Saturday, November 24, 2012
Wolves
Bible Questions Answered:
“How can we tell who the wolves are
in the church?”
Sheila/ San Diego, California
Bible Answer:
Bible Text:
Acts 20:28-31 NLT (Apostle
Paul's admonition to Ephesian Elders.)
28 “So guard yourselves and God’s
people. Feed and shepherd God’s flock—His church, purchased with
His own blood—over which the Holy Spirit has appointed you as
elders.
29 I know that false teachers,
like vicious wolves, will come in among you after I leave, not
sparing the flock.
30 Even some men from your own group
will rise up and distort the truth in order to draw a
following.
31 Watch out!..."
We may know the wolves from the sheep, by
two characteristics:
* What they teach, and
*What fruit they bear.
The Apostle said they will “distort
the truth (verse 30)”
False Teachings:
(Just a few verses, certainly
not all!)
Proverbs 24:24 KJV
He that saith
unto the wicked, Thou are righteous; him shall the people curse,
nations shall abhor him:
Matthew
15:8,9,14 KJV
8 This people
draweth nigh unto Me with their mouth, and honoreth Me with their
lips; but their heart is far from Me.
9 But in vain
they do worship Me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men.
14 ...they be
blind leaders of the blind. And if the blind lead the blind, both
shall fall into the ditch.
Matthew 24:11
KJV
And many false
prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many.
Romans 16:17,18
KJV
17 Now I
beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences
contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them.
18 For they
that are such serve not our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly;
and by good words and fair speeches deceive the hearts of the simple.
Colossians 2:8
KJV
Beware lest any
man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition
of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ.
I Timothy 4:1-4
KJV
1 Now the Holy
Spirit tells us clearly that in the last times some will turn away
from the true faith; they will follow deceptive spirits and teachings
that come from demons.
2 These people
are hypocrites and liars, and their consciences are dead.
3 They will say
it is wrong to be married and wrong to eat certain foods. But God
created those foods to be eaten with thanks by faithful people who
know the truth.
4 Since
everything God created is good, we should not reject any of it but
receive it with thanks.
5 For we know
it is made acceptable by the word of God and prayer.
I Timothy 6:3-5
KJV
3 Some people
may contradict our teaching, but these are the wholesome teachings of
the Lord Jesus Christ. These teachings promote a Godly life.
4 Anyone who
teaches something different is arrogant and lacks understanding. Such
a person has an unhealthy desire to quibble over the meaning of
words. This stirs up arguments ending in jealousy, division, slander,
and evil suspicions.
5 These people
always cause trouble. Their minds are corrupt, and they have turned
their backs on the truth. To them, a show of godliness is just a way
to become wealthy.
II Timothy 4:3,4
KJV
3 For a time is
coming when people will no longer listen to sound and wholesome
teaching. They will follow their own desires and will look for
teachers who will tell them whatever their itching ears want to hear.
4 They will
reject the truth and chase after myths.
Titus 1:10,11
KJV
10 For there
are many rebellious people who engage in useless talk and deceive
others...
11 They must be
silenced, because they are turning whole families away from the truth
by their false teaching. And they do it only for money.
II Peter 2:1-22
KJV
1 But there
were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be
false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable
heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon
themselves swift destruction.
2 And many
shall follow their pernicious ways; by reason of whom the way of
truth shall be evil spoken of.
3 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.
4 For if God
spared not the angels that sinned, but cast them down to hell, and
delivered them into chains of darkness, to be reserved unto judgment;
5 And spared
not the old world, but saved Noah the eighth person, a preacher of
righteousness, bringing in the flood upon the world of the ungodly;
6 And turning
the cities of Sodom and Gomorrha into ashes condemned them with an
overthrow, making them an ensample unto those that after should live
ungodly;
7 And delivered
just Lot, vexed with the filthy conversation of the wicked:
8 (For that
righteous man dwelling among them, in seeing and hearing, vexed his
righteous soul from day to day with their unlawful deeds;)
9 The Lord
knoweth how to deliver the godly out of temptations, and to reserve
the unjust unto the day of judgment to be punished:
10 But chiefly
them that walk after the flesh in the lust of uncleanness, and
despise government. Presumptuous are they, self willed, they are not
afraid to speak evil of dignities.
11 Whereas
angels, which are greater in power and might, bring not railing
accusation against them before the Lord.
12 But these,
as natural brute beasts, made to be taken and destroyed, speak evil
of the things that they understand not; and shall utterly perish in
their own corruption;
13 And shall
receive the reward of unrighteousness, as they that count it pleasure
to riot in the day time. Spots they are and blemishes, sporting
themselves with their own deceivings while they feast with you;
14 Having eyes
full of adultery, and that cannot cease from sin; beguiling unstable
souls: an heart they have exercised with covetous practices; cursed
children:
15 Which have
forsaken the right way, and are gone astray, following the way of
Balaam the son of Bosor, who loved the wages of unrighteousness;
16 But was
rebuked for his iniquity: the dumb ass speaking with man's voice
forbad the madness of the prophet.
17 These are
wells without water, clouds that are carried with a tempest; to whom
the mist of darkness is reserved for ever.
18 For when
they speak great swelling words of vanity, they allure through the
lusts of the flesh, through much wantonness, those that were clean
escaped from them who live in error.
19 While they
promise them liberty, they themselves are the servants of corruption:
for of whom a man is overcome, of the same is he brought in bondage.
20 For if after
they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge
of the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, they are again entangled
therein, and overcome, the latter end is worse with them than the
beginning.
21 For it had
been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness,
than, after they have known it, to turn from the holy commandment
delivered unto them.
22 But it is
happened unto them according to the true proverb, The dog is turned
to his own vomit again; and the sow that was washed to her wallowing
in the mire.
I John 2:22,23
KJV
22 Who is a
liar but he that denieth that Jesus is the Christ? He is antichrist,
that denieth the Father and the Son.
23 Whosoever
denieth the Son, the same hath not the Father..."
I John 3:7-10
KJV
7 Little
children, let no man deceive you: he that doeth righteousness is
righteous, even as he is righteous.
8 He that
committeth sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the
beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that He
might destroy the works of the devil.
9 Whosoever is
born of God doth not commit sin; for His seed remaineth in him: and
he cannot sin, because he is born of God.
10 In this the
children of God are manifest, and the children of the devil:
whosoever doeth not righteousness is not of God, neither he that
loveth not his brother.
I John 4:1-3 KJV
1 Beloved,
believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of
God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world.
2 Hereby know
ye the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ
is come in the flesh is of God:
3 And every
spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is
not of God: and this is that spirit of antichrist, whereof ye have
heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world.
II John 1:7 KJV
For many
deceivers are entered into the world, who confess not that Jesus
Christ is come in the flesh. This is a deceiver and an antichrist.
Jude 4-22 KJV
4 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 the only Lord God, and our Lord
Jesus Christ.
5 I will
therefore put you in remembrance, though ye once knew this, how that
the Lord, having saved the people out of the land of Egypt, afterward
destroyed them that believed not.
6 And the
angels which kept not their first estate, but left their own
habitation, he hath reserved in everlasting chains under darkness
unto the judgment of the great day.
7 Even as Sodom
and Gomorrha, and the cities about them in like manner, giving
themselves over to fornication, and going after strange flesh, are
set forth for an example, suffering the vengeance of eternal fire.
8 Likewise also
these filthy dreamers defile the flesh, despise dominion, and speak
evil of dignities.
9 Yet Michael
the archangel, when contending with the devil he disputed about the
body of Moses, durst not bring against him a railing accusation, but
said, The Lord rebuke thee.
10 But these
speak evil of those things which they know not: but what they know
naturally, as brute beasts, in those things they corrupt themselves.
11 Woe unto
them! for they have gone in the way of Cain, and ran greedily after
the error of Balaam for reward, and perished in the gainsaying of
Core.
12 These are
spots in your feasts of charity, when they feast with you, feeding
themselves without fear: clouds they are without water, carried about
of winds; trees whose fruit withereth, without fruit, twice dead,
plucked up by the roots;
13 Raging waves
of the sea, foaming out their own shame; wandering stars, to whom is
reserved the blackness of darkness for ever.
14 And Enoch
also, the seventh from Adam, prophesied of these, saying, Behold, the
Lord cometh with ten thousands of his saints,
15 To execute
judgment upon all, and to convince all that are ungodly among them of
all their ungodly deeds which they have ungodly committed, and of all
their hard speeches which ungodly sinners have spoken against him.
16 These are
murmurers, complainers, walking after their own lusts; and their
mouth speaketh great swelling words, having men's persons in
admiration because of advantage.
17 But,
beloved, remember ye the words which were spoken before of the
apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ;
18 How that
they told you there should be mockers in the last time, who should
walk after their own ungodly lusts.
19 These be
they who separate themselves, sensual, having not the Spirit.
20 But ye,
beloved, building up yourselves on your most holy faith, praying in
the Holy Ghost,
21 Keep
yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord
Jesus Christ unto eternal life.
22 And of some
have compassion, making a difference:
23 And others
save with fear, pulling them out of the fire; hating even the garment
spotted by the flesh.
24 Now unto Him
that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless
before the presence of His glory with exceeding joy,
25 To the only
wise God our Savior, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both
now and ever. Amen.
False Fruits:
Matthew 7:15-23
KJV
15 Beware of
false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly
they are ravening wolves.
16 Ye shall
know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or
figs of thistles?
17 Even so
every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree
bringeth forth evil fruit.
18 A good tree
cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth
good fruit.
19 Every tree
that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the
fire.
20 Wherefore
by their fruits ye shall know them.
21 Not every
one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of
heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.
(False Religion, False Fruit.)
22 Many will
say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in
thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy
name done many wonderful works?
23 And then
will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that
work iniquity.
21 Not every
one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of
heaven;
but he that
doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.
Proverbs 15:8
KJV
The sacrifice
of the wicked is an abomination to the Lord..."
James 1:22 KJV
But be ye doers
of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves.
Matthew 3:10 KJV
And now also
the axe is laid unto the root of the trees: therefore every tree
which bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the
fire.
Matthew 7:17 KJV
"... a
corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit.'
Galatians
5:19-24 NLT
19 When you
follow the desires of your sinful nature, the results are very clear:
sexual immorality, impurity, lustful pleasures,
20 idolatry,
sorcery, hostility, quarreling, jealousy, outbursts of anger, selfish
ambition, dissension, division, 21 envy, drunkenness, wild parties,
and other sins like these.
Let me tell you again, as I
have before, that anyone living that sort of life will not inherit
the Kingdom of God.
22 But the Holy
Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace,
patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,
23 gentleness,
and self-control. There is no law against these things!
24 Those who
belong to Christ Jesus have nailed the passions and desires of their
sinful nature to His cross and crucified them there.
Hebrews 6:8 KJV
But that which
beareth thorns and briers is rejected, and is nigh unto cursing;
whose end is to be burned.
I Peter 5:8-11
NLT
8 Stay alert!
Watch out for your great enemy, the devil. He prowls around like a
roaring lion, looking for someone to devour.
9 Stand firm
against him, and be strong in your faith. Remember that your
Christian brothers and sisters all over the world are going through
the same kind of suffering you are.
10 In his
kindness God called you to share in His eternal glory by means of
Christ Jesus. So after you have suffered a little while, He will
restore, support, and strengthen you, and He will place you on a firm
foundation. 11 All power to Him forever! Amen.