WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:04.639 After college, I had the privilege of going to Europe. 00:00:05.360 --> 00:00:11.000 While I was in Geneva with some college friends, I went with one of them to a Rolex store 00:00:11.000 --> 00:00:19.940 to purchase for her father to give to her mother for a 25th anniversary a very nice watch. 00:00:20.559 --> 00:00:25.400 The salesman took us into the store, sat us down at a table, 00:00:25.399 --> 00:00:31.399 pulled out a velvet board for us to look at these on, gave us gloves, 00:00:31.599 --> 00:00:37.619 and then we were able to look at and to handle these amazing, beautiful watches. 00:00:37.879 --> 00:00:43.459 They were beautiful. They were literally weighty, and they kept perfect time. 00:00:45.039 --> 00:00:49.200 Many years later, I had a chance to buy a Rolex for myself. 00:00:49.700 --> 00:00:54.939 It was on the streets of Asia from a street vendor, 00:00:55.399 --> 00:00:57.539 it cost me the equivalent of about $10. 00:00:58.299 --> 00:01:01.439 It, too, was beautiful, and it, too, was heavy. 00:01:02.399 --> 00:01:06.060 But within weeks of taking it home, the band had broken. 00:01:06.539 --> 00:01:07.959 It did not keep time. 00:01:08.700 --> 00:01:11.379 As you might imagine, I did not know it was a Rolex. 00:01:11.579 --> 00:01:14.259 In fact, I called it my Folex at the time. 00:01:14.260 --> 00:01:21.359 But I thought maybe, maybe it was good enough that I could walk around with a cool fake, 00:01:21.480 --> 00:01:22.760 and that would be enough. 00:01:22.960 --> 00:01:25.300 But it failed spectacularly. 00:01:26.219 --> 00:01:32.920 Can you imagine if my friend had bought a Folex thinking it was the real thing to give 00:01:32.920 --> 00:01:36.900 and spent all that money on a fake? 00:01:38.860 --> 00:01:43.560 Interestingly, the U.S. website on immigration and customs enforcement has this to say. 00:01:43.560 --> 00:01:48.820 Counterfeit products not only attack the name and value of a known business, 00:01:48.820 --> 00:01:56.320 but in many cases can cause harmful and sometimes fatal consequences for the unsuspecting buyer. 00:01:57.700 --> 00:02:02.000 How important it is to know the difference between a real and a fake. 00:02:02.000 --> 00:02:11.860 And how much more is that true in the world of spiritual truth and life? 00:02:13.400 --> 00:02:21.219 Today, many speak for God in this world and put themselves forward as spiritual leaders. 00:02:21.219 --> 00:02:27.740 And pseudo-leaders can do much harm and be spiritually fatal to those who follow them. 00:02:30.520 --> 00:02:33.039 How then do we navigate this challenge? 00:02:33.319 --> 00:02:37.719 How can we avoid becoming an unsuspecting buyer? 00:02:39.400 --> 00:02:43.039 Jesus speaks to us about this today. 00:02:43.879 --> 00:02:46.639 We're continuing in the Sermon on the Mount. 00:02:46.639 --> 00:02:49.099 This is a series we've been going through. 00:02:49.299 --> 00:02:50.879 We're in Matthew chapter 7. 00:02:51.059 --> 00:02:53.439 We're going to be in verses 15 through 20. 00:02:53.659 --> 00:02:57.899 If you're reading the Pew Bible, that's page 762. 00:02:58.439 --> 00:03:03.779 If you want to turn there, the passage will also be up on the screen when we read it in a few minutes. 00:03:04.500 --> 00:03:09.779 But Jesus, if you remember, if you haven't been here, you're visiting, let's just recap. 00:03:09.780 --> 00:03:17.240 Jesus in the Sermon on the Mount is talking about what does it look like, what does life look like in God's kingdom? 00:03:17.439 --> 00:03:20.900 What do the people who inhabit God's kingdom look like? 00:03:20.979 --> 00:03:22.319 What is their character? 00:03:22.500 --> 00:03:23.599 What is their heart? 00:03:23.879 --> 00:03:25.879 What are the dynamics when God rules? 00:03:26.360 --> 00:03:31.159 And what does a follower look like when they're following their king, Jesus? 00:03:31.159 --> 00:03:38.900 And near the end of this series, this long sermon in chapter 7, Jesus has a series of contrasts. 00:03:39.020 --> 00:03:44.379 There are two weights, two gates, two fruits, two foundations, as we'll see in the future, 00:03:44.500 --> 00:03:51.120 bringing clarity where there might be confusion about what Jesus' kingdom really is. 00:03:51.740 --> 00:03:57.280 And this week, Jesus warns us about leaders in God's kingdom. 00:03:57.280 --> 00:04:03.520 He says there are good and bad, and we must be aware of the bad, 00:04:03.640 --> 00:04:08.020 for they bear bad fruit that leads to spiritual destruction. 00:04:08.979 --> 00:04:13.599 They are to be in God's kingdom repudiated and resisted. 00:04:14.580 --> 00:04:20.379 So, let's read what Jesus has to say to us, and then we'll unpack it together for a few minutes. 00:04:21.060 --> 00:04:26.220 Matthew chapter 7, verses 15 through 20. 00:04:27.279 --> 00:04:57.259 Matthew chapter 8, verse 15. 00:04:57.279 --> 00:05:12.379 Will you pray with me? 00:05:13.279 --> 00:05:19.639 Lord Jesus, we ask this morning for your help as we hear and listen to and sit under your word. 00:05:19.639 --> 00:05:27.199 Lord, I pray that you would give me clarity of speech and thought as I proclaim your word. 00:05:27.459 --> 00:05:33.000 Lord, I pray for all of us that we would have hearts to receive your truth this morning. 00:05:33.719 --> 00:05:36.800 Lord, that you would help us through this word. 00:05:37.839 --> 00:05:42.560 Lead us into your life and your kingdom, we pray in Jesus' name. 00:05:43.240 --> 00:05:43.500 Amen. 00:05:43.500 --> 00:05:43.620 Amen. 00:05:45.379 --> 00:05:52.160 So, Jesus warns us to reject pseudo-leaders and to follow true leaders who follow Him. 00:05:53.060 --> 00:05:54.980 We're going to unpack this in three steps. 00:05:55.139 --> 00:05:56.560 This is for your outline, people. 00:05:56.879 --> 00:06:00.240 First one is what the reality of the danger of pseudo-leaders. 00:06:00.800 --> 00:06:05.680 The second one is the discernment between pseudo and true leaders. 00:06:05.680 --> 00:06:12.079 And the third point will be the source of true believers abiding in Jesus. 00:06:12.519 --> 00:06:19.780 So, the first thing that Jesus tells us, the reality of the danger of pseudo-teachers. 00:06:20.439 --> 00:06:24.980 Now, I'm using the word pseudo because it's actually what's in the original text. 00:06:25.060 --> 00:06:29.540 If you look at this, it is a pseudo-prophet that Jesus uses the word prophet here. 00:06:29.540 --> 00:06:32.460 By that simply means someone who speaks for God. 00:06:32.560 --> 00:06:34.160 And so, I'm going to use the word teacher. 00:06:34.360 --> 00:06:38.400 You could insert preacher or spiritual leader into that. 00:06:39.140 --> 00:06:43.820 But a pseudo is a fake, someone who is false, right? 00:06:44.640 --> 00:06:49.820 These are those who will come to speak from God and for God, but do not. 00:06:49.920 --> 00:06:51.480 They actually speak for themselves. 00:06:51.980 --> 00:06:57.120 They come to represent God, but they don't represent God in their character and actions. 00:06:57.120 --> 00:07:03.019 They're those who come to lead others to God, but they don't actually lead them to God. 00:07:03.100 --> 00:07:05.980 They lead them astray to other places. 00:07:06.699 --> 00:07:16.459 And we see this because Jesus says, these pseudo-teachers, pseudo-leaders are like wolves in sheep's clothing. 00:07:16.780 --> 00:07:18.439 They come and they look good. 00:07:18.680 --> 00:07:22.920 They wear a very disarming guise. 00:07:23.120 --> 00:07:25.540 They look like another one of the sheep. 00:07:25.540 --> 00:07:26.900 They look like another one of the sheep. 00:07:26.900 --> 00:07:28.640 But inwardly, they are ravenous. 00:07:29.420 --> 00:07:37.520 There is something at their core and in their heart where they are seeking not to bless, but to devour or to destroy. 00:07:38.580 --> 00:07:44.300 And sometimes it's not always a conscious, malicious effort. 00:07:44.300 --> 00:07:51.480 but sometimes they are self-deceived and therefore lead people astray, but it's a serious 00:07:51.480 --> 00:07:56.120 issue because they are, in fact, spiritually damaging. 00:07:59.620 --> 00:08:07.040 They're characterized by pride, by self-importance, by a lack of compassion and care for people. 00:08:07.620 --> 00:08:12.199 They build their own kingdoms rather than pointing people to Jesus' kingdom. 00:08:12.199 --> 00:08:18.959 And in doing so, they use people rather than serve. 00:08:20.579 --> 00:08:24.139 And like ravenous wolves, they leave death and destruction behind. 00:08:25.980 --> 00:08:31.879 So this is the warning Jesus gives us in verse 15, and it's remarkable when you start to read 00:08:31.879 --> 00:08:36.679 the breadth of Scriptures, and I'm leaving out the Old Testament, even in the New Testament, 00:08:36.679 --> 00:08:39.139 how often this is repeated. 00:08:39.139 --> 00:08:46.879 Jesus, later in His ministry in Matthew 13, has a long condemnation of the Pharisees as 00:08:46.879 --> 00:08:48.679 false teachers of their day. 00:08:49.019 --> 00:08:49.399 Why? 00:08:49.659 --> 00:08:54.439 Because they laid spiritual burdens of keeping the law but could not help them to do it. 00:08:54.939 --> 00:09:01.000 They did deeds not to serve God and to please Him, but to be seen by others so that they 00:09:01.000 --> 00:09:01.939 might be built up. 00:09:01.940 --> 00:09:07.020 Jesus says they sought for power and position through their spiritual leadership. 00:09:07.820 --> 00:09:14.600 They followed the letter of the law but ignored the heart of the law as they were presenting 00:09:14.600 --> 00:09:16.060 themselves as spiritual leaders. 00:09:16.180 --> 00:09:21.460 The Pharisees appeared good on the outside, but inside were full of greed and selfishness. 00:09:21.800 --> 00:09:25.140 They posed as spiritual without being spiritually alive. 00:09:25.139 --> 00:09:33.679 They were fundamentally hypocrites, and Jesus confronted them and said, this is the first place where 00:09:33.679 --> 00:09:34.480 we see this. 00:09:34.879 --> 00:09:39.759 It's the Pharisees, the Jewish leaders of the day, were leading people astray. 00:09:40.220 --> 00:09:41.799 And we see this most clearly. 00:09:42.019 --> 00:09:42.319 Why? 00:09:42.819 --> 00:09:45.620 Because they rejected Jesus Christ Himself. 00:09:45.620 --> 00:09:51.600 Because those who knew the Old Testament, they knew the law and the prophets, they knew the 00:09:51.600 --> 00:09:58.060 whole scope of God's work in history should have been longing for and waiting for the Messiah. 00:09:58.060 --> 00:10:05.259 And yet when He came, they rejected Him and protected themselves in their own spiritual power 00:10:05.259 --> 00:10:09.580 and their own spiritual piety and their own spiritual processes. 00:10:09.580 --> 00:10:17.420 They did not come to know the true Savior that God had sent. 00:10:17.700 --> 00:10:22.720 And Jesus says they are misguided and they are dangerous and they will lead people to destruction. 00:10:23.580 --> 00:10:25.820 And it's not just Jesus during His ministry. 00:10:26.259 --> 00:10:29.100 We see it throughout the rest of church history as well. 00:10:29.160 --> 00:10:30.879 We see it in the pages of the New Testament. 00:10:30.879 --> 00:10:40.720 So, in Acts 20, when the Apostle Paul is blessing and ordaining and leaving the elders in the church of Ephesus behind, 00:10:40.860 --> 00:10:45.759 he says, I know…this is in chapter 20, verse 29… 00:10:45.759 --> 00:10:52.139 I know that after my departure, fierce wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock. 00:10:52.139 --> 00:11:01.939 And from among your own selves will arise men speaking twisted things to draw away the disciples after them. 00:11:04.220 --> 00:11:06.240 And friends, we could keep going. 00:11:06.360 --> 00:11:11.120 We'll reference some other passages later in the epistles where we see this again and again. 00:11:11.799 --> 00:11:19.980 We read earlier this morning in 1 John chapter 4 that John warns that there will be those who will lead people astray 00:11:19.980 --> 00:11:25.379 and that we're to test our leaders to see whether they are true or not. 00:11:27.740 --> 00:11:36.940 Because false leaders lead people away from the truth of God, the person of Jesus, and the gospel. 00:11:38.080 --> 00:11:42.620 And as they do that, they produce spiritual destruction. 00:11:44.460 --> 00:11:48.620 And we, friends, need to be aware and to heed Jesus' warning. 00:11:48.620 --> 00:11:52.460 There are always those who will come and they will look good. 00:11:53.159 --> 00:11:54.779 And we need to be aware. 00:11:55.159 --> 00:11:56.340 We need to be discerning. 00:11:56.480 --> 00:11:57.440 We need to be careful. 00:11:58.179 --> 00:12:00.919 But this, of course, leads us to the question, does it not? 00:12:01.419 --> 00:12:02.519 How do we tell? 00:12:02.879 --> 00:12:04.080 How do we know? 00:12:05.299 --> 00:12:06.360 Jesus goes on. 00:12:06.399 --> 00:12:09.139 And this is what he tells us in verses 16 through 20. 00:12:09.240 --> 00:12:14.899 This is our second point where Jesus helps explain how do we discern pseudo and true leaders. 00:12:14.899 --> 00:12:21.299 And he uses a series of images, as he typically does, which are both simple, profound, and challenging. 00:12:21.539 --> 00:12:24.480 So, we're going to look into it and see how it, you know. 00:12:24.539 --> 00:12:27.939 His first one is to say, well, how do we discern? 00:12:28.120 --> 00:12:34.980 There's always a correspondence between the identity of something or the nature of something and the fruit that it produces. 00:12:34.980 --> 00:12:39.960 So, if you have a thistle plant, it's not going to make grapes. 00:12:40.879 --> 00:12:41.100 Right? 00:12:41.620 --> 00:12:43.440 He says, if you have a… 00:12:43.440 --> 00:12:43.920 I'm sorry. 00:12:44.120 --> 00:12:47.680 He says, if you have a thorn bush, it's not going to make grapes. 00:12:47.720 --> 00:12:50.700 If you have a thistle plant, it's not going to make figs. 00:12:51.300 --> 00:12:51.560 Right? 00:12:51.759 --> 00:12:54.560 You're not going to get a watermelon from an orange tree. 00:12:54.960 --> 00:12:56.659 It's just not going to happen. 00:12:57.120 --> 00:12:57.379 Right? 00:12:57.379 --> 00:12:59.279 So, the nature… 00:12:59.279 --> 00:13:02.860 He says, look at the nature of the thing and its fruit. 00:13:03.000 --> 00:13:03.779 Because if the… 00:13:03.779 --> 00:13:13.240 And then he goes on and he explains these things by saying, there's always a correspondence between the health of a plant and the fruit that it bears. 00:13:14.200 --> 00:13:14.559 Right? 00:13:14.779 --> 00:13:17.580 And so, a healthy tree produces good fruit. 00:13:17.860 --> 00:13:20.220 A diseased tree produces bad fruit. 00:13:20.399 --> 00:13:24.659 And then he says it in the opposite just to make sure that we got it right. 00:13:24.659 --> 00:13:28.939 A healthy tree can't produce bad fruit. 00:13:30.179 --> 00:13:32.579 And a diseased tree can't produce good fruit. 00:13:32.659 --> 00:13:38.059 Now, I know some of you are like botanists and are probably going, well, that's not really… 00:13:38.059 --> 00:13:39.719 No, it's a lot more complicated than that. 00:13:40.159 --> 00:13:42.459 Jesus is using an image to make a point. 00:13:42.879 --> 00:13:45.219 So, let the point stand. 00:13:45.579 --> 00:13:45.759 Right? 00:13:46.980 --> 00:13:53.039 What is at the core of the tree, whether it's healthy or not, can be seen by the fruit. 00:13:53.039 --> 00:14:01.579 The nature of the tree, whether it's a thistle or a thorn or an orange tree, will be seen by its fruit. 00:14:02.339 --> 00:14:02.599 Right? 00:14:03.259 --> 00:14:04.879 So, this is his point. 00:14:05.679 --> 00:14:06.799 Look at the fruit. 00:14:07.139 --> 00:14:08.879 He even says it twice in this. 00:14:09.360 --> 00:14:11.159 You will know them by their fruits. 00:14:12.279 --> 00:14:15.299 This, of course, leads to our next question, doesn't it? 00:14:15.839 --> 00:14:18.959 Well, what are the fruit that we're supposed to be looking for? 00:14:19.179 --> 00:14:20.419 How do we know? 00:14:20.679 --> 00:14:22.279 What are we discerning in that? 00:14:22.279 --> 00:14:24.039 Well, I think that… 00:14:24.039 --> 00:14:24.620 It's fascinating. 00:14:24.819 --> 00:14:27.500 Commentators have all sorts of discussions about it. 00:14:27.539 --> 00:14:27.919 It's this. 00:14:28.000 --> 00:14:28.379 It's that. 00:14:28.659 --> 00:14:31.639 And I actually think that they're all partly right. 00:14:31.779 --> 00:14:34.559 And the ones who have the broadest view are all right. 00:14:34.759 --> 00:14:38.839 Because I think the image of fruit in Scripture is actually pretty broad. 00:14:39.240 --> 00:14:43.740 And I'm going to try to summarize it in three different aspects of what kind of fruit are we looking in. 00:14:43.980 --> 00:14:45.279 One is their doctrine. 00:14:45.480 --> 00:14:46.500 What do they teach? 00:14:46.500 --> 00:14:48.940 Do they teach truth according to the Scriptures? 00:14:49.259 --> 00:14:53.960 Or do they teach beyond or less than the Scriptures themselves? 00:14:54.440 --> 00:14:56.720 The second thing is character of life. 00:14:57.240 --> 00:14:58.740 Who are they in their person? 00:14:58.840 --> 00:15:00.840 And how do they live in their relationships? 00:15:01.519 --> 00:15:05.080 And even in their private life, in their hearts. 00:15:05.379 --> 00:15:07.639 And the third thing is their ministry results. 00:15:07.720 --> 00:15:09.600 And I'll explain that when we get to that. 00:15:09.600 --> 00:15:14.200 So, first, let's think about doctrine for a minute. 00:15:14.840 --> 00:15:17.480 Does their teaching match the truth of Scripture? 00:15:18.460 --> 00:15:30.240 Throughout the history of the church, the church has gone astray when people have either added to what the Scriptures say to make it say more than it actually does. 00:15:30.240 --> 00:15:39.560 Or when they've, like Thomas Jefferson and a couple other people, taken their scissors and just cut out the parts they don't like and just eliminate those. 00:15:39.759 --> 00:15:44.539 And they've created their own new Bible with their own framework. 00:15:46.500 --> 00:15:51.159 So, in the book of Galatians, the Apostle Paul warns, 00:15:51.159 --> 00:15:56.339 There are some who trouble you and want to distort the gospel of Christ. 00:15:57.319 --> 00:16:04.259 But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach to you a gospel contrary to the one we preach to you, let him be a curse. 00:16:05.419 --> 00:16:08.199 In the church of Galatia, there is those who had come and said, 00:16:08.639 --> 00:16:12.879 Yes, the gospel is a gospel of grace through faith in Jesus, but you also have to keep the law. 00:16:13.279 --> 00:16:17.679 And you have to keep doing all the law, and that's how you are good with God. 00:16:17.679 --> 00:16:21.819 And Paul said, That's not the free gospel of grace. 00:16:22.559 --> 00:16:27.099 That is not saved by faith through grace alone, not from work so that no one may boast. 00:16:29.879 --> 00:16:40.620 So, we see there that people were adding on to the law, or adding on to what the Scripture said in order, in their false teaching. 00:16:41.639 --> 00:16:46.139 Then, 2 Timothy, Paul warns again the church in Ephesus. 00:16:46.139 --> 00:16:46.759 He says this, 00:16:46.759 --> 00:16:51.460 For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears. 00:16:51.559 --> 00:16:55.759 They will accumulate for themselves teachers who suit their own passions, 00:16:56.080 --> 00:17:01.360 and will turn away from listening to the truth, and wander off into myths. 00:17:02.819 --> 00:17:06.879 Friends, how much do we see this in our world today? 00:17:06.880 --> 00:17:17.560 How tempting is it for those who stand in a place like this to preach God's Word to please the spirit of the age, 00:17:17.560 --> 00:17:25.360 to accommodate the values of the world around us so that people will want to come to church, want to be a part of this. 00:17:25.359 --> 00:17:37.039 And so, the temptation is to distort the truth of Scripture so that people will be happy with what we say. 00:17:37.039 --> 00:17:42.720 And some of that may be eliminating things, and some of that may be adding things, 00:17:42.799 --> 00:17:47.940 like wandering off into myths, speculative statements about this or that. 00:17:48.940 --> 00:17:57.920 Let me just pick on a few that in our world today, it's tempting for people. 00:17:58.539 --> 00:18:01.579 Is Jesus really the only way to God? 00:18:01.579 --> 00:18:05.179 I mean, that's pretty arrogant, isn't it? 00:18:07.759 --> 00:18:11.279 Can He really be so limiting and so narrow? 00:18:12.839 --> 00:18:18.899 And so, people teach, you know, Jesus is a great way to God, but God's bigger than that. 00:18:19.199 --> 00:18:20.939 He'll accept you however you come. 00:18:21.679 --> 00:18:25.119 How often is that the form of teaching in some churches? 00:18:26.179 --> 00:18:28.220 Or, let me just run through others. 00:18:28.220 --> 00:18:33.559 The Bible is merely a human, fallible work, not reliable as God's Word. 00:18:34.019 --> 00:18:39.140 Or, the God who rules over the universe is a God of process just like us. 00:18:39.180 --> 00:18:40.259 He's along for the ride. 00:18:40.319 --> 00:18:41.799 He doesn't know what's going to happen either. 00:18:41.900 --> 00:18:43.120 Let's figure it out together. 00:18:43.500 --> 00:18:46.360 What a great journey God has invited us on with Him. 00:18:46.359 --> 00:19:03.740 Or, God can't clearly be saying that greed is a bad thing or that He would limit our sexual activity in the world. 00:19:04.219 --> 00:19:09.159 He doesn't really want to speak to our money or our sex lives in that way, does He? 00:19:09.419 --> 00:19:11.299 Like, isn't He a God of love? 00:19:11.399 --> 00:19:13.000 Doesn't He want to let us do what we want? 00:19:13.000 --> 00:19:21.740 So, we see that there's so many ways in which a tempted, the temptation is there. 00:19:21.960 --> 00:19:34.839 And there are many churches and many voices in the world that would say exactly these things and ask these questions and present God differently than what the Scriptures say. 00:19:34.839 --> 00:19:38.019 One more example about false teaching. 00:19:38.579 --> 00:19:40.839 In Matthew 24, Jesus warns us, 00:19:41.839 --> 00:19:46.279 Then if anyone says to you, look, here's the Christ, or there He is, do not believe it. 00:19:46.339 --> 00:19:55.319 For false prophets will arise and perform great signs and wonders and will lead so as to lead astray, if possible, even the elect. 00:19:55.720 --> 00:19:59.240 And the idea here is that there will be those who will come and they will say, 00:19:59.240 --> 00:20:03.660 I am the Savior and I can tell you the way to get to Jesus. 00:20:03.819 --> 00:20:04.720 Look, there He is. 00:20:04.900 --> 00:20:07.140 And I'm the conduit for you to get to Him. 00:20:07.480 --> 00:20:10.519 And I'm going to come with great signs and powers. 00:20:12.579 --> 00:20:22.440 Friends, if you're ever wanting to do a deep dive, go read Jonathan Edwards' surprising narrative of the work of God or the religious affections 00:20:22.440 --> 00:20:33.860 to see a sane, robust evaluation of the great awakening in its strengths and weaknesses and what is truly a work of God and not. 00:20:34.180 --> 00:20:35.080 It's a great work. 00:20:35.240 --> 00:20:36.600 It's a great reading for you. 00:20:36.600 --> 00:20:44.380 But recognize that those who have impressive ministry displays, who present themselves as having special knowledge, 00:20:44.380 --> 00:20:50.860 ultimately are putting themselves in the center of their ministry, 00:20:51.480 --> 00:21:00.580 and they're making their particular gifts and particular words of truth and knowledge the center of it. 00:21:01.220 --> 00:21:03.620 And friends, this is so dangerous. 00:21:06.620 --> 00:21:08.440 Because it leads us astray. 00:21:08.440 --> 00:21:14.720 Because the Scriptures regularly testify that it's all about Jesus. 00:21:15.160 --> 00:21:16.779 He is always the focus. 00:21:16.920 --> 00:21:18.140 He is always the head. 00:21:20.400 --> 00:21:26.279 And when we teach false doctrine, inevitably it leads us away from Him and not towards Him. 00:21:26.920 --> 00:21:29.100 And it has serious consequences. 00:21:30.940 --> 00:21:36.860 Secondly, we need to look at the fruit of their actions, their character. 00:21:36.860 --> 00:21:38.360 What does this look like? 00:21:38.840 --> 00:21:40.759 Well, friends, we've been spending a long time. 00:21:40.820 --> 00:21:46.759 You can go back and listen to sermons going back to August of last year when we started preaching on the Beatitudes. 00:21:47.000 --> 00:21:50.039 To think, what are we looking for in the character of leaders? 00:21:50.740 --> 00:21:51.019 Right? 00:21:51.539 --> 00:21:52.380 Poor in spirit. 00:21:52.620 --> 00:21:53.080 Mournful. 00:21:53.240 --> 00:21:53.519 Meek. 00:21:53.640 --> 00:21:54.500 Hungry for righteousness. 00:21:54.779 --> 00:21:55.160 Merciful. 00:21:55.320 --> 00:21:55.860 Pure in heart. 00:21:56.039 --> 00:21:56.519 Peacemaking. 00:21:57.100 --> 00:21:59.100 Persevering in opposition. 00:21:59.660 --> 00:22:01.840 As Jesus has gone along in the Sermon on the Mount, 00:22:01.840 --> 00:22:07.840 heart attitudes of pursuing purity of heart, of our eyes, of our bodies, sexually honoring the institution of marriage, 00:22:08.440 --> 00:22:12.600 seeking reconciliation rather than anger and strife. 00:22:12.820 --> 00:22:16.640 Going the second mile to bless your enemies and to love them. 00:22:16.640 --> 00:22:19.200 As it goes on, it then says, 00:22:19.200 --> 00:22:23.519 they should be people who have personal practices of spiritual disciplines, 00:22:23.519 --> 00:22:27.759 that they engage with their loving Heavenly Father in generous giving, 00:22:28.340 --> 00:22:31.799 in persistent prayer, in fasting, 00:22:31.799 --> 00:22:34.380 so that their hearts would be right with God, 00:22:34.519 --> 00:22:39.900 so that they might know the blessing of knowing the Heavenly Father who has served them. 00:22:39.900 --> 00:22:44.380 So that's a good place to start, right? 00:22:44.940 --> 00:22:46.920 Here's a second place you can go from there. 00:22:47.000 --> 00:22:48.440 Go to Galatians 5, 00:22:48.860 --> 00:22:54.140 because there Paul talks about the fruit of the Spirit at work in believers, 00:22:54.620 --> 00:22:59.400 and the fruit that we should look for should not be there in those. 00:22:59.400 --> 00:23:02.460 So in Galatians 5, 19, he says this, 00:23:02.460 --> 00:23:05.220 now the works of the flesh, that is our sinful nature, 00:23:05.780 --> 00:23:12.720 are evident, sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, 00:23:13.240 --> 00:23:19.180 jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, envy, drunkenness, orgies, 00:23:19.480 --> 00:23:21.660 and things like these. 00:23:21.660 --> 00:23:29.540 So that's a list of these should not characterize leaders who are following Christ. 00:23:29.660 --> 00:23:32.940 This is what a pseudo-leader may have in their heart. 00:23:33.440 --> 00:23:34.400 And then he goes on, he says, 00:23:34.519 --> 00:23:39.460 but the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, 00:23:39.980 --> 00:23:41.960 faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. 00:23:42.279 --> 00:23:44.740 Against such things there is no law. 00:23:46.800 --> 00:23:50.340 So friends, this is what we should look for in our leaders. 00:23:50.339 --> 00:23:52.019 Character. 00:23:53.500 --> 00:23:55.720 Spiritual leaders should do this. 00:23:56.199 --> 00:24:04.099 You all know that, you know, three classic pitfalls for spiritual leaders are money, sex, and power. 00:24:05.259 --> 00:24:13.959 Are we…do you see your leaders being careful to pursue God in the way that they interact with these areas of life? 00:24:13.960 --> 00:24:20.380 Are they careful, accountable, humble, self-sacrificial? 00:24:21.500 --> 00:24:25.079 Do they show a real love for others or do they use others? 00:24:25.200 --> 00:24:29.720 Do they deny themselves or do they promote themselves? 00:24:29.720 --> 00:24:39.100 Selfishness is in some ways the root of so much of false teaching and false teachers. 00:24:40.420 --> 00:24:46.059 They're in ministry ultimately for themselves, not to serve others. 00:24:46.059 --> 00:24:52.980 And thirdly, briefly, the fruit of their followers. 00:24:53.419 --> 00:24:55.619 What is it look…what is their ministry results? 00:24:55.980 --> 00:24:59.740 We can see people who have massive crowds following them. 00:24:59.980 --> 00:25:03.099 Now remember, go back to Pastor Nick's sermon from last week. 00:25:03.639 --> 00:25:05.799 The way is broad that leads to destruction. 00:25:06.139 --> 00:25:08.139 The way is narrow that leads to life. 00:25:08.140 --> 00:25:16.520 We should not be surprised that there may be very popular people in the world who are not true teachers, but who are these false teachers. 00:25:16.780 --> 00:25:21.460 Because we know that people will follow them because they're making an easy path. 00:25:22.720 --> 00:25:24.940 But it doesn't lead to life in Jesus. 00:25:26.520 --> 00:25:32.780 We also know that leaders can be seen to a large extent. 00:25:32.860 --> 00:25:37.720 I want to be a little careful with this, but can be seen by the fruit of what are their people like? 00:25:38.460 --> 00:25:41.759 What are the people who follow these people like? 00:25:42.120 --> 00:25:43.720 What are they known for? 00:25:45.920 --> 00:25:47.400 I'm going to pick on one guy. 00:25:48.740 --> 00:25:54.120 Mark Driscoll was a man that God used, it seemed, for many years. 00:25:54.740 --> 00:25:57.740 And I think, and I want to just say this, and I think God did use him. 00:25:57.820 --> 00:26:06.040 I think that by God's grace, despite the man's ultimate character and heart that has disqualified him, in my opinion, from ministry, 00:26:06.039 --> 00:26:09.399 God did use him. 00:26:09.519 --> 00:26:17.519 But in the end, right, how many people who followed him showed evidence of being like him? 00:26:18.519 --> 00:26:19.899 They abused power. 00:26:20.200 --> 00:26:22.000 They didn't show themselves accountable. 00:26:22.480 --> 00:26:25.240 They were careless in their love for other people. 00:26:25.240 --> 00:26:34.700 They were not, they didn't show humility, but instead a pride and even an arrogance or an attacking spirit at times. 00:26:36.099 --> 00:26:39.539 Now, again, I want to be really careful because it's messier than that, 00:26:39.660 --> 00:26:43.680 and we'll get to the messiness in just a few minutes about how do we navigate that. 00:26:43.680 --> 00:26:49.060 But what does the followers of a particular spiritual leader look like? 00:26:50.000 --> 00:26:52.519 Do they hold the truth with grace? 00:26:54.180 --> 00:27:00.779 Do they know the fundamental, do they exhibit the fundamental characteristics of one who knows the gospel? 00:27:02.080 --> 00:27:03.100 I am a sinner. 00:27:03.460 --> 00:27:05.460 I don't deserve anything from God. 00:27:05.460 --> 00:27:15.120 God has so graciously loved me in Christ and saved me and rescued me from myself and my self-destructive habits. 00:27:15.559 --> 00:27:17.880 I need other people in my life. 00:27:18.220 --> 00:27:22.200 I know that I, even in my ministry, it is not me. 00:27:22.440 --> 00:27:24.279 I need to be John the Baptist. 00:27:24.840 --> 00:27:25.759 He must increase. 00:27:25.940 --> 00:27:29.200 Jesus must increase in our law, and I must decrease. 00:27:29.200 --> 00:27:33.240 These are the things that you look for. 00:27:34.259 --> 00:27:37.259 The gospel that says, this is all of grace. 00:27:37.360 --> 00:27:38.259 It's not about me. 00:27:38.319 --> 00:27:45.299 It's about God and what God has done for us and what God is doing in us and what God will do at the end of the day. 00:27:48.900 --> 00:27:51.960 And friends, we can look for that. 00:27:51.960 --> 00:27:59.980 The aroma of the gospel, the feel of the gospel, the nature of the gospel in the hearts of those who follow. 00:28:00.400 --> 00:28:06.180 And note that you see in verse 19, right, that the consequences really are dire. 00:28:06.960 --> 00:28:07.920 There are two ways. 00:28:08.340 --> 00:28:13.480 A bad tree that bears bad fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire. 00:28:13.759 --> 00:28:19.120 And this is actually the final way that we know, because our judgments may not be perfect. 00:28:19.119 --> 00:28:23.819 Our judgments may be fallible as we seek to evaluate leaders. 00:28:24.179 --> 00:28:29.219 But in the end, we know that God will judge them rightly. 00:28:29.839 --> 00:28:43.419 And those who are bad trees will face destruction because they have not lived out a life of regenerate, faithful, following Jesus. 00:28:43.420 --> 00:28:49.279 They have built their own kingdom rather than serving in the kingdom of Jesus. 00:28:50.840 --> 00:28:53.460 And there will be a final judgment. 00:28:54.100 --> 00:28:59.700 And they will be found to be those who face condemnation, not welcome. 00:29:01.779 --> 00:29:02.259 Okay. 00:29:02.720 --> 00:29:06.960 So now we need to talk for a few minutes about just the messiness of this, right? 00:29:06.960 --> 00:29:13.079 Because, look, the church has failed this in many ways, right? 00:29:14.420 --> 00:29:17.380 And Jesus isn't surprised by this because he told us, beware of this. 00:29:17.420 --> 00:29:18.360 This is what's going to happen. 00:29:18.559 --> 00:29:22.640 You know, in the parable of the wheat and the tares says, this will continue all the way till the end. 00:29:23.100 --> 00:29:25.079 This is always going to be a challenge. 00:29:25.539 --> 00:29:34.079 Having said that, we need to acknowledge the church has failed to hold fast to unpopular doctrines throughout history. 00:29:34.079 --> 00:29:38.619 It has bent its knee to the world around us. 00:29:39.079 --> 00:29:50.139 The church has also failed to properly hold its pastors and leaders accountable when hidden sins have been revealed. 00:29:51.899 --> 00:29:58.519 The church has failed at many times to hold to gracious orthodoxy. 00:29:58.519 --> 00:30:05.940 The church has failed to find gospel unity, charity, and clarity. 00:30:07.079 --> 00:30:08.379 And why is this? 00:30:09.279 --> 00:30:14.220 So, Pastor, I think we fall off on one side or the other, right? 00:30:14.400 --> 00:30:20.400 Some of us fall into the danger that Jesus actually warned us about just a little bit of a while ago at the beginning of chapter 7, 00:30:20.519 --> 00:30:22.559 where he says, don't judge one another, right? 00:30:22.859 --> 00:30:26.160 I'm going to call this the scrutiny frame. 00:30:26.160 --> 00:30:32.519 There are some of us who scrutinize our leaders, every leader, with a sense of mistrust. 00:30:33.200 --> 00:30:38.759 We delight to become the heresy police and the champions of cancel culture within the church. 00:30:39.080 --> 00:30:42.660 We want to make quick judgments, and we have a condemning spirit. 00:30:44.200 --> 00:30:47.960 This is a danger that is in our hearts that we need to be careful of. 00:30:48.400 --> 00:30:52.880 We need to ask ourselves, in our disagreements, are we still being humble and meek? 00:30:52.880 --> 00:31:01.760 In our discernments, are we being gracious to read people rightly and not to allow straw men and overreactions? 00:31:02.340 --> 00:31:08.900 In our opposition to pseudo-teachers, are we still treating them with dignity, even as we oppose them strongly? 00:31:09.660 --> 00:31:17.340 In our strength of conviction, do we still have grace for those who follow them, seeing their need? 00:31:17.339 --> 00:31:24.579 So, one of the dangers is that we become this hypercritical place. 00:31:25.480 --> 00:31:30.740 And I think in our world of being, our polarized world today, I think this is a real danger. 00:31:31.539 --> 00:31:39.299 But I also think that there is a grave danger, and this is actually the one I think Jesus is more weighing in on for this passage, 00:31:39.299 --> 00:31:48.599 is that we are not as discerning as we ought to be as a church, that we love to idolize people and find things that seem good to us 00:31:48.599 --> 00:31:51.680 without really testing them according to the Scriptures. 00:31:51.919 --> 00:31:58.779 We give these people unthinking devotion and trust without really examining it. 00:32:00.119 --> 00:32:02.139 And Jesus says we need to be careful. 00:32:02.140 --> 00:32:09.759 We need to think carefully about what we hear and what we see and what we fill our minds with. 00:32:10.259 --> 00:32:15.560 We need to evaluate according to the Scriptures those who lead us. 00:32:16.140 --> 00:32:22.120 And that's not only in this church, but it's also in your media intake, in the books that you read, 00:32:22.120 --> 00:32:26.960 in your broader intake of spiritual input into your life. 00:32:26.960 --> 00:32:34.500 Jesus says we need to draw lines at time and to confront falsehood and evil. 00:32:40.200 --> 00:32:41.740 I will just say this. 00:32:41.900 --> 00:32:47.940 One of the things we do here is as elders, we evaluate the praise music that we sing, right? 00:32:48.100 --> 00:32:51.299 And we're careful to make sure that they're doctrinally sound. 00:32:51.299 --> 00:32:57.000 We've wrestled as an eldership because some of the places, some of the sources of that music 00:32:57.000 --> 00:33:02.019 come from places where those are churches that we wouldn't fully agree with their doctrine. 00:33:02.019 --> 00:33:05.500 Or we might even say that's a false doctrine. 00:33:05.819 --> 00:33:08.079 They're producing music that we read. 00:33:08.559 --> 00:33:11.659 And so we've wrestled with should we use that music or not? 00:33:11.879 --> 00:33:15.159 We do because we think that God can graciously use it. 00:33:15.339 --> 00:33:19.240 But we don't want you to go to Elevation Church for your doctrine 00:33:19.240 --> 00:33:21.400 or to Bethel Church for your doctrine. 00:33:22.660 --> 00:33:25.019 So just so you know, that's out there. 00:33:25.380 --> 00:33:26.759 You can talk to us later about it. 00:33:26.759 --> 00:33:34.720 But we need to be filtering through our reading, the music we listen to, 00:33:35.120 --> 00:33:39.099 the people we watch on YouTube, the podcasts we listen to, 00:33:39.640 --> 00:33:43.160 the tribes that we gravitate towards. 00:33:43.839 --> 00:33:48.960 We need to continue to let the Scriptures refine all of these things. 00:33:49.240 --> 00:33:55.000 And may God have mercy on us that we might have discernment in this. 00:33:56.799 --> 00:33:58.880 So how do we have this discernment? 00:33:59.140 --> 00:34:00.440 What does it look like? 00:34:00.779 --> 00:34:01.960 How do we really… 00:34:01.960 --> 00:34:02.579 Because it… 00:34:02.579 --> 00:34:05.120 Listen, I stand up here to you this morning, 00:34:05.180 --> 00:34:07.279 and I know that I'm not perfect. 00:34:08.019 --> 00:34:12.519 I know, one, that I still have sin in my heart, 00:34:12.579 --> 00:34:15.320 and I still live that sin out at times. 00:34:15.800 --> 00:34:17.500 So my heart is not perfect. 00:34:18.360 --> 00:34:20.600 And I pray that my doctrine would be clear, 00:34:21.340 --> 00:34:24.519 but I know that I may not be completely right on everything. 00:34:26.580 --> 00:34:29.000 So how do we evaluate this? 00:34:29.160 --> 00:34:33.019 How do we respond to Jesus' warning here well? 00:34:33.880 --> 00:34:35.440 And I've been wrestling with this, 00:34:35.559 --> 00:34:37.400 and I think that… 00:34:37.400 --> 00:34:38.440 And this is my third point. 00:34:38.519 --> 00:34:39.260 We'll close with this. 00:34:39.260 --> 00:34:43.160 The source of true leaders is those who abide in Christ. 00:34:43.740 --> 00:34:46.220 That's a very simple and a very challenging thing. 00:34:46.320 --> 00:34:52.160 But the reason why I say this is because Jesus Himself used a similar image 00:34:52.160 --> 00:34:55.820 in John chapter 15, where He says, 00:34:56.220 --> 00:34:57.800 Abide in Me, and I in you. 00:34:57.900 --> 00:35:00.620 As a branch cannot bear fruit by itself, 00:35:01.000 --> 00:35:02.580 unless it abides in the vine, 00:35:02.840 --> 00:35:06.040 neither can you unless you abide in Me. 00:35:06.039 --> 00:35:12.099 So if you want to look for a leader who's going to bear good fruit, 00:35:12.759 --> 00:35:14.739 does he abide in Christ? 00:35:15.239 --> 00:35:22.400 Does he have a vital, life-giving, spiritual relationship with Jesus our Savior? 00:35:22.880 --> 00:35:26.480 Is he like the branch that's been grafted into the tree 00:35:26.480 --> 00:35:30.239 and now draws all of its nutrients and all of its power 00:35:30.239 --> 00:35:35.439 to produce the leaves and the fruit that it comes from Jesus Himself? 00:35:36.719 --> 00:35:39.459 This is where we can look. 00:35:40.439 --> 00:35:41.899 And this is the framework. 00:35:42.019 --> 00:35:43.259 Because here's the thing. 00:35:43.339 --> 00:35:46.019 The only leaders that don't become pseudo-leaders 00:35:46.019 --> 00:35:49.279 are those who have been joined with Christ 00:35:49.279 --> 00:35:52.619 and are transformed by Christ from their sin 00:35:52.619 --> 00:35:56.319 into being useful vessels for His kingdom. 00:35:56.479 --> 00:35:59.099 And they do that by humble dependence. 00:35:59.099 --> 00:36:01.920 Not just at the beginning when they became a believer. 00:36:02.279 --> 00:36:05.480 Not just at the beginning when they didn't know anything about ministry. 00:36:05.679 --> 00:36:08.500 But 20, 30, 40, 50 years in, 00:36:08.759 --> 00:36:13.159 they're still the people who are depending on Christ, 00:36:13.319 --> 00:36:18.079 who know I can't bear any fruit apart from Jesus and His work 00:36:18.079 --> 00:36:20.799 in me and in those that I minister to. 00:36:20.800 --> 00:36:28.760 And who know I'm just a steward of what God has done. 00:36:29.080 --> 00:36:34.300 I'm just a steward of the truth that God has revealed through Scripture. 00:36:34.300 --> 00:36:42.519 And as I abide in Christ, may God help me to do this 00:36:42.519 --> 00:36:46.360 so that you might see Christ as well. 00:36:46.360 --> 00:36:54.559 This is, I think, the place where we can look and ask of our leaders, 00:36:55.059 --> 00:36:56.920 do they abide in Christ? 00:36:57.539 --> 00:37:00.860 Because if they abide in Christ, Christ will produce in them 00:37:00.860 --> 00:37:03.380 the fruit that will make us have confidence that, 00:37:03.539 --> 00:37:06.360 yes, those are people who I can follow. 00:37:07.180 --> 00:37:09.420 And we never follow people slavishly. 00:37:09.420 --> 00:37:13.619 The only person we follow like that without any reservation 00:37:13.619 --> 00:37:15.680 is Jesus Himself and the Scriptures. 00:37:17.300 --> 00:37:21.320 But when we see human leaders abiding in Christ, 00:37:21.480 --> 00:37:24.400 then we can follow them, and then we can trust, 00:37:25.099 --> 00:37:26.860 and we can see God's work. 00:37:27.099 --> 00:37:29.840 And this is what it looks like in God's kingdom, 00:37:29.940 --> 00:37:32.220 that He will produce leaders like this, 00:37:33.019 --> 00:37:34.820 that He will produce some. 00:37:35.440 --> 00:37:36.619 But we must beware. 00:37:36.619 --> 00:37:43.559 It's said that when they train Treasury Department officials 00:37:43.559 --> 00:37:47.420 to tell fake currency from real, 00:37:47.839 --> 00:37:50.139 they do it by studying the real thing, 00:37:50.559 --> 00:37:54.420 the feel, the touch, looking at it carefully. 00:37:55.460 --> 00:37:57.259 Friends, this is what we need to do 00:37:57.259 --> 00:38:02.380 so that we're equipped to heed Jesus' warning in this passage. 00:38:02.659 --> 00:38:04.139 We need to look at Jesus. 00:38:04.139 --> 00:38:07.019 We need to know Him so intimately and deeply. 00:38:07.159 --> 00:38:08.519 We need to know His Scriptures 00:38:08.519 --> 00:38:11.519 in an increasingly deep way, 00:38:11.659 --> 00:38:12.960 because when we do that, 00:38:13.039 --> 00:38:15.519 then we will be able to, in increasing measure, 00:38:16.460 --> 00:38:17.739 evaluate and know, 00:38:18.500 --> 00:38:21.359 and not be led by false teachers into destruction, 00:38:22.000 --> 00:38:24.480 but to be led by those who follow Jesus 00:38:24.480 --> 00:38:25.920 into His kingdom. 00:38:26.480 --> 00:38:27.219 Let's pray. 00:38:27.219 --> 00:38:37.719 Lord Jesus, we confess to You this morning, 00:38:38.119 --> 00:38:40.459 Lord, our need for Your help and Your Spirit. 00:38:41.419 --> 00:38:43.019 Lord, these are weighty things. 00:38:44.679 --> 00:38:48.119 Lord, we pray that You would help us. 00:38:48.480 --> 00:38:50.879 Lord, I pray for the leadership of this church, 00:38:51.519 --> 00:38:52.439 including myself. 00:38:52.440 --> 00:38:55.700 Lord, may we be those who abide in You 00:38:55.700 --> 00:38:57.880 and who bear good fruit. 00:38:58.860 --> 00:39:00.740 Lord, we pray for us as a church 00:39:00.740 --> 00:39:02.039 that we would be discerning, 00:39:03.019 --> 00:39:05.179 that we would not be led astray 00:39:05.179 --> 00:39:06.460 on the paths of destruction, 00:39:06.960 --> 00:39:08.780 but, Lord, that we would walk 00:39:08.780 --> 00:39:10.900 in the ways of Your kingdom and of life. 00:39:11.980 --> 00:39:13.240 Help us, Lord, we pray. 00:39:13.760 --> 00:39:15.440 In Jesus' name, amen. 00:39:15.440 --> 00:39:15.579 Amen. 00:39:15.579 --> 00:39:15.659 Amen.