Warning: Danger Ahead!

There is a tourist attraction in Colorado Springs Colorado called 7 Falls. (Explain it) The sign at the top of the stairs reads, “warning: Danger ahead” But the small print is what took me out. It read, “you will be charged any expense you suffer and rescue.” It took me back because I initially though, who would dare cross this path and willing go into danger. And we all know who will willingly go into danger and that’s fine, its cultural we don’t tend to do that type of thing. But then again. Yes we do. We all as fallen humanity have at times ignored our warning signs. (Preach, give examples)

Jesus is rounding up the sermon as record. And he has given all of the substance of what discipleship in the Kingdom looks like, now he is giving ways to determine the authenticity of your discipleship.

1. False Prophets

Beware of false prophets

Definition- Any person who claims to speak on behalf of God who willing knows that God in-fact did not say what they claim God says. This is true for any personal revelation “God told me...” and also of Biblical revelation “The intentional misuse and misinterpreting of scripture”

False Prophets have an agenda. They are not accidental, we are not talking about someone who makes a mistake in the pulpit. That may happen from time to time. We are talking about people who look like they are sheep but really are wolves who prey on sheep.

2. Bad Produce

The way you will know these individuals is by their fruit. Fruit then is the outward manifestation of your inward reality. Your fruit is what we see as a consequence of you following Jesus or not. So in the context of the false prophets, you will be able to tell the apart (because doctrinally they may appear to be sound at first) but eventually they will show you who they are.

And so in v.17-and 21 Jesus now carries the principle to specifically call out false prophets, but it also general applies to all disciples. In other words you can tell a false prophet by their bad produce, but also a false disciple by their bad fruit. (preach)

3. Insincere Performances

“Lord, Lord...” Just because you call him lord does not mean you have submitted to his Lordship. Just because you use the right lingo and churchy language doesn not mean you have submitted to the Lordship of Jesus.

Jesus then gives us a rundown of works that supposedly accompany kingdom authority. (preach)

prophecy

cast out demons

Miracles

4. Not knowing God Personally

There was a TV show in the 60’s and 90’s called “The Dating Game” where you could ask questions of people to get to “know” them in-order to judge whether or not you would be compatible.

Ginosko (Preach)

I come to the Garden alone....

I know Jesus…(repeat)

If you don’t know Jesus let me introduce you.