How to identify Satan’s Doctrine

A lot of people have a big problem trying to tell the difference between teachings of God versus teachings of Satan.

Jesus gives one very clear way to identify Satan’s teaching.

Matthew 16:23 (NET)
But he turned and said to Peter,, “Get behind me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to me, because you are not setting your mind on God’s interests, but on man’s.”

Satan is focused on the interests of human beings over the interests of God.

People think Satan will come with a doctrine that directly says, you must worship demons. No.

Satan’s teaching puts the interests of man above the interests of God.

Examples

1. In this particular case, Peter had told Jesus that no one was going to harm him or kill him. While he seemed to care for Jesus welfare, he was actually defying God’s destiny concerning Christ. Christ was supposed to suffer and be killed.

Be careful of doctrines that seem to tell you that you don’t have to go through the problems that God said you must go through.

2. When Satan came to Adam and Eve, everything he said was focusing on raising man. His message was focused on elevating man. You will be like God. You will have wisdom. etc.

Be careful of any doctrine that seems to want to give you wealth, wisdom, power, etc… Yet requiring you to ignore the commandments of our lord.

3. When Jesus was hungry Satan came and told him a solution to solve his hunger then he came and gave him a way to display his power as God’s son by jumping of a cliff. Then lastly he offered Jesus all the wealth of the world.

When Satan comes to you now, his teachings will be focused on you, you, you. You will be rich, you will be powerful, you will never be hungry.

Be careful of any teaching that asks you to prove that you are a child of God by whether or not you are hungry or whether or not angels come to your aid, or pushes the glory of material wealth in the forefront.

Any doctrine that overly and consistently focuses on your self interests is not of God.

The doctrine of God focuses on What Christ wants for your life.