Beware of False Prophets.

     Jesus warns us in His sermon on the mount to beware of false Prophets (Matthew 7:15-20). He tells us that they may look like the real thing on the outside, they may look like godly pastors, teachers, evangelists, etc. but on the in side they are not so.
     Paul warns us of a day when people will not desire to hear the truth, but will gather teachers to themselves who will tell them ear tickling things (2 Timothy 4:3-4).
     I want to look at the idea of a prophet. What is a prophet according to the word of God? People think of prophecy and prophets as foreseeing the future, the foretelling of future events, such as disasters, famines, or other future events concerning nations or individuals.
     To be sure, biblical prophets have accurately foretold future events, but that is not all that a prophet was called to do.
     Take the old testament prophets for example. Look at men like Isaiah, Jeremiah, and Ezekiel for example. These individuals were sent by God to confront His backslidden people with there sin and rebellion. They were sent to call the nation of Israel to repentance, to call them to forsake idolatry, and to return to the living God.
     These men spoke as moved by God. They spoke His words, in His power, in His timing. The message they proclaimed offered hope to those who returned to God, but judgment to those who persisted in sin.
     John the Baptist was a prophet who came preaching a message of repentance. He confronted people with their sin, pointed the people to the Savior, but did not have any soothing words for those who would not give up their sin (Matthew 3:1-10, Mark 1:4-8, Luke 3:1-20, John 1:19-35).
     Look what was happening in the days of Jeremiah. Prophets were telling the people that all was well, no harm would befall them, everything was all right, but these people were living in rebellion to God (Jeremiah 23:16-17). God declared that these shepherds were destroying the sheep (Jeremiah 23:1). In fact His anger would not turn back. In other words there are severe consequences for our sinful actions, no matter what anyone else may think or say (Jeremiah 23:20-22). God did not send these men, and God has not sent those who teach similar things in our churches today!
     We hear the message that it doesn't matter how we live after we become Christians, because God covers us, He does not see our sin etc. I believe in grace, I believe in the cleansing blood of Christ, but I also believe the many warnings in scripture that show us that God will not allow us to persist in sinful lifestyles and call ourselves followers of Christ.
     We must pay careful attention to what we are taught, going to the word of God as the standard by which we judge all things pertaining to life and godliness. Jesus said that we will know them by their fruits (Matthew 7:16). Does what they teach line up with the WHOLE council of scripture? I don't mean to take a verse here or there and see if it fits. Is it biblical?
      How about their lives? Do they live Godly lives above reproach? This is a scriptural requirement for a minister of the gospel (1 Timothy 3:1-10, Titus 1:5-9). This is God's standard for anyone who would represent Him in the ministry. We see so many today whose lives are filled with scandal, yet we are told we must not judge them. God says they are not qualified! You will know them by their fruits! How about the individuals that sit under their ministry? Do their lives show the godly change that takes place in a true believer, or do they remain unchanged, but entertain a false hope? We see too much of this I'm afraid.
     Too much is at stake. We must be in the word and see for ourselves what God says, what He requires. Test all things, because one day we will appear before God, and only the truth will stand.