OPEN HEAVENS DAILY DEVOTIONAL
DATE: TUESDAY 9TH MARCH 2021.
THEME: BEWARE OF FALSE PROPHETS I.
MEMORISE:
Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves.
Matthew 7:15
READ: Matthew 7:15-23
15 Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves.
16 Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles?
17 Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit.
18 A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit.
19 Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire.
20 Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them.
21 Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.
22 Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?
23 And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.
MESSAGE:
Our memory verse for today says "Beware of false prophets", so it is not a new thing that we have false prophets today. They have always existed. As a matter of fact, as we get closer to the second coming of Christ, they will increase in number. So-called prophets who are actually nothing, but magicians will multiply as the years go by. However, the Lord said clearly that by their fruits you shall know them - not by their so-called miracles, not by their signs and wonders, but by their fruits. In Matthew 7:16-18, Jesus Christ goes further to say that you cannot gather grapes from thorns. He said a good tree will only bring forth good fruits. In other words, if they are His prophets, then they will only bear good fruits. If you see them bear any bad fruit, then they are not from Him. What are some of the bad fruits to lookout for in a false prophet?
Greed is one bad fruit that you can easily spot in a false prophet. Any prophet who tells you to bring money so he can prophesy for you is not from God. If he tells you to give him money because of a prophecy he has already spoken about you, he is not from God. Our God is not greedy, so if the prophet is bearing the fruit of greed, he is not from God.
Some so-called prophets will even tell you to give them your car so as to get some spiritual benefits. Tell them that you are a child of God too and God has not spoken to you. In 2 Peter 2:3, Apostle Peter says:
“And through covetousness shall they with feigned words make merchandise of you: whose judgment now of a long time lingereth not, and their damnation slumbereth not.”
Another fruit they bear is that of fear. They always attempt to put fear into your heart. They use fear to control their victims. They know that once they tell you that doom is coming, you will be ready to do anything to avert it. If you see a prophet who always prophesies doom, run from the fellow. A true prophet, even if he sees doom coming will pray for it to be averted. If he tells you the prophecy at alI it is so that you can pray also. He will not seek to put fear in your heart but to inspire you to pray against the impending doom. He would even prefer that the doom is averted, and he is called a false prophet than for the doom to come and then be boasting about the accuracy of his prophecy. 2 Timothy 1 :7 says that God has not given us the spirit of fear. Fear is a spirit and it is from the devil; anyone who is ministering the spirit of fear to you is from the devil.
ACTION POINT:
Father, give me the spirit to discern so that henceforth, I will be able to identify false prophets in Jesus’ Name.
BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Exodus 26-28
AUTHOR: PASTOR E. A. ADEBOYE
HYMN 4: CONQUERORS AND OVERCOMERS NOW ARE WE.
Conquerors and overcomers now are we,
Thro' the precious blood of Christ we've victory
If the Lord be for us we can never fail,
Nothing 'gainst His mighty power can e'er prevail.
Refrain:
Conquerors are we, thr'o the blood of Jesus
God will give us victory, thro' the blood of Jesus
Through the Lamb for sinners slain,
Yet who lives and reigns again,
More than conquerors are we,
More than conquerors are we.
In the name of Israel's God we'll onward press,
Overcoming sin and all unrighteousness;
Not to us but unto Him the praise shall be,
For salvation and for blood bought victory.
Unto Him that overcometh shall be given,
Here to eat of hidden manna sent from Heaven,
Over yonder He the victors palm shall bear,
And a robe of white, and golden crown shall wear.
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