The Message of the Teachings on the Mount (85)
By Abraham Eli
This study was first taught on August 23, 2011
Topic: Beware of False Prophets: How to Identify Them (2.4)
No audio available for this study.Background
Last week, we saw two more fruits of false prophets, viz, uncleanness and lasciviousness. We noted that uncleanness, which is impurity, includes abominable sexual practices like, homosexual acts, incest, bestiality, paedophilia, necrophilia, masturbation, anal intercourse, etc.; spiritual leprosy, which is the result of rebellion and disobedience to God’s authority and order; communing and fellowshipping with devils through occult practices, seeking power from evil spirits, etc.; and, impure thoughts and unsavoury speech. We saw that uncleanness defiles a man, and corrupts everything that he does and touches. Lasciviousness, on the other hand, we saw, is indecent behaviour and conduct, and manifests as unbridled sensuality, like flirting, flashing, pornography, amorous dressing, sexually explicit communications, sexual fantasizing, etc.; licentiousness, which is unrestrained behaviour, and depravity; lawlessness which is indiscipline, and a flagrant disregard for what is right; and, excesses, which is wantonness, recklessness, lack of moderation, lack of self-control, and shameless practices. We saw that the behaviour and conduct associated with uncleanness and lasciviousness are never associated with children of God; hence, uncleanness and lasciviousness pertain primarily to those who practice unrighteousness, because, uncleanness is the outcome of a life that has neither been purified, purged, nor cleansed by the blood of Jesus; and lasciviousness comes from people who are vain (empty), spiritually ignorant (the result of a hardened heart), and alienated (self-exiled) from God. Therefore, a false prophet, to whom these fruits are associated, is someone who is not born again, or who is backslidden; and is thus, filled with impure and indecent practices and conducts.
We therefore noted that when a man or woman comes to you, advocating a liberty that leads to licentiousness, on the basis of grace, you should know that a false prophet has come to you! Also, when a person claiming to speak for God, encourages you to dress amorously or engage in pre-marital sex, with a view to wooing a prospective spouse, or encourages you to view pornographic material to improve your marital sex life, you can be sure that he or she is a false prophet! Furthermore, we said that when you are being taught every other thing in the bible, without holy living as the basis, you are being taught by a false prophet! We also said that where there is rampant disorderliness and unchecked indecency in a ministry, you can be sure that the head of that ministry must be a false prophet! We warned: “Of such, beware! From such, flee!”
Scripture Text(s)
Matthew 7:16; Galatians 5:20
Tonight, we shall continue to examine more fruits of false prophets, which come under the category of “works of the flesh”. May the Holy Spirit continue to teach us, in Jesus’ name, Amen.
We shall only be able to consider two of the works of the flesh enumerated in our second scripture text tonight: idolatry and witchcraft. The word translated ‘idolatry’ in the KJV is rendered ‘worship of images’ in BBE; while, the word translated ‘witchcraft’ in the KJV is rendered variously, as ‘sorcery’ (NLT and ESV), ‘drug use’ (GW), and ‘use of strange powers’ (BBE). As we search the Scriptures tonight, we shall see these fruits as revealed in the conduct and practices of false prophets.
Exodus 32:1-25; Colossians 2:16-23; 1 Timothy 4:1-11; Colossians 3:5; Ephesians 5:5; 1 Timothy 6:5-10, 17-19; Luke 12:15-21; 16:13-14; James 4:4; 1 John 2:15-16; Luke 14:25-26; Deuteronomy 13:1-11; 18:10-14; Acts 19:13-16; 8:9-24; 13:6-12; Philippians 3:17-20.
Conclusion
We have seen tonight that idolatry is more than the worship of images or strange gods, but more importantly, it is the worship of, or giving undue attention to, or pouring excessive affection on, anything except or more than on God. For this reason, covetousness, which is greed, avarice, or the love of money, wealth, or possessions, is idolatry; so also is the love of the world and all that it involves. Included as idolatrous practice, are those events that many Christians celebrate, such as, Christmas, Easter, St. Patrick’s Day, Valentine’s Day, Ash Wednesday, Hanukkah, etc., on one hand; and traditional festivals/events like, Yam festivals, Chieftaincy, Masquerades, National Days, etc. Against this we have been warned by God Himself, that if a so-called prophet asks us to celebrate any of them, we should ignore him at best. We have also seen that witchcraft is more than voodoo. It is really sorcery, magic, fortune-telling, palmistry, astrology, horoscope, divination, and, the use of powers other than of God to bring about a healing, miracle, sign, or wonder, with a view to bewitching the people into following the practitioners or have a fearful regard for that person and the powers he is displaying. In fact the word translated ‘witchcraft’ is the same word translated in the English language as ‘pharmacy’ hence, some modern translations regard witchcraft as the use of drugs or stimulants by ministers to enable them minister. It may also include the recommendation of medical procedures for certain conditions like ‘bareness’.
A false prophet is therefore that individual who, though professes to speak for God, yet equates godliness with wealth acquisition and possessions, and, whose primary concern is with the things of this world rather than on the things in heaven. He is an individual who emphasizes celebrations which may seem to suggest that God is involved, but which were symbols in the Old Covenant Era, referring to Christ today, or which have an appearance of dedication to God, but which really is dedication to idols. False prophets rely on external enhancement like stage effects (including theatrics), stimulants (including hard drugs), and occultism (strange powers), rather than depend on the Holy Spirit; and the reason for this is to entice people away from the truth, and unto themselves. Let us not forget that false prophets could include, worship leaders, Sunday School teachers, house fellowship leaders, bible school teachers, and so on. Brethren, beware!
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