Turn in your Bibles to Isaiah 30
and we will read verses 8-13.
Isaiah 30:8-13
8 Now go, write it before them in a table, and note
it in a book, that it may be for the time to come
for ever and ever: 9 That this is a rebellious
people, lying children, children that will not hear
the law of the LORD: 10 Which say to the seers, See
not; and to the prophets, Prophesy not unto us right
things, speak unto us smooth things, prophesy
deceits: 11 Get you out of the way, turn aside out
of the path, cause the Holy One of Israel to cease
from before us. 12 Wherefore thus saith the Holy One
of Israel, Because ye despise this word, and trust
in oppression and perverseness, and stay thereon: 13
Therefore this iniquity shall be to you as a breach
ready to fall, swelling out in a high wall, whose
breaking cometh suddenly at an instant.
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In chapter 1 of First Timothy, Paul is giving his charge to
Timothy as the pastor of the church at Ephesus. He also
calls the names of the false teachers Hymenaeus and
Alexander and publickly rebukes them for having said evil
things concerning the faith. In chapter 2, Paul gives his
charge to the men and women of the church at Ephesus. In
chapter 3 Paul gives the qualifications for the bishops,
pastors, and deacons. There is a great need for thorough and
complete teaching on the qualifications for pastors and
deacons in our churches today. Everybody can tell you that a
pastor and a deacon should be the husband of one wife, but
what about the rest of the qualifications: for instance to
be blameless. The whole idea is that pastor and deacons must
be above reproach in every aspect of their lives. I could
take the rest of the qualifications listed and throw out 95%
of the pastors and preachers in the pulpits of Baptist
churches even if they all had never been divorced. Chapter 3
verse 16 contains one of the strongest statements in the New
Testament that the Lord Jesus Christ is God. That is why he
is called Lord. In chapter 4 Timothy is warned about the
coming battle with seducing spirits and doctrines of devils
1 Timothy 4:1-3
1 Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the
latter times some shall depart from the faith,
giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of
devils; 2 Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their
conscience seared with a hot iron; 3 Forbidding to
marry, and commanding to abstain from meats, which
God hath created to be received with thanksgiving of
them which believe and know the truth.
1 Timothy 4:12-16
12 Let no man despise thy youth; but be thou an
example of the believers, in word, in conversation,
in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity. 13 Till
I come, give attendance to reading, to exhortation,
to doctrine. 14 Neglect not the gift that is in
thee, which was given thee by prophecy, with the
laying on of the hands of the presbytery. 15
Meditate upon these things; give thyself wholly to
them; that thy profiting may appear to all. 16 Take
heed unto thyself, and unto the doctrine; continue
in them: for in doing this thou shalt both save
thyself, and them that hear thee. |
The charge to pastors continues on in 2 Timothy. In chapter
1 we are admonished not to be ashamed of the gospel. Chapter
1 is also the source for that great hymn “I Know Whom I have
Believed”. Chapter 2 contains the charge to pastors to
commit sound doctrine to faithful men that they may be able
to teach others also. Chapter 2 also contains the charge to
pastors to study the word of God. We are not just to study
it, but we are to be a workman in the word of God. I would
not give a plug nickle for a man who routinely will not
study before he goes into the pulpit. A man that will not
study the word of God brings shame to his ministry. If all
you are getting from the word of God is what you are getting
from the pulpit, then you are shameful embarrassment to God.
If you are what you ought to be, then you’ll do what you
ought to do.
2 Timothy 2:14-19
14 Of these things put them in remembrance, charging
them before the Lord that they strive not about
words to no profit, but to the subverting of the
hearers. 15 Study to shew thyself approved unto God,
a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly
dividing the word of truth. 16 But shun profane and
vain babblings: for they will increase unto more
ungodliness. 17 And their word will eat as doth a
canker: of whom is Hymenaeus and Philetus; 18 Who
concerning the truth have erred, saying that the
resurrection is past already; and overthrow the
faith of some. 19 Nevertheless the foundation of God
standeth sure, having this seal, The Lord knoweth
them that are his. And, Let every one that nameth
the name of Christ depart from iniquity.
2 Timothy 3
1 This know also, that in the last days perilous
times shall come. 2 For men shall be lovers of their
own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers,
disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, 3
Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false
accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those
that are good, 4 Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers
of pleasures more than lovers of God; 5 Having a
form of godliness, but denying the power thereof:
from such turn away. 6 For of this sort are they
which creep into houses, and lead captive silly
women laden with sins, led away with divers lusts, 7
Ever learning, and never able to come to the
knowledge of the truth. 8 Now as Jannes and Jambres
withstood Moses, so do these also resist the truth:
men of corrupt minds, reprobate concerning the
faith. 9 But they shall proceed no further: for
their folly shall be manifest unto all men, as
theirs also was. 10 But thou hast fully known my
doctrine, manner of life, purpose, faith,
longsuffering, charity, patience, 11 Persecutions,
afflictions, which came unto me at Antioch, at
Iconium, at Lystra; what persecutions I endured: but
out of them all the Lord delivered me. 12 Yea, and
all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall
suffer persecution. 13 But evil men and seducers
shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being
deceived. 14 But continue thou in the things which
thou hast learned and hast been assured of, knowing
of whom thou hast learned them; 15 And that from a
child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are
able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith
which is in Christ Jesus. 16 All scripture is given
by inspiration of God, and is profitable for
doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for
instruction in righteousness: 17 That the man of God
may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good
works.
2 Timothy 4:1-4
1 I charge thee therefore before God, and the Lord
Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick and the dead
at his appearing and his kingdom; 2 Preach the word;
be instant in season, out of season; reprove,
rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine.
3 For the time will come when they will not endure
sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they
heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; 4
And they shall turn away their ears from the truth,
and shall be turned unto fables. |
The teachers that Paul speaks of here are the doctors of the
law, the doctors of the scribes, and the doctors of the
scholars who continually crucify the word of God between two
thieves: the dollar and the scholar. There is a conspiracy
of the devil’s prophets in the land. We have churches that
are full of doctors that have graduated from America’s best
Bible colleges; still unsaved and chock full of heresies and
apostasy. There is a difference between a bible college and
a bible institute. A bible college teaches you about the
bible. A bible institute teaches you the bible. I would run
from a man that has received the title of DOCTOR from an
America Bible College. The Lord Jesus Christ had nothing
good to say about doctors of doctrine. Do not ever call me
doctor. If you are a preacher and insist on being called a
doctor, do not ever expect me to call you doctor unless I am
mad at you. Do not ever call me reverend. That title belongs
only to God since holy and reverend is his name. Men who
constantly seek after titles are in trouble with God. Most
of them are doing it for the praise of men. They want to be
well spoken of by all men. Jesus said in Luke 6:26: Woe unto
you, when all men shall speak well of you! for so did their
fathers to the false prophets.
The Lord Jesus Christ rebuked the men of letters during his
day. These were the unsaved scribes and pharisees. He said:
Luke 5:17: And it came to pass on a certain day, as he was
teaching, that there were Pharisees and doctors of the law
sitting by, which were come out of every town of Galilee,
and Judaea, and Jerusalem: and the power of the Lord was
present to heal them. Seventeen (17) times the Lord Jesus
Christ spoke of the scribes and pharisees and had nothing
good to say about them. The went about seeking the titles
and praise of men. The book of Job seals the matter for the
titled men of our day. Turn in your Bibles to Job 32:18-22
where we see:
Job 32:18-22
18 For I am full of matter, the spirit within me
constraineth me. 19 Behold, my belly is as wine
which hath no vent; it is ready to burst like new
bottles. 20 I will speak, that I may be refreshed: I
will open my lips and answer. 21 Let me not, I pray
you, accept any man’s person, neither let me give
flattering titles unto man. 22 For I know not to
give flattering titles; in so doing my maker would
soon take me away. |
So, what does that do for your Doctor of Theology title. Or,
will you take the title anyway and sit in the seat of the
scornful scholars and mock the word of God. Most “Bible
Scholars” today are among the chiefest of false prophets.
Gail Riplinger has very aptly said that “the word of God is
being crucified between the dollar and the scholar”. Turn in
your Bibles to Psalm 1:1-6:
Psalm 1:1-6
Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel
of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners,
nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful. 2 But his
delight is in the law of the LORD; and in his law
doth he meditate day and night. 3 And he shall be
like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that
bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf
also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall
prosper. 4 The ungodly are not so: but are like the
chaff which the wind driveth away. 5 Therefore the
ungodly shall not stand in the judgment, nor sinners
in the congregation of the righteous. 6 For the LORD
knoweth the way of the righteous: but the way of the
ungodly shall perish.
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Because we have men walking in the counsel of the
ungodly, standing in the way of sinners, and sitting in the
seats of the scornful we are being blown about by every wind
of doctrine. We are not to use the world’s methods in
running the church of the living God. That is walking in the
counsel of the ungodly. We are not to bring the world’s
dress standards and music into the church. That would be
standing in the way of sinners. We are not to fellowship
with so called Christian denominations that hold doctrines
that are opposed to sound Biblical doctrine. That would be
sitting in the seats of the scornful. With things being the
way they are today, you are either going to have to have a
limited message or a limited fellowship.
Psalm 119:104 says: “Through thy precepts I get
understanding: therefore I hate every false way”. In today’s
churches, most men and women that should hate every false
way have the backbones of jellyfish. They love the praise of
men more than they love the praise of God. If you are going
to do anything that will be pleasing to God, you are going
to have to love God more than you love men or the praise of
men. According to the Lord Jesus Christ seeking and
receiving the praise of all men is the mark of a false
prophet. Luke 6:26 says: “Woe unto you, when all men shall
speak well of you! for so did their fathers to the false
prophets”. Psalm 36:1 (quoted in Romans 3:18) says: “The
transgression of the wicked saith within my heart, that
there is no fear of God before his eyes”. The reason that we
have so many false prophets today is that there is no fear
of God.
There is no fear of God today in the United States of
America. We want God to bless America and yet we deny,
scorn, and mock every precept that God has given us to live
by. We want our sin and our prosperity too. We want a God of
love and not a God of judgement. We want a God that we can
call on, but not a God that can call on us. We are a country
full of hell bound sinners that are on the broad pathway to
destruction. We mock God in our arrogance and self esteem
while murdering his unborn babies. We are a nation of filthy
dreamers that parade sodomy before God as if it were some
kind of puppet show. These filthy dreamers have not the
Spirit of God. We are a country that is full of the devil.
We are deserving of the judgement and condemnation of God.
Why are we constantly at war? Isaiah 26:1-4 says:
Isaiah 26:1-4
In that day shall this song be sung in the land of
Judah; We have a strong city; salvation will God
appoint for walls and bulwarks. 2 Open ye the gates,
that the righteous nation which keepeth the truth
may enter in. 3 Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace,
whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in
thee. 4 Trust ye in the LORD for ever: for in the
LORD JEHOVAH is everlasting strength:
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We are a country full of ungodly religious people in
churches that hold to ungodly doctrines that are an
abomination before God and an affront to sound Biblical
doctrine. In America, what should be the church of the
living GOD has been poisoned by religious leaders that are
doing what is right in their own eyes. Our churches in
America are full of unbelieving professors that have a form
of Godliness, but deny the power thereof and have not known
the way of truth.
Much of the responsibility for the downfall of the church
lies in the pulpits of American churches. The Bible says in
Hosea 4:6 :
Hosea 4:6
My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge:
because thou hast rejected knowledge, I will also
reject thee, that thou shalt be no priest to me:
seeing thou hast forgotten the law of thy God, I
will also forget thy children.
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We are not talking about knowledge that has been
gained at the feet of unbelieving seminary professors that
are gathered around the tree of knowledge. We are talking
about Godly knowledge that has been gained from the teaching
and leadership of the indwelling Holy Ghost of God. True
wisdom is knowledge that has been enlightened by the Holy
Ghost of God.
Deuteronomy chapters 13 and 18 tell us how to distinguish
between a true prophet and a false prophet. Deuteronomy
13:1-3 says:
Deuteronomy 13:1-3
If there arise among you a prophet, or a dreamer of
dreams, and giveth thee a sign or a wonder, 2 And
the sign or the wonder come to pass, whereof he
spake unto thee, saying, Let us go after other gods,
which thou hast not known, and let us serve them; 3
Thou shalt not hearken unto the words of that
prophet, or that dreamer of dreams: for the LORD
your God proveth you, to know whether ye love the
LORD your God with all your heart and with all your
soul.
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Deuteronomy 18:20-22 says:
Deuteronomy 18:20-22
20 But the prophet, which shall presume to speak a
word in my name, which I have not commanded him to
speak, or that shall speak in the name of other
gods, even that prophet shall die. 21 And if thou
say in thine heart, How shall we know the word which
the LORD hath not spoken? 22 When a prophet speaketh
in the name of the LORD, if the thing follow not,
nor come to pass, that is the thing which the LORD
hath not spoken, but the prophet hath spoken it
presumptuously: thou shalt not be afraid of him.
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We are living in an age when church leaders will not
take a stand for sound Bible doctrine. The pulpits in
American churches are full of heretics, apostates, and
unbelievers. We have churches that are calling and ordaining
sodomites to serve in the pulpits of American churches. It
seems that the Presbyterian Church USA, the United Methodist
Church, and the Church of Christ are the leaders in this
movement that includes Episcopalians and yes even some
Baptists including American Baptists and Southern Baptists.
There is a denomination that was organized strictly for
sodomites. It is called the Metropolitan Community Church.
Leviticus 18:22 says: “Thou shalt not lie with mankind, as
with womankind: it is abomination”. Leviticus 20:13 says “If
a man also lie with mankind, as he lieth with a woman, both
of them have committed an abomination: they shall surely be
put to death; their blood shall be upon them”. The last time
I checked Romans1:26-28, 1 Corinthians 6:9, and 1 Timothy
1:10 were still in the Bible.
Churches have heaped to themselves teachers having itching
ears. The Bible says in 2 Timothy 4:3-4:
2 Timothy 4:3-4
3 For the time will come when they will not endure
sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they
heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; 4
And they shall turn away their ears from the truth,
and shall be turned unto fables.
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How is that Satan tears down sound Biblical
churches? Satan does it in the same way men of God are
supposed to build those churches up. The Bible says in
Isaiah 28:10-13:
Isaiah 28:10-13
10 For precept must be upon precept, precept upon
precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a
little, and there a little: 11 For with stammering
lips and another tongue will he speak to this
people. 12 To whom he said, This is the rest
wherewith ye may cause the weary to rest; and this
is the refreshing: yet they would not hear. 13 But
the word of the LORD was unto them precept upon
precept, precept upon precept; line upon line, line
upon line; here a little, and there a little; that
they might go, and fall backward, and be broken, and
snared, and taken.
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Satan almost never attacks directly. Satan attacks
the doctrines here a little and there a little. He adds a
little leaven here and a little leaven there until the whole
lump is leavened. Satan is very subtil. Church members who
refuse to hear and receive sound doctrine will fall backward
and be broken in the snare of Satan’s false doctrine.
I believe there is another reason that so many professing
Christians are holding to false doctrines. Because most
churches have rejected the truth, I believe that God has
also sent them strong delusion that they would believe a
lie.
I have already said that much of the responsibility for the
great falling away in America’s churches lies at the feet of
those in the pulpits. Much of the responsibility for this
great falling away lies at the feet of the congregations
also. Since pastors, preachers and evangelists are called
and ordained by churches we as members of those churches are
under an obligation to God to make sure that those that
occupy our pulpits are preaching and teaching sound
doctrine. God builds his church upon sound doctrine through
the teaching ministry of the Holy Ghost of God and the
precious holy Word Of God. WE MUST REST IN the word of God.
Acts 17:11 says: “These were more noble than those in
Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all
readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily,
whether those things were so”. 2 Timothy 2:15 says: “Study
to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth
not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.”
Hebrews 5:12-14 says:
Hebrews 5:12-14
12 For when for the time ye ought to be teachers, ye
have need that one teach you again which be the
first principles of the oracles of God; and are
become such as have need of milk, and not of strong
meat. 13 For every one that useth milk is unskilful
in the word of righteousness: for he is a babe. 14
But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full
age, even those who by reason of use have their
senses exercised to discern both good and evil.
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Today, we are living in the most Biblically
illiterate time in American church history. That is why we
are unable to stand fast in the faith. As Paul said in
Ephesians 4:14: “That we henceforth be no more children,
tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of
doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness,
whereby they lie in wait to deceive. That is why a lot of
our Independent Baptist churches sound like nurseries. We
have many church members that should have matured in the
faith that are still babes in Christ because the simply will
not read and study the Bible.
We must be very careful who we allow in the pulpits of our
churches. We must put men in our pulpits who will stand for
the truth. Men who will: “Preach the word; be instant in
season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all
longsuffering and doctrine”. The religious sharks, wolves,
and roaring lions have gathered around the living bodies of
Bible believing churches seeking whom they may devour. And
believe me they are having a feeding frenzy. They are
literally devouring the Life’s Blood of Bible believing
churches. They say: “We don’t want any of that bloody
religion”. They have gone in the way of Cain. Like Cain,
they don’t want any of the blood of the Lord Jesus Christ
and they have murder in the hearts. There is a conspiracy in
Satan’s heart to replace Bible believing preachers with
false prophets. Ezekiel 22:25-28 says:
Ezekiel 22:25-28
25 There is a conspiracy of her prophets in the
midst thereof, like a roaring lion ravening the
prey; they have devoured souls; they have taken the
treasure and precious things; they have made her
many widows in the midst thereof. 26 Her priests
have violated my law, and have profaned mine holy
things: they have put no difference between the holy
and profane, neither have they shewed difference
between the unclean and the clean, and have hid
their eyes from my sabbaths, and I am profaned among
them. 27 Her princes in the midst thereof are like
wolves ravening the prey, to shed blood, and to
destroy souls, to get dishonest gain. 28 And her
prophets have daubed them with untempered morter,
seeing vanity, and divining lies unto them, saying,
Thus saith the Lord GOD, when the LORD hath not
spoken.
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We are living in a time when people just will not
hear the word of God. 2 Timothy chapter 4 has its parallel
in the Old Testament prophet Isaiah. Isaiah 30:9-11 says:
Isaiah 30:9-11
9 That this is a rebellious people, lying children,
children that will not hear the law of the LORD: 10
Which say to the seers, See not; and to the
prophets, Prophesy not unto us right things, speak
unto us smooth things, prophesy deceits: 11 Get you
out of the way, turn aside out of the path, cause
the Holy One of Israel to cease from before us.
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The prophet Amos also said in Amos 8:11-12:
Amos 8:11-12
11 Behold, the days come, saith the Lord GOD, that I
will send a famine in the land, not a famine of
bread, nor a thirst for water, but of hearing the
words of the LORD: 12 And they shall wander from sea
to sea, and from the north even to the east, they
shall run to and fro to seek the word of the LORD,
and shall not find it.
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Jeremiah chapter 23 and Ezekiel 13 is a rebuke to
the false prophets. Today’s false prophets would do well to
heed the lessons of this chapter. Jeremiah 23:11-12, 14,
21-22, 25-27 says:
Jeremiah 23:11-12, 14, 21-22, 25-27
11 For both prophet and priest are profane; yea, in
my house have I found their wickedness, saith the
LORD. 12 Wherefore their way shall be unto them as
slippery ways in the darkness: they shall be driven
on, and fall therein: for I will bring evil upon
them, even the year of their visitation, saith the
LORD. 14 I have seen also in the prophets of
Jerusalem an horrible thing: they commit adultery,
and walk in lies: they strengthen also the hands of
evildoers, that none doth return from his
wickedness: they are all of them unto me as Sodom,
and the inhabitants thereof as Gomorrah. 21 I have
not sent these prophets, yet they ran: I have not
spoken to them, yet they prophesied. 22 But if they
had stood in my counsel, and had caused my people to
hear my words, then they should have turned them
from their evil way, and from the evil of their
doings. 25 I have heard what the prophets said, that
prophesy lies in my name, saying, I have dreamed, I
have dreamed. 26 How long shall this be in the heart
of the prophets that prophesy lies? yea, they are
prophets of the deceit of their own heart; 27 Which
think to cause my people to forget my name by their
dreams which they tell every man to his neighbour,
as their fathers have forgotten my name for Baal.
Ezekiel 13:2-9
2 Son of man, prophesy against the prophets of
Israel that prophesy, and say thou unto them that
prophesy out of their own hearts, Hear ye the word
of the LORD; 3 Thus saith the Lord GOD; Woe unto the
foolish prophets, that follow their own spirit, and
have seen nothing! 4 O Israel, thy prophets are like
the foxes in the deserts. 5 Ye have not gone up into
the gaps, neither made up the hedge for the house of
Israel to stand in the battle in the day of the
LORD. 6 They have seen vanity and lying divination,
saying, The LORD saith: and the LORD hath not sent
them: and they have made others to hope that they
would confirm the word. 7 Have ye not seen a vain
vision, and have ye not spoken a lying divination,
whereas ye say, The LORD saith it; albeit I have not
spoken? 8 Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD; Because
ye have spoken vanity, and seen lies, therefore,
behold, I am against you, saith the Lord GOD. 9 And
mine hand shall be upon the prophets that see
vanity, and that divine lies: they shall not be in
the assembly of my people, neither shall they be
written in the writing of the house of Israel,
neither shall they enter into the land of Israel;
and ye shall know that I am the Lord GOD.
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We are warned time and again of false prophets. The Lord
Jesus Christ said in Matthew 7 and in Matthew 24:
Matthew 7:15-16
15 Beware of false prophets, which come to you in
sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravening
wolves. 16 Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do
men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles?
Matthew 24:24
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.
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Notice that signs and wonders are associated with
the false prophets in the end times. The apostate American
church has much emphasis on signs and wonders in the
Charismatic movement that has crossed all denominational
lines. It is a mark that identifies the fulfillment of end
times Bible prophecy. 2 Thessalonians 2:9 says: “Even him,
whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power
and signs and lying wonders”. Revelation 13:13-14 says:
Revelation 13:13-14
13 And he doeth great wonders, so that he maketh
fire come down from heaven on the earth in the sight
of men, 14 And deceiveth them that dwell on the
earth by the means of those miracles which he had
power to do in the sight of the beast; saying to
them that dwell on the earth, that they should make
an image to the beast, which had the wound by a
sword, and did live.
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Paul, Peter, and John talked about false prophets in
Acts 20, 2 Corinthians 11, 2 Peter 2, and 1 John 4 where we
see:
Acts 20:29-30
29 For I know this, that after my departing shall
grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the
flock. 30 Also of your own selves shall men arise,
speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples
after them.
2 Corinthians 11:13-15
13 For such are false apostles, deceitful workers,
transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ.
14 And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed
into an angel of light. 15 Therefore it is no great
thing if his ministers also be transformed as the
ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be
according to their works.
2 Peter 2:1-2
But there were false prophets also among the people,
even as there shall be false teachers among you, who
privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even
denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon
themselves swift destruction. 2 And many shall
follow their pernicious ways; by reason of whom the
way of truth shall be evil spoken of.
1 John 4:1-3
Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the
spirits whether they are of God: because many false
prophets are gone out into the world. 2 Hereby know
ye the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesseth
that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God: 3
And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus
Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this
is that spirit of antichrist, whereof ye have heard
that it should come; and even now already is it in
the world.
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If there ever was a day when the church is evil
spoken of, it is today. Because of false prophets and
Christians who will not live holy lives the name of the Lord
Jesus Christ is profaned among the heathen. Many will not
take a stand for Biblical separation from false prophets and
false doctrine because they are afraid of being accused of
being unloving, of being judgmental, of being legalistic, or
of being a Pharisee. Many are afraid of contention, but you
must contend for the faith whether you want to or not. It is
a Bible commandment. Our Bible says in Jude 3:
Jude 3
Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write unto you
of the common salvation, it was needful for me to
write unto you, and exhort you that ye should
earnestly contend for the faith which was once
delivered unto the saints.
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Not only must we contend for the faith, but we must
also realize that there is a call that goes forth unto to
God’s people to be separate. Separation is for our
protection and for the protection of the church. 2
Corinthians 6:14-7:1 says:
2 Corinthians 6:14-7:1
14 Be ye not unequally yoked together with
unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness
with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light
with darkness? 15 And what concord hath Christ with
Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an
infidel? 16 And what agreement hath the temple of
God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living
God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and
walk in them; and I will be their God, and they
shall be my people. 17 Wherefore come out from among
them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch
not the unclean thing; and I will receive you, 18
And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my
sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty. 7:1
Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let
us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the
flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of
God.
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Ephesians 5:11 says: “And have no fellowship with
the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them”.
Romans 16:17-19 says:
Romans 16:17-19
17 Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which
cause divisions and offences contrary to the
doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them. 18
For they that are such serve not our Lord Jesus
Christ, but their own belly; and by good words and
fair speeches deceive the hearts of the simple. 19
For your obedience is come abroad unto all men. I am
glad therefore on your behalf: but yet I would have
you wise unto that which is good, and simple
concerning evil.
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Philippians 3:17-19 says:
Philippians 3:17-19
17 Brethren, be followers together of me, and mark
them which walk so as ye have us for an ensample. 18
(For many walk, of whom I have told you often, and
now tell you even weeping, that they are the enemies
of the cross of Christ: 19 Whose end is destruction,
whose God is their belly, and whose glory is in
their shame, who mind earthly things.)
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Revelation 18:4 says:
Revelation 18:4
And I heard another voice from heaven, saying, Come
out of her, my people, that ye be not partakers of
her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues.
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What is the price to be paid if we will not be
separated from false doctrine, worldly lusts, and false
prophets? Jeremiah 6:16-19 says:
Jeremiah 6:16-19
16 Thus saith the LORD, Stand ye in the ways, and
see, and ask for the old paths, where is the good
way, and walk therein, and ye shall find rest for
your souls. But they said, We will not walk therein.
17 Also I set watchmen over you, saying, Hearken to
the sound of the trumpet. But they said, We will not
hearken. 18 Therefore hear, ye nations, and know, O
congregation, what is among them. 19 Hear, O earth:
behold, I will bring evil upon this people, even the
fruit of their thoughts, because they have not
hearkened unto my words, nor to my law, but rejected
it.
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The call goes forth from the word of God. 1 Kings
18:21 says:
1 Kings 18:21
21 And Elijah came unto all the people, and said,
How long halt ye between two opinions? if the LORD
be God, follow him: but if Baal, then follow him.
And the people answered him not a word.
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Joshua 24:15-16 says:
Joshua 24:15-16
15 And if it seem evil unto you to serve the LORD,
choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the
gods which your fathers served that were on the
other side of the flood, or the gods of the
Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and
my house, we will serve the LORD. 16 And the people
answered and said, God forbid that we should forsake
the LORD, to serve other gods;
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