Beware of False Teachers

 “We proclaim to you what we have seen and heard, so that you also may have fellowship with us. And our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son, Jesus Christ. We write this to make our joy complete.” – 1 John 1:3-4

Less than 50 years after Jesus hung on the cross, the Apostle John began to see false teachers infiltrating the Christian church. He knew he MUST act. So, inspired by the Holy Spirit, John wrote his first letter to the early church, known in the New Testament as 1 John.

 In the final few decades of the First Century, false teachers were peddling an early form of Gnosticism (“having knowledge”). The Gnostics were pulling believers away from Christ and the Church, robbing them of their joy in Christ. They were enticing Christians to live immoral lives that would bring them under God’s judgment. The Gnostics were predatory, false teachers. They tried to convince Christians that there IS no bodily resurrection and that believing in Jesus Christ will NOT lead to eternal life.

 

Two thousand years later, we, too, are bombarded with false teaching. In fact, there are more false teachers alive today than there were in John’s day. And many of these false teachers peddle some of the same old lies (for example, Jesus isn’t God. The cross isn’t the only path to salvation. Salvation is about what you do for God, not about what Christ did for you. And sin isn’t a big deal).

 

It is critical that we pay attention to John’s teachings and warnings in 1 John, because there are plenty of influential people who are trying to lead us down a path of destruction, and we MUST … NOT … LET … THEM. But you don’t have to face this battle alone. When you accept the apostles’ testimony and place your trust in Jesus Christ, John says in vs. 3-4: “You also may have fellowship with us. And our fellowship is with the Father and with His Son, Jesus Christ.” You see, as Christians, we are partners and participants together. We participate in the same salvation together, and together we participate in a loving relationship with the Father, Son and Holy Spirit.

 

True fellowship with God produces true fellowship with other Christians. And according to verse 4, if you are missing out on true fellowship with other Christians, you are missing out on a whole lot of joy.

 

Here are three Life Lessons we can draw from this passage:

 

Life Lesson #1: This side of heaven, there will always be false teachers who pollute the truth of God’s Word with idle speculation. Ignore them and warn other Christians about them.

 

Life Lesson #2: Fully embrace this truth in your heart: “All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness” (2 Tim. 3:16). You don’t have to worry about whether or not this Book and everything in it is the Word of God. It has proven itself to be true and absolutely reliable time and time again.

 

Life Lesson #3: Whether you realize it or not, your soul is hungry for good Christian fellowship. It doesn’t matter if you’re young or old, a new Christian or an old Christian, an introvert or an extrovert. You need good Christian fellowship. Your joy depends on it.

Dane Davis is the pastor of Impact Christian Church in Victorville. Join us at Impact for Sunday services: in person at 9 a.m., or online at 10 a.m. on YouTube or Facebook. For more information, visit www.GreaterImpact.cc.

How to Defeat a Giant

 “It is not by sword or spear that the Lord saves; for the battle is the Lord’s.”
– 1 Samuel 17:47

We all love the story of David and Goliath. A teenage shepherd boy stands toe-to-toe with a 10-foot giant and gives him a knock-out punch with just a sling and a stone. It’s a great story! But remember, it’s not just a children’s story. It’s God’s Word, it’s historical fact, and it holds just as much spiritual truth for adults.

 

From the outside, David didn’t look like the most likely hero for this tale. But he was singled out months earlier. During King Saul’s reign, God sent Samuel to Bethlehem to anoint the next king of Israel—a “man after God’s own heart” (1 Samuel 13:14). God sent His priest, Samuel, to the family of Jesse, who had eight sons. One by one Samuel considered Jesse’s sons … and under God’s instructions, he anointed the youngest son, David, to be the future king.

 

David was still just a shepherd boy, too young to even go to war, when the Philistine giant Goliath threw down the gauntlet—daring ANY Israelite soldier to face him, “mano y mano.” Disgusted by Goliath’s jeers, David vowed to defeat Goliath “because he has defied the armies of the living God. The LORD who delivered me from the paw of the lion and the paw of the bear will deliver me from the hand of this Philistine.” And just as David prophesied, the LORD handed Goliath over to David. With God’s help, David struck him down with a sling and a stone, and everyone on the battlefield knew that there is a God in Israel who doesn’t save by sword or spear, because the battle … is … the Lord’s (1 Samuel 17:47).  

 

Here are three Life Lessons we can learn from this famous showdown:

 

Life Lesson #1: When we are unfaithful to God, our enemy gets a foothold in our lives. The only reason the Philistine army was on Israelite soil in the first place was because Israel and her leaders, especially King Saul, had been unfaithful to God. The same is true in our lives. When we sin and are unfaithful to God, we open the door for Satan to get a foothold in our lives.

 

Life Lesson #2: Whenever you step out in faith to fight a battle for Jesus, there will always be someone on hand to discourage you—and it will often be someone in your own family. David’s own brothers didn’t believe in him, even though they had seen David get anointed. And David’s situation wasn’t unusual. Joseph’s brothers didn’t believe in him. And at one point, even Jesus’ half-brothers thought he’d gone insane. So, be encouraged. If God’s Spirit leads you into battle and clearly confirms that He's leading through the Word of God, step out in faith and fight the battle, in spite of the naysayers around you.

 

Life Lesson #3: Trusting God on the battlefield isn’t complicated; it’s just hard if you’re forgetful, distracted or self-absorbed. David remembered the times that God had saved him in the past, when he was attacked by a lion and a bear. David wasn’t distracted by Goliath’s size or the discouraging comments from wet blankets around him. And David took his eyes off himself and focused on His great and awesome God, Who was his Defender and Shield.

 

Trusting God isn’t complicated. It’s not even that hard when you remember God’s faithfulness. Just fix keep your focus on Jesus Christ and on the marching orders He’s given you. 

Dane Davis is the pastor of Impact Christian Church in Victorville. Join us at Impact for Sunday services: in person at 9 a.m., or online at 10 a.m. on YouTube or Facebook. For more information, visit www.GreaterImpact.cc.

How to Spiral Up

"O Sovereign LORD, remember me. O God, please strengthen me just once more.” – Judges 16:28

Samson was, perhaps, the most flawed hero in the entire Old Testament. He was a complete mess. But by God’s grace, he was still a hero.

 

In the Book of Judges, the Bible gives us some highlights of Samson’s 20 years serving as Israel’s judge. He tore a lion in half with his bare hands, ripped a city gate off its hinges and single handedly killed 1,000 enemy soldiers with a donkey's jawbone. Samson was incredibly strong … no doubt! But he also had some major weaknesses, didn’t he? Facing a seductive woman like Delilah, he was putty in her hands. 

 

Through Delilah’s scheming and trickery, Samson ended up weakened, blinded, and enslaved. At last Samson prayed to God for the strength to fight back against the Philistine captors who were humiliating him. So, as his final act on earth, Samson brought down the pillars that held up the building he and the jeering crowd were under. It all came crashing down, killing thousands of Philistines AND Samson in the process.

 

Are we to believe that Samson’s famous hair grew long in seconds so that he could push down the pillars? No. Samson became strong again because God, in His grace, lifted him up out of the pit he had fallen into. Samson’s story would have been so much better had he consistently trusted and obeyed God’s plan for his life. In Hebrews 11:32, Samson is listed as a man of faith. But although Samson was a man of faith … sadly, he was not a faithful man.

 

Here are three Life Lessons we can learn from this tragically flawed hero:

 

Life Lesson #1: The greatest ability is DEPENDABILITY. Sadly, neither the Israelites nor God could count on Samson. He was a moral mess. We dare not make the same mistake. When it comes to physical strength, you might be a weakling compared to Samson. But in God’s eyes, you are so much stronger than Samson when you are consistently obedient to Christ’s commands every day of the week.

 

Life Lesson #2: God will get His work done with or without you. But make sure that you don’t miss out on the joy and blessings that come when you work with God, not against Him. Warren Wiersbe writes: “God will accomplish His purposes either with us or in spite of us. Samson should have been going to a war instead of to a wedding, but God used this event to give Samson occasion to attack the enemy…. Samson hadn’t planned these things, but God worked them out just the same.” Isn’t God amazing?! Even when we disobey Him, He gets His work accomplished anyway.

 

Life Lesson #3: It’s nice to begin well, but it’s more critical that you finish well. Wise King Solomon writes in Ecclesiastes 7:8: “The end of a matter is better than its beginning.” Samson had SO MUCH potential that he squandered. His life spiraled down instead of spiraling up. What could God have done through Samson if he had loved the Lord with all his heart? I can’t even imagine.

 

Similarly, I can’t imagine what amazing things God can and will do through you as you work with the Holy Spirit. Trust God more, love God more, and obey Christ’s commands more. Spiral up, and finish strong for the glory of God!

Dane Davis is the pastor of Impact Christian Church, meeting Sundays at 8:30 and 10 a.m. at 16209 Kamana Road in Apple Valley.

When You Wish God Would Choose Someone Else

 “I have seen the misery of My people in Egypt … and I am concerned about their suffering. So I have come down to rescue them.” – Exodus 3:7-8

The Book of Exodus records one of the most important events in Jewish history: the Israelites’ exodus from slavery in Egypt. And God chose Moses to be the man to lead the young nation of Israel through the exit, even though Moses was 80 years old. In the final third of his life, Moses led some two million Jews out of slavery and all the way to the front door of the Promised Land.

And yet, when God spoke to him from the burning bush and told Moses to go to Pharoah to bring the Israelites out of Egypt, Moses didn’t even believe he was the right man for the job. In Exodus 3 and 4, Moses gave God one excuse after the other. I’m a nobody (3:11-12). The Jews won’t believe me or listen to me (4:1-9). I’m not good with words (4:10-12). Somebody else can do it better (4:13-17). Choose someone else … anyone else!

As you read Exodus 3 and 4, you’ll notice that every time Moses gave God an excuse, God responded with grace and truth. Eventually, we’re told “the LORD’s anger burned against Moses” (4:14). But God still offered him grace and truth. He appointed Moses’ brother, Aaron, to be his spokesman. And so at last, Moses trusted and obeyed God’s marching orders. By the time we get to chapter 5, Moses and Aaron are standing before the Pharoah to deliver God’s message: “Let My people go!”

And so, God raised up a reluctant messenger who relied on His power and blessing to lead the Israelites out of slavery. Here are three Life Lessons we can learn from God’s call on Moses’ life:

Life Lesson #1: “No weapon formed against [God’s chosen ones] will prosper” (Isaiah 54:17). Sooner or later, God will bring us deliverance. The enemy’s size doesn’t matter. The enemy’s determination doesn’t matter. The enemy’s vast resources don’t matter. The enemy’s brilliant tactics don’t matter. “If God is for us, who can be against us?”

Life Lesson #2: “‘I AM’ is all that we need in every circumstance of life. It’s foolish for us to argue, ‘I am not’” (Warren Wiersbe). Christians, if you’re going through it, do what God directed Moses to do at the burning bush. Do what God directed Peter to do when Peter tried to walk on water. Take your eyes off yourself and off your crummy circumstances and fix your eyes on Jesus.

Life Lesson #3: Joseph and Moses remind us that we’re never too young or too old to be one of God’s chosen heroes. Joseph was just 17 when his heroics began. Moses was 80. Regardless of your age, keep focused on God and let Him work IN you and THROUGH you to do great things for Jesus Christ.

Dane Davis is the pastor of Impact Christian Church, meeting Sundays at 8:30 and 10 a.m. at 16209 Kamana Road in Apple Valley.

Stay Faithful Through the Ups and Downs

 “You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good.” – Genesis 50:20

Does it feel like your life is a constant cycle of ups and downs, highs and lows, successes and failures?

You’re not alone. Joseph, one of the 12 sons of Jacob, was a human yo-yo. At the age of 16, he was the Number One son in his family. But at the age of 17, he saw it all come crashing down when his jealous brothers betrayed him and sold him into slavery. But once in Egypt, Joseph was quickly promoted in the household of Pharoah’s captain of the guard.

Then, just as things were looking up, Joseph was falsely accused of rape and thrown into the king’s dungeon, where he sat and waited for 10 to 12 years. And you thought you had it tough?

Finally, when Joseph was 30, God lifted him up to the second-highest position in Egypt. Surprisingly, through it all – regardless of whether his circumstances were good, bad or ugly – Joseph remained uncompromisingly faithful to God.

Here are three Life Lessons we can learn from the story of Joseph:

Life Lesson #1: God is sovereign over your life. Every relationship, every triumph and every heartbreak is a piece of the puzzle. So, keep trusting God and serving Him faithfully. Warren Wiersbe says it so well. He writes: “Genesis 37-50 is much more than a piece of dramatic literature…. Behind this story is the heart of the covenant-making God, who always keeps His promises.”

Life Lesson #2: As you trust and serve God faithfully, He will allow people to see in your life a beautiful portrait of Christ that brings Him glory. Did you realize that Joseph’s life foreshadows Jesus’ life? Just like Jesus, Joseph was hated and rejected by his own brothers, betrayed and delivered into the hands of Gentiles, falsely accused and unjustly persecuted. And just like Jesus, Joseph was promoted and placed on a throne where God used him to save thousands of lives.

Life Lesson #3: If you believe that God is good and is sovereign over the details of your life, then there is no place in your life for bitterness, resentment or unforgiveness. Far too many Christians harbor resentment, grudges and unforgiveness. Make sure you’re not one of them. No matter what others have done to you, like Joseph, you must let it go. You … must … forgive. Jesus Christ won’t waste any of the pain others have inflicted on you. What they intended for evil, God will use for good.

Dane Davis is the pastor of Impact Christian Church, meeting Sundays at 8:30 and 10 a.m. at 16209 Kamana Road in Apple Valley.

What’s Wrong With My Veggie Tray?

“For I desire faithful love and mercy, not sacrifice, and acknowledgment of God rather than burnt offerings.” – Hosea 6:6

Most of us probably learned the story of Cain and Abel when we were kids. But this story – of the world’s first two brothers, and the world’s first murder – is worth a closer look. 

In Genesis 4 Cain and Abel, as grown men, both brought offerings to the Lord. Cain offered God “some of the fruits of the soil as an offering.” That makes sense, since he was a farmer. Meanwhile, Abel “brought some fat portions from some of the firstborn of his flock.” That also makes sense, since Abel was a shepherd. But in verses 4 and 5, we read that God liked Abel’s offering and accepted it. But He didn’t like Cain’s offering and rejected it. And according to the Amplified Bible’s translation, “Cain became extremely angry (indignant), and he looked annoyed and hostile” (v. 5).

Why did God reject Cain’s offering? Some Christians believe that Cain’s offering was rejected because it consisted of vegetables instead of a blood sacrifice. But Leviticus 2 tells us grain offerings can be pleasing to God. Other Christians point out that Cain brought “some of the fruits of the soil,” but Abel brought “fat portions from some of the firstborn of his flock” (vs. 3-4). In other words, Cain brought a generic vegetable tray, but Abel brought the prime rib. So, you could make the case that when Abel came to worship God, he offered God his very best. But when Cain came to worship God, he offered Him his leftovers.

We can’t be sure. But Hebrews 11:4 sheds more light: “By faith Abel offered God a better sacrifice than Cain did. By faith he was commended as a righteous man, when God spoke well of his offerings.” According to this verse, Abel’s offering was given in faith, but Cain’s wasn’t. In Hosea 6:6 God says, “For I desire faithful love and mercy, not sacrifice, and acknowledgment of God rather than burnt offerings.” From these verses we can gather that Abel gave His offering in faith, love and obedience to God, while Cain did not.

Here are three life lessons we can draw from this passage:

Life Lesson #1: When you bring an offering to God, bring Him your first and your best. If you really love God and desire to worship Him in spirit and in truth, don’t bring Him your leftovers. Bring Him the best of the best.

Life Lesson #2: When God offers you a second chance, humble yourself in His presence and take it. Cain was a fool. God gave him every chance to change course, but he refused to trust and obey. Don’t be like Cain.

Life Lesson #3: You must know Jesus Christ in order to be right with God and man. Answer the two questions that God asked Adam and Cain: “Where are you?” (when Adam was hiding after his sin) and “Where is your brother?” (after Cain murdered Abel). Where are you in your relationship with God today, and where are you in your relationships with the people around you?

If you’re not right with God or you’re not right with others, Jesus Christ is your only hope. He’s the only one who can restore your relationship with God AND your relationships with your family and friends.

 Dane Davis is the pastor of Impact Christian Church, meeting Sundays at 8:30 and 10 a.m. at 16209 Kamana Road in Apple Valley.

How Can I Vote Like Jesus?

 “Righteousness and justice are the foundation of Your throne; love and faithfulness go before You.” – Psalm 89:14

If you didn’t know it already, let me be the first to tell you: Jesus ISN’T running for President. Instead, we have two presidential candidates who aren’t in the same league as Jesus. So, choosing between them can be tough.

As a pastor-teacher, it is NOT my job to tell you who to vote for. My job is to teach God’s Word, which will equip you to think like Jesus. When it comes to deciding who or what to vote for, I believe we have two goals: 1) To determine the heart of Christ on the issues; and 2) To prayerfully decide which political candidates, propositions and measures are most in sync with the heart of Christ. 

In Psalm 89, a Jewish religious leader longs for God to restore the throne of Israel to one of King David’s descendants. From a New Testament perspective, we know that descendent to be Jesus Christ. The psalmist says: “Righteousness and justice are the foundation of Your throne; love and faithfulness go before You” (v. 14). In this verse, I believe we find the heart of Jesus Christ’s kingdom: It is built on the foundation of righteousness and justice.

Interestingly, Republicans tend to place a greater value on passing policies that are righteous (morally right), especially when it comes to the unborn child, marriage, gender, and sexual purity. Meanwhile, Democrats tend to place a greater value on passing policies that are morally just, especially when it comes to health care, the treatment of minorities, criminal justice reform, and ending poverty. But these few examples just scratch the surface of the matters of righteousness and justice that are addressed in the two party platforms.

So, you have some homework to do. Review the Republican and Democratic party platforms that are available online. (Once elected, political leaders vote in line with their party platform more than 3/4 of the time.) DON’T assume that your favorite news source is telling you the whole truth. Almost all news sources these days are slanted, either to the right or the left. But you have the tools necessary to make God-honoring decisions about who and what to vote for. You have the Word of God. You have access to God’s wisdom through prayer. And the party platforms are just a click away. Read them with righteousness and justice in mind.

Here are two very important lessons that I’d like every one of us to take to heart:

Lesson #1: Our primary job as Christians is to lead people to Christ, not to an elephant or to a donkey. So, don’t let your politics sabotage your witness to unbelievers or your fellowship with believers. Let’s be honest: If Jesus was an American citizen, He probably wouldn’t be a Republican OR a Democrat. Jesus isn’t a “party” guy. So, don’t damage your witness by coming across like it’s your way or the highway.

Lesson #2: Pray for right and just leaders. Vote for right and just leaders. And if the candidate you vote for doesn’t win … pray for the person who takes office, just the same.

For months I’ve been praying every day for Joe Biden, Kamala Harris, Governor Newsom and Donald Trump to be saved. I hope that you’ll pray for that as well. We need Christ-loving, Bible-believing Christians in our government now more than ever. So, pray for ALL of our leaders as you pray for our nation.

Dane Davis is the pastor of Impact Christian Church, meeting Sundays at 8:30 and 10 a.m. at 16209 Kamana Road in Apple Valley.