Watch out

  Watch out.

Jesus warned,

"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. Matthew 7:15-20.

Someone has said, 

“the devil is not destroying the church by attacking it. He is joining the church and destroying it from within.”

Jesus warned about this when he said,

"Watch out for false prophets. 

They come to you in sheep's clothing, 

but inwardly they are ferocious wolves.”

                                                               Matthew 7:15.

Sadly we cannot always tell how good or bad an evangelist, pastor or others in authority in the church are. Sometimes it’s because of a code of secrecy. Sometime it’s simply because we only see them in the media and have no idea what they do other that what we see in that media.

  Still we must be on guard even in a local church congregation against those who would lead us astray. 

That’s why we must take time and study the scriptures for ourselves. We must take time to understand what we believe and why we believe it. And we can only do this by taking time to read the holy scriptures, the Bible, for ourselves, praying and asking God to guide and direct us.

We need to pray asking God to lead us to a pastor and a church that we can trust.

We need to look for a church who shows good fruit. that shows the traits the apostle Paul talked about when he said,

“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,  

gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.”  Galatians 5:22,23.

We must see first hand these attributes Paul described because they not only show an individual is following Christ but a Church congregation, is following Christ also.

Question; Are these qualities exhibited in your church Congregation, in your Pastor, in you? 

Please think about it.

Watch out

Watch out
The apostle Peter wrote,
“But there were also false prophets among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you. They will secretly introduce destructive heresies, even denying the sovereign Lord who bought them—bringing swift destruction on themselves.  
Many will follow their shameful ways and will bring the way of truth into disrepute.  
In their greed these teachers will exploit you with stories they have made up. Their condemnation has long been hanging over them, and their destruction has not been sleeping.” 2 Peter 2:1-3.
Peter’s warning is a warning for the ages. We as believers in Christ Jesus must keep our own house clean. We must be completely committed to proclaiming the gospel message in the purest form possible.
The apostle Paul tells us,
“What business is it of mine to judge those outside the church? Are you not to judge those inside? God will judge those outside. 
“Expel the wicked man from among you.” 1 Corinthians 5:12,13.
We as believers in Christ Jesus have no right to judge anyone inside or outside the church with respect to where they will spend eternity. That is God’s job. Not ours.
That being said we have an obligation to look at what is being taught in our church congregations and to expel from our congregations and denominations those who are not teaching the word of God in spirit and in truth.
We must remember we are the light of the world. The great evangelist Charles Spurgeon said,
“The Bible is not the light of the world, it is the light of the Church. But the world does not read the Bible, the world reads Christians! “You are the light of the world.”” Charles H. Spurgeon.
We therefore must not let anything dim our light. The message we proclaim to the world must be proclaimed to the world in word and in deed.
The apostle Peter telling us,
“Dear friends, I urge you, as aliens and strangers in the world, to abstain from sinful desires, which war against your soul.  
Live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day he visits us.” 1 Peter 2:11,12.
Francis of Assisi reminding us,

“The deeds you do 

may be the only sermon some persons will hear today” 

                                                                  Francis of Assisi.

We must remember this. We must always be vigilant when it comes to those who would be preachers, and teachers of the word God.
We should be checking what they are saying against the Bible text, and if they are in error, we must correct them. If they will not take correction then we must be willing to as the apostle Paul put it “expel the wicked” from among us.
The only way we can do this is if we as individuals study the scriptures ourselves and with others in order the see the truths as they appear in the Bible.
Please think about it. 

Watch Out

Watch out
Jesus said,
“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 thorn bushes, 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.” Matthew 7:15-18
He went on to say,
“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!’” Matthew7:22,23
The Apostle Paul states,
“For the time will come when men will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear.  
They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths.” 2Timothy 4:3,4
As Christians we need to be educated in our faith. We need to study the word or God. We need to know what we believe in and why we believe it. Sadly many Christians do not know why they believe what they believe.
Many Christians take a pastor or evangelist at face value believing him or her simply because they have a Bible in hand and are saying things that sound good.
We should not be doing that. Everyone who claims to be a minister, a priest, and evangelist needs to be checked out.
My life as a follower of Jesus spans forty plus years now. In that time I have seen many false teachers arise. I have seen many evangelist, priests, bishops, and pastors fall into disrepute. Yet sadly especially it seems in the evangelical community there are still people taking advantage of Christians by stringing a few scriptures together that sound good.
I for one cannot emphasise enough the need for individual Christians to study the Bible. To not be afraid to check out what a minister or evangelist says.
Yes there are going to be differences of opinion on some points within the Christian community. However the major points cannot be compromised.
The apostles creed while not written by an apostle of Jesus presents to all what true Christians believe it states,
1.I believe in God the Father the almighty maker of heaven and earth
2. I believe in Jesus Christ God’s on and only Son, our Lord and Saviour.
3. I believe Jesus was conceived by the Holy Ghost, and born of the Virgin Mary
4. I believe Jesus suffered under Pontius Pilate; That He was Crucified, died, was buried. That he descended in hell.
5. I believe He rose again on the third day from the dead.
6. I believe that he ascended into heaven and sits at the right hand of God the Father almighty.
7. I believe Jesus will one day Judge the living and the dead.
8. I believe in the Holy Ghost
9. I believe in the Church which is the communion of the saints,
10. I believe in the forgiveness of sin.
11. I believe in the resurrection of the body.
12. I believe in life everlasting.   
These are biblical based beliefs that all Christians agree to. I believe you must believe what is said here in order to be a true Christian.
Still beware. Even if a preacher says they believe in this one still has to be careful. It’s easy to give lip service to any belief.
What one needs to do is check what the preacher is saying against the Bible. Look at their ministry is it truly giving glory to God? Especially if money is involved is he and his ministry correctly handling any donations given to it?
Is the person living a life in line with the teaching of Jesus.
Both we as individuals and the ministers we support should be taking to heart the words of the apostle Paul to Timothy that states,
“Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a workman who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth. 2Timothy 2:15.
Please think about it. 

Watch Out

Watch out
“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 thorn bushes, 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!’” 
Matthew 7: 15-23.
Jesus here warns believers to watch out for “false prophets”, false teachers. He notes that  “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.”
Christianity today in the twenty-first century like any faith or group of any kind that has been around a long time has people who call themselves Christian but are not.
They say they follow the teachings of Christ but one look at their life and lifestyle tells you they are a long way from Christ.
Now it must be said here the average Christian is far from perfect. However as someone once said

“Christians may not be perfect, but they are progressing

 toward what Jesus want for them in their life.” 

It can be hard for a non-believer or for that matter true Christians to tell who is a true Christian and who is not.
However I believe there are several things that mark a true believer in Christ. In brief they are,
1. They Love.
Jesus said,
“Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?” 
Jesus replied: “ ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’  
This is the first and greatest commandment.  
And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’  
All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.” Matthew 22:36-40.
2. They love even their enemy
Jesus said,
“You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’  
But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you,...” Matthew 5:43,44.
3. They obey Jesus who said,
“So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets” Matthew 7:12.
4. They truly believe Jesus when He said

,“I am the way and the truth and the life. 

No one comes to the Father except through me.” 

 John 14:6

   5. They believe you get to heaven by the grace of God through faith. The apostle Paul saying,

“For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith

and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God

 not by works, so that no one can boast.”  

 Ephesians 2:8,9.

6. They believe in living at peace with all men. The apostle Paul saying,

“If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, 

live at peace with everyone.”

Romans 12:18

7. They will be subject to the rulers and authorities living a good life. Paul writing,

“Remind the people to be subject to rulers and authorities, 

to be obedient, 

to be ready to do whatever is good,

  to slander no one, 

to be peaceable and considerate, 

and to show true humility toward all men.”

Titus 3:1,2.

A true Christian will also want to tell you about the most important thing in their life Jesus Christ. Obeying the words of Jesus who said,
“Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.  
Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,  and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” Matthew 28:18-20.
A true Christian will do all of the above not only because it is what God requires of them but to show the non-believer the way to heaven. And that to a Christian is of paramount importance.
Please think about it.

Watch Out

Watch out
Jesus said,
“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 thorn bushes, 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!’” Matthew 7:15-23.
The apostle Peter states,
“But there were also false prophets among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you. They will secretly introduce destructive heresies, even denying the sovereign Lord who bought them—bringing swift destruction on themselves.  
Many will follow their shameful ways and will bring the way of truth into disrepute.  
In their greed these teachers will exploit you with stories they have made up. Their condemnation has long been hanging over them, and their destruction has not been sleeping.”
2 Peter 2:1-3.
We live in an incredible world. A world in which at the touch of a button we can hear and see a preacher anywhere in the world. A preacher we know little or nothing about. As a result it is possible to find yourself listening to a preacher or teacher that is not teaching correctly.
Even if you attend a local church it is possible to find preachers and teachers that are not teaching correctly.
These false teachers sound good but they pick and choose what they say from the Bible in such a way as to mislead people intentionally or otherwise. Usually intentionally.  That is why we must study the scriptures for ourselves.
We must be willing to hold those who claim to be Christian teachers and preachers up to a high standard. The apostle Paul tells us,
"What business is it of mine to judge those outside the church? Are you not to judge those inside?  
God will judge those outside. “Expel the wicked man from among you.” 1 Corinthians 5:12,13.
Notice Paul make it clear the Christian is not to judge those outside the church that is God’s job.
However we are to expel those who claim to be Christians, and are not acting according to Christian teaching.
Thus the point I want to make here is Christian beware. Examine closely those who claim to be Christian teachers, preachers and evangelist. Make sure they are preaching the word of God correctly.
Please think about it

Watch out

Watch out
Jesus said,
“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 thorn bushes, 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!’” Matthew 7:15-23.
If ever there was a warning that needed to be heeded by Christians in the twenty-first century this is it.
We live in a multi media world that allows anyone to say anything with impunity. We in the west and particularly in North America live in a society with incredible freedoms.
The freedoms we have are very much a two edged sword. While they let us practice our faith. They also let those who teach false doctrine thrive.
Christians need to use caution. Christians need to be reading their Bible and studying it for themselves. Not just relying on what some pastor, evangelist or teacher says. Especially if those people are in the media.
It’s easy for false teachers to hid behind the right to free speech. It’s easy for anyone to take scriptures out of context and twist them to say things that are wrong. That’s why I encourage people to read the Bible for themselves. It’s the only way you will know if there are errors.
I would also urge Christians to find a good solid Bible believing Church. A Church who studies the Bible. I recommend Baptist Churches world wide because they are generally a good stable group.
What I also suggest is that if you support anyone in the media check them out. Ask them for a statement of faith. Check it out against the Bible to see that the scriptures they use to support their beliefs are taken in context. If they don’t give you a doctrinal statement have nothing to do with them. If you think what they say in their statement of faith is wrong ask them for clarification if they don’t clarify it have nothing to do with them.
If you want to support an evangelist or pastor financially also ask them for a financial statement. All good groups will willingly give you one. If they don’t give you one have nothing to do with them.
Ultimately the word to Christians is “beware”. There are a lot of false teachers out in the media today. They talk a good talk but are not staying true to the word of God.
The best advice I can give to Christians other than check them out scripturally, and financially, is to pray and ask God to lead you to good teachers. To a good Church.
Please think about it.