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There is an urgent need to hone our skills for discerning truth from deception, being there seems to be no shortage of false information out there these days. When you look into any given subject in the Bible and look at all the verses pertaining to that subject throughout the old and new testaments, you can really get an idea of the heart of God on a given subject and drill down to clear answers. Then, false information becomes obvious. In addition, I’ve discovered that these clear answers often times vary from what is seen as normal or encouraged in everyday life in the world and oftentimes even what is said in churches and even by Bible scholars. I don’t claim to be a Bible scholar by any means and I don’t intend to push my interpretation of the Bible on anyone. I’m just here to point to Bible verses and encourage you to read them yourself and see clear as day what God is saying to us, no interpretation needed.

My goal is to encourage you to read and interpret the Bible for yourself instead of just listening to what others, even sources you currently deem trustworthy, say about the Bible. Oftentimes you’ll find that when you read God’s word and take in the verses yourself in full context, there’s really no interpretation needed because it’s just clear as day. When you start digging into the Bible, you will be astonished how glaring and abundant the world’s subtle misconceptions, deceptions, and mistruths really are when compared to the word of God. For example, many times, a single verse is cited to make a point, but is taken out of context and means something totally different when the verses before and after are considered. You have to do your own reading and research in the Bible to see the truth for yourself so that you develop adequate seeing eyes and hearing ears to discern truth from untruth in your everyday life.

The Bible has a lot to say about detecting deception. The deception we are talking about is often very close to the truth and very subtle, as the deceiver is skilled at pulling people away from the truth, one little subtle difference at a time, building over time. The deceiver also uses feelings such as guilt to trick people into believing subtle, and not so subtle lies.

Here is an outline of some important guidance from the bible:

• Be transformed by the renewing of your mind so you can discern God’s will
  
  
  Romans 12:2 (NKJV) – 2 And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.
  
  If you can discern the good, acceptable, and perfect will of God, then you’ll certainly be able to detect false information.
  

• Always question everything you hear and read. Don’t just automatically believe what you hear or read without questioning it, even from what you feel are “trusted” sources.1
  

  Thessalonians 5:21-22 – 21 Prove all things; hold fast that which is good. 22 Abstain from all appearance of evil.

  
  

  Questioning everything is the most integral part of learning to discern untruths and deception. Don’t assume that pastors, church leaders, or political leaders always have good intentions. It’s easy to get into a groove where we are comfortable trusting leaders thinking surely nobody would have such bad intentions, but that’s what they bank on and how they remain in their positions of power. Sometimes they have good intentions but just unintentionally lead people astray. Either way, questioning everything by putting it through the filter of the Bible is absolutely imperative for protecting yourself from deception. Staying away from even the appearance of evil will make it easier to test the knowledge and identify untruths because you won’t be desensitized to evil. It should stick out like a sore thumb.

  
  
• Use God’s word as the discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. If someone has bad intentions, God’s word will help you discern it.
  

  Hebrews 4:12 (NKJV) – 12 For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.

  
  
• Does the person sharing information believe and confess that Jesus Christ came in the flesh?
  
  
  1 John 4:1-3 (NKJV) – 1. Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits, whether they are of God; because many false prophets have gone out into the world. 2 By this you know the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is of God, 3 and every spirit that does not confess [a]that Jesus [b]Christ has come in the flesh is not of God. And this is the spirit of the Antichrist, which you have heard was coming, and is now already in the world.
  
  

  We shouldn’t just automatically believe every person, We should test their spirit to see if they are of God. If they believe that Jesus came in the flesh and died for our sins, they have at least passed this one test.

  
  

  Example: A Course in Miracles is the “religion” behind the new world spiritualism going on, especially with celebrities and those who follow them.

  
  
• Do people of the world hear the person sharing information, or do people of God hear them?
  
  
  1 John 4:4-6 (NKJV) – 4 You are of God, little children, and have overcome them, because He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world. 5 They are of the world. Therefore they speak as of the world, and the world hears them. 6 We are of God. He who knows God hears us; he who is not of God does not hear us. By this we know the spirit of truth and the spirit of error.
  
  

  Take a look at the audience of the person in question. Are they of the world and doing worldly things, or are they of God and doing righteous things? When someone who is not of God speaks, the people of the world are the ones that hear them. If someone who is of God speaks, then only people of God can hear them. This is another way to discern if someone is of God, by observing their audience.

  
  

  When it comes to relationships with people around you…have you ever been talking to someone about something of God and noticed their heart seems completely closed to what you are saying and it’s as if they can hear you but they’re not listening at all? That is a clue. You could present all kinds of evidence, data, and cold hard facts, but they still won’t take it in. There’s nothing you can say or even show them to convince them. Only God can change this situation.

  
  

  Example: Oprah Winfrey speaks and the world hears her. She promotes spiritualism. She aligns herself with Marianne Williamson who believes in A Course in Miracles, a spiritual non-Christ believing and non biblical form of religion. Oprah has taken the concepts of this “religion” from the ‘70s and made it look sexy, new, and popular. It is a worldly trap and people of the world hear it. Believers see right through it. Look at Oprah’s audience – people of the world and not people of God. 

  
  
• Look at the person’s fruits…their actions – Do they bear good or evil fruit?
  
  
  Matthew 7:15-20 (KJV) – 15 Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves. 16 Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles? 17 Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit. 18 A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit. 19 Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire. 20 Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them.
  
  You can also detect false prophets and deceivers by their fruits. They can’t keep up the act of being a good person very long because they just can’t resist the temptation to take advantage. Nobody is perfect and everyone makes mistakes, but you can certainly discern evil fruit. Mistakes are one time and there is remorse and turning away from the bad thing they did, but evil fruit is ongoing and often calculated. They may try to hide their evil fruit actions, but with a little digging you can usually find it.
  
• Watch for those teaching words other than Jesus’ words and Godly doctrines, coming from a place of pride and corruption, motivated by gains instead of bringing glory to God.
  
  1 Timothy 6:3-5 NKJV – 3 If anyone teaches otherwise and does not consent to wholesome words, even the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to the doctrine which accords with godliness, 4 he is proud, knowing nothing, but is obsessed with disputes and arguments over words, from which come envy, strife, reviling, evil suspicions, 5 useless wranglings of men of corrupt minds and destitute of the truth, who suppose that godliness is a means of gain. From such withdraw yourself.
  
  

  It’s important to be familiar with the Bible so you can discern whether what one teaches matches up with Godly word and Jesus’ actual words or if they’re trying to pass off subtle differences. People who are trying to get by teaching things that are different from the Bible are usually doing it for some sort of personal gain and are usually motivated by one of three things: money, power, or pride. Often times they just want to feel like they are more Godly or are able to do things others are not able to do…like speaking tongues or healing. The ability to detect arrogance, or one thinking they are better than everyone else, is a key to sniffing that what they are teaching might not match up with the Bible. What is in the Bible is all about humbling ourselves and bringing glory to God, but those who are arrogant are motivated by bringing glory to themselves.

  
  

  An example might be a pastor who wants to be seen as a healer and decides it’s a good idea to speak tongues in the church and hold “healing” sessions. This could be feeding a personal desire to be glorified as a healer and more deep Christian than others. Speaking gibberish as a leader in the church is specifically addressed as a bad thing. See 1 Corinthians 14 discussing that all things shall be done for the edification of the church and you shouldn’t speak in an unknown language unless someone can interpret. Plus, new people think you’re out of your mind and run away. So, if you can sense someone seeking even just a little bit of glory instead of giving it all to God, you’ve got a head start at detecting something unbiblical being taught. This type of misinformation is usually manifested as Bible verses taken out of context. They’ll quote one verse and stand on it but the other verses before and after completely conflict with that they are saying.

  
  

  Example: Preachers often quote Acts 2:4 – And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance. They then stand on this verse as evidence that speaking gibberish is being filled with the spirit and is a sign of a deeper spiritual connection. Unfortunately, they are not considering the following verses that explain that the spiritual gift is that they can speak the languages of their ancestors without having learned it so they can go preach the gospel in those lands.

  
  

  Acts 2:5-11 – 5 And there were dwelling in Jerusalem Jews, devout men, from every nation under heaven. 6 And when this sound occurred, the multitude came together, and were confused, because everyone heard them speak in his own language. 7 Then they were all amazed and marveled, saying to one another, “Look, are not all these who speak Galileans? 8 And how is it that we hear, each in our own language in which we were born? 9 Parthians and Medes and Elamites, those dwelling in Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, 10 Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya adjoining Cyrene, visitors from Rome, both Jews and proselytes, 11 Cretans and Arabs—we hear them speaking in our own tongues the wonderful works of God.”

  
  
  Part 2 – Detecting False Teaching
  

Pray Constantly and listen to the Holy Spirit that is the still quiet voice inside you… A good connection with God through the vine that is Jesus Christ is everything.

1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 Rejoice evermore. 17 Pray without ceasing. 18 In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.

In addition to reading the Bible, communicating with God, the creator of our universe, will help you get to know Him and learn to discern his will even better. Plus, when you ask for peace and sharpened seeing eyes and hearing ears, those are things he seems to give freely every time we ask. In addition, we need God’s presence through the holy spirit when we’re seeking information in God’s word. Not because it’s hard to understand, but because God will make his word come alive and help you see what you need to see in that moment, which is something I truly hope everyone gets to experience over and over. The first few times, you might think it’s just a coincidence…but after it keeps happening over and over you begin to realize there are no coincidences. And with your sharpened seeing eyes and hearing ears, you’ll have a subtle feeling of something being off when you hear untruths…this is the holy spirit speaking to you. You just have to experience it and hone your skills of listening for it.

Don’t just listen to other people…seek to find your own knowledge and facts! Investigate and research for yourself. Knowledge, wisdom, and understanding will deliver us from EVIL because you’ll be able to recognize evil immediately and turn away from it. The following verses sum it right up.

Proverbs 2:1-15 NKJV 1 My son, if you receive my words,

And treasure my commands within you,

2 So that you incline your ear to wisdom,

And apply your heart to understanding;

3 Yes, if you cry out for discernment,

And lift up your voice for understanding,

4 If you seek her as silver,

And search for her as for hidden treasures;

5 Then you will understand the fear of the Lord,

And find the knowledge of God.

6 For the Lord gives wisdom;

From His mouth come knowledge and understanding;

7 He stores up sound wisdom for the upright;

He is a shield to those who walk uprightly;

8 He guards the paths of justice,

And preserves the way of His saints.

9 Then you will understand righteousness and justice,

Equity and every good path.

10 When wisdom enters your heart,

And knowledge is pleasant to your soul,

11 Discretion will preserve you;

Understanding will keep you,

12 To deliver you from the way of evil,

From the man who speaks perverse things,

13 From those who leave the paths of uprightness

To walk in the ways of darkness;

14 Who rejoice in doing evil,

And delight in the perversity of the wicked;

15 Whose ways are crooked,

And who are devious in their paths;

Proverbs 18:15 KJV – The heart of the prudent getteth knowledge; and the ear of the wise seeketh knowledge.

Proverbs 15:14 KJV – The heart of him that hath understanding seeketh knowledge: but the mouth of fools feedeth on foolishness.

Hosea 4:6 KJV – My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge: because thou hast rejected knowledge, I will also reject thee, that thou shalt be no priest to me: seeing thou hast forgotten the law of thy God, I will also forget thy children.

People get destroyed for lack of knowledge. Don’t be one of them! Do your own diligence to seek knowledge and don’t just listen to other people.

• Be able to detect a fool even when it’s subtle. You know a fool when he/she despises wisdom and instruction…a form of arrogance. If this is the case, you know they are not of God and deception may be looming.Proverbs 1:7 The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge: but fools despise wisdom and instruction.
  
• Watch out for those who despise authority and seek to satisfy the desires of the flesh. They often disguise themselves.
  

  2 Peter 2:9-10 (NKJV) – 9 then the Lord knows how to deliver the godly out of temptations and to reserve the unjust under punishment for the day of judgment, 10 and especially those who walk according to the flesh in the lust of uncleanness and despise authority. They are presumptuous, self-willed. They are not afraid to speak evil of dignitaries,

  
  

We have covered many of the tools in the Bible that help identify deception and false teaching. The Bible’s instruction on discerning is pretty comprehensive and don’t forget, you also have the Holy Spirit guiding you every step of the way. Next we’ll go over some examples of common tactics to deceive people. The more we arm ourselves with knowledge of what is out there, the better we’ll be able to defend ourselves and fight the battle. How are we supposed to defend ourselves and fight a battle if we don’t even know what the dangers look like or that there even are dangers??! There is a lot of deception and false teaching out there, but God has provided adequate instruction and defense for us.

Stand firm in righteousness and put on the whole armor of God!

Ephesians 6:10-18 (NKJV) – 10 Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. 11 Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. 12 For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. 13 Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.

14 Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness, 15 and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; 16 above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one. 17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God;

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