Distinguishing Truth from Error, Part 3

You know the Lord Jesus Christ as your Savior, your master you are from God today. Chuck Swindoll talks about the guiding force within us the spirit of God within you is greater than any force that can come up against you. Greater force than any other force on the planet, you will represent a greater greater force of divine power than a whole full of those who do not have the same greater is he who is in you than he who is in the world as followers of Jesus. God lives within us and with his help we were able to discern which true and what's false the spirit of God helps us tell the difference between a false gospel and the true gospel one who tells lies one who represents the true today on Insight for living Chuck Swindoll's teaching from first John chapter 4 where we read this command.

Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God. Chuck titled his message.

Distinguishing truth from error. The passage were looking at calls a spade a spade.

John is not interested in winning friends and influencing people he's concerned about communicating the true first John chapter 4. Beloved, do not believe every spirit, in fact it's called a present imperative stop believing every spirit. So, some of whom John wrote were already believing John talked about love and he said love needs to be discriminate your love God with your whole heart and love one another, absolutely in the family of God. Absolutely not love everything your love must be discerning. We have an everyday saying that says don't believe everything you see or hear.

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 test the spirits to see whether they are from God see if it's truth crowds still go by titles 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 hold on and go back to acts chapter 13 K go back there. Acts 17 you'll see it's not narrow it's really noble minded Paul is 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 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 call discerning your testing the spirit to see if she truth or error on your way back. Go to first Thessalonians chapter 5 see you compare Scripture with Scripture to determine the truth.

First Thessalonians 519 to 21. Do not quench the Spirit. Okay.

Do not despise prophetic utterances. So what does that mean it means don't turn off every preacher, because many are falls rather than despising 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 one more turn, would second Corinthians 11 verse 13 through verse 15, 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 think 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 ear and this little white creature with wings whisper sweet little things in this non-stance. He wants you think that he is an angel of light. His specialty is something he is getting 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 the edge of your seat axis man see what he says.

Therefore, it's not surprising if his servants also disguise themselves as servants of righteousness whose and will be according to their deed. You got it right there. First John chapter 4. How do I know whether it's truth or error that seem to be a logical question why what's the way of finding this out twisted what's the ticket is the secret.

Well by this you know how great the Bible is verse two begins with a statement that says here's how you can know by this you know the spirit of God: every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God member. It's about Jesus.

The litmus test is theological. Does this person who's delivering this teaching confess Jesus as God incarnate. Does he see Christ as deity. Does he represent the Lord Jesus Christ predominantly and that he is God in human flesh and does he profess his or her own faith in the son of God personally that the litmus test. Check out the calls talk to the leaders talk to the followers, they will not declare that Jesus is deity. They will in fact stand against. They will have very convincing arguments and they will even use Scripture I should say half versus to prove their point because they are not of the spirit of God. That's how you can tell the difference now.

Let verse three say what it says must not must not try to change every spirit that does not confess Jesus meeting Jesus is God is not from God. This is the spirit of the antichrist, of which you have heard that it is coming and now is all in the world. Indeed, it is John that verse is politically incorrect one.

The reasons I love so wonderful verse of Scripture. Why because it's narrow every spirit that refuses to acknowledge Jesus as God is the enemy market now.

There may be crowds there maybe all kind of following that there may be a convincing message. I mean, it may be appealing and it made it.

It may just draw on your emotions is representing Jesus as God is Jesus God is the Lord Jesus Christ predominantly preeminent one predominating the message.

It isn't about the speaker. It's about Christ would never forget that the church is the earthly custodian of biblical truth is both our mandate and our mission as a church to support the truth of the Scriptures we are not a cafeteria offering Christianity light, but we are not an entertainment center that appeals to the consumer's likes and dislikes.

I appreciate the way one man put it in an age of entertainment such as our age in the West. We have to be funny, engaging, likable and light to succeed.

So seriousness must be banished to preserve the taste, but cut the calories.

This matches the change Miller light Miller brewing company made from regular beer to Miller light when Americans became more weight conscious regular Christianity may now think many now think does not go down easily and smoothly Christianity light does is really no end of the innovations that are possible as churches think of different ways to attract and accommodate consumers next week will do this.

The following week that Tom seems so and you will not grow spiritually will we have to say something about the followers and he does show you some you need a circle in your Bible beginning a verse for you getting a verse five they getting a verse six we verse six, Augustine brings John picture you would be the audience the congregation. The people to whom John was ministering you are from God is not afraid to say it, nor my afraid to say if you know the Lord Jesus Christ as your Savior, your master the God of your life. You are from God, you are from God, little children, and you have overcome them, and the vast number of those who aren't from God. Those who intimidate who intimidate those who make you fearful, look at that great promise because greater is he who is in you than you world what does that mean the spirit of God within you is greater than any force that can come up against you. Greater force than any other force on the planet, you alone represent a greater greater force of divine power than a whole full of those who do not have the same greater is he who is in you than he who is in the world.

So that's that you nice as they verse five they those who don't know the Savior who don't acknowledge Jesus as Lord or from the world.

Therefore they speak is from the world and the world listens to them. They they talk to themselves.

They are in agreement if they're in the academic world the academic world agrees with the intelligentsia intelligentsia gripper side is the scientist agree with them and you let one voice of Christianity emerge and it's like anything the guy is out to lunch as a whole raft of the majority, saying that in here this one individual has greater power within him than all of those who are in the world, but there are many of them in fact far more number God's work is always with the remnant always in the minority, so we are from God, and he who knows God listens to us what a great comfort. That's why those who listen. Who don't know Christ are turned off by what I say or what any preacher says that stands for the truth. It's beyond them to sit through but those who love it say give it to us teachers back.

Jesus said my sheep hear my voice, and they follow me evenhanded. I know my own and my own know me. John 1014, those who are from. We who are from God, we are the ones who listen and and and God listens to us.

We know God. He knows us he was not from God does not listen to us. By this we know the spirit of truth in the spirit of error.

Ready for the principal if you fit if you miss everything else. Don't miss this please write it down. Here is the principle that is essential to remember when you are searching for truth when you are searching for truth. Listen carefully to the one who is teaching and look closely at those who were following. When searching for the truth. Listen carefully to the one who is teaching I might add, listen to what is said and what is not said, listen to what is conveniently left out. Listen to the wording.

Listen to the subtle phrases listen to the implications.

Listen, listen, and then look at those who were following the Bibles they following along a series about their faith they share in Christ in the battle you will be able to tell how well wanting to sound like a prophet of doom.

I close with six statements that are my credo find a place if you want to write them down. You have to I just wrote them yesterday. They're not inspired so okay so here's what I really believe number one reliving the treacherous times the Scripture predicted were living in them reliving the treacherous times to discernment plays a vital role in surviving treacherous times, discernment plays a vital role in surviving treacherous times.

I'm not worried about method here is much as I'm worried about the body of truth. There are all different ways of presenting truth in all different kinds of interesting ways of presenting, not down on one method are down one another against whatever waters down the truth and takes the time and attention from the word of God. So discernment plays a vital role in our survival. Three.

It gets more complicated historical roots and doctrinal truth is, must continue to be valued and embraced historical roots and doctrinal truths must continue to be valued and times will change, not truth. Methods will change not history. Here's the top number four.

Each generation of believers has a serious responsibility. Each generation of believers has a serious responsibility to do what. Don't miss this to forge out its beliefs anchored in the unchanging doctrines laid out in the Scripture. Each generation has a serious responsibility. What is it to forge out our beliefs anchored in the unchanging doctrines laid out in the Scripture which do not change, and do not lie. I pause for a little application are you forging on yours.

If you have your children know what if they do to their children know what God has no grandchildren. Is this children maybe you blew it with your family what you got grandkids now go there.

Maybe you don't have a family you got friends don't you forge out what you believe, based on the unchanging doctrines of set forth in the unchanging script number five. It is the job of the church's leaders to guide and guard the church is the job of the church's leaders to guide and to guard the ministry we guided by making sure that we are moving in the right direction. We are maintaining a balance between intake and output.

We are reaching out to the lost. We are feeding the same. We are modeling lives of Christlike character. We are dealing with those who must be dealt with. We are facing error whenever it arises. It's our job to guide the church in that direction. Second, to guard it means we watch over what is being taught who teaches what we stand against those who would sabotage the church.

We don't hesitate to stand against them.

It's an unhappy and it's an unpopular decision to make but you gotta make it are the churches and garden.

We react wisely and forthrightly when we encounter spiritual predators. That is my job that is the job of our elders. That is the role of our teachers.

That is what we do. I think of it in the daytime. I dream of it at night. It is Mike Tyson, 365 24 seven.

It is my passion.

The guard and guide this church in the way unconvinced. It should. Number six. Finally, you be glad you finally finally a strong and healthy church today is no guarantee of a strong and healthy church next word tomorrow. Good for you.

We may be right on the money right now all we've got areas. We got areas we deal with me were people there'll always be something Gilda Ratner was right. It's always something. It's always but today's string is not tomorrow string unless what we do today has tomorrow in my and what we do tomorrow fits did yesterday and the day before consistently standing your patient body of people with increase. Thank you father for trust. Thank you that you have never broken a promise you've never thank you that you've never said something you didn't mean you've never predicted any error you've never manipulated us. You never gone back on what you said earlier, thank you for trust makers people like that where we have failed maybe may we be quick to admit it, where we have been passing permitting error, maybe, may we stop that nonsense be compassionate, concerned, decisive, forthcoming, full of conviction done in love done in me, this church continued to be a model of what your word teaches I commit that Lord to the rest of my life I commit myself to that and we as a body do the same in the matchless name of Jesus, our Savior and Master everyone's a to these principles, we remain wholly committed not only on behalf of the church where Chuck Swindoll serves as senior pastor, but in this daily radio outreach of insight for living and learn more about this ministry. Be sure to visit us online@insightworld.org today. We like to say a word of thanks to our monthly companions and all those who support insight for living ministries with your charitable giving because you're the one to equip us with resources to touch lives millions of listeners around the world look to Insight for living as their reliable source for distinguishing truth from error and you played a significant role in making this possible today as a gesture of thanks and as a means of speaking into the issues of our day. We are pleased to offer two messages from Chuck Swindoll at no cost or obligation. It's a brief miniseries that was featured last week on inside for living and includes the powerful personal testimony of Chuck's wife and ministry partner Cynthia. This is called finding healing through forgiveness. We are pleased to invite you to download the two messages on MP3 when you contact us today. Simply visit us online@insight.org/find healing. If you have any questions feel free to contact one of our friendly team members. If you're listening in the United States: 1-800-772-8888, and to truly make a difference in our world through this daily ministry. Let me suggest that you go online. Give us a call to become a monthly companions.

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The preceding message. Distinguishing truth from error and the sound recording copyright in 2009 by Charles R. Swindoll.

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