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BEWARE OF FALSE PROPHETS!

Apologetics, ,

BEWARE OF FALSE PROPHETS!

I have a great concern about the many prophecies and prophetic visions regarding South Africa that so-called “prophets” are speaking and publishing in the name of the Lord.

According to this category of spiritual leaders, God has a great plan for South Africa. For example, from this nation will come a revival that will spread from Cape to Cairo! The things that God plans to do in and through this country are many and great, so they say. One prophet from up north even stated that, 10 years ago, God spoke of things He was planning to do in South Africa in the next 10 years, but they have not yet happened because the people were not ready!

These so-called “prophets”, who have accepted and use the title “Prophet”, speak with great authority, not because their prophecies are being fulfilled, but because they prefix their words with “the Lord showed me… ” or “the Holy Spirit revealed to me…” They speak as though they have greater access to prophetic visions than the run-of-the-mill believer.

These prophetic voices set up false expectations in the hearts of God’s people that distract them from the truth of God’s Word. The Bible alone speaks authoritatively about who Jesus is, who we are in Christ, what our role is in the world, and what our true expectations are for the future.

WHAT DOES GOD’S WORD SAY ABOUT FALSE PROPHETS?

In the prophecies of Jeremiah and Ezekiel, God severely warns the people of Israel against listening to the false prophets who speak lies in His name.

“This is what the Lord Almighty says: “Do not listen to what the prophets are prophesying to you; they fill you with false hopes. They speak visions from their own minds, not from the mouth of the Lord.”

Jeremiah 23:16 NIV

“The anger of the Lord will not turn back until he fully accomplishes the purposes of his heart. In days to come, you will understand it clearly. I did not send these prophets, yet they have run with their message; I did not speak to them, yet they have prophesied. But if they had stood in my council, they would have proclaimed my words to my people and would have turned them from their evil ways and from their evil deeds…. “I have heard what the prophets say who prophesy lies in my name. They say, ‘I had a dream! I had a dream!’ How long will this continue in the hearts of these lying prophets, who prophesy the delusions of their own minds?…  “Therefore,” declares the Lord, “I am against the prophets who steal from one another words supposedly from me. Yes,” declares the Lord, “I am against the prophets who wag their own tongues and yet declare, ‘The Lord declares.’ Indeed, I am against those who prophesy false dreams,” declares the Lord. “They tell them and lead my people astray with their reckless lies, yet I did not send or appoint them. They do not benefit these people in the least,” declares the Lord.

Jeremiah 23: 20-22, 25-26, 28-32 NIV

“This is what the Sovereign Lord says: Woe to the foolish prophets who follow their own spirit and have seen nothing! Their visions are false and their divinations a lie. Even though the Lord has not sent them, they say, “The Lord declares,” and expect him to fulfill their words. Have you not seen false visions and uttered lying divinations when you say, “The Lord declares,” though I have not spoken?”

Ezekiel 13:3, 6-7 NIV

Jesus also warned His disciples to beware of false prophets.

“Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves. By their fruit you will recognize them. Do people pick grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? Likewise, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. Thus, by their fruit you will recognize them.”

Matthew 7:15-20 NIV

“Jesus answered: “Watch out that no one deceives you. For many will come in my name, claiming, ‘I am the Messiah,’ and will deceive many.”

Matthew 24:4-5 NIV

HOW ARE WE TO EVALUATE PROPHETS WHO CLAIM TO SPEAK FOR GOD?

Let’s examine the difference between Biblical prophecies and extra-biblical prophecies (which actually form part of the modern-day heresy called Neo-Gnosticism) .

(Neo-Gnosticism is a recurrence of the Gnostic heresy that plagued the early church in Paul’s day. Gnosticism refers to, among other things, secret knowledge revealed to some which adds to the sufficiency of Jesus for salvation.

Anyone who claims to have extra revelation from God, over and above what is written in God’s Word, is participating in the Neo-Gnostic heresy).

  1. BIBLICAL PROPHECY is clear, unembellished, and specific. It states what will happen before it happens, e.g.,

Among the many prophecies God gave Ezekiel about the destruction of Jerusalem and the exile of His people, is this specific prophecy about Zedekiah and its exact fulfilment.

“Even Zedekiah will leave Jerusalem at night through a hole in the wall, taking only what he can carry with him. He will cover his face, and his eyes will not see the land he is leaving. Then I will throw my net over him and capture him in my snare. I will bring him to Babylon, the land of the Babylonians, though he will never see it, and he will die there. I will scatter his servants and warriors to the four winds and send the sword after them. And when I scatter them among the nations, they will know that I am the Lord.”

Ezekiel 12:12-15 NLT

“By July 18 in the eleventh year of Zedekiah’s reign, the famine in the city had become very severe, and the last of the food was entirely gone. Then a section of the city wall was broken down, and all the soldiers fled. Since the city was surrounded by the Babylonians, they waited for nightfall. Then they slipped through the gate between the two walls behind the king’s garden and headed toward the Jordan Valley. But the Babylonian troops chased King Zedekiah and overtook him on the plains of Jericho, for his men had all deserted him and scattered. They captured the king and took him to the king of Babylon at Riblah in the land of Hamath. There the king of Babylon pronounced judgment upon Zedekiah. The king of Babylon made Zedekiah watch as he slaughtered his sons. He also slaughtered all the officials of Judah at Riblah. Then he gouged out Zedekiah’s eyes and bound him in bronze chains, and the king of Babylon led him away to Babylon. Zedekiah remained there in prison until the day of his death.”

Jeremiah 52:6-11 NLT

Biblical prophecy, for example, clearly states that God has spoken eg,

“The word of the Lord came to me, saying,”

Jeremiah 1:4 NIV

“He said to me, “Son of man, stand up on your feet and I will speak to you.”

Ezekiel 2:1 NIV

BIBLICAL PROPHECY is classified as “God’s Word”, and is, therefore, utterly reliable and trustworthy.

“Let the prophet who has a dream recount the dream but let the one who has my word speak it faithfully. For what has straw to do with grain?” declares the Lord. “Is not my word like fire,” declares the Lord, “and like a hammer that breaks a rock in pieces?”

Jeremiah 23:28-29 NIV

“We also have the prophetic message as something completely reliable, and you will do well to pay attention to it, as to a light shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts. Above all, you must understand that no prophecy of Scripture came about by the prophet’s own interpretation of things. For prophecy never had its origin in the human will, but prophets, though human, spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.”

2 Peter 1:19-21 NIV

Hundreds of Messianic prophecies about the first coming of Jesus were precisely fulfilled. (On these grounds, we can trust the Biblical prophecies regarding His second coming).

“When they had done all that the prophecies said about him, they took him down from the cross and placed him in a tomb.”

Acts of the Apostles 13:29 NLT

EXTRA-BIBLICAL PROPHECY is noticeably different from Biblical prophecy in both style and content.

Extra-Biblical prophecies focus on, not “The Lord says in His Word,” but what “the Lord revealed to me”. They are often vague, flowery, rambling, obscure, non-specific and unfulfilled. They are cannot be authoritative because they did not come from God.

EXTRA-BIBLICAL PROPHECIES are often backed up by declarations or prophetic actions for them to be fulfilled. 

  • BIBLICAL PROPHECY will be fulfilled regardless of people’s responses. God promised, for example, that David’s dynasty would never end, even if his descendants failed to follow David’s godly example. Despite David’s many wicked descendants who ruled in Judah, Jesus, son of David, is the final fulfilment of that prophecy.

BIBLICAL PROPHECY and its fulfilment, along with creation, is a clear witness to the existence of God and relates to God’s purposes for Israel and Israel’s preparation for the coming of the Messiah. All Biblical prophecy eventually points to the coming of Jesus to accomplish redemption for both Jew and Gentile.

“Then I fell down at his feet to worship him, but he said, “No, don’t worship me. I am a servant of God, just like you and your brothers and sisters who testify about their faith in Jesus. Worship only God. For the essence of prophecy is to give a clear witness for Jesus.”

Revelation 19:10 NLT

“Remember this, keep it in mind, take it to heart, you rebels. Remember the former things, those of long ago; I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is none like me. I make known the end from the beginning, from ancient times, what is still to come. I say, ‘My purpose will stand, and I will do all that I please.  From the east I summon a bird of prey; from a far-off land, a man to fulfill my purpose. What I have said, that I will bring about; what I have planned, that I will do.”

Isaiah 46:8-11 NIV

3. BIBLICAL PROPHECY speaks against sin and warns of the consequences of disobedience.

Every book in the New Testament contains warnings about the consequences of ungodliness, especially in relation to our Lord’s second coming, for example…

“God is just: He will pay back trouble to those who trouble you and give relief to you who are troubled, and to us as well. This will happen when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven in blazing fire with his powerful angels. He will punish those who do not know God and do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus. They will be punished with everlasting destruction and shut out from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of his might on the day he comes to be glorified in his holy people and to be marvelled at among all those who have believed. This includes you, because you believed our testimony to you.”

2 Thessalonians 1:6-10 NIV

Many of the prophecies in the New Testament contain warnings of bad things and judgement coming on the earth rather than good times and revival, and prophecies that deal with the believers’ future focus on Jesus’ return and the restoration of all things under His eternal reign.

“But mark this: There will be terrible times in the last days. People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good, treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God— having a form of godliness but denying its power. Have nothing to do with such people. They are the kind who worm their way into homes and gain control over gullible women, who are loaded down with sins and are swayed by all kinds of evil desires, always learning but never able to come to a knowledge of the truth.”

2 Timothy 3:1-7 NIV

EXTRA-BIBLUCAL PROPHECY focuses on good times coming as opposed to what the Bible predicts, ignoring the sinfulness of the individual or the nation.

EXTRA-BIBLICAL PROPHECIES ignore the supremacy of Jesus and make predictions about all the good things God is planning to do in and for an ungodly country. These prophecies are to be fulfilled by making declarations about what God is going to do.

According to many of these prophecies, God is about to bring massive revival to South Africa which will change the country. However, nowhere in the New Covenant does God promise revival.

Throughout the New Testament, the focus is on becoming who we are in Christ. Revival is for dying or dead people. Believers are not dead but alive; we have been made alive by the power of the Holy Spirit.

Most of these declarations come from the Old Covenant, which are irrelevant for us because.

A. We, as a country, are not in covenant with God,

B. We are not in relationship with God through the Mosaic Covenant,

C. Jesus has fulfilled the Old Covenant and brought us, who believe in Him, into the New Covenant,

D. The New Covenant does not involve nations but individuals, joined to Jesus by faith through the Holy Spirit,

E. The New Covenant has transferred us into another realm, citizenship in the Kingdom of God. Our focus is to be on God’s Kingdom, not on our nation, except to be witnesses for Jesus to the ungodly world around us.

F.  We are no longer subject to the devil’s deception because Jesus exposed and disarmed him at the cross, taking away his power over us,

G. The focus of the New Covenant is not nations, including Israel, but the church which is God’s “holy nation”. Jesus is head over all things for the church.

EXTRA-BIBLICAL PROPHECIES have no confirmation in God’s Word. They arise purely from the imagination of the “prophet”. They have no authority or power over God’s people. Power lies in what God has SPOKEN not in what people claim that God has spoken.

“I did not send these prophets, yet they have run with their message; I did not speak to them, yet they have prophesied. But if they had stood in my council, they would have proclaimed my words to my people and would have turned them from their evil ways and from their evil deeds.”

Jeremiah 23:21-22 NIV

“Let the prophet who has a dream recount the dream but let the one who has my word speak it faithfully. For what has straw to do with grain?” declares the Lord. “Is not my word like fire,” declares the Lord, “and like a hammer that breaks a rock in pieces?”

EXTRA-BIBLICAL prophecies often directly contradict God’s Word.

“Long ago God spoke many times and in many ways to our ancestors through the prophets. And now in these final days, he has spoken to us through his Son. God promised everything to the Son as an inheritance, and through the Son he created the universe.”

Hebrews 1:1-2 NLT

Jesus is God’s final word to the world. God has nothing more to say to us because He has said everything and given us everything we need in and through Jesus.

“By his divine power, God has given us everything we need for living a godly life. We have received all of this by coming to know him, the one who called us to himself by means of his marvellous glory and excellence.”

2 Peter 1:3 NLT

“For in Christ lives all the fullness of God in a human body. So you also are complete through your union with Christ, who is the head over every ruler and authority.”

Colossians 2:9-10 NLT

There are severe warnings for those who add or take away anything to the Word of God, both from Old and New Covenants, and the finished work of Jesus. They will come under God’s judgment.

“So be careful to obey all the commands I give you. You must not add anything to them or subtract anything from them.”

Deuteronomy 12:32 NLT

“And I solemnly declare to everyone who hears the words of prophecy written in this book: If anyone adds anything to what is written here, God will add to that person the plagues described in this book. And if anyone removes any of the words from this book of prophecy, God will remove that person’s share in the tree of life and in the holy city that are described in this book.”

Revelation 22:18-19 NLT

There is a trend in some streams of the church where people desire a  “word from the Lord” which amounts to what I call “spiritual fortune-telling”. This is the counterpart of the fortune-teller or taro-card reader, clothed in Christian “prophecy”.

“For a time is coming when people will no longer listen to sound and wholesome teaching. They will follow their own desires and will look for teachers who will tell them whatever their itching ears want to hear. They will reject the truth and chase after myths.”

2 Timothy 4:3-4 NLT

There is evidence, in Scripture, of prophetic words spoken to individuals regarding their future e.g., Jeremiah’s words to Hananiah (Jeremiah 28:5-17); and Agabus’ words to Paul (Acts 21:10-14). However, these were not sugar-coated prophecies about a rosy future but warnings about what was about to happen.

So-called “words” from the Lord are dangerous because they raise false hopes, focus on success and prosperity and distract from Jesus who is the one upon whom our lives depend.

“Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us. We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, the champion who initiates and perfects our faith….”

Hebrews 12:1-2a NLT

So, let us beware, dear friends, that we are not sucked into the modern extra-biblical heresies of “the Lord revealed to me…”

How do we deal with such prophecies?

“Do not treat prophecies with contempt but test them all; hold on to what is good, reject every kind of evil.”

1 Thessalonians 5:20-22 NIV

“Above all, you must understand that no prophecy of Scripture came about by the prophet’s own interpretation of things. For prophecy never had its origin in the human will, but prophets, though human, spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.”

2 Peter 1:20-21 NIV

The answer is simple. Test every prophecy by the standard of Scripture. If it does not conform to the measure of God’s Word, it is not of God. Reject it as false and misleading.

God has given us His complete revelation, preserved in the covers of a book. Anything more than that is outside the authority of Scripture.

“The secret things belong to the Lord our God, but the things revealed belong to us and to our children forever, that we may follow all the words of this law.”

Deuteronomy 29:29 NIV

A TREE AND ITS FRUIT

Christian Life, ,

A TREE AND ITS FRUIT

“Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inside they are ferocious wolves. By their fruit you will recognize them.” Matthew 7:15, 15.

False prophets abound today as much as they did in Jesus’ day. What is a false prophet?

A prophets is a person who hears from God and speaks for God.

“I did send these prophets, yet they have run with their message; I did not speak to them, yet they have prophesied. But if they had stood in my council, they would have proclaimed my words to my people and would have turned them from their evil ways and from their evil deeds.” Jeremiah 23:21, 22.

False prophets are those who put words in God’s mouth to get their own way. This is even more despicable than lying because they use God as the mouthpiece for their lies.

“’Therefore,’ declares the Lord, ‘I am against the prophets who steal from one another words supposedly from me. Yes,’ declares the Lord, ‘I am against the prophets who wag their own tongues and yet declare, ‘The Lord declares.’ Indeed, I am against those who prophesy false dreams,’ declares the Lord. ‘They tell them and lead my people astray with their reckless lies, and yet I did not send or appoint them. They do not benefit these people in the least,’ declares the Lord.”” Jeremiah 23:30-32.

There are many so-called prophets who stand in places of authority to speak for God but they do not speak according to the word of God.  Let me give you a few examples.

  1. Preachers who tell you that God wants you well and wealthy. If this is true to the Scriptures, why are so many believers not healed and poor? I know this is a big subject, but here are a few pointers from the Scriptures.
    1. We live in a world where sin has entered to cause sickness and death. This will not change until Jesus returns to renew all things.
    1. Believers are not immune from sickness and death. We will all die unless Jesus returns to take us home.
    1. Jesus did not heal everyone – healing was a sign that God’s kingdom had come but not fully.
    1. Ill health is often because of a person’s lifestyle or emotional state. Unless he chooses to repent and live differently, he will remain ill.
    1. Wealth is not always a sign of God’s blessing. Many preachers become wealthy by milking their followers with lies. They live in luxury while people around the world are starving and need the gospel. Missionaries and Christian workers are crying out for money while some live in multi-million-dollar houses, fly in private jets, drive the best cars and wear designer clothing claiming that they are enjoying the blessing of God.
    1. The Apostle Paul did not view wealth as a sign of God’s blessing but rather as a terrible temptation:

 “If anyone teaches false doctrines and does not agree with the sound instruction of our Lord Jesus Christ and to godly teaching, he knows nothing. He has an unhealthy interest in controversies and quarrels about words that result in envy, strife, malicious talk, evil suspicions, and constant friction between men of corrupt mind, who have been robbed of the truth and who think that godliness is a means to financial gain.” 1 Timothy 6:3-5.

“People who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge men into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.” 1 Timothy 6:9, 10.

This teaching contradicts what Jesus said about suffering and about taking up the cross and following Him.

  • False prophets get people to follow them, not Jesus. They say that their teaching is right, and everyone else’s is wrong. They cut people off from fellowship with believers outside their group and threaten them if they want to leave. There is no salvation outside of their church.
  • False prophets are often dictators. They rule people with fear and do not allow them to make their own decisions. They are accountable to no one, not even their church leaders. What they say goes.

How do we know who the false prophets are? Jesus said, “Look at their fruit.”

The fruit of the false prophet’s ministry in his people is fear, insecurity, hopelessness and increasing slavery to a man.

The fruit of a true prophet is increasing love, joy and peace in his own life and the lives of those to whom he ministers, freedom to follow Jesus and unity in the body of Christ.

Jesus said we must check their fruit before we believe what they say.

Scripture taken from THE HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

THE GOSPEL OF MARK – FALSE MESSIAHS AND FALSE PROPHETS ABOUND

Bible Study, ,

FALSE MESSIAHS AND FALSE PROPHETS ABOUND

21 At that time if anyone says to you, ‘Look, here is the Messiah!’ or, ‘Look, there he is!’ do not believe it. 22 For false messiahs and false prophets will appear and perform signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect. 23 So be on your guard; I have told you everything ahead of time. Mark 13:21-23

Once again Jesus clearly illustrates the difference between Himself and the false messiahs that will abound in the last days. He drew attention to His character as the evidence of who He was. “I am gentle and humble in heart.” He is the true shepherd who laid down His life for the sheep. The false shepherd is a hireling who is in it for what he can get out of it. When danger threatens, he is the first to get out, abandoning the sheep to the wolves.

False messiahs will come in droves, calling attention to their impressive credentials and mighty acts as proof of their identity. Jesus warned, “This is Satan’s most potent and dangerous weapon; deception coats lies with enough truth to appear authentic but enough lies to draw people away from the truth.” What does deception play on?

  1. Leaders’ performance puts them on a pedestal so that anything they say or do is believed without being tested. They will often allow themselves to be hero-worshipped and accept glory without giving it back to God.
  2. Although their preaching may sound like the truth, there is a subtle shift away from God‑centred to man‑centred so that there is a pandering to man’s old nature e.g. the prosperity/faith message that subtly manipulates God through His word or the desire to be reverenced for our “holy” lives and powerful ministry.

These people may not necessarily claim messiahship but they accept a following and use it for their own ends. They often offer outstanding benefits for coming to their meetings as though God were obliged to reciprocate because He is advertised as doing certain things, e.g., healing, solving financial problems, marriage problems, family problems, business problems, without reference to the conditions which He clearly states in His word.

Jesus said, “Don’t be fooled. This is part of the end‑time strategy for Satan to lure as many people as possible away from the truth. If you want to be secure, stick with me and my way.”

Be Careful Who You Follow

Christian Life, ,

BE CAREFUL WHO YOU FOLLOW

(Jesus) quoted a proverb: ‘Can a blind man lead a blind man?’ Wouldn’t they both end up in the ditch? An apprentice doesn’t lecture the master. The point is to be careful who you follow as your teacher.” Luke 6:39,40 (The Message)
Wise counsel! Be careful who you follow as your teacher. Some people are leaders and others are followers; perhaps the majority are followers. Why do people choose to follow who they follow? Is it because the leader is clever, rich, beautiful, handsome, successful, or popular? Something elevates another in our eyes and so we follow but with very little regard to where they are leading us. The focus is on the present. We are dazzled by appearances and set off after them because we aspire to being like them.
Believers in Jesus are just as prone to follow all kinds of spiritual leaders, those who are eloquent, or appear to be blessed because they are wealthy, or successful because they run big churches or because they have spectacular ministries.
In Jesus’ day, it was the religious boffins that people followed, those who appeared to be far more “holy” than the common people. There was no shortage of visible religious performance from them, for example, from the Pharisees. However, Jesus questioned their destination. “If you are following them as your teachers, do you know where they are going? What is the end result of what they are teaching you?” He urged people to examine their fruit. Is it good fruit? Did their teaching bring them into greater bondage to keeping rules and “doing” stuff, or more freedom to love, trust and worship God?
Jesus called the religious leaders blind. Why? Because they had no idea where their teaching would land them and they were unaware that their destination was “the ditch”. What makes such leaders blind? The Apostle Paul gives us the answer in 2 Corinthians 4:4 – “The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so that they cannot see the light of the gospel of glory of Christ who is the image of God.” They refused to accept the truth that Jesus is the Son of God and the way to the Father. They created their own way which they thought would take them to God but instead led to judgment because they believed that God would receive them on their terms.
Jesus declared categorically, “I am the way, the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” John 14:6. How do we know He spoke the truth? How do we know we can trust Him? He predicted His own death and resurrection and pulled it off. That should be enough to convince us that He spoke the truth! He said that if we believe in Him, entrust ourselves to Him and follow His way, He would give us eternal life and take us to the Father.
When we choose who we are going to follow, we need to look carefully at where that allegiance is going. Is the person we are following trustworthy? Is he/she capable of delivering on their promises, even if they have said nothing? What is the expected outcome of their way of life?
Sound counsel indeed! Be careful who you follow as your teacher. They are going somewhere. Do you want to go with them?