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As I was working one day, I overheard a couple of
coworkers speaking about the Gospel. Not in a good manner, but speaking
how they can pervert the Gospel by deceiving people with their words. I
continued to listen to their words as they were quoting scriptures out
of context. This made me realize how easily these ravenous wolves can
easily deceive people who are saved, those who do not study His Word or
the people who do not know God.
How do we recognize
these ravenous wolves?
Beware of false
prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are
ravenous wolves. ( Matt. 7: 15).
Then if anyone
says to you, “Look, here is the Christ!” or, “Look, He is there!” do not
believe it. For false christs and false prophets will rise and show
signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect. But take
heed; see, I have told you all things beforehand (Mark 13: 21-23).
For there are
many insubordinate, both idle talkers and deceivers, especially those of
the circumcision, whose mouths must be stopped, who subvert whole
households, teaching things which they ought not, for the sake of
dishonest gain. One of them, a prophet of their own, said, “Cretans are
always liars, evil beasts, lazy gluttons.” This testimony is true.
Therefore rebuke them sharply, that they many be sound in the faith, not
giving heed to Jewish fables and commandments of men who turn from the
truth (Titus 1: 10-14).
What motivates
these false prophets and teachers?
Now the
purpose of the commandment is love from a pure heart, from a good
conscience, and from sincere faith, from which some, having strayed,
have turned aside to idle talk, desiring to be teachers of the law,
understanding neither what they say nor the things which they affirm (1
Tim. 1:5).
But there were also false prophets among
the people, even as there will be false teachers among you, who will
secretly bring in destructive heresies, even denying the Lord who bought
them, and bring on themselves swift destruction. And many will follow
their destructive ways, because of whom the way of truth will be
blasphemed. By covetousness they will exploit you with deceptive words;
for a long time their judgment has not been idle, and their destruction
does not slumber (2 Pet. 2:1-3)
So let no one judge you in food or in
drink, or regarding a festival or a new moon or Sabbaths, which are a
shadow of things to come, but the substance is of Christ. Let no one
cheat you of your reward, taking delight in false humility and worship
of angels, intruding into those things which he has not seen, vainly
puffed up by his fleshly mind, and not holding fast to the Head, from
whom all the body, nourished and knit together by joints and ligaments,
grows with the increase that is from God. Therefore, if you died with
Christ from the basic principles of the world, why, as though living in
the world, do you subject yourselves to regulations—”Do not touch, do
not taste, do not handle,” which all concern things which perish with
the using—according to the commandments and doctrines of men? These
things indeed have an appearance of wisdom in self-imposed religion,
false humility, and neglect of the body, but are of no value against the
indulgence of the flesh (Col. 2: 16-23).
Who listens to them?
In the Bible, the Holy Spirit speaks
how in the later times that some shall depart from the faith giving heed
to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils; speaking lies in
hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron; forbidding to
marry, and commanding to abstain from meats, which God hath created to
be received with thanksgiving of them which believe and know the truth
(1 Tim. 4: 1-3). Also, many churches have invited such teachings as
stated in the Bible.
For a
time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their
own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears;
and they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned
unto fables (2 Tim. 4:3-4).
Many of
these wolves can be spiritual leaders who were strong in the Lord, but
who were deceived and began to pervert the Lord’s ministry or mere men
who want to deceive others to gain power and riches. Not only do the
saved get deceived, but those who don’t know God too. In the last ten
years, I have heard and seen the destruction of such false teachings.
Many people had lost their homes, children, and lives due to deceiving
prophets and teachers.
How can you know when a person is
speaking truth?
When we listen to others we should judge
their doctrine according to God’s Word, and how they conduct themselves
in public and private. Their teaching must be consistent with the Word
of God. We must take time to study the Word of God, and search what it
says concerning the subjects being taught by others. If we open our
heart to the Holy Spirit, He shall guide us in all truth and reveal all
of God’s Word to us.
Do their actions operate accordingly to
God’s Word?
You will know them by their fruits. Do
men gather grapes from thornbushes or figs from thistles? Even so, every
good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. A good tree
cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a bad tree bear good fruit. Every tree
that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.
Therefore by their fruits you will know them ( Matt. 7: 16-20).
To the
pure all things are pure, but to those who are defiled and unbelieving
nothing is pure; but even their mind and conscience are defiled. They
profess to know God, but in works they deny Him, being abominable,
disobedient, and disqualified for every good work (Titus 1: 15-16).
Remember those who rule over you, who have spoken the Word of God to
you, whose faith follow, considering the outcome of their conduct.
Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever. Do not be
carried about with various and strange doctrines (Heb. 7-8).
What will happen to these false prophets
and teachers?
They shall receive swift destruction and
be cut down and thrown into the fire. (2 Pet. 2:1-3, Matt. 7:19-20)
God doesn’t want His children to be
deceived into believing fables, traditions of men, performing or
teaching things that are not according to His Word. He wants us to study
and meditate upon His Word and know the truth about Him, His Kingdom,
and His creation.
And
this I say, lest any man should beguile you with enticing words. For
though I be absent in the flesh, yet am I with you in the spirit, joying
and beholding your order, and the steadfastness of your faith in Christ.
As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in Him:
Rooted and built up in him, and stablished in the faith, as ye have been
taught, abounding therein with thanksgiving. 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 (Col. 2: 4-8).
Let no
man beguile you of your reward in a voluntary humility and worshipping
of angels, intruding into those things which he hath not seen, vainly
puffed up by his fleshly mind. And not holding the Head, from which all
the body by joints and bands having nourishment ministered, and knit
together, increaseth with the increase of God. Wherefore if ye be dead
with Christ from the rudiments of the world, why, as though living in
the world, are ye subject to ordinances, (touch not; taste not; handle
not; Which things have indeed a shew of wisdom in will worship; and
humility, and neglecting of the body; not in any honour to the
satisfying of the flesh (Col. 2: 18-23).
People who trust, believe and study God’s
Word should not be easily moved or deceived by these false teachers. Let
our foundation be built upon the Word of God, which no elements or
doctrines can destroy our faith in Him. |
