Recognition of False Prophets
When going to church ““ I expect to hear and be taught about God from His word. How can anyone know if they are being misled? We are not to be “˜duped”™ by false teachings. We are responsible to be discerning.
False teachers appear to be followers of Christ, people who are leaders and teachers of God”™s children. As children of God we are not to be gullible or weak in our knowledge of God”™s word. If a teaching sounds good but is not in agreement with what God has stated in the Holy Bible ““ it is a false teaching (no matter how wise or good it sounds). It is false, no matter how it is presented.
What are some of the perceptions of Christians from the world”™s view? To some we are considered “˜easy targets”™, gullible, weak, pansies. When we are born of the Spirit and have the Lord Jesus as our Savior”¦we are none of those things”¦for we have the mighty God in our lives.
When false teachers come into the family of believers”¦we need to be discerning and use God”™s word to determine their false teachings.
Jesus warns us about false prophets”¦He knew they would come in to destroy faith in God, to turn people”™s thoughts from God to themselves.
(NASB) Matthew 7:15 “Beware of the false prophets, who come to you in sheep”™s clothing, but inwardly are ravenous wolves.”
In the Bible, sheep are referred to as those who follow Christ as their Savior and Lord. False prophets and false shepherds are condemned by God in Jeremiah 23:1 and Jeremiah 50:6-7 and other places in the Old Testament.
Ravenous wolves are a picture of vicious wild animals out to kill their prey. False shepherds and false teachers do the very same thing”¦keeping people from the living God Who alone gives life.
Beware of the false prophets
who come as if they are followers of Christ
but are really ravenous wolves.