Watch out for false prophets

  Watch out for false prophets

Jesus said,

“Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves.  

By their fruit you will recognize them. Do people pick grapes from thorn bushes, or figs from thistles?” Matthew 7:15-16.

This warning from Jesus is sadly not listened to a lot of the time where I live here in North America. Many people see and follow some self-proclaimed man of God and don’t check out what he is saying against biblical teaching.

These men and women sound like they are teaching the word of God truthfully but are not. Most are in it for the money and prestige.

They are charlatans leading people astray.

As Christians we need to question pastors, priests, evangelist, and Christian teachers. We need to hold them accountable for their words and deeds.

Please think about it. 

Be very careful

Be very careful 

The apostle Paul wrote,

"But mark this: There will be terrible times in the last days.  

People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy,  without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good,  treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God—  having a form of godliness but denying its power. Have nothing to do with them." 2 Timothy 3:1-5.

Within our multi-media world anyone can be made to look good. And sadly way to many Christians don’t check out the pastor, teacher or evangelist they are following. As a result too many Christians are following false teachers. I think this stems from the fact that the majority of Christians don’t study the Bible for themselves. Rather they rely on the preacher, teacher or evangelist they are following to speak the truth which may not always be so.

To avoid being fooled by false teachers it is important I firmly believe to study the scriptures for ones self. Additionally we should be listening to a wide range of Christian teachers. Whether we agree with them or not. 

If we disagree with a particular preacher, teacher of evangelist we should be asking ourselves why? Where is the Biblical evidence that a particular teacher is saying wrong things?

Please think about it.

Who are you bowing too?

  Who are you bowing too?

The Psalmist writes,

"I will praise you, O LORD, with all my heart; 

before the "gods" I will sing your praise.”

                                                               Psalm 138:1.

It is important that we as Christians are not ashamed to praise God. The world has many ‘gods’ and sadly all too many people calling themselves Christians are bowing down to these gods be it the god of materialism, a politician, or even a preacher, teacher or evangelist.

As Christians we must always keep our priorities strait. We must focus on God and praise Him with our whole heart.

Are you praising God or are you bowing to the gods of this world?

Please think about it.

Do you follow preachers blindly?

  Do you follow preachers blindly?

The apostle Peter writes,

"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" 2 Peter 2:1-3

Here Peter warns about false teachers arising. Introducing heresies and denying Jesus.

One commentator states they will “commercialize” the Christian faith for their own gain. It is happening today.

There are many especially in the media that are stating things that Jesus never taught. They are twisting the words of Jesus for their own gain. Sadly many of these prosperity doctrine preachers are seen as the face of Christianity in the media.

These people are giving God a black eye.

There only purpose is to line their own pockets.

When I speak to people especially none Christians and they note how commercialized Christianity seems to be I agree with them. 

Peter warns, "In their greed these teachers will exploit you with stories they have made up."

Sadly many people are blindly trusting these preachers, teachers, and evangelist.

As Christians we need to look carefully at the people we follow. We need to check what they are saying against the Bible. We need to ask the question are these people truly following the teachings of Christ?

Do you do this? OR do you blindly believe the preachers, teachers, and evangelist because of their ‘position’ in the media or church?

Please think about it.

False Pastors Evangelist and Teachers

 False pastors, evangelist, and teachers

The apostle Peter warns,

"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" 2 Peter 2:1-3.

There are a lot of false teachers. Men and women claiming to be Christians but are not. These false teachers can be hard to spot, especially in this multi media world we live in.

That is why we should be on guard. 

Sadly there are many calling themselves Christian evangelist, and pastors that are preaching to people what they want to hear.  After all who wouldn’t want to hear that by giving money to a ministry would yield ten, or a hundred fold?

Who doesn’t want to hear that by praying a certain way you will be healed or be freed from suffering.

But this is not the gospel Jesus preached. Jesus said,

“I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” John 16:33.

We must always remember trouble will come in many forms in this world. That being said as the psalmist referring to God states,

"Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me." Psalm 23:4.

Please think about it.

Where is your hope?

  Where is your hope?

The apostle Paul wrote,

"Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God" Hebrews 12:2.

As believers in Christ Jesus we must keep our eyes fixed on Him and what He taught. 

Sadly all too many people especially here in North America where I live, have their eyes fixed on some popular evangelist or pastor. And when they fall or make mistakes the people following them fall also.

No pastor, or evangelist should ever be followed exclusively. They are human and humans are far from perfect. They for a myriad of reasons can stray from the word of God. That is why we should keep our eyes on the teachings of Jesus. On the teachings of the Bible. 

In order to do this however we need to not simply to read the Bible but studying it also. While at the same time praying and asking God to show us the truths within the Bible.

People make mistakes the Bible does not.

So my question to you dear reader is; Who are your eyes fixed on, a pastor, an evangelist, or God?

Please think about it.

There is a question

  There is a question

The apostle John writes,

“This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers.  

If anyone has material possessions and sees his brother in need but has no pity on him, how can the love of God be in him?  

Dear children, 

let us not love with words or tongue but with actions and in truth.” 1 John 3:16-18.

There is a question I’ve always wanted to ask rich people and politicians and even rich evangelist and pastors; 

Are you doing your best to help those in need?

Are you at least using a part of your wealth along with what political power you have to help the poor?

The same question should be considered by those of us who may not be rich but have a good standard of living, because we can all give something.

Tony Campolo the American evangelist make a good point when he states,

"These issues are biblical issues: to care for the sick, to feed the hungry, to stand up for the oppressed. I contend that if the evangelical community became more biblical, everything would change." Tony Campolo. 

Think about it.

Fixed on

 Fixed on

The writer of Hebrews tells us,

"Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God" Hebrews 12:2.

If ever there was a time, especially here in North America, to keep our eyes on Jesus it is now. The North American church despite all (and perhaps because of) its freedoms seems to be getting involved in things they should not be into. They I believe many times without realizing it are turning from the teachings of Christ. And following the beliefs of some evangelist or pastor blindly. Who are not preaching the truth.

The apostle Paul warned,

"For the time will come when men will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear.  

They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths." 2Timothy 4:3,4. 

This is happening in North America today.

Within the persecuted church around the world this dose not seem to be happening.

There is a lot the persecuted church around the world can teach Christians in North America. The persecuted church has no option but to keep focussed on Jesus. Everyday they face the probability of going to jail, suffering physical harm, or even being killed for their faith.

Many cannot worship openly. To do so for many at the very least means being rejected by their family or worse as I said, physical abuse, being put in prison or murdered.

The question I would have for anyone who claims to be a Christian, especially those living in North America is; Are you focussed on Jesus or something or someone else?

Please think about it.

What they should be doing

 What they should be doing

“On their release, Peter and John went back to their own people and reported all that the chief priests and elders had said to them.  

When they heard this, they raised their voices together in prayer to God. "Sovereign Lord," they said, "you made the heaven and the earth and the sea, and everything in them.  

You spoke by the Holy Spirit through the mouth of your servant, our father David:" ‘Why do the nations rage and the peoples plot in vain? 

The kings of the earth take their stand and the rulers gather together against the Lord and against his Anointed One.'  

Indeed Herod and Pontius Pilate met together with the Gentiles and the people of Israel in this city to conspire against your holy servant Jesus, whom you anointed.  

They did what your power and will had decided beforehand should happen.  

Now, Lord, consider their threats and enable your servants to speak your word with great boldness.  

Stretch out your hand to heal and perform miraculous signs and wonders through the name of your holy servant Jesus." 

After they prayed, the place where they were meeting was shaken. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the word of God boldly.”Acts 4:23-32.

This was one powerful prayer. The apostles prayed for boldness, to perform miraculous signs and wonders in the name of Jesus. Which did indeed happen.

Not only that it is happening today. I have read many confirmed stories coming from especially the persecuted churches around the world about miraculous healing and wonders in the name of Jesus.

Unfortunately here in North America while there are confirmed miracles, there are many preachers and evangelist who claim to be performing miracles but are not. Bringing the name of Jesus into disrepute.

Their gatherings seem to be more about raising money than doing the work of God. 

Do faith healers, evangelist and pastors really need private jets or multi-million dollar houses? Peter, and the apostles of Christ didn’t.

Believers in the book of acts are noted for selling land and other things to help the poor among them. Why can’t these rich preachers and evangelist do the same?

The book of acts talking about believers state,

"All the believers were one in heart and mind. No one claimed that any of his possessions was his own, but they shared everything they had.  

With great power the apostles continued to testify to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and much grace was upon them all.  

There were no needy persons among them. For from time to time those who owned lands or houses sold them, brought the money from the sales and put it at the apostles' feet, and it was distributed to anyone as he had need. 

Joseph, a Levite from Cyprus, whom the apostles called Barnabas (which means Son of Encouragement),sold a field he owned and brought the money and put it at the apostles' feet. Acts 32-37.

This is what I believe true believers especially millionaire pastors and evangelist should be doing with the money their organization is bringing in.

Please think about it.

Are they, Are you?

 Are they, Are you?

Jesus notes,

"Many will say to me  on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?'  

Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!'" Matthew 7:22,23.

I believe there are many men and women claiming to be Christians in this world who are in for a big shock when they stand in front of God. They will hear the words “away from me, you evildoers!”

Many calling themselves Christians especially here in North America are not Christians. They are not correctly following the teachings of Jesus. 

These people claim to be prophesying in the name of Jesus. They claim to be driving out demons and performing miracles, but they are not.

It is such people that individual Christians, followers of Christ Jesus, need to beware of. Jesus warned, 

"Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves.  

By their fruit you will recognize them. Do people pick grapes from thorn bushes, or figs from thistles?  

Likewise every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit.  

A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit.  

Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.  

Thus, by their fruit you will recognize them. Matthew 7:15-20.

As believers in Christ Jesus we need to take a very close look at the pastors, evangelist and other teachers we follow. We need to hold them to account by asking how they spend the money they give. We need to ask them to prove that the people they claim to heal are really healed.

Sadly few ask these questions. Even sadder is when these false prophets and teachers are proven to be false, many still chose to follow them. Choosing to believe the lie rather than the truth.

Thus my question to you; Are you following false teachers? Have you looked at the lives and teachings of those pastors, evangelist and teachers you support?

Have you looked at your relationship with Christ Jesus and asked the question, am I following Jesus and presenting the gospel message to the best of my ability?

Please think about it.

Not Everyone

Not Everyone

Jesus said,

"Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves.  

By their fruit you will recognize them. Do people pick grapes from thorn bushes, or figs from thistles?  

Likewise every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit.  

A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit.  

Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.  

Thus, by their fruit you will recognize them. 

"Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.  

Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?'  

Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!' Matthew 7:15-23.

Someone has said,

"Satan is not fighting churches; he is joining them. He does more harm by sowing tares than by pulling up wheat. He accomplishes more by imitation than by outright opposition." Author unknown.

Sadly here in North America where I live there are many who call themselves Christian leaders who are really false prophets. Equally sad is the fact many people are following them blindly. 

Too many people in the church today believe anything that come out of the mouths of Evangelist and pastors without questioning them. Without taking the time to check the scriptures to see if the pastor or evangelist is using the scriptures correctly or taking them out of context. 

Too many Christians think because a person speaks from the pulpit or attracts a large crowd they must be speaking the truth. 

I believe its time for those who believe in Christ Jesus to question those who claim to be Christian leaders. Too look at their lives and how they are spending the money given to them for the furtherance of the Gospel of Christ.

Take a few minutes to pray and ask God to show you what the men and women you support are truly like. 

Take time to do a little research on those pastors and evangelist you support. So that you can make an informed decision as to who you support.

Please think about it.

Who do you serve?

Who do you serve?

“Now fear the LORD and serve him with all faithfulness. Throw away the gods your forefathers worshipped beyond the River and in Egypt, and serve the LORD.  
But if serving the LORD seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your forefathers served beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you are living. But as for me and my household, we will serve the LORD.” 
                                                                                                                             Joshua 24:14,15

As Christians we must be careful whom we serve. I’ve heard too many people over the years say I follow such and such an evangelist or pastor. Or such and such a pastor or evangelist says this or that.
These people take the words of these men and woman at face value. They never question them. They will even argue with others who disagree with them as if the pastor or evangelist they are following is infallible.
Such things happened in the early church the apostle Paul writing to the Corinthians said,
“My brothers, some from Chloe’s household have informed me that there are quarrels among you.  
What I mean is this: One of you says, “I follow Paul”; another, “I follow Apollos”; another, “I follow Cephas’”; still another, “I follow Christ.” 
Is Christ divided? Was Paul crucified for you? Were you baptized into the name of Paul?”
                                                                                                                    1 Corinthians 1:11-13.
As Christians we should never let one man or woman’s interpretation of the scriptures be our only source of teaching. Men make mistakes they are only human.
There are even some teachers and preachers who deliberately pervert the scriptures. They believe a certain way and, if you will “cherry pick” the scriptures that back their belief. They fail to listen to scriptures that contradict their beliefs.
The classic line I hear from such preachers is “don’t come against the elect of God.”
There is a fine line here. Within the Christian community we have differences of opinion on various things and that is fine, provided, it’s not on the major issues. Issues such as the sovereignty of Christ.
So we must be careful not to speak out against any minister, preacher, teacher or evangelist simply because we disagree with them on the minor points.
There are still however false Christian teachers out there who say they believe in Christ who are out there to get rich or deliberately lead people astray. The apostle Paul writing to Timothy states,
“For the time will come when men will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear.  
They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths.” 
                                                                                                  2Timothy 4:3,4.
Sadly thanks to the mass media world we live in we are exposed to false teachers all the time.  These teachers may even seem legitimate. They string scriptures in such a way as to make their doctrine seem correct when it is not.
That’s why we as Christians need to be on guard. We need to know our Bible. We need to study the scriptures daily.
We need to find a body of believers that have as their base the Bible. A group that studies from the bible directly. A group that does not just use study notes from one pastor, evangelist or teacher but from a wide range of teachers.
I’ve found over the years some of my best learning experiences have come when I’ve read teachings of those I disagree with.
When I come across someone I disagree with I ask myself why do they think the way they do? Are they right or am I? If I get a chance I even speak to the person who has opposing view to me.
In our adult bible study I lead at the church I use this technique. Everyone who attends has the right to express their view whether my pastor or I agree with it or not. We then discuss it as a group using the scriptures as our authority.
We are careful to see that every scripture is taken in context.
We also look at the history and culture of the time as well as various commentaries from a wide range of authors.
I believe that the word of God is so important it is our duty to see that we are preaching and teaching it in as accurate a way as possible.
I believe this because the potential eternal resting place of someone’s eternal soul may depend on what I and other teachers teach.
Therefore  my advise to all Christians is to study the Bible carefully. Use a wide range of commentaries. Listen to a wide range of teachers. Question what they say and what you believe. Be open an honest and willing to accept that you may be wrong in some of what you believe. If you are proven to be wrong, be willing to change.
Remember the absolute authority about God is the Bible not some Televangelist, evangelist, preacher, or teacher.
And through all of your studying pray, pray, pray. Pray and ask God to show you the truth in the scriptures.

Corinthians a church with problems

Corinthians a church with problems part one

I thought that as the new year dawns I’d enter into 2015 with a look at the Corinthian Church. So for the next little while I’ll be presenting a brief study into a book that is very relevant to the church today.
The Corinthian church had many of the problems of the church today. It was in a very “worldly” city.
It was a thriving city the chief city of Greece both commercially and politically. It contained at least 12 temple although it is unknown whether they were all in use during the time of Paul.
One of the most famous temples was dedicated to the goddess Aphrodite, the goddess of love whose worshippers practised religious prostitution.
Just outside the city was a temple to Asclepius the god of healing and in the middle of the city a temple to Apollo.
There was also a well established synagogue.
Like any large city it had a great deal of immorality. In the temple of Aphrodite at one point there were 1,000 priestess prostitutes that served in the temple.
It’s immorality was so rampant that the Greek verb “to Corinthianize” came to mean “to practice immorality’.
Set in a setting such as this, is it any wonder that the church at Corinth had so many problems. Which in a way is fortunate for us as Paul wrote about such problem and about correcting them.
The church in Corinth had the same sins around them as the church today. And like Corinth we in the twenty-first century at times let the immorality and sins slip into our congregations.
Paul starts with a word of praise,
“I always thank God for you because of his grace given you in Christ Jesus.  
For in him you have been enriched in every way—in all your speaking and in all your knowledge—  because our testimony about Christ was confirmed in you.  
Therefore you do not lack any spiritual gift as you eagerly wait for our Lord Jesus Christ to be revealed.  He will keep you strong to the end, so that you will be blameless on the day of our Lord Jesus Christ.  
God, who has called you into fellowship with his Son Jesus Christ our Lord, is faithful.”
                                                                                                     1 Corinthians 1-9.
Paul points out that their lives have been enriched changed in a positive way because of Christ. That they lack no spiritual gift as they wait upon Christ. That God will keep them strong to the end and blameless on the day of Christ’s return.
He reminds them that God is faithful to them. At the same time he notes that divisions have started to arise among them writing,
"I appeal to you, brothers, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree with one another so that there may be no divisions among you and that you may be perfectly united in mind and thought.  
My brothers, some from Chloe’s household have informed me that there are quarrels among you.  
What I mean is this: One of you says, “I follow Paul”; another, “I follow Apollos”; another, “I follow Cephas’”; still another, “I follow Christ.” 
Is Christ divided? Was Paul crucified for you? Were you baptized into the name of Paul?  
I am thankful that I did not baptize any of you except Crispus and Gaius,  so no one can say that you were baptized into my name.  
(Yes, I also baptized the household of Stephanas; beyond that, I don’t remember if I baptized anyone else.)  
For Christ did not send me to baptize, but to preach the gospel—not with words of human wisdom, lest the cross of Christ be emptied of its power.” 
                                      1 Corinthians 1:10-17
Such decisions do happen today. Just look around the Christian world especially here in North America.
We have many people who say “I follow this or that evangelist” or “such and such a pastor or evangelist says this or that.” and there are just as many who disagree with them.
We should not be having disagreements over which earthly evangelist or pastor we follow. We should be following Christ. We should be studying the scriptures and seeing that if those evangelist, pastors and teachers we are listening to are presenting the gospel correctly.
The scriptures make it clear the only one we should be following is Christ.
No pastor, evangelist, or teacher is perfect they all make mistakes. Many have sinned and fallen quite often with dramatic results.
Sadly when they’ve fallen they’ve taken people with them. People who’ve seen them fall and turned away from Christ.
As Christians we need to avoid divisions. That’s not to say we can’t disagree with someone on some minor point subject to interpretation that doesn’t take away from the salvation message.
A healthy discussion of the word of God is a good thing. It brings things to light and makes us stronger as believers.
Still we must be careful not to follow “a man”. We must study the scriptures on our own and with others to ensure that we are doing what Christ and Christ alone is saying to us.
Think about it.