OUTLINE STUDY
SERMON ON THE MOUNT
FALSE PROPHETS
MT.7.15-20 PART1
Matthew 7:15-20 Beware of false prophets, which come to you in
sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves.
16Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather
grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles? 17Even so every
good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree
bringeth forth evil fruit. 18A good tree cannot bring
forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth
good fruit. 19Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is
hewn down, and cast into the fire. 20Wherefore by their
fruits ye shall know them.
I FALSE PROPHETS
A. THEIR OUTWARD APPEARANCE
Isaiah 56:10-12; Jeremiah 23:1-2; Jeremiah 23:9-28; Ezekiel
13:1-10;Ezekiel 34:1-6;
B. THEIR INWARD EXISTENCE
Psalm 5:9; Ezekiel 22:27; Luke 11:39; Acts 20:29;2 Cor. 11:2-3;
2 Cor. 11:13-15; 2 Peter 2:1-3;
II HOW WE SHALL KNOW THEM (1JOHNS SEVENFOLD SPIRIT LITMUS TEST)
Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether
they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out
into the world. 2Hereby know ye the Spirit of God: Every
spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the
flesh is of God: 3And every spirit that confesseth not
that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and
this is that spirit of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that
it should come; and even now already is it in the world. 4Ye
are of God, little children, and have overcome them:
because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the
world. 5They are of the world: therefore speak they of the world,
and the world heareth them. 6We are of God: he that knoweth
God heareth us; he that is not of God heareth not us.
Hereby know we the spirit of truth, and the spirit of
error. 7Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God;
and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God.
A. EXAMINE THEIR MINISTRY THEIR LIFESTYLE
1. DO THEY CONFESS JESUS
Matthew 10:32; Luke 12:8; Romans 10:9; 1 John 4:15; 2 John 1:7;
2. WHAT IS THEIR RELATIONSHIP TO THE WORLD
John 7:7; John 15:19; John 17:14-16; James 4:4; 1 John 2:15-17;
3. HOW DO THEY RECEIVE ORTHODOX BIBLICAL VIEWS
Isaiah 8:20; Isaiah 30:8-11; Jeremiah 8:9; Matthew 22:29; Mark
7:7-9; John 14:23-24; 1 Cor. 2:12-14; 1 John 4:6;
4. WHAT IS THEIR ATTITUDE TOWARD THE COMMANDMENTS
Matthew 5:19; John 14:15; John 14:21; John 15:10; 1 John 3:22;
1 John 3:24; 1 John 5:3; Rev. 22:14;
5. DO THEY LOVE THE BRETHREN
Luke 6:35; John 13:34-35; John 15:12-13; Col. 3:12-13; 1 Thes.
4:9; 1 Peter 1:22;
6. IS THE INDWELLING OF GODS SPIRIT EVIDENT
Ezekiel 36:27; John 14:17; John 16:13; Romans 8:9; Romans 8:14;
Romans 8:16; 1 Cor. 2:14; 1 John 2:27; 1 John 3:24;
7. HOW DOES THEIR TEACHING LINE UP WITH THE WORD
Deut. 4:2; Matthew 5:18; Matthew 22:29; Romans 15:4; 1 Cor. 15:3;
2 Cor. 11:4; Galatians 1:9; 2 Tim. 3:16-17;
III MINISTERS ARE LIKE FRUIT TREES
A. THERE ARE EVIL TREES (UNREGENERATED OLD NATURE)
Jeremiah 2:21; Ezekiel 17:24;Joel 1:7;Matthew 12:33; Romans
6:6-11; Ephes. 4:22-24; James 3:12; 1 Peter 4:2-4; 2 Peter 1:9;
Jude 1:12;
B. THERE ARE GOOD TREES (REGENERATED NEW NATURE)
Psalm 1:3; Psalm 52:8; Psalm 92:12; Isaiah 61:3; Jeremiah 17:8;
Ezekiel 36:26; John 1:13; John 3:3; 2 Cor. 5:17; Titus
3:5; 1 Peter 1:23;
IV HOW TO RECOGNIZE THE EVIL FRUIT
A. CAN BE EVIDENT IN THE CHARACTER OF DISCIPLES
1. LOYAL TO PERSONALITIES MORE THAN THE WORD
Psalm 118:8; Jeremiah 17:5; Matthew 23:8-10; 1 Cor. 3:4; 1 Cor.
4:6; Ephes. 4:15;
2. WORSHIP CREATION MORE THAN THE CREATOR
Deut. 4:15-18; Deut. 5:8; Deut. 17:3; 2 Kings 17:16; 2 Kings
21:3; Psalm 115:5-8; Isaiah 40:18; Acts 17:29; Romans 1:23;
Romans 1:25; Rev. 9:20; Rev. 13:4;
3. HOLD TRADITION OR DOCTRINE HIGHER THAN THE WORD
Matthew 15:2-6; Mark 7:3-13; Col. 2:8; Col. 2:20-23; Titus 1:14;
1 Peter 1:18;
4. SEEK AND RESPOND TO EXPERIENCES/SUPERNATURAL TO VALIDATE TRUTH
Exodus 7:11; Deut. 13:1-2; Matthew 24:24; Mark 13:22; Acts
13:13-14; 2 Cor. 11:13-15; 2 Thes. 2:9; Rev. 13:13-14; Rev. 16:14;
5. CONCERNED WITH THEIR OWN DESIRES AND GLORY MORE THAN GODS
Jeremiah 9:23-24; Romans 8:5-8; 1 Cor. 1:29; 1 Cor. 1:31; 1 Cor.
3:21; Galatians 6:13; Philip. 2:21; Philip. 3:19;
6. WILL NOT ENDURE SOUND DOCTRINE
2 Chron. 36:16; Isaiah 28:9-22; Mark 4:17; 2 Tim. 4:3; Proverbs 1:24-30
7. THEY HAVE NO WORKS OF ANY KIND
Psalm 37:27; Jeremiah 22:3; Zech. 7:9; Matthew 7:21; Luke 6:46;
Ephes. 2:8-10; Titus 1:16; Titus 3:8; James 2:14-16;
III THE FALSE PROPHETS FATE
A. THEY WILL BE HEWN DOWN and THEY WILL BE CAST INTO THE FIRE
Matthew 3:10;Matthew 13:41-42;Matthew 15:13; Luke 13:6-9; John
15:6; Acts 20:29;2 Cor. 11:2-3; 2 Cor. 11:13-15; 2 Peter 2:1-3;