Video Bible Lesson - The Dangers of False Teaching by Dr. Charles Stanley

1/2 Hour of God’s Power with Scott Ralls

6/17/2020

The Dangers of False Teaching

Dr. Charles Stanley

Galatians 1:6-9
The Word of God is truth that's living and able to penetrate human souls (Heb. 4:12). Consider how powerful Scripture is: it can change hearts, save lives from eternal condemnation, and give hope to the hopeless.Is it any wonder, then, that the Bible is a battlefield of Satan? The Devil will do his best to destroy its message and truth. In fact, this has been our Enemy's continuous goal since he chose to turn from God.Our heavenly Father has graciously let us know in advance the outcome of this ongoing battle: Truth will prevail. But while the Lord has the ultimate victory, Satan can gain ground among individuals. His tactics are dally guard against his attacks, which are hard to recognize unless we are prepared.False teaching is one of Satan's preferred tactics for leading us astray. At first glance, such instruction often seems to align with Scripture, but do not be misled by the deception. Two things are essential for standing firm against these slippery falsehoods: to be well grounded in the truth   /?/ dangerous and deceptive to the unsuspecting. For this reason, we should careful of God's Word and to listen to His Spirit. Only then can we recognize the error and avoid the pitfalls of Satan's lies.The Enemy longs to mislead believers so they'll be ineffective for the kingdom. He also wants to keep all unsaved souls far from salvation through Jesus Christ. Friends, prepare for battle. Grow in the knowledge of truth, and lean on God's Spirit to guide you moment by moment.

#Jesus, #Christian, #Bible, #Salvation, #Heaven, #God, #HolySpirit

Let Down Your Wings

Streams in the Desert

Then there was a voice from above the platform over their heads when they stood still. (Ezek 1:25)

That is the letting down of the wings? People so often say, “How do you get the voice of the Lord?” Here is the secret. They heard the voice when they stood and let down their wings.

We have seen a bird with fluttering wings; though standing still, its wings are fluttering. But here we are told they heard the voice when they stood and had let down their wings.

Do we not sometimes kneel or sit before the Lord and yet feel conscious of a fluttering of our spirits? Not a real stillness in His presence.

A dear one told me several days ago of a certain thing she prayed about, “But,” said she, “I did not wait until the answer came.”

She did not get still enough to hear Him speak, but went away and followed her own thought in the matter. And the result proved disastrous and she had to retrace her steps.

Oh, how much energy is wasted! How much time is lost by not letting down the wings of our spirit and getting very quiet before Him! Oh, the calm, the rest, the peace which come as we wait In His presence until we hear from Him!

Then, ah then, we can go like lightning, and turn not as we go but go straight forward whithersoever the Spirit goes. (Ezek. 1:1, 20)

“Be still! Just now be still!
Something thy soul hath never heard,
Something unknown to any song of bird,
Something unknown to any wind, or wave, or star,
A message from the Fatherland afar,
That with sweet joy the homesick soul shall thrill,
Cometh to thee if thou canst but be still.

“Be still! Just now be still!
There comes a presence very mild and sweet;
White are the sandals of His noiseless feet.
It is the Comforter whom Jesus sent
To teach thee what the words He uttered meant.
The willing, waiting spirit, He doth fill.
If thou would’st hear His message,
Dear soul, be still!”

The Power of God's Grace.....Dr. Charles Stanley

The Power of God's Grace

Dr. Charles Stanley

Romans 5:1-5

Grace is one of God's most amazing gifts. It provides us with everything we need to live in perfect freedom: pardon for our sins, healing for our hearts, the companionship of God's indwelling Holy Spirit, and access to freely cultivate our relationship with Him. We work, worship, and enjoy life surrounded by His unconditional love. His grace upholds us, fills us, and sustains us.

Since we are forgiven people, the Lord responds to us not as enemies but as His dearly loved children (Rom. 8:15; Eph. 5:1). He hears our prayers, speaks to us, and acts on our behalf.

The knowledge that we live under the covering of God's grace gives us...

• Security about our position. No one can snatch us out of His hand (John 10:28).
• Boldness to live for Christ. Nothing anyone does or says can shake our confidence in who the Lord is or who we are in Him.
• Peace for today because we can fully trust in His sovereignty. The Lord is carrying out His perfect will--and we can be sure that nothing is able to thwart His plans when we cooperate with Him.
• Hope for the future. This life is just the beginning. One day we'll see Jesus face to face, be perfected as the individuals He created us to be, and live with Him in our true home forever.

The Lord is committed to transforming each of us according to His special plan for our lives. Even His correction is an expression of His loving favor (Heb. 12:10). When we falter or fail, we can rest assured that His amazing grace hems us in and always offers us redemption.

For Our Own Sake, We Tell the Truth

For Our Own Sake, We Tell the Truth
CARRIE LLOYD

“God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth.” John 4:24 (NKJV)

I must be honest; it’s taken me some time to embrace truth.

The truth of others toward me, the truth of myself when I would prefer to believe my own pretense. It’s safer there. At times, truth has felt so aggressive. Ungentle. Blunt and harsh in its reality. Truth didn’t feel Christian; it felt unkind.

Being British didn’t help — for my culture preferred to sweep truth under the Persian rug and fill the awkward silence with a cup of Earl Grey.

How often I wanted to “Proverbs 4:23” my heart, guarding it, sprinting away as if the truth wanted to hunt or hurt me. I created a façade that said my day was fine, that I wasn’t in pain, that I wasn’t scared — whatever I needed to say to belong to society, to God even, I said it.

I used chameleon methods that were lying to myself, leaving unresolved solutions to my unsatisfactory life.

Within the storms many of us have recently faced, I know I am not alone. All that is coming to the surface in this silence, or the chaos, feels antagonistic: the dreams yet to be fulfilled, the relationship that isn’t as paradisiacal as it might appear. Before quarantine, distractions could divert our eyes from truth. But how helpful were our normal aversions? In every moment we hid, we missed an opportunity to learn the beauty of God.

John 4 reminds me of the finest truth-teller that ever lived. Our Lord never avoided honest conversations. He reveled in them. Why else would He make space and wait upon the hottest hour of the day for a woman who was already outcast by society? He seeks the honest ones.

Within this dialogue, I discovered a golden nugget that would help me embrace the power of truth forever.

Even if it stung.

I always wondered why, when it came to the Samaritan woman, did Jesus ask her to fetch her husband? Especially when He already knew she’d had five husbands, and the one she lived with was not her husband?

Jesus wasn’t trying to shame her, nor put her in her place. He’s not a rebel of his own teachings; He’s a master of them.

Instead, He wanted to see if she was owning her own truth, her own choices. He wanted to see if she was the kind of soil He could sow into. Hungry enough for wisdom, versus protecting her own ego. She didn’t tell Him what she thought He’d want to hear. She didn’t defend. She simply replied, “I have no husband” (John 4:17b, NKJV).

“In that you spoke truly,” He replied (John 4:18, NKJV). For true worship, according to our Lord, was coming: “God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth” (John 4:24).

Can we ever worship Him if we’re not walking in truth? We’re missing an opportunity to discover the wonder of His freedom and missing out on life itself.

In the great strength of His undying, never-going-to-leave-you love, we have no excuse to run, but every reason to hold onto His hope for us.

For it was there I truly began to grow, where the Persian rug was picked up and shaken outside. I found true stillness in the freedom of His truth. I got honest about my fears of abandonment. Honest about my legalism. I stopped numbing myself to conviction and celebrated the fact that He could trust me with His truth. I finally built trust with myself and my friends. The cost of denial outweighed the power of His voice living authentically through me.

Today, I’d rather face the sting of my truth than the dull ache of denial, for the distance between God and me was too brutal to bear.

It was in this divine appointment between the Samaritan Woman that I learned truth isn’t repulsive; it’s revelatory.

The most freeing worship we could ever know.

Dear Jesus, remind me of the beauty of truth, a worship that sings lullabies in Your ears. That in my own shortcomings You strengthen me. Help me be compassionate to those who hand me truth, and help me speak truth through grace. Help me reject shame so I can hear clearly Your wisdom in every daily struggle. You are the great comforter who believes in me more than I do. Thank You for always leading me toward the light, even when I want to hide in the dark. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

TRUTH FOR TODAY:
John 8:32, “And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.” (NKJV)

Psalm 26:3, “For Your loving kindness is before my eyes, And I have walked in Your truth.” (NKJV)

A Tale of Two Prodigals

A Tale of Two Prodigals
by Steve Arterburn

“‘My son,’ the father said, ‘you are always with me, and everything I have is yours.But we had to celebrate and be glad, because this brother of yours was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’”—Luke 15:31-32

In The Return of the Prodigal Son, one of Rembrandt’s most emotionally-charged paintings, you see a father and his two sons. But if you look more closely, you’ll see a tale of two prodigals./p>

At first glance of the oil painting, you will see the rebellious son who takes center stage. Remember him? He is the wayward son that demands an early inheritance, leaves home to see all that the world has to offer, and comes to his senses in a smelly pigsty. In spite of his sin, he returns home.

When the younger son sees his father, he humbly admits, “‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son,’” (Luke 15:21). The father recognizes that he is truly repentant, forgives him, and celebrates his homecoming.

But if you gaze carefully at Rembrandt’s masterpiece, you will see the older son who lurks in the shadows. He is the son that does everything right and always obeys—at least, on the outside. But deep down inside, bitterness and anger consume him.

Listen to what the brooding brother says: “‘Look! All these years I’ve been slaving for you and never disobeyed your orders…But when this son of yours who has squandered your property with prostitutes comes home, you kill the fattened calf for him!’” (Luke 15:29-30).

Out of these two prodigals, which one do you identify with the most? Perhaps you’re like the wayward son who acted out; yet, believe it or not, you might actually relate more to the envious son who acted in.

And let’s face it. Whether we’re rebelling outwardly or inwardly, we are all prodigals.

Intersecting Faith & Life: It’s not too late to stop reacting and start responding appropriately to the circumstances that you are facing. No matter what you’ve been through or what you’ve done, God wants you to take your life back so that you can live with Him and for Him.

So, what are you waiting for? Go home to your Father. After all, He is waiting to welcome you home with open arms.

Dear Heavenly Father, I’m a prodigal and have wandered far from home. Today, I realize that I need to take responsibility for allowing my past and my pain to control me. Give me courage to step out of the shadows, and help me to lean into your grace-filled embrace.

For Further Study:
Luke 15

Jesus Is Praying for You

Jesus Is Praying for You
by Lynette Kittle

Who then is the one who condemns? No one. Christ Jesus who died - more than that, who was raised to life - is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us.” — Romans 8:34

Growing up it was comforting to know my grandparents and parents were praying for me. Many times their prayers were taken for granted but as they have passed away, I’ve become more aware of just how much their prayers meant to me.

Knowing they were daily interceding for me provided me with a strength, security, confidence, and support that God was leading in my life.

Just like their prayers encouraged me through life, I’ve realized there is another who is always praying for me, a risen Savior who is daily interceding on my behalf.

Hebrews 7:23-25 states, “Now there have been many of those priests, since death prevented them from continuing in office; but because Jesus lives forever, He has a permanent priesthood. Therefore He is able to save completely those who come to God through Him, because he always lives to intercede for them.”

If like me, you’ve experienced the loss of loved ones who you knew were interceding for you on a daily basis, or if you’ve felt alone at times thinking no one cares or is praying for you, realize that Jesus is at the right hand of God praying for you.

As 1Timothy 2:5 explains, “For there is one God and one mediator between God and mankind, the man Christ Jesus.”

His ascension to Heaven did not stop His ministry to you. Along with paying the price for your sin, He is alive and serving as your advocate before the Father.

And why might you need an advocate? Because as 1 Peter 5:8 describes, you have an adversary, the devil, who is seeking to devour you.

Still you can rest knowing Jesus is pleading your case before the Father. 1 John 2:1 states, “My dear children, I write this to you so that you will not sin. But if anybody does sin, we have an advocate with the Father—Jesus Christ, the Righteous One.”

Furthermore, Hebrews 9:24 describes how, “Christ did not enter a sanctuary made with human hands that was only a copy of the true one; He entered Heaven itself, now to appear for us in God’s presence.”

Jesus has not taken His priestly duties lightly, but rather has carried His love, concern, and ministry to you to the very throne room of God.

A Prayer for a New Home

A Prayer for a New Home
by Bethany Pyle

“For we know that if the earthly tent we live in is destroyed, we have a building from God, an eternal house in heaven, not built by human hands.” - 2 Corinthians 5:1

In the midst of organizing everything for a move to a new city, I did what most people my age do in stressful situations: I called my mom. She listened to my worries and reminded me of the time she, my dad and their new baby (not me) hopped a plane to South Korea. They’d been ordered there for the next three years, and my mother was furious.

The language was unfamiliar, the food was beyond strange, and all of her friends and family were on the other side of the world, literally. It made my own move within the state seem so insignificant.

But whether God is leading you to the next town or across the world, moving is stressful. Everything is new and unfamiliar and uncomfortable. It’s hard to feel “at home” in this new environment, at least for a while. Scrambling for something familiar, perhaps you rush to have the house set up as soon as possible, or spend all your time on the phone or online with old friends. We are creatures of comfort, and we long for something familiar and homey.

But in the midst of so much change, one thing in our lives never will change: our salvation in Christ. He is the same today, tomorrow and forever, no matter where you find yourself calling home. You may have left a favorite restaurant, friends or belongings behind, but God will follow you no matter where you go, and He has an incredible plan for this new home of yours.

In Genesis 12, God calls Abram to leave the land he had lived in his whole life – over 70 years – and he does it without a second thought! Along the way he stops periodically to build altars to God and praise Him for providing. Because of his faithfulness, God promises to make Abram’s descendants more numerous than the stars.

He wants to be the center of your new home too. Commit to taking some time out of the craziness to spend time with Him, and He will guide you through this new season. Whatever brought you to your new home, and however you feel about it, God has it all planned out. Take a deep breath, and trust.

He blessed Abram in a strange land. He guided my mother through Korea as she eventually fell in love with the people and culture. He will help you settle in wherever you find yourself.

Dear God,

I thank you for bringing me and my family safely to this new home, and for all the new opportunities that it brings. I pray for peace in this time of transition, when everything feels new and unfamiliar. Lord, I trust that you will lead me into community that will help me to grow, and that you will use me to shine your light to my new neighbors and coworkers. Help me to remember to set aside time to spend with you, even when it feels like the tasks are piling up. God I pray that you would bless this home and bring joy to these rooms. Help us to be welcoming and hospitable to all who enter, showing them your love in all seasons. Thank you that you are always in control and that you never change, even when everything in my life feels unfamiliar. Help me to draw nearer to you in this new chapter of life.