Listening to the Right Voices - 8/18/2024 Sunday Sermon

Listening to the Right Voices

Matthew 7:15-20

Be on the lookout for false teachers - V. 15

How to recognize true and false prophets - V. 16-18

For no prophecy was ever produced by the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit. But false prophets also arose among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you, who will secretly bring in destructive heresies, even denying the Master who bought them, bringing upon themselves swift destruction. - 1 Peter 1:21-2:1

Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, for many false prophets have gone out into the world. -1 John 4:1

Characteristics of true prophets:

Their teaching conforms to biblical truth

Aside – you can be a true prophet and be odd and also be scorned by many.

It is also true that you can be a true prophet and get things wrong.

It is also true that one teaching wrongly can grow in their knowledge.

Characteristics of false prophets:

They don’t say things that are biblically true.

In particular, they say things about Jesus that are biblically false.

Tell you what you want to hear, not what you need to hear.

Will ask you to follow their rules instead of God’s word.

Rules instead of repentance.

Add to God’s word.

Don’t bring the biblical teaching of Jesus.

Promote a works based salvation, and they define the works.

They ask you to send money to the Lord, but they give you their address.

They don’t really care about you but their own gain.

Pride instead of humility

Aside – you can be very charming and likeable and still be a false prophet.

Woe to you, when all people speak well of you, for so their fathers did to the false prophets. - Luke 6:26

Aside – may very well be able to build a crowd and have outward symbols of success – but biblical fruit is not there.

The consequences for false prophets who mislead others - V. 19

The conclusion - V. 20