Soli Deo Gloria

“If a prophet or a dreamer of dreams arises among you and gives you a sign or a wonder, and the sign or the wonder comes true, concerning which he spoke to you, saying, ‘ Let us go after other gods (whom you have not known) and let us serve them,’ you shall not listen to the words of that prophet or that dreamer of dreams; for the LORD your God is testing you to find out if you love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul.  You shall follow the LORD your God and fear Him; and you shall keep His commandments, listen to His voice, serve Him, and cling to Him. Deuteronomy 13:1-4

What an amazing passage of Scripture. In my morning time with God in His word I read this passage and immediately several points came to mind with regards to our great God:

1. We have a tendency to always look at the miracle or prophesy of people and then if what they say actually happens or comes true then we want to immediately believe that they must be from God. The world will tell us that this is a true man or woman of God and will flock to them. (Let’s face it, people flock to false teachers today who cannot even verify miracles and healings of the likes of Benny Hinn, Todd Bentley, et al.) However, this is exactly why we must stay soaked in the Word of God – for man does not live by bread alone! You see, this verse teaches us that God, in His majestic sovereignty, may send or allow a false prophet or false teacher to work signs and wonders or tell a prophecy that actually comes true – but if they speak against the Word of God or try to get you to follow after another god then we are to immediately discount them. This puts great light on those who claim to be of God but their god is money, wealth and power and they preach that you should worship and follow mammon and not God. This is a description of none other than the prosperity preachers of our day. Oh how much we see this today!

2. We also see from this passage that God can test us in this way. This is an amazing truth. God in His awesome power and wisdom will use false prophets and false teachers to test people – apparently even His own to cause discernment and discipline and likely to cleanse His church. This warns us that we are to obey our Lord, be led by the Spirit and remember that to trust in Him and “eat His Word daily” is the only antidote to the ever-increasing false teachings of the world. As our Lord Jesus reminds us – many will come in My name and will trick the masses – if possible even the elect! We are also reminded here that God works all things for our good. (Rom. 8:28) Remember that He disciplines those that He loves and may very well bring about or allow false teachers to come to you, your family or your congregation and we must be vigilant – testing the spirits! (1 John 4:1)

3. God must be first. There can be no other gods in our lives. In fact, there can be no second place in our lives with regards to God. Many people have God first but several other “gods” right underneath Him. Worse, they may have God tied in first place with another god. There are many who have a love for God but an equal love for the world. Our Lord Jesus strongly tells us that we cannot serve both God and mammon! May we humbly be reminded of the first commandment. This commandment gives us absolutely no leeway for other gods at all. God Almighty is either first place or no place. There is no middle ground. Christ is either all you have or nothing. He will not be shared. There is absolutely no place for 2nd or 3rd place gods.

4. Finally we see in this glorious passage the sovereignty of God. Here we are comforted to know that nothing is outside of God’s control – even the false teachers and false prophets. The glorious truth is that God can and does use these false teachers and the evil of the world to bring about good. (Rom 8:28) May we be humbly reminded that He used the most evil act in history – the murder of His Son – to bring about the greatest good – salvation and redemption to sinners by His grace. God can and does use evil and sin to bring about His sovereign, perfect plan all the while never being the author or creator of evil or sin. We should also never think that this would excuse man for his own sinful ways – for verse 5 of this chapter makes it clear that these false teachers will be held accountable for their sin. May we find great peace and comfort in this truth only when we are in Christ and walk by the Spirit of God – for outside of Christ it is a terrifying thing to fall into the hands of the Living God. (Hebrews 10:31)

Father, forgive our foolish ways. Forgive us for following after false teachers and false prophets who so easily trap and fool our sinful minds and hearts. Give us a passion for your living Word that we may live for you and discern by the Spirit the false ways of this world. We rejoice in who You are – in Your awesome sovereignty and love for Your children. We thank You for Christ – for our perfect, spotless righteousness in Him and we yearn for the day when He returns for His bride with all the angels in flaming fire. Amen.

Soli Deo Gloria!

Related posts:

1. Keep Your Eye on False Teachers
2. Todd Bentley – as False as they Come
3. 13 Evangelistic Phrases That Produce False Conversions
4. How Do You Read Romans 1:16?
5. The Error of the Modern Gospel Call

Apostasy & Heresy, Scripture, The Church, The Gospel