(This Bible study was sent to me by a fellow sister in Christ. The words in parenthesis were added by her to define the words just before them.)
Born- again believers we are in a battle, not of weapons, but of truth. Let us remember the words of the apostle Paul:
“For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine [teaching]; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; And they [the false preachers] shall turn away their [the people’s] ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables [myths].” 1 TIMOTHY 4:3-4
The phrase, “itching ears”, means that the people will find a teacher, or pastor, who will tell them what they want to hear- and not preach the truth according to God’s Word.
And let us not forget the admonition of Jude:
“Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation, it was needful for me to write unto you, and exhort [urge] you that ye should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints.”
JUDE 1:3
What did Jesus say about doctrine when He was confronted by the Jews who wondered how He knew the law when He had never been taught it, “How knoweth this man letters, having never learned?”
“Jesus answered them, and said, My doctrine is not Mine, but His that sent Me. If any man will do His will, he shall know of the doctrine, whether it be of God, or whether I speak of Myself.” JOHN 7:16-17
The apostle Paul writing from a prison in Rome: “That we henceforth [hereafter] be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine [teaching], by the sleight [trickery] of men, and cunning craftiness [cleverness], whereby they lie in wait to deceive;” EPHESIANS 4:14
Paul’s writing to Titus:
“For there are many unruly and vain talkers and deceivers, specially they of the circumcision [the Jews]. Whose mouths must be stopped, who subvert [ruin] whole houses[entire churches], teaching things which they ought not, for filthy lucre’s [dishonest money] sake.”
“Not giving heed to Jewish fables [myths], and commandments of men, that turn from the truth.”
TITUS 1:10-11, 14
“Cease, my son, to hear the instruction that causeth to err from the words of knowledge.” PROVERBS 19:26
“… Oh My people, they which lead thee cause thee to err, and destroy the way of thy paths.” ISAIAH 3:12
The two Scriptures above tell us not to listen to false preachers, because they will turn us away from the truth in God’s Word.
“Cursed be he that doeth the work of the LORD deceitfully …” JEREMIAH 48:10
The Scriptures are very clear. The Bible warns us that there are today, have been in the past, and will be in the future false teachers and preachers.
The apostle John taught to “believe not every spirit, but try [test] the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world.” Believe in the sound Word. Believe not every spirit; find out for yourself by going to the Word of God to seek truth.
It is my prayer that God will open the eyes of our souls to the filthy lucre; vain, deceiving, commandments of men; contemplative prayer; contemplative spirituality; contemporary church; mysticism; emerging church; centering prayer; New Age doctrines of demons; and the evil traditions of men that are going on in the religious assemblies today- most of which are derived from the occult!
Beware of practicing “outside the box”, as so many do today. It is so sad that Biblically illiterate folks sit under apostate leaders and believe everything they hear. Is there not one that will stand with me against such heresy?
“My people hath been lost sheep: their shepherds have caused them to go astray, they have turned them away on the mountains: they have gone from mountain to hill, they have forgotten their resting-place [refuge].”
JEREMIAH 50:6
We cannot just blame the false teachers. We must ourselves take some of the blame. We will be held accountable for not searching the Scriptures for ourselves to know God’s Truth. There are no excuses anymore not to know the truth of God’s Word.
Have you been led astray because you believed in spirits that were not of God? Repent my friend and come back to JESUS before it is too late.
“Woe be unto the pastors [shepherds] that destroy and scatter the sheep of My pasture! saith the LORD.” Therefore thus saith the LORD God of Israel against the pastors that feed my people; Ye have scattered my flock, and driven them away, and have not visited them: behold, I will visit upon you the evil of your doings, saith the LORD. (JEREMIAH 23:1, 2)
In Jeremiah 23:2 the LORD promises that He will punish the false pastors who have preached lies and have thus destroyed and scattered God’s people.
Please pray that God will open their eyes to the truth about what they are doing before it is everlastingly too late.
Thank-you.
Love in Christ,
Dar