Matthew 7: 15-20 You Will Know Them by Their Fruits
“Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves. You will know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes from thornbushes or figs from thistles? Even so, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a bad tree bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. Therefore by their fruits you will know them.”
It’s been called “deadly nightshade,” and in the days when kids used to walk country lanes to one-room school houses, many children ate those purple berries and died as a result. Wikipedia tells us, “Atropa belladonna, commonly known as belladonna or deadly nightshade, is a toxic perennial herbaceous plant in the nightshade family Solanaceae, which also includes tomatoes, potatoes, and aubergine. It is native to Europe and Western Asia, including Turkey.”
“Although the berries might be the most tempting part of Deadly nightshade, all parts of this plant are poisonous if ingested. It causes a range of symptoms including blurred vision, a rash, headaches, slurred speech, hallucinations, convulsions and eventually death.” (https://www.wildlifetrusts.org/wildlife-explorer/wildflowers/deadly-nightshade#:~:text=Although%20the%20berries%20might%20be,hallucinations%2C%20convulsions%20and%20eventually%20death.)
In the same way belladonna appears attractive but is poisonous, so the teachings of false prophets are also poisonous. One tragic example of such a prophet is the late Jim Jones. In the beginning, starting in 1955, Jones attracted large numbers of people with his apparently Christian teachings that also included large amounts of social action. Many of the people who joined Jones were the very people any pastor would love to have in his church: hard-working, dedicated Christians, and willing to sacrifice for the Kingdom of God. But the longer Jones continued in his ministry, the more those same people found themselves and their families being totally controlled by Jones. Some of Jones’ members realized the danger and got out; however, more than 1000 followed Jones to Guyana, where he established Jonestown. On the morning of November 18, 1978, 100 people defected and fled to Georgetown, Guyana. At least 918, including many small children, drank poisoned Kool-Aid on Jones’ orders and died. Jones shot himself, committing suicide, leaving a horrific example of rotten fruit.
How can you tell a false prophet? Look at the fruits and the teaching. Any teacher who modifies the Bible or sets it aside is automatically suspect. What are the fruits of the ministry? Are people finding freedom in Jesus, or are they coming into bondage to the prophet? Is the prophet actually glorifying Jesus, or is he promoting himself? (And there are false prophetesses as well. The Book of Revelation describes one such woman as a Jezebel.)
Yet another vitally important part of discernment is prayer. If you pray, God can enlighten you about the validity of a ministry. If you have no peace in your spirit about such a ministry, leave it!
PRAYER: Father God, thank You for loving us and for caring for us. Lord, please help us to always look to You for wisdom and not to someone else. In the mighty and precious Name of King Jesus. Amen.
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