The Holy Scriptures repeatedly warns us to beware of false prophets. If ever there was a time we are to be cautious and beware of false brethren, false prophets and false doctrines, it is now.
If we fail to heed Biblical injunctions in this area we have only ourselves to blame. Right through the Old and the New Testaments we have several examples of false brethren, false prophets and false doctrines. And we are repeatedly warned to watch out and beware of them. “And Jesus answered and said to them: “Take heed that no one deceives you” (Matt. 24:6).
In the New Testament, our Lord Jesus Christ, during His earthly ministry – which spanned only three years – warned us severally, “Beware of false prophets who come disguised as harmless sheep, but are really wolves that will tear you apart …not all people who sound religious are really godly …”(Matt. 7:15, 21).
It is heart breaking to hear of the evils perpetrated in the name of the Lord and the church by false ministers. Homes and marriages have been broken, women and minors violated, people swindled of their money and possessions, ritual killings and every kind of evil – in the name of Christ and His Church. It’s so heart grieving to hear the evil false ministers do to wreck the faith of many and destroy lives and destinies I Know believers that have been deceived and led astray.
Dear friend, Jesus said many will be deceived – even the elect – if care is not taken. We are also warned, “Therefore let him who thinks he stands take heed lest he falls” (1 Cor. 10:12). The main reason why we‘ve been warned in the Scriptures is so that we will not be deceived. If you are a child of God and you get deceived, then you will have only yourself to blame.
The Lord tells us, “ reader, pay attention …” (Matt. 24:15). Pay attention to the warnings in Scriptures so that you will not be deceived, the warnings are loud and clear. “Don’t let anyone mislead you. For many will come in my name … and many false prophets will appear and will lead many people astray (Matt. 24: 4, 11).
One of the reasons many believers get deceived and fall victims of false preachers is because they want a solution to a protracted or desperate problems they are passing through, ones which have deferred different attempted solutions. Some , also because they want a quick fix or a short cut to life’s needs also fall victims to these hucksters who project themselves as ministers of the gospel, capable of solving and meeting every need.
Again, and most importantly, many believers don’t want to read their Bibles and know God personally, they want “the man of God” to tell them what God says and wants.
“I know full well that false teachers, like vicious wolves, will come in among you after I leave, not sparing the flock. Even some of you will distort the truth in order to draw a following. Watch out …” (Acts 20: 29 -30).
How do we recognize them?
That a church is big and prospering is not an indication of God’s presence, neither are miraculous manifestations etc. Unfortunately these are the main and only signs many look out for and take as indications of God’s presence. The apostle Paul said: “Follow me as I follow Christ.”(1 Cor. 11:1). We are not to follow ministers whose life styles and teachings are not patterned after the life of Christ.
Here are four primary signs to look out for.
- Teachings: do their teachings, doctrines line up with Scriptures? Do his or her teachings denounce sin or condone and encourage it? (1Timothy 4:1). The Lord told the Pharisees, “you err because you do not know the Scriptures”(Mark 12:24). Know the Scriptures. This will help you in distinguishing and discerning the holy from the profane. It will prevent you from falling victim of false ministers, false brethren and doctrinal errors.
- By their fruits: Our Lord said that by their fruits we would know them (Matt. 7:15-20). Is the minister’s life patterned after the life of Christ? Are their works, walk, and character etc. godly, righteous and holy? Do they show the fear of God?
- Witness of the Spirit: The Holy Spirit will guide us into all truth. An inner sense of hesitance, uneasiness in the heart even though you may not be able to explain it right away could be a caution from the Holy Spirit. Don’t ignore it, rather pay attention to it and pray about it, asking the Lord for further enlightenment and clarification (John 16:13, 1 John 2:19 – 27).
- Matthew 20:25 “But Jesus called them to Himself and said, “You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and those who are great exercise authority over them. Yet it shall not be so among you; but whoever desires to become great among you, let him be your servant.” 1 Peter 5:3 also says, “Nor as being lords over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock.” Ministers of the gospel should rebuke and correct when necessary, however, when a church or a minister of the gospel begins to make himself a lord over God’s people, using intimidations, manipulations, threats, controls, and all sorts of abuses, watch out!
“Take heed to yourself, and to the doctrine; continue in them: for in doing this you shall both save yourself, and them that hear you “(1 Timothy 4:16).
Be careful who you listen to and the doctrines you follow.
