Bereans Corner
Bereans Corner
Iron Sharpens Iron #10 - Fake Christian? Or...
What happens when faith becomes lukewarm? In today's episode of "Iron Sharpens Iron," we confront the urgent issue of lukewarm Christianity, grounded in the biblical warning from Revelation 3:15-17. We scrutinize the actions of high-profile figures like NBA star Steph Curry, questioning if his public support for a woman's right to choose aligns with biblical teachings. Referencing Isaiah 5:20, we explore the grave danger of calling evil good and good evil, and challenge our listeners to evaluate their own stances in light of Scripture. This episode is a call to steadfastness, encouraging believers to uphold their faith's principles and leverage their platforms to advocate for biblical values.
Next, we navigate the treacherous terrain of false prophets and lukewarm believers. Delving into scriptures such as 2 Corinthians 11:13-15 and Matthew 7:21-23, we expose the façade of false apostles and underscore the peril of professing faith without genuine commitment. We dissect passages like Matthew 7:15 and 1 John 4:1, urging vigilance against deceptive spirits and emphasizing the necessity of aligning actions with God's word. Concluding with a focus on authentic worship and its significance, we stress the importance of integrity in faith. Finally, we encourage you to share our podcast, "Berean's Corner," and join our mission to foster a community devoted to biblical study and truth.
I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I would that you were cold or hot. So because you are lukewarm and neither cold nor hot, I will spit you out of my mouth. Because you say I am rich and have become wealthy and have need of nothing and you do not know that you are wretched and miserable and poor and blind and naked. Revelation 3, verses 15 through 17. I hope that you all are doing well and thank you for joining me for another episode of Iron Sharpens Iron.
Speaker 1:The title of this lesson today is Christian or, excuse me, fake Christian, or the reason why I'm doing this recording is because I saw some a clip a video if you will of Steph Curry, the great NBA basketball player and basketball legend, saying how he is supporting the vice president, kamala Harrisris. But that's not the issue that I had. The issue I had is the reason that he gave of why he was supporting her. He said that he's supporting her because he believes in a woman's right to choose. He believes that a woman has the right to do what she wants to do with her body. In other words, he is okay with the dismemberment of unborn children. The children whom he would claim on Sunday are made in God's image. That's why I started out in Revelation, chapter three, because there are a lot of Christians out there that are lukewarm. There are a lot of Christians out there who are claiming the name, calling the name, but really they are on the other side or, if not even that far, they are right in the middle.
Speaker 1:Now, today, we are going to be looking at quite a few scriptures. So let's start we already started with Revelation. Why don't you turn back to Isaiah, the book of Isaiah, and I need you to go to Isaiah, chapter 5, and when I get into more scripture reading coming up, I won't ask you to turn there, because it's going to be quite a few scriptures to go along what we're talking about. But the next scripture we want to look at is Isaiah, chapter 5 and verse 20. Woe to those who call evil good and good evil, who substitute darkness for light and light for darkness. Who took, who substitute bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter. Notice that the lord gives a woe judgment here to those who call the things that he calls good evil and things that he calls evil good. We are living in a time right now, people, where there are lots of folks who are, who are taking the things that the lord calls evil and they're calling it good, and we notice that the prophet isaiah gave us the woe judgment that the lord put on him.
Speaker 1:So I have a question for you do you think that people who believe this way do you not have a feeling one way or the other about it? Or do you believe in standing on the Lord's business and saying that, listen, you can't be on that side and listen, I'm not talking about that political side, I'm talking about that side of the issue. Listen, when it comes down to it, the Lord is in charge. We've always talked about that. But I'm talking about standing up and fighting and being very boisterous and using your platform of millions of people for that particular issue. Can you really still claim to be a believer and stand on an issue like that?
Speaker 1:Let's get into the scriptures that I want to talk about. I have seven scriptures that I would like to go over. The first one is in second Corinthians. Second Corinthians, 11, verses 13 through 15. For such men are false apostles, deceitful workmen disguising themselves as an apostle of Christ. And no wonder, for even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light. So it is no surprise if his servants also disguise themselves as servants of righteousness. Their end will correspond to their deeds and amen to that. That is very clear that there are a lot of people out here who are claiming the name, but they are really just in disguise.
Speaker 1:Matthew 7, verses 21 through 23. Not everyone who says to me, lord, lord, will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father, who is in heaven. On that day, many will say to me, lord, lord, did not we prophesy in your name and cast out demons in your name and do many mighty works in your name? And then I declare to them I never knew you. Depart from me, you, workers of lawlessness. Titus, chapter 1, verse 16. They confess to know God, but they deny him by their works. They are detestable, disobedient, unfit for any good work, and we know that that's going on right now. There are a lot of people who are professing the name but they are not doing the work. Matthew 7, verse 15,.
Speaker 1:Beware of false prophets who come to you in sheep's clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves. There are a lot of false prophets out there, a lot of people claiming to be doing the Lord's work and to be doing the Lord. I had listen. I have this Bible scripture tattooed on my arm. I have it on the uh on the dashboard of my car, I have it when you first walk in my house. But the scripture tells us that a lot of them are just wolves in sheep's clothing.
Speaker 1:First John four, verse one 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. What are we supposed to be doing? Testing the spirit. How do we test the spirit? We listen to the things that they say, we look at the things that they do and we compare it to the word of God. If you are standing on such evil issues, it makes at least me. Maybe I can just speak for me and I won't speak for you. It makes at least me. Maybe I can just speak for me and I won't speak for you. It makes me wonder where are you in the Lord? Where are you with where the Lord stands? Where are you for standing up for the things that the Lord calls righteous and shouting down the things that he calls evil?
Speaker 1:Second Timothy, chapter three, verse five having the appearance of godliness, but denying its power. Avoid such people. A lot of people had that appearance of godliness, but denying its power. Avoid such people. A lot of people had that appearance of godliness. They know how to talk, that churchy talk, they know how to wave hands, they know how to get emotional, but when it really comes down to it, it's just a form of godliness because they can't stand on the power. They won't stand up for the word of God. They're too worried about the people in the world and how the people in the world are going to take them if they side a certain way or if they say a certain or if they say a certain thing.
Speaker 1:And then the last scripture we want to look at is in Matthew. I want math, I need Matthew, chapter 15. You have to excuse me, I am looking through my nose as I said. Uh, I actually jotted all my scriptures down because I knew that I would be moving relatively fast and I didn't want you to have to just keep turning and keep turning, and I didn't want to have to just keep holding up the lesson while you know, while you know, while I was flipping or was also asking you to flip. Ok, matthew, chapter 15, I do do apologize for this. I actually lost my spot of where I was at. Where are you? Where are you? Matthew 15? I am sorry for this. Uh, dead silence while I'm trying to find this scripture. You know what? It would be a lot, it would be a lot easier for me just to do it this way. Once again, I apologize for that. I do apologize for that. It'd be easier for me to do it this way. Matthew, chapter 15, and we are going to look at verse 8, matthew 15 and 8, and we are going to look at verse eight, matthew 15 and eight.
Speaker 1:This people honors me with their lips, but their heart is far away from me and we know that. It's true. A lot of people will get on TV, they will get in front of people they know and they will honor the Lord with they with their lips, but their deeds show something different. Ok, and you know grace, I think you all forgive me a little bit of grace. I'm sorry for that little malfunction I had there, but I don't usually cut things out because I like to just give it to you straight. You know, sometimes I have issues finding my notes and sometimes I don't turn to the scripture quick enough. So I'm asking for you to give me that grace as well. Sometimes, when I go live and I go hot on this mic, sometimes my things get a little jambled up and I appreciate your prayers for you know, for grace as well.
Speaker 1:Now I brought steph curry up not to make this whole video about him, but the fact that there are a lot of people like him in this world, and what I want, people of god, is for you to give me your thoughts on that. What is your thoughts on people preferably celebrities, because that's kind of what we're talking about right here who get out here, they say all of these things, but it seems that they really don't want to offend other people, so they kind of ride the fence like we started in revelation, chapter 3. They are lukewarm. They're not hot for christ, they may not be absolutely cold for christ, but they're somewhere in that middle, that lukewarm stage, and the lord has made it very clear that being lukewarm is he has no need for it. It's nothing that he can do with lukewarm you. It's not hot enough to kill germs or to cook anything with, and it's not cold enough to quench your thirst. It's really just worthless to be lukewarm.
Speaker 1:Okay, people, wherever you are hearing this video, give it a follow and share it with your family and friends. Listen. One of the best places to get this podcast is over on our buzzsprout channel, buzzsproutcom forward slash barinas corner. Over there you can get notes and you can of all of the episodes that we do over there. You can get a timeline also to if you go to our YouTube channel, bereans Corner, if you go to the description everywhere. There's everywhere in there where we can be found. Remember to share this with your family and your friends. Let them know there's a brother out there who goes through books of the Bible, who has a heart for the Lord and has a heart for getting this out to God's people. All right, everyone. I just wanted to get this video real quick out to you because it was just something that was stirring me up and it was on my heart. Give me your thoughts. That's all for now. God bless, thank you, thanks for watching.