Matthew 7:15‭-‬23 False Prophets

"Beware of the false prophets, who come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly are ravenous wolves.  You will know them by their fruits. Grapes are not gathered from thorn bushes nor figs from thistles, are they?  So every good tree bears good fruit, but the bad tree bears bad fruit.  A good tree cannot produce bad fruit, nor can a bad tree produce good fruit.  Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.  So then, you will know them by their fruits.   "Not everyone who says to Me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father who is in heaven will enter.  Many will say to Me on that day, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your name, and in Your name cast out demons, and in Your name perform many miracles?'  And then I will declare to them, 'I never knew you; depart from me, you who practice lawlessness.' [Matthew 7:15‭-‬23 NASB]

From the beginning of the church, there have been those who would try to gain from the gospel for their own purposes. When Philip preached in Samaria, many miracles were performed which caught the attention of Simon the magician. He eventually believed and was baptized. Then Peter and John came and laid hands on the people so that they would receive the Holy Spirit. "Now when Simon saw that the Spirit was bestowed through the laying on of the apostles’ hands, he offered them money, saying, “Give this authority to me as well, so that everyone on whom I lay my hands may receive the Holy Spirit.”" [Acts 8:18-19 NASB] He craved the power he once had, and was ready to pervert the power of the Holy Spirit into something that could be bought and sold.

The gospel is for sale in modern America.

I have listened to preachers of the so-called "prosperity doctrine". What they are promoting isn't the prosperity defined in the Bible, but they are preaching a doctrine of riches and greed (which is idolatry). 

Prosperity preachers define prosperity as financial wealth. The Bible demonstrates prosperity as succeeding in whatever God calls you to do. Is the pastor of a mega-church more spiritual than the pastor of a small local church? Is Joel Osteen more spiritual than Mother Teresa? I have never heard Osteen preach the gospel. I have, however, heard him preach about money, and especially how you will be blessed if you give your money to him. He grows wealthy at the expense of the desperate.

Prosperity preachers equate spirituality with financial gain. The more you have, the closer you are to God. Yet Jesus praised the poor widow in the temple who gave a penny - not the wealthy who gave much.

They want you to speak positive affirmations over your life, speaking health and wealth into existence. But Jesus said, "If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself, and take up his cross and follow Me." [Matthew 16:24 NASB]

False prophets are almost always skilled at speaking and manipulating. They prey on the lost of the world and on Christians who are weak in the faith. People who are desperate will latch on to anyone who tells them what they want to hear. "For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but wanting to have their ears tickled, they will accumulate for themselves teachers in accordance to their own desires, and will turn away their ears from the truth and will turn aside to myths." [2 Timothy 4:3-4 NASB]

Many who are poor think that more money will be there deliverance. When the preacher says "give to this ministry and God will double it back!" they respond. It's like buying a lotto ticket.

Those who need healing will follow the one who promises healing. But what does the Bible say? "Is anyone among you sick? Then he must call for the elders of the church and they are to pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord; and the prayer offered in faith will restore the one who is sick, and the Lord will raise him up, and if he has committed sins, they will be forgiven him." [James 5:14-15 NASB] This is what the local church body is for. This is why it is good to be involved in a church that preaches and believes the Bible, rather than chasing after "faith healers".

There are false prophets who speak in the name of Jesus and have healings and miracles as a part of their ministry. And Jesus will say to them, "I never knew you; depart from me." Don't judge a preacher based on the signs in his ministry, or on the number of his followers. Look at the fruit of his life.

The man of God should be humble, not arrogant. Many like to dress in fine robes of their office, showing themselves to be "clergy, above the common man". Those from a tradition that does not allow robes dress themselves in suits that cost more than my college education. "Reverend" is applied to anyone in full-time ministry. As a tradition, there's nothing inherently wrong with that, but there are some who insist on it. Some are "The Reverend" or "The Right Reverend" or His Holiness. They like to impress people by dropping the names of world leaders that they associate with.

Just because a preacher has thousands of followers, that doesn't mean he is being blessed by God. It may just mean that he is especially good at manipulation, and telling people what they want to hear.

The man of God will fully demonstrate the fruit of the Spirit. Don't look for signs, or numbers of followers. Before committing to a spiritual leader, judge his message. Follow the one who preaches the unadulterated gospel - Jesus Christ crucified and risen from the dead, ascended to the right hand of the Father, giving us the gift of His Holy Spirit so that we can all have the power to live in the purity and righteousness of God. The talk should be Christ-centered, and not preacher-centered.

Don't let yourself become like the false prophets. Seek the kingdom of God and His righteousness. As for myself, when I stand before the Lord, instead of "I never knew you", I want to hear "Well done, good and faithful servant. You were faithful with a few things, I will put you in charge of many things; enter into the joy of your master.’" [Matthew 25:23 NASB]