Recognizing Wolves

by Joe Mann

Wolves in sheep’s clothing (false teachers) are pretty easy to recognize: they are not preaching what Christ preached. Instead, they babble on endlessly about whatever they wish and ignore what Christ Himself teaches.

When a person is truly following Christ they will preach what Christ preached. Preaching one’s own personal message is self-exaltation as if God has sent them to preach another gospel. But Christ Jesus is clear about what His followers should be preaching: “Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen” (Matthew 28:20).

No follower of Christ is told to teach whatever they want to teach (another gospel): “He that is not with me is against me: and he that gathereth not with me scattereth” (Luke 11:23). Salvation ONLY comes from BELIEF in CHRIST—not from belief in another gospel (someone else’s personal good-news message).

Preaching anything that comes to mind—unrelated to the gospel of Christ—is nothing short of disobedience to what God has already spoken through Christ. God in Christ says the Holy Spirit will glorify Christ and remind everyone of what Christ said (John 14:26). Christ said that the Holy Spirit will not speak of Himself, in other words, He will not speak whatever He chooses to say, but only what He hears from the Father (John 16:13-14).

We can clearly see the same example in Christ that everyone is called to follow: “For I have not spoken of myself; but the Father which sent me, he gave me a commandment, what I should say, and what I should speak. ⁵⁰ And I know that his commandment is life everlasting: whatsoever I speak therefore, even as the Father said unto me, so I speak” (John 12:49-50).

If Christ only says what God sent Him to speak and not His own message who else can teach or preach their own message? Christ said that he sent His followers the same way that God sent Him—with the VERY SAME MESSAGE (John 20:21). If a messenger changes the message THAT MESSAGE IS NOT COMING FROM GOD.

from Todd (below)

False Leaders are Know by their Refusal to Warn as did Paul – See Acts 20:20-32.

God’s men are to call out and not cover the sins of His people.

“Cry aloud, spare not, lift up thy voice like a trumpet, and shew my people their transgression, and the house of Jacob their sins.” Isaiah 58:1

The LORD cites the false teachers among us in that they specifically do not tell the people what God says is sin – They refuse to lift up their voice and “shew my people their transgression, and the house of Jacob their sins.”

Very important truth here. False leaders refuse to show God’s people what GOD calls sin which is the only way people in sin (includes any of us) can be made free. Take note and make record of this verse:

“Thy prophets (leaders) have seen vain and foolish things for thee: and they have not discovered thine iniquity, to turn away thy captivity; but have seen for thee false burdens and causes of banishment.” Lamentations 2:14

“The fear of the LORD is to hate evil: pride, and arrogancy, and the evil way, and the froward mouth, do I hate.” Proverbs 8:13

• “Real valor consists not in being insensible to danger, but in being prompt to confront and disarm it.” ~ Sir Walter Scott

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A Scathing Rebuke to Wolf Defenders

“The Supply of the Spirit of Jesus Christ” [podcast]