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* False: ( adjective ) Not according with truth or fact; incorrect.
Appearing to be the thing denoted; [ deliberately made or meant to deceive. ]
2 Corinthians 11:14
And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light.
What did JESUS mean by "you will know them by their fruits?"
Matthew 7:20
Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them.
The fruits of labor can be applied in different ways, with very different results. If they are applied positively, with good intent, That is, as GOD intends for us to do,
we should yield positive results. ( That is the general idea. )
Psalm 28:2-
“For thou shalt eat the labour of thine hands: happy shalt thou be, and
shall be well with thee.”
But the fruits of one’s labor can be used in an un-pleasing manner as well. As JESUS states here in Matthew 7:15-20,
"Beware of the false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly are ravenous wolves. You will know them by their fruits. Grapes are not gathered from thorn bushes nor figs from thistles, are they? So every good tree bears good fruit, but the bad tree bears bad fruit. A good tree cannot produce bad fruit, nor can a bad tree produce good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. So then, you will know them by their fruits," (Matthew 7:15-20).
JESUS’ words are [ always ] Powerful.
The words of JESUS are no less powerful then in what HE stated in Matthew.
HIS words are a powerful warning that there are many who come in HIS name who are actively seeking to lead us away from the truth, and we are to be on guard against this threat. 'Wolves' are not a thing that 'sheep' should only concern themselves with when things get obviously bad. 'Sheep' must always be alert and ready for such predators. And if the 'wolves' can dress up as 'sheep', the threat becomes infinitely more severe.
JESUS chose very strong words here to emphasize our need to be ever vigilant against a subtle but hostile threat to us all, brothers and sisters in CHRIST. Jude 1:4 For there are certain men crept in unawares, who were before of old ordained to this condemnation, ungodly men, turning the grace of our God into lasciviousness, and denying the only Lord God, and our Lord Jesus Christ. But what exactly are we looking for?
How are we to identify a threat like this?
If the false prophet ‘’looks’’ and acts exactly like a sheep, and is only inwardly a wolf, how do we 'spot' them? How do we figure it out?
We cannot see the intent of the heart. JESUS, therefore, gave us a sign to look for: "You will know them by their fruits."
This, of course, raises a further question.. What are the fruits?
The Gospel of Luke gives us additional details that help to clarify:
"For there is no good tree which produces bad fruit, nor, on the other hand, a bad tree which produces good fruit. For each tree is known by its own fruit. For men do not gather figs from thorns, nor do they pick grapes from a briar bush. The good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth what is good; and the evil man out of the evil treasure brings forth what is evil; for his mouth speaks from that which fills his heart," (Luke 6:43-45).
We will know when he speaks… “ for his mouth speaks from that which fills his heart" -- The good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth what is good; and the evil man out of the evil treasure brings forth what is evil;
( We, therefore, will know the prophet by [ what ] he speaks. )
A goodly tree cannot produce bad fruits. And a bad tree cannot produce goodly fruits. What comes out of his mouth will give him away. He may appear clean and upright to us on the outside in every way, but if deceit and falsehood are in his heart, this false teaching, false prophecy, and others perversions of the truth will come out of his mouth.
The fruit of a fig tree is figs. The fruit of a grape vine is grapes. The fruit of a prophet is his prophecy. Jesus elsewhere said:
"Either make the tree good and its fruit good, or make the tree bad and its fruit bad; for the tree is known by its fruit. You brood of vipers, how can you, being evil, speak what is good? For the mouth speaks out of that which fills the heart. The good man brings out of his good treasure what is good; and the evil man brings out of his evil treasure what is evil. But I tell you that every careless word that people speak, they shall give an accounting for it in the day of judgment. For by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned," (Matthew 12:33-37).
In the book of James 3:8-12 -
James expresses the same concept a little differently:
8 But the tongue can no man tame; [it is] an unruly evil, full of deadly poison.
9 Therewith bless we God, even the Father; and therewith curse we men, which are made after the similitude of God.
10 Out of the same mouth proceedeth blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not so to be.
11 Doth a fountain send forth at the same place sweet [water] and bitter?
12 Can the fig tree, my brethren, bear olive berries? either a vine, figs? so [can] no fountain both yield salt water and fresh.
GOD used a related analogy when HE was addressing the false prophets of Jeremiah's day:
Jeremiah Chapter 23:25-32
25 I have heard what the prophets said, that prophesy lies in my name, saying, I have dreamed, I have dreamed.
26 How long shall [this] be in the heart of the prophets that prophesy lies? yea, [they are] prophets of the deceit of their own heart;
27 Which think to cause my people to forget my name by their dreams which they tell every man to his neighbour, as their fathers have forgotten my name for Baal.
28 The prophet that hath a dream, let him tell a dream; and he that hath my word, let him speak my word faithfully. What [is] the chaff to the wheat? saith the LORD.
29 [Is] not my word like as a fire? saith the LORD; and like a hammer [that] breaketh the rock in pieces?
30 Therefore, behold, I [am] against the prophets, saith the LORD, that steal my words every one from his neighbour.
31 Behold, I [am] against the prophets, saith the LORD, that use their tongues, and say, He saith.
32 Behold, I [am] against them that prophesy false dreams, saith the LORD, and do tell them, and cause my people to err by their lies, and by their lightness; yet I sent them not, nor commanded them: therefore they shall not profit this people at all, saith the LORD.
The genuine word of the LORD is life-sustaining grain while the false prophets bring forward [only] a dead, dry stalk.
Again, you will know the true and false prophet by the content of their words. Elsewhere, JESUS plainly warned:
Mark Chapter 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.
23 But take ye heed: behold, I have foretold you all things.
“ IF it were possible.”
+(Remember that !)+ ‘NOT’ -- “oh well, we’re gonna get fooled..” Do NOT be deceived ! { We’ve [ been ] warned. By JESUS CHRIST, no less. } Take this warning SERIOUSLY.
Truth is truth, and entertainment is just that, ‘ entertainment.’
If we want to be faithful followers of our LORD and SAVIOR JESUS CHRIST in this day and age, we must be alert and ready to boldly stand against the spirit of the age that seeks to modify the message of CHRIST.
The word: "DIVERSION" is a descriptive word (used) in the definition of ' entertainment.'
And that is EXACTLY what these false teachers present, " False Entertainment."
What else would YOU call it..? It's NOT edifying... It's NOT doctrine... For the last 2,000 years, the church has been plagued with heresy after heresy - seeking to undermine and tame the gospel, to remove the diety that is, CHRIST JESUS,
and today is no different.
Here are a few of the popular beliefs in our current culture that threaten to infiltrate the church.
They are ALL FALSE IDEALS, having the wrong idea about something, not understanding the real thing. failing to recognize real truth...
UNIVERSALISM: the belief that all people will be saved [or] that all ways lead to GOD and eternal life. Many who subscribe to this theology claim that, for instance, Christians and Muslim worship the same GOD. NO. Not true - ( not even close..)
The Prosperity Gospel: the belief that GOD'S primary concern is for believers to be healthy and wealthy. If Christians are sick, suffering or poor, it is because of sin or a lack of faith. ( Wrong..! )
The New Age Movement: a belief system of Eastern influence that emphasizes universal tolerance and doing what feels good (moral relativism). It contends that man is divine and can create his own reality and identity. ( Never. Never can we create, anything.)
Legalism: the improper use of the law described in Scripture to try to attain or maintain salvation. Legalism also fosters judgment of fellow Christians for not adhering to one's own ideas of holiness rather than encouraging them to imitate CHRIST, obeying GOD'S standards as explicitly outlined in Scripture. ( Only GOD can judge. Not man. )
Hyper-grace: the overreaction to legalism, resulting in abuse of GOD'S grace. Believers find themselves drawn to the modern hyper-grace movement because they are looking for freedom [not just] from legalism, but also from GOD'S standards. (A License to sin, so to speak..)
The Emerging Church: a movement that 'claims' to be Christian- but employs culturally sensitive methods to make the gospel more palatable to a postmodern culture. JESUS' life is treated more as an allegory or narrative rather than a true event. Of particular concern is the inclusive approach to various belief systems, an emphasis on (emotions) over (absolute truth) -
and the notion that there is no hell, judgment, or need for forgiveness. [ WRONG ]
*The Emerging Church movement also glorifies honesty and confession, but without [repentance]. ( Highly dangerous ).
How do we respond to such false teachings as they arise within the church?
We preach CHRIST. We preach Truth. We (are) to teach truth. HIS Truth. John 1:17; "For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ".
We reinforce Biblical doctrine. We cling to the highest authority -- The Word of GOD.
2 Corinthians Chapter 4
4 In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.
5 For we preach not ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord; and ourselves your servants for Jesus' sake.
We must hold the words of every professing Christian leader to the teachings of CHRIST and the words of Scripture.
( You’ve heard the saying: “ the heart wants what the heart wants.” ) What does that mean exactly?
You should be able to figure that out simply by applying what JESUS said when HE said: “ You will know them by their fruits.”
GOD'S word is sufficient, and we have been warned to (flee) from those who contradict it-- --or go beyond it.
2 Peter Chapter 2
1 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.
2 And many shall follow their pernicious ways; by reason of whom the way of truth shall be evil spoken of.
3 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.
These false prophets and false teachers come secretly to introduce destructive heresies. It is their 'teaching' that is so dangerous, and it is their 'teaching' that we need to be careful to evaluate. John likewise says:
1 John Chapter 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.
2 Hereby know ye the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God:
3 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.
4 Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world.
5 They are of the world: therefore speak they of the world, and the world heareth them.
6 We are of God: he that knoweth God heareth us; he that is not of God heareth not us. Hereby know we the spirit of truth, and the spirit of error.
What they [say] about JESUS, what they [teach] us to believe, what comes [out] of their mouth; these are the fruits that
expose the hidden wolf -- ( If ) you are listening.
Galatians Chapter 1
8 But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach [ any other gospel ] unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed.
9 As we said before, so say I now again, If any [man] preach [any other gospel] unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed.
{ This has [always] been the test of the true ( and ) false prophet. }
As God spoke through Moses:
Deuteronomy Chapter 13
1 If there arise among you a prophet, or a dreamer of dreams, and giveth thee a sign or a wonder,
2 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;
3 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.
4 Ye shall walk after the LORD your God, and fear him, and keep his commandments, and obey his voice, and ye shall serve him, and cleave unto him.
5 And that prophet, or that dreamer of dreams, shall be put to death; because he hath spoken to turn [you] away from the LORD your God, which brought you out of the land of Egypt, and redeemed you out of the house of bondage, to thrust thee out of the way which the LORD thy God commanded thee to walk in. So shalt thou put the evil away from the midst of thee.
Deuteronomy Chapter 18
20 But the prophet, which shall presume to speak a word in my name, which I have not commanded him to speak, or that shall speak in the name of other gods, even that prophet shall die.
21 And if thou say in thine heart, How shall we know the word which the LORD hath not spoken?
22 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.
*FALSE ( IS ) FALSE*
The ( Prophet, so-called, ) who says things in GOD’S name that are (untrue) or predicts things in the LORD'S name that (don't) happen- he or she, [ is ] a false prophet.
The Prophet ( so-called ) who leads us away from the true, biblical GOD [is] a false Prophet. We must hold fast to the good news of JESUS CHRIST and the plain teachings of scripture. JESUS thought this was important enough to warn us about it. This, is WHY ( we ) need to stay in The Word, "ACTIVE" in The Word, so that WE are familiar with GOD,
And what GOD is ( saying to us ) - ALWAYS. We cannot successfully guard against wolves, and thieves, false prophets-and the likes,
if WE are NOT FAMILIAR with GOD’S WORDS -
2 Timothy 2:15
Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.
The Author to the Hebrews say's -
Hebrews 13:8-9, "Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever. Do not be carried away by varied and strange teachings."
Jude 17-21 say's: But, beloved, remember ye the words which were spoken before of the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ;
18How that they told you there should be mockers in the last time, who should walk after their own ungodly lusts.
19These be they who separate themselves, sensual, having not the Spirit.
20But ye, beloved, building up yourselves on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Ghost,
21Keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life.
If the words you are hearing, or reading, are NOT consistent with what THE HOLY SPIRIT has [ ALREADY ] revealed -
they are a false teacher and are to be ignored. PERIOD.
Despite their outward appearance. Desite how goodly a life they may [ appear ] to lead. For even satan himself masquerades as an angel of light…
This "world" only stands TEMPORARILY...
While we are here we must be ‘’En-guarde.’’ At the ready. " Ready on the left? Ready on the right? Ready on the firing-line?!" This is an instructional practice, used by military gunnery
instructors, who yell out these things before soldiers are allowed to fire on a practice rifle range: 1) Is there anyone down range? The firing line is no longer clear. 2) Firers lock and load one round into your weapon. 3) Is the firing line ready?(Is there anyone in the line of fire). 4) Ready on the right? Ready on the left? 5) Firers move your selector switch to the appropriate mode(automatic or semiautomatic) and commence firing. We ARE Watchmen on the wall. You ( must ) understand that term, that Biblical term: Watchman on the wall -- Just what was or is the role of a watchman?
How does GOD use the role of a watchman to warn and teach?
What does it mean for the work of GOD today as this world comes to a prophetic crossroads?
It’s vital that you understand the answer to these questions as events grow increasingly more tense in a rapidly changing world order.
GOD uses this role to illustrate the job of the prophets HE sent to comment on society’s behavior, (as well as)
to deliver messages of warning and instruction.
Ezekiel 3:17, GOD told the prophet to warn Israel of its sins and HIS impending punishment, saying, “Son of man, I have made you a watchman for the house of Israel; therefore hear a word from My mouth, and give them warning from Me.”
Notice, it is GOD'S message, ( not Ezekiel’s ) message or any other prophet’s message.
It is always GOD'S message delivered through the human instrument.
The warning comes from GOD in language phrased to fit the situation and designed to bring people to repentance.
Let’s keep this point firmly in mind.
Continuing: “When I say to the wicked, ‘You shall surely die,’ and you give him no warning, nor speak to warn the wicked from his wicked way, to save his life, that same wicked man shall die in his iniquity; but his blood I will require at your hand. Yet, if you warn the wicked, and he does not turn from his wickedness, nor from his wicked way, he shall die in his iniquity; but you have delivered your soul” (Ezekiel 3:18-19).
GOD says the watchmen will hold a vigil day and night for the peace of the people.
“I have set watchmen on your walls, O Jerusalem; they shall never hold their peace day or night. You who make mention of the LORD, do not keep silent, and give Him no rest till He establishes and till He makes Jerusalem a praise in the earth.
“The LORD has sworn by HIS right hand and by the arm of HIS strength: ‘Surely I will no longer give your grain as food for your enemies; and the sons of the foreigner shall not drink your new wine, for which you have labored. But those who have gathered it shall eat it, and praise the Lord; those who have brought it together shall drink it in My holy courts.’
“Go through, go through the gates! Prepare the way for the people; build up, build up the highway! Take out the stones, lift up a banner for the peoples! Indeed the Lord has proclaimed to the end of the world: ‘Say to the daughter of Zion, “Surely your salvation is coming; behold, His reward is with Him, and His work before Him” ’” (Isaiah 62:6-11).
The Watchman is also ready to sound a WARNING CALL...
The public safety, ( The Churches safety ) depends upon every one’s particular care to guard himself and his own family against sin, that common enemy. It is every one’s interest to watch, but many understand not their own interest; it is therefore incumbent upon magistrates to appoint watches. Nehemiah did. Nehemiah 4:13 Therefore set I in the lower places behind the wall, and on the higher places, I even set the people after their families with their swords, their spears, and their bows. They worked round the clock, building with one hand and a weapon in another. They took turns building and guarding and sounding a warning, if need be.
Ready to warn others of danger and sinful practices and tactics by the enemy.
We are ALL watchmen on the wall.
We MUST be on the lookout for false portrayals.
False teachers.
False prophets of every shape and size. ( False Doctrine as well. )
If GOD ALMIGHTY is our FATHER, and HE is -
Then that makes [ US ] HIS children and by (right),
Brothers & Sisters. Help your Brothers and Sisters by keeping them safe, away from temptation and out of harm’s way.
HELP PROTECT THEM FROM RAVENOUS WOLVES ! 1 Corinthians Chapter 15
28 And when all things shall be subdued unto him, then shall the Son also himself be subject unto him that put all things under him, that God may be all in all.
29 Else what shall they do which are baptized for the dead, if the dead rise not at all? why are they then baptized for the dead?
30 And why stand we in jeopardy every hour?
31 I protest by your rejoicing which I have in Christ Jesus our Lord, I die daily. GOD Bless everyone ! Hallelujah.
