False Prophets

On December 16, 1944, Germany sent German troops, disguised as American M.P.s (Military Police), to infiltrate the American Army in what would be known as the Battle of the Bulge. The Germans almost won because of their deception. The Germans did this because they knew that they had lost the war. Their time was short and they needed a deceptive plan to win.

To do this, they trained an elite unit of Germans to speak and act like Americans. They were taught to impersonate Americans right down to the idioms they used and the gum they chewed. This unit was then implanted as M.P.s (Military Police) to direct traffic.

As advancing German troops made their way to the American Army, the Americans rallied to fight them. But as they moved forward, they were being directed by the false M.P.s to other locations. The false M.P.s were doing a great job at confusing and disrupting the American war effort.

It wasn’t until the Americans were able to unmask the impostors that they were able to mobilize their forces for a coordinated attack and win the battle, and the war.

The devil knows that his time is short. He is losing the war. True, the majority of the warriors are on his side, but he knows that he can’t stand up to the power of God. His purpose is to destroy as many lives as possible before being destroyed himself.

To do that, he has sent "false prophets among the people." "They will secretly introduce destructive heresies (saved by grace)." 2 Peter 2:1. Having a "form of godliness (go to church and sing and shout His name) but denying the power (living without sin). Have nothing to do with them." 2 Timothy 3:5

The devil has his wolves, dressed in sheep’s clothing, among the soldiers of Christ. Whole churches are devoted to a form of godliness, but denying the power of God to change their lives and live perfect and sinless by His power.

We must be wise and understanding in order to know who is who. Who really are the true ministers of Christ today? Who really is the clown under all that make-up? "Test everything." 1 Thess. 5:21. "Test the spirits." 1 John 4:1. "Examine yourselves." 2 Corinthians 13:5. Over and over again Christ warned the disciples to beware of false prophets. They are in the church. They look like and act like ministers, priests, pastors, deacons and elders. But since there is only one truth, why are there so many different teachings?

 

Again, let’s go back to our guide, 

our teacher for truth, the Old Testament. Were there false prophets and teachers back then? Yes. In Numbers 16 we read of Korah, Dathan and Abiram. They rebelled against Moses. "They came as a group to oppose Moses and Aaron and said to them, ‘You have gone too far! The whole community is holy, every one of them. Why then do you set yourselves above the Lord’s assembly?’" Verse 3.

The first thing we notice is that they came as a group. Wickedness can never stand alone. The devil loves a crowd. People know what is right, but it is easier to do wrong when you have others doing it with you. You can point a finger and say, "See, he claims to be a Christian, and he is doing it too." But that is not the criteria for Christianity.

 

Second point we notice is that they all claimed to be holy. Just because God worked a miracle for them, they claimed to be His special people. Have you ever seen that in your group? Someone has had a special miracle take place in his life and now he feels that he is Moses. No! God worked a miracle for a donkey, but the donkey won’t be saved.

Well, we know what happened to Korah, Dathan and Abiram. If not, read it and check yourself.  They also only preach "peace and safety", that everything will be OK. Not so!

 

The next major force of false prophets is found in 1 Kings 18:16 – 39.

Elijah invited the four hundred and fifty prophets of Baal and the four hundred prophets of Asherah to the top of Mount Carmel for a show-down. Again, we see the principle of grouping. The wicked always outnumber the righteous.

The false prophets came up to put on a dazzling display for the people. They danced around their altar and sang and shouted and put on quite an act. The people must have been impressed. The false prophets are real showmen. They know how to put on a show.

Elijah, on the other hand, had little to say and no show for the people. It really was a boring prayer. No jumping around, no singing, no shouting or commotion. Nope, he just knelt down and asked God to do His thing.

It was God who put on the show. And what a show it was. You know the rest of the story.

We could continue right on down through Jeremiah, Nehemiah and down to Jesus’ time. Those who thought they were somebody, weren’t. God always uses the meek, the humble, and the nobodies (like this ministry). God doesn’t need showmanship. He needs obedience. God doesn’t need a somebody, He is somebody.