Beware (4)

 Dearly Beloved, I trust this finds you well and bubbling in the Lord. We continue looking at the word ‘Beware’ and instances in which it was used in the Bible. Today, we look at Matthew 7v15 (AMPC) which says “Beware of false prophets, who come to you dressed as sheep, but inside they are devouring wolves.”  Here, the Lord cautions us that not everyone who calls themselves a prophet is true – there are those who are false.  Matthew 24v11 (KJV) says “And many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many” while Matthew 24v24 (KJV) cautions that “For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect.”

 

How then do you know which is a false prophet? 1 John 4v1-3 (NLT) says “Dear friends, do not believe everyone who claims to speak by the Spirit. You must test them to see if the spirit they have comes from God. For there are many false prophets in the world. This is how we know if they have the Spirit of God: If a person claiming to be a prophet acknowledges that Jesus Christ came in a real body, that person has the Spirit of God. But if someone claims to be a prophet and does not acknowledge the truth about Jesus, that person is not from God. Such a person has the spirit of the Antichrist, which you heard is coming into the world and indeed is already here.” Child of God, test every spirit. Do not be quick to accept prophetic utterances, but prove it and may the Spirit of God continue to guide us into all truth in Jesus name, amen.

 

Prayer

Father, we thank You for how You instruct us and caution us. We pray that we will be alert and take heed about false prophets, that we will not be deceived but be guided always by Your Word and Your Spirit in Jesus name, amen.