Falling for false teachers ∙∙
To him who is able to keep you from stumbling. – Jude 1:24
Jude 1:24-25
24 Now all glory to God, who is able to keep you from falling away and will bring you with great joy into his glorious presence without a single fault.
25 All glory to him who alone is God, our Savior through Jesus Christ our Lord. All glory, majesty, power, and authority are his before all time, and in the present, and beyond all time! Amen.
In the 19th century, political campaigns were marked by mudslinging and character assassination, with outright fabrications being spread as though they were factual. Moving into the 20th century, mass media like television and newspapers facilitated the rapid dissemination of incorrect information to the public, as seen with the Chicago Tribune’s notorious 1948 headline, “Dewey Defeats Truman.”
The 1950s and 1960s saw a surge of political propaganda. In the 21st century, the Internet and social media have enabled misinformation and disinformation, and “Fake News” has come into its own.
Misinformation consists of false or inaccurate details spread without necessarily intending to mislead, including rumors, unverified claims, and even pranks.
Disinformation, however, is intentionally false information designed to deceive, damage reputations, and misrepresent opposing views through malicious smear tactics, character assassinations, slander, and outright prevarications. It misrepresents opposing points of view. It offers harmful, misleading, and often hateful media coverage.
“Fake News” has become a prevalent issue, characterized by incorrect reporting and fabricated stories. “Fake News may have begun as a slanted interpretation of the facts, but these so-called ”facts” have taken on a life of their own.
In the first century A.D., what we now consider “Fake News” and disinformation were categorized as false teachings, heresies, and apostasy. These were aimed at misleading, confusing, and diverting people, mainly targeting the faithful to dissuade them from seeking God and His truth.
How can we combat this ongoing flood of disinformation? Scriptures provide practical guidance to counter this threat. The Father offers countermeasures and counterstrategies to fight this war for thoughts and minds.
2 Corinthians 10:3-5
3 We are human, but we don’t wage war as humans do.
4 We use God’s mighty weapons, not worldly weapons, to knock down the strongholds of human reasoning and to destroy false arguments.
There are two key goals: to believe and to be filled.
The first step is to accept an incredible gift. We’ve been granted a tremendous promise that becomes ours when we choose to believe. The Father’s promises are like funds deposited in a bank account, available and ready for us to access. All it takes is for us to draw upon them. We simply write the check.
Jude 1:24 assures us that [The Father] is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you before His glorious presence without fault and with great joy.
Of what is the Father capable? How powerful is He? Is He inclined to use His power on our behalf?
The Father is omnipotent, meaning He possesses unlimited power. Whatever strength is necessary, He is more than capable of providing. He is adept and able. But what is of greater importance to His children is that He earnestly desires to protect all of those that are His.
REFLECT & PRAY
Our God, whom we serve, has the power to deliver us (Daniel 3:17).
Father, I am grateful for Your incredible promise to keep me stable. Please help me to meditate on and memorize Your Word.
INSIGHT
We should acknowledge, praise, and worship the Father for His ability and desire to keep the children of the King.
Romans 16:25 speaks of Him, who is able to establish us and make us strong in accordance with His gospel and the proclamation of Jesus Christ.
The Father has laid a firm foundation for us to stand upon, one that He strengthens us to do so. This foundation is unshakable and impervious to any force, providing a formidable stronghold for believers.
Ephesians 3:20 tells us that He is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to His power at work within us.
Dream the impossible dream. Seek the unattainable. Embrace the unimaginable and aim for the seemingly unreachable. The Father can do far more than we can ask or think. The only limits are those of logical impossibilities, like creating a square circle. His resources are inexhaustible.
Nothing is impossible when His dreams and aspirations become our dreams.
The Scriptures serve as the food for our faith, filling us with truth and sound doctrine. Mature believers immerse themselves in the Word of God, studying, learning, and applying its teachings. This dedication sharpens us. A keen sense of awareness and discernment develops, preventing us from being tripped up and falling for the toxic deception of false teachers.
Hebrews 5:14 Solid food is for the mature, for those who have their powers of discernment trained by constant practice to distinguish good from evil [right and wrong].
Psalms 119:11 I have hidden your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you.
Psalms 119:9 asks and answers, “How can a young person maintain purity? By living according to your word.”
The Father can keep each child of the King blameless. The Greek word amomos conveys “being without blemish, having no defect or spot,” akin to the flawless sacrifices of the Old Testament, meeting the law’s righteous standards.
By filling our hearts and minds with Scripture, the promise of the Father is realized in us. When we are filled with accurate information, what room is left for inaccurate information?
When false teachers launch their attacks, spreading deception and “Fake News,” we remain secure. In the Father’s hands, we are empowered to stay faithful to the end. Though we may falter at times, the Father prevents His children from falling completely. There may be a few missteps and stumbles, but the Father keeps His children from being hurled down.
Psalms 37:24 Even if he trips, he will not fall headlong, for the LORD holds his hand.
He may fall, but he will not stay down.
It is not that he possesses superhuman strength, courage, or wisdom, nor is it because he is especially deserving that he faces life with such confidence. Rather, it is because God is at his right hand to sustain and strengthen him. God is his helper, and “if God is for us, who can be against us?” (Tesh and Zorn).
Every child of the King faces the inevitability of failure at some point in life. It’s a disheartening reality that failure is a part of the human experience. We stumble, we falter, and we sometimes find ourselves on the ground, grappling with our missteps. The pressing question that arises in these moments of profound disappointment is, “How do recover, learn from the experience, and move on?”
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© Dr. H 2024
Dr H Reflections 