In these last days we see much confusion concerning which voice of reason among us is truth, and which is error. Lets take a fresh look at what the scripture teaches us concerning how to guard ourselves from being deceived.
Jesus himself gave us command in Matthew 24:4-5 that the burden is upon the hearer to test what he hears.
"And Jesus answered and said unto them, Take heed that no man deceive you. 5For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many."
The words, "take heed" are very significant, and show great importance. Its like saying "listen carefully"..In todays world of technology we have many ways to socialize among other believers. Telephones, emails, message boards like this one, etc. Therefore its imperative we take the time to pay close attention to what we take into our hearts that is purported as truth by others who want to "guide" us.
In Matthew 7 we see Jesus command that we beware of false prophets.
Matthew7:15Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheeps clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves. 16Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles? 17Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit. 18A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit. 19Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire. 20Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them.
Jesus says we shall know them by their "fruits". I live in an area that produces many types of apples. Although each apple is from a particular apple group, the taste varies at times from tree to tree..Depending on how well the tree has been pruned and cared for through the years, depends on how sweet the fruit is, and how the fruit retains its original flavor..
With true children of God we are also pruned if we abide in Christ, for the husbandman(The Father) desires fruit abounding unto His glory.
John 15:1I am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman. 2Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away: and every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit. 3Now ye are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you. 4Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me.
But what kind of fruit does a false prophet have? Lets go back to the scripture quoted in Matthew 7:21 "Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven."
What is the will of the father?..It is to bring glory to himself through His Son Jesus, whom our lives are hid within.
In other words as He has said in 1 Corinthians..29That no flesh should glory in his presence. 30But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption: 31That, according as it is written, He that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord.
A false prophet always wishes to drawn men to himself, for he has his own agenda..He may not even know it..It may be the pridefulness that he has a special calling that no-one else has, or that he has some special message that the Lord himself has for the body..But the fruit of his message is that it draws men back to himself for more of this special knowledge, or direction through the false prophet for the Lords work..
2 Timothy 3:13But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived. 14But continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of, knowing of whom thou hast learned them; 15And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.
False prophets are themselves deceived. It could be for many reasons. Rebelliousness, pride, anger, bitterness, or anything they have allowed to defile them and have not brought under the LORDSHIP of Jesus Christ!..(not allowing pruning)
Paul was so concerned about this that before he left for Jerusalem that he warned the elders at Ephesus about deceptions coming from within their own ranks..
Acts 20:28Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood. 29For I know this, that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock. 30Also of your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them. 31Therefore watch, and remember, that by the space of three years I ceased not to warn every one night and day with tears.
Jesus himself gave us command in Matthew 24:4-5 that the burden is upon the hearer to test what he hears.
"And Jesus answered and said unto them, Take heed that no man deceive you. 5For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many."
The words, "take heed" are very significant, and show great importance. Its like saying "listen carefully"..In todays world of technology we have many ways to socialize among other believers. Telephones, emails, message boards like this one, etc. Therefore its imperative we take the time to pay close attention to what we take into our hearts that is purported as truth by others who want to "guide" us.
In Matthew 7 we see Jesus command that we beware of false prophets.
Matthew7:15Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheeps clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves. 16Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles? 17Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit. 18A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit. 19Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire. 20Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them.
Jesus says we shall know them by their "fruits". I live in an area that produces many types of apples. Although each apple is from a particular apple group, the taste varies at times from tree to tree..Depending on how well the tree has been pruned and cared for through the years, depends on how sweet the fruit is, and how the fruit retains its original flavor..
With true children of God we are also pruned if we abide in Christ, for the husbandman(The Father) desires fruit abounding unto His glory.
John 15:1I am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman. 2Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away: and every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit. 3Now ye are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you. 4Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me.
But what kind of fruit does a false prophet have? Lets go back to the scripture quoted in Matthew 7:21 "Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven."
What is the will of the father?..It is to bring glory to himself through His Son Jesus, whom our lives are hid within.
In other words as He has said in 1 Corinthians..29That no flesh should glory in his presence. 30But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption: 31That, according as it is written, He that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord.
A false prophet always wishes to drawn men to himself, for he has his own agenda..He may not even know it..It may be the pridefulness that he has a special calling that no-one else has, or that he has some special message that the Lord himself has for the body..But the fruit of his message is that it draws men back to himself for more of this special knowledge, or direction through the false prophet for the Lords work..
2 Timothy 3:13But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived. 14But continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of, knowing of whom thou hast learned them; 15And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.
False prophets are themselves deceived. It could be for many reasons. Rebelliousness, pride, anger, bitterness, or anything they have allowed to defile them and have not brought under the LORDSHIP of Jesus Christ!..(not allowing pruning)
Paul was so concerned about this that before he left for Jerusalem that he warned the elders at Ephesus about deceptions coming from within their own ranks..
Acts 20:28Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood. 29For I know this, that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock. 30Also of your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them. 31Therefore watch, and remember, that by the space of three years I ceased not to warn every one night and day with tears.