A Layman’s Guide To False Preachers and Teachers – Part 10

We are currently looking at how to test the spirits in our churches, denominations and other Christian organizations. In the last part of this series we looked at the importance of shining a light on false preachers and teachers.

In this part of our series we will look at how to do that: specifically.

Shine Your Light!

Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits, whether they are of God; because many false prophets have gone out into the world.
1 John 4:1

Each of us have different personalities, natural talents and spiritual gifts. While we can agree with the Apostle John that Christians should not believe every spirit but should test the spirits to see whether they are of God, the way we go about shining a light on false preaching and teaching will probably differ from others in our church.

Not believing every spirit and testing the spirits is both private and public. By that I mean you may not believe spirits and test spirits in either a private way (personal) or a public way (corporate). That can come down to your personality (e.g. introvert or extrovert) and your spiritual gifts (e.g. gift of faith, discerning of spirits, prophecy, teaching). An introvert, for example, with the gift of discerning of spirits may follow through on their discernment differently than an extrovert with the same gift. It’s important that we understand that “differently” does not mean one way is right and the other way is wrong. It just means “different.”

As we learn in 1 Corinthians 12:4-7 there are “diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit.” The same Holy Spirit who gives an introvert the gift of discernment is the same Holy Spirit who gives an extrovert the gift of preaching or teaching. There are “differences of ministries, but the same Lord.” The same Lord who assigns an introvert to one ministry is the same Lord who assigns an extrovert to a different ministry. There are “diversities of activities, but the same God “who works in all.” It is God who gives every Christian the operational energy to do the work He calls them to do. Paul continued that the “manifestation of the Spirit is given to each one for the profit of all” and that the one and same Spirit “works these things, distributing to each one individually as He wills.”

In this context of spiritual gifts (“Now concerning spiritual gifts, brethren” — verse 1) we learn that Christians are part of one spiritual Body – “for as the body is one and has many members, but all members of that one body, being many, are one body, so also is Christ” (verse 12). Paul then said it another way to help us understand who we are in Christ — “For in fact the body is not one member but many” (verse 14) and “But now indeed there are many members, yet one body” (verse 20).

Each member of a church, denomination or Christian organization affects every other member. I know it doesn’t always seem that way, especially if are a quieter person, but it’s true. Paul wrote this in 1 Corinthians 12 as well — “And if one member suffers, all the members suffer with it; or if one member is honored, all the members rejoice with it” (verse 26). That’s the way God intends for churches to work. Though denominations and Christian organizations are not specifically addressed in the Bible, I think the same can be said of them as well. We need each other. We suffer together and we rejoice together.

When it comes to false preachers and teachers, we’re looking at serious suffering in the church. Unfortunately, many Christians rejoice at false preaching and teaching. That’s very frustrating and should send each one of us to our prayer closet to ask God what we can do to shine a light on this monstrous attack on God’s people.

The Spirits We Test

By this we know the spirit of truth and the spirit of error.
1 John 4:6b

God has called us to test “the spirits,” so who or what are they? The answer is simple and clear and is given us in the same context of 1 John 4 —

Spirit of truth (pneuma tēs alētheias)
Spirit of error (pneuma tēs planēs)

The Greek word alētheias means “true to fact, reality.” The word planēs means “a wandering, delusion, deceit.” These are the “spirits” we test. When we shine a light on the “tested spirits,” one will be true to fact and the other will be deceitful.

If we shine a light on the original “spirit of error” in Genesis 3, we can easily see how the serpent was deceiving the woman. Satan’s deceptions have not changed in the thousands of years since the Garden of Eden event. The first thing the devil did was to question God’s Word — “Has God indeed said…” This is similar to how Satan tested Jesus in the wilderness — “If You are the Son of God, command that these stones become bread.” Jesus responded — “It is written, ‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God” (Matthew 4).

Notice that the key in both of these attempted deceptions was to question God’s Word. Eve was deceived. Jesus was not. Eve did not test the spirit. Jesus did and responded in the way each of us should respond — reliance on the Word of God as truth and reality.

When we test the “spirits,” we are testing truth and error which are connected to the Spirit of God and the spirit of Satan. When you think about that for a moment, the importance of testing spirits becomes extremely important. Eve’s poor response to the spirit of error led to the downfall of the human race. Jesus’ perfect response to the spirit of error led to the salvation of the human race. Quite a difference, wouldn’t you agree?

You are of God, little children, and have overcome them, because He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world. They are of the world. Therefore they speak as of the world, and the world hears them. We are of God. He who knows God hears us; he who is not of God does not hear us. By this we know the spirit of truth and the spirit of error.
1 John 4:4-6

What Can I Do?

I. First, assess your commitment to God’s Word. Do you believe it or do you BELIEVE IT? If you’re going to do the work of testing the spirits, you must BELIEVE God’s Word. The power of God’s Word will keep you steady when the false spirits respond — and they will.

Remember how Jesus responded to the prince of demons when he tested our Lord in the wilderness? Jesus quoted God’s Word. We must stand strong in the battle and have a deep and unwavering commitment to God’s Word is a must. Don’t go into battle without it.

Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God; praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints.
Ephesians 6:10-18

II. Second, know your enemy. A soldier is trained in many fighting skills, but one of the most important is knowing your enemy. We learn from Ephesians 6 that our enemy is skillful. Satan is a powerful angel with a large army of angels and demons at his command. The length, depth and breadth of Satan’s kingdom is immense covering both the earth and the atmosphere around and above it (principalities, powers, rulers of the darkness of this age, spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places). Satan has had thousands of years of experience scheming against human beings. Satan has many weapons (fiery darts).

This picture of Satan and his evil forces may be a little difficult for us to understand since it’s on a spiritual plane (we do not wrestle against flesh and blood), but that doesn’t mean Satan doesn’t use flesh and blood humans in his battle with the saints of God. Our enemy includes humans under the influence and dominance of Satan as well.

Here’s a list of some of those people from Jude. Keep in mind that Jude had to change the purpose of his letter because of problems “inside” local churches. He called on people to “contend earnestly for the faith which was once for all delivered to the saints.” The people he warned about are people who said they were Christians and some were even leaders.

For certain men have crept in unnoticed, who long ago were marked out for this condemnation, ungodly men, who turn the grace of our God into lewdness and deny the only Lord God and our Lord Jesus Christ.
Likewise also these dreamers defile the flesh, reject authority, and speak evil of dignitaries.
But these speak evil of whatever they do not know; and whatever they know naturally, like brute beasts, in these things they corrupt themselves.
But these speak evil of whatever they do not know; and whatever they know naturally, like brute beasts, in these things they corrupt themselves. Woe to them! For they have gone in the way of Cain, have run greedily in the error of Balaam for profit, and perished in the rebellion of Korah.
These are spots in your love feasts, while they feast with you without fear, serving only themselves.
They are clouds without water, carried about by the winds; late autumn trees without fruit, twice dead, pulled up by the roots; raging waves of the sea, foaming up their own shame; wandering stars for whom is reserved the blackness of darkness forever.
These are grumblers, complainers, walking according to their own lusts; and they mouth great swelling words, flattering people to gain advantage.
But you, beloved, remember the words which were spoken before by the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ: how they told you that there would be mockers in the last time who would walk according to their own ungodly lusts.
These are sensual persons, who cause divisions, not having the Spirit.

How do false preachers and teachers get into our churches, denominations and organizations? They “creep” in unnoticed. What we must do is “notice” them. That means shining a spiritual light on them by “testing the spirits.” Jude’s list is a good one for testing the spirits to see if they are true or false.

III. Third, pray and trust God for His mercy.

But you, beloved, building yourselves up on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Spirit, keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life.
Jude 1:20-21

Jude’s recommendation is similar to Paul’s in Ephesians — “praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints” (Ephesians 6:18).

We should go into battle prayerfully. We are in a spiritual battle even though people are involved. If someone attacks you physically, you can evade and escape or evade and enter. In martial arts we call this YCCCC: Yield, Clear, Contact, Control, Counter. However, in spiritual matters we need to rely on what Paul gave us in Ephesians 6: SPOS — Stand, Put On, Stand. We put on the full armor of God and stand against the enemy.

IV. Fourth, keep your spiritual eyes open at all times — “being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints” (Ephesians 6:18b). Remember how false preachers and teachers get into churches? They creep in unnoticed. That happens every week at churches around the world. False preachers and teachers are also getting into denominations, schools, seminaries and other Christian organizations regularly. Testing the spirits is not a one-time event in a Christian’s life. The Apostle Peter warned Christians to always be sober and vigilant because “your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour” (1 Peter 5:8). Testing spirits is a full-time vocation for Christians.

We have this wonderful promise from the Apostle Paul that God will guard His people from unreasonable and wicked people and from the “evil one.”

Finally, brethren, pray for us, that the word of the Lord may run swiftly and be glorified, just as it is with you, and that we may be delivered from unreasonable and wicked men; for not all have faith. But the Lord is faithful, who will establish you and guard you from the evil one.
2 Thessalonians 3:1-3

V. Fifth, be ready to act appropriately based on the results of your “testing the spirits.”

And on some have compassion, making a distinction; but others save with fear, pulling them out of the fire, hating even the garment defiled by the flesh.
Jude 1:22-23

The way we act in response to testing the spirits may be different. On some “have compassion, making a distinction.” It’s important that we understand how this works so our response will be appropriate. Not every person or situation will be the same. Some people are false preachers and teachers. Some people are preaching and teaching falsely, but don’t realize it. Some people are deceived by false preaching and teaching. It’s important that our testing of spirits and acting on that testing is correct and glorifying to God.

Jude wrote in verses 14-15 about how “the Lord comes with ten thousands of His saints, to execute judgment on all, to convict all who are ungodly among them of all their ungodly deeds which they have committed in an ungodly way.” That’s what Jesus Christ will do in the future (e.g. Matthew 24-25; Revelation 19). Even the powerful archangel Michael when disputing with Satan about the body of Moses “dared not bring against him a reviling accusation, but said, ‘The Lord rebuke you!” (Jude 1:9). Even though Michael and his angels will fight against Satan and his angels in the future and win, Michael understood the timing of how to respond concerning the disputation about the body of Moses. That’s a good example for us to follow. Respond according to God’s Will and Word.

The first response Jude mentioned is “on some have compassion, making a distinction.” The word “compassion” is eleate and means “show mercy to, have mercy on.” The word “distinction” is diakrinomenous and means “to distinguish, to separate throughout, to judge or investigate thoroughly.”

The proper “testing of spirits” should help us determine how to respond. One of those responses is to show mercy to people. The question is which people?

Next Time

We’ll answer that question and share some ideas about how to show mercy in the next part of our special series, A Layman’s Guide to False Preachers and Teachers.

A Layman’s Guide To False Preachers and Teachers Part 1

A Layman’s Guide To False Preachers and Teachers Part 2

A Layman’s Guide To False Preachers and Teachers Part 3

A Layman’s Guide To False Preachers and Teachers Part 4

A Layman’s Guide To False Preachers and Teachers Part 5

A Layman’s Guide To False Preachers and Teachers Part 6

A Layman’s Guide To False Preachers and Teachers Part 7

A Layman’s Guide To False Preachers and Teachers Part 8

A Layman’s Guide To False Preachers and Teachers Part 9