When I was growing up, that hymn
was in the 13th Street Baptist hymnal. Had a different hymnal
than they use now. And for some reason, ever since
I was a little boy, that hymn has always hit me. I love that
hymn. Would you turn back to 1 John
chapter 4? Let's read these verses again. Beloved, John loved these people,
he was writing to. Believe not every spirit, but
try, test the spirits, whether they are of God, because many
false prophets are gone out into the world. Now he gives us a
test by which we can know if a man is a true prophet or a
false prophet. Hereby, verse 2, know ye the
Spirit of God. Every spirit that confesseth
that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God. And 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 you have heard that it should come, and even now already
is it in the world. I've entitled this message, False
Prophets. Now I'm going to preach the gospel
from this message, but it is critical that you and I be able
to discern enough to know if we're hearing a false prophet. So very important. You see, if I follow a false
prophet, I will have the reward of the false prophet. That's
how important this is. The man who drives the getaway
car in a bank robbery, he didn't robbed the bank, but he is just
as guilty as the one who robbed the bank. And that is why it
is so important for you and I to be able to discern the message
of a false prophet. Now John says, Beloved. These are people that he loved
dearly. Beloved. And here he gives us
a command Believe not every spirit. And by spirit, he's talking about
preachers. He's not talking about ghosts.
He's talking about preachers, those who claim to speak by the
spirit of God, inspired by God, bringing God's message, or those
who are speaking under the spirit of Antichrist, which he speaks
of in verse three. They're either preaching by the
spirit of God, or they're preaching by the spirit of Antichrist. Now, don't be gullible and think
that because they're speaking from the Bible that they're true.
Do you remember that Satan used the Scriptures in his temptation
of Christ? It is written. He tried to use
the Scriptures in his temptation of Christ. And Christ refuted
him every time with an, it is written. So just because somebody's
speaking from the Bible doesn't mean they're true prophets. It could be that they're false
prophets. And don't think because somebody speaks about righteousness
in some way, they must be right. Turn with me for a moment to
second Corinthians chapter 11. 2 Corinthians 11, beginning in
verse 13. For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming
themselves into the apostles of Christ. They masquerade themselves
as the apostles of Christ. And this is no marvel, for Satan
himself is transformed. into an angel of light. Therefore it's no great thing
if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness,
whose end shall be according to their words. Now, John says,
test, try these spirits, whether they are of God, from God, and
sent from God. Test the spirits. This is God's
command to me. This is God's command to you
when we're hearing preaching. Test the spirits whether they
be of God. Jeremiah warns of prophets that
prophesy lies in my name and I sent them not. That's what
God said. These prophets prophesy lies in my name. They're not
telling the truth and I sent them not. With regard to a true
prophet Paul said how can they preach except they be sent. sent of God. Now I've said this before, but
the preacher I want to hear has to be a man sent from God. The real deal with God's message. And that man has to live what
he believes. If he doesn't, I have no interest
in hearing him. And that man has to have my best
interests at heart. If he just wants me to be part
of his program or a statistic in his ministry, I'm not interested
in listening to it. He's got to have my best interests
at heart. Now, he gives this very simple
test by which we can try the spirits, whether they're of God.
We're going to get more into this in a minute, but in verse
2, he says, Hereby know ye the Spirit of God. You know if God
is inspiring this man to preach. Every spirit that confesseth
that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God. Now, I was
telling my sister in Florida that I was going to preach on
this message today, and I quoted that verse of Scripture to her,
and she says, well, everybody says that. Who doesn't say that
Jesus Christ has come in the flesh? Well, it means a whole
lot more than that, as we're going to see. Verse three, and
every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ has come
in the flesh is not of God. And this is that spirit of antichrist,
where if you've heard that it should come and Already is it
in the world. Now, John says many, many false
prophets are going out into the world. And one of the old writers
said this, and I completely agree with it. The profession, and
you listen real carefully, the profession that will have the
greatest percentage of its members in hell is preachers. You think about that. The profession
that will have the greatest percentage of its members in hell is that
of preachers. There will be a greater percentage
of preachers in hell than there will be of plumbers. It's like
that. And I believe that to be so.
Many false prophets are gone out into the world. And it's
always been that way. 2 Peter 2.1. Peter says, But
there were false prophets among the people, even as there shall
be false teachers among you who privily, secretly shall bring
in damnable heresies. He may be a really nice guy.
False prophets usually are. But that does not change the
fact of what they're doing. Now when the Lord exhorted us
to enter into the straight gate, you remember that? Enter ye in
at the straight gate, because wide is the gate, broad is the
way that leads to destruction. Many there be that go in thereat,
but straight is the gate, narrow is the way that leads to life,
and few there be that find it. What did he say next? Beware
of false prophets. That's the Lord's warning. Beware
of false prophets. He said, they come in sheep's
clothing. They look like sheep, but inwardly they're ravening
wolves. Turn with me for a moment to
Acts chapter 20. I'm gonna read several verses
scriptures from here to get to the place where I want to be.
Acts chapter 20, beginning in verse 17. And for my leaders, he sent to
Ephesus and called the elders of the church. And when they
were come to him, he said unto them, you know, from the first
day that I came into Asia, after what manner I've been with you
at all seasons, serving the Lord with all humility of mind and
with many tears and temptations which befell me by the lying
weight of the Jews and how I kept back nothing that was profitable
unto you. but have showed you and have taught you publicly
and from house to house, testifying both to the Jews and also to
the Greeks, repentance toward God and faith toward our Lord
Jesus Christ. And now behold, I go bound in
the Spirit unto Jerusalem. not knowing the things that shall
befall me there, save that the Holy Ghost witnesses in every
city, saying that bonds and afflictions abide me." I think that Paul
knew anywhere I go to preach, I'm either get thrown in jail
or beat. He had that ahead of him every time he went in. But
none of these things moved me. Neither count I my life dear
unto myself, so that I might finish my course with joy, and
the ministry which I've received of the Lord Jesus, to testify
the gospel of the grace of God. And now behold, I know that you
all, among whom I've gone preaching the kingdom of God, shall see
my face no more. Wherefore I take you to record
this day, that I'm pure from the blood of all men. For I've
not shunned to declare unto you all the counsel of God. Take
heed therefore unto yourselves and to all the flock over which
the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers to feed the church
of God, which he purchased with his own blood. For I know this,
Paul was speaking to these people for the last time. For I know
this, that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in
among you, not sparing the flock Also of your own selves shall
men arise speaking perverse things to draw away disciples after
them. Therefore, watch and remember
that by the space of three years, I cease not to warn everyone
night and day with ears." That's what he was warning about, these
false prophets that would come in. And now, brethren, I commend
you to God and to the word of His grace. which is able to build
you up and to give you an inheritance among all them which are sanctified.
I have coveted no man's silver or gold or apparel. Now that almost seems out of
place. But it's not. Here's a dead giveaway
about a false prophet. They're controlled by covetousness. Maybe men's silver and gold.
Maybe the praise of men. Maybe the goodwill of men. Maybe
power. Maybe prestige. A lot of different
things you can covet. But they are controlled by covetous. And Paul said, I've coveted no
man's silver or gold or apparel. Yea, you yourselves know that
these hands have ministered unto my necessities and to them that
were with me. I've showed you all things that are so laboring
you ought to support the weak and to remember the words of
the Lord Jesus, how he said, it's more blessed to give than
to receive. Now a false prophet is always
driven by covetousness. Isaiah called them greedy dogs. That's strong language. Now,
in the New Testament, who is recognized as the arch false
prophet of the Old Testament? Now, most of you probably know
Balaam. You can read about Balaam in
Numbers chapters 22 through 24. And you remember how Balak asked
this man, Balaam, who's called a false prophet. He's mentioned
three times in the New Testament as a false prophet. And Balak
of the Moabites asked Balaam to curse the children of Israel.
He thought, if you curse the children of Israel, that means
God will curse them. And you will remember that God wouldn't
let Balaam do it. And what is interesting about
Balaam is you will find, if you read, you ought to make this
a project this week to read Numbers 22 through 24, those three chapters,
and you will find one thing Balaam says that you disagree with.
It's all good. And this is what is so scary
about a false prophet. A false prophet is more clearly
identified by what he doesn't say than what he does. what he leaves out. You remember
the Lord said they have omitted the weightier matters of the
law. Now, if you read about Balaam,
Balaam kept saying, I can promote you to honor and riches and money
if you'll just curse the children of Israel. And you know, God
wouldn't let him do it. But he said, let me see if God
will say anything else. He was continually, he was wanting
that money. He was wanting that promotion.
He was wanting whatever it is they had to give him, but he
never got it. We read something about Balaam.
Let's look at the New Testament passages of scripture regarding
him. Turn to 2 Peter chapter 2. Verse 14. Having eyes full of adultery
and that cannot cease from sin, beguiling unstable souls. He's
talking about preachers. And heart they have exercised
with covetous practice. Cursed children, which have forsaken
the right way and are gone astray following the way of Balaam,
the son of Bosor, who loved the wages of unrighteousness. Look in Jude 11. right before Revelation, Jude
11. Woe unto them, speaking of false
prophets, for they have gone in the way of Cain, the way of
works, and ran greedily after the heir of Balaam for reward,
for pay, and have perished in the gainsaying of Korah. Now look in Revelation chapter
2. This is the Lord speaking. And he says in verse 14, but
I have a few things against thee, because thou hast them there
that hold the doctrine of Balaam. The Lord Jesus is speaking of
this, the doctrine of Balaam. Now, what is the doctrine of
Balaam? I mean, if you read what he said in Numbers 22 through
24, you'll agree with everything he said. You'll say, that's spot
on. That's what I believe. Now, let's go on reading. who
taught Balak to cast a stumbling block before the children of
Israel, to eat things sacrificed unto idols, and to commit fornication."
Now here is what Balaam did. He said, I'm not going to curse
Israel, but here's what I'm going to do. I'm going to tell Balak,
here's what you need to do. You need to get your people to
marry the children of Israel and get them to be tolerant of
your gods and even worship your gods. And in doing that, you
don't have to worry about me cursing them. God will curse
them. And that's what you need to do. And in Numbers chapter
25, you can read where they did just that. And Numbers 31 tells
us that they did that through Balaam's counsel. Balaam was
out for money. Now, God could prevent false
prophets. Why does he allow them? I mean,
it's a scary thing to think of false prophets and men who, if
you follow their message, they'll deceive your soul. You'll have
the same end they will. That's how important this is.
And that's why I want to be able to discern if I'm hearing the
truth. I want you to be able to discern
if you're hearing the truth. Why does God allow false prophets?
Well, turn with me to Deuteronomy 13. Deuteronomy chapter 13, verse
1. If there arise among you a prophet
or a dreamer of dreams, and giveth thee a sign or a wonder, and
the sign of the wonder come to pass, whereof he spake unto thee,
saying, Let us go after other gods which thou hast not known,
and let us serve them. And he says something, and it
comes to pass. And you think, well, there must
be something to it. And I said, not hearken unto the words of
that prophet or that dreamer of dreams, for the Lord your
God proveth you. That's what's going on right
now. You are being tested to know whether you love the Lord
your God with all your heart and with all your soul. That
is why he allows this to happen. Paul said in first Corinthians
chapter 11 verse 19. There must also be heresies among
you that they also which are approved might be made manifest. Now there's a necessity in this. It's going to demonstrate whether
or not you and I actually love God and His gospel, and to see
if we will turn and hearken to the voice of something that's
contrary to the glory of God. Now, back to our text in 1 John
2, there's a word I want to emphasize just for a few moments. This
is so important. Verse 2, 1 John chapter 4 verse
2, Hereby know ye the Spirit of God, every spirit that, what's
that next word? Confesseth. Confesseth. That Jesus Christ has come in
the fleshes of God and every spirit that confesseth not that
Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is not of God. Now this
has something to do with what a man confesses or what a man
does not confess. And there's something public
about this thing of confessing. Now it could be you could call
up a man and say, do you believe in election and predestination
and Christ's effectual redemption for his elect and he's on the
phone with you. He says, sure I do. I believe that with all
my heart. Ask a church member, does your preacher preach that?
Well, I never have heard him before. You see, what a man believes
is what he preaches publicly, what he confesses. And if he
doesn't preach it publicly and confess it, he does not believe
it. I asked somebody not that long
ago, I said, does your pastor preach election? He said, well,
I don't know. I've never heard him. No, he doesn't. Obviously, he
does not at all. The word confess means literally
to speak the same thing when we confess our sins. It's the
word used for the confession of sins. When we confess our
sins, we say the same thing God says about our sins. We take
sides with God against ourselves. When we confess the name of the
Lord Jesus Christ, we say the same thing God says about the
name of the Lord Jesus Christ. That it's, he's everything in
salvation. We're in agreement with God when
we confess. And like I said, a confession
is always public. Not what a man says privately,
but what he says publicly. Turn with me to John chapter
12. This is a very clear example of this, John chapter 12. Verse 42. Nevertheless, among
the chief rulers also many believed on him. But because of the Pharisees,
they did not confess him, lest they should be put to death.
They loved the praises of men more than the praise of God.
Now, it says they believed. They believed, but they wouldn't
confess. Why? Because they were controlled
by covetousness. They coveted praises of men over
the praises of God. Christ said in another place,
how can you believe which receive honor from one another and not
that honor that cometh from God only? John chapter five, verse
42. The Lord said, Whoso will confess
me before men, him will I confess before my Father which is in
heaven. Paul said, This I confess unto thee, I plead guilty, no
matter what it cost me, that after the way that they call
heresy, so worship I, the God of my fathers, believing all
things which were written in the law and in the prophets. I confess with my mouth, the
Lord Jesus. Now, what am I doing when I'm
confessing the Lord Jesus? You know, I'm saying when I confess
to the Lord Jesus, I'm saying to everybody, He's your Lord,
whether you know it or not. He's your Lord. You know, He's
the Lord of the guy in North Korea. He's controlling him completely,
and He's your Lord. You may not know it, but you're
in His hand. And He can do with you whatever
He's pleased to do because He's the Lord. That's what we're confessing.
It's not just a title. He really is Lord. That means
He's the dictator. That means He's running the show. That means He's in absolute control.
He's the Lord. Whoso should confess with his
mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in his heart, God hath raised
him from the dead. I believe. that God raised him
from the dead because God was satisfied with everything he
did. Now that's a confession, isn't
it? He said, For with the heart man
believeth in righteousness, and with the mouth confession is
made unto salvation. There's something public about
confession. The Lord said, Whosoever shall
be ashamed of me and my words, of him shall the Son of Man be
ashamed when he shall come in his glory. Now, this confession,
this is what I want to finish with. Turn back to our text in
1 John. 1 John chapter 4, verse 2. Hereby know ye the Spirit
of God, every spirit that confesseth. That's a public confession. Every
spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is
of God. And every spirit that confesseth
not, if you talk to him privately, he might say, sure, I believe
Jesus Christ has come in the flesh. I believe he was before
he came. I believe he came in the flesh. I believe he did what
he came to do. But he doesn't say it publicly. He doesn't confess
it. And let me also say this, you're
confessing your allegiance to this message. When you identify
with this message, you're confessing the message just as much as I
do. And you identify with this message. Now, that person that
doesn't confess that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is not
of God. This is that spirit of Antichrist where you've heard
that it should come. And even now already is in the
world. Now, the whole gospel. The whole
Christian faith is in this seven-word confession. The genius of this,
the brilliance of it, it's gotta be of God because everything
we believe is found in this seven-word confession. Whoso confesseth
that, here it is, Jesus Christ is come in the flesh. Now, how is that everything you
believe? One of the greatest days of my
life was July 3rd, 1986. That's the birth of my baby girl. You know, when she was born,
I can remember all the events of that day, but when she was
born, we didn't say, Aubrey Ann Nybert is coming to flesh. We
didn't say that, did we? wouldn't even make sense. What
do you mean by that? Aubrey Ann Naubert has come in the flesh
because the implication of that is she was before she ever came
in the flesh. When we confess that Christ is
come in the flesh, we confess that he was before he ever came. We confess that He is the Eternal
God, the Great I Am that I Am. In the beginning was the Word,
and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was,
eternally was, He's always I Am. Not a wanna be, not a would be,
not a could be, not a used to be, not a will be, I am that
I am. I love that name of our God.
He is who He is, whether me and you see it or not. And I like
it that way, don't you? What you and I think has no bearing
on his isness. I am that I am. I love it when the Pharisee said
to him, you're not 50 years old yet and you say Abraham, rejoice
to see your day. He said, barely I say unto you
before Abraham was, I am. Only God can say that. He said,
if you believe not that I am, you'll die in your sins. Jesus Christ is the great eternal
I am. Now, I love what he said in John
chapter 14, one. He said, you believe in God?
Believe also in me. Do you believe that God is eternal? I am too. Do you believe that
God is absolutely sovereign? His will is always done? I am
too. I'm equal with the Father. Do
you believe that God is immutable? Do you believe He can never change?
I'm Jesus Christ the same, yesterday, today, and forever. Do you believe that God is all-powerful,
that He has no limitations? I am too. Do you believe that
God is independent, that He has no needs, that He's infinite,
that He can't be bound. Anything you can say about the
living God, the God of glory. I was the one who said, let us
make man in our own image. Now that's what the Lord Jesus
Christ is saying. He was. He's the eternal Son
of God. He was before He came. He said it. Listen to these words
in John chapter 14. He that hath seen me hath seen
the Father. I've heard preachers try to explain,
well, that doesn't literally mean he's, you know, stuff like
that. Don't try to explain it. He that has seen me hath seen
the Father. If you've seen Christ as all
in your salvation, do you know you've seen the Father? All you're
ever going to see of the Father is Jesus Christ the Lord. He was before He came in flesh. He is the Child that was born,
the Son that was given. John was six months older than
the Lord. The scripture points that out.
And he said, He that was before me is preferred before me. John's
saying He's before me. But you know Christ is before
all things. The scripture says he's before all things. Whatever
it is, he's before it. He's before it. He's the first
cause of it. He's in control of it. Whatever you want to say,
he's before it. That's who he is. He's the child
that was born, but the son who wasn't born, he was eternally
given. Now, what we believe about his
work will be dependent upon what we believe about his person.
Let me give one example. This religious world, I suppose
that 90% of this religious world, 99% maybe, believes that Jesus
Christ shed his blood for everybody to try to make salvation available
for everybody. And there's others who believe
that Jesus Christ died for everybody, but that doesn't necessarily
mean they're gonna be saved. Now, if you believe something
like that, you have a very low mistaken view of the Lord Jesus
Christ. Because of who He is, everything
He does must be successful. He's the successful Savior. He
shall not fail nor be discouraged. Now, Jesus Christ, who was before
He came, He came in the flesh. God became flesh. The Eternal Creator. Great! is the mystery of godliness. God was manifest in the flesh. I know I've told you this before,
but I love it. There were two preachers who were brothers,
and one denied the deity of Christ. I can't remember what you call
somebody who denies the deity of Christ, but he was going to
have his brother preach, and he said, let's don't preach on anything
controversial. And his brother agreed, well, okay, I won't preach
on anything controversial. And he read his text without
controversy. Great is the mystery of godliness.
God was manifest in the flesh. The word was made flesh and dwelt
among us. There's one God and one mediator
between God and men, the man, Christ Jesus. God was manifest
in the flesh. God became man. Fully man, just
as if he were not God at all. Fully God, just as if he were
not man at all. That's who Jesus Christ is. He
came in the flesh. Now somebody says, I agree with
that, but you're not finished. I'm not finished yet. If he came
in the flesh, he did what he came to do. That's very important. Don't miss that. He did what
he came to do. He said, I came down from heaven
not to do my own will, but the will of him who sent me. Now, what did he come to do?
And this is of critical importance. Turn with me to John chapter
17. Verse one. These words spake Jesus and lifted
up His eyes to heaven and said, Father, the hour has come. And He's talking about the hour
of His crucifixion. The reason the universe was created
was for this hour. The Lamb slain from the foundation
of the world came for this one purpose. The hour is come. glorify thy son, that thy son
also might glorify thee. Now what did he come to do? He
came to glorify the Father. And that was only done through
finishing the work that the Father gave him to do. He said, I've
glorified thee on the earth. I have finished the work. Thou gavest me to do. Now, I want you to understand
this about God. I want to understand this about God. Everything God
does, He does for His own glory. Everything. Christ came to glorify
His Father. God's motive for everything He
does is His own glory. Now, if I go out on the street
and say, you know, God does everything for you, to make you happy, and
to, he wants you to have a good life, and he wants you to prosper
and do well, and God does everything for you, everybody would think,
yeah, I believe that, you know, that's what he ought to do. But
if you say God does everything only for his own glory, that
he's made all things for himself, yea, even the wicked for the
day of the evil, well, I don't know about that. You know, people
don't respond very well to that, do they? But this is who God
is. He said, My glory I will not share with another. Now what
Christ did in glorifying His Father is He finished the work
God gave Him to do. The very opening page of the
New Testament we read in Matthew chapter 1 verse 21, Thou shalt
call His name Jesus. He shall save His people from
their sins. And beloved, that's exactly what
He did. He came in the flesh to do what
the Father gave Him to do. To glorify His Father by finishing
the work that the Father gave Him to do. When He said in John
chapter 19 verse 30, It is finished My salvation was finished. If you're a believer. Your salvation. Was finished. There isn't anything
for you to do. Any preaching. That leaves any
of that work. Unfinished. And calls upon you
to do something. To finish it. is the message
of a false prophet. That's what a false prophet does.
He gives you something to do to finish the work. He places the burden of salvation
on you for you to do something and thus not look to Christ alone
as everything in your salvation. And that's what a false prophet
is about. He's going to make you think there's something you
need to do to contribute in your salvation. And once he's got
you there, you're not looking to Christ. You're looking to
something you do. That is the agenda of a false
prophet. Does he know he's a false prophet?
I doubt it. He thinks he's serving God. You
know, false prophets, this is what they're about. Well, we're
into church growth. We're into speaking to our culture. Anytime I hear a preacher use
the word culture, I want to pull my hair out because the gospel
is not cultural. I know this guy's gone to seminary.
If you want to screw somebody up, send them to seminary. We're
trying to be relevant to the culture, and we're into church
growth, and we're into all these kinds of things. Write it down.
Even false prophets. The true prophet seeks God's
glory, seeks the glory and honor of Christ. And let me say this
about a false prophet. I've already said this. He is
inspired by covetousness. That's what's behind coveting
men's praise, men's possessions, men's honor and applause. He's
dominated by covetousness. Let me tell you what a true prophet
is dominated by. the fear of God. That's it. I am afraid to misrepresent the
Lord. I become more anxious about that
the older I get. I am afraid. I come into this
pulpit, whether it's seen or not, I come into this pulpit,
like Paul did, with weakness and fear and much trembling,
conscious of my own weakness, fearful of misrepresenting God. Paul said, woe unto me if I preach
not the gospel. Try the spirits. Test the spirits. Now you've been given a way that
you can know if a man is preaching the truth or if he's a false
prophet. A true prophet confesses, this
is in his public preaching, that Christ Jesus was before he came. He came in the flesh and he did
everything he came to do. He left nothing undone in the
salvation of his people. And somebody that doesn't confess
that, publicly preach it, write it down, that man is a false
prophet. May God give us the discernment
to be able to hear and know the difference between that which
is from the Spirit of God and that which is the Spirit of Antichrist. Let's pray together. Lord, we ask in Christ's name
that you would, by your spirit, enable us to believe the gospel
and rely completely on my son, who was before he came. He came
and he did everything he came to do, and there's been nothing
left undone. Lord, how we thank you that our
salvation was accomplished before the very foundation of the world.
And Lord, give us a discerning ear that we might know the difference
between that which is from you and that which is from Antichrist. Lord, we are afraid of ourselves, and we ask that you, by invincible
and irresistible grace, will save us for Christ's sake. Take
this message and bless it for your glory and for our good.
In Christ's name we pray.