Last Sunday's message was so rich no one wanted leave. We are getting close to concluding our series on the Sermon on the Mount called "The Gospels Ablaze". Matthew 5-7. We landed on Mat 7:15-20 this Sunday and exposed some false teaching. It was Nathan William's turn to speak and he laid it all out for us. At the closing he had an open mic session for anyone that was aware of false teachings, that they had either seen or been victim to. It was jaw dropping to say the least.
False teachers typically have three M's a method, a motive, and a message.
- Their method is by coming to us in sheep's clothing but inwardly they are wild wolves
- Their motive is to steel, kill, and destroy
- Their message is a false, temporary peace that leads to following after other gods.
Other random wisdom nuggets were:
- False teachers become what is familiar to you to gain an advantage.
- They find your weaknesses, then use them against you.
- Just because everyone looks right, doesn't mean they are right
- They capitalize on the outward signs, demonstrations, commanding voices, loud microphones, all while the words they are actually saying are laced with false teachings and strange doctrines.
- Don't judge a prophetic word based off of the vocal tones, heighten emotion, intense stares, or strong grips, but rather simply this..is what being told to you true or not?
- Most people go off what they see and they don't investigate.
- Most are led to believe that to investigate a teaching or a prophesy is showing a lack of faith but it is really showing prudence and shores up your belief
- The Church in Berea (Acts 17:10,11) even took the time daily to search the scriptures on Paul who was an apostle and wrote two-thirds of the New Testament. How much more should we be examining our favorite TV evangelist or people we hear in pulpits today.
- We should be giving attention to two words, prove and validate. In the mouth of two or three witnesses let every word be established. ( II Cor. 13:1, I Tim 5:19)
- A prophet that will not submit to being judged for what he or she has said is in violation of I Cor. 14:39-41.
- God has no problem confirming his word. We have problems waiting on Him.
- Miracles are real, alive and active today, but beware of what is said after everyone has been captivated by the miracle. False teachers use the miraculous as the candy to lure us into the candy store then fill our minds with their false teachings which are contrary to the word of God.
- False teachers will prophesy blessing, riches and peace even if there are cursings, poverty, and war. Their goal is to satisfy itching ears.
- You can tell a false teacher by their fruits. You may hear a good sermon come out of their mouths on Sunday morning, but are they living like a child of hell the rest of the week?
To avoid being ensnared:
- Study to show yourself approved (II Tim 2:15)
- Seek the truth not just any answer. If you just want an answer any old thing will do.
- Truth is a person. "I am the Truth" Jesus said in John 14:6. Anyone that avoids Jesus Christ being the only way to the father is avoiding truth.
- Mark false teachers and don't listen to them no matter how good it makes you feel. Koolaid is sweet. :-)
Some current false teachings:
- There is no literal Hell
- There are many paths to the same God
- I am Jesus Christ
- I have another book that is a companion to the Bible
- You must go through me to get to God
- The Elitist that take a small truth out of the word of God and build a ministry around it and send everybody else to hell that doesn't accept it until you find yourself isolated from people you once called brother and you are the only right person in the whole world.
- Taking faith to un-biblical extremes; to the point where people believe that they have no faith because it didn't turn out the way they said it would.
- Treating giving like a Vegas slot machine. Living unrestrained, sinful lives but thinking you can sow a financial seed and get 100 fold increases on your money.
- Special chants and confessions that can twist God's arms into doing exactly what you say.
- Relying on visions, angels, and prophesies that are contrary to the word of God.
- On and on and on...
This verse below says it best:
II Timothy 4:3-4 For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions, (4) and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander off into myths.
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