Ever find them? You know, they look so good to the eye and they sound so good to the ear. Yet though they have such a great appearance and speech, the truth is........ they are the ones that lurk in the corners and hide in the dark. Not letting their faces come into the light, seeking to devour those they can. Oh they come all dressed to impress. They have all the right words. It is when you think you are safe that you had better be ware! Are you being entertained by angels or are you about to be eaten by wolves in sheeps clothing?
Matt 7:15 Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheeps clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves.
Acts 20:29-31 (29) I know that after I leave, savage wolves will come in among you and will not spare the flock. (30) Even from your own number men will arise and distort the truth in order to draw away disciples after them. (31) So be on your guard!
Eph 5:6-7 (6) Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of such things God's wrath comes on those who are disobedient. (7) Therefore do not be partners with them.
Eph 5:15-16 (15) Be very careful, then, how you live- not as unwise but as wise, (16) making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil.
How can we fend off the wolves that come dressed in their fancy sheep skins? We need to put some skins on of our own!! We need to clothe ourselves in the full armor of God!
Eph 6:10-17 (10) Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. (11) Put on the full armor of God so that you can take a stand against the devil's schemes. (12) For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. (13) Therefore put on the full armor of God , so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. (14) Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, (15) and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. (16) In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. (17) Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.
So when you come up against someone, you can see if they are wolves in sheeps clothing. See if they are trees that bear good fruit or bad fruit.
Matt 7:17-20 (17) Likewise every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. (18) A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit. (19) Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. (20) Thus, by their fruit you will recognize them.
If they are not imitators of Christ then you will know it.
Eph 5:1-2 (1) Be imitators of God, therefore, as dearly loved children (2) and live a life of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.
If we are conned by wolves, it is because we did not prepare our hearts and minds before we walked out into the world or opened up our homes to them.
In the following Scriptures the Holy Spirit empowers Paul to write / PROPHESY concerning the future believers.
Act 20:17 And sending to Ephesus from Miletus, he called for the elders of the assembly.
Act 20:18 And when they came to him, he said to them: You understand, from the first day on which I set foot in Asia, how I was with you all the time,
Act 20:19 serving the Lord with all humility, and many tears and trials happening to me by the plots of the Jews;
Act 20:20 as I kept nothing back of what is profitable, so as not to tell you, and to teach you publicly, and from house to house,
Act 20:21 earnestly testifying both to Jews and to Greeks repentance toward God and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ.
Act 20:22 And now, behold, being bound by the Spirit, I am going to Jerusalem, not knowing the things going to meet me in it,
Act 20:23 but that the Holy Spirit testifies city by city saying that bonds and afflictions await me.
Act 20:24 But I make account of nothing, nor do I hold my life precious to myself, so that I might finish my course with joy, and the ministry which I received from the Lord Jesus, fully to testify the gospel of the grace of God.
Act 20:25 And now, behold, I know that you all will see my face no more, among whom I went about proclaiming the kingdom of God.
Act 20:26 Because of this I testify to you on this day that I am pure from the blood of all.
Act 20:27 For I did not keep back from declaring to you all the counsel of God.
Act 20:28 Then take heed to yourselves and to all the flock, in which the Holy Spirit placed you as overseers, to shepherd the assembly of God which He purchased through His own blood.
Act 20:29 For I know this, that after my departure grievous wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock;
Act 20:30 and out of you yourselves will rise up men speaking perverted things, in order to draw away the disciples after themselves.
Paul is addressing the ELDERS,( or the so called clergy)that from among the ELDERS there would arise GRIEVOUS WOLVES ( those which would weigh the people down,just like the Pharisees).
Mat 23:1 Then Jesus spoke to the crowd and to His disciples,
Mat 23:2 saying, The scribes and the Pharisees have sat down on Moses' seat.
Mat 23:3 Then all things, whatever they tell you to keep, keep and do. But do not do according to their works, for they say, and do not do.
Mat 23:4 For they bind heavy and hard to bear burdens, and lay them on the shoulders of men, but they do not desire to move them with their finger.
Mat 23:5 And they do all their works to be seen by men. And they make their phylacteries broad and enlarge the borders of their robes.
Mat 23:6 And they love the first couch in the suppers, and the first seats in the synagogues,
Mat 23:7 and the greetings in the markets, and to be called by men, Rabbi, Rabbi or PASTOR,POPE,REVEREND etc.
Mat 23:8 But do not you be called Rabbi, PASTOR,POPE,REVEREND etc. for One is your Leader, the Christ, and you are all 'BROTHERS'.
How many of these people have infiltrated the body and yet the people cannot discern the false teachers,false prophets and the charlatans among them calling themselves by various titles such as senior pastor,pastor,
elder,reverend,pope,church leaders,spiritual coaches,and many other titles.
As time continues on the number of FALSE teachers,prophets will increase to the demise of the body.
One thing which is needed is to teach the people HOW to read the Word of GOD,and to teach the people the basics to interpret the Scriptures.
"One thing which is needed is to teach the people HOW to read the Word of GOD,and to teach the people the basics to interpret the Scriptures"
Your right brother! Its actually pretty simple isnt it?
God told us in his Holy Word exactly how!
"But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you."
Excellent comments. You have hit the proverbial nail dead on the head. It is those bearing fictional titles, "rabbis" "preachers", "Ph.Ds", those of the corporate fictions, those seeking profit and gain from usury at the expense of the Word, but they are predestined to their ends, though they cannot comprehend it:
"For there are certain men crept in unawares, who were before of old ordained to this condemnation, ungodly men, turning the grace of our God into lasciviousness, and denying our Lord Jesus Christ." Jude 4
"For God has put it into their hearts to agree and give their kingdom to the beast until the word of God shall be fulfilled." Rev 17:17
The sheep do not need to fear, these are put here to train the sheep how to run to the Great Shepherd. Is it not written, "Surely He shall deliver thee from the snare of the fowler", and "He shall give His angels charge over you to keep you in all your ways."..?
How will one learn and comprehend unless these things be used as it is written, "For the good of those who love God, for those who are the called according to His purpose."..?
Are you not commanded, "Fear not"", and has He not promised "For I AM with you"...?
If you are His, He has dwelled in you from your mother's womb. He is with you always...
