Could you have a false prophet for a Pastor?

  • Christian Chat is a moderated online Christian community allowing Christians around the world to fellowship with each other in real time chat via webcam, voice, and text, with the Christian Chat app. You can also start or participate in a Bible-based discussion here in the Christian Chat Forums, where members can also share with each other their own videos, pictures, or favorite Christian music.

    If you are a Christian and need encouragement and fellowship, we're here for you! If you are not a Christian but interested in knowing more about Jesus our Lord, you're also welcome! Want to know what the Bible says, and how you can apply it to your life? Join us!

    To make new Christian friends now around the world, click here to join Christian Chat.
Jun 20, 2022
6,460
1,330
113
#21
I live out in the country in Arkansas and we have several churches within 20 miles or so of us some larger some smaler. I have not been to all of them but I have made it to most and none of them preach the True Gospel. You get 1 or 2 verses and a story about good ol Uncle ? I have a good KJV Study bible, my Strong's and my Smith's Bible Dictonary and my collage dictionary, the leading og the Holy Spitit and my wifes uncle. I thank I do OK for and old man.
if the pastor read 2 verses and the stories were true stories that actually related to the verses, would that be good preaching?

Apostle Peter was a fisherman and we have several examples of him fishing. if a couple verses relating to Peter's fishing were given and then a couple modern day stories about fishing were given in a spiritual manner, would this be ok?
 

Thewatchman

Active member
Jun 19, 2021
622
116
43
#22
Beckie,
you know from the thread this was taken from it was referenced to why Paul did everything you're supposed to do according to what we read in the Bible and still God chose not to heal Trophimus. nice try, Deceiver!
Who are you trying to call a Deceiver and just why.
 

Thewatchman

Active member
Jun 19, 2021
622
116
43
#24
if the pastor read 2 verses and the stories were true stories that actually related to the verses, would that be good preaching?

Apostle Peter was a fisherman and we have several examples of him fishing. if a couple verses relating to Peter's fishing were given and then a couple modern day stories about fishing were given in a spiritual manner, would this be ok?
Not the same in any way. Good ol Aunt May and Uncle Tom do not cut it. It is like a T.V. preacher I know but we will leave it at that. No names please
 
Jun 20, 2022
6,460
1,330
113
#25
Not the same in any way. Good ol Aunt May and Uncle Tom do not cut it. It is like a T.V. preacher I know but we will leave it at that. No names please
that's why i asked. i wasn't sure if the preacher was relating the uncle and aunt to the verses or he was just telling stories that related to nothing.
 

Thewatchman

Active member
Jun 19, 2021
622
116
43
#27
that's why i asked. i wasn't sure if the preacher was relating the uncle and aunt to the verses or he was just telling stories that related to nothing.
Related to nothing.
A topical sermon may take you to several related verses in both the old and new testaments but thy string together a topic and you get fed from it.
I like to study chapter by chapter. I may reference something out side that chapter but I will come back to it.
 
Jun 20, 2022
6,460
1,330
113
#28
They need to tell us why and how and then show scripture to back it up.
it was a thread about healing. and i was being asked if people aren't healed does that mean something against me personally. i used a blanket statement about the Apostle Paul not being able to heal to Trophimus. we know Paul was and is a great example of a man of God. we know he would have done just like you are supposed to do as it is written in the Bible to bring healing to Trophimus. but God still chose not to heal Trophimus. i said, sometimes God don't do as we read in the Bible but we are always to do what we read in the Bible. i mean, Paul did what you are supposed to do and God chose not to heal Trophimus. some thought i was being a false preacher. but we have the example of Apostle Paul and Trophimus as PROOF to what i said so it has to be factual or God would have healed Trophimus.
 
Jun 20, 2022
6,460
1,330
113
#29
Related to nothing.
A topical sermon may take you to several related verses in both the old and new testaments but thy string together a topic and you get fed from it.
I like to study chapter by chapter. I may reference something out side that chapter but I will come back to it.
you would like the Calvary Churches then. they begin with Genesis 1:1 and if it takes 2 years every service is covering one or two chapters until the Bible is completed. then they start over and do it again. every once in awhile they will have special services for Easter Sunday, Christmas, but then it is right back to Book by Book and Verse by Verse sermons.
 

Blik

Senior Member
Dec 6, 2016
7,312
2,428
113
#30
God is talking to Ezekiel and Ezekiel is writing it down word for word for us. So lets see just what God has to say here.
.
God is not flesh, God is spirit. His speech is spiritual speech, not fleshly words. When God gives us spiritual truths, we, as fleshly people, put the spirit of the Lord into the language we speak.

That is why we must study what the words scripture uses meant to the prophet who wrote it down. Also, we need to be aware that when God spoke words, God usually used the Hebrew language. It is often necessary to go to the original Hebrew to understand the scripture.
 

ResidentAlien

Well-known member
Apr 21, 2021
8,312
3,618
113
#31
No they are to set in the doctron of the church and the traditions of men. I hve been asked to leave one church for asking to many questions
I see your point; they probably are beyond hope. But can we replace these dead churches who are guided by traditions of men with something new and better? What should we do?
 
R

RichMan

Guest
#32
I see your point; they probably are beyond hope. But can we replace these dead churches who are guided by traditions of men with something new and better? What should we do?
Down through the history of churches, they seem to come and go.
A new local church begins. They seek the Lord's will and are used by Him for a period of time.
When they stray from the truth, following His lead, they become less useful and in time become of no use to Him. He will then walk away. They are no longer one of His local churches. Just a bunch of religious people wasting their time.
What should we do?
Leave it to the Lord.
Walk away from that group and seek out another.
Never give up. There will be local churches, not perfect, but useful to God when Jesus returns.
Keep looking and praying and God will lead.
 

Thewatchman

Active member
Jun 19, 2021
622
116
43
#33
I see your point; they probably are beyond hope. But can we replace these dead churches who are guided by traditions of men with something new and better? What should we do?
Matthew 18:20

“For where two or three gather in my name, there am I with them.” You your wife your kids, family , friends, you get together study the bible discuss the scriptures that is church. What we are doing right know is church in Gods eyes. We are studying His word, we are taking time out of our day to stop and spend time with Him. That gives him great pleasure.
 
R

RichMan

Guest
#34
Matthew 18:20

“For where two or three gather in my name, there am I with them.” You your wife your kids, family , friends, you get together study the bible discuss the scriptures that is church. What we are doing right know is church in Gods eyes. We are studying His word, we are taking time out of our day to stop and spend time with Him. That gives him great pleasure.
While what you state is good, it is not doing what Jesus commanded His churches to do.
We are to go, make disciples, baptize believers, and teach them all things.
If you are not doing ALL that Jesus said, you are failing as a church.
 

ResidentAlien

Well-known member
Apr 21, 2021
8,312
3,618
113
#36
What should we do?
Leave it to the Lord.
Amen. Jesus said in Matthew 16:18: "I will build My church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it." If we think we're doing something for Him instead of Him doing it through us we have backwards.
 

Thewatchman

Active member
Jun 19, 2021
622
116
43
#37
God is not flesh, God is spirit. His speech is spiritual speech, not fleshly words. When God gives us spiritual truths, we, as fleshly people, put the spirit of the Lord into the language we speak.

That is why we must study what the words scripture uses meant to the prophet who wrote it down. Also, we need to be aware that when God spoke words, God usually used the Hebrew language. It is often necessary to go to the original Hebrew to understand the scripture.
Just because we do not speak Hebrew does not mean we can not understand what God is saying in His word. Yes we have to be careful we have to check out what is said. You should never take what someone says at face value but check it out. Don't take my word for it.

Be like the people of Berea Acts 17:10-

English Standard Version
The brothers immediately sent Paul and Silas away by night to Berea, and when they arrived they went into the Jewish synagogue.
Berean Study Bible
As soon as night had fallen, the brothers sent Paul and Silas away to Berea. On arriving there, they went into the Jewish synagogue.
King James Bible
And the brethren immediately sent away Paul and Silas by night unto Berea: who coming thither went into the synagogue of the Jews.

Verse 11.

New International Version
Now the Berean Jews were of more noble character than those in Thessalonica, for they received the message with great eagerness and examined the Scriptures every day to see if what Paul said was true.
English Standard Version
Now these Jews were more noble than those in Thessalonica; they received the word with all eagerness, examining the Scriptures daily to see if these things were so.
Berean Study Bible
Now the Bereans were more noble-minded than the Thessalonians, for they received the message with great eagerness and examined the Scriptures every day to see if these teachings were true.
King James Bible
These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so.

Verse 12.

English Standard Version
Many of them therefore believed, with not a few Greek women of high standing as well as men.
Berean Literal Bible
Therefore many of them indeed believed, and not a few of the prominent Grecian women and men.
King James Bible
Therefore many of them believed; also of honourable women which were Greeks, and of men, not a few.

When was the last time you listened to your Pastor, Sunday school teacher or someone on this site or others, or a T.V. Pastor and then went home and studied the word to find ut what they said was true.

That is what these people did and look at who was teaching them; what did they have to check them out with at home? The scriptures the Old Testament. I am not saying that you should not use or read the New Testament; but they did not have the New Testament they were living it.

You should have at home a good Strong's Concordance, a bible dictionary and a good study bible. There are other study helps it just depends on how deep you want to go.
 

Thewatchman

Active member
Jun 19, 2021
622
116
43
#38
you would like the Calvary Churches then. they begin with Genesis 1:1 and if it takes 2 years every service is covering one or two chapters until the Bible is completed. then they start over and do it again. every once in awhile they will have special services for Easter Sunday, Christmas, but then it is right back to Book by Book and Verse by Verse sermons.
I am not sure about the Calvary Church we do not have one close to us I know. Let me ask do you go to that church? If so do they teach that the earth is only 6, ooo years give or take a few 100 old, do they teach the rapture, and do they teach that when Jesus returnes dead bodies will come out of the grave and return to meet Jesus in the air.
 

Evmur

Well-known member
Feb 28, 2021
5,219
2,618
113
London
christianchat.com
#39
Ezekiel 13.​

Could there be false Pastors & Teachers in your Church?​



We are going to let the different versions of the Bible do the explaining.

We are going to start with Ezekiel 13: verses 1-9

Verse 1.

New Living Translation
Then this message came to me from the LORD:
Berean Study Bible
Then the word of the LORD came to me, saying,
King James Bible
And the word of the LORD came unto me, saying,


God is talking to Ezekiel and Ezekiel is writing it down word for word for us. So lets see just what God has to say here.



Verse 2.

New Living Translation
“Son of man, prophesy against the false prophets of Israel who are inventing their own prophecies. Say to them, ‘Listen to the word of the LORD.
Berean Study Bible
“Son of man, prophesy against the prophets of Israel who are now prophesying. Tell those who prophesy out of their own imagination: Hear the word of the LORD!
King James Bible
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;



Verse 3.

New Living Translation
“Son of man, prophesy against the false prophets of Israel who are inventing their own prophecies. Say to them, ‘Listen to the word of the LORD.
Berean Study Bible
“Son of man, prophesy against the prophets of Israel who are now prophesying. Tell those who prophesy out of their own imagination: Hear the word of the LORD!
King James Bible
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;


Cross References


Jeremiah 23:1
"Woe to the shepherds who destroy and scatter the sheep of My pasture!" declares the LORD.

Jeremiah 23:16
This is what the LORD of Hosts says: "Do not listen to the words of the prophets who prophesy to you. They are filling you with false hopes. They speak visions from their own minds, not from the mouth of the LORD.

Jeremiah 23:28
Let the prophet who has a dream retell it, but let him who has My word speak it truthfully. For what is straw compared to grain?" declares the LORD.


Verse 4.

New Living Translation
“O people of Israel, these prophets of yours are like jackals digging in the ruins.
Berean Study Bible
Your prophets, O Israel, are like foxes among the ruins.
King James Bible
O Israel, thy prophets are like the foxes in the deserts.



Cross Reference

Song of Solomon 2:15
Catch for us the foxes--the little foxes that ruin the vineyards--for our vineyards are in bloom.



These prophets are not Good prophets



Verse 5

New Living Translation
They have done nothing to repair the breaks in the walls around the nation. They have not helped it to stand firm in battle on the day of the LORD.
Berean Study Bible
You did not go up to the gaps or restore the wall around the house of Israel so that it would stand in the battle on the Day of the LORD.
King James Bible
Ye have not gone up into the gaps, neither made up the hedge for the house of Israel to stand in the battle in the day of the LORD.



Cross References

Isaiah 13:6
Wail, for the Day of the LORD is near; it will come as destruction from the Almighty.
Isaiah 13:9
Behold, the Day of the LORD is coming--cruel, with fury and burning anger--to make the earth a desolation and to destroy the sinners within it.



Verse 6

New Living Translation
Instead, they have told lies and made false predictions. They say, ‘This message is from the LORD,’ even though the LORD never sent them. And yet they expect him to fulfill their prophecies!
Berean Study Bible
They see false visions and speak lying divinations. They claim, ‘Thus declares the LORD,’ when the LORD did not send them; yet they wait for the fulfillment of their message.
King James Bible
They have seen vanity and lying divination, saying, The LORD saith: and the LORD hath not sent them: and they have made others to hope that they would confirm the word.



God is using some very harsh words here, you would do well to pay close attention to Him.



Verse 7.

New Living Translation
Can your visions be anything but false if you claim, ‘This message is from the LORD,’ when I have not even spoken to you?
Berean Study Bible
Haven’t you seen a false vision and spoken a lying divination when you proclaim, ‘Thus declares the LORD,’ even though I have not spoken?
King James Bible
Have ye not seen a vain vision, and have ye not spoken a lying divination, whereas ye say, The LORD saith it; albeit I have not spoken?


Cross References

Isaiah 30:10
They say to the seers, "Stop seeing visions!" and to the prophets, "Do not prophesy to us the truth! Speak to us pleasant words; prophesy illusions.

Ezekiel 22:28
Her prophets whitewash these deeds by false visions and lying divinations, saying, 'This is what the Lord GOD says,' when the LORD has not spoken.



Verse 8.

New Living Translation
“Therefore, this is what the Sovereign LORD says: Because what you say is false and your visions are a lie, I will stand against you, says the Sovereign LORD.
Berean Study Bible
Therefore this is what the Lord GOD says: Because you have uttered vain words and seen false visions, I am against you, declares the Lord GOD.
King James Bible
Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD; Because ye have spoken vanity, and seen lies, therefore, behold, I am against you, saith the Lord GOD.



Cross References
1 Kings 13:18
Then the prophet replied, "I too am a prophet like you, and an angel spoke to me by the word of the LORD, saying, 'Bring him back with you to your house, so that he may eat bread and drink water.'" The old prophet was lying to him,
Jeremiah 21:13
Behold, I am against you who dwell above the valley, atop the rocky plateau--declares the LORD--you who say, "Who can come against us? Who can enter our dwellings?"
Jeremiah 23:30
"Therefore behold," declares the LORD, "I am against the prophets who steal from one another words they attribute to Me."



Verse 9.

New Living Translation
I will raise my fist against all the prophets who see false visions and make lying predictions, and they will be banished from the community of Israel. I will blot their names from Israel’s record books, and they will never again set foot in their own land. Then you will know that I am the Sovereign LORD.
Berean Study Bible
My hand will be against the prophets who see false visions and speak lying divinations. They will not belong to the council of My people or be recorded in the register of the house of Israel, nor will they enter the land of Israel. Then you will know that I am the Lord GOD.
King James Bible
And mine hand shall be upon the prophets that see vanity, and that divine lies: they shall not be in the assembly of my people, neither shall they be written in the writing of the house of Israel, neither shall they enter into the land of Israel; and ye shall know that I am the Lord GOD.



Cross Reference

Jeremiah 17:13
O LORD, the hope of Israel, all who abandon You will be put to shame. All who turn away will be written in the dust, for they have abandoned the LORD, the fountain of living water.
All these old testament prophecies, and they all came to past ... God did blot their names out and He did raise new ones. More Jesus is our Priest and Shepherd ... we will seek fellowships which minister His word and power ... the stranger's voice we will flee.
 

Blik

Senior Member
Dec 6, 2016
7,312
2,428
113
#40
Just because we do not speak Hebrew does not mean we can not understand what God is saying in His word. Yes we have to be careful we have to check out what is said. You should never take what someone says at face value but check it out. Don't take my word for it.

Be like the people of Berea Acts 17:10-

English Standard Version
The brothers immediately sent Paul and Silas away by night to Berea, and when they arrived they went into the Jewish synagogue.
Berean Study Bible
As soon as night had fallen, the brothers sent Paul and Silas away to Berea. On arriving there, they went into the Jewish synagogue.
King James Bible
And the brethren immediately sent away Paul and Silas by night unto Berea: who coming thither went into the synagogue of the Jews.

Verse 11.

New International Version
Now the Berean Jews were of more noble character than those in Thessalonica, for they received the message with great eagerness and examined the Scriptures every day to see if what Paul said was true.
English Standard Version
Now these Jews were more noble than those in Thessalonica; they received the word with all eagerness, examining the Scriptures daily to see if these things were so.
Berean Study Bible
Now the Bereans were more noble-minded than the Thessalonians, for they received the message with great eagerness and examined the Scriptures every day to see if these teachings were true.
King James Bible
These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so.

Verse 12.

English Standard Version
Many of them therefore believed, with not a few Greek women of high standing as well as men.
Berean Literal Bible
Therefore many of them indeed believed, and not a few of the prominent Grecian women and men.
King James Bible
Therefore many of them believed; also of honourable women which were Greeks, and of men, not a few.

When was the last time you listened to your Pastor, Sunday school teacher or someone on this site or others, or a T.V. Pastor and then went home and studied the word to find ut what they said was true.

That is what these people did and look at who was teaching them; what did they have to check them out with at home? The scriptures the Old Testament. I am not saying that you should not use or read the New Testament; but they did not have the New Testament they were living it.

You should have at home a good Strong's Concordance, a bible dictionary and a good study bible. There are other study helps it just depends on how deep you want to go.
As you have shown us, we don't need to understand ancient Hebrew, we have many study helps.