How to side-step a false prophet

Matthew 7:15-23 (NIV) 15 "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!'

WRONG TESTLittle Red Riding Hood

WRONG TESTLittle Red Riding Hood

Matthew 7:15They come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly

they are ferocious wolves.

Matthew 7:2121 "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!'

THE RIGHT TEST The Cinderella Test

16 By their fruit you will recognize them

20 Thus, by their fruit you will recognize them

Matthew 7:16-19Do 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.

THE FRUIT TEST

1. Fruity Check (Inspect the fruit)

Galatians 5:22-23 (NIV) 22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23

gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.

2. Alternative Check (Inspect Lifestyle)

…. but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. ….

Acts 17:11 (NIV) 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.

“we are called to be catalysts that change the culture not chameleons

merely blending in’ (Pete Greig)

3. Close Check (Inspect Words)

Matthew 12:33-37 (NIV) 33 "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. 34 You brood of vipers, how can you who are evil say anything good? For

out of the overflow of the heart the mouth speaks. 35 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. 36 But I

tell you that men will have to give account on the day of judgment for every careless word they have spoken. 37 For by your words you

will be acquitted, and by your words you will be condemned."

Deuteronomy 13:1-3 (NIV) 1 If a prophet, or one who foretells by dreams, appears among you and announces to you a miraculous sign or

wonder, 2 and if the sign or wonder of which he has spoken takes place, and he says, "Let us follow other gods" (gods

you have not known) "and let us worship them," 3 you must not listen to the words of that prophet or dreamer. The

Lord your God is testing you to find out whether you love him with all your heart and with all your soul.

4. Tenderness Check (Inspect the intimacy)

John 15:4-5 (NIV) 4 …. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain

in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me. 5 "I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much

fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.

F = Fruity

A = Alternative

C = Close

T = Tenderness