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Brooksyne Weber
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Wednesday,
August 2, 2023
Yesterday
we resumed our
chaplain
visitation
after being
away for a
week in the
Midwest. It
was nice to
pass the very
green farmland
as our area
has been
getting
adequate rain.
"Be
Aware Of False Prophets"
Message
summary:
Let
us be on our
guard so that
we are not
misled, and so
that we will
not mislead
others either
by our words
or example.
Listen to our message on your audio player.
“An appalling and horrible thing has happened in the land: the prophets prophesy falsely, and the priests rule on their own authority; and My people love it so! But what will you do at the end of it?” (Jeremiah 5:30,31). "Her prophets are fickle, treacherous men" (Zephaniah 3:4). “Many false prophets will arise and will mislead many” (Matthew 24:11). “But false prophets also arose among the people, just as there will also be false teachers among you” (2 Peter 2:1).
Yesterday
we shared a testimony
about Richard
Ramirez, a
man I had met
at the
Independence
Center on
Saturday
morning. He
has an
enduring
testimony of a
life changed
by Christ in
1978 while a
prisoner in
the Fort
Leavenworth
Federal
Penitentiary.Prior
to our
discussion we
both met two
nicely dressed
young men who
were part of
some cult-like
religion* who
were seeking
converts.
After speaking
to them for a
few minutes I
determined
that they
represented
another way
(see John
10:1) and
any further
attempt to
engage with
them would be
fruitless,
especially in
light of my
limited time
needing to get
to the
airport. But
the encounter
reminded me of
Christ's
words, “Many
false prophets
will arise and
will mislead
many” (Matthew
24:11).
In
our ABF
(Sunday
School) class
we
have been
studying the
Old Testament
prophets. A
common theme
in ancient
Israel was the
proneness of
the people to
follow false
prophets. For
instance Zephaniah
3:4 states, "Her
prophets are
fickle,
treacherous
men".
However
it is
critically
important for
the faithful
follower of
Christ in each
generation
to be aware of
false
prophets. A
Bible search
using key
words such as
false prophet
provides many
instances of
warnings. The
closing two
verses from
Jeremiah 5 are
incredibly
pertinent to
our day. It
looks like it
could be a
modern
newspaper
headline, “An
appalling and
horrible thing
has happened
in the land”.
If our eyes
are open we
surely see the
unraveling of
the moral and
spiritual
fabric in our
land. Can we
even project
what the next
expression of
decadence will
be?As Jeremiah states, “the prophets prophesy falsely”. There are indeed many false prophets, those who claim to speak for God among us. Based on Scripture it should not surprise us that even the visible church does not speak with one voice in confronting the decay. Sadly there are voices claiming to represent Christ calling evil good and good evil (see Isaiah 5:20).
It is vitally important that we be vigilant in our discernment regarding those who claim to speak for God. Jesus in a context of the end times states, “Many false prophets will arise and will mislead many” (Matthew 24:11). There have always been false prophets but apparently there will be an increase in the last days. It sure seems to me we are seeing that.
There are many parallels between modern America and apostate Israel such as the motivation of ease and economic gain, a disregard of divinely imposed moral restraints, the ungodliness of leadership, sin is scoffed at, approved, endorsed and even celebrated. Many false prophets spoke against the plan of God. Today we have many weak, compromising churches and pulpits which have succumbed to liberalism and accommodation with the world and are deceived.
Let us be on our guard so that we are not misled and deceive, and so that we will not mislead and deceive others either by our words or example.
Be
encouraged
today, (Hebrews
3:13)
Daily
prayer:
Father, as the
slide to
decadence
deepens, we
see the
influence it
has on the
Christian
church at
large. Fearing
rejection and
mockery from
the world or
appearing as
unsuccessful
in the eyes of
the world,
many church
leaders become
accepting of
the current
philosophies
and lifestyles
prominent in
our day,
rather than
holding to the
unchanging
standards
prescribed
through Your
commands in
Scripture. In
the gray
areas, help us
to be
gracious. But
in the black
and white
commands of
Scripture help
us to be
brave, strong
and
unambiguous in
our position
and consistent
in our example
as
permissiveness,
false
prophesies,
and weakened
leaders dot
the landscape.
When seekers
want the
timeless truth
of Scriptures
rather than
the changing
truth of our
times we will
be prepared to
guide them to
Your eternal
truths. Keep
us faithful in
doing so. In
Jesus’ name we
pray. Amen.*
Cult-like
religion -
I was not
familiar with
the group the
two young men
at the mall
represented
but it had
some strange
teachings I
have never
heard of
before. One
common theme
of cults is
try to
convince you
their group
alone is the
right and only
way. A genuine
witness will
point to
Christ first
and foremost.
Another theme
are new
teachings
unique to that
group.
What
does the Bible
say about
false
prophets?
from the
gotquestions.org
teaching site
What
is the
definition of
a cult?
from the
gotquestions.org
teaching site
Many
plants and
insects have a
mutual
symbiotic
relationship.
The plant
provides
nectar and the
insect is a
means of
pollination.
However, one
of the most
interesting
plants in
God’s creation
does not
have a
symbiotic
relationship
with insects,
the Venus Fly
Trap. This
plant attracts
flies and
other insects
for food using
a deceptive
method of easy
nectar for the
fly but often
at a great
price!
Consider an
analogy
between this
plant and
false
prophets.
Their teaching
may sound good
but it is
spiritually
destructive!
Early
yesterday
morning
Stephen shared
a brief
devotional
with the
employees at
Audreys, a
wholesale gift
and home decor
company in
rural Lebanon
County.
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In considering support we are so pleased when we hear from you, our readers, that our messages are a source of teaching and encouragement to you. We also urge you to consider the mission aspect of these daily teachings that are freely available and read by many all over the world.
To
donate
directly
online
click here.
(This will
open to a page
that
designates the
offering
to: STEPHEN
&
BROOKSYNE
WEBER -
700001-237376 SERVING
IN SPECIALIZED
CHAPLAINCY)
If
you desire you
can also
donate
directly
through PayPal
using this link.
This will open
to a page that
states
"Brooksyne
Weber". We
keep this
option
available due
to the
familiarity,
convenience,
for
international
supporters,
and for those
who may not
need an
official
receipt. You
can also set
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recurring
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Thank
you,
Stephen
&
Brooksyne
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Scripture references are from The Holy Bible: New International Version. © 1984 by International Bible Society; NEW AMERICAN STANDARD BIBLE®, Copyright © 1995 by The Lockman Foundation, New King James Version (NKJV) Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. and the King James Version.
Personal Mission Statement: "I am created by God to bring Him glory. Through God's Son Jesus Christ I have been redeemed and make it my life's goal to please the Lord. My mission in life is to honor God through my faith and obedience and prepare myself and all whom I may influence for eternity."
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