Developing a Testing Mindset Against Deception
Summary
### Summary
Today, we delved into the importance of developing a "testing mindset" as Christians. We began by acknowledging the reality that the devil is a deceiver, constantly seeking to lead us astray. Even Christians who are not in close fellowship with God can be deceived if they do not test what they hear and learn against the Bible. Psalm 119:128 and other scriptures remind us to esteem God's precepts and hate every false way. We must be vigilant, especially in a world filled with false teachings and philosophies that often sound appealing but are contrary to God's Word.
We discussed the necessity of testing everything by the Bible, whether it’s something we hear in church, see on social media, or read in a book. Just because something resonates with us doesn't make it right; it must align with God's Word. We explored the concept of having two spirits within us—the spirit of man and the Spirit of God—and how the latter should guide us in discerning truth from falsehood.
The sermon also touched on the dangers of false prophets and teachers, who often appear genuine but lead many astray with their deceptive teachings. Jesus warned us about these false prophets, and we must be discerning, testing their teachings by the Bible. We examined various false Christs and false teachings prevalent today, emphasizing that true knowledge and freedom come from continuing in Christ's Word.
Finally, we were reminded of the importance of daily scripture study and the need to prove all things by God's Word. This testing mindset is not popular in modern Christianity, but it is noble and essential for spiritual growth and protection against deception.
### Key Takeaways
1. The Devil's Deception: The devil is a master deceiver, and even Christians can be led astray if they are not in close fellowship with God and familiar with His Word. We must judge all things by God's Word to avoid deception. [07:43]
2. Testing Everything by the Bible: A Christian must develop a mindset of testing everything by the Bible. This includes teachings, philosophies, and even personal feelings. Just because something resonates with us doesn't make it right; it must align with God's Word. [10:17]
3. False Prophets and Teachers: Jesus warned us about false prophets who appear genuine but lead many astray. We must be discerning and test their teachings by the Bible. False prophets can be identified by their fruits, which often include false doctrines. [16:37]
4. Daily Scripture Study: To effectively test everything by God's Word, we must be diligent in studying, memorizing, and meditating on the Bible daily. This equips us to discern truth from falsehood and hold fast to what is good. [36:50]
5. The Importance of a Testing Mindset: In a world filled with deception, having a testing mindset is crucial. This involves scrutinizing everything against God's Word, including our thoughts, emotions, and doctrines. This mindset protects us from being easily swayed by false teachings. [41:03]
### YouTube Chapters
[0:00] - Welcome
[04:46] - Prayer Requests and Announcements
[05:15] - Introduction to a Testing Mindset
[07:08] - The Devil's Deception
[08:15] - Esteeming God's Precepts
[10:17] - Testing Everything by the Bible
[13:12] - The Cost of Testing
[16:37] - Beware of False Prophets
[20:32] - False Teachers and Their Fruits
[24:43] - Anger and Biblical Context
[29:04] - Jesus' Warnings About False Prophets
[32:02] - Knowing the Truth Through God's Word
[36:26] - The Noble Bereans
[39:19] - Bringing Every Thought into Captivity
[41:03] - Conclusion and Final Thoughts
[41:48] - Closing Prayer
Study Guide
### Bible Reading
1. Psalm 119:128 - "Therefore I esteem all thy precepts concerning all things to be right; and I hate every false way."
2. Acts 17:11 - "These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so."
3. 1 Thessalonians 5:21 - "Prove all things; hold fast that which is good."
### Observation Questions
1. According to Psalm 119:128, what should our attitude be towards God's precepts and false ways?
2. How did the Bereans in Acts 17:11 approach the teachings they received, and what made them noble?
3. What does 1 Thessalonians 5:21 instruct Christians to do with all things they encounter?
### Interpretation Questions
1. Why is it important to "hate every false way" as mentioned in Psalm 119:128? How does this align with the sermon’s emphasis on testing everything by the Bible? [08:15]
2. In what ways can the Bereans' practice of daily scripture study (Acts 17:11) serve as a model for modern Christians? How does this practice help in developing a testing mindset? [36:50]
3. What are some practical steps Christians can take to "prove all things" as instructed in 1 Thessalonians 5:21? How does this help in discerning truth from falsehood? [37:28]
### Application Questions
1. Reflect on a time when you encountered a teaching or philosophy that resonated with you. Did you test it against the Bible? How can you ensure that you do this consistently in the future? [10:17]
2. The sermon mentioned the prevalence of false prophets and teachers. How can you be more discerning about the teachings you encounter, both in church and on social media? [16:37]
3. Daily scripture study was emphasized as crucial for developing a testing mindset. What specific steps can you take to make daily Bible reading and study a consistent part of your routine? [36:50]
4. The sermon highlighted the importance of scrutinizing our thoughts and emotions against God's Word. Can you identify a recent thought or emotion that you need to test against the Bible? How will you do this? [41:03]
5. How can you encourage others in your small group or church community to develop a testing mindset? What are some practical ways to support each other in this practice? [13:12]
6. Think about a popular philosophy or teaching you’ve encountered recently. How does it measure up when tested against the Bible? What steps will you take to address any discrepancies? [08:50]
7. The sermon mentioned the danger of being swayed by appealing but false teachings. How can you guard yourself against this in your daily life? What role does fellowship with other believers play in this? [07:43]
Devotional
Day 1: The Devil's Deception
The devil is a master deceiver, constantly seeking to lead Christians astray. Even those who are not in close fellowship with God can be deceived if they do not test what they hear and learn against the Bible. Psalm 119:128 and other scriptures remind us to esteem God's precepts and hate every false way. We must be vigilant, especially in a world filled with false teachings and philosophies that often sound appealing but are contrary to God's Word. To avoid deception, we must judge all things by God's Word and remain in close fellowship with Him. [07:43]
Ephesians 6:11-12 (ESV): "Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places."
Reflection: Think of a recent situation where you felt confused or misled. How can you use God's Word to discern the truth in similar situations in the future?
Day 2: Testing Everything by the Bible
A Christian must develop a mindset of testing everything by the Bible. This includes teachings, philosophies, and even personal feelings. Just because something resonates with us doesn't make it right; it must align with God's Word. We explored the concept of having two spirits within us—the spirit of man and the Spirit of God—and how the latter should guide us in discerning truth from falsehood. This testing mindset is essential for spiritual growth and protection against deception. [10:17]
1 Thessalonians 5:21-22 (ESV): "But test everything; hold fast what is good. Abstain from every form of evil."
Reflection: Think about a belief or philosophy you have encountered recently. How can you test it against the Bible to determine its truthfulness?
Day 3: False Prophets and Teachers
Jesus warned us about false prophets who appear genuine but lead many astray. We must be discerning and test their teachings by the Bible. False prophets can be identified by their fruits, which often include false doctrines. In a world filled with deception, having a testing mindset is crucial. This involves scrutinizing everything against God's Word, including our thoughts, emotions, and doctrines. This mindset protects us from being easily swayed by false teachings. [16:37]
2 Peter 2:1-2 (ESV): "But false prophets also arose among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you, who will secretly bring in destructive heresies, even denying the Master who bought them, bringing upon themselves swift destruction. And many will follow their sensuality, and because of them the way of truth will be blasphemed."
Reflection: Reflect on a teaching or doctrine you have heard recently. How can you examine its fruits to determine if it aligns with God's Word?
Day 4: Daily Scripture Study
To effectively test everything by God's Word, we must be diligent in studying, memorizing, and meditating on the Bible daily. This equips us to discern truth from falsehood and hold fast to what is good. The noble Bereans were commended for their diligence in searching the scriptures daily to verify the teachings they received. We should follow their example and make daily scripture study a priority in our lives. [36:50]
Acts 17:11 (ESV): "Now these Jews were more noble than those in Thessalonica; they received the word with all eagerness, examining the Scriptures daily to see if these things were so."
Reflection: How can you incorporate daily scripture study into your routine? What specific steps will you take to make this a consistent habit?
Day 5: The Importance of a Testing Mindset
In a world filled with deception, having a testing mindset is crucial. This involves scrutinizing everything against God's Word, including our thoughts, emotions, and doctrines. This mindset protects us from being easily swayed by false teachings. We must bring every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ and ensure that our beliefs and actions align with His Word. This testing mindset is not popular in modern Christianity, but it is noble and essential for spiritual growth and protection against deception. [41:03]
2 Corinthians 10:5 (ESV): "We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ."
Reflection: What is one area of your life where you need to develop a testing mindset? How can you begin to scrutinize your thoughts and beliefs against God's Word in this area?
Quotes
### Quotes for Outreach
1. "The devil is a liar devil is a deceiver The devil walks about seeking whom he may devour you're not aware Then I want to make you aware this morning That even Christians Who are not in fellowship with the Lord And are not familiar with God's word Can also be deceived God wants us to judge All things With God's word Prove the things That we hear Through God's word" [07:08] (35 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
2. "We love God's word And we consider his precepts right and good And we hate false ways There are a lot of false ways out there If you're on Facebook If you're on Instagram YouTube You're going to find a lot of false ways In fact You will find a lot of Christians Sharing Promoting Liking Pragmatic and philosophical things That if you compare them to God's word They are incorrect" [08:15] (37 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
3. "One thing a Christian must develop If he wants To have spiritual victory Is a testing mindset We must learn to test everything By the Bible We have to test it by the Bible If I'm teaching it Test it by the Bible If you see it on YouTube Test it by the Bible If somebody shares something Oh that's pithy Oh that's really Yeah that resonates with me Well just because it resonates with you Doesn't make it right" [10:17] (31 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
4. "We aren't seeking after this world We're seeking after another We are not seeking after the gods of this world We're seeking after the God of heaven The God who formed this world Who created this world And sometimes If you remember what 1 Corinthians 1, 2, 3 on talk about Is that the wisdom of this world Is not the wisdom of God So some things might make sense They might be true in the carnal sense But they're still not something That we want to follow after" [14:17] (30 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
5. "The only way to know the truth And to be set free from sin and error Is to continue in Christ's word If you read Psalm 119 The balance of it If you read all throughout The gospels The epistles We know that we're supposed to go back to God's word Back to God's word We need to know about God's word How much do we know about God's word" [32:02] (22 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
### Quotes for Members
1. "A testing mindset is despised today Especially among professing Christians Even the evangelicals Are They don't like this testing mindset You know why Because we live in a lazy society And to test costs time If you test your mentalities It's going to cost you something And we live in a dumb down I know I'm not a dumb society We live in a dumb down Lazy spiritually Mentally and emotionally society" [13:12] (31 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
2. "False teachers are known By their fruit Oh can I Make a statement Anger We've asked this question right Is there anywhere in the Bible That it's okay to say It's okay for a human being To be angry And the answer is no There's not I did have a preacher Give me a passage of scripture The other day That I do want to investigate A little bit But the answer for the most part No" [20:32] (20 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
3. "We have today A group of people around the country That are saying Many of them come out Of the Independent Baptist Church But they're called themselves Deconstructionists Basically they're saying Everything that I believe I'm going to deconstruct it To its very base form And I'm going to cast it out And that's actually not a bad thought That I make sure That from the beginning to the end Everything I believe Is vetted by God's word" [38:12] (25 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
4. "God wants a believer To bring every thought Into captivity To the truth A far reaching command Everything to captivity Angry thought comes in Captured False doctrine comes in Hold on Let me encapsulate that Let me be sure Of what's going on here And everything comes in our minds We do this by filling Our minds of God's word And letting it measure thoughts That enter into our hearts" [39:19] (25 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
5. "We should test God's word No We should test Scratch that We should test things Against God's word We should test thoughts Against God's word Doctrines Against God's words Our emotions Against God's words You can't be emotionless you don't have to let Your emotions control you Our emotions don't have to Make our decisions When our emotions Make our decisions We're in trouble Right" [41:03] (33 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
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