Spiritual Warfare Series — Devotional #13
False Teachers
This week we continue exploring the question:
How does God’s enemy come after His people and His leaders for the sole purpose of distracting, disrupting, and derailing them from being involved in God's great mission?
As we survey Pauline literature, we uncover fourteen tactical strategies that the enemy uses to oppose God’s people—along with Spirit-empowered antidotes to resist them.
Tactic 13: False Teachers
“No man is exempted from the subtle deception of doctrinal drift—the man of God expects this temptation.”
– Gary Rohrmayer
Biblical Foundation
1 Timothy 4:1–2 –
“The Spirit clearly says that in later times some will abandon the faith and follow deceiving spirits and things taught by demons. Such teachings come through hypocritical liars, whose consciences have been seared as with a hot iron.”
Paul does not mince words: false teaching is not merely human error—it is energized by spiritual deception. Teachers influenced by “seducing spirits” present ideas that sound appealing but slowly lead people away from the gospel. This battle for truth is a spiritual battle.
The Problem: Doctrinal Drift
J. Robert Clinton warns:
“Satan uses demons to influence teachers to give false doctrines that appeal to people. They are actually described as seducing spirits, hypocritical liars with no conscience.”
The danger is not always blatant heresy; often it is the subtle drift—adding to the gospel, minimizing the authority of Scripture, or elevating personal opinion above biblical truth. Once the conscience is seared, false teachers can spread deception with confidence and charisma. The result is confusion, division, and mission drift within the church.
The Antidote: Teaching the Truth with Clarity and Courage
Clinton offers this antidote:
“A Bible-centered leader like Timothy should teach the truth about these evil doctrines, countering these heresies.”
The antidote to false teaching is not silence or avoidance but truth—boldly taught, lived, and guarded. Paul urges Timothy (1 Timothy 4:6–16) to:
Expose Error – Call out falsehood and contrast it with sound doctrine.
Nourish on Scripture – Be grounded in “the truths of the faith and of good teaching.”
Train in Godliness – Emphasize holiness as the fruit of true teaching.
Set an Example – Back up teaching with a life marked by love, purity, and faith.
Watch Life and Doctrine Closely – Guard both belief and behavior with vigilance.
Persevere – Endure in truth for the sake of both leaders and their hearers.
Reflective Questions
Where could the enemy try to undermine your personal theological convictions?
In what ways could the enemy subtly influence your church’s theological framework?
What is Paul’s strategy for protecting the church from false teachers? (See 1 Timothy 4:4–16)
What is Paul’s strategy for combating personal doctrinal drift? (See 1 Timothy 4:4–16)
How does theological drift eventually lead to missional drift in the church?
Prayer
Holy Father, Beautiful Savior, God of all truth,
Protect Your church from the delusions of the enemy.
Help us to cherish and nourish the deep truths of the faith.
Fill our lives with sound teaching that fuels a passion for You and a hunger for mission.
Raise up leaders who watch their lives and doctrine closely—who live what they teach and set an example in speech, conduct, love, faith, and purity.
Teach us to preserve the truth for ourselves, for those we lead, and for Your glory.
In Jesus’ name, Amen.
