Capable to Distinguish False Theories

Jude bears this message to guard believers against the seductive influence of false teachers, men who have a form of godliness but who are not safe leaders. In these last days, false teachers will arise and become actively zealous. All kinds of theories will be presented to divert the minds of men and women from the very truth that defines the position we can occupy with safety in this time when Satan is working with power upon religionists, leading them to make a pretense of being righteous, but to fail of placing themselves under the guidance of the Holy Spirit.

False theories will be mingled with every phase of experience, and advocated with satanic earnestness in order to captivate the mind of every soul who is not rooted and grounded in a full knowledge of the sacred principles of the Word. In the very midst of us will arise false teachers, giving heed to seducing spirits whose doctrines are of satanic origin. These teachers will draw away disciples after themselves. Creeping in unawares, they will use flattering words, and make skillful misrepresentations with seductive tact.

The only hope of our churches is to keep wide awake. Those who are well grounded in the truth of the Word, those who test everything by a “Thus saith the Lord” are safe. The Holy Spirit will guide those who prize the wisdom of God above the deceptive sophistries of satanic agencies. Let there be much praying, not in human lines but under the inspiration of love of the truth as it is in Jesus Christ. The families who believe the truth are to speak words of wisdom and intelligence—words that will come to them as the result of searching the Scriptures.

Now is our time of test and trial. Now is the time when the members of every believing family must close their lips against speaking words of accusation concerning their brethren. Let them speak words that impart courage, and strengthen the faith which works by love and purifies the soul.—The Kress Collection, 5.
Ye Shall Receive Power p. 125
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Prayer Requests
—-Please pray earnestly for E and her children as she has a very important meeting on May 4. Pray that God will guide and work all things out for their good. R
—-Mr Pederson (lung transplant), needs continued prayer; along with so many others. He’s about to leave the hospital and go to be with his wife in a nearby rental. Lorraine
—-Please keep my nephew in your prayers, he’s been struggling with some things recently, but earlier this evening he sent me a message and a picture, he was at Prophecies Unlimited seminar. Mary
—-Please pray for Tommy who is in the hospital with a severe neck injury. Kathy
—-Please keep Pastor Fred Self in prayer. He broke his leg and is having a complex surgery. Connie
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Dear Friends,

When we lived in Washington state, we lived about a fourth mile from two families who were members of our church. Mr. Lowery saw us walking by his place one day and asked us if we would like to have garden space in his large garden. Of course, we said that we would. Mr. Lowery had even roto-tilled our half as well as his. We hurried to the store and bought the seeds that we would need. Then we planted it anticipating an abundant crop.

After the little plants appeared, we began to keep our garden free of weeds. At least we tried to keep the garden weed free. Mr. Lowery had one big problem which had now become ours. Morning glories! Up until this time, I had always thought those big purple flowers of the cultivated kind were beautiful; and before they appeared in our garden, I even thought the little white blooms of the wild kind were pretty. Not anymore.

Mr. Lowery explained that we needed to pull up not only the visible part of the plant, but also the vine that ran underneath the soil. This was not an easy task. We had to be careful not to uproot the good plants. We pulled and pulled and worked and worked to rid that garden of those morning glories. Often we would think we had those pesky flowers completely gone, only to find the next day more leaves appearing above the soil. All summer we battled those tough plants. In fact, in all the years that Mr. Lowry let us use that space, we never succeeded in conquering them.

Jesus told a parable that I thought of so many times as I was attempting to rid the garden of those offending weeds and wondered if I should do the same as the advice of the Master. Of course, I knew that this parable was speaking of a different kind of weed, but it was tempting. “Another parable put he forth unto them, saying, The kingdom of heaven is likened unto a man which sowed good seed in his field: But while men slept, his enemy came and sowed tares among the wheat, and went his way. But when the blade was sprung up, and brought forth fruit, then appeared the tares also. So the servants of the householder came and said unto him, Sir, didst not thou sow good seed in thy field? from whence then hath it tares? He said unto them, An enemy hath done this. The servants said unto him, Wilt thou then that we go and gather them up? But he said, Nay; lest while ye gather up the tares, ye root up also the wheat with them. Let both grow together until the harvest: and in the time of harvest I will say to the reapers, Gather ye together first the tares, and bind them in bundles to burn them: but gather the wheat into my barn.” Matt 13:24-30

How often we are like those servants. We look around at our fellow church members and think we know who are the weeds and want to pull them up. I’ve seen this done in a church and it split it up. Many members left in consternation. Some never wanted to have anything to do with the church again. They were good wheat that had been rooted up because some well-meaning people began pulling out those whom they judged were tares. Those who split the church had a zeal that was not according to knowledge for they did not judge righteously. (Rom 10:2; John 7:23) How very sad.

Are we never to rebuke sin? Of course we are, but we must do it in love and with a goal of restoration. Paul advised, “Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted. Bear ye one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.” Gal 6:1, 2 His admonition to Timothy is for us as well, “And the servant of the Lord must not strive; but be gentle unto all men, apt to teach, patient, In meekness instructing those that oppose themselves; if God peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth; And that they may recover themselves out of the snare of the devil, who are taken captive by him at his will.” 2 Tim 2:24-26

Finally, brethren, “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. Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy, To the only wise God our Saviour, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and ever. Amen.” Jude 21-25

Rose