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Story: Superman from a tree. 

• You think you chose the right branch.
  
  
• The test proves otherwise.
  
  
• There are lots of voices—more than ever. If you form your worldview and your life around the wrong voice(s) when the test comes…
  
  
• Avoiding destructive love.

John is writing to the church to help each of them remain in a place of strength in their faith with Christ.

Pray to Remain

Read 1 John 2:18-27

These last days…there are teachers who want to lead you astray.  (26)

There is a threat from within the community that will challenge your faith.

• There will be many false teachers--antichrists. (18)
  • They will deny that Jesus is the Christ. (22)
  • A sign of the final chapter. (18b)
  • All carry the same spirit sourced from the evil one.

• They will often come out of the church. (19a)
  
  
• They have looked like they belonged, but they were not the real deal. (19b)
  
  
• Key evidence: they did not remain. (19c)

The Holy Spirit is God’s gift to us to discern truth and identify false teaching.

• We receive the anointing of the Holy Spirit at our re-birth. (20)

Ephesians 1:13-14 “And you also were included in Christ when you heard the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation. When you believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, ¹⁴ who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God’s possession—to the praise of his glory.”

• He will help you know the truth. (21)  John 16:13 “But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all the truth. He will not speak on his own; he will speak only what he hears, and he will tell you what is yet to come.” 
  • A guide to truth.
  • A direct bridge between you and the God of the universe.
  • He knows the future and will give you what you need to walk into that future.

No teaching that would separate Jesus the Son from the God the Father is true.  (22-23)

• They are inseparable.
  
  
• Denying Jesus’ oneness with the Father is to show ignorance of who God is.
  
  
• Denying the oneness of God the Father with His Son Jesus is to reject Jesus unique ability as the “Holy One” (20) to save you from your sins.
  
  
• Islam identifies Jesus as a prophet on par with Mohammed, but in doing so they are rejecting Jesus as the Way to reconciliation with God.

Remain strong on truth. (24-25)

• In what you have been taught in Scripture. The Word of Truth.
  
  
• In your belief as Jesus as the Son of God. The Son who is truth.
  
  
• In your hope of eternal life. (25)  The true Hope.

Fool-proofing your life by the power of the Holy Spirit. (27)

1. Lean in on the Holy Spirit for discernment with the Word opened. (27a)

• He is committed to REMAIN with you. (27a)
• He is to teach you about all things. John 16:13
• He is the expert on truth as He authored the Word of Truth.
• He will bring to mind that which you have learned from His Word.

2. Remain in the teaching of the Holy Spirit as He gives you the mind of Christ. (27c) 1Corinthians 2:12-16 (Read)

 “God’s people + God’s Spirit + God’s Word = transformation (mind of Christ)”

3. Choose wisely your teachers and listen with the ears of the Spirit. (27b)

• Teachers who teach from Scripture as the authority. 2 Timothy 3:14-16; 4:3-4 (Read if time)
• Teachers who are under account. James 3:1 (Refer)
• Teachers who teach to build up the church towards unity in the fullness of Christ. Ephesians 4:11-13 (Refer)