Greetings to you all.
Today we are going to continue our look at false teachers in the world. False teachers are all around us. They are on TV, they sell books, and they are on YouTube, and FaceBook, in fact, the false teachers are even in our churches.
Words that you hear preached today are not words that are even in the Bible. Words that you used to hear in church, you no longer hear because the false prophets won’t mention the blood of Christ. You will not hear the word salvation either. Sin and forgiveness of sin are not in the lexicon of the false prophet. Conviction and confession are also not mentioned anymore. If they do mention Jesus, it is only to degrade him and compare him to the foulest of terms and definitions.
You can recognize a false prophet by the words that they do not use. Let’s get into Peter, 2 Peter 1:19-21,
“And we have the word of the prophets made more certain, and you will do well to pay attention to it, as to a light shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts. Above all, you must understand that no prophecy of scripture came about by the prophet’s own interpretation. For prophecy never had its origin in the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.”
How many times have you heard someone say that they don’t read or pay attention to the Old Testament? Maybe you have said this yourself. Peter is telling us that we better pay attention to it. Two-thirds of the Bible, and you’re not paying attention to it? False teachers have gotten you to ignore two-thirds of the Bible. Yikes!
Everything in the OT points to the cross of Christ. All the words that the false prophets do not want you to read are there. Sin, the forgiveness of sins, the cross, blood covering, etc. The explanations for these terms are also there. In fact, some of the last words spoken by David confirm that the prophets were indeed led by God’s Holy Spirit, 2 Samuel 23:2,
“The Spirit of the Lord spoke through me; his word was on my tongue.”
Remember, Pentecost did not occur until the New Testament. The Holy Spirit was not generally available to all of mankind, as in the New Testament forward. The Holy Spirit was sent by God to the prophets and martyrs of the Old Testament. Today, to back up Peter’s testimony, I will give you OT scriptures.
Listen again to Peter, does his warning not describe false prophets that sound familiar to us today? 2 Peter 2:1-3,
“But there were also false prophets among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you. They will secretly introduce destructive heresies, even denying the sovereign Lord who bought them–bringing swift destruction on themselves. Many will follow their shameful ways and will bring the way of truth into disrepute. In their greed these teachers will exploit you with stories they have made up. Their condemnation has long been hanging over them, and their destruction has not been sleeping.”
This is exactly what is happening today. There are false prophets and teachers all around us. The only way to know the Truth is to know your Bible. Today, more than any other time, we need to be reading the Word. There is no excuse for us to not read our Bibles.
The destruction of the false prophets and teachers is a part of the prophecy. Like the birth of Christ, foretold in the OT, it says that destruction is coming to those false prophets and their followers. Jeremiah 6:13-16,
“From the least to the greatest, all are greedy for gain; prophets and priests alike, all practice deceit. They dress the wound of my people as though it were not serious. ‘Peace, peace,’ they say, when there is no peace. Are they ashamed of their loathsome conduct? No, they have no shame at all; they do not even know how to blush. So they will fall among the fallen; they will be brought down when I punish them, says the Lord. This is what the Lord says, ‘Stand at the crossroads and look; ask for the ancient paths, ask where the good way is, and walk in it, and you will find rest for your souls.”
Everyone is looking for some new revelation. Jeremiah is telling us to look for the ancient path to find a good way. Read your Bibles, and know your Bibles. Why listen to these soul stealers? They are doomed to fall. Though their punishment is delayed, while we truly witness to those who seek salvation, punishment by God delayed IS NOT punishment avoided. 2 Peter 2:10-12,
“This is especially true to those who follow the corrupt desire of the sinful nature (flesh) and despise authority (of God). Bold and arrogant, these men (and women) are not afraid to slander celestial beings; yet even angels, although they are stronger and more powerful, do not bring slanderous accusations against such beings in the presence of the Lord. But these men (and women) blaspheme in matters they do not understand. They are like brute beasts, creatures of instinct, born only to be caught and destroyed, and like beasts they too will perish.”
The false prophets are so caught up in their own evil desires that they have no real concept of how poorly their testimony stands when compared to God’s word. Psalm 49:12-14,
“But man, despite his riches, does not endure; he is like the beasts that perish. This is the fate of those who trust in themselves, and of their followers, who approve their sayings. Like sheep they are destined for the grave, and death will feed on them.”
Many do not even see the judgment coming, they are so focused on their sin. They are clueless about God’s word, focused only on their sin, their greed, and their lust. But their judgment will come. 2 Peter 2:13-14, 17-19,
“They will be paid back with harm for the harm they have done. Their idea of pleasure is to carouse in broad daylight. They are blots and blemishes, reveling in their pleasures while they feast with you. With eyes full of adultery, they never stop sinning; they seduce the unstable; they are experts in greed–an accursed brood! These men (and women) are springs without water and mists driven by a storm. Blackest darkness is reserved for them. For they mouth empty, boastful words and, by appealing to the lustful desires of sinful human nature, they entice people who are just escaping from those who live in error. They promise them freedom, while they themselves are slaves of depravity–for a man is a slave to whatever has mastered him.”
The craziest part is that all false prophets and false teachers, every one of them, are slaves to the very sins that they are promoting as freedom.
My master is Jesus Christ. True freedom lies in Jesus. Let’s go to 1 Peter 2:16-17,
“Live as free men, but do not use your freedom as a cover-up for evil; live as servants of God. Show proper respect to everyone: Love the brotherhood of believers, fear God, honor the king.”
Be smart, be alert, and do not allow yourself to get cornered into a sin. Have the courage to make the right choice, for the right reason.
Always remember the Good News of Jesus Christ, from the OT, Isaiah 61:1,
“The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is on me, because the Lord has anointed me to preach the good news to the poor. He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness the captives.”
Remember, all the words that the false prophets don’t want to remember, That Jesus shed his blood on the cross so that all of mankind could experience forgiveness of their sins by believing in Jesus, confessing their sinfulness, and trusting God with their hearts and their eternity.
Don’t trust your hearts and eternity with anyone other than Jesus Christ.
Do no harm, do good, and stay in love with God.
Blessings,
Thad Brown
Opportunity House
and Harmony UMC
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