Don't Be Fooled

The Pastor has been talking a lot about searching within ourselves to weed out the me part of our spiritual walk, why do you think that is? What I want to speak about today is a reminder of what we can look forward to and how we can recognize those that are trying to turn people away from the truth.

Matthew 24:1 NLT

As Jesus was leaving the Temple grounds, his disciples pointed out to him the various Temple buildings. [2] But he responded, “Do you see all these buildings? I tell you the truth, they will be completely demolished. Not one stone will be left on top of another!”

The destruction of the temple in 70 AD by the Romans was so thorough that the exact location of the sanctuary is unknown to this day.

[3] Later, Jesus sat on the Mount of Olives. His disciples came to him privately and said, “Tell us, when will all this happen? What sign will signal your return and the end of the world? ” [4] Jesus told them, “Don’t let anyone mislead you, [5] for many will come in my name, claiming, ‘I am the Messiah.’ They will deceive many.

Jesus warns us 6 times in this one conversation that there will be those who will try to mislead us. In the verse 4, 10, 11, 23, 24 and 26.

We are told many times in the old and new testament to watch out for false teacher or Prophets. I Googled false messiahs and Wikipedia listed 24 different people that claimed to be Jesus or God. I am sure there are more than that. Do you remember David Koresh, of the Branch Dividians. Or Wayne Bent who was convicted on December 15, 2008 of criminal sexual contact with a minor, and two counts of contributing to the delinquency of a minor. In John chapter 7 we are told that we can recognize these false teacher/prophets by their fruits.

Matthew 7:15-16 NLT

“Beware of false prophets who come disguised as harmless sheep but are really vicious wolves. [16] You can identify them by their fruit, that is, by the way they act. Can you pick grapes from thorn bushes, or figs from thistles?

We are told that these false teacher will come to us in sheep's clothing but under neath they are ravenous wolves looking to mislead the just. Again if we observe their actions they will surely give them selves away. At first they seem to be legitimate Christians they seem to walk the walk and talk the talk, but their true colors come out when observed, and you see no evidence of the Holy Spirit.

Matthew 24:

[10] And many will turn away from me and betray and hate each other. [11] And many false prophets will appear and will deceive many people.

[23] “Then if anyone tells you, ‘Look, here is the Messiah,’ or ‘There he is,’ don’t believe it. [24] For false messiahs and false prophets will rise up and perform great signs and wonders so as to deceive, if possible, even God’s chosen ones. [25] See, I have warned you about this ahead of time.

Who are Gods chosen ones? John chapter 15 gives us a hint;

John 15:16 NLT

You didn’t choose me. I chose you. I appointed you to go and produce lasting fruit, so that the Father will give you whatever you ask for, using my name.

We as Christians are the chosen ones if you have accepted Christ and the holy Spirit resides in you, you have been chosen. What does the verse above say, why have we been chosen? To go and produce lasting fruit. That doesn't mean we should start growing fruit trees, it means sharing your Holy Spirit experiences with those that don't know Christ.

Matthew 24:26 NLT

“So if someone tells you, ‘Look, the Messiah is out in the desert,’ don’t bother to go and look. Or, ‘Look, he is hiding here,’ don’t believe it!

Again people pointing in the wrong direction. Some will not really know what they are talking about but, then some will be saying to deliberately mislead others.

Jude 1:3-4 NLT

Dear friends, I had been eagerly planning to write to you about the salvation we all share. But now I find that I must write about something else, urging you to defend the faith that God has entrusted once for all time to his holy people. [4] I say this because some ungodly people have wormed their way into your churches, saying that God’s marvelous grace allows us to live immoral lives. The condemnation of such people was recorded long ago, for they have denied our only Master and Lord, Jesus Christ.

I spoke on this verse before, Jude wanted to write a letter to express the joy he had in the mercy of the Father through Jesus Christ but realized that something else had to be addressed.