Beware of false prophets, is our theme for today.
Jesus says it more fully:
15[Jesus said:] “Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves. 16You will recognize them by their fruits. Are grapes gathered from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? 17So, every healthy tree bears good fruit, but the diseased tree bears bad fruit. 18A healthy tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a diseased tree bear good fruit. 19Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. 20Thus you will recognize them by their fruits.
St. Paul gives instructions, warning the pastors of Ephesus,
27[Paul said:] “For I did not shrink from declaring to you the whole counsel of God. 28Pay careful attention to yourselves and to all the flock, in which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to care for the church of God, which he obtained with his own blood. 29I know that after my departure fierce wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock; 30and from among your own selves will arise men speaking twisted things, to draw away the disciples after them.
And Jeremiah speaks the Word of the Lord,
16Thus says the Lord of hosts: “Do not listen to the words of the prophets who prophesy to you, filling you with vain hopes. They speak visions of their own minds, not from the mouth of the Lord.
“Sit back, relax, and enjoy the show,”
I think that’s how the movies began at the theatre. Maybe they still do. It’s been awhile since I’ve been to a movie theatre.
But in almost these exact words, this is how one popular American preacher begins his sermons.
Steven Furtick from Elevation Church down in Charlotte often begins by speaking about how hard he’s worked to prepare this message for his people, how he’s sweated so that they can just relax and receive.
Now, in some ways, I get it, and maybe you do too. Maybe you think of coming to church so that you can just sit and receive Christ’s gifts.
There’s the story of Mary and Martha where Martha is busy working and Mary just sits and receives Christ’s teaching and Jesus tells her that she chose the one thing needful, the one thing that will not be taken away from her.
One of our hymns does say to hear God’s Word in church, and put aside the work you do, so that God may work in you.
There’s something true to what Furtick is saying. You are to receive God’s Word and God in His Word works mysterious and wonderful things on your soul when you come to church.
Jesus goes to work on you here. The Holy Spirit works on your heart here.
But in another way, I also have to tell you, that you can’t just sit back and relax and enjoy the show.
You have some work to do, too, even while I’m preaching.
You have some work to do, even while you’re singing our songs or listening to Miss Fredda or Melanie and Sophia or others sing.
You have to judge us according to God’s Word.
You have to test everything according to God’s Word.
You have to measure what is coming out of our mouths and what we are breathing out with what God breathed out in His Word – the inspired, Holy Spirit breathed out through the prophets and apostles, Bible.
You have to beware of false prophets. It’s not an option.
No pastor, no singer or song writer, no Christian who prays publicly for a Christian congregation should say anything contrary to God’s Word.
That’s what they’re supposed to do. That’s what I’m supposed to do.
To preach from God’s Word and teach from God’s Word and pray from God’s Word and to sing from God’s Word and measure everything according to God’s Word.
Not to entertain you or impress you or make you feel really great about all the things you want to feel really great about.
Teachers are supposed to be faithful to the Great Teacher, the Spirit of Truth, the Christ, who is the Way, and the Truth, and the Life.
Manager, stewards, have only one thing to do and that is be faithful to the King, to the Owner.
I am to be faithful. Every pastor is to be faithful to preach the Word, in season and out of season.
And you, you have to keep me faithful.
Pastor, where’s that in the Bible?
Pastor, where does God say that?
Singing, are we singing something God wants us to sing?
“Who are you to judge me or some Christian leader or some song writer or singer or preacher?”
You’re Christ’s blood bought sheep, that’s who you are.
You’re a child of the Heavenly Father, an adopted son or daughter because the Son of God purchased you with His own blood.
You’re a temple of the Holy Spirit, and the One who is in you is greater than he who is in the world.
You know the voice of your Good Shepherd and He gives you life so that you may have it abundantly and you are not hearing the voice of your Good Shepherd here in the church, then flee and find a pastor and church that you will hear the voice of Christ at, because I’m dangerous.
I may seem innocent, dressed up in sheeps clothing, but inwardly I’m a ravenous wolf.
St. Paul says the same thing, But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach to you a gospel contrary to the one we preached, let him be accursed (Galatians 1:8)
You cannot just sit back and believe what any pastor says. The Scriptures are full of people who preached and taught and lived falsely, not according to God’s Word, taught false doctrine.
You are to be like the Bereans who listened to Paul receiving the word with all eagerness, examining the Scriptures daily to see if these things were so. (Acts 17:11)
Jesus wants your faith stregnthened and He wants to continue to deliver to you all the things that He has won for you on the cross.
Christ wants to give His whole self to you.
But the devil, the world and the flesh fights against that.
Colossians 2 says it this way, See to it that no one takes you captive by philosophy and empty deceit, according to human tradition, according to the elemental spirits of the world, and not according to Christ. For in Him the whole fullness of the deity dwells bodily, and you have been filled in Him, who is the head of all rule and authority (Colossians 2:8-10).
False prophets, false preachers, false teachers should not be doing what they’re doing. And they’ll be judged accordingly.
But it’s also every Christian’s responsibility to not allow them do teach falsely.
To know the basic truths of the Christian faith – to know the Ten Commandments, the Creed, the Lord’s Prayer, Baptism, Confession and Absolution, the Lord’s Supper – so they can spot the phony.
How many people do you know are really good a comparing things when they shop?
They look at this car and that car and this car and look at the price and the specs and then make a choice.
How many people do that with TV’s and phones and shoes and houses and cabinets and carpets and groceries.
This is on sale at Aldi’s this week, but that tastes better when it’s from Walmart, even if it costs a little more.
If we’re going to spend energy comparing things in how we spent our money, how much more important should we be comparing what we hear and sing and say in church and devotion and on the radio with what Christ purchased and gives to us in His whole self and His whole Word of Truth!
There was a pastor who was incredibly popular in California years ago named Robert Schuller. When asked why he was so popular he said, “I tell people what they want to hear.”
Don’t ever settle for what you want to hear.
Rejoice in what God’s wants you to hear, because that is what you need above all things.
He can calm itching ears and change fickle hearts.
He can still guilty consciences and give peace to sorrowful souls.
The Lord knows what you need.
And you are His and so you ought always seek a pastor, a church, a devotional, that will give you the whole Christ.
Christ has sweated for you, even sweated drops of blood to earn you back.
Beware of all things – inside and out – that draw you away from who your truly belong to.
And rejoice in all Christians, pastors and singers, who point you back to Him.