Recognizing False Prophets

Prove All Things
I Thessalonians 5:21: Prove all things; hold fast that which is good.

Recognizing False Prophets
One does not arrive at being an overcomer until he first learns

the all important lesson of testing or “proving” the issues of this
life. In the hour that we live, there are so many things that are false
and evil. We must be constantly on guard and “prove” or test
things, lest we become ensnared by something that is wicked. Cults
are spreading. Eastern idolatrous religions are creeping into our
country in very subtle forms, and many Christians are being deceived
and have accepted their practices without even being aware
of their evil. Some religious groups have existed for years under
the guise of Christianity, and yet are far from the teachings of
Jesus Christ. The Lord warns us of these false teachers and tells
us to beware of them.

Looking at Matthew 7:15-23, we find Jesus gives us the
guideline for determining false prophets:
Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep’s
clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves. Ye shall know
them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs
of thistles? Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit;
but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit. A good tree cannot
bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring
forth good fruit. Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit
is hewn down, and cast into the fire. Wherefore by their fruits
ye shall know them. Not every one that saith unto me, Lord,
Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that
doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. Many will say
to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy
name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name
done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto
them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.

Certainly, we are admonished to be on guard. However, some
go to such extremes as to become narrow-minded and closed to
some beautiful truths in the name of being careful. What should
our role as Christians be in regard to acceptance of a new thought,
idea or doctrine? We are told to prove all things, not to reject
them because they might be strange or new to us. However, we
should not receive them either, until we first prove them. How do
we prove things? All true Christians are in agreement that our
standard is the Word of God, the Bible. God left us this Book as a
reference, standard, or gauge so we could know whether something
is good or evil, truth or error, right or wrong. (2 Timothy
3:16-17: All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is
profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction
in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect,
thoroughly furnished unto all good works.)

One of our major faults as Christians is that we tend to quote
men on certain subjects instead of referring to the Book God gave
us. We recognize that God gave us men to lead us into the truths
of God, but our problem becomes who are the true men of God
and who are the false ones that Christ warned us about? Sometimes
we tend to evaluate men according to the size of their ministries,
their popularity with men, or their endowment of certain
gifts, etc.

The Lord said in verse 20 of Matthew 7 that we would know
them by their fruits. What are these fruits? Galatians 5:22-24
defines them as being the fruit of the Spirit. But the fruit of the
Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness,
faith, meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.
And they that are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with the
affections and lusts. We are told to look at their lives and see if
these fruits are predominant in them and examine if they are living
the crucified life. Of course, we must allow for imperfections that
have not been overcome yet; but we should readily see the fruit of
the Spirit in more abundance than the imperfections. One way we
can check this is to notice the words that a man speaks. The Scripture
says in Matthew 12:33-35, Either make the tree good,
and his fruit good; or else make the tree corrupt, and his fruit
corrupt: for the tree is known by his fruit. O generation of
vipers, how can ye, being evil, speak good things? for out of
the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh. A good man
out of the good treasure of the heart bringeth forth good
things: and an evil man out of the evil treasure bringeth forth
evil things.

Many people have been led astray when they could have recognized
the wrong spirit simply by the braggadocios and prideful
words of men who exalted themselves instead of Christ. Others
would have been spared if they had examined the lifestyles of
certain men who claim to be God’s anointed if their lifestyles are
far from being temperate; reflecting the most expensive and extravagant
clothes, diamonds, homes, cars, etc. This is not referring
to well-dressed men and women, and nice homes, but the
extremes which reveal anything but the nature of Christ. Of course,
neither is the other extreme of poverty the nature of Christ. Men
of God should live temperate, moderate lives, overcoming poverty
and avoiding extreme wealth. Jesus always went about giving
to the poor. He never stored up His wealth even though He
apparently handled a lot of money, thus the need for a treasurer,
Judas. He gave away the things He could have used on Himself,
yet He never lacked as He went about ministering. He should be
our example today. The affection and lust for the things of this
world do not portray the Spirit of Christ.

Examining the conversation of these leaders can quickly reveal
the God they serve. Do they speak of God’s kingdom, His
righteousness, and His love; or does their conversation center on
the things of this world and life? Are they peacemakers, sowing
mercy and love? Are they gentle and patient, or do they lose their
temper easily? Do they walk in faith, or are they continually looking
to other men for their needs to be supplied? Are they always
pressuring people for money, or do they simply receive those gifts
of money as unto the Lord? Do they have the joy of the Lord, or
do they minister out of duty? Are they truly joyous with that joy
spilling over to others, or do they continually complain and gripe
over all the things that are not pleasing to them? Is goodness evident
in their lives instead of evil? Do they put people in bondage
by always threatening them with the wrath of God, or is freedom
of choice extended with the warning of the penalties of sin? Jesus
came to set us free, not to bring us under the bondage of men.

Let us prove all leaders and see if their fruit is good fruit. Do
they love and not hate, have joy instead of depression, and promote
peace instead of strife? Are they longsuffering (patient) or
impatient, gentle or harsh? Do they walk in faith, or doubt and
unbelief? Are they meek, giving God the glory for their talents
and gifts? Or do they pridefully talk of all they are doing or their
group is doing? Does temperance prevail not only in their lifestyle,
but in their personal habits as well? Or do extremes exist that do
not glorify God? In essence they will not live for themselves, but
for others as Jesus did. They will live a crucified life that glorifies
God!

Proverbs 20:11 says, Even a child is known by his doings,
whether his work be pure, and whether it be right.

Examining lives by this standard we must be careful not to
go to extremes ourselves and expect total perfection of all ministers.
There are many godly men and women who are called of
God, who have overcome in many areas, although they still have
some weak areas. They are believing as they walk with the Lord
that these too will be perfected.