Take Heed: Beware of Wolves
One of the biggest problems in the church that has existed since the beginning is false brethren/wolves who creep in unawares and try to draw away disciples for themselves. Paul warned the elders of Ephesus of this in his moving last words to them and indeed to the churches of future generations.
Wolves in the church arise from amongst us. They seem to be sheep, but deep down, they have secret ambitions and desires. Just like Simon the Sorcerer, their desire is not for JESUS CHRIST to be glorified and receive the reward of his suffering. Their desire is not to make disciples for the Lord but for themselves.
Their ambition is to be great and win disciples for themselves. Jesus is only a means for them to have “ministries” and fame, and they will trample on the sheep to gain this. Paul warned the elders that amongst their own selves, who stood there, many would arise and show their true colors like Judas and Simon the sorcerer.
Wolves target the Lord’s sheep
These wolves target the sheep of Jesus to devour them. They are wicked, and Jude calls them twice dead. They have the gospel on their lips but not in their hearts. For them, the gospel of Jesus is an opportunity to make money, become famous, feed their bellies and perverse lusts, be powerful, appear great, and lure crowds after themselves. They will seduce women in the church and sleep with them, corrupt the gospel for money, sell the gospel, shipwreck the faith of many, abuse people spiritually, physically, financially, and emotionally, bring the Lord’s name into disrepute, and do all this with zero conscience. Rightly did Jude call them twice dead.
“Thus says the Lord GOD: “Behold, I am against the shepherds, and I will require My flock at their hand; I will cause them to cease feeding the sheep, and the shepherds shall feed themselves no more; for I will deliver My flock from their mouths, that they may no longer be food for them.” Ezekiel 34:10
In the church of Galatians, these wolves came when Paul was not there to bring the people into bondage. They came with a false gospel, adding to the message of Jesus, and seeming wise. But their real intention was just to bring these people into bondage under them.
Wolves compete with the Lord Jesus for disciples
True children of Jesus have no interest in making disciples for themselves. On the contrary, they do not want to be seen at all because they know they are nothing. Their desire is for Jesus to be glorified because he is the one who saves. They desire to please Jesus and not themselves. Not so with wolves.
Wolves compete with Jesus himself. They want power and disciples for themselves. They want big names, and when they see the innocent sheep who love Jesus, they are bitter and envious because they don’t have what they have, and so they seek to bring them into bondage under their supposed authority.
In the last days, Christians must be wise as serpents and innocent as doves because many wolves have gone out, and their goal is to ensure the sheep of Jesus are damned together with them.
But these wolves shall never prevail against the true sheep of the Lord. Jesus himself fights for his sheep. Like David did with his sheep, the Lord Jesus will go to the ends of the earth to deliver his sheep from the mouths of wolves, lions, and bears.
Jesus warned us to take heed lest any man take our crown. We must fix our eyes on Jesus only, for the end is near. Don’t allow some false apostle or prophet to lead you to damnation. Hold only to the one who died for you. Jesus is not an abuser.
“Behold, I am coming quickly! Hold fast what you have, that no one may take your crown.” Revelation 3:11
“For thus says the Lord God: “Indeed I Myself will search for My sheep and seek them out. As a shepherd seeks out his flock on the day he is among his scattered sheep, so will I seek out My sheep and deliver them from all the places where they were scattered on a cloudy and dark day. And I will bring them out from the peoples and gather them from the countries, and will bring them to their own land; I will feed them on the mountains of Israel, in the valleys and in all the inhabited places of the country. I will feed them in good pasture, and their fold shall be on the high mountains of Israel. There they shall lie down in a good fold and feed in rich pasture on the mountains of Israel. I will feed My flock, and I will make them lie down,” says the Lord God. “I will seek what was lost and bring back what was driven away, bind up the broken and strengthen what was sick; but I will destroy the fat and the strong, and feed them in judgment.” Ezekiel 34:11-16
“And indeed, now I know that you all, among whom I have gone preaching the kingdom of God, will see my face no more. Therefore, I testify to you this day that I am innocent of the blood of all men. For I have not shunned to declare to you the whole counsel of God. 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. Therefore, watch, and remember that for three years I did not cease to warn everyone night and day with tears. “So now, brethren, I commend you to God and to the word of His grace, which is able to build you up and give you an inheritance among all those who are sanctified. I have coveted no one’s silver or gold or apparel.” Acts 20:25-33
“For certain men have crept in unnoticed, who long ago were marked out for this condemnation, ungodly men, who turn the grace of our God into lewdness and deny the only Lord God and our Lord Jesus Christ.” Jude 1:4
“These are spots in your love feasts, while they feast with you without fear, serving only themselves. They are clouds without water, carried about by the winds; late autumn trees without fruit, twice dead, pulled up by the roots; raging waves of the sea, foaming up their own shame; wandering stars for whom is reserved the blackness of darkness forever.” Jude 1:12-13
“And this occurred because of false brethren secretly brought in (who came in by stealth to spy out our liberty which we have in Christ Jesus, that they might bring us into bondage), to whom we did not yield submission even for an hour, that the truth of the gospel might continue with you.” Galatians 2:4-5
“But Peter said to him, “Your money perish with you, because you thought that the gift of God could be purchased with money! You have neither part nor portion in this matter, for your heart is not right in the sight of God. Repent therefore of this your wickedness, and pray God if perhaps the thought of your heart may be forgiven you. For I see that you are poisoned by bitterness and bound by iniquity.” Acts 8:20-23
“For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into apostles of Christ.” 2 Corinthians 11:13
“in journeys often, in perils of waters, in perils of robbers, in perils of my own countrymen, in perils of the Gentiles, in perils in the city, in perils in the wilderness, in perils in the sea, in perils among false brethren.” 2 Corinthians 11:26
“And through covetousness shall they with feigned words make merchandise of you: whose judgment now of a long time lingereth not, and their damnation slumbereth not.” 2 Peter 2:3
“Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves. You will know them by their fruits.” Matthew 7:15-16
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Have you given your life to Jesus Christ to be your Lord and Savior? He loves us so much that he, our creator, left heaven and came to earth, died for us on the cross, taking our sins upon him so that we may be forgiven and receive his righteousness. He conquered death by rising from the dead and made a way for us who were dead in sin to be reconciled back to the Father (God). What’s more, he has prepared a wonderful home for us in Heaven, where those who love him and obey him will spend eternity with him. Learn more here about how to be born again and have eternal life after this brief life on earth.
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If this article blesses you, please share it with your friends, on your socials, and with anyone who needs to know Jesus Christ. Please subscribe below to get more articles regularly straight to your inbox!
Have you given your life to Jesus Christ to be your Lord and Savior? He loves us so much that he, our creator, left heaven and came to earth, died for us on the cross, taking our sins upon him so that we may be forgiven and receive his righteousness. He conquered death by rising from the dead and made a way for us who were dead in sin to be reconciled back to the Father (God). What’s more, he has prepared a wonderful home for us in Heaven, where those who love him and obey him will spend eternity with him. Learn more here about how to be born again and have eternal life after this brief life on earth.
To find out how to be born again, click here
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