Jesus Warns The Disciples

“When the disciples reached the other side, they had forgotten to bring any bread. 6 Jesus said to them, ‘Watch and beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees.’ 7 And they began discussing it among themselves, saying, ‘We brought no bread… M a t t h e w 1 6 : 5 - 7

…8 But Jesus, aware of this, said, ‘O you of little faith, why are you discussing among yourselves the fact that you have no bread? 9 Do you not yet perceive? Do you not remember the five loaves for the five thousand, and how many baskets you gathered? 10 Or the seven loaves for the four thousand, and how many baskets you gathered… M a t t h e w 1 6 : 5 - 7

…11 How is it that you fail to understand that I did not speak about bread? Beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees.’ 12 Then they understood that he did not tell them to beware of the leaven of bread, but of the teaching of the Pharisees and Sadducees.” This wasn’t the first nor the last time Jesus would call out those that were teaching false doctrine. (SLIDE) M a t t h e w 1 6 : 5 - 7

“For I tell you, unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.” M a t t h e w 5 : 2 0

“Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves.” If our Messiah found it necessary to warn people concerning false teachers shouldn’t we? (SLIDE) M a t t h e w 7 : 1 5

We Must Sound The Warning Call The reality is false teachers can come from anywhere. They can come from the eldership. (SLIDE)

“Pay careful attention to yourselves and to all the flock, in which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to care for the church of God, which he obtained with his own blood. 29 I know that after my departure fierce wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock” False teachers can be “preachers.” (SLIDE) A c t s 2 0 : 2 8 – 2 9

“I have written something to the church, but Diotrephes, who likes to put himself first, does not acknowledge our authority. 10 So if I come, I will bring up what he is doing, talking wicked nonsense against us. And not content with that, he refuses to welcome the brothers, and also stops those who want to and puts them out of the church.” They can even “look righteous” but are as sinful as they come. (SLIDE) 3 J o h n 9 – 1 0

“And no wonder, for even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light Because false teachers can “appear” to be righteous and holy, those that know the truth must expose them. (SLIDE) 2 C o r i n t h i a n s 1 1 : 1 4

“Take no part in the unfruitful works of darkness, but instead expose them.” We are to “note” or “mark” those for all to hear that would lead some astray!!! (SLIDE) E p h e s i a n s 5 : 1 1

“Now I urge you, brethren, note those who cause divisions and offenses, contrary to the doctrine which you learned, and avoid them.” Now this isn’t something we don’t find often in Scripture. When Paul wrote to Timothy in his second letter notice just how many false teachers Paul “exposed” to Timothy. (SLIDE) R o m a n s 1 6 : 1 7

2 T i m o t h y Phygelus & Hermogenes Hymenaeus & Philetus Jannes & Jambres Demas Alexander the coppersmith 2 Timothy 1:15 2 Timothy 2:17 2 Timothy 3:8 2 Timothy 4:10 2 Timothy 4:14 There are only four chapters in the book and thus there are two names for every chapter. If someone was to call out that many names in a short letter like 2 Timothy most would be chastised for such. There is a simple reason why it is so important to expose false teaching and those that teach such…because if we don’t it can and will affect the church. (SLIDE)

“Your boasting is not good “Your boasting is not good. Do you not know that a little leaven leavens the whole lump?” Paul would later say the same to the Galatian churches. (SLIDE) 1 C o r i n t h i a n s 5 : 6

“A little leaven leavens the whole lump.” As God’s people we have been tasked with “Sounding The Warning Call” when we come across wolves in sheep’s clothing!!! G a l a t i a n s 5 : 9

“Son of man, I have made you a watchman for the house of Israel “Son of man, I have made you a watchman for the house of Israel. Whenever you hear a word from my mouth, you shall give them warning from me. 18 If I say to the wicked, ‘You shall surely die,’ and you give him no warning, nor speak to warn the wicked from his wicked way, in order to save his life, that wicked person shall die for his iniquity, but his blood I will require at your hand. 19 But if you warn the wicked, and he does not turn from his wickedness, or from his wicked way, he shall die for his iniquity, but you will have delivered your soul… E z e k i e l 3 : 1 7 – 2 1

…20 Again, if a righteous person turns from his righteousness and commits injustice, and I lay a stumbling block before him, he shall die. Because you have not warned him, he shall die for his sin, and his righteous deeds that he has done shall not be remembered, but his blood I will require at your hand. 21 But if you warn the righteous person not to sin, and he does not sin, he shall surely live, because he took warning, and you will have delivered your soul.” E z e k i e l 3 : 1 7 – 2 1

Brethren, I’m not talking about people that have ignorantly or mistakenly taught false doctrine. I’m talking about those that are truly wolves in sheep’s clothing i.e. those that have been taken aside and shown the truth more perfectly and have rejected it. It is these that will spread their false doctrine when given opportunity and so leaven the lump. Let us each heed the words of Christ once again “Watch and beware of the leaven…”

God’s Plan of Salvation Study God’s Word Have Faith In Jesus Repent/Turn To God Confess Jesus As Lord Obey The Gospel Live A Faithful Life Romans 10:17 Hebrews 11:6 Luke 13:3 Matthew 10:32 Romans 6:3-5 1 John 1:7

God’s Plan of Salvation Study God’s Word Have Faith In Jesus Repent/Turn To God Confess Jesus As Lord Obey The Gospel Live A Faithful Life Romans 10:17 Hebrews 11:6 Luke 13:3 Matthew 10:32 Romans 6:3-5 1 John 1:7