God's Growing Garden: Obedience Series #9

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Obedience Series #9 - Beware of False Prophets

We have been studying obedience over the past few months - today's topic is something that one might not think falls into the category of obedience. Not only are we to obey God in the way we live, act and speak but we also need to obey God by following His leaders and His doctrine. Beware of false prophets & false doctrine.

So, the next question will obviously be: "how do we know if somebody is a false prophet?" The answer is easy - there are 2 easy steps: by word & by action.

"Dear Friends, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world. This is how you can recognize the Spirit of God: Every spirit that acknowledges that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God. But every spirit that does not acknowledge Jesus is not from God. This is the spirit of the antichrist, which you have heard is coming and even now is already in the world. You, dear children, are from God and have overcome them, because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world. They are from the world and therefore speak from the view point of the world, and the world listens to them. We are from God, and whoever knows God listens to us, but whoever is not from God does not listen to us. This is how we recognize the Spirit of truth and the spirit of falsehood."
1 John 4:1-6

By Word - study the scripture above and the basic question is: "Is this person/doctrine acknowledging that Jesus Christ is God's Son come in the flesh?"
The answer will be a simple "yes" or "no". There are many groups that say that they believe in God and angels but say nothing about Jesus Christ.

"Jesus answered, 'I am the way the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.' " John 14:6

You see, there is no other option - Jesus Christ is the ONLY way to God the Father. If any leader/doctrine tells you otherwise then I suggest that you run the other way and don't look back.

By Action - this is the more difficult situation to detect because many leaders might sound like they are saying the right thing but then you find out later that their actions do not meet up with their words. Many people are caught up in false doctrine because it sounded correct but then when I comes to living they find many discrepancies and hypocrisies.

"By their fruit you will recognize them." Matthew 7:16

Be sure to test every doctrine and every leader that you follow: Are they acknowledging Jesus Christ? & Are their actions matching up to their words?

#1 Christians are NOT Excluded from Obedience
#2 Holiness = Obedience to God
#3 Obeying God with Your Body
#4 Obeying God Makes His Actions Your Actions
#5 Taking Care of Your Family
#6 Respect
#7 Obeying Authority
#8 What Happens When Those in Authority Ask You To Go Against God's Law
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