B
Matthew 7: 13Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: 14Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it. 15Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves.
In reading the passage from the King James Bible, by His grace, I find that the description of a false prophet as a warning given to believers is that he or she (or a teaching or a spirit of error) will come among us as verse 15 declares.
I find also that these false prophets that will be among us will broaden the way provided by God the Father.
So Who is the Way?
John 14: 6Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.
How specific is that commandment of His invitation?
John 10:1Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that entereth not by the door into the sheepfold, but climbeth up some other way, the same is a thief and a robber.......7Then said Jesus unto them again, Verily, verily, I say unto you, I am the door of the sheep. 8All that ever came before me are thieves and robbers: but the sheep did not hear them. 9I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture. 10The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly. 11I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep.
So in light of these passages in the commandment of His invitation, a false prophet would broaden the way in coming to God by offering another door and another invitation besides the one to Jesus. From the description of the thief from John 10th chapter, we find that the false prophets can place something between the believer and Jesus to avoid going directly to Him. It doesn't go against Jesus Christ, but it does fulfill the definition of the "anti-christ" in that it is "instead of Christ", thus we can see how the way is broadened here, hopefully by His grace.
Going back to Matthew 7th chapter for the continuing description of a false prophet.
Matthew 7: 15Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves. 16Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles?
The results of the move by this false prophets will be ecumenical in nature, being well received in the world and in the media.
Luke 6:26Woe unto you, when all men shall speak well of you! for so did their fathers to the false prophets.
John 7: The world cannot hate you; but me it hateth, because I testify of it, that the works thereof are evil.
John 15:18If the world hate you, ye know that it hated me before it hated you. 19If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you. 20Remember the word that I said unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord. If they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you; if they have kept my saying, they will keep yours also.
So the ecumenical result of this false prophet will be hyping something else in His name.. to glorify something else in His name as the invitation to go to that "instead of Christ". How can we discern this?
John 5: 39Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me. 40And ye will not come to me, that ye might have life. 41I receive not honour from men. 42But I know you, that ye have not the love of God in you. 43I am come in my Father's name, and ye receive me not: if another shall come in his own name, him ye will receive. 44How can ye believe, which receive honour one of another, and seek not the honour that cometh from God only?
Back to Matthew 7th chpater for the continuing description of a false prophet.
Matthew 7:16Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles? 17Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit. 18A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit. 19Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire. 20Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them.
The results of this false prophet being ecumenical in nature will be showing the hype and the sensationalism of the movement, advertising what will be appealing... but... it cannot hide the ills within. This is when believers can get swept away with the glamour of the movement while ignoring those "evil fruits" within, pushing them in the back of their minds in favoring what they deem as good or of the Lord. Some will be able to acknowledge this, and yet believe that one must look to the good as it being from God and what is not good as being of the devil, but the scriptures declares that no good tree cannot produce an evil fruit and therefore what is deem as a good tree cannot be good at all.
How serious is this in regards to our faith and walk with the Lord?
Matthew 7: 21Not 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. 22Many 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? 23And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.
How do we avoid this?
Matthew 7:24Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock: 25And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock. 26And every one that heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man, which built his house upon the sand: 27And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell: and great was the fall of it.
How do we apply His words to avoid the craftiness of the false prophets?
Luke 13: 24Strive to enter in at the strait gate: for many, I say unto you, will seek to enter in, and shall not be able.
Matthew 7:13Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: 14Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.
In applying to movements in the past for future discernment and application.......
It has been reported that many hunger for more of God in the "holy laughter" movement, but yet....
John 6: 35And Jesus said unto them, I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on me shall never thirst.
It has been reported that some have walked away from Jesus because they knew they could not take on the yoke of the Promise Keepers' program and yet...
Matthew 11: 28Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 29Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. 30For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.
Jesus Christ is the Gospel. Preach Him. Everything else is a counterfeit.
1 Corinthians 2:2For I determined not to know any thing among you, save Jesus Christ, and him crucified.
Nothing and no one else can share in that spotlight with Jesus for it is by the Son can the Father be honoured and glorified by.
Philippians 2:9Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: 10That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; 11And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
John 5:22For the Father judgeth no man, but hath committed all judgment unto the Son: 23That all men should honour the Son, even as they honour the Father. He that honoureth not the Son honoureth not the Father which hath sent him.
John 13:31Therefore, when he was gone out, Jesus said, Now is the Son of man glorified, and God is glorified in him. 32If God be glorified in him, God shall also glorify him in himself, and shall straightway glorify him.
John 17:1These words spake Jesus, and lifted up his eyes to heaven, and said, Father, the hour is come; glorify thy Son, that thy Son also may glorify thee: 2As thou hast given him power over all flesh, that he should give eternal life to as many as thou hast given him. 3And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent. 4I have glorified thee on the earth: I have finished the work which thou gavest me to do. 5And now, O Father, glorify thou me with thine own self with the glory which I had with thee before the world was.
And guess what? Even though the Holy Spirit is God, He also seeks to glorify the Son, so the Holy Spirit will not speak of Himself to accomplish that by bearing testimony of the Son.
John 16:13Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come. 14He shall glorify me: for he shall receive of mine, and shall shew it unto you. 15All things that the Father hath are mine: therefore said I, that he shall take of mine, and shall shew it unto you.
And if we are led by the Spirit of God, then we shall do what He is sent to do:
John 15:26But when the Comforter is come, whom I will send unto you from the Father, even the Spirit of truth, which proceedeth from the Father, he shall testify of me: 27And ye also shall bear witness, because ye have been with me from the beginning.
John 7:18He that speaketh of himself seeketh his own glory: but he that seeketh his glory that sent him, the same is true, and no unrighteousness is in him. 19Did not Moses give you the law, and yet none of you keepeth the law? Why go ye about to kill me?
So if anything else is being exalted in His name, be it man or the movement of the Spirit..... look at the banner... does it glorify the name of Jesus Christ... or some other name?
Keep your eyes on Jesus and avoid all other invitations. Jesus is the Gospel as all others are counterfeits... and you need no other.
In reading the passage from the King James Bible, by His grace, I find that the description of a false prophet as a warning given to believers is that he or she (or a teaching or a spirit of error) will come among us as verse 15 declares.
I find also that these false prophets that will be among us will broaden the way provided by God the Father.
So Who is the Way?
John 14: 6Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.
How specific is that commandment of His invitation?
John 10:1Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that entereth not by the door into the sheepfold, but climbeth up some other way, the same is a thief and a robber.......7Then said Jesus unto them again, Verily, verily, I say unto you, I am the door of the sheep. 8All that ever came before me are thieves and robbers: but the sheep did not hear them. 9I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture. 10The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly. 11I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep.
So in light of these passages in the commandment of His invitation, a false prophet would broaden the way in coming to God by offering another door and another invitation besides the one to Jesus. From the description of the thief from John 10th chapter, we find that the false prophets can place something between the believer and Jesus to avoid going directly to Him. It doesn't go against Jesus Christ, but it does fulfill the definition of the "anti-christ" in that it is "instead of Christ", thus we can see how the way is broadened here, hopefully by His grace.
Going back to Matthew 7th chapter for the continuing description of a false prophet.
Matthew 7: 15Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves. 16Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles?
The results of the move by this false prophets will be ecumenical in nature, being well received in the world and in the media.
Luke 6:26Woe unto you, when all men shall speak well of you! for so did their fathers to the false prophets.
John 7: The world cannot hate you; but me it hateth, because I testify of it, that the works thereof are evil.
John 15:18If the world hate you, ye know that it hated me before it hated you. 19If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you. 20Remember the word that I said unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord. If they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you; if they have kept my saying, they will keep yours also.
So the ecumenical result of this false prophet will be hyping something else in His name.. to glorify something else in His name as the invitation to go to that "instead of Christ". How can we discern this?
John 5: 39Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me. 40And ye will not come to me, that ye might have life. 41I receive not honour from men. 42But I know you, that ye have not the love of God in you. 43I am come in my Father's name, and ye receive me not: if another shall come in his own name, him ye will receive. 44How can ye believe, which receive honour one of another, and seek not the honour that cometh from God only?
Back to Matthew 7th chpater for the continuing description of a false prophet.
Matthew 7:16Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles? 17Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit. 18A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit. 19Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire. 20Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them.
The results of this false prophet being ecumenical in nature will be showing the hype and the sensationalism of the movement, advertising what will be appealing... but... it cannot hide the ills within. This is when believers can get swept away with the glamour of the movement while ignoring those "evil fruits" within, pushing them in the back of their minds in favoring what they deem as good or of the Lord. Some will be able to acknowledge this, and yet believe that one must look to the good as it being from God and what is not good as being of the devil, but the scriptures declares that no good tree cannot produce an evil fruit and therefore what is deem as a good tree cannot be good at all.
How serious is this in regards to our faith and walk with the Lord?
Matthew 7: 21Not 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. 22Many 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? 23And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.
How do we avoid this?
Matthew 7:24Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock: 25And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock. 26And every one that heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man, which built his house upon the sand: 27And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell: and great was the fall of it.
How do we apply His words to avoid the craftiness of the false prophets?
Luke 13: 24Strive to enter in at the strait gate: for many, I say unto you, will seek to enter in, and shall not be able.
Matthew 7:13Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: 14Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.
In applying to movements in the past for future discernment and application.......
It has been reported that many hunger for more of God in the "holy laughter" movement, but yet....
John 6: 35And Jesus said unto them, I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on me shall never thirst.
It has been reported that some have walked away from Jesus because they knew they could not take on the yoke of the Promise Keepers' program and yet...
Matthew 11: 28Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 29Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. 30For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.
Jesus Christ is the Gospel. Preach Him. Everything else is a counterfeit.
1 Corinthians 2:2For I determined not to know any thing among you, save Jesus Christ, and him crucified.
Nothing and no one else can share in that spotlight with Jesus for it is by the Son can the Father be honoured and glorified by.
Philippians 2:9Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: 10That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; 11And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
John 5:22For the Father judgeth no man, but hath committed all judgment unto the Son: 23That all men should honour the Son, even as they honour the Father. He that honoureth not the Son honoureth not the Father which hath sent him.
John 13:31Therefore, when he was gone out, Jesus said, Now is the Son of man glorified, and God is glorified in him. 32If God be glorified in him, God shall also glorify him in himself, and shall straightway glorify him.
John 17:1These words spake Jesus, and lifted up his eyes to heaven, and said, Father, the hour is come; glorify thy Son, that thy Son also may glorify thee: 2As thou hast given him power over all flesh, that he should give eternal life to as many as thou hast given him. 3And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent. 4I have glorified thee on the earth: I have finished the work which thou gavest me to do. 5And now, O Father, glorify thou me with thine own self with the glory which I had with thee before the world was.
And guess what? Even though the Holy Spirit is God, He also seeks to glorify the Son, so the Holy Spirit will not speak of Himself to accomplish that by bearing testimony of the Son.
John 16:13Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come. 14He shall glorify me: for he shall receive of mine, and shall shew it unto you. 15All things that the Father hath are mine: therefore said I, that he shall take of mine, and shall shew it unto you.
And if we are led by the Spirit of God, then we shall do what He is sent to do:
John 15:26But when the Comforter is come, whom I will send unto you from the Father, even the Spirit of truth, which proceedeth from the Father, he shall testify of me: 27And ye also shall bear witness, because ye have been with me from the beginning.
John 7:18He that speaketh of himself seeketh his own glory: but he that seeketh his glory that sent him, the same is true, and no unrighteousness is in him. 19Did not Moses give you the law, and yet none of you keepeth the law? Why go ye about to kill me?
So if anything else is being exalted in His name, be it man or the movement of the Spirit..... look at the banner... does it glorify the name of Jesus Christ... or some other name?
Keep your eyes on Jesus and avoid all other invitations. Jesus is the Gospel as all others are counterfeits... and you need no other.