The Bible is full of truth that we can all understand. God’s love involves encouragement, promises, and words of comfort. It also involves warnings.

Oh, we don’t like sermons that warn, do we? Some of us prefer a feathery touch—a warm, fuzzy moment. Like when the doctor tells someone he has a problem and the person says, “Doc, you think I came here to hear you say I have a problem? Come on, Doc. I need to feel good today. I need a warm fuzzy.”

Paul told Timothy, “The Spirit clearly says that in later times some will abandon the faith” (1 Timothy 4:1–2, NIV).

When are the later times? Well, in one way, the later times started after the birth of the church (see Acts 2). The closer we get to the coming of Christ, the more we are in the later days. And people are going to jump ship. They’ll have been on the ship but will abandon it.

Why will they leave? They will “follow deceiving spirits and things taught by demons. Such teachings come through hypocritical liars, whose consciences have been seared as with a hot iron” (1 Timothy 4:1–2, NIV).

Williams’s translation of the New Testament was very good; he was a Greek expert on the tenses. He says it this way: “Now the Spirit distinctly declares that in later times some will turn away from the faith, because they continuously give their attention to deceiving spirits and the things that demons teach through the pretensions of false teachers, men with seared consciences” (1 Timothy 4:1–2).

These people will “continuously give their attention”—they won’t look at false teachers once and then forget what they say. They will focus on them and be led astray.

These teachers are not what they seem. The NIV calls them “liars.” They tell lies. They specialize in lies. They knew the truth, and they got pulled away, and now they’re hypocrites. Their consciences were seared, and now they can lie and not even be bothered by it.

And what they propagate are “things taught by demons.” Imagine that. Out in the world, in the later times especially, are doctrines linked to Christianity that also sit beside false religious doctrines. They look like the real thing, and that’s why they’re so dangerous.

The devil doesn’t have someone say to us, “God isn’t real, and Jesus never lived.” Do you think he’s that dumb? No, he comes as an angel of light (see 2 Corinthians 11:14).

I read recently about some fake prophets making fake prophecies. The news has exploded in the so-called charismatic movement. I saw a video of this guy who was endorsed and pushed forward by some of the bigger-name churches in that movement. He was looking up people’s information on social media—people who had registered for events beforehand, so he knew their names—and saying from the platform, “Evans, Evans. Is there a Barbara Evans here?” And the lady would stand. “Wait a minute, I see Prospect Street.” She would be surprised. He would say, “Oh, that’s where you live, Prospect Street? See, Jesus knew you would be here, but I didn’t.”

When I saw him “prophesy,” people were laughing and clapping in the church like it was a carnival. That’s what God meant by a word of knowledge (see 1 Corinthians 12:8)? Total hoax. He’s no more a prophet than a cup of water is.

There are all kinds of deceptions and doctrines taught by demons. We need discernment. We need wisdom. We need the Word of God.

Some of these people try to teach prophecy. “So here’s what you do,” they say. “Just get in touch with the person inside. Remember, the Spirit lives inside you. So whatever comes into your mind, just say it. That’s a word from the Lord.” No, that’s a seducing spirit, and that’s a doctrine from hell. Someone’s going to teach people how to prophesy? How could they do that when prophecy is a gift from the Holy Spirit?

Can you imagine Jesus or Paul in a carnival? You come in, and Paul, Peter, James, and John are there with little booths where you can get a prophetic word. Never.

Usually false teaching is about money. I’ve heard of churches that will give you a word from God—if you pay. But Jesus said, “Freely you have received; freely give” (Matthew 10:8, NIV). That’s in the Bible.

False teaching is about a desire for a big lifestyle, that spirit of “Follow us, and then you’ll really know. We’re the center of power, the center of wisdom, the denomination.”

Would Paul do these things? Would Jesus? Did they ever do them. Just ask those questions.

Now I believe that all the gifts of the Holy Spirit are for today. I’m not a cessationist. But there’s the real, and there’s the counterfeit. Let’s ask God for the real.

Please, brothers and sisters, I love you. Let’s run from these things and run to Jesus. Let’s stay simple and childlike, being as wise as serpents and harmless as doves (see Matthew 10:16). Let’s fill ourselves with the Word of God, and may God give us the Spirit of discernment as we try the spirits.

Prayer

Lord, grant us the wisdom and spiritual discernment to recognize truth, anchor our hearts firmly in Your Word, and turn away from false teachings. Guard our hearts with a simple, childlike faith so that we may walk wisely, test every spirit, and always run straight to Jesus.

If this encouraged you, you can receive Pastor Cymbala’s weekly blog post by email here.

For More Encouragement