September 9 - False Prophets

September 9 - False Prophets

 

Ok, yesterday we talked about the fruit of a person. And of course, being here in the sermon on the mount, you remember where the fruit of a person is birthed, right?

 

Of course, The Beatitudes. 

 

When we practice the beatitudes, we grow fruit that leads to a healthy demonstration of God’s grace and mercy. We need to be people that not only talk the talk, but are able to walk the walk by living out God’s grace and mercy. 

 

You should judge the people in your life who say they follow Christ, and decide if they are worth following or not. I have to be honest with you, I’ve been around way to many Christians, who watch things I would never consider watching, say words I would never expect a Christ follower to say, and do things that are so far beyond what I hope for God’s people. 

 

This isn’t me being ‘holier than thou. . . .’ This is just me understanding how easy it is to be a false prophet. . . . 

 

Wait. . . You thought I was just talking about people who say one thing, but live a different way. Isn’t that just a hypocrite? 

 

No actually. It’s not a hypocrite. It’s a false prophet. Why? Because it allows people who follow you to think they can act one way while saying they follow a different way. So it leads people astray. When your commitment to the Lord, and your confession to follow him don’t align with your actions - you are a false prophet. 

 

Don’t blame me for saying this. . . Jesus is the one who actually said it. . . listen to what he continues to say in Mathew 7:15-20

 

Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves. By their fruit you will recognize them. Do people pick grapes from thorn bushes, or figs from thistles? Likewise, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. Thus, by their fruit you will recognize them. 

 

See what Jesus did? He started by saying to watch out for false prophets. Then he explained how you can tell them. They say one thing, but their fruit demonstrates something else. 

 

For those of us in leadership. . . This is an extra warning for us!

 

We are the ones watched the closest. When we say we care for people and then demonstrate that we actually only care about ourselves, we are being false prophets. When we say we would do anything to shepherd and help people out, but are no where to be found when someone is in trouble. . . We are false prophets. . . 

 

I know an awful lot of false prophets in the Christian Church. 

 

My prayer, is that I would always be true to my words and do what I say. I want my actions to bear the fruit of a heart that is dedicated to living out the ways of Jesus. So for that reason, I will continue to study and practice the beatitudes, that I might become the person God designed me to be. 

And as for you, 

 

Keep judging the people you follow. Make sure their words are right, but also make sure their actions back up the talk.. this gives them the credibility and understanding to fully preach the things they talk about. And they can help lead you to a place where you grow and become a full apprentice of Jesus. 

 

Then wrestle with this. . 

 

How well do you live out what you say you believe? 

 

Maybe take a moment, and write down what you would expect from someone who says they follow Jesus. What would you want a leader in the pursuit of Jesus to look, act, and talk like. Then evaluate your own life. How much of a leader are you in this journey to become like Jesus and do the things he did?

 

Ask God to continue shaping and molding you as you pursue apprenticeship of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. 

 

As you do, Know that I love you! And as you learn to align your words with your actions, May God bless you!