I found a book today in a thrift store. It's an old children’s book called Aesop’s Fables. This book was copyrighted in 1947. by Grosset & Dunlap, Inc.
While standing there looking though the table of contents, the second story in the book is called The Wolf in Sheep’s Clothing. As I read through it, I thought to myself; "Hmm, a fable huh." I shall show you what it says:
"A wolf had been lurking near a flock of sheep for several days. But so vigilant had been the shepherd in guarding his animals that the wolf was becoming desperate. Then one day the wolf found a sheepskin that had been thrown away. Quickly He slipped it on over his own hide and made his way among the flock of grazing sheep. Even the shepherd was deceived by the ruse, and when night came the wolf in his disguise was shut up with the sheep in the fold. But that evening the shepherd, wanting something for his supper, went down to the fold, and reaching in, seized the first animal he came to. Mistaking the wolf for a sheep the shepherd killed him on the spot."
Now this is so familiar to the Scripture about the wolf in sheep's clothing that I had to buy this book. Now the Scriptures say; "Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep's clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves. You will recognise them by their fruits..." Matthew 7:15. And another says: "Behold, I am sending you as sheep in the midst of wolves, so be wise as serpents and innocent as doves." Matthew 10:16. In Ezekiel 22:27 says; "Her princes in her midst are like wolves tearing the prey, shedding blood, destroying lives to get dishonest gain."
When it says that you will know these wolves by their fruit, how will you be able to tell? When Paul was preaching to the church of Ephesus, he said: "I know this, that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock. Also of your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them."
When Jesus was on the earth, he knew what it meant to be under authority, for He was under the authority of His Father in heaven who had sent Him. Jesus was doing the will of His Father here on earth. Whatever the Father willed for Jesus to do, Jesus did what His Father told Him. Wolves that disguise themselves in sheep clothing have issues with authority. They take it upon themselves to teach or preach what they think should be given to God's people. Things that do not go along with the Word of God. They twist things to suite their own ways, and push it upon others. These wolves make the Word of God unspiritual. Why? Because they do not go by the Word or the authority of God. God has not called them to preach against His Word. If you listen and watch them, you will wonder if they are spiritually covered with the covering of God's Will. They will claim that they do, but compare what they say with the Bible and the Words of God to see if they are speaking the truth.
When someone tells you that what they say is truth, and that they know more than you, or that they want to argue their petition on a certain subject of the Bible, they will become angry, offended, and will manipulate and control the way you think. They will use this to convince you that you have no knowledge as they do. They will throw a ball and chain at you until you cannot hold the weight of argument any longer. This is how the wolves use their intimidation toward you and you will not realize what happened. They can be so convincing without giving you a chance to research it for yourself. Just as Satan in the garden of Eden used his tactful intimidation toward Eve, convincing her that she will not die by eating the forbidden fruit God told her and Adam not to touch, so these wolves use the same tactful intimidation toward the people who would have a hint of correction to their lies. Smooth sayings being tacked on to the ever so subtle control of your mind. This is not a character of God, and He has not called these wolves to the office of spreading the good news. If it doesn't agree with the Bible, it is not of God. "My hand will be against the prophets who see false visions and utter lying divinations. They will not belong to the council of my people or be listed in the records of Israel, nor will they enter the land of Israel. Then you will know that I am the Sovereign LORD." Ezekiel 13:9
Arguing over something as simply explained in the Bible, is not how a preacher or a teacher should be spreading the word. Instead of saying, "Lets look in the Word and study this together to reach a conclusion," they go for the throat. They want blood. They want their perception of the truth to be concluded. They become vicious and try to justify their actions for it. This is a huge sign of wolf in the midst. These fake Christian clichés are obviously ravenous. In John 10:12 it says; "But he that is an hireling, and not the shepherd, whose own the sheep are not, seeth the wolf coming, and leaveth the sheep, and fleeth: and the wolf catcheth them, and scattereth the sheep." Once these wolves know that they have the peoples attention to their perceptions of the truth, they are ready for the kill.
When these wolves come to you speaking soft simple and kind words, yet turn around and say something bad or questionable about someone else, that is not a Christ like character. There is an obvious sign that this is a wolf. If this person can preach about being kind to one another in a sermon, then turn around and say something to the contrary of what was preached, or does something contrary to what he or she was just talking about to the people, what does that prove but ravenous actions. Rotten fruit. I was reading in the Word this morning about the LORD showing Jeremiah a basket of figs. The story goes as such;
"The LORD shewed me, and, behold, two baskets of figs were set before the temple of the LORD, after that Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon had carried away captive Jeconiah the son of Jehoiakim king of Judah, and the prines of Judah, with the carpenters and smiths, from Jerusalem, and had brought them to Babylon. One basket had very good figs, even like the figs that are first ripe; and the other basket had very naughty figs, which could not be eaten, they were very bad. Then the LORD said unto me, What seest thou, Jeremiah? And I said, Figs; the good figs, very good; and the evil, very evil, that cannot be eaten, they are so evil..." Jeremiah 24:1-3. These wolves can be just like these evil figs. Very bad and rotten. This is the fruit they bear.
As the Bible is clear upon how we need to be wise and learn how to see these spiritual fruits of these wolves. Do these wolves bear the fruits of the Spirit? Do they have Love, Joy, Peace, patience, kindness, gentleness, and self-control? Do they mask themselves to look the part but behind the doors when closed, are they pulling off their masks and revealing their true nature? When you talk to someone about a Scripture, do they tend to lose patience with you and change their status? One minute they have a smile on their face and as you ask all these questions, and say "Well in the Bible it says this," does their smile turn around and become a frown, or a parse, or a teeth exposer? Do they start getting antsy, or fidgety? Do they start to throw in scenarios or things to slightly change the subject? Do they say we can talk about it later, or make an appointment to come see me in private? Watch for these signs. We all have sinned and fallen short of the glory when we are approached with questions, or with a discussion about Spiritual truths. But when a wolf is approached, he will make it something it shouldn't be. We should be able to discuss the Word by searching the Scriptures, and comparing them together, to find the answers, not to just throw something out there and call it truth. That is why the Bible was written in the first place. "For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the Scriputres might have hope." Romans 15:4.
Some wolves are accurate in the spiritual gifts, but does that mean they are sent from God? Learned men have been given some truths but alot of things are added to take it away from the "Thus saith the LORD" if it doesn't match what the Word says, it shouldn't be preached or taught. "To the law and to the testimony: if they speak not according to this word, it is because there is no light in them." Isaiah 8:20. These wolves should not be given access to the sheep fold. For once they get into the sheep fold the sheep will follow in the wrong direction. And as Jesus said, the sheep will be scattered.
Those who become wolves have been given the wrong information, and are told to go out and convice others of the information given them. And because they are not familiar with the Scriptures, or they were convinced that the Scriptures were not written to mean a certain thing, they listen to man and not God. Everyone is to search the Scriptures for themselves. Study them daily. Not just when you go to church and hear what is preached at the pulpit. Daily time is to be given to God with full intention to learn. Jesus was and is the master teacher. His words are truth. His words are truth because He received them from God the Father. Each morning before we do anything, we are to give an hour to God in His Word and before bed an hour with Him then. We make life too important with work, school, kids, and after school activities, and cooking, and movies, and television, but God is nowhere in the schedule accept on the one day people go in for a couple hours in the pews of the church. Which is on the wrong day in the first place. Wolves have pulled so many of God's sheep away from the fold, that there is but only a few of them left. Those who stands strickly in the truth, and follow Jesus whithersoever He goeth.
Watch for these wolves are lurking around. Who's next in their agenda to lure away another sheep? Jesus says: "Verily, verily, I say unto you, I am the door of the sheep. All that ever came before me are thieves and robbers: but the sheep did not hear them. I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture. The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly. I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep... I am the good shepherd, and know my sheep, and am known of mine. As the Father knoweth me, even so know I the Father: and I lay down my life for the sheep. And other sheep I have, which are not of this fold: them also I must bring, and the shall hear my voice; and there shall be one fold, and one shepherd." John 10:7-10; 14-16.
"Then the LORD said to me, "The prophets are prophesying lies in my name. I have not sent them or appointed them or spoken to them. They are prophesying to you false visions, divinations, idolatries and the delusions of their own minds." Jeremiah 14:14.
"This is what the LORD Almighty says: "Do not listen to what the prophets are prophesying to you; they fill you with false hopes. They speak visions from their own minds, not from the mouth of the LORD."
"For false messiahs and false prophets will appear and perform great signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the very elect." Matthew 24:24.
Let the Word of God be your truth, your witness, your hope, your only answer to anything. Don't listen to man. Watch I say, for appearances often are deceiving.