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 30:5 Weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning.Christian! If thou art in a night of trial, think of the morrow; cheer up thy heart with the thought of the coming of thy Lord. Be patient, for "Lo! He comes with clouds descending." Be patient! The Husbandman waits until he reaps his harvest. Be patient; for you know who has said, "Behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give to every man according as his work shall be." If you are never so wretched now, remember "A few more rolling suns, at most, Will land thee on fair Canaan's coast." Thy head may be crowned with thorny troubles now, but it shall wear a starry crown ere long; thy hand may be filled with cares--it shall sweep the strings of the harp of heaven soon. Thy garments may be soiled with dust now; they shall be white by-and-by. Wait a little longer. Ah! how despicable our troubles and trials will seem when we look back upon them! Looking at them here in the prospect, they seem immense; but when we get to heaven we shall then "With transporting joys recount, The labors of our feet." Our trials will then seem light and momentary afflictions. Let us go on boldly; if the night be never so dark, the morning cometh, which is more than they can say who are shut up in the darkness of hell. Do you know what it is thus to live on the future--to live on expectation--to antedate heaven? Happy believer, to have so sure, so comforting a hope. It may be all dark now, but it will soon be light; it may be all trial now, but it will soon be all happiness. What matters it though "weeping may endure for a night," when "joy cometh in the morning?" Daily Light on the Daily Path 1 Timothy 2:8 Therefore I want the men in every place to pray, lifting up holy hands, without wrath and dissension.John 4:23,24 "But an hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth; for such people the Father seeks to be His worshipers. • "God is spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth." Isaiah 58:9 "Then you will call, and the LORD will answer; You will cry, and He will say, 'Here I am.' If you remove the yoke from your midst, The pointing of the finger and speaking wickedness, Mark 11:25 "Whenever you stand praying, forgive, if you have anything against anyone, so that your Father who is in heaven will also forgive you your transgressions. Hebrews 11:6 And without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is and that He is a rewarder of those who seek Him. James 1:6,7 But he must ask in faith without any doubting, for the one who doubts is like the surf of the sea, driven and tossed by the wind. • For that man ought not to expect that he will receive anything from the Lord, Psalm 66:18 If I regard wickedness in my heart, The Lord will not hear; 1 John 2:1,2 My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin. And if anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous; • and He Himself is the propitiation for our sins; and not for ours only, but also for those of the whole world. 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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