Mark Cowan
Yet many have been deceived into throwing away many sound doctrines because the false prophets and teachers have so misused and abused the virtues of those sound doctrines.
Matthew 24:11 And many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many.
There are two ways that people are deceived by false prophets and teachers.
The first is the obvious deception they bring with their false twisted teachings, that people embrace.
The second is not so obvious.
Because the false, the fake and the counterfeit has become so prominent many are deceived into believing that the true no longer exists.
There are many that believe the early Church had ministries that it no longer has because the fake has made such a sham out of the true doctrines.
Many have taken the false notion that 1 Corinthians 13:10 says that the Early Church gifts and ministries have ended.
>>1 Corinthians 13. 9 For we know in part, and we prophesy in part. 10 But when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away.
11 When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things.12 For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known.
Herein lies the problem with using 1 Cor 13 as a basis for the ending of any New Testament ministry.
Paul wrote his letter to the Ephesians .. A letter of glorious proportions, of great and wonderful promises.
>>Ephesians 4. 11 And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers 12 For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ: 13 Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ: 14 That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive;
When in that same church, he told the people in Acts 20 that wolves would come in ( does not sound like the perfect has come yet).
Then much later John was told to send a letter to this same church telling them they had left their first love.
Just because there are false prophets and teachers using false gifts to deceive, does not give the Body of Christ any reason or excuse to quit on what Christ, by the Holy Spirit has given to His Church to use.
Yet, That is what has happened in the ministry.
False teachers etc, use God’s Word against the Church by twisting it and the Church has abandoned the true use of it’s power.
If the Holy Spirit was a promise for “as many as the Lord shall call”, would it not be the same Spirit?
We live in a day and age that is much more vile and demonic than when Jesus and Paul were here.
The Church, the Body of Christ is facing many more pressures and attacks on their faith than in any other generation.
Satan is in a rage because he knows his time is even shorter than when Jesus talked about it.
Do you suppose for one instance that we would be left weaker , more powerless than the early Church?
Some believe that Paul spoke of “the perfect to come” was the era of grace, when the period of the law was fulfilled. The New covenant being that perfect to replace what was imperfect, the Old covenant.
The problem with this thinking is this.
The law came by Moses, grace came by Jesus Christ. When Paul wrote the words of 1 Corinthians Christ had come died, was resurrected and ascended and yet Paul was talking about a future perfect as in his letter to the Ephesians as I noted already.
All of this was in the midst of the New covenant.
The same Jesus that said wait until you be endued with power from on high also said go and heal the sick, cast out demons as well as go and preach the gospel.
>John 20:21-22. 21 Then said Jesus to them again, Peace be unto you: as my Father hath sent me, even so send I you. 22 And when he had said this, he breathed on them, and saith unto them, Receive ye the Holy Ghost:
What we see He has called us to is “To loose the bands of wickedness, to undo the heavy burdens, and to let the oppressed go free, and that ye break every yoke”.
>Luke 4:18-19. 18 The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised,
19 To preach the acceptable year of the Lord.
>>Mark 16:16-18. 16 He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned. 17 And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues; 18 They shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover.
No one wants to pay the price for the genuine move of God.
Too many that call themselves believers want, like the wayward son of Luke 15, it all now.
Because the devil is willing to offer it now through the fake, people jump at the opportunity and miss the real.
Believers need to back off from the arguments. Seek the Lord in prayer. Search the scriptures, not to prove your own point but to prove the heart of God.
We are exhorted to recall what was written of old so that we may learn and be taught.
Please consider this scripture as an illustration in regard to what has been already said.
>>1 Kings 22:3-25. 3 And the king of Israel said unto his servants, Know ye that Ramoth in Gilead is ours, and we be still, and take it not out of the hand of the king of Syria? 4 And he said unto Jehoshaphat, Wilt thou go with me to battle to Ramothgilead? And Jehoshaphat said to the king of Israel, I am as thou art, my people as thy people, my horses as thy horses. 5 And Jehoshaphat said unto the king of Israel, Enquire, I pray thee, at the word of the Lord to day. 6 Then the king of Israel gathered the prophets together, about four hundred men, and said unto them, Shall I go against Ramothgilead to battle, or shall I forbear? And they said, Go up; for the Lord shall deliver it into the hand of the king. 7 And Jehoshaphat said, Is there not here a prophet of the Lord besides, that we might enquire of him? 8 And the king of Israel said unto Jehoshaphat, There is yet one man, Micaiah the son of Imlah, by whom we may enquire of the Lord: but I hate him; for he doth not prophesy good concerning me, but evil. And Jehoshaphat said, Let not the king say so. 9 Then the king of Israel called an officer, and said, Hasten hither Micaiah the son of Imlah. 10 And the king of Israel and Jehoshaphat the king of Judah sat each on his throne, having put on their robes, in a void place in the entrance of the gate of Samaria; and all the prophets prophesied before them. 11 And Zedekiah the son of Chenaanah made him horns of iron: and he said, Thus saith the Lord, With these shalt thou push the Syrians, until thou have consumed them. 12 And all the prophets prophesied so, saying, Go up to Ramothgilead, and prosper: for the Lord shall deliver it into the king’s hand. 13 And the messenger that was gone to call Micaiah spake unto him, saying, Behold now, the words of the prophets declare good unto the king with one mouth: let thy word, I pray thee, be like the word of one of them, and speak that which is good.
14 And Micaiah said, As the Lord liveth, what the Lord saith unto me, that will I speak. 15 So he came to the king. And the king said unto him, Micaiah, shall we go against Ramothgilead to battle, or shall we forbear? And he answered him, Go, and prosper: for the Lord shall deliver it into the hand of the king. 16 And the king said unto him, How many times shall I adjure thee that thou tell me nothing but that which is true in the name of the Lord? 17 And he said, I saw all Israel scattered upon the hills, as sheep that have not a shepherd: and the Lord said, These have no master: let them return every man to his house in peace. 18 And the king of Israel said unto Jehoshaphat, Did I not tell thee that he would prophesy no good concerning me, but evil? 19 And he said, Hear thou therefore the word of the Lord: I saw the Lord sitting on his throne, and all the host of heaven standing by him on his right hand and on his left. 20 And the Lord said, Who shall persuade Ahab, that he may go up and fall at Ramothgilead? And one said on this manner, and another said on that manner.
21 And there came forth a spirit, and stood before the Lord, and said, I will persuade him. 22 And the Lord said unto him, Wherewith? And he said, I will go forth, and I will be a lying spirit in the mouth of all his prophets. And he said, Thou shalt persuade him, and prevail also: go forth, and do so. 23 Now therefore, behold, the Lord hath put a lying spirit in the mouth of all these thy prophets, and the Lord hath spoken evil concerning thee. 24 But Zedekiah the son of Chenaanah went near, and smote Micaiah on the cheek, and said, Which way went the Spirit of the Lord from me to speak unto thee?
25 And Micaiah said, Behold, thou shalt see in that day, when thou shalt go into an inner chamber to hide thyself.
God still has some Micaiahs left that will proclaim only what God has spoken to them to proclaim regardless of the cost.
>>1 Kings 22:26-28. 26 And the king of Israel said, Take Micaiah, and carry him back unto Amon the governor of the city, and to Joash the king’s son; 27 And say, Thus saith the king, Put this fellow in the prison, and feed him with bread of affliction and with water of affliction, until I come in peace. 28 And Micaiah said, If thou return at all in peace, the Lord hath not spoken by me. And he said, Hearken, O people, every one of you.
>>1 Thessalonians 5:12-24. 12 And we beseech you, brethren, to know them which labour among you, and are over you in the Lord, and admonish you; 13 And to esteem them very highly in love for their work’s sake. And be at peace among yourselves. 14 Now we exhort you, brethren, warn them that are unruly, comfort the feebleminded, support the weak, be patient toward all men. 15 See that none render evil for evil unto any man; but ever follow that which is good, both among yourselves, and to all men. 16 Rejoice evermore. 17 Pray without ceasing. 18 In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.
19 Quench not the Spirit. 20 Despise not prophesyings.
21 Prove all things; hold fast that which is good.
22 Abstain from all appearance of evil. 23 And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.
24 Faithful is he that calleth you, who also will do it.
Watchmen On The Pod 