Knowing By What’s Growing
Griffith Baptist Church – 3/16/08
A.M. Service
Text: Matthew 7:15-20
Key verse: Matt. 7:20 - Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them.
The Introduction
Johnnie, on his ninth birthday, had had a party. It was all over, and he was gazing wistfully at the remains of the cake.
“Mother,” he said, “may I have a piece of cake, only a small piece, please?”
“No,” replied his mother, “you’ve had quite enough.”
“Well, may I sleep with a small piece under my pillow?” asked the boy.
“Very well, here you are, and remember to keep it under your pillow.” Now run along to bed.” replied his mother.
On going up to Johnnie’s room some time later his mother was amazed to see Johnnie sleeping peacefully with the pillow over his stomach.
Oh what a tangled web we weave when first we practice to deceive
Jesus takes us into the next phase of his invitation plea:
o He hit his followers before with two ways, one way to God and the other way to destruction
o Here he tells us about two trees, one with good fruit and the other with bad fruit
Here he talks about influence.
It is here that we look specifically at what influences can be deadly to the church of God.
Matthew 24:11-12 – 11And many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many. 12And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold.
1 Timothy 4:1 - Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils;
Transition Statement: Christ introduces us to false teachers by informing us first of their ability to deceive.
Body
1. The Deception of False Teachers – 15
Dr. O. J. Nease tells of a sad mistake relative to transfusion. You know the former method of transfusion was to place a well person beside the sick one, insert a tube into the arm of the well person and one into the arm of the sick one, and then, through a mechanical process, pump the blood from the well to the sick person. But on one occasion the device did not work properly, and in some way the pumping was reversed from what was expected. They pumped the blood full of deadly germs into the arm of the well person. A whole pint had been transferred before it was known. The results were disastrous. It looks as though the devil has succeeded often in these days in injecting the deadly poison of deception and damning counterfeits.
A. Appearance
i. They sound like us – prophets
ii. They look like us – sheep
iii. 2 Corinthians 11:14-15 - 14And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light. 15Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works.
B. Actions
i. They do the things we do
ii. They fit right in to the church environment
C. Their goal is to:
i. Ravening = an extortioner, a robber
ii. To lure you in
iii. Make you comfortable with them
iv. Make themselves likable
v. At the opportune moment, trick you into another philosophy that is not God’s
Transition Statement: Now, not only does Christ tells us about their knack for deception but He also gives us a description of false teachers.
2. The Description of False Teachers – 16-18, 20
A. Disappointment – 2nd Peter 17
i. Wells without water
a. Dry - Inability to satisfy
b. Lifeless – cannot sustain by giving that which is life-giving
c. Just because it looks like a well doesn’t mean there’s water in it
ii. Clouds that are carried with a tempest
a. Whichever way the wind blows, there they go
b. There is nothing to hold them firm
c. When the storms come, they scatter
B. Defiled – Jude 8, 12-19
i. They reject authority and mock divinity – 8
ii. They are selfish and rebellious – 12-13
iii. Their mouth is used for to divide and conquer – 16
a. Murmurers – one who discontentedly complains (against God)
b. Complainers – discontented
c. Mouth speaketh great swelling words . . . – braggers
d. Having men’s persons . . . - flatterers
iv. Mockers of Godly standards and holy precepts and behavior – 18
v. Not saved!!!!
C. Destructive – text
i. Good trees produce good fruit:
a. Good for you – constructive and instructive
b. Sweet and tasty – influencing godliness
c. Just as good inside as on the outside - consistent
ii. Bad trees produce bad fruit:
a. Poisonous – destructive
b. Pithy and rancid – influencing godlessness and compromise
c. Looks good on the outside but bad in the inside – inconsistent, hypocritical
Transition Statement: Now that we have been confronted by them and know what we are looking at, what is the destiny of false teachers?
3. The Destiny of False Teachers – 19
A. Discarded
i. I remember the house in Florida when we first moved there. There were three orange trees in the back. My dad talked to me a few years back and told me that they had to get rid of two of the trees. Why? They started producing bad fruit and eventually none at all. They had to be cut down and tossed in the garbage.
ii. Hewn down
iii. What doesn’t produce gets the axe
iv. Disease might infect the other trees
B. Destroyed
i. The diseased tree is burned
ii. There is judgment and hell awaiting those who are false teachers – 2 Peter 2:1, 3 - 1But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction. 3And through covetousness shall they with feigned words make merchandise of you: whose judgment now of a long time lingereth not, and their damnation slumbereth not.
Transition Statement: Well, how does this all apply to us? What do we need to do to guard ourselves and our church against this deception and stay true to the path God has asked us to walk?
4. How does this apply to us?
A. Measure everything by the Word of God – Acts 17:11 – of the Bereans, These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so.
a. A school teacher lost her life savings in a business scheme that had been elaborately explained by a swindler. When her investment disappeared and her dream was shattered, she went to the Better Business Bureau. ’Why on earth didn’t you come to us first?" the official asked. ’Didn’t you know about the Better Business Bureau?"
’Oh, yes," said the lady sadly. ’I’ve always known about you. But I didn’t come because I was afraid you’d tell me not to do it."
The folly of human nature is that even though we know where the answers lie, God’s Word, we don’t turn there for fear of what it will say. Jerry Lambert
b. It is your only barometer of truth
B. Follow Godly leaders that have proven themselves. – Hebrews 13:7 - Remember them which have the rule over you, who have spoken unto you the word of God: whose faith follow, considering the end of their conversation.
C. Learn and practice discernment – 1 John 4:4-6 - 4Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world. 5They are of the world: therefore speak they of the world, and the world heareth them. 6We are of God: he that knoweth God heareth us; he that is not of God heareth not us. Hereby know we the spirit of truth, and the spirit of error.
i. Listen to others carefully – 1 John 4:1 - Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world.
ii. Watch behavior closely – does it match up? Is there growth?
Concluding Statement: We need to be careful and have our wits about us. Satan desires to trip us up and get us distracted with false theology and feel good promises that are not the truth.
Conclusion:
