This message is a follow up to the sermon on false prophets on May 7th. During his sermon on the Mount, Jesus told us how to spot these false prophets but still many people have difficulty and are being deceived. Only the Holy Spirit can lead you in to all truth.
Matthew 7:15-20
“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.
Jesus said to judge a tree by it’s fruit. So an analogy we gave is how you can spot a poisonous tree in the wild.
Step 1: Inspect the plant and compare it to a book on taxonomy. Compare the doctrine with the Bible.
Step 2: Check the colour of the berry. Blue and blackberries are usually safe to eat but be wary of berries that are red, white and yellow especially if they grow in clusters apparently. Learn to recognise the fruit of the Holy Spirit.
Step 3: Watch out for certain features (milky sap, spines, hairy stems, and bitter stems). Stay away from strange doctrine.
Step 4: Check by taking a pinch of the fruit and rubbing it on your skin and wait 5 mins for irritation or chew without swallowing in case of bitterness which is often poisonous. Does it smell off? Check for emotional reaction. False teachers emphasise the positive, they are popular with the crowds. They make you feel good but they never talk about Hell. Does it taste bad? The Bible says « taste and see that the Lord is good »
Step 5: After 15 mins and no reaction, eat a small quantity.
Step 6: Observe the symptoms
If you reach step 6 then you’ve used all the 5 senses that God has given you – look, listen, smell, touch, taste and it should be good to eat. If there’s still a doubt, leave it out.
Jesus described the false prophets as ravenous wolves. Duran Duran once had a hit song « Hungry Like the Wolf ». Does that raise any alarm bells with anyone? They are hungry and on the lookout for an easy meal for themselves. Underneath the sheepskin they are hungry for your money, their fame, their power. Many of them seek after one or all of the 3 G’s - Gold, Girls and Glory. So Jesus warns beware, they take advantage of the naïve and the foolish. They take your money and ultimately your soul.
Last week, Maama was talking to me about the need for her to stay away from certain aspects of Māori culture which are tied to worshipping their gods. You would think in this day and age with society claiming to have abandoned God that there wouldn’t be a thing to teach about these gods, however that is not the case in NZ. If these gods aren’t real, why is it so hard to break free from them? It’s because the power behind them is real and very strong.
In western culture generally, we think we have moved beyond religion, people pride themselves on not believing in what they call the sky fairy.
But we have a huge blind spot in regards to music. We have programs like American Idol but we don’t make the connection. I remember once we went to watch Crowded House at the Power Station just after they’d played with REM at Western Springs. At the start of the concert Neil Finn started some weird chanting in a similar way to Christians singing in tongues but it was not Christian at all. Neil Finn was summoning what I’m sure he believed was a type of good creative spirit. But it was not from the Lord that’s for sure.
The songs they were playing at the time were from their « Together Alone » album. The prominent figures on the album cover are Jesus, a golden figure looking like Buddha making the OK or more subtly the 666 sign and a third mysterious occupant in the back of the car of whom only an arm, clad in a striped shirt, is visible. The car is surrounded by a golden halo. It gives the impression that Crowded House had a lot of spiritual influences while making Together Alone.
We are deeply immersed in Rock n Roll to the point that we have no idea that whenever we sing along to some of the greatest hits, we could be actually worshipping demons disguised as the false gods of Māoridom , Hinduism, Buddhism, the Aboriginies, the world over. That seems an outrageous statement to make but in fact, that is what the evidence suggests.
George Harrison from the Beatles used Gospel hymns to write his hit « My Sweet Lord » and many Christians sang along, not knowing they were worshipping the Hindu god Krishna. Harrison said of the mantra used in the song that « Once I chanted it for like three days non-stop, driving through Europe, and you just get hypnotised ... ». In his 1980 autobiography, I,Me,Mine, Harrison says that he intended repeating and alternating "hallelujah" and "Hare Krishna" to show that the two terms meant "quite the same thing",as well as to have listeners chanting the mantra "before they knew what was going on!".
Why the need for deception George?
The list of bands from my era who claimed to have channelled music is long, including ones you would least suspect like the Beach Boys, the Beatles, the Bee Gees, Paul Simon, Sting as well as more blatant ones like the Doors, the Rolling Stones and Led Zeppelin. Others like David Bowie and Bob Dylan admitted to consulting with fortune tellers.
The self-confessed reason these guys made such amazing music was that they were mediums for beings from another dimension.
It is well documented their confession how even entire songs would come to them quickly and they would write best sellers in a matter of minutes, not even hours.
David Bowie said
Rock has always been the devil’s music. You can’t convince me that it isn’t....
But the Bible tells us;
Leviticus 19:31
‘Give no regard to mediums and familiar spirits; do not seek after them, to be defiled by them: I am the Lord your God.
Isn’t it strange that we would never go and see a Medium to get our fortunes read. But we’ll happily listen to Mediums dressed up as Musicians !
It should not surprise us the Devil’s music is amazing as Lucifer was formerly a worship leader in Heaven before he was thrown out. In fact the Bible says he was created in a way to make music.
Ezekiel 28:13
You were in Eden, the garden of God; Every precious stone was your covering: The sardius, topaz, and diamond, Beryl, onyx, and jasper, Sapphire, turquoise, and emerald with gold. The workmanship of your timbrels and pipes was prepared for you on the day you were created.
Now he only makes rebellious music that glorifies himself and his followers but not God who he hates as he tries to bring people to his same fate.
Isaiah 14:11-15
Your pomp is brought down to Sheol, And the sound of your stringed instruments; The maggot is spread under you, And worms cover you.’ “How you are fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! How you are cut down to the ground, You who weakened the nations! For you have said in your heart: ‘I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God; I will also sit on the mount of the congregation On the farthest sides of the north; I will ascend above the heights of the clouds, I will be like the Most High.’ Yet you shall be brought down to Sheol, To the lowest depths of the Pit.
The Devil uses Rock Music to introduce people to his alternative religion, currently called « New Age » which has taken many forms over the centuries since the fall of Man in the Garden of Eden. It’s the same old lies that the Devil has always told, that we can be like God if we obtain this secret forbidden knowledge.
The New Age Or The Old Lie?
2 Corinthians 11:13-15
For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into apostles of Christ. And no wonder! For Satan himself transforms himself into an angel of light. Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also transform themselves into ministers of righteousness, whose end will be according to their works.
The false prophet has a smiley face, he looks cool. He dresses sharply, has a great haircut, he’s a smooth operator. He only tells you or sings you what you like to listen to. He never tells you to repent, he never warns you about Hell.
The question needs to be asked of young people today, who are you listening to who’s source is the Devil ? Some like Ariana Grande aren’t even hiding it. But would you recognise any supposed Christian artists who in reality are not.
1 John 4:1-3
Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits, whether they are of God; because many false prophets have gone out into the world. By this you know the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is of God, and every spirit that does not confess that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is not of God. And this is the spirit of the Antichrist, which you have heard was coming, and is now already in the world.
We need to take a closer look at who we’re listening to, who’s being sold to us by the Music Industry. Most of the owners of the music industry are primarily there only to make money and they will produce whatever sells not necessarily genuine art or true Gospel because it’s too small a market. Many are prepared to go to all lengths and shortcuts to get success, even if it means selling souls.
Is Secular Music Evil?
Joe Schimmil gives very sound advice on how to identify good music from bad, similar to the illustration of how to identify a poisonous tree.
1. Look at the artist
2. What is their lifestyle like?
3. Who are they?
4. What message are they promoting?
5. What is the musical expression?
6. Go to the Lord
If anyone is interested in a deeper exploration of this topic, I’ll purchase Good Fight Ministries « They Sold their Souls for Rock n Roll » and we can run the series at a mid week Home Group.
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