Matthew 7:15-20 “Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves. Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles? Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit. A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit. Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire. Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them.”
The phrase “Barking up the Wrong Tree” means to make the wrong choice; to ask the wrong person; to follow the wrong course.
This is Jesus Christ teaching to the diciples the difference in the right or wrong type of teachers. Often time, the backslidden teen will end up rebelling due to listening to wrong type of teacher. We need more teens to listen to right type of teachers.
So if you start follow in the wrong foot steps you’ll be “barking up the wrong tree” how not to bark up the wrong tree:
1. Establish Your Relationship With Jesus
John 14:6 “Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.”
Jesus is the truth and not these false preachers who think they are God. If you establish that mindset. That keeps you in your bible, on your knees and in church.
2. Separate From The World
2 Corinthians 6:17 “Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you.”
Stay away from unclean things that will send you down the wrong path including “preachers” (False preachers)
3. Obey Authority
Proverbs 29:2 “When the righteous are in authority, the people rejoice: but when the wicked beareth rule, the people mourn.”
Teens rejoice that you have parents, pastor or a youth pastor with authority that are doing right by God. When the wicked are leading you would hate for a mourn spirit.
4. Soul Conscious
Proverbs 11:30 “The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life; and he that winneth souls is wise.”
Teens ought to stay busy being soul winners and go soul winning to help them not to do wrong following the wrong leaders.
Teens let’s not bark up the wrong tree. The devil will use any everything including false teachers to keep teens from serving the will of God.
Marcus Hunter | Youth Pastor
Bible Baptist Church | Radcliff, KY
