False Prophets / False Teachers

1. False Prophets / False Teachers Warnings and Advice

2. Matt 24:23-25 •  Then if any man shall say unto you, Lo, here is Christ, or there; believe it not. For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect. Behold, I have told you before.

3. False Teachers and Prophets • There will be people arise who claim to be prophets of God or even claim to be Christ. They will be so convincing they may even deceive those who are very close and committed to God.

4. 2 Peter 2:1-3  • 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. And many shall follow their pernicious ways; by reason of whom the way of truth shall be evil spoken of. 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.

5. False Teachers • They will speak falsehoods • Speak against God • Do it for money or fame • They will be punished by God

6. 1 John 4:1-3  • Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world. Hereby know ye the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God: And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that spirit of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world.

7. Test Them • First test – If they deny that Christ is come in the flesh they are not of God. • Anyone one who teaches against Christ as the only answer to sin is an anti-Christ (Against-Christ) • That “Spirit” of anti-Christ is real and in the world.

8. 1 Thessalonians 5:21-22 • Prove all things; hold fast that which is good. Abstain from all appearance of evil.

9. Prove their words • Prove all things • Hold to that which is right • Run away from and disassociate with that which is a lie or sin

10. Prophecy • Telling the future is one method that is used to deceive • Fantastic descriptions of future events that people want to hear • Distorting even the truth to make people happy with their message

11. 2 Timothy 4:3-5 • For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables. But watch thou in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, make full proof of thy ministry.

12. Don’t follow false prophets • Jer 29:8-9 • For thus saith the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel; Let not your prophets and your diviners, that be in the midst of you, deceive you, neither hearken to your dreams which ye cause to be dreamed. For they prophesy falsely unto you in my name: I have not sent them, saith the LORD.

13. How do you tell? • Deut 18:21-22 • And if thou say in thine heart, How shall we know the word which the LORD hath not spoken? When a prophet speaketh in the name of the LORD, if the thing follow not, nor come to pass, that is the thing which the LORD hath not spoken, but the prophet hath spoken it presumptuously: thou shalt not be afraid of him.

14. Deuteronomy 13:1-3 • If there arise among you a prophet, or a dreamer of dreams, and giveth thee a sign or a wonder, And the sign or the wonder come to pass, whereof he spake unto thee, saying, Let us go after other gods, which thou hast not known, and let us serve them; Thou shalt not hearken unto the words of that prophet, or that dreamer of dreams: for the LORD your God proveth you, to know whether ye love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul.

15. Even if… • Even if the sign or wonder comes to pass, if they are telling you to turn away from God and follow another God, do not believe or follow them. God may be proving you – whether or not you will turn from Him.

16. Don’t Follow the Ancient Ways • DEUT 18-10-12 There shall not be found among you any one that maketh his son or his daughter to pass through the fire, or that useth divination, or an observer of times, or an enchanter, or a witch. Or a charmer, or a consulter with familiar spirits, or a wizard, or a necromancer. For all that do these things are an abomination unto the LORD: and because of these abominations the LORD thy God doth drive them out from before thee

17. List of Abominations • Sacrificing sons and daughters (Molech) • Abortion? • Pleasure • Monetary • Idolatry

18. List of Abominations • Diviners –Rituals or objects • Witches • Mediums • Spiritists • Astrologists • Magic charms • Witchcraft/Divination = Rebellion (1 Sam 15:23) • “For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry.”

19. Warnings in the Bible • Do not seek out mediums (Leviticus 19:31) • I will punish those that seek out mediums and spiritists (Leviticus 20:6). • Why do men not seek after their God?(Isaiah 8:19) • Don’t be enticed to worship the heavens (Deuteronomy 4:19). • Do not worship or seek answers in the sky (Deuteronomy 17:3). • God will destroy such people- they are powerless (Isaiah 47:13-15). • Don’t be scared of signs or omens in the stars (Jeremiah 10:1-2). • They may make some correct interpretations. But, Daniel was 10 times better than the astrologists in Babylon(Daniel 1:20). • Do not practice enchantments or astrology (Leviticus 19:26). • God is against charmers –they trap you like birds in a net (Ezekiel 13:20). • Idols give no comfort – diviners lie – their dreams are false(Zechariah 10:2). • God will speak against sorcerers and all who commit evil (Malachi 3:5). • Those who practice magic will not find a place in heaven (Rev 21:8)