False Teachers Bring False Messages
Near the end of Paul’s third missionary journey, he “determined to sail by Ephesus, because he would not spend time in Asia: for he hasted, if it were possible for him, to be at Jerusalem the day of Pentecost” (Acts 20:16). Nonetheless, he desired to meet with the Ephesian elders to encourage them and bolster their faith. So, when he arrived in Miletus, “he sent to Ephesus, and called the elders of the church” to come unto him (Acts 20:17).
Paul’s last thoughts to these beloved church leaders amounted to a warning in the context of his ministry unto them and their ministry to those under their charge. He reminded them “I have not shunned to declare unto you all the counsel of God. Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood” (Acts 20:27-28). Paul had been faithful in ministering the word of God unto them and now it was their God-given calling and responsibility to minister this same word unto their own flocks.
The word of God is the only safety net for the child of God. Paul warned “that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock. Also, of your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw disciples after them. Therefore watch, and remember, that…I ceased not to warn every one night and day with tears” (Acts 20:29-31). False teachers (“grievous wolves”) would come with “perverse” messages not according to the word of God nor the gospel of Christ.
These false messengers speak words that appeal to itching ears, but bring damnation because there is no truth in them. There is no warning against sin and judgement, no appeal for repentance and faith in Christ. The power of God is absent from their preaching because the word of God is missing from their text. Is that not the case with the modern church in America? How many who call themselves pastors actually preach the word of God week after week from their pulpits? These men would do well to heed Paul’s counsel to the Ephesian elders. “I commend you to God, and to the word of his grace which is able to build you up, and to give you an inheritance among all them which are sanctified” (Acts 20:32).
Peter warned his audience that the key to discerning and denying falsehood is to grow spiritually. Listen to his admonition, “beware lest ye also, being led away with the error of the wicked, fall from your own steadfastness. But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ” (2 Peter 3:17-18).
We grow in grace by responding in faith to the ministry of God’s word to our own hearts. Paul charged Timothy “preach the word…reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine. For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; and they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables” (2 Timothy 4:1-4). What is the message from the pulpit in your church? Is It the word of God, which saves, builds, exposes, and warns? To whom are you listening?
Randy Livingston serves as a chaplain for a local police department. He writes devotionals for his ministry which also appear at his blog, From the Chaplain. We republish this post by permission.