Spotted Feasts

Beloved, beware of malicious wolves (male and female) who only come into your life with the evil intent of discovering your weaknesses and the sins you may have committed in the past – in order to use them against you, to “turn again and rend (cut, stab, rip) you.” (Matthew 7:6) They are on a mission from Satan himself and prey upon the undiscerning and unsuspecting who are many times the innocent sheep of Christ. “They lie in wait to deceive” and we are not to be ignorant of their devices. We must not allow them to gain an inroad or advantage over us (2 Corinthians 2:11; Ephesians 4:14). The great apostle, who suffered much at the wicked hands of “FALSE brethren,” warns us: “Lest Satan should get an advantage of us: for we are not ignorant of his devices.” (2 Corinthians 2:11) Paul warns us that these “grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock.” (Acts 20:29) What is their mission and goal? – “Also of your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them.” (Acts 20:30)

These swine, who seek only to ultimately “rend you,” enter into a group or into the life of an individual believer for the very strategic purpose of finding things out things about you as they feast with you. Both the apostle Peter and Jude capture and expose’ the deceitful dealings of these beguilers:

“Spots they are and blemishes, sporting themselves with their own deceivings while they feast with you.” 2 Peter 2:13

The LORD sees all and He clearly sees the sin “spots” among us – the unrepentant.

“These are spots in your feasts of charity, when they feast with you, feeding themselves without fear: clouds they are without water, carried about of winds; trees whose fruit withereth, without fruit, twice dead, plucked up by the roots.” Jude 12

Then, at some point after they are done with you and have found out details about your life, they “turn again and rend you,” using whatever they can against you. Since they communed with you, they found out things about your life and will use these things against you (Matthew 7:6). Jesus warns us of these hypocrites and tells us to beware of, discern, and get away from them (Matthew 7:1-6). These swine take a few facts and exaggerate them and paint them with a black brush, seeking to mis-characterize you and your life. Our LORD warned and instructed us not to give our time, energy, and attention to these swine who are intentionally of an evil disposition while posing as Christ’s servants.

Possum Players

Beware: Saints, I would really be careful with people who do not render the fruits always consistent with true repentance (Matthew 3:7-10). Jesus instructed us to know people “by their fruits.” (Matthew 7:15-21). People who do not truly and sincerely apologize for the wrong they have done (make restitution) and demonstrate clearly that their lives have been changed, have not truly repented and will manipulate and flatter their way back into your life for the sole purpose of getting back in position to strike again. Then, they will turn again and “rend you.” They simply play possum only to get back into position to attack you or rend you again. Jesus says not to allow these people into your life – do not cast the pearls of your time to them. – Study the words of our LORD in Matthew 7:6. Heed.

“Give not that which is holy unto the dogs, neither cast ye your pearls before swine, lest they trample them under their feet, and turn again and rend you.” Matthew 7:6

How do we know who the swine are? How do we know when someone has truly repented? Simple: They will confess their faults and ask forgiveness of those whom they’ve hurt and make appropriate restitution for what they’ve done, for the damage they’ve caused.

If you do not make amends, do restitution for the wrong you’ve done to others, God is not listening to your prayers. In fact, you are outside of His kingdom. There is order in the house of God. Read Jesus here:

“Therefore if thou bring thy gift to the altar, and there rememberest that thy brother hath ought against thee; 24 Leave there thy gift before the altar, and go thy way; first be reconciled to thy brother, and then come and offer thy gift. 25 Agree with thine adversary quickly, whiles thou art in the way with him; lest at any time the adversary deliver thee to the judge, and the judge deliver thee to the officer, and thou be cast into prison. 26 Verily I say unto thee, Thou shalt by no means come out thence, till thou hast paid the uttermost farthing.” Matthew 5:23-26

Ultimately, the jail and paying the “uttermost farthing” is hell from which there will be no escape. Get things right with all others, now.

“Wherefore putting away lying, speak every man truth with his neighbour: for we are members one of another. 26 Be ye angry, and sin not: let not the sun go down upon your wrath: 27 Neither give place to the devil.” Ephesians 4:25-27 

“Let not the sun go down upon your wrath – That is: If you do get angry with any one, see that the fire be cast with the utmost speed out of your bosom. Do not go to sleep with any unkind or unbrotherly feeling; anger, continued in, may produce malice and revenge. No temper of this kind can consist with peace of conscience, and the approbation of God’s Spirit in the soul.” Adam Clarke

“4:27 Unconfessed sins of temper provide the devil with a foothold or a base of operations. He is capable of finding plenty of these without our deliberately helping him. Therefore, we must not excuse malice, wrath, envy, hatred, or passion in our lives. These sins discredit the Christian testimony, stumble the unsaved, offend believers, and harm ourselves spiritually and physically.” Believer’s Bible Commentary

Get things cleared up now. Make things right with others. God requires it.

Ignoring an issue God calls you to deal with will prevent you from being with Him eternally. If such were not the case, Scripture like this would not exist:

“Be patient therefore, brethren, unto the coming of the Lord. Behold, the husbandman waiteth for the precious fruit of the earth, and hath long patience for it, until he receive the early and latter rain. 8 Be ye also patient; stablish your hearts: for the coming of the Lord draweth nigh. 9 Grudge not one against another, brethren, lest ye be condemned: behold, the judge standeth before the door.” James 5:7-9

Slander

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