Logo

    Discerning False Prophets

    enOctober 10, 2023
    What was the main topic of the podcast episode?
    Summarise the key points discussed in the episode?
    Were there any notable quotes or insights from the speakers?
    Which popular books were mentioned in this episode?
    Were there any points particularly controversial or thought-provoking discussed in the episode?
    Were any current events or trending topics addressed in the episode?

    About this Episode

    Matthew 24:3-5, 36-39

    3 As Jesus was sitting on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to him privately. “Tell us,” they said, “when will this happen, and what will be the sign of your coming and of the end of the age?” 4 Jesus answered: “Watch out that no one deceives you.5 For many will come in my name, claiming, ‘I am the Messiah,’ and will deceive many.


    2 Corinthians 11:1-20

    I hope you will put up with me in a little foolishness. Yes, please put up with me!I am jealous for you with a godly jealousy. I promised you to one husband, to Christ, so that I might present you as a pure virgin to him.But I am afraid that just as Eve was deceived by the serpent’s cunning, your minds may somehow be led astray from your sincere and pure devotion to Christ.For if someone comes to you and preaches a Jesus other than the Jesus we preached, or if you receive a different spirit from the Spirit you received, or a different gospel from the one you accepted, you put up with it easily enough.

    I do not think I am in the least inferior to those “super-apostles.”I may indeed be untrained as a speaker, but I do have knowledge. We have made this perfectly clear to you in every way.Was it a sin for me to lower myself in order to elevate you by preaching the gospel of God to you free of charge?I robbed other churches by receiving support from them so as to serve you.And when I was with you and needed something, I was not a burden to anyone, for the brothers who came from Macedonia supplied what I needed. I have kept myself from being a burden to you in any way, and will continue to do so.10 As surely as the truth of Christ is in me, nobody in the regions of Achaia will stop this boasting of mine.11 Why? Because I do not love you? God knows I do!

    12 And I will keep on doing what I am doing in order to cut the ground from under those who want an opportunity to be considered equal with us in the things they boast about.13 For such people are false apostles, deceitful workers, masquerading as apostles of Christ.14 And no wonder, for Satan himself masquerades as an angel of light.15 It is not surprising, then, if his servants also masquerade as servants of righteousness. Their end will be what their actions deserve.

     

    16 I repeat: Let no one take me for a fool. But if you do, then tolerate me just as you would a fool, so that I may do a little boasting.17 In this self-confident boasting I am not talking as the Lord would, but as a fool.18 Since many are boasting in the way the world does, I too will boast.19 You gladly put up with fools since you are so wise!20 In fact, you even put up with anyone who enslaves you or exploits you or takes advantage of you or puts on airs or slaps you in the face.21 To my shame I admit that we were too weak for that!

     

    The Last Days - Discernment Required 

    False Prophets in the OT

    Today's False Prophets 

    Characteristics of False Prophets 

        1. They have their own Jesus (v. 4) 

        2. They have their own (false) gospel ( (Vv. 4-7) 

        3. They have their own source of power (v. 13)

        4. They have their means of control (v. 20) 

        5. They have their own way of self-exaltation (v. 20) 

    Paul's Response 

    Our Response 

    Recent Episodes from Petra Church International Ministries

    Victory in Christ

    Victory in Christ

    Romans 8:31-39

    31 What, then, shall we say in response to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?32 He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all—how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things?33 Who will bring any charge against those whom God has chosen? It is God who justifies.34 Who then is the one who condemns? No one. Christ Jesus who died—more than that, who was raised to life—is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us.35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword?36 As it is written:

    “For your sake, we face death all day long;
        we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered."

    37 No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.38 For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons,[k] neither the present nor the future, nor any powers,39 neither height nor depth nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

     

    Living a victorious Christian life 

    Three aspects of victory in Jesus 

        Completed Victory 

        Confronting Victory 

        Conquering Victory 

    40

    40

    Hebrews 3:7-9

     So, as the Holy Spirit says:
       "Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts
       as you did in the rebellion, during the time of testing in the desert, where your fathers tested and tried me and for forty years saw what I did.”

     

    LENT 2024 

    ABOUT 40

    Purpose of 40-Day Lent

         Purification

         Perseverance

         Preparation

    God's Love

    God's Love

    I John 4:8-11

    8Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love. This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him. 10 This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. 11 Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.

     

    The Attributes of God's Love 

           1. His love is holy 

           2. His love is faithful and true 

           3. His love is giving 

           4. HIs love is sacrificial 

           5. His love is available 

           6. His love is empowering

           7. His love is eternal 

    What is Love?

    What is Love?

    I John 4:8-11

    8Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love. This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him. 10 This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. 11 Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.

     

    What is Love? 

    The Truth of Love 
    The Way of Love 

    The Life of Love 

    First Things First

    First Things First

    Joshua 5:1-12

    Now when all the Amorite kings west of the Jordan and all the Canaanite kings along the coast heard how the Lord had dried up the Jordan before the Israelites until they[a] had crossed over, their hearts melted in fear and they no longer had the courage to face the Israelites.

    Circumcision and Passover at Gilgal

    2 At that time the Lord said to Joshua, “Make flint knives and circumcise the Israelites again.”3 So Joshua made flint knives and circumcised the Israelites at Gibeath Haaraloth.[b]

    4 Now this is why he did so: All those who came out of Egypt—all the men of military age—died in the wilderness on the way after leaving Egypt.5 All the people that came out had been circumcised, but all the people born in the wilderness during the journey from Egypt had not.6 The Israelites had moved about in the wilderness forty years until all the men who were of military age when they left Egypt had died, since they had not obeyed the Lord. For the Lord had sworn to them that they would not see the land he had solemnly promised their ancestors to give us, a land flowing with milk and honey.7 So he raised up their sons in their place, and these were the ones Joshua circumcised. They were still uncircumcised because they had not been circumcised on the way.8 And after the whole nation had been circumcised, they remained where they were in camp until they were healed.

    9 Then the Lord said to Joshua, “Today I have rolled away the reproach of Egypt from you.” So the place has been called Gilgal[c] to this day.

    10 On the evening of the fourteenth day of the month, while camped at Gilgal on the plains of Jericho, the Israelites celebrated the Passover.11 The day after the Passover, that very day, they ate some of the produce of the land: unleavened bread and roasted grain.12 The manna stopped the day after they ate this food from the land; there was no longer any manna for the Israelites, but that year they ate the produce of Canaan.

    Romans 2:29 

    No, a person is a Jew who is one inwardly; and circumcision is circumcision of the heart, by the Spirit, not by the written code. Such a person’s praise is not from other people, but from God.


     

    New Chapter, New Heart, and New Attitudes

    Anticipation 

    First things first 

           Identity in the Covenant: Circumcision 

           Unity in the Covenant: Passover 

    Moving onward 

    Be Strong & Courageous: New Chapter, New Heart, New Attitude

    Be Strong & Courageous: New Chapter, New Heart, New Attitude

    Joshua 1:7-18

    7 “Be strong and very courageous. Be careful to obey all the law my servant Moses gave you; do not turn from it to the right or to the left, that you may be successful wherever you go.8 Keep this Book of the Law always on your lips; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful.9 Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.” 10 So Joshua ordered the officers of the people:11 “Go through the camp and tell the people, ‘Get your provisions ready. Three days from now you will cross the Jordan here to go in and take possession of the land the Lord your God is giving you for your own.’”
     

    12 But to the Reubenites, the Gadites and the half-tribe of Manasseh, Joshua said,13 “Remember the command that Moses the servant of the Lord gave you after he said, ‘The Lord your God will give you rest by giving you this land.’14 Your wives, your children and your livestock may stay in the land that Moses gave you east of the Jordan, but all your fighting men, ready for battle, must cross over ahead of your fellow Israelites. You are to help them15 until the Lord gives them rest, as he has done for you, and until they too have taken possession of the land the Lord your God is giving them. After that, you may go back and occupy your own land, which Moses the servant of the Lord gave you east of the Jordan toward the sunrise.”

    16 Then they answered Joshua, “Whatever you have commanded us we will do, and wherever you send us we will go.17 Just as we fully obeyed Moses, so we will obey you. Only may the Lord your God be with you as he was with Moses.18 Whoever rebels against your word and does not obey it, whatever you may command them, will be put to death. Only be strong and courageous!”

     

    Strong & Courageous 2024

     

    New Chapter 

    Joshua 1:1-2 

    After the death of Moses the servant of the Lord, the Lord said to Joshua son of Nun, Moses’ aide: “Moses my servant is dead. Now then, you and all these people, get ready to cross the Jordan River into the land I am about to give to them—to the Israelites.
     


    New Heart 

    I Corinthians 5:17

    Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come! 


     

    New attitudes 

        Courage (vv. 6-7, 9)

        Obedience (vv. 7-8) 

        Unity (vv.12-14) 

    Staying Strong & Courageous

    Staying Strong & Courageous

    Joshua 1:7-9

    7 “Be strong and very courageous. Be careful to obey all the law my servant Moses gave you; do not turn from it to the right or to the left, that you may be successful wherever you go.8 Keep this Book of the Law always on your lips; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful.9 Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.”
     

    The Theme of 2024: Strong & Courageous 

    Context: God's Command to God's people for God's plan 

    Three times - Be strong and courageous (vv. 6-7, 9)

    The second command: the centerpiece (vv.7-8)

       Living in the Word 

       Living out the Word 

       Living for the Word 

     Jesus and the Word

    Be Strong & Courageous

    Be Strong & Courageous

    Joshua 1:1-9

    1 After the death of Moses the servant of the Lord, the Lord said to Joshua son of Nun, Moses’ aide:2 “Moses my servant is dead. Now then, you and all these people, get ready to cross the Jordan River into the land I am about to give to them—to the Israelites.3 I will give you every place where you set your foot, as I promised Moses.4 Your territory will extend from the desert to Lebanon, and from the great river, the Euphrates—all the Hittite country—to the Mediterranean Sea in the west.5 No one will be able to stand against you all the days of your life. As I was with Moses, so I will be with you; I will never leave you nor forsake you.6 Be strong and courageous, because you will lead these people to inherit the land I swore to their ancestors to give them. 7 “Be strong and very courageous. Be careful to obey all the law my servant Moses gave you; do not turn from it to the right or to the left, that you may be successful wherever you go.8 Keep this Book of the Law always on your lips; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful.9 Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.”
     

    The Theme of 2024: Strong & Courageous 

    Context: God's Command to God's people for God's plan 

    Three times - Be strong and courageous (vv. 6-7, 9)

        1. Promise/Past (v.6) 

        2. Practice/Present (vv. 7-8)

        3. Presence/Future (v.9) 

    Strong & Courageous 2024

    Strong & Courageous 2024

    Joshua 1:1-9

    1 After the death of Moses the servant of the Lord, the Lord said to Joshua son of Nun, Moses’ aide:2 “Moses my servant is dead. Now then, you and all these people, get ready to cross the Jordan River into the land I am about to give to them—to the Israelites.3 I will give you every place where you set your foot, as I promised Moses.4 Your territory will extend from the desert to Lebanon, and from the great river, the Euphrates—all the Hittite country—to the Mediterranean Sea in the west.5 No one will be able to stand against you all the days of your life. As I was with Moses, so I will be with you; I will never leave you nor forsake you.6 Be strong and courageous, because you will lead these people to inherit the land I swore to their ancestors to give them. 7 “Be strong and very courageous. Be careful to obey all the law my servant Moses gave you; do not turn from it to the right or to the left, that you may be successful wherever you go.8 Keep this Book of the Law always on your lips; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful.9 Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.”
     

    The Theme of 2024: Strong & Courageous 

    Background & Context 

    God's Command (vv. 6-7, 9) 

    God's People (vv. 1-2) 

    God's Plan (vv. 3-4) 

    God's Power (vv.5, 8-9)

    Repent!

    Repent!

    Matthew 4:17

    From that time on Jesus began to preach, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.”


    James 4:7-9 “Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. 8Come near to God and he will come near to you. Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. 9Grieve, mourn and wail. Change your laughter to mourning and your joy to gloom. 10Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up.”
     

    Finishing 2023: Repentance 

    Definition: what is repentance? 

    Process: Three Stages 

    Seeking Repentance