Introduction:
Today, we are going to look at the final group of players whose purpose is to deceive you and me as we approach the end times. In previous weeks, we looked at the scoffer who gets the Christian to question God. And then we saw last week that Satan uses lawlessness to his advantage to deceive us. Today, we tackle the group that Jesus refers to in the Sermon on the Mount as wolves in sheep's clothing. These are the one who work their way into the church congregation, get places of authority and then start sharing lies or half-truth (and a half truth is a lie) about God or His Word for the purpose of deceiving you.
You say that cannot happen at Bala Chitto or another church in our area. After all, we are the Bible belt. Let me share with you two reasons why it can happen here. First, we, as church members, are more trusting than testing. In 1 John 4:1 John tells us not to simply believe something that is said from the podium but to test to see if that lines up to your understanding of God's Word. But I would dare say few of us take notes and then go check them against the Scripture. You may not know this but when I bring in a revivalist to our church, I have talked to them in depth about their doctrinal beliefs and I have listened to a tape of two of previous sermons. I understand that just because he got the title Evangelist or Revivalist does not mean that he is God's man.
Secondly, Christian people don't pay that close attention to things going on in the church. A mom can tell if their child has a new bruise or a cut on their child's body. Moma pay close attention to their children. You guys can tell immediately if something is not right at work. Men pay close attention to what is going on at their job. But the average church goer, he or she does not pay that careful attention as to what is going on at the church house. And Jude in verse four says that due to their lack of attention, these wolves sneak in unnoticed.
These wolves' number one purpose is to lead you astray from God and His Word. The way they do that is that they preach lies or half-truths. It is 2Timothy 4:3 that Timothy warns us that we will like what they are saying because they are saying what we want to hear rather than what God's Word says.
So, today, how are we going to protect ourselves from these false teachers and false prophets whose purpose is to lead us astray? Let turn in our Bibles to Colossians 2:6-8 and we will discover what is our greatest protection from these wolves.
Scripture:
Colossians 2:6-8 (NKJV) 6 As you have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him, 7 rooted and built up in Him and established in the faith, as you have been taught, abounding in it with thanksgiving. 8 Beware lest anyone cheat you through philosophy and empty deceit, according to the tradition of men, according to the basic principles of the world, and not according to Christ.
Point #1
There are many turning points in a person's life but the most significant without a doubt is when you accepted Jesus Christ as your Savior.
Colossians 2:6 (NKJV) 6 As you have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him,
A turning point might be that you have been extremely overweight all your life, and you make a life change to lose a lot of weight. Or a turning point might be that you have been an addict for several years and you see how it is destroying your life, so you make the decision I am going to overcome my addiction. Or the guy who has been a bachelor decides to pop the question to the girl that he has been dating several years. All of these are significant turning points in a person's life.
But none of these compare with the turning point in a person's life when they ask Jesus Christ into their heart. If you ask why, I will have to tell you for the first time you can walk in Him because it is the first time that you are spiritual alive in Him.
Listen to what the Apostle Paul says:
Ephesians 2:1-3 (NKJV) 1 And you He made alive, who were dead in trespasses and sins, 2 in which you once walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit who now works in the sons of disobedience, 3 among whom also we all once conducted ourselves in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, just as the others.
You must be alive to fight off a wolf in sheep clothing. A person whose soul is spiritually dead cannot fight off a false prophet or a false teacher because that spiritually dead person is just like them. Isn't that what Paul says in verse (3). A spiritually dead person is a child of wrath just like the others?
So, the first requirement to fight off those who don't preach the truth is to be alive in Christ. If you don't want to be misled in this world, you better know Christ as your Savior.
Point # 2
The best way to recognize a lie is to know the truth which requires that you be rooted and built up in your faith by studying the Scriptures.
Colossians 2:7 (NKJV) 7 rooted and built up in Him and established in the faith, as you have been taught, abounding in it with thanksgiving.
Walking in Christ comes as result of accepting Christ as your Savior. Being rooted and built up is the result of hard work. First, it requires a teachable spirit. There are some Christians that they think they know it all and so they don't have a teachable spirit. Secondly, it requires study, and most people don't like to study. You ask someone why they don't like school and the answer you will most often get; I don't like to study. But I must remind you that Timothy tells us that we are to study to show ourselves approved rightly discerning truth. Even if I go to church and hear a sermon, I still need to go home and discern for myself if what the preacher said was truthful.
2 Timothy 2:15 (NKJV) 15 Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.
It is that study whether in personal Bible study or in group study like a church service that will equip you with the truth. And the best way to recognize a lie is to know the truth.
And as verse (7) concludes that that should make my heart thankful to know that I am equipped to recognize when I am being spiritually lied to.
Point # 3
You must be intentional and not accidental in guarding what you accept as truth.
Colossians 2:8 (NKJV) 8 Beware lest anyone cheat you through philosophy and empty deceit, according to the tradition of men, according to the basic principles of the world, and not according to Christ.
Interestingly, I found a survey done in September 2020 that indicated that nine percent of American trust the media a great deal and thirty -one percent trust it a fair amount of the time. The rest about sixty percent was skeptical of the news. So, what that tells me is that people have their guard up when it comes to watching the news.
So, now let's think of about church. Paul had to remind the Colossians to beware in the NKJV and the NIV says it this way: "see to it." We must have our guard up when we turn on a preacher on the car radio and listen to him or if you are flipping channels on the television and a preacher catches your attention and you begin listening. In fact, we need to have our guard up when we come to church to make sure the preacher is preaching the whole truth.
So, Paul gives us the third key to protect ourselves from these wolves in sheep closing: protect ourselves by being intentional. Make sure that we only allow the truth to get in our hearts and minds.
Conclusion:
What are we to do to fortify ourselves from those who want to lead us astray?
Come alive by asking Jesus Christ as your Savior.
Be able to discern a lie by knowing the truth because of studying God's Word.
Be intentional in your approach to spiritual matters.
