How can you be certain that you are not being led astray by a Bible teacher? By what standard should you judge him and his teaching? Listen carefully to his words and compare them to the written word of God. This is the measuring rod, the judge, and a lamp to guide our feet so you won’t stumble in this hour of darkness and the flood of false doctrine. The words of a false teacher are idle words, because he adds the doctrines of men and his own opinions. He doesn’t see anything of the mysteries of the gospel fulfilled today. When a teacher puts these great events in the future, it should sound an alarm in your mind, because this means that Jesus Christ has not yet revealed these things to him.
“For by thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned.” (Matthew 12:37) “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.” (John 1:1)
If a teacher strays from the word, he strays from God. And if he strays from God, the darkness of this world will soon overwhelm him. You should not be swayed just because a teacher is well-educated and can speak smooth, convincing words. Remember, the great apostle Paul was highly educated in the law and the prophets, yet he lacked the revealing power of the Holy Ghost. But when Jesus touched him by his mighty power, Paul’s eyes were opened so that he could see the glorious light of truth. Was his education beneficial to him? Yes, in many ways. But much learning of the scriptures needed one final ingredient to give it life in Paul’s mind. “The Spirit of truth” by the revelation of Jesus Christ.
Then Paul had this testimony. “But I certify you, brethren, that the gospel which was preached of me is not after man. For I neither received it of man, neither was I taught it, but by the revelation of Jesus Christ.” (Galatians 1:11-12) Jesus is the door of understanding. You must knock, and the Lord himself will open the door. The scripture teaches that in the day we seek the Lord with all our heart, he will be found.
Can a common, uneducated man be appointed to understand and preach the gospel? Listen to the word. “Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were unlearned and ignorant men, they marvelled; and they took knowledge of them, that they had been with Jesus.” (Acts 4:13)
Another thing that is sure to happen when one comes speaking the undefiled word of God, it will be strange doctrine to the ears of those who follow the worldly doctrines of men that have been handed down from generations past, as were the “doctrines of the Pharisees.”
Jesus taught the people in a different manner than the Pharisees did. “And it came to pass, when Jesus had ended these sayings, the people were astonished at his doctrine: For he taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes.” (Matthew 7:28-29)
“And the Jews marvelled, saying, How knoweth this man letters, having never learned?” (John 7:15) Jesus hadn’t been to “Bible college” and he didn’t learn his doctrine from the scribes and Pharisees. But it came directly from God the Father, and Jesus in turn gives it directly to his people when he sends them the “Spirit of truth” that the world doesn’t see. As we read from the words of the apostle Paul earlier, it doesn’t come from man. Because Jesus said, “ye must be born again.” (John 3:7)
One thing that most religious leaders do not hear is the plain statement that Jesus made in the book of John 6:63. “It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life.” They read these words then go straightway and teach all things natural, to be fulfilled sometime in the future. Such as a natural “rapture” or catching away of their flesh.
The apostle Paul plainly said, “It is sown a natural body; it is raised a spiritual body. There is a natural body, and there is a spiritual body.” (1 Corinthians 15:44) But worldly teachers reject these words of Jesus and Paul, and are determined to have it their own way. The truth offends them because it requires them to repent and rethink the holy word of God. But most will not, “And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie.” (2 Thessalonians 2:11) Set your mind and words against God, and he will strengthen your false belief to your own destruction.
It’s the same with worldly teachers when they tell their congregations about a future judgment. You can only misunderstand these words of Jesus if you choose to. He said two thousand years ago, “Now is the judgment of this world: now shall the prince of this world be cast out.” (John 12:31). Now, means as it is at this present time.
Many false prophets today fulfill the words of Jeremiah the prophet. “I have not sent these prophets, yet they ran: I have not spoken to them, yet they prophesied.” (Jeremiah 23:21) Jesus also warned us that “there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets” in this last day. We know his words are spirit, and false Christs are deceived spirits in men that appear in “sheep’s clothing.” (Matthew 7:15) Disguised as one of the flock. But never forget, a deceived spirit in an individual that claims to be the spirit of Christ is a false Christ.
A false Christ can do the things a true teacher does, except for one thing. The revelation of God’s word is hid from him; therefore, he only sees the word in the natural, and for the future.
Another misconception that is presented as truth has to do with the words of Jesus in Matthew 24:21. “For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be.”
False prophets can only try to convince the people that this time of great trouble is still in the future, and in so doing he draws their minds away from the understanding of the gospel of Christ. Tribulation in many forms has always been a part of this world, and it will continue to grow as time goes on. But tribulation that torments the flesh of mankind is not able to destroy the souls of those who are anchored in Christ. The great tribulation that Jesus spoke of can only be seen when your understanding is opened by the revelation of his spirit.
The apostle Paul corrected those who look to the future, expecting to see the great tribulation and other events with their natural eye, but for the most part, his words fall on deaf ears. He wrote, “Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.” (I Corinthians 2:9)
One of the things that God prepared for this world and its sinful inhabitants is a time of great tribulation, greater than anything yet seen. Although it rages all around us every day, it is hid from the eyes of the world until such a time that their “eyes of understanding” are opened. (Ephesians 1:18) When the Lord Jesus opens your understanding of the scriptures. (Luke 24:45) As Jesus said, “for then shall be great tribulation,” meaning, when your understanding is opened. “But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God.” (1 Corinthians 2:10)
The prophet Amos told us about a devastating time that is here today. “Behold, the days come, saith the Lord GOD, that I will send a famine in the land, not a famine of bread, nor a thirst for water, but of hearing the words of the LORD.” (Amos 8:11) If you are only hearing deceived teachers and not the true revelation of the word by the spirit, this famine has overtaken you. For Jesus said, “Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.” (Matthew 4:4)
People today do exactly as Amos said they would. They travel the land over, by car, by T.V., and radio following first one teacher then another, but not finding the satisfaction that comes with the truth of God’s word. “And they shall wander from sea to sea, and from the north even to the east, they shall run to and fro to seek the word of the LORD, and shall not find it.” (Amos 8:12) Until you find the truth by the revelation of Jesus Christ, you have not found the word of the Lord. Great tribulation.
The day of the Lord began with the coming of Jesus Christ to this earth. He brought the judgment of God to the inhabitants, past, present, and future. Christ is the culmination of the law and the prophets, fulfilling every word they spoke concerning this day. He established his kingdom of light (understanding) in the midst of heavy darkness, but only a scattered few will find it because of the darkness.
“In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.” (2 Corinthians 4:4) “That day is a day of wrath, a day of trouble and distress, a day of wasteness and desolation, a day of darkness and gloominess, a day of clouds and thick darkness.” (Zephaniah 1:15)
A true teacher of God’s word will point out the division and confusion in congregations that base their belief on “doctrines of men.” And more often than not, he will be despised for doing so.
Jesus spoke these words to his disciples, and to all that stand firmly in their words. “They shall put you out of the synagogues: yea, the time cometh, that whosoever killeth you will think that he doeth God service.” (John 16:2) Not only kill them physically, but John said, “Whosoever hateth his brother is a murderer.” (1 John 3:15)
There are many churches in our country of every name and belief. How many of these have put out preachers and teachers for speaking the truth of God’s word? The fact is, to teach in their assembly one must first adhere closely to the accepted doctrine of their denomination. In most congregations, the natural commandments of men have replaced the spiritual commandments of Christ our Lord. And in an attempt to excuse the division and confusion, they say, “but we all serve the same Lord.”
To follow Christ is to follow his word. He is the word. His word leads in one direction. It says exactly the same thing to all people for all time. A teacher called of God will point out the scattered doctrines by the word of God, knowing he will be persecuted for it. Religious leaders want to leave things as they are because when the truth exposes their false doctrine, they lose their power over the minds of their followers.
The truth will bring us together as one in Christ. “The truth shall make you free.” False teaching will keep you in bondage.
