FALSE GUIDES
Hello all, here is something I wrote a while ago about false teachers, or gudies.
Praise the Lord who has ordained true ministers to preach the full counsel of God in these last days. These people not only reveal God's blessings and promises, but also his threatenings and warn the church concerning satanic deception. For there are all kinds of seducing spirits and doctrines of devils pervading the land today. Many people are being subtly deceived and led astray, and that by false ministers. This is a serious matter. Christians of the past have been warned by true ministers to "mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them" (Romans 16:17). But how do we determine who is a false minister? The answer is that we must be guided by the Holy Spirit and to go to the holy scriptures to derive principles from both the Old and New Testaments.
Some of their marks
They are a one-man show who quench the Spirit and do not allow Christ to be the head and to minister through the rest of his body whenever they gather together. They love to have the preeminence and are puffed up by their high position acting as lords over the saints. But in their exalted position they devour the believers and bring them into bondage.
"I wrote unto the church: but Diotrephes, who loveth to have the preeminence among them, receiveth us not"...neither doth he himself receive the brethren, and forbideth them that would, and casteth them out of the church"
(3 John 9).
"For ye suffer, if a man bring you into bondage, if a man devour you, if a man exalt himself, if a man smite you on the face" (2 Corinthians 11:20).
They serve their own lust, speaking smooth words and convincing speeches, but deceive their listeners. Yet they are really wolves in sheep's clothing.
"For they that are such serve not our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly; and by good words and fair speeches deceive the hearts of the simple"
(Romans 16:18).
They have all kinds of false visions and dreams of their own heart and not of the Lord. Yet by their lying and their lightness they deceive many and draw them into their own man-made programs. They don't take things very seriously, and joke about grave matters. They are also very light about sin, and seem to have little concern about it.
"Behold, I am against them that prophesy false dreams, saith the LORD, and do tell them, and cause my people to err by their lies, and by their lightness; yet I sent them not, nor commanded them: therefore they shall not profit this people at all, saith the LORD" (Jeremiah 23:32).
They are men pleasers, not God-pleasers. One way that they do this is by telling people what they want to hear rather than what they need to hear.
"For do I now persuade men, or God? or do I seek to please men? for if I yet please men, I should not be the servant of Christ" (Galatians 1:10).
They may cover themselves with some Christian words but bring in all sorts of damnable heresies and false doctrines. They are also covetous, money lovers who speak artificial words to make merchandise of the many that follow them.
"But there were false prophets also among the people , even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction. 2 And many shall follow their pernicious ways; by reason of whom the way of truth shall be evil spoken of. 3 And through covetousness shall they with feigned words make merchandise of you: whose judgment now of a long time lingereth not, and their damnation slumbereth not" (2 Peter 2:1-3).
They are self-seeking and don't naturally care for the sheep, but they pretend that they are concerned. They also feed themselves and take care of their own interest first and not the flock.
"For I have no man likeminded, who will naturally care for your state. 21 For all seek their own, not the things which are Jesus Christ's" (Philippians 2:20,21).
"...Woe be to the shepherds of Israel that do feed themselves! should not the shepherds feed the flock? (Ezekiel 34:2).
They strengthen evildoers by not sufficiently warning them of sin and the judgment to come thus encouraging them on in their evil way. This makes those who despise the Lord and hate his word feel at peace and not in danger of hell fire.
"I have seen also in the prophets of Jerusalem an horrible thing: they commit adultery, and walk in lies; they strengthen also the hands of evildoers, that none doth return from his wickedness: they are all of them unto me as Sodom, and the inhabitants thereof as Gomorrah" (Jeremiah 23:14).
The Lord said, "They say still unto them that despise me, The LORD hath said, ye shall have peace; and they say unto everyone that walketh after the imagination of his own heart, No evil shall come upon you" (Jeremiah 23:17).
People of the world almost always speak well of them and so do their followers, perhaps because they offer them false comfort in sin.
"Woe unto you, when all men shall speak well of you! for so did their fathers to the false prophets" (Luke 6:26).
They are puffed up and speak great boastful words being admired by men in their high positions. They also receive honour from men and commend themselves among themselves.
"...their mouth speaketh great swelling words, having men's persons in admiration because of advantage" (Jude 16).
"For we dare not make ourselves of the number, or compare ourselves with some that commend themselves: but they measuring themselves by themselves, and comparing themselves among themselves, are not wise" (2 Corinthians 10:12).
"How can ye believe, which receive honour one from another, and seek not the honour that cometh from God only? (John 5:44).
They often love to create a stage type atmosphere making a big show of their actions, seeking to be popular and famous among men.
Jesus said, "Therefore when thou doest thine alms, do not sound a trumpet before thee, as the hypocrites do in the synagogue and in the streets, that they may have glory of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward" (Matthew 6:2).
"And when thou prayest, thou shalt not be as the hypocrites are: for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and in the corners of the streets, that they may be seen of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward" (Matthew 6:5).
They are full of worldliness and talk very little of the cross, suffering and denying ungodliness and they serve their own passions.
"(For many walk, of whom I have told you often, and now tell you even weeping, that they are the enemies of the cross of Christ: 19Whose end is destruction, whose God is their belly, and whose glory is their shame, who mind earthly things.)" (Philippians 3:18,19).
They change the grace of God around to use it as a covering for them to commit fleshly lust and other sins, ignoring Titus 2:11,12.
"For there are certain men crept in unawares, who were before of old ordained to this condemnation, ungodly men, turning the grace of our God into lasciviousness, and denying the only Lord God, and our Lord Jesus Christ" (Jude 4).
They suppose that because they have gain, whether financial or otherwise, that this means that they and other professing believers are godly.
"...supposing that gain is godliness: from such withdraw thyself" (1 Timothy 6:5).
They can have secret covetous attitudes preaching, teaching and prophesying for money and reward. And they still think that God is with them.
"The heads thereof judge for reward, and the priest thereof teach for hire, and the prophets thereof divine for money: yet will they lean upon the LORD, and say, is not the LORD among us? none evil can come upon us" (Micah 3:11).
They trouble and confuse the righteous with their falsehoods and man pleasing words.
"Because with lies ye have made the heart of the righteous sad, whom I have not made sad; and strengthened the hands of the wicked, that he should not return from his wicked way, by promising him life" (Ezekiel 13:22).
They love flattering titles and exalted positions, such as your holiness, master of divinity, reverend, etc. (although some may do this in ignorance).
"Let me not, I pray you, accept any man's person, neither let me give flattering titles unto man. 22 For I know not to give flattering titles; in so doing my maker would soon take me away" (Job 32:21, 22).
Jesus said, "But be ye not called Rabbi: for one is your Master, even Christ; and all ye are brethren...Neither be ye called masters: for one is your Master, even Christ" (Matthew 23:8,10).
They may also show lying signs and wonders.
"For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders..." (Matthew 24:24).
Some give signs and wonders and say,"let us go after other gods" but the Lord God proves men to see if they love him or not (Deuteronomy 13:1-3).
Hello all, here is something I wrote a while ago about false teachers, or gudies.
Praise the Lord who has ordained true ministers to preach the full counsel of God in these last days. These people not only reveal God's blessings and promises, but also his threatenings and warn the church concerning satanic deception. For there are all kinds of seducing spirits and doctrines of devils pervading the land today. Many people are being subtly deceived and led astray, and that by false ministers. This is a serious matter. Christians of the past have been warned by true ministers to "mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them" (Romans 16:17). But how do we determine who is a false minister? The answer is that we must be guided by the Holy Spirit and to go to the holy scriptures to derive principles from both the Old and New Testaments.
Some of their marks
They are a one-man show who quench the Spirit and do not allow Christ to be the head and to minister through the rest of his body whenever they gather together. They love to have the preeminence and are puffed up by their high position acting as lords over the saints. But in their exalted position they devour the believers and bring them into bondage.
"I wrote unto the church: but Diotrephes, who loveth to have the preeminence among them, receiveth us not"...neither doth he himself receive the brethren, and forbideth them that would, and casteth them out of the church"
(3 John 9).
"For ye suffer, if a man bring you into bondage, if a man devour you, if a man exalt himself, if a man smite you on the face" (2 Corinthians 11:20).
They serve their own lust, speaking smooth words and convincing speeches, but deceive their listeners. Yet they are really wolves in sheep's clothing.
"For they that are such serve not our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly; and by good words and fair speeches deceive the hearts of the simple"
(Romans 16:18).
They have all kinds of false visions and dreams of their own heart and not of the Lord. Yet by their lying and their lightness they deceive many and draw them into their own man-made programs. They don't take things very seriously, and joke about grave matters. They are also very light about sin, and seem to have little concern about it.
"Behold, I am against them that prophesy false dreams, saith the LORD, and do tell them, and cause my people to err by their lies, and by their lightness; yet I sent them not, nor commanded them: therefore they shall not profit this people at all, saith the LORD" (Jeremiah 23:32).
They are men pleasers, not God-pleasers. One way that they do this is by telling people what they want to hear rather than what they need to hear.
"For do I now persuade men, or God? or do I seek to please men? for if I yet please men, I should not be the servant of Christ" (Galatians 1:10).
They may cover themselves with some Christian words but bring in all sorts of damnable heresies and false doctrines. They are also covetous, money lovers who speak artificial words to make merchandise of the many that follow them.
"But there were false prophets also among the people , even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction. 2 And many shall follow their pernicious ways; by reason of whom the way of truth shall be evil spoken of. 3 And through covetousness shall they with feigned words make merchandise of you: whose judgment now of a long time lingereth not, and their damnation slumbereth not" (2 Peter 2:1-3).
They are self-seeking and don't naturally care for the sheep, but they pretend that they are concerned. They also feed themselves and take care of their own interest first and not the flock.
"For I have no man likeminded, who will naturally care for your state. 21 For all seek their own, not the things which are Jesus Christ's" (Philippians 2:20,21).
"...Woe be to the shepherds of Israel that do feed themselves! should not the shepherds feed the flock? (Ezekiel 34:2).
They strengthen evildoers by not sufficiently warning them of sin and the judgment to come thus encouraging them on in their evil way. This makes those who despise the Lord and hate his word feel at peace and not in danger of hell fire.
"I have seen also in the prophets of Jerusalem an horrible thing: they commit adultery, and walk in lies; they strengthen also the hands of evildoers, that none doth return from his wickedness: they are all of them unto me as Sodom, and the inhabitants thereof as Gomorrah" (Jeremiah 23:14).
The Lord said, "They say still unto them that despise me, The LORD hath said, ye shall have peace; and they say unto everyone that walketh after the imagination of his own heart, No evil shall come upon you" (Jeremiah 23:17).
People of the world almost always speak well of them and so do their followers, perhaps because they offer them false comfort in sin.
"Woe unto you, when all men shall speak well of you! for so did their fathers to the false prophets" (Luke 6:26).
They are puffed up and speak great boastful words being admired by men in their high positions. They also receive honour from men and commend themselves among themselves.
"...their mouth speaketh great swelling words, having men's persons in admiration because of advantage" (Jude 16).
"For we dare not make ourselves of the number, or compare ourselves with some that commend themselves: but they measuring themselves by themselves, and comparing themselves among themselves, are not wise" (2 Corinthians 10:12).
"How can ye believe, which receive honour one from another, and seek not the honour that cometh from God only? (John 5:44).
They often love to create a stage type atmosphere making a big show of their actions, seeking to be popular and famous among men.
Jesus said, "Therefore when thou doest thine alms, do not sound a trumpet before thee, as the hypocrites do in the synagogue and in the streets, that they may have glory of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward" (Matthew 6:2).
"And when thou prayest, thou shalt not be as the hypocrites are: for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and in the corners of the streets, that they may be seen of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward" (Matthew 6:5).
They are full of worldliness and talk very little of the cross, suffering and denying ungodliness and they serve their own passions.
"(For many walk, of whom I have told you often, and now tell you even weeping, that they are the enemies of the cross of Christ: 19Whose end is destruction, whose God is their belly, and whose glory is their shame, who mind earthly things.)" (Philippians 3:18,19).
They change the grace of God around to use it as a covering for them to commit fleshly lust and other sins, ignoring Titus 2:11,12.
"For there are certain men crept in unawares, who were before of old ordained to this condemnation, ungodly men, turning the grace of our God into lasciviousness, and denying the only Lord God, and our Lord Jesus Christ" (Jude 4).
They suppose that because they have gain, whether financial or otherwise, that this means that they and other professing believers are godly.
"...supposing that gain is godliness: from such withdraw thyself" (1 Timothy 6:5).
They can have secret covetous attitudes preaching, teaching and prophesying for money and reward. And they still think that God is with them.
"The heads thereof judge for reward, and the priest thereof teach for hire, and the prophets thereof divine for money: yet will they lean upon the LORD, and say, is not the LORD among us? none evil can come upon us" (Micah 3:11).
They trouble and confuse the righteous with their falsehoods and man pleasing words.
"Because with lies ye have made the heart of the righteous sad, whom I have not made sad; and strengthened the hands of the wicked, that he should not return from his wicked way, by promising him life" (Ezekiel 13:22).
They love flattering titles and exalted positions, such as your holiness, master of divinity, reverend, etc. (although some may do this in ignorance).
"Let me not, I pray you, accept any man's person, neither let me give flattering titles unto man. 22 For I know not to give flattering titles; in so doing my maker would soon take me away" (Job 32:21, 22).
Jesus said, "But be ye not called Rabbi: for one is your Master, even Christ; and all ye are brethren...Neither be ye called masters: for one is your Master, even Christ" (Matthew 23:8,10).
They may also show lying signs and wonders.
"For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders..." (Matthew 24:24).
Some give signs and wonders and say,"let us go after other gods" but the Lord God proves men to see if they love him or not (Deuteronomy 13:1-3).
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