Prophets Who Twist Scripture

It seems that everyone has a prophecy today...one says there's going to be great prosperity and another at the same time says that there's coming great famine and need. Who's right? How do you test these prophecies to see who to trust? Of course, we could use the time old and scriptural method that's found in the Word of God:

Deuteronomy 18:20-21- But the prophet, which shall presume to speak a word in my name, which I have not commanded him to speak, or that shall speak in the name of other gods, even that prophet shall die. And if thou say in thine heart. How shall we know the word which the LORD hath spoken?

Isn't this directly answering the question? How do you know someone is speaking for God as a prophet according to God's Word? Look at verse 22:

Deuteronomy 18:22- When a prophet speaketh in the name of the LORD, if the thing follow not, nor come to pass, that is the thing the LORD hath not spoken, but the prophet hath spoken it presumptuously: thou shalt not be afraid of him."

That's pretty clear...if you claim to speak for God then what you say better come to pass. Also, does it make sense if a prophecy does not match, or twists, God's Word? God is not the author of confusion and He will not give a prophecy to someone that does not agree with His revealed Word.

Now...back to the present. If you go to this link you will see that some people are making some very wild and interesting prophecies!

http://www.charismamag.com/index.php/prophetic-insight/25403-a-new-season-of-restoration

Let's test this and see what he's saying. Matt Sorger is a supposed prophet. He quotes John 10:10 and says that there's a time of "great restoration and harvest" coming. To simplify his argument... Satan is the thief of John 10:10 and he is stealing things from us...then he quotes Proverbs 6:31 and says that Satan needs to give back to you everything he's stolen...7-fold!

Oh my goodness folks...is that what all these passages are about!? Let's take a look:

John 10:10- "The thief cometh nto, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am ocme that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly." So in this verse he says that the "thief" is Satan. Now it's true that Satan is a thief...I'll give him that. Here's the question...what does John apply this word to? Who is the thief of John 10:10?

• (John 10:1)- He that entereth not by the door into the sheepfold, but climbeth up some other say, the same is a thief and a robber." There is a clear distinction in this passage about sheep...and thieves. You are either one of His sheep or you are a thief/robber. If you look at John 9 you'll see that the Lord Jesus is talking to the legalistic Pharisees who thought by their good works and obedience to the Law they earned their salvation. Look at verse 6- clearly He was speaking to the Pharisees "this parable spake Jesus unto them [the Pharisees] but they understood not"
• (John 10:8)- All that came before me are thieves and robbers: but the sheep did not hear them." Those that came before Christ offering a different way of salvation other than faith alone were thieves and robbers. Were not the Jewish leaders thieves and robbers?

So how does he apply this to Satan? Got me! If we read the passage in its context it is clear this is NOT about Satan, it's about the spiritual leadership of Israel at the time.

Now...Mr. Sorger's prophecy gets even more interesting. Now he jumps to Proverbs 6:31...

Prov 6:31- But if he be found, he shall restore sevenfold; he shall give all the substance of his house."

He's misapplies John 10:10 to Satan...then because Prov 6:30 speaks of a thief and v. 31 says the theif must restore what he stole sevenfold, it clearly follows that Satan has to give back to you what he stole 7-fold, or does it? John 10:10 is not about Satan...and Proverbs 6:31 is speaking about a literal thief in Israel...again, not Satan. Nowhere does the OT or NT say that Satan is going to pay you back materially, emotionally for what he owes you! This is a HUGE twisting of Scripture that feeds the modern "prosperity gospel" nonsense.

But that's not the worst part of this article.

He says that Satan can steal from us by doing the following:

1. Putting depression and heaviness on you

2. Sickness

3. Debt and lack

4. Fear and anxiety

5. Bondage and addiction

Here is my question. How do you know Satan put these on you. First of all he is not omniscient and omnipresent. How do you know Satan put these on you. To Mr. Sorger's credit at least he said in the article that sometimes we reap a bad harvest because we make "bad choices." I think it would be better to say that we reap a bad harvest sometimes because we sin and rebel against God. THere's a big difference between sin and a "bad choice." That's dumbing down sin.

But how do you know if it's Satan, your bad "choice" or even God Himself? Doesn't God use trials and tribulations to conform us into the image of Christ? Didn't God use Satan himself to conform Job into the image of Christ? Didn't God use a demon and a physical affliction to keep Paul from becoming haughty? Read 2 Corinthians 12:7-9:

"And lest I should be exalted above measure through the abundance of the revelations, there was given me a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I should be exalted above measure. For this thing I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me. And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me."

I'm sorry...affliction is NOT always Satan, it's not always due to a bad choice, not always due to sin, it could be that God is using it to conform you into the image of Christ. If everything goes well for you all the time you (and I) would fall hopelessly in love with this world that's full of sin. God uses affliction for His glory and honour sometimes.

Are we to believe that addiction is not due to our sin? Isn't that what addiction is? It is a form of idolatry where we give ourselves over to something. If I sin and start to drink alcohol and become a drunk I'm supposed to repent, confess and be held accountable! Nowhere does Scripture say that I'm supposed to claim back 7-fold from Satan when it's MY FAULT THROUGH MY OWN SIN that I'm in a situation. Even if Satan does attack you, Scripture does not teach that throught he atonement you are to get back 7-fold what he took.

If you have heaviness and depression then turn to Christ through His Word, and in the company of fellow believers for healing and encouragement. Your heaviness could also be due to sin...then we must repent and trust Christ.

If I'm sick I can ask God for healing but there's NO guarantee for that in the gospel. Paul besought the Lord but God said it was for a reason to keep Paul from becoming arrogant...and that God's grace was sufficient to get Paul through it. God did NOT take away the thorn and it's NOT because Paul didn't have the faith to believe He could. Maybe our sickness is due to sin such as taking the Lord's Supper in sin (2 Cor 11:29-30).

Maybe I'm in debt because I feel that I must have more material things than I can afford (that's covetousnes!). Should that person blame Satan as the thief and not themselves as being covetousness? No! What does Mr Sorger mean by "lack"? Doesn't scripture say we should be content with food, clothing, shelter? Is he saying that if I don't have a materially prosperous life that I am guaranteed that as a believer? Why then were the Apostles all living on the edge of poverty, why were they beaten, why were the many mentioned in Hebrews 11 who were commended for their faith living as destitute?

I have a great idea. Let's let Scripture speak for itself and not make wild claims that can never be proven and make applications that are unsriptural.