The Big Bad Wolf

The Lord Jesus warned us about these "wolves in sheep's clothing" in Matthew 7:15 (NKJV)

(Matt. 12:33; Luke 6:43–45)

“Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves."

The Lord reiterated His message in Matthew 24:11 (NKJV)

"Then many false prophets will rise up and deceive many."

In other words, these false prophets will be successful in their quest to deceive many. In what areas will they be successful?

In money and sexual imorality.

You'll know them by their fruit.

Matthew 7:16-20 (NKJV) "You will know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes from thornbushes or figs from thistles? Even so, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit.

A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a bad tree bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. Therefore by their fruits you will know them."

So let's go through the bad fruit that you'll see in church.

Lusting after money and sexual immorality.

Peter teaches us that a true pastor with do the following. 1 Peter 5:2-3 (NKJV) "Shepherd the flock of God which is among you, serving as overseers, not by compulsion but willingly, not for dishonest gain but eagerly; nor as being lords over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock..."

Paul tells us something similar.

1 Timothy 4:12 (NKJV)

"Let no one despise your youth, but be an example to the believers in word, in conduct, in love, in spirit, in faith, in purity."

1 Timothy 3:2-7 (NKJV) "A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, temperate, sober-minded, of good behavior, hospitable, able to teach; not given to wine, not violent, not greedy for money,

but gentle, not quarrelsome, not covetous; one who rules his own house well, having his children in submission with all reverence (for if a man does not know how to rule his own house, how will he take care of the church of God?);

not a novice, lest being puffed up with pride he fall into the same condemnation as the devil. Moreover he must have a good testimony among those who are outside, lest he fall into reproach and the snare of the devil."

Titus 1:5-9 (NKJV) "For this reason I left you in Crete, that you should set in order the things that are lacking, and appoint elders in every city as I commanded you—

if a man is blameless, the husband of one wife, having faithful children not accused of dissipation or insubordination. For a bishop must be blameless, as a steward of God, not self-willed, not quick-tempered, not given to wine, not violent, not greedy for money,

but hospitable, a lover of what is good, sober-minded, just, holy, self-controlled, holding fast the faithful word as he has been taught, that he may be able, by sound doctrine, both to exhort and convict those who contradict."

Titus 1:15-16 (NKJV) "To the pure all things are pure, but to those who are defiled and unbelieving nothing is pure; but even their mind and conscience are defiled.

They profess to know God, but in works they deny Him, being abominable, disobedient, and disqualified for every good work."

When they use all sorts of gimmicks to get you to give, it's a dead giveaway.

2 Corinthians chapters 8 and 9 governs the proper way to give.

On a different note, noticed what's underlined in the qualifications for ministry that it applies to men, not women.

Women have their place in Romans 12:3-21 where women are permitted to participate and further expounded upon in Titus 2:3-5 (NKJV) "...the older women likewise, that they be reverent in behavior, not slanderers, not given to much wine, teachers of good things— that they admonish the young women to love their husbands, to love their children, to be discreet, chaste, homemakers, good, obedient to their own husbands, that the word of God may not be blasphemed."

Paul underscores the role of women in Philippians 4:1-3 and ackowledges the help of women in Romans 16:1-16. Without their vital assistance, Paul's ministry wouldn't have been successful.

Back to my point on wolves in sheep's clothing, it's very simple.

When you don't see these things exemplified in a bishop, overseer, elder, pastor, or minister but you see the opposite of the Word of God, you must run from the big bad wolf.

When a pastor makes a pass at a woman that isn't their wife, beware.

Do your or work and examine them closely, including checking any criminal records and the sexual predator registry.

Like the Word says, they'll be exposed when this takes place.

So watch their fruit.