“If there arises among you a prophet, and he gives you a sign or a wonder, and the sign or the wonder COMES TO PASS, of which he spoke to you…” (Deut. 13:1-2) This prophet tells us something about the future and it happens just like he said, that has to be from God, right!!! We are instructed to, “…not believe every spirit, but TEST THE SPIRITS, whether they are of God; because MANY false prophets have gone out into the world.” (1 John 4:1)
How do we test the spirits? We listen the what this prophet says, if he says, ‘Let us go after other gods’—which YOU HAVE NOT KNOWN—’and let us serve them,’ you shall NOT LISTEN to the words of that prophet…” (Deut. 13:1-3) We are living in the last of the last days and Jesus said, “Take heed that no one deceives you. For many will come in My name, saying, ‘I am the Christ,’ and WILL DECEIVE MANY.” (Matt. 24:4-5)
Paul tells us this about false teachers, “I will keep on doing what I am doing in order to cut the ground from under those who want an opportunity to be considered equal with us…For such people are FALSE APOSTLES, deceitful workers, masquerading as apostles of Christ. And no wonder, for Satan himself masquerades as an angel of light.” (2 Corin. 11:12-14)
Finally, Paul tells Timothy, “…from infancy you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. ALL SCRIPTURE is GOD-BREATHED (most translations say “given by inspiration of God” but the Greek word used here is one word, theopneustos [theos, God, and pneustos, to breathe]) and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be THOROUGHLY EQUIPPED for every good work.” (2 Tim. 3:15-17)
WHEN WE OPEN THE WORD OF GOD, HE BREATHES THE WORD INTO US, SO WE WILL KNOW WHAT WE’RE READING…
-Bill Stockham