How do we avoid following false prophets, teachers or doctrines?

2 thoughts on “How do we avoid following false prophets, teachers or doctrines?”

1. .

   Jesus warns all of us: 

   15 “Beware of the false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly are ravenous wolves. 16 You will know them by their fruits. Grapes are not gathered from thorn bushes nor figs from thistles, are they?” – Matthew 7:15-16 (NASB), A Tree and Its Fruit – (Matthew 7:15-23)

   We will know them by their fruits. 

   Do they practice what they preach? 

   2 And He was saying to them,

   “The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; therefore beseech the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest.

   3 Go; behold, I send you out as lambs in the midst of wolves.

   4 Carry no money belt, no bag, no shoes; and greet no one on the way.” – Luke 10-2-4 (NASB), The Seventy Sent Out – (Luke 10:1-16)

   And

   9 Do not acquire gold, or silver, or copper for your money belts,

   10 or a bag for your journey, or even two coats, or sandals, or a staff;

   for the worker is worthy of his support.” – Matthew 10:9-10, The Twelve Disciples; Instructions for Service – (Matthew 10:1-15)

   Do they teach exactly what is in the bible and not distort it, and not deceiving others for dishonest gains? 

   Do they sell anything (merchandise) to their congregation? 

   15 Then they came to Jerusalem. And He entered the temple and began to drive out those who were buying and selling in the temple, and overturned the tables of the money changers and the seats of those who were selling doves;

   16 and He would not permit anyone to carry merchandise through the temple.

   17 And He began to teach and say to them,

   “Is it not written, ‘My house shall be called a house of prayer for all the nations’? But you have made it a robbers’ den.” – Mark 11:15-17, Jesus Drives Money Changers from the Temple – (Mark 11:15-26)

   Jesus did NOT say, “it’s okay to sell a book, if it’s about Me, or quotes a little bit about what I said”.  What did He DEFINITELY and SPECIFICALLY say about that?  “‘My house shall be called a house of prayer for all the nations’? But you have made it a robbers’ den.”

   16 So Jesus answered them and said,  “My teaching is not Mine, but His who sent Me.

   17 If anyone is willing to do His will, he will know of the teaching, whether it is of God or whether I speak from Myself.

   18 He who speaks from himself seeks his own glory; but He who is seeking the glory of the One who sent Him, He is true, and there is no unrighteousness in Him.“ – John 7:16-18 (NASB), Jesus Teaches at the Feast – (John 7:1-39)

   Why do they sell to their congregation? When Jesus specifically said, “would not permit anyone to carry merchandise through the temple”?

   Are these preachers TRUE teachers or preachers? Do they do what Jesus commanded of His Disciples and followers?  Which is … 

   8 “Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse the lepers, cast out demons.

   Freely you received, freely give.”  – Mark 11:8, The Triumphal Entry – (Mark 11:1-14)

   The danger of following false teachers or false preachers: 

   21 “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father who is in heaven will enter.

   22 Many will say to Me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your Name, and in Your Name cast out demons, and in Your Name perform many miracles?’

   23 And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness.’ – Matthew 7:21-23 (NASB), A Tree and Its Fruit – (Matthew 7:15-23)

   Using “In Jesus Name” – His Name is powerful!  But Jesus “knows those people” who obey Him and His Words and Instructions and Laws and those who don’t – when we love Him, we exercise repentance, and humility – and submission – those who do that can and will obey His Laws.  

   23 Jesus answered and said to him, “If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word; and My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our abode with him. 24 He who does not love Me does not keep My words; and the word which you hear is not Mine, but the Father’s who sent Me.” – John 14:23-24 (NASB), Role of the Spirit – (John 14:16-31)

   Read the bible yourself, KNOW God’s Laws.  

   3 For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but wanting to have their ears tickled, they will accumulate for themselves teachers in accordance to their own desires, 4 and will turn away their ears from the truth and will turn aside to myths. 5 But you, be sober in all things, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry.” – 2 Timothy 4:1-5 (NASB), Preach the Word – (2 Timothy 4:1-8)

   There is an abundance of different false gospels these days “social gospels” “prosperity gospels” “word-faith gospels”. “Customizable preaching” geared towards a generation who “want their ears tickled.”

   NOTICE the “leaders” of such groups or churches.  What’s their lifestyle like?  Is it “Christ-like”?  

   How and where do they live, in the Name of Jesus?  What did Jesus say about the way He lived? 

   20 Jesus said to him: “The foxes have holes and the birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay His head.” – Matthew 8:20 (NASB), Discipleship Tested – (Matthew 8:18-27)

   What did the Bible say about the way Jesus lived? Where did He sleep?  (And I just learned and noticed this myself!  Found the answer in Luke 21:37-38) 

   37 Now during the day He was teaching in the temple, but at evening He would go out and spend the night on the mount that is called Olivet.

   38 And all the people would get up early in the morning to come to Him in the temple to listen to Him.” – Luke 21:37-38, The Return of Christ – (Luke 21: 25-38)

   And: 

   57 As they were going along the road, someone said to Him, “I will follow You wherever You go.”

   58 And Jesus said to him, “The foxes have holes and the birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay His head.” – Luke 9:57-58, Exacting Discipleship – (Luke 9:57-62)

    

   So LISTEN to the warning of our Lord Jesus Christ: 

   15 “Beware of the false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly are ravenous wolves. 16 You will know them by their fruits. Grapes are not gathered from thorn bushes nor figs from thistles, are they?” – Matthew 7:15-16 (NASB), A Tree and Its Fruit – (Matthew 7:15-23)

   Do not make an “idol” of any famous pastor or preacher or priest. You might fall into false doctrine, false practices, that do not lead to real salvation.  PRAY for Wisdom to know and see the difference. 

   31 So Jesus was saying to those Jews who had believed Him,

   “If you continue in My word, then you are truly disciples of Mine;

   32 and you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free.” – John 8:31-32 (NASB), The Truth Will Make You Free – (John 8:31-59)

    

2. .

   The Book of Acts is also a great resource for TIPS on what followers of Christ, or disciples, or modern day Christians MUST be doing, like how the early apostles did …

   37 “Now when they heard this, they were pierced to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles,

   “Brethren, what shall we do?”

   38 Peter said to them,

   “Repent, and each of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.

   39 For the promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off, as many as the Lord our God will call to Himself.”

   40 And with many other words he solemnly testified and kept on exhorting them, saying,

   “Be saved from this perverse generation!” – Acts 2:37-40, The Ingathering – (Acts 2:37-47)

   And

   44 “And all those who had believed were together and had all things in common;

   45 and they began selling their property and possessions and were sharing them with all, as anyone might have need.

   46 Day by day continuing with one mind in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they were taking their meals together with gladness and sincerity of heart,

   47 praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord was adding to their number day by day those who were being saved.” – Acts 2:44-47, The Ingathering – (Acts 2:37-47)

   We can all just observe, notice this with the modern day preachers and teachers … modern day “disciples”? 

   1. Are they “selling their property and possessions and were sharing them with all, as anyone might have need.”?

   2. Are  they “breaking bread from house to house”?

   3. Are “they taking their meals together with gladness and sincerity of heart” ?

   The modern day preachers and teachers … modern day “disciples” have SO DISTORTED what it means to be a Christian, to be WORTHY to be called a follower of Christ, they are doing the EXACT opposite!

   1. Are they “selling their property and possessions and were sharing them with all, as anyone might have need.”?

   – No.  They, instead, acquire more properties for their church buildings and turn these buildings into profit centers, by selling their books, or whatever else they sell, turning the church into a real lucrative tax-free business, with willing volunteers as free labor, as they line their pockets.  NOTICE that. 

   2. Are  they “breaking bread from house to house”?

   – No.  They are buying more houses for themselves, they don’t shepherd their sheep, they don’t even know their names, except when your name is added to their mailing list, so they spend tithes on printing and mailing you more stuff to get you to tithe some more or give them more of your money instead of buying bread for your house.  They are stuck in their pulpits, or stages, where they perform or do their public speaking once a week. 

   3. Are “they taking their meals together with gladness and sincerity of heart” ?

   – No.  Refer to #2 answer.  They don’t know their sheep or congregation.   They are “public speakers”.

   Here’s another tip from the Book of Acts, what Disciples and Christ-followers should be doing:

   32 “And the congregation of those who believed were of one heart and soul; and not one of them claimed that anything belonging to him was his own, but all things were common property to them.

   33 And with great power the apostles were giving testimony to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and abundant grace was upon them all.

   34 For there was not a needy person among them, for all who were owners of land or houses would sell them and bring the proceeds of the sales

   35 and lay them at the apostles’ feet, and they would be distributed to each as any had need.” – Acts 4:32-35, Sharing among Believers – (Acts 4:32-37)

   “33 And with great power the apostles were giving testimony to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and abundant grace was upon them all.

   34 For there was not a needy person among them, for all who were owners of land or houses would sell them and bring the proceeds of the sales

   35 and lay them at the apostles’ feet, and they would be distributed to each as any had need.”

   Had to repeat that …

   Modern day preachers … abundant grace was and ARE upon the preachers, not to “ALL” followers. 

   Have you noticed how many people in churches, who have so little, are guilted into giving their ten percent income as tithes, supposedly?  And the preachers spend it however way they wish (like buying jets or build mansions for themselves, when Jesus didn’t even have a place to sleep, to “lay His Head”?

   58 And Jesus said to him, “The foxes have holes and the birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay His head.” – Luke 9:58,  Exacting Discipleship – (Luke 9:57-62)

   How many “followers” of false teachers teaching false doctrines are needy? 

   ” there was not a needy person among them ” – yes IN TRUE churches and TRUE fellowship! 

   “and they would be distributed to each as any had need.” – who holds these false churches accountable? 

   SO … these tips are from the Bible! 

   It is GREAT to read Scripture yourself! 

   We can all get easily deceived and will not be able to perceive falsehoods, if we are not aware of what is TRUE. 

   The Bible is TRUE. 

   When you read it yourself, falsehoods become so obvious!   So, let’s not get misled! 

   “as many as the Lord our God will call to Himself.”

   If you landed on this website, take heed to these words that you read! 

   I was in several false churches and fellowships that had false doctrine before.  And I left! 

   And I thank God I did!  I thank God that He is allowing me to do this!  🙂

   29 “And now, Lord, take note of their threats, and grant that Your bond-servants may speak Your word with all confidence,

   30 while You extend Your hand to heal, and signs and wonders take place through the Name of Your Holy Servant Jesus.”

   31 And when they had prayed, the place where they had gathered together was shaken, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak the word of God with boldness.” – Acts 4:29-31, Threat and Release – (Acts 4:13-31)

    

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