False prophets, false christs, and false doctrines are so pervasive and wide-spread that they’re knocking on all of our doors.
I am a second generation Christian and have been blessed to be a pastor’s daughter. One of the pros and cons of having that inside advantage is being able to watch actions and consequences closely for the past 25 years. I have seen the actions of adults and through the years it has affected their children lives and even their young grandchildren.
There is not enough time to share everything I have learned, but right now I feel that it is necessary to put a spotlight on how our own people are being seduced by false prophets, false doctrines and false christs. I have seen it before, and now I see it again. I have seen the consequences over and over and I just don’t have the heart to watch it happen. I feel like a watchman, crying out to warn you of what is to come and how you can fortify yourself against it.
Isa 21:6 For thus hath the Lord said unto me, Go, set a watchman, let him declare what he seeth.
Gal 6:1 Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted.
Gal 6:10 As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith.
Why? Because we are in the last days and if we do not have Bible and facts, we too can be seduced or deceived.
Hos 4:6 My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge: because thou hast rejected knowledge, I will also reject thee, that thou shalt be no priest to me: seeing thou hast forgotten the law of thy God, I will also forget thy children.
1Ti 4:1 Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils; Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron;
Why? Because the deceivers are so subtle that we need to know and be reminded of the Bible and truth to help use see through their “sheep’s clothing.”
Eze 13:10 Because, even because they have seduced my people, saying, Peace; and there was no peace;
Rom 16:18 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.
Mat 7:15 Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves.
Why? Because not everyone knows their Bible, has their guard up, or has been around long enough to see the “fruits” for what they are. ROTTEN.
1Jn 4:1 Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world.
Mat 7:15 Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves. Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles? Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit. A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit. Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire. Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them.
The subtil serpent and his beguiling ways.
You may already know this, but Satan is the father of lies. (John 8:44). This battle would be so much easier if he was actually spreading lies. He isn’t. Not really. He is decieving through imbalance and half truths.
Gen_3:1 Now the serpent was more subtil than any beast of the field which the LORD God had made. And he said unto the woman, Yea, hath God said, Ye shall not eat of every tree of the garden? “But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ. For if he that cometh preacheth another Jesus, whom we have not preached, or if ye receive another spirit, which ye have not received, or another gospel, which ye have not accepted, ye might well bear with him” (2 Corinthians 11:3-4). “For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ. And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light. Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works” (2 Corinthians 11:13-15).
Luk 4:8 And Jesus answered and said unto him, Get thee behind me, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve.
More subtil than any, he charms us by offering what we think is the fruit of the spirit: love, joy, peace, gentleness, longsuffering, meekness, temperence and faith. But as always, the great imitator is offering just that: imitations.
How can we see through it? When we are being told blatant lies, we need discernment.
LOINS GIRT ABOUT WITH TRUTH: DISCERNMENT
DISCERN, v.i. – Webster’s 1828 Dictionary
1. To see or understand the difference; to make distinction; as, to discern between good and evil, truth and falsehood.
2. To have judicial cognizance.
COGNIZANCE, n.
1. Judicial notice or knowledge; the hearing, trying and determining of a cause or action in court.
5. Knowledge or notice; perception; observation; as the cognizance of the senses.
6. Knowledge by recollection.
Did you know that the word discernment isn’t even in the Bible very much? In fact the only times where discerning or discern are in the Bible are in direct relation to sin, the end times and seducing spirits.
1Ki 3:9 Give therefore thy servant an understanding heart to judge thy people, that I may discern between good and bad: for who is able to judge this thy so great a people?
Job_6:30 Is there iniquity in my tongue? cannot my taste discern perverse things?
Heb_5:14 But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.
I especially think it is interesting that we are to exercise discernment. Exercising is a repetitive action that makes you stronger in an area. Discernment is the ability to practice sound judgement. Yet, we live in an age that preaches against any form of judgement. What are we to do? Because “judge not” is in the Bible over and over.
We are not being told an untruth. Yes; more subtil than any.
How in the world are we supposed to know what is true? This is the playing field of Satan who walks about seeking whom he may devour.
The answer is found in the Scripture. The key is studying and reading it daily. We need to understand context and seek out wise counsel. We need to love the law and not get offended. We need to be told we are wrong and still be willing to be taught. We also need to go to church and hear the preaching of God’s Word through God’s man. It helps keep us from being deceived by our own heart.
1Pe 5:8 Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:
2Ti 2:15 Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.
Heb 10:25 Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.
We are people who know verses, but don’t understand their context. We are people who have learned the Bible, but have allowed other media to dilute or overpower it. We are people who spend more time in front of a screen then we ever do in prayer. We are people who have allowed knowledge to puff up, and do not have the understanding of that knowledge. Rather than humble and wise, we proceed as arrogant fools. We are churches full of unlearned and baby Christians who are never weaned and never gain discernment.
Heb 5:14 But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.
Here we are confused about our own walk and fellowship within the body of Christ and we really just want to love and be at peace. We are tired of warfare and darkness. Rather than God’s word, we are relying on the leading of the Spirit in our life and yet we can’t even discern the difference between the spirits.
Enter: the false prophets.
When it is dark and scary, who doesn’t appreciate a little light? The false prophets are full of light and positivity. They make us feel like we are doing a great job, and our sins aren’t as big of a deal as we think they are. There is no need to be a perfectionist. God loves us just the way we are. There is too much pressure on us. God just wants us to be happy. God is a God of unity and desires it among the believers. God hates discord and those who cast stones are causing discord. With their pretty faces, positive messages and feel good music we become hypnotized to believe whatever they say.
The problem is that with their half truths, they are leading us away from God. They have rendered us fruitless. Our lights are dull: smudged with sin. Our fear of negativity has caused our salt to lose its saltness. We are no longer labouring in the great commission, we are rallying for social causes. We are no longer active soldiers pressing toward a mark, we are an audience being entertained. We aren’t being sanctified, we are being passified.
Yet with all this fruitlessness, I have never met a generation who claims as much as ours to “feel close to God.” How can we be bad when we feel so good?
FRUITS. It’s all about the fruit.
The truth is, we can feel really good and still be doing very poorly. While our ways are clean in our own eyes, there will come a day when God will take our life and put it through the fire, and our fruit will be revealed.
Isa_5:24 Therefore as the fire devoureth the stubble, and the flame consumeth the chaff, so their root shall be as rottenness, and their blossom shall go up as dust: because they have cast away the law of the LORD of hosts, and despised the word of the Holy One of Israel.
Pro 16:2 All the ways of a man are clean in his own eyes; but the LORD weigheth the spirits.
But that is not the fruit that I really want to talk about. I want to talk about how we can keep ourselves from being deceived by the devil and his false prophets. The time will come when God will judge them, but now is when He tells us to inspect them.
Mat 7:15 Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves. Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles? Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit. A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit. Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire. Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them. Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.
We must inspect fruits.
Let me tell you the grossest story about fruit. It was when Kiera almost ate a pincher bug. She bit into a nest of them. In a perfect looking nectarine. She picked it from a ripe tree at our friends house. We had all eaten ours and then we saw her jump, scream bloody murder, throw the nectarine and saw about 6 or more pincher bugs fly through the air, hit the ground and scatter.
Later, I was picking some peaches and nectarines from the same yard and being aware of these bugs I inspected the fruit thoroughly before placing them in my bag. The good fruit was mixed with bad fruit and they all looked ripe and clean.
AUUGHHHHH! It’s horrid. I can feel my skin crawl. I say it again. My daughter bit. into. a. NEST!!!!!!!!! How could she not tell an entire nest was in there? Because we didn’t test it.
There are three ways to test this fruit, I found out.
1. A visual inspection. After I learned the importance of inspection, this is what I did first. I peered into the stem to see if I could see anything obviously wrong.
Part of the nectarines were actually really good and edible. That reminds me of God’s word and how it will never return void.
On first glance, it may seem like new Bible versions are not corrupt. It also may seem that so-called Christian music is bearing good fruit and is therefore not corrupt. It may seem that ecumenical ministries are doing the same work that NT churches are doing. But if you inspect further, you can see that God’s word is more powerful than corruption. Anything that uses any part of God’s word will bear the fruit of His word. That is God’s promise.
God’s word is a good tree and CANNOT bear evil fruit.
Isa_55:11 So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it.
False prophets, false doctrine, false christs and sin are bad trees and CANNOT bear good fruit.
So we see churches filled with mixed fruit. We see sin mixed with evangelism, immorality mixed with kindness, drunkenness mixed with hospitality, and immodesty mixed with praise. It all seems so very … Laodicean.
You see, it is easy to get confused if you stop at that first inspection. You may find yourself allowing a basket full of demonic influences (a.k.a. the bugs) into your home. Because the truth is: church is a place for sinners, not perfect people.
More subtil than any.
Heb 5:14 But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.
Listen to your pastor. Listen to those who have fought the fight a while and are still fighting. Don’t just stop at the obvious.
2. I soaked the fruit in water. The bugs all start climbing out of the fruit, so as not to drown.
Water in the Bible is a type of the word of God. This is why God says to “test the spirits.” The test the Bible gives in regards to the spirit of things is which Jesus they worship.
This is one of those areas of testing that is a bit easier, because you can see directly from the Bible what kind of Jesus God speaks of and what kind of Jesus these other guys speak of. Now, none of them will say that Jesus isn’t our Savior and so they “preach Christ” as the forgiver of our sins, but that is about where it stops. That is unless you ask them further questions.
There is this quote from an old movie that shows an actor saying “You keep saying that word. I do not think it means what you think it means.” That is how it is with these false prophets. They keep saying “Jesus” by I do not think it means what they think it means. In the last times there will be many false Christs.
Mat 24:24 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.
Mar 13:22 For false Christs and false prophets shall rise, and shall shew signs and wonders, to seduce, if it were possible, even the elect.
Mat 7:21 Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.
This is one of those areas of testing that is a bit easier, because you can see directly from the Bible what kind of Jesus God speaks of and what kind of Jesus these other guys speak of. Now, none of them will say that Jesus isn’t our Savior and so they “preach Christ” as the forgiver of our sins, but that is about where it stops.
Just a casual observer can recognize that the Jesus of the Catholics, the Jesus of the Mormons and the Jesus of Mohammed are all different. Some other “christs” you can find are:
A NON-TRINITARIAN GOD. Geron Davis, Joel Hemphill, Mark Carouthers, Phillips, Craig and Dean, Lanny Wolfe, and others are “Jesus Only” Pentecostals who deny the Trinity. To deny the Trinity is to worship a false God.
A NON-VENGEFUL GOD. Stuart Townend, for example, who writes “modern hymns” popular in IB churches, denies that God is vengeful, which is a brazen rejection of the very God of the Bible (Stuart Townend, “Mission: Worship, The Story Behind the Song”, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BdVQNyQmdM4).
A NON-JUDGMENTAL GOD. Consider the popularity of The Shack. It has been directly endorsed by Michael W. Smith and many other CCM artists and has been well received in prominent CCM circles such as Calvary Chapels, Vineyard churches, and Hillsong. It was promoted at the 2009 National Pastor’s Convention in San Diego, which was sponsored by Zondervan and InterVarsity Fellowship.
A REBEL CHRIST, which is certainly a false christ. Mark Stuart of Audio Adrenaline says, “Jesus Christ is the biggest rebel to ever walk the face of the earth” (Pensacola News Journal, Pensacola, Fla., March 1, 1998, pp. 1, 6E). Sonny of P.O.D. says, “We believe that Jesus was the first rebel; the first punk rocker” (http://www.shoutweb.com/interviews/pod0700.phtml). This is absolute blasphemy
ROCK & ROLL PARTY CHRIST. In his Live … Radically Saved video Carman says, “Jesus is always cool; He’s got his thing together.” In Resurrection Rap Carman portrays Jesus as a street hippie; in The Standard he calls Jesus “J.C.”; and in Addicted to Jesus he speaks of “Jammin’ with the Lamb.” Petra claims that “God gave rock and roll to you/ Put it in the soul of every one.” In “Party in Heaven” the Daniel Band sang, “The Lamb and I are drinkin’ new wine.” Phil Driscoll says, “God is the King of Soul; He’s the King of all rhythm” (quoted by Tim Fisher, Battle for Christian Music, p. 82). Messiah Prophet Band says, “Jesus is the Master of Metal,” and Barren Cross says, “Better than pot, Jesus rocks.” John Fischer described God as puffing on a cigar and swaying to rock music (CCM Magazine, July 1984, p. 20), while J. Lee Grady says Jesus enjoys dancing with the angels and “grooving to the sound of Christian R&B pumped out of a boom box” (Charisma, July 2000).
The fact that the CCM crowd typically worships a different kind of God than the “old-fashioned” Biblicist, is why they are perfectly comfortable using music that has been identified as sexy by the secular world. CCM Permeated with False Gods
If you pay attention and actually care, you will see these bugs climb out of their fruit and reveal themselves, as you can see above. If you are listening to any of the works of any of the people listed above, then you are probably going to find yourself seduced by spirits of the false christs. Lets move on to the next stage.
3. I cut all the fruit before we ate it, and threw out the defiled.
It takes a lot of work to discern, and we are not a generation of people who like to work. We are not very sober. We truly are “lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God.” I include myself in this. It is discouraging. It is wearying. It hurts. It is sometimes boring. Being a student of God’s Word and a soldier for the cross WILL cost you something.
So, now I want to go to the final step of the inspection. This really is the hardest.
Because you have to check something for defilement, and that is just negative. No one wants to point a finger and say “Defiled. That’s defiled.”
Because then we have to be willing to inspect our own lives for defilement in order to be consistent. Ugh!
Because some of the defilement, we actually like and we don’t want to turn away from it.
2Ti 3:1 This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. …Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.
Rom 16:17 Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them. 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.
2Co 6:17 Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you,
1Co 5:11 But now I have written unto you not to keep company, if any man that is called a brother be a fornicator, or covetous, or an idolater, or a railer, or a drunkard, or an extortioner; with such an one no not to eat.
SIGNS OF DEFILEMENT
When I speak of defilement, I am using it in the way the Bible speaks of leaven. It is a spreading of sin (the flesh) and the world’s philosophies throughout something. If you want something to spread, you certainly must not preach against it and on the other side if you want something else to spread, you must preach for it.
That is what you will find when you search for defilement of churches, preachers, music, movies, video games, and liberal media. You will see them soft on sin and pushing hard for their “truths. One sided preaching is truth that results in deceit.
Pro 11:1 A false balance is abomination to the LORD: but a just weight is his delight.
Pro 20:23 Divers weights are an abomination unto the LORD; and a false balance is not good.
1. Preaching Jesus’ love without preaching his hate.
I almost feel uncomfortable talking about this, because I have been so predisposed to not even say the word hate. I am afraid of being portrayed as hateful or full of hate speech. Still, did you know God hates? He even hates people.
Ecc 3:8 A time to love, and a time to hate; a time of war, and a time of peace.
If it is in the Bible, it is to be preached.
Pro 6:16 These six things doth the LORD hate: yea, seven are an abomination unto him: A proud look, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood, An heart that deviseth wicked imaginations, feet that be swift in running to mischief, A false witness that speaketh lies, and he that soweth discord among brethren.
Psa 11:5 The LORD trieth the righteous: but the wicked and him that loveth violence his soul hateth.
2. Preaching that grace without preaching judgement.
It is a very interesting study to see the definition of grace versus how it is interpreted in today’s society. Still, it is part of the Christian life. We are to turn the other cheek. We are to forgive and show kindness to the undeserving. We are to forbear (show patience) with others.
There is the other side of grace. We can discern sin. It is true charity to preach against sin, because at the end of all things there are both consequences and judgement. Our lives are not our own and that must be preached. Because forbearance (the closest thing the Bible has to Satan’s imitation “tolerance”) is a temporary thing. It means to delay judgement for a while; not to eliminate it.
Rom 6:1-8 What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound? God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein? Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death? Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection: Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin.
3. Preaching liberty without preaching that biblical charity trumps liberty.
God is all knowing and understanding and I am thankful for that. I know a man who grew up Catholic and he truly cannot in good conscience celebrate Christmas. Yet, I did not grow up setting up or praying to images on that day. I can celebrate Christ’s birth on December 25 without a second thought. I am thankful for that liberty.
We each have areas of conviction that others may not have due to our cultures and backgrounds before and after salvation. God allows us the liberty to decide for ourselves how to live within our personal convictions. (Romans 14)
But it seems that false prophets don’t preach that true charity puts other Christian’s convictions before our own. That means if I feel it is okay to drink, but you don’t; I shouldn’t being doing it while belonging and fellowshipping with a group of people who don’t. This applies to all “personal convictions.” Charity trumps liberty. (I am not promoting drinking. I am just using the example found below.)
Rom 14:21 It is good neither to eat flesh, nor to drink wine, nor any thing whereby thy brother stumbleth, or is offended, or is made weak. Hast thou faith? have it to thyself before God. Happy is he that condemneth not himself in that thing which he alloweth.
4. Preaching “peace” without preaching “fight.”
We are soldiers in a battle. We are armed for battle. We are to raise our shields against the darts of Satan. We are to offensively take ground for the cause of Christ. We are to flee temptation. We are to arm ourselves with God’s word and offensively use it to further the gospel. We are to rebuke and admonish sin publicly and privately. There are Scriptures that command all of these.
We are also to be people of peace who speak with meekness and love. We are to live as peaceably as we can (and that is not always possible) and must not seek to fight out of vengeance or pride.
Rom 12:17 Recompense to no man evil for evil. Provide things honest in the sight of all men. If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men.
Jas 3:17 But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be intreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy. And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace of them that make peace.
But the false prophets obscure biblical peace and we end up believing that never, never say anything that would disrupt peace. This reminds me of the very some very peaceful middle eastern religions where the people are extremely mild and calm and accepting of everyone’s spiritual views. This is where this “false peace” leads. The Christian is a soldier and we must not forget it.
Eze 13:10 Because, even because they have seduced my people, saying, Peace; and there was no peace; and one built up a wall, and, lo, others daubed it with untempered morter:
5. Preaching compassion without preaching hell.
Hell, hate and fear are just as much a part of the gospel as love. It just is. If preacher’s stop preaching hell and if people stop hating sin … and even the garment spotted by the flesh and stop preaching against it; we are not going to pull everyone out of the fire. There are people who NEED to be preached at.
My personal preference is to hand out tracts like “Charlie’s Ants” that are very non-confrontational and explain the cross from a loving standpoint, but other’s (like my pastor) needed a tract that showed the judgement of God upon his sin.
Jud 1:21 -23 Keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life. And of some have compassion, making a difference: And others save with fear, pulling them out of the fire; hating even the garment spotted by the flesh.
But false prophets preach so hard against judgement that to recognize sin and preach against it is deemed unloving. That is unbiblical and we need to recognize it for what it is: false doctrine.
6. Preaching “judge not” and rejecting discernment as “not Bible.”
I am going to give some popular examples of the “judge not” deception. We are told that using history and perception (one form of discernment) is not Bible. That is true in the sense that if it contradicts the Bible, our conclusions are not true. But just as “true science” confirms scientific Biblical teachings, history confirms the practical side of Biblical teachings. To deny their value is what causes us to repeat their consequences.
Those who do not learn from history are doomed to repeat it.
1. The Bible doesn’t indeed say “thou shalt not wear (insert specific article of clothing)” it says to adorn yourselves in “modest apparel.” In fact, biblically speaking, I could not prove that bearing any part of your anatomy (except your thighs) in public or in church is a sin. BUT I can show you the fruits of it historically and discern that it is immodest. Am I preaching something unbiblical? According to the false prophets I am.
2. The Bible doesn’t say “thou shalt not listen to music with demonic rythms.” It does say “sing a new song.” Still, it does not command, “thou shalt not sing the old song.” What are we to do? We don’t want to preach something that is “not Bible.” Ahhhh, yes! Discernment again. What are the fruits of rock music? Discernment, fruit inspection and rejection of bad trees IS Bible. But according to the false prophets it’s not.
This is a bait and switch trap of the false prophets. Have you adopted it?
7. Preaching unity without preaching separation.
Unity. Sigh. I love unity. I am a mother of five children and I loooooonnngggg for unity. I hate bickering, fighting, tattling, screaming, vengeful actions. There is nothing that makes me want to punish a child like those types of things. I truly feel this verse.
Psa 133:1 A Song of degrees of David. Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity!
I hate when there is prideful contention and a spirit of discord in the home and in our church. I love when we are all in agreement and standing behind or pastor fighting the world, the flesh and the devil. I love when we rally together behind missions and aggressive soul winning. I love when our pastor preaches against our sins and we make new ground and become more sanctified. Fighting together for a cause is exciting and it is what we are called to do.
But there is another side of the story. We ARE to separate ourselves from sin, rebellious sinners, sinful situations, sinful teachers, sowers of discord and even the appearances of sin.
THAT is not taught by the false prophets. The doctrine of separation and its practical application is not just ignored; it is preached against. Oh, it is masked under other names … but it is preached in a way that intimidates Christians and makes us feel as if we are sinning if we follow biblical separation.
1Co 14:32 And the spirits of the prophets are subject to the prophets. For God is not the author of confusion, but of peace, as in all churches of the saints.
This non-separative spirit is not of God. It causes us to be confused as to whether biblical separation is charitable or gracious. My advice is to turn from those who are causing the confusion and listen to your own KJV preacher (as the Bible says above). Trust God. Obey the Bible. Never be afraid or ashamed to do what the Bible says.
8. Preaching “love is the most important thing” (which charity is), without preaching that loving God comes BEFORE loving your neighbor.
Exo_20:6 And shewing mercy unto thousands of them that love me, and keep my commandments.
Deu_5:10 And shewing mercy unto thousands of them that love me and keep my commandments.
Deu_5:29 O that there were such an heart in them, that they would fear me, and keep all my commandments always, that it might be well with them, and with their children for ever!
Dan_9:4 And I prayed unto the LORD my God, and made my confession, and said, O Lord, the great and dreadful God, keeping the covenant and mercy to them that love him, and to them that keep his commandments;
Joh_14:15 If ye love me, keep my commandments.
Joh_15:10 If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father’s commandments, and abide in his love.
That last verse is notable, because it is Jesus who obeyed. That was true love to God.
The false prophets get us all emotional and we try to love others by being soft on sin, but if we are to love God with all our hearts, mind, souls, and strength; we are to obey Him. Plain and simple. And folks, that is missing in the preaching of the false prophets.
They say “obey” but the only command they really preach about obeying is their “false love.”
You see, to them, the only thing that matters is that nothing matters but “love.”
The KJV doesn’t matter.
Rome doesn’t matter.
Speaking in tongues doesn’t matter.
The trinity doesn’t matter.
Music doesn’t matter.
Modesty doesn’t matter.
Drinking doesn’t matter.
Divorce and adultery don’t matter.
Fornication doesn’t matter.
Homosexuality doesn’t matter.
The old phrase, “If you don’t stand for something, you will fall for everything” comes to mind. The only thing they truly rally around and fight for is the doctrine of tolerance wrapped up in the veneer of “false grace, false love and the judge not mentality.”
Do you recognize your thinking going this way? It is anti-God. Get rid of it. God’s biblical love forsakes sin, helps get people out of sin and helps keep people from sin.
HOW DO WE GET RID OF THE BAD FRUIT? Chop down the trees.
It is a pretty simple solution. The Bible says we are to avoid them. Turn away from them. Cast them out. Turn them over to Satan. That is exactly what we need to do.
Most of these false prophets write books, have TV programs, write music, host ecumenical “worship” concerts,
THE SOLUTION: Renewing your mind in the Bible, staying unspotted from the world, hearing good preaching and doing good works.
Eph 4:17 This I say therefore, and testify in the Lord, that ye henceforth walk not as other Gentiles walk, in the vanity of their mind, Having the understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God through the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart: … And be renewed in the spirit of your mind; And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.
Rom 12:1 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.
Rom 12:2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.
1Co 6:19 What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s.
2Ti 4:2 Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine. 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.
I have seen good Christians turn away from the KJV, solid doctrinal preaching, and any form of separation simply because they started listening to CCM music and its in between shows and preachers “renewing their minds” daily with false christs, false doctrines, false holiness (2 Cor. 7:1), false love (1 John 2:15), false grace (Rom. 6:1) and half truths that have a form of godliness … but from such we are commanded to turn away. (2 Tim. 3:1)
They lose the battle of their mind, because instead of having their loins girt about with truth, fighting offensively with the sword of the spirit, and defending with the shield of faith, they passively renewed, renewed and renewed their mind with fair speeches and good words and became scoffers, walking after their own lusts. (2 Pet. 3:3)
Therefore, friend, children, teens, and weary soldiers … turn off your CCM stations, get rid of your Joel Osteen books, purge your Ipod, turn off your evangelical TV station and get out some old bible believing preaching and teaching.
Keep on Keeping On!
A WORD ON “PROGRESSIVE SOUTHERN GOSPEL” and CCM MUSIC
If you are still not convinced that it is defiled, here are several well researched and documented articles that give solid, biblical wisdom and discernment on the topic.
Why we are opposed to Contemporary Christian Music.
The Gettys – The Pied Pipers of Contemporary Worship
Contemporary Music Brings Great Changes to Churches.
If Music is Neutral
Rock and Roll and Mysticism
Southern Gospel
Calvary Chapel and Maranatha Music
Is it wrong to listen to “Clean” secular rock?
Contemporary Christian Music and Rome
Musical Associations and CCM Adaptations
CCM Groups love secular rock.
Contemporary Worship Music Permeating Independent Baptists
Replacing Hymns with Contemporary Praise Music
The Character and Philosophy of Rock Music
Getting High on Worship Music
Did Luther Use Tavern Music?
PHOTO CREDIT
The post False Prophets, False Christs and False Doctrines. How they got into our homes and out of our churches. appeared first on Truth and Song.