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We have contending and we can just be contentious… Two different things.

We are to contend for the faith earnestly for the faith once delivered, but we have several guidelines in Scripture.

We experience often those who may be accusatory or downright contentious in their speech.  But we need to be responsible for ourselves, and to the best of our ability speak with the end result as our goal.

In Titus 2, (even though spoken to young men), I think it’s a good exhortation for all.  In all things we should try to show a pattern of good works.   Most especially in doctrine it says ‘showing uncorruptness, gravity, sincerity, sound speech, that cannot be condemned; that he that is of the contrary part may be ashamed, having no evil thing to say of you.’   That does not mean they will not speak evil of you, but it does mean that what they say will not hold water. 

Let’s sharpen iron with GOD’S WORD –not our feelings, experiences, beliefs, our even our own words… Let’s wait on our Master, and let our heart be right with Him. Search our hearts Lord. (Psalm 139:23-24).  Don’t answer a fool according to His folly, (in the same manner).  Do answer a fool regarding his folly (encouraging him/her to sound speech that cannot be condemned).  What we are doing (if done right) is GOOD for the household of the faith, whether they see it that way or not.   Then there are some who will bite and devour you as you try to let them know the truth.  Some are very good at doing it in a sneaky manner of underhanded comments.  Don’t return evil for evil.

A continual dripping on a very rainy day And a contentious woman (or man) are alike; Whoever restrains her restrains the wind, And grasps oil with his right hand. As iron sharpens iron, So a man sharpens the countenance of his friend. Whoever keeps the fig tree will eat its fruit; So he who waits on his master will be honored. As in water face reflects face, So a man’s heart reveals the man. Prov 27:15-19

MOLD ME MAKE ME LORD

Strength and honor are her clothing; She shall rejoice in time to come.  She opens her mouth with wisdom, And on her tongue is the law of kindness. PR 31:25-26

This goes BOTH ways, for not only the one contending for the faith, but for those Christians who oppose them with contentious behavior. Even as we try to remind others, we need to remind ourselves of many passages in God’s Word showing us to handle His Word rightly, to not be deceitful, to tremble at His Word, to love it, revere it, treasure it.

Frequently I see people come in to accuse those contending in earnest.   Here are some of the things they may ask you if you have done.   These are real life comments that have been made to me, maybe it will help you some if one rails against you for no apparent reason (or at least one that is not obvious).  Here are some you can read, these are real comments (I have hundreds upon hundreds… and thousands I have not saved, I am sure…)

“Have you even prayed for them before blasting them?”

“Have you gone to your brother in private? Why are you trashing this brother?”

“Have you actually read the book? Seen the movie? ”(etc.)

“Why are you tearing apart the ministry of these people, not everyone is perfect?”

“You are a cult, and out to witch hunt and pick apart people.  You leave no stone unturned to find dirt”.

“You need to study your Bible”.

“STOP QUOTING SCRIPTURE AND LEAVE BONHOEFFER’S MEMORY ALONE!!!” (Yes, I kid you not.  This woman who has her own blog was upset we revealed that Bonhoeffer denied the literal physical resurrection, along with the Deity of Christ, and His virgin birth).

“He’s a pastor, you are just a woman and shouldn’t even be speaking about him in public.”

“You make me sick, I am getting spiritually sick just being around you.”

“What’s wrong Miss Holly – did you not enjoy our conversations?  Afraid you might actually learn something?  What makes you think you are a shepherd and can keep the sheep safe…”I do not permit a woman to teach, nor usurp authority over a man…women should remain silent…Now you should run along and play Jezebel somewhere else Miss Holly and leave the shepherding to us, we will handle the wolves, now fly fly fly….

In another conversation, my friend Kimberrly and I were contending with some women and men regarding keeping the law.   Kimberrly said (speaking of me), “she quoted the Words of our Saviour…HE IS THE WORD made FLESH…So, it’s all QUOTES from HIM.”
 The lawkeepers response? “With that, I bid you so long, counter that with your savior Paul and the whores named grace”.

“She is likely not of one of the regenerate”.

“You have an evil spirit of control that is very oppressive.”

“You are very condescending and have an air of superiority, you think you know it all”.   “Goodbye Holly”.   (This was after warning 3 administrators, 3 times about 3 sites that were being cited to prove a pet position.  The last site was Universalist in which the author also said Namaste in closing, and explained he believed god was in all of us.)

Each time I warned in all sincerity, not for any other reason.  For that, one of 3 people used 1 John 2:19 to suggest I was the antichrist for leaving their group.  They accused a young woman of being ‘controlled by me’.  I went to all three in an email as brethren to deal with these things.  With that, the statements were made, the one blocked me after making one of those statements, the other two unfriended and blocked (not sure the order of which, no way to tell it happens so often).  And the point is not what was done to me, but to understand if it happens to you.  Many believers are like Diotrephes was to John and the others.

More contentious statements:

“I don’t believe you have believed on Jesus, because you and I have two different Jesuses, you hate my Jesus.  And yes I do know the gospel, and again it is a different gospel than yours.   Mine is the true gospel, yours is the one Paul said was accursed.   My Jesus died for the sins of ALL His chosen people….” (spoken by a hard core Calvinist).

(Regarding me speaking against Gail Riplinger, and her maintaining the KJV is the only inspired Bible, over even the manuscripts we have — nothing else, just the Englist speaking KJV1611.  This pastor told me to “shut your trap”, and “blow it out your nose Jezebel”.  (The pastor at bbfohio).

A pastor defending Rick Warren called me a ‘false accuser, and a slanderer’  At that point all I had provided was things you either could or could not find on Rick Warren’s site in a search.  I listed the mystical people like Henri Nouwen, Thomas Merton, and no teachings on the Rapture regardless of the timing.  I listed some books that were heretical in his website.  Hadn’t gotten more than a couple comments before he called me a false accuser and a slanderer.

More comments regarding pointing out John MacArthur’s errors

“You should really make a public retraction of your public smearing of John MacArthur and make a public Apology.  The choice is yours.  My response was solely directed towards your response and slanderous critique is clearly wrong, you have been corrected, and the truth has been spoken.  You can accept the correction or not.  JR”

“Your proud and unfortunately unteachable holly. look at you. completely impenetrable against the truth.  deceived, stubborn, unteachable, and proud.  lethal combination. I will pray for you that the LORD may open your eyes. MNJ”

“Holly, justification by works was indeed the basis of the old Covenant, I did not say Old Testament, if you don’t understand this fact, then you need to go back and read Exodus and Deuteronomy” (this was written in disagreement with me saying that the just have always lived by faith, and that no one was ever justified by the law – Hab 2:4; Rom 1:17, Gal 3:11).

Another Calvinist Pastor after using much Scripture to show the goodness of God without citing the references, laughed at me and snidely told the group “she sounds just like Brian McLaren”, (all Scripture).  When I told him he was speaking against God’s Word, he lost his smug, typically pulled together demeanor and was furious.   I suggested he might get out of his proof texts and get into the whole counsel of God since he hadn’t recognized what I said as the Word of God (probably cited about 20 passages without the references, so I provided those references so he could check).  He then called me a liar.

More contentious commentary I’ve dealt with (lite and heavy both)

“Judge not lest ye be judged.”

“Touch not God’s anointed.”

Why can’t Christians be united?

I don’t want to be like you, running out to lynch someone.

You are always digging to find something wrong with someone, are you so perfect?

(The following from a pastor’s wife I went to Christian High school with), “You want to give me a list of people you do approve of, or is that only yourself that you listen to?” (this after I touched on three of her anointeds, Ray Comfort, John MacArthur, and Paul Washer.  In this instance as in most, I was deleted.

Pastor Jacob Prasch

Pastor Jacob Prasch through his friend posted in one of our groups, calling me a liar. (This was as we were discussing his teaching on Midrash and citing his own website (had Screen shots).We used Scriptures to show the difference between what he asserted, and what the Bible actually says.  He’s using extrabibilical literature to make his case.  For that, He called down ‘Christ’s swift judgment on the liar’ (whoever that might be).  I sincerely prayed for him that night, made me sad how many pastors are abusive.

Some others have said “we should not always be so condemning”, in that of course it infers we are condemning.  (Obviously we should not condemn but speak the Word in love and truth, holding up all to the light).

“We should be striving for unity with others instead of always nitpicking or looking for every little error”. (Missing completely that one cannot have unity with a wolf, nor darkness, nor with one tiny bit of leaven.)

The funny accusation that I see frequently is, “You are so judgmental”… The irony escapes them.

Calvinist threatens to come looking for us

One man who found out he was local to my friend Cheryl and I, said he’d come looking for us in the flesh.  By his previous words, we didn’t take the threat from this Calvinist lightly.  Nor his public record of physical abuse, violence and drugs.

I could go on and on about what you might face, I really could.  I share this again not for me, but so that you will not be shocked as it happens to you, seemingly for no reason, with friends, family, loved ones.  He told us it would be this way in the end…

So then, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath; for the wrath of man does not produce the righteousness of God. James 1:19-20

WE ALL NEED EACH OTHER, AND SOME YOUNG ONES MIGHT CONSIDER NOT DESPISING ANOTHER’S GIFT (if indeed that is what it is)

FALSE UNITY  

WHAT IS UNITY?

The Word says, all these things are to equip us, edify the body, till we come to a unity of THE FAITH and of THE KNOWLEDGE of the Son of God….

WHY? That we should no longer be tossed to and fro by every wind of doctrine.

SO, WHAT ARE WE TO DO? Speak the truth in love.

WHY?

So that we may GROW UP in all things INTO HIM…. 

And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ, till we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ; that we should no longer be children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, in the cunning craftiness of deceitful plotting, but, speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things into Him who is the head—Christ— from whom the whole body, joined and knit together by what every joint supplies, according to the effective working by which every part does its share, causes growth of the body for the edifying of itself in love. Eph 4:13-16

“Behold, I send you out as sheep in the midst of wolves. Therefore be wise as serpents and harmless as doves. Matthew 10:16

We do have to be wise and gentle in the manner we reveal the truth, how we handle ourselves in light of those who attack up in it, and being careful that our speech is bold, but with kindness and truth– and praying we keep the law of kindness on our tongue.

We should oppose a believer speaking or behaving in an improper manner even if doing the right thing in marking an avoiding the false.   Again we should contend without being contentioust – i.e. profanity, name calling, sniping at others, underhanded comments, suggestions of immaturity or lack of Bible understanding, commending themselves as being something better than others, hitting below the belt, etc.).  But if one is exposing a false teaching with the right demeanor, if you disagree, you are only doing others harm by claiming the false teachers are “a brother” or “a sister” without ALSO having done your FULL proving (1 Thess 5:21; 1 Tim 4:16; Acts 17:11).

Attacking others for “TRASHING” a brother, or INSISTING that they are a brother (how would you know that if they have a false gospel?), is not what we should do.   Stopping your ears to the concerns of ecumenism, or bad associations, or lack of God’s Word in the forefront, etc. is not productive or edifying to others.   I cannot possibly see how it can be honoring to Him.

If we can’t walk in wisdom knowing the world is watching (Col 4:5-6) maybe we should just pray silently.  And, we should stay silent and refrain from making absolute statements on both sides, UNLESS we have spent enough time to PROVE ALL THINGS – by His Word.

How to deal with those who rail against you or revile you

Lay it out gently with them and try to not take these comments personally.  Address it with them and then pray for them.

If someone won’t hear you (that does not mean they just agree with you necessarily), but will be willing to hear you out.  This should happen without them getting angry, or making passive aggressive comments to you.   They shouldn’t keep coming at you if you’ve kindly asked them to stop.  They shouldn’t be accusing you, or ignoring Scripture.  These are some of the things that will show you they are not “hearing you”.

Often they accuse you of the very thing they are doing. They are reacting in the flesh, not by His Spirit (while denying that is the case).  We can be wrong with Scripture, but another will hear us out, so that they in turn can admonish us with His Word with gentleness and patience.

Have you gone to your brother in private?

Although this is often the question one uses when you out their false teacher, this does NOT apply to publicly marking and avoiding False teachings or false doctrine that has been made public multiple times. Matthew 18 applies to a sin done by one person to another person.  If they hear you then you keep it private, if you’ve gone to them and it has been made right with them.  This passage has NOTHING to do with false doctrine which we are to publicly name and avoid (Rom 16:17-18)

We have our marching orders in the verses below.

WE ARE ALL CALLED TO REVEAL THE TRUTH WHETHER WE LIKE IT OR NOT.

(So for those of you who feel discomfort when this happens, understand how hard it is for the one who is speaking the truth.  Certainly hold them accountable for mistakes in how they present it (if you see something), but don’t rush in to accuse them of a witch hunt.  Don’t pepper them with all those accusations about what they are doing wrong, without having had the decency to do your own homework.  Don’t unfriend them or block them because you have made their ‘spirit sick’.   Check the Bible and the info they already provided for the edification of the body.  Pray about it and then respond.

WITHDRAW FROM THOSE WHO WILL NOT CONSENT TO WHOLESOME WORDS  

If anyone teaches otherwise and does not consent to wholesome words, even the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to the doctrine which accords with godliness, he is proud, knowing nothing, but is obsessed with disputes and arguments over words, from which come envy, strife, reviling, evil suspicions, useless wranglings of men of corrupt minds and destitute of the truth, who suppose that godliness is a means of gain. From such withdraw yourself. I Tim 6:3-5

WE ARE TO KNOW AND BE IN THE MEAT OF HIS WORD SO WE CAN DISCERN BETWEEN GOOD AND EVIL: (Heb 5:14)

We are to take heed to the doctrine for a reason:

Take heed to yourself and to the doctrine. Continue in them, for in doing this you will save both yourself and those who hear you. I Tim 4:16

Taking heed to the doctrine will save us from a multitude of pain, sorrow, consequences, loss.

DO NOT EVEN GREET THOSE WHO DO NOT BRING HIS DOCTRINE:

Whoever transgresses and does not abide in the doctrine of Christ does not have God. He who abides in the doctrine of Christ has both the Father and the Son. If anyone comes to you and does not bring this doctrine, do not receive him into your house nor greet him; for he who greets him shares in his evil deeds. 2 John 1:9-11

 Associations

>> O.K., This is where I’d like to address the people who hang out with the Rick Warren’s of this world, or call Mitt Romney a Christian, quote Henri Nouwen, or Ken Blanchard, Dallas Willard, or other such people.    The Pastors who go to conventions with them or call them brother.  The people on FB who put them on their page.  I understand completely some will be unknowing, but once you know, you better not compromise the truth of God’s Word, it’s not yours to compromise.  So, if you pass along their info, “receive them”, “greet them”, then what?   YOU ARE SHARING IN THEIR EVIL DEEDS.

> I’d also like to address those who defend them as just authors, or that it is JUST fiction (i.e. the Shack), this is a cop out, the man who authored the Shack is trying to change minds from who the Bible reveals God and Jesus to be.  He is falsely trying to change the truth of salvation, hell, and eternity.  It is the enemy of the brethren and the one that hates the whole world and see it in hell.   Salvation is not universal as the author of the Shack would have you believe.

What he writes in His book is sacrilege, unfaithful to God, and it is blasphemous.  I will have more to say on this, hoping to finally post an article here online.  Plenty of good ones, but people don’t seem to want to ‘hear’.  Others defend false teaching by saying the person is not  a pastors, teacher, etc.  Please note most of these verses say, WHOEVER, or ANYONE, etc. and does not differentiate that they should not be STOPPED, MARKED, AVOIDED, NAMED, except that there was greater condemnation for the Pharisees or stricter judgment for teachers.

And by the way, if YOU are taking teaching from one of the false guys, reading an author’s books, sharing them on FB, (thereby recommending their speech), YOU are also sharing in their evil deeds.  (I have done it unknowingly and had to go correct publicly so that others would be delivered from stumbling).    We need to try so hard to be careful, we can all make mistakes, but don’t turn around and snap if someone points it out to you, but be quick to listen, go take some quiet time in prayer and His Word to look for yourself. 

ALL OF US ARE HELD ACCOUNTABLE TO THESE PASSAGES BY GOD’S WORD. DON’T EXCUSE THOSE WHO ARE PROPAGATING FALSE DOCTRINE AS NOT BEING ‘DISCERNING’ OR THAT THEY ‘MEAN WELL’.

DON’T BE TOO HIGH-MINDED EITHER, TAKE HEED LEST WE SHOULD FALL.

WHAT DO WE SEE FROM THE SCRIPTURES I’VE SHARED SO FAR, AND ALSO BELOW AS OUR RESPONSIBILITY? (See if I have missed some)

→ Know His Word.

→ Use His Word, not yours.

→ Be in the MEAT of His Word.

→ Take Heed to His Word.

→ Correct with His Word with a Humble mindset.

→ Don’t associate with those who will not CONSENT with sound words, withdraw.

→ Get and use wisdom and kindness when you speak.

→ Be slow to speak, and quick to listen.  Don’t be quick to wrath.

→ Have no fellowship with the unfruitful deeds of darkness, Reveal the truth.

→ Find out what is acceptable to the Lord.

→ Expose those deeds.

→ Prove or test all things and Hold fast to that which is good.

→ Test the Spirits (Because there are MANY false Prophets)

→ Mark and avoid those who bring that divisive false doctrine.

→ Most of all → Name Names, this keeps others from being devoured. 

 Eph 5:10, 11, Heb 5:14, Rom 16:17-18, I John 4:1, I Thess 5:21, and many more.

I’d also like to address the people who defend them as just being “undiscerning” or “deceived” (Yes they are that and more, but it’s not an excuse to teach falsely).  They are not just being undiscerning (see Rom 1:31), they are being disobedient to God’s Word.  We are NOT even to keep COMPANY with them (2 Thess 3:14).  They also are “sharing in their evil deeds” (2 John 1:9-11).  Do we want to defend a “deceived” or “undiscerning” person, who is not in the meat of God’s Word, who do not obey His Word, and call themselves a Christian writer, speaker, teacher, pastor and then listen or share their writings or teachings?  

But evil men and impostors will grow worse and worse, DECEIVING and being DECEIVED.  But you must continue in the things which you have learned and been assured of, knowing from whom you have learned them.  2 Tim 3:13-14

WHY ARE WE ALL CALLED TO DO THIS?   SO WE CAN CUT OFF THEIR OPPORTUNITY TO LEAD OTHERS ASTRAY TO THEIR DEATHS….

But what I do, I will also continue to do, that I may cut off the opportunity from those who desire an opportunity to be regarded just as we are in the things of which they boast. For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into apostles of Christ. And no wonder! For Satan himself transforms himself into an angel of light*. Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also transform themselves into ministers of righteousness, whose end will be according to their works. 2 Cor 11:12-15

 * Angel of light, (we need to remind ourselves), THEY LOOK LIKE ministers of righteousness.

  • ECUMENICAL?
  • SPIRITUAL FORMATION?
  • DABBLING IN “CHRISTIAN” YOGA?  Prayerfully consider looking into the subtle issues with this.
  • COPYING RITES OF THE CATHOLIC CHURCH?
  • VISITING YOUR FRIEND’S MOSQUE?
  • TAKING PART IN REIKI HEALING, ETC.?  
  • What does His Word instruct?

1)  Do not be unequally yoked together with unbelievers. For what fellowship has righteousness with lawlessness? And what communion has light with darkness? And what accord has Christ with Belial? Or what part has a believer with an unbeliever? And what agreement has the temple of God with idols? For you are the temple of the living God. As God has said: I will dwell in them And walk among them. I will be their God, And they shall be My people.” 2 Cor 6:14-16

2)  And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you. And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.  2 Cor 6:16-18

RENOUNCE AND EXPOSE: For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light (for the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness, righteousness, and truth), finding out what is acceptable to the Lord. And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather expose them. Eph 5:8-11

Likewise, exhort the young men to be sober-minded, in ALL THINGS showing yourself to be a PATTERN OF GOOD WORKS; in doctrine showing integrity, reverence, incorruptibility, SOUND SPEECH that cannot be condemned, that one who is an opponent may be ashamed, having nothing evil to say of you. Titus 2:6-8

WHO/WHEN DO WE BREAK FELLOWSHIP? HOW SHOULD WE ADMONISH THEM?

BELOW ARE BIBLICAL EXAMPLES AND PATTERNS FOR THOSE WHO ARE TEACHING OTHERWISE TO SOUND DOCTRINE, AND DOES NOT CONSENT TO WHOLESOME WORDS, OR DOES NOT OBEY THESE EPISTLES… WE WITHDRAW, WE DON’T KEEP COMPANY WITH THEM.  WE MARK AND AVOID.

BUT LET’S BE VERY CAREFUL IT IS ABOUT SOUND DOCTRINE AND NOT NON-ESSENTIALS SUCH AS TRANSLATION PREFERENCE OR PRIDE, BUT DO KEEP IN MIND, IT IS GOD’S WORD THAT IS ESSENTIAL.

Also, do remember, we do not judge the world, and we are in the world, so we are there in order to share good news with them, not to argue politics, tell them whether or not being gay is wrong, we can share what our values are, but people, we need to show some wisdom. Pretty often people ‘get’ your morals by the way you speak and act, and if they don’t, they will.   Share the good news, don’t react in the flesh and argue things that won’t save their lives.

  1. But as for you, brethren, do not grow weary in doing good. And if anyone does not obey our word in this epistle, note that person and do not keep company with him, that he may be ashamed. Yet do not count him as an enemy, but admonish him as a brother. 2 Thess 3:13-15
  2. If anyone teaches otherwise and does not consent to wholesome words, even the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to the doctrine which accords with godliness, he is proud, knowing nothing, but is obsessed with disputes and arguments over words, from which come envy, strife, reviling, evil suspicions, useless wranglings of men of corrupt minds and destitute of the truth, who suppose that godliness is a means of gain. From such withdraw yourself. I Tim 6:3-5
  3. But we command you, brethren, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you withdraw from every brother who walks disorderly and not according to the tradition which he received from us. 2 Thess 3:6

IS IS O.K. TO DISMISS BAD TEACHING, BY STATING, “NOT EVERYONE IS DISCERNING” OR “I AM NOT CALLED TO DO THAT“?

WHAT DOES HIS WORD SAY IN Heb 5:14, AND THIS PASSAGE BELOW?

And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a debased mind, to do those things which are not fitting; being filled with all unrighteousness, sexual immorality, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, evil-mindedness; they are whisperers, backbiters, haters of God, violent, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, UNDISCERNING, untrustworthy, unloving, unforgiving, unmerciful; who, knowing the righteous judgment of God, that those who practice such things are DESERVING OF DEATH, not only do the same but also approve of those who practice them. Rom 1:28-32

Sounds pretty serious to me…

But solid food belongs to those who are of full age, that is, those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.  Heb 5:14

Romans 16:17-18 speaks to BRETHREN and so ALL are to mark and avoid, ALL…

WE DON’T JUDGE WHETHER SOMEONE IS OR IS NOT A BELIEVER

(We can surmise, but we are only to look at the fruits of bad doctrine and we apply the remedy, we share the correct gospel)

This passage also gives us good advice of judging doctrine by what a man speaks.  Is he/she REALLY speaking the Word of God?

He who is not with Me is against Me, and he who does not gather with Me scatters abroad.  “Either make the tree good and its fruit good, or else make the tree bad and its fruit bad; for a tree is known by its fruit. Brood of vipers! How can you, being evil, speak good things? For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks.

A good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth good things, and an evil man out of the evil treasure brings forth evil things. But I say to you that for every idle word men may speak, they will give account of it in the day of judgment. For by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned.” Matt 12:30, 33-37

WE KNOW FALSE PROPHETS AND RAVENING WOLVES BY THEIR FRUITS, (if we will look).

RECENTLY I HEARD A WELL-KNOWN PREACHER, USING THE PASSAGE IN MATT 24, CHANGING IT TO SINGULAR, TO KNOW WHETHER SOMEONE WAS A BELIEVER OR NOT… BE CAREFUL… TAKE HEED….lest we fall…we judge nothing before it’s time with a professing believer’s justification.  We certainly CAN and SHOULD judge unsound doctrine, associations (within the church) and behavior. (I Cor 5 & 6)

THIS PASSAGE SPEAKS TO FALSE PROPHETS (NOT FRUIT INSPECTING OF OTHER BELIEVERS YOU SAW HAVING A BEER OR WHATEVER ELSE YOU MIGHT PERSONALLY LOOK DOWN ON:) I am speaking to those who say definitively that people aren’t saved, I don’t believe we can be sure, and I know we can surmise they may in trouble based on lack of fruit of the Spirit or love for the brethren – but Jesus DID say Judge with a righteous judgment and not according to the appearance – the only place to find righteous judgment I know of, is from His Word, not mine):

“Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves. You will know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes from thornbushes or figs from thistles? Even so, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. A 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.  Matt 7:15-21

WHAT ARE THEIR FRUITS?

21 Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will* of my Father which is in heaven. 22 Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?     

WHAT IS THE WILL* OF THE FATHER?

 And this is the Father’s will which hath sent me, that of all which he hath given me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up again at the last day. 40 And this is the will of him that sent me, that every one which seeth the Son, and believeth on him, may have everlasting life: and I will raise him up at the last day.  John 6:39-40

The Father’s will is that all that believe on Jesus will have everlasting life and He will raise them up on the last day.  He will lose none (John 10:28-30)

The false prophets doctrine — Jesus NEVER denied they did many wonderful works, that they prophesied (spoke His Word) in His name, that they cast out devils.   This is how they justify themselves, how they PROVE they are saved, but He denies that He EVER knew them.  They were NEVER believers even though outwardly they appeared to be.  So the fruits spoken of here are not outward good works, what we are looking for is those who justify themselves by their own good works.  They may call Him Lord, they may do works in His name, but they think they must DO something other than ‘believe’ on the Son, in order to ‘enter in’.   (See this John MacArthur sermon for what one must do in order to ‘enter in’ or ‘be saved’.  His fruits let us know who He is.)

They profess to know God, but in works they deny Him, being abominable, disobedient, and disqualified for every good work. But as for you, speak the things which are proper for sound doctrine: Titus 1:16-2:1

Fruits of the False Prophet: These men were NOT speaking the things which were proper for sound doctrine, they were introducing the leaven of works, justifying one’s self by works.

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. And many will follow their destructive ways, because of whom the way of truth will be blasphemed. 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. 2 Pet 2:1-3

(Not really pointing to the obvious guys/women who are wearing Armani suits, or driving Bentley’s, or have 10,000 square foot mansions, or compounds, planes, or $23,000 gold toilet seats, but reminding us all that they are among us, and secretly bring in these destructive heresies.  For those who deny the Lord who bought them, don’t be deceived as to what that means.  They may claim Him as their ‘Lord and Savior’ and yet what are they denying?  That HE bought them.  THEY need to add their remorse, their turning from sin, their good works after, etc.

Once again — And MANY will follow their deceptive ways — most people don’t think they will be deceived, or led astray.  Who is it that is being misled if there are MANY?)

“Please consider the fact that many will follow their destructive ways because YOU invited them to the occasion BEFORE you proved all things.”

But I’d like to admonish each and every one of us, we ARE ALL to prove all things and hold FAST to that which is good. (I Thess 5:21), we ARE to be Bereans and SEARCH the scriptures to see if these things are so (Acts 17:11), we ARE to approach Him with humility and with a teachable attitude… (I Pet 5:5-7),  May we all remember that.

I remember last year, someone from a Bible study telling me when I warned her of something I thought would be a dangerous thing to be involved with (yoga), she said, “Oh brother, I am too spiritually mature to be deceived”… I said no more, I was just saddened, I walked with her, and said if she ever wanted to know more, I’d freely share. But she has never asked, and to this day defends the practice. I pray the Lord protects her, and I pray she considers that MANY WILL FOLLOW THEIR DESTRUCTIVE WAYS… She may not be deceived by the ‘namaste’ but will someone else?  Will she say it just because it means nothing to her?  Idols have no hold over us, but do we want to bow to another saying, ‘the god in me bows to the god in you’?

And will it be because one of us haven’t done our proving?  Or maybe we’d rather not have a disagreement or deal with the unpleasantness, but think of the alternative….MANY will follow their destructive ways…

EVERYONE… ALL BELIEVERS… ARE CALLED TO DO THIS:

Now I urge you, brethren, note those who cause divisions and offenses, contrary to the doctrine which you learned, and avoid them. For those who are such do not serve our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly, and by smooth words and flattering speech deceive the hearts of the simple. For your obedience has become known to all. Therefore I am glad on your behalf; but I want you to be wise in what is good, and simple concerning evil. And the God of peace will crush Satan under your feet shortly. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. Amen. Rom 16:17-20

Through thy precepts I get understanding: therefore I hate every false way. Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path. Psalm 119:104-105

IN THE END, WE NEED TO REMEMBER WHERE WE CAME FROM AND HOW TO RECOVER SOME FROM THE SNARE OF THE ENEMY.

Remind them to be subject to rulers and authorities, to obey, to be ready for every good work, to speak evil of no one, to be peaceable, gentle, showing all humility to all men.  For we ourselves were also once foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving various lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful and hating one another.  But when the kindness and the love of God our Savior toward man appeared,  not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us, through the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit,  whom He poured out on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Savior,  that having been justified by His grace we should become heirs according to the hope of eternal life.  Titus 3:1-7

USE THE WORD TO JUDGE BY.  THAT IS WHERE YOU WILL FIND RIGHTEOUS JUDGMENT.  PRAY FOR ALL MEN (1 Timothy 2:1-6)