FALSE PROPHET (pt4)

IOI CHRISTIAN MORNING MEAL

TOPIC: FALSE PROPHET (pt4)

Text: Matthew 7:16, 20 KJV
Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles? [20] Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them.

The false prophet is a murderer, a deceiver, a destroyer of souls, a devil incarnate, but he will not appear that way. Remember that St. Paul said about these false teachers: “For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ. And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light.
Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works” (II Cor. 11:13-15). If the devil himself can turn himself into an angel of light, we shouldn’t be surprised that false teachers also have this incredible capacity to convince people that they are imparting to them the light of God’s word.

Since they are so clever in disguising who and what they really are, we might be tempted to give up and think that it would be impossible to detect them. But you will notice that twice in this passage our Lord Jesus says, “you shall know them.” In verse 16 he says, “ye shall know them.” In verse 20 he says, “ye shall know them.” The false prophet is very clever in his disguise to appear as one of the sheep, but those who have discernment will be able to know them. Jesus said, “Ye shall know them by their fruits.”

Down through the centuries, there has been some debate among Christians about what these fruits really are. There have been those who have said that the fruit is their teaching. In other words, “you will know they are false prophets because of their false teaching.” Others have said that the fruit is if the life that they lead and the lives that they encourage their followers to lead. In other words, you will know them by their ungodly lifestyle and the ungodly lifestyle adopted by their followers. What is the fruit that our Lord speaks of here? Is it the teaching, or the life? The answer to that question is,

“Yes.” It is both the teaching and the life, because false teaching and an ungodly life go hand in hand. As a matter of fact, we can say that one of the motivations behind false teaching is to give permission for people to live an ungodly life, to walk on the broad way. A. W. Pink said that the fruits spoken of here are their creed, their character, and their converts.

Brethren Jesus has warned us already, please be watchful and be prayerful.

LET US PRAY
DEAR LORD, EVERY EVIL SEED, SATANIC DUCTRINE PLANTED IN ME BY DEMONIC ASSOCIATE, BURN TO ASHES IN JESUS NAME.

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Good morning friends