Spiritual Scams

SPIRITUAL SCAMS

Sermon by Pastor Brent Snook | March 13, 2022 

Sermon Series:“Can You Really Know?”

Text: 1 John 4:1-6

I. TEST THE SPIRITS 

Matthew 24:4-5 “And Jesus answered and said unto them, Take heed that no man deceive you. For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many.”

WE ARE TO STOP TRUSTING EVERYTHING AND START TESTING

Matthew 7:15- Jesus says, “Beware of false prophets which come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves.”

Question – How are we to know when we encounter a false prophet?

Answer = Put them to the test

Two Specific Ways to Test the Spirits

A. BY THEIR CLAIMS

“Confess” vs. 2 = “homologeo” (Greek)

• Homologeo = to concede that something is factual

Key Question – What do they teach about Jesus?

• Read Matthew 22:42 

B. BY THEIR CHARACTER

2 Peter 2:1-3 – “But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction. And many shall follow their pernicious ways; by reason of whom the way of truth shall be evil spoken of.  And through covetousness shall they with feigned words make merchandise of you: whose judgment now of a long time lingereth not, and their damnation slumbereth not. 

2 Peter 2 shows us characteristics of a false teacher

1. Pride – self-willed; self-pleasing (vs. 10-11)

2. Ignorance – controlled by his passions (vs. 12)

3. Lust – open sin

4. Covetousness – greed (vs. 15)

II. TRUTH OF THE SERVANT – vs. 5-6

A. SERVANT OF ERROR – v. 5

B. SERVANT OF TRUTH – v.6

John is referring to faithful preachers

How can you tell the faithful preacher of the gospel?

2 Specific Tests

1. Agreement with the Bible

1 Thessalonians 2:13 – “For this cause also thank we God without ceasing, because, when ye received the word of God which ye heard of us, ye received it not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the word of God, which effectually worketh also in you that believe.”

1 John 4:2 – “Confess” = to say the same thing

2. Acceptance by Believers – v.6

“He that knoweth God – heareth us.” (v.6)

III. TRIUMPH OF THE SAVED – read v. 4

THREE THINGS ABOUT GOD’S PEOPLE

A. RELATIONSHIP

“Ye are of God”

B. RESULT

“…have overcome the world.”

C. REASON

“Because greater is He that is in you than he that is in the world.”

John 16:33 “When he the spirit of truth has come, he will guide you into all truth”