Bible League: Living His Word "Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep's clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves."In the sinful times we live in deception is a fact of life. Sin takes on many forms and deception is just one of the forms it takes on. In our verse for today Jesus, looking to the times He lived in and beyond to the advent of the church age, warned His disciples about the deceptions that would inevitably come. His warning was that they should watch out for false prophets. Jesus' disciples would have some understanding about this warning. The Old Testament speaks often of false prophets. Jesus, however, probably had something more comprehensive in mind than people who give false prophecies about the future. He probably had in mind anyone who claims to be a genuine herald of religious truth, but is actually in the service of evil motives. A false prophet is someone who comes to the disciples of Jesus in sheep's clothing. On the outside, then, they have the appearance of someone who is sincere, helpful, and benign. Like sheep, they appear to be innocent. They appear to be loving and godly people. Based on appearances, the disciples would be inclined to receive them into the fold. False prophets gain entrance by claiming a divine call, by claiming to teach God's will and ways, but who are actually energized by more sinister motives. What they teach and preach is a distortion of the truth, a mere pretense designed to get them what they really want. What does the false prophet really want? Although outwardly false prophets look like sheep, inwardly they are ravenous wolves. Wolves feed on sheep. The false prophet is in the ministry to use disciples for nefarious purposes, to gain their wealth, to exploit their time and effort, and to live a life of excess. Jesus, for example, accused the scribes and Pharisees of his own day of being hypocrites who outwardly looked righteous and holy, but who inwardly were "full of greed and self-indulgence" (Matthew 23:25). How can we avoid the deception of the false prophets? The Apostle John says we should "test the spirits to see whether they are from God" (I John 4:1). Naivety has no place in the church of Jesus Christ. We must accept the fact that there are false prophets in the world. We must test to see if the lives and teaching of those who come to us line up with the word of God. Bible in a Year Old Testament Reading2 Kings 6, 7, 8 2 Kings 6 -- Elisha Causes the Axhead to Float; Arameans Blinded; Samaria Besieged NIV NLT ESV NAS GWT KJV ASV ERV DRB 2 Kings 7 -- Elisha Promises Plenty in Samaria; Siege Lifted NIV NLT ESV NAS GWT KJV ASV ERV DRB 2 Kings 8 -- The Shunammite's Land; Hazael Kills Ben-Hadad; Jehoram and Ahaziah Kings of Judah NIV NLT ESV NAS GWT KJV ASV ERV DRB New Testament Reading John 4:31-54 John 4 -- Jesus Testifies to the Samaritan Woman and Townspeople, Heals an Official's Son NIV NLT ESV NAS GWT KJV ASV ERV DRB Reading Plan Courtesy of Christian Classics Etherial Library. Tyndale Life Application Daily Devotion “I knew you before I formed you in your mother's womb.Before you were born I set you apart and appointed you as my prophet to the nations.” Insight God knew you, as he knew Jeremiah, long before you were born or even conceived. He thought about you and planned for you. Challenge When you feel discouraged or inadequate, remember that God has always thought of you as valuable and that he has a purpose in mind for you. Morning and Evening by Spurgeon Psalm 119:57 Thou art my portion, O Lord.Look at thy possessions, O believer, and compare thy portion with the lot of thy fellowmen. Some of them have their portion in the field; they are rich, and their harvests yield them a golden increase; but what are harvests compared with thy God, who is the God of harvests? What are bursting granaries compared with him, who is the Husbandman, and feeds thee with the bread of heaven? Some have their portion in the city; their wealth is abundant, and flows to them in constant streams, until they become a very reservoir of gold; but what is gold compared with thy God? Thou couldst not live on it; thy spiritual life could not be sustained by it. Put it on a troubled conscience, and could it allay its pangs? Apply it to a desponding heart, and see if it could stay a solitary groan, or give one grief the less? But thou hast God, and in him thou hast more than gold or riches ever could buy. Some have their portion in that which most men love--applause and fame; but ask thyself, is not thy God more to thee than that? What if a myriad clarions should be loud in thine applause, would this prepare thee to pass the Jordan, or cheer thee in prospect of judgment? No, there are griefs in life which wealth cannot alleviate; and there is the deep need of a dying hour, for which no riches can provide. But when thou hast God for thy portion, thou hast more than all else put together. In him every want is met, whether in life or in death. With God for thy portion thou art rich indeed, for he will supply thy need, comfort thy heart, assuage thy grief, guide thy steps, be with thee in the dark valley, and then take thee home, to enjoy him as thy portion forever. "I have enough," said Esau; this is the best thing a worldly man can say, but Jacob replies, "I have all things," which is a note too high for carnal minds. Daily Light on the Daily Path Psalm 38:10 My heart throbs, my strength fails me; And the light of my eyes, even that has gone from me.Psalm 61:1,2 For the choir director; on a stringed instrument. A Psalm of David. Hear my cry, O God; Give heed to my prayer. • From the end of the earth I call to You when my heart is faint; Lead me to the rock that is higher than I. 2 Corinthians 12:9,10 And He has said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness." Most gladly, therefore, I will rather boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may dwell in me. • Therefore I am well content with weaknesses, with insults, with distresses, with persecutions, with difficulties, for Christ's sake; for when I am weak, then I am strong. Matthew 14:30,31 But seeing the wind, he became frightened, and beginning to sink, he cried out, "Lord, save me!" • Immediately Jesus stretched out His hand and took hold of him, and said to him, "You of little faith, why did you doubt?" Proverbs 24:10 If you are slack in the day of distress, Your strength is limited. Isaiah 40:29 He gives strength to the weary, And to him who lacks might He increases power. Deuteronomy 33:27 "The eternal God is a dwelling place, And underneath are the everlasting arms; And He drove out the enemy from before you, And said, 'Destroy!' Colossians 1:11 strengthened with all power, according to His glorious might, for the attaining of all steadfastness and patience; joyously New American Standard Bible Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation, La Habra, Calif. All rights reserved. For Permission to Quote Information visit http://www.lockman.org. |
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