False Preachers

Good morning, brothers and sisters in Christ! Today, I want to talk about something that is of utmost importance to all of us. It's something that can be hard to face, but it's vital for our spiritual well-being. I want to talk about false preachers.

Now, before we get started, let me tell you a funny story. There was once a man who went to church every Sunday and listened to the pastor preach. But he always felt like something was off. One day, he decided to test the pastor. As he was leaving the church, he stopped the pastor and said, "Excuse me, pastor. Can you tell me what the 11th commandment is?" The pastor thought for a moment and replied, "I'm sorry, I don't know." The man smiled and said, "I thought so." He walked away feeling justified in his suspicions.

But brothers and sisters, we must be careful not to judge too quickly. False preachers can be hard to spot. They can appear to be sincere, but their teachings are twisted and dangerous. The Bible warns us about them in 2 Peter 2:1-3:

"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 depraved conduct and will bring the way of truth into disrepute. In their greed, these teachers will exploit you with fabricated stories. Their condemnation has long been hanging over them, and their destruction has not been sleeping."

We must be on guard against false preachers, but how do we know who they are? Here are a few signs to look out for:

They twist the scriptures to fit their own agenda. They take Bible verses out of context and use them to support their own teachings.

They promote a prosperity gospel, claiming that God wants us to be wealthy and successful.

They make grandiose claims about their own spiritual gifts and authority.

They focus more on money and material possessions than on the gospel message.

Now, let's look at what the Bible says about false preachers. Matthew 7:15-20 tells us:

"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? So, every healthy tree bears good fruit, but the diseased tree bears bad fruit. A healthy tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a diseased tree bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. Thus, you will recognize them by their fruits."

We must judge a preacher's teachings by the fruits they bear. Does their ministry lead people to Christ and produce good works? Or does it cause division, greed, and confusion?

In conclusion, we must be vigilant against false preachers who seek to lead us astray. We must test everything against the Word of God and judge their teachings by the fruits they bear. Let us pray for discernment and wisdom in these matters, and let us commit to following only the true gospel of Jesus Christ.

And if there is anyone here today who has been led astray by a false preacher, I invite you to come forward and receive Christ as your Lord and Savior. Let us pray together and ask for forgiveness and guidance as we seek to follow the true path of righteousness. Amen.