WATCH OUT FOR WOLVES!

But there were also false prophets in Israel, just as there will be false teachers among you. They will cleverly teach destructive heresies and even deny the Master who bought them. In this way, they will bring sudden destruction on themselves. Many will follow their evil teaching and shameful immorality. And because of these teachers, the way of truth will be slandered. In their greed they will make up clever lies to get hold of your money. But God condemned them long ago, and their destruction will not be delayed. —II Peter 2:1-3

“The church only wants your money! That is all the church is after!” How many times have we heard that or maybe you have said that? It is unfortunate when people think this way, but they have probably been given a reason to think like they do as this brief clip declares… https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ofGQcpqTYFw. There are too many examples of people involved in ministry for the sake of “fleecing the sheep.” These greedy con artists give an opportunity for people to think the church “is only after your money.”

But, according to the passage above and many others, this is nothing new. It is so unfortunate, but there will always be false teachers seeking to line their own pockets while taking advantage of the sheep. Because of them, the way of truth will be slandered and “Many will follow their evil teaching and shameful immorality.” These false teachers “will cleverly teach destructive heresies and even deny the Master who bought them.”

So many people are led astray by false teachers. They sound so good, but even “Satan himself masquerades as an angel of light. It is not surprising, then, if his servants also masquerade as servants of righteousness. Their end will be what their actions deserve” (II Corinthians 11:14-15). These false teachers are known by God and He “condemned them long ago, and their destruction will not be delayed.”

Those of us following Jesus have been given the Holy Spirit and His Word to guide us. In Hebrews 5:14 we are told that “solid food is for the mature, who by constant use have trained themselves to distinguish good from evil.” We need to be faithfully applying God’s Word to life in the power of the Holy Spirit. It is then that we will understand what is true and what is not. Thanks be to God who gives us what we need to discern what is His and what comes from the adversary!

Dear Father, please help me to yield to Your Holy Spirit, Your Son and Your Word, applying Your truth to life. Yes, may this be so!