THE SERMON ON THE MOUNT Matt. 5, 6, 7

January 30, 2019

Key: SCHAFF: “When the Lord open his mouth, we should open our ears and hearts.

BEWARE OF FALSE PROPHETS. Matt. 7:15-20 …3

“Take heed of those who pretend to revelation, and admit them not without sufficient proof, lest that one absurdity being admitted, a thousand follow.”  Who preach false doctrine in those things that are essential to religion who teach that which is contrary to the truth as it is Jesus, to the truth which is according to godliness? Beware of them, suspect them, try them, and when you discover their falsehood, avoid them, have nothing to do with them” Matthew Henry

Matt. 7:16-20 “You can identify them by their fruit that is, by the way they act. Can you pick grapes from thorn bushes, or figs from thistles?” NLT “Even so, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. And good tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a bad tree bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. Therefore, by their fruits you will know them” NKJV

  1. Some qualities of good or bad prophet continues.
  2. Godly Leaders feed the flock. Jer. 3:15; 23:3-4, Jn. 21:15-17. They study, pray, prepare and spent time to feed the sheep the doctrines of the Apostles Act. 2:42, the gospel of Christ 1Cor, 15:1-5 and bring out Christ from all the scriptures. Jn. 5:39, Lk. 24:26-27, 44-45.
  3. Wicked or false Leaders fleece the sheep. Merriam Webster’s Dictionary describe fleece as: “To strip of money or property by fraud or extortion, to charge excessively for goods or services” Ez. 34:1-10, 1Tim. 6:5, 10-11, 2Cor. 2:17, Phil. 3:17-19. Avoid leaders whose objective is to use the flock to serve their own end and needs, prophet Micah called them judges who judge for reward, priests who teach for hire and prophets who divine for money Mich. 3:10-11
  4. Gathering or scattering of the sheep. Jn. 10:12-13.  Godly leaders gather the sheep. Is. 40:10-11. Jesus was that type of shepherd. Is. 42:3 “A bruised reed shall he not break, and the smoking flax shall he not quench.” “If He sees someone who is bruised, he would heal him, not break him. If he sees one who is struggling to get a ministry going. He would come along and fan the smoking flax (which typifies sincere effort) until it began to burn brightly and clearly in truth and purity. There are many sincere people who are struggling to express their gifts. They are like smoking flax. Leadership should not quench them. Leaders should fan the smoking flax. This will turn into a burning flame. This kind of leader will gather the flock.” The Shepherd Staff.
  5. False or wicked leaders will scatter the flock Jer. 23:1-2. These types of leaders scatters, create confusion, division and reaction. This kind of leaders should be avoided. Rom. 16:17, Act. 20:29-30. They are not teachable, and unforgiving. Jas. 3:14-17.