BYM ONLINE DESK Jan 2019 Blessing E-magazine | Page 6

January 2019 | www.bymonline.org
and we have been deceiving ourselves by saying that 'God
understands' and 'God loves'. It is true. But our God is also
a God who expects fruits in our lives. He is also Jehovah
Makkeh, the God who strikes (Eze 7:9). Some argue that
the Old Testament God was a God of wrath while the New
Testament God is a God of grace and love. Wrong! God
does not change like shifting shadows. He is the same
yesterday, today and tomorrow. Have we not read how
Ananias and Sapphira were smitten?(Acts 5:5,10) Did not
Paul warn that participating in the Lord's Table in an
unworthy manner would bring disease and death? (1 Cor
11:30). Yes, God loves! But He does not compromise on
holiness. Sin demands death and an unrepentant heart
invokes God's wrath. We sin today, nothing happens. So
we become bold and sin again. Again nothing happens. So,
we are deceived to think that God is kind and does not care.
That is not true, beloved. God is waiting. He is watching.
He is loving and kind and so He does not want to punish us
as our sin deserves. He is waiting for us to repent. He is
giving us this grace-period. Let us repent. Let us cry. Let us
set aside days of fasting and praying to return to Him! If we
return to Him, He will be gracious to forgive us and will
restore us double fold.
4) Untruthful Doctrines
Mar 13:21,22 “And then if anyone says to you,
'Look, here is the Christ!' or 'Look, there he is!' do not
believe it. For false christs and false prophets will arise
and perform signs and wonders, to lead astray, if possible,
the elect.”
In the last days, we need to stay alert because there
will be a number of people who would claim that they are
the christs and prophets.
compelled to teach people new doctrines. The Bible warns
of the doctrine of demons in the last days (1 Tim 4:1). As
God's chosen people if we do not stay alert, we might be
deceived.
In order to identify false christs and false prophets,
ask the following questions to yourselves:
1. Does the teaching emphasize or compromise on
holiness? (1 John 3:6,7, Ephe 5:4-6, 1 Cor 6:9)
2. Does the teaching teach the supremacy of Jesus
Christ ? (1 John 2:22, Col 3:11)
3. Is the teaching built on special revelation received
by one person? (Jer 23:16)
4. Is the teaching based on extra-Biblical vision that
a person received? (Jer 29:8)
5. Does the teaching magnify itself above the Bible?
(Rom 16:18)
6. Does the teaching balance the Old Testament and
the New Testament or does it avoid any one of them? (Mat
5:17, 13:52)
7. Is the teaching based purely on the experience of
the teacher and not on the Word of God? (2 Cor 11:3-5)
8. Does the teaching encourage only head
knowledge and not its application? (Jas 1:26, Gal 6:7)
9. Does the teaching give sufficient thrust on
Evangelism and Missions? (1 Thes 2:3,4)
10. Does the teaching emphasize miracles in order
to attract people to the teacher or preacher? (2 Tess 2:9-12,
Rev 19:20)
Who is a false Christ? A person who directs people
to himself rather than to God. Any minister or ministry
who misguides the sheep to themselves rather than to God
is under the influence of this misleading spirit. As children
of God, we need to be vigilant. Nowadays there are so
many sermons and study materials that are available
online. Is the preaching directing the people to God or to a
minister? Ask this question each time you hear about a
new preacher or a new ministry. Let us stay alert, for the
elect too will be deceived in the last days. Beloved, let us stay alert and not be swayed by
every kind of teaching that is coming up. Let us pray, study
the Word of God, involve in evangelism and lead a
witnessing life. That's it. Do not be driven to extremes. Be
rooted in the Word of God.
Who is a false prophet? A person who claims that
he has received special revelations from God and is Mar 13:9-11 - “But be on your guard. For they will
deliver you over to councils, and you will be beaten in
synagogues, and you will stand before governors and
5) Upsurging Persecutions
Page 6