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QUESTIONS ABOUT FALSE TEACHERS1. Can we recognize the false teacher by his/her

a. Appearance appear devout - sheep’s clothing Mt.7:15

"And they watched him, and sent forth spies, which

should feign themselves just men, that they might take hold of his words, that so they might deliver him unto the power and authority of the governor" Lk. 20:20.

"This they said, tempting him, that they might have to accuse him" Jn. 8:6

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2 COR.11:13-14

Tell them by appearance?

13 For such people are false apostles, deceitful workers,

masquerading as apostles of Christ. 14 And no wonder, for

Satan himself masquerades as an angel of light.

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Mt.22:15-17

Then the Pharisees went and plotted how

they might entangle Him in His talk. 16 And they sent to Him their disciples with the Herodians, saying, “Teacher, we know that You are true, and teach the way of God in truth; nor do You care about anyone, for You do not regard the person of men. 17 Tell us, therefore, what do You think? Is it lawful to pay taxes to Caesar, or not?”

Has human nature changed?

Have they all passed from the earth?

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Acts 23:19-21

The commander took him by the hand and stepping aside, began to inquire of him privately, "What is it that you have to report to me?" 20 And he said, "The Jews have agreed to ask you to bring Paul down

tomorrow to the Council, as though they were going to inquire somewhat more thoroughly about him. 21"So do not listen to them, for more than forty of them are lying in wait for him who have bound themselves under a curse not to eat or drink until they slay him; and now they are ready and waiting for the promise from you."…

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b. Can we tell them by their

Personality – “He has a million dollar personality”

1 Personality changes when cornered.

2 What about his knowledge of scripture?

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c. Can we tell them by Reputation – everyone loves them –

Lk.6: 26 "Woe to you when all men speak well of you, for their fathers used to treat the false prophets in the same way.

“He never had an enemy”

d. By their Claims - Mt.7:22 – done many wonderful works –

A church of God member said, “You should have been there!”

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e. How about their Miracles? - Their Professions - Lord, Lord Mt.7:21-23

Earnest Angley, Binnie Hinn, Oral Roberts, Jim and Tammy Faye Baker, Pat Robertson, Ben Kenchlow…

A church of God member said, “Mr. Hafley, you should have been there!”

I asked her if she knew any of the ones healed

Her preacher: “I specialize in headaches and tumors”

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2. How does the Lord describe the false teacher?

Mt.7:15 “Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves. 16 By their fruit you will recognize them.

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a. Mt.7:15-23 – does that wake us?

WE HAVE LEARNED:

1 false teachers exist

2 they do not appear as false teachers

3 they are deceptive

4 they produce fruit

5 we can know who they are by their fruit

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b. Do we know their fruits? Do we care?

c. See Mt.15:7-14 – scribes/Pharisees Knowest thou that the Pharisees were offended when they heard these things? v.12

Mt.12:14 - Pharisees took counsel how they might kill him

Lk.6:11 – But the Pharisees and the teachers of the law were furious and began to discuss with one another what they might do to Jesus.

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Lk.11:45 - Then one of the scholars of the law said to him in reply, “Teacher, by saying this you are insulting us too."

13:17 - And as he said these things, all his adversaries were put to shame

19:47 - And he was teaching daily in the temple. But the chief priests and the scribes and the principal men of the people sought to destroy him

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How would we treat a preacher that did this to his audience?

Hire him?

Have him for a Gospel Meeting?

Recommend him to others?

Stay at our house? Acts 17:7-9

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Acts 17:5-9 (NIV)

But other Jews were jealous; so they rounded up some bad characters from the marketplace, formed a mob and started a riot in the city. They rushed to Jason’s house in search of Paul and Silas in order to bring them out to the crowd. 6 But when they did not find them, they dragged Jason and some other believers before the city officials, shouting: “These men who have caused trouble all over the world have now come here, 7 and Jason has welcomed them into his house. They are all defying Caesar’s decrees, saying that there is another king, one called Jesus.” 8 When they

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heard this, the crowd and the city officials were thrown into turmoil. 9 Then they made Jason and the others post bond and let them go.

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3. How did Paul describe the false teacher?

Acts 20:28 Therefore take heed to yourselves and to all the flock, among which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the church of God which He purchased with His own blood. 29 For I know this, that after my departure savage wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock. 30 Also from among yourselves men will rise up, speaking perverse things, to draw away the disciples after themselves. 31 Therefore watch, and remember that for three years I did not cease to warn everyone night and day with tears.

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4. How did Paul describe Elymas the sorcerer in Acts 13:7-11?

“O full of all deceit and all fraud, you son of the devil, you enemy of all righteousness.”

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5. How did Peter describe the false teacher?

2Pet.2:1 But there were also false prophets among the people, even as there will be false teachers among you, who will secretly bring in destructive heresies, even denying the Lord who bought them, and bring on themselves swift destruction. 2 And many will follow their destructive ways, because of whom the way of truth will be blasphemed. 3 By covetousness they will exploit you with deceptive words; for a long time their judgment has not been idle, and their destruction does not slumber.

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5. How did Peter describe the false teacher?

2Pet.2:3 NIV. 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.

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2Pet.1:3 NLV. - They will tell lies and false stories so they can use you to get things for themselves. But God judged them long ago and their death is on the way.

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5. How do we discover who the false teacher is?

1Jn.4:1 but test the spirits, whether they are of God; because many false prophets have gone out into the world.

v.6 he who is not of God does not hear us. By this we know the spirit of truth and the spirit of error.

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6. What was to be done with the false teacher in the Old Testament? Dt.13:1-18 – Put to death - Stoned

“If there arises among you a prophet or a dreamer of dreams, and he gives you a sign or a wonder, 2 and the sign or the wonder comes to pass, of which he spoke to you, saying, ‘Let us go after other gods’—which you have not known—‘and let us serve them,’ 3 you shall not listen to the words of that prophet or that dreamer of dreams, for the Lord your God is testing you to know whether you love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul. 4 You shall walk after the Lord your God and fear Him, and keep His commandments

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and obey His voice; you shall serve Him and hold fast to Him 5 But that prophet or that dreamer of dreams shall be put to death, because he has spoken in order to turn you away from the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt and redeemed you from the house of bondage, to entice you from the way in which the Lord your God commanded you to walk. So you shall put away the evil from your midst.

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7. How did Elijah treat the prophets of Baal? 1Kg.18:21-40.

He mocked them. v.27 Elijah came near all the people and said, “How long will you be divided between two ways of thinking? If the Lord is God, follow Him. But if Baal is God, then follow him.” But the people did not answer him a word. 22 Then Elijah said to the people, “I am the only man left who speaks for God. But here are 450 men who speak for Baal. 23 Bring two bulls to us. Let them choose one bull for themselves and cut it up and put it on the wood. But put no fire under it. I will make the other bull ready and lay it on the wood. And I will put no fire under it

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24 Then you call on the name of your god, and I will call on the name of the Lord. The God Who answers by fire, He is God.” All the people answered and said, “That is a good idea.”25 So Elijah said to the men who spoke for Baal, “Choose one bull for yourselves and make it ready first. For there are many of you. Then call on the name of your god, but put no fire under it.” 26 So they took the bull which was given to them and made it ready. Then they called on the name of Baal from morning until noon, saying, “O Baal, answer us.” But there was no voice. No one answered. They jumped and danced around the altar they had made. 27 At noon Elijah made fun of them. He

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said, “Call out with a loud voice, for he is a god. It might be that he is in deep thought or has turned away. He could be away traveling. Or it may be that he is asleep and needs to have someone wake him.” 28 So they cried with a loud voice. They cut themselves as they had done in the past, with swords and spears until blood poured out on them. 29 When noon passed, they cried out until the time for giving the evening gift. But there was no voice. No one answered. No one listened.

30 Then Elijah said to all the people, “Come near to me.” So all the people came near to him. And he built again the altar of the Lord which had been torn down. 31 Then Elijah

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took twelve stones, by the number of the families of Jacob’s sons. The word of the Lord had come to Jacob’s sons, saying, “Israel will be your name.” 32 With the stones he built an altar in the name of the Lord. And he made a ditch around the altar, big enough to hold twenty-two jars of seed. 33 Then he set the wood in place. He cut the bull in pieces and laid it on the wood. And he said, “Fill four jars with water and pour it on the burnt gift and on the wood.” 34 Then he said, “Do it a second time.” And they did it a second time. He said, “Do it a third time.” And they did it a third time. 35 The water flowed around the altar,

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and filled the ditch also. 36 Then the time came for giving the evening gift. Elijah the man who spoke for God came near and said, “O Lord, God of Abraham, Isaac and Israel, let it be known today that You are God in Israel. Let it be known that I am Your servant, and have done all these things at Your word. 37 Answer me, O Lord. Answer me so these people may know that You, O Lord, are God. Turn their hearts to You again.” 38 Then the fire of the Lord fell. It burned up the burnt gift the wood, the stones and the dust. And it picked up the water that was in the ditch. 39 All the people fell on their faces when they saw it. They

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said, “The Lord, He is God. The Lord, He is God.” 40 Then Elijah said to them, “Take hold of the men who speak for Baal. Do not let one of them get away.” So they took hold of them. And Elijah brought them down to the river Kishon, and killed them there.

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8. Should the names of false teachers be called?

a. What names did Jesus use?

i. Mt.23 - hypocrites

ii. Mt.7:23 - workers of iniquity/lawless

iii. Mk.7:6-13 - hypocrites

iv. Lk.13:32 – Herod a fox

v. Rev.2:6, 15, Nicolaitanes, 20 - Jezebel

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b. What names did Paul call in

i. 1Tim.1:19-20 – Hymenaeus - Alexander

ii. 2Tim.2:16-18 – Hymenaeus - Philetus

iii. 2Tim.4:10, 14 – Demas – Alexander the coppersmith

iv. Titus 1:9-13 – Unruly and vain talkers

v. Acts 19:24 – Demetrius a silversmith

vi. Acts 17:23 – Ignorant worshippers

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WHAT HAVE WE LEARNED?

1 False teachers exist

2 They do not appear as false teachers

3 They are deceptive

4 They produce fruit

5 We can know who they are by their fruit

6. “WARNING” - We need to be alert today

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PREACHED:

Winding Rd. W.V. – 3-29-15 – Mon.