True and False Prophets

O. T. #404  "True and False Prophets"
November 10, 2014
Deuteronomy 18-Part 2
I will raise up a Prophet from among their brethren, like unto thee, and will put my words in his mouth: and he shall speak unto them all that I shall command him.  Deuteronomy 18:18

LET IT GLOW

Can we distinguish between a true prophet of God and a false prophet, following Satan?
We find the answer in this chapter. Read on friends.

In verse 15, Moses tells Israel that God will raise up a Prophet  from their midst. He would mediate between God and man. We know this prophecy is in reference to Jesus Christ. Like Moses, the coming Messiah would receive and preach divine revelation and lead His people (John 1:21, 25, 43-45; 7:40)

The MacArthur Bible Commentary suggests Jesus was like Moses in several ways:

• spared death as a baby; (Ex. 2; Matt. 2:13-23)
• renounced a royal court; (Phil. 2:5-8; Heb. 11:24-27)
• had compassion on His people; (Num. 27:17; Matt. 9:36)
• made intercession for the people; (Deut. 9:18; Heb. 7:25)
• spoke with God face to face; (Ex. 34:29-30; 2 Cor. 3:7)
• was the mediator of a covenant. (Deut. 29:1; Heb. 8:6-7)

Philip told Nathanael, "We have found Him, of whom Moses in the law, and the prophet, did write, Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph." (John 1:45)
Later in John 5:46, Jesus said, "For had ye believed Moses, ye would have believed me: for he wrote of me."

Moses was a true prophet of God and Jesus was the prophecy fulfilled, the Living Word.
Are we reading and heeding the Word?

LET IT GROW

How would Israel know if the prophet was truly speaking for God or was a false prophet?
Verse 22 (NIV) answered that question: If what a prophet proclaims in the name of the LORD does not take place or come true, that is a message the LORD has not spoken. That prophet has spoken presumptuously.

Israel was warned to not follow after, copy, imitate, nor do the heathen practices of the polytheistic Canaanites. Moses gave 9 detestable practices of the Canaanites that Israel was to avoid in verses 10 and 11:

1. sacrificing children in the fire (12:31) as worship to Molech their god;
2. witchcraft, seeking to determine the will of the gods by examining and interpreting omens;
3. soothsaying, attempting to control the future through power given by evil spirits;
4. interpreting omens, telling the future based on signs;
5. sorcery, inducing magical effects by drugs or some other potion;
6. conjuring spells, binding other people by magical muttering;
7. being a medium, one who supposedly communicates with the dead, but actually communicates with demons;
8. being a spiritist, one who has an intimate acquaintance with the demonic, spiritual world;
9. calling up the dead, investigating and seeking information from the dead.

[Resources: Guzik Bible Commentary; The MacArthur Bible Commentary]

Do we see people interested in such evil things? Their source is from the Devil and His demons. These modern practices may come in the form of ecology focused on saving the earth, as their god; feminism as rebellion against God; white and black witchcraft; astrology; psychics and fortune-tellers; dealing in perfume, drug, and herbal use; casting spells on people; profess the ability to call up departed people from the realm of the dead (medium); psychic hotlines for money, but a fraud; necromancy, conjuring up or contacting dead.

People who dabble in it open themselves up to becoming overwhelmed by a demon. This is real, folks. We need to be warning others of such dangerous things. These detestable things God hates.

We are to remain blameless in a holy walk with Jesus. (Acts 19:19-20).
Also, Jesus is our true Prophet to come. (1 Cor. 14:29; 1 John 4:1; Jeremiah 23:28)

LET IT GO

Turn from evil and turn toward God.

Learn what pleases my God and faithfully do them.

Obey God's Word and His Spirit.