False Prophets and Kingdom Citizens

Introduction: In the last chapter we looked at the two gates. The narrow gate that leads to eternal life through Jesus Christ, and the wide gate that leads to a life of destruction, misery, and hell. What is the one thing that causes people to walk through the wide gate? What they believe. And how do they arrive at what they believe? They listen to a teacher – someone on television, someone in a classroom, or an instructor in a seminar or conference. It may be whom they choose to read. They hear or read something they like, and they accept it as a fact. They buy into it hook, line, and sinker. They have now entered the wide gate and are headed down the broad road.

Jesus is going to have a word with His disciples about false prophets. These are the ones during the time of Christ that led people astray. They turned people towards the wide gate and to be carried along down the broad road.

Here is what Jesus teaches about false prophets. He says,

I. Beware of false prophets – 7:15

15 “Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves.

Jesus says,

Beware of false prophets,

The word “Beware” can also be translated as, watch out, take heed, or be careful.

If you saw a sign that read: Beware of Dog. Would you be on your guard for a dog? Sure, you would. What about a sign that read: Bears Sighted Recently? Would you be on your vigilance? Of course, you would.

Here is what Paul said to the Ephesians elders,

For I know this, that after my departure savage wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock. Also from among yourselves men will rise up, speaking perverse things, to draw away the disciples after themselves. Therefore watch, (Acts 20:29-31a)

What is a false prophet? Biblically it is anyone who proclaims a word “a revelation” from God that does not come to pass. It is anyone who teaches anything contrary to what is clearly taught in the Bible.

Here is what Moses penned about false prophets in Deuteronomy 18:20-22,

20 But the prophet who presumes to speak a word in My name, which I have not commanded him to speak, or who speaks in the name of other gods, that prophet shall die.’ 21 And if you say in your heart, ‘How shall we know the word which the Lord has not spoken?’ – 22 when a prophet speaks in the name of the Lord, if the thing does not happen or come to pass, that is the thing which the Lord has not spoken; the prophet has spoken it presumptuously; you shall not be afraid of him.

According to God, a prophet's words must come to pass with 100% accuracy, or else they are false prophets.

What are the marks of a False Prophet?

1. They spell the word PROPHET like this – Profits! A false prophet will always be about money.

2. They will assume a Christ-like persona.

3. They will teach things that no one else has ever seen in the Bible (they have a connection with God that no one else has).

4. They may use a book other than the Bible.

5. They will seek to pull you away from family and friends.

6. They will desire that you worship them (many times as the Christ on earth).

Examples of False Prophets

1. Jim Jones (People’s Temple 1978). Responsible for the deaths of 909 people who drank a cyanide-laced drink.

2. David Karesh (Branch Davidians). Believed he was the Messiah, and that all women were his spiritual wives. 80 people were killed in the 1993 standoff when the AFT raided their compound.

3. Marshall Applewhite (Heaven’s Gate 1997). Believed that a spacecraft would take them to heaven. 39 members committed suicide, including Applewhite.

4. Yahweh ben Yahweh (God, Son of God, Nation of Yahweh 2007).

5. Elizabeth Clare Prophet (Church Universal and Triumphant).

6. Kenneth Copeland – World’s Richest Pastor. Net worth: $300 million (talk about false PROFITS).

All these people were/are false prophets.

How long have false prophets been around? We find them both in the Old and New Testaments. I would add that in today’s culture false prophets are spreading like wildfires. Beware – Beware – Beware!

Wolves in Sheep Clothing

Next, Jesus says that false prophets will come dressed in sheep’s clothing. What does this mean? It means that oftentimes they try and hide among the sheep. It means it will be difficult for you to discern who is a false prophet, they will appear to be like one of God’s real sheep, but Jesus said clearly, they are “ravenous wolves.” Eventually, their teeth will show, and they will bite.

How many of you would like to be out on a hike and come across a wolf pack? (Show a picture of the two wolves on the bed). Talk about frightening.

How are Wolves Led?

A wolf pack has very clear leaders, the alpha pair, who directs the entire group in hunting and all activities. There is also a beta pair, who directs the “mid-level” wolves, and other adult wolves direct the rest of the wolves, including the young. All wolves in the pack know their role and follow their leaders.[1]

This is also true of false prophets and their organizations (Jehovah's Witnesses, Mormonism, and Scientology. Dig into them and you will see the chain of command or the flow chart of leadership.

What are some Characteristics of Wolves?

1. Wolves work as a team and are completely devoted and loyal to team members.

2. Wolves have a very large territory – hundreds of square miles.

3. Wolves experience a feeling of social belonging.

4. Wolves communicate well as a team – hunting, locating one another, and warning of danger.

5. Wolves collaborate successfully.

6. Wolves are fiercely loyal to their pack.

7. Wolves pass down their knowledge through generations.[2]

No wonder Jesus referred to false prophets as wolves in sheep clothing. They might look like us, but their motive is far from being pure. It’s dangerous – they turn you from following Jesus Christ. They will lead you straight to hell.

II. You will know them by their fruit – 7:16

16 You will know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes from thornbushes or figs from thistles?

Next, we are told how to spot false prophets – You will know them by their fruits. Their behaviors and lifestyle. The NLT reads,

You will know them by the way they act.

· Do men gather grapes from thornbushes? What is the answer? No!

· Do men gather figs from thistles? What is the answer? No!

Now, having said this we must remember that there is always something out there that appears to be grapes or figs. Nature can fool your eyes. It can trick you. For instance, there is a thornbush called the Buckhorn that grows these little berries that resemble grapes. Looking at them you would think they were grapes, but they are not. There is also a thistle that has a flower that from a distance appears to look like a fig. But up close you know right away it’s not a fig. Not all things are as they appear to be.

An ancient proverb reads, “Like root, like fruit.”

False prophets can appear to look like the real thing but always look at the fruit they bear.

Fruit Contrasted in Scripture

Fruit of the Flesh Works of the Flesh Galatians 5:19-21 Adultery Fornication Uncleanness Lewdness Idolatry Sorcery Hatred Contentions Jealousies Outbursts of wrath Selfish ambitions Dissensions Heresies Envy Murders Drunkenness Revelries Fruit of the Spirit Galatians 5:22-23

Love

Joy

Peace

Longsuffering

Kindness

Goodness

Faithfulness

Gentleness

Self-control

It is that simple. If you hear something, see something and you think this doesn’t quite sound right, it doesn’t seem to go along with what the Bible teaches then look for the fruit. Where did they get what they are teaching?

· 1 John 4:1 – Try the spirits.

· Acts 17:11 – Tests a man’s teaching with the Scripture.

A Recent Encounter

Just a few days ago and man was sharing some thoughts with me (from the Bible), and I asked him, “Where did you learn this stuff, you’re sharing with me?” He responded, “Oh, God revealed it to me through revelation.” WARNING WILL ROBERTSON – anyone who tells you they are receiving direct revelation from God is a false prophet.

The Shepherds Chapel

The Shepherds Chapel is a good example of a wolf in sheep’s clothing. Its founder and teacher Arnold Benjamin Murray (April 20, 1929 – February 12, 2014) taught a whole gamut of false teachings.

Murray taught what is called, The Seed Serpent Doctrine. He said that Satan had sex with Eve and that is where the wicked line of Cain came from. That’s not what is taught in Genesis 4:1,

1 Now Adam knew Eve his wife, and she conceived and bore Cain, and said, “I have acquired a man from the Lord.”

Murray taught that this is where the “Kenites” came from. They were the offspring of Cain and Eve. He taught that the Kenites are wicked people and that the Jews who possess the land of Israel today are “Kenites”.

· Murray claimed that anyone who disagrees with his teaching is a tool of the devil.

· Murray believed that he is God’s exclusive messenger.

· Murray took Scripture out of context to try and prove a point.

· Murray taught that anyone who believes in a rapture would be deceived by the antichrist.

· Murray denied the Trinity and taught modalism. One God, who appears at different times as Father, Son, or Holy Spirit.

· Murray taught that the British and American people are the real descendants of the ancient Israelites. This is known as “The Christian Identity Movement.”

· Murray taught the doctrine of annihilationism. He denied the doctrine of hell. He believed that people would just poof out of existence at their death.

Do you, or can you gather grapes from thornbushes? No! Do you, or can you gather figs from thistles? No! If TRUTH is not coming from the right source all you get is pain in the mouth when you try to eat what is being passed along to you as inspired truth.

The point is you will never get solid Bible teaching from a false prophet. Look at their fruit.

III. The good tree and bad tree contrasted – 7:17-18

17 Even so, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. 18 A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a bad tree bear good fruit.

A. A Good Tree- A solid Bible teacher, a true prophet preaches TRUTH, and a good tree bears good fruit. Look at the fruit that is coming from the teacher.

· The fruit of the Spirit – Galatians 5:22-23

Is the man controlled by the Holy Spirit?

· Psalm 1:1-3 - How blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked, Nor stand in the path of sinners, Nor sit in the seat of scoffers! But his delight is in the law of the LORD, And in His law he meditates day and night. He will be like a tree firmly planted by streams of water, Which yields its fruit in its season And its leaf does not wither; And in whatever he does, he prospers.

Is the man living a holy life? Is his life fruitful?

· Luke 6:45 - The good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth what is good; and the evil man out of the evil treasure brings forth what is evil; for his mouth speaks from that which fills his heart.

Is the man watching over his own heart?

B. A Bad Tree - A bad tree or a false prophet produces bad fruit. It’s that law of production. Unhealthy trees produce unhealthy fruit.

Jesus makes it clear that a good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit. Whatever a man sows is what the man will reap. Sow some good seed and you produce good fruit. Sow some bad seed and you’ll reap bad fruit.

This is called the law of the harvest. What you sow is what you will reap.

The bad tree cares nothing about being controlled by the Holy Spirit, cares nothing about living a holy lifestyle, and cares nothing about what’s in his heart.

I’ll tell you three things in the heart of a false prophet:

1. Money

2. Sex

3. Fame

IV. Judgment awaits the bad tree – 7:19

19 Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.

Judgment awaits the false prophet. Note that this word is singular. Why? Because every person will give an account for themselves before Almighty God (The Great White Throne Judgment - Revelation 20:11-15).

The term “fire” is used as an apparent picture of eternal punishment in hell. The false prophet is pictured as a tree that does not bear good fruit. He is pictured as a tree that will be cut down and thrown into the fire. This is speaking very clearly about hell, and the coming eternal judgment that awaits those who are religious without knowing the Son of God. And this is why they will face eternal judgment – they did not have a relationship with Jesus Christ.

V. How you will know them – 7:20

20 Therefore by their fruits you will know them.

The New Living Translation reads,

Yes, just as you can identify a tree by its fruit, so you can identify people by their actions.

Someone penned, “Sound doctrine and holy living are the marks of a true prophet.” This is what you must look for in a teacher.

Charles Spurgeon penned, “A man is what he is inwardly.”

The Didachē (The early teachings of the Apostles) is the first order book of the Christian Church; it dates to about ad100; and its regulations concerning these wandering prophets are very illuminating. A true prophet was to be held in the highest honour; he was to be welcomed; his word must never be disregarded, and his freedom must never be curtailed; but ‘He shall remain one day, and, if necessary, another day also; but if he remains three days, he is a false prophet.’ He must never ask for anything but bread. ‘If he asks for money, he is a false prophet.’ Prophets all claim to speak in the Spirit, but there is one acid test: ‘By their characters a true and a false prophet shall be known.’ ‘Every prophet that teaches the truth, if he does not what he teaches, is a false prophet.’ If a prophet, claiming to speak in the Spirit, orders a table and a meal to be set before him, he is a false prophet. ‘Whosoever shall say in the Spirit: Give me money or any other things, ye shall not hear him; but if he tells you to give in the matter of others who have a need, let no one judge him.’ If a wanderer comes to a congregation and wishes to settle there, if he has a trade, ‘let him work and eat’. If he has no trade, ‘consider in your wisdom how he may not live with you as a Christian in idleness … But if he will not do this, he is a trafficker in Christ. Beware of such’ (Didachē, chapters 11–12).[3]

Christians MUST become fruit inspectors!

Anyone who denies the CHURCH you must refuse to listen to. Jesus Christ established the CHURCH (Matthew 16:18; Acts 2). The CHURCH is the organism that God works through today here on earth. It is His plan A – there is no Plan B. Don’t you listen to people who say, “You don’t need the CHURCH.” Every Christian needs these three things:

1. A Savior - Jesus Christ (1 Timothy 4:10).

2. A Reference - The Bible (2 Timothy 3:16-17).

3. A Gathering Point - The Church (Hebrews 10:15).

God has always gathered with His people in these places through the Bible:

· Tabernacle

· Temple

· Synagogues

· Homes

· Churches

Is the teaching coming from the Bible? Is the teacher living a holy and upright life? Does their life match the Bible?

Know your Bible well so that you can spot a false prophet (someone who says they are proclaiming God’s truth).

· 2 Timothy 2:15 - Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.

If you refuse to study Scripture (neglect it) you are opening yourself up as prey for false prophets. They look for people who read their Bible but don’t know their Bible. This is true – years ago an older lady attended church here, and the Jehovah's Witnesses came knocking at her door. They said, “We are out promoting Bible reading.” She responded, “I read my Bible.” Then the hook, “Great, can we come in and study the Bible with you?” She opened the door and invited them into her home.

When I heard about it, I went to her and explained who she had allowed to come into her home. She listened to me, and she put a stop to it immediately. No more Bible study with false prophets.

Conclusion: Here is the takeaway from this section of Matthew 7:15-20:

1. God’s people are to be “Beware of false prophets,” Be alert!

2. God’s people are to be fruit inspectors. What fruit comes from sound Bible teaching?

3. God’s people are to know what a healthy tree looks like. A healthy tree produces healthy fruit.

4. God’s people are to know what awaits false prophets. God will Judge them (Revelation 20:11-15).

5. God’s people are to KNOW a prophet by their fruit. A good tree produces good fruit, and a bad tree produces bad fruit.

[1] (https://www.csuiteimpact.com/championship-teams-the-wolf-pack/#:~:text=A%20wolf%20pack%20has%20very,role%20and%20follow%20their%20leaders.) [2]Ibid. [3]Barclay, W. (2001). The Gospel of Matthew (Third Ed., p. 326). Saint Andrew Press.