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Jesus protected us from false prophets in the beginning of his ministry because it is necessary to be alert and not be ignorant of the enemy's evil mind.

Matthew 7:15,16
15 “Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves.
16 You will know them by their fruits.

I.  We have many warnings in the Old Testament about false prophets, so it wasn't something new for them

a) GOD exposed them in the presence of His people.

Jeremiah 23:32
Behold, I am against those who prophesy false dreams,” says the Lord, “and tell them, and cause My people to err by their lies and by their recklessness. Yet I did not send them or command them; therefore they shall not profit this people at all,” says the Lord.

b) they believe and trust in their own confusion

Ezekiel 13:6
They have envisioned futility and false divination, saying, ‘Thus says the Lord!’ But the Lord has not sent them; yet they hope that the word may be confirmed.

II.  This is the reason Jesus wants us to be alert.

a) He announced false prophets to come after His departure.

Mark 13:21-23
21 “Then if anyone says to you, ‘Look, here is the Christ!’ or, ‘Look, He is there!’ do not believe it.
22 For false christs and false prophets will rise and show signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect.
23 But take heed; see, I have told you all things beforehand.

b) But we need to remember that He has not left us alone after His departure to heaven, we have the direction of the Holy Spirit

John 14:26
But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you.

III.  The Apostles confronted false prophets

a) Elymas, the sorcerer, was a false prophet.

Acts 13:6,10
6 Now when they had gone through the island to Paphos, they found a certain sorcerer, a false prophet, a Jew whose name was Bar-Jesus,

b) Paul called him an enemy of all righteousness.

10 and said, “O full of all deceit and all fraud, you son of the devil, you enemy of all righteousness, will you not cease perverting the straight ways of the Lord?

2 Peter 2:1-3
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.
2 And many will follow their destructive ways, because of whom the way of truth will be blasphemed.
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.

c) The Apostle Peter, like Jesus, said that false prophets will keep coming.

2 Peter 3:3-4
3 knowing this first: that scoffers will come in the last days, walking according to their own lusts,
4 and saying, “Where is the promise of His coming? For since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of creation.”

d) John said to not believe every spirit, but test the spirits

1 John 4:1
Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits, whether they are of God; because many false prophets have gone out into the world.

Conclusion:

It is by the word of GOD that we know who are the false prophets, the enemy of the truth and righteouness of the Lord.

We need to be alert, reading and meditating on the word, faithfully, with no fear but in all perseverance.

Knowing that our Father GOD will destroy them

Revelation 20:10
The devil, who deceived them, was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone where the beast and the false prophet are. And they will be tormented day and night forever and ever.

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Javier Villa, Minister             
Sunday Morning 9/29/2019