1. Matt 7:15 Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves. (NKJ) 2. Matt 7:22-23 Many will say to Me in that day, "Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?" And then I will declare to them, "I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!" (NKJ) 3. Acts 20:28-30 "Therefore take heed to yourselves and to all the flock, among which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the church of God which He purchased with His own blood. For I know this, that after my departure savage wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock. Also from among yourselves men will rise up, speaking perverse things, to draw away the disciples after themselves. (NKJ) 4. 2 Tim 4:3-4 For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, because they have itching ears, they will heap up for themselves teachers; and they will turn their ears away from the truth, and be turned aside to fables. (NKJ) 5. 1 Tim 4:1-3 Now the Spirit expressly says that in latter times some will depart from the faith, giving heed to deceiving spirits and doctrines of demons, speaking lies in hypocrisy, having their own conscience seared with a hot iron, 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. (NKJ) 6. 1 Tim 6:3-5 If anyone teaches otherwise and does not consent to wholesome words, even the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to the doctrine which accords with godliness, he is proud, knowing nothing, but is obsessed with disputes and arguments over words, from which come envy, strife, reviling, evil suspicions, useless wranglings of men of corrupt minds and destitute of the truth, who suppose that godliness is a means of gain. From such withdraw yourself. (NKJ) C. There are at least a couple of ways we might try to deal with this problem 1. We could try to identify false doctrines, flag them, and then avoid them a. a very cumbersome and virtually impossible task b. besides, if you spend all your time with that which is false, when will you learn what is true c. obviously, we must examine some things that are false, but I'm talking about an approach that focuses on that which is false 2. Or you could identify that which is true, focus on that truth, learn and practice that truth, and thus eliminate all that is false a. illustration -- suppose (for argument) that I wanted to travel from Florida to California, and that there were 100 highways I could travel on. Suppose further that only one of them actually made a connection between Florida and California. Do I need to know all the ones that do not complete my journey, or do I need to know the one that does complete my journey? b. If God gives us the truth so that we can know how to please Him in our faith, our worship, our service, the way we live our lives, etc., doesn't it