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Now, we live in a day and age where there is a lot of, I think, fake news, isn't it? It's interesting select committee was just grilling people this week, I thought was really fascinating but we live in a world where there is a lot of fake news, a lot of cheats and frauds, imposters and so on and so forth. And I think that is so relevant for us to consider this fraud or cheating scheme, even in the church.

But in the world today, you have this kind of a cheating scams, I hope you were not a victim of it where they promise you some free tickets but actually it's all a scam to get your personal data. Maybe you are not cheated by the Singapore Airlines, you’ve been cheated by this one, the NTUC Fair Price vouchers, anyone er, you won't raise your hands, I know, but it is so prevalent. I checked out websites in Singapore they say that $70,000 have been lost to scam operating on WeChat, people cheat you. There are people who will be imposters, they pretend to be governmental officials from the police and they tell you to pay them or else they will charge you. There's love scams, you’ve heard of that where people pretend to be people who love you and are interested in you and they will say to you “I'm in trouble, please help me, remit money to save me now”, it's all a scam and so there's this website in Singapore called www.scamalert.sg and it tells you about all these dangers that are lurking in Singapore today.

But scams and cheats and fraudsters and tricksters are not just in the secular world, they are also found in the church and there can be spiritual cheats and charlatans in the church of Jesus Christ, that's exactly what Jesus is talking about in Matthew chapter 7. He says, “Beware of false prophets who come to you in sheep's clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves.” (Matthew 7:15). Today, I think cheaters or cheats and tricksters are all over the world. This is not something that is unique during the times of Jesus Christ, it's relevant today and if you think it's just a few churches well look at what this says in 2 John, “For many deceivers have gone out into the world, those who do not confess the coming of Jesus Christ in the flesh such a one is the deceiver and the antichrist.” (2 John 7).

So the Bible tells us the problem of spiritual scams and charlatans is not a rare issue, it's a common problem. Many deceivers are gone into the world and these false prophets are actually very dangerous. They are called ravenous wolves, hungry wolves. During those days the natural enemy of sheep will be wolves in Palestine. Wolves are vicious, they prey on sheep and so in the church, there are false teachers who prey on God's people or the sheep of God's house. They want to eat you up, they want to take advantage of you, exactly what Peter would say, “And in their greed they will exploit you with false words.” (2 Peter 2:3). So you come to church you come the spiritual gathering you assume that the person who is leading you will lead you to God, bring you blessing in life, but actually he doesn't do that. The leader, the teacher is only interested in deceiving you to exploit you and to take advantage of you. That's what the Bible says and you can be sure they will come to you. They are not going to leave you alone, they will make that approach to you. Wolves don't wait for sheep to come to them, right? Wolves hunt and look for sheep.

I remember a few years ago, we were worshiping at Grand Copthorne Waterfront, how many of you were there at Grand Copthorne Waterfront? Raise your hands, I want to see. How many of you were not there at Grand Copthorne Waterfront, can I see? Alright, so we have about half in Grand Copthorne and half not. Well, during the days in Grand Copthorne Waterfront, I remember a very interesting couple. I do not know whether you still remember a very interesting couple who came to our church for maybe two to three weeks first two weeks. They were nodding very, very passionately as the preaching goes on and then I think on the third week or so I remember people coming out of the toilet with papers, with flyers. What happened is that this couple, by the way their name is Moses and Angel, super cool names, you can't forget that, right? So Moses and Angel were in the toilet giving out flyers about their ministry, about their so-called church, about how they would heal and give supernatural blessing and so on. And so our people were all concerned came and Pastor, look at this, look at this, of course after that, we never saw them again. Probably some of you spoke with them and in no uncertain terms told them that should not be happening here, but someone in this church said, “Wah they are really very courageous, very bold. They come straight to us!” But that's not a surprise.

The Bible tells us, they will come to you. In fact, Paul says to the church at Ephesus, “I know that after my departure, fierce wolves will come in among you,..” (Acts 20:29-30). So they would not leave you alone, they will come, but what's even more scary is that not only were they come but “from among your own selves will arise men speaking twisted things,..” (Acts 20:29-30). So translated here in Gospel Light, there may be false teachers who will come in, but what's more scary is that amongst us, one of us, a few of us may arise and speak twisted things. They show themselves up to be like false prophets ravenous wolves, so the Bible says beware be alert, be conscious, do not be oblivious.

Now the reason why you have to be aware and let your antenna go up is because it's not always easy to spot a false prophet, right? I mean, if it's easy you don't have to be alert, but the reality is it's not easy because they come in sheep's clothing. In other words, they come hiding, they do not come and tell you, “I'm a false prophet please listen to me.” That's a lousy false prophet, they will come somewhat in disguise so that it's not so obvious. Now sometimes the disguise may not be so good.

Let me, let me just go to you to the picture. It may not be so good in that eh, wah lau, this one obvious lah,from far I can smell the false prophet yah, some false prophets, low class one, not very skillful, not very clever, they don't disguise themselves very well. But some get better and then get better and then get better. So it is not so easy to spot, right? The first one was blatant and there's some false teachers who are very blatant, but the subtlety increases and it becomes difficult to spot. So they come with disguise, you see what kind of sheep's clothing do false teachers wear, what kind disguise do they have?

I suggest to you their disguise may come in the form of titles and degrees. A false teacher, someone who doesn't love God, someone who doesn't teach God's Word, they come to you, pretending to be God's preachers, very easy go to study in some college somewhere and get that degree. In fact, you don't even have to go there maybe you can type your own, Photoshop your own and say, “I have a degree I'm a Masters in Divinity” and so on and so forth, “I'm called pastor, apostle, reverend,” so and so. Not difficult. Titles can be given by yourself. But when you hear oh, you are pastor what ah what, you immediately give a certain kind of a reverence and trust so they can come in with degrees and titles that may deceive you.

Or maybe they have learned the Christian lingo. They understand what it means to say “Praise the Lord”, “Hallelujah” oh, “Blessing be to you”, they know what it means to say “Jesus” and oh, ah, “God is so good”, “God is good all the time”. They, they pick up these words, they may even be able to quote to you, the Bible verses. Satan knows Bible verses not difficult, he's extremely intelligent he can recite Bible verses as we learned in Matthew chapter 4. I think these false teachers may even bother to study some Hebrew and Greek, it's not difficult. Nowadays you just have a phone app, you click on it, it tells you the Hebrew and Greek. So imagine this, a man can pretend to be teaching God's Word lead you to Christ to God when actually he's not. All he needs is to deceive you with titles, with degrees, with some Christian language. Well, I think it helps if he's a bit charming, he's eloquent and persuasive, he is kind, he never says anything negative towards you, but he likes to butter you up for the slaughter, fatten you up for the slaughter. That's what he does. Perhaps he has a lot of religious form, he prays, he tells you. He fasts, he wears very holy looking kind of clothing or maybe he may even have a big church a lot of people in his church and says that church is so big, he cannot be a false teacher.

Well, I suggest to you all these things are superficial and they may be used as sheep's clothing, it's a kind of disguise. The Bible says that “False teachers are deceitful workmen, they disguise themselves as apostles, as messengers of Christ. And no wonder, for even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light. So it is no surprise if his servants, also, disguise themselves as servants of righteousness.” (2 Corinthians 11:13-15). Look at the operative mode of these people who want to exploit you, they disguise, they're not going to come to you in obvious form but in disguise and Romans 16 tells us, they can be very eloquent, they can “...by smooth talk and flattery, deceive the hearts of the naive.” (Romans 16:18). You like to hear nice things, he tells you nice things, you like to hear something good about yourself, he tells you something good about yourself and he puffs up your ego, makes you feel good and then when you're in slumber, he slaughters you, that what he does.

You say, well, big church cannot be a problem, right? Well, not really because the Bible says, “Many will follow their sensuality and because of them the way of truth will be blasphemed.” (2 Peter 2:2). False teachers generally don't have small followings, they, of course there are some with small followings, but there are many false teachers with huge followings, the Bible already said many will follow. So some of us I just want to break this mindset. Some of us, we think that false teachers are very obvious they will look wicked, they will be very rough, they do not know the Bible, they cannot speak Christian language, they have no titles, they never go to the Bible school, they will be so obvious, they look like this? I can spot a false teacher from a mile away, sorry, he will not come like this, he will come with all kinds of disguise, titles, degrees, Christian lingo, charm, he's going to dress himself well, he's going to pretend to pray and fast, he’s going to have a huge church, so he's not going to be so obvious. In fact, he might come as a very handsome man and he might look something like this, you don't know. And if you want something more handsome, he may like this, he can come like this, he's not going to be like a wolf, he's probably looking like a decent chap, wears glasses and so on. Or if you think he's should look more handsome, he might look like this. Ay, why you hor? Does he have fangs? Or you don't like foreign teachers, false teachers, then you might want local ones, that look like this or maybe he can even look like this.

The point is that you are not going to be obvious, because Jesus said they will come to you in sheep's clothing. So Jesus tells me false teachers are in this world they are in the churches today not all but in many probably, some. They will exploit people with their false words and devour them. They want to take advantage, advantage of them, fleece their money and enrich themselves. Problem is that they are very difficult to spot because they're going to make sure they cover every inch like little red riding hood and the wolf, big bad wolf, he’s going to hide himself.

So pastor how can I identify a false prophet, how do I do that? I can't judge his title or degree, I can chuck a judge from the Christian lingo he has, I can't tell really from his persuasiveness or eloquence, I can't really decide based on his religious form or the size of his church, how can I tell? Jesus tells us, “You will recognize them by their fruits.” (Matthew 7:16). Look at them more carefully, don't just look at a tree, go nearer and inspect the fruits and he went on to say “Are grapes gathered from thornbushes or figs from thistles?” (Matthew 7:16). Now, this might be a little bit unfamiliar to us. If Jesus had said if, are durians taken from mango trees, that may be easier. But I think in that area he lived in, no durians lah, garden of Eden is here in Southeast Asia got durians, ok, never mind, ok, just kidding.

So are grapes gathered from thornbushes. What's this all about? You know what grapes look like, right? I'm sure. What is this? These are berries from thornbushes. So in those days, they have these plants, the grapevine and then these thornbushes and the berries here look very much like grapes. So when you look from afar you thought this is a vine but actually is not, it's thornbushes and then Jesus talks about figs and thistles. Figs look like this (“wu hua guo” 無花果) right, figs, they look like this, and thistles the flowers of thistles from far look a little bit like figs.

So what Jesus is saying in this illustration is that these fruit or these plants, they look very similar but they're not the same and if you look more closely, you can tell and so Jesus is saying the life of a false teacher can look very similar to a true teacher, but look more carefully and you can tell. Just like grapes and berries are different, the false teacher and a true teacher, are very different.

He goes on to say, “Every healthy tree bears good fruit, but the diseased tree bears bad fruit.” (Matthew 7:17). That's very obvious. A healthy tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can the diseased tree bear good fruit, it's very obvious and “So you will recognize them by their fruits” (Matthew 7:20). So Jesus is saying you want to spot a false teacher, look more carefully, look at their life, look at their works, their words and you can tell.

So let me suggest you two things for you to identify, alright? Two things, concrete things you can inspect a man in. Number one, you can recognize them from their doctrine, you will know them by their fruits what, what fruit, what they teach. Don't just look at their titles, don't just look at their clothes, don't just look at their posture, look at what they teach, don't just look at their lingo nor the language, look at what they teach the doctrine, 2 Peter “And in their greed, they will exploit you with false words.” (2 Peter 2:3).

Now this is where when you read the Bible it's so important to understand the context and the context helps us here. If you remember sermon on the mount, the last few verses in Matthew 7, Jesus is giving us a time to decide, two ways to live, how would you want to live? So last week we looked at this verse, verses 13 and 14 about the broad gate and the narrow gate, the easy way, the hard way. Remember that and it is in this light that you must understand the context of false teachers. False teachers lead people a certain way and true teachers lead people a certain way, another way. So let me let me draw.

So there's a broad way that leads to... broad way leads to destruction, let's use fire and the broad way opens up from a, what is this, thank you don't insult my drawing until, this is the wide gate, right? And people who go here are how many, many, a lot of people go through the wide gate and enter into destruction this way is an easy way. It's, it's down slope, it's easy, natural, almost but Jesus says there is another way and the other way is guarded by a narrow gate and you have to go out of the broad way to find the narrow gate and to enter the hard way, alright? Enter through the narrow gate into the hard way, but this is where it leads you to eternal life. Let's just draw heaven, alright, clouds, just to remind you. So, where do you think the prophets will stand, eh, lai ah, lai ah, lai ah, where do you think he will stand? Where does the true prophets stand? Probably here, he sees countless people going down the path of destruction. He stands at the narrow gate and says turn, repent, stop going your own way believe in Jesus, he's the only way, repent and believe.

He goes on to tell you that the way to God is not an easy way but through trials and affliction. You will finally arrive the way to God demands a denial of self and taking up of the cross, the way of the cross is the way that leads home. That's where a true prophet stays. When does a false prophet stay, obvious, right? Prophet stays somewhere here and what does he tell you, “No need to repent, no need Jesus, He is not the way, there are many ways to god, there are many ways all roads lead to Rome.” He tells you, “Come to Jesus and life will be good, life will be easy, life will be comfortable.” He doesn't tell you the need for repentance and faith. He doesn't tell you Jesus is the only way, he doesn't tell you that the true life towards God is not a smooth, easy one but it will be plenty of ups and downs, he doesn't tell you that. Why? He just wants you to listen to what you like to listen to so that he might take advantage of you. I think that's where the false prophets are situated in this text.

Now, last week, I shared with you about this man, Michael Walrond, right? A pastor who leads how many people, 10,000 people in New York City and he said “There was a time when you would see people in the pulpit say, well, if you don't believe in Jesus, you are going to hell. That's insanity in many ways because that is not what Jesus even believes.” People start to clap. “And so the key is you believe in God and whatever your path is to God, I celebrate that personally. I celebrate that...” And more applause from the audience.

Is it Pastor, are you sure he said that? I found a video this week, take a look...

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[Video playing]

WALROND: And it makes no sense, so I'm not one of those people, there was a time you see people in the pulpit saying, you know, if you don't believe in Jesus, you’re going to hell, that's insanity in many ways because that is not what, what, what Jesus even believes and so the key is you believe in God and whatever your the path is to God I celebrate that, personally I celebrate that...

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So that's Michael Walrond for you. He is not well known, right? I mean, that's the first time I hear his name.

But there's someone very well known. You go to any bookshop Christian bookshop, I think his books are there for sure one, bestseller. He leads a 30,000 strong church in the US. He's heard in hundred over countries. He has more than 10 million downloads of podcasts he's a, he's a rising and indeed the top star of evangelism or evangelical Christianity today.

Take a look at the video interview between Larry King, you know Larry King? He’s not the pastor, alright? Larry King and Joel Osteen. Listen to what he said.

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[Video playing]

KING: What if you're Jewish or Muslim, and you don't accept Christ at all?

OSTEEN: You know, I just, I'm very careful about saying who would and wouldn't go to heaven. I don't know ...

KING: If you believe you have to believe in Christ? They're wrong, aren't they?

OSTEEN: Well, I don't know if I believe they're wrong. I believe here's what the Bible teaches and from the Christian faith this is what I believe. But I just think that only God can judge a person's heart. I spent a lot of time in India with my father and you know, I don't know all about their religion. But I know they love God. And I don't know. I've had that, you know, I’ve seen their sincerity. So I don't know, I just, I know for me, and what the Bible teaches, I want to have a relationship with Jesus, but...

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So what in effect his saying is that I believe Jesus is the way to God but Jesus is not the only way to God. I don't know, he says, I don't know, I don't know, I think he said I don't know, four, five times in the short phrase. I think the Bible tells us what you can know, we need men who know, we don't need people who tell us what they do not know. The Bible is very clear that Jesus is the only way.

I have a longer one (video).

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[Video playing]

KING: Phoenix, Arizona. Hello.

CALLER: Hello, Larry. You're the best, and thank you, Joe -- Joel -- for your positive messages and your book. I'm wondering, though, why you side-stepped Larry's earlier question about how we get to heaven? The Bible clearly tells us that Jesus is the way, the truth and the life and the only way to the Father is through him. That's not really a message of condemnation but of truth.

OSTEEN: Yes, I would agree with her. I believe that...

KING: So then a Jew is not going to heaven?

OSTEEN: No. Well, here's my thing, Larry, I can't judge somebody's heart. You know, only God can look at somebody's heart, and so I don't know. I just, to me, it's not my business to say, you know, this one is or this one isn't. I just say, here's what the Bible teaches and I'm going to put my faith in, you know, in Christ. And I just I think it's wrong when you go around saying, you're saying you're not going, you're not going, you're not going, because it's not exactly my way. I'm just...

KING: But you believe your way.

OSTEEN: I believe my way. I believe my way with all my heart.

KING: But for someone who doesn't share it, is wrong, isn't he?

OSTEEN: Well, yes. Well, I don't know if I look at it like that. I would present my way, but I'm just going to let God be the judge of that. I don't know. I don't know.

KING: So you make no judgment on anyone?

OSTEEN: No. But I...

KING: What about atheists?

OSTEEN: You know, I just, you know what, I'll let, I’ll let someone, let Him alone, let God be the judge of who goes to heaven and hell. I just again, I present the truth, and I say it every week. You know, I believe it's a relationship with Jesus. But you know what? I'm not gonna go around telling everybody else if they don't want to believe that, that's gonna be their choice. God's got to look at your own heart. God's got to look at your heart, and only God knows that.

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I don’t know. Ha ha ha…

Well some years later, he had another interview and this is again, what he said...

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[Video playing]

KING: Now your fan base is not just Christians, I understand you have Muslims, even atheists. How do you explain that?

OSTEEN:  You know

KING: Why would an atheist be a fan?

OSTEEN: Well, I think what they like, Larry, is when you know the principles that we teach are from the Scripture, but they help, they can help anybody, you know, the rich dreams, the forgiver or have a healthy you know good self-image, so, you know. I know I'm not a traditional pastor in terms of I'm just going down teaching Scripture by Scripture because a lot of what I would teach was just be more how to live a great life, 50% of people watch don't go to church, they weren't raised in church like me. That's what we get an atheist and Buddhist and just, just good people, that say, “Hey, I don’t want to be religious but I love God.”

KING: Can you be spiritual and not be religious?

OSTEEN: I think you can I think that's like a lot of people that you know have been turned off by the religion, but like I say they want a relationship with God. They feel that connections but they think you know what, I don't get involved in a certain church.

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You have no relationship with God except through Jesus Christ. I think the Bible is very clear. Well, that's a very well-known popular preacher for you. I think it's clear, I hope you have the right judgments on this matter. Just one more example, have you heard of this church called Hillsong? Yes, have you heard Hillsong, New York? Well, it's led by a man, Carl Lentz, hip guy, tattoos, leather jacket, cool chap and the Oprah Winfrey, you know who she is, right? Interviewed him and this is what he said.

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[Video playing]

OPRAH: Do you believe that only Christians can be in relationship with God?

LENTZ: No, I believe that when Jesus said, I am the way, the truth and the life, in the way I read that, Jesus said, He is the, He's the road marker, He is the map. So I think God loves people so much that whether they accept or reject him, He’s still gracious and he’s still moving and he’s still giving you massive red blinking lights for chances to take a right turn when maybe you take a left, but I believe God loves people and that's what this whole gospel's based on, it's love. You take love out of it, we've got a moral book.

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What do you think?

Well, this is the world we live in and the Bible tells us, “False teachers bring in destructive heresies,...” (2 Peter 2:1). These are not minor points of Scripture, these are not minor points in Christianity, it's about your soul, is about heaven and hell. These are what I would consider destructive heresies. It's not, it’s not a slight misjudgment, it is obvious error and so false teachers can be caricatured as such, take a look at this picture, great picture. I hope I don't have to explain that, right?

False teachers tell you all is well don't need to repent, don't need to turn to Jesus because you can go to Him, go to God in many ways, but actually that sheep that is talking is just a disguise, it's a wolf that is right there in Jeremiah 6. Jeremiah 6 is a time where God wants to pronounce judgment upon Israel but the false prophets would say to Israel “Don't need to repent, all is well, peace with you, peace with you, God will be with you..” and it's the same today.

We need preachers, we need teachers who clearly and firmly declare the wrath of God upon sinners and at the very same time, lovingly presents the solution for sin that is Jesus Christ. I don't think there's any other way you can preach the Gospel. So 2 Corinthians 11 tells us that false teachers “Lead us astray from a sincere and pure devotion to Christ.” (2 Corinthians 11:3). The Bible says in Philippians 3:18 they are actually “The enemies of the cross.” The Bible tells us in 2 Peter “They entice by sensual passions of the flesh...” (2 Peter 2:18). Don't need to repent, walk the broad way, it's easy, don't have to deny yourself and the Revelation tells us this “Seduce, false teachers like this woman Jezebel...” probably not her literal name, but a representative name, “A prophetess teaching and seducing my servants to practice sexual immorality and to eat food sacrificed to idols.” (Revelation 2:20).

So I suggest to you, how do you spot a false teacher? Don't look at his clothes, don't look at his words alone in the lingo, don't look at the size of his church, but judge them by their fruits. Number one, his doctrine. Does he lead you to the narrow gate and to the hard way or does he allow you and encourage you to hurry along this broad gate and this easy way to destruction? Very simple, right? You judge them, by their doctrine.

Number two, what do you judge them by? How do you tell? Second one, you judge them by their deeds their life. The Bible tells us in Philippians “Their god is their belly,..” Now, I'm not saying that fat pastors are false teachers. That's not what Paul is saying, but false teachers live for the flesh. They live for their appetites, they live for the sensual appetites, “They glory in their shame with minds set on earthly things.” (Philippians 3:19). False teachers are all about the things of this world, money, sex, power, not different from those who do not know God.

The Bible says in 2 Peter, “Many will follow their sensuality, and in their greed they will exploit you.” (2 Peter 2:2-3). So, these are the words associated with false teachers it's stronger in verse 14, “Their eyes are full of adultery, insatiable for sin, they have hearts trained in greed..” (2 Peter 2:14). They get worse and worse and in the end 2 Peter tells us “They promised people freedom, but they themselves are slaves of corruption, for whatever overcomes a person to that he is enslaved.” (2 Peter 2:19). So, you have scandals, you have Benny Hinn, heard of him? Holy laughter guy, slay people the spirit. Well, he was caught in an adulterous relationship. You have heard of, well to me, this is Creflo Dollar. He's in Atlanta, US, he asks his church for $60 million in donations for a new jet, for who? For himself. And then you have Kenneth Copeland, these are some of facts that you can read of.

So, how do you tell a false teacher? I think there are many others are steps like this, You can scour online, but the principle, I think is, you recognize false teachers by their fruits, by their doctrine, by their deeds. And I want to note point out something that some of you might be helped in and that is the idea of fruit. Now, fruit usually takes what, takes what? Time, that's right. So, sometimes this is a common story, “Aiyah pastor, so and so, cannot be a false teacher because last time he was really good. I remember the first five 10 years, he's really good.” Well fruit takes time and the wolf needs time to make you comfortable, before he pounces on you, probably.

So, the Bible tells us that it is not always obvious. So, he comes and he “will secretly bring in...” (2 Peter 2:1), that's stealth that's biding his time, you see. And then it says in 2 Timothy 3:13, “They will go from bad to worse...” if his heart is like that, if he comes from the wrong tree you can be sure the fruit as they grows bigger and bigger, it becomes more and more obvious, it's not the grapevine but the berries from a thornbush. But it takes time to develop.

So, he gets worse and worse, he deceived other others and he deceives himself. People ask, “Do false teachers know what they're doing?” Yes, in a certain way, but no in a certain way. They get deceive themselves and so it will come a time where “They will not get very far, for their folly will be plain to all...” (2 Timothy 3:9). Now, I think that's one of the reasons why we, we truly celebrate saints who die, having been faithful their whole lives. We celebrate pastors, preachers who have preached their whole lives faithfully God's Word and then they die, you say, “Wah he's the real deal because what if he has been preaching for 30 years and then in the last five years he goes haywire?” You don’t know.

Well, I've been preaching for 20 over years here in this church in the English service was, 11 years. Still should you trust me? That’s the question, should you trust me? Ha, ha, ha, ha, don't. Let me say this, don't trust any man simply because he's standing here, you judge every man based on his fruits and what are the two things you see, doctrines and deeds. Maybe his, his teaching and his life always, alright. Doesn't matter if it's Pastor Paul, myself or any other pastors, I think there is no blind trust that the Bible teaches about.

Okay so well, you say false teachers, false teachers are terrible, terribly wicked because they, they, they promise you good life but all they are doing is lead you to destruction, and they are building their happiness and their success on your eternal damnation. Think about that, that's terrible, right? What's more terrible than that? Nothing. They lead you to hell, don't, don't care about it, so that they can exploit you, that's terrible! But, the Bible tells us that they will be judged and Jesus said it in verse 19, “Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire” (Matthew 7:19). You can be sure every tree will be cut down, every false teacher will meet their Maker one day. They may be living it up, they may be earning millions from royalties from selling their sermons, but one day they will meet with God and they will be cut down, the Bible says “Their end is destruction...” (Philippians 3:19).

They will perish, they will be tormented, they will be rightfully judged for their sins. The Bible says, “Their condemnation from long ago is not idle, and their destruction is not asleep” (2 Peter 2:3). So, you can trust God with that. So, my point to you, brothers and sisters, is that you must be beware, you must be aware of false prophets, and be alert, wake up, wake up, it is real. It can be someone will come into Gospel Light or you can be someone already in Gospel Light, and not only are we to watch for them, Romans 16:17 tells us we are to avoid them.

Some people like to find a false teacher and talk to them, “Ay, don't like that lah, why you want to teach false things?” And you, you, you walk with him and the, the Bible tells you, don't do that. You're to avoid them that's what the Bible says, not just Paul here but Paul tells us “If any man teach and consent not to the whole truth,” blah, blah, blah, blah, blah. He says, “from such withdraw yourself.” (1 Timothy 6:3-5), separate from them. And then again, he says in 2 John, “If anyone comes to you and does not bring this teaching, do not receive him into your house or give him any greeting... (2 John 10-11) separate from him, the Bible is very clear.

So, personally we are to separate from false teachers. Now, there are some people who today say “Aah, I know this pastor not so good, he's not so biblical, but I like the church lah. The children ministry very good, very professional. The building very nice. The food very nice, my friends are there. I know that he's wrong, but I, I think I can be able to listen to the good part and ignore the bad part.” No, you're not being biblical about it because the Bible says avoid, withdraw, do not receive. So, I actually know of people here whose family members are in churches like that, they know it's wrong, but they still carry on, I, I, I would say it is not biblical and we should labor and pray towards them being fulfilling what God has advised.

Well, I think this also tells you the importance of spiritual leadership. Now of course your leadership can still go corrupt. There's no perfect leadership here on this side of heaven, but then even then God has given the church leadership, overseers, pastors, elders to protect the flock. “Pay careful attention to yourselves and to all the flock in which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to care for the church of God because fierce wolves will come in.” (Acts 20:28-29).

So, that's why the elders of the church, the spiritual leadership of the church must be rigorous in watching out for false teachings and false teachers that's one of the primary roles I believe of the church leaders okay and Paul certainly exemplified that he says, “Remembering that for three years I did not cease night or day to admonish everyone with tears.” (Acts 20:31). He was faithfully teaching them, warning them and telling them that there would be a day, to, to Paul wolves are not a rare sight. To Paul wolves are an urgent danger, clear and present danger. He says, when I go, I know they will come.

So if you're complacent in this, I don't think that's a right spiritual attitude. Now that's why the Bible tells us, “God has given the church, apostles, prophets, evangelists, shepherds and teachers, to equip the saints...” (Ephesians 4:11-14). Why? “So that we will no longer be children, tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning, by craftiness in deceitful schemes.” (Ephesians 4:11-14). That's why you need a church that's why you need to be equipped in the Scriptures. That's why you should learn from your spiritual leaders, so that you grow up in your faith and are not the unstable souls that false teachers will entice. Make sense? Ya I think it's clear.

Now, let me just end by saying “Many false prophets will arise...” (Matthew 24:11). Jesus is here talking about end times, but I think it's the same in 2 John, it's the same in the end times, there are still “Many false prophets today, who are leading many astray.” (Matthew 24:11). And whilst we are very careful about being cheated of our money, you are, right, aren't you? I think everybody's very alert when it comes to money, but are you alert when it comes to your soul? You lose some money, you lose money, you lose your soul, you lose it forever, that's a scary thought.

So, remember the words of Jesus today, “Beware of false prophets, they come to you in sheep's clothing but inwardly they are ravenous wolves.” (Matthew 7:15) and I close with this thought. There are two ways to live, two paths, two gates, two prophets. I want to ask you, where are you on this diagram? You make a choice, and where will you be in five years time, 10 years time, 15 years time? Because sometimes the Bible tells us “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.” (2 Timothy 4:3-4).

It's your choice, two ways to live and I just close with this last poem,

Since savage wolves,

Consumed with greed,

Seek simple sheep on which to feed,

Wise are those wary lambs who graze

Close by their Shepherd's watchful gaze.

Will you be a wise sheep, I know sheep are not wise generally but would you be a wise sheep, two ways to live, it's your choice.

Let's close with a word of prayer together. You know, Christianity is really not complicated at all, Jesus summarized Christianity so beautifully. Christianity is turning from a broad gate and an easy way to find that narrow gate, Jesus Christ that leads you into a hard way, full of trials and tribulations and maybe persecutions but which eventually leads you to life, to the celestial city. Now, in this world there are two kinds of teachers, one stands at the broad gate, the other stands at the narrow gate, the broad gate preacher tells you of a life that is easy, tells you of a life that you want, tells you of a life that requires no repentance, tells you of a life that says, Jesus is not the only way. Sad to say, many listen to this prophet who stands at the broad gate.

I hope today, I'm that prophet, that teacher who stands at the narrow gate who has the privilege to call out to you this morning, please, please stop right there, turn around because where you are going is leading you to destruction and hell forevermore, turnaround from your self righteousness. But today, there is a narrow gate that leads you to eternal life. “Jesus is the way, the truth and the life, no man comes to the Father but by Him” (John 14:6), repent and believe in Jesus today. Now, following Jesus is not going to be easy. He does say that “If any man does not deny himself and take up the cross, he cannot follow me.” (Matthew 16:24) but let me tell you, following Jesus is worth it because the way of the cross leads home.

This morning, there is no false sales pitch here. This is what the Bible says and the decision is yours where would you want to live, would you repent and believe in Jesus or would you carry on going headlong, the path of destruction? As a Church, let us pray that we will be a people rooted and grounded in Scripture. You see, sometimes you don't think you need to know the Bible because you think everything is well. But my friends, if your soul is not rooted you are unstable like children, wolves will come in and entice you away from that pure and sincere devotion to Christ. It is your responsibility to get yourself rooted and grounded in Scripture, to avail yourself to the means of grace, studying the Bible and attending Bible study, hearing the Word of God. It is the responsibility of this church to teach you the Word of God, we try our level best to do that, but let me ask you, do you wisely put yourself in those positions where you can be built up in the faith?

Two ways to live, you can choose to live like the world, not bothering about growing in the Scripture, or you can say, “Lord, help me to know Your Word, better and better and better every day.” Why, because eternal life is at stake. So, Father this morning we thank You for this hour we can reflect upon the Word of God. I know it's a heavy going sermon, but I pray that we will take caution and I pray for the church today not to be complacent about our faith but that we would all say, Lord, grow us, teach us, give us a hunger for truth that we may be mature and no more be like with children. I want to pray this morning also friends and guests who may not know Jesus as yet. Father grant to them repentance and faith that they may be saved. So, thank You again for this time bless everyone in Jesus Name. Amen.

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