Matthew 7.15-16: Beware of false prophets, who come to you dressed as sheep, but inside they are devouring wolves. You will fully recognize them by their fruits. We can’t forget that the devil comes as an angel of light to deceive (2 Cor 11.14), and can perform miracles (Rev 16.14). How do we prevent religious deception? LINE ALL TEACHINGS UP WITH THE WORD OF GOD (1 John 4.1; 1 Th 5.21), and get your theology from the Word of God instead of being indoctrinated by others’ revelations which can be false. If things are not in agreement with the Word of God, reject the teachings.
“The popular church of the 21st Century pretends to adhere to the truth, yet quietly undermines it. Experience and emotion are substituted for the Word of God as its basis of faith. Any time we make emotional “religious experiences” or various signs and wonders the criterion of our faith, we thereby open the floodgates to every sort of delusion. If experience or emotion becomes the standard of our faith, then we must accept the validity of any experience from which someone gains a ‘religious’ sensation: the ancient ritual prostitution at pagan temples; the frenzied worship of Bacchus; the Moslem dervishes and followers of the Ayatollah Khomeini and his successors.
“In fact, all religious experiences must be tested for agreement with Scripture before they can be accepted as genuinely from God. Scripture is the objective criterion which permits us to separate true experiences of God from delusions of the evil one. All of our religious experiences must be verified by Scripture; Scripture is not proved by them.” (from Jeremiah Project)
The Word of God — HIS Word — will never pass away. All will be fulfilled. And it will always be the primary way the Lord leads His own, and His sheep hear HIS voice (Word) (John 10.26-28) and will NOT follow a stranger (Mk 13.31; John 10.35; 2 Tim 3.16-17; 2 Peter 1.16-21; Rev 22.18-19).
Joshua 10.19: And DON’T STOP! Chase your enemies — cut off their rear guard — don’t let them into your cities, for God has given them into your hand!
