Good message, False prophets

[gdemoss]

If it were only simple:

The message can be correct but the messenger corrupt as Jesus told people to do what the Pharisees said but not to do their works because the said and do not.

The message and messenger can both be corrupt. False teachers will be known by 'their' fruit, the fruit of their doings. How do we know good fruit? The fruit of the Spirit which is in truth. Love, Joy, Peace, Patience, Self Control, Gentleness, Goodness, Meekness and Faith. Are these their fruits? Is there Love 1 Corinthians 13 love or are they pilfering through your pocketbook seeking to enhance their carnal lives and appetites?

Your best teacher will be the Holy Spirit. You must have ears to hear to be his student though. And those ears must be sharpened. A Spirit led human teacher will be sporting the fruits of the Holy Spirit in his life so it is best not to be getting your message from a man who is inaccessible on television but from one who is sitting in your presence as he teaches. You can figure out real quick whether he practices what he preaches or not. That said, sometimes a false teacher practices what they preach. Many are preaching and teaching that you cannot be like Jesus in this life and they are living up to that standard in their own lives. They shall stand before the judgment seat and give an account to him that rewards man according to his deeds and has said he will not allow them to be tempted above that which they are able yet they continue to fail each test as it comes. He who has given them of his spirit to quicken their mortal flesh that they may overcome the world and the wicked one.

Peace be unto you as you seek for the absolute truth and follow obediently every precept that is given, In Jesus Name,

Gary

[Botz]

Hello again friends I have a question for you all about false prophets. There have been times when a preacher comes on T.V.

or the internet and there message is go good it sucks me in. I feel like there being moved by the Holy Spirit and they

motivated me for weeks. Then my discerning spirit kicks in and they do something that is very questionable. Not mentioning

any names but by question is, how does this effect me? Can I get a good message from a false prophet?

in Luke 9:49 And John answered and said, Master, we saw one casting out devils in thy name; and we forbad him, because he

followeth not with us.

then in Luke 9:50 And Jesus said unto him, Forbid [him] not: for he that is not against us is for us.

How do we really know who is for us? I know we are to test the spirits but when it comes back that they are a fraud how

does everything I just learned from them now hold up?

Then I start to think if one of these false prophets turn even 1 person to Jesus and they grow in faith they themselves

will see they are false prophets, isn't that a good thing? Truth is some of these guys turn thousands of people to Jesus.

Anyway what I am asking is, if the message is pure but the person is false, is it bad to continue to listen to them?

This is quite timely for me in a way - it follows on from a conversation my wife and I were having a couple of days ago.

I became a Christian at university. I went to many evangelistic events at the University and also started going to a large Baptist church with an internationally renowned preacher as its minister who was widely respect in the Evangelical world as one of the best preacher of his generation and often spoke at Christian Union meetings. He was very influential in my early Christian life and he was the minister who baptised me.

About six years after I left University he suddenly resigned from his ministry (and the different Evangelical bodies he was associated with): it was announced he had left his wife and had moved in with another man. It was in the national news in this country. He is now a key proponent of the gay evangelical christian movement (if that is a contradiction in terms).

I was devastated. And in a way it still has a big impact on me. I still have some of his books; I can remember reading them, bible open in the other hand, making notes, learning and praying as a young Christian. But what now? Is he a false prophet or teacher? Clearly I would not agree with his current stance on homosexuality. What about the rest of his teachings? Ironically I can even remember him preaching against homosexuality in one of his sermons - I can even remember where I was in the church - front row of the balcony in the middle block of seats - slightly to the right of this block (it's funny what you remember).

It was devastating for the evangelical movement in this country, but it hit me very hard personally too.

Hi Rich,

Many have had similar things happen, and it can be devastating.

What I have learnt is that sometimes people are led by the Spirit, and their ministry is of G-d...but it only remains His as long as they continue to walk in the Spirit.

The lures and lusts of the flesh have been the downfall of many ministries, and the godly man who once walked in the Spirit, now walks in the flesh.

It is a testimony many on this site have...where they admit in their walk with G-d, they got into the flesh...but praise Him, they have got back on track

and now walk according to the Spirit.

Our confidence should never be in the flesh, either our own capabilities, or the ministry of those to whom we look for imput and guidence...we must look

to ourselves, work out our own salvation with fear and trembling and have the whole of our trust and expectancy on Him alone...People make mistakes

people like you are me...the Bible is full of the accounts of men and women who rose and fell in the way they looked to G-d, not faults are papered over

but what strikes me is how even through their many failings....G-d was always there, He was always faithful.

Quite often the main thing lacking amongst us is 'character', and all the gifting and charisma in the world cannot make up for this lack, which only comes

over a period of time and with the work of sanctification going on in our lives as we allow the Holy Spirit complete access and decide to be obedient from

the heart towards our Saviour. It doesn't mean we no longer trust people or those in leadership positions...but it means the siurce of our life is not in

them or their abilities...it is in G-d alone.

May I encourage you to put this experience to rest...your growth in G-d and your understanding of His ways, is not dependant on your misplaced trust

in the fallible ministry of this man or any other, and because you can't fully understand what happened, you are allowing it to niggle away at you.

Place it in the L-rds hands, even if you don't understand everything, leave it with Him and move on. Allow the word of G-d to revitalise and re-focus

you. When things like this happen, devils get victories when we allow the ripples to constantly effect our lives. I have had friends who have got

bitter and resentful over things that have happened 20 years ago, and I have seen it devour their faith and spread like cancer.

Psalm 118:

8It is better to take refuge in the LORD

Than to trust in man.

9It is better to take refuge in the LORD

Than to trust in princes.

Proverbs 3:

5Trust in the LORD with all your heart

And do not lean on your own understanding.

6In all your ways acknowledge Him,

And He will make your paths straight.

7Do not be wise in your own eyes;

Fear the LORD and turn away from evil.

8It will be healing to your body

And refreshment to your bones.

Kind regards. Botz