False Christs and False Prophets – Coming to a City near you?

 

“(4) And Jesus answered and said unto them, Take heed that no man deceive you. (5) For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many. (23) Then if any man shall say unto you, Lo, here is Christ, or there; believe it not. (24) For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect. (25) Behold, I have told you before. (26) Wherefore if they shall say unto you, Behold, he is in the desert; go not forth: behold, he is in the secret chambers; believe it not. (27) For as the lightning cometh out of the east, and shineth even unto the west; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.” -Matthew 24:4,5, 23-27.

Jesus gives us some very important information here that concerns our safety in the last days and our preparedness for His coming! He does not want us to be deceived and He warns us that the devil is out to do a lot of that, especially in the last days just before Jesus returns. In fact, these are the very days in which we are living now! When you look at all the prophecies of the Bible and the conditions of the world which Jesus has said would exist just before His coming, you have to come to the conclusion that we are now living in that time!

Several points of great importance come to us from the text above. (1) The devil is out to deceive God’s people and he will work hard with great deceptions. We must be very discerning by God’s word. We cannot take everything by claim or by face value. Do not be simple, but wise by His word. (2) There will be many deceptions. (3) False Christs and False Prophets will come (4) They will use great swelling words to stir up and move the masses. Powerful miracles will accompany these false messages which will be so believable that potentially even some of the faithful “very elect” could be deceived if not properly on their guard. Therefore we cannot trust miracles or feelings, but must discern by God’s word whether this is right or wrong. (5) If anyone says that Christ has come already and is here on this earth in some place teaching and doing miracles then we should immediately write that off as a lie or deception and not believe it or even entertain the possibility for a second longer. You know that Christ’s appearance will flash across the sky as lightening and “every eye” will see His coming in the clouds of Heaven (See Rev. 1:7). The Bible here points out that we clearly need to understand the manner of Christ’s true coming so that we are not deceived.

If we are going to be prepared to stand faithful for God in the last days then we must know our Bibles thoroughly well for ourselves, and not just take another’s word for it, lest we be deceived by the devil’s “many” (v.5,24) false Christs and false messengers. To stand faithful we need to consider well all of the words which Jesus spoke above (from Matthew 5) and the points we can deduce from them.

One final point to consider from this is that just as much as we have to write off the false we also have to be careful to NOT write off the true messengers of God in the last days! Satan would love to get people either way – by believing the lie or by shunning the truth! Both will ruin us just the same! Notice that Jesus said if someone claims or is suggested to be a Christ (even with showing miracles and all) then we should reject that notion immediately. We do not need to entertain that idea any more. But with the prophets he does not say to so abruptly write them off, but He says to be careful for the false ones. Test, then reject the bad. In either case of prophets or Christ we cannot reject the true.

There is only one true Christ and we know His coming, but the prophets could be many. We have to take a little more time to discern that. Remember, Satan could send no counterfeits if there were to be no true. There have always been the false and the true since early days and it will remain so until Christ’s coming. Often in history the false were much greater in number than the true, and the masses of people (majority) usually loved their messages while the true were less appreciated but dead on right in their messages for God.

Paul, by inspiration, says in the New Testament, “Do not quench the Spirit. Despise not prophesyings. Test all things; hold fast that which is good” (1 Thessalonians 5:19-21). According to the Bible we are not to attempt to limit or to quench God’s Holy Spirit in the last days. We should not despise or hate the idea of God sending us a messenger or message, but we are to be discerning. We are to listen, but with a discerning ear and mind which tests and evaluates by the Scriptures! John says, “Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits whether they are of God: for many false prophets are gone out into the world. ” (1 John 4:1).

What are some simple tests? (1) If their message doesn’t agree with the Bible or its laws and teachings, then don’t accept this person’s message or status as a messenger (See Isaiah 8:20). Listen carefully to see that it is according to the Bible (and not merely our opinions of the Bible either, which are not always right) (2) If their message leads you away from Christ to themselves or other things then do not listen anymore. False messengers point to the wrong persons or things rather than to Christ. A true messenger will uplift Jesus Christ as the only way (See 1 John 4:2,3). (3) Is their message powerful to produce biblical faith in Christ Jesus and growth in holiness – does the message have good fruit production to it? (4) Is the life of the prophet or messenger in harmony with the Bible and the teachings of Christ Jesus? Do they live a life of holiness according to God’s word? “By their fruits you shall know them” -Jesus (See Matthew 7:15-20).

Once again, (1) True to Bible and its Laws (2) True to Jesus Christ as supreme (3) Message fruitful to God’s glory (4) Their life is fruitful to God’s glory. Those are the points we must keep in mind. Remember also that Satan appears to be an angel of light and he has a pretended holiness “outwardly” appearing to come in sheep’s clothing, but “inwardly” a ravening wolf. So we must go by 1 and 2 even if 3 and 4 have an appearance to our eye as being okay. ALL the testing points must hold true if this is God’s messenger. Well, let’s keep these things in mind and be ready to discern the true from the false, and especially ready for the true and real coming of Christ which is not too far off from us today!

Doing what is “right in our own eyes,” or God’s?

 

“There is a way which seems right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death.” -Proverbs 14:12

In the book of Judges, chapter 17, verses 1-13, there is a story of a man named Micah and his mother. He stole “eleven hundred shekels of silver” from his mother. Later upon hearing her curses he decided to confess and then give it back. She blessed him then and said, “I had wholly dedicated the silver from my hand to the Lord for my son, to make a carved image and a molded image; now therefore, I will return it to you (v.3). “..Then his mother took two hundred shekels of silver and gave them to the silversmith, and he made it into a carved image and a molded image; and they were in the house of Micah. ⁵ The man Micah had a shrine, and made an ephod and household idols; and he consecrated one of his sons, who became his priest. ⁶ In those days there was no king in Israel; everyone did what was right in his own eyes.”

Beyond that, a Levite soon came along and Micah persuaded him to be a paid priest for him over his idolatrous home temple. The Levite agreed (See v.7-11). The text finishes in vs. 12-13, saying, “So Micah consecrated the Levite, and the young man became his priest, and lived in the house of Micah. ¹³ Then Micah said, “Now I know that the Lord will be good to me, since I have a Levite as priest!” (Judges 17:3-13, summarized).

As we read through this story in the Bible, comparing it with the teachings of the Scripture we realize that a very sad condition had arisen in Israel. Everyone was doing what was right in their own eyes. And it’s hard to know what is sadder, the fact that they were doing so, or the fact that they had fallen into so much spiritual darkness that people even thought God’s blessing was upon them in their sins. His commandments were clearly broken and all respect of God’s boundaries for a healthy human-to-God relationship were entirely disregarded (See Exodus 20:3-6).

The question then comes to us today, “How about us?” Do we do everything that seems right in our own eyes? Or, in God’s eyes? Is it all about my opinion vs. yours or another person’s opinion? Do we presume that our action is right and that we are honoring God because we have some form of worship and perhaps we are using some elements from the true worship of God? Do we think that merely attending church once a week or “having a Levite as our priest” is enough to please God and have His blessing, while knowingly living sinful lives in other ways? Or even beyond that, do we realize who God is and what He truly requires of us? Or do we just have a vague concept of who God is based on hear-say but not according to the knowledge of the Bible? It seems high time that we discover for ourselves from the Bible just who God really is! Let us seek Him in His word! Let us find out what HE wants for our lives and what is truly right! And let us follow the Lord wholly, according to His ways, and not according to our own. It may seem right in our own eyes (not being enlightened by His word, or being in doubt of it), but lets find out what the truth really is and live by it before we have to meet the Lord face to face! Let’s humble ourselves before God and surrender to His eternal wisdom. Shall we not?

Thoughts causing sin in your life? What’s the Bible’s solution for victory?

 

“Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man: (14)  But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed. (15)  Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death” (James 1:13-15).

Doesn’t sin begin in our minds? Our “own lusts” or desires originate in our minds or thoughts. From the suggestion of an impure thought or idea (if entertained) comes the dwelling upon, the consuming of us, the transforming of our feelings, emotions, body chemicals, and finally the act of sin, which if repeatedly continued will lead to destruction, and if even once indulged can cause great misery depending on the situation. Repeated patterns or habits just tend to entrench themselves further essentially becoming our character.

Too often we could find ourselves in a pattern or habit of sin. Have you ever found yourself there? Dwelling upon the wrong thoughts, at first a suggestion, then a little flow, then a river in the wrong direction – sinned. Pick yourself up again, apologize to God, get strength to overcome, successful for a little while, then some erroneous thoughts come along again, and you trip and fall flat on your face. This is the human battle field of sin no matter what the ill may be.

Christ pointed out that the sin begins in our thoughts, not our actions. The actions count for what they are and often bring more destruction to ourselves and/or others than the thoughts, but the action of sin never would have occurred if the thoughts were not entertained. Christ teaches us to “nip it in the bud,” that is, kill the flower before it blooms, or fight the battle against wrong thoughts before they explode like time bombs and hurt people (ourselves and others). Christ said if a man lusts after a woman then he is committing adultery in his heart (See Matthew 5:28,29).

Think about King David’s terrible sin of adultery in ancient times. It began with some thoughts, alone, up on a roof top as he happened to spy a bathing beauty of a woman who did not belong to him. Instead of nipping the evil/lustful thoughts right there he decided to indulge them a bit until they indulged him, brought the woman to his house, led to adultery, murder, lying, the death of a child, and the death of many good soldiers by a foolish cover-up move, and countless families weeping for their daddy’s and for husbands who were not coming home from the war anymore. Bad thoughts indulged led to sin, sin upon sin, countless misery, shame and disgrace.

So, how to overcome those thoughts which lead to sin, and often to habit, which leads to poor characters, which leads to more difficulties, disgrace, shame, and even eternal destruction? Let’s take a look at the Bible’s principles!

Encouragement: “Be TRANSFORMED by the RENEWING OF YOUR MIND” (Rom. 12:1,2).

1. Keep Active, occupied, or busy in right things: “Behold, this was the iniquity of thy sister Sodom, pride, fulness of bread, and abundance of idleness was in her...” (Ezekiel 16:49). Sodom was a very wicked place and part of the problem was that people had way too much idle time on their hands and they occupied it with lusts and evils. King David’s first mistake in the Bathsheeba ordeal was having too much free time on his hands, since he didn’t “go out to war” as kings usually did at that time (See 2 Samuel 11:1,2). The devil makes use of idle hands and minds.
2. Fill your mind with the word and meditate only on good things: “Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things” (Philippians 4:8). “BETH. Wherewithal shall a young man [or woman] cleanse his way? by taking heed thereto according to thy word. (10) With my whole heart have I sought thee: O let me not wander from thy commandments. (11)  Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee” (Psalm 119:9-11). “Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust” (2 Peter 1:4). The word of God will retrain our minds in the right ways.
   
3. Pray – for His power, for others, for everything: “(9) After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. (10) Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven. (11) Give us this day our daily bread. (12)  And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. (13)  And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen” (Matthew 6:9-13, Jesus). Brother Paul said, “Pray without ceasing!” (1 Thessalonians 5:17).
4. Avoid impure suggestions to your mind. Protect your senses: “He that walketh righteously, and speaketh uprightly; he that despiseth the gain of oppressions, that shaketh his hands from holding of bribes, that stoppeth his ears from hearing of blood, and shutteth his eyes from seeing evil;” (Isaiah 33:15).
5. Avoid bad influences – Choose your friends carefully: “Be not deceived: evil communications corrupt good manners” (1 Cor. 15:33).
6. Choose to wage an all out war through Christ, by keeping your thoughts centered on Him:  “Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ” (2 Cor. 10:5). See also John 15:4,5 – without Him we can do nothing. We must abide in Him. We must “look to Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith” (Heb. 12:1,2). “You will keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed upon you; because he trusts in you” (Isaiah 26:3).
7. Look for the way of escape as soon as dangerous thoughts peak their head – there is one: “There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it” (1 Corinthians 10:13).
8. Be diligent to continue in well-doing: “And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not” (Galatians 6:9).
9. Don’t be self-sufficient, proud or unconcerned – Know your weakness and needs: “Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall” (1 Corinthians 10:12).
10. Don’t be discouraged if you slipped up – Instead, pray, and persistently seek to overcome through Christ: Victory and change is coming through Christ. Span longer in your stints of victory until victory lasts forever. In Christ know it is attainable! “Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the LORD, and he will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon” (Isaiah 55:7).

If we follow these Bible principles then victory is attainable! Seek the Lord and be strong in the might of His power! May the Lord bless and guide you to live in His will always! Let’s say this one more time, succinctly, in a different order: (1) Word – Fill with it (2) Prayer (3) Busy – Keep it that Way (4) Run – Stop that thought (5) Fill with good (6) Cut out the bad (7) Don’t Quit – there’s a way out (8) Jesus’ Power (9) Friends – Good Ones! (10) Don’t Underestimate Weaknesses – Fortify Against.

The Road to Forgiveness or the Road to Hell? Which will it be?

“(17)  Is it not wheat harvest to day? I will call unto the LORD, and he shall send thunder and rain; that ye may perceive and see that your wickedness is great, which ye have done in the sight of the LORD, in asking you a king. (18) So Samuel called unto the LORD; and the LORD sent thunder and rain that day: and all the people greatly feared the LORD and Samuel. (19) And all the people said unto Samuel, Pray for thy servants unto the LORD thy God, that we die not: for we have added unto all our sins this evil, to ask us a king. (20) And Samuel said unto the people, Fear not: ye have done all this wickedness: yet turn not aside from following the LORD, but serve the LORD with all your heart; (21)  And turn ye not aside: for then should ye go after vain things, which cannot profit nor deliver; for they are vain. (22)  For the LORD will not forsake his people for his great name’s sake: because it hath pleased the LORD to make you his people. (23)  Moreover as for me, God forbid that I should sin against the LORD in ceasing to pray for you: but I will teach you the good and the right way: (24)  Only fear the LORD, and serve him in truth with all your heart: for consider how great things he hath done for you. (25)  But if ye shall still do wickedly, ye shall be consumed, both ye and your king.” -1 Samuel 12:17-25

We’ve all sinned. We’ve all made mistakes. Yes, even as believers, even as God’s own chosen people, as people whom God has done great things for, we have sinned. How sad that is, but isn’t it a fact? Once convicted of our sins, what then should we do? They may surely be heavy sins; we may surely feel the weight of guilt upon us or perhaps even the fear that God will strike us dead for our terrible sins. Have you ever felt like that? Most with an illuminated conscience to the weight of their guilt have felt even something like that. But what shall we do? The prophet Samuel points out that we only have two choices: (1) Either we repent of our sin in sorrow, accept His merciful forgiveness, choose to seek Him, and to live in His path of righteousness again, OR (2) Give it all up, forsake the Lord for our heavy guilt, not accepting His forgiveness, lose all hopes, and plunge into a life of wicked sinfulness driving us straight into the fiery lake of Hell and eternal destruction. That’s it! Those are the only choices. The prophet Samuel pointed it out so clearly. So which will it be? Let us therefore in light of such truth seek the Lord and His mercies while they are yet to be found. Jesus came into the world to save sinners of whom we are chief! (ref. 1 Titus 1:15). Shall we lose hope? No, let us never! To give up our hope is truly a hopeless thing indeed; In fact, a worthless thing. Why not repent, and seek the Lord rather, since He came to save sinners. Have you been one? If Christ reached out to save sinners who are in the full muck of sin, do you think He’d still reach out to a lost, struggling, hurting lamb, who has now soiled or tarnished their fur in the stains of sin by their foolishness? Of course! He loves His lambs! Those who’ve begun the journey out and away from sin, should never let a single sin (or multiple sins) keep them from returning to the forgiving, cleansing power of Jesus, and the hope of immortal glory and righteous perfection through Christ Jesus! Don’t ever let a sin keep you from the Savior from sin! Come to Jesus today, seek His path of righteousness again, find and accept His mercies today, and find life through Him! There are no more options except for certain death and wickedness. Either repent and accept His love, or perish. Seek Heaven, or plow into Hell. That’s it. That’s all. Praise Jesus for the hope we have in Him! Seek Heaven brothers and sisters! Follow the path Jesus has laid out.

In closing, just take a note of the steps followed in the Scripture from 1 Samuel today:

• The people sinned against all counsel and advice of God’s prophet (His word, the Bible) – though they full well knew what the counsel was.
• Samuel prayed for the people to see the weight and guilt of their sin.
• God showed them the weight and the guilt of their sin – GOD showed them (As He does today too, by His Spirit and various means).
• The people greatly feared, felt the weight/guilt of their sin, and begged for mercies from God and His servant while standing naked in their guilt and shame.
• Samuel, God’s minister, encouraged them NOT to give up in despair, but acknowledged that they had sinned, and encouraged them to seek the way of righteousness again. And to serve the Lord with ALL THEIR HEARTS!
• He reminded them that the ONLY other option was to fall out into a life of sin which has no profit, but can only lead to full emptiness and certain ruin.
• Samuel reminded them of God’s love and His nature, desire, and will NOT to forsake us, or to let us go, but to reach out to us and to redeem us from all iniquity!
• Samuel then expressed that not only did GOD care for them, but also he, Samuel, God’s minister was not giving up on them either, but was praying for them to be saved and he promised to proclaim to them the right way of God’s word in which they could still and needed to live by.
• He then wrapped up his counsel by repeating the needed choice or action to seek the Lord and to reverently obey (fear), love, and serve Him from the Heart; Reminding again that God’s love does not cast us away. Then furthermore reminding that the only other option was a life of sin leading to sure death and destruction. That’s it, that’s all.

Let us therefore follow the steps laid out in God’s word, seek His love and His mercies, repent of our sins in sorrow, serve Him from the heart (with all of it) from love, do His will and live with Him forever. Any choice different from that is only darkness. The choice is yours and mine. Heaven or Hell, life or death. Therefore, CHOOSE LIFE!