Post by danny.lirette on Mar 13, 2009 23:16:29 GMT -5
Ravening Wolves and how to detect them
Matthew 7:15 “Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves.”
Scripture is explicit that false prophets will arise from within the ranks of Evangelical Christendom to devour the Sheep of the Lord’s Pasture, and not only is Scripture clear on this issue, but gives us ways in which we can know for certain whether one is a ravening wolf or not.
My belief is that it’s paramount to know what Scripture teaches on this issue as today we have a myriad of false teachers standing in our pulpits and sitting in our pews; the need to test the spirits is a great one indeed! Our very spiritual lives depend on it, Beloved!
1 John 4:1 “Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world.”
Let me state, however, that testing the spirits should not become some type of “discernment ministry” whereby we spend our lives on such an issue; our goal is to take into our hearts Biblical Principles in which to utilize when the need arises.
To spend one’s life on “discernment” would be an imbalance of great proportions, as would spending time on any single topic, thus neglecting the whole counsel of the Word of God in our lives.
Let’s take a look at what Scripture states concerning “ravening wolves” so we can gain a greater understanding on how to detect them when they approach.
1- A ravening wolf is a filthy dreamer who defiles the flesh, despises dominion and speaks evil of dignities:
Jude 1:8-10 “Likewise also these filthy dreamers defile the flesh, despise dominion, and speak evil of dignities. 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. 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.”
Beloved, wolves are known by their fancy talk… they speak of supernatural happenings at all times… they tell tall tales of angelic visitations, seeing Jesus Christ, going to Heaven and such things, and yet their tall tales are known as false because they also “defile the flesh”. These filthy dreamers are whoremongers and live lives of sexual sin, committing all sorts of defilements! Further to this, these wolves also “despise dominions and speak evil of dignities”. They have no trouble hating Scriptural authority that would stop them in their tracks. They find it pleasurable to speak evil of those whom God has set over the Flock to lead and protect it from them. They also see no problem with coming against spiritual powers, constantly “rebuking the devil” and being high minded in their words against unseen forces that can only be stopped by the Lord’s Power in and through a Saint. They constantly speak of spiritual warfare and see a devil under every bush and consequently “rebuke it” and then tell of great victories that actually exist only in their perverted imaginations. The Scripture tells us above that they have no idea what they’re even talking about and in doing all of these things they corrupt themselves. The Word also calls them “brute beasts”; these ravening wolves are like out-of-control animals!
2- A ravening wolf has a false religion, a murderous heart, an appetite to get your money and ultimately has spiritually perished though he physically live:
Jude 1:11 “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.”
A ravening wolf has walked off of the Narrow Way in exchange for Cain’s Way, which is a way of false religion and murder. These wolves appear to have a devotion to Christ with their “sacrifices” to Him, but their sacrifices are all of the flesh and not Spirit Borne. They hate the True Church which has come to God through Christ’s Blood alone. Just as Cain killed his brother Abel, so wolves hate the True Church of God which offers sacrifice to God in pureness of heart. They also take advantage of those within the True Church, for financial gain. These ravening wolves will stop at nothing to make merchandise of you, using worldly and demonically originated gimmicks to make you “buy a blessing” from God. Though they seem spiritual and hacve great sounding words, the reality is that these are ravening wolves, and these ravening wolves are spiritually perished!
3- A ravening wolf is quite literally out of control and the Fear of God is absent from their lives:
Jude 1:12-13 “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; Raging waves of the sea, foaming out their own shame; wandering stars, to whom is reserved the blackness of darkness for ever.”
As a dirty blemish on a white shirt, so are wolves to the True Church of God. Wolves partake of Communion Love Feasts with a clear absence of the Fear of God. They’re “clouds without water”, meaning they appear as though they possess the Spirit of God but in reality are clearly without the Holy Spirit within! Wolves are carried to and fro, spewing all sorts of damnable heresies and doctrines, never able to come to the knowledge of the Truth. They appear to have “good fruit” but ultimately the inside of a wolf is “full of dead men’s bones” and in reality have no true fruit of the Spirit because wolves don’t possess the Holy Spirit. They’re twice dead, showing that wolves one knew the Lord but refused to repent and thus became wolves after knowing the Lord and after being cleansed by His Blood. Presently, wolves are “plucked up by the roots” showing they have no true and lasting Faith in Jesus Christ; their’s is a false faith and a facade and sham. Wolves are also “raging waves of the sea” showing that they’re quite literally out of control, and are filled with shame as their shame foams out of them. Pastor Jonathan Steeper of Highfield Baptist church once brought out the term “wandering stars” wonderfully and pointed out that stars simply do not wander! Wolves however wander to and fro, from place to place, from church to church, seeking sheep to devour! Ultimately, the portion of the wolf who refuses to repent and turn to genuine Faith in Jesus Christ is eternal damnation.
4- The end of the wolf is God’s Judgment:
Jude 1:14-15 “And Enoch also, the seventh from Adam, prophesied of these, saying, Behold, the Lord cometh with ten thousands of his saints, 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.”
The Judgment of God is a certainty for all wolves; they will not escape the fierce Wrath of God. In this Judgement the wolf will be stripped of all of his delusions and will be convinced by the Lord God Himself of what spirit they have operated in all this time. No wolf will be able to escape the Mighty Judgment of God on that fearful Day!
5- Wolves murmur (whisper in order to separate), complain. walk in all sorts of lust and take advantage of God’s People:
Jude 1:16 “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.”
Wolves whisper often with the chief goal of separating the Flock of God. Whispering lies and deceit, the wolf is not content until he sees that the Sheep of God are running in fear and confusion; in this the wolf is able to single out a sheep in order to devour that sheep. Wolves also walk in lust; sexual lust, financial lust, and all sorts of vile lusts! Their hearts and minds are given over by God to do those things which are not convenient. They also come with great sounded words; they lift men up in pride, purposely speaking high things of individuals in order to take advantage of them; they speak high things in order to get your money and material possessions and want you to hold them in high esteem.
6- The Sheep were warned that wolves would come and what they would be like:
Jude 1:17-18 “But, beloved, remember ye the words which were spoken before of the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ.How that they told you there should be mockers in the last time, who should walk after their own ungodly lusts.“
Jesus Christ and His Apostles forewarned us that wolves would come to devour the Sheep; hence it is of utmost importance that we learn Biblical principles on how to detect a wolf if he’s among the Flock of God in order that we might seek the Lord in the matter and warn the Shepherd and Sheep that a wolf has entered the fold.
7- The greatest characteristic of a wolf is that he does not have the Holy Spirit but possess only a sensual spirit:
Jude 1:19 “These be they who separate themselves, sensual, having not the Spirit.”
Here we see Jude clearly judging the Salvation of the wolf. A great tragedy it is to rebuke a Sheep for testing a wolf and declaring the wold to be lost and without God. The wold may have miracle stories, a spiced up testimony, great sounding words and a host of other traits, but the single greatest characteristic that a wolf is a wolf is that he does not possess the Holy Spirit. This shows that a wolf, though he may have many words and public ministry roles, does not have the clear fruit of the Holy Spirit in his life; a wold doesn’t live a righteous and godly lifestyle, regardless of his public ministry activities and great sounding testimonies. A wolf is sensual, meaning “James.3:15 , “sensual” (RV marg., “natural” or “animal”), here relating perhaps more especially to the mind, a wisdom in accordance with, or springing from, the corrupt desires and affections; so in Jude1:19 (from Vine’s Expository Dictionary of New Testament Words).
8- Sheep are not without hope when a wolf enters the sheepfold:
Jude 1:20-21 “But ye, beloved, building up yourselves on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Ghost, Keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life.”
While wolves will be wolves and can only do what wolves naturally do, so we who are the Sheep of God must put our natural desires to death and see that our most holy faith is built up daily by praying in the Holy Spirit. In doing this, we’ll keep ourselves in the Love God and will constantly seek the Mercy of Jesus Christ “unto eternal life”. The Sheep of God must always remain “In Christ” by walking with God in simple child like trust and obedience, never neglecting Holy Spirit led prayer and the digging in of God’s Word.
9- God is able to keep the Sheep from being devoured by the wolf! Amen!
Jude 1:24 “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,”
Though the study of the wolf look dreary and drab, the end result is a wonderfully painted picture by Jude of the Saving and Keeping Power of the Blood of Jesus! The Lord is able to keep us from falling into any sin whatsoever, and to also keep us from falling into the teeth of the wolf, which are designed to kill. God’s Keeping Power is also able to present us faultless before God with inexpressible joy! If we’re truly seeking the Lord’s face and walking honestly before Him in integrity, we have nothing to fear! The Lord’s Blood will keep us! Hallelujah!
10- The Sheep must realize that the only true wisdom is from God Himself and we not not only realize this, but we must have true faith and daily ask God for His wisdom; in this we’ll be planted in a safe place in Christ from wolves:
Jude 1:25 “To the only wise God our Saviour, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and ever. Amen.”
True wisdom comes only from God and true Salvation comes only from God. Wolves cannot touch the Sheep if the Sheep fully and completely rely on the wisdom and saving Power of God which is in Christ and which is available to any Sheep that ask as God has promised to give us wisdom liberally if we ask Him (James1:5 )! We can absolutely rest in the promises of God to keep us from deception and from the devouring teeth of wolves if we trust fully on and in Christ.
Matthew 7:15 “Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves.”
Scripture is explicit that false prophets will arise from within the ranks of Evangelical Christendom to devour the Sheep of the Lord’s Pasture, and not only is Scripture clear on this issue, but gives us ways in which we can know for certain whether one is a ravening wolf or not.
My belief is that it’s paramount to know what Scripture teaches on this issue as today we have a myriad of false teachers standing in our pulpits and sitting in our pews; the need to test the spirits is a great one indeed! Our very spiritual lives depend on it, Beloved!
1 John 4:1 “Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world.”
Let me state, however, that testing the spirits should not become some type of “discernment ministry” whereby we spend our lives on such an issue; our goal is to take into our hearts Biblical Principles in which to utilize when the need arises.
To spend one’s life on “discernment” would be an imbalance of great proportions, as would spending time on any single topic, thus neglecting the whole counsel of the Word of God in our lives.
Let’s take a look at what Scripture states concerning “ravening wolves” so we can gain a greater understanding on how to detect them when they approach.
1- A ravening wolf is a filthy dreamer who defiles the flesh, despises dominion and speaks evil of dignities:
Jude 1:8-10 “Likewise also these filthy dreamers defile the flesh, despise dominion, and speak evil of dignities. 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. 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.”
Beloved, wolves are known by their fancy talk… they speak of supernatural happenings at all times… they tell tall tales of angelic visitations, seeing Jesus Christ, going to Heaven and such things, and yet their tall tales are known as false because they also “defile the flesh”. These filthy dreamers are whoremongers and live lives of sexual sin, committing all sorts of defilements! Further to this, these wolves also “despise dominions and speak evil of dignities”. They have no trouble hating Scriptural authority that would stop them in their tracks. They find it pleasurable to speak evil of those whom God has set over the Flock to lead and protect it from them. They also see no problem with coming against spiritual powers, constantly “rebuking the devil” and being high minded in their words against unseen forces that can only be stopped by the Lord’s Power in and through a Saint. They constantly speak of spiritual warfare and see a devil under every bush and consequently “rebuke it” and then tell of great victories that actually exist only in their perverted imaginations. The Scripture tells us above that they have no idea what they’re even talking about and in doing all of these things they corrupt themselves. The Word also calls them “brute beasts”; these ravening wolves are like out-of-control animals!
2- A ravening wolf has a false religion, a murderous heart, an appetite to get your money and ultimately has spiritually perished though he physically live:
Jude 1:11 “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.”
A ravening wolf has walked off of the Narrow Way in exchange for Cain’s Way, which is a way of false religion and murder. These wolves appear to have a devotion to Christ with their “sacrifices” to Him, but their sacrifices are all of the flesh and not Spirit Borne. They hate the True Church which has come to God through Christ’s Blood alone. Just as Cain killed his brother Abel, so wolves hate the True Church of God which offers sacrifice to God in pureness of heart. They also take advantage of those within the True Church, for financial gain. These ravening wolves will stop at nothing to make merchandise of you, using worldly and demonically originated gimmicks to make you “buy a blessing” from God. Though they seem spiritual and hacve great sounding words, the reality is that these are ravening wolves, and these ravening wolves are spiritually perished!
3- A ravening wolf is quite literally out of control and the Fear of God is absent from their lives:
Jude 1:12-13 “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; Raging waves of the sea, foaming out their own shame; wandering stars, to whom is reserved the blackness of darkness for ever.”
As a dirty blemish on a white shirt, so are wolves to the True Church of God. Wolves partake of Communion Love Feasts with a clear absence of the Fear of God. They’re “clouds without water”, meaning they appear as though they possess the Spirit of God but in reality are clearly without the Holy Spirit within! Wolves are carried to and fro, spewing all sorts of damnable heresies and doctrines, never able to come to the knowledge of the Truth. They appear to have “good fruit” but ultimately the inside of a wolf is “full of dead men’s bones” and in reality have no true fruit of the Spirit because wolves don’t possess the Holy Spirit. They’re twice dead, showing that wolves one knew the Lord but refused to repent and thus became wolves after knowing the Lord and after being cleansed by His Blood. Presently, wolves are “plucked up by the roots” showing they have no true and lasting Faith in Jesus Christ; their’s is a false faith and a facade and sham. Wolves are also “raging waves of the sea” showing that they’re quite literally out of control, and are filled with shame as their shame foams out of them. Pastor Jonathan Steeper of Highfield Baptist church once brought out the term “wandering stars” wonderfully and pointed out that stars simply do not wander! Wolves however wander to and fro, from place to place, from church to church, seeking sheep to devour! Ultimately, the portion of the wolf who refuses to repent and turn to genuine Faith in Jesus Christ is eternal damnation.
4- The end of the wolf is God’s Judgment:
Jude 1:14-15 “And Enoch also, the seventh from Adam, prophesied of these, saying, Behold, the Lord cometh with ten thousands of his saints, 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.”
The Judgment of God is a certainty for all wolves; they will not escape the fierce Wrath of God. In this Judgement the wolf will be stripped of all of his delusions and will be convinced by the Lord God Himself of what spirit they have operated in all this time. No wolf will be able to escape the Mighty Judgment of God on that fearful Day!
5- Wolves murmur (whisper in order to separate), complain. walk in all sorts of lust and take advantage of God’s People:
Jude 1:16 “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.”
Wolves whisper often with the chief goal of separating the Flock of God. Whispering lies and deceit, the wolf is not content until he sees that the Sheep of God are running in fear and confusion; in this the wolf is able to single out a sheep in order to devour that sheep. Wolves also walk in lust; sexual lust, financial lust, and all sorts of vile lusts! Their hearts and minds are given over by God to do those things which are not convenient. They also come with great sounded words; they lift men up in pride, purposely speaking high things of individuals in order to take advantage of them; they speak high things in order to get your money and material possessions and want you to hold them in high esteem.
6- The Sheep were warned that wolves would come and what they would be like:
Jude 1:17-18 “But, beloved, remember ye the words which were spoken before of the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ.How that they told you there should be mockers in the last time, who should walk after their own ungodly lusts.“
Jesus Christ and His Apostles forewarned us that wolves would come to devour the Sheep; hence it is of utmost importance that we learn Biblical principles on how to detect a wolf if he’s among the Flock of God in order that we might seek the Lord in the matter and warn the Shepherd and Sheep that a wolf has entered the fold.
7- The greatest characteristic of a wolf is that he does not have the Holy Spirit but possess only a sensual spirit:
Jude 1:19 “These be they who separate themselves, sensual, having not the Spirit.”
Here we see Jude clearly judging the Salvation of the wolf. A great tragedy it is to rebuke a Sheep for testing a wolf and declaring the wold to be lost and without God. The wold may have miracle stories, a spiced up testimony, great sounding words and a host of other traits, but the single greatest characteristic that a wolf is a wolf is that he does not possess the Holy Spirit. This shows that a wolf, though he may have many words and public ministry roles, does not have the clear fruit of the Holy Spirit in his life; a wold doesn’t live a righteous and godly lifestyle, regardless of his public ministry activities and great sounding testimonies. A wolf is sensual, meaning “James.3:15 , “sensual” (RV marg., “natural” or “animal”), here relating perhaps more especially to the mind, a wisdom in accordance with, or springing from, the corrupt desires and affections; so in Jude1:19 (from Vine’s Expository Dictionary of New Testament Words).
8- Sheep are not without hope when a wolf enters the sheepfold:
Jude 1:20-21 “But ye, beloved, building up yourselves on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Ghost, Keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life.”
While wolves will be wolves and can only do what wolves naturally do, so we who are the Sheep of God must put our natural desires to death and see that our most holy faith is built up daily by praying in the Holy Spirit. In doing this, we’ll keep ourselves in the Love God and will constantly seek the Mercy of Jesus Christ “unto eternal life”. The Sheep of God must always remain “In Christ” by walking with God in simple child like trust and obedience, never neglecting Holy Spirit led prayer and the digging in of God’s Word.
9- God is able to keep the Sheep from being devoured by the wolf! Amen!
Jude 1:24 “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,”
Though the study of the wolf look dreary and drab, the end result is a wonderfully painted picture by Jude of the Saving and Keeping Power of the Blood of Jesus! The Lord is able to keep us from falling into any sin whatsoever, and to also keep us from falling into the teeth of the wolf, which are designed to kill. God’s Keeping Power is also able to present us faultless before God with inexpressible joy! If we’re truly seeking the Lord’s face and walking honestly before Him in integrity, we have nothing to fear! The Lord’s Blood will keep us! Hallelujah!
10- The Sheep must realize that the only true wisdom is from God Himself and we not not only realize this, but we must have true faith and daily ask God for His wisdom; in this we’ll be planted in a safe place in Christ from wolves:
Jude 1:25 “To the only wise God our Saviour, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and ever. Amen.”
True wisdom comes only from God and true Salvation comes only from God. Wolves cannot touch the Sheep if the Sheep fully and completely rely on the wisdom and saving Power of God which is in Christ and which is available to any Sheep that ask as God has promised to give us wisdom liberally if we ask Him (James1:5 )! We can absolutely rest in the promises of God to keep us from deception and from the devouring teeth of wolves if we trust fully on and in Christ.