Beware! - Part 1

Today on Fellowship in the Word pastor Bill Gebhardt challenges you to become a fully functioning follower of Jesus Christ. I was born whenever I was born is because Jesus said to Nicodemus, what you have to be born again. No one's born and no that has become your personal decision you make in your life. Joining us today on this additional Fellowship in the Word pastor Bill Gebhardt Fellowship in the Words the radio ministry of Fellowship Bible church located in Metairie, Louisiana when Pastor Bill Gebhardt now is once again he shows us how God's word.

Our world pandemic right from the beginning morning start side effects of the vaccine. All my goodness, some of the early warnings. One was the funniest to me was they were put in tracking devices and me, so I just thought while someone is going to follow you hire someone to follow my life. I can imagine a more boring and the whole world and that they want to know where I am. I'm either here home or in between the main while global warming. Almost all the time. Now you get warnings.

What this going to be like. I just read in USA Today that the coastal city set on the Great Lakes could be in trouble and see what kind it could be happening because of global warming.

The latest bill before Congress no matter what it is his warning to it.

The repercussions of the next Supreme Court decision may give you warnings of how bad that this could possibly be the perils of any upcoming election matter what election is all the way. But everyone has his tremendous perils and it now. We have a lot of the inherent danger of a certain particular foods and are always warning us and if you think about this even that I several years ago they told us it was really terrible readings. I mean, I would think the worst thing and not 10 years ago they started it's okay to eat eggs so whatever changes eggs made anyone from the warning list to be in the old the okay list and then it's always been like this. Years and years ago a Russians have a satellite named Sputnik, the first satellite earth is about this big and it made you what. Want to fly over the sky and people were terrified. I mean, I don't know what it was going to do, but it's about this big, you know, and it was and what is this change in everything is going to change her hub ozone layer when the ozone layer. I thought Robin to be dead because we are that they know so here we are. Maybe that strangest one of all because it had the most things attached to it. Now don't get terrified when I see these this word Y2K all my goodness. We got like five years of warnings and it turned out, was just another day was so sad about that for many of us it we end up wasting time. Then worrying and being filled with anxiety for every warning we get all excited we get all upset about, but there is a warning that we should pay very close attention to a warning that has eternal ramifications and warning.

That's absolutely positively true. The reason I know that this woman came the son of God which room your Bibles to Matthew chapter 7 and verse 15.

This will be our final sermon on the sermon on the Mount. It's been an amazing ride going through this sermon. How profound it was the words that Jesus Christ uses.

I called the series. The disturbing sermon on the mount because the original audience really did like almost anything that Jesus said and a lot of us don't like what Jesus said we find it very difficult to think our way through and one of the things that Jesus does in this after starting out the sermon by telling us what does it take to go to heaven. What does it take to have a relationship with God.

What does it take to enter his kingdom and Jesus said what you have to be poor in spirit yet to be spiritually bankrupt.

You have to mourn over your sin, you have to have a purity of heart beat.

You have to desire a relationship with God himself. All of it internal.

That's exactly the opposite of what all the Jews believed they were taught by the scribes and Pharisees that it's all external. It's all based on what you do and God's going to let you in on the basis of what you do and Jesus starts the sermon out after beatitudes and says them. Unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees are not going to heaven. Not ever.

You have no chance. And I said what a profound effect anyone on a talked about all kinds of things he said how you live your life the religious practices that you should do should be private, not public.

Remember, the Pharisees did everything publicly if they gave they made an announcement publicly that they were going to give to someone when they prayed they prayed loudly and publicly when HIV made themselves look emaciated. Jesus is none of that's right, should all be exactly the opposite.

It's all internal rather than external and as Jesus works his way through the sermon he gets to the conclusion of the sermon and basically has one idea he doesn't like you do like the sermon he doesn't want you to admire the teaching he wants you to make a decision you gotta get off the fence.

There's no Switzerland when it comes this virtuality, you're either in or you're out you're on one side or your on the other side.

That's what Jesus said and he says look there's only two days right there is a narrow gate and very few people find it and there's a wide gate and everybody seems to be going on the wide gate and in the narrow gate. He said the first thing is you have to enter alone yet. Going by yourself. You can't link her to come in the family.

It's always interesting to me. People say that over time will I was born. Whatever it is I was born that Jesus of New York because Jesus said to Nicodemus, what you have to be born again. No one's born into our faith. No one that has to become your personal decision you make in your life. He also said that them. You gotta find it and he has said in it leaves the life. Many centers of Broadway and abroad date and everybody finds it is pretty darn easy is very popular with people except enhancing destruction and even applied last time we talked, that there's no second chances when you made your decision and now you face judgment. You can throw yourselves at that time in the mercy of God. So now he starts up and he wants to continue this warning the first time. It was a commandment to enter this the narrow gate, but now he says, beware there is that mean that's a warning price echo is the Greek word beware it means pay attention. Yet the beware of something he said beware of the false prophets, who come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly are ravenous wolves. Beware of false prophets, or even beware of false teachers to do better beware of this, the Jews should have been their whole history.

There's a 2000 year history.

By the time Cray shows up there false prophets everywhere. They always had false prophets all the time and a false prophet or a false teacher is extremely serious.

God's point of view from our point of view.

It's also summons a little of God's point of view it's really serious, a false prophet hold you place it would go with me to Deuteronomy chapter 13 Deuteronomy chapter 13 let's get God's perspective on what it means to be a false prophet Moses writes this. If a prophet or a dreamer of dreams arises among you and gives you a sign or wonder and the sign or wonder comes true. Now that's an interesting way to start because what you think that's what validates our profit.

He's going to come and give you a sign or wonder and that means you should listen to one, and God says you don't listen to people that do that not all see we we would be impressed by that.

They did a sign or a wonder they have to be talking the truth, Jesus. God says to Moses, absently, not because notice what he says. He said if he gives you a sign and a wonder the comes true concerning which he spoke to you saying let us go after other gods whom you have not known, and let us serve them.

That's the worst message possible for false prophet guards try to make a point okay I'm a prophet of God. I just did something miraculous. I proved it to you.

So now, let's not worship God anymore. Let's worship bail but that's God's point when a false prophet speaks, he always speaks a lie, and this is the ultimate live in God sets up. He's talking falsely. It doesn't matter what he's done. I watch he says you shall not listen to the words of that Prophet or the dreamer of dreams for the Lord your God is a test is testing you to find out if you love the Lord your God with all your heart, mind and soul interesting. So, false prophet show up from God's point of view to test you. False teachers show up to test you. That's a test doctors in the letter.

False teachers speak and by the way, we have tons of false teachers all around a minium have their own TV shows in other around Dutchess yet so I can test you see. Are you with me or not. It's an interesting thought. When you think about it from God's point of view. But what's the seriousness. He said you shall allow the Lord your God is follow the Lord your God in and fear him, and he should keep his commandments listen to his voice serve him and cling to him but that Prophet or dreamer of dreams shall be put to death.

That's all the way through the Old Testament. If you claim you're a prophet of God and you're wrong about one thing, you're dead. They execute that's a test of the true prophet of God.

She's not like a major league baseball player with what's his batting average.

You know how many to get right out of 10 gotchas.

Note any prophet of mine get some all right and it's always good to be true that way. I remember prior to the last election actually heard two different people within the body you told me the story, hiding her first and second but that the the number one this made me suspicious soon as I heard this, the number one prophet in the world. The number one prophet of God in the world, prophesied who was going to win the presidential election. And he did. How could he not the greatest prophet in the world, said he was sick and he would be now in the Old Testament the greatest X prophet to be dead is you don't just want throw that stuff out when you speak for God.

It always happens up. God is not restrained by anything yet. Apparently some people believe that there was a distance and he tells him he said you shall purge that evil from among you. You have to be really careful there are false prophets. Jesus said in Matthew 24 we thought about the end times. He said there will be many false Messiah to come. Tons of singular, the Messiah, believe them, that's his warning back then. What's interesting when the apostle Paul, Peter and even James when they write the epistles.

Every single epistle has a constant theme in it for us. Every one of them. Be discerning, be discerning, you need to be discerning. In other words, you need to know what's the difference between true teaching and false teaching. You have to be that number.

When Paul was writing to the Galatians he said oh Foley's Galatians who is bewitched you what happened. Paul led them the Christ.

Then Judy I just drew some gay men and they said no. Paul was only partially right. But he only give you part of the gospel.

Yes, you have to believe in Jesus Christ. He was right about you also have to be circumcised. If you're not circumcised you're not in Paul so that's another gospel and he called it anathema eternal damnation. He went so far as to say if an angel from heaven came and told her that let him be damned forever because they're lying. There's always false teachers who are line and that's the point that he wants to make to the Ephesians, he said, let no one deceive you with empty words, you have to be discerning. Jesus is saying the same thing here. I want to go next go to I John chapter 8 the show where the other source comes from John chapter 8 and verse 43 now when Jesus is speaking of false prophets in the sermon on the mouth. He's directly talking about one group, the scribes and Pharisees.

That's always talking about the scribes and the Pharisees, the religious leaders there.

The one she's going false prophets is going to tells and Johnny, why that's why he said to the people.

If your righteousness doesn't exceed describing Pharisees, you're not going anywhere.

You're lost, enabled, and nobody was more respected in Israel than scribes and Pharisees, everyone would've taken the oath and said there there there. The men who represent God. Listen to what Jesus said and see who they represent.

Verse 43 of John eight. He's talking to them. He said why do you not understand what I'm saying is, it is because you cannot hear my word, you can't possibly hear what I'm saying why you have your father the devil, as her father your of your father the devil, yes, and you want to do the desires of your father.

He was a murderer from the beginning does not stand in the truth because there is no truth in him. Whenever he speaks it's a lie, he speaks from his own nature. He is a liar and the father of lies but because I speak the truth to you, do not believe me.

Verse 47. He was of God hears my word. The words of God.

For this reason you do not hear them because you're not of God.

While saving Jesus point of view when he talked about this earlier. He said there's two ways and two gates from Jesus point of view, and that's all there is none of there's lots of not just to there's only two ways and two gates. It doesn't matter how many different philosophies are in the world. It doesn't matter how many other religions are Jesus would say they overthrew the same date every single one of them goes through the same wide gate than matter what it is is only two and then there's a narrow gate so that the Pharisees would've thought we represent God with the most godly people you'd ever want to meet. In fact, they took great pride in being godly.

Luke 18 I thank you God that I'm not like these other people terrible sinners. I'm a wonderful person you see in Jesus and your of your father the devil, because that's the way you go to Broadway and brought gate is behind every bit of it doesn't matter if it's a religion or philosophy. The narrow one is completely different. Jesus is warning the people about that and he's basically saying the lies we need to be discerning so that's go back out the Matthew and see what Jesus says he said they come to you in sheep's clothing inwardly are ravenous wolves.

That's interesting what does God call us sheep.

I so they look just like who us, they just look like. We look now. Pharisees tried to look even more religious and that man is even taken a step further. So they put on certain gardens and outlook of religious outlook by the way the church hasn't been too good with that either. For 2000 years. The church is spent ALL kinds of time just putting in religious outfits enough. I had an outfit on you. So look at that.

That's a religious man I miss ridiculous and even now, they look like us, but you know you see false teachers there usually amiable kind of the kind of nice guys.

They seem sincere. There saying nice things you say look just like us. Jesus is yet but there wolves the only predator to sheep and that part of the world that time wolves. He said that just couldn't come up and having to take the sheep that's with her going to do and he said that the Pharisees he said when he called them scribes, Pharisees, hypocrites, Vipers, he said because you stolen the kingdom of God.

You see, and that's what he is referring to them about he says look after. He says that he says you will know them by their fruits.

Grades are not gathered from thornbushes nor figs from thistles, are they so every good tree bears good fruit. The bad tree bears bad fruit. Good tree cannot produce bad fruit and bad tree produce good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. You know them by their fruit while so he says you can discern us is kind of interesting. What is he mean by fruit as a couple possibilities here. I think it's two things I think one of it is, what do they say and that's fruit and the other is how do they live in. That's fruit.

What do they say and how he says do they live.

It's kind of an interesting thing that the because they look harmless. They look like one of us. They seem positive. Here's one test. You see all the time when they teach and speak to the teaching's brief speak the whole counsel of God, almost never. They always emphasize one lie and they do it over and over and over again and they won't even speak what the rest of the word of God says the remainder would. It's interesting to see that. I mean we have an extraordinary large church in America and the pastor of that church will tell you that the something that you would love to hear, and he will tell you that God exists so that you can realize all your dreams. That's why there is a God, there is a God to make you as rich as you possibly want to be as healthy as you possibly want to be and there is a God and that's all he does is follow and fulfill your dreams and we love people love that this sounds great to me.

Now he was asking. I saw it so I can report this week. He was asking to talk so once why don't you ever teach or preach on sin and he said I'd never do that.

Okay, the Jesus ever speak on sin.

I'm just wondering. He said I would never do that.

That's negative. I would never teach or preach anything negative.

What should I tell you something's wrong here you see the whole I believe in the word of God says the people like me preach the whole counsel of God that idea behind it is but don't select something and the leader select a certain amount of spiritual gifts or certain amount of prosperity and that's all they want to talk about the other part of the fruit comes done. What is the lifestyle like how they live, and that becomes an extremely important part by way none of this is new to us. This is new to the church. The did okay is Christian writing. Written right at the end of the last book of Revelation written. It's very early Christian writing called the did okay and the decay as a section in it to watch out for false teachers, which is interesting that at first century and they're already watching out in the did case is theirs to test to test whether persons are to teacher a false teacher is kind of funny when you think about the first test is this when they come and want to live in your home for temporary time do they live in your home for just a day or two and move on or they want to stay longer is that they want to stay longer than likely a false teacher. They just want to live off of you. And secondly, this is so appropriate for the day. Do they constantly ask about money are they asking you for money constantly another dedicate people wrote that, I mean that's before we even had church buildings or anything they're saying there's guys out there trying to raise money is a lot of examples of this, but give you one. I can still remember some a few years ago now. What I would call false teacher said that the that he had a $50-$60 million private jet okay but God told him he needs $110 million private sees funny he raise the money people just like you and me.

We gave the money we want to get make sure does that add up to you at all. What did Jesus have tell me all the physical possessions he had. I mean nothing, I mean it just amazes me that we set but we are so materialistic as people we want that to be true. So the guideline get together and I can have every possible thing I want the character becomes quite different, as well as their teaching wagers on any says to me says that is after that every tree that is not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown in the fire going and in judgment, just like brought his prescription. That's the way it's going and it's a very important thing to God pastor Bill Gilbert on the radio ministry of fellowship in the world. If you ever missed one of our broadcast or maybe you just like listening to the message one more time. Remember that you can Google a great website called one place.com that's one place.com and you can listen the Fellowship in the Word online that website you will find on with today's broadcast but also many of her previous audio program at Fellowship in the Word. We are thankful for those who financially support our ministry and make this broadcast possible.

We ask all of our listeners to prayerfully consider how you might help his radio ministry continuous broadcast on this radio station by supporting us monthly with just a one-time gift support for ministry can be sent to Fellowship in the Word. 4600 Clearview Pkwy., Metairie, LA 7006 if you would be interested in hearing today's message in its original format that is of the sermon, the pastor Bill delivered during a Sunday morning service at Fellowship Bible church visit our website FVC Nola.org that FVC and oh LA not to RG at our website you will find hundreds pastor Bill sermon you can browse through our sermon archives to find sermon series you're looking for or you can search by title. Once you find the messenger looking for. You can listen online or if you prefer, you can download the sermon and listen at your own. And remember, you can do all this absolutely free of charge. Once again our website is FVC Nola.org for pastor Bill Gebhardt, unseasoned and hard anything you for listening to fellowship in order