False prophets worship other gods

False prophets worship other gods
By David Cox

This article establishes that false prophets seek to worship other gods, and they teach and arrange things for the same within their church. Although this is not apparent, it is very true.

First of all, the worship of the true God of heaven is focused in an identification, an understanding, and an imitation of the divine character. This is essentially holiness. This character of God is discerned through studying the Scriptures, and once discerned and understood, then the believer would apply this divine character to their own life. 

Acts 17:11 ​These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so.

There is a verification or constant examination of Scripture with an eye to apply all that they find to their own life. Specifically, the pastor applies these things to first his own life, and that of his own family, then to the church as an administrator, and then individually preaches and teaches this to his people.

The sure sign of a false prophet is when this is short circuited and these elements of the divine moral character are not personally nor in his own family are applied. They are used by him for manipulating the church. A false prophet is very hypocritical in extreme, but he is always wanting to identify himself as one of the sheep.

Covetousness is a disqualifying sin for ministers

1Tim 3:3 Not given to wine, no striker, not greedy of filthy lucre; but patient, not a brawler, not covetous;

One of the requirements for being a minister is that his eye is not on the money. He must not be covetous. Amazingly, this disqualification or requirement for ministers pops up quite regularly in Scripture.

1Thess 2:5 For neither at any time used we flattering words, as ye know, nor a cloke of covetousness; God is witness:

Paul proclaims that he and his co-laborers never used “flattering words” in order to obtain for themselves personal gain. I must insist that within the Bible scheme of things, every minister should be a fair salary, but yet at the same time, people who are always kniving for personal gain are just disqualified from the ministry. If God’s people would wake up and refuse to give a dime, and never more sit under these preachers that are obviously money focused, then half or more of the church in America would wither up and die.

Col 3:5 Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry:

Covetousness is actually idolatry. The person who has this or manifests this does not have the true God of heaven as his Lord and Saviour. This must be understood. Jesus Christ as God, Lord, and Savior is actually opposed when a pastor or preacher stands up and ministers but has this element or character of covetousness.

A foundational understanding of all Christians is that everything we see and deal with in the here and now is everything that there is. A Christian believes that after death, the real life begins. We are passing through this world as wayfarers, and…

1Tim 6:7 For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out.

This perspective on life is at the bottom of every believer’s understanding and mindset. If he doesn’t have that understanding, perspective, and priority in his thinking, it is because isn’t saved. People can talk up a lot of religious stuff, but if they do not have a proper foundational view on this, they are only doing danger to others.

Phil 3:18 (For many walk, of whom I have told you often, and now tell you even weeping, that they are the enemies of the cross of Christ: Phil 3:19 Whose end is destruction, whose God is their belly, and whose glory is in their shame, who mind earthly things.)

It is very easy to identify a false prophet if you understand this. While there is nothing wrong with a church giving their ministers a fair wage, the worker should not be constantly “looking” and worrying about getting more. This in itself is a mark for disqualification from the ministry. Consumerism is a bad sign. By that I mean ministers who are not content with their wages, but are always wanting the newest, the most popular, and the most desired by society. Their “bellies” what they consume, is a good sign of what kind of minister they are. If they are obsessed with getting, having, enjoying, then most probably they are false prophets. Even if it is not on the surface, one has to examine and meditate. God gives us these things as signs, and if he is a bad minister, nothing he says can be taken without doubt.

Ezek 33:31 And they come unto thee as the people cometh, and they sit before thee as my people, and they hear thy words, but they will not do them: for with their mouth they shew much love, but their heart goeth after their covetousness. Ezek 33:32 And, lo, thou art unto them as a very lovely song of one that hath a pleasant voice, and can play well on an instrument: for they hear thy words, but they do them not.

Some of these marks dovetail in one with another. The person example of their life is what gives their words spiritual force. If they say but do not do, they are liars, and nothing about them is good, and you should flee from them as quickly as possible.

A good minister teaches people principles out of those things that he himself has discovered, understand, and practice. The truths that he finds, he shares, and the transfer of moral truth and character takes place.

A hypocritic digs up good moral truth also, but he speaks it, but doesn’t live it. Therefore, his life example is TO HAVE TRUTH, but in hypocresy, choose not to practice it, but rather make fun of God, by espousing to be a good believer, but live otherwise. Sitting under a hypocritical minister, you learn good doctrine to only trash it like he does.

2Thess 2:12 That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness.

Salvation, or believing Jesus Christ as your personal Savior is also the same as loving Jesus (God) and embracing in your own life the moral pattern of God (God’s will). Those who refuse to embrace and follow God’s character and moral hate truth, and are damned.

Heb 13:5 Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.

Peter describing the false prophet says…

2Pet 2:14 Having eyes full of adultery, and that cannot cease from sin; beguiling unstable souls: an heart they have exercised with covetous practices; cursed children: 2Pet 2:15 Which have forsaken the right way, and are gone astray, following the way of Balaam the son of Bosor, who loved the wages of unrighteousness;

Notice that WHAT they preach is dependent upon the economic impact of that teaching. Preaching against covetousness is usually avoided, because it can easily be turned back on the false prophet. So this is a key to discernment.

2Cor 2:17 For we are not as many, which corrupt the word of God: but as of sincerity, but as of God, in the sight of God speak we in Christ.

2Pet 2:3 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.

Some preachers (those who are false prophets or headed that way) are people who will use “feigned words” (play-do words that mold around and morph to the need at hand) in order to “make merchandise of you” i.e. get money out of you.

As a final thought, which do you seek to be? Rich or Poor? What if you would have to be poor to enter heaven? Would this mess up your goals and efforts?

Jas 2:5 Hearken, my beloved brethren, Hath not God chosen the poor of this world rich in faith, and heirs of the kingdom which he hath promised to them that love him?

1Tim 6:17 Charge them that are rich in this world, that they be not highminded, nor trust in uncertain riches, but in the living God, who giveth us richly all things to enjoy; 1Tim 6:18 That they do good, that they be rich in good works, ready to distribute, willing to communicate;

God’s exhortation to us is that we turn from riches as a goal of our life to being rich in good works, especially willing to give and share your resources for eternal causes. 1Tim 6:6 “contentment is great gain“.

Eph 5:3 But fornication, and all uncleanness, or covetousness, let it not be once named among you, as becometh saints;

Jas 5:1 Go to now, ye rich men, weep and howl for your miseries that shall come upon you. Jas 5:2 Your riches are corrupted, and your garments are motheaten. Jas 5:3 Your gold and silver is cankered; and the rust of them shall be a witness against you, and shall eat your flesh as it were fire. Ye have heaped treasure together for the last days. Jas 5:4 Behold, the hire of the labourers who have reaped down your fields, which is of you kept back by fraud, crieth: and the cries of them which have reaped are entered into the ears of the Lord of sabaoth. Jas 5:5 Ye have lived in pleasure on the earth, and been wanton; ye have nourished your hearts, as in a day of slaughter.

Being “wanton” means doing nothing of eternal value, not focusing on it.

What most Christians do not realize is that we are not to have covetousness in our ways AT ALL.

Heb 13:5 Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.

In other words we know very well from Scripture that riches is our spiritual enemy. Hardly will a rich man enter into heaven. We would understand this to mean that being rich, having money, and being saved are almost mutually exclusive. The only rich man that gets into heaven is the rich man that is extremely, extremely generous towards the work of God. But again, being rich means to steal or be miserly as much as possible. Generosity is in general the opposite of the forces and thinking of becoming rich.

next article FP: Prophets and Truth