Avoid Fables Or Myths

Titus 1:12-14 (NKJV)

"One of them, a prophet of their own, said, “Cretans are always liars, evil beasts, lazy gluttons.” This testimony is true. Therefore rebuke them sharply, that they may be sound in the faith, not giving heed to Jewish fables and commandments of men who turn from the truth."

Everyone loves a good story but when it's a bad story, sadly, people will receive it.

Proverbs 14:15 (NKJV)

"The simple believes every word, but the prudent considers well his steps."

We can't help it or stop it.

Matthew 24:11 (NKJV)

"Then many false prophets will rise up and deceive many."

People are gullible until they come to their senses.

Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on me.

When you know that your leg is being pulled and you want to stop being taken for a fool, you begin to examine everything that a person behind the pulpit says and does.

1 Timothy 4:1-2 (NKJV)

"Now the Spirit expressly says that in latter times some will depart from the faith, giving heed to deceiving spirits and doctrines of demons, speaking lies in hypocrisy, having their own conscience seared with a hot iron..."

The fables or myths comes from "deceiving spirits and doctrines of demons" that operates in false teachers and false prophets. It's no different than lying spirits in the mouths of the deceivers.

There's a way to test them.

Never accept as face value the title they come with. Their clothing, music, and pulpit. Always have scrutiny and your wits about you.

Galatians 6:3 (NKJV)

"For if anyone thinks himself to be something, when he is nothing, he deceives himself."

A title means nothing unless the Lord and His Word validates and verifies them.

Where's the evidence?

When in doubt, doubt that they say who they say they are and trust only the Word of God.

Test them and their claims.

1 Thessalonians 5:21 (NKJV)

"Test all things; hold fast what is good."

Always come ready to "...search the Scriptures..."

Acts 17:10-12 (NKJV)

"Then the brethren immediately sent Paul and Silas away by night to Berea. When they arrived, they went into the synagogue of the Jews. These were more fair-minded than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness, and searched the Scriptures daily to find out whether these things were so. Therefore many of them believed, and also not a few of the Greeks, prominent women as well as men."

Never be moved by what they wear or how they say their words.

1 Corinthians 2:1-5 (NKJV) "And I, brethren, when I came to you, did not come with excellence of speech or of wisdom declaring to you the testimony of God.

For I determined not to know anything among you except Jesus Christ and Him crucified. I was with you in weakness, in fear, and in much trembling.

And my speech and my preaching were not with persuasive words of human wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power, that your faith should not be in the wisdom of men but in the power of God."

For centuries, many of them have put on robes, clergy attire, and all sorts of clothing to look the part. Just because a person wears religious clothing, it doesn't make them called of God. They come with all sorts of education and higher learning to impress their hearers.

Many of them claim that you have to wear this to show that you're distinct and unique from the "people." Police, military, officials, and other occupations where distinct clothing is worn to readily identify them as distinct from the people.

Why not clergy?

You're not going to stop people from claiming to be something, however, Paul told us in 2 Timothy 3:13 (NKJV), "But evil men and impostors will grow worse and worse, deceiving and being deceived."

According to Vine's Complete Expository Dictionary in 2 Tim. 3:13, RV (KJV, “seducers”); possibly the false teachers referred to practiced magical arts; cf. v. 8."

The Lord gave a final stunning rebuke to the Sanhedrin.

Matthew 23:5-6 (NKJV)

"But all their works they do to be seen by men. They make their phylacteries broad and enlarge the borders of their garments. They love the best places at feasts, the best seats in the synagogues..."

Matthew 23:25-28 (NKJV)

“Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you cleanse the outside of the cup and dish, but inside they are full of extortion and self-indulgence. Blind Pharisee, first cleanse the inside of the cup and dish, that the outside of them may be clean also.

“Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you are like whitewashed tombs which indeed appear beautiful outwardly, but inside are full of dead men’s bones and all uncleanness. Even so you also outwardly appear righteous to men, but inside you are full of hypocrisy and lawlessness."

Typical things done among these religious leaders.

A title means nothing unless the Lord and His Word validates and verifies them.

One. Beautiful Clothing.

Two. Where They Sit.

With the combination of these things, it's very easy to give to anyone that's willing to listen their "fables or myths."

One of the greatest crimes in the streets is when people impersonate a police officer. It's easy to trust them. They pull behind you when you're driving and their red, blue, and white flashing lights readily identifies them as officers of the law.

They step out of their patrol car and you see their badge, uniform, service weapon, and their hat. However, there are imposters out there.

Just like in the church when you walk into a building. You see the altar, the seats, the pastor wearing official religious garb and you assume that they are who they say they are.

But the one thng that distinguishes them above the rest is the Bible. You look in the Scriptures to see if what they say is in the Bible.

You suppress your feelings and emotions. You look for the wisdom of God in the Word of God. You take your time and never rush to make a decision to join their church. You never accept first impressions because first impressions is their best impression.

Sooner or later, the things that they don't want you to see comes to the surface. No place is perfect, but you look for consistency of the truth. Even when the bad things show up. You want the truth.

The good. The bad. The ugly.

They have world class musicians. They play and sing great music. Then they open their mouths. This is the most important part where you begin to see if they know the Scriptures.

Truth or fiction. Truth or fables.

A fable is an "invention of falsehood." It's also "a falsification of facts."

It's the place where they may have taken a place in the Bible, give the text, but begin to pervert the text by saying something that's not factual in the text and then give a half baked excuse to mutilate that text.

This deceptive act has only two purposes.

One. To deceive you into being their disciple.

Two. To take your money.

They look to take advantage of your inability to discern their wicked intent.

Matthew 15:3 (NKJV)

"He answered and said to them, “Why do you also transgress the commandment of God because of your tradition?"

Matthew 15:7-9 (NKJV)

"Hypocrites! Well did Isaiah prophesy about you, saying:

‘These people draw near to Me with their mouth,

And honor Me with their lips,

But their heart is far from Me.

And in vain they worship Me,

Teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.’”

In other words, they usurp the commandments of the Lord with their commandments and people receive it.

John 10:4-5 (NKJV)

"And when he brings out his own sheep, he goes before them; and the sheep follow him, for they know his voice. Yet they will by no means follow a stranger, but will flee from him, for they do not know the voice of strangers.”

The ones that's easily deceived are the ones that's young in the Lord and don't know the Word. And they deceive the ones that should be further along in their walk in the Lord in the Word.

That's why they're successful in deceiving people.

Hebrews 5:12-14 (NKJV)

"For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you again the first principles of the oracles of God; and you have come to need milk and not solid food.

For everyone who partakes only of milk is unskilled in the word of righteousness, for he is a babe. But solid food belongs to those who are of full age, that is, those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil."

Truth or fiction. Truth or fables.