What did Jesus say? 

Beware Of False Prophets

• Matthew 7:15-16 “Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves. You will recognize them by their fruits. Are grapes gathered from thornbushes, or figs from thistles?”

In Other Text:

• Lamentations 2:14 Your prophets have seen for you false and deceptive visions; they have not exposed your iniquity to restore your fortunes, but have seen for you oracles that are false and misleading.
• 2 Timothy 4:2-4 “For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions, and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander off into myths.

Challenge: 

Ravenous wolves or gentle sheep? Jesus tells us to beware, as things are not always what they seem. In this world, many desire roles of authority to feel admired and valued, so much so that they will say anything to keep the masses happy.  Unfortunately, 2 Timothy 4:2-4 teaches us that the masses are increasingly grateful for leaders who will sedate them with soothing messages, rather than challenge them to change.  

Leaders, are you willing to engage in difficult conversations, speaking the Truth in love?  It’s easy to slip into patterns of “keeping the peace” to appease the crowd, rather than stepping on some wayward toes with the Truth.  Christ-followers, are you willing to familiarize yourself with the Word to the extent that your Spirit will fly a red flag in the face of false teaching? Jesus puts the responsibility on us to test the Spirits (1 John 4:1), and to examine the fruit of those who speak into our lives.  How might you take greater ownership of tuning in to Holy Spirit for His discernment this week?

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