Beware Of False Teachers And False Prophets

Beware of false prophets and teachers.

Last week I had a time with my sermon and I felt that the follow through wasn’t the best. Because I was given another message that I couldn’t exactly reconcile in time. But why was that? If we are to be honest, I was finding it easy to be distracted with other things around me. But as this week progressed, I did a few things that would encourage my delivery. No I am not going into those study habits because it isn’t apart of my message today. The other reason is that I feel that this message is one of significant importance.

If you have your Bibles please turn to Matthew 7 13- 23 13“Enter through the narrow gate. For the gate is wide and the road is broad that leads to destruction, and there are many who go through it. 14 How narrow is the gate and difficult the road that leads to life, and few find it. 15 “Beware of false prophets who come to you in sheep’s clothing but inwardly are ravaging wolves. 16 You’ll recognize them by their fruit. Are grapes gathered from thornbushes or figs from thistles? 17 In the same way, every good tree produces good fruit, but a bad tree produces bad fruit. 18 A good tree can’t produce bad fruit; neither can a bad tree produce good fruit. 19 Every tree that doesn’t produce good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. 20 So you’ll recognize them by their fruit. 21 “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord!’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of My Father in heaven. 22 On that day many will say to Me, ‘Lord, Lord, didn’t we prophesy in Your name, drive out demons in Your name, and do many miracles in Your name?’ 23 Then I will announce to them, ‘I never knew you! Depart from Me, you lawbreakers!’

The message that was placed on my heart was a warning to watch out for false prophets and teachers. This topic is simple enough in theory. But can you identify a false teacher? How do you identify a false teacher? What if what they are saying isn’t false but they follow a false teaching themselves?

How many of us have ever heard of Pastor David Henneke, The Gospel of Jesus Christ, Bethel, Hillsong, Prosperity Gospel, Mantle Passing, Kenosis Theory. Not everything or everyone that I mentioned above is negative nor is everything/one positive.

I may hurt some of your feelings this morning and I apologize ahead of time for hurting your feelings only. I will not apologize for saying the truth. I have never been a fan of Joel Olsteen for two reasons. 1) I don’t see his teaching line up with the Gospel. 2) there is something about him that my spirit does not align with. If you search his name on google his website is the first link to come up the title line reads Live inspired. Reach your dreams. Become all God created you to be. Joel Olsteen is a prosperity gospel teacher. His messages go something like If you would do this then God can do that thing that you want Him to do. If you would pray for your neighbor then God will give you that job that you have been looking for. Maybe God hasn’t given you that Job because God doesn’t want you in that position. Maybe God is trying to teach you how to be content with what you have currently. Jesus tells us to be content in what we have not to seek out troubles that we don’t need. That is the prosperity gospel that is not the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

I know I asked a little while ago but has anyone ever heard of Mantle passing? For those that don’t know this is also called Mantle Grabbing, Grave soaking or even Grave sucking. This is the act of lying across the physical grave of a deceased preacher or evangelist for the purpose of “pulling out” the power of the Holy Spirit, a power that was purportedly “trapped” within the body upon the person’s death. The aberrant practice of grave sucking was initiated within the Charismatic movement and Word of Faith teachings, which are an amalgamation of orthodox Christianity and mysticism. Videos and images across the internet show grave suckers kneeling at or lying across the grave plots or gravestones of famous figures such as C. S. Lewis, John Calvin, or Charles Finney in hopes of “grabbing” the abandoned spiritual mantle or “soaking up” an anointing like a sponge.

Well James that has no business in Church. You are right. But can you tell me who among those listed above might actually practice this false teaching?