“…you shall not listen to the words of that prophet or that dreamer of dreams. For the LORD your God is testing you, to know whether you love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul. You shall walk after the LORD your God and fear him and keep his commandments and obey his voice, and you shall serve him and hold fast to him. But that prophet or that dreamer of dreams shall be put to death, because he has taught rebellion against the LORD your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt and redeemed you out of the house of slavery…” (Deuteronomy 13:3–5, ESV)
Deuteronomy 13 contains a major warning for the people of Israel. These words were delivered when they were in the wilderness on the way to the Promised Land. The words are attributed to Moses, the one who delivered God’s law. These words were meant to keep Israel faithful.
If you look closely at the very first verse from our scripture reading for today from Deuteronomy 13, the words may sound very familiar. They are the same words as found in the Ten Commandments (Exodus 20, Deuteronomy 5). Deuteronomy 13:3 begins with “YOU SHALL NOT”! These words are in the literary form of a commandment. They are words God uses as a warning, as a command of obedience, as law. What follows is something any faithful person cannot overlook. God is issuing a word of warning, an alert. Deuteronomy 13:3 warns the faithful “not to listen to the words” of a disobedient “prophet or dreamer of dreams”. Their lies will set your feet on the wrong path. Their deceitful words will pull you away from God. To follow the wrong prophet or dreamer is to fail the “test” of faithfulness, through which God is “testing you” (Deuteronomy 13:3). Instead, God expects you to “keep His commandments and obey His voice” (Deuteronomy 13:4). While the false prophet or dreamer desires you follow their words, God is commanding you to trust His word above all others.
It is not uncommon for evil to fake holiness in order to deceive you. When Satan tempted Jesus in the wilderness, what did Satan use for his argument? Scripture. Satan quoted Psalm 91 in his attempt to manipulate Jesus. Satan was so smooth in his delivery, so reasonable in quoting scripture. However, Jesus knew Satan was just using deception. Jesus quoted Deuteronomy 6:16 to refute Satan’s temptation. Jesus used scripture to reprove Satan’s lie. Jesus used God’s Word to unveil the truth in that moment.
Several books of the New Testament mention false prophets that infiltrated the church. 1 John 4:1 explains that “many false prophets have gone out into the world”. Revelation 2:2 tells of “false prophets who claimed to be apostles” who attempted to sway the church in Ephesus. 2 Peter 2:3 added that false prophets and false teachers attempted to “exploit” the early church with “false words”. In all these scriptures (and others!) there is a clear warning to be careful whose prophetic words you listen to, while making sure you use scripture to verify their truthfulness.
Why did both Old and New Testaments repeatedly warn about false prophecies and false prophets? Why did the Bible warn about Satan misusing scripture? Because in every age, there will be false prophets and false prophecies. In every period of history, some who claim to speak for God will instead be twisting God’s truth. YOU need to learn to separate out those voices who speak God’s word from those who are false prophets and dreamers and manipulators and liars. Those who quote scripture or speak in church can still be children of Satan!
In the past months, I have witnessed pastors or church leaders who did the following:
One woman pastor said she didn’t like what Jesus said in a passage from the gospels. She considered it wrong for the modern age.
A church leader cited scripture while claiming that all major religions lead to God in one way or another.
The head of a denomination said that she agrees with others, that transgenders are suffering people whom God placed in the wrong body or created with the wrong sexual organs.
From the pulpit, a pastor used scripture to explain how divorce is not sinful in any way.
A church woman explained to her friends how abortion is a woman’s choice. A fetus is not a human life. Killing a fetus is not murder. God does not call it sinful.
An openly gay pastor taught from the pulpit how God is using the church to proclaim how liberal ideology is foundational to the Bible and blessed by God, while fascists and white supremacists are extorting the church with lies.
A black woman wearing a cross repeatedly told her online audience that white people are evil.
All these people are without a doubt false prophets or dreamers. They read into scripture what they want to see. They are deluded into believing the truth is a lie and a lie is the truth. They interpret God’s words to suit their own desires just like Satan did when he tempted Jesus in the wilderness. God’s word itself proves them wrong. Still, they all attend a church. Three preach in a church. One teaches in a seminary. Each has no clue how they are deceived. As Deuteronomy 3:5 makes clear, those who “teach rebellion against the Lord your God” will be held accountable. Their judgment will be severe, unless they repent of their lies.
My words may sound harsh to you. Look at the scripture for today! God has no kind and gentle words to say about false prophets. God even considers them deserving death! To God, twisting scripture and deceiving the faithful is no small matter!
The reason I continue to teach about the Bible, to write these meditations, to continue my mission work for God, is to save souls like yours! There are false prophets and prophecies all over the world at this moment. Even churches are not safe from their lies and deceptions! You need to protect yourself with God’s word. You need to study and learn of God’s truth. It is the only way you can remain in God’s good graces! Jesus came to seek and save the lost. Unless the lost repent (including false prophets and dreamers), their future will be bleak. Unless you continue to be obedient to God’s Word, you can easily be deceived.
A PRAYER FOR TODAY
Heavenly Father, show me Your truth. In Jesus, point me in the path to righteousness. I need to see what You see. I need Your word to keep me grounded. Help me to fight off deceptions and lies so cleverly promoted by evil ones!
I want to be a faithful and obedient servant. I want to know the truth and live it. Fill me with Your Holy Spirit! May I listen to its direction and recognize its speaking!
I pray today for our world. There many who have fallen for untruths and do not even recognize Your way. Lies are proclaimed as the truth. Evil actions are called good! It is considered advantageous to twist one’s words to manipulate others. Let me not be swayed by smooth talkers. Let my way be forever in Your good graces!
I pray for the following people who are living a lie: ___________________________ . I ask that you redeem them from their sinful ways. I, too, have believed wrongly. I, too, have been deceived in weak moments. When I have sinned, show me the way back to You. Help me to recognize when I am in error, when my thoughts have been unholy, when my own words have come back to haunt me!
I am a sinful creature. I am only made holy by Your blessing. I am only saved by Your redeeming grace. I thank You for Jesus! I am grateful that You have called me into Your fold and rescued my soul from a life of darkness and depravity. I do not deserve Your love, but I am oh so thankful for Your place in my life! Amen.
If you look closely at the very first verse from our scripture reading for today from Deuteronomy 13, the words may sound very familiar. They are the same words as found in the Ten Commandments (Exodus 20, Deuteronomy 5). Deuteronomy 13:3 begins with “YOU SHALL NOT”! These words are in the literary form of a commandment. They are words God uses as a warning, as a command of obedience, as law. What follows is something any faithful person cannot overlook. God is issuing a word of warning, an alert. Deuteronomy 13:3 warns the faithful “not to listen to the words” of a disobedient “prophet or dreamer of dreams”. Their lies will set your feet on the wrong path. Their deceitful words will pull you away from God. To follow the wrong prophet or dreamer is to fail the “test” of faithfulness, through which God is “testing you” (Deuteronomy 13:3). Instead, God expects you to “keep His commandments and obey His voice” (Deuteronomy 13:4). While the false prophet or dreamer desires you follow their words, God is commanding you to trust His word above all others.
It is not uncommon for evil to fake holiness in order to deceive you. When Satan tempted Jesus in the wilderness, what did Satan use for his argument? Scripture. Satan quoted Psalm 91 in his attempt to manipulate Jesus. Satan was so smooth in his delivery, so reasonable in quoting scripture. However, Jesus knew Satan was just using deception. Jesus quoted Deuteronomy 6:16 to refute Satan’s temptation. Jesus used scripture to reprove Satan’s lie. Jesus used God’s Word to unveil the truth in that moment.
Several books of the New Testament mention false prophets that infiltrated the church. 1 John 4:1 explains that “many false prophets have gone out into the world”. Revelation 2:2 tells of “false prophets who claimed to be apostles” who attempted to sway the church in Ephesus. 2 Peter 2:3 added that false prophets and false teachers attempted to “exploit” the early church with “false words”. In all these scriptures (and others!) there is a clear warning to be careful whose prophetic words you listen to, while making sure you use scripture to verify their truthfulness.
Why did both Old and New Testaments repeatedly warn about false prophecies and false prophets? Why did the Bible warn about Satan misusing scripture? Because in every age, there will be false prophets and false prophecies. In every period of history, some who claim to speak for God will instead be twisting God’s truth. YOU need to learn to separate out those voices who speak God’s word from those who are false prophets and dreamers and manipulators and liars. Those who quote scripture or speak in church can still be children of Satan!
In the past months, I have witnessed pastors or church leaders who did the following:
One woman pastor said she didn’t like what Jesus said in a passage from the gospels. She considered it wrong for the modern age.
A church leader cited scripture while claiming that all major religions lead to God in one way or another.
The head of a denomination said that she agrees with others, that transgenders are suffering people whom God placed in the wrong body or created with the wrong sexual organs.
From the pulpit, a pastor used scripture to explain how divorce is not sinful in any way.
A church woman explained to her friends how abortion is a woman’s choice. A fetus is not a human life. Killing a fetus is not murder. God does not call it sinful.
An openly gay pastor taught from the pulpit how God is using the church to proclaim how liberal ideology is foundational to the Bible and blessed by God, while fascists and white supremacists are extorting the church with lies.
A black woman wearing a cross repeatedly told her online audience that white people are evil.
All these people are without a doubt false prophets or dreamers. They read into scripture what they want to see. They are deluded into believing the truth is a lie and a lie is the truth. They interpret God’s words to suit their own desires just like Satan did when he tempted Jesus in the wilderness. God’s word itself proves them wrong. Still, they all attend a church. Three preach in a church. One teaches in a seminary. Each has no clue how they are deceived. As Deuteronomy 3:5 makes clear, those who “teach rebellion against the Lord your God” will be held accountable. Their judgment will be severe, unless they repent of their lies.
My words may sound harsh to you. Look at the scripture for today! God has no kind and gentle words to say about false prophets. God even considers them deserving death! To God, twisting scripture and deceiving the faithful is no small matter!
The reason I continue to teach about the Bible, to write these meditations, to continue my mission work for God, is to save souls like yours! There are false prophets and prophecies all over the world at this moment. Even churches are not safe from their lies and deceptions! You need to protect yourself with God’s word. You need to study and learn of God’s truth. It is the only way you can remain in God’s good graces! Jesus came to seek and save the lost. Unless the lost repent (including false prophets and dreamers), their future will be bleak. Unless you continue to be obedient to God’s Word, you can easily be deceived.
A PRAYER FOR TODAY
Heavenly Father, show me Your truth. In Jesus, point me in the path to righteousness. I need to see what You see. I need Your word to keep me grounded. Help me to fight off deceptions and lies so cleverly promoted by evil ones!
I want to be a faithful and obedient servant. I want to know the truth and live it. Fill me with Your Holy Spirit! May I listen to its direction and recognize its speaking!
I pray today for our world. There many who have fallen for untruths and do not even recognize Your way. Lies are proclaimed as the truth. Evil actions are called good! It is considered advantageous to twist one’s words to manipulate others. Let me not be swayed by smooth talkers. Let my way be forever in Your good graces!
I pray for the following people who are living a lie: ___________________________ . I ask that you redeem them from their sinful ways. I, too, have believed wrongly. I, too, have been deceived in weak moments. When I have sinned, show me the way back to You. Help me to recognize when I am in error, when my thoughts have been unholy, when my own words have come back to haunt me!
I am a sinful creature. I am only made holy by Your blessing. I am only saved by Your redeeming grace. I thank You for Jesus! I am grateful that You have called me into Your fold and rescued my soul from a life of darkness and depravity. I do not deserve Your love, but I am oh so thankful for Your place in my life! Amen.