Matthew 7:15-23, part 3

Day 57-Matthew 7:15-23 – part 3

6-22-25

The Test of a Prophet

What is the test of a Prophet?

Pray

Read scripture: Matthew 7:15-23

(NIV 1984) “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. Do people pick grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? 17 Likewise every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. 18 A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit. 19 Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. 20 Thus, by their fruit you will recognize them.

21 “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. 22 Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?’ 23 Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’”

If you recall, Our book, on page 101, makes reference to our verse today, Matthew 7:15, about  False Prophets, saying that they are people claiming to be mouthpieces for God, but are in fact, ferocious wolves in sheep’s clothing.

Today we will be watching a 17 minute video that asks the question,

 “What is the test of a Prophet?”

What do you think constitutes a false prophet?

Dueuteronomy 18:21 asks the question, “How can we know when a message has not been spoken by the LORD?”

Deuteronomy 18:22 gives us the answer. “If what a prophet proclaims in the name of the LORD does not take place or come true, that is a message the LORD has not spoken. That prophet has spoken presumptuously. Do not be afraid of him.”

In this video a Christian archaeologist interviews a Mormon, and thd Mormon is surprising honest and candid. Very rare.

The Mormons, also known as the Church of Later Day Saints, have three holy books that they consider to be scripture and more holy and authoritative than the Bible itself, which the Mormons believe is corrupted. 

The Book of Mormon was written by Joseph Smith and published in 1830

The book “Doctrines and Covenants,”is described by the church as “containing revelations given to Joseph Smith, the Prophet, with some additions by his successors in the Presidency of the Church.”[6]

The Pearl of Great Price has a very similar history. It was compiled and published by Franklin D. Richards in 1851 with the individual writings and revelations it contains being authored by Joseph Smith. 

Please note: The book of Nephi mentioned in this video is from the Book of Mormon, which was written in 1830. 

Also please note: 

Mormons also believe that Christians who believe only in the Bible as scripture (as opposed to also believing in thd Book o Mormon, the Doctrines and Covenants and the Pearl of Great Price) are ETERNALLY DAMNED.

https://youtu.be/FrqkaKz_SSg?si=QfHdsFFAccL9D60Z

After the video:

Q: What do you think? 

Q: Is that something a normal everyday Christian can do? 

Q: Is that something a normal everyday Christian SHOULD do? 

A: 1 Peter 3:15 says, “Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have.”

And rest of the context of 1 Peter 3:15 is eirily similar to Deut. 18. It says a, “13 Who is going to harm you if you are eager to do good? 14 But even if you should suffer for what is right, you are blessed. “Do not fear what they fear ; do not be frightened.” 15 But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect, 16 keeping a clear conscience, so that those who speak maliciously against your good behavior in Christ may be ashamed of their slander. 17 It is better, if it is God’s will, to suffer for doing good than for doing evil.” (1 Peter 3:13-17)

APPLICATION: 

How do we apply this to our lives?

A couple of weeks ago I threw out Hard truth #1

It says:

Hard Truth #1:

Q: Who are the “Two Kinds of Travelers” that we talked about last week?

Can you name them?

Can you identify each traveler with a single adjective?

A: The Redeemed and the damned. (People don’t like to hear about the “damned!”)

Or the Wise and the foolish. 

Or the Saved and the unsaved. 

Or the “lost” and the “Found.”

Or the “Sheep” and the “goats.” (See Matt 25:31-33)

Now here is hard truth #2

Hard Truth #2

Mormons believe in a Jesus that does not exist. It is an almost inconceivable sadness, but true, that millions and millions of Mormons will spend eternity in hell. 

As well as Jehovah’s Witnesses, Muslims, Buddhists and many others. 

Don’t miss next week, I have an amazing video planned about how to recognize False Prophets. 

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Brief Definition of a False Prophet: 

Our book says on page 101 that False Prophets are “people claiming to be mouthpieces for God.” So, a false prophet could be characterized as

1. A false prophet is someone who claims to speak for God, but has not really been called by God to speak for Him. 
2. A false prophet is someone who claims to be a prophet of God, and makes a prophesy that does not come true or turns out to be wrong or false.
3. A false is someone who claims to be a prophet of God, but twists, changes or distort clear biblical doctrine.
4. When prophesying, true prophets are to ONLY speak exactly what God specifically tells them to speak.

FALSE PROPHETS (and teachers to some extent) DO NOT teach/preach the true Gospel of Jesus Christ. They lie and deceive and intentionally mislead. (see 2 Cor. 11:4) For False Prophets specically, they claim to prophesy for, and in the God, but their prophecies prove false. More on this next week. 

(Hence the focus, according to our book (however subtly it may seem on the surface) on the FINAL JUDGEMENT.) 8

If we believe in Jesus and His Words, we will stand at the Final Judgement, and be counted as sheep. If we fall for False Prophets and false teachers lies and deceptions, we will fall at the Final Judgement and the eternal consequences of that are an eternity in hell. 

For God so loved the world that He sent His one and only Son to die for us on the cross, to pay for our sins, to redeem us from an eternity in hell so that we can spend eternity in Heaven with our Heavenly Father and our Lord and Savior, Jesus. 

* Everything with an asterisk and is italicized and purple is my own added words and thoughts and are not part of the actual verse or quote.