Combat the fake news Part 2
Pastor Troy Brewer, OpenDoor Church, Burleson, TX
Sunday, Jan. 15, 2020
JESUS WARNED US TO BE AWARE OF FAKE NEWS IN THE LAST DAYS JESUS WARNED US TO BE AWARE OF FAKE NEWS IN THE LAST DAYS Matthew 24:24 – For false messiahs and false prophets will appear and perform great signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect.
THE CATEGORIES OF MESSIAH AND PROPHET ARE NOT JUST RELIGIOUS.
A false messiah is a leader that rises up and promises “the answer is here.” He or she is a face of a movement that deceives you away from truth into something demonic and false.
A false prophet is somebody who projects the future or trends that point to, or validate, that false messiah.
There is a spirit that goes behind Fake NEWS. With every prophetic medium (news media) there is a spirit behind it.
1 John 4:1-6 Dear friends, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world. 2 This is how you can recognize the Spirit of God: Every spirit that acknowledges that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God, 3 but every spirit that does not acknowledge Jesus is not from God. This is the spirit of the antichrist, (a false messiah or leader who wants us to get behind his revolution for an anti-kingdom agenda) which you have heard is coming and even now is already in the world.
PAUL WARNED TIMOTHY OF FALSE TEACHERS AND A SPIRIT OF APOSTASY IN THE END TIMES.
Apostasy: the abandonment or renunciation of a religious or political belief
These are people who know the word of God, maybe have even preached the word of God, but have fallen away. These people are way more dangerous than non-believers because they know enough of the truth to get into your head and plant a lie.
1 Timothy 4:1-4Now the Spirit expressly says that in latter times some will depart from the faith, giving heed to deceiving spirits and doctrines of demons, 2 speaking lies in hypocrisy, having their own conscience seared with a hot iron, 3 forbidding to marry, and commanding to abstain from foods which God created to be received with thanksgiving by those who believe and know the truth. 4 For every creature of God is good, and nothing is to be refused if it is received with thanksgiving;
Can anyone think of people who run after deceiving spirits and doctrines of demons? The Church of Satan is growing. Google it. Here’s one headline from The Guardian:
Hell freezes over: How the church of Satan got cool
That same article says, “Satanism is attracting counter-cultural Californians because it is seen as a community-based response to the Trump era.”
Who can think of anyone forbidding people to marry? Catholic priests &Buddhist monks – both have history of child molestationIf you’re gay, you can get married in the eyes of the law in most states, but not in the eyes of God.
Can you think of anyone who is commanding folks to abstain from the good foods God created for us to enjoy?
Doctors, nutritionists, and diet & fitness gurus telling us to be thin with this pill, that exercise or this diet.⦁ Keto⦁ Paleo⦁ Atkins⦁ Low-Fat⦁ Low- Sodium⦁ Low-Carb⦁ Bariatric surgeries that limit food intake⦁ WE COULD TALK ABOUT THIS ALL NIGHT!
Then there’s the health scare of the week. This week butter is bad for you and you need to stop eating it right away. Next week, some researcher says butter is awesome and you should eat more of it.
Case in point – milk
I grew up drinking milk and was told calcium was good for me. It made for strong bones and teeth. Today, there are all kinds of reports from nutritionists, real and fake, that say cow’s milk is the devil.
We’ve seen the rise of 10 different kinds of “milk” – almond milk, rice milk, soy milk, cashew milk – but none of them are really milk. You can’t get milk from a nut.
It’s all about money and marketshare and people believe it. They’re paying big bucks for these alternatives. Meanwhile, dairy farmers are committing suicide in alarming numbers because they’re losing their family farms.Borden Dairy here in Dallas just filed bankruptcy.
These competing voices are not harmless!! It is about control and it’s dangerous.
DO NOT JOIN A MOB. STAY OFF THE BANDWAGON. YOU WILL NEVER FIND JESUS IN THE MOB!
JUDE ALSO WARNED OF FALSE TEACHERS AND “APOSTATES” DECEIVING PEOPLE IN THE LAST DAYS.
Jude 8-13Likewise also these dreamers defile the flesh, reject authority, and speak evil of dignitaries. 9 Yet Michael the archangel, in contending with the devil, when he disputed about the body of Moses, dared not bring against him a reviling accusation, but said, “The Lord rebuke you!” 10 But these speak evil of whatever they do not know; and whatever they know naturally, like brute beasts, in these things they corrupt themselves. 11 Woe to them! For they have gone in the way of Cain, have run greedily in the error of Balaam for profit, and perished in the rebellion of Korah.These are spots in your love feasts, while they feast with you without fear, serving only themselves. They are clouds without water, carried about by the winds; late autumn trees without fruit, twice dead, pulled up by the roots; 13 raging waves of the sea, foaming up their own shame; wandering stars for whom is reserved the blackness of darkness forever.
Can anyone think of any “stars” that might be wandering here and there leading people away from God’s camp?
⦁ Movie Stars⦁ Hollywood⦁ Popular culture and reality TV⦁ YouTube celebrities
BUT WAIT, THERE’S MORE!
Jude 16-19 These are grumblers, complainers, walking according to their own lusts; and they mouth great swelling words, flattering people to gain advantage. 17 But you, beloved, remember the words which were spoken before by the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ: 18 how they told you that there would be mockers in the last time who would walk according to their own ungodly lusts. 19 These are sensual persons, who cause divisions, not having the Spirit.
WHAT SHOULD BELIEVERS BE DOING TO KEEP FROM FALLING FOR THESE WOLVES IN SHEEPS CLOTHING?
Jude 20 But you, beloved, building yourselves up on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Spirit, 21 keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life. 22 And on some have compassion, making a distinction; 23 but others save with fear, pulling them out of the fire, hating even the garment defiled by the flesh.