To: Hebraic-Foundations@yahoogroups.com
From: "Pastor Buddy Martin" <Bro.Buddy@ChristianChallenge.org>
Date sent: Mon, 26 Jun 2000 17:16:01 -0500
Subject: HF007 - A Tare in the Camp
Hebraics,
The following study is entitled, 'A Tare in the Camp.' It's purpose is to
provide a platform for discussion concerning the need for discernment
among God's people.
I received the following questions from a member. She asked, "How DO you
try the spirits? What things do you look for to KNOW that things are of
the Lord? If things are done in Jesus' name, how does a believer discern
if they are of God or not of God?"
What I will do is provide a basic study, and then open it up for
discussion. This study is not designed to provide all the answers. It
merely addresses the problem of the tares among the wheat.
In Matthew 13, there are seven kingdom parables. Each parable
teaches an essential truth.
The Lord explains that there *will* be tares planted among the
wheat. (Cf. Matt13:24-30) The tares are the sons of the evil one.
That doesn't sound so difficult, does it? After all, all we just need to
do is look for a son of evil one? Surely someone of this caliber would
stand out from everyone else!?
Locating a son of the evil one isn't always as easy as it may seem.
This is especially true for immature and/or fleshly believers. And
this is part of what the parable is about.
The tare in question is the 'bearded' tare, or darnell tare. This tare
looks very much wheat, especially while it is growing. It takes a trained
eye to recognize the difference. But in the parable the workers went to
sleep. (This is why you need mature spiritual leadership in every flock of
believers.)
The disciples understood. The bearded tare is poisonous. If it is
mixed with wheat, and ingested, it can cause sickness, and
possibly death. For this reason the tares have to be harvested out
of the wheat, before the wheat can be harvested. But who can do it
properly? Only the Lord Himself. And He uses angels for this work.
(We can talk about this in further discussion. I want to avoid
technical language.)
Putting it into a present framework, I suggest that the tares are a
common cause for spiritual sickness among believers. As a pastor of long
years, I can tell you of many instances where I've had to deal with
poisoning in the flock.
Now we have to take it a step further - From here we need to talk
about sorcery. Sorcery is the use of supernatural power over others
by the assistance of spirits, also known as witchcraft. This is the power
of the tares. Let's take it to a Biblical incident.
In Samaria there was a man named Simon, who claimed to be
someone great. Everyone gave attention to him. They thought he
was from God. After all, he could do supernatural things. When
Philip came to town and began preaching the gospel, people began to
turn to Jesus by the multitudes. Guess who gets baptized? You
got it. Simon the sorcerer.
Simon is actually a false believers. There is no turning from his occultic
works. And so, as Simon sees the wonders done by Philip, he associates with
it. He sees people being filled with the Holy Spirit through the hands by
the apostles. He wants that power! He has to have it. So Simon begins with
the money exchange.
Peter recognizes right away that Simon is a 'tare.' He says,
"May your silver perish with you, because you thought you could
obtain the gift of God with money! You have no part in this matter,
for your heart is not right before God. Therefore repent of this
wickedness of yours, and pray that, if possible, the intention of
your heart may be forgiven you." (For full story see Acts 8:4-24)
Church history tells us that Simon never repented. Instead he
continued in his sorcery, and became a beguiler of many souls.
Because of his power of sorcery, Simon began a gnostic group that
tried to undermine the Christian faith. His followers began to call on him
as a god. (According to Justin Martyr.)
Let's bring it into our day. One Scripture portion that is easy to
misunderstand has to do with a warning Jesus gives for end time
events. You need to know what the term 'Christ' actually means.
Christ and Messiah both mean 'the anointed one.'
Now the warning - "Then if anyone says to you, 'Behold, here is the
Christ,' or 'There He is,' do not believe him. For false Christs and false
prophets will arise and will show great signs and wonders, so as to
misled, if possible, even the elect."
The Lord goes on; "Behold, I have told you in advance. So if they
say to you, 'Behold, He is in the wilderness,' do not go out, or,
'Behold, He is in the inner rooms,' to not believe them." (At this
point the Lord begins to speak of His second coming.)
What we are being warned about is 'special anointed places,' and
'special anointed ones.' Think about it for a moment and you will
find where the pieces fit.
We must continue - Not only did Jesus warn that there would be a
sweeping move of a false anointing, but the Old Testament prophets
also warned of this. Listen carefully to Jeremiah; "...In the last
days you will clearly understand it. I did not send these prophets,
but they ran. I did not speak to them, but they prophesied." (23:20,21)
Then Jeremiah explains the message of a false prophet. He says
these prophets lead God's people astray by their "falsehoods" and
"reckless boasting." (Vss32,32)
What, then, does a true prophet do? Jeremiah also explains this;
"But had they (the false prophet) stood in My council, then they
would have announced My words to My people, and would have turned them
back from their evil way and from the evil of their deeds." (Vs22)
The false prophet speaks with a voice of authority, but their
message reeks of earthly treasures and pleasures. Peter and Jude
tell us that they merchandise God's people. With flattery
(personal prophecies) they deceive the hearts of the simple.
Sorcery is a powerful spirit. Unless it is arrested in some way, it
takes on the feeling of a flowing river, or of great euphoria. And this is
how it deceives someone with appearance of being the Holy Spirit. But the
happiness is misleading. It is hypnotic and dangerous. It is merely an
eroding of a person's foundation. The result can be a mental institution.
Finally - Paul explains how that sorcery can masquerade as a
move in the Church. We think that just because a person is
speaking in the name of Jesus, and because supernatural things
are happening, that it has to be from God. This is a mistake no
believer should ever make. (May I suggest that you read a book,
entitled, 'The Beautiful Side of Evil, by Joanna Michaelson?)
It appears that the Corinthian Church was bordering on the occult.
You find this in both letters. (I'll explain more fully later.) Paul
explains this, when he says, "But I am afraid that, as the serpent
deceived Eve by his craftiness, your minds will be led astray from the
simplicity and purity of devotion to Christ." (2Co11:3)
Notice how Paul describes the true Christian walk? It is based on a
simple devotion to Jesus Christ. No more. No less. It is not based
on supernatural experiences.
Now for the occultic - "For if one comes and *preaches* another
Jesus who we have not preached, or you *receive* a different spirit
which you have not received, or a *different gospel* which you have
not accepted, you bear this beautifully." (Vs4)
Do you see the occultic warning? Another Jesus! Another spirit!
Another gospel!
This is why I gave an earlier Bible study entitled, "The Gospel the
Apostle's Preached." If we don't understand the true gospel, how
easy it is for the enemy to give us a replacement.
Rather than extending this study further, I want to place it before
the membership for discussion.
What say ye? Let's get back to being Biblical Christians.
In Christ,
Buddy
"See to it that no one comes short of the grace
of God; that no root of bitterness springing up
causes trouble, and by it many be defiled." (Heb12:15)
Lawrence E. (Buddy) Martin, HF Host
email: Bro.Buddy@ChristianChallenge.org
Web: http://www.ChristianChallenge.org