A Wolf in Sheep's Clothing

 For the past few months I have been studying the early church. I have been looking for where its scriptural to go around seeking out false teachers. 1 John 4:2 says, "This is how you can recognize the Spirit of God: Every spirit that acknowledges that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God, but every spirit that does not acknowledge Jesus is not from God. This is the antichrist, which you have heard is coming and even now is already in the world." I have been struggling with all of these people who are trying to expose false teachers. It doesn't sit right with me that they are looking for people who have been wronged by every faith preacher and teacher of righteousness. It's like those ads for lawyers looking for people to represent who have been in a car accident or have been wronged by an insurance company or something. My Bible says that love holds no record of wrong done to it, yet these people who are getting famous off of exploiting people, claim their rebuke is out of love. In my search for truth I have yet to find where Jesus ever rebuked anyone who lived by faith or preached righteousness. I have noticed that people who don't live by faith call preachers of faith, "prosperity preachers." I have noticed where people who have yet to receive forgiveness of sin want to glorify their sin and sometimes even falsely accusing their sickness of being Gods will. Satan comes to kill, steal and destroy (JOHN 10:10). He is coming after your faith. It is by grace through faith that we are saved and if satan can get you to deny the faith, then you will remain in his territory unable to know salvation. The book of James talks about double mindedness and how these people should not expect to receive anything from the Lord. I talk to people about Jesus every where I go and let me tell you, far too many people that I talk to are double minded. They will even tell you they don't expect anything from the Lord. They boast in being a no good sinner lucky God even considers them. When I hear people boasting in their false humility like this, my mind gets blown. Like what? Do you actually believe it is humble to resist the new life that Jesus paid for you to have? Do you really believe God sent His Only Son to take 47 lashes to His side so you can be sick? If you can honestly tell me that it is not Gods will for everyone to be in good health then why do you go to the doctor? Why did you become a doctor and want to help people if maybe its Gods will that they die? Why are you trying to go against Gods will? Do we hear ourselves? It is absolutely bonkers that people go out preaching this nonsense. 2 Timothy 2:15 says, "Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth." This doesn't mean try and get God to approve us. It means we have already been approved through the work of Jesus and we have no need to be ashamed. Rightly handle the word of truth! 2 Thessalonians 2:10 tells us that wickedness deceives those who are perishing. They perish because they refuse to love truth and be saved. People claim Christ and continue living by what they see instead of receiving truth by faith. People get mad at people who are walking in the life Jesus paid for them to have. People love to boast in their own ability, especially their ability to miss the mark. Why are our eyes on ourselves? Doesn't scripture say fix your eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith? Jesus paid our penalty, we are no longer under the curse of the law. He was pierced for our transgressions, bruised for our iniquity, the chastisement that brings us peace was upon Him and by His stripes we are healed. That is the truth! That no matter what we see, the truth is we are healed! But people are deceived by what they see. They love not the truth as to be saved. Saved doesn't just mean go to heaven. People act like people who preach seed time and harvest are greedy false teachers that they need to exploit. Have you ever given your child or grandchild a gift? Did they receive it? Did you consider how greedy it was for them to receive a gift that YOU paid for? Would it bring you great joy to see them put the gift away and walk around telling everyone how much they don't deserve the gift you gave them? And what if your child or grandchild spent their whole life trying to repay you for this gift, all the while walking around telling everyone they aren't even sure if you wanted them to have this gift or not. What if they got mad at other children who were given the same gift to put on, calling them greedy and selfish for wearing their gift instead of putting it away for after they are gone!!! How insane does this sound to you? Is that the purpose of giving someone a gift? Yet this is the message people are preaching and calling it the gospel! IT IS NOT THE GOSPEL!!! THE GOSPEL IS GOOD NEWS!!

Anyway, as I have been trying to find confirmation of where its a good idea to seek out false witnesses and teachers, I was unsuccessful. I did find in Matthew 6:33 where it says, "Seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness and all these things will be added unto you." Again, I have noticed the wolves in sheep's clothing trying to tear apart those who have lived out Matthew 6:33. But anyway, lets look and see what kind of rebukes Jesus gave! Shall we?!

JESUS REBUKES!

Mark 16:14- Jesus appeared to and rebuked the 11 for their LACK OF FAITH! and their stubborn refusal to believe those who had seen Him AFTER HE HAD RISEN.

Luke 4:35- Jesus rebukes a demon.

Matthew 4:10- Jesus rebukes satan.

Mark 4:39- Jesus rebukes the wind and the sea.

Matthew 17:18- Jesus rebukes a demon boy.

Matthew 8:26- Jesus rebukes disciples for unbelief.

Mark 8:33- Jesus rebukes Peter for not having in mind the concerns of God, but merely human concerns. Peter tried to rebuke Jesus for saying He must be rejected by the elders, chief priests and teachers of the law- that He must be killed and rise again. Peter rebuked Jesus saying, "You will not die!" Interestingly enough this is the same thing the snake told Eve in the Garden, "You will not die!" Jesus even calls Peter satan. Mark 8:33, "Get thee behind me satan. You do not have in mind the concerns of God but merely human concerns." The concern of God is Resurrection Life. The concern of man is the death of the flesh. Some of y'all will get this some won't, but that okay!

Luke 9:55- Jesus rebuked James and John for not knowing what spirit they are of.

Luke 24:26- Jesus rebukes for lack of understanding, calling them foolish and slow to believe.

Luke 9:41- Jesus rebukes unbelief and an unfruitful life in Luke 13:6-9.

Jesus tells His followers in Luke 17:3, "If a brother sins against you rebuke him. So many people are getting famous off of rebuking people they don't know and have never met. Let alone, they have never even listened to a full sermon. They just like to make clips taking phrases out of context trying to exploit people who confess that Jesus came in the flesh and is the Christ. 

Timothy came and taught about how some people will come and abandon the faith. He says to hold onto faith and good conscience not to shipwreck the faith. What is good conscience? It means NOT GUILTY! It means your conscience is clear because it's no longer YOU that live but Christ who lives in you. If you make the tree good, the fruit will be good. Jesus makes us righteous by faith! and we cannot bear bad fruit! Unless, we don't believe He saved us. Then our fruit will be bad and our work will be burned in the fire. This is the difference between those who are saved by grace through faith, and those who are trying to be saved but not fully receiving forgiveness of sin. Jesus says in the parable of the Sower that some will believe for a little while but in time of true testing they will fall away. The test is ALWAYS do you believe the Word of God or do you believe what you see with your physical eyes? The devil is looking for those who don't believe the gospel so that he can devour them. Resist him and stand firm IN THE FAITH, because you know the family of believers around the world is going through the same kind of sufferings. What are these sufferings? They are the thorn in the side, the messenger of satan. But Jesus says, "my grace is sufficient, my power is made perfect in weakness." No matter what it looks like trust God and keep walking by faith!!

Love you all!