Week of Monday April 6- April 12
Test for Truth – Man as Defender
“If a prophet or a dreamer of dreams arises among you and gives you a sign or a wonder, and the sign or wonder that he tells you comes to pass, and if he says, ‘Let us go after other gods,’ which you have not known, ‘and let us serve them,’ you shall not listen to the words of that prophet or that dreamer of dreams.” - Deuteronomy 13:1-2 ESV
Today, there are many false prophets who peddle bizarre beliefs and endorse sinful lifestyles, thereby luring people away from the Lord. However, this is not a new phenomenon. Moses warned the Israelites about false prophets, and there are similar warnings in the New Testament from Jesus and the apostles. We can expect to see even more false prophets as the last days draw near (2 Thess. 2:9-10).
Notice that God allows false prophets to pop up among His people for a reason: “to know whether you love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul” (Deut. 13:3). These false prophets serve as a test of our loyalty and love for God. As Defenders of our hearts and homes, we must move beyond passive listening to those who claim to speak for God and actively seek to distinguish between true servants of God and false ones. Here are four tests to help us make that distinction:
1. Test of Converts
Jesus said, “You will recognize them by their fruits” (Matt. 7:15-20). Observe the followers of a teacher. Are they becoming more like Christ, or are they becoming more like “children of hell” (Matt. 23:15)? If a teacher produces followers who are more loyal to him than they are to the Messiah, that person is leading a mutiny, not a ministry.
2. Test of Character
This test is concerned with a teacher’s morals, not their charisma. The apostle Paul identified the fruit of the Spirit as love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control (Gal. 5:22-23). When the Spirit of God is active in a person’s life, these qualities should be evident.
3. Test of Creed
Consider what the teacher has to say about God, Jesus, the authority of Scripture, the path to salvation, the existence of heaven and hell, et cetera. Do they align with the historical doctrines of the Christian faith? Beware, because many cults use the same biblical vocabulary as true Christianity but have a totally different doctrinal dictionary. If a person’s creed shifts to fit the culture, walk away.
4. Test of Convergence
Consider whether the teacher’s message aligns with the whole counsel of God. Follow the example of the Bereans: they didn’t just take Paul’s word for it; they fact-checked him against Scripture (Acts 17:10-12). Be a student of the original so you can spot the fake.
At the end of the day, how can we defend our hearts and homes from the lies of false prophets? The simple answer is: “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul … you shall serve him and hold fast to him.” The best way to defend against a lie is to be devoted to the truth—not only the written truth of the Bible but also the living truth, Jesus (John 14:6). If you hold fast to Him, no silver-tongued deceiver can cause you to veer off course.
Test for Truth – Man as Defender
“If a prophet or a dreamer of dreams arises among you and gives you a sign or a wonder, and the sign or wonder that he tells you comes to pass, and if he says, ‘Let us go after other gods,’ which you have not known, ‘and let us serve them,’ you shall not listen to the words of that prophet or that dreamer of dreams.” - Deuteronomy 13:1-2 ESV
Today, there are many false prophets who peddle bizarre beliefs and endorse sinful lifestyles, thereby luring people away from the Lord. However, this is not a new phenomenon. Moses warned the Israelites about false prophets, and there are similar warnings in the New Testament from Jesus and the apostles. We can expect to see even more false prophets as the last days draw near (2 Thess. 2:9-10).
Notice that God allows false prophets to pop up among His people for a reason: “to know whether you love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul” (Deut. 13:3). These false prophets serve as a test of our loyalty and love for God. As Defenders of our hearts and homes, we must move beyond passive listening to those who claim to speak for God and actively seek to distinguish between true servants of God and false ones. Here are four tests to help us make that distinction:
1. Test of Converts
Jesus said, “You will recognize them by their fruits” (Matt. 7:15-20). Observe the followers of a teacher. Are they becoming more like Christ, or are they becoming more like “children of hell” (Matt. 23:15)? If a teacher produces followers who are more loyal to him than they are to the Messiah, that person is leading a mutiny, not a ministry.
2. Test of Character
This test is concerned with a teacher’s morals, not their charisma. The apostle Paul identified the fruit of the Spirit as love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control (Gal. 5:22-23). When the Spirit of God is active in a person’s life, these qualities should be evident.
3. Test of Creed
Consider what the teacher has to say about God, Jesus, the authority of Scripture, the path to salvation, the existence of heaven and hell, et cetera. Do they align with the historical doctrines of the Christian faith? Beware, because many cults use the same biblical vocabulary as true Christianity but have a totally different doctrinal dictionary. If a person’s creed shifts to fit the culture, walk away.
4. Test of Convergence
Consider whether the teacher’s message aligns with the whole counsel of God. Follow the example of the Bereans: they didn’t just take Paul’s word for it; they fact-checked him against Scripture (Acts 17:10-12). Be a student of the original so you can spot the fake.
At the end of the day, how can we defend our hearts and homes from the lies of false prophets? The simple answer is: “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul … you shall serve him and hold fast to him.” The best way to defend against a lie is to be devoted to the truth—not only the written truth of the Bible but also the living truth, Jesus (John 14:6). If you hold fast to Him, no silver-tongued deceiver can cause you to veer off course.
- Are you filtering and deflecting the false messaging that bombards you and your family? Make it a habit to have regular conversations about the messaging they encounter. This can help them improve their ability to discern what is true.
- Can you think of a false teacher you have heard or read about recently? Work that “prophet” through the four tests and see how they come out. Involve your family in that process as an exercise in discernment.
- Ask the Lord to help you lead your family in pursuing Jesus so that they will be able to spot the fake because they are so devoted to the truth.