★ MY SERMON NOTES
@ Church of Christ in Nations (COCIN)
Area 1, Garki - Abuja, Nigeria
25th May, 2014
★ SERMON:
*Speaker: Rev. S. Andrew (Pastor, COCIN Kubwa, Abuja)
* Topic: Watch Out for False Prophets
* Theme: Knowing the Will of God
* Text: Matthew 7:14 → "How narrow is the gate and how constricted is the road that leads to life, and there aren’t many people who find it!”
* Matthew 24:3-8 → "While Jesus was sitting on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to him privately and said, “Tell us, when will these things take place, and what will be the sign of your coming and of the end of the age?” Jesus answered them, “See to it that no one deceives you, because many will come in my name and say, ‘I’m the Messiah,’ and they will deceive many people. You’ll hear of wars and rumors of wars. See to it that you aren’t alarmed. These things must take place, but the end hasn’t come yet, because nation will rise up in arms against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be famines and earthquakes in various places. But all these things are only the beginning of the birth pains.”
* A false prophet is one who speaks prophesies that are not from God
*How to know false Prophets
1. Do their predictions come true?
2. Are their predictions consistent with God's word?
3 . Where does their massage come from?
4. What is the substance of the massage
5. What is the benefit to be derived from the massage?
* Counterfeit believers always follow and tolerate false Prophets
*2nd Peter 2:1-3 →" Now there were false prophets among the people, just as there also will be false teachers among you, who will secretly introduce destructive heresies and even deny the Master who bought them, bringing swift destruction on themselves.Many people will follow their immoral ways, and because of them the way of truth will be maligned. In their greed they will exploit you with deceptive words. The ancient verdict against them is still in force, and their destruction is not delayed."
* Characteristics of False Prophets:
(a) false Prophets always try to pressure you into doing things you would ordinarily not do
(b) they use guilt to manipulate people
(c) they generalize all issues (they speak ambitiously)
(d) they have fake holiness
(e) they use various gimicks to attract people to themselves and their "Churches"
(f) they use personal power to convince people, instead of allowing the Holy Spirit to bring conviction
(g) they will continue to repeat things over and over again (the use mind control techniques on their audience)
(h) They have traces of materialism in their conduct (this may be evident in their choice of clothes, buildings, friends, insatiable desire for luxury living, etc)
(i) they come in sheep clothing but they are actually wolves (only with spiritual eyes can you discern them)
★ Matthew 7:15 → “Beware of false prophets who come to you in sheep’s clothing but inwardly are savage wolves."
* The wolf is the greatest enemy of sheep
* Wolves are very deceptive
★ Matthew 24:4 → "Jesus answered them, “See to it that no one deceives you."
★ 2nd Peter 2:1 → " Now there were false prophets among the people, just as there also will be false teachers among you, who will secretly introduce destructive heresies and even deny the Master who bought them, bringing swift destruction on themselves."
* Whether we realize it or not, there will always be false prophets amongst us disguised as genuine Men of God
* NOTE: There is no totally 'pure' Church on this side of heaven. Not every body that comes to Church is a true believer in Christ. The Church will be perfected when we are finally raptured into the presence of the Lord
* Satan is a counterfeit
* False Prophets know what you desire in life and they will try to exploit your sentiments using biblical Justification (used wrongly)
* They are tricksters
* They make emphasis on messages of increase and prosperity, ignoring or relegating other equally important doctrines of Scripture
* In every meeting, they demand for money (directly or indirectly)
* They live in luxury while most of their members/followers live in abject poverty
★1st Timothy 4:1→ "Now the Spirit says clearly that in the last times some people will abandon the faith by following deceitful spirits, the teachings of demons."
★1st Kings 18:20-21 → "Ahab sent for the Israelis and brought the prophets together at Mount Carmel, where Elijah approached all the people and asked them, “How long will you keep hesitating between both sides? If the LORD is God, go after him. If Baal, go after him.” But the people didn’t say a word."
* Food, power & authority are the main areas of temptation for most people, including Christians
* It is greed that makes people subsceptible to false teachings
* The antidote for falling prey to false prophets is to know God for yourself
* False prophets see and treat the Church as a commercial business
* When you fully yeild and submit to the Holy Spirit, no one will lead you astray and decieve you
* Do not allow yourself to be mastered by any false teaching
* You must invest in knowing God's word for yourself and having a solid personal relationship with Jesus
