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PoppyCorn99 — Bible Refresher 41 - Read, Read, Read!
Published: 2013-12-23 05:47:43 +0000 UTC; Views: 590; Favourites: 19; Downloads: 1
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I once met a woman that was fairly new to Christianity. My mother and a friend tried very hard to give her Bible studies, but she insisted that if God wanted her to be in the church, she would have a vision/dream/etc that would prove it to her, and then she would convert hundreds of other people through her testimony.
I'm sorry, but refusing to believe without a sign from God is a cowardly excuse for not joining the church.
Christianity is built on faith, and without it, how can you survive spiritually? If you want God to speak to you, look to the Bible; everything you could need is right there!
I'm not saying God doesn't speak to people (on the contrary, I believe God has spoken to many people through visions and dreams, even besides people from the Bible), but we can't just expect that God will do that for us too. We need to have that faith first, and if then you are blessed with a dream/vision, and you find that it is from God, good for you!
Note:
This is very dangerous ground to cover. Thousands of people say they've had dreams, visions, etc from God, angels, "deceased relatives", etc. But very few are actually from God, no matter how convincing it is. Here is the Biblical method of telling if a prophet (or vision, dream, etc) is from God.
Proving the Prophets
(If you want to cut to the chase, look at 7-10)
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Comments: 12
If any one already knows the Scriptures (also known as "the Bible") and what is taught therein, that person will not be easily deceived by false prophets.
However, any one who chooses not to study the Scriptures immediately becomes easy prey for deceivers to work upon.
As one song-writer** summarized about Job's "comforters" ... "Their words and their doctrines, they all sound so true -- the problem is, Lord, they're all wrong about You." This statement is also a good summary of most false prophets and false teachers.
Knowing the Scriptures well is the best defense against false prophecy, whether it comes directly to you in the guise of a "miracle" or whether it comes through someone else.
The linked article is good, though there is a lot of information there and it may be difficult to absorb everything in one sitting.
If you come away remembering only two things, let it be these: 1 John chapter 4 (yes, read that short chapter in your favorite translation, so that you get the full test in its proper context), and the following...
A true prophet will always support scripture, and never go against it. True prophets will never "re-interpret" a verse or passage of Scripture in a manner that fails to conform to the whole Bible, either. (2 Peter 1:20 -- "... no prophecy of the Scripture is of private interpretation." That discussion of prophecy spans 2 Peter 1:16--2 Peter 2:4, and then briefly wanders off to examples until verses 17-20, if you wish to read the verse in context.)
There are numerous ways to make counterfeit money, just as there are numerous ways to distort truth. But in both cases, there is only one way to make the real thing.
The better any one knows the real thing, the more quickly any counterfeits stand out as "not being right." (I used to work in a bank, so I know this training method works with legal tender. Handle the real thing constantly, and it is possible to detect a counterfeit by touch... even if your eyes are fooled.)
In the same way, the more one fills the heart and mind with Scriptures, the more quickly anything that's "off" will stand out as being wrong.
We need not fear false prophets. We only need to study the Bible. That will guide us into all truth.
...
** that song-writer is Michael Card, the song is "The Job Suite ."
(The link goes to a YouTube video that displays the lyrics in the video.)
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By the way, I loved the song - I had heard of Michael Card before, but I've only ever known one of his songs. ^^
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Michael card is one of my favorite artists. He might possibly a true prophet in the old Hebraic sense of "forth-telling" without much "fore-telling."
Nearly all of his music helps one to take a second look at Scripture, and think more deeply about the Word, and understand God / Christ better than before. He's also good at pointing anyone who gets too distracted by his talent back to the Giver of that talent.
I made a "sampler" of 40 of his songs into a YouTube playlist for a friend (and I've enjoyed it myself, also), if you'd like to hear more... and this really is only the tip of the iceberg. He's been recording since the early 1980's at least, and last I heard he's still going strong.
YouTube playlist -- "sampler" of 40 Michael card songs
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Thanks for the link, I'll definitely take a look at the songs! 
I think it's a valuable thing when a person can lead someone else to desire learning more about God; some people blindly believe and don't even know what the Bible says, and when those people begin studying God's word more, it's a really beautiful thing. ^^
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Exactly!
That's one reason he's become a favorite artist. More Bible is always better... he's good at spotlighting things that were always there, but somehow frequently overlooked.
I've grown through his ministry. As a result, I'm inclined to share the same opportunity with anyone else who's at all curious. Let his ministry bless you, also, if you will.
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Exactly. When someones knows the real thing, they won't fall for the false doctrine.
Following scripture is definitely a tell-tale sign of a true prophet, but I think it can be expanded to four factors, like my link mentions:
1. Accuracy with the scriptures
2. preaches the gospel of Jesus (There are many prophets that support scripture, but also add to it by saying things like he's a reincarnation of Jesus, a second messenger of God, or something else that draws attention away from Jesus Christ).
3. bears good fruits (obviously no one is perfect, but a true prophet will not get into bar fights, get high on drugs, etc)
4. will not make false predictions, like some have been doing for the end of the world
I agree completely with your view, I just thought it needed to be expanded a little.
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Hmm, "additions" to the Scriptures -- especially if it points the spotlight at the speaker, and not at God -- that always works out to be contradicting Scripture, instead of supporting it.
Example: from Galatians 1 ...
8. But though we, or an angel from heaven, should preach unto you any gospel other than that which we preached unto you, let him be anathema.
The Second Coming has not yet occurred. If one reads the Scriptures much at all, that will quickly become plain. Anyone claiming to be "yet another messenger of God" is almost certainly an imposter.
If the speaker fails that test, there's no need to waste further time checking them against other tests.
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Oh yes, if he fails the first one, there's no point in even looking at the other tests, you already know it's a phony!
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that's interesting. Yeah I find alot of people don't lift a finger until something miraculous happens, which I have to admit I do sometimes. It's not a good thing to do, thanks for the reminder!
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Yes, as humans we all have trouble with having faith, some more than others. We all encounter times when we wish God would just give us a sign, but if we relied on God for all the important decisions, we would never learn to make decisions ourselves.
God bless you in your life!
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