Matthew 7:15-21
"You will know them by their fruits."

I share this story because what this conductor is telling his orchestra to do is exactly what many people do to the scriptures.

The conductor is having the orchestra, change the score from what the composer had intended.  In our politically correct tolerant society, the Word of God is being altered in much the same way.  If there is a particular teaching from the Word of God which we don’t like, we change it.  We alter the standard and expect everyone to meet this new flawed standard.

Perhaps we alter the meaning of the Word of God because we have altered the meaning of the word tolerance.  Webster defines tolerance - to recognize and respect the beliefs of other practices without agreeing or sympathizing with them.

Today tolerance demands praise and endorsement of the person’s beliefs, values and lifestyles.  Today tolerance means you must approve of what I do.  You must allow me to have my own way.  You must agree with me.

Jesus warns us about this way of thinking and teaching,

Jesus warning, can be summarized in three words, vulnerable, vigilance, and victory.

Humanity’s famous last words, "It will never happen to me."  "I would never fall for such a story."  The truth is we are all vulnerable.  Scripture warns you and me not to underestimate the power of satan. Scripture describes satan as a devouring lion, a ravenous wolf, a master of disguises.  satan lures people away from God with worldly amusements and attitudes.  Paul describes the fruits of satan’s labor as,

"sexual immorality, impurity, lust, hatred, discord, jealousy, selfish ambition, dissension, arrogance, envy, murder, idolatry, drunkenness, cheating, adultery, gossip, homosexuality, greed, stealing and lying." (Gal 5:19,20)

When I think of satan, I think of infomercials.  Infomercials are these 30 minute commercials that are trying to lure you into buying a product, with claims that are simply unbelievable.

Watch this video eight minutes a day and you will have rock hard abs. Then there was the miracle pot which promised it would get you out of the kitchen fast. It will get me out the kitchen quick, you will be on your way to a restaurant in minutes.

False prophets are as real today as they were back in Jesus day.  They can be found in every area of life, even the church, proclaiming false teachings, false messages.  Remember about 10 years ago a certain TV evangelist made an appeal to his TV audience that God had placed a burden on him.  He had to raise so many millions of dollars by a given date or he would die.  The day before he was a million plus short, but miraculously, the next morning he received a check from some donor.  It turns out the donor was a very close personal friend.  You don’t think they had prearranged that before hand do you?

The motivation of a false prophet is not the will of God nor is it the welfare of the people.  Their motivation is money, fame, power, acceptance, pleasure.

Because we are vulnerable we must be vigilant.  Vigilance begins with the realization that there are two kinds of prophets: those who represent God and those who are in opposition to God.

Any church which declares a monopoly on the grace of God is false.

Any teaching which takes the cross out of Christianity is false.

Any teaching which eliminates the threat from the voice of God is false.

Any teaching which pushes judgment into the background is false.

Any teaching which divorces religion and everyday living is false.

Any teaching which proclaims God’s grace is big enough to cover every sin, so keep on sinning is false.

Any teaching that proclaims salvation without discipleship is false.

Any teaching that offers grace as something separate from God’s gracious presence is false.

Any teaching about faith that doesn’t emphasize ethical living is false.

Any teaching that emphasizes ethics as a saving way of life, rather than as an expression of the transformed work of the Holy Spirit in us, is false.

Any teaching which instructs that religion consists in just going to church, observing the Lord’s day, fulfilling one’s financial obligations and reading the Bible is false.

"Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves."

Christianity is an attitude of the heart to God and to one another.  The evidence of this attitude in you, is made visible by the fruits you produce.  For the by-products of living with God are:

"love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control." (Galatians 5:22)

Why these traits, because these traits are found in the nature of Christ.  To have these fruits you must be joined to Jesus. Jesus is the standard.  Jesus said,

The choice you and I have is, "Do we hold to this standard, Jesus, His Word, His Way, His Truth or change the standard?" Your answer will be seen by your fruits. As scripture says,

For just as a tree is consistent with the kind of fruit it bears, you will be known as a Christian or not by your fruits.

Several years ago a marathon runner won, either the NYC or Boston Marathon.  He was later disqualified because it was found out that he had altered the course.  He took some short cuts and pretended to have run the race.

God’s Word provides us with a course for living.  God’s Word and Will is what provides you and me with the victory.  We may think we are winning when we alter that course for our own selfish reasons. But the truth is come the finish line God will know whether you altered the course to suit your will, or altered your life to suit God’s will.

Amen

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