Christian

Monday’s Verse, 5/2/22

“I lift up my eyes to the mountains—
    where does my help come from?
 My help comes from the Lord,
    the Maker of heaven and earth.” Psalm 121:1-2 NIV Read full chapter

With Love, Cindy

Do you want to know more about Jesus? Check out my page Who Is Jesus?

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Christian

Sunday’s Memory Verse, 5/1/22

‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’ Matthew 25:40 NIV Read full chapter

With Love, Cindy

Do you want to know more about Jesus? Check out my page Who Is Jesus?

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Christian

Don’t Follow the Crowd

Are you a Christ-follower or a Crowd-follower?

Today, I want to share what the Bible says about false teachers. I don’t call out anyone by name. You’ll have to make those decisions for yourself. I have not expounded on the Scriptures. I ask only that you consider what God’s Word has to say. Then, in case you think these Scriptures don’t apply to the Church of today, I provide a link in the last section to an excellent study of how New Age thinking has influenced Christianity.

In the following sections, we read the words of Jesus.

The Narrow and Broad Roads

13 “Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. 14 But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.” Matthew 7:13-14

True and False Prophets

15 “Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves. 16 By their fruit you will recognize them. Do people pick grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? 17 Likewise, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. 18 A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit. 19 Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. 20 Thus, by their fruit you will recognize them.” Matthew 7:15-20

True and False Disciples

21 “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. 22 Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name and in your name drive out demons and in your name perform many miracles?’ 23 Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’” Matthew 7:21-23

The Wise and Foolish Builders

24 “Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practiceis like a wise man who built his house on the rock. 25 The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock. 26 But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. 27 The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash.” Matthew 7:24-27

Sheep Among Wolves

“I am sending you out like sheep among wolves. Therefore be as shrewd as snakes and as innocent as doves” Matthew 10:16

For false messiahs and false prophets will appear and perform great signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect. 25 See, I have told you ahead of time. Matthew 24:24

And From the Letters …

Timothy Charged to Oppose False Teachers ] “As I urged you when I went into Macedonia, stay there in Ephesus so that you may command certain people not to teach false doctrines any longer.” 1 Timothy 1:3

“Timothy, guard what has been entrusted to your care. Turn away from godless chatter and the opposing ideas of what is falsely called knowledge.” 1 Timothy 6:20,

Dealing With False Teachers ] “Keep reminding God’s people of these things. Warn them before God against quarreling about words; it is of no value, and only ruins those who listen.” 2 Timothy 2:14

“But there were also false prophets among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you. They will secretly introduce destructive heresies, even denying the sovereign Lord who bought them—bringing swift destruction on themselves.” 2 Peter 2:1

“Above all, you must understand that in the last days scoffers will come, scoffing and following their own evil desires.” 2 Peter 3:3

“For such people are false apostles, deceitful workers, masquerading as apostles of Christ. 14 And no wonder, for Satan himself masquerades as an angel of light. 15 It is not surprising, then, if his servants also masquerade as servants of righteousness. Their end will be what their actions deserve.” 2 Corinthians 11: 13-15

 “Dear friends, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world. This is how you can recognize the Spirit of God: Every spirit that acknowledges that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God, but every spirit that does not acknowledge Jesus is not from God. This is the spirit of the antichrist, which you have heard is coming and even now is already in the world.” 1 John 4:1-3

“In the past God spoke to our ancestors through the prophets at many times and in various ways, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, and through whom also he made the universe. The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word.” Hebrews 1:1-3

Jesus said,
“But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you.” John 14:26

New Age thinking has greatly influenced much of Christianity. I encourage you to study this phenomenon for yourself. The following blog post, written by my brother in Christ, Bruce Cooper, contains a wealth of information. I encourage you to check it out for yourself.

My prayer is that you know God’s Word and are fully equipped to fight the good fight of the faith. The Sword of the Spirit is the Word of God. Blessings!

With Love, Cindy

Do you want to know more about Jesus? Check out my page Who Is Jesus?

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Christian

Friday’s Verse, 4/29/22

“The brothers immediately sent Paul and Silas away by night to Berea, [a]and when they arrived, they went into the synagogue of the Jews. 11 Now these people were more noble-minded than those in Thessalonica, [b]for they received the word with [c]great eagerness, examining the Scriptures daily to see whether these things were so.” Acts 17:10-11 NASB Read full chapter

Lord, Teach us to be like the Bereans, examining the Scriptures to see if the things we read and hear are true. Amen

With Love, Cindy

Do you want to know more about Jesus? Check out my page Who Is Jesus?

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Christian

Verses for Meditation, 4/28/22

“Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.” John 14:27 NIV Read full chapter

With Love, Cindy

Do you want to know more about Jesus? Check out my page Who Is Jesus?

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Christian

Quote of the Week, 4/27/22

Friendship is one of the sweetest joys of life. Many might have failed beneath the bitterness of their trial had they not found a friend.”

Charles H. Spurgeon

With Love, Cindy

Do you want to know more about Jesus? Check out my page Who Is Jesus?

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Christian

Tuesday’s Verse, 4/26/22

 “I am the vine, you are the branches; the one who remains in Me, and I in him [a]bears much fruit, for apart from Me you can do nothing.” John 15:5 NASB Read full chapter

With Love, Cindy

Do you want to know more about Jesus? Check out my page Who Is Jesus?

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Christian

Monday’s Verse, 4/25/22

“Then Jesus again spoke to them, saying, “I am the Light of the world; the one who follows Me will not walk in the darkness, but will have the Light of life.” John 8:12 NASB Read full chapter

With Love, Cindy

Do you want to know more about Jesus? Check out my page Who Is Jesus?

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Christian

Sunday’s Memory Verse, 4/24/22

“Because he loves me,” says the Lord, “I will rescue him;
    I will protect him, for he acknowledges my name.
 He will call on me, and I will answer him;
    I will be with him in trouble,
    I will deliver him and honor him.” Psalm 91:14-15 NIV

With Love, Cindy

Do you want to know more about Jesus? Check out my page Who Is Jesus?

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Christian

Is False Teaching Influencing the Church Today?

As I was walking my dog and listening to the Bible on my phone app, the following verse jumped out at me.

“You must not worship the Lord your God in their way.” Deuteronomy 12:4 NIV

I’ve read Deuteronomy several times, but I didn’t remember reading this verse before. I hurried home to look it up in my Bible.

In Deuteronomy chapter 12, God is warning the Israelites not to be influenced by the religious practices of the pagans in how they worship the Lord.

Reading these verses made me think about how worldly influences have invaded the Church today. Everything from pop psychology to New Age thinking has seeped into our churches.

 “Destroy completely all the places on the high mountains, on the hills and under every spreading tree, where the nations you are dispossessing worship their gods. Break down their altars, smash their sacred stones and burn their Asherah poles in the fire; cut down the idols of their gods and wipe out their names from those places.” “You must not worship the Lord your God in their way.“Deuteronomy 12:2-4 NIV Read full chapter

There are a lot of so-called “Bible teachers” that are teaching questionable things. I have been researching some of these teachers to find out their roots. Who do they learn from? Who has influenced their ministry? If a Bible teacher is rooted in New Age beliefs (and many are), don’t we want to know about it? The only way to know is to do a little research. Just because a book is in the Christian bookstore doesn’t mean it’s theologically sound.

I know this post will make some people angry. They will immediately come to the defense of their favorite teachers. The fact is, false teachers also teach a lot of things that are true. Their questionable teachings are often surrounded by good things like the love of Jesus. Consider the words of the Apostle Paul:

“For such men are false apostles, deceitful workmen, disguising themselves as apostles of Christ. 14 And no wonder, for even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light.” 2 Corinthians 11:13-14 ESV

But Jesus said we must be careful what we listen to.

And He was saying to them, “Take care what you listen to.” Mark 4:24 NASB Read full chapter

Some argue that the false things they teach can be weeded out. But that isn’t true because everything they teach is rooted in their false beliefs. We must be rooted in Truth.

“…if the root is holy, so are the branches.” Romans 11:16 ESV

If there is a worm in your apple, are you going to eat the apple and spit out the worm? No thanks, I’ll stick to apples without worms!

Paul said, “A little leaven leavens the whole lump.” Galatians 5:9 ESV Read full chapter

It’s my prayer that we will hold dear the Truths of the Bible and reject all that is false.

“I appeal to you, brothers, to watch out for those who cause divisions and create obstacles contrary to the doctrine that you have been taught; avoid them.  For such persons do not serve our Lord Christ, but their own appetites, and by smooth talk and flattery they deceive the hearts of the naive.” Romans 16:17-18 ESV

It is not those who stand for Truth that causes division. It is the false teacher that causes division!

 “See to it that no one takes you captive by philosophy and empty deceit, according to human tradition, according to the elemental spirits of the world, and not according to Christ.” Colossians 2:8 ESV

 “For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions,  and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander off into myths.” 2 Timothy 4:3-4 ESV

 “I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting him who called you in the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel— not that there is another one, but there are some who trouble you and want to distort the gospel of Christ. But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach to you a gospel contrary to the one we preached to you, let him be accursed.” Galatians 1:6-8 ESV

Read more verses that warn about false teaching here.

I pray that God’s Word will speak to your heart today and that you will hold fast to the Truth of God’s Holy Word, the Bible.

With Love, Cindy

Do you want to know more about Jesus? Check out my page Who Is Jesus?

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