Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” John 14:6 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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There have been times when I listened to a Bible teacher, and honestly, it sounded more like a Ted-Talk than a Bible Lesson. The person talked on and on about what they believe on a topic and throw in a verse here and there to back it up.
When we hear these talks, even through they might be energizing and sound good, we have to ask, “Does the Bible really say that? Or are they basing what they say on their personal experience?
Christians disagree on many things. Does it matter what we believe as long as we all get along? Although there are times when we may disagree, we still need to have a genuine respect for the truth of God’s Word, and we must judge what is preached against the Word of God (like the Bereans did).
I decided to search the Scriptures to see what God has to say about truth. Here are a few verses we should heed.
“The Spirit clearly says that in later times some will abandon the faith and follow deceiving spirits and things taught by demons.” 1 Timothy 4:1 NIV Read full chapter
“The coming of the lawless one will be in accordance with how Satan works. He will use all sorts of displays of power through signs and wonders that serve the lie, 10 and all the ways that wickedness deceives those who are perishing. They perish because they refused to love the truth and so be saved. 11 For this reason God sends them a powerful delusion so that they will believe the lie 12 and so that all will be condemned who have not believed the truth but have delighted in wickedness.” 2 Thessalonians 2:9-12 NIV Read full chapter
“Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in the Spirit and in truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks. 24 God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in the Spirit and in truth.” John 4:23-24 Read full chapter
“Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth.” 2 Timothy 2:15 NIV Read full chapter
“Sanctify them by[a] the truth; your word is truth.” John 17:17 Read full chapter
“Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will grow to become in every respect the mature body of him who is the head, that is, Christ.” Ephesians 4:15 NIV Read full chapter
“Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place,” Ephesians 6:14 NIV Emphasis mine Read full chapter
“Guide me in your truth and teach me,
for you are God my Savior,
and my hope is in you all day long.” Psalm 25:5 NIV Read full chapter
31 To the Jews who had believed him, Jesus said, “If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. 32 Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” John 8:31-32 NIV Read full chapter
“In the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who will judge the living and the dead, and in view of his appearing and his kingdom, I give you this charge: 2 Preach the word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage—with great patience and careful instruction. 3 For the time will come when people will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear. 4 They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths.” 2 Timothy 4: 1-4 NIV (emphasis mine)
From GotQuestions.org “All worship is a response to truth, and that which is truth is contained in the Word of God. Jesus said to His Father, “Thy word is truth” (John 17:17b) To truly worship God, we must understand who He is and what He has done, and the only place He has fully revealed Himself is in the Bible. Worship is an expression of praise from the depths of our hearts toward a God who is understood through His Word. If we do not have the truth of the Bible, we do not know God and we cannot be truly worshiping.”
Clearly, the Bible teaches that false teaching will abound. It did in the early church and it does now. May God grant us the grace and discernment to know the truth and recognize what is false.
With Love, Cindy
Do you want to know more about Jesus? Check out my page Who Is Jesus?
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“No one has ever seen God, but the one and only Son, who is himself God and is in closest relationship with the Father, has made him known.” John 1:18 NIV
With Love, Cindy
Do you want to know more about Jesus? Check out my page Who Is Jesus?
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“Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in the Spirit and in truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks. God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in the Spirit and in truth.” Jesus, John 4:23-24 NIV
With Love, Cindy
Do you want to know more about Jesus? Check out my page Who Is Jesus?
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“It gave me great joy when some believers came and testified about your faithfulness to the truth, telling how you continue to walk in it. I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in the truth.” 3 John:3-4 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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May God help us in these sad and bewildering times to be men and women who follow the Lord wherever He would go, who put truth first, who refuse to conform to the times.”
Ian Hamilton, President, Westminster Presbyterian Theological Seminary
With Love, Cindy
Do you want to know more about Jesus? Check out my page Who Is Jesus?
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It really hurt my feelings. It was like stopping by your best friend’s house only to discover she was having a big party and you hadn’t been invited! I felt so left out and hurt. I felt like crying.
That morning, I had walked into the Women’s Bible Study and there were all my friends having a potluck that no one had told me about! Maybe I was being overly sensitive, and maybe this was an area of vulnerability for me, but I was very offended.
The Bible study teacher recognized that I was upset, and the next time I saw her she gave me an index card with some Scripture references on it. She probably had no idea that it was going to change my life. As I opened my heart to God’s Word, something wonderful happened! The Truth set me free! These are the Scriptures:
“A man’s wisdom gives him patience; it is to his glory to OVERLOOK AN OFFENSE.” Proverbs 19:11
“He who covers over an offense promotes love, but whoever repeats the matter separates close friends.” Proverbs 17:9
“A fool shows his annoyance at once, but a prudent man overlooks an insult.” Proverbs 12:16
This happened to me over 30 years ago, but the devil has used the same tactics since the beginning of time to battle against God’s people. He has used it on me. He will use it on you.
Read about David in 1 Samuel 17:28-33 below. Notice that David had to overlook the offenses thrown at him before he could kill the giant. Satan tried to stop God’s plan for David, but he couldn’t do it because David overlooked the offense.
“When Eliab, David’s oldest brother, heard him speaking with the men, he burned with anger at him and asked, “Why have you come down here? And with whom did you leave those few sheep in the wilderness? I know how conceited you are and how wicked your heart is; you came down only to watch the battle.”
29 “Now what have I done?” said David. “Can’t I even speak?” 30 He then turned away to someone else and brought up the same matter, and the men answered him as before. 31 What David said was overheard and reported to Saul, and Saul sent for him.
32 David said to Saul, “Let no one lose heart on account of this Philistine; your servant will go and fight him.”
33 Saul replied, “You are not able to go out against this Philistine and fight him; you are only a young man, and he has been a warrior from his youth.”
David refused to be offended.
Over the years, God has continued to reveal to me how powerful it is to walk in love, and that means overlooking offenses.
“(Love) is not rude; it is not self-seeking, it is not provoked [nor overly sensitive and easily angered]; it does not take into account a wrong endured. 1 Corinthians 13:5 AMP
The devil will send offenses our way, but when we choose God’s way and walk in love, Satan’s attack will not prevail.
“Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.” 1 Peter 5:8 NIV
Has anyone ever offended you? Insulted you? Put you down? If so, consider this: Love is strong spiritual warfare!
You may be thinking, “How is this spiritual warfare?”
Consider the evil attack on Jesus when he was crucified. (1 Peter 2:21-23)
21 “To this you were called, because Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in his steps.
22 “He committed no sin,
and no deceit was found in his mouth.”[a]
23 When they hurled their insults at him, he did not retaliate; when he suffered, he made no threats. Instead, he entrusted himself to him who judges justly.
It is following Him and walking in his steps that empower us for spiritual battle.
With Love, Cindy
Do you want to know more about Jesus? Check out my page Who Is Jesus?
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“The Lord is near to all who call on him,
to all who call on him in truth.” Psalm 145:18 NIV
With Love, Cindy
Do you want to know more about Jesus? Check out my page Who Is Jesus?
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The diversity of beliefs and ideas in our world today is enough to make your head spin! Something may sound good, but is it true? And how do we know?
The news concerning the possible overthrow of Roe v. Wade this week is a good example. Both sides are adamant that their opinion is right, but no two viewpoints could be more different.
And that’s not all. Even within Christianity, we find differences of opinion on matters of great importance. Certainly, everything that is put forth can’t be true. So how do we know what is right and what is wrong?
There is only one way. And that is to read and study the Bible. I’m not talking about studying books about the Bible (although some of them are good). I am talking about reading and studying God’s Word for yourself.
My pastor recommends using a Bible Reading Plan. There are excellent plans to read the entire Bible in one year. In this way, you can ensure that you are reading all of the Bible. This is vitally important to understanding the whole counsel of God’s Word.
I am most thankful that my pastor encourages personal Bible study. Nothing could be more important in the life of anyone who wants to follow Jesus and live by Truth. We have to take personal responsibility for being a discerning and wise Christian. Sitting in church services is not enough. We must personally study God’s Word.
We can only judge between what is wrong and what is right when we know what God says to be true. We can know this only from Scripture.”
TIM CHALLIES, THE DISCIPLINE OF SPIRITUAL DISCERNMENT
God has given the Church a great gift: the Bible. It is the only source of pure Truth. We can trust it. And we must.
In a world where accepting new ideas is so popular and widespread, we have to remember to hold it all before the light of God’s Word.
“Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth. John 17:17 NIV
“All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.” 2 Timothy 3:16-17
“The law of the Lord is perfect,
refreshing the soul.
The statutes of the Lord are trustworthy,
making wise the simple.” Psalm 19:7 NIV
“All your words are true;
all your righteous laws are eternal.” Psalm 119:160 NIV
It is my prayer that we will highly esteem God’s Word and honor it in our lives by obeying Him and trusting His ways as we seek truth in a complicated and diverse world.
With Love, Cindy
Do you want to know more about Jesus? Check out my page Who Is Jesus?
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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.
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
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
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
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
“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
[ 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. 2 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, 3 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, 2 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. 3 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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