Beware of false prophets
Jeremiah 14:14 Then the Lord said unto me, The prophets prophesy lies in my name: I sent them not, neither have I commanded them, neither spake unto them: they prophesy unto you a false vision and divination, and a thing of nought, and the deceit of their heart.
Jeremiah 14:14(GNS) But the LORD replied, The prophets are telling lies in my name; I did not send them, nor did I give them any orders or speak one word to them. The visions they talk about have not come from me; their predictions are worthless things that they have imagined.
Jeremiah 14:14(MSG) Then GOD said, “These preachers are liars, and they use my name to cover their lies. I never sent them, I never commanded them, and I don’t talk with them. The sermons they’ve been handing out are sheer illusion, tissues of lies, whistlings in the dark.
Introduction: Welcome to another week by His Mercy.
What makes Christians to fall into the hands of False prophets is affliction that does not exclude the righteous. Many are the afflictions of the righteous. In fact to live a godly live attracts persecutions.
2 Timothy 3:12(NLT) Yes, and everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution.
🛑 Light afflictions or tribulations are good and a must for genuine Christians because it propels true believers into God’s Kingdom
Acts 14:22 Confirming the souls of the disciples, and exhorting them to continue in the faith, and that we must through much tribulation enter into the kingdom of God.
🛑 Heavy afflictions which is caused by our errors are also good for sincere Believers to learn God’s written rules like David the adulterer and murderer who became a man after God’s heart.
Hear David in Psalm 119:71 of NLT version; My suffering was good for me, for it taught me to pay attention to your decrees.
Therefore, I realise that Light or Heavy afflictions can make believers to fall prey of False Prophets hence, we need to take heed to God’s warning and beware of false prophets.
🛑 God knows there are, and will be False Prophets. That is why His warnings are written in the Bible for us to be without excuses.
This end times, there are very many of False Prophets in the Body of Christ for various reasons. The prominent reason is Mammon, that is; money and business activities.
I have observed that due to the emergence of Church founders and General Overseers of which many declared themselves to be; apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors and teachers but deceive innocent souls and lazy Christians with inadept Scriptures or unskilled in the word of God, there are therefore adversaries raised by God on social media to bring down false prophets and spoil their church business in order to deliver ignoramus from deception so that all are inexcusable if still fall into captivity of false prophets.
Amos 3:11 Therefore thus saith the Lord God ; An adversary there shall be even round about the land; and he shall bring down thy strength from thee, and thy palaces shall be spoiled.
All of false prophets words are predictions and NOT prophesy from God, that is why their specific prophecies do not come to pass and shamelessly still poise as men of God.
Deuteronomy 18:22(MSG) If what the prophet spoke in GOD’s name doesn’t happen, then obviously GOD wasn’t behind it; the prophet made it up. Forget about him.
False prophets do not seek the Lord but pretend to be with God. They do not preach Christ nor point members to Christ but make themselves to be God’s partner. Some consult diviner for power to put many under bondage through divination.
Jeremiah 2:8 The priests said not, Where is the Lord ? and they that handle the law knew me not: the pastors also transgressed against me, and the prophets prophesied by Baal, and walked after things that do not profit.
When I was transferred to start a new parish, some members that joined and disappeared after a while were followed up. When asked why they were not coming again, they said pastor was not prophesying but only teaching the word. That is why you see many rushing to churches with prophecies.
Unfortunately, church members love to hear prophecies which in most cases are not from God and eventually destroy their relationship with God and ultimately ruin lives.
Jeremiah 5:31 The prophets prophesy falsely, and the priests bear rule by their means; and my people love to have it so: and what will ye do in the end thereof?
Hear the NLT version; the prophets give false prophecies, and the priests rule with an iron hand. Worse yet, my people like it that way! But what will you do when the end comes?
❓Are you aware that only love of God will last forever at the end of our race?
Prophesy will become useless without close relationship and love for God. While the birth of Jesus Christ became useless to some Israelites despite prophesy about His coming, a prophetess named Anna served God until she saw Jesus Christ being dedicated in the Temple. Also a man named Simeon waited to carry Jesus Christ and blessed God for seeing the Saviour before departing the Earth.
⚠️ If prophecies are not centered on Jesus Christ and God’s love for mankind, it becomes useless at the end.
1 Corinthians 13:8(NLT) Prophecy and speaking in unknown languages and special knowledge will become useless. But love will last forever!
Prophecies that people want to hear is based on their earthly future, business, marriage and for excitement of the flesh and encouragement for sinners but NOT about the Kingdom of God. This vanity makes pastors to prophesy lies from their hearts so as to increase members for church business.
Jeremiah 23:16-17(NLT) This is what the lord of Heaven’s Armies says to his people: “Do not listen to these prophets when they prophesy to you, filling you with futile hopes. They are making up everything they say. They do not speak for the lord! They keep saying to those who despise my word, ‘Don’t worry! The lord says you will have peace!’ And to those who stubbornly follow their own desires, they say, ‘No harm will come your way!’
We are already witnessing woes and disgrace to pastors who prophesy from their hearts being brought down by bloggers. Surprisingly, You will still see followers of these false prophets defending their pastors because they are ignorant of the Scriptures.
Ezekiel 13:2-3 Son of man, prophesy against the prophets of Israel that prophesy, and say thou unto them that prophesy out of their own hearts, Hear ye the word of the Lord ; Thus saith the Lord God ; Woe unto the foolish prophets, that follow their own spirit, and have seen nothing!
There are lots of cover up in the Church today through predictions so as to stay relevant in church business. Some give prophecy in parables so as not to be caught for falsehood whereas, prophesy should be direct NOT in parable or in “maybe” with probabilities.
Ezekiel 22:28 (NLT) And your prophets cover up for them by announcing false visions and making lying predictions. They say, ‘My message is from the Sovereign lord,’ when the lord hasn’t spoken a single word to them.
Some will predict natural disaster and ask members to fast and pray against it. Is that prophecy from God? Of what relevance is that to issues of eternal life?
Jesus Christ warned about pretenders in the Church who actually will want to devour believers by making bread or accumulating wealth from them.
Matthew 7:15 Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves.
Jesus Christ spoke specifically about emergence of false prophets at the end times to deceive many.
Mark 13:22-23(NLT) For false messiahs and false prophets will rise up and perform signs and wonders so as to deceive, if possible, even God’s chosen ones. Watch out! I have warned you about this ahead of time!
Finally brethren, false prophets will not have good business in the body of Christ if most Christians take to God’s admonition for good success seriously in the journey of life towards eternity with God.
❓What is this admonition? Study and meditate, that is to think carefully on the Bible the book of instruction (Basic Instructions Before Leaving the Earth)
Hear the basic instructions from NLT version;
Joshua 1:8(NLT) Study this Book of Instruction continually. Meditate on it day and night so you will be sure to obey everything written in it. Only then will you prosper and succeed in all you do.
❓How many Christians study and meditate on God’s words more than enticing words of men in churches and on social media?
False Prophets are many because lazy Christians want quick and instant success without digging deep into the Scriptures to know the mind of God on all matters pertaining to life. Christians prefer to hear what fathers- in the- Lord want to say. This gives room for falsehood and divination so as not to loose members.
⚠️ God warned that the prophets are telling lies in my name; I did not send them, nor did I give them any orders or speak one word to them. The visions they talk about have not come from me; their predictions are worthless things that they have imagined.
Therefore, Beware of false prophets.
✋ Maranatha
Excluding the reading of some Bible chapters that talk about genealogies because one feels that they are boring, is it a bad attitude for studying and meditating on the word of God?
Good morning my sister, do you mean is it a bad attitude to study or meditate on the word of God? If yes, studying and meditating on the word of God is the ONLY way to succeed and prosper in Christian race according to Joshua 1:8. Anyone who get tired of the Bread of life (Word of God) will surely whine or complain and murmur in the wilderness of life and perish thereby. I want you to know that genealogies also give revelation of the word of God despite the boring aspect. For example, getting to know that Ruth, a Moabite is connected to Christ gives understanding that Israel is not only chosen of the Lord, gentiles are also part of redemption plans of God.
Thank you