“Beware of False Prophets—Without and Within”
Jeremiah 23.16-29; Romans 8.12-17; St. Matthew 7.15-23
the Sunday Sermon preached for the Eighth Sunday after Trinity
at Zion Evangelical Lutheran Church—UAC
by the Rev. Frederick E. Davison, Pastor
August 10, 2003
X X X
Grace, Mercy, and Peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus the Lord. [Amen.]
The sermon for the Eighth Sunday after the Holy Trinity is recorded in the Holy Gospel appointed, the Holy Gospel according to St. Matthew chapter 7th, with particular focus on these words:
“…Beware of false prophets…”
In the Name of the Father and of the X Son and of the Holy Ghost. [Amen.]
“Thus saith the Lord of hosts, ‘Hearken not unto the words of the prophets that prophesy unto you… they speak a vision of their own heart, and not out of the mouth of the Lord. They say still unto them that despise me, “The Lord hath said, Ye shall have peace”; and they say unto every one that walketh after the imagination of his own heart, “No evil shall come upon you.” ’ ”
“*Beware* of false teachers…” Teachers who stand and say to those who know not Jesus nor His, indeed *Our* Father… “Beware” those who stand and call out to such as these, “Brothers and sisters…” And worse, to confirm their knowing not saying, “We are stronger now than we were an hour ago…”
“Beware” teachers who stand and say, “The Muslim also believes in the One True God…” And “beware” such teachers who swear by the Lord falsely saying “Amen” to these who “speak after the imagination of their own heart”: “My own confirmation Pastor said the same thing…”
“Beware of false prophets.” For they will say, “All is peace, peace.” “Peace and safety…” “no evil will fall on you…” “We are brothers and sisters and we are stronger now…” Do we not sing, “We all believe in one True God…”?
“Beware of false prophets…” for the Lord God testifies from heaven against them: “I have not sent these prophets… I have not spoken to them, yet they prophesied.” From the ancients I have sent my prophets to say, “Behold, I send My Angel before you… obey His Voice… for My Name is Him.” Yet these who come lately verily, “They are prophets of the deceit of their own heart…” who “cause my people to forget My Name…”
Praying to Allah, Adonai, Vishnu, Sri Krishna, Buddha they are seen to be “standing in the corners of the streets” indeed, smack dab in the middle of the public square they stand praying “that they may be seen of men.” All the while praying “in the precious name of Jesus” they embrace those who revile Him. And calling them “brothers,” they make them “twice the sons of hell” confirming them “stronger” for having prayed and trusted in the doctrines of demons. Yes, dear flock “beware of false prophets.”
“Beware” for they come “in sheep’s clothing…” Baptized into the Name, and purporting to pray *in* Him,” in their prayers they trample under foot His glory and award it unto men; “extend Jacob’s ladder” to the men “who ascended the stairs…” Yes, “in the precious name of Jesus”—not the One *we* know—they pray to open heaven on account of the righteousness of men. Allah, Adonai, and the Great Architect were all pleased. For indeed, their way of salvation was preached most plain and clear.
But so say the false prophets, “Have no fear.” There’s no need to cry, “Abba, Father.” [They’d say:] “The Lord is not angry.” “No evil shall come upon you.” Besides, “We all believe in one true God!” So sayeth the hymn. Indeed, we do proclaims “the deceit of their hearts.” My, even the pope says it’s true.
Their hearts tell them and so their tongues soon follow, in effect, “All men worship. And inasmuch as they worship God—and “the Muslim God is also the One True God (there IS only ONE TRUE GOD, right?) [exact quote], if there is only One True God and *He* is the One who created all things, and *He* put in men’s hearts the ability to look at creation and think, “God must have made this!” Inasmuch as all—well at least part of it—if this is true, that is, if you worship god, any god, you must be—at least to some degree—worshipping the One True God.
“Beware of false prophets” for because of *that* kind of “deceit of their own hearts” to those who reject Jesus, false prophets appeal to them, “Brothers and sisters, *we* are stronger now than we were an hour ago…” After all as they say, “the Muslim God is also the One True God…”
But to you dear Church God gave no such deceitful revelation, but a “more sure word of prophecy.” Indeed, a “more sure Word.” And for you ‘tis the cure.
For it would be lovely and most entertaining one might think were this a matter of party spirit, of politicking, of one-upsmenship, my attempt to steal the show. But it is far more grave than that. For our dear Lord says, “Beware of false prophets.” And they are not confined to over yonder, nor hither, nor there.
But they live deep within you. Their message you embrace, You love to hear “Oh you are worthy!” “You are decent!” “You are great!” “Your works hail and announce you!” “Your mercy beyond compare.” “Surely God is quite pleased wit you! Look at all you’ve done. Now you’re aged and you’ve done it from your youth.” But such a word is not from His prophets, but a brought from deep within. “Did God really say?” “Are you sure I cannot eat?” You surely recognize the roots they’ve come from. But surely you think, “We’re evolved, so much the more refined now. ‘Of course God said…’”
But as you have grown older your deceits have matured. You’ve joined *those* false prophets—albeit quite unbeknownst to you. You no longer say, “Did God say…” but “Sure, God said it. But *this* is what He meant.” And you do just like *those* prophets and you prophesy to self and others, “Surely this is what God said.” I know He meant “‘Thou shalt not covet’ but this is not land or property or things.” Yet you have forgotten “anything that is thy neighbor’s” and you run away thinking from Him you have hidden the thing.
Still you say, “Well, that’s him” or “That’s her” or even, “I can see it in all of them.” But it is to *you*, to you and your false prophet—whether Adam or Eve—to you He says, “There is none good, not even one.” And “none” is not “Him” or “Her” or even “them” but you in the front, in the back, up there, and yes, even me. “For all have sinned and fall short of His glory.” And all includes that false prophet within.
And because it does He sends “a more sure Word.” Our children are learning it this way: “I believe that when the called ministers of Christ deal with us by His divine command… this is as valid and certain, in heaven also, as if Christ, our dear Lord dealt with us Himself.” As Jesus says, “every good tree bringeth forth good fruit.”
Let me ask you this simply. Can the servant of Christ, can the prophet of Christ, can the one truly who speaks in His Name, can He say what He has not? If he is speaking truly, can he preach what Christ has not taught? Is it not He who says, “The one hearing you is hearing Me.” To the faithful and true prophet there need be no fear. Yes, He speaks rightly, “NO evil shall come upon you!” For He speaks out as he’s been spoken [to]. He speaks that which he has heard. There is no deceit spewn forth his belly—you can see what he says in His Word. “By their fruits ye *shall* know them.”
“A good tree cannot bring forth bad fruit.” True it was then, but how shall we judge these prophets false now? Is it not He—yes the Lord God Almighty: Father, Son, and Holy Ghost—did He not say, “Thou shalt have no other gods before Me.” If we were to accept—and we do not—that *any* worship directed towards a god who created is directed is by definition or default directed toward the One True God, why, why I ask you would the One True God forbid worship directed toward Him that these false prophets say He inspired? By their arguments, do we not end up that if we teach the First Commandment, we end up that it is God who is guilty? Old Adam perhaps is not as smart as he thought?
And one more example from out own day; “if the Muslim,”—expand it to include the Jews since they *also* worship only one god—if the god *they* worship is also the One True God [as opposed to many who worship a panoply of gods]—if they worship the One True God, why did Jesus say, “If God were your Father, ye would love Me…ye are of your father the devil…”? “By their fruits ye shall know them”; so also that false prophet within.
He tells you, “You’re a good person. God is pleased with you on account that all you do—well at least a lot of it—an awful lot you do is good; certainly far more good than evil. Yes, on that account surely, the Lord is pleased with you. On that account He will say, ‘Enter thou good and faithful…’ Indeed, on that account He will ‘extend… Jacob’s ladder.’ Your years of good deeds, your community service, seen by all, yes, you are worthy. By your works you can come in.’”
But this is not the Word of Heaven. For “before Him all things are laid bare.” So against you He swears out His warrant, “You are guilty!” “Unclean.” “You will by no means be unpunished.” “You trust in your own goodness, your ‘wonderful works,’ must depart. “Depart from Me, I never knew you… ” “cast into the fire” will be their fate.
“Fear not little flock!” Such a word shall ne’er come near you, for a “more sure Word” has drawn you near. Ye have heard Him say this day already, “I forgive you”; washed in heavenly water He’s declared you dear. You are clean, “clean every whit” for where once draped “filthy rags” parading as righteousness, you now are fitted in King’s Garments, clothed in Crimson white as snow, for His “more sure Word” says, to the repentant gathered, “I wilt: Be thou clean” And as it was written by the ancients, “And [as] the Lord said… it was so.”
And so then, you who are by nature sinful and clean are in the Blood of the Lamb made worthy, the objects of His Pleasure and Riches to the naked eye yet unseen. But to the faithful heart made of the Spirit, is seen what the kingdom of men and their false Christians ‘crost that great gulf can never see. And at the “more sure Word” from heaven, “This is My Body…This is My Blood” comes the enfleshment, the Eternal Blood and Body, yes, “power, and riches, and glory, and honor, and might”—the Lord’s Majesty.
So depart from us ye devils, false prophets, you ravenous lions and lionesses and your following pride. The Church is here gathered, we are soon here to take our Saviour, standing, then kneeling, and soon crying, “Abba, Father” “Have mercy dear Father! We are Thy children, joint-heirs with Thy Son. And not of our own merits, our works or our ways, but we come to Thee now pleading purely and only for Jesus’ Most Holy Passion sake.” [Amen.]
In the Name of the Father and of the X Son and of the Holy Ghost. [Amen.]
The peace that passeth all understanding keep your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus! Amen.
