Slick-Talking, Charming False Prophets

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"Year of the Bible" Q&As & Pastor's Reflection

Here's the question and answer from Sunday:
Fill in the blanks: “Those who trust in the Lord are like _______________________________.” (Psalm 125)
Psalm 125:1 Those who trust in the LORD are like Mount Zion, which cannot be shaken but endures forever.

And from Monday:
The son of man has been made a “___________ for the house of Israel; so hear the word I speak and give them warning from me?” (Ezek 33)
Ezekiel 33:7 7 "Son of man, I have made you a watchman for the house of Israel; so hear the word I speak and give them warning from me.

And here's the question of the day:
What will the false prophets and false teachers “secretly introduce?” (2 Pet 2)

And the reflection of the day:
2 Peter 2 provides us with a timely caution: watch out for false prophets and teachers.

We seem to have given up on the idea of truth--that in every situation there is a right thing to do and a wrong thing to do. Maybe this is a result of misguided humility. Maybe it is a result of not wanting to upset our friends and neighbors. Whatever its cause, the result is the same: we get lost.

We get lost when trying to make a decision because we've forgotten--or intentionally put aside--the traditional moral and/or religious guidance handed down throughout the generations of our families. We get lost in difficult, ethical situations because we've lost track of (or given up) on the idea of truth.

So that leaves us vulnerable to slick-talking, charming false prophets who promise us anything from physical healing to mastery of one's own destiny. And many will succumb to exploitation: "Many will follow their shameful ways and will bring the way of truth into disrepute" (verse 2). Not only are they themselves harmed, but "the truth" (God's truth) will be brought into "disrepute."

But there is a way to fight back. 1 John 4:1 says, "Dear friends, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out in the world."

Ask questions. PLEASE, ask questions--of your pastors and your teachers, of anyone trying to teach you "the truth." Examine what they say--use the brain the good Lord gave you!

If you have fallen prey to a false prophet (and haven't we all at one time or another!), there is hope: "if this is so (see vv 4-8), then the Lord knows how to rescue godly people from trials and hold the unrighteous for the day of judgment, while continuing their punishment" (verse 9).

Nahum 1:2 says, "The Lord is a jealous and avenging God; the Lord takes vengeance and is filled with wrath." So don't you worry about getting vengeance for yourself; leave that up to God!

Your job, once you have been fooled, is to return to the truth. Find the true prophets and teachers of the truth to help you get back on the right path. And remember Romans 8:38-39: 38 For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, 39 neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Nothing can separate us from the love of God in Christ, not even false prophets!!