Distinguishing Truth from Error, Part 2

Today on Insight for living with Chuck Swindoll. Why do I urge you to be discerning what attention sleep urge you to be testing this because many false prophets have gone out and suddenly remember our Lord's prediction.

Many false prophets will arise and mislead yesterday. Swindoll concluded a brief to miniseries including a powerful testimony from his wife Cynthia at the close of today's Insight for living. Explain how you can receive a copy of the entire series, but today we're pleased to resume our comprehensive study for the relevant book of first John titled living right and a wrong world as we move into the fourth chapter. John reminds us that those who follow Jesus Christ need to be discerning so that we can separate the authentic from the fate set the tone for this message. Check begins with prayer never heard this before. Today for the first time everything significant. The spiritual life revolves around Jesus. Jesus. Jesus. It is through Jesus we pray to our heavenly father is because of Jesus death we can have eternal life by trusting in that death that paid the complete penalty for sin.

What a great thought. It is true, Jesus. We look in troubled times. It's Jesus we anticipate in the future who will break through the clouds and will return as he promised to do at any moment at any time.

It is called the eminent return of Jesus, I find my self saying as many of you just give me Jesus a time like this. Just give me Jesus is an old spiritual that will be some for us in the moment with those words must prepare for this offering and continuing worship by bowing prayer to our father through Jesus. Ours is a rich heritage Lord and we stand on the shoulders of strong hearted, great thinking biblically sound men and women of the past who forged out their faith anchored in sound doctrine in the historic truths that have made the church great, but it is your church overlord. It was your son Jesus said I will build my church. The gates of hell will never prevail against. So today, our father, we do pause to thank you this weekend for those crosses row on row that marked their place within the sky. The birds above them fly as we honor those who died that we might be free. Thank you for brave women and men for hard decisions. Ruggedness of that faithfulness to serve their country, we pray that same spirit of patriotism will never be lost in this era are our culture about us is losing its way give a strong hearted men and women today.

Now who think clearly and see through the phony and stand for the truth. These gifts we give our father we give that that kind of teaching might continue, that the word might reach out that even though in this time when parts grow cold that there might be a fanning of the flame of righteousness and godliness. Biblical authority and spirit indwelt guidance. Just give us Jesus give us all of him and more as we endure, and as we see review with vigor and vision and hope and passion in the name of Jesus we pray known as people listen.

Amen to search the Scriptures with Chuck Swindoll. Be sure to download his searching the Scriptures.

Studies by going to Insight world.org/studies another message about distinguishing truth from error.

I'm often asked what's happening what's happening in this old world of ours was happening at the church is what's happening in religion, I have a quick and simple answer doesn't solve the problem but it is the answer. What is happening is exactly what was predicted exactly Peter himself said don't be surprised at the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened. You first Peter chapter 4 haunting words so when they killed in the name of their God.

He told us it would happen.

And when they come to get us. We need to be ready haunting words serious words only long enough to watch a frightening erosion occurring the church.

I entered back in the 50s seriously entered and in with the ministry of mine in the 60s is not the same church as today's church in the 21st century the church is now market-driven strange mixture of corporate America silly skits show business techniques that have replaced systematic teaching of the Word of God.

There are exceptions, but that's the tragedy they are exceptions, not the rule instead of solid meat based on sound doctrine the world of entertainment has invaded the ranks of the house of worship, a consumer mentality is now acceptable substitute for theological thinking and biblical understanding biblically ignorant individuals gather to hear what they want to hear back to Paul's words to have their ears tickled, it seems that some pastors today will stop at nothing to entertain their audiences not congregations, audiences, believe it or not it is that erosion which concerned the apostle John in the first century. John is not interested in winning friends and influencing people is not concerned about making you feel good. Thank God he's concerned about communicating the truth if the truth help you feel great, wonderful, but if you need to hear what you want to hear you're moving in the wrong direction and erosion is already happening.

We bow before the authority of the word and we need immediately to commands. The first is negative and the second is positive. Please observe the first very briefly do not believe every spirit way I missed the word beloved beloved. What is that mean it's written to believers do not believe every spirit, in fact it's in the it's called a present imperative stop believing every spirit, so some, to whom John wrote were already believing whatever came down the pike screen. Whatever the preacher sounds good. This visiting itinerant profit would come and have you heard he's got a voice like thousand Niagara Falls. This guy is incredible.

Let me listen to him what don't believe every spirit. John is Artie talked about love and he said love needs to be discriminate your love God with your whole heart. You love one another, absolutely in the family of God. Absolutely not to love everything your love must be discerning.

You can't give your love to the world. He has a whole section on don't love the world of the things in the world of anyone loves the world, the love of the father is not in a meeting love must be discriminate.

What if one must be discriminate so much faith so don't believe every spirit. Think of it this way, everyone who is teaching as a mouthpiece for either truth or error every other visual represents the spirit of truth, or the spirit of error.

When you speak of the spirit of truth.

You are representing the living God. When you speak error, you are representing the adversary himself. Everyone who teaches is either representing truth or error. So don't believe every spirit, but test the spirits. Here's the second command test the spirits to see whether they are from God see if it's truth crowd stumbled by a titles don't go by letters after names don't go by beauty of the robe don't go by the collar don't go by name or tradition don't go by any of that goal by the book. The book the word of God is what he's saying. True to the word sick night check this kind narrowing movements. He pulled on and go back to acts chapter 17 K is go back to acts 17 you'll see it's not narrow it's really noble minded bones on the journey.

He's been to several places and now verse 10 tells us that the brothers immediately sent him and Silas away.

I'm in acts 1710. Please look they sent Paul and Silas away by night to Berea, watch closely and when they arrived they went into the synagogue of the Jews. Okay, now these were more noble, not narrow. These were more noble minded than those in Thessalonica, that's where they just been who apparently were more gullible. Whatever came down the pike. They were ready to take it latch onto it. These were more noble minded than those in Thessalonica, why for connecting.

That's the explanatory connective because for what because they welcomed the word with great eagerness to they were suspicious of everything they welcomed the word, but then they examine the Scriptures daily to see whether these things were so on a credo is a word that means to sift up and down to make a careful and exacting search they search is. Is this what Isaiah is teaching. Is this what David meant when he wrote the song Paul very effective answer is that what Moses, saying, is that square with the Scriptures, they were more noble minded because they examine the Scriptures daily to see if those things were so. It is the word of God that guides us. Don't believe it because I said believe it because it can be backed up in the Scriptures. So when you listen just on all on your own.

Go get myself a little ears perk up.

Why call discerning your testing the spirit to see if she truth or error on the way back. Go to first Thessalonians chapter 5 see you compare Scripture with Scripture to determine the truth. First Thessalonians 518 through 21 or 19 to 21. Do not quench the Spirit.

Okay. Do not despise prophetic utterances. So what is it me, it means don't turn off every preacher, because many are falls. It says don't despise prophetic utterances okay but what is a connective contrast.

See the word but rather than despising can prophetic utterances. Examine everything carefully hold fast that which is good to the word examine. It's the same Greek word back in first John 41, rendered test test spirit ducky mind so wonderful word it means to make a critical analysis to determine the genuineness of something for the purpose of approving it to make a critical analysis to determine the genuineness of something for the purpose of approving a gemologist will look at a diamond and make a cover did so decision or a document so decision sorry got words mixed up a document as he's looking as if the diamond isn't real isn't clear isn't number four is it number three is that yellow is an almost white isn't clear isn't white. Whatever whatever he's making a critical examination to determine the genuineness of it for the purpose of approving, but were not working with gyms were working with message ever. Back to first John chapter 4 verse one why do we do this, why do I urge you to be discerning believers.

Why do I ask you to perk up. Pay attention don't sleep. Why do I urge you to be testing the spirit. See the word because in the middle of verse one.

That's a term that introduces reason.

Very helpful literary clue because many pseudo-pro rata pseudo-profits. Many false prophets have gone out into the world. All of a sudden we remember our Lord's prediction.

Matthew 2411 many false prophets will arise and mislead many. It's the end of the first century when John writes it was around 3080 31 Jesus said what he did. And here we are. This 60 years or so. 70 years almost and already there are many profits of fulfillment of exactly what Jesus not to make matters more confusing, stay with me. The enemy of our souls can speak through the clergy, people who were once trusted people who believe the truth stood for the truth and there was anybody in the community. You could rely on. It was the person with the collar is a clergy no longer how do I know the difference will get to that in a moment I want to let the haunting thought of that sink in when I happened to be in the military. We had chaplains who were responsible for the outfit and I knew one who knew Christ the rest of them could drink you under the table. The rest of them could cuss like a sailor, but they were the collar. They were false prophets, the one that spoke the truth. The general on our island sent him off the island. He couldn't take the truth. Why is it like hearing what was in the chapel on Sunday morning.

True prophets tell you what you need to hear false prophets tell you what you want to hear one more turn, would second Corinthians 11 it's really worth it. Second Corinthians 11 verse 13 through verse 15 second Corinthians 1113 Paul is defending himself because there are those who have taken their shots at him for being not what he claims to be, and he says of those men. Such men sink rent is 1113 such men are false apostles, deceitful workers closely disguising themselves as apostles of Christ and before your jaw drops down in your chest pauses. No wonder, for even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light white, an angel of light. Why God uses a red suit with a pitchfork whisper nasty little things in this era and this little white creature with wings whisper sweet little things in his non-stance.

He wants you think that he is an angel of light. His specialty is subtlety. He is the little kid in a red suit can't fool anybody. Everybody knows it's in the nothing to do it. That's exactly what he wants you to believe, but a person's wall and appealing and attractive and winsome and educated and can deliver a message that can hold you on this edge of your seat axis man see what he says.

Therefore, it's not surprising if his servant also if his servants also disguise themselves as servants of righteousness whose in will be according to their deed. You got it right there. I don't know if you read CS Lewis, much of it years ago. He wrote terrific satire called the Screwtape letters in it.

The senior demon named Screwtape is mentoring the junior demon named wormwood. Now wait a minute, you gotta reverse everything when you read the Screwtape letters because of the Screwtape letters, the devil is the champion and the Christian is the enemy. So all the way through this brilliant piece of writing.

CS Lewis has you think of their world as they see it. Now I'm breaking into a conversation between Screwtape and wormwood quote Screwtape says to wormwood. The fact that devils are predominantly comic figures in the modern imagination will help you if any faint suspicion of your existence begins to arise in his mind, meaning the Christians mind suggesting him a picture of something in red type and persuade him that since he cannot believe it. He therefore cannot believe in you counterfeit. Tragically, we live in times when imposters are enjoying prominent platform deliver false teaching. For this reason, and more. It's incumbent on every follower of Christ to become adept at distinguishing truth from error. You're listening to Insight for living Chuck Swindoll has much more teaching on this topic, so be sure to keep following this important study in first John and learn more about this ministry. Be sure to visit us online@insightworld.org. Even though we are long past the month of March when it became obvious that self quarantine was necessary is clear that our world remains threatened by the coronavirus as the pandemic seems to languish without end. Chuck and Cynthia Swindoll have been deeply concerned about the collateral damage caused by an uprising of hatred, prejudice, and even brutal violence in our streets, in light of these unsettling times we are pleased to offer at no cost or obligation to message set the brings a measure of hope amidst the darkness. It's a miniseries from Chuck Swindoll titled finding healing through forgiveness and would like to invite you to download the free audio files and the second message Chuck invites Cynthia to tell her emotional story about her battle with depression, broken relationships in the way God brought redemption and healing to download your free MP3 of finding healing through forgiveness.

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