STAYING ON THE NARROW ROAD False Prophets and False Perceptions (Matthew 7:15-23) Penge Baptist Church 18 th November 2012

Matthew 7:15-23  “Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves. By their fruit you will recognize them. Do people pick grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? Likewise every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. Thus, by their fruit you will recognize them.”

 Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?’ Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’

The narrow path….  “Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.” (Matthew 7:13-14)

False prophets  Deceptive and dangerous “They come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves” “The Spirit clearly says that in later times some will abandon the faith and follow deceiving spirits and things taught by demons” (1 Timothy 4:1) “such men are false apostles, deceitful workmen, masquerading as apostles of Christ. And no wonder, for Satan himself masquerades as an angel of light” (2 Corinthians 11:13-14)

A question of fruit  Recognisable by the fruit in their lives the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control (Galatians 5:22-23)  Recognisable by the fruit in their teaching They keep saying to those who despise me, ‘The Lord says: You will have peace.’ (Jeremiah 29:17) It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery. (Galatians 5:1) Their teaching will spread like gangrene. (1 Timothy 2:17)

Testing the spirits  If what a prophet proclaims in the name of the Lord does not take place or come true….That prophet has spoken presumptuously. Do not be afraid of him. (Deuteronomy 18:22)  “Dear friends, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world. This is how you can recognize the Spirit of God: Every spirit that acknowledges that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God, but every spirit that does not acknowledge Jesus is not from God.” (1 John 4:1-4)

Who is Jesus?

False perceptions  We may proclaim his name….. who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’  …..but does our faith have fruit? The Lord says: “These people come near to me with their mouth and honour me with their lips,but their hearts are far from me. Their worship of me is made up only of rules taught by men.” (Isaiah 29:13) “If you love me, you will obey what I command.” (John 14:15) What good is it, my brothers, if a man claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save him? (James 2:14)

 We may do works of spiritual power…. “did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles”  …..but what is in our hearts? “he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven” “If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. If I give all I possess to the poor and surrender my body to the flames, but have not love, I gain nothing”. (1 Corinthians 13:1-3)

Using his name in vain  Some Jews who went around driving out evil spirits tried to invoke the name of the Lord Jesus over those who were demon-possessed. They would say, “In the name of Jesus, whom Paul preaches, I command you to come out.” Seven sons of Sceva, a Jewish chief priest, were doing this. One day the evil spirit answered them, “Jesus I know, and I know about Paul, but who are you?” Then the man who had the evil spirit jumped on them and overpowered them all. He gave them such a beating that they ran out of the house naked and bleeding. (Acts 19:14-16)

Examine our hearts  A risk of exclusion remains Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven  Did we have a relationship with Jesus? Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’  Calvin’s “invisible church” Nevertheless, God’s solid foundation stands firm, sealed with this inscription: “The Lord knows those who are his,” (2 Timothy 2:19)

There’s still time to choose the right way!  Choosing the right path “small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it”  Through the gate of Jesus the Lord and Saviour of humankind “On that day….Lord, Lord” “Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved.” (Acts 4:12)