False Prophets Series

The Great Commission

Part 20 – Sermon on the Mount – False Prophets

Pastor Bruce A. Shields

House of Faith – www.PS127.org

WELCOME

INTRODUCTION TO SERMON

† The Sermon on the Mount – The Beatitudes

† We are the Salt, staying pure with God’s Holy Word

† We are the Light, showing that Word to the World

† Hate is same as murder - Lust the same as adultery

† Divorce, Oaths

† The Law of Love, Giving

† How to Pray - Fasting

† Treasures in Heaven

† Worry & Anxiety

† Judge Not

† Receiving from God

† Narrow & Broad Way

INTRODUCTION

Matthew 7:15 – 20 False Prophets

15 "Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves. 16 By their fruit you will recognize them. Do people pick grapes from thorn bushes, or figs from thistles? 17 Likewise every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. 18 A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit. 19 Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. 20 Thus, by their fruit you will recognize them.

I. WATCH OUT FOR FALSE PROPHETS

a. Watch out, look for, be aware, you may be deceived.

b. False prophet – what is a false prophet?

i. 1 John 4:1-3 - Dear friends, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world. 2 This is how you can recognize the Spirit of God: Every spirit that acknowledges that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God, 3 but every spirit that does not acknowledge Jesus is not from God. This is the spirit of the antichrist, which you have heard is coming and even now is already in the world.

ii. 2 Peter 2:1-3 – 1 But there were also false prophets among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you. They will secretly introduce destructive heresies, even denying the sovereign Lord who bought them—bringing swift destruction on themselves. 2 Many will follow their shameful ways and will bring the way of truth into disrepute. 3 In their greed these teachers will exploit you with stories they have made up. Their condemnation has long been hanging over them, and their destruction has not been sleeping.

iii. 2 Corinthians 11:12-14 – 12 And I will keep on doing what I am doing in order to cut the ground from under those who want an opportunity to be considered equal with us in the things they boast about. 13 For such men are false apostles, deceitful workmen, masquerading as apostles of Christ. 14 And no wonder, for Satan himself masquerades as an angel of light.

c. Prophets ONLY teach;

i. Christ & the Word of God

ii. Prophecy only the end times according to the Word

iii. Prophecy judgment

iv. Prophecy Spiritual gain

v. Prophecy relationship with God

vi. They do NOT tell fortunes, lotto numbers, anything of earthly gain, etc…

II. THEY COME TO YOU IN SHEEP’S CLOTHING BUT INWARDLY THEY ARE FEROCIOUS WOLVES

a. They look like Christ followers

i. Matthew 3:11-12 – 11"I baptize you with water for repentance. But after me will come one who is more powerful than I, whose sandals I am not fit to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire. 12 His winnowing fork is in his hand, and he will clear his threshing floor, gathering his wheat into the barn and burning up the chaff with unquenchable fire."

ii. Matthew 13:24-26 – 24 Jesus told them another parable: "The kingdom of heaven is like a man who sowed good seed in his field. 25 But while everyone was sleeping, his enemy came and sowed weeds among the wheat, and went away. 26 When the wheat sprouted and formed heads, then the weeds also appeared.

b. Inwardly they are ferocious wolves.

i. Satan comes to kill, steal & destroy. John 10:10

ii. Satan is a lion seeking whom he may devour. 1 Peter 5:8

iii. Everything takes place in our hearts…from sin to salvation

iv. There is no such thing as a Satan worshipper. He does not have worshippers or servants (other than fallen angels), as far as man is concerned, Satan only has trophies. Your soul is his gain.

III. BY THEIR FRUIT YOU WILL RECOGNIZE THEM

a. Them – those acting as followers of Christ.

b. Their fruit – Words, behavior & deeds.

c. We will recognize them – This is NOT judging, we are told not to judge those outside of the Church, for they are already condemned. This is RECOGNIZING so we may know who they are, and what we are to do with them. Witness salvation to them, pray for them, be cautious of them if necessary, and avoid if they refuse to listen to the Word of God.