Beware of false prophets-3

⁵ 여호와는 너를 지키시는 자라 여호와께서 네 우편에서 네 그늘이 되시나니 ⁶ 낮의 해가 너를 상치 아니하며 밤의 달도 너를 해치 아니하리로다 ⁷ 여호와께서 너를 지켜 모든 환난을 면케 하시며 또 네 영혼을 지키시리로다 ⁸ 여호와께서 너의 출입을 지금부터 영원까지 지키시리로다. ⁵ The LORD is your keeper; the LORD is your shade on your right hand. ⁶ The sun shall not strike you by day, nor the moon by night. ⁷ The LORD will keep you from all evil; he will keep your life. ⁸ The LORD will keep your going out and your coming in from this time forth and forevermore. (Ps. 121:5-8)

¹⁵ 거짓 선지자들을 삼가라 양의 옷을 입고 너희에게 나아오나 속에는 노략질하는 이리라 ¹⁶ "그의 열매로 그들을 알지니 가시나무에서 포도를, 또는 엉겅퀴에서 무화과를 따겠느냐" ¹⁷ 이와 같이 좋은 나무마다 아름다운 열매를 맺고 못된 나무가 나쁜 열매를 맺나니 ¹⁸ 좋은 나무가 나쁜 열매를 맺을 수 없고 못된 나무가 아름다운 열매를 맺을 수 없느니라 ¹⁹ 아름다운 열매를 맺지 아니하는 나무마다 찍혀 불에 던지우니라 ²⁰ 이러므로 그의 열매로 그들을 알리라. ¹⁵ "Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep's clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves. ¹⁶ You will recognize them by their fruits. Are grapes gathered from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? ¹⁷ So, every healthy tree bears good fruit, but the diseased tree bears bad fruit. ¹⁸ A healthy tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a diseased tree bear good fruit. ¹⁹ Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. ²⁰ Thus you will recognize them by their fruits. (Mat 7:15-20)

FCF: We may be tempted by false teachers and prophets about Christ and His Word.

주제: 열매는 어떤 사람이 누구인지를 보여주기에 우리는 열매를 보고 거짓 선지자들을 식별해야 합니다.

Theme: Because fruits reveal what one is, we must recognize false prophets by their fruits.

Introduction: I heard of a person who so fell from grace to follow a heretical church. When she was in her twenties, she attended the church of Mormon to learn English from Mormon missionaries in Korea. She didn’t know whether the Mormon church was heretical or not. She simply went to that church to meet with American people to learn English. Later, she departed from it by discovering it was a cult. Then, she joined one of the largest charismatic churches in the world. She spoke tongues and chased after some visible signs of healing, vision, exorcism, etc. She faithfully attended the church for years. And for some reason, she left that church and attended a nearby church. Then, she was introduced to another charismatic church. The pastor and his wife performed some kind of spectacular things before people. When he shouted something to them, people fell and began to speak tongues. This lady was attracted to such things. Even after the pastor and his supposedly wife claimed to be divine, she didn’t doubt them. The pastor’s wife received a direct revelation from God. She wrote them down and gave the leaders of the church, who simply read to their people. And the pastor claimed to be the Lord on whom the Spirit of the returned Christ descended. So, this woman called him as the Lord and worshiped him accordingly. She tried to invite his family members to this heretical church. No matter how convincingly she was exhorted to leave that church, she defended her wrong faith in the cult leader. She got trapped in the danger of hell. The world in which we live is full of not only physical perils but also spiritual dangers. In the chaotic market of religions, ideologies, or philosophies, people wander to figure out what is truth, if there is any. Since the Jesus hippie movement, the doctrinal education in the church has significantly declined. Liberalism, relativism, charistmatism, individualism, postmodernism, church marketing movement, emergent church movement, cultism, satanism, self-claimed messianism, and so on, have been attacking the foundation of biblical Christianity. They attack the exclusive claim of Christ as the only Savior and Lord. They argue there should be only one absolute truth, that is, the doctrine of toleration. Ironically, they refuse to tolerate our exclusive faith in Christ alone as our Savior and Lord even though they should demand us to tolerate what they believe.

Today, modern Christians are not equipped with the truth of God. It seems inclusivism has triumphed over conversative, Bible-believing, exclusive faith in Jesus Christ. On the top of all this, secularism, materialism, consumerism, or culturalism have made invasions into the hearts of God’s people.   We must beware of the intoxicating effects of these movements against biblical faith. We must be warned the destructive consequences of these spiritual dangers are much more serious than physical ones because they may make a wider influence and determine our eternal destinies. If we fall from a ladder while working, we may be made injured, or crippled, or handicapped, or killed. But, if we fall from the ladder of God’s truth, we may lose eternal life if not restored by God’s grace. Though this is certainly true, we tend to pay attention more to safety regulations of physical ladder than to the Lord’s words concerning our spiritual safety and dangers to which we need pay attention in order to complete our journey to the Celestial City. Knowing the negative dangers and consequences of following them, the Lord Jesus strongly exhorts us to recognize false prophets by the fruits. In an implicit way, the Lord contrasts Himself with false prophets. As we listen to His teachings on the kingdom lifestyle, we must discern truth from falsehood. Instead of embracing uncritically every spiritual fad, we must test false teachers by their fruits. I can’t fully emphasize the importance of discerning false prophets because false prophets may lead our souls to eternal condemnation. We have to be serious about what the Lord’s words against false prophets in vv. 15-20. I would like to remind you of my theme: Because fruits reveal what one is, we must recognize false prophets by their fruits. So far, we have covered the first two points: 1) notice the two-facedness of false prophets and 2) notice the unconverted condition of false prophets. I will be concluding the three-part message about discerning the identity and dangers of false prophets by delving into the final point, which is…

I.         거짓 선지자들의 겉과 속이 다름을 주목하라.

Notice the two-facedness of false prophets.

II.         거짓 선지자들의 회심치 않은 상태를 주목하라.

Notice unconverted condition of false prophets.

III.         거짓  선지자들의 열매를 주목하라.

Notice the fruits of false prophets.

Notice the Lord repeats the same clause “You will recognize them by their fruits.” The “fruits” here means their teaching, character, and conduct. He wants us to examine them by their fruits. If we look at the fruits they bear day to day, we can discern what they are. First, we must recognize them by their teaching. It is no doubt false prophets bring great harm to the Christian church. They work in the name of Christianity. They teach and preach in the name of Jesus Christ. However, the contents of their teaching do not agree with the clear teachings of God’s Word. They say they honor the authority of God’s Word. They often say “Thus says the Lord.” However, they teach and preach out of their fleshly, vain imaginations. Liberal seminary professors deny the absolute authority of Scripture, the virgin birth of Jesus Christ, His vicarious atonement, His resurrection, His second coming, and so on. Even though they affirm the humanity of Christ, they deny the deity of Christ. They deny the doctrine of the holy Trinity. They deny the necessity of repentance and faith for salvation. They deny the necessity of Christian discipleship. They deny the personhood of the Holy Spirit. On the basis of their absolute reason, they pick and choose whatever they deem to be worthy of their faith. They sound rational and reasonable, but they lead people to eternal hell. It is easy to recognize them by their false doctrines.

In 2014, Christianity Today published the findings of one poll that demonstrated some self-identified evangelicals held some unorthodox views. They were at a loss on the doctrine of Trinity, with 31 percent believing that God the Father is more divine than God the Son, 27 percent that God the Son was the first creature in the creation, which is the heretical teaching of Arian and modern Arian followers are the Jehovah’s Witnesses, and 58 percent that the Holy Spirit is but a force and not a person. They had no idea on the doctrine of justification. 71 percent believe that God responds in grace to those who seek him first, and 56 percent that our works contribute to our salvation. They have no idea on salvation by grace alone, faith alone, Christ alone, and for God’s glory alone. It is all because modern churches have abandoned their sacred duty to educate their people about what to believe and why to believe according to the Bible. So, their people are wandering in the sea of spiritual markets that they are free to pick and choose whatever they feel like believing. So, it is so lamentable and pathetic. We must return to God’s Word to fight false teachers determined to destroy the church of Christ.

Sadly, there are those who sound orthodox and yet do not teach cardinal doctrines such as the centrality of the gospel, Christ, His substitutionary death, His incarnation, etc. During the first four hundred years, the early church had gone through theological controversies, fighting against heresies and nailing down the biblical teachings of our belief and practice. Studying what heterodoxy is all about is helpful in defining what orthodoxy is. In recent years, success gospellers, faith healers have propagated the prosperity gospel. They have twisted the gospel of Jesus Christ for personal gains. They deny that persecution and self-denial are essential part of being Christ’s followers. They only preach success, health, or wealth. Like OT false prophets, they declare “peace, peace” when there is no peace. Jeremiah 8:11 says: They have healed the wound of my people lightly, saying, 'Peace, peace,' when there is no peace. "그들이 딸 내 백성의 상처를 심상히 고쳐주며 말하기를 평강하다, 평강하다 하나 평강이 없도다 (Jer. 8:11). They do not preach the message of heartfelt repentance and committed Christian living.

Let me give some of their false teachings. 사탄은 십자가에서 예수를 이겼다. “Satan conquered Jesus on the Cross” (Kenneth Copeland); 여러분은 모리스 셀루로를 보고 있는 것이 아닙니다. 여러분은 하나님을 보고 있는 것입니다. 여러분은 예수님을 보고 있는 것입니다. “You’re not looking at Morris Cercullo-you’re looking at God. You’re looking at Jesus” (Morris Cerullo); 주님께 나와서 “주님의 뜻대로 되길 원하나이다”라고 결코 말하면 안됩니다. 그와 같이 믿음을 죽이는 말은 결코 여러분의 입밖으로 나오게 하지 마세요.  “Never, ever, ever go to the Lord and say, ‘If it be thy will….’ Don’t allow such faith-destroying words to be spoken from your mouth” (Benny Hinn); 하나님은 인간을 위해서 이 땅에서 일하시기 위해 허락을 받으셔야만 한다. 그렇다. 여러분이 통제권을 쥐고 있다. 누가 더 이상 통제권을 쥐고 있지 않다고요. 하나님. “God has to be given permission to work in this earth realm on behalf of man….Yes! You are in control! So, if man has control, who no longer has it? God” (Frederick K. C. Price); 인간은 하나님과 동등한 존재로 지음을 받았다. 그는 하나님 앞에서 전혀 낮은 존재라고 의식 없이도 설 수 있는 것이다. “Man was created on terms with equality with God, and he could stand in God’s presence without any consciousness of inferiority” (Kenneth E. Hagin); 필요한 것은 여러분의 신성을 인정하는 것입니다. 여러분도 믿음의 힘을 사용할 수 있습니다. 다시는 “주님의 뜻대로 되길 원하나이다”라고 기도하지 마세요. 여러분의 말은 하나님의 명령이 됩니다. 여러분의 말을 사용하여 믿음의 힘을 풀어내므로 여러분이 원하는 것이 무엇이든 존재하도록 말할 수 있습니다. “All it takes is to recognize your own divinity. You too can harness the force of faith. Never again will you have to pray, “Thy will be done.” Rather, your Word is God’s command. By using your tongue to release the force of faith, you can speak whatsoever you desire into existence. Then you can live happily ever after on this planet of prosperity.”

Hank Hanegraaff indicts prosperity preachers of their false teachings. He deplores a horrible condition of Christianity as follows: “믿음 운동”이라 칭하는 그룹에 속한 선생들은 성경의 참된 그리스도와 믿음을 병든 대용물로 빠르게 바꾸고 있습니다. 이러한 암은 패스트 푸드 기독교라는 음식을 지속적으로 먹음에서 비롯된 것입니다. 이러한 기독교는 겉으론 보기엔 괜찮은데 내용이 없습니다. 이러한 암 유발 식단을 제공하는 자들은 방송의 힘을 사용하거나 아름답게 포장된 책자와 테이프를 사용하여 그들의 먹이감을 잡으려 유혹하고 있습니다. 이들은 의심하지 않는 순진한 자들을 주님이 아닌 주님이 베푸신 것들을 사랑하라고 유도합니다.  “The true Christ and the true faith of the Bible are being replaced rapidly with diseased substitutes offered by a group of teachers who belong to what has been labeled the “Faith movement.” This cancer has been triggered by a steady diet of “fast-food Christianity”-a Christianity long on looks but short on substance. The dispensers of this carcinogenic diet have utilized the power of the airwave, as well as a plethora of pleasantly packaged books and tapes, to lure their prey to dinner. The unsuspecting have been called not to love the Master, but to love what is on the Master’s table.”

       Charismatic movement, church marketing movement, or emergent church movement have watered down the absolute authority and necessity of Scripture and drifted naïve Christians away from the foundation of Christian truth. They have replaced truth with experience, faith with feeling, discipleship of Christ with fandom of Christ, and His kingdom ethics with situational ethics of the world. They have deemphasized the importance of doctrinal education in the church, baselessly arguing doctrine divides the church. They have created a new religion of “Me” pleasing, self-esteem, discarding the gospel of self-denial. Now, they come to church to boost their broken “ego” instead of worshiping God in spirit and truth. They give offerings to make more money by faith. They declare “healing,” “success,” “prosperity,” “wealth,” and “happiness” in the name of Christ so that a host of people shout “Amen” with all enthusiasm, which they mistake for faith. Their eyes are fixed on success on earth, not on Christ and His eternal kingdom. They use Christ for their prosperity instead of worshiping Him or following Him unto death. So, they have invented a Christianity of success. Some of their leaders treat the church as a mere business. They have their own private jets in the name of world evangelism. They claim they deserve to have them because God has blessed them. They have removed suffering for Christ from their daily living. They only preach Christ for their own happiness. They have placed their freedom and success in the place of Christ. They claim they are free to do anything in the power of Jesus. But, this is not a Christianity of the Bible. It is a form of paganistic idolatry that leads people to perdition. They have made up the prosperity gospel out of their greed, which is a form of mammon worship. It is like Baal worship in the OT, that is, fertility worship, which has nothing to do with Christianity of love and sacrifice in Christ.    

We have to pay attention to what the apostles say: 그러나 민간에 또한 거짓 선지자들이 일어났었나니 이와 같이 너희 중에도 거짓 선생들이 있으리라 저희는 멸망케 할 이단을 가만히 끌어들여 자기들을 사신 주를 부인하고 임박한 멸망을 스스로 취하는 자들이라 ² 여럿이 저희 호색하는 것을 좇으리니 이로 인하여 진리의 도가 훼방을 받을 것이요 ³ 저희가 탐심을 인하여 지은 말을 가지고 너희로 이를 삼으니 저희 심판은 옛적부터 지체하지 아니하며 저희 멸망은 자지 아니하느니라. But false prophets also arose among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you, who will secretly bring in destructive heresies, even denying the Master who bought them, bringing upon themselves swift destruction. ² And many will follow their sensuality, and because of them the way of truth will be blasphemed. ³ And in their greed they will exploit you with false words. Their condemnation from long ago is not idle, and their destruction is not asleep (2Pe 2:1-3); 또한 너희 중에서도 제자들을 끌어 자기를 좇게 하려고 어그러진 말을 하는 사람들이 일어날 줄을 내가 아노니 ³¹ 그러므로 너희가 일깨어 내가 삼 년이나 밤낮 쉬지 않고 눈물로 각 사람을 훈계하던 것을 기억하라 ³² 지금 내가 너희를 주와 및 그 은혜의 말씀께 부탁하노니 그 말씀이 너희를 능히 든든히 세우사 거룩케 하심을 입은 모든 자 가운데 기업이 있게 하시리라. ³⁰ and from among your own selves will arise men speaking twisted things, to draw away the disciples after them. ³¹ Therefore be alert, remembering that for three years I did not cease night or day to admonish every one with tears. ³² And now I commend you to God and to the word of his grace, which is able to build you up and to give you the inheritance among all those who are sanctified (Act 20:30-32)..

Unfortunately, a lot of people, educated and uneducated, uncritically followed their false teachings because they feel peace, comfort, and a sense of acceptance and community in those secluded citadels of cultism. One of the greatest reasons they decide to belong to the cult groups is that they feel secure, accepted, and comfortable. The false teachers redefine “sin” as rebellion against their authorities and teachings. They don’t preach sin according to the Bible. In fact, “sin has become an alien concept” as David Wells says. Listen to his words: 우리는 예전의 도덕적 영역에서 떠나 심리적 세상에 살고 있습니다. 이제는 일이 옭고 그릇되냐의 문제가 아니라 편안가 불편한가의 문제가 되었다. 우리는 한때 “나는 그것을 할 수 없습니다. 그것이 잘못된 것이기 때문입니다”라고 말했었다. 그러나 이제는 “나는 그것을 할 수 없습니다. 좀 불편해서 하지 않겠습니다”로 말한다.  “We have exited the old moral realm, and we now live in a psychological world. Now things are not so much right and wrong as merely comfortable or uncomfortable. Whereas we might once have said, “No, I can’t do that because it is wrong,” we now say, “No, I wouldn’t be comfortable doing that.” The serious mistake we Christians make today is to determine our attitudes and actions on the basis of our feelings, not on the basis of biblical truths. Such a tendency has produced self-centered people, but Christ-centered disciples in the church.

Not only do their false teachings reveal what they are, but also their conduct reveals what they are. They are self-centered, seeking self-promotion. They avoid being persecuted for righteousness’s sake. They are not mournful over their sinfulness. They are not poor or pure in heart. They have no hunger for God’s righteousness. They are censorious, never forgiving. They don’t treat others in the way they want others to treat them. They don’t truly depend upon God. They trust their money, fame, power, or popularity. They disregard the virtue of Christian self-denial. They never practice the way of true discipleship: 또 무리에게 이르시되 아무든지 나를 따라 오려거든 자기를 부인하고 날마다 제 십자가를 지고 나를 좇을 것이니라.  "If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me (Lk. 9:23). They deny the necessity of the Lord’s call to true discipleship

They don’t seek to bear the fruit of the Holy Spirit. They may talk about Christian character. But their hypocrisy is obvious. They talk about love, but get absorbed in self-love. They employ some positive, comforting verses to promote selfish love and self-absorption. They take their favorite verses out of context to please their listeners instead of calling on them to imitate Christ. They practice a sinful, worldly, and materialistic lifestyle rather than God-glorifying lifestyle. They walk according to their flesh rather than the Holy Spirit. So they bear the following: 음행과 더러운 것과 호색과 ²⁰ 우상 숭배와 술수와 원수를 맺는 것과 분쟁과 시기와 분냄과 당 짓는 것과 분리함과 이단과 ²¹ 투기와 술 취함과 방탕함과 또 그와 같은 것들이라 전에 너희에게 경계한것 같이 경계하노니 이런 일을 하는 자들은 하나님의 나라를 유업으로 받지 못할 것이요. sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, ²⁰ idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, ²¹ envy, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these. I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God (Gal 5:19-21).

None of us walk in perfect harmony with our talk. We are in the process of being sanctified. We are not talking about sinless perfection. Simply, none of us are perfect. However, God’s children seek God’s grace and power to be like Christ, not like the world. John warns us against worldliness as follows: 이 세상이나 세상에 있는 것들을 사랑치 말라 누구든지 세상을 사랑하면 아버지의 사랑이 그 속에 있지 아니하니 이는 세상에 있는 모든 것이 육신의 정욕과 안목의 정욕과 이생의 자랑이니 다 아버지께로 좇아 온 것이 아니요 세상으로 좇아 온 것이라. Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world-- the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride of life-- is not from the Father but is from the world (1 Jn. 2:15-16). True disciples of Christ try to go against the sinful currents of the world. They mourn over their failure to stand firm against Satan, the world, and self. But false teachings endorse a worldly lifestyle as if they were openminded or broadminded. So, they are welcomed by the world. 

These peddlers of God’s Word are interested only in your money, not in your spiritual condition. They are secretly working among God’s people to seduce and indoctrinate them. They hide their sensuality and covetousness from their followers. But they are indeed seeking to satisfy their sensuality and greed while peddling and adulterating the word of God. They never seriously deal with the message of repentance, persecution, self-denial, forgiveness, trust, the golden rule, spiritual discernment, or sanctification. They preach not to bring people back to God, but to draw them away from God. They preach for their monetary gains and personal fame. They prophesy of their false dreams to make money. They are driven not by passion for God, but by passion for themselves. So, they never seek to build the kingdom of God, but to build their own kingdoms or empires. As seen in such cult leaders as Jim Jones, Sun-myung Moon, Man-hee Lee, and so on, they play gods over their followers.

Have you seen them holding their meetings in a large stadium, where they were wearing golden crowns like kings? They are called as the “father,” “teacher,” or “Lord.” They act like their saviors. They have absolute control over their followers. They use their false teachings as the law of their own hermit kingdoms. They do not open their churches to others. They allow access only to their members. They make their followers feel particularly chosen, a bloated sense of election of only “a few.” They brainwash their followers to trust them implicitly. Their followers are brainwashed to believe they alone will be admitted to heaven. These cult leaders, like Adam and Eve who declared their independence from God, desired to be like God, and establish their own empires, are anti-Christ. Christ emptied of Himself to the point of death for His people. He washed the feet of His disciples to show how His disciples were to serve one another and serve their neighbors. There is only one King, that is, Christ. Christ calls on His disciples to follow the narrow path of suffering, sacrifice, and service so that they can lead others to Christ the King of God’s kingdom. However, these false teachers use the power of falsehoods to spread their false teachings to build their own kingdoms. So, they are doomed to failure and destruction because they rebel against God, rejecting the gospel of salvation

Unlike them, God’s children repent of their sin and trust the Lord’s forgiveness. They are happy when they walk in obedience to God’s Word. Their chief end in life is to glorify God and enjoy Him forever. They seek not to be self-centered, but God-centered. They are gladly taking the narrow path of Christ. Like Christ, they go out into a chaotic, dark world to proclaim the good news of salvation and suffer with them in love. They are giving to the poor, weeping with those weeping, bringing a hope of Christ to those in despair. They are the builders of the kingdom of Christ, not their own kingdom builders. They are different from the false prophets living for their bellies. They have godly sorrows for their failure to live according to God’s Word. They don’t fake their looks and languages. They are authentic in their Christian character. They are denying themselves, taking up their crosses, and following Christ.

Jonathan Edwards, the greatest American theologian, says in his book “Treatise Concerning Religious Affections,” of true Christian discipleship as follows: 참된 제자로서의 성장은 단순한 흥분이 아니다. 종교적 언어를 더욱 많이 사용하는 것도 아니다. 교회를 기뻐하고 사랑하며 염려하는 것에서 분명하게 자라나는 것도 아니다. 하나님께 대한 열정과 찬양이 증가하고 자신의 믿음에 대한 확신이 참된 제자의 성장을 분명하게 증거해 주는 것은 아니다. 참된 제자도는 무엇인가? 에드워즈에 의하면 이 모든 것들이 참된 제자도의 증거가 될 수도 있지만 유일하게 관찰할 수 있는 확실한 증거는 믿는 자의 자기 부인에 뿌리를 둔 거룩함에서 자라가는 삶이다.  “(It) is not mere excitement, increasing use of religious language, or a growing knowledge of Scripture. It is not even an evident increase in joy or in love or concern for the church. Even increases in zeal and praise to God and confidence of one’s own faith are not infallible evidences of true Christian growth. What, then, is evidence of true Christian discipleship? According to Edwards, while all these things may be evidence of true Christian discipleship, the only certain observable sign of such growth in true Christian discipleship is a life of increasing holiness, rooted in Christian self-denial. We should be marked by a vital concern for this kind of increasing godliness in our lives. False teachers have no idea what true Christian discipleship is all about. So, they don’t bear the fruit of the Holy Spirit such as holiness, righteousness, godliness, or Christlikeness. Though we do not look for perfection of such qualities, denial of such qualities in life tells us a lot about false prophets.

Moses warned His people against false prophets as follows: 너희 중에 선지자나 꿈 꾸는 자가 일어나서 이적과 기사를 네게 보이고 ² 네게 말하기를 네가 본래 알지 못하던 다른 신들을 우리가 좇아 섬기자 하며 이적과 기사가 그 말대로 이룰지라도 ³ 너는 그 선지자나 꿈꾸는 자의 말을 청종하지 말라 이는 너희 하나님 여호와께서 너희가 마음을 다하고 성품을 다하여 너희 하나님 여호와를 사랑하는 여부를 알려 하사 너희를 시험하심이니라 ⁴ 너희는 너희 하나님 여호와를 순종하며 그를 경외하며 그 명령을 지키며 그 목소리를 청종하며 그를 섬기며 그에게 부종하고. "If a prophet or a dreamer of dreams arises among you and gives you a sign or a wonder, ² and the sign or wonder that he tells you comes to pass, and if he says, 'Let us go after other gods,' which you have not known, 'and let us serve them,' ³ you shall not listen to the words of that prophet or that dreamer of dreams. For the LORD your God is testing you, to know whether you love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul. ⁴ You shall walk after the LORD your God and fear him and keep his commandments and obey his voice, and you shall serve him and hold fast to him (Deut. 13:1-4). When false prophets perform wonders to get our attention and lead us to follow other gods, according to Moses, we must cling to love, and obey our Lord God with all our hearts. Loving God by obeying His Word is a key to true discipleship. Imitating Christ by practicing the presence of God is a key to true discipleship. And growing in godliness by walking with Christ is a key to true discipleship. This is the way we defeat their sugar-coated words.  

Conclusion: In 2013, the nightclub fire in 2013 well illustrates the significance of safety regulations. The fire that killed some 240 people broke out on the night of January 27 in the university town of Santa Maria during a concert in Kiss nightclub. The tragic event disclosed some unsavory truths about life in Brazil. Brazilians asked themselves many questions: "How could this have happened?", "Could it have been prevented?", "Who was responsible?", "What should be done to prevent future events of this kind?" At first there was an inclination to blame it on the culture, on what Brazilians call "jeitinho," which can be translated as the "little Brazilian way." Jeitinho describes the distinctive Brazilian way of using an array of shifty techniques to bend the rules in order to find a way around practical obstacles. In effect, Brazilians usually say to each other, "Relax, we'll find a way." From this widely held perspective, the fire wasn't just an unfortunate accident in a crowded club, it was a perfect embodiment of all that is wrong with the jeitinho approach in the modern reality. The owners of the nightclub were operating under an expired safety license, they had maxed out the capacity of the venue, the fire extinguishers were not functioning, and cheap unsafe pyrotechnic materials were allowed to be used by the band at the show. Such a fire led to 240 deaths, who were mostly university students heralding Brazil's bright future. Neglect of safety regulations triggered such a tragic event. It can happen anywhere. It happens in the spiritual realm.

Therefore, we must be careful and critical about anything related to our spiritual destinies. As we have learned today, we have to exercise spiritual discernment against the infiltration of false teachings of the world into our midst. We must not be bewitched by their outward innocence. We must see through their ravenous hearts, so that we keep following the Lord and His Word. We must not nod uncritically that they are the true people of God. They are violent wolves in the sheep’s clothing. We have to watch their fruits such as their character, conduct, and teachings in order to determine what they are and protect ourselves from their evil influences. The best way to detect their counterfeit teachings is to be armed with the true gospel of Jesus Christ. We are to walk in union with Christ whose death and resurrection are the basis of our salvation. We must keep on walking on the narrow, hard path to eternal life, overcoming the temptations of false prophets. The word of God is not boring, but satisfying our souls. We must guide our daily walk according to God’s Word, not according to culture. Let His Word shape our outlook, attitude, and conduct!

Benediction: ²⁴ 능히 너희를 보호하사 거침이 없게 하시고 너희로 그 영광 앞에 흠이 없이 즐거움으로 서게 하실자 ²⁵ 곧 우리 구주 홀로 하나이신 하나님께 우리 주 예수 그리스도로 말미암아 영광과 위엄과 권력과 권세가 만고 전부터 이제와 세세에 있을지어다 아멘. ²⁴ Now to him who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you blameless before the presence of his glory with great joy, ²⁵ to the only God, our Savior, through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty, dominion, and authority, before all time and now and forever. Amen.  (Jud 1:24-25)