5 SIGNS OF A FALSE CHURCH OR CHRISTIAN LEADER

(HOW TO SPOT A FALSE PREACHER)

1 Timothy 4:1-3

SOME WILL DEPART FROM THE FAITH

Now the Spirit expressly says that in later times some will depart from the faith by devoting themselves to deceitful
spirits and teachings of demons, through the insincerity of liars whose consciences are seared, who forbid marriage
and require abstinence from foods that God created to be received with thanksgiving by those who believe and
know the truth.

Matthew 24:11

And many false prophets will arise and lead many astray.

Matthew 24: 24

for false christs and false prophets will arise and perform great signs and wonders so as to lead astray if possible
even the elect

Matthew 7:15

Beware of false prophets who come to you in sheep's clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves

2 Timothy 4: 3-4

For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for
themselves teachers to suit their own passions, and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander off into
myths.

1 Timothy 6:3 - 5

If anyone teaches a different doctrine and does not agree with the sound words of our Lord Jesus Christ and the
teaching that accords with godliness, he is puffed up with conceit and understands nothing. He has an unhealthy
craving for controversy and for quarrels about words, which produce envy, dissension, slander, evil suspicions, and
constant friction among people who are depraved in mind and deprived of the truth, imagining that godliness is a
means of gain.

verse 6-8 :

but godliness with contentment is great gain for we brought nothing into the world and we cannot take anything out
of the world but if we have food and clothing with these we will be content

verse 9-10:

but those who desire to be rich fall into temptation into a snare into many senseless and harmful desires that plunge
people into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evils. It is through this craving that
some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many pangs.
Mark 8: 36

For what does it profit a man to gain the whole world and forfeit his soul ?

Matthew 6: 31 -33

Therefore do not be anxious, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the
Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. But seek first the
kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you

2 Timothy 3: 16-17

All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in
righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.

2 Peter 2: 1 -3

But false prophets also arose among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you, who will secretly
bring in destructive heresies, even denying the Master who bought them, bringing upon themselves swift
destruction. And many will follow their sensuality, and because of them the way of truth will be blasphemed. And in
their greed they will exploit you with false words. Their condemnation from long ago is not idle, and their
destruction is not asleep.

2 Peter 3: 3

that scoffers will come in the last days with scoffing following their own sinful desires

James 3: 1

not many of you should become teachers my brothers for you know that we who teach will be judged with greater
strictness

Revelation 16: 14

for they are demonic spirits performing signs

1 John 4

TEST THE SPIRITS

Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God,

for many false prophets have gone out into the world. By this you know the Spirit of God: every spirit that confesses
that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God, and every spirit that does not confess Jesus is not from God. This
is the spirit of the antichrist, which you heard was coming and now is in the world already. Little children, you are
from God and have overcome them, for he who is in you is greater than he who is in the world. They are from the
world; therefore they speak from the world, and the world listens to them. We are from God. Whoever knows God
listens to us; whoever is not from God does not listen to us. By this we know the Spirit of truth and the spirit of error.
Deuteronomy 8: 22

When a prophet speaks in the name of the lord if the word does not come to pass or come true that is a word that
the lord has not spoken the prophet has spoken it presumptuously

2 Thessalonians 2: 9

The coming of the lawless one is by the activity of satan with all power and false signs and wonders and with all
wicked deception for those who are perishing because they refuse to love the truth and so be saved

Isaiah 55:11

So shall my word be that goes from my mouth it shall not return to me empty but it shall accomplish that which i
purpose and shall succeed in the thing for which i sent it

2 Timothy 2:15

do your best to present yourself to God as one approved a worker who has no need to be ashamed rightly handling
the word of truth