Fake News!
Partial outline: FULL PDF HERE
Nehemiah 6:1-8
In this message, I want to deal with one of the greatest threats America is facing today (not ISIS,
not Russia, not North Korea). I’m talking about the liberal “news media / mafia” and it’s proliferation of “fake news.”
Fake news is “false information or propaganda published under the pretense of it being authentic news.”
The word “fake” is of comparatively recent origin. The word “fake” comes from the slang word “fakir” in the 17th century—Often a reference to a “con-man.”
Text: Neh 6:5-8—”Then I sent unto him, saying, There are no such things done as thou sayest, but thou feignest them out of thine own heart.” The modern word “feign” is FAKE.
2 Pet. 2:3—“And through covetousness shall they with feigned words make merchandise of you.” The motive behind fake news is to make money off of you.
“FAKED YOU OUT” — My generation had an expression when we’d fool someone into believing something that was not true, we’d tell them, “Faked you out!” This expression means “to deceive someone; to fool or mislead someone.”
This is what the news media is doing. If they were honest, they would end their news cast saying, “Faked you out!”
• Galatians 3:1—“O foolish Galatians, who hath BEWITCHED you, that ye should not obey the truth?” The word “bewitched” means to be fooled or tricked. Paul was asking, “Who has faked you out?”
• Paul warned the Thessalonians about a false report that the rapture already happened. He said, “Be not soon shaken in mind, or be troubled, neither by spirit, nor by word, nor by letter as from us, as that day of Christ is at hand. Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first…” (2 Thess. 2:2-3). Paul is warning, “Don’t let someone fake you out!”
• Paul exhorted Timothy to “shun profane and vain babbling; for they will increase unto more ungodliness. And their word will eat as doth a canker: of whom is Hymenaeus and Philetus; who concerning the truth have erred, saying that the resurrection is past already; [fake news] and over throw the faith of some” (2 Tim. 2:16-18). Hymenaeus and Philetus had “faked some believers out” into believing the first resurrection was past. It was “fake news.”
Who is behind fake news? Ultimately, Satan, “the god of this world,” “the prince of the power of the air.” He is the father of lies (John 8:44).
Who is behind fake news? Ultimately, Satan, “the god of this world,” “the prince of the power of the air.” He is the father of lies (John 8:44).
I. The DISSIMULATION in fake news.
The objective of “fake news” is to get the listener to believe something that is false.
- The news media propagates and perpetuates information that is either untrue or half-true to promote their own biased and liberal agenda.
- They seek to influence how you should feel about a certain thing. They want to “program” you. [see Sharyl Attkisson’s new book: “The Smear: How Shady Political Operatives and Fake News Control What You See, What You Think, and How You Vote” ]
- They seek to manipulate your thinking by picking and choosing only what they want you to hear and know.
II. The DISSEMINATING of fake news.
A. The sons of Jacob used “fake news” to explain the whereabouts of their brother Joseph to their father (Gen. 37:28-36).
B. The adversaries of Israel used the tactic of “fake news” to paint a narrative against God’s work.
1. Ezra (Ezra 4:5-6, 11-16).
2. Nehemiah (Neh. 6:5-8).
3. Esther (Esther 3:8-9), and Daniel.
4. These techniques were also used in the New Testament (Acts 24:1-13).
Partial outline: FULL PDF HERE
