Matthew 7:15-20

Beware of false prophets.

1. Truth matters.

   1. Education, research, justice.

   2. Christ's preaching: spiritual truth anchored in history.

2. Why is there a conflict over truth?

   1. Some things are hard to figure out.

   2. What God has revealed is attacked.

   3. False prophets make it hard to discern truth.

3. The propaganda war of false prophets.

   1. False prophets are a persistent danger for the church.

• Luke 6:26, Jeremiah 26:8

  1. False prophets come to you -- you don't need to go looking for them.

  2. False prophets claim to have special insights.

  3. False prophets find a way into the church.

• Acts 20:29-30, 1 Timothy 4:16.

  1. False prophets look like sheep at first.

• 2Timothy 3:5, 2Timothy 3:13, Matthew 24:11, 24.

  1. False prophets will ultimately lose their propaganda war.

• Matthew 7:19, 2 Peter 2:1-3, Revelation 19:20.

• The truth of the Lord will prevail.

  1. You will know them by their fruits.

  2. The fruit of teaching.

• Deuteronomy 18:20-22, 1 John 4:1-3, John 6:38, John 7:16-18, John 17:4-5,1 Corinthians 14:29.

  1. The fruit of living.

• Gal 5:19-23.

  1. You will know them because you know your Shepherd's voice.

• John 10:4-5, Revelation 13:11.

  1. Act on our Lord's warning to us:

     1. Be a student of Christianity.

• Jeremiah 15:16 Your words were found, and I ate them, And Your word was to me the joy and rejoicing of my heart; For I am called by Your name, O LORD God of hosts.

  1. Stay in the flock.

• Hebrews 10:25 not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching.

  1. Be a witness.

• 1 Peter 3:15 But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts, and always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear.