The Spirit Clearly Says Series

INTRO.- ILL.- Truth In Politics. It was election time and a politician decided to go out to the local reservation and try to get the Native American vote. They were all assembled in the Council Hall to hear the speech.

The politician had worked up to his finale, and the crowd was getting more and more excited. "I promise better education opportunities for Native Americans!"

The crowd went wild, shouting "Hoya! Hoya!" The politician was a bit puzzled by the native word, but was encouraged by their enthusiasm. "I promise gambling reforms to allow a Casino on the Reservation!"

"Hoya! Hoya!" cried the crowd, stomping their feet.

"I promise more social reforms and job opportunities for Native Americans!" The crowd reached a frenzied pitch shouting, "Hoya! Hoya! Hoya!"

After the speech, the Politician was touring the Reservation, and saw a tremendous herd of cattle. Since he was raised on a ranch, and knew a bit about cattle, he asked the Chief if he could get closer to take a look at the cattle.

"Sure," the Chief said, "but be careful not to step in the hoya."

What’s the idea? Politicians are always preaching some message but it may not necessarily be true. They might get into some hoya. (actual meaning is “evergreen shrubs”)

There will always be people in the world preaching some kind of message. They may be politicians or some liberal Hollywood celebrities or some TV news commentator or some false prophet or it could be some guy or gal at work.

Not all the Jim Joneses of the Peoples Temple or David Koresh’s of the Branch Davidians of this world are preaching in pulpits across our land. Some of these preacher/prophets are in the work place or they live next door to us or they speak to us every time we turn on the TV.

Matthew 7:15-16 “Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves. By their fruit you will recognize them. Do people pick grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles?”

The fruit of some is rather obvious and these kind of people are not to be listened to or followed.

Matthew 24:4-5 “Jesus answered: "Watch out that no one deceives you. For many will come in my name, claiming, ’I am the Christ,’ and will deceive many.”

We’re living in a time where there are more false prophets than ever before. Of course, there are more people than ever before. But there is also more mass communication than ever before with TV, internet, cell phones, etc. People are out to propagandize their faith in every way possible! They are out to get people to believe whatever it is they believe in no matter how wild or corrupt it is!

We must beware! We must beware for the sake of our children and our grandchildren! We must continue to teach the truth of the Word of God.

PROP.- We need to listen to what the Spirit says, that is, what God’s Spirit says to us and particularly as the Spirit recorded it in scripture. 1The Spirit clearly says

1- The Spirit says some will abandon the faith

2- The Spirit says some will follow deception

3- The Spirit says some will forbid good

I. THE SPIRIT SAYS SOME WILL ABANDON THE FAITH

1The Spirit clearly says that in later times some will abandon the faith and follow deceiving spirits and things taught by demons.

ILL.- Tiger Woods abandoned his young, beautiful wife for 14 other women. And then, of course, he went into rehab for his sexual addiction. And he apparently does have a strong sexual addiction. He must if he had 14 different women.

But there is something worse than what Tiger did even though what he did was very bad. What is worse is abandoning the faith of Christ for anything else.

Do you know of anyone who has left their faith in Christ for some other kind of faith?

ILL.- I know that actor Tom Cruise left his one time Catholic faith for the Church of Scientology. Why did he do that?

The same holds true for singer Madonna who left her one time Catholic faith for Kabbalahism, which is Jewish mysticism. This is a set of esoteric (select few) teachings meant to explain the relationship between the Creator and the universe (His creation).

Why did Madonna leave her Catholic faith for Jewish mysticism? Again, probably the same reason that Tom Cruise left his faith. Either she didn’t practice it or else didn’t get anything from it.

I have read that Madonna said these things: "Crucifixes are sexy because there is a naked man on them." "Nuns are sexy." If Madonna thinks that Nuns are sexy then why doesn’t she dress like them?