Monday, September 1, 2008

Wolves in sheep's clothing

We've had several folks ask us about detecting who is a false "prophet" and who is not.  How do you determine if the popular televangelists are truly preachers of the LORD Jesus Christ?  They all say things that are true, but when they add to the Gospel, how do we know?

  • Matthew 7:15
    [ A Tree and Its Fruit ] "Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves.
    Matthew 7:14-16 (in Context)
  • Matthew 10:16
    I am sending you out like sheep among wolves. Therefore be as shrewd as snakes and as innocent as doves.
    Matthew 10:15-17 (in Context)
  • Luke 10:3
    Go! I am sending you out like lambs among wolves.
    Luke 10:2-4 (in Context) Luke 10 (Whole Chapter)
  • Acts 20:29
    I know that after I leave, savage wolves will come in among you and will not spare the flock.
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    The simplest and truest answer comes from the Bible and is explained best by Dr. Adrian Rogers:

    "BIBLE MEDITATION:
    “Hearken unto Me now therefore, O ye children, and attend to the words of My mouth.” Proverbs 7:24

  • DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT:
    The United States Government doesn’t teach Treasury agents to detect counterfeit bills by having them study fakes. They show these agents real dollars over and over and over until they have the pattern memorized. Then, when a counterfeit is put in front of them, they recognize it instantly because it doesn’t fit the pattern their eyes are looking for. Do you know the voice of the Lord? The only way you can be sure that it is His voice you are hearing is to hear it so often, that a stranger’s voice is instantly recognizable. It is far wiser to spend time learning the one true voice than it is trying to learn to detect a multitude of false voices.

    ACTION POINT:
    Spend at least 15 minutes today being silent before God and listening for His voice."

    share devotional with a friend
    visit lwf.org

    When a false doctrine or different Gospel is preached, a 'red flag' goes up for those who KNOW the Word of God.  And the only way to know the Word of God is to study it.

    We recommend the King James Version, the New King James Version, the New International Version, the American Standard Version, and the New Living Translation Study Bibles.  For study purposes, stay away from paraphrases such as the New Living Bible and The Message.  Our recommendations are translations from the original texts.

    II Timothy 2:15 (NIV)

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