Introduction
A. A man having lunch at a Chinese restaurant noticed that the table had been set with forks, not chopsticks. He asked why. The waiter said "Chopsticks are provided only on request." "But," the man countered, "if you gave your patrons chopsticks, you wouldn't have to pay someone to wash all the forks." "True," the waiter shot back, "but we would have to hire three more people to clean up the mess."
B. Many people like to think that you can trust religious leaders...
1. Ministers normally rank high in polls concerning people you can trust
2. People will often accept whatever a preacher, priest, or rabbi says as the truth
a. Turn to Matthew 7:15-20
3. Yet Jesus told His disciples to beware of false prophets
Matthew 7:15-20 NKJV
"Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves. {16} "You will know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes from thornbushes or figs from thistles? {17} "Even so, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. {18} "A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a bad tree bear good fruit. {19} "Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. {20} "Therefore by their fruits you will know them.
a. They may appear like sheep, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves
(1) Look at the bulletin cover - can you see the deceiver?
(a) Often such a deceiver is just as obvious
(b) But other deceivers are not as obvious
(2) We need to be able to identify them, knowing what to look for
(a) This is on e reason I keep saying that you need to check one what the preacher is saying - especially me
i) Is what the speaker saying biblical
ii) Does what they say match what the Bible says
(b) I have pointed out many times the idea that you must be the deciding factor in what you accept and what you reject
i) This includes books, movies, music, and everything else
a) What I might see as bad, such as a certain movie
b) I may see it as evil
c) You may see it as a morality play
d) Approach such a thing in prayer
4. Are you concerned about false prophets today?
a. You should be!
(1) I want to point out that we are not considering religions other than those who claim to be Christian
b. The great diversity of teaching suggests that many are being misled
c. We need to be reminded of the danger, and know how to spot any "wolves" that might come our way!
5. With the words of our Savior in Mt 7:15-20 fresh on our mind, I wish to use this opportunity to remind us to "Watch Out For Wolves!"
6. Let me first re-emphasize the point that.
a. Turn to Acts 20:28 - 31
II. There Will Be False Prophets
A. As Paul Warned on Several Occasions...
1. The Ephesian elders
Acts 20:28-31 NKJV
"Therefore take heed to yourselves and to all the flock, among which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the church of God which He purchased with His own blood. {29} "For I know this, that after my departure savage wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock. {30} "Also from among yourselves men will rise up, speaking perverse things, to draw away the disciples after themselves. {31} "Therefore watch, and remember that for three years I did not cease to warn everyone night and day with tears.
a. Paul told these elders take heed
b. For even from among themselves would men arise, misleading people
(1) Well, I should say, men and women would arise and mislead the people
(a) Turn to 2 Corinthians 11:13 - 15
c. Vance Havner in Christianity Today wrote, “I heard of a preacher the other day who was asked, ‘What's the size of your pastorate?’ he said, ‘Twenty-five miles wide and one inch deep.’ That is what bothers a lot of preachers these days.”
(1) Just what did Havner mean? Perhaps that we have to be narrow minded in our Christian understanding
2. Paul warned the church at Corinth
2 Corinthians 11:13-15 NKJV
For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into apostles of Christ. {14} And no wonder! For Satan himself transforms himself into an angel of light. {15} Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also transform themselves into ministers of righteousness, whose end will be according to their works.
a. Referring to false teachers present even then in the very beginning of the Christian movement
b. Appearing as ministers of righteousness, even as Satan appears as an angel of light
(1) Turn to 1 Timothy 4:1 - 3
3. Paul warned the young preacher Timothy
1 Timothy 4:1-3 NKJV
Now the Spirit expressly says that in latter times some will depart from the faith, giving heed to deceiving spirits and doctrines of demons, {2} speaking lies in hypocrisy, having their own conscience seared with a hot iron, {3} forbidding to marry, and commanding to abstain from foods which God created to be received with thanksgiving by those who believe and know the truth.
a. Paul warned of the apostasy that would come
(1) Describing the character and tactics of those who would mislead others
(2) I have often looked at this passage and wondered about the Roman Catholic Church
(a) Their ministers are forbidden to marry
(b) And at one time, the faithful were under orders not to eat meat on Fridays
(c) We have some very dear friends who are devout Catholics and we had planned a night out together at a well known stake house. As we began to place our order, they suddenly realized that it was Friday. Even though the ban on meat had been vacated they continued their Friday custom. The stake house only had shrimp cocktail that would be acceptable for them. Can you imagine how we felt eating our stakes while they eat their shrimp cocktail
i) Turn to 2 Peter 2:1 - 3
B. Other New Testament writes also warned the faithful
1. Peter, in telling of the rise of false teachers
2 Peter 2:1-3 NKJV
But there were also false prophets among the people, even as there will be false teachers among you, who will secretly bring in destructive heresies, even denying the Lord who bought them, and bring on themselves swift destruction. {2} And many will follow their destructive ways, because of whom the way of truth will be blasphemed. {3} By covetousness they will exploit you with deceptive words; for a long time their judgment has not been idle, and their destruction does not slumber.
a. Here in just a few words we find one of the greatest problems, even the best evidence of a false prophet.
(1) There is a very early document called the Didache, this was a book to help direct the Christian movement and many things are spoken of. Of great importance is this
(a) If any prophet, speaking in a trance, says, "Give me your money (or anything else)," do not listen to him.
(b) I see some preachers that promise you wealth untold id you would just send him your money.
(c) I have heard them specify exact amounts
i) Send me your seed money of a thousand dollars
ii) Or a dollar a day, just send me 365 doillars
iii) The amount varies
iv) Ray Stevens sings a song about such TV ministers called, “Would Jesus wear a Rolex on his television show.”
v) In one way Ray Stevens song points out the false prophets of our day
a) Turn to 1 John 4:1
2. John, calls for people to "test the spirits"
1 John 4:1 NKJV
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.
a. Turn to Jude verses 3 & 4
3. Jude in his little letter writes of some false prophets who had already come
Jude 1:3-4 NKJV
Beloved, while I was very diligent to write to you concerning our common salvation, I found it necessary to write to you exhorting you to contend earnestly for the faith which was once for all delivered to the saints. {4} For certain men have crept in unnoticed, who long ago were marked out for this condemnation, ungodly men, who turn the grace of our God into lewdness and deny the only Lord God and our Lord Jesus Christ.
4. With so many warnings, this is not a subject to take lightly! But how can we spot such "wolves" when they appear so disarming (like sheep)?
a. Lets turn to Matthew 7:16 - 20
III. We Can Identify False Prophets
A. By Examining the Fruit of Their Life..
1. We can know them by their "fruit"
Matthew 7:16-20 NKJV
"You will know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes from thornbushes or figs from thistles? {17} "Even so, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. {18} "A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a bad tree bear good fruit. {19} "Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. {20} "Therefore by their fruits you will know them.
a. What is truly in their heart will eventually come out
(1) Turn to Mark 7:21 - 23
Mark 7:21-23 NKJV
"For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders, {22} "thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lewdness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness. {23} "All these evil things come from within and defile a man."
b. For from the heart proceeds any sin that may be there
c. Thus false teachers and false prophets are often betrayed
(1) By their greediness
(a) Manifested by their lavish lifestyle
(b) By their immorality
i) As manifested by adulterous relationships
ii) Or sexual excesses
iii) By their lust for power
iv) As manifested by religious empires
a) Turn to 2 Peter 2:1
2. We Should Examine the Fruit of Their Teaching..
2 Peter 2:1 NKJV
But there were also false prophets among the people, even as there will be false teachers among you, who will secretly bring in destructive heresies, even denying the Lord who bought them, and bring on themselves swift destruction.
3. Taking notice of their methods
a. They work secretly
(1) Their ministries (especially finances) will be shrouded in secrecy
(a) Turn to 2 Corinthians 8:20 - 21
(2) Rather than being open to one and all
2 Corinthians 8:20-21 NKJV
avoiding this: that anyone should blame us in this lavish gift which is administered by us; {21} providing honorable things, not only in the sight of the Lord, but also in the sight of men.
b. They appeal to covetousness
2 Peter 2:3 NKJV
By covetousness they will exploit you with deceptive words; for a long time their judgment has not been idle, and their destruction does not slumber.
(1) They draw people with an appeal to what people often covet such as health and wealth
(2) Rather than preparing people for what Christians can expect
c. Using deceptive words
(1) I once heard a TV preacher say, “You can’t be saved by reading the Bible, because the Bible says “fath cometh by hearing. Unless you read the Bible out loud.”
(a) I can’t help by wonder how many of his congregation now read the Bible out loud
i) Which is not a bad thing
ii) But that was a gross misinterpretation of the Word
iii) What other misinterpretation has he perpetrated
(2) They twist the scriptures to support their message (just as Satan did in trying to tempt Jesus)
(3) We are enjoined to rightly divide the word of truth
(a) Turn to Galatians 1:8 - 9
4. We are to take notice of their doctrine
Galatians 1:8-9 NKJV
But even if we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel to you than what we have preached to you, let him be accursed. {9} As we have said before, so now I say again, if anyone preaches any other gospel to you than what you have received, let him be accursed.
a. Notice how they twist and pervert the scriptures
(1) Their gospel may start out right, but becomes twisted along the way
(2) Their teaching often expressed in the terms of man, not Scripture
b. How they teach that which is clearly contrary to the scriptures
(1) Even if they appear able to perform signs and wonders!
(2) The final test is how their teaching compares to the word of God and that of His apostles
IV. Conclusion
A. It is not necessary to judge the hearts of those who claim to speak for God
1. We need only to be "fruit-inspectors"
2. The fruit of their life and teaching will become apparent soon enough -- This is how we can "Watch Out For Wolves!"
B. Of course, this presumes that our knowledge of God's word is sufficient...
1. To know what to look for in the life of a false prophet
a. Turn to 2 Timothy 2:15
2. To know what to listen for in the teaching of a false prophet -- Otherwise we will be no different than Israel, of whom God said: "My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge..."
a. 2 Timothy 2:15, our AWANA verse, and with this we close
2 Timothy 2:15 KJV
Be diligent to Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth
b. This then will become our primary weapon in the Spiritual Warfare round about us
