You know, over the last few years we experienced a lot of division in the church. Why? Because some men and women have started to move away from God's Word, the Bible. They look at the Bible, and then they only believe those verses that they like - the rest of it, they push it out, and then... they add their own beliefs to the words of the Bible.
So, in other words, they want to change the Bible to fit in with their lifestyle, instead of changing their lifestyle, to fit in with what the Bible says; with what God's Truth says. This is very dangerous, especially for young Christians.
So today, I want to share with you three false teachings of the church, or spiritual leaders that you should avoid.
Let's get to it... Now, the Bible is very clear about false prophets and teachers. It warns us in 1 Timothy 4:1-2,
"Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits and doctrines of devils; Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron."
This was happening even at the time of the apostles, and it is happening today. But how will you know... when someone teaches the truth, or when they lie? You test what they say with Scripture, with the Bible.
And if you don't know what the Bible says, and you call yourself a Christian... then you need to read it, you need to study it, and it will change your life, and you won't be so easily misled.
All right, now with that in mind let's start with the first false teaching that you need to know about: And this first false teaching is spreading like cancer. What is this teaching? That it is God's will for every Christian to be rich and to be healthy. Is this true? Well definitely not. God does promise us peace, even if you are going through hard times; He does promise us peace. But he doesn't promise us that we will always be healthy and wealthy.
Just because you're a Christian, doesn't mean that you will suddenly have a perfect life. That only happens when we go to Heaven and the new Earth. But the Bible is actually very clear on this, and it says that you will have trials and tribulations in this life.
John 16:33 says: "These things I have spoken unto you, that in Me, ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world."
So, we will experience hard times in this world. And you know, there's a lot of people who are deeply hurt by this false teaching. Because, let's say, they have a health problem, and they pray, and they pray, "God please, just help me now... just take this away from me..."
And then they go to these preachers, these false preachers and teachers, who have the audacity to say, "Well, it's because you don't have enough faith...." You know, you can't use God like a genie and just make wishes. You go to Him humbly, and you ask Him, just like Jesus did in the Garden of Gethsemane;
Luke 22:42, "Jesus said, "Father if Thou be willing, remove this cup from Me: nevertheless not My will, but Thine be done."
So, you can go to God, and you can ask Him, for health... to heal you...for whatever problem you might have... I mean it's amazing - we have doctors today as well, and He can use the doctors to heal you.
But you can go and pray, and ask God for a miracle, because it still happens today. You can even ask Him to bless you financially... but that doesn't mean that He's always gonna say yes.
Sometimes He will stay quiet, and sometimes He will say no, for a reason; and you need to accept it. Look at the example of Job: he lost everything. He lost his kids, his wealth, his health - he lost everything. But then at the end of it, God used it to bring him closer, and he restored everything; In fact, He actually gave Job more than he had. Twice as much, the Bible says.
And this is what Job said after all he experienced; all those trials and tribulations; This is what Job said: "I have heard of Thee by the hearing of the ear: but now mine eye seeth Thee." So, you see, Job only heard about God but now he sees who God really is.
Now he has a deeper relationship with God. You know, sometimes God will allow pain and suffering, in your life; to teach you something. We all go through different types of pain and suffering.
Some of you know the hardships and trials I've been through myself. And you know the effect it has had on me and the pain that came with it. But all the suffering and pain that I endured - God used it to bring me closer to Him. To make me humble, and to change me; to mold me... And you know, He did it with Paul as well:
Paul says in 2 Corinthians 12:7-10, "And lest I should be exalted above measure through the abundance of the revelations, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I should be exalted above measure."
Now listen to this, "For this thing I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me." It's interesting, he didn't just ""name it and claim it" and say: "In the name of Jesus Christ I proclaim that this thorn in my side be gone!" He didn't do that. What did he do? He asked God three times to take it away - and there was no problem with his faith.
Because Paul had faith, he knew God could help him if God wanted to. But he asked God three times. And what did God say? "And He said unto me, "My grace is sufficient for thee: for My strength is made perfect in weakness." Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. Therefore, I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ's sake: for when I am weak, then I am strong."
Can you say that in hard times? Are you content with what God allows in your life? Or are you greedy and just want more money? Or are you content with just food and clothing? Be very careful about what you pray for; God knows the intentions of your heart.
1 Timothy 6:6-11 says: "Now godliness combined with contentment brings great profit. For we have brought nothing into this world and so we cannot take a single thing out either. But if we have food and shelter, we will be satisfied with that. Those who long to be rich however, stumble into temptation and a trap and many senseless and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is the root of all evils.
Some people in reaching for it, have strayed from the faith, and stabbed themselves with many pains. But you, as a person dedicated to God, keep away from all of that. Instead pursue righteousness, godliness, faithfulness, love, endurance and gentleness."
God wants your focus to be on Him! Not the pearly gates, not the streets paved in gold, not even the many mansions in our Father's house! But Him! Jesus Christ, the Son of the Living God, Who promises eternal life! Forget this earthly temporary world! It will pass away! Don't lay up treasures for yourself on this earth, where it can be corrupted, stolen or destroyed. But lay up your treasures in Heaven, where that won't happen. Why? Because where your heart is, is where your treasure is. Where is your heart today? And you know, there's nothing wrong with being rich; I mean, God does bless a lot of people and He can bless you financially, but then, He also expects you to use the money in a right way and be responsible with it. Go back in the Word and read about the 3 servants with the talents and you'll see what I mean.
The second false teaching is when churches create extra rules; legalism... Extra rules for people to be saved, like for example, some churches say, 'every Christian can and should speak in tongues to be saved'. Or some Christians say, 'you have to be baptized to be saved.'
Let's just use these two examples, there are many more but let's just stick with these two. The Bible is very clear on this: you're only saved through the grace of God. Ephesians 2:8-10 says: "For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: It is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast. For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them."
So, we are saved only by grace, through faith; Not grace and works, not grace and speaking in tongues, not grace and baptism, through grace. Romans 10:9 says that, "If thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised Him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation."
Verse 17 says: "So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God." God judges righteously, because He is righteous, and He is holy and He's the only one that can truly see a person's heart. Do you remember what Jesus said to the criminal, that was also crucified next to Him on the cross? And that criminal didn't speak in tongues, he wasn't baptized...
We read in Luke 23:39-43, "And one of the malefactors which were hanged, railed on Him saying: "If thou be Christ save Thyself and us." But the other answering rebuked him, saying: "Seeing thou art in the same condemnation? And we are indeed justly; for we receive the due reward for our deeds; but this man hath done nothing amiss. And he said unto Jesus: "Lord, remember me when thou comest into Thy kingdom." And Jesus said unto him: "Verily I say unto thee today shalt thou be with Me in paradise."
So, Jesus saved this man. Why? Because this man confessed that Jesus is Lord. He confessed it with his mouth, and he believed it in his heart, and Jesus saved him.
Now, you might ask, "Well, should I be baptized?" Well yes, because the Bible says that we have to be baptized, so you have to obey God. Acts 2:38 says, "Repent and be baptized, every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ, for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit."
Now what about speaking tongues? Should everybody do it? Can everybody do it? Well no, the Bible is very clear, that people have different gifts, spiritual gifts and abilities. It has nothing to do with salvation. Paul is very clear about this; In 1 Corinthians 12:4 he says:
"Now there are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit. And there are differences of administrations, but the same Lord. And there are diversities of operations, but it is the same God which worketh all in all. But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal. For to one is given by the Spirit the word of wisdom; to another the word of knowledge by the same Spirit; to another faith by the same Spirit; to another the gifts of healing by the same Spirit; to another the working of miracles; to another prophecy; to another discerning of spirits; to another divers kinds of tongues; to another the interpretation of tongues."
Now that was very clear, so I don't need to add anything to it. And you know, we shouldn't add anything to the Bible or take anything away. It doesn't matter how I feel about it, or how you feel about it. If you're uncomfortable with certain passages or verses in the Bible, then it's probably a sign that you actually need to read it and accept it to change your lifestyle according to the scriptures.
The truth will change us. We're not perfect! We are nowhere near perfect! Our thoughts are not perfect, but the Bible is pure. It is God's Word and it is the Truth, we need to live by it.
Let's move on to the next one: The next false teaching is 'hyper grace and love'. There's a lot of churches that only preach this, so they don't preach the Bible in a balanced way - They leave out that God is holy and righteous, and you know, this is a very dangerous, dangerous false teaching, because it leads a lot of people to believe:
'Wow, I can be a Christian and I can just continue to live in sin, I can keep on bar hopping, I can keep on smoking drugs and drinking like a fish, fraternize with any guy or girl I want to, just live like a heathen and still go to Heaven! Enjoy my sinful lifestyle, and do whatever I want to do, because you know, Wow, God is just love, He's gracious, so, He's forgiving, He's merciful, even if I'm gonna sin tomorrow, He's already forgiven that."
That's what some of these people preach. This is a misuse of Scripture, and it is not true. And if you live this way, then you're probably not a real Christian - you did not have a real encounter with the God of the universe; Because if you did; you would be a new creation. Old things have passed away, all things are made new.
Romans 6:1-2 says: "What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound? God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein?"
Verse 14 says: "For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace. What then? Shall we sin, because we are not under the law, but under grace? God forbid. Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are, to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness?"
Verse 18 says: "Being then made free from sin, ye became the servants of righteousness." So, the Bible is very clear, that you are free from sin, if you obey God in righteousness. You know, there are thousands of people out there, who believe that they are saved; that they are Christians. But you know, Jesus Himself said: "Not everyone that saith unto me, 'Lord, Lord', shall enter into the Kingdom of Heaven, but he that doeth the will of My Father which is in Heaven. Many will say to Me in that day: 'Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Thy name? And in Thy name have cast out devils? And in Thy name done many wonderful works?' And then I will profess unto them, 'I never knew you: depart from me ye that work iniquity."
This is the truth, please listen very carefully. Don't be deceived by false teachers and preachers and churches, who just preach things that your fleshly nature wants to hear. 'The great falling away, is when the majority of the church justifies sin, and demonize those preaching against it.'
Now, I'm not saying these things to be liked by people, because a lot of people will hate me - Some of you who are reading this might hate me right now; But I'm not saying all of these things because I'm weird, or I just want to be judgmental.
I'm saying it because it is the truth, and only the truth changes lives; True change only comes when the Gospel is preached in a truthful and balanced way. Yes, we are saved only by grace, through real faith in Jesus Christ. But you need to know, what true faith is. A motivational message might make you feel good for a day or two, but it will not last. Only the truth will bring the change to your life that you're looking for! Remember what Pilate asked Jesus? "What is truth?" Little did Pilate know the Truth was standing right in front of him the whole time! You want to know what the truth is? Then, stop looking for the truth to be a bunch of facts. There is only ONE truth, and He is the way, THE TRUTH and the life! And His Name is JESUS!!!!!!!!!!
