With so many voices all claiming to declare the truth of the Christian faith, how does a hungry follower of Christ know true teaching from error? Knowing also that error has its own anointing to lead people away to destruction, this is an ever-important question to answer. Thanks be to our God who will not leave us in darkness.

So Jesus responded, “I don’t teach my own ideas, but the truth revealed to me by the One who sent me. If you want to test my teachings and discover where I received them, first be passionate to do God’s will, and then you will be able to discern if my teachings are from the heart of God or from my own opinions. Charlatans praise themselves and seek honor from men, but my Father sent me to speak truth on his behalf. And I have no false motive, because I seek only the glory of God. John 7:16-18 (TPT)

We note as follows:

1. Every spoken word that glorifies the speaker is not of God.
2. Doing the will of God as expressed in the written word (or given by the Holy Spirit) enables our discernment of teachings whether it is of man or of God, for every teaching that elevates or glorifies man is an exercise in unrighteousness;
   • For if a man think himself to be something, when he is nothing, he deceiveth himself. Galatians 6:3
   • For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith. Romans 12:3
   • And if any man thinks that he knoweth anything, he knoweth nothing yet as he ought to know. But if any man loves God, the same is known of him. 1 Corinthians 8:2-3
   • Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think anything as of ourselves; but our sufficiency is of God. 2 Corinthians 3:5
   • As unknown, and yet well known; as dying, and, behold, we live; as chastened, and not killed. 2 Corinthians 6:9
3. The day we start thinking that we know, that is proof of pride. We actually do not know! Only God fully knows, and we must defer to Him. Speaking of ourselves robs us of being known of God.
4. Does the life of the teacher or speaker reflect reciprocal consecration spoken to in John 17:19 and 2 Corinthians 4:8-11?
   • And now I dedicate myself to them as a holy sacrifice so that they will live as fully dedicated to God and be made holy by your truth. John 17:19 (TPT)
   • Though we experience every kind of pressure, we’re not crushed! At times we don’t know what to do, but quitting is not an option. We are persecuted by others, but God has not forsaken us. We may be knocked down, but not out. We continually share in the death of Jesus in our own bodies so that the resurrection life of Jesus will be revealed through our humanity. We consider living to mean that we are constantly being handed over to death for Jesus’ sake so that the life of Jesus will be revealed through our humanity. 2 Corinthians 4:8-11 (TPT)

If these characteristics are not present and neither are clear from the teaching and life of your teacher or leader, run for your life. Why will you perish having come this far? Selah.

Pastor Afolabi Oladele