✝ Daily Encouragement (8/2/23) "Be Aware Of False Prophets"
Published: Wed, 08/02/23
A daily, Bible-based perspective of hope, encouragement and exhortation. The online Bible teaching ministry of Stephen & Brooksyne Weber.
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Wednesday, August 2, 2023
Yesterday we resumed our chaplain visitation after being away for a week in
the Midwest. It was nice to pass the very green farmland as our area has been getting adequate rain.
"Be Aware Of False
Prophets"
Message
summary:
Let us be on our guard so that we are not misled, and so that we will not mislead others either by our words or
example.
Listen to our message on your audio player. “An appalling and horrible thing has happened in the land: the prophets prophesy falsely, and the priests rule on their own authority; and My people love it so! But what will you do at the end of it?” (Jeremiah 5:30,31). "Her prophets are fickle, treacherous men" (Zephaniah 3:4). “Many false prophets will arise and will mislead many” (Matthew 24:11). “But false prophets also arose among the people, just as there will also be false teachers among you” (2 Peter 2:1).  Yesterday we shared a testimony about Richard Ramirez
, a man I had met at the Independence Center on Saturday
morning. He has an enduring testimony of a life changed by Christ in 1978 while a prisoner in the Fort Leavenworth Federal Penitentiary.
Prior to our discussion we both met two nicely dressed young men who were
part of some cult-like religion* who were seeking converts. After speaking to them for a few minutes I determined that they represented another way (see John 10:1) and any further attempt to engage with them would be fruitless, especially in light of my limited time needing to get to the airport. But the encounter reminded me of Christ's words,
“Many false prophets will arise and will mislead many” (Matthew 24:11).
In our ABF (Sunday School)
class
we have been studying the Old Testament prophets. A common theme in ancient Israel was the proneness of the people to follow false prophets. For instance
Zephaniah 3:4 states,
"Her prophets are fickle, treacherous
men".
 However it is critically important for the faithful follower of Christ in each generation
to be aware of false prophets. A Bible search using key words such as false prophet provides many instances of warnings. The closing two verses from Jeremiah 5 are incredibly pertinent to our day. It looks like it could be a modern
newspaper headline, “An appalling and horrible thing has happened in the land”. If our eyes are open we surely see the unraveling of the moral and spiritual fabric in our land. Can we even project what the next expression of decadence will be?As Jeremiah states, “the prophets prophesy falsely”. There are indeed many false prophets, those who claim to speak for God among us. Based on Scripture it should not surprise us that even the visible church does not speak with one voice in confronting the decay. Sadly there are voices claiming to represent Christ calling evil good and good evil (see Isaiah 5:20). It is vitally important that we be vigilant in our discernment regarding those who claim to speak for God. Jesus in a context of the end times states, “Many false prophets will arise and will mislead many” (Matthew 24:11). There have always been false prophets but apparently there will be an increase in the last days. It sure seems to me we are seeing that. There are many parallels between modern America and apostate Israel such as the motivation of ease and economic gain, a disregard of divinely imposed moral restraints, the ungodliness of leadership, sin is scoffed at, approved, endorsed and even celebrated. Many false prophets spoke against the plan of God. Today we have many weak, compromising churches and pulpits which have succumbed to liberalism and accommodation with the world and are deceived. Let us be on our guard so that we are not misled and deceive, and so that we will not mislead and deceive others either by our words or example.
Be encouraged today, (
Hebrews 3:13)
Stephen & Brooksyne
Weber
Daily
prayer:
Father, as the slide to decadence deepens, we see the influence it has on the Christian church at large. Fearing rejection and mockery from the world or appearing as unsuccessful in the eyes of the world, many church leaders become accepting of the current philosophies and lifestyles prominent in our day, rather than holding to the unchanging standards prescribed
through Your commands in Scripture. In the gray areas, help us to be gracious. But in the black and white commands of Scripture help us to be brave, strong and unambiguous in our position and consistent in our example as permissiveness, false prophesies, and weakened leaders dot the landscape. When seekers want the timeless truth of Scriptures rather than the changing truth of our times we will be prepared to guide them to Your eternal truths. Keep us faithful in doing so. In Jesus’ name
we pray. Amen.
* Cult-like religion
- I was not familiar with the group the two
young men at the mall represented but it had some strange teachings I have never heard of before. One common theme of cults is try to convince you their group alone is the right and only way. A genuine witness will point to Christ first and foremost. Another theme are new teachings unique to that
group.
What does the Bible say about false prophets?
from the gotquestions.org teaching
site
What is the definition of a cult? from the gotquestions.org teaching site
Many plants and insects have a mutual symbiotic relationship. The plant
provides nectar and the insect is a means of pollination. However, one of the most interesting plants in God’s creation does not have a symbiotic relationship with insects, the Venus Fly Trap. This plant attracts flies and other insects for food using a deceptive method of easy nectar for the fly but often at a great price! Consider an analogy between this plant and false prophets. Their teaching may sound good but it is spiritually
destructive!
Early yesterday morning Stephen shared a brief devotional with the employees at Audreys, a wholesale gift and home decor company in rural Lebanon
County.
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Stephen & Brooksyne Weber
717-823-0592
Daily Encouragement Net
https://www.dailyencouragement.net
Mail service provider is aweber.com
495 Kraybill Church Rd
Mount Joy PA 17552
USA
Unsubscribe | Change Subscriber Options