False Leaders (long article, but worth the read)

OUR RESPONSE - DISCERN, WARN, AND AVOID

DISCERN FALSE TEACHERS

1 John 4:1-6 "Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world. Hereby know ye the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God: And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that spirit of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world. Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world. They are of the world: therefore speak they of the world, and the world heareth them. We are of God: he that knoweth God heareth us; he that is not of God heareth not us. Hereby know we the spirit of truth, and the spirit of error."

Try is dokimazo in Greek, meaning to test, to examine, to prove, to scrutinize (to see whether a thing is genuine or not), to approve, or to deem worthy.

Jesus is fully God and He became fully human. There was a sect at this time which did not believe Jesus was a physical man, because they attributed sin to everything physical. We still have such cults with us. John told us not to readily believe everyone, but to examine the character and the doctrine. John clearly labeled those with this false teaching as "that of the spirit of antichrist".

Hebrews 5:12-14 "For when for the time ye ought to be teachers, ye have need that one teach you again which be the first principles of the oracles of God; and are become such as have need of milk, and not of strong meat. For every one that useth milk is unskilful in the word of righteousness: for he is a babe. But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil."

Senses is aistheterion in Greek, meaning an organ of perception.

Discern is diakrisis in Greek, meaning distinguishing, discerning, or judging.

It's time for older Christians to grow up and pray and study for themselves to find out what they believe. The Holy Spirit longs to lead us into all truth, but we have to avail ourselves and practice perceiving good and evil. Teachers should instruct new converts in foundational truths (see Hebrews 6:1-2), and help them to develop personal prayer and Bible study habits, and train them in using available Bible study aides (concordances, lexicons, atlases, dictionaries, commentaries, etc.). Instead of telling people what to believe, teachers should instruct believers in how to strengthen the faith they already possess. But even if there are no such teachers available, we are commanded to build our faith.

Jude 1:20-23 "But ye, beloved, building up yourselves on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Ghost, keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life. And of some have compassion, making a difference: and others save with fear, pulling them out of the fire; hating even the garment spotted by the flesh."

Making a difference is diakrino in Greek; meaning separate thoroughly, withdraw, oppose, discriminate, hesitate, contend, make to differ, discern, doubt, judge, be partial, stagger or waver.

Jude tells us how to prepare ourselves to deal with false teachers and prophets: pray in tongues, which builds up your faith (1 Cor. 14:4); abide in God's love (See John 15); and look towards God's mercy (See James 2:12-13). Then with mercy we can discern those false teachers who might yet repent if we admonish them; but if they refuse, we must excommunicate them.