The prophets of today, and I am no better, have so thoroughly warned Christians of false teachings and false teachers, I.E., the ravening wolves, that the little sheep are huddled together shaking in fear of the next wolf that might come along. These Christians are living in fear of any thinking that is out of the ordinary, or out of their preconceived man made teachings, so much so that fear alone is what will kill them.
The sheep must move along with the Spirit of God after Jesus, or be left behind and be devoured by the enemy. We should put more concentration of teaching the sheep how to recognize wolves in sheep’s clothing for themselves. They need to be taught how to follow Jesus instead of looking to a man for protection, to look out for them.
Stop living in fear of everything that might come along. Pick yourself up and follow Jesus. There is no fear in the Lord. Are you following Jesus or are you just seeking protection? If you are a true follower of Jesus, then you have no self-pride, and you will not put your own survival above the seeking of the Lord Jesus Christ. Fear will mean nothing to you because your desire for Jesus will overwhelm your own desire for self-preservation.
The actual truth is the wolf in sheep’s clothing has been with you all along. He is right in your midst, as the traditions of men. Most of the false teaching you need to be aware of is coming from the pulpit of the institutional church, and has been for generations. This is what Jesus meant by sheep’s clothing. They look like sheep. They speak of peace and love. They look harmless. They are wearing a suit and tie.
2 Timothy 1:7 For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.
Luke 17:33 Whosoever shall seek to save his life shall lose it; and whosoever shall lose his life shall preserve it.
Matthew 15 8This people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth, and honoureth me withtheirlips; but their heart is far from me. 9But in vain they do worship me, teachingfordoctrines the commandments of men.
Matthew 15:14 Let them alone: they be blind leaders of the blind. And if the blind lead the blind, both shall fall into the ditch.
John 6:26 Jesus answered them and said,Verily, verily, I say unto you, Ye seek me, not because ye saw the miracles, but because ye did eat of the loaves, and were filled.
Below is Jesus teaching us how to discern for ourselves the false teachings. He says to examine their fruit. Usually everything they say can be proven biblically, but this is not the end of it. To get the scripture out of balance with itself, or out of context is just as much a lie, as it is misleading. What is the overall thrust of the teaching? What part of the person, what spirit, is attracted to his teachings?
For example, some preachers over-emphasize personal prosperity, and tithing. This is ramped in the charismatic movement. What type of fruit does this teaching yield? The statement is you need prosperity to have the power and provision you need to do God’s work for the kingdom. Or you need healing power to go out and heal others, bringing them into the kingdom, like Jesus did. While all this is biblically indisputable, the over-emphasis of this produces bad fruit. It draws out a desire for personal gain. And the teaching of seed sowing enriches the pockets of the preacher. This is a teaching for itching ears.
2 Timothy 4:3 For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears;
I am picking on the charismatics here, and I do not say they are all guilty of this, but I could just as easily pick on any other denomination. So don’t start throwing stones at them, or you may be next. James 1:5 If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.
Matthew 7 13 Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wideisthe gate, and broadisthe way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: 14Because straitisthe gate, and narrowisthe way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it. 15Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves. 16Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles? 17Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit. 18A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neithercana corrupt tree bring forth good fruit. 19Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire. 20Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them. 21Not 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. 22Many 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? 23And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity. 24Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock: 25And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock. 26And every one that heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man, which built his house upon the sand: 27And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell: and great was the fall of it.