Warning against false prophets – Part 2

“Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves.”

Beware of wolves in sheep’s clothing. Appearance can be very deceptive. Gifts without grace, charisma without character, love without light, tenderness without truth, hospitality without holiness, worship without the Word, eloquence without enlightenment, fellowship without food for the soul, faith without faithfulness, prosperity without purity, success without salvation, revelation without righteousness, can be very deceptive in religion.

Beware of ravening wolves in sheep’s clothing, destructive adversaries clothed with dazzling affection, dangerous friends (foes) clothed as delightful friends, poisonous serpents clothed as peaceful saints, cruel tormentors clothed as compassionate teachers, wicked murderers clothed as winsome messengers, determined destroyers clothed as devoted defenders. Beware, wolves are still wolves inwardly, whatever be the outward pretence or polish. Even when they pretend and pose as shepherds, they are looking for sheep to devour, not to defend, protect or feed. Jesus said, beware.

False prophets come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves. Be wise and be watchful. Look beyond their outward appearance, deep beneath the outward, pleasing personality. Watch and listen to the witness of the Holy Spirit, examine the fruit of their lives and evaluate the fruit of their labour. Beware, lest you throw your soul into the claws and jaws of a ravening wolf because of an untested assumption that you are entrusting your soul to a good and faithful shepherd.

Deception, eternally dangerous deception, is the trademark of Satan and his servants and false prophets – at their best, really, at their worst. False prophets so conceal and hide their wickedness and cleverly proclaim error as truth that even elites and educated people in different areas of life and discipline are easily deceived. Scientists and philosophers, the mighty and the wealthy, the intelligent and the wise, the educated and the civilised, the religious and the zealot, the secular mind and even the spiritual man have been deceived by false prophets in the past, in all generations and in this generation.

If we are to escape the false prophets’ deception and the damnation it brings, we must diligently watch over our lives. We must be constantly guided by the Holy Spirit and the Scripture. Beware, watch, take heed.

Further Reading (King James Version): Matthew 7:15; Ezekiel 22:25-27; Acts 20:28-31; 1 Kings 13:11-24; 2 Chronicles 18:4-11,28-34; Isaiah 9:13-16; 44:20; Jeremiah 28:10-15; 2 Thessalonians 2:10-12; 2 Timothy 2:17,18; Revelation 2:14-16; 20:10-15; Matthew 7:15; 23:13-15; Luke 11:44; Job 20:12-14; Psalm 10:8-10; Jeremiah 23:11-14; Acts 8:9-11,18-23; 13:6-12; 2 Peter 2:17-20; Revelation 2:20-26; Proverbs 19:27; Romans 16:17,18.