False Prophet Marks Cause and Promote Divisions explains how the false prophet divides and scatters rather than gathers and unites the people of God.

False Prophet Marks Cause and Promote Divisions

by

False Prophet Marks Cause and Promote Divisions explains how the false prophet divides and scatters rather than gathers and unites the people of God.

Jeremiah 23:1 Woe be unto the pastors that destroy and scatter the sheep of my pasture! saith the LORD.

God’s condemnation in this chapter for the bad prophets of Israel is that they missed their primary objective, before they can do good to the flock of God, they have to gather that flock together so that he can minister to them. This is a primary activity of pastors, gathering. The bad pastor scatters instead of gathers.

The event or events that cause scattering is being loud, dictatorial, or threatening. By how a shepherd acts around the sheep, the sheep look and listen always, and they respond. Love causes the gathering, and antagonism and extremism causes the scattering.

Competition

Competition is included here as an activity that causes depression and despair, because it is emotional manipulation that at the same time it offers a closeness to the pastor (if the person puts out enough sacrifice, energy and dedication), it seems as though very few people actually achieve what the shepherd sets as a winning goal. Almost all cults and false religions use this tactic of competition highly to motive and control their own people.

2 Peter 1:10 Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall:

Scripture uses the imagery of striving in our spiritual life, but before God we do this striving to please God and win the reward from God, not from man. These verses are to warn us to not take the issues of salvation and sanctification too lightly, but to study them and practice them heartily in our own lives.

1 John 5:13 These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God.

While the false prophet will always “dangle” the prospect of pleasing God, and obtaining the salvation of your soul, the false prophet only puts that possibility before the people without any assurance that you have accomplished it.

Many false religions like Catholicism, Jehovah’s Witnesses, etc. will dangle the prospect of obtaining and winning God’s favor before their people, but it is a salvation by works, not faith. The Apostle John wrote that every Christian can know that they have eternal life. Faith is the reason, not achieving anything by works. The newly saved person, one minute after receiving Jesus, can be assured of his salvation immediately. That should not make him lazy in his relationship with God, but doubt and statements that he has started and does not yet have salvation are the common tactics of false prophets.

Fear, Anger (from others), Antagonism scatter sheep

The false prophet does things and promotes things that do not edify and unify the flock of God, but rather causes damage, pain, suffering, diverted energies, and in the end, no promise nor evidence of having achieved the pleasure of God.

Heresy is essentially the concept of division. Things (particular and peculiar doctrines and practices, interpretations of Scripture) are promoted and practiced that uses the egoism of those who hold to these things to exalt them “spiritually” over their brethren, to dominate them in some sense. “We are better that everybody else because we worship God on Saturday” (this is the position of the Seventh Day Adventists).

But the overall principle to understand here is that the true man of God seeks to unite, edify, and calm the flock of God so that they can spiritually grow. The false prophet disrupts this completely. Unity is being a part of his particular version of Christianity. His presentation is you are saved and have from the approval of God only if you are an obedient part of his earthly organization. Being approved of God (in his thinking) is never really because you obey God. He has hijacked God in his community, and approval is only unifying with his earthly group (leaving the group is equivalent to renouncing your salvation and desiring to go to hell). His (the false prophet’s) approval is key to either or both salvation and spirituality.

Part of his method is to deny and overthrow the priesthood of every believer. Only the group, and specifically the leader of that religious community, can discern, interpret, and understand the Word of God. Catholicism teaches that only the Pope and the Vatican can correctly interpret Scripture. The steal the Word of God from their people, using it only with their own interpretation as the only valid one. This is heresy and division.

For example, in Catholicism…

Matthew 23:9 And call no man your father upon the earth: for one is your Father, which is in heaven.
Exodus 20:4 Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth: Exodus 20:5 Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them: for I the LORD thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me;

Both of these commandments are very clear, and Catholicism obligates all obedient Catholics to exactly break them in order to be approved by the group. This is how the false prophet scatters the people of God, through heretic doctrine and practices. These things “unite” their followers into being under their control, but this is spiritual slavery, not spiritual freedom. The true prophet of God wants God’s people to understand the Word of God so that they can be freed from falsehood.

John 8:31 Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed; John 8:32 *And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.

This is the true priesthood of every believer. They have the Word of God which the Holy Spirit uses to guide them into truth. Good ministers can greatly help this process, but bad ministers can greatly hinder and defeat this process. The key is to trust the Word of God for what it says, and do not trust men unless they can clearly exposit the Word of God in an understandable and believable way.

Marking those who cause divisions

Romans 16:17-18 17 *Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them. 18 For they that are such serve not our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly; and by good words and fair speeches deceive the hearts of the simple.

This point is an extension of their arrogance and pride.To completely trap believers under their control, they have to focus on arguments why they, their church, their doctrine, their practices, their traditions, their ways of doing their ministries, etc. are better than others.Again, competition is highly used by the false prophet. They are constantly in comparison game. Obeying the will of God by doing the will of God is not really a consideration, but rather outward greatly, glory, fame, money, crowds, etc.

We do not attribute any outward success to us, rather to God. Our only point of pride is that we obey God’s commands, and God’s commands, being all wise, does the work of God.

But we need to really focus on the importance of this point. It is man’s sinful heart that separates that person from God. Salvation is a returning to Christ our Creator and Sustainer. But the false prophet comes in to religiously interested unsaved, and new born Christians, and tries to step in and separate that person from Christ. That is the ultimate separation that Satan wants.

I like to think of the false prophet is like a solar eclipse of the sun. The false prophet is like the moon who get between the believer and the sun. the only source of original light and good. The false prophet doesn’t try to shine brighter than the sun, but he blocks the person from seeing the sun.

A good minister of God is a person who reflects the light he gets from God. He himself is a worshipper of God, and it is a faithful thing to study his life and imitate him as he imitates Jesus Christ. Jesus Christ never once lied. Jesus was not arrogant, boastful, proud, nor haughty. He was meek and mild.

The point of comparison is always how we compare ourselves to God’s will as revealed in Scripture. There is no other valid criteria judge if we are doing well or poorly in God’s sight.

2 Timothy 2:15 Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.

So rather than use carnal standards, our approval or disapproval comes from the our obeying the will of God.

2 Corinthians 10:12 For we dare not make ourselves of the number, or compare ourselves with some that commend themselves: but they measuring themselves by themselves, and comparing themselves among themselves, are not wise.

Comparison with others is a deceptive practice because it gives mute advantage to some of his children than others.

Gal 1:10 For do I now persuade men, or God? or do I seek to please men? for if I yet pleased men, I should not be the servant of Christ.
2Co 13:5 Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates?

Matthew 11:29 *Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.

The spiritual example of the leader is a very accurate indicator of a good minister and a very good indicator of a bad religious leader if they lack this personal example.

Hebrews 13:7 Remember them which have the rule over you, who have spoken unto you the word of God: *whose faith follow, considering the end of their conversation.

1 Cor 11:1 Be ye followers of me, even as I also am of Christ.

See Tract Ch24 The power of an Example

Approval is always before God, and not man.

Gal 6:3-4 3 For if a man think himself to be something, when he is nothing, he deceiveth himself. 4 But let every man prove his own work, and then shall he have rejoicing in himself alone, and not in another.

The original sin of Satan was bragging on himself.

Phi 2:3 KJV Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves.

If Jesus is humble and meek when he is so great, why do average humans think that anything they do is great?

1Co 4:7 KJV For who maketh thee to differ from another? and what hast thou that thou didst not receive? now if thou didst receive it, why dost thou glory, as if thou hadst not received it?

The real problem of people boasting a out their own greatest is that they do not recognize the sovereignty of God. God gives to each differing gifts and what a person does with does with these gifts have to do with that person and God. Comparison with others is a disorienting thing that the wise person will not engage in within himself, and to bade an entire ministry on this is to fall into the thinking of a false prophet.

Rom 12:3 KJV For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith.

Paul’s point is exactly applicable here. People who bragg are thinking “more highly” of themselves than God advises.
If we combine this verse with Gal 1:10 above, about striving to please God and not men, we learn a surprising insight. The false prophet has no concept of pleasing God nor giving account to God after his life. What good he seeks is from men because deep down he has rejected God.

Exo 20:17 KJV Thou shalt not covet thy neighbour’s house, thou shalt not covet thy neighbour’s wife, nor his manservant, nor his maidservant, nor his ox, nor his ass, nor any thing that is thy neighbour’s.

We can apply this here. The false prophet will do anything for money, fame and earthly glory. He is envious of what others have.

Jude 1:19 KJV These be they who separate themselves, sensual, having not the Spirit.

God wants us to live and work in harmony. Satan wants dissension and strife, so envy is how Satan achieved his goals.
1 Jn 2:18-29

Romans 16:17-18

Rom 16:17-18 17 Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them. 18 For they that are such serve not our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly; and by good words and fair speeches deceive the hearts of the simple.

This point is an extension of their arrogance and pride. To completely trap believers under their control, they have to focus on arguments why they, their church, their doctrine, their practices, their traditions, their ways of doing their ministries, etc. are better than others. We do not attribute any outward success to us, rather to God. Our only point of pride is that we obey God’s commands, and God’s commands, being all wise, does the work of God.

But we need to really focus on the importance of this point. It is man’s sinful heart that separates that person from God. Salvation is a returning to Christ our Creator and Sustainer. But the false prophet comes in to religiously interested unsaved, and new born Christians, and tries to step in and separate that person from Christ. That is the ultimate separation that Satan wants.

I like to think of the false prophet is like a solar eclipse of the sun. The false prophet is like the moon who get between the believer and the sun. the only source of original light and good. The false prophet doesn’t try to shine brighter than the sun, but he blocks the person from seeing the sun.

A good minister of God is a person who reflects the light he gets from God. He himself is a worshipper of God, and it is a faithful thing to study his life and imitate him as he imitates Jesus Christ. Jesus Christ never once lied. Jesus was not arrogant, boastful, proud, nor haughty. He was meek and mild.

Matthew 11:29 *Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.

The spiritual example of the leader is a very accurate indicator of a good minister and a very good indicator of a bad religious leader if they lack this personal example.

Hebrews 13:7 Remember them which have the rule over you, who have spoken unto you the word of God: whose faith follow, considering the end of their conversation.

1 Cor 11:1 Be ye followers of me, even as I also am of Christ.

See Tract Ch24 The power of an Example

Supremacy of God’s Will

The point of comparison is always how we compare to God’s will as revealed in Scripture. There is no other valid criteria judge if we are doing well or poorly in God’s sight.

2Ti 2:15 KJV Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth

So rather than use carnal standards, our approval or disapproval comes from the our obeying the will of God.

2Co 10:12 KJV For we dare not make ourselves of the number, or compare ourselves with some that commend themselves: but they measuring themselves by themselves, and comparing themselves among themselves, are not wise.

Comparison with others is a deceptive practice because gives mote advantage to dome of his children than others.

Gal 1:10 KJV For do I now persuade men, or God? or do I seek to please men? for if I yet pleased men, I should not be the servant of Christ.
2Co 13:5 KJV Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates?

Approval is always begore God, and not man.

Gal 6:3-4 KJV 3 For if a man think himself to be something, when he is nothing, he deceiveth himself. 4 But let every man prove his own work, and then shall he have rejoicing in himself alone, and not in another.

The original sin of Satan was bragging on himself.

Phi 2:3 KJV Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves.

If Jesus is humble and meek when he is so great, why do average humans think that anything they do is great?

1Co 4:7 KJV For who maketh thee to differ from another? and what hast thou that thou didst not receive? now if thou didst receive it, why dost thou glory, as if thou hadst not received it?

The real problem of people boasting a out their own greatest is that they do not recognize the sovereignty of God. God gives to each differing gifts and what a person does with does with these gifts have to do with that person and God. Comparison with others is a disorienting thing that the wise person will not engage in within himself, and to bade an entire ministry on this is to fall into the thinking of a false prophet.

Rom 12:3 KJV For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith.

Paul’s point is exactly applicable here. People who brag are thinking “more highly” of themselves than God advises.

If we combine this verse with Gal 1:10 above, about striving to please God and not men, we learn a surprising insight. The false prophet has no concept of pleasing God nor giving account to God after his life. What good he seeks is from men because deep down he has rejected God.

Exo 20:17 KJV Thou shalt not covet thy neighbour’s house, thou shalt not covet thy neighbour’s wife, nor his manservant, nor his maidservant, nor his ox, nor his ass, nor any thing that is thy neighbour’s.

We can apply this here. The false prophet will do anything for money, fame and earthly glory. He is envious of what others have.

Jude 1:19 KJV These be they who separate themselves, sensual, having not the Spirit.

God wants us to live and work in harmony. Satan wants dissension and strife, so envy is how Satan achieved his goals.

1 John 2:18 Little children, it is the last time: and as ye have heard that antichrist shall come, even now are there many antichrists; whereby we know that it is the last time. 1 John 2:19 They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would no doubt have continued with us: but they went out, that they might be made manifest that they were not all of us. 1 John 2:20 But ye have an unction from the Holy One, and ye know all things. 1 John 2:21 I have not written unto you because ye know not the truth, but because ye know it, and that no lie is of the truth. 1 John 2:22 Who is a liar but he that denieth that Jesus is the Christ? He is antichrist, that denieth the Father and the Son. 1 John 2:23 Whosoever denieth the Son, the same hath not the Father: (but) he that acknowledgeth the Son hath the Father also. 1 John 2:24 Let that therefore abide in you, which ye have heard from the beginning. If that which ye have heard from the beginning shall remain in you, ye also shall continue in the Son, and in the Father. 1 John 2:25 And this is the promise that he hath promised us, even eternal life. 1 John 2:26 These things have I written unto you concerning them that seduce you. 1 John 2:27 But the anointing which ye have received of him abideth in you, and ye need not that any man teach you: but as the same anointing teacheth you of all things, and is truth, and is no lie, and even as it hath taught you, ye shall abide in him. 1 John 2:28 And now, little children, abide in him; that, when he shall appear, we may have confidence, and not be ashamed before him at his coming. 1 John 2:29 If ye know that he is righteous, ye know that every one that doeth righteousness is born of him.

See

  • False Prophet Marks – Are proud, arrogant
  • False Prophet Marks – Is Envious of Others

False Prophet Marks Cause and Promote Divisions

Download this page

Cox-False-Prophet-Scatters.pdf (0 downloads )

 

More Articles about False Prophets

Post Views: 1

Leave a Comment Cancel reply