False Prophets and Empty Oracles

Jesus said "many false prophets will rise and show signs and wonders to deceive, if possible even the elect. Mark 13:22." In a day where we are inundated with teachers, we have to be so careful not to follow teachers whose doctrine does not line up with the word of God but lead many astray. In Jeremiah 23, we learn how to determine a true and false prophet. V. 16-17 says "The false prophets speak a word from their own heart, Not from the mouth of the Lord...they walk according to the dictates of their own heart." V 21-22 says "I have not sent these prophets, yet they ran. I have not spoken to them, yet they prophesied. But if they had stood in My counsel, and had caused my people to hear My words, then they would have TURNED them from their wicked ways and from their evil doings." Nelson's commentary explains, "The false prophets proclaimed a false hope of peace and security. They lack true knowledge and a word from God, the false prophets repeated false hopes and twisted God's words. The false prophet turned God's word to their own desired benefit." "A true prophet must be sent by God with a word from God. A true prophet of God calls people to repentance of sin or evil and to renewed faith." False teachers usurp the way of death to self and lead people after themselves. They lead others wickedly after themselves and do not teach them the way of repentance. They sow discord and are fleshly, concerned and led by popularity and position rather than being genuine servants of Christ through death to self. When we genuinely love we will speak the truth as we have lived that truth through suffering for Christ.

The culture today bombards us with a barage of methods to self-preserve. Self-help books, fortune-telling, and religion bandaid the heart where the real issues are. To Fight this deception we need to study God's word and come together corporately as a church to learn the ways of God verses the counterfiet.

"Unless a grain of wheat fall into the ground and die, it remains alone, but if it dies it brings forth much fruit. John 12:24" Lord give us discernment regarding the teachers we follow, that their message and life points to the cross of Christ.