Coconut
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Discerning False Prophets By Clay Sikes
Introduction
The strength of the oppressor lies in the ignorance of the oppressed. Let us awaken to the false doctrines of false teachers that lead to our oppression. To be unaccepting of the prevalence of New Testament scripture warning us of false doctrines from false teachers is to keep the door of oppression open wide in our lives. The modern day prosperity message is massive evidence of the oppression and subsequent destruction caused by false doctrine. There is now enough historical physical evidence of the true motive of this doctrine - GREED!
While the prosperity message is by no means the only false doctrine used to 'bleed the sheep,' its massive destructive force has been experienced by enough of God's people, who now have a testimony from their experience, to begin to open the eyes of sleepy saints. The wiles of wrong doctrine now has a place in 'modern Church history.' Before leaving the subject of 'bleeding the sheep,' let me fire a warning shot across the bow of those who practice 'the law of the tithe.'
The Time Of False Prophets (Teachers)
"Now have come the salvation and the power and the kingdom of our God, and the authority of his Christ. For the accuser of our brothers, who accuses them before our God day and night has been hurled down. They overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and the word of their testimony; they did not love their lives so much as to shrink from death" (Revelation 12:10,11).
We are living in the hour of "the kingdom of our God" upon the earth. We are living in a time in which those who overcome do so by the precious blood and "the word of their testimony." Overcomers are those who "do not love their lives so much as to shrink from death;" they have died to themselves and made the great exchange, His life for theirs. We have learned that our "testimony" is the word made flesh in our lives - the amount of 'word' we walk in: the symmetry of the 'word' and actual life - our testimony. Our life reflects the revelation we walk in.
As will be discussed later, we will see how revealing the word 'testimony' is in discerning a false prophet. Please keep in mind the relevance of 'testimony' throughout what is written here; it will take on new meaning as we discuss false prophets.
In a sense we are living in the greatest of times and the worst of times. Greatest, in that we are seeing God's Kingdom come upon the earth in unprecented ways; worst, in that false prophets (teachers) have been released in unprecedented numbers.
We are living in the hour of false prophets, and accordingly, must be on guard against their influence in our lives. Not one well-meaning Christian would allow a false prophet into their life knowingly; but many are presently doing so unwittingly. Let us never state that we weren't warned ahead of time. Perhaps articles like this are part of the warnings mentioned in Matthew 24:25.
"For false Christ and false prophets will appear and perform great signs and miracles TO DECEIVE EVEN THE ELECT if it were possible. See, I have told you ahead of time" (Matthew 24:24,25).
Scripture gives us a specific time frame in which false prophets will appear; and while their existence has been well known since the time of Jesus, we have entered 'the time of the false prophet.' False prophets will appear during the same hour, the same moment in time in which "the Kingdom is being preached." And as with every move of God, the enemy has a plan. The devils' answer to the Kingdom's forceful advance in the earth is the unleashing of false prophets and the anti-Christ spirit (Matthew 24). Diversions in the form of false doctrine are aimed straight at the Body of Christ to delay the advance of 'the coming Kingdom' (present tense).
"At that time many will turn away from the faith AND WILL BETRAY AND HATE EACH OTHER, and many false prophets will appear and deceive many people…and this GOSPEL OF THE KINGDOM will be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come" (Matthew 24:10,11,14). Betrayal amongst God's people, coming in the form of jealously and disloyalty, has raised its ugly head; doctrines with little relationship to the word of God are rampant, yet the KINGDOM IS PREACHED to those who have ears to hear it.
During recent weeks, months, and years many of God's true prophets have been shouting from their spiritual roof tops, "Thy Kingdom come, Thy will be done ON EARTH…" They have zeroed in on "Sonship," hearing and obeying God, not moving out of any motive except having heard the Holy Spirit. They have taught us that faith comes from having heard God; they have taught us the difference between 'the World's System' and 'the Kingdom of God.' They have taught us to be drawn to 'The Way' of the Kingdom (complete dependence upon God), and to turn away from the ways of the world (complete dependence upon man). They have taught us that order with man begins with order with God; that the Body must first be reconciled back to God before the true Church can be built. Any man with spiritual eyes can see the "living stones" being placed together; the Kingdom is now coming upon the earth. With all the awe of this 'great moment' in time, we are also given a warning - "Many false prophets will appear and deceive many people…" (Matthew 24:10). As the Kingdom continues to come upon the earth so to do false prophets appear.
For some strange reason we have little trouble believing the word in many different areas, but completely bypass the many warnings given about false prophets. This should serve as a wake up call that this Bible truth is as true as the rest!
For years the question has been asked, "How will I know a false prophet when I see one?" False prophets pervert truth, and what makes them so deadly is their depth of knowledge, or better-said, intellectual understanding of what truth is. They dazzle us with their knowledge of scripture, often entrapping us with their beliefs through their skilled use of God's word. They are often gifted with the ability to work miracles, cast out demons, heal the sick, and other supernatural occurrences. There are, however, ways to discern and separate the true from the false. Ask for God's gift of discernment as you read the following scriptures.
"Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep's clothing (one who appears to be God's own), but inwardly they are ferocious wolves (their real motive is to eat the sheep). Here is where we get out first hint of a false prophet, "BY THEIR FRUIT YOU WILL RECOGNIZE THEM. Do people pick grapes from thorn bushes, 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).
As if obvious traits like disloyalty, mean-spirited, selfish, pleasure loving, covetous, pride filled, arrogant, lazy, and unfaithful were not enough, God gives us yet another gauge through which to see the false prophet.
We all know the fruit of the spirit; love, joy, peace…, but in a more interpretative sense "fruit," in the context of Matthew 7:15-20 is linked to a man's character, his inner self, who he really is; HIS TESTIMONY. A man's life as a Christian, or his testimony, reflects who he really is - it reflects the character of God or a lack thereof. CHARACTER CREATES TESTIMONY, and while we can argue doctrines until we are blue in the face, we can never argue a man's testimony. A testimony is what it is! Our testimony, like it or not, is a reflection of what truly resides within us.
Admittedly, we are all a work in progress, but consistency of character will reveal good fruit or bad. We do not suddenly get good or suddenly get bad; it is a process and that process is our testimony. Our testimony is not a one-time event; it is our consistency pattern, or characteristics that determine character, which ultimately determines our true testimony.
How does our life experience define us? Watchman Nee, in his book Sit, Walk, Stand opens with "If the life of a Christian is to be pleasing to God it must be found properly adjusted to Him IN ALL THINGS. Too often we place the emphasis in our own lives upon the application of this principle to some single detail of our behavior, or of our work for him. Often we fail to appreciate either the extent of the adjustment called for or, at times, even the point from which it should begin. But God measures everything, from start to finish, by the perfections of His Son. Scripture clearly affirms that it is God's good pleasure "to sum up all things in Christ…in whom also we were made a heritage" (Ephesians 1:9-11).
God measures things from start to finish. Our lives, even our past to some extent, represents who we are, and who we are is what dwells within our heart; and what is in our heart is the fruit of our actions past, present, and future. From a practical standpoint, without accountability to our past, there is little room for correction in our future. As we gaze into life's rear-view mirror, the debris from past mistakes should be less and less visible as we travel the road of life. If the debris piles in our immediate past are not less, the lessons and necessary changes from those lessons should indicate that we have perhaps followed a wrong spirit.
cont`d...
---------- Post added at 03:38 PM ---------- Previous post was at 03:37 PM ----------
Separating The True From The False
A number of issues will be discussed here that will assist us in discerning the true from the false; and while the points made in this discussion are by no means the only elements of separating the true from the false, they will point us in the general direction of understanding. We will first discuss obvious observable differences, and then the more subtle ways of discerning differences.
A true prophet will point you to Jesus, and the vision HE HAS PUT IN YOU. A false prophet will point you to himself; his vision, his purpose, his ministry, etc., The vast difference between the true and the false is that the true will always, always point you to the Jesus in you: your calling, your ministry, your purpose, and your destiny. The 'true' can point you to nothing but Jesus…the 'false' can point you to nothing but man; often himself. The false prophet will always leave you empty in a crisis, while the true will leave you full. The true prophet speaks to your heart, while the false will excite your eyes and ears. THOSE WHO ARE EASILY IMPRESSED ARE PRIME CANDIDATES FOR DECEPTION FROM THE ANTI-CHRIST SPIRIT THAT FALSE PROPHETS OPERATE FROM.
While the following observable difference is not a law, I think it worth mentioning. For some years there has been great favor within the Body of Christ for the works of men and the gifts of God that operate in men, while there has been little emphasis upon the true character of God within those same men. Character seems to have fallen by the wayside as Christians, much like their counter-parts in the world, have given their respect to external gifts and works rather than the internal character of God. In other words, it has been 'what the man is all about' rather than 'who the man really is.' Character is internal, while gifts and works are external. Our character is eternal, our gifts temporal. To which should we show the greatest respect? While we may admire beauty and talent, our deep respect should be reserved for Godly character.
What is character in the context of this teaching? Character is an identifying factor in separating the true from the false. Character is a man's testimony - who he is, and what he is. It is what his life says about him. In God's eyes, we are not defined by the externalities of who we are (our name, works, titles), but rather the internalities of what we are (our true character.) Character is a reflection of heart. Who we are in the worst of times will always reveal us (James 1:1-15). What did we do when tempted, angered, tested, tossed...?
Fire shows us the 'why,' and reveals the ugly 'who!' You do not have a testimony, good or bad, until you first have a test. All you have left when a crisis has ended is your conduct during it. Crisis produces spiritual reality and revelation relative to the depth of our real faith (love). A man's true character can never be seen as he rides the crest of success; but allow hard times and crisis to enter and true character will surely surface.
Our testimony (what we purport to believe) and our life should reflect one in the same. No man can truly lead you where he has never been. A great indicator between the true and the false is that the 'true' can only teach what is true in their life (their testimony), while the 'false' will attempt to teach, with equal passion, what they have never experienced for themselves. Arthur Burt, in defining revelation states, "Situation must be married to revelation. Until your revelation works in your situation, you do not really have a revelation." A False prophet will readily teach you what he does not personally walk in (Matthew 23:3). Nothing is more numbing spiritually than to watch one teach what they have no real revelation of. We are only qualified to transfer (to others) what we know. Transference is the true anointing. "Gold and silver have I none but such as I have I give thee. Stand up and walk…"
"They overcame him (Satan) by the blood of the Lamb and by THE WORD OF THEIR TESTIMONY" (Revelation 12:11). If our testimony does not match the word (revelation) we preach, teach, and espouse, we are no more than a sounding gong. I can teach salvation because I am saved. I can share salvation because I have experienced it. I can espouse divine finances because I walk in God's provision. My word and my testimony are one in the same. A true prophet teaches what he knows from his heart (Luke 6:45), while a false prophet teaches what he knows from his head. I can be a false prophet in your life when I teach what I do not know or walk in personally: when I express my opinion apart from God, or when I say things from the wrong spirit. All of these things I do with some degree of regularity, which is why I always say test it! We none are above the capability of being false in the lives of others.
As previously stated, we Christians, like our counterparts in the world, are enamored by 'the gifts.' Just as 'the world' places high premium on beauty, talent, and skill, so to do we, as Christians, hold in high esteem those gifted to preach, teach, heal, cast out demons, do miracles and the like. We tend to place little value on character or testimony, but like lambs to the slaughter are impressed by, and dangerously follow those with gifts. As mentioned; during the time the Kingdom is preached there will be many false prophets released into the earth and the very elect will be deceived were it possible. The point of this writing is not the danger of false prophets as much as it is the danger of adapting doctrines taught by these so called 'ministers.'
Let the following scripture cast a warning to those who are enamored by men with 'gifts.' "Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven. Many will say to me on that day, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles? Then I will tell them plainly, "I never knew you. Away from me you evildoers!" (Matthew 7:21-23).
From the above scriptures we begin to see the value God places upon gifts. God's premium is placed on those with His character, not necessarily those with his gifts. It is the work of the enemy to rob us of our destiny and purpose; and this is being done at an alarming rate by the deceiver's chief tool - DECEPTION! Deception brings destruction, and there is no better example of this than the "The Modern Day Prosperity Message" being perpetrated upon God's people by many false prophets.
The enemy knows that our discernment is at its lowest when our needs are the greatest. He can easily deceive us with a supposed word from God (from a false prophet) that appears to meet our needs. "If you need your bills to be paid send money to this good ground TV ministry!" It is important to remember that a false prophet's purpose is to eat the sheep, or better said, eat off the sheep. Be careful of those who feel entitled to your provision! It is a loud signal that a wrong spirit is speaking!
Those most susceptible to this deception are those who have yet to die completely to themselves; those who still reside in the outer court, in their soul. Man followers are also highly susceptible to this deception - those who subscribe to teachings like 'being under the covering of a pastor or denomination' (Matthew 23:8-11). Those who follow men have one strong commonality - no power when trials come!
"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" (Matthew 7:13,14).
Isn't it interesting that following Matthew 7:13,14 we find "Watch out for false prophets" (Matthew 7:15). Recognize the connection between "false prophets" and "the broad gate that leads to destruction." Do you think it strange that God's word says, "many enter through it?" I believe with all that is within me that this writing is directed to the "few" who will enter the "small gate and narrow road that lead to life." Interestingly, the word "life" is the same word "life" in John 10:10 in which Jesus says, "I have come to give them life, and give it more abundantly." The mission of the false prophet, knowingly or unknowingly, is to keep God's people from attaining Jesus' gift of "abundant life," which is the fulfillment of destiny and purpose.
As I reread the words, "Enter through the narrow gate," I felt I heard the Lord say, "Fat people cannot get through the narrow gate!" As I meditated on what God meant, He explained "Fat" in a figurative sense meaning those who are full of themselves, and thus to big to pass through this narrow place. Only those who are small can walk through a narrow gate - small in the sense that they have died to themselves, their personal agendas, their pride, etc., John-the-Baptist said, "I must decrease that He might increase.
cont`d...
Introduction
The strength of the oppressor lies in the ignorance of the oppressed. Let us awaken to the false doctrines of false teachers that lead to our oppression. To be unaccepting of the prevalence of New Testament scripture warning us of false doctrines from false teachers is to keep the door of oppression open wide in our lives. The modern day prosperity message is massive evidence of the oppression and subsequent destruction caused by false doctrine. There is now enough historical physical evidence of the true motive of this doctrine - GREED!
While the prosperity message is by no means the only false doctrine used to 'bleed the sheep,' its massive destructive force has been experienced by enough of God's people, who now have a testimony from their experience, to begin to open the eyes of sleepy saints. The wiles of wrong doctrine now has a place in 'modern Church history.' Before leaving the subject of 'bleeding the sheep,' let me fire a warning shot across the bow of those who practice 'the law of the tithe.'
The Time Of False Prophets (Teachers)
"Now have come the salvation and the power and the kingdom of our God, and the authority of his Christ. For the accuser of our brothers, who accuses them before our God day and night has been hurled down. They overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and the word of their testimony; they did not love their lives so much as to shrink from death" (Revelation 12:10,11).
We are living in the hour of "the kingdom of our God" upon the earth. We are living in a time in which those who overcome do so by the precious blood and "the word of their testimony." Overcomers are those who "do not love their lives so much as to shrink from death;" they have died to themselves and made the great exchange, His life for theirs. We have learned that our "testimony" is the word made flesh in our lives - the amount of 'word' we walk in: the symmetry of the 'word' and actual life - our testimony. Our life reflects the revelation we walk in.
As will be discussed later, we will see how revealing the word 'testimony' is in discerning a false prophet. Please keep in mind the relevance of 'testimony' throughout what is written here; it will take on new meaning as we discuss false prophets.
In a sense we are living in the greatest of times and the worst of times. Greatest, in that we are seeing God's Kingdom come upon the earth in unprecented ways; worst, in that false prophets (teachers) have been released in unprecedented numbers.
We are living in the hour of false prophets, and accordingly, must be on guard against their influence in our lives. Not one well-meaning Christian would allow a false prophet into their life knowingly; but many are presently doing so unwittingly. Let us never state that we weren't warned ahead of time. Perhaps articles like this are part of the warnings mentioned in Matthew 24:25.
"For false Christ and false prophets will appear and perform great signs and miracles TO DECEIVE EVEN THE ELECT if it were possible. See, I have told you ahead of time" (Matthew 24:24,25).
Scripture gives us a specific time frame in which false prophets will appear; and while their existence has been well known since the time of Jesus, we have entered 'the time of the false prophet.' False prophets will appear during the same hour, the same moment in time in which "the Kingdom is being preached." And as with every move of God, the enemy has a plan. The devils' answer to the Kingdom's forceful advance in the earth is the unleashing of false prophets and the anti-Christ spirit (Matthew 24). Diversions in the form of false doctrine are aimed straight at the Body of Christ to delay the advance of 'the coming Kingdom' (present tense).
"At that time many will turn away from the faith AND WILL BETRAY AND HATE EACH OTHER, and many false prophets will appear and deceive many people…and this GOSPEL OF THE KINGDOM will be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come" (Matthew 24:10,11,14). Betrayal amongst God's people, coming in the form of jealously and disloyalty, has raised its ugly head; doctrines with little relationship to the word of God are rampant, yet the KINGDOM IS PREACHED to those who have ears to hear it.
During recent weeks, months, and years many of God's true prophets have been shouting from their spiritual roof tops, "Thy Kingdom come, Thy will be done ON EARTH…" They have zeroed in on "Sonship," hearing and obeying God, not moving out of any motive except having heard the Holy Spirit. They have taught us that faith comes from having heard God; they have taught us the difference between 'the World's System' and 'the Kingdom of God.' They have taught us to be drawn to 'The Way' of the Kingdom (complete dependence upon God), and to turn away from the ways of the world (complete dependence upon man). They have taught us that order with man begins with order with God; that the Body must first be reconciled back to God before the true Church can be built. Any man with spiritual eyes can see the "living stones" being placed together; the Kingdom is now coming upon the earth. With all the awe of this 'great moment' in time, we are also given a warning - "Many false prophets will appear and deceive many people…" (Matthew 24:10). As the Kingdom continues to come upon the earth so to do false prophets appear.
For some strange reason we have little trouble believing the word in many different areas, but completely bypass the many warnings given about false prophets. This should serve as a wake up call that this Bible truth is as true as the rest!
For years the question has been asked, "How will I know a false prophet when I see one?" False prophets pervert truth, and what makes them so deadly is their depth of knowledge, or better-said, intellectual understanding of what truth is. They dazzle us with their knowledge of scripture, often entrapping us with their beliefs through their skilled use of God's word. They are often gifted with the ability to work miracles, cast out demons, heal the sick, and other supernatural occurrences. There are, however, ways to discern and separate the true from the false. Ask for God's gift of discernment as you read the following scriptures.
"Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep's clothing (one who appears to be God's own), but inwardly they are ferocious wolves (their real motive is to eat the sheep). Here is where we get out first hint of a false prophet, "BY THEIR FRUIT YOU WILL RECOGNIZE THEM. Do people pick grapes from thorn bushes, 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).
As if obvious traits like disloyalty, mean-spirited, selfish, pleasure loving, covetous, pride filled, arrogant, lazy, and unfaithful were not enough, God gives us yet another gauge through which to see the false prophet.
We all know the fruit of the spirit; love, joy, peace…, but in a more interpretative sense "fruit," in the context of Matthew 7:15-20 is linked to a man's character, his inner self, who he really is; HIS TESTIMONY. A man's life as a Christian, or his testimony, reflects who he really is - it reflects the character of God or a lack thereof. CHARACTER CREATES TESTIMONY, and while we can argue doctrines until we are blue in the face, we can never argue a man's testimony. A testimony is what it is! Our testimony, like it or not, is a reflection of what truly resides within us.
Admittedly, we are all a work in progress, but consistency of character will reveal good fruit or bad. We do not suddenly get good or suddenly get bad; it is a process and that process is our testimony. Our testimony is not a one-time event; it is our consistency pattern, or characteristics that determine character, which ultimately determines our true testimony.
How does our life experience define us? Watchman Nee, in his book Sit, Walk, Stand opens with "If the life of a Christian is to be pleasing to God it must be found properly adjusted to Him IN ALL THINGS. Too often we place the emphasis in our own lives upon the application of this principle to some single detail of our behavior, or of our work for him. Often we fail to appreciate either the extent of the adjustment called for or, at times, even the point from which it should begin. But God measures everything, from start to finish, by the perfections of His Son. Scripture clearly affirms that it is God's good pleasure "to sum up all things in Christ…in whom also we were made a heritage" (Ephesians 1:9-11).
God measures things from start to finish. Our lives, even our past to some extent, represents who we are, and who we are is what dwells within our heart; and what is in our heart is the fruit of our actions past, present, and future. From a practical standpoint, without accountability to our past, there is little room for correction in our future. As we gaze into life's rear-view mirror, the debris from past mistakes should be less and less visible as we travel the road of life. If the debris piles in our immediate past are not less, the lessons and necessary changes from those lessons should indicate that we have perhaps followed a wrong spirit.
cont`d...
---------- Post added at 03:38 PM ---------- Previous post was at 03:37 PM ----------
Separating The True From The False
A number of issues will be discussed here that will assist us in discerning the true from the false; and while the points made in this discussion are by no means the only elements of separating the true from the false, they will point us in the general direction of understanding. We will first discuss obvious observable differences, and then the more subtle ways of discerning differences.
A true prophet will point you to Jesus, and the vision HE HAS PUT IN YOU. A false prophet will point you to himself; his vision, his purpose, his ministry, etc., The vast difference between the true and the false is that the true will always, always point you to the Jesus in you: your calling, your ministry, your purpose, and your destiny. The 'true' can point you to nothing but Jesus…the 'false' can point you to nothing but man; often himself. The false prophet will always leave you empty in a crisis, while the true will leave you full. The true prophet speaks to your heart, while the false will excite your eyes and ears. THOSE WHO ARE EASILY IMPRESSED ARE PRIME CANDIDATES FOR DECEPTION FROM THE ANTI-CHRIST SPIRIT THAT FALSE PROPHETS OPERATE FROM.
While the following observable difference is not a law, I think it worth mentioning. For some years there has been great favor within the Body of Christ for the works of men and the gifts of God that operate in men, while there has been little emphasis upon the true character of God within those same men. Character seems to have fallen by the wayside as Christians, much like their counter-parts in the world, have given their respect to external gifts and works rather than the internal character of God. In other words, it has been 'what the man is all about' rather than 'who the man really is.' Character is internal, while gifts and works are external. Our character is eternal, our gifts temporal. To which should we show the greatest respect? While we may admire beauty and talent, our deep respect should be reserved for Godly character.
What is character in the context of this teaching? Character is an identifying factor in separating the true from the false. Character is a man's testimony - who he is, and what he is. It is what his life says about him. In God's eyes, we are not defined by the externalities of who we are (our name, works, titles), but rather the internalities of what we are (our true character.) Character is a reflection of heart. Who we are in the worst of times will always reveal us (James 1:1-15). What did we do when tempted, angered, tested, tossed...?
Fire shows us the 'why,' and reveals the ugly 'who!' You do not have a testimony, good or bad, until you first have a test. All you have left when a crisis has ended is your conduct during it. Crisis produces spiritual reality and revelation relative to the depth of our real faith (love). A man's true character can never be seen as he rides the crest of success; but allow hard times and crisis to enter and true character will surely surface.
Our testimony (what we purport to believe) and our life should reflect one in the same. No man can truly lead you where he has never been. A great indicator between the true and the false is that the 'true' can only teach what is true in their life (their testimony), while the 'false' will attempt to teach, with equal passion, what they have never experienced for themselves. Arthur Burt, in defining revelation states, "Situation must be married to revelation. Until your revelation works in your situation, you do not really have a revelation." A False prophet will readily teach you what he does not personally walk in (Matthew 23:3). Nothing is more numbing spiritually than to watch one teach what they have no real revelation of. We are only qualified to transfer (to others) what we know. Transference is the true anointing. "Gold and silver have I none but such as I have I give thee. Stand up and walk…"
"They overcame him (Satan) by the blood of the Lamb and by THE WORD OF THEIR TESTIMONY" (Revelation 12:11). If our testimony does not match the word (revelation) we preach, teach, and espouse, we are no more than a sounding gong. I can teach salvation because I am saved. I can share salvation because I have experienced it. I can espouse divine finances because I walk in God's provision. My word and my testimony are one in the same. A true prophet teaches what he knows from his heart (Luke 6:45), while a false prophet teaches what he knows from his head. I can be a false prophet in your life when I teach what I do not know or walk in personally: when I express my opinion apart from God, or when I say things from the wrong spirit. All of these things I do with some degree of regularity, which is why I always say test it! We none are above the capability of being false in the lives of others.
As previously stated, we Christians, like our counterparts in the world, are enamored by 'the gifts.' Just as 'the world' places high premium on beauty, talent, and skill, so to do we, as Christians, hold in high esteem those gifted to preach, teach, heal, cast out demons, do miracles and the like. We tend to place little value on character or testimony, but like lambs to the slaughter are impressed by, and dangerously follow those with gifts. As mentioned; during the time the Kingdom is preached there will be many false prophets released into the earth and the very elect will be deceived were it possible. The point of this writing is not the danger of false prophets as much as it is the danger of adapting doctrines taught by these so called 'ministers.'
Let the following scripture cast a warning to those who are enamored by men with 'gifts.' "Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven. Many will say to me on that day, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles? Then I will tell them plainly, "I never knew you. Away from me you evildoers!" (Matthew 7:21-23).
From the above scriptures we begin to see the value God places upon gifts. God's premium is placed on those with His character, not necessarily those with his gifts. It is the work of the enemy to rob us of our destiny and purpose; and this is being done at an alarming rate by the deceiver's chief tool - DECEPTION! Deception brings destruction, and there is no better example of this than the "The Modern Day Prosperity Message" being perpetrated upon God's people by many false prophets.
The enemy knows that our discernment is at its lowest when our needs are the greatest. He can easily deceive us with a supposed word from God (from a false prophet) that appears to meet our needs. "If you need your bills to be paid send money to this good ground TV ministry!" It is important to remember that a false prophet's purpose is to eat the sheep, or better said, eat off the sheep. Be careful of those who feel entitled to your provision! It is a loud signal that a wrong spirit is speaking!
Those most susceptible to this deception are those who have yet to die completely to themselves; those who still reside in the outer court, in their soul. Man followers are also highly susceptible to this deception - those who subscribe to teachings like 'being under the covering of a pastor or denomination' (Matthew 23:8-11). Those who follow men have one strong commonality - no power when trials come!
"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" (Matthew 7:13,14).
Isn't it interesting that following Matthew 7:13,14 we find "Watch out for false prophets" (Matthew 7:15). Recognize the connection between "false prophets" and "the broad gate that leads to destruction." Do you think it strange that God's word says, "many enter through it?" I believe with all that is within me that this writing is directed to the "few" who will enter the "small gate and narrow road that lead to life." Interestingly, the word "life" is the same word "life" in John 10:10 in which Jesus says, "I have come to give them life, and give it more abundantly." The mission of the false prophet, knowingly or unknowingly, is to keep God's people from attaining Jesus' gift of "abundant life," which is the fulfillment of destiny and purpose.
As I reread the words, "Enter through the narrow gate," I felt I heard the Lord say, "Fat people cannot get through the narrow gate!" As I meditated on what God meant, He explained "Fat" in a figurative sense meaning those who are full of themselves, and thus to big to pass through this narrow place. Only those who are small can walk through a narrow gate - small in the sense that they have died to themselves, their personal agendas, their pride, etc., John-the-Baptist said, "I must decrease that He might increase.
cont`d...
