Beware of False Prophets and False Teachers

Beware of False Prophets and False Teachers

In his letter to Timothy, the Apostle Paul warns about godlessness in the Last Days:

“But understand this, that in the last days there will come times of difficulty.
2 For people will be lovers of self, lovers of money, proud, arrogant, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy,
3 heartless, unappeasable, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not loving good,
4 treacherous, reckless, swollen with conceit, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God,
5 having the appearance of godliness, but denying its power. Avoid such people.
6 For among them are those who creep into households and capture weak women, burdened with sins and led astray by various passions,
7 always learning and never able to arrive at a knowledge of the truth.
8 Just as Jannes and Jambres opposed Moses, so these men also oppose the truth, men corrupted in mind and disqualified regarding the faith.
9 But they will not get very far, for their folly will be plain to all, as was that of those two men” 2 Timothy 3:1-9.

We are told in verse 5 that these false prophets and false teachers will have an appearance of godliness, but they will have no real power. They are fakes, charlatans and deceivers of people who are beguiled by their faith and prosperity gospel. In verse 6 we are told they creep into households (by way of television and the radio) and capture weak women, burdened down with sins and led astray by various passions. These women go to seminar after seminar, buys CDs, videos and books, “always learning and never able to arrive at a knowledge of the truth.” They never find truth in these conferences, meetings and gatherings because what is preached and taught there (by women and men false preachers and teachers) is nothing but lies, half-truths and twisted Scriptures. They are promised wealth and prosperity, but it is the false teachers and preachers who are getting wealthy off of these poor, misguided souls.

I plead with you to listen to the words of God as recorded by Jeremiah His prophet:

“Thus says the LORD of hosts: "Do not listen to the words of the prophets who prophesy to you, filling you with vain hopes. They speak visions of their own minds, not from the mouth of the LORD” Jeremiah 23:16.

False teachers such as Kenneth Hagin, Benny Hinn, Charles Capps, Robert Tilton, Kenneth Copeland, Joyce Meyer, T.D. Jakes, Marilyn Hickey, Paula White, Rod Parsley, Joel Osteen and many others have visions that are delusions of their own minds, and are not representative of the Lord God of heaven:

25 “I have heard what the prophets have said who prophesy lies in my name, saying, 'I have dreamed, I have dreamed!'
26 How long shall there be lies in the heart of the prophets who prophesy lies, and who prophesy the deceit of their own heart,”
Jeremiah 23:25-26.

God exposes the fact that these charlatans did not get their teaching from God, but they are simply repeating lies and stories that they have heard from one another:

30 “Therefore, behold, I am against the prophets, declares the LORD, who steal my words from one another.
31 Behold, I am against the prophets, declares the LORD, who use their tongues and declare, 'declares the LORD.'
32 Behold, I am against those who prophesy lying dreams, declares the LORD, and who tell them and lead my people astray by their lies and their recklessness, when I did not send them or charge them. So they do not profit this people at all, declares the LORD”
Jeremiah 23:30-32.

The only people who profit from their heresy and blasphemous teachings are the false teachers and preachers themselves.

We need to heed Scripture’s warning to be good Berean Christians (Acts 17:11); Christians are to make sure that a Bible verse is being taught correctly in light of the whole counsel of God:

“I appeal to you, brothers, to watch out for those who cause divisions and create obstacles contrary to the doctrine that you have been taught; avoid them.
18 For such persons do not serve our Lord Christ, but their own appetites, and by smooth talk and flattery they deceive the hearts of the naïve”
Romans 16:17-18.

God warns His shepherds to

“…hold firm to the trustworthy word as taught, so that he may be able to give instruction in sound doctrine and also to rebuke those who contradict it.
10 For there are many who are insubordinate, empty talkers and deceivers…
11 They must be silenced, since they are upsetting whole families by teaching for shameful gain what they ought not to teach” Titus 1:9-11.