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Grace Bible Church Glorifying God by Making Disciples of Jesus Christ

This message emphasizes the importance of discerning false prophets and offers tests to identify them. It highlights the dangers they pose to believers and encourages seeking true teachers who exhibit righteousness.

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Grace Bible Church Glorifying God by Making Disciples of Jesus Christ

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  1. Grace Bible ChurchGlorifying God by Making Disciples of Jesus Christ

  2. A reminder to consider others Please: Turn off your cell phone or set to vibrate only Use the nursery or cry room if your child is fussy Get up during the preaching only if absolutely necessary (please sit in back if you must leave early)

  3. Danger: False ProphetsMatthew 7:15-20 / Luke 6:43-45 If you believe Jesus’ claims, then obeying Him is the only logical action you can take Many people do not enter the narrow gate because they are ignorant, others because they are mislead

  4. The WarningMatthew 7:15-20 Finances are personally important to your current standard of living, but your life here is a “vapor” (Eccl. 1) Even a terrible government cannot force an internal change in who you are in Christ

  5. The WarningMatthew 7:15-20 In good or hard times, the greatest threats to the believer / church are false teachers

  6. False Prophets in the Old Testament Deuteronomy 18:20-22 Isaiah 30:9-11 Jeremiah 5:30-31

  7. False Prophets in the New Testament 2 Peter 2:1 2 Timothy 4:3 Some false prophets are demonically empowered to show signs and wonders - Matt. 24:24; 2 Thess. 2:9

  8. Two Tests for False Prophets Deuteronomy 18 - A prophet from God must be 100% accurate in his prophecies about the future Deuteronomy 13:1-3 - A prophet that seeks to promote another god is false

  9. Two Tests for False Prophets 1 John 4:1-3 A claim to speak for God must be judged by God’s standards and not man’s gullibility

  10. Ravenous Wolves in Sheep’s Clothing Matthew 7:15 “Beware” (prose;cw / prosecho), “to be in a continuous state of readiness . . . and respond appropriately” “Sheep’s clothing” a garment made from fiber - not sheep’s skin. A false prophet / shepherd would dress in similar clothing to a true one in order to deceive

  11. Ravenous Wolves in Sheep’s Clothing Matthew 7:15 2 Corinthians 11:13-15 - the false teacher does not come to be part of the flock, but to try to lead it Ravenous (a’rpax / harpax) = “swindler” or “extortioner - see 2 Peter 2:3 False teachers are concerned for themselves, not the sheep

  12. Obvious & Identified Cults The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (Mormons) - wrong Jesus, wrong God, wrong salvation Christian Science, founded by Mary Baker Eddy - wrong Jesus, wrong God, wrong salvation Sun Myung Moon’s Unification Church (Moonies) - wrong Jesus, wrong God, wrong salvation

  13. Obvious & Identified Cults The Watchtower Bible and Tract Society (Jehovah’s Witnesses) - wrong Jesus, wrong God, wrong salvation Many other cult groups – see: http://www.apologeticsindex.org/ & http://www.watchman.org/

  14. The More Dangerous False Prophets Those false prophets that claim to be following orthodox Christianity are more perilous Benny Hinn, Kenneth Copeland & many others in the Charismatic world Rob Bell, Brian McClaren & others of the Emerging Church movement

  15. The More Dangerous False Prophets Joel Osteen, & many other “Christian” media preachers Sarah Young & many other “Christian” authors Popular false teachers will eventually be identified - those without such exposure can remain hidden

  16. Knowing Them by their FruitsMatthew 7:16-20 The immediate context is the narrow and wide gates - verses 13-14 The broader context is judgment - introduced at the beginning of Matt. 7 The context of the whole sermon is the nature of true righteousness compared to self righteousness

  17. Knowing Them by their FruitsMatthew 7:16-20 The fruit that identifies is righteousness vs unrighteousness and self-righteousness Do they display the character qualities described in the Beatitudes? Are they salt and light to the world? Do they draw attention to themselves or bring glory to God?

  18. Knowing Them by their FruitsMatthew 7:16-20 Is mammon their master and anxious about worldly things or are they at peace trusting God to provide? Are they condemning of those that do not meet their standards or helpful to those caught in sin? Good fruit comes from a regenerated heart and bad fruit from an evil heart - Luke 6:45

  19. Conclusions False teachers are all around - you must test their claims Prophecies must be 100% accurate and they must promote only worship of the God of the Bible True teachers are orthodox on all the major Biblical doctrines

  20. Conclusions True teachers exhibit righteousness in how they live If they fail these tests, they are false teachers, wolves imitating the shepherd - Flee!

  21. Grace Bible ChurchGlorifying God by Making Disciples of Jesus Christ

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