Matt.7:15  Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves. 16  Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles?
Matt 24:11  And many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many.
I think it is time to tune up our discernment as the final days approach. It has always been a quirk of human nature to be misled. Charismatic leaders both Christian and Non Christian rise up and deceive many. The problem with making judgments is that we have our eyes on Religion, men or ministries more than our eyes upon Jesus who is the author and finisher of our faith. 2Cor11:19,20
Paul Addresses the problem of false prophets and apostles "-- For ye suffer fools gladly, seeing ye yourselves are wise.  "For ye suffer, if a man bring you into bondage, if a man devour you, if a man take of you, if a man exalt himself, if a man smite you on the face."

Evangelicals, though faithful to the essential doctrine of salvation by "grace" through faith are typically guarded toward anything that expresses a "spiritual" manifestation, for fear that it is demonic or out of order. They "resist the Holy Spirit" as Stephen declared to the Religious leaders who stoned him calling him an apostate. Their discernment was totally inaccurate!

Charismatics, on the other hand, may allow Spiritual manifestation but have difficulty discerning that which is "soulish" and that which is Spirit. High emotion or energy has come to become itself an indicator of Spirituality. However, Spirit is not of the mind or emotion though it may be viewed as very emotive. (The onlooking unbeliever points to what may be spiritual and allows that it merely emotion or feelings.)

1. Meekness of Character:

Jesus and the True Apostles must always be the role model and the rule of character. Paul's letter to Ephesus, in Chapter 4 indicates that we one day grow and mature into a perfect man in the exact facsimile of Jesus Christ. This is a key Scripture!. Jesus declares in
Matthew 11:29, 29  " -- Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart:' and " 10:1  Now I Paul myself beseech you by the meekness and gentleness of Christ, who in presence am base among you, but being absent am bold toward you:" 2Cor 10:1

2. Denying self and taking up the cross:

Any person who becomes a big name, a superstar, or a kind of spiritual idol is quickly on the road of becoming a false prophet or false teacher. Jesus corrected the early disciples who he sent to minister in "his name" they came back full of self exaltation, Luke 10:20  Notwithstanding in this rejoice not, that the spirits are subject unto you; but rather rejoice, because your names are written in heaven. Jesus took the focus off themselves. They had learned their lesson by the time Peter and John met the crippled man at the Gate: Acts 3:12  And when Peter saw it, he answered unto the people, Ye men of Israel, why marvel ye at this? or why look ye so earnestly on us, as though by our own power or holiness we had made this man to walk? The flesh, self exaltation or self promotion is slow to die. Therefore we must at sometime grow to understand the mystery of being crucified with Christ through baptism.

3: Selling out to the world and FAME --The error of Balaam

was a false prophet who "sold out" to the pagan world system. He was willing sell his gift for gain and bring a curse to the people of God. NT writings remind of this danger. Peter, (2Peter 2:15)Jude and the Revelation
Jude 11  Woe unto them! for they have gone in the way of Cain, and ran greedily after the error of Balaam for reward, and perished in the gainsaying of Core. Revelation 2:14 " --  But I have a few things against thee, because thou hast there them that hold the doctrine of Balaam, who taught Balac to cast a stumbling block before the children of Israel, to eat things sacrificed unto idols, and to commit fornication.
Gainsaying of Core refers to a leader of Israel who always contended for Moses' leadership. Moses, was called 'the meekest man on earth' and Core probably assumed that he was much more dynamic and qualified for leadership. He contended for authority that was not given to him.  He finally was swallowed up by Hell.

4. False prophets bring in Doctrines of Demons

Any of the varieties and flavors of worldly behaviors or motivations which are not governed by the meekness and gentleness of Christ and Jesus' selfless love of . There is a list of behaviors called the works of the flesh probably* are demonically inspired. Galatians 5: 19  Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness,
20  Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies,
21  Envying, murders, drunkenness, reveling, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.
*James 3:14, 15 (14  But if ye have bitter envying and strife in your hearts, glory not, and lie not against the truth. 15  This wisdom descendeth not from above, but is earthly, sensual, devilish -demonic-.)

DOCTRINAL SELF-CHECK LIST
Test Your Christian Beliefs
I remember being born again.
I remember being baptized.
I know the experience of being renewed in mind and spirit.
I have experienced a miracle.
I believe Jesus lives in me.
God answers my prayers.
God speaks to me.
I have trouble knowing if it is God or me, thinking.
 
 

The Bible
Is for those who can understand it
Needs additional books to explain it and complete it
Is revealed by the Holy Spirit
Other

The Bible
Is the sole source of doctrine and spiritual wisdom
Is equal to other revelations from God such as the Vedas
Is a picture of Jesus Christ
Other

The Church
Is the House of God
Is where we Go on Sundays for worship services
Is not a building but people
Other

The Pastor
Is in charge of the spiritual life of the fellowship
Is in charge of safeguarding doctrine
Is most qualified to do spiritual works
Is equipped with supernatural gifting and enablements
Other

Ministry
Is the work of trained church workers
Is modeled after Jesus Christ's spiritual works
Is what every disciple does
Other

The Holy Spirit
Is God
Is a Separate God
Never speaks for Himself
Other

Jesus
The most perfect man because He did not sin
Eternal God incarnate in Man
A man who had more of the Holy Spirit
A being God created
Other

The Crucifixion
Was God's plan
Was a blood sacrifice
Was Pilate's fault
Allowed God to curse His Son
Other

The Resurrection
Freed man from the legal control of Satan
Meant we could be resurrected
Made it possible for us to be like Jesus
Set Jesus above all persons and things
We could still be Christians without it
Other

The New Creation
Is based upon a witness and a confession and a miracle
Is an acceptance and a commitment
Makes a person new inside as one 'begotten'
May or may not be felt
Other

The Spirit Man
Is a higher form of the unconscious mind
Resides and comes forth from the mind
Bears witness to the Word of God
Yearns to be with God
Other

God's will and thoughts for us
Have all been expressed in the Word
Will be revealed in the right time
May be directed toward us personally
Can not be known
Other

The Devil
Is a foolish superstition
Is in charge of angels
Leaves Christians alone
Brings death, darkness and destruction
Other

Spiritual warfare
Is done by Jesus on our behalf
Is done by us in Jesus name
Is done in silent prayer
Is not our problem
Other

Intercession
Is the same as spiritual warfare
Is not possible without being born again
Requires the baptism of the spirit to be effective
Other

Diseases
May be the result of a curse
Are subject to Jesus name
Are put upon man to test us by God
Have a spiritual source
Other

Praying
Is reciting familiar prayers
Includes listening and saying
Should be done with confident expectancy
Includes praise and thanksgiving
Other

Prayer
Is offered to the Father
Is prayed to the Holy Spirit
Is directed to Jesus
Is prayed as though Jesus, not us is praying
Other

Holy Spirit prayer
Is prayed in other tongues
Is spontaneous utterances and leadings
Is carefully planned or written
Has power and fervency
Other

Religion
Should be banished from church
Is sacred and personal traditions
Is something that God loves
Other

Body ministry
Adds power through many anointing gifts
Brings confusion to the service
Needs to be learned through practice
Has no place in a modern church service
Other

Praying in the spirit
Should not occur without an interpretation
Should not be confused with a message in tongues
Brings the mind in conformity with the Spirit
Is not understood by angels
 

Walking in the spirit
Is not possible without the baptism of the Spirit
Is the same as a good feeling or positive attitude
Is functioning in the mind and emotions of Christ
Is using willpower to keep lusts in check
Other

The World
Is more enlightened than it once was
Has no knowledge of truth and goodness
Will be judged for rejecting Jesus' gospel
Has no answers for Christians
Other

Sin
Everyone is born a sinner
God sees Christians as sinners
Christians need to keep religious laws, commandments
Sin gives Satan an opportunity in us
Other

Judgment
Church members will go to heaven
Hell is promised to any not in the book of life
Confession of sin brings forgiveness
Those who reject Jesus can not know God
Other

Salvation
Jesus brings salvation
Baptism brings salvation
Good deeds bring salvation
We can't know with certainty that we will go to heaven
Other

Questions pertaining to liberty tests our individual insights. What is this liberty? How is this liberty to be expressed in the new testament church? What is its implication in terms of headship or leadership? 4.  When is it evident that Christian liberty is impeded or has been violated?
God grants and imparts a particular kind of liberty which is  according to His nature, through His Word. What ways is this liberty expressed? "And I will walk at liberty: for I seek thy precepts."    -- Psalm 119:45

God's desire for his people is freedom from bondage or liberty is announced by His prophets.
"This is the word that came unto Jeremiah from the LORD, after that the king Zedekiah had made a covenant with all the people which were at Jerusalem, to proclaim LIBERTY unto them;"    -- Jeremiah 34:8 "But ye turned and polluted my name, and caused every man his servant, and every man his handmaid, whom he had set at LIBERTY at their pleasure, to return, and brought them into subjection, to be unto you for servants and for handmaids."    -- Jeremiah 34:16

Jesus announces God's desire for his people is freedom from bondage or LIBERTY.
"The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised,"    -- Luke 4:18

Jesus criticizes the scribes and Pharisees for their placing burdens upon the shoulders of the people.
"For they bind heavy burdens and grievous to be borne, and lay them on men's shoulders; but they themselves will not move them - -."    -- Mat 23:4

The Apostle Paul addresses the matter of LIBERTY, frequently.

"Because the creature itself also shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God."    -- Rom 8:21 (Is it only freedom from following religious laws or does it pertain to the expression in worship and fellowship also?)
"Conscience, I say, not thine own, but of the other: for why is my liberty judged of another man's conscience?"    -- 1 Corinthians 10:29  "Now the Lord is that Spirit: and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty."    -- 2 Corinthians 3:17

False Brethren began to place the children of God into bondage again.
(What comprises this sort of bondage?)
"And that because of false brethren unawares brought in, who came in privily to spy out our LIBERTY which we have in Christ Jesus, that they might bring us into bondage:"    -- Gal 2:4 "To whom we gave place by subjection, no, not for an hour; that the truth of the gospel might continue with you."    -- Gal 2:5 "Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage."    -- Gal 5:1

Peter addresses liberty in his epistle, evidently having learned some lessons from Paul.
"As free, and not using your LIBERTY for a cloak of maliciousness, but as the servants of God."    -- 1 Pet 2:16

Burden bearing is ministering to people so that the yoke is made easier.
"Bear ye one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ."    -- Gal 6:2

Self exaltation is a spiritual deception which causes certain people  to suppress others.

 "For if a man think himself to be something, when he is nothing, he deceiveth himself."    -- Gal 6:3 "But let every man prove his own work, and then shall he have rejoicing in himself alone, and not in another."    -- Gal 6:4
 "For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith."    -- Rom 12:3  "Let us not be desirous of vain glory, provoking one another, envying one another."    -- Gal 5:26
 "With all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love;"    -- Eph 4:2 "Endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace."    -- Eph 4:3

Where does edification come from in the new testament church?
Is it from the teachings or preaching of a single authority?

The body provides a variety of gifts in the person of other believers for the mutual gain and edification of all.
 "Wherefore receive ye one another, as Christ also received us to the glory of God."    -- Rom 15:7
"For as we have many members in one body, and all members have not the same office:"    -- Rom 12:4
"Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, whether prophecy, let us prophesy according to the proportion of faith;"    -- Rom 12:6 "Or ministry, let us wait on our ministering: or he that teacheth, on teaching;"    -- Rom 12:7 "Or he that exhorteth, on exhortation: he that giveth, let him do it with simplicity; he that ruleth, with diligence; he that showeth mercy, with cheerfulness."    -- Rom 12:8

The body of believers come together for mutual edification.

 "How is it then, brethren? when ye come together, every one of you hath a psalm, hath a doctrine, hath a tongue, hath a revelation, hath an interpretation. Let all things be done unto edifying."    -- 1 Corinthians 14:26
"Let us therefore follow after the things which make for peace, and things wherewith one may edify another."    -- Rom 14:19 "Let every one of us please his neighbor for his good to edification."    -- Rom 15:2

Apostolic leadership is focused toward edification and liberty in correct doctrine.
"For though I should boast somewhat more of our authority, which the Lord hath given us for edification, and not for your destruction, I should not be ashamed:"    (What is it that brings forth edification? Love.)

 

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