Tag Archives: Wolves

The Warnings: Hypocrisy

“The teachers of the law and the Pharisees sit in Moses’ seat. So you must be careful to do everything they tell you. But do not do what they do, for they do not practice what they preach.  – Matthew 23:2-3

This whole chapter is one long “woe” to the Pharisees and teachers of the law and serves as a warning to the Church.

The hypocrite wears a mask, plays a part like an actor. They preach one thing and do the other thing. They are everyone’s critic but their own.

Jesus told the sheep to do what they say, but not what they do.

Lest the hypocrisy spread.

I think two things are important here. First, are we doing what hypocrites are doing simply because we like the hypocrites? Or maybe because we lack the discernment and biblical literacy to know a hypocrite when we see one?

Second, are we the hypocrite? The one wearing a mask, pretending to be one thing even though we are something else? Are we pointing at sin over there but not the sin over here? Do we hold others to a standard that we can’t, or won’t, meet?

It’s not warm and fuzzy, but most warnings aren’t.

Today, God is uncovering things that have long been hidden. In the Church, mind you. We need to drag our eyes away from what this world is doing and put them on God, and what He is doing right here in us. His light is hitting our hypocrisy in rapid succession and it’s got us on our heels. But, He is also awakening people to a fresh hunger for purity in our pulpits, and in the way those in authority walk with Jesus. But those things must begin with personal purity and integrity in the way we walk out the commands of Christ. It’s the only way the whole body will be made healthy.

And, He is also awakening people to a fresh hunger for Him, praise God! All over the world there are pockets of revival happening that never make the news. So both things are true—the Church is being disciplined, and the Church is being revived, all to the glory of God!

Lord, give us wisdom and discernment, and eyes to see ourselves rightly. Examine our hearts, Father, and see if there be any wicked way in us. Help us walk in purity of intentions, and the integrity to steward Your gifts well. Revive in us a hunger for You above all else. In Jesus’ name. Amen

The Warnings: False Prophets

Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves. You will know them by their fruits. – Matthew 7:15-16

He warned them about many things and in so doing, He was warning us. And while we are awake to His promises and even His prophesies, I fear we slumber at His warnings. I think though, that we are being awakened by the Spirit, called to sit up and pay attention, to tarry in prayer, to open our eyes, and to heed the warnings.

False prophets. Wolves that look, and act like sheep. They dress the part but it is only a costume. They’re fluent in the language we associate with sheep, but it is nothing more than mimicry. The danger is not that they are among us, but that we don’t recognize them.

And then we do. The cry goes up from those who have discerned that something is very wrong, that the prophets are not who they claim to be. And then the next danger appears—sheep who defend the wolves and accuse the ones raising the warning cry.

And then the bag is open and the cat is out and so begins a mad scramble to put it back before everyone sees it. The revealing of wolves also reveals much about both the shepherds and the sheep. Those who befriended wolves want us to believe their discernment wasn’t off, that the wolf is actually a sheep who just strayed off the path, and needs restoration.

The problem is that Jesus called them one thing, and we are calling them something else. Jesus said they are ravenous, we say they deserve mercy and compassion. What it reveals is that we are unwilling to admit that ravenous wolves exist in the Church, because who wants to admit they let them in? Who among us wants to fess up about our lack of discernment, that we couldn’t see the wolf that we invited onto our platforms, or that we failed to be diligent to look at the fruit of those who had such access to the flock?

And then the dust settles, and in certain corners of the Church a cry for the heads of the shepherds can be heard. The ones who actually do need our mercy and compassion become the targets of “crucify them!” And soon a chorus joins in that is full of accusation, and “I told you so”, and we begin to issue our warnings, not against wolves, but against genuine sheep who messed up. Beloved, a wolf that gets in doesn’t turn all the sheep into wolves. Can we just drop our rocks for a minute, and consider this one thing?

Earthly shepherds are not the last line of defense against wolves. God knows that we are but dust.

He has given us His Holy Spirit. He knows the wolves who have come in, and He will uncover them all, as He has been doing. They cannot fool Him. He sees past the disguise, past the smooth talk, past the false humility, and into the heart that has been given over to darkness.

He will comfort the sheep, bring both conviction and revelation to the shepherds, and He will teach us to recognize the next wolf at the door much quicker. May He also raise up the voices of those who see the wolves, that they would stand on the wall to intercede with true concern for the Church, rather than with accusation against her.

Holy Spirit, give us wisdom, discernment, and diligence. Wake us up where we slumber, strengthen our weak places, give us eyes to see truth, ears to hear, and hearts that would rather be humbled by You and than crowned by men.

Help us heed Your warnings as surely as we seek Your promises.