Wolves in Sheep's Clothing 11/26/23
Notes
Transcript
Be on Guard
Be on Guard
2 Timothy 3:1–9 “1 But understand this, that in the last days there will come times of difficulty. 2 For people will be lovers of self, lovers of money, proud, arrogant, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, 3 heartless, unappeasable, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not loving good, 4 treacherous, reckless, swollen with conceit, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, 5 having the appearance of godliness, but denying its power. Avoid such people. 6 For among them are those who creep into households and capture weak women, burdened with sins and led astray by various passions, 7 always learning and never able to arrive at a knowledge of the truth. 8 Just as Jannes and Jambres opposed Moses, so these men also oppose the truth, men corrupted in mind and disqualified regarding the faith. 9 But they will not get very far, for their folly will be plain to all, as was that of those two men.”
24 For false christs and false prophets will arise and perform great signs and wonders, so as to lead astray, if possible, even the elect.
“A man is what he is inwardly…they come as prophets; they come with every outward commendation; but they are very Balaams, and will surely curse those they pretend to bless.” - C.H. Spurgeon
ravenous - excessively greedy, coniving, theiving
wolves - pack hunters, working with the evil one
12 And what I am doing I will continue to do, in order to undermine the claim of those who would like to claim that in their boasted mission they work on the same terms as we do.
13 For such men are false apostles, deceitful workmen, disguising themselves as apostles of Christ.
14 And no wonder, for even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light.
15 So it is no surprise if his servants, also, disguise themselves as servants of righteousness. Their end will correspond to their deeds.
Got Fruit?
Got Fruit?
11 Woe to them! For they walked in the way of Cain and abandoned themselves for the sake of gain to Balaam’s error and perished in Korah’s rebellion.
12 These are hidden reefs at your love feasts, as they feast with you without fear, shepherds feeding themselves; waterless clouds, swept along by winds; fruitless trees in late autumn, twice dead, uprooted;
13 wild waves of the sea, casting up the foam of their own shame; wandering stars, for whom the gloom of utter darkness has been reserved forever.
Does their ministry have any effect on the holiness, prayerfulness or worship of God?
test them
1 Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, for many false prophets have gone out into the world.
what is fruit?
22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,
23 gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.
they replace Jesus Christ as the head of the church; they desire fame, sex, money and power
“False prophets are as dangerous to God’s people as ravenous wolves are to sheep.” - John MacArthur
Johnny Mac - a beatitude attitude of humility
18 The one who speaks on his own authority seeks his own glory; but the one who seeks the glory of him who sent him is true, and in him there is no falsehood.
social media is a great identifier in our day
they make Bible studies inwardly focused, God is not the main subject
they constantly stir division and drama
18 For, in the first place, when you come together as a church, I hear that there are divisions among you. And I believe it in part,
19 for there must be factions among you in order that those who are genuine among you may be recognized.
34 You brood of vipers! How can you speak good, when you are evil? For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks.
35 The good person out of his good treasure brings forth good, and the evil person out of his evil treasure brings forth evil.
they will call you to the broad/wide way
Firewood
Firewood
10 Even now the axe is laid to the root of the trees. Every tree therefore that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.
15 And if anyone’s name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire.
2 Every branch in me that does not bear fruit he takes away, and every branch that does bear fruit he prunes, that it may bear more fruit.
positively, a healthy tree is guaranteed to bear fruit, as those who abide in the life-giving vine
Connecting vv. 21-23 indicate that we will not always be able to recognize them before the end when Jesus will reveal the fruit of their ways and their identity as those whom He never knew as His.
Conclusion: know Jesus, know the Gospel, know His Word and you will know false prophets when they arise to lead people to the wide way.