Stay away from false teachers

Why to stay away from false teachers  

Before I start doing a study on false teachers, preachers, and prophets I need to mention why it is important that we know who they are, what they believe, and what they say that is non-biblical.

First and foremost, it is important to study false and be aware of teachers because the Scriptures tell us to. Also, if you personally listen to or watch what they say (videos on YouTube or taped messages), read their books and/or read quoted articles about their beliefs you will know first hand what they state that they believe. You will not be repeating what someone else has said without knowing the facts.  And, by searching for the truth (like the Bereans), we will be able to discern if people are quoting Scripture accurately. Doing these things will keep us from being deceived, tricked, hindered, confused, believing lies and even ensuring our salvation because we will be walking and living in His truth.

The following are Scriptures I found that tells us of the importance of knowing the enemy. (Yes, they are the enemy!) and what will happen if we don’t. And, as I always say, check and make sure what I am saying is Biblically accurate. If not, call me out on it!

Scripture states: (underlining added)

First of all to … test everything; hold fast what is good. Abstain from every form of evil. 1 Thessalonians 5:21-22 (this includes false teachers)

The Old Testament starts off with a command not to listen to them. “If a prophet or a dreamer of dreams arises among you and gives you a sign or a wonder, and the sign or wonder that he tells you comes to pass, and if he says, ‘Let us go after other gods,’ which you have not known, ‘and let us serve them,’ you shall not listen to the words of that prophet or that dreamer of dreams. For the Lord your God is testing you, to know whether you love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul. You shall walk after the Lord your God and fear Him and keep His commandments and obey His voice, and you shall serve Him and hold fast to Him. Deuteronomy 13:1-4. 

If we listen we will be cast out. “ And the Lord said to me: ‘The prophets are prophesying lies in My name. I did not send them, nor did I command them or speak to them. They are prophesying to you a lying vision, worthless divination, and the deceit of their own minds. 

And the people to whom they prophesy shall be cast out in the streets of Jerusalem, victims of famine and sword, with none to bury them—them, their wives, their sons, and their daughters. For I will pour out their evil upon them.’” Jeremiah 14:14, 16

The New Testament reminds us to be aware of false signs and miracles.   Jesus says “Then if anyone tells you, ‘Look, here is the Messiah,’ or ‘There he is,’ don’t believe it. 

For false messiahs and false prophets will rise up and perform great signs and wonders so as to deceive, if possible even God’s chosen ones.  See, I have warned you about this ahead of time.” Matthew 24:23-26. 

We can honor God with our lips but it can be phony.  And he said to them, “Well did Isaiah prophesy of you hypocrites, as it is written, ‘These people honors Me with their lips, but their heart is far from Me; in vain do they worship Me, teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.’ You leave the commandment of God and hold to the tradition of men.” And he said to them, “You have a fine way of rejecting the commandment of God in order to establish your tradition!” Mark 7:6-9. 

We are to speak UP and expose false teachers. “Take no part in the unfruitful works of darkness, but instead expose them.” Ephesians 5:11

Stay away from false teachers. “They will act religious, but they will reject the power that could make them godly. Stay away from people like that!” 2 Timothy 3:5

There will be false teachers everywhere.  ”But false prophets also arose among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you, who will secretly bring in destructive heresies, even denying the Master who bought them, bringing upon themselves swift destruction.” 2 Peter 2:1. 

Make sure the spirits are from God.   “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.” 1 John 4:1. 

If we say we believe but don’t follow His will, heaven is not in our future.   “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.  Matthew 7:21. 

And the list could go on and on.

My beliefs are that Biblical teachers, preachers, and prophets when mentioning Scripture must be 100% accurate. If they don’t know something for sure, it is OK to say so. Scripture must be taught without imperfections and impurities.

Let’s just say that you were in a restaurant and were served a scrambled egg. Would you still eat it if it had one roach in it? How about three? How much imperfection, pollution, etc. would you allow before you turned your back on the meal and said I am not accepting this? I bet none/zero! You want your eggs to be perfect and pollution free.  So this begs the “question how much pollution and imperfection (false teaching) would you allow yourself to endure before you stopped listening to that false pastor/teacher/prophet?”

You will not accept any imperfection in what you eat, but I bet many people will accept imperfection (false teaching) from their beloved pastor/teacher. That is not Biblical!

We are to separate ourselves from them as Scripture tells us to, no matter how much we like the person and even if a lot of the other things they say are accurate!

Jesus expects pastors, teachers, and prophets to be 100% accurate when they preach and teach His Word. There is no room for adding to or deleting from The Word. There is only one Gospel. “But even if we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel to you than what we have preached to you, let him be accursed.” Galatians 1:8

In future posts, I will be mentioning specific false teachers and what they are saying that is not Biblical.

End times prophecies are coming true in front of our eyes and we must be ready. One of the important prophecies is that there will be an increase of false teachers (Matthew 24:11). We are seeing an explosion of them and that is why I believe we need to be informed.

Your comments are always welcome.

Dennis