Found an interesting and powerful word by Art Katz

(The Testimony of Jesus is the Spirit of Prophecy)[url=ttp://www.sermonindex.net/modules/mydownloads/singlefile.php?lid=5806&commentView=itemComments]Against false prophets[/url]

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CHRISTIAN

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CHRISTIAN

[b][url=http://www.benisrael.org/writings/online_books/anatomy_of_deception/taod_contents.html]The Anatomy of Deception[/url] by Art Katz[/b]

2Pe 2:1 But there were also false prophets among the people, even as there will be false teachers among you, who will secretly [b]bring in[/b] destructive heresies, even denying the Lord who bought them, and bring on themselves swift destruction.
2Pe 2:2 And many will follow their destructive ways, because of whom the way of truth will be blasphemed.
2Pe 2:3 By covetousness they will exploit you with deceptive words; for a long time their judgment has not been idle, and their destruction does not slumber.

It seems to me we have to watch out when someone or when something new is "brought in". Something which was not there from beginning.

2Pe 2:10 and especially those who walk according to the flesh in the lust of uncleanness and despise authority. They are presumptuous, self-willed. They are not afraid to speak evil of dignitaries,

And here it speaks about such teachers make our own flesh and lust and our self the center of attention

this whole chapter is interesting i think when talking about this

2Pe 2:1 But there were also false prophets among the people, even as there will be false teachers among you, who will secretly bring in destructive heresies, even denying the Lord who bought them, and bring on themselves swift destruction.
2Pe 2:2 And many will follow their destructive ways, because of whom the way of truth will be blasphemed.
2Pe 2:3 By covetousness they will exploit you with deceptive words; for a long time their judgment has not been idle, and their destruction does not slumber.
2Pe 2:4 For if God did not spare the angels who sinned, but cast them down to hell and delivered them into chains of darkness, to be reserved for judgment;
2Pe 2:5 and did not spare the ancient world, but saved Noah, one of eight people, a preacher of righteousness, bringing in the flood on the world of the ungodly;
2Pe 2:6 and turning the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah into ashes, condemned them to destruction, making them an example to those who afterward would live ungodly;
2Pe 2:7 and delivered righteous Lot, who was oppressed by the filthy conduct of the wicked
2Pe 2:8 (for that righteous man, dwelling among them, tormented his righteous soul from day to day by seeing and hearing their lawless deeds)--
2Pe 2:9 then the Lord knows how to deliver the godly out of temptations and to reserve the unjust under punishment for the day of judgment,
2Pe 2:10 and especially those who walk according to the flesh in the lust of uncleanness and despise authority. They are presumptuous, self-willed. They are not afraid to speak evil of dignitaries,
2Pe 2:11 whereas angels, who are greater in power and might, do not bring a reviling accusation against them before the Lord.
2Pe 2:12 But these, like natural brute beasts made to be caught and destroyed, speak evil of the things they do not understand, and will utterly perish in their own corruption,
2Pe 2:13 and will receive the wages of unrighteousness, as those who count it pleasure to carouse in the daytime. They are spots and blemishes, carousing in their own deceptions while they feast with you,
2Pe 2:14 having eyes full of adultery and that cannot cease from sin, enticing unstable souls. They have a heart trained in covetous practices, and are accursed children.
2Pe 2:15 They have forsaken the right way and gone astray, following the way of Balaam the son of Beor, who loved the wages of unrighteousness;
2Pe 2:16 but he was rebuked for his iniquity: a dumb donkey speaking with a man's voice restrained the madness of the prophet.
2Pe 2:17 These are wells without water, clouds carried by a tempest, for whom is reserved the blackness of darkness forever.
2Pe 2:18 For when they speak great swelling words of emptiness, they allure through the lusts of the flesh, through lewdness, the ones who have actually escaped from those who live in error.
2Pe 2:19 While they promise them liberty, they themselves are slaves of corruption; for by whom a person is overcome, by him also he is brought into bondage.
2Pe 2:20 For if, after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, they are again entangled in them and overcome, the latter end is worse for them than the beginning.
2Pe 2:21 For it would have been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than having known it, to turn from the holy commandment delivered to them.
2Pe 2:22 But it has happened to them according to the true proverb: "A dog returns to his own vomit," and, "a sow, having washed, to her wallowing in the mire."

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CHRISTIAN

I think one of the main characteristics of false prophet is preaching peace when there is no peace. Preaching material prosperity, when calamity and judgement is coming. Preaching that you are healthy when you are sick and you are to die in your sins. Preaching that you are rich and you are good, when you are blind, and miserable, and poor. This is called false security, this lie to the core. This is tragedy by any means. Because sudden tragedy will come.

Jer 14:13 Then said I, Ah, Lord GOD! behold, [b]the prophets say unto them,[/b] Ye shall not see the sword, neither shall ye have famine; but I will give you assured peace in this place.

Jer 14:14 Then the LORD said unto me, The prophets prophesy lies in my name: I sent them not, neither have I commanded them, neither spake unto them: they prophesy unto you a false vision and divination, and a thing of nought, and the deceit of their heart.
Jer 14:15 Therefore [b]thus saith the LORD concerning the prophets that prophesy in my name, and I sent them not,[/b] yet they say, [b]Sword and famine shall not be in this land;[/b] By sword and famine shall those prophets be consumed.
Jer 14:16 [b]And the people to whom they prophesy [/b]shall be cast out in the streets of Jerusalem because of the famine and the sword; and they shall have none to bury them, them, their wives, nor their sons, nor their daughters: for I will pour their wickedness upon them.

In other words, false prophet and a teacher gives you false comfort. It makes you comfortable in your sins and it leads you to hell and eternal destruction.

The Lord already warned us, we are without excuse, we are given enough admonition to recognize the false prophets.

2Ti 4:3 [b]For the time will come[/b] when they will not endure sound doctrine; but [b]after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; [/b]
2Ti 4:4 And they shall [b]turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.[/b]
2Ti 4:5 [b][u]But watch thou in all things,[/u][/b] endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, make full proof of thy ministry.

Here is the test. Is he itching your ears, leaving you comfortable in the way you are living in your sin? If yes, then run for your life with all your might.

If he is not speaking to you about the wrath of God, His righteousness, His holiness, His justice, your sin, you wretchedness, your need of mercy and grace in the light of His wrath! Run from him and save your life.

[b]A PLEAD TO THE PASTORS/TEACHERS/PROPHETS[/b]

Dear Pastor,

Preach to me no more sermons on God’s love, unless it is accompanied by a message of His holiness. Preach to me no more sermons of His amazing grace without mentioning from what His grace saves me. Preach to me no more sermons of my Lord’s mercy except it be contrasted with what He would otherwise be just and righteous to do.

I cannot understand this God of love without hearing of His many other characteristics. My God is woefully complex, but He has been reduced to a god of mere sentiment and romance, which god has no power to save. Explain to me the wrathful God of the Old Testament. Acquaint me with His jealousy; why is His Name Jealous? When God says He “hates,” tell me what is it He despises? Show me His anger in full that I might know the object of this anger and avoid it in my own life. Don’t down play and trivialize His anger, I know He doesn’t change.

Show me the horrors of hell that I might truly prize my salvation and seek to share Him with others. Teach me to be hopeful of Judgment Day but to share with those whom are lost they should greatly fear it. Declare God’s holy commandments that I might have a portrait of His purity and holiness and conversely, that I might know what sin is. Proclaim to me my sin – that I lie, that I cheat, that I hate and covet. Tell me of my helplessness to keep said commandments that you might impress upon me my dire need of a Savior.

Once I have a grasp of the abomination of sin, then and only then, show me my Savior! When I fully comprehend the depth and breadth of my personal sin, my original sin, my self-righteousness and my unbelief, then the Gospel will really be Good News! When I realize my nakedness before God, my utter bankruptcy with respect to sin, I might esteem my deliverance utterly. Pastor, teach me the meaning of repentance, that I might truly be forgiven. Show me true humility that I might know its semblance.

Declare to me the offense of the cross and expound upon its meaning. Tell me, Pastor, why does it offend? Don’t merely tell me this is God’s love; help me to see His perfect justice in this Event. Describe for me also the representation of His holiness and righteousness at Calvary. Explain to me that this is what I have escaped through a life laid down for Christ; that this is the hell I deserved and instead Jesus took the punishment. Tell me that on that day, He became sin for sinners.

Then permit me to see by example how to live for this beautiful Savior. Help me to see in you the life of the redeemed. Show me your love for the lost; teach me likewise how to pour out my heart for them.

Then finally, tell me of God’s wonderful love for me. Then I think I will really understand “how great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God!” Then I know I will understand. Then I will be truly in His loving grip.

[b][url=https://www.sermonindex.net/modules/newbb/viewtopic.php?topic_id=19934&forum=35#155687]Digged from SI archive.[/url][/b]

Just wanted to add Jesus' own words to the 7 churches in Revelation. I see those 7 churches as always having exsisted even to the present time. It's worth the read, as Bro. Ron Bailey says, read it more slowly.

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D.Miller

generally when pastors preach to their congregations they are preaching to saved people. hence people that should be taught to repent without the help of a pastor.
Otherwise people will go to church to hear all the bad and how bad they are and I suppose this type preaching if not accompanied by an alter call leaves the saint condemed.


David

FireinmyBones1 or Jeff that was a really good Honest, Genuine, Sincere, Humbling, Self examining post, we need more like this here.
Thanks
Mr. Bill

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Bill