This study was first taught on July 19, 2011

Topic: Beware of False Prophets: Why?

No audio available for this study.

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Background
Last week we saw the implications to us, of the Lord’s statement that we ‘beware of false prophets’. We noted that the statement is a warning to ‘Watch out!” “Be careful!” “Investigate” and “Probe deeper!” all who claim to be prophets, apostles, pastors, bishops, deacons, evangelists, and so on. This is because, no one would come to you and say, “I am a false prophet!” We stated that every believer in Christ, would do well not to be taken in by people who claim to be someone or something, without first making due diligence to know who these people really are.

In expatiating further, we saw that to ‘beware of false prophets’ implies that we should:
(a) Exercise caution when people come to us and say that they are prophets or messengers of God;
(b) Engage our thoughts and actions to investigate them;
(c) Tread carefully, when people tell us that they are ministers of the gospel (sometimes, reeling off their credentials);
(d) Not be taken in, carried away or mesmerized, by itinerant ministers; neither should we be taken unawares by false prophets or false ministers.

We said that we would do well to learn from the Bereans, who investigated the message of Paul, rather than swallow it hook-line-and-sinker; and, we should search out so-called ministers/men of God; that is, investigate their pedigree, prove their character, probe their conduct, and diligently scrutinize the content of their message. We stated that such an investigation cannot be casual or carnal, rather, it must be prayerfully done with the help of the Holy Spirit. We should no longer take prophets/minsters and prophecies/ministries at face value, but must prove them! We concluded by noting that it is your responsibility to recognize and avoid false prophets/ministers!

Scripture Text(s)
Matthew 7:15-20
Not knowing the ‘why’ of a matter is ignorance, and can have devastating consequences, but knowing the reason for doing something is a very good motivator for doing that ‘something’. Tonight, we shall see why we would do well to take up the responsibility of digging deeper into the lives of people who come to us as apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors, teachers, and ministers. May the Holy Spirit help us to discern aright, in Jesus’ name, Amen.
Reasons abound as to why we should “Beware of false prophets”; that is, investigate and probe deeper into the lives and affairs of minsters of God. We shall be looking some vital reasons here, and trust God to supply whatever is lacking.
Ephesians 4:11; Mark 13:22-23; 1 Timothy 4:1-3, 7-8; 1 John 4:1; 1 Thessalonians 5:20-21; Deuteronomy 18:21-22; 13:1-3; 1 Samuel 16:7; 2 Corinthians 11:13, 15; 2 Peter 3:17; 1 Kings 13:1-24; 1 Kings 18:22; Numbers 16:1-35; 1 Kings 22:6-28; Acts 13:6-8; Revelation 2:20; Matthew 24:24; Jeremiah 23:13, 16; 2 Thessalonians 2:11-12; Jude 3-4.

Conclusion
The reasons we have adduced for heeding the warning to exercise caution when people come to us claiming to be prophets or ministers of God are:
1. The Person who makes people ministers, the Lord Jesus Christ, tells us to investigate all claims to ministry.
2. The Holy Spirit warns that in the last days, which we are in now, many false ministers shall arise with seducing spirits.
3. God, through His word, warns us to prove or try every spirit.
4. False prophets are not easy to identify, for they may indeed prophecy correctly, and may even work ‘miracles’ (albeit, lying wonders).
5. You cannot tell a false prophet by merely looking at the external, for they sometimes appear as ministers of righteousness, and may even look more presentable than the true prophets of God.
6. Many, who we would have thought cannot be misled, have indeed been misled.
7. Not everyone who claims to be who they say they are, are who they say they are.
8. False prophets/ministers are usually in the majority, and the tendency is to go with the majority.
9. False prophets/ministers are usually well connected with the high and mighty in society, and seek to legitimize their ministry by such associations.
10. False prophets/ministers aim to turn God’s children away from the faith and unto fables, fornication, idolatry, and vanity.
11. Those who continue to accommodate false prophets/ministers, soon find themselves deluded into believing what is obviously a lie, and end up in hell.
12. It was so important to Jude, one of the early Church leaders, that he left off writing about the matter of faith to warn the then Church of the influx of these false ministers.

It is not just your responsibility to investigate and avoid false prophets, it is also in your place to expose them for who they really are! It would be your fault and nobody’s if you allow yourself to be misled by these no-do-gooders because, the consequence of accommodating and tolerating them is that God Himself will send you strong delusions, so that you believe and even defend their obvious lies!

BE WARNED!

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