There Are Wolves Among the Sheep

Friends, I want to warn you about a problem that is becoming more and more important for us to pay attention to in these last days. Jesus warned us about them in Matthew 7:15 when He said, “Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves.” 

In one parable, He also referred to them as “tares sown among the wheat”. The Apostle Paul also had much to say about these same false prophets, these trouble makers, these people who would pervert the Word of God to lead you astray and away from the Truth of God’s Word. Apparently, the Church in Galatia was having a very big problem with “False Prophets” or “wolves in sheep’s clothing” and Paul addressed this situation in his letter to them. I am going to read for you from Galatians chapter 1, verses 6-9. “I marvel that you are turning away so soon from Him who called you in the grace of Christ, to a different gospel, which is not another; but there are some who trouble you and want to pervert the gospel of Christ. But even if we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel to you than what we have preached to you, let him be accursed. As we have said before, so now I say again, if anyone preaches any other gospel to you than what you have received, let him be accursed.”

Paul was dealing with a very specific problem here in this church that he had planted. He had previously entered the city, he had preached the pure Gospel of Jesus Christ in that city and apparently a number of people had given their lives to Christ and they were ready to follow Him. Understand that Paul was a “church planter”. His function was to go into a city, preach the Gospel, lead people to Christ, and then stay with them a while and disciple them in the truth until he felt that he could safely leave them with a strong leadership to continue the work he had begun…and then he would go on to another city and do the same thing. So needless to say, these people were very precious to Paul…he had birthed them in the faith, he had led them through their infant stages in their spiritual walk. In other words…Paul loved this church!

And now, Paul was receiving word that the Church in Galatia was not doing well. He was hearing that some false prophets…some false teachers…some “wolves in sheep’s clothing” if you will, had come in and was teaching a false Gospel. They were perverting the pure Word of God that Paul had so carefully taught them, and they were turning God’s Truth into a lie! And some of the people were following these False Prophets. Friends, I want to tell you, there are False Prophets are among us today just as they were in Paul’s day, and they are still perverting the pure Word of God and they are still teaching and preaching a false Gospel. This is a time when we MUST be alert and we MUST be able to discern what is real and true from what is false and a lie! And the ONLY way to discern a lie is to KNOW the Truth. I want to share with you 3 things you should know in order to identify a perversion of God’s Word so that you will better know when a “Wolf in Sheep’s Clothing” is present. 

1. The message they preach will often sound too good to be true. You should know that Jesus told us to count the cost of following Him. He told us over and over that we would need to deny ourselves, pick up our cross and follow Him. Jesus did not promise to make us healthy, wealthy and wise…He did not promise to send us riches beyond our wildest imagination. What He did promise us is POWER from the Holy Spirit to be witnesses unto Him. He promised us that He would always be with us even to the end of the age. He promised us that He would guide us into all Truth. So my friends, if you are hearing a message that is promising you riches and material wealth and a “happy-go-lucky” lifestyle…if they are not telling you that there is a cost to following Christ…if they are not telling you there will be hardships when you become a Christian…you can know that the person you are listening to is a False Prophet…he or she is a “Wolf in Sheep’s Clothing”!
2. If they are drawing more attention to themselves rather than giving glory to God …you can know that person is a “Wolf in Sheep’s Clothing”. Many times you see preachers performing all kinds of great acts…but when you read the Bible, those things just did not happen in Biblical days. Now I do understand that God can do anything He wants and He can manifest His power in many different ways, but let me tell you this…as many people as Jesus, James, John, Peter and Paul prayed for, if the Holy Spirit didn’t manifest His power in that way in their day, He is not doing it today. Many times the things you see them doing draws more attention to the preacher than it does to God. Jesus said, “And these signs will follow those who believe: In My name they will cast out demons; they will speak with new tongues; they will take up serpents; and if they drink anything deadly, it will by no means hurt them; they will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover.” (Mark 16:17-18) These are the signs He told us we can expect to follow those who are ministering in His Name. The show that many preachers put on are not from God…but they are rather “wolves in sheep’s clothing”.
3. If they are taking scripture out of context and what they are preaching does not line up with ALL of God’s Word and also the Character of Who He is…then you can know the preacher is a “wolf in sheep’s clothing”. These people are out to lead you astray and have you to believe their lies, and usually by doing so, they will reap some kind of benefit for themselves. Friends…I want to tell you that God’s Word is Truth…ALL of it! And God’s Character lines up with His Word. But if you do not KNOW God’s Word and if you do not KNOW God’s character, then you will be deceived! And again…there is NO other way to know God and His Word besides regular Bible study and prayer. There is NO shortcut…to KNOW God, you must spend time in His presence. I would encourage you to set aside time every day to pray and study the Word of God so that when “wolves in sheep’s clothing” appear, you will be able to recognize them and stay faithful to God. 

Friends…Jesus knew these False Prophets would be working to lead you astray in these last days…that is why He warned us of them in His Word. He wants us to beware…He wants us to recognize them when they come…He wants us to feed on His pure Word and to know the real God. Let me encourage you today to spend time in His Word…Learn His true Word, and spend time in His presence every day in prayer…if you do, then you will learn to recognize when the False Prophets are preaching a False word…and you will not follow them. 

I’d like to pray with you now if I may….

“Father, I thank you that You have given us warning in Your Word about the “sheep in wolves clothing” …those False Prophets that want to lead us away from the pure Word that comes only from you. We ask today that You would help us to recognize when they come and to turn away from their lies, and to learn only Your Truth that will lead us to Life Everlasting. Teach us Your Truth by Your Holy Spirit so that we will know You and know Your Character and stay on the path of Life Everlasting. We give you praise and honor and glory today dear Lord…In Jesus Name…Amen.”