On the Devil, Photoshopping, False Prophets, Teachers and Shepherds

"For such men are false apostles, deceitful workers, disguising themselves as apostles of Christ. No wonder, for even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light. Therefore it is not surprising if his servants also disguise themselves as servants of righteousness, whose end will be according to their deeds." (2 Corinthians 11:13-15)

The devil is the "Photoshop" master. Do you know what I mean by Photoshop? It's that picture program that allows you to do things to pictures, add and subtract, etc, to make them look real when they are not.

At first look at the picture of the alligator and tourist boat, wow! Can you imagine having that happen? One minute you're minding your own business enjoying a lovely day on the river and the next minute you've got Jaws in a crocodile suit about to eat you!

And yet if you look closer (click picture to enlarge), it's not too difficult to tell that the alligator (or boat) was added ~ and it may even be that the alligator was enhanced (made bigger) at least a couple of times?

Getting back to the devil as the "Photoshop" master ~ that's really what I want to talk about here. We are living in the last days of planet earth. The Bible says that during this time, among all the other crazy things that are taking place, there will be a spirit of deception like never before. (Matthew 24:24) Satan will be "Photoshopping" all over the place!

DECEPTION OF UNBELIEVERS

And let me just talk about the deception of unbelievers for a moment, first. If you think all religions lead to God, you are being deceived. Jesus said, "No one comes to the Father, but through me." (John 14:6) If you think a person can be good enough to make it into heaven, you are being deceived. "'There is none righteous, not even one.'" (Romans 3:10) If you think your sins are so awful that God couldn't forgive you, you are being deceived. The blood of Jesus cleanses us from all sin. (1 John 1:7c)

DECEPTION OF "BELIEVERS"

The deception of "believers" is different. (I put "believers" in quotes because ~ are they really?) This deception doesn't come so much from "without" the church, but from within. It comes through prophets, teachers and shepherds whom Satan has "Photoshopped."

And yet if you look closer, it's not too difficult to tell the bad from the good. They have certain characteristics that give them away...

How to Tell a False Prophet:

1. A false prophet can have the ability to do signs and wonders. (Mark 13:22)
2. A false prophet declares out of his own imaginations and not Christ. (Ezekiel 13:2-3)
3. A false prophet can be bought. He speaks pleasantly to those who feed him. (Micah 3:5)
4. A false prophet disguises himself as a believer while all the time he's under the control of the devil. (Matthew 7:15-23)

How to Tell a False Teacher:　

1. A false teacher portrays himself as having knowledge when he does not. (1 Timothy 1:7)
2. A false teacher offers contrary doctrine to the Gospel of Jesus Christ. (1 Timothy 6:3-5)
3. A false teacher speaks what people want to hear instead of what people need to hear. (2 Timothy 4:3-4)
4. A false teacher is bound to wickedness, unconverted and destined for destruction. (2 Peter 2:1-3)

How to Tell a False Shepherd:　

1. A false shepherd is only concerned for himself and not the flock. (Ezekiel 34:2-3)
2. A false shepherd leads the flock astray in word and deed. (Jeremiah 50:6)
3. A false shepherd abandons the flock when they need him the most. (John 10:12)
4. A false shepherd does not exalt the Good Shepherd. (John 10:14-15)

Source: epicsnaps.com via Pastor Mike on Pinterest

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6 Scriptures on Falling Away from the Faith (in 30 seconds)

Six Scriptures on Falling Away (in 30 seconds)

How to Tell If You're Being Deceived (in 30 seconds)

Evil People, Dying to Self and 7 Responses When You're Wronged

"'But I say to you, do not resist an evil person; but whoever slaps you on your right cheek, turn the other to him also.'" (Matthew 5:39)

A professor in Bible college once told my class (of future pastors), "Don't go into the ministry unless you're ready to die." (It's funny what you remember from two decades ago.)

Of course, we really didn't know what that meant ~ because, until you're truly in the middle of something, experiencing it up close and personal (versus reading it in a book), that's the real classroom (the "school of hard knocks").

And it never feels good when you're mistreated, wronged, tricked, lied to, manipulated, taken advantage of, stolen from, your name is smeared, etc. (Been there? Done that?)

And when it really, really, really does hurt (like a slap in the face, punch in the gut, kick in the shins) is when the ill will comes from another "believer."

And yet it's part of the death process that my professor talked about for ministers (isn't it?) ~ and Christians, too ~ where we die to self (our fleshly responses to abuse) and embrace the life of Christ (the way He would respond to abuse).

And every single one of us is guilty of abusing Him (Jesus). We are. (Romans 3:23) And He's turned the cheek time and time and time again with us. He has. (Luke 23:34a)

And we're so good at sticking our chests out and parading about what spiritual stars we are.

But then we're wronged (and sometimes it's very, very deeply) and what's our response?

Here are seven choices...

7 Responses When You're Wronged:

1. Pray for the wrongdoer.
2. Wash their feet. (Jesus did with Judas.)
3. Truly forgive. (The prisoner forgiveness really frees is you.)
4. Break off the relationship. (Many times you just have to.)
5. Consider areas of wrongdoing towards others in your own life. (Matthew 7:3)
6. Avoid being suspicious of others.
7. Steer clear of bitterness.

(To listen to Matthew West's song: Forgiveness, click here.)

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10 Lies of the Devil (redux) plus podcast

(To listen to the podcast of this post, click here for Part 1, click here for Part 2 and click here for Part 3.)

I have written on this topic before. (To read 10 Lies of the Devil, click here. To read 10 More Lies of the Devil, click here.) I feel strangely moved to write on it again. (A "redux" is a revisiting of something from the past.)

The world is ending. (Selah~pause to reflect) More and more people are having a problem with the teaching of the Bible. The way my Pastor likes to put it is they are rejecting (will reject) a "Biblical worldview."

A "Biblical worldview" is one that looks to the Word of God, the Scriptures as its lens to live life, respond to life and evaluate life. The Bible is to be the final rule of faith and conduct. After all, it was for Jesus. (Wasn't it?)

This rejection of a "Biblical worldview" has given rise to a false gospel. (2 Timothy 2:3-4) There are preachers who have turned away from the truth themselves. And it only makes sense (to them)? Their services are full. (Sometimes the size of stadiums.) So is their bank account. They are even being accepting by major media and popular politicians.

And yet they are "anathema" to God. (Dictionary.com defines anathema as "a formal ecclesiastical curse involving excommunication.")

Ezekiel was given a vision of the elders of Israel. (Ezekiel 8:7-8) Behind the scenes where no one could see (but God could see) they were worshiping idols / burning incense to false images. (Ezekiel 8:9-12)

I suggest that preachers who are preaching a false gospel have some hidden sin in their lives, too, that no one knows about (but God knows).

Which brings me finally to...

10 Lies of the Devil (redux):
(What might you add?)

• You can be a Christian and support same sex marriage
• It is never right to judge another person's life (1 Corinthians 5:1-5)
• Man evolved from apes
• "Social justice" (/socialism) is based in Christianity
• The problem is global warming, not sin
• You can be a Christian and support abortion rights
• Man can rule himself (and therefore others) apart from God
• You don't have to work to eat
• There is such a thing as morality without God
• The world will finally be at peace when we all can come together as one

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What Might Jesus Say to a Mormon?

"For even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light." (2 Corinthians 11:14)

The founding of the Mormon religion goes something like this. As a teenager, Joseph Smith, Jr., became troubled by what he saw as the divisiveness of the Christian Church. And so he sought answers and began to pray.

Now praying is okay as long as one knows to whom he's praying to. Just because one "prays" doesn't necessarily guarantee that the being on the receiving end is God. And if you add to that you're not even a believer in the first place, well, it's a disaster in the making.

Joseph Smith was not a Christian. Therefore, when he prayed to "God," he was an easy target for deception. Yes, there is a devil. (John 10:10a) Yes, he seeks to deceive. (Revelation 12:9) And yes, if you are susceptible to believing a lie and available to promote that lie to others, Satan will come knocking at your door. (2 Thessalonians 2:9-12)

Smith's deceptions came in the form of supposed "visions," the first of which was when, while in "prayer," he perceived "[two] personages (supposedly God the Father and God the Son) [standing] above [him] in the light." (The Pearl of Great Price, 17-19; Understanding the Cults by McDowell and Stewart, pg 84) These "personages" told him that he shouldn't join any Christian denomination for they all were wrong. Instead, they directed him to found his own church, the likes of which would be the only true church of God.

Now in a second vision about three years later, Smith was again visited by a being who this time had a name. The exchange between him and "Moroni" is also recorded in the Mormon document: "The Pearl of Great Price." There, Smith says...

I had a second vision. A personage appeared at my bedside who was glorious beyond description. He said that he was a messenger sent from the Presence of God, and that his name was Moroni; [and] that God had a work for me to do. ...He told me that a book had been deposited, written on golden plates, giving account of the former habitations of this continent (America) and containing "the fullness of the everlasting Gospel" as delivered by the saviour to the ancient inhabitants of this land. ...I was shown exactly where the plates had been deposited. That same night the heavenly messenger appeared again twice, each time repeating the same message. The next day I went to a hill outside the village where we lived...and found the golden [plates] in a stone box. (The Pearl of Great Price, 50-54; Understanding the Cults by McDowell and Stewart, pg 84-85)

It was from these "plates" that Joseph Smith ultimately translated what was to become known as the book of Mormon, a book that is supposedly an additional testament of Jesus Christ. And a new religious system was born.

And so what might Jesus say to Joseph Smith (Mormonism's founder)? I believe Jesus might answer with a Bible verse found in the New Testament book of Galatians...

But even though we, or an angel from heaven, should preach to you a gospel contrary to that which we have preached to you, let him be accursed. (Galatians 1:8)

How could Jesus say such a thing? I thought Jesus was a nice guy. I thought Jesus was tolerant. I thought Jesus loved everybody. Well, He does love everybody, but not with the kind of "love" that most often the world portrays. Jesus' love speaks the truth. Jesus' love is not politically correct. In the end the masses will not accept it. (John 1:11; Matthew 7:13b)

(Picture above in the public domain: click here.)

You might also be interested in:

• 10 Lies of the Devil
• In Bed with a Demon - Part 2

Is October 21, 2011 the End of the World?

Here we go again (and again and again). The Camping camp (Harold, that is ~ pun intended?) is setting another date for the Apocalypse. Except this time it's the "real" date. Because, you see, last time they were wrong. (Huh?) Last time they said the Rapture would take place on May 21, 2011 and it didn't. (To read my post: "Is May 21, 2011 the Day?, click here.) But this time they're right(?) This time it's for sure. This time ~ well.

I started reading their "proposal" as to why October 21st is the day for the end of the world and I didn't have to read too far. There "logic" is flawed (of course) ~ aside from the fact that Jesus said no one knows the day or the hour. (Matthew 24:36) Their thinking begins with the genealogies in the first book of the Bible (Genesis 5:1-32; 11:10-31) as the framework for determining dates and God's timetable. (A red flag should already be going up.)

The fact is if you understand Biblical genealogies (and I'm no scholar on it ~ you don't have to be) you'll know there are gaps. Oftentimes there are spaces. Some people are missing from the ancestral line.

And so if there are gaps / spaces and people are missing from the genealogies (think about it), you can not use them to base a calendar on. There are years, decades, centuries ~ how do you know? ~ that can not be accounted for. Whatever calendar you come up is nothing short of foolish (or worse ~ Satanic).

Such is Harold Camping's calendar. (Click here and page down three times for a look / see.) A few quick dates from it:

11,013 BC—Creation. God created the world and man (Adam and Eve).

1988 AD—This year ended the church age and began the great tribulation period of 23 years (13,000 years from creation).

2011 AD—On May 21st, Judgment Day will begin and the rapture (the taking up into heaven of God’s elect people) will occur at the end of the 23-year great tribulation. On October 21st, the world will be destroyed by fire (7000 years from the flood; 13,023 years from creation).

There's that October 21st date. Did you see it?

(Pictures above in the public domain: click here, here, here and here.)

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• 7 Dynamics at the End of the World
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Discerning False Prophets (in 30 seconds)

Have a vision & start your own religion. But is it of God? Pastor Mike talks about how to distinguish a false prophet versus a faithful one.

Discerning False Teachers (in 30 seconds)

Pastor Mike talks about the difference between a faithful teacher and a false one. Do you know how to tell?

Discerning False Shepherds (in 30 seconds)

Pastor Mike talks about how it really does matter who your spiritual leader is. Are they faithful or false?

10恶魔的谎言 (10 Lies of the Devil)

有一个伊甸园的狡猾的野兽。他会说话！为了女人，大蛇说：“你不会死，如果你吃了禁果。您只需变得像神。”和所有的母亲一起生活了。夏娃吃。直到今天，她 的孩子是这样的选择支付（和亚当的）。你已经站在了一个葬礼前，灵柩前？这么多蛇的/魔鬼的建议。夏娃什么不明白早在花园可以挽救她和她的丈夫（和我们每 一个人）。蛇/魔鬼/撒但不能说真话永远。嗯嗯。不行。这是不可能的。出来的一切，从他的嘴里，是欺骗/假。耶稣（谁也不会说谎）的骗子（在这样的魔鬼） 发言：“[他]并不了解事实真相的立场，因为他心里没有真理。每当他讲一个谎言，他从自己的性质，讲他是个骗子和谎言之父。“ （约翰福音8:44），也不会说，任何出来的魔鬼的嘴巴如此这般，必须予以驳斥。 ，他是否对你说什么最近？它可能包括一些/下列任何？

10恶魔的谎言...
（可能你添加什么？）

上帝不爱你

有没有这回事地狱

所有宗教导致天堂

你不是罪人

每个人都将被保存

您决不会有出息

您转世第二次机会

你可以让自己接受的你怎么做上帝

耶稣只是一个好人

魔鬼不是真正的

（留意“10更多谎言的魔鬼”到功成。）

Chinese (Simplified)

(10 Lies of the Devil: ENGLISH)

10 More Lies of the Devil

After forty days in the wilderness Satan tempted the Savior, "If You are God's Son, tell this stone to become bread." "Worship me and I will give you all the kingdoms of the world." "Throw Yourself down from the temple's height and the angels will catch You." Each time Jesus recognized it was a liar speaking and referenced the words He lived by (the truth of Scripture). (Luke 4:1-13) And unlike our parents (Eve and Adam) in the Garden, Christ overcame. You and I can likewise withstand the onslaught of the enemy of our souls, but first we must recognize his lies. Anything that comes out of the devil's mouth must be rejected. Has he been saying anything to you lately? Might it include some/any of the following?

10 More Lies of the Devil...
(What might you add?)

This life is all there is (so eat, drink and be merry)

You can pray to the Virgin Mary and she will hear you

As long as you are "sincere," that's all that matters

God overlooks the "small sins" and only cares about the big ones

Allah is God, too

You don't need to go to church

What you're doing for God is NOT making a difference

Your denomination (church affiliation) has all the answers

It is possible for a person to keep the Ten Commandments

You don't need Jesus

(Click HERE if you would like to read Part 1 of this series: "10 Lies of the Devil.")

10 Lies of the Devil

There was a crafty beast in the Garden of Eden. And he could talk! To the woman, the serpent said, "You won't die if you eat the forbidden fruit. You'll just become like God." And the mother of all the living went along. Eve ate. To this day her children are paying for that choice (and Adam's). You've stood at a funeral in front of a casket before? So much for the serpent's/devil's recommendations. And what Eve didn't understand back in the Garden could have saved her and her husband (and each of us). The serpent/devil/Satan can not speak the truth ever. Uh uh. No way. It's not possible. Everything that comes out of his mouth is a deception/false. Jesus (who can never lie) spoke of the deceiver (the devil) like this, "[He] does not stand in the truth because there is no truth in him. Whenever he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own nature, for he is a liar and the father of lies." (John 8:44) And so it goes without saying that anything that comes out of the devil's mouth must be rejected. Has he been saying anything to you lately? Might it include some/any of the following?

10 Lies of the Devil...
(What might you add?)

God doesn't love you

There's no such thing as hell

All religions lead to heaven

You're not a sinner

Every person will be saved

You'll never amount to anything

You'll reincarnate for a second chance

You can make yourself acceptable to God by what you do

Jesus was just a good man

I (the devil) am (is) not real

(Watch for "10 More Lies of the Devil" to come soon.)