Galatians 5:7-9

You were running a good race. Who cut in on you and kept you from obeying the truth?

(v7, NIV)

Apparently, those at the church in Galatia were doing well in their walk with God. At the very least, they were doing well when Paul had left them. However, that is probably how it is with most people. When we start out, we start out well. Unfortunately, there are many things that can stray us from our path or cut us off completely. Here, Paul is pointing to false teachers. There is someone or a group of people who have caused them to stray. The false teacher or teachers have hindered the believers from obeying the truth of the Gospel.

That kind of persuasion does not come from the one who calls you.

(v8, NIV)

What is coming from these deceivers is persuasion. They are persuading the followers of Christ away from God. One key characteristic of their persuasion is that it is not from God. Sometimes I find it difficult to determine whether something is from God or not. However, I can tell you that the more I grow in God, the easier it is for me to tell whether something is from God or not.

Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of men in their deceitful scheming.

(Ephesians 4:14, NIV)

This section talks about the unity of the believers. In equipping from God and building each other up and growing in God we can stand and not be tossed by every wind and weak doctrine thrown by the enemy. Another tactic is presented in Ephesians 6 where it describes the armor of God.

Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil's schemes.

(Ephesians 6:11, NIV)

"A little yeast works through the whole batch of dough."

(v9, NIV)

Unfortunately, the teaching of false prophets can spread through the entire body or group or church. The analogy of the bread and the yeast give a pleasant representation of this. I wonder if the same applies to Godly teaching. Godly teaching should spread through the entire church, right? At least, it does spread in the ideal case. I am wondering how to recognize false teaching compared to Godly teaching based on this fact. The fact is that it can spread throughout for both. However, maybe the way it spreads throughout is different. False teaching as this implies is like yeast. You simply mix it in with the dough and it will spread very quickly throughout. However, with teaching from God, it often requires a lot of work and effort in order for that teaching to spread throughout. It may seem like it spreads quickly without any work, but look deeper and I think you'll see that the followers of Christ are diligently building each other up and sharing what God has taught them with others.

A lot of what I got for this was from this commentary:

http://www.biblegateway.com/resources/commentaries/IVP-NT/Gal/Exposing-False-Teachers