March 25

Religious Terrorists: When False Teachers Infiltrate Sacred Spaces

There are spiritual deceivers hidden even within places we often consider sacred and safe—churches, pulpits, seminaries, Christian message boards and religious institutions. These individuals present themselves as spiritual leaders—pastors, teachers, theologians, bishops, or even self-proclaimed apostles—but behind their titles and robes lies a far more dangerous threat than any earthly enemy. Jesus warned about such individuals in Matthew 7:15, saying, “Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves.” They appear moral, participate in religious rituals, and use the language of faith, but their teachings lead people away from the truth of God’s Word. Their deception is not just harmful in this life—it carries eternal consequences. Unlike physical violence, which can only harm the body, spiritual deception can lead souls away from salvation in Christ, resulting in everlasting destruction (Matthew 10:28). Paul also warned in 2 Corinthians 11:13-15 that “such men are false apostles, deceitful workmen, disguising themselves as apostles of Christ. And no wonder, for even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light.” These individuals do not preach the true gospel of repentance and faith in Jesus Christ but substitute it with false hope, legalism, spiritual abuse or twisting scripture. Their influence is insidious and deadly, for it blinds hearts to the only saving truth found in Scripture and in the person and work of Jesus Christ. Therefore, we must test every teaching against the Word of God (Acts 17:11) and cling to the truth that sets us free (John 8:32).

Read / Listen
Deuteronomy 4:1-49
Luke 6:39-7:10
Psalm 68:1-18Log Out
Proverbs 11:28

New Testament

Luke 6:39-7:10

Summary
Can a blind man lead a blind man?
A Tree and Its Fruit
Build Your House on the Rock
Jesus Heals a Centurion’s Servant

“For there is no good tree which produces bad fruit, nor, on the other hand, a bad tree which produces good fruit. “For each tree is known by its own fruit. For men do not gather figs from thorns, nor do they pick grapes from a briar bush. “The good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth what is good; and the evil man out of the evil treasure brings forth what is evil; for his mouth speaks from that which fills his heart. ~ Luke 6:43-45

Why do you call me ‘Lord, Lord,’ and not do what I tell you? ~ Luke 6:46

A MAN slid over the side of a cliff and was able to grab a branch at the last second.
He hung dangling over the precipice, hundreds of feet from the ground below.
He screamed out with a loud voice, “Help me! Somebody help me!”,
A voice came out of the sky, “Do you believe that I can help you?”
The man responded, “Yes, I believe. Please help me!”
The voice came out of the sky again, “Do you believe that I have the power to help you?”
“Yes, I believe! I believe! Please help me!”
“Do you believe I love you enough to help you?”
“Yes, I know you love me. Please, oh please, HELP ME!”
“Because you believe, I will help you. Now let go.”
After a brief silence, the man said, “Is there anybody else up there?
~ Tony Evans

Jesus Heals a Centurion’s Servant

Overview: Luke 1-9 Video

The Danger of Following the Wrong Spiritual Teacher

Luke 6:39–45

The Danger of Following the Wrong Spiritual Teacher

Religious terrorists are hidden in our safe places: Churches, mosques, cathedrals. And they masquerade as teachers, preachers, priests, clerics, imams, gurus, rabbis, theologians, bishops, apostles, cardinals, and popes. Their desire is to make us feel safe in those environments. But the truth of the matter is these are religious terrorists whose deadly lies are hidden under superficial morality, under religious ceremony, and they are more destructive than terrorists who can kill the body because their kind of terrorism destroys the soul forever. They kill people eternally. ~ John MacArthur

The subject of the sermon is true discipleship. And Jesus is defining a true disciple. You remember, first of all, in verses Luke 6:20-26 He defined a true disciple as a repenter, remember that? Somebody who sees his own sin, and realizes he’s poor, and hungry, and sad, and alienated. And so we’ve already looked at the fact that a true disciple of Christ is overwhelmed with his own sin, not overwhelmed with his own righteousness. That was true of the Pharisees and scribes and those who followed them. They were thrilled with their own righteousness. But a true kingdom disciple is in despair over his sinfulness. So the first characteristic, then, of a true disciple is repentance.

In Matthew 23:15 He says, “You travel around on sea and land to make a proselyte;” You want followers to follow you as the spiritual teacher. “And when he becomes one – ” of your proselytes “ – you make him twice as much a son of hell as yourselves.” You just make him worse. You damn him to a greater damnation.

Most people, you know, in sort of a benign attitude think that the religious people are doing good in the world. They’re spiritual terrorists. They’re destroying the souls of people in safe places, places that appear safe. You can drive down Roscoe Boulevard around the San Fernando Valley and you can find some of them, where the people go in every weekend and breathe spiritual anthrax.

They’re just making twice as much sons of hell. They don’t know the way and they can’t show the way to anybody else. ~ John MacArthur