SUNDAY, AUGUST 31, 2025

An In-Depth Look at Discerning Truth and Standing on the Full Counsel of God’s Word

BIBLICAL FOUNDATION:

TEXT: 1 Samuel 2:8-10, Proverbs 4:20-24
MEMORISE: “Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life.” (Proverbs 4:23, KJV)

MESSAGE: PROTECTING YOUR FAITH FROM PERVERTED DOCTRINE

In the spiritual realm, your faith is your most valuable asset. It is the victory that overcomes the world (1 John 5:4). The devil understands that he cannot defeat a believer who stands firm in their faith. Therefore, his primary strategy is not to attack you head-on but to subtly erode the very foundation of your confidence in God’s Word. He uses lies, perverted doctrines, and false teachings to gradually shift you away from the ground of faith.

The wisdom of Scripture provides a critical warning in our memory verse: “Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life.” Your heart, in this context, is the core of your being—the seat of your beliefs, desires, and intentions. To “keep” it means to guard it, protect it, and diligently monitor what enters it. Just as a gardener protects a plant from weeds, you must protect your heart from the seeds of wrong beliefs.

The Dangers of Perverted Doctrines

Perverted doctrines are not always blatant falsehoods. They are often distortions of truth, half-truths that subtly poison your understanding of God and His will for your life. These teachings are designed to weaken your faith by undermining the promises of God.

Consider some of the most common perverted doctrines that have infiltrated the Church:

Poverty as a sign of humility: Some people are taught that being poor is a sign of holiness or spiritual superiority. This belief is a dangerous distortion that robs Christians of their covenant inheritance. The Bible says that God delights in the prosperity of His servant (Psalm 35:27). While Jesus Himself walked in humility, He did not die so that His followers could live in perpetual lack.

Endless suffering for holiness: The idea that a child of God must suffer endlessly to be holy or acceptable is completely unscriptural. While trials and persecution are a part of the Christian life, they are not God’s intended path for us to achieve holiness. Jesus suffered and became poor so that through His poverty, we might be rich—not just financially, but in every aspect of life. He took our sicknesses and sorrows upon Himself (Isaiah 53:4) so that we could walk in divine health and peace.

The truth is, if the Gospel does not elevate you, then what else makes it “good news”? The Gospel is not about keeping you in the pit; it is about raising you out of it. The Bible is clear—God is a lifter. The Prophet Hannah, in her prayer, proclaimed this truth: “He raises the poor out of the dust and lifts beggars from the dunghill to set them among princes” (1 Samuel 2:8). This is the Gospel! Jesus didn’t die to keep us in our struggles but to give us a complete upgrade of life.

Discerning Truth from Deception

So, how do you protect your heart from these subtle attacks? You must develop a spirit of discernment. When you hear any doctrine or teaching, you have a responsibility to check it against the full counsel of God’s Word.

Does it align with the character of God? Is the teaching consistent with a loving, good, and generous Father?
Does it empower you or disempower you? Does it make you feel stuck, discouraged, or condemned, or does it fill you with hope, faith, and confidence in God’s promises?
Does it elevate Christ’s finished work? Let no teaching settle in your heart if it undermines what Christ came to accomplish in your life. He didn’t just come to save us from sin; He came to give us life and give it more abundantly (John 10:10).

Your calling is to a higher life—a life of victory, growth, and purpose. Any teaching that denies you that reality is not from God. The strength of your faith lies in the purity of what you feed it. When your faith stands on the full, unadulterated truth of God’s Word, you will always overcome.

Taking a Personal Inventory

Take a moment to ponder the question: What teachings or opinions have you accepted that do not reflect the full truth of God’s Word? Are you standing on the dunghill of wrong beliefs, or are you rising on the truth of the Gospel?

It is time to be honest with yourself. Identify any beliefs you hold that make you feel condemned, limited, or unworthy of God’s blessings. Replace those lies with the powerful promises of God’s Word. You are the righteousness of God in Christ Jesus (2 Corinthians 5:21). You are blessed with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places (Ephesians 1:3). You are an heir of God and a joint-heir with Christ (Romans 8:17). These are not just nice words; they are the reality of your identity in Christ.

Guard your heart. Feed it with truth. And watch as your faith becomes an unshakable force that overcomes every obstacle.

PRAYER

Lord, I guard my heart with truth. No lie or wrong teaching will take root in me again in Jesus’ name.
Father, give me a spirit of discernment to recognize and reject any doctrine that is not from You. Help me to stand firm on the full counsel of Your Word.
I pray for all believers who are struggling with perverted doctrines. I pray that Your truth would shine in their hearts and set them free, in Jesus’ name.

FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions)

Q1: What is a “perverted doctrine”?

A: A perverted doctrine is a false teaching that distorts or misrepresents the truth of God’s Word. It often contains a mixture of truth and lies, making it difficult to detect, and it typically undermines a believer’s confidence in God’s promises.

Q2: What is the significance of the phrase “out of it are the issues of life”?

A: This phrase from Proverbs 4:23 means that your heart is the source of everything you do and experience in life. What you believe in your heart will ultimately manifest in your life. Therefore, protecting your heart from wrong beliefs is crucial for living a victorious life.

Q3: How can I tell if a teaching is a perverted doctrine?

A: You can tell if a teaching is perverted by checking it against the full counsel of the Bible. A good question to ask is, “Does this teaching truly reflect the character of God and the finished work of Jesus Christ?” If it contradicts what the Bible says about God’s love, grace, and promises, it is likely a perverted doctrine.

Question and Answer

Q1: What is the devil’s main strategy against a believer who is strong in faith?

A: The devil’s main strategy is to shift them away from the ground of faith by using lies, perverted doctrines, and false teachings.

Q2: According to the article, what is one of the dangerous distortions that robs Christians of their covenant inheritance?

A: The idea that poverty is a sign of humility is one of the dangerous distortions mentioned.

Q3: What does the Bible say God does for the poor and beggars?

A: The Bible says God raises the poor out of the dust and lifts beggars from the dunghill to set them among princes.

Q4: According to the article, what is the key to protecting your faith and always overcoming?

A: The key is to stand on the full counsel of God’s Word and protect your heart from any teaching that denies you the reality of your life in Christ.