Wolf in Sheep’s Clothing

Matthew 7:15-20 – Wolf in Sheep’s Clothing

• False prophets have been an issue within the church since before it began. 
• The leader of the Local church is Jesus. It belongs to him, is for him, through him and because of him
• Inevitably even when Jesus was on this earth, he warned his followers that there would be people that would come into the fold of the sheep that would present themselves as fellow sheep, but in reality they are wolves
• This is another colloquialism that the world has stolen and made its own with no reference to Christ- this was a term meant to protect God’s people from people who’s aim is destroy us

1. Beware of False Prophets

• “Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves. 
• The problem is that we’re loving and trusting instead of testing- 
• 1 John 4:1 Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits, whether they are of God; because many false prophets have gone out into the world.
• The problem is people don’t trust the pastor of their church
• Jeremiah 3:15  And I will give you shepherds according to My heart, who will feed you with knowledge and understanding.
• People assume pastors are self serving- but the best of us protect the sheep. With God’s heart
• The problem is that people don’t pay attention
• Jude 4 For certain men have crept in unnoticed, who long ago were marked out for this condemnation,
• The problem is that people want to love people
• John 15:12 This is My commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you.
• We’ve all seen it- people we assumed had good motives, and after time, it comes to light that they are in fact a wolf. A person bent on unholy destruction of Christians and christ’s church 
• We must be careful- we must be diligent. We will never stop all false prophets and wolves, but we must beware of them. We must prepare and expel them from our midst. I’ve never seen a wolf get saved or change its fur. I just haven’t. Maybe you have- but in my years of ministry- I’ve seen lots of wolves- and as far as I know- they are still wolves from what I’ve seen and heard
• Four types of false prophets in the NT
• Itinerant false prophets– These are the floaters. Their resume looks a lot like a jr high dating record. Typically they have been around Christianity for a while. They have been to many churches. They name drop. They share their ministerial resume as a cover for spirituality. They usually only stick around the church as long as they have Acts 20:30 Also from among yourselves men will rise up, speaking perverse things, to draw away the disciples after themselves.
• Apocalyptic false prophets these are the ones who are always claiming dates and times of Christ’s return. I’ve seen dozens of these predictors in my lifetime. Surprise, they’ve all been wrong. They claim to know when, how and why Christ is returning. Or even worse, they claim to be the return of Christ- matt 24:4 And Jesus answered and said to them: “Take heed that no one deceives you. 5 For many will come in My name, saying, ‘I am the Christ,’ and will deceive many.
• Don’t listen to anyone who gives you a timeline of Christ’s return. Don’t Mark 13:32 “But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father.
• Even Jesus doesn’t know the time of his own return- but wolf so and so does?
• Pagan false prophets- These are the ones who usually easy to spot- but without discernment you’ll miss it- 2 Peter 2:1 But there were also false prophets among the people, even as there will be false teachers among you, who will secretly bring in destructive heresies, even denying the Lord who bought them, and bring on themselves swift destruction.
• These false prophets deny the diety, lordship and primacy of Christ. They bring Jesus down instead of lifting him up. Example- Mormons- they do not believe Jesus is God. JWs as well
• They introduce pagan teachings and spirituality- eastern meditation, universalism, yoga, Buddhism, pushing laughter, barking, naming of spirits, crystals, rocks, special prayers, trances, etc. just no. stay in the Bible
• False teachers of doctrine These ones are a little harder to decipher because they use Christian language, terms, and twist scripture. 2 Timothy 4:3 For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, because they have itching ears, they will heap up for themselves teachers. These ones teach doctrines that seem biblical, but are not in line with the orthodox Christian faith. Typically these false doctrines allow more sin, require less commitment, attack the truth of the Bible, the importance of the Church, the requirement of discipleship, tithing, serving, fellowshipping, prayer, bible reading etc. 
• So the bible says BEWARE of these people! Pay close attention to who and what you are allowing to speak into your life
• If someone walks into this church and says I’m a prophet, or gives you a prophecy, I’d ask one of the pastors about this person. Why? We’re your shepherds. We’re your protectors
• Some people might say “who are you to say” I’d say- well- I’m an undershepherd of the great shepherd and he told me to beware and watch over the flock that God has given me
• I’m trying to present you blameless before Christ- I’m not trying to help you grow your 401k
• So how do we discern? How do we know

2. You will know them by their fruits 

• ¹⁶ You will know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes from thornbushes or figs from thistles? ¹⁷ Even so, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. ¹⁸ A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a bad tree bear good fruit. 
• James echoes this- James 3:12 Can a fig tree, my brethren, bear olives, or a grapevine bear figs? [a]Thus no spring yields both salt water and fresh.
• You can see the fruit in someone life-its clear
• Galatians 5:22-23 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law.
• Love- are they loving- to all people or do they have people they hate? Are they filled with joy? Do you have more peace or less peace after talking to them? They are patient, kind, good, faithful, gentle, and have self control
• Faithfulness- is their life a trail of broken relationships, churches, jobs? Would they say that they have just been misunderstood and unappreciated at past ministries and churches and now have been called to roam around and prophesy with no accountability to a local church body?
• READ Jude 10-19
• 16 These are grumblers, complainers, walking according to their own lusts; and they mouth great swelling words, flattering people to gain advantage.
• Jude described them- 12 These are [g]spots in your love feasts, while they feast with you without fear, serving only themselves. They are clouds without water, carried [h]about by the winds; late autumn trees without fruit, twice dead, pulled up by the roots; 13 raging waves of the sea, foaming up their own shame; wandering stars for whom is reserved the blackness of darkness forever.
• Never trust a wanderer. Don’t do it. Yes theres exceptions, but I’ve met more of the norm
• Whats the fruit of their own family? Again, there’s exceptions, but if they have a handful of kids and none of them serve God and they’ve been in ministry 30 years I’d question their fruit
• 1 Timothy 3:5 (for if a man does not know how to rule his own house, how will he take care of the church of God?);
• Let me give you some stuff to look for
• 2 Peter 2:1 But there were also false prophets among the people, even as there will be false teachers among you, who will secretly bring in destructive heresies, even denying the Lord who bought them, and bring on themselves swift destruction.
• We are people of the Bible- the most damning thing  false prophet can do is lead you away from solid doctrine– Innerancy of scripture, supremacy of Christ, living by holiness, 
• Jude 4 For certain men have crept in unnoticed, who long ago were marked out for this condemnation, ungodly men, who turn the grace of our God into lewdness and deny the only Lord [a]God and our Lord Jesus Christ.
• If someone is telling you that something is OK and its against scripture- its wrong
• 2 Timothy 4:3 For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, because they have itching ears, they will heap up for themselves teachers;
• Guy- God told me to marry this unsaved person and she’d be saved- nope- then blamed me!
• Its hard to hold fast to the word of God in a world that wants to be accepting of everything and everyone- its labeled as ‘unloving’ because you don’t sign off on everyones sin
• We live in an absolute! Talking this week with someone about alphabet people- monogamy v bi would you allow me? Noo way- and you shouldn’t- there are absolutes?
• Do you know what doctrines are coming into the church that can destroy us?
• Gun control, immunizations, masks, Sexual identity, racial identity, national identity, what it means to actually be a Christian becomes clouded when you don’t let the WORD guide you
• Take masks- wear or don’t wear- just don’t use the Bible to justify or condemn- not what its for
• Why don’t I wear a mask? Same reason I don’t wear a kilt- I don’t like them. 
• Because that’s what’s hard. People are using Christian terms and jargon to get you come over to their side of the argument. “you’re not a Christian if you do or don’t do this”
• False prophets refuse to call out sin Romans 3:23, col 3:5-6
• False prophets promise money and influence and require it Mark 10:25, Matthew 6:19-21
• So many of these false prophets in and outside the pulpit want to prophesy money increase
• Why? Who doesn’t want more money? But its just a means of coercion and flattery
• 2 Peter 2:3 By covetousness they will exploit you with deceptive words; for a long time their judgment has not been idle, and their destruction [a]does not slumber.
• If someone can convince you you’ll get more money by giving them money or following them
• False prophets don’t preach hell or repentance- why would they? They are trying to get you to follow them, not God- and if they preach repentance- they might end up like John the Baptist with their head on platter James 2:19, Acts 2:38, Isaiah 5:14,
• Here’s some other things to look for,  want to influence the shepherd-.dishonest about their motives (inwardly are ravenous wolves), tell you what you want to hear, lack detail, don’t believe Jesus is the only way,  don’t believe in the inerrancy of Scripture, draw people to themselves
• Jesus said “If I be lifted up, I will draw all men unto me”
• These False prophets create dependency on them, constantly change their approach, message based on whats important to people at the time Bible says = I the Lord God do not change
• False prophets are disconnected from a local church and pastor They are secretive, never admit when they are wron
• False prophets always have new revelatiomn, make you feel unspiritual, manipulate you, don’t receive rebuke or challenge, can’t manage the details of their own life (I can hear from God about you, but not me) 
• And theyif they are wrong

3. God will deal with them

• ¹⁹ Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. ²⁰ Therefore by their fruits you will know them.
• The end results of false prophets is that they will go into the fire according to this scripture
• And they aren’t going away- it’s a sign of the end times
• Matthew 24:11 Then many false prophets will rise up and deceive many.
• We must know our Bibles and put our faith in JESUS not ANY man
• 1 Corinthians 11:19 For there must also be factions among you, that those who are approved may be recognized among you.- It’s the separation of Sheep and Goats. Wheat and Chaff
• Matt 24 ⁴ And Jesus answered and said to them: “Take heed that no one deceives you. ⁵ For many will come in My name, saying, ‘I am the Christ,’ and will deceive many. 
• Do not be deceived! Stay in the word! Don’t believe anyone who says they are Christ, or knows when Christ is coming- but ALSO don’t believe anyone who says “My master delays his coming” 
• Prophesy is real- and prophets are real and Biblical- 
• But it doesn’t come by the will of man- 2 peter 1:21 for prophecy never came by the will of man,
• Amos 3:7  Surely the Lord God does nothing, Unless He reveals His secret to His servants the prophets.
• Joel 2:28 says “That I will pour out My Spirit on all flesh;Your sons and your daughters shall prophesy,Your old men shall dream dreams,Your young men shall see visions.
• 1 Corinthians 14:114 Pursue love, and desire spiritual gifts, but especially that you may prophesy.
• 1 Corinthians 14:33 But he who prophesies speaks edification and exhortation and comfort to men.

Pastor Matt Krachunis preaches on a wolf in sheep’s clothing. Please share online for others to see.

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