Friday, March 29, 2013

DAY 29: Watch Out!


“Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves. By their fruit you will recognize them. Do people pick grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? Likewise, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. Thus, by their fruit you will recognize them. - Matthew 7:15-20 

False prophets, by biblical definition, comes in sheep’s clothing. Sheep’s clothing could be considered soft, safe, unassuming and non-threatening... everything a sheep is! Inside however is something infinitely more nefarious. The inside is what counts and inside, false prophets are ravenous wolves, hell bent and bloodthirsty for your destruction! Prophets are the spokesperson or mouthpiece for a King or kingdom. A false prophet has never come to you and challenged you and a true prophet has never come to you and made you feel comfortable! 

A very practical real world example is the siren song of debt. Debt is so commercialized we are almost proud of what credit card we carry (What’s in YOUR wallet?). The terms seem so friendly (0% interest! Upload your own picture!) and the rewards so great (airline miles, 5% cash back!) you almost forget that you are going in debt and that god commands us NOT to! 

“Owe no one anything except to love one another, for he who loves another has fulfilled the law.” - Romans 13:8 

That is one example, but many of us are in bondage to many other things that have been “prophesied” to us! Things like pornography, immorality and spiritual compromise/laziness all come to us in sheep’s clothing, through the mouths of someone... soft. 

Knowing this, take 5 minutes and ask the Holy Spirit to show you where you may be under the influence of a false prophet. Look for softness... look for bad fruit (debt, marriage problems, etc.) and write it down! 

Then, take 10 minutes and pray through your list, asking the Lord to show you the HARD TRUTH. Often, true prophets and true words are hard to take (Get out of debt, live simply, be ontent), but the fruit is good. Search the Scripture for the antidote to false prophecy... the TRUTH! 

Have false prophets and their words had an effect on you?

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