TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 13, 2011
“TRUTH TWISTERS”
BY
PASTOR BOB COY
September 13
Truth Twisters
“Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves.” —Matthew 7:15 (NKJV)
Jesus loves His Church so much that He will protect it from anything that has the potential to damage or destroy it. Included under this strong warning are false prophets and teachers. These men and women have the ability to infiltrate and infect the body of Christ and twist His truth. And when that goes unchecked, the Church loses its effectiveness in influencing this world.
When we look at the New Testament, we find warning after warning to be on guard against those who would deliberately twist God’s truth. In one instance, as Paul was leaving the church at Ephesus, the Spirit instructed him to warn them about “savage wolves” who were going to come in to devour God’s flock:
“Therefore take heed to yourselves and to all the flock, among which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the church of God which He purchased with His own blood. For I know this, that after my departure savage wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock. Also from among yourselves men will rise up, speaking perverse things, to draw away the disciples after themselves. Acts 20:28-30 (NKJV)
But the warning doesn’t end there. In fact, the danger associated with false teachers is referenced in practically every epistle in the New Testament, and a large portion of 2 Peter and Jude are devoted to this issue. Clearly, this is a warning that God wants us to both hear and heed.
Again, Jesus loves His Church. He loves it enough to protect it from potential dangers. And when He warns us about their inevitable influence, we need to beware of false teachers. But in order to do so, we need to know what is true. We need to be men and women of the Word so we can identify when God’s truth is twisted.
Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. 2 Timothy 2:15 (NKJV)
small group time:::
THINK ABOUT IT...
What does this passage reveal to me about God?
What does this passage reveal to me about myself?
Based on this, what changes do I need to make?
What is my prayer for today?
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