“After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi from the east came to Jerusalem and asked, “Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his star in the east and have come to worship him.” (Matthew 2:2)
Most of us wonder about the story of the wise men. Who were they? Why would they look for a king because of a star? These travellers from the East are called Magi or wise men. The “wise men” could be the counsellors of the pagan kings.

The prophet Balaam lived 1500 years before Jesus was born. His prophecy concerning a star could help us understand why that Star was so important. Balaam was a powerful, internationally known magician who was hired by a king to put a curse on the Israelites. Instead, God forced him to bless Israel and he prophesied concerning the future of Israel. Balaam prophesied, “I see him, but not now; I behold him, but not near. A star rises from Jacob; a sceptre comes forth from Israel” (Num 24:17-18).

Stars are closely associated with kings as kings were poetically described as stars in the heavens. The poetic parallel of the word “star” in this passage is the kingly “sceptre”. The word sceptre also means “comet”. It shows that there was a tie between celestial events and earthly kings. It seems logical that the Messianic King that the Jews were expecting was associated with a “star rising from Jacob” (Israel). This celestial event would announce His coming into the world. It is likely that the pagan kings, who had this knowledge, had sent the magi with expensive gifts to pay homage to this new born king.
Both the physical and spiritual world had reacted to this great news – that of the coming of Jesus into the world. The entire spiritual world was in an uproar about the coming of this King! Not only were the angels telling the shepherds, but demons were also telling the pagans in distant countries about the powerful King who had arrived on earth. They knew that He would be King of all creation, and that He was more than human. His coming had rocked the spiritual world and the demons trembled.

Matthew recorded in his book that “King Herod was disturbed and all Jerusalem with him”. He called “the Magi secretly and found out the exact time the star had appeared.” He lied to the magi that he too had wanted to “go and worship him” (Matt 2:7-8). Later, Herod found out that he was outwitted by the magi. He was furious and he killed all the boys who were under two years of age in Bethlehem and its vicinity. In so doing, King Herod wanted the Child to be killed. However, his plan failed him. He himself died but the Child lived.

Jesus, the glorious Messianic King, still lives today and He lives in the hearts of all who would humble themselves to worship Him as their Saviour and King over their lives. This Christmas is a good time to rededicate ourselves and allow King Jesus to rule and reign in our hearts and homes. When He is truly honoured as King in our lives and families, our CHRISTmas will be wonderful and our New Year will be blessed.

“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth” (John 1:1-3, 14)

Of the four eye-witnesses to the life and ministry of Jesus, John very profoundly explained Jesus as the “The Great I Am”. He traced the origin of Jesus from the beginning of time. Jesus is the “The WORD”. He was “with God” and He “was God”.  “The WORD (Jesus) became flesh” (He came in human form to be the SAVIOUR of the World). In John’s Gospel, John showed how the WORD spoke for God, was crucified by sinful man, died and rose from the dead (John 20:30-31).

We need divine revelation to understand the above verses. Who is Jesus? Why is He called the WORD? John testified to this truth that Jesus was the WORD who was with God and was God from the very beginning. The WORD became flesh (took human form) and lived among men to show forth His glory.  In Hebrews 1:1-2 clearly states, “Long ago, at many times and in many ways, God spoke to our fathers by the prophets, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son” (Hebrews 1:1-2).. Why did John introduce Jesus as “the WORD”? Because Jesus speaks for God to Man. He comes from God and He reveals God to Man. His authority to teach concerning the Kingdom of God, His authority to perform all kinds of miracles and His authority to drive out demons all point to the fact that He is God. He is the WORD and all men will come to salvation by believing in the WORD.

In the book of Revelations, John tells of the Glorious Return of the WORD to this world. “He is clothed in a robe dipped in blood, and the name by which He is called is The WORD of GOD.” (Rev 19:13). Jesus is the WORD from the Beginning and to the End. All the revelation, all the truth, all the witness and all the glory are summed up in the Person of Jesus – the absolutely true and reliable WORD of GOD!

John, the beloved disciple of Jesus, had a very close relationship with His Lord and it took him three years to write this profound truth so that we too would embrace the WORD of GOD in our lives. The Psalmist in Psalm 95:7-8 admonishes us “Today if you hear his voice (the WORD), do not harden your hearts” (Psalm 95:7-8). Let’s be diligent to search the written Word of God so that we will personally encounter Him (the WORD) in our lives. When the WORD is in us, transformation will surely take place.

“But what about you?” he asked. “Who do you say I am?” Simon Peter answered, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” Jesus replied, “Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, for this was not revealed to you by man, but by my Father in heaven. And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it. (Matthew 16:15-18).

In the final month of every Jewish year, the Messianic Jews will spend time in retrospection, reflection, repentance and preparation for the New Year so that they can praise Yeshua and His Kingship on Rosh Hashanah. During this last month of the year, we should slow down our activity and ponder on who Jesus means to us and whether we have given the honour that is due to His Name.

Before Jesus went to the Cross, he posed his disciples the question, “Who do you say that I am? In our recent trip to the Holy Land, we were privileged to be at the place where Jesus asked this question. The place is called Banias/Panias, the so-called ‘birthplace’ of the Greek god called “Pan”.  This place was occupied mostly by non-Jews and it is a place full of idolatry. The place that He chose was in front of an outdoor theatre, created in front of a large rock, with a cave called the gates of Hades. Here, people worshiped Pan in orgiastic fervour.
“What are we doing here?” the disciples of Jesus must have wondered. Jesus had an important question for them. His time was short. He had already spent enough time with them. Was there one who understood His Mission? Was there anyone who recognised him for who He was? Would anyone carry on His work and labour for the Kingdom of God when He was taken into heaven? It is crucial for Jesus to know the answer before He set out for the Cross.

I am sure that Jesus must have felt relieved when Peter boldly answered, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” Jesus’ response also fits the environment. In the face of demonic stronghold, Jesus declared, “You are Peter and on this rock I will build my church and the gates of Hades will not overcome it.” If Jesus were to be physically present in Singapore today, where would you think He might take us to? Where do you think He would bring us to challenge the forces of evil and declare that the gates of Hades would not have the power to prevail over us?
When we truly know who Jesus is to us personally and live like He is, we are overcomers and are more than conquerors through Christ who loved us. To declare that we are overcomers implies that we have ‘battles’ to fight, ‘territories’ to occupy, ‘enemies’ to defeat and ‘obstacles’ to jump over. Jesus promised us two certainties in John 16:33 – ‘peace’ and ‘trouble’ (problem). Praise God, He first promises us ‘peace’ before ‘problems’ sets in. The reason He can promise us ‘peace’ is because He Himself has overcome the world. How assuring it is to end the year in a triumphant note. Jesus is the King of kings! He rules and reigns forever in the hearts of all who trust in Him! His Kingdom is an everlasting Kingdom! (Phil 2:9-11; Rev 20).

“Now if you faithfully obey the LORD your God and are careful to follow all His commands I am giving you today, the LORD your God will put you far above all the nations of the earth.  All these blessings will come and overtake you, because you obey the LORD your God” Deuteronomy 28:1, 2 (HCSB).

Do you want to be overtaken by problems like debts, distresses, diseases, dangers and deaths? How about being overtaken by the blessings of God?
Moses reveals how people can be overtaken by God and His blessings.  Who are they? They are people who seriously keep the covenant of God and are “careful to follow all His commands” (Deut 18:1-14).

Psalm 23:6 declares, “Surely goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life”. The word “to follow” in Hebrew means “to pursue” or “to chase after”. It is the same word meaning “to overtake” in Deuteronomy 28:2. In order to be overtaken by His blessings, Psalm 23:1 says that the person must have a covenant relationship with the LORD (“The Lord is my Shepherd”). When the person enjoys a vital relationship with the faithful, covenant-keeping God, he is never “in want”. There is no lack in anything. He is so blessed spiritually and materially that we can say that he is literally overtaken by God’s blessings.

What Moses wrote in Deuteronomy 28:1-14 is beautifully and poetically expressed by King David in Psalm 23. When one’s life is being overtaken by God and His blessings, one can sing in praise like David to God who is the Fountain of blessings. In Psalm 23, David reveals his experiences and encounters with God as “Jehovah Rohi” (David’s Shepherd), “Jehovah Jireh” (David’s Provider), “Jehovah Tsidkenu” (David’s righteousness), “Jehovah Shammah” (God’s Presence with David) and “Jehovah Rapha” (David’s Healer). In this psalm, David is telling us that when we follow after God, His unlimited blessings will follow after us and overtake us. There is security and rest when one truly experiences God as His Shepherd.  When God is with us and for us, Moses says that we “will be blessed in the city and blessed in the country; the fruit of our wombs will be blessed…baskets and kneading troughs will be blessed…we will be blessed when we come in and blessed when we go out”. The LORD will grant that the enemies who rise up against us will be defeated before us” (Deut 28:3-7). When His covenant people “fully obey” and “carefully follow all His commands”, they will enjoy protection and prosperity; they will be lenders and not borrowers (Deut 28:11-12).
Brothers and sisters, we pray that this truth sink into our spirit being. When we choose to obey and serve Him as the Lord of our lives today and always, we will surely be overtaken by God and His blessings. There is no other way but this “ancient path” (Jeremiah 6:16) where we will enjoy Him and His blessings!

“Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.  No one can serve two masters… You cannot serve God and money. But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. (Matthew 6:19, 24, 33)

As we continue the series on Financial Freedom, I want us to take another look at the above passage on “Laying up treasures in heaven”. Talking about money puts us in good company, namely with Jesus. Jesus spoke more on money matters than on heaven and hell combined. Jesus said to a rich young ruler: “One thing you lack: go and sell all you possess and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me” (Mark 10:21). When our Lord Jesus “saw a poor widow put in two small copper coins”, He said, ‘Truly, I tell you; this poor widow has put in more than all of them” (Luke 21:1). From this incident, we can safely say that Jesus is also watching what and how we give into His Kingdom. He is radical in His call for us to give generously for He noticed that the poor widow had “put in all that she had” and that is commendable. In His teachings, He also endorses the Old Testament tithe (the minimum giving of a tenth of your income).

The Early Church is known for their generosity for “they were selling their possessions….and distributing the proceeds….as any had need,” (Acts 2:45). Paul speaks of how the Macedonian church “in a severe test of affliction, their abundance of joy and their extreme poverty have overflowed in a wealth of generosity” (2 Corinthians 8:2). As individuals and as a church, we are to give generously for this is commended by Jesus and the saints in the days of the book of Acts. When we have a generous spirit, we are set free from the fear of lack and poverty. We who are redeemed through the blood of the Lamb will gratefully give and invest our lives and all that we have into the Kingdom of God.

It is a known fact that generous people are the happiest people on earth. Proverbs 22:9 says – “He who is generous will be blessed.” 1 Timothy 6:9, “Luke says in Acts 20:35, “It is more blessed to give than to receive.” Let us learn this principle of being generous while we are young before we are overtaken by worldliness and greed. We hoard for ourselves because we are fearful that we do not have enough in our old age or the fear that we do not have enough when we are overtaken by illnesses. This fear factor in us often leads to insecurity and discontentment in life.

Jesus gave us three imperatives in the above passage:

1) “Lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven” (Matt 6:20),

2) “Do not be anxious” is mentioned three times. (Matt 6:25; 31; 34) and

3) “Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness” (Matt 6:33). Of these three imperatives, seeking first the kingdom of God and His righteousness is the most important. The “do not be anxious” is the condition of the heart by which we must break ourselves free from the addiction to accumulate treasures. Our purpose is not to accumulate wealth on earth but to lay up treasures in heaven. With regards to money, Jesus emphatically reminds us that “no one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money.” Both God and money want to be the master of our lives. We must will to make God our Master and make money our servant.

“Yours, O LORD, is the greatness and the power and the glory and the majesty and the splendour, for everything in heaven and earth is yours. Yours, O LORD, is the kingdom; you are exalted as head over all. Wealth and honour come from you; you are the ruler of all things. In your hands are strength and power to exalt and give strength to all… But who am I, and who are my people, that we should be able to give as generously as this? Everything comes from you, and we have given you only what comes from your hand.” (1 Chron 29:11-14).

Nearly two-thirds of the parables of Jesus deal with stewardship (the proper use) of money. In the New Testament, 12 out of the 38 parables are about money. One out of every six verses in the Gospels deals with money and the responsibility of the individual over his/her money. Stewardship involves trust, confidence and relationship. Stewardship is delegated oversight of another’s possessions. It is delegated authority coupled with accountability.

Eliezer was a chief steward of Abraham and Abraham entrusted everything to him including the search for a wife for his son, Isaac. From being a slave, Joseph rose to be the chief steward in Potiphar’s household. He was tested and found faithful at great cost. God was pleased with him and He saw it fit that Joseph should be promoted to a position of honour and power in Egypt. As Prime Minister of Egypt, he used his God given wisdom in handling the resources of the nation to save Egypt from the severe and extensive famine. Truly, “it is required in stewards that they be found faithful” (1 Cor 4:2). When we are faithful “in little things”, God will entrust us “with much” (Luke 16:10). This means that if we do not know how to use a $100 with Godly wisdom, God will not entrust us with $100,000? Often, we think that the money we have in our hands are ours and for our own spending or keeping. Even if we have been religiously faithful in honouring God with our Tithes, Offerings and Pledges (TOP); we need to ask God for wisdom in being faithful stewards of that which are in our pockets or bank accounts.

King David humbly asked, “Who am I and who are my people”. We are but dust.  Everything comes from God and we can only give that which God puts into our hands. Yet from dust, God created us in His Image and Likeness and if God is in us, we would reflect that image of God in us. We would be His generous, good and faithful stewards.

Moses declared, “The earth is the LORD’s” (Exodus 9:29). King David reiterated that in Psalm 24:1, “The earth is the LORD’s and everything in it, the world and all who live in it.” God declared through the Prophet Isaiah, “Heaven is my throne and the earth is my footstool…Has not my hand made all these things?” (Isaiah 66:1-2). We need to see God as He really is. He is not in need of our money. The reverse is true – He is the possessor and giver of all good things (and that includes wealth)!  When we acknowledge God (by our Godly lifestyle) as the ruler of all things, we will receive honour and wealth from Him! He promised that we will then be “the head and not the tail”, “the top and not the bottom” (Deut 28:13), the lenders and not the borrowers, prosperous believers (Deut 28:11) and not in poverty. Hallelujah!

“Will a man rob God? Yet you rob me…’How do we rob you?’ “In tithes and offerings. You are under a curse – the whole nation of you – because you are robbing me. Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. Test me in this,” says the LORD Almighty, “and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that you will not have room enough for it.” (Mal 3:8-10)

From the beginning of time, God desires that His people offer to Him their best — their first fruits. In agriculture, the first fruit that appears must be set apart for God. Genesis 4 tells us that both Cain and Abel gave their first fruits to God (verses 3-4). Today, offering the first fruit is equivalent to tithing. A tithe is a tenth or 10% of one’s income. When we fail to honour God with our first fruits or tithes, the Prophet Malachi said that we are robbing God and a curse (often of poverty) is incurred. No one has really given to God until he has first given his tithe. The Prophet Malachi emphasizes that we are to honour God “in tithes and offerings”. This implies that offerings are gifts that are beyond the 10%.

Out of the 66 books in the Holy Scriptures, 34 of them mention the subject of offering (that of giving and receiving). Out of the 72 references to giving, 48 of them show God’s unequivocal promise of His abundant blessings to the giver. “Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you” (Luke.6:38). God is no man’s debtor. He is always ready to bless His children who know how to honour Him with their tithes and offerings.

Revelation 18 forewarns Christians of the Fall of Commercial Babylon. Christians need to be very wise in investment and trade. The recent global economic crisis had caused many to suffer great losses. Well established banks, financial investment institutions and insurance companies lost billions of money and some have collapsed overnight. Many Christians too are suffering materially, physically and spiritually because they have not been wise in the use of money or they have put their wealth in the wrong places. History often repeats itself and people do not seem to learn from the past. After a year of uncertainty, people are flocking to invest in stocks, shares and properties hoping for easy and quick gain. We need to take heed to Paul’s warnings – “there will be terrible times in the last days. People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money…” (2 Tim 3:1-2)

Let’s guard our hearts for Solomon says it is “the wellspring of life” (Pro 4:23). Let’s ensure that our hearts are not centred on gold but on God and the things of God. Let’s align our lives, our works, and our pursuits on the pure Word of God which is able to save our souls from the many earthly pangs. Let’s do everything possible to quickly get out of debts into financial freedom. Let’s seek God’s wisdom to avoid the pitfalls of financial bondage. Let’s rise up to be the “head and not the tail”, lenders and not borrowers, givers and not takers.

When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field” (Matthew 9:36-38).

A story was told of a church committee holding an important meeting to recruit a man to fill the position of a deacon. Everyone who was present declined the offer. Finally, someone nominated a man who was not present. The vote for the man who was absent was unanimous. Then someone remarked, “That’s what he gets for being absent”. Thereafter, this saying stands, “If you don’t want to get elected, make sure you are at the meeting!”

This was not the way the Early Church went about in recruiting labourers. Acts 13 tells us that the leaders of the church in Antioch came together for prayer and fasting. While having intimate fellowship with the Lord, the Holy Spirit said to them, “Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them” (Acts 13:2).

It is natural for us to get people who are talented and popular to fill our committee or to get them for the job. Instead, we should seek God for His divine revelation in the choice of His workers. Recruiting labourers for the Lord’s work is a serious spiritual matter. We may think a worker is suitable until such a time when the trials and challenges reveal his true character and commitment to the Lord. God does not make mistakes in His choice of His workers. He knows the end from beginning.

The prophet Samuel was told by the Lord to “recruit” a king for Israel. God told Samuel the exact family from which His chosen one would come from. Upon seeing Jesse’s oldest son, Samuel exclaimed, “Surely the LORD’S anointed is before him” (I:6). The way Samuel went about choosing a king was the same as any human being would. We tend to look at the outward appearance. Our human tendency is to evaluate a person based on his human potentials rather than on the spiritual. God instructed Samuel, “Look not on his countenance, or on the height of his stature; because I have refused him: for the LORD sees not as man sees; for man looks on the outward appearance, but the LORD looks on the heart” (I:7).

Our Lord spent all night praying before He chose His disciples. It is very important for us to spend time in prayer before choosing workers for the local church or foreign fields. While we pray for the right workers to serve in the Church, let’s make sure that we are the kind of workers that God would choose for His harvest fields. In this End Time Harvest, we need to pray for truly effective, spirit-filled and faithful workers who are truly committed to serve God’s purposes and advance God’s Kingdom in this world.

“Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it” (Matthew 7:13-14)

What is this narrow way and why go through the narrow way? Why not the broad way? Is this meant to restrict the believer? If we know the nature and character of Jesus, we know that He is so wise and loving that He will only choose that which is good for us. Jesus never minces His words and what He says are full of wisdom and worthy of our emulation. The above verses are some of His most powerful, authoritative and terrifying words in the life and ministry of Jesus. If we are truly His disciples, we will take heed to His warnings.

We all know that in order for an athlete to reach the finishing line in the shortest time, he needs to stay within the track allotted to him. Strips of lines are drawn to assist him to keep him in track for finishing line in attaining crown of glory. Likewise, Jesus has already marked out our ‘running track’ to ensure that we run the Christian race with no hindrances and encumbrances in our journey to “press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me (us) heavenward in Christ Jesus” (Phil 3:14).

In this sense, the Christian walk is a narrow way as compared to the world (with its sinful attractions) as the broad way that leads to destruction. Many people delay in embracing Christ as Saviour and Lord because they want to enjoy the world and its fleeting pleasures. They know that Jesus is “the Way, the Truth and the Life” (John 14:6) but they want to taste the pleasures of sin in the world before they make their ‘exit’ from this world and hoping to ‘hop’ into heaven at the eleventh hour.

In the context of the above passage, Jesus give us a very serious warning, “not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord will enter the kingdom of heaven…I never knew you” (verses 21 to 23). Those on the ‘broad way’ are the false prophets and false believers. They only ‘say’ Lord, Lord but in their lives and hearts, they do not do “the will of my Father who is in heaven”. These people may include those who prophesy in Jesus’ Name, drive out demons and perform many miracles. This is indeed a terrifying warning to those who profess His Name and perform spectacular miracles but do not actually belong to Jesus.

Those who enter by the narrow way are those who do the “will of my Father”. What then is the “will of my Father”? Jesus said, “For my Father’s will is that everyone who looks to the Son and believes in him shall have eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day” (John 6:40). Jesus clearly marks out the life of one who is His disciple and who is willing to persevere in walking the narrow way, “If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will save it. What good is it for a man to gain the whole world, and yet lose or forfeit his very self? If anyone is ashamed of me and my words, the Son of Man will be ashamed of him when He comes in His glory and in the glory of the Father and of the holy angels” (Luke 9:3-26).

Brothers and sisters, let’s choose to walk on the narrow way. Let’s not miss the real thing!!!

“Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves” (Matthew 7:15). “If anyone teaches false doctrines and does not agree to the sound instruction of our Lord Jesus Christ and to godly teaching, he is conceited and understands nothing” (1 Timothy 6:3, 4).

In the Old and New Testaments, false apostles, false prophets and false teachers were prevalent. Moses warned the Israelites of false prophets in Deuteronomy 19:22, “If what a prophet proclaims in the name of the LORD does not take place or come true, that is a message the LORD has not spoken. That prophet has spoken presumptuously. Do not be afraid of him.” Jesus warned His disciples, “Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves”.

False teachers and false doctrines will be on the increase as we approach the End times. In answering the disciples’ questions concerning the signs of the End of the Age, Jesus said, “Watch out that no one deceives you” (Mark 13:5a). He emphasized these words four times, “You must be on your guard” (Mark 13:9, 23, 33, and 35).

The apostle Paul also warns us against false teachers/teaching in 1Timothy 6:3-5. First, we need to check if that doctrine is not different from the revealed Word of God in the Holy Scriptures. True teachers will teach and preach truths from the Word of God. Paul emphasizes in 2 Tim 3:16-17 that “all Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work”. Second, we can easily spot false teachers because they have the tendency to be conceited. False teachers are proud and understand nothing and they have a sick craving for controversies and arguments. They major on the minor issues and these often lead to heresies. Any doctrine stretched to the extreme is a heresy.

However, there is a difference between false teachers and teachers who teach wrongly. False teachers deliberately teach falsehood and deception which is the spirit of the Anti-Christ. An example of a false teacher is the prophet Balaam whose teachings are aimed at the destruction of the Jews (Numbers 22-25). On the other hand, teachers can be wrong in their teaching due to ignorance and human weakness. An example of this is Prophet Nathan who gave David the wrong counsel concerning the building of a house for God (2 Samuel 7).

As believers, we need not be misled by false teachers. It would do us well to be like the Bereans who carefully “examined the Scriptures every day to see if what Paul said was true” (Acts 17:11). Ultimately, God holds each one of us responsible for who we believe and what we believe. May we be diligent in the study of God’s Word so that we have the wisdom to sieve out the truth from the false.