Transcription
Good morning church family and those of you who are watching across the internet. We're glad that you could join us for today's message, which is entitled "Beware of Wolves in Sheep's Clothing." "Beware of Wolves in Sheep's Clothing: How to Recognize Deception."
Our main text is in Luke chapter 20, verses 45 through 47. Luke 20:45-47.
Now, today's message focuses on a phrase with two possible origins. Aesop, a Greek storyteller who lived over 2500 years ago, tells a story about a wolf who finds and wears a fleece of a dead sheep so that he can be able to disguise himself and blend in with the flock of sheep to better be able to attack and kill some of the sheep.
Now, the second origin of the phrase is found in Jesus' Sermon on the Mount from Matthew chapter 7, verses 15 and 16. Matthew 7:15-16. It says, "Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves. By their fruit you will recognize them."
Now, here Jesus uses this adage as he applies it to the religious leaders who pretend to be God's servants but are actually evil and hypocritical. Now, the phrase "a wolf in sheep's clothing" indicates a person who appears to be harmless and kind, but this way of acting only hides their deceitful and wicked objectives. This type of person is easily trusted and can gain the favor of someone who is unsuspecting. Sometimes it's hard for us to believe and understand that there are actually people who would do this on purpose, but we must not be gullible.
The main point of the phrase is that appearances can be deceptive. Therefore, Jesus wants his followers to be able to know how to recognize the deception of false teachers and how to spot a wolf in sheep's clothing.
Now, false prophets and deception are not new concepts. They've been around since the beginning of time, and Jesus warned his disciples about false teachers and their deceptive ways. And in Luke 20:45-47, Jesus warns his disciples to "Beware of the teachers of the law who like to walk around in long robes." In other words, it's an indication of their prideful attitude. They love the respectful greetings in the marketplaces, and they have the best seats in the synagogues, the places of honor in the banquets. He says that they "devour widow's houses," they take advantage of people, and for a show, they make lengthy prayers. And so, these religious leaders of Jesus' day are an example of that phrase, "wolves in sheep's clothing."
And so today, we're going to learn how to spot a wolf in sheep's clothing, how to avoid being deceived by a wolf in sheep's clothing, and how to deal with a wolf in sheep's clothing. But before we do, let's go to God in prayer.
Our dear heavenly Father, Lord, we thank you for this day, and we thank you for your word that we're about to open up and study. We thank you for its instruction and its guidance into our lives to teach us how to avoid being deceived by false teachers and prophets. Father, I pray that as I preach your word, that you would give me the words that you would have me to speak, and that you would help me to communicate it clearly and effectively as I should for Your glory. Help us not to be deceived by the false teachings of man, but Father, help us to be in your word and to study your word to be able to test the spirits to see whether these teachers are from God or they're not. Father, help us to be pleasing and glorifying to you by the things that we say and do according to your word. Help us to be faithful and obedient to what you've called us to do. Father, we pray these things in Jesus' name. Amen.
If you have your Bibles, go ahead and turn to Luke 20, verses 45 through 47. Luke 20:45-47.
"While all the people were listening, Jesus said to his disciples, 'Beware of the teachers of the law. They like to walk around in flowing robes and love to be greeted in the marketplaces and have the most important seats in the synagogues and the places of honor at banquets. They devour widow's houses and for a show make lengthy prayers. Such men will be punished most severely.'"
Now, the first thing that Jesus wants us to know is how to spot a wolf in sheep's clothing. How to spot a wolf in sheep's clothing. And so, the first step in recognizing deception is to learn how to spot a wolf in sheep's clothing.
Now, remember that Jesus said in Matthew 7:16, "By their fruit you will recognize them." Now, the Greek word used here for "fruit" means the results and the effects of their actions, works, or deeds that reveal the true nature of their hearts. And so, Jesus tells us that we should look at their actions and not their appearance.
Now, false prophets often appear righteous and holy, but their actions reveal their true nature. The Apostle Paul says in Second Corinthians chapter 11, verses 13 through 15: "For such men are false apostles, deceitful workmen masquerading as apostles of Christ. And no wonder, for Satan himself masquerades as an angel of light. It is not surprising, then, if his servants masquerade as servants of righteousness. Their end will be what their actions deserve."
And so, Satan and his servants can deceive us by appearing to be attractive, good, and moral, and many unsuspecting people follow smooth-talking, Bible-quoting leaders into cults, and they lead them into the practice of immorality and deceit. Now, Paul says that their actions will dictate whether a person receives rewards or punishment. And so, we need to look at the person's actions and not their appearance. And our assumptions alone are not an accurate indicator of who is or isn't a true follower of Christ.
Now, I want you to ask yourself: First, does their teaching confirm scripture? In Acts chapter 17, verse 11: "Now the Bereans were of more noble character than the Thessalonians, for they received the message with great eagerness and examined the scriptures every day to see if what Paul said was true." Now, the people in Berea, they opened the scriptures for themselves and they searched for the truth to verify or to disprove the message that they heard. And so, I want to caution you to be careful of a preacher, teacher, or congregation that will not encourage you to search the Bible, to search the scriptures yourself, to verify or to denounce their teachings. And there are faiths that will not allow you to study on your own, so be careful of those.
The second thing I would like for you to ask yourself is: Do they affirm and proclaim that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the Living God, who is God in the flesh, and who came to save people from their sins by dying on the cross and being raised from the dead on the third day? Do they do that? Listen to First John chapter 4, verses 1 through 6: "Dear friends, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world. This is how you can recognize the Spirit of God: Every spirit that acknowledges that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God, but every spirit that does not acknowledge Jesus is not from God. This is the spirit of the antichrist, which you have heard is coming and even now is already in the world. You, dear children, are from God and have overcome them, because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world. They are from the world and therefore speak from the viewpoint of the world, and the world listens to them. We're from God, and whoever knows God listens to us; but whoever is not from God does not listen to us. This is how we recognize the Spirit of truth and the spirit of falsehood."
The third question that I'd like for you to ask is: Is their lifestyle consistent with biblical morality? In Matthew chapter 12, verses 33-37: "Make a tree good and its fruit will be good, or make a tree bad and its fruit will be bad, for a tree is recognized by its fruit. You brood of vipers, how can you who are evil say anything good? For out of the overflow of the heart the mouth speaks. The good man brings good things out of the good stored up in him, and the evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in him. But I tell you that men will have to give an account on the day of judgment for every careless word they have spoken, for by your words you will be acquitted, and by your words you will be condemned."
Now, Jesus wants us to watch out, to be on guard, to be alert, to beware, because these false teachers may use religious language and quote scriptures, but their actions do not align with God's word. See, one cannot recognize deception or spot a wolf in sheep's clothing if they are not searching and examining the scriptures daily to verify if what is said and taught is true.
Now, I always urge people who listen to my sermons or my teachings to study the Bible, study the scriptures for themselves, and to make sure that what I'm saying or teaching is biblically correct and that it complies with God's word. And so, I encourage you to verify what I or anyone else says or what we teach with the word of God, the truth of God's word, and make sure that we are trying to live according to the truth of God's word. See, not studying the word of God daily makes one more vulnerable to the deception of the false prophets or the false teachers, and it allows for the false teachers to continue deceiving people.
Well, the second thing that Jesus wants us to know is how to avoid being deceived by a wolf in sheep's clothing. How to avoid being deceived by a wolf in sheep's clothing. So, the second step in recognizing deception is to avoid being deceived by a wolf in sheep's clothing.
Now, Jesus tells us that we should listen to Him and not to the false teachers. Putting our trust in Jesus demonstrates that we have a listening and willing heart, and it ultimately reflects our love for Him. Now, when we listen and obey, we discover that life is full of promise and purpose, and we become more assured of God's plan for our lives.
Now, false prophets, they will try to lead us astray by their words, but if we listen to Jesus and we follow His commands, follow His teachings, we will not be deceived. So, how do we listen to Jesus? First, we listen to Jesus by devoting time each day to the study of God's word. We need to be intentional in setting a regular time and place each day to study God's word, and we need to be able to spend time with Him in prayer so we can listen to what God says to us through His word. And as we study the Bible and submerge ourselves into God's truth and His character, our lives are changed. We become more like Him. God's word is a powerful guidance for our souls and our actions.
Second, we need to listen with an open heart that is willing to obey what was learned from God's word. James 1, verses 22-25 says, "Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like a man who looks at his face in a mirror and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. But the man who looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues to do this, not forgetting what he has heard but doing it, he will be blessed in what he does."
And third, we must find a solid Bible-teaching and Bible-living congregation of faithful followers of Christ to fellowship with and to serve the Lord together. Now, biblical instruction motivates us to see things from a godly perspective. Scripture keeps us from sin, guides our steps, and draws us closer to the Lord. Fellowship with other believers strengthens our faith and it encourages cooperation in God's work and God's will.
Then, the third thing that Jesus wants us to know is how to deal with a wolf in sheep's clothing. How to deal with a wolf in sheep's clothing. So, the third step in recognizing deception is to know how to deal with a wolf in sheep's clothing.
Now, Jesus tells us, not in this text, but throughout the Gospels, that we should expose them, confront them, and pray for them. Now, we should expose their false teachings and reveal their true nature. Paul wrote to Timothy telling him to do this very thing in First Timothy chapter 1, verses 3 through 7: "As I urged you when I went to Macedonia, stay there in Ephesus so that you may command certain men not to teach false doctrines any longer nor to devote themselves to myths and endless genealogies. These promote controversies rather than God's work, which is by faith. The goal of this command is love, which comes from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith. Some have wandered away from these and have turned to meaningless talk. They want to be teachers of the law, but they do not know what they are talking about or what they so confidently affirm." There are so many people teaching today that they've heard something somewhere, they've heard someone else tell them, and so they believed it, and now they are passing that on to others. And if you question them about it, if you ask them, "Well, can you explain it?" No, they can't explain it. They don't know what they're talking about. They don't know what it is that they are so confidently affirming in their belief. They can't explain it. They can't communicate it. They don't even understand it themselves.
In Ephesians chapter 5, verses 6 through 11: "Let no one deceive you with empty words." In other words, meaningless words, things that have no substance to it, there is no truth at all, no benefit to it. "For because of such things God's wrath comes on those who are disobedient. Therefore do not be partners with them." In other words, do not participate in their deception or in their false teaching or in their evil deeds. "For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness and truth. Find out what pleases the Lord. Have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them."
Now, we should confront them with love and compassion, but also with truth and conviction. Now, truth is the most powerful means of correcting errors. And so, once we know the truth, we will want to share it with others who have fallen into error, those who are deceived by false teaching. We must teach and live out the truth of God's word. In Colossians chapter 3, verses 12 through 14: "Therefore, as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity." See, practicing any virtue without practicing love will lead to misrepresentation, division, and regression.
And we see that we should pray for them that they may see the error of their ways and that they would turn back to God. In other words, they would repent. And prayer is often the forgotten element in the battle against false teaching. Beyond gently and firmly sharing the truth, we can pray from a heart of compassion and concern. Second Timothy chapter 2, verses 22-26: "Flee the evil desires of youth, and pursue righteousness, faith, love and peace, along with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart. Don't have anything to do with foolish or stupid arguments, because you know they produce quarrels. And the Lord's servant must not quarrel; instead, he must be kind to everyone, able to teach, not resentful. Those who oppose him he must gently instruct, in the hope that God will grant them repentance leading them to a knowledge of the truth, and that they will come to their senses and escape from the trap of the devil, who has taken them captive to do his will."
In conclusion, false prophets and deception are real threats that we must be aware of. We must learn how to spot a wolf in sheep's clothing by looking at their actions, not their appearance. We must avoid being deceived by a wolf in sheep's clothing by listening to Jesus and not to the false teachers. And we must deal with a wolf in sheep's clothing by exposing them, confronting them, and praying for them.
And if you're ready to submit yourself to the authority and salvation of Jesus Christ, would you place your faith in trust in Him, repenting of your sins, confessing Jesus to be your Savior and Lord, and be baptized for the forgiveness of your sins and receive the indwelling gift of the presence of the Holy Spirit, and live your life in obedience to God's word and will daily? If you're ready to make a decision for Christ, would you do so today?
And if you made a decision for Christ today, God bless you. If you'll use the information down in the description below to get in contact with me, I would love to hear from you and talk with you about your decision and help you to follow up upon it. I pray that you would not be deceived by the false teachings of the world, that you would be able to spot a wolf in sheep's clothing, that you would look to their actions instead of their appearance, that you would come to know how to avoid being deceived by those false prophets by listening to Jesus rather than them, and I pray that you'll know how to deal with a wolf in sheep's clothing by exposing them, confronting them, and praying for them. I'm praying for you that you'll have a very good week. God bless. Thanks for watching. Please subscribe to our channel, and if you would like to watch other sermon videos like this one, or if you would like to watch some devotional videos, please click one of the videos to the right. Have a blessed day.