Discerning the Last Days Delusion and
Pharisee Spirit Part 1
August 2 2007
Kato Mivule
We live in times were deceit is
used as a weapon to control and manipulate the masses. Many
Politicians, Business Leaders, Religious Leaders, Government
Leaders, and a host of others in society today are not ashamed
to use lies to propel their fame, positions, power, and
influence. It has become a generation of deceit and lies.
The Church too has not survived
the current onslaught of lies being perpetuated by Satan himself
around the world, for the Bible describes Satan as the father of
all lies. One of the first warnings that Jesus Christ gave to
His disciples in Matthew 24 concerning the signs of His second
Coming was that they ‘Take Heed’ not to be deceived. The
last-days generation would be one filled with lots of lies from
Satan through which he seeks total control of the masses.
However, Jesus Christ told us
before hand that this would happen and that we are to take
precaution or ‘heed’ that we don’t get caught in this end times
apostasy. In these pieces of studies I endeavor to take a look
at scriptures in the Bible in the New Testament by both Jesus
Christ and His Apostles warning us about the Apostasy and
Pharisee spirit.
I use the term Pharisee spirit
because it is intertwined with the end times apostasy and
delusion. The most dangerous False Prophets come as wolves
dressed in sheep skin. They come preaching about Jesus Christ
but their motives and actions are those of pure bloodied false
prophets and wolves.
It is imperative that we
understand what Jesus Christ spoke about the Pharisees and you
will see that it ties in well with the end time delusion. This
‘Pharisee spirit’ is live and working today, it is the spirit of
the antichrist and may very well be present in the church you
attend today.
Besides all the discernment I
will present in these studies, it is vital that one examines
their heart before The Lord in light of these scriptures
presented that your heart does not get caught up by the Pharisee
Spirit of hypocrisy and lies.
While it is imperative that we
use scriptures for discernment, it is vital that we also check
our own hearts and examine ourselves if we still stand in the
faith and that we have not fallen to the wiles of the Pharisee
Spirit and as such become part of those engaged in the end time
apostasy.
It is vital too that we don’t get
offended by The Word of God. The people who think that they
cannot get deceived are the most vulnerable and naïve at best;
most of our churches today never ever study such scriptures and
only depend on the traditions of men, most of which are
unbiblical.
Many have endeavored to write
about cults and popular ‘Christian’ movements today when dealing
with the end time apostasy, however, I will take a look at what
scripture tells us so that our discernment is not dependant on
mere documentaries but on God’s Holy Word. For the most part I
will let God’s Word speak for it’s self. The Goal of these
studies is to let you grow in discernment and love for Jesus
Christ our Lord and Savior.
You shall know them by their
fruits…
Matthew 7:15-23
(15)
Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing,
but inwardly they are ravening wolves.
(16)
Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of
thorns, or figs of thistles?
(17)
Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt
tree bringeth forth evil fruit.
(18)
A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither
can
a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit.
(19)
Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and
cast into the fire.
(20)
Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them.
(21)
Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into
the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father
which is in heaven.
(22)
Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not
prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils?
and in thy name done many wonderful works?
(23)
And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from
me, ye that work iniquity.
Jesus Christ tells us that false
prophets will come in sheep’s clothing but are wolves…not just
wolves but ravening wolves…
False Prophets will not come in
the open for everyone to see but will come preaching and
speaking about Jesus Christ but their actions are those of
wolves…they come in subtly...
Jesus Christ says that we shall
know them by their fruits…sometimes trees take time to brae
fruits but when they do you know it… I am not speaking about
folks who struggle with sin to overcome it but about folks who
exhibit love for the world and worldliness…and as such they find
excuse to indulge in their hidden sins… The Prosperity Doctrine
is a good example of riches and wealth being emphasized leading
to love for the world and then sin becomes normal…
The Fruit True Christians bring
forth is the Life, Character, and Authority of Jesus Christ
while that of False Prophets is the life, character, and
authority of the world – Worldliness…
Jesus Christ gives us another
clue that false prophets would come around saying ‘Lord, Lord’
but would not obey Jesus Christ by doing His Father’s Will in
Heaven. These are they spoken about in Matthew 24:
Matthew 24:4-5
(4)
And Jesus answered and said unto them, Take heed that no man
deceive you.
(5)
For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall
deceive many.
They will come in His Name saying
Jesus is the Christ but will deceive many….they will come
preaching and teaching about Jesus Christ in His Name but using
that as a ploy to deceive the masses…these are they that say
‘Lord Lord’ but are disobedient to Christ…they are sons of
perdition.
Many preachers, pastors, and
bible teachers today in many mega churches fall under this
category. This will sound offensive to many but so be it, this
has to do with your eternal destiny, you can choose to follow
and obey God’s Word and live or obey Joel Osteen, Rick Warren,
Benny Hinn, and Creflo Dollar and perish…
Many of these preachers speak in
the Name of Jesus yet preach lies. They preach 50 per cent truth
and the rest is deceit and poison; that 50, 30, 20 per cent lies
and poison is what is enough to kill you spiritually and that IS
HOW DECEPTION WORKS! Deception is always packaged in ‘semi
truth’ containers…
Watch the Words
they speak, for it is not Truth…
Matthew 12:33-37
(33)
Either make the tree good, and his fruit good; or else make the
tree corrupt, and his fruit corrupt: for the tree is known by
his
fruit.
(34)
O generation of vipers, how can ye, being evil, speak good
things? for out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh.
(35)
A good man out of the good treasure of the heart bringeth forth
good things: and an evil man out of the evil treasure bringeth
forth evil things.
(36)
But I say unto you, That every idle word that men shall speak,
they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment.
(37)
For by thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou
shalt be condemned.
Jesus Christ gives us another
clue here, the words that men speak, for they shall be justified
by them or condemned by the same. False prophets will often
speak words that are not in God’s Word. Because God’s Word does
not abide in then, therefore they speak words of their own
making.
Jesus Christ said that an evil
man will out of the evil treasure bring forth evil things and a
good man out of the good treasure of his heart will bring forth
good things. When you read Psalms 119, you cannot fail to notice
that the good treasure spoken of here is God’s Holy Word that
men must hide in their hearts so as not to sin against The Lord.
Therefore those who are false will always speak false as Isaiah
forewarned about them…
Isaiah 8:20
(20)
To the law and to the testimony: if they speak not according to
this word,
it is
because
there is
no light in them.
1 Peter 4:11
(11)
If any man speak,
let him speak
as the oracles of God; if any man minister,
let him do it
as of the ability which God giveth: that God in all things may
be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom be praise and
dominion for ever and ever. Amen.
From the above scriptures we see
that if one does not speak according to God’s Word or as the
oracles of God, then it is because there is no light in them.
This is what Jesus Christ meant when He said “O generation of
vipers, how can ye, being evil, speak good things? for out of
the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh”…
False prophets and false teachers
will always speak words and doctrines that don’t line up with
God’s Holy Word, so watch what they say, you will not fail to
find them out.
Many Christians don’t want to
“criticize” their pastors or cross check to see if what their
pastors preach lines up with God’s Holy Word. This is not only
wrong behavior by Christians but very unbiblical. The result is
that people who are filled with darkness minister to the
undiscerning Christian and as such they are brought under
bondage and delusion of Satan inside the church itself. The
Berean Christians in the book of acts were not so, when Paul the
apostle ministered in the town, they searched the scriptures to
see if what Paul taught was so.
Acts 17:10-12
(10)
And the brethren immediately sent away Paul and Silas by night
unto Berea: who coming
thither
went into the synagogue of the Jews.
(11)
These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they
received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the
scriptures daily, whether those things were so.
(12)
Therefore many of them believed; also of honourable women which
were Greeks, and of men, not a few.
There it is important that you
check the scriptures to see if what a preacher or pastor
preaches lines up with the whole counsel of God’s Holy Word. If
that preacher or pastor preaches things that re unbiblical, the
bible says it is because there is no light in him but darkness
and therefore doctrines of devils…
A very good example is when
Creflo Dollar made the following statement…
"I'm telling you, Jesus wasn't poor, and He didn't wear no rags,
either. Like we march in on these Easter little plays that we do
at our church, with those raggedy sheets on. Jesus didn't have
no rags on. He wore designer clothes, honey!"
(Creflo
Dollar Crusade, Feb. 9, 1999. Bob Hunter, "Contenders")
Now when we examine such a
statement to see if it lines up with God’s Holy Word we find
that it is not Biblical at all and nowhere in the scriptures…
This is pure lies and deceit being preached by Creflo Dollar in
order to support his false prosperity doctrines…
False Teachers
always teach the Traditions and Doctrines of men…
Matthew 15:1-14
(1)
Then came to Jesus scribes and Pharisees, which were of
Jerusalem, saying,
(2)
Why do thy disciples transgress the tradition of the elders? for
they wash not their hands when they eat bread.
(3)
But he answered and said unto them, Why do ye also transgress
the commandment of God by your tradition?
(4)
For God commanded, saying, Honour thy father and mother: and, He
that curseth father or mother, let him die the death.
(5)
But ye say, Whosoever shall say to
his
father or
his
mother,
It is
a gift, by whatsoever thou mightest be profited by me;
(6)
And honour not his father or his mother,
he shall be
free.
Thus have ye made the commandment of God of none effect by your
tradition.
(7)
Ye
hypocrites, well did Esaias prophesy of you, saying,
(8)
This people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth, and honoureth
me with
their
lips; but their heart is far from me.
(9)
But in vain they do worship me, teaching
for
doctrines the commandments of men.
(10)
And he called the multitude, and said unto them, Hear, and
understand:
(11)
Not that which goeth into the mouth defileth a man; but that
which cometh out of the mouth, this defileth a man.
(12)
Then came his disciples, and said unto him, Knowest thou that
the Pharisees were offended, after they heard this saying?
(13)
But he answered and said, Every plant, which my heavenly Father
hath not planted, shall be rooted up.
(14)
Let them alone: they be blind leaders of the blind. And if the
blind lead the blind, both shall fall into the ditch.
Jesus Christ exposes another
trait of false teachers and Pharisee spirit… They always teach
the traditions of men as doctrines of God. They set out their
own rules and force them down on people.
The traditions of the elders to
them are the uttermost important. They place Traditions of men
above The Word of God. This can be seen today in Mega Church
movements where folks are forced to Tithe, to the Building Fund,
forceful giving, mandatory church and home cell attendance etc…
Believers end up walking under legalism and not the freedom and
grace we have in Jesus Christ…
Many of the teachings in today’s
churches are no where to be found in scripture but are just
concoctions and traditions of men. It is time Christians examine
such teachings according to God’s Word and reject the
counterfeit!
Jesus Christ also speaks about
another trait of false prophets and Pharisee spirit…they love to
worship The Lord but with lip service and their hearts being to
far from The Lord. Often you hear Christians who naively say,
“lets not judge one another but just worship together”, such
worship is false because the hearts are far from The Lord and
not obedient to His commands. Such folks worship not in Truth
and in Spirit. They forget that The Holy Spirit is The Spirit of
Truth and Truth being God’s Holy Word….
The sayings of Jesus Christ
always offend the Pharisees or those captured by a ‘Pharisee
Spirit’. No wonder Jesus Christ was thrown out of the
synagogues. In Revelation 3 to the Church of Laodicea, Jesus
Christ was locked out of their Churches and that is why He was
standing out at the door knocking to any who would let Him in…
The Pharisee Spirit will get people offended at God’s Holy Word
because it is a spirit of the world and promotes man and
worldliness; it is a spirit of the antichrist…
Jesus Christ gives us a very
clear warning that those who allow themselves to be led by
Pharisees and False teachers will all end up in the ditch…and
that is representative of hell and destruction.
A False Spirit hates the
Sufferings of Christ…
Matthew 16:21-26
(21)
From that time forth began Jesus to shew unto his disciples, how
that he must go unto Jerusalem, and suffer many things of the
elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and be
raised again the third day.
(22)
Then Peter took him, and began to rebuke him, saying, Be it far
from thee, Lord: this shall not be unto thee.
(23)
But he turned, and said unto Peter, Get thee behind me, Satan:
thou art an offence unto me: for thou savourest not the things
that be of God, but those that be of men.
(24)
Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any
man
will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross,
and follow me.
(25)
For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever
will lose his life for my sake shall find it.
(26)
For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world,
and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for
his soul?
One of the most obvious signs of
a false spirit, false teachers, false prophets, is their hate to
associate with the sufferings of Jesus Christ. Most False
doctrines today center around the theme of a feel good gospel,
one that to do with pleasures of the flesh.
We see that Peter was being used
of the Devil to talk Jesus Christ out of death on the Cross. The
message and concerns of Satan were those of man and the false
prophets and false teachers today are only concerned with the
affairs of men.
False prophets and teachers will
always deny the cross of Jesus Christ and teach messages that
make their listeners to love the world and things of this world.
Jesus Christ gave a clear message that those who desire to be
His disciples must deny all, carry their cross and follow
Him…sufferings are part of the Christian Life…
False Prophet and Teachers always
teach their followers to gain the world, to make it big in this
world, to have the best car, best house and best this and that
while the naïve Christians under such teachers forget that they
are on a fast track to loosing their souls, for Jesus Christ
taught that it was useless gaining the whole world and losing
one’s soul. False teachers such as those of the prosperity
doctrine, purpose driven doctrine are teaching their believers
to gain the whole world and not to deny all but gain all while
they “follow” Christ.
To be continued…
In Christ Jesus
Kato Mivule
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