As a young boy my mother always told me that “All that Glitters is Not Gold!” This statement was applied to so many areas of my life. Her quote seem to have always come to mind when it was big decision making time; and as a young boy mom’s advice didn’t seem to go over well when it was something I really wanted that satisfied my own desire.
WARNING! This type of thinking doesn’t go over well in the kingdom of God! It is always wise to take heed to what Jesus says! Jesus Christ warned His followers,"Beware of the false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly are ravenous wolves (Matt. 7:15). Jesus also said to them: "Behold, I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves: be ye therefore wise as serpents, and harmless as doves" (Matt. 10:16).
The doctrines of false prophets are charming, seductive, cunning and dangerous as they take advantage of their undiscerning audience. They teach that you can overcome fear, guilt and psychological hang-ups, even alcoholism, through meditation. These meditation techniques are drawn from a mixture of eastern mysticism (which includes practices such as: Buddhism, Hinduism, Yen and many others) and New Age philosophies. They give the impression that they have an intimate relationship with God and reports having many visions, encounters and conversations with Him. Some even teach that you no longer have to read the word of God anymore, for God will give you His word. “Let’s keep in mind even Jesus read the scriptures.” They assure their audience that if they apply their teachings, then they can become more intimate with God. You have to ask yourself, who are they serving!
Although these false prophets believe and teach the life, death, and resurrection of Christ, Jesusis not the main focus of their ministry, getting their audience to focus on them is. Paul wrote, "For such men are slaves, not of our Lord Christ but of their own appetites; and by their smooth and flattering speech they deceive the hearts of the unsuspecting" (Rom. 16:18).
The apostle Paul; deeply troubled in his spirit cried out a similar warning: "I know that after my departure savage wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock" (Acts 20:29). Throughout church history these warnings concerning professing Christians who deceive even the elect have seldom been taken seriously. How can the church be so easily deceived? According to Webster’s Dictionary "deceive" means "to lead astray or to cause to accept as true or valid what is false or invalid." Could it be the church has not only lost its ability to discern truth from error but also the ability to discern wolves from sheep?
Paul, addressing this issue from a shepherd's standpoint, also made it quite clear when he wrote to Timothy, "But, the spirit explicitly says that in later times some will fall away from the faith, paying attention to deceitful spirits and doctrines of demons" (1 Tim. 4:1). He elaborates further in his second letter to Timothy, "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 with their own desires" (Matt. 24:24).
I too as a leader in God’s Kingdom am concerned about the wolves that have crept in the church. In every age of the church false prophets have been the most dangerous enemies Christianity has had. Men have appeared who claimed to be the holders of truth, professing to have a great burden for the souls of their fellow-men. But they taught false doctrines, and perverted the truth. The spirit they manifested and the work they produced, testified to the character of their religion. For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall show great signs and wonders; so that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect. (2 Cor. 11:13) Don’t allow yourself to be deceived by these workers of darkness, for Satan himself transforms himself into an angel of light. (2Cor. 11:14)
As a prophet called by God I am very careful as to what comes out of my mouth. Over the years when operating in the prophetic I have come to know God’s voice and only speak what He says. It is a dangerous thing to speak out of your feelings and emotions as this is flesh and God will NEVER operate through them. The day you begin to speak out of feelings and emotions you LIE, and become a false prophet, because you speak your own thoughts not God’s!
True prophesy comes with a word of correction. Lamentations 2:14(AMP) says: Your prophets have predicted for you falsehood and delusion and foolish things; and they have not exposed your iniquity and guilt to avert your captivity [by causing you to repent]. But they have divined and declared to you false and deceptive prophecies, worthless and misleading. False prophets simply point people to themselves. Their fruit is you no longer Trusting Jesus!
I started out saying that my mother always told me that all that glitters is not gold. Know the people who speak into your life examine their lifestyle and look at the fruit they produce. They may hide it for a while but sooner or later the truth will come forth. They may look good but they are wolves looking to take advantage of God’s people.
The time is come when every kind of deception will be practiced. Christ says, "Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing." They speak fair words, but all the time they are watching to see how they can get gain for themselves. They are full of selfishness, and work against the purpose of God. Jesus was saying in a sense “ALL THAT GILTTERS ISN'T GOLD!”
WARNING! This type of thinking doesn’t go over well in the kingdom of God! It is always wise to take heed to what Jesus says! Jesus Christ warned His followers,"Beware of the false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly are ravenous wolves (Matt. 7:15). Jesus also said to them: "Behold, I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves: be ye therefore wise as serpents, and harmless as doves" (Matt. 10:16).
The doctrines of false prophets are charming, seductive, cunning and dangerous as they take advantage of their undiscerning audience. They teach that you can overcome fear, guilt and psychological hang-ups, even alcoholism, through meditation. These meditation techniques are drawn from a mixture of eastern mysticism (which includes practices such as: Buddhism, Hinduism, Yen and many others) and New Age philosophies. They give the impression that they have an intimate relationship with God and reports having many visions, encounters and conversations with Him. Some even teach that you no longer have to read the word of God anymore, for God will give you His word. “Let’s keep in mind even Jesus read the scriptures.” They assure their audience that if they apply their teachings, then they can become more intimate with God. You have to ask yourself, who are they serving!
Although these false prophets believe and teach the life, death, and resurrection of Christ, Jesusis not the main focus of their ministry, getting their audience to focus on them is. Paul wrote, "For such men are slaves, not of our Lord Christ but of their own appetites; and by their smooth and flattering speech they deceive the hearts of the unsuspecting" (Rom. 16:18).
The apostle Paul; deeply troubled in his spirit cried out a similar warning: "I know that after my departure savage wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock" (Acts 20:29). Throughout church history these warnings concerning professing Christians who deceive even the elect have seldom been taken seriously. How can the church be so easily deceived? According to Webster’s Dictionary "deceive" means "to lead astray or to cause to accept as true or valid what is false or invalid." Could it be the church has not only lost its ability to discern truth from error but also the ability to discern wolves from sheep?
Paul, addressing this issue from a shepherd's standpoint, also made it quite clear when he wrote to Timothy, "But, the spirit explicitly says that in later times some will fall away from the faith, paying attention to deceitful spirits and doctrines of demons" (1 Tim. 4:1). He elaborates further in his second letter to Timothy, "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 with their own desires" (Matt. 24:24).
I too as a leader in God’s Kingdom am concerned about the wolves that have crept in the church. In every age of the church false prophets have been the most dangerous enemies Christianity has had. Men have appeared who claimed to be the holders of truth, professing to have a great burden for the souls of their fellow-men. But they taught false doctrines, and perverted the truth. The spirit they manifested and the work they produced, testified to the character of their religion. For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall show great signs and wonders; so that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect. (2 Cor. 11:13) Don’t allow yourself to be deceived by these workers of darkness, for Satan himself transforms himself into an angel of light. (2Cor. 11:14)
As a prophet called by God I am very careful as to what comes out of my mouth. Over the years when operating in the prophetic I have come to know God’s voice and only speak what He says. It is a dangerous thing to speak out of your feelings and emotions as this is flesh and God will NEVER operate through them. The day you begin to speak out of feelings and emotions you LIE, and become a false prophet, because you speak your own thoughts not God’s!
True prophesy comes with a word of correction. Lamentations 2:14(AMP) says: Your prophets have predicted for you falsehood and delusion and foolish things; and they have not exposed your iniquity and guilt to avert your captivity [by causing you to repent]. But they have divined and declared to you false and deceptive prophecies, worthless and misleading. False prophets simply point people to themselves. Their fruit is you no longer Trusting Jesus!
I started out saying that my mother always told me that all that glitters is not gold. Know the people who speak into your life examine their lifestyle and look at the fruit they produce. They may hide it for a while but sooner or later the truth will come forth. They may look good but they are wolves looking to take advantage of God’s people.
The time is come when every kind of deception will be practiced. Christ says, "Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing." They speak fair words, but all the time they are watching to see how they can get gain for themselves. They are full of selfishness, and work against the purpose of God. Jesus was saying in a sense “ALL THAT GILTTERS ISN'T GOLD!”