False Prophets

FALSE PROPHETS

PART NO 1:

THE DANGER

In the seventh chapter of Matthew there is a warning given by our Lord: “Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are revening wolves.” Matt 7:15

To quote A. W. Pink on the subject; “If there be any verse in Holy Writ where it is deeply important to observe (and heed) its connection it is surely the one at which we have now arrived.”

Why are these false prophets so dangerous? Is it because they may fleece the Christian of his or her money? Is it because the attempt and succeed in bizarre acts? No none of these are at the heart of why the warning was given. One of the major reasons is that the false prophets are one of the chief factors in the apostasy and destruction of Israel in the Old Testament days and the church at the present time. Jesus declared that “many false prophets will appear and deceive many people. Matt 24:11

And some more “For false Christs and false prophets will appear and perform great signs and miracles to deceive even the elect–if that were possible.”

I do believe here is where some of those ideas of the bizarre come from; “great signs and wonders”. But with this also comes a far more subtle and dangerous teaching. It could even be called their general characteristic. This is that they try to make vital godliness and holiness to be less strict and appear to be an “easier” thing and along with this make it more agreeable to the fallen nature and far easier to accept and be satisfied than with the True Grace. In the words of St John: “They are of the world: therefore speak they of the world, and the world hearth them” I John 4:5

The obvious is expressed by A. W. Pink when he stated “People think they are teaching them the way to Heaven, when if fact they are conducting the way to Hell.”

In addition to their subtlety there is still another danger for the Christian. This is the willingness of something inside of many Christians to not only hear but to accept the “destructive heresies” as they are called by St Peter in II Peter 2:1–3.

In the next section we will discuss some of the heresies that have entered in the modern church and some of their results. Be up in about two weeks.

As a parting remark may I please quote the Lord on this subject; “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.”

FALSE PROPHETS PART 2

Some of the false prophets use modern philosophy and psychology to move the person’s mind from finding the truth. Let me touch on one area, that of meditation. First, let’s define what meditation is. In Psa 1:2 the word “hagah” is used, meaning “to ponder”, and in Tim 4:15; the word “meletao” is used meaning “to carefully revolve in one’s mind”. All through the scriptures we see places where meditation is used. In every case, though, and this is IMPORTANT, “It is NOT OUR thinking OUR thoughts about God” but “It is the transforming of OUR THOUGHTS by God’s Word”. This concept is brought out by four important scriptures:

John 15:3 “Now you are clean through the word which I have spoken to you”

Ephesians 5:26 “……. and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word”

James 1:21 “Wherefore lay apart all filthiness and super- fluity of naughtiness, and receive with meek- ness the engrafted word which is able to save your soul”

Romans 12:2 “….:but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind that ye may prove what is that good and acceptable, and perfect will of God. ” The false prophet teaches that we must EMPTY our minds

so that God can fill it with His thoughts. What takes place is not what the person or God wants to happen. It is generally an invitation to some disastrous events. This type of teaching of the advanced techniques of meditation involve many weird manifestations of the spirit world APART from God. This type of meditation usually leads into one of the basic eastern religions such as Zen Buddhism and Hinduism which are supposed to help one reach greater understanding. All of this generally results in many forms of changing the level of consciousness or altering of it. What happens to the subject is that he reaches various transcendental states, where he feels like he is being drawn closer to God.

For this is what, he is told, is the purpose of all of this. Some of these Self-realization Fellowships will even go so far as to admit to the existence of Jesus and will use some selected teachings of His to make the experience more real and that the person is experiencing a position much closer to God. This use of selected teachings allows the group to draw people to what they believe is very close to Jesus, but yet by leaving out just enough so the person can not experience the real Jesus or His love for them. The experience of receiving the Holy Spirit can be, and is, CLOSELY DUPLICATED. In some areas it may even seem to exceed those feelings of the real experience. However, in every case the result is that the person experiencing this comes out of it with one of two feelings. The first is to have severe frustration later on when the truth is realized or, secondly, to end up thinking he or she has a form of deliverance which is NOT a real form of salvation or deliverance at all! Leaving the person with a false form of security.

There is still another form or result of this type of meditation, which in the present form or time is far more frightening or dangerous. This is when the meditation is no longer controlled by the individual involved. In some cases this form of emptying one’s mind coupled with the use of drugs renders the person involved totally under the control of an UNWANTED spirit. Where this spirit leads the person to can be even a more frightening experience. The problem is that once this stage is reached escape is most painful and not an easy thing to do. Many times those who are hooked find that rather than experiencing the satisfaction and peace they wanted, they find just the opposite.

In the next section we will look at another form of a false prophet. This one appears to be very orthodox and to have a real burden for souls. But in reality is leading people NOT to Jesus Christ but to an eternal Hell.

FALSE PROPHETS 3

Here we are going to meet the worst of the bunch. They appear to be the most orthodox and pretending to have a burden and fervent love for souls, yet they fatally deludeboth the Gospel and the multitudes concerning the way of salvation.

These people paint an easy road to salvation contrary to what Jesus says in Matt 7:13,14…

“Enter ye in at the strait gate; for wide is the gate for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there which go in thereat. Because strait is the gate and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.”

It is the purpose of these people to distract people from the narrow way and Jesus and cause them to focus on the broad way which does not lead to anywhere. Some would take the idea of a narrow way to be difficult,but this is not true either. For Jesus said in Mark 10:15…

“And said Verily I say unto you, Except ye be converted and become as little children, ye shall not enter in to the kingdom of heaven.”

So simple that a child’s mind can understand and embrace it yet so narrow that in confounds many.

These false prophets make it seem so easy. One doesn’t have to forsake his or her evil ways. They do not have to give up their worldly ways. Just set back and enjoy is the message these proclaim.

Still another group has the idea that man through his works and doing good can earn his place in heaven. Rituals and special prayers and the good conduct or life of the person is the key to heavens gate. Sometimes this is made very subtle and convinces many.

Jesus says in John 14:6…

“Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father but by me.”

Jesus proclaimed it and all the substitutes in the world and its prophets can make will not measure up to Him. They may make big temples and churches, they may perform many wonderful things, they may even do wonders and appear as the most holy. But in the fact they do not have Jesus all they can offer is sadness,defeat, and eternal Hell. The Bible says flee from them!!!!!