The Gospel Disguised? Or Evil Disguised as the Gospel?
Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...
|
There are churches around today that seem to be of God but are not. There are wolf-pastors with a hidden agenda, who appear to be men of God but are wolves in sheep’s clothing, whom naïve Christians and non-Christians cannot detect. God warned of such in the book of Acts:
“Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood.
For I know this, that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock.
Also of your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them.
Therefore watch, and remember, that by the space of three years I ceased not to warn every one night and day with tears.”
(Acts 20:28-31 King James Version)
If men are driven by impure motives in the ministry, then they are not serving God but themselves, and making it look like they are serving God:
“Some indeed preach Christ even of envy and strife; and some also of good will:
The one preach Christ of contention, not sincerely, supposing to add affliction to my bonds.”
(Philippians 1:15-16)
“For they that are such serve not our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly; and by good words and fair speeches deceive the hearts of the simple.”
(Romans 16:18)
Some of these ministries and churches will try to make out that they are camouflaging the Gospel, so it can go into certain areas undetected, to reach certain people that normally would not be reached. The truth is, that it is an evil agenda disguised as the Gospel! Crafty eh? Well, God warned of crafty men beguiling God’s sheep:
“That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive.”
(Ephesians 4:14)
“Having eyes full of adultery, and that cannot cease from sin; beguiling unstable souls: an heart they have exercised with covetous practices; cursed children.”
(2 Peter 2:14)
Christian, can you not spot a deceiver? Your soul depends on it!
God warned that in these last days that false teachers would be abundant in the church being received by the so-called Christians. It is an alternative Gospel, false teachers drawing away disciples after themselves.
“For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears.
And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.”
(2 Timothy 4:3-4)
Paul the apostle warned of false apostles:
“For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ.
And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light.
Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works.”
(2 Corinthians 11:13-15)
False teachers are not preaching the true message of the Gospel and the cross of Christ, and are focused on the things of this life and not the next life:
“Brethren, be followers together of me, and mark them which walk so as ye have us for an ensample.
(For many walk, of whom I have told you often, and now tell you even weeping, that they are the enemies of the cross of Christ:
Whose end is destruction, whose God is their belly, and whose glory is in their shame, who mind earthly things.)”
(Phillipians 3:17-19)
Hey, you Christians over there in spiritual la-la land, how are things? Seen any wolves around lately? Do you think you will make the rapture? If you do bump into a true man of God your first instinct is to resist and rebel against him, while you submit to cunning wolves that are only using you for their gain—wakey-wakey! Repent and turn to God before it’s too late and your soul is truly lost!
It is up to true men of God to warn, detect, and face these wolves head-on! Where are the true men of God crying out against them!
How do you discern them? There are tell-tale signs that show up in the way they do things and the messages they bring. Look for the tell-tale signs!