their indecent behavior, and because of them the way of the truth will be maligned; and in their greed they will exploit you with false words; their judgment from long ago is not idle, and their destruction is not asleep.” NASB

OBSERVATION: How do I discern a false prophet, a false teacher? How can you discern if what I am writing is truth or error? In this world of a million blogs, podcasts, and Facebook posts, we hear so many voices. Who is telling the truth?

First, it is important to note that Jesus, Paul, and Peter warned us about false prophets and teachers coming into the church to deceive God’s sheep. This is not a question of when it will happen – it is a question of how to discern the truth from the error.

As a Pastor, I would always encourage my congregation – “Don’t take my word at face value. Search the Scriptures. Put my words to the test, and let the Holy Spirit confirm the truth in your hearts through God’s Word!” I am glad to say that they did just that. There were times when I missed it and lovingly I was called to the carpet. I needed this accountability as a teacher of the Word of God!

Today I feel we have stopped discerning the spirits. We are not like the Bereans who listened to the great Apostle Paul and then went home to search the Scriptures to see if what he was saying was in agreement with the Word of God. We look to personality and popularity more than the authority of the Word of God. We gravitate to those who speak words that always encourage and never challenge.

We live in a very precarious and dangerous day!

Peter, in the previous chapter, has already told us the measuring rod for discerning the truth from error, as did Paul in his letter to Timothy. Here are these two Scriptures.

• “And so we have the prophetic word made more sure, to which you do well to pay attention as to a lamp shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star arises in your hearts. But know this first of all, that no prophecy of Scripture becomes a matter of someone’s own interpretation, for no prophecy was ever made by an act of human will, but men moved by the Holy Spirit spoke from God.” 2 Peter 1:19-21

• “But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have become convinced of, because you know those from whom you learned it, and how from infancy you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.” 2 Timothy 3:14-16

At this point, we could simply say – AMEN! However, we need to hear some of the warning signs Peter gives us about false prophets and teachers. Jesus said – “You will know them by their fruits.” Here is a summary list of the opening verses from Peter’s Epistle the second chapter.

1. They are always introducing the next – “New Revelation.” It is something that no one else knows and they, by their special insight into God’s Word have uncovered a truth hidden for centuries.

2. They deny the Lordship of Jesus Christ, His place of preeminence. They do not do this by saying they do not believe in Jesus Christ. In fact, they invoke His name over and over. However, they exchange the glory that should be given to Jesus Christ for personal glory and accolades from their followers.

3. They do not proclaim a message of holiness. Many times they promote a message of easy grace. It really does not matter what you do or how you live because we are all under grace. The important thing is to honor God with your tithes and offerings, which by the way should go directly to their ministry. Giving is the equivalent of holiness in the eyes of the false teacher.

4. Finally, and probably worst of all, they fabricate elaborate stories of great healings and breakthroughs in people’s lives – and they are always tied to the financial seed that they planted into the false prophet’s ministry. I have even heard such teachers on television proclaiming that God’s healing will be released only when you plant a seed of $1000.

The rest of Peter’s rebuke is pretty scary. Needless to say, we all need to be careful. The standard of all truth and the test for all truth is God’s Written objective Word. All teaching, all manifestations of the power of God, and all the prophetic words that may be uttered must submit to, align, and be in agreement with the written Word of God. There is no other standard.

When we are lured by what we see and we don’t go to the Written Word of God to test the things we hear we open ourselves up to deception. As pastors, teachers, and leaders we need to take heed to the prophetic word made sure in the final revelation of God – the Bible!

The Word of God is the manifestation of God Himself and His final revelation. In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word is God. The Word is Jesus and Jesus is the Word. He is the source of all truth and our standard for all truth. We don’t learn about Jesus any other way than through the pages of the Scriptures that have been inspired by God, written by men moved by the Holy Spirit, and testified as the truth by the church through the ages.

Lord, help us run to Your Word! Help us test every spirit, every teacher, every preacher, every manifestation of power, and every prophetic word – BY YOUR WRITTEN WORD. Keep our hearts tender toward the moving of the Holy Spirit but anchored in Your Word. May we not despise prophesying. Yet, may we also not be blown about by every wind of doctrine that blows by. Let us stand on Christ – the solid Rock.

Father God, help us stand upon YOUR WORD!

“On Christ the solid rock I stand, all other ground is sinking sand!”

In Jesus’ Name!