The Way of Truth and Identifying Reliable Teachers
How are you and I supposed to know who we can believe? How can we identify reliable teachers or preachers who faithfully share the truth?
We want to believe we can trust someone who claims they have the Spirit. We want to trust our church leaders to guide us. We want to believe we’re learning from reliable teachers.
But John wrote…
Dear friends, do not believe everyone who claims to speak by the Spirit. You must test them to see if the spirit they have comes from God. For there are many false prophets in the world.
1 John 4:1
The enemy is a liar, and he will use whomever and whatever he can to deceive people and pull them away from Jesus. He will even employ individuals to twist God’s Word in an effort to confuse and manipulate humanity.
So, how do we test the teachings we hear and read as John advises?
We compare their words to the truth of God’s Word, trusting the Bible is the reliable truth we need to know about Jesus.
This is how we know if they have the Spirit of God: If a person claiming to be a prophet acknowledges that Jesus Christ came in a real body, that person has the Spirit of God. But if someone claims to be a prophet and does not acknowledge the truth about Jesus, that person is not from God. Such a person has the spirit of the Antichrist, which you heard is coming into the world and indeed is already here.
1 John 4:2–3
Jesus has always been, is, and will always be the TRUTH. He showed us the TRUTH about God and taught us the TRUTH about God’s will. He fulfilled Old Testament Promises to give us New Testament Hope for the future.
Teachers and prophets who have God’s Spirit will proclaim the truth about Jesus and what He taught. They will confess Him as the Son of God who lived, died, and rose again to give all who trust in Him forgiveness and life.
They will not selectively choose their message, compromising for a culture influenced by the enemy. Reliable teachers love people too much not to tell them the truth about God’s will for them.
So, how do you know who to believe? How do you know if what you read and hear from church leaders is the truth?
By SEEKing and KNOWing Jesus through the absolute TRUTH of God’s Word! If we don’t know what Scripture teaches, we leave ourselves susceptible to the enemy’s lies through the spirit of the antichrist.
And remember, an “antichrist” is anyone who claims Christ’s position or authority themselves or who stands in opposition to the Lord, His work, and His TRUTH.
Test what you read and hear. KNOW the TRUTH so you can know the truth for life.
Let’s pray…
A Prayer to KNOW the TRUTH
and Identify Reliable Teachers
Father God, Your Word is TRUTH. Thank you for wanting us to KNOW how very much You love us. Thank you so much for giving us a way to KNOW, LOVE, and TRUST You.
You promised to send a Messiah to save us from the eternal consequences of sin. Then You sent Your only Son, Jesus, to keep that promise. He lived to show us Your TRUTH and LOVE. He died because of His LOVE for You and all of us. He rose again to give us HOPE and LIFE that lasts forever.
You gave us the Spirit to make it possible for us to live with FAITH. Thank you. We need Him to help us identify reliable teachers and preachers. Many speak and write a message that will make them popular, but not one that is based on Your TRUTH. It is only through Your Word and the power of Your Spirit that we can test their words and know if they are sharing Your LOVE or teaching the enemy’s lies.
Forgive us when we absorb lies that tickle our ears, and by Your Spirit give us a love for You and a longing to KNOW all You want for us, today, tomorrow, and always.
I love You, Father. I love You, Jesus, my Lord and Savior. I love You, Holy Spirit. I thank and praise You forever. Amen.
The following quotes and verses helped me plant this truth a little deeper…
“False teachers invite people to come to the Master’s table because of what’s on it, not because they love the Master.” ~ Hank Hanegraaff
This is what the Lord of Heaven’s Armies says to His people:
“Do not listen to these prophets when they prophesy to you…
They keep saying to those who despise my Word,
Jeremiah 23:16a, 17
‘Don’t worry! The Lord says you will have peace!’
And to those who stubbornly follow their own desires,
they say, ‘No harm will come your way!’
“The teaching of a false prophet cannot withstand scrutiny under the divine light of Scripture.” ~ John MacArthur
For a time is coming when people will no longer listen to sound and wholesome teaching. They will follow their own desires and will look for teachers who will tell them whatever their itching ears want to hear. They will reject the truth and chase after myths.
2 Timothy 4:3–4
May the Lord be with you and give you the heart’s desire to KNOW His TRUTH through His Word. May His Spirit help you test what you read and hear to know if it comes from the Lord through His reliable teachers.
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Such sage advice, Deb, especially in these times of social upheaval and distractions that would have us seek truths other than God’s Word. Blessings always!
Thank you, Martha! Have a wonderful weekend. Blessings and hugs!