DECEMBER 17 - DISCERNING FALSE TEACHERS
READ 1 John 4
Anyone is not of God who denies that Jesus is the Son of God who came in the flesh.
INSIGHT
Whenever you are uncertain about someone's teaching, find out what they teach about Jesus. If the truth about God's Son has been twisted, their belief system will be flawed. To test the truthfulness of a particular teaching, ask them these questions:
Do you believe that Jesus is the Son of God, the second member of the Trinity?
Do you believe that He came in the flesh, incarnate as Jesus of Nazareth?
Do you agree that He died for our sins and was resurrected from the dead?
Do you believe that His death provided atonement for our sins and that the only way of salvation is by grace through faith in Him?
If the answer to any of these questions is "No," be cautious. Do not believe everything someone says.
PRAYER
Praise the Lord for all that He has done in providing for our salvation:
Hallelujah!
Praise the name of the Lord.
Give praise, you servants of the Lord
Praise the Lord, for the Lord is good;
Sing praise to his name, for it is delightful.
For I know that the Lord is great;
Our Lord is greater than all gods.
Blessed be the Lord from Zion;
He dwells in Jerusalem.
Hallelujah!
(Psalm 135:1, 3, 5, 21).
Pause for praise and thanksgiving. Pray this confession to the Lord as you seek to keep your life free from sin:
The Lord is good and upright;
Therefore he shows sinners the way.
He leads the humble in what is right
And teaches them his way.
Lord, for the sake of your name,
Forgive my iniquity, for it is immense
(Psalm 25:8-9, 11).
Confess any sins that the Holy Spirit brings to your mind, and pray this affirmation to the Lord:
For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but one of power, love, and sound judgment
(2 Timothy 1:7).
As you make your requests known to the Lord, include:
Finally, offer this prayer to the Lord:
Lord, you have been our refuge
In every generation (Psalm 90:1).
Anyone is not of God who denies that Jesus is the Son of God who came in the flesh.
INSIGHT
Whenever you are uncertain about someone's teaching, find out what they teach about Jesus. If the truth about God's Son has been twisted, their belief system will be flawed. To test the truthfulness of a particular teaching, ask them these questions:
Do you believe that Jesus is the Son of God, the second member of the Trinity?
Do you believe that He came in the flesh, incarnate as Jesus of Nazareth?
Do you agree that He died for our sins and was resurrected from the dead?
Do you believe that His death provided atonement for our sins and that the only way of salvation is by grace through faith in Him?
If the answer to any of these questions is "No," be cautious. Do not believe everything someone says.
PRAYER
Praise the Lord for all that He has done in providing for our salvation:
Hallelujah!
Praise the name of the Lord.
Give praise, you servants of the Lord
Praise the Lord, for the Lord is good;
Sing praise to his name, for it is delightful.
For I know that the Lord is great;
Our Lord is greater than all gods.
Blessed be the Lord from Zion;
He dwells in Jerusalem.
Hallelujah!
(Psalm 135:1, 3, 5, 21).
Pause for praise and thanksgiving. Pray this confession to the Lord as you seek to keep your life free from sin:
The Lord is good and upright;
Therefore he shows sinners the way.
He leads the humble in what is right
And teaches them his way.
Lord, for the sake of your name,
Forgive my iniquity, for it is immense
(Psalm 25:8-9, 11).
Confess any sins that the Holy Spirit brings to your mind, and pray this affirmation to the Lord:
For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but one of power, love, and sound judgment
(2 Timothy 1:7).
As you make your requests known to the Lord, include:
- Greater love for your family
- Missionaries in North and South America
- Whatever else is on your heart
Finally, offer this prayer to the Lord:
Lord, you have been our refuge
In every generation (Psalm 90:1).