Sermon Tone Analysis

Bible Reading

NOTE: The tests outlined in this sermon are found in the book “Strange Fire” by John MacArthur (2013, Thomas Nelson)

Introduction

Last week we considered that we are to "test the spirits"

As believers, there are these repeated warnings in Scripture exhorting us to test what is being taught, to test what is taking place within the church, in order to discern if this is truly from God.

The reason that we are to test the spirits is that there are so many false prophets, and false teachers that would go out into the world (1 John 4:1)

This is the teaching of Jesus Christ; this is the teaching of the apostles; and so this is the reality that we must face....:

False teachers will be in the world, masquerading as angels of light, and deceiving many people into believing their lies.

As we began considering this idea of testing the spirits last week, we considered one particular key test that we are to engage in as we test the spirits.

The test that we considered last week was this: Does it Exalt Christ...

1.

Does it point people to Christ?

2. Does it exalt the true Christ?

This morning, I want us to consider four further tests that we can consider when we are looking at whether or not a teacher is to be believed or not, or whether or not a church is conducting themselves in a manner pleasing to God.

These are general tests that are taken from the Scriptures themselves which can help us to discern whether or not a particular teacher / church / movement, is legitimate in God's eyes.

Test 2: Does it Oppose Worldliness

One of the great overarching themes of God's word is that His people should be holy

That holiness is specifically set out in Scripture as being set apart from the world.

If you look back at the Old Testament, and God’s laws to the nation of Israel, one of the great motivations behind God’s giving of the laws that He gave was that Israel would be a nation separated from all other nations.

They were not to look like the nations around them.

They were to be different.

So in the New Testament, believers are called to look radically different from the world around them.

Any preacher deeply concerned about God's holiness will urge people to flee from sin.

Any church that is committed to glorifying God will urge the members of that church to flee from worldliness.

Not only that, but these teachers will themselves be careful to not pursue worldliness and things of this world.

These verses in 1 John 4:4-5 speak about those leaders / teachers who are identifiable with the world.

They do not disassociate themselves from the world.

They do not distinguish themselves from the world.

They look like the world in terms of their pursuits.

The apostle John saw a problem in these false teachers of the day, and that problem was precisely that they loved the things of the world.

They used their platform in the church to chase after their own fleshly desires.

They pursued worldly things!

Here, then, is the test of a true teacher or a false teacher.

A teacher that is led by the spirit of God, or the spirit of Satan.

Anyone who claims to love Christ, but has their minds set on earthly desires is not living in accordance with the Spirit.

As believers, we are not to be living with such desires as our focus.

As we consider those who are pastors and teachers, we must ask the question: how eager are these teachers to urge and spur the believers on in holiness, and to oppose worldliness?

This verse in Romans 8 draws a very clear distinction between those who are in the flesh (unregenerate) and those who are in the Spirit (true Spirits of God).

Perhaps I could give you an example of such a worldly teacher.

Creflo Dollar is a Word of Faith teacher, heavy prosperity gospel preaching.

One of the things he’s said is: "The Word of God is the gateway to the world of wealth..."

Listen to some of his teaching in this...

As the righteousness of God, your inheritance of wealth and riches is included in the “spiritual blessings” (or spiritual things) the apostle Paul spoke of in Ephesians 1:5.

Based on Psalm 112:3, righteousness, wealth and riches go hand—in—hand.

You have every right to possess material wealth—clothes, jewelry, houses, cars and money—in abundance.

It is that wealth that not only meets your needs, but also spreads the Gospel message and meets the needs of others.

The Bible says that wealth is stored up for the righteous (Proverbs 13:22, New American Standard).

However, it will remain stored up until you claim it.

Therefore, claim it now!

You possess the ability to seize and command wealth and riches to come to you (Deuteronomy 8:18).

Exercise that power by speaking faith-filled words daily and taking practical steps to eradicate debt.

Like God, you can speak spiritual blessings into existence (Romans 4:17).

Remember, doubt keeps silent, but faith speaks!”

The way such prosperity is activated is by the planting of seeds, so that the person who wants financial prosperity must plant a seed of financial prosperity.

Needless to say, such seeds are usually through a donation to a ministry like Dollar’s.

You can say, “Oh, God, I need money!

The rent is due.

The baby needs shoes.

And what about my breakthrough?”

But if you haven’t sown financial seed, how can you expect a financial harvest?

If you wanted to grow apples, would you plant cucumber seeds or pumpkin seeds?

You would not!

So why do people expect to receive financial increase when they purposely plant anything and everything but what is needed?

They will plant hope seed, shout seed, dance seed, and even “claim it” seed!

All of these are good things, but alone and without the appropriate seed, they are unproductive.

Part of that so-called teaching by Creflo Dollar is the idea that you can speak things into existence.

This is a teaching that is also known as “the Law of Attraction”.

Joel Osteen has written a book called “The Power of I AM”.

Essentially, he teaches here that whatever follows the “I AM” will come to you.

Test 3: Does it Point People to the Scriptures

Theologian Jonathan Edwards: “That spirit that operates in such a manner, as to cause in men a greater regard to the Holy Scriptures, and establishes them more in their truth and divinity, is certainly the Spirit of God.”

The us in that passage was the apostles with the teaching concerning Christ.

We must recognise the direct link between the Spirit of God and the Scriptures.

Last week we looked at some verses from John's Gospel which spoke of the Spirit coming in order to testify concerning Christ.

We also looked at the fact that the Spirit points to the Scriptures.

No prophecy of Scripture came about the prophet’s own interpretation.

The Scriptures, then, are the work of the Spirit moving in God's chosen people.

The Scriptures are that which are directly inspired by God, and should never be minimized!!

They should never be undermined!!

They should never be critiqued, or down-scaled in importance!!

They should never be altered to suit our own whims and desires.

The Apostle Peter, in his second letter, writes to believers partly in order to exhort them to be careful of false teachers who distort the Scriptures.

Peter then goes on to explain about mockers that would come, contradicting the words of God through the prophets and apostles.

(in this case particularly they would speak against the coming of the Lord…)

Notice there that these false teachers are those who distort the teachings of the Apostle Paul.

Note also here that Peter puts Paul's writings as Scripture ("...as they do the other Scriptures")

Lifting up the Scriptures, and pointing believers to the Scripture is that which is truly a work of the Spirit.

Just to drive this home even further...

Notice if you compare Ephesians 5:18-19 and Colossians 3:16...

We need to recognise that these are parallel passages - teaching essentially the same truths.

Again, we can consider Joel Osteen in this example.

He uses very limited Scripture when he preaches.

When he does use Scripture, it’s so twisted and contorted, that one can barely recognise it as Scripture.

As I was preparing for this message, I listened to one of his most recent sermons - it was again about the miracles in your mouth.

You have to speak things into being.

You have the power of creation in your mouth.

In such teachers, there is an absolute watering down of the word of God.

Test 4: Does it Elevate the Truth

Closely linked to the previous test, the fourth test...

This point of elevating the truth is very much tied in with pointing to Scripture.

Scripture ultimately is the truth of God spoken to us.