2002-05-09 - Savage Wolves

Acts 20:29 "I know that after my departure savage wolves
will come in among you, not sparing the flock; (NAS)

Paul is on his way to Jerusalem speaking to the leaders of the church at
Ephesus. He has with him an offering collected for the believers there from
all the churches Paul has traveled to see. There is great sorrow at this
departure. They all believe it will be the last time the Apostle Paul visits
this church which he founded under the direction of the Holy Spirit. Paul
gives his friends a strong warning which we can all take to heart. Jesus
gave the same warning to His disciples.

Matt 7:15-16 "Beware of the false prophets, who come to
you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly are ravenous wolves.
16 "You will know them by their fruits. Grapes are not gathered
from thorn bushes, nor figs from thistles, are they? (NAS)

But if a false prophet comes wearing sheep's clothing, won't they be hard
to spot. Yes, they will. But a wolf has a very different diet than a
sheep does. Wolves eat sheep. They will ravage a flock of sheep left
unchecked. Outwardly, their doctrine is correct, their speech, hair and dimples
are correct. But off to the side, they mummer. They will pick on some minor
point in the sermon that didn't quite fit, or take a background comment out
and disagree vigorously with it. The purpose of this back biting is to draw
attention to themselves and away from the message and Jesus.

They may feed on the newer Christians first, or others who are not well grounded
in the Bible. If they can sink their teeth in and draw others to their
way of thinking, they will form a group of clique of followers. The Holy
Spirit is our guide. In His ministry, the Holy Spirit never points to Himself,
but always to Jesus. The conviction we may feel in our hearts is placed there
to lead us to Jesus. If there is a question about something someone
has said, go to that person and talk with them. Maybe they have a piece of
the puzzle you've never seen before. Maybe they have missed the mark in their
thinking and you can help them see where their logic falters.

Prov 27:17 Iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another.
(NAS)

If we help each other, work with our teachers and elders, we are sure to
grow in wisdom and humility. If we are so sure that we are right that we
can't talk, there is no humble heart left. The person who can not take correction
is someone standing on a very slippery slope.

Prov 15:32-33 He who neglects discipline despises himself,
but he who listens to reproof acquires understanding. 33 The
fear of the LORD is the instruction for wisdom, and before honor comes humility.
(NAS)

If there is confusion of strife in a situation, it is not from the Holy Spirit.
Paul pleads with the Galations in Galations 3, "Who has bewitched you...".
They had been sold a bill of goods. They were working to please God by those
works instead of living by faith. Paul had to go back and untangle the
knots and show them the simple faith they had once been given. One way
to not get caught up like this is to keep it simple. The deepest, most powerful
truths of the scriptures are the simplest. "Jesus loves me this I know,
for the Bible tells me so." was quoted by one theologian as the most
powerful truth he knew. This gentleman was fairly liberal in his theology,
but he knew the power and depth of the love that Jesus has for
His children. Start there, work slowly outward, keeping it simple. Build
a strong, well grounded faith.

Titus 3:9-11 But shun foolish controversies and genealogies
and strife and disputes about the Law; for they are unprofitable and worthless.
10 Reject a factious man after a first and second warning,
11 knowing that such a man is perverted and is sinning, being
self-condemned. (NAS)

The warning against these false teachers and prophets still has merit. There
are those who have their own agenda, not God's in the church today. Pray
for them. Guard against those who will not humble themselves before the Lord.
Keep your own faith strong and simple. Study the truth, so you will immediately
recognize the subtle error that can be spun by a wolf in sheeps clothing.

Gal 5:22-23 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy,
peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,
23 gentleness, self-control; against such things there is
no law. (NAS)

Lord Jesus, please guard our hearts from pride and
error. Keep our hearts rooted deep in the simple, powerful truths that are
the basis of our faith in You. When we know these truths, men and women who
would come in to deceive and destroy the flock will be known for who they
are. Reach them with Your love and grace. Amen.