
Are Christians to Mark False Prophets Publicly? [podcast]
Loving the Light and Exposing the Darkness
Any man not guarding, not protecting Christ’s flock, by warning of false teachers and false doctrine, is himself a wolf!
Jesus and His holy apostles often rebuked and exposed false leaders and false doctrine (Matthew 23; Acts 13:10; 20:29-31; Galatians 5:11-12; 2 Timothy 4:2-4; 2 Peter 2; 2 John 7-11; Revelation 2:6, 15, etc.). Therefore we know that part of following Jesus includes doing the same. In fact, the body of Christ is mandated to do just that (Romans 16:17-18; Philippians 1:17; Jude 3-4).
“Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them (scope out and label) which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them. 18 For they that are such serve not our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly; and by good words and fair speeches deceive the hearts of the simple.” Romans 16:17-18
Simply put, it doesn’t matter what you think: The LORD has commanded that Satan’s ministers, his human emissaries, be exposed. Time to shut up and obey! (2 Corinthians 11:12-15)
“Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation, it was needful for me to write unto you, and exhort you that ye should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints. 4For there are certain men crept in unawares, who were before of old ordained to this condemnation, ungodly men, turning the grace of our God into lasciviousness, and denying the only Lord God, and our Lord Jesus Christ.” Jude 3-4
In Jude 4 the Bible forewarned us that deceivers would creep in “unawares” which means undetected. In Matthew 13 Jesus says not to try to remove the tares from among the wheat but rather the angels will do that later. While we are not to try to remove them, in Romans 16:17-18 we are commanded to “mark (name) them” and to “avoid them.” Some mistakenly think those obeying God by scoping out and marking false teachers are doing something that conflicts with Matthew 13:25-30 where Jesus says not to try to separate the tares (false) from the wheat (true). Not so.
Deceivers are a reality and they are here to stay, until our LORD returns. So, for now, they must be scoped, discerned, and marked or labeled so others can beware and “avoid them.” (Romans 16:17-18) The word “safety” appears 19 in God’s Word. – “safety is of the LORD.” (Proverbs 21:31)
To “mark them” (Romans 16:17) means to “to scope out; to take aim at, consider, watch.” The Greek word used here for “mark” is skopeo.
When we understand that the LORD says He is “the Great Shepherd of the sheep” who bled to purchase unto Himself a people, it should not be difficult to understand the reason and purpose for marking those who prey upon and seek to mislead His beloved sheep (Psalms 23; John 10:1-16; Hebrews 13:20; 1 Peter 5:1-6, etc.).
In Romans 16:17-18 believers are here mandated to wisely scope out closely, observe and scrutinize all teachings and spiritual leaders under the lamp of God’s holy Word. We are to closely discern between true and false doctrines and leaders and sound the alarm on that which is found to be inconsistent with holy Writ. This is to be done especially when dealing with foundational, essential truths (which are a salvation issue).
While reading the interaction below, please remember that we are to first and foremost honor, fear, and obey the LORD our Maker and Redeemer and if that means offending mere men by doing so, sobeit (Exodus 20:3; Ecclesiastes 12:13; Luke 12:4-5). Some among us seem to be more concerned about the person/personality being exposed than Jesus Christ and the many that wolf may be devouring with his false teaching (Proverbs 29:25; Matthew 7:15). That is perverted love and idolatry and no idolater shall enter the eternal kingdom of God (Revelation 21:8). Who do we truly honor and love supremely? The LORD says He is Jealous and that His name is Jealous. Jesus will reject anyone who dares to attempt to share their deepest heart affections with any other – “He that is not with me IS against me” says the Son of God (Matthew 12:30) Any question? “For thou shalt worship no other god: for the LORD, whose name is Jealous, is a jealous God.” (Exodus 34:14)
Message Received:
How can you interpret the verses about judging in Corinthians (valid) with James 4:11-12 and Romans 14. And also 2 Timothy 2:14?
What´s the difference in that “judging”?
The problem is… maybe… condemning other Christians due to our interpretation in some little things (maybe we could be wrong too, we are not the apostles who received 100% truth) and posting against each other in a public forum or here in fb. I always think that it could also be very dangerous to non-Christians reading and thinking: “Look those Christians fighting each other, I don´t want to be one of them.” It could be a stumblingblock to them. But it could also be positive to edify other people… So?
Yet, I am reminded of 1 Corinthians 5.12-13 where Paul saying that it isn’t my responsibility to judge outsiders, but it certainly is your responsibility to judge those inside the church who are sinning. “God will judge those on the outside”; but as the Scriptures say, “You must remove the evil person from among you.”
It´s crystal clear about false doctrines against the word of God. But sometimes many christians don´t see clearly the difference in some interpretations (example: calvinism – arminianism), pre-trib or post-trib. So a fight begins and the two parts believe the other is an heretic, posting Scriptures against Scriptures.
Response:
God is very severe toward those who mislead His people. Remember Jesus said “But whoso shall offend one of these little ones which believe in me, it were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and that he were drowned in the depth of the sea. 7Woe unto the world because of offences! for it must needs be that offences come; but woe to that man by whom the offence cometh! … Take heed that ye despise not one of these little ones; for I say unto you, That in heaven their angels do always behold the face of my Father which is in heaven.” Matthew 18:6-7, 10
Read Deuteronomy 13. False teachers/false prophets/wolves are to be openly marked and to be shown no mercy. Why? – Because they are leading others astray and causing their eternal damnation. God wants to have mercy on the victims and potential, future victims of wolves so He instructs us to “mark them.” (Romans 16:17-18) Some people are twisted in their thinking, so much so that they want to protect, defend, and help the wolf to keep devouring sheep and they call that love. Absurd!
There is correct and incorrect judgment. We draw this conclusion based on the full-counsel of God’s Word. There are volumes of verses to be considered and factored in. Jesus says “Judge not lest ye be judged” (Matt. 7:1-2) and then He says “Judge righteous judgment.” (John 7:24) Paul says “For what have I to do to judge them also that are WITHOUT (the lost)? do not ye judge them that are WITHIN (professing believers and Christian leaders)?” (1 Cor. 5:12) We are to discern and judge things rightly, according to the Word and the Holy Spirit. We are told to “believe NOT every spirit, but try (test) the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world.” (1 John 4:1) We are also told to “To speak evil of no man” (Titus 3:2) and also to “mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them.” (Rom. 16:17-18) All rebuke and expose’ must be done strictly according to God’s Word. Deuteronomy 13 teaches us to not spare when dealing with false leaders. The very sheep of Christ’s pasture are at stake. He is “the Great Shepherd of the sheep” having given His life to purchase “the precious fruit of the earth” which is His people (Heb. 13:20; James 7:7-9). Pray for His understanding brother.
As for exposing false leaders who are misleading many publicly …. Paul rebuked Peter publicly for misleading God’s people (Gal. 2:11-14). Perhaps the unsaved will respect the policing of a people, the body of Christ, more than just allowing obvious false prophets to go unchecked which is largely what is happening. How many lost people have you heard mock Christianity due to greedy, money-mongering wolves like Kenneth Copeland, Creflo Dollar, Joel Osteen, Robert Tilton, etc.? I have heard it a thousand times at least. So, how can these lost people respect Christendom/Christians who do not openly expose such wolves? We become the stumblingblock when we refuse to deal with these wolves.
Yet, biblically speaking, the lost are not God’s first priority. No. His precious body is His very highest priority as far as men go. Read Galatians 6:10 and John 17:9. – “I pray for them (the sheep of His pasture): I pray not for the world (the lost), but for them which thou hast given me; for they are thine.”
Then, Jesus does say that we are to “love one another” which is speaking of His true body and not false prophets among us. This commandment to love one another which appears 12 times in the New Testament, does not include wolves among us which are so often spoken about and we are so repeatedly warn to beware of. They are not of God and therefore not of us.
Brother, you are asking some important questions brother. I have asked them also and am learning precept upon precept, line upon line …. “For precept must be upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little, and there a little.” (Isaiah 28:10) We all have these same questions and are learning God’s answers one at a time.
Deuteronomy 13 is also a strong passage we must acknowledge where the LORD says to not spare in stoning and ridding yourselves of false prophets. A people who do not police themselves will soon cease to be a people. Meditate upon this. Think about the God-ordained civil system which includes police to punish evildoers, right? (Rom. 13) Would you respect this country, even as a citizen, if we didn’t punish evil doers? No. You see how the lost are being turned away from the LORD due to the lack of expose’ and policing of those in leadership? It’s a fiasco of wolves at this point as the Word foretold in many places, including Amos 8:11 and 2 Timothy 3:13.
I agree that pre and post tribulation view are nothing to argue about. Yet, calvinism is the very lie of the ages, it comes from satan in the garden when he caused man to fall. This system of theology, known as calvinism, emobodies more than any other, this lie of lasciviousness that led to the fall of mankind and the curse of sin (Gen. 2:17; 3:4). We are explicitedly warned of calvinists who would turn the grace of God into a license for sin and we specifically told to earnestly contend against this evil leaven (Jude 3-4).
All of this comes more and more into focus (Prov. 4:18) as we continue daily in God’s Word. Then, as we begin looking at what most leaders are teaching, we see that they are not teaching the original Gospel and on this basis alone, they are utterly false.
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Articles
The Daily Cross in Prayer [podcast]

Prayer is inseparably connected with knowing God (John 17:3).
(Excerpt from the book I Die Daily)
“My voice shalt thou hear in the morning, O LORD; in the morning will I direct my prayer unto thee, and will look up.” Psalms 5:3
Let’s isolate and dismantle these words of God a bit. Under the direct inspiration of the Holy Spirit, David says to the LORD:
- That He (God) would hear his (David’s) “voice”
- That “in the morning” the Psalmist would arise and seek God in prayer
- Deliberately “in the morning,” he would “direct” his prayer and praying to the LORD – “in the morning … I will look up”
From this passage, we see that David planned or scheduled, in an intentional and calculated fashion, to meet with the LORD every morning. The phrase “in the morning” appears twice in this inspired transmission of the Holy Ghost. The man whose heart panted after the LORD – to behold His precious beauty – declared that he would “direct” (point) his prayer upward to the LORD “in the morning.” (Ps. 5:3; 27:4; Acts 13:22) Communing with the LORD was priority to David, and therefore occupied first place in his daily life. He sought the LORD firstly as he arose from sleep, and before he went forth into his day.
Jesus commanded that if any person will come after Him – truly follow Him – he must deny himself, take up his cross, and follow Him (Luke. 9:23-24). There is no place that the cross applies more than in daily prayer. The moment one arises, he will choose either to seek God or dwell upon self-sentiments and such. He will seek Christ, or he will seek his own salvation or rescue from his troubles. We all make a “daily” choice:
“… choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD.” Joshua 24:15
No different from those covenant saints the LORD spoke to in this important passage, those whom we dwell among are serving self – the flesh – and yet we are called upon by the LORD to “choose” to daily serve Him rather than self. We are called to “be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world; Holding forth the word of life.” (Phil. 2:15-16)
The LORD is calling us to purposefully declare Him as the LORD and Master of our lives, and this we do by making the premeditated decision to seek Him daily in prayer communion. Like Joshua, the way we “choose” to “serve” God must be premeditated, deliberate, daily, and in practicality. Daily, early morning, first fruit prayer is all three of these. It is the fruit of the crucified life – the life that is dead to self and in whom Christ dwells and reigns. – “Ye are dead and your life is hid with Christ in God.” (Col. 3:3)
To those who seek God and not their own devices, there are many benefits (Ps. 68:19).
“Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:6-7
The precious peace of the “Prince of Peace” rules and reigns and makes sound the hearts of those who deny self’s ability to overcome and solve issues and problems, and instead earnestly and diligently rely upon God’s power to do such for them (Isa. 9:6; 26:3).
“Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee. Trust ye in the LORD for ever: for in the LORD JEHOVAH is everlasting strength.” Isaiah 26:3-4
As we fix our whole being upon Jesus Christ, our thoughts will be upward to His “glorious high throne,” which is “the place of our sanctuary.” (Jer. 17:12)
God is calling each of His saints to give his whole being to Christ, and to those things that “are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things” (Php. 4:8).
So, according to Philippians 4:6-8, saints are to rely upon the LORD and not self by submitting all their requests in prayer to Him who is their Source, and to think upon those things of Christ which are “true … honest … just … pure … lovely … of good report … if there be any virtue … if there be any praise.” It is upon “these things” that we are instructed to “think on.” (Phil. 4:8)
God’s thoughts are infinitely higher than ours, and yet it is not until we become truly “crucified with Christ” that we are going to be ruled by His thoughts and peace (Isa. 55:8-9; Gal. 2:20; Phil. 4:6-7).
Changing the way one thinks is being done by millions of people who are not regenerated (not born again). New age and religious teachers hold this thought transformation teaching closely. Anyone can change the way they think for self-serving reasons – to stop smoking, to visualize and earn more money, to have more self-esteem, etc. However, hell still awaits all who are not born again, and that takes facing the living God and Judge in repentance for sin and placing all faith in Jesus Christ, the only Savior (Acts 4:12; 1 Tim. 2:5). The only renewing of the mind and thoughts that brings glory to Jesus Christ, is that which begins with one casting his whole being upon the LORD afresh – presenting himself a “living sacrifice … unto God.” Let’s look at Romans 12:
“I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.” Romans 12:1-2
Those who are presenting their bodies to the LORD as “living sacrifice(s)” are infused and enabled by His grace to keep their minds or thoughts stayed (fixed) upon the LORD and not self, as they look for Jesus’ soon return (Col. 3:1-4). They trust Christ and not their own strength, reasoning, whims, philosophies, or wisdom. As they give themselves over to Christ and His infinite divine power, and become weak in self and self’s abilities, Jesus’ power raises them up to trust Him and rely upon Him alone – to rest the weight of their whole beings in Him who is able. They first declare that they are not able, and that only “God is able.” (Eph. 3:20; 2 Cor. 9:8) These are they who have and are finding out in a personal way that there really is nothing impossible with the LORD!
“And Jesus looking upon them saith, With men it is impossible, but not with God: for with God all things are possible.” Mark 10:27
Abraham trusted God. He is our human example of a man who walked with God – by faith believing that God would raise up that to which he died. Concerning the promise of a son being born to him and his aged wife, the Bible records these words from the LORD to His servant Abraham:
“Is any thing too hard for the LORD? At the time appointed I will return unto thee, according to the time of life, and Sarah shall have a son.” Genesis 18:14
If God can and will split the Red Sea for His people, and cause a 100-year-old man and his 90-year-old wife to have a child, what in your life can’t He do? (Gen. 17:17)
Here’s yet another question posed to our hearts from the LORD:
“Behold, I am the LORD, the God of all flesh: is there any thing too hard for me?” Jeremiah 32:27
God requires that we die to self-will, self-help, and self-esteem, and lay our lives in His holy, perfect, and more-than-sufficient hands. He can then work in us and in our lives – raising up His holy standard and power to glorify Himself in and through His children. Nothing will be impossible for the LORD to perform in the lives of those who deny themselves and, like Abraham, trust God to raise up His solutions, answers, and blessings to bring Himself glory.
“(As it is written, I have made thee a father of many nations,) before him whom he believed, even God, who quickeneth (makes alive) the dead, and (God) calleth those things which be not as though they were.” Romans 4:17
God called forth Isaac out of Abraham’s loins when it was an otherwise impossibility in the natural. In your life, beloved, “Is there anything too hard for the LORD?” (Gen. 18:14)
Our connection with God is all about relationship, and the quality of that relationship is exemplified in our prayer lives – or lack thereof. If a person is pursuing the LORD, he has a prayer life. He lays down his own desires and life and seeks God’s life. This is perhaps in no other scrutiny seen more clearly than in the value he assigns to his prayer life, and the heart affections and time he is willing to invest in it.
In Psalms 63, the Psalmist captures the life of the person who truly has a heart after God.
“O God, thou art my God; early will I seek thee: my soul thirsteth for thee, my flesh longeth for thee in a dry and thirsty land, where no water is; To see thy power and thy glory, so as I have seen thee in the sanctuary. Because thy lovingkindness is better than life, my lips shall praise thee. Thus will I bless thee while I live: I will lift up my hands in thy name. My soul shall be satisfied as with marrow and fatness; and my mouth shall praise thee with joyful lips: When I remember thee upon my bed, and meditate on thee in the night watches. Because thou hast been my help, therefore in the shadow of thy wings will I rejoice. My soul followeth hard after thee: thy right hand upholdeth me.” Psalms 63:1-8
The following is an excerpt from My Utmost for His Highest, by Oswald Chambers:
“’At that day ye shall ask in My name.’ John 16:26. We are too much given to thinking of the Cross as something we have to get through; we get through it only in order to get into it. The Cross stands for one thing only for us – a complete and entire and absolute identification with the Lord Jesus Christ, and there is nothing in which this identification is realized more than in prayer.
‘Your Father knoweth what things ye have need of, before ye ask Him.’ Then why ask? The idea of prayer is not in order to get answers from God; prayer is perfect and complete oneness with God. If we pray because we want answers, we will get huffed with God. The answers come every time, but not always in the way we expect, and our spiritual huff shows a refusal to identify ourselves with Our Lord in prayer. We are not here to prove God answers prayer; we are here to be living monuments of God’s grace.
‘I say not that I will pray the Father for you: for the Father Himself loveth you.’ Have you reached such an intimacy with God that the Lord Jesus Christ’s life of prayer is the only explanation of your life of prayer? Has Our Lord’s vicarious life become your vital life? ‘At that day’ you will be so identified with Jesus that there will be no distinction.
When prayer seems to be unanswered, beware of trying to fix the blame on someone else. That is always a snare of Satan. You will find there is a reason which is a deep instruction to you, not to anyone else.”
PRAYER: Father, please bless this life to honor You and Your will first and foremost in this life You have granted, by my being authentically crucified with Christ. Please unite my heart to fear Your holy name and to number with wisdom this short time on this earth as a gift from You. I love You, Jesus, and thank You for dying for my sins and for the resurrection power of the Holy Ghost You placed in us upon salvation, and the infilling of the Holy Spirit. You must increase but I must decrease. This moment, if never before, I declare and deliberately decide to place You first daily in my life – I am crucified with Christ. Early will I seek Thee. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
Capture Points
- Discuss Psalms 5:3 along with Mark 1:35 and the importance of daily and first fruits prayer in the life of every disciple of Jesus.
- Transcribe onto an index card and discuss Romans 12:1-2 (KJB recommended).
- Write out on an index card Mark 10:27: “And Jesus looking upon them saith, With men it is impossible, but not with God: for with God all things are possible.” (KJB)
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Abiding
The Joy of God’s Word [podcast]

“Thy words were found, and I did eat them; and thy word was unto me the joy and rejoicing of mine heart: for I am called by thy name, O LORD God of hosts.” Jeremiah 15:16
“Thou through thy commandments hast made me wiser than mine enemies: for they are ever with me.” Psalms 119:89
“So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it.” Isaiah 55:11
PRAYER: Heavenly Father please match and exceed every trial You allow me to go through with Your joy! For You said that the joy of the LORD is my strength! In Jesus’ name. Amen.
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Audios
Current Events and the Name of Jesus Christ [podcast]

“And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. 14 If ye shall ask any thing in my name, I will do it.” John 14:13-14
IF we are praying God’s WORD in the name of JESUS CHRIST…. in His bless-ed humility, God is answering!
I don’t think we begin to realize the power that is in the name of Jesus Christ – and available exclusively to those who are HIS.
Memorize the word of our LORD Jesus recorded in John 14:13-14.
“I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish.” Luke 13:3
One commentator notes: “The universal fascination with knowing what is going on in the world has ancient roots. Knowing that Jesus is a well-known rabbi, some ask for his take on the hot news of the day. “There were some present at that very time who told him about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mingled with their sacrifices” (Luke 13:1). Pilate, the governor, has executed some Jews while they were in the act of offering their sacrifices, mingling their blood with the animal blood. Jewish sentiment is likely strongly against Pilate, although some seem to be critical of the people who have suffered. Maybe they deserved it.”
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