FALSE PROPHETS
I. Jesus warned us about false prophets.
Mt. t 7:15 Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves. Let us look at this verse in it’s context.
13 Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in there at: Many people that enter into the broad way believe they are on the straight and narrow.
14 Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it. The false prophet will not walk the straight and narrow way.
15 ¶ Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves. False prophets lead us away from straight and narrow way and make it difficult to find. We have many false prophets. Just like in the days of Elijah and the prophets of baal. 1 ki.19:22 Don’t be surprised If you have been influenced by a false prophet. Jesus said; “many false prophets shall rise, and deceive many” Mt.24:11
16 Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles? We can know them if we learn to look for the fruit of the Spirit. What is the fruit of the Spirit? Is it miracles and signs and wonders? Look what Jesus say in Mt 24:24 “For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect.” We know that our God is the Almighty God and that nothing is to difficult for Him. That is an un disputable fact. That is not in question. The question is what is the fruit of the Spirit? The word of God reveals to us what the fruit of the Spirit is. We find in Gal.5:22,23 “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,
Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.”
17 Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit. Every tree will produce according to it’s nature, we cannot call the tree good if it’s fruit is bad. If we pick all the bad fruit off the tree; what kind of fruit will it produce the following year?
18 A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit. A false prophet cannot produce the fruit of the Spirit. Jesus said in John 15:4,5 “Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me.
I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.” Some will talk real smooth, cry real tears, they may make an attempt at being humble, preach with great enthusiasm, sing like a canary, look real good, and they may have a big title and have a degree in theology or psychology, they may do all kinds of signs and wonders but if they don’t have the fruit of the Spirit, beware this is a false prophet.
19 Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire. He may boast of his successful ministry and how God has blessed him with many riches, don’t be deceived by that for his end is not good and eternity in hell is a long, long time.
20 Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them. In order to know the fruits of the Spirit you must love the fruit of the Spirit. Those who love the fruit of the Spirit automatically look for it in others. Love for the fruit of the Spirit is a true love for God if we don’t love the fruit then we are despising everything that God is.
“ (For the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness and righteousness and truth;)
Proving what is acceptable unto the Lord.” Ef.5:9 Love for truth is paramount;
How can we say we love God if we don’t love the truth? Jesus is the way the TRUTH and the life. Why do multitudes of people follow the false prophets? Because they love not the truth they will believe a lie. Paul speaks about it in 2 Th. 2:10
“Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders,
And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved.”
Sin is very deceitful and robs us of the blessing of God, people who love the wrong things are easily led astray by wicked men. These men entrench them in their covetousness and fleshy lust causing them to love a lie. Once they love the lie they don’t have ears to hear the truth. The Israelites were in this same shameful condition when our heavenly Father spoke to them by his Prophet Jeremiah.
¶ “ Your iniquities have turned away these things, and your sins have withholden good things from you.
For among my people are found wicked men: they lay wait, as he that setteth snares; they set a trap, they catch men.
As a cage is full of birds, so are their houses full of deceit: therefore they are become great, and waxen rich.
They are waxen fat, they shine: yea, they overpass the deeds of the wicked: they judge not the cause, the cause of the fatherless, yet they prosper; and the right of the needy do they not judge.
Shall I not visit for these things? saith the LORD: shall not my soul be avenged on such a nation as this?
A wonderful and horrible thing is committed in the land;
The prophets prophesy falsely, and the priests bear rule by their means; and my people love to have it so: and what will ye do in the end thereof?” Jer.5:25-31 ( a similar new testament example can be found In 2 Pt.2:1-3)
This a good question; what will ye do in the end thereof? I don’t know about you but for me I pray that God will give me a genuine love for the truth, goodness and righteousness, that I may learn to love what he loves and to hate what he hates. Then perhaps I will be able to continue on the straight and narrow way that leads to eternity with Jesus. The love for the fruit of the Holy Spirit will give me the discernment I need to not be deceived by wicked men.
21 ¶ Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. For natural man to do the will of God he must first deny himself and take up his cross and follow Jesus. Most false prophets speak very little about the cross. Paul says in
1Co 1:18 For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God. The saved know in order to do the will of God self must be crucified. The fruit of the Spirit will not be seen in those who walk in the flesh.
“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,
Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.
And they that are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts.
If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.” Gal.5:22-25
22 Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? They may be real popular and well received by great multitudes.
Jesus also warns us about this. “Woe unto you, when all men shall speak well of you! for so did their fathers to the false prophets.” Lu.6:26
23 And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.
24 Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock:
25 And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock.
26 And every one that heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man, which built his house upon the sand:
27 And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell: and great was the fall of it.
This is the teaching of Jesus concerning false prophets; this is not my doctrine but
His and I believe it with all my heart, if anyone refuses His doctrine they cannot say in truth they are following Jesus Christ. I will finish up with the words of the Apostle John.
1Jo 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.
May the Lord Jesus be with you.
Jim Lucas
