FALSE PROPHETS
II Peter 2:1-3
"But there were also false prophets among the people, even as there will be false teachers among you, who will secretly bring in destructive heresies, even denying the Lord who bought them, and bringing on themselves swift destruction. And many will follow their destructive ways, because of whom the way of truth will be blasphemed. By covetousness they will exploit you with deceptive words; for a long time their judgment has not been idle, and their destruction does not slumber."
So how do I identify a false prophet? The first evidence is heresy. A false teacher does not faithfully expound God's Word, but instead panders to what people want to hear. They can build huge followings by tickling peoples' ears. "For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, because they have itching ears, they will heap up for themselves teachers; and they will turn their ears away from the truth and be turned aside to fables" (II Timothy 4:3-4). Secondly, they exploit (margin: merchandise) people for their own persona gain. They appeal for money from gullible people to pad their own pockets and to support their lavish life-styles. God will judge their destructive heresies with destruction. Sadly many people follow their destructive teachings and are themselves destroyed. The lesson: Be careful who I listen to and follow.
TODAY'S PRINCIPLE: Beware of teachers who stray from God's Word, and who are prophets for their own profit.
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Have a discerning day. Love you.
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