Thank God for second chances!

Nov6

Question: I’m afraid I’ve messed up so many times God won’t forgive me again. Am I right?

Answer: No. “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” ( 1 John 1:9 NKJV)  God looks at our hearts. He knows when we are being sincere in our requests for His forgiveness or just saying words we don’t really mean.  He also knows that we will keep “messing up” at times because we are all sinners.  So, as we seek forgiveness, we must also pray for God to help us repent, or turn away from, our sins and live our lives to please Him.

And, just as we want God to forgive us when we sin and give us another chance to start over, God expects us to forgive others. He does not want us to be like the servant described in Matthew 18:23-35.  In this story, we see how the king granted one person forgiveness of the enormous debt he owed the king. But, this same person refused to extend that same type of forgiveness to someone else who owed him a much smaller debt.  This person ended up suffering punishment for his failure to forgive.  In Luke 17:3, Jesus says, “Take heed to yourselves. If your brother sins against you, rebuke him; and if he repents, forgive him.”

However, just because we are expected to forgive, it doesn’t mean we stop being wise.  God also gives us wisdom. The Apostle Paul warns us in Ephesians 5:17, “Therefore do not be unwise, but understand what the will of the Lord is.”  If someone is abusing you or committing some other sin,  the Bible tells us that is wrong. That would not be God’s best for your life.  You can and should forgive and pray for others without tolerating their sin.

Remember that because God loves us and extends His grace to us, He will give us another chance when we mess up.  He will forgive us of our sins if we ask Him with a sincere heart.  God wants us to repent of our sins and live our lives to please Him.  We start to please Him when we accept  His only Son, Jesus Christ, as our Lord and Savior. Jesus is the only One God gave us who took the punishment of death we deserved for our sins.  Since sin separates us from a holy God, we can only go to Heaven by accepting Jesus Christ as our Savior, asking forgiveness,  and repenting of our sins.

Thank God for second chances!

(Re-posted from my June 7, 2017 Blog Post)

Follow me on Twitter : @ValClarksPlace

Gearing Up for Spiritual Warfare

Oct9

Question:  How should Christians fight back in today’s spiritual battles?

Answer:  Start by recognizing when you’re in one.  For example, you’re in a spiritual battle when your rebellious teen refuses to stop hanging out with the crowd that’s always in trouble despite your warnings.  Or, when your spouse is constantly arguing with you about every little thing and threatening to divorce you, you’re facing a spiritual battle.  When your boss is telling you to lie to your clients to get them to buy your product or be fired, you’re in a spiritual battle.  When you just can’t seem to stop your addiction to porn, you’re facing a spiritual battle. The way to fight back against spiritual attacks remains the same as always.  As Ephesians 6:10-20 tells us, we must make sure that each day, we are putting on the “whole armor of God.” (v.11 NKJV) In other words, we must remember that our God is all-knowing and all-powerful. He can protect us and help us through any situation. Believers must be “strong in the Lord and in the power of His might” (v.10)  Christians must take all these battles to the Lord in prayer! (v.18)

But Believers know that the spiritual battles we face are not just confined to those we interact with every day.  We are facing spiritual battles as Christians in our communities and nation as well.  Our country is moving fast towards taking away our constitutionally granted religious freedoms.  For example, public schools don’t want students to mention Jesus in their class assignments. (See the story here)  High schools preview the speeches of their class valedictorian to make sure they don’t mention Jesus in giving credit for their success.

Spiritual battles are also being waged using our government.  For example, some Christian employers, whose faith teaches that abortion is wrong, are being forced by law to pay for health insurance to cover  their employees’ birth control – including those forms that lead to the baby being aborted. (Story here) Private, Christian owned  businesses which service weddings are being sued if they won’t provide their services for same-sex weddings. (Story here)   These Christians are being forced to support lifestyles God’s Word calls sin. The Bible teaches that God created marriage to be only between one man and one woman, as Jesus reminds us in Matthew 19:4-6. Being forced to support any other definition of marriage would be to force Christians to support sin.

Be discerning as you listen to media figures, politicians, celebrities, those in academia, and others who tell you that standing strong for your biblical values makes you a hater of others or shows your lack of intelligence.  They will say that you need to “get with the times.”  They may even threaten your job
like they did recently to a Marine who was convicted for failing to remove a Bible verse she found encouraging from her computer.    (Story here)  Don’t let them intimidate you into going along to get along!  As Paul warns us in Ephesians 5:6: “Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience.”  So, don’t let them deceive you into supporting them in their sins and betraying God.

Stand strong in God’s Word and believe in the power of prayer.  And be victorious over the spiritual warfare in your life!

(Re-posted from my May 29. 2015 blog post.)

Follow me on Twitter:  @valclarksplace

Now, what do I do?

Sep11

Question: Does God have any expectations of us after we have accepted Jesus as our Savior?

Answer:  Yes! Jesus said, "If you love Me, keep My commandments." (John 14:15 NKJV)  Once we have accepted Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior, our lives are no longer our own.  We make a commitment to live our lives for Him.  We put God first! 

Of course, when we first accept Christ as Savior, we are usually new to understanding God's Word.  We are like "babes in Christ."  The Apostle Peter tells us "as newborn babes, desire the pure milk of the word, that you may grow..." (1 Peter 2:2)  That's why we need to regularly study God's Holy Word, the Bible, and pray for understanding of how He wants us to live.  So, as we grow in God's Word, "we should no longer be children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, in the cunning craftiness by which they lie in wait to deceive, but speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things into Him who is the head - Christ..." ( Ephesians 4: 14-15)

Also, as we grow spiritually, we should get stronger in walking (living life) in the Spirit, and not fulfilling the lust of the flesh. (Galatians 5:16)  We learn from the Apostle Paul that "the works of the flesh are evident, which are: adultery, fornication (sexual immorality), uncleanness, licentiousness, idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies, envy, murders, drunkenness, revelries, and the like; of which I tell you beforehand, just as I also told you in time past, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God." (Galatians 5:19-21)

As Believers, these things should no longer be a part of our lifestyle!

On the other hand, "the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law. And those who are Christ's have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit." (Galatians 5:22-25)

And, because God knows none of us is able to live for Him on our own ability He has provided all Believers with the Helper, God's Holy Spirit!  We can pray for the Holy Spirit to strengthen and guide us as we live each day for God. Jesus said His Spirit will "teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you." (John 14:26)

Therefore, we know from the Scriptures that God definitely has expectations of us after we accept Jesus Christ as our Savior and Lord. He has given Believers instructions through His written Word as to how we should live lives pleasing to Him. God has also provided His Holy Spirit to help strengthen and guide us in living a righteous life. Remember that God knows we are still going to fall short and sin sometimes. Only Jesus lived a perfect life.  But, we can be thankful that Jesus is willing to forgive us of our sins when we confess them to Him (see 1 John 1:9).   

Finally, to underscore the importance of learning and growing in God's Word, one need look no further than the final instructions from Jesus to His disciples, The Great Commission found in Matthew 28:19-20. Jesus said, "'Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.' Amen."

What’s standing in your way?

Aug7

Question: How do I help people understand that they can’t earn their way to Heaven?

Answer: Start by clearly explaining that no one is perfect. We have all sinned. Romans 3:23 says, "for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God" (NKJV).  Our sin separates us from God in Heaven, who is holy. That's why we all need a savior. And God's desire is that none perish, so He made the way for us to go to Heaven. "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life." (John 3:16) 

Since the punishment for our sin before a righteous God is death, Jesus Christ, God's only Son, was sent by God to save us. Jesus Christ, Himself sinless, died on the cross to take the punishment we deserve for our sin! He rose to life again on the third day to go live with our Father in Heaven. He sacrificed Himself for us!  

All that is left for each of us to do is to accept Jesus Christ as our one and only Lord and Savior.  We need to pray and ask Jesus to forgive us of all our sins, and we need to repent of our sins.  In making this change, we should no longer seek to live only to please ourselves. Instead, our desire should be to want to please God first by loving Him and following the teachings of His Holy Word, the Bible! The Apostle Paul describes this change as putting off "the old man" and putting on "the new man."  (Read Ephesians 4:17-32)

Even though through His grace, God has provided us with His free gift of salvation, most people still choose to reject His Gift. Many people prefer to live by their own rules and foolishly think that they can decide on their own what are the right and wrong ways to live. Others mistakenly believe that there are many gods and many ways to Heaven.  But, the truth is that God has provided only ONE way to everlasting life in Heaven. And that way is by accepting His Son Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior.  Jesus Christ, Himself said, "...I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me." (John 14:6)  Can it be stated any clearer than that?

Still, many people will try to change God's plan for salvation to make it sound more complicated.  They might make salvation sound like it is for people who must live without any joy in their lives. This tends to make the young  postpone or outright reject salvation because they think they won't have any more "fun" in their lives. But they need to know the truth.  If by fun they mean sinful living, they will be living only to please Satan. Satan's ultimate goal is to harm you. Jesus said, "The thief (Satan) does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly."  (John 10:10)

Also, this false teaching that you must already be living righteously to accept Christ can make the older unsaved feel that it is too late for them. This is not true!  In fact, as long as you are alive and in your right mind, you can choose to accept Jesus Christ as your Savior!  But since you can die at any age from many different causes, it's better to accept Christ sooner than waiting until it is too late!  Once you die, you don't come back. There are no second chances.

And, as far as trying to earn your way to Heaven, put simply, you can't!  Because you are not perfect like God you will mess up or fail to do right --at least sometimes. Plus, you could never do enough good deeds or man-made rituals (superstitious actions never given by God) to earn your way to Heaven.  Ephesians 2:8-9 says, "For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast."

So stop letting excuses stand in your way. Accept Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior today! Pray for God's Holy Spirit to guide you as you live by putting Him first. And Enjoy your new life in Christ!

One Nation Under God?

Jul9

Question::  What should Christians do to get our country out of its moral decline?

Answer:  Pray!  Christians know that prayers do, indeed, change things.  The Bible tells us in 2 Chronicles 7:14, “If My people who are called by my name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land.” (NKJV)  As Christians, we must make sure that we are living our own lives to please God.  We need to repent from our own sins before we seek to witness to others about their need to turn from their sins.  Unbelievers can often spot a hypocrite, and they are understandably turned off by them.

Plus, as Christians, we need not despair as we see evil gaining ground by way of the new laws that are being made in this country which go against the Word of God.  Stories about politicians and others, who are trying to gain voter support as they pledge to pass sinful laws, are regularly in the news.  Believers need not feel defeated as we witness polls that show the majority of people favoring what God’s Word clearly calls sin.  The Bible tells us that God will not be mocked (Galatians 6:7).  He is still in control.  When a nation continues to be disobedient to God, it invites the wrath of God upon it.  Each person will have to stand before Him one day to account for his or her deeds.   God does not want us to reject Him and be lost.  Therefore, be thankful that,  “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life” (John 3:16).   The Bible says our sin separates us from God, who is holy.  He sent His Son, Jesus, to die on the cross for us, taking the punishment we deserve.   We only need to accept Jesus as our Savior and Lord,  ask God to forgive us our sins, and repent by turning  from our sinful ways.  Only by doing these things will we be saved and go to Heaven. So, pray for repentance and revival across our nation!

Additionally,  America’s founding fathers were wise to include recognition of God in such places as the Declaration of Independence.  Dr. Harold Pease, an expert on the US Constitution, wrote about the five references to God found in the Declaration of Independence.  Most famous is the following reference about our Creator, “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness.”  (See  http://www.libertyunderfire.org/2011/07/five-references-to-god-in-the-declaration-of-independence/).  Also, in 1954, US President Dwight Eisenhower was wise to get Congress to add the words “under God” to the Pledge Of Allegiance. ( See http://www.ushistory.org/documents/pledge.htm).  There are even carved images of the story of Moses in the building of the US Supreme Court.  Despite the many wrongs this country has participated in like the awful sins of slavery and segregation, this country has done many other things right.  For example, this country remains one of the nation of Israel’s closest allies.  This country continues to be the one that gives the most to address the world’s humanitarian needs.  This nation continues to be considered the most powerful in the world.  America has been blessed.  America has a history of acknowledging God in its historical documents, national buildings, and patriotic songs.  Most of its citizens call themselves Christian.

Therefore,  America needs to remain a country which recognizes the existence of Almighty God.  America’s people would be wise to remember the part of the Pledge that says we are “one nation under God.”  We need to remember to rely on God’s teachings in the Bible when making laws for our country. We should not support those who want to govern our country in ways that go against God’s word. We need to pray that the people of this country will put God first in their lives! For the Bible tells us in Psalm 33:12, “Blessed is the nation whose God is the LORD…”   

Amen!

(Re-posted and updated from my July 23, 2013 Blog.)

To them, it’s all just foolishness!

Jun15

Question: What do I do when family and friends make fun of my Christian beliefs?

Answer: Remember that being ridiculed, called names, and ignored is nothing new to those who follow Jesus Christ. In today’s politically correct culture, it’s considered out-of-step with the times to live our lives according to God’s Holy Word.  When we say things like, “We support the biblical definition of marriage (as in Matthew 19:4-6),” or that “Children are gifts from God and it is wrong to abort them (Psalms 127:3),” unbelievers react like we are out of our minds.  They find it strange that we can actually believe such things.  As the Bible says in 1 Corinthians 1:18, “For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.” (NKJV)

Also, the world will warn us that if we continue to hold to these beliefs, we’ll risk being called hateful, unintelligent, and backwards instead of being seen as progressive in our thinking.  After all, nobody wants to come across as dumb in front of others.  Little do they know that God would say that it is them who lack knowledge and that it is them who fail to be wise.  Proverbs 9:10 says, “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.”  When they choose to ignore God’s Word and instead do what is right in their own eyes, they’re saying that they know better than God!  Most certainly, they do not!  But, as Romans 1:22 says, “Professing to be wise, they became fools…”  So, as they promote their sinful behaviors, they need to know they are dishonoring their Creator.  And, God will not be mocked! (Galatians 6:7)

Therefore, Believers should take comfort in knowing that Jesus said, “If the world hates you, you know that it hated Me before it hated you.” (John 15:18)  We must not lose hope.  Instead, we must continue to pray for the salvation of our loved ones and friends, and that they go on to live a life that is pleasing to God.  We must continue to show them the love of Christ and not forget that before each of us accepted Jesus as our Lord and Savior, we were lost just like them.

So, the next time you are attacked for your Christian beliefs, stand strong in God’s Word!  Say to them as Paul said in Romans 1:16, “I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes…”  Amen!

(Re-posted and updated from my 6/26/15 blog post.)

Stop just shaking your head about things. Take action!

May12

Question: I just shake my head in disbelief about our country’s moral decline. What can I do?  I feel helpless!

Answer: It’s understandable to feel frustrated about the onslaught of daily bad news. So many people seem to be on the fast-track to see how low they can go when it comes to doing things that go against God’s Word.  Still murder, hatred, theft, etc. — none of these sins are new. (Read Romans 1:18-32 )

But these days, thanks to our access to 24/7 news, we can witness our elected officials, celebrities, and media and academic elites shamelessly supporting sinful things on a regular basis.  This can be very disturbing to watch! But instead of just shaking your head about the negative direction our society is headed, take action!

First, pray! Remember, we need to show the love of God to everyone – including those who are leading our society away from God. Since doing this does not always come easy, we need to pray about them regularly. Pray that the Lord will give us wisdom in how and when we are to deal with those who work against His Word. Pray that He gives us the right words to say when speaking with those who do not share our beliefs.

Also, realize that one person really can make a big difference! Ask God to give you wisdom to know how you can help people live their lives to please Him. Many people believe God would have them give financially to support organizations, in addition to their churches, to help them spread the Gospel to others.

You could join others in educating people about the negative results of not living according to God’s Word. This type of action might take the form of holding public forums, rallies, and marches to get people’s attention so that you can teach them about current issues.

When it’s time to elect new officers into leadership locally, state-wide, and nationally, take action! For example, you could distribute voter guides to let people know where the politicians they vote into power stand on the important cultural issues of today.  That way, people will not make the mistake of voting for leaders who plan to support policies and laws which go against the Word of God!

When all is said and done, Believers need to know that ultimately it’s not about how clever we are with our words. But rather it’s about God’s Holy Spirit moving on people’s hearts that will get them to change their immoral ways.  So, as 2 Thessalonians 3:13 says,  “…do not grow weary in doing good.” ( NKJV )  Continue to pray for people to live their lives to please God. Pray that they accept Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior, ask God for forgiveness, and repent of their sins.

Remember “… with God all things are possible.” (Matthew 19:26)  So stop just shaking your head about the declining moral condition of the culture. Take action!

(Re-posted from my Feb. 8, 2019 Blog)

Are you sure you know the whole story?

Apr5

Question: Does Hosea 4:6, “My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge,” apply to us today?

Answer: This scripture in Hosea was referring to the LORD warning the ancient Israelites of the suffering they would endure for choosing to live against the laws of God. Often, today’s Believers also fail to understand and follow some of the basic teachings of our faith. This is a problem because this lack of knowledge can lead to many ungodly personal decisions which can result in a host of bad consequences. Usually, this happens when Believers fail to grow in the understanding of the Scriptures. They forget the importance of regularly reading and studying God’s Holy Word. In fact, the Apostle Paul tells Timothy, “Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.” ( 2 Timothy 2:15 NKJV )

Of course, the first and most important way one shows their approval by God is to accept His Only Son, Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior. They acknowledge that Jesus, who was without sin, died on the cross to take the punishment we all deserve as sinners. They know that He rose again on the third day and lives with our Father God in heaven. (Read Matthew 4:17, John 3:16, John 14:6) Therefore, they will ask Jesus to forgive their sins, repent (turn away from their sins), and accept Jesus Christ as their Savior!

Then, even after accepting Christ as Savior, some Believers fail to prioritize their need to live their lives to please Him. They prefer to take shortcuts like only listening to preachers and Bible teachers who just tell them what they want to hear. (2 Timothy 4:1-4) They may not want to hear or read any parts of God’s Word that says there can still be earthly consequences for our sinful choices even after we are saved. They prefer to listen only to those who tell them to blame others for their circumstances – even if the fault is only their own.

If we fail to learn about and follow God’s Word concerning our sexual behavior, nurturing our marriage, raising our children, being kind to others, handling money, or any other situation of life, we are not living to please God! When we are guilty of these things, Believers must ask God for forgiveness and pray for God’s Holy Spirit to guide them as they repent of these sins. (Read 1 John 1:9)

Christians will fail to understand the whole story about God’s Word if we don’t accept that God loves us, and He expects us to serve Him with gladness! In fact, Our Father has made many wonderful promises to us as Believers. He will bless us if we follow His Word and serve Him. By serving God, we can take comfort in knowing that our God is faithful in providing for our needs. And, we know that God always keeps His promises!

So Believers, remember that in order to get the whole story, you must read and study God’s Word. Don’t suffer or be destroyed for lack of knowledge!

Can we just get to the bottom line?

Mar6

Question: Since I wasn’t raised in a Christian home, does God have the same expectations of me as those who were?

Answer: No matter how you were raised, God has given each one of us a choice. As Joshua said to the Israelites in the days after God had given them victory over their enemies: “…choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve…” (Joshua 24:15 NKJV). God has given us the free will to choose to follow Him or follow Satan.

We have only two choices. There isn’t a third choice for all who are old enough and mentally able to understand. He tells us in His Holy Word that we are all sinners in need of a Savior. As such, we cannot enter Heaven being unrighteous, to be with our righteous God. But since our God is a loving God, He made the way for us to still be able to go to Heaven. (John 3:16) That one and only way is by accepting God’s Son Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior!

The Scriptures summarize these truths in Romans 6: 23: “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Jesus Christ was put to death on the cross to take the punishment we deserve for our sins. He rose to life again on the third day afterwards and lives forever with our Father God in Heaven!

Once we have accepted Jesus Christ as our Savior, God wants us to live our lives to please Him. We do this by putting God first in our lives. We put Him first by studying and growing in the knowledge of His Word. We make all of our decisions based on which choices would be pleasing to our Lord. For example, by studying scripture, we know that we do not please God if we support actions and behaviors that He calls sinful. (See Galatians 5:16-26) And all along the way, we are to pray for His Holy Spirit to guide us and keep us from all unrighteousness!

So the bottom line is: God has given each of us free will to choose to serve Him or to serve Satan. We cannot earn our way to Heaven. We can get there only by understanding that we are saved by God’s grace through accepting Jesus as our Lord and Savior. Through Him, we are to ask forgiveness of our sins, turn away from of our sins, and live our lives for the Lord.

We can choose to turn away from God and not be obedient to His teachings. If we make this choice and end up in hell, we have no one to blame but ourselves. We can’t blame our bad parents. We can’t blame evil people in the world. We can’t even blame the hypocrites we might find in church. God expects each of us to take responsibility for our own choices.

So choose wisely — eternal damnation with Satan in hell, or eternal life in Heaven with God. God loves you and wants you to choose Jesus Christ as your Savior so you can go to Heaven. Do this — and you’ll be forever thankful that you did!

Are you falling for all the sweet talk?

Feb6

Question: Our new Bible study teacher is friendly, funny, and very intelligent. But, she says that we should be neutral on the sinful behaviors being promoted in our culture or we might come across as judgmental or hateful! Should I stay in her study group?

Answer: No! It’s very important for Believers to be in Bible studies and churches that teach God’s Word correctly! Your new leader may sound smart, but she is not teaching you the truth. The Scriptures do not tell us to be neutral about sin. Our sins are what keep us separated from a Holy God. And when we sin, we are being disobedient to God. God hates sin. (Proverbs 6:16-19) And, so should we. There’s nothing neutral about that!

But while hating the sin, God loves the sinner and so should we. We are all sinners saved only by the grace of God through our acceptance of His Son, Jesus Christ, as our Savior! (John 3:16) Jesus died on the cross to take the punishment we deserve for our sins. He rose on the third day to live again with God the Father!

As for being judgmental, Jesus did say in Matthew 7:1 to “Judge not, that you be not judged.” (NKJV) However, His teaching does not stop there. Verses 3-5 go on to say, “And why do you look at the speck in your brother’s eye but do not consider the plank in your own eye?… Hypocrite! First remove the plank from your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck out of your brother’s eye.”

So, while your teacher is correct to say that we shouldn’t be hateful and judgmental hypocrites, she leaves out the rest of God’s teachings. It is not uncommon for those who are leading you away from God to mix their sweet-sounding lies with a little bit of truth.

Another example of this is when these false teachers try to convince you that since you are not committing a certain sin yourself, it’s okay to support leaders who give legitimacy to certain sins being promoted in our culture. But God’s Word doesn’t say supporting these type of leaders is fine. In fact, the scriptures tell us that supporting such leaders would be wrong. (Read Romans 1:18-32)

Therefore, you must not believe these false teachers. They will only lead you away from God. (Matthew 7:15-20) Pray that you don’t fall victim to their sweet talk when what they are saying goes against God’s Word!