This study was first taught on August 30, 2011

Topic: Beware of False Prophets: How to Identify Them (2.5)

No audio available for this study.

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Background
Last week we saw that idolatry is more than the worship of images or strange gods, but includes, the worship of, or giving undue attention to, or pouring excessive affection on anything, except, or more than on God. Hence, we saw that covetousness (greed, avarice, the love of money, etc.) is idolatry; just as is the love of the world and all that it entails. We also saw that celebrations like, Christmas, Easter, St. Patrick’s Day, Valentine’s Day, Ash Wednesday, Hanukkah, Yam festivals, Chieftaincy, Masquerades, National Days, etc., are all idolatrous practices. Again, we saw that witchcraft is not just voodoo, but includes, 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, as well as the use of drugs, stimulants, or digital effects to enhance ministry. We said that recommending medical procedures for certain conditions like barrenress would constitute witchcraft.

We thus noted that a false prophet is 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 under the Old Covenant (referring to Christ), or, emphasize celebrations that have an appearance of dedication to God, but which really are dedication to idols. We also concluded that false prophets rely on external enhancements like stage effects (including theatrics), stimulants (including hard drugs), and occultism (strange powers). They never depend on the Holy Spirit; indeed they cannot have anything to do with Him! We stated that false prophets could include, worship leaders, Sunday School teachers, house fellowship leaders, bible school teachers, as well as evangelists and pastors.

We reiterated that false prophets use idolatry and witchcraft to entice people away from the truth; and bewitch or manipulate these people into following them and to have a fearful regard for them, as well as of the powers they display. They ultimately bring their followers into dependency on them rather than on the Holy Spirit, and the word of God.

Scripture Text(s)
Matthew 7:16, 20; Galatians 5:20-21
Tonight, we shall be looking at the remainder of the works of the flesh, which indeed are manifest in the false prophet. May the Holy Spirit continue to grant us the grace to study, in Jesus’ name, Amen.
The list of the remainder of the works of the flesh is not exhaustive, but it gives us an idea of the practices of false prophets. A look at other translations of the bible open our eyes to the true depth of the meaning of the works of the flesh; traits which are locked deep within the heart of the unregenerate man: ‘hatred’ is rendered ‘hostility’ (NLT), ‘enmity’ (AMP, ESV), ‘paranoid loneliness’ (The Message); ‘variance’ is rendered ‘contentions’ (NKJV), ‘quarrelling’ (NLT), ‘strife’ (AMP, ESV), ‘rivalry’ (GW), ‘fighting’ (BBE), ‘discord’ (NIV), ‘cutthroat competition’ (The Message); ‘emulations’ is rendered ‘jealousy’ in most translations, ‘desire for what another has’ (BBE), ‘all consuming-yet-never-satisfied wants’ (The Message); ‘wrath’ is rendered ‘outbursts of wrath’ (NKJV), ‘outbursts of anger’ (NLT), ‘anger (ill temper)’ (AMP), ‘fits of anger/rage’ (ESV/NIV), ‘angry outbursts’ (GW), ‘angry feelings’ (BBE), ‘a brutal temper’ (The Message); ‘strife’ is rendered ‘selfish ambition’ (NLT, GW), ‘selfishness’ (AMP), ‘rivalries’ (ESV), ‘attempts to get the better of others’ (BBE), ‘constant efforts to get the best for yourself’ (LB); ‘seditions’ is rendered ‘dissensions’ (NKJV, AMP, ESV, NIV), ‘conflict’ (GW), ‘divisions’ (AMP, BBE), ‘complaint and criticisms’ (LB); ‘heresies’ is rendered ‘division’ (NLT, ESV), ‘party spirit (factions, sects with peculiar opinions, heresies)’ (AMP), ‘factions’ (NIV, GW), ‘false teachings’ (BBE), ‘the feeling that everyone else is wrong except those in your own little group—and there will be wrong doctrine’ (LB); ‘envyings’ is rendered ‘envy’ in almost all the translations, ‘the vicious habit of personalizing everyone into a rival’ (The Message); ‘drunkeness’ is rendered ‘uncontrolled drinking’ (BBE), ‘uncontrolled and uncontrollable addictions’ (The Message); and, ‘revellings’ is rendered ‘revelries’ (NKJV), ‘wild parties’ (NLT, LB), ‘carousing’ (AMP), ‘orgies’ (ESV, NIV), ‘wild partying’ (GW), ‘feasting’ (BBE).
1 Corinthians 11:18-19; 1:14-18; 3:1-6; Galatians 1:6-12; 1 Corinthians 15:1-4; Galatians 3:2; Acts 15:29-30; 2 Peter 2:1; Genesis 3:1-6; 1 Timothy 4:1; 1 Corinthians 11:3-6; Jude 8-13; 2 Peter 2:18-20; 1 Kings 22:24; 18:26-29; 1 Corinthians 10:7; Acts 16:16-18.

Conclusion
False prophets, in addition to their immoral, impure, indecent, idolatrous, and manipulative practices and conduct, also manifest traits that bother on sectarianism, subversion of the gospel, fits of rage and anger at those who oppose them, and can even kill or send hired assassins after those they consider rivals. They dispense poisonous doses of destructive doctrines which aim to turn away their adherents from the ways of God. They encourage revelries and wild behaviour all in the name of praise and worship, forgetting that there must be reverence for the presence of God, as well as order in the house of God.

It is important to note that some false prophets were believers in Christ, who refused to be led by the Holy Spirit, and so, with impunity, manifest the works of the flesh consistently (1 John 2:18-19). This is a warning to those of us who claim to be Christians. We ought to depend on Christ for our lives and walk as He has given us grace. In any area where we find it difficult to live as God desires, we should always turn to the Holy Spirit, Who has been given to us, and He will help us. It is when we refuse to do these things that we become false prophets and begin to teach heresies and form sects which seek to please self (the flesh) rather than God.

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