Testing what I hear

 

Someone I know is so in tune with spiritual matters that she senses the spiritual status of people around her. For her, this is so distressing that she avoids crowds because those who reject Christ have a strong effect on her emotions. She is also discerning with all media, so their television set is often turned off. I’m uncertain how this happens but know that God calls all His people to be discerning. He says:

Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, for many false prophets have gone out into the world. By this you know the Spirit of God: every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God, and every spirit that does not confess Jesus is not from God. This is the spirit of the antichrist, which you heard was coming and now is in the world already. (1 John 4:1–3)

Normally these verses are applied to sects that try to imitate Christianity. They will not acknowledge that Jesus is the Lord who came in the flesh to die for our sin, nor will they fully acknowledge their sin and need of His grace. However, this sort of deception also creeps into churches. Some may attend yet err in their understanding of His identity and of the way of salvation. They may claim to follow Christ but cannot spot errors. Christians are told to test all spirits and be wary of what they teach because some are religious but actually not for Christ but are anti-Christ. 

This attitude is described as one person in the following long passage. It also describes the power behind the subtle lies that can deceive even genuine believers for a little while:

Now concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our being gathered together to him, we ask you, brothers, not to be quickly shaken in mind or alarmed, either by a spirit or a spoken word, or a letter seeming to be from us, to the effect that the day of the Lord has come. Let no one deceive you in any way. For that day will not come, unless the rebellion comes first, and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the son of destruction, who opposes and exalts himself against every so-called god or object of worship, so that he takes his seat in the temple of God, proclaiming himself to be God.
Do you not remember that when I was still with you I told you these things? And you know what is restraining him now so that he may be revealed in his time. For the mystery of lawlessness is already at work. Only he who now restrains it will do so until he is out of the way. And then the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord Jesus will kill with the breath of his mouth and bring to nothing by the appearance of his coming. The coming of the lawless one is by the activity of Satan with all power and false signs and wonders, and with all wicked deception for those who are perishing, because they refused to love the truth and so be saved. Therefore God sends them a strong delusion, so that they may believe what is false, in order that all may be condemned who did not believe the truth but had pleasure in unrighteousness.
But we ought always to give thanks to God for you, brothers beloved by the Lord, because God chose you as the firstfruits to be saved, through sanctification by the Spirit and belief in the truth. To this he called you through our gospel, so that you may obtain the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ. So then, brothers, stand firm and hold to the traditions that you were taught by us, either by our spoken word or by our letter.
Now may our Lord Jesus Christ himself, and God our Father, who loved us and gave us eternal comfort and good hope through grace, comfort your hearts and establish them in every good work and word. (2 Thessalonians 2:1–17)

Not everyone is gifted in discernment, but our protection from false teaching is secured in the Lord Jesus Christ. He works through His Word to help His people stand firm and recognize lies. The key is to read the Bible and keep short accounts with God so we can hear Him clearly. This long passage is a warning but also an assurance. I was chosen to glorify Christ, not to make up anything that suits what appeals to my flesh. Not only that, the One who called me also promises to keep me.

PRAY: While some of this seems complicated, Jesus I know that You are quick to impress my heart when someone teaches a lie that is against You. I might not have an immediate answer for them, but know that I can find truth in Your Word. I’m so glad to have the Bible and access to it, and to have the Holy Spirit who helps me recognize solid Christian teaching. I’m also thankful that You persist in feeding me truth to keep me trusting You — rather than anyone or anything else. Thank You, Jesus.

Even the demons believe. . . .

On my way home yesterday, I listened to part of a radio sermon. The pastor asked his listeners to imagine Satan being interviewed by a Christian church board. He was asked if he believed in God. As the Bible says: “You believe that God is one; you do well. Even the demons believe—and shudder!” (James 2:19) so Satan said, “Of course.”

He also gave the right answers to other questions, even that he would attend and serve in the church, but one question he refused to say yes to: “Will you yield to the lordship of Jesus Christ?” His ‘faith’ was not genuine. It was based on true concepts but without a change of heart toward who would be the boss in his life.

Today’s devotional lists the elements of true faith. I’m not certain how Satan would answer the questions suggested here, but my answers are vital for they determine the reality of what I believe.

True faith produces a heart truly before God that hates sin. When the Spirit of God changed my heart, my attitude toward sin changed. Yes, sometimes a temptation appeals to my old nature, but since faith came in, I often cry out ‘God be merciful to me a sinner!’ In at attitude of  repentance. Christ in my heart changes my heart concerning sin.

Have mercy on me, O God, according to your steadfast love; according to your abundant mercy blot out my transgressions. Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin! For I know my transgressions, and my sin is ever before me. Against you, you only, have I sinned and done what is evil in your sight, so that you may be justified in your words and blameless in your judgment. (Psalm 51:1–4)

True faith causes the heart to bow willingly to Christ’s Lordship in all things. While doing things that God says does not make anyone a Christian, Jesus did say, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.” (Mark 8:34) The entire book of James makes it clear that faith changes us to be obedient to the voice of the Lord.

Truth faith looks to Christ alone for all things. Faith not only strips away my attempts to a ‘do it yourself’ religion, but also teaches me to trust Christ for all things. I trust Him to save me but also to help me get through all challenges in life, to supply needs, to give me wisdom and discernment. When I neglect to do this, I’ve fallen into a walk in the flesh and things do not go well at that point. Lack of trust is incompatible with the abundant life of faith.

True faith will persevere and continue to believe regardless of circumstances. Faith even goes beyond perseverance to the rare condition of rejoicing in trials. In fact, trials help me become more steadfast:

Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing. (James 1:2–4)

True faith produces a heart of sincere love for the people of God. False faith strives to produce love and pretends to love. But love is natural to true faith. Love for the brethren flows as naturally from the believing heart as water flows from a spring. If I struggle to care for others, then I know that I’m not trusting God in some way and need to repent. Real faith wants to be like Jesus, and Jesus died for sinners — totally the opposite of any lack of care.

Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ has been born of God, and everyone who loves the Father loves whoever has been born of him. (1 John 5:1)

PRAY: Any time I falter in the qualities of true faith, it suggests I’ve been listening to the liar — and that is repulsive. Jesus, keep my heart alert to Your voice and grant me discernment to always recognized when I’ve strayed away from true faith to some facsimile that not only leads me into sin but dishonors You. I’m so thankful for Your saving grace and power!

See the need and do it . . .

 

The exit in our small, gated complex is on a curved street. If a vehicle is coming from the left at more than the speed limit, seeing it means waiting for there is no time to drive out before it is too close. Last week, I drove out one day without looking. Dangerous. I heard a horn and my rear-view mirror revealed how close I came to getting hit. Duh.

Today’s devotional is about something just as dangerous. It is about looking into Scripture, hearing what it says but not doing anything about what I read. Duh and dangerous both.

For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks intently at his natural face in a mirror. For he looks at himself and goes away and at once forgets what he was like. (James 1:23–24)

If I looked in the mirror and my hair was messy, it seems logical to comb it. If I saw spinach in my teeth, it seems wise to brush them. If I had dirt on my face, or forgot to put on make-up, or managed to draw one eyebrow thicker than the other . . . well, the illustration is plain. Looking in the mirror is useless, even foolish, if I see a problem and fail to correct it.

The next few verses add more to this thought by showing what I would miss, and what anyone might realize by looking intently:

But the one who looks into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and perseveres, being no hearer who forgets but a doer who acts, he will be blessed in his doing. If anyone thinks he is religious and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his heart, this person’s religion is worthless. Religion that is pure and undefiled before God the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained from the world. (James 1:25–27)

MacArthur says that those who look intently into the Bible can be serious students, yet there are some seminary professors or Sunday school teachers are not true believers. Some even write commentaries and other Bible reference works. I know this is true. He adds that my response to the Word — not my depth of study alone — is the issue here. What is the point of reading it without responding to it, particularly for those who claim to be God’s people, in His kingdom and members of His forever family?

Jesus, in the parable of the sower, said this: “When anyone hears the word of the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what has been sown in his heart.” (Matthew 13:19) That makes sense. Even reading other books that make no sense to me are easily forgotten. However, as a believer in Jesus, He gives understanding, assurance, and conviction of sin through His Word. He shows me His will for my life and when I read it, I get it, but if I walk away without responding, that is disobedience. He does not take away the grace of eternal life, but I will miss the blessing of doing His will.

This danger is for me, but also for those who do not know Jesus, is deception. Reading the Bible, even seeing sin, does not mean a person is saved. If there is no response, no repentance, no change because of what is seen, then any idea of being ‘religious’ is worthless; they have been deceived.

Being lied to is a huge issue for me. I’ve had it happen and been fooled by those did it, fooled and deeply injured. That deception is bad enough, but to deceive myself and think I am okay regardless of what God says would be the worst deception of all.

PRAY: Jesus, protect me from lying to myself. May Your Spirit always push me to truth, even if that truth stomps on my pride and hurts my ego. I know the damaging power of lies. Imagine looking to the left, seeing a car speeding out of the corner of my eye, and telling myself that it was not there so I could pull out of the gate without any danger. How dumb that would be. May You always make clear to me that what You show me is vital and must be obeyed. I don’t want to come to ruin, not do I want to mock Your Word.

READ: Matthew 13:1–23. What happens to the soil representing one who hears and understands? What is missing in those who hear but the results are not enduring?

 

 

What is truth?

We live in a day when truth is considered relative and subjective, even to the extreme that believing a lie makes it true and not believing a truth makes it a lie. Declaring something to be true sometimes gets people in trouble with their friends, with culture, even with the government or the law.

One dictionary says, “truth about something is all the facts about it, rather than things that are imagined or invented.” Bible dictionaries such as Baker’s offer paragraphs concerning the Bible’s use and definitions of this word. I’m looking this up for two reasons: my devotional reading points out that the New Testament has several books that address the problem of false teaching as opposed to truth revealed by God.

Strong warnings are part of what the NT says. Christ had warned His followers of the rise of false Christs and false prophets.

For false christs and false prophets will arise and perform great signs and wonders, to lead astray, if possible, even the elect. (Matthew 24:24)

The other reason is a story I heard last night. Two young people both from a Christian upbringing heard about a group in another part of the country, went there, became involved but the group turned out to be a cult. Their followers are forbidden to read the Bible and must listen only to their leader. They are also forbidden to see or speak to any of their family members. Their parents are heart-broken and deeply dismayed. How can this happen to their children whom they thought ‘knew better’ than to get involved in false teaching?

According to Scripture, the only thing real about false teaching is that it exists. It was there before Jesus came and multiplied after He ascended to heaven. Paul told the church:

I know that after my departure fierce wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock; and from among your own selves will arise men speaking twisted things, to draw away the disciples after them. (Acts 20:29–30)

Those who know the Bible realize that we have a spiritual enemy who is called the father of lies. He twists the truth to deceive and destroy. One would think this enemy would be obvious and easy to spot, but not so. Paul warned the church about false teachers and their activities and in that warning, he describes how this enemy disguises himself to dupe unwary people:

And what I am doing I will continue to do, in order to undermine the claim of those who would like to claim that in their boasted mission they work on the same terms as we do. For such men are false apostles, deceitful workmen, disguising themselves as apostles of Christ. And no wonder, for even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light. So it is no surprise if his servants, also, disguise themselves as servants of righteousness. Their end will correspond to their deeds. (2 Corinthians 11:12–15)

One example of false teaching in the NT is Gnosticism in which teachers claimed to possess a superior philosophical-religious type of knowledge. The Bible, especially John’s epistles, answer that error, mostly by pointing out how faith in Christ changes people, setting them free from sin.

Some might say that Christians also claim to have superior knowledge, etc. but this is not our claim. It is Jesus who said:

“I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” (John 14:6)

He is the only one who can back up that statement. He lived a sinless, selfless life, healed the sick, controlled the weather, turned water into wine, and loved even sinners to the point of dying for us that our sins might be forgiven and we could receive eternal life. No one else has ever done that and millions of people can testify to the truth/reality of it. I am free and assured of eternity with God because of Jesus and the Holy Spirit that He sent:

And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper, to be with you forever, even the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him, for he dwells with you and will be in you. (John 14:16–17)

Deception denies Jesus and His power. Deception says we can save ourselves or that we don’t need saving because we are good people. Deception sometimes will tell us that we are so damaged that there is no hope for our lives. None of this corresponds to the reality of Jesus who is still in the business of saving sinners. He is the truth — so much needed in this dark and deceitful world.

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

Lord God, I’m thankful today that You took me from my self-deception, exposing the lies I believed about You and about myself. You saved me from sin and continue to save me. You also assure me over and over that You are true and You are enough. How I need you! How this world needs You. May the power of truth transform this present darkness.