THE CONSEQUENCE OF FALSE MINISTERS
By W. G. Guy
Jesus, the apostles Paul, Peter and John, all addressed the infiltration of false prophets, preachers and teachers into the church. This started in the very early stages of the church nearly two thousand years ago. They addressed this very serious issue due to corruption that these false ministers would bring into the church that would create a false form of church; a counter-church: as if they were preaching another Christ, by the spirit of antichrist. This is clearly the work of Satan, the liar and deceiver, in his effort to destroy the church of the LORD Jesus Christ, and to nullify His redemptive work.
2 Corinthians 11:14-15 – And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light. Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works.
Consider the scriptures where Jesus, Paul, Peter and John call attention to warning us about these false ministers.
Matthew 7:15 & 20 – Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves. 20 Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them.
Such false preachers, teachers and prophets are described as “ravening wolves” who feed off of the sheep to prosper themselves financially and positionally. They do not build up and feed the sheep, but themselves instead.
Matthew 7:21-22 – Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.
Their self-gratifying efforts don’t build up the temple of God, whose house they claim to be building. I have personally observed such ministers begin as it appears to be genuine servants of the LORD Jesus, but they eventually got off track and began “doing their own thing”, which is called “iniquity”. What they end up building will not stand against the storms of life that all believers encounter.
Matthew 7:24-27 – Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock: and the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock. And every one that heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man, which built his house upon the sand: and the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell: and great was the fall of it.
Here Jesus identifies two distinct forms of church; one built on solid rock with a strong foundation, and the other church that was built on sand that will not stand or endure in the end times of trouble and conflict: which Jesus said will be evident in the last days before His return.
Matthew 24:9-12 – Then shall they deliver you up to be afflicted, and shall kill you: and ye shall be hated of all nations for my name’s sake. And then shall many be offended, and shall betray one another, and shall hate one another. And many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many. And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold. But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved.
One of Satan’s favorite tools that he uses to deceive is false signs and wonders. I know of Christians who were lured to attend meetings where alleged “supernatural” signs and wonders occurred as they said a move of God was in that place. They said, “You need to go there to see these things”. My response to them was, “I don’t see anything like that recorded in the Bible,” so I don’t accept that as being the LORD doing that.
Matthew 24:24 – Then if any man shall say unto you, Lo, here is Christ, or there; believe it not. For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect.
Note that since the word Christ means “anointed one”, the term “false Christs” means false anointed ones. Many of these false ministers claim to be “anointed”; thus they are “false Christs”. This same message is repeated in Mark’s gospel with the added warning, “But take ye heed: behold, I have foretold you all things”.
Mark 13:21-23 – And then if any man shall say to you, Lo, here is Christ; or, lo, he is there; believe him not: for false Christs and false prophets shall rise, and shall shew signs and wonders, to seduce, if it were possible, even the elect. But take ye heed: behold, I have foretold you all things.
The apostle Paul had to deal with false teachers and preachers who tried to corrupt the gospel that he truthfully presented.
Acts 20:29-31 – For I know this, that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock. Also of your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them. Therefore watch, and remember, that by the space of three years I ceased not to warn every one night and day with tears.
Paul had to correct the church of the Galatians after false teachers came and taught false doctrines to the people saying that they had to observe the tenants of the Law of Moses.
Galatians 3:1-3 – O foolish Galatians, who hath bewitched you, that ye should not obey the truth, before whose eyes Jesus Christ hath been evidently set forth, crucified among you? This only would I learn of you, Received ye the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith?
The apostle Peter also dealt with false preachers, and he said that this problem would still persist in the future.
2 Peter 2:1-3 – But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction. And many shall follow their pernicious ways; by reason of whom the way of truth shall be evil spoken of. 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.
As Peter stated here: And through covetousness shall they with feigned words make merchandise of you. This means that, because of their greed and carnal appetites, they make financial gain off of the sheep that follow them. They own multiple huge homes; drive expensive luxury vehicles, and fly in their personal multi-million dollar jet planes. Some of these preachers even claim to be billionaires. Yet still they insist that you send them money because it will cause you to become wealthy also. Clearly such false preachers are focused on creation, the love of the world, rather than on the creator.
1 John 2:15-16 – Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. 16 For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.
The apostle John warns us to be “discerning”; being able to recognize what spirit is behind, or motivating, the person ministering to you.
1 John 4:1 – Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world.
True preachers, prophets and teachers are motivated by love to do their ministry. They have a love for God and Christ, a love to promote His Word, as well as love for those to whom they minister to. Ministering by love to others is the way to have the power of the Holy Spirit move through you as a channel of God’s love to them.
1 Corinthians 12:31-13:3 – But covet earnestly the best gifts: and yet shew I unto you a more excellent way. (Introducing LOVE/Charity as the way.) Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal. And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing. And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not charity, it profiteth me nothing.
Love is the first on the list of the Fruits of the Spirit.
Galatians 5:22-23 – But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.
Love should be the motive of those who prophesy, preach and teach.
Matthew 7:20 – Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them.
This is the fruit that our Heavenly Father desires to see in us because it represents His divine character and nature.
John 15:1-5, 8 – I am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman. 2 Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away: and every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit. Now ye are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you. Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me. I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing. 8 Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be my disciples.
As mentioned before, the Fruit of the Spirit is the divine character and nature of God that He is looking for in His children.
2 Peter 1:4 – whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.
Thus we need to be Fruit Inspectors of all who claim to be preachers, prophets, teachers, pastors, evangelists and apostles. Failure to see God’s divine character nature (Fruit of the Spirit) in those who claim to be His servants means you and your church could be deceived into accepting doctrines, beliefs, rituals and traditions that are not of God.
Jesus warned that deception would be prevalent in these last days. This is why I wrote the Book: THE OTHER CHRUCH which identifies two churches in the world today. The one that Jesus said He would build, which reflects His character and nature: and the one that man is building, which reflects man’s character and nature; which is the consequence of the work of false ministers.
John 4:23-24 – But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him. God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.
No deception of the false ministers should be allowed in the church of the LORD Jesus Christ! When it is found it must be dealt with! Man’s church is full of errors and false doctrines, traditions and rituals.
Ephesians 4:14 – …that we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive;
The consequence of the ministry of these false preachers, teachers and prophets is clearly described by the apostle Paul:
2 Timothy 3:1-5 – This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.
Where do you find a “form of godliness”? In the church that these false ministers build. Paul’s advice is: from such turn away !
(Next comes the task of cleansing the temple of the spots wrinkles and blemishes!)
Also visit https://www.wgguybibleteacher.com/.
