Wolves Have Crept In Dividing The Flock
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As we approach what some feel are “the Last Days” that are talked about in our Bible, let’s explore if what we consider as “normal everyday life” is in fact what we were warned about throughout the Scriptures. Remember, you can place a frog into a pot of water, turn on the heat and slowly boil it to death, and that poor frog doesn’t even realize that he’s being boiled to death. So come with me and let’s explore the Scriptures to see if indeed it’s you and I who are those frogs which are in the boiling water without even knowing it.
From the time that Jesus came and set up His body of believers, He taught that His church was to be ONE; ONE Shepard in Jesus, ONE Body in Christ and ONE flock. Somehow, just as we were warned, we have fallen away from this teaching. There was never supposed to be many flocks or ANY denominations (divisions) what so ever! Yet, today that’s exactly what we have; the exact opposite of what Jesus taught! Every Christian denomination believes that their denomination is correct and all the others just don’t have the truth that they have. Pastors of these denominations are not at liberty to study the Word of God and preach what the Lord shows them in that Word; why? Because the Pastor has to follow their denominational doctrines if he wants to keep his position.
It seems that we as believers have a sense of pride in the church we attend, we believe it has the correct Biblical truth and that’s why we belong to it. Yet, if we were to compare ALL of what the Bible says…compared to your denomination and what your church believes, you’d find a great difference between the two. You may say “No my church believes all of what’s in the Bible”. What then does your church say about speaking in tongues? Devine healing instead of going to doctors? Women teaching men, preaching, and holding church offices? Infant Baptism verses Baptism after salvation? What do they teach about casting out demons or prophecy? How about the five fold ministry of Apostle, Prophet, Evangelist, Pastor, and Teacher all functioning equally in the church, instead of one Pastor at the top? Most denominations teach that all this passed away with the Apostles and it could never be like the church we see in the book of Acts. Every denomination (division) that has split from the original church, (that was set up by Christ) has their “pet doctrine” that has been handed down by their traditions. Each division / denomination picks and chooses what they will believe and what they will not believe in the Bible.
You cannot believe in ONE Jesus and ONE Holy Bible and yet have all the divisions within the church. What we pass off as normal Christian churches today are exactly what we were warned about in Scripture! So let’s read for ourselves what the Bible warns us about in the divisions (Denominations) we have today.
Jesus’ Instructions
(John 10:16) And other sheep I have, which are not of this fold: them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice: and they shall become one flock, one shepherd.
(John 17:11) And I am no more in the world, and these are in the world, and I come to thee. Holy Father, keep them in thy name which thou hast given me, that they may be one, even as we are.
(John 17:20) “I do not pray for these alone, but also for those who will believe in Me through their word; (21) that they all may be one, as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You; that they also may be one in Us, that the world may believe that You sent Me. (22) And the glory which You gave Me I have given them, that they may be one just as We are one: (23) I in them, and You in Me; that they may be made perfect in one, and that the world may know that You have sent Me, and have loved them as You have loved Me.
So here we see that nowhere in Scripture was it the intention of Jesus to have divisions within His Body of believers. In fact we read in (Luke 11:17)… Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation; and a house divided against a house falleth. You cannot have the church divided against itself and expect it to stand. The Lord gives us the example and the “blue print” as to what His church is to be like as we read through the book of Acts:
(Acts 2:41) They then that received his word were baptized: and there were added unto them in that day about three thousand souls. (42) And they continued stedfastly in the apostles' teaching and fellowship, in the breaking of bread and the prayers. (43) And fear came upon every soul: and many wonders and signs were done through the apostles. (44) And all that believed were together, and had all things common; (45) and they sold their possessions and goods, and parted them to all, according as any man had need. (46) And day by day, continuing stedfastly with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread at home, they took their food with gladness and singleness of heart, (47) praising God, and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to them day by day those that were saved. This is our example as to how we are to be as believers; one body and one flock. As the church grew, divisions started and Paul addressed this issue.
(1 Corinthians 1:10) Now I beseech you, brethren, through the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye all speak the same thing and that there be no divisions among you; but that ye be perfected together in the same mind and in the same judgment. (11) For it hath been signified unto me concerning you, my brethren, by them that are of the household of Chloe, that there are contentions among you. (12) Now this I mean, that each one of you saith, I am of Paul; and I of Apollos: and I of Cephas; and I of Christ. (13) Is Christ divided? was Paul crucified for you? or were ye baptized into the name of Paul? Paul was very clear that there was to be no divisions among the brethren! Why is it different today? Why is it OK to have divisions or denominations today when Paul spoke against it?
(1 Corinthians 11:18) For first of all, when ye come together in the church, I hear that divisions exist among you; and I partly believe it. (19) For there must be also factions among you, that they that are approved may be made manifest among you. Paul once again warns about “divisions” the Greek word is “Schisma” meaning a split or gap, literally or figuratively: - division, rent, schism. Now isn’t that what we have today in our churches? Why weren’t the exact teachings of Jesus and His Apostles good enough for the church? Why did we need to add and take away from the word of God?
(1 Corinthians 12:24) whereas our comely parts have no need: but God tempered the body together, giving more abundant honor to that part which lacked; (25) that there should be no schism in the body; but that the members should have the same care one for another. (26) And whether one member suffereth, all the members suffer with it; or one member is honored, all the members rejoice with it. (27) Now ye are the body of Christ, and severally members thereof. Yes, Paul continually warned about schisms or divisions in the Body of Christ, and if Satan was trying to divide the Body all the way back in Paul’s day, then what has happened by now? Let’s take a look at many of the warnings about false teachers coming in to divide the flock, separating believers with teachings that were contrary to what Jesus taught.
Wolves
The very first thing we need to understand is that God does not change! “For I, Jehovah, change not” (Malachi 3:6). Jesus does not change! “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and to-day, yea and for ever (Hebrews 13: 8). If God does not change then the final instructions which Jesus gave are still in place! “Go make disciples… and teach them to observe ALL things whatsoever I commanded you”. If this was our Lord’s command what is it that we need to teach? Do we just teach what our denominations tell us we can teach or do we teach ALL of what Jesus taught? Have we as believers been taught to do all the things which Jesus taught His disciples? Do you think that maybe we’ve been deceived into accepting only a small part of what Jesus taught His disciples; could it be that we are that frog who’s boiling in the pot?
Throughout the Scriptures we’re warned that false teachers will creep in and try to deceive you and yet you may not even realize that you’ve been deceived. You may think like the little frog in the pot of water that you’re OK, and “the water is quite comfortable”. You’re probably reading this and saying to yourself that most certainly you’re not one of those who’s being deceived; but just by the fact that we’ve already been divided from the original church which Jesus setup into 37,000 different sects of Christianity. This in itself is proof that each one of us has been deceived to some degree.
(Hebrews 13: 8) Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and to-day, yea and for ever. (9) Be not carried away by divers and strange teachings: Jesus is the same; He will always be the same! If He does not change then we need to find why we have, and why we’ve divided the church into so many sects of Christianity. We must find out why and how we’ve added and taken away from what Jesus taught and why we’ve been carried away by strange teachings.
Jesus warns us:
(Luke 7:14) For narrow is the gate, and straitened the way, that leadeth unto life, and few are they that find it. (15) Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly are ravening wolves. (16) By their fruits ye shall know them. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles?
(Matthew 24:4) …“Take heed that no one deceives you. (5) For many will come in My name, saying, ‘I am the Christ,’ and will deceive many… (11) Then many false prophets will rise up and deceive many. (24) For false christs and false prophets will rise and show great signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect. (25) See, I have told you beforehand.
(Mark 7:6) And he said unto them, Well did Isaiah prophesy of you hypocrites, as it is written, This people honoreth me with their lips, But their heart is far from me. (7) But in vain do they worship me, Teaching as their doctrines the precepts of men. (8) Ye leave the commandment of God, and hold fast the tradition of men.
So here we have Jesus warning us of deception, of false prophets and teachers, posing as sheep but really being wolves. Notice these are not wolves from outside the flock but in the flock and amongst His people. Jesus goes on to warn us about teaching doctrines and traditions of men and the truth is, anything which is different from Jesus’ teachings is the tradition and doctrines of men.
Below is a Prophecy Fulfilled:
(Acts 20:28) Take heed unto yourselves, and to all the flock, in which the Holy Spirit hath made you bishops, to feed the church of the Lord which he purchased with his own blood. (29) I know that after my departing grievous wolves shall enter in among you, not sparing the flock; (30) and from among your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away the disciples after them. Think about this, if church fathers would have held true to ALL of the original teachings of Jesus, we would not have had factions and splits in the original church. We are now the offspring of the church Paul warned of… “Those men speaking perverse things drawing away disciples after themselves!” Yes what Paul warned about has already happened!
It’s getting hotter my fellow frog… We are not in a hot tub we are in a pot of boiling water, are you starting to feel the heat or are you quite comfortable Mr. Frog?
(2 Timothy 3:13) But evil men and impostors will proceed from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived. (14) You, however, continue in the things you have learned and become convinced of, knowing from whom you have learned them, (15) and that from childhood you have known the sacred writings which are able to give you the wisdom that leads to salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. (16) All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness; Again, Paul warns us about being deceived and to continue in what we have learned! Yet our forefathers in the church DID NOT continue with what they had learned; otherwise they would’ve never split and created their own denominations, their own set of doctrinal beliefs. This is not our fault but it is our responsibility to find out and obey the truth which we see in the Bible.
(Titus 1:10) For there are many unruly men, vain talkers and deceivers, specially they of the circumcision, (11) whose mouths must be stopped; men who overthrow whole houses, teaching things which they ought not, for filthy lucre's sake. (12) One of themselves, a prophet of their own, said, Cretans are always liars, evil beasts, idle gluttons. (13) This testimony is true. For which cause reprove them sharply, that they may be sound in the faith, (14) not giving heed to Jewish fables, and commandments of men who turn away from the truth. (15) To the pure all things are pure: but to them that are defiled and unbelieving nothing is pure; but both their mind and their conscience are defiled. (16) They profess that they know God; but by their works they deny him, being abominable, and disobedient, and unto every good work reprobate. Back in Paul’s day there were men teaching false doctrine for the sake of money! Isn’t that what we have today? When a preacher preaches the easy feel good things, “Your best life now”, isn’t that what they’re really doing? Teaching doctrine that will sell and bring more people and more money into the church? Hard messages and the truth straight from the Scriptures just doesn’t bring in the people or the money today. (2 Timothy 4:3) For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, because they have itching ears, they will heap up for themselves teachers; (4) and they will turn their ears away from the truth, and be turned aside to fables. Has this time spoken of, now come into reality? Most churches have turned from truth to fables, many are what are called “seeker sensitive” churches which by definition preclude them from teachings the hard things of the Word. Instead, these “seeker sensitive” churches do what it takes to bring more bodies into their church. This cannot happen when you teach the unleavened Word of God! (Hebrews 4:12) For the word of God is living, and active, and sharper than any two-edged sword, and piercing even to the dividing of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and quick to discern the thoughts and intents of the heart. The pure Word of God will separate those who love the Word from those who want “ear tickling” messages.
(Galatians 5:19) Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these: fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, (20) idolatry, sorcery, enmities, strife, jealousies, wraths, factions, divisions, parties, (21) envyings, drunkenness, revellings, and such like; of which I forewarn you, even as I did forewarn you, that they who practice such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God. Factions… Divisions… are the same thing as denominations. They’re called “the works of the flesh” and you can see that it was strictly forbidden! Even saying that if you practice these things you will not inherit the kingdom of God!
(Romans 16:17) Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them that are causing the divisions and occasions of stumbling, contrary to the doctrine which ye learned: and turn away from them. (18) For they that are such serve not our Lord Christ, but their own belly; and by their smooth and fair speech they beguile the hearts of the innocent. As we continue to learn, the division started all the way back in Paul’s day and these men who were dividing the flock taught doctrine that was contrary to what Jesus taught. Sure it may be subtle and not real obvious but the devil doesn’t come to you with horns, a long pointy tail and pitch fork. He’s much more sneaky and deceptive than that. He proved this by dividing the Church and giving us what is called the Church today. If you’re not able to recognize what the difference is from what Jesus taught His disciples compared to what our churches teach, then that’s a good sign that you’ve already been deceived into trusting what mans says instead of your Bible. Like the analogy of the frog, you’re spiritually being boiled to death.
(2 Corinthians 11:3) But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve in his craftiness, your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity and the purity that is toward Christ. (4) For if he that cometh preacheth another Jesus, whom we did not preach, or if ye receive a different spirit, which ye did not receive, or a different gospel, which ye did not accept, ye do well to bear with him (Endure, Suffer)…. (13) For such men are false apostles, deceitful workers, fashioning themselves into apostles of Christ. (14) And no marvel; for even Satan fashioneth himself into an angel of light. (15) It is no great thing therefore if his ministers also fashion themselves as ministers of righteousness, whose end shall be according to their works.
Many of the false teachers or pastors were preaching “another Jesus”, it happened back then and it continues to happen now. You may think it’s not happening in our churches today, or that it certainly isn’t happening in “my church”. To investigate who or what this “other Jesus” is and whether this false Jesus is being preached by Satan’s “ministers of righteousness” in our churches, we must first understand what the name of Jesus really is. Did you know that the name “Jesus” is not even found in the original Bible? The English word for Jesus is a transliteration. The real Greek word for Jesus is Iesous and in the Hebrew Jesus is Yeshua or Jehoshua, in Italy the name is Gesù, in Indonesia the name is Yesus, in New Guinean is Jisas, and last but not least, what do you think the name of our Lord is in Swahili? You guessed it Yesu. So the bottom line is you can use many names, but that’s not what saves you. Anybody can preach “Jesus” but is it really the name “Jesus” that saves or is it Yeshua, or Gesu? The truth is that it’s His nature, His character and the authority of Jesus that saves you. The Greek word for “NAME” is ONOMA which means nature, character or authority. So, it’s not just the name “Jesus” that saves but His nature which you read about in the Bible, His authority which you read about in the Bible, and His character you see in the Bible. We find that through out the Bible. It was His Disciples acting in the name of Jesus which is His nature, His character, and His authority. If our Pastors are teaching a “Jesus” that doesn’t make you free from sin and the sin nature ( Jn 1:29, Rom 6:2-22, 1Peter 2:24, 1Jn 3:5-8, 1Jn 5:18) but only forgives sin they’re teaching you “another Jesus”. If they’re teaching a “Jesus” who doesn’t heal every time, and doesn’t deliver you out of every circumstance; (Mt 18:19, Mt 21:22, Mk 11:24, Jn14:13, Jn 15:7, Heb 10:23, James 5:14,15) you’re being preached “another Jesus”. If your Pastor isn’t teaching you that it’s Jesus who’s in you, and that it’s Jesus in your fleshly body, and that you’re to see Jesus in the mirror, not yourself, (2Cor 3:18,4:10-12, 13:5,6, Gal 2:20, Col 1:27, 1Jn 4:2,3, 2Jn 1:7) then RUN because you are being taught another “Jesus”. (2 John 1:7) For many deceivers are gone forth into the world, even they that confess not that Jesus Christ cometh in the flesh. This is the deceiver and the antichrist. (8) Look to yourselves, that ye lose not the things which we have wrought(accomplished), but that ye receive a full reward. (9) Whosoever goeth onward and abideth not in the teaching of Christ, hath not God: he that abideth in the teaching, the same hath both the Father and the Son. (10) If any one cometh unto you, and bringeth not this teaching, receive him not into your house, and give him no greeting: (11) for he that giveth him greeting partaketh in his evil works. Do you understand what John is saying here? It seems that even back then, deceivers were going fourth teaching the brethren that Jesus IS NOT being made manifest in you, just like we have today. If you’d have teachers teaching that it’s Jesus who lives in you, they would be teaching what Jesus taught His disciples. Wasn’t it “the Jesus in the disciples” that commanded healings and for demons to come out? They didn’t pray to Jesus or God to do these wonders; they didn’t pray “if it’s your will Father”; they took authority in the name of Jesus! The plan from the very start was to replicate Jesus in His body of believers; they would then follow the teachings of Jesus and make other disciples to walk in the steps of Jesus, all the way until today. (John 14:12) I tell you the truth, anyone who has faith in me will do what I have been doing. He will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father. (13) And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Son may bring glory to the Father. (14) You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it. Do we see this being taught today; how about in your church? Why isn’t this relevant anymore?
What does Jesus say the sign is that you’re indeed a believer? (Mark 16:17) And these signs will accompany those who believe: In my name they will drive out demons; they will speak in new tongues; (18) they will pick up snakes with their hands; and when they drink deadly poison, it will not hurt them at all; they will place their hands on sick people, and they will get well." Why aren’t we seeing this in our churches today? Why are we taught that these signs and wonders were just for the early church and they don’t happen anymore except on very rare occasions and only if it’s “God’s will”? Yes the wolves have snuck into the church and changed what we should and should not believe in. It’s the Antichrist spirit that denies that it’s Jesus in you and that you can do all the things that Jesus and His disciples did because it’s Jesus who lives in you. This is the real Gospel, the real Good News and it has power and the devil will do all he can to keep you from believing what is written in the Bible. If the devil can keep the little frogs boiling in the pot of their dead religion, which has no power to defeat him, then the devil has won.
(1 John 2:18) Little children, it is the last hour: and as ye heard that antichrist cometh, even now have there arisen many antichrists; whereby we know that it is the last hour. (19) They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would have continued with us: but they went out, that they might be made manifest that they all are not of us. ….. (26) These things have I written unto you concerning them that would lead you astray.
Let’s review what John is telling us here.
1. There were MANY antichrists back in John’s day. Who again is the antichrist? The one who denies that Jesus is come in the flesh of each and every believer.
2. These antichrists went out from among the true believers! They were hidden amongst the believers!
3. If they were true believers, they would have continued with the teachings of Jesus but they did not continue in His teachings.
4. They went out from them that it might be known that they weren’t true believers.
5. John is writing these things ahead of time, that you would NOT be lead astray!
So here we have another warning of what has come, and will come. Do you see that it’s already here; today! If you diligently study the Word of God, you’ll see that what we accept as “church” and what we are being taught, does not line up with the original teachings of Christ. In fact, much of what our churches are teaching us would be called “anti-Christ” teaching by our Lord and Savior. Keep in mind the definition for anti-Christ is not just opposite, “anti” in the Greek also means instead of or a substitution. Even the most lukewarm Christian would recognize something that is the exact opposite of Christ, but how many Christians would recognize a substitution of the real Jesus, one that looks and sounds like the real Jesus but is just a little different. After all they use the name “Jesus” but it’s the anti “instead of” Christ. They have replaced the Jesus of the Bible, and the real Jesus that the Apostles preached, with a watered down all loving, do nothing Jesus that has only died on the cross for the forgiveness of our sins. That’s not the real Jesus that Paul preached! (2 Tim 3:1) But know this, that in the last days perilous times will come: (2) For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money… (5) having a form of godliness but denying its power. And from such people turn away! Our churches are guilty of this, we are taught a “form of godliness but are denying its power”! What we’re not being taught is the Jesus Christ who now lives in you! That the old you has died and it’s now Jesus who lives in you BY FAITH! If it is Jesus who now lives in you, then through the power of the Holy Spirit you’ll go and sin no more. You’ll have the faith and the power to heal the sick, cast out demons and have all authority over the devil. This is the real Gospel that we were supposed to have been taught by the one church which Jesus set up, without division, without adding or taking away from the Word of God. And because you were never taught the teachings of the Apostles and of Jesus; because you know only what you’ve been taught by our denominational churches, you really don’t know any better. That is until today, after reading this you are held accountable to what you know because you understand a little more truth. Until you read and study the Bible; it’s only then you will realize it’s “another Jesus” that we’ve been taught. Remember the warning the Lord gives us in (Revelation 18:4) And I heard another voice from heaven, saying, Come forth, my people, out of her, that ye have no fellowship with her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues: God’s people in the end times are caught up in something that they must come out of. I believe that it’s the old false churches that are teaching doctrine that’s contrary to Christ’s teachings.
(2 Timothy 4:2) preach the word; be urgent in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort, with all longsuffering and teaching. (3) For the time will come when they will not endure the sound doctrine; but, having itching ears, will heap to themselves teachers after their own lusts; (4) and will turn away their ears from the truth, and turn aside unto fables. Preach the Word Paul says. Reprove, rebuke, exhort and teach by what the Word says! Paul warns that there’s a time coming where we will not put up with sound doctrine but listen and desire only what our lusts desire. The Bible says that we will turn away from truth; we are here! We’ve arrived at what Paul warned us about! Like that same frog in the pot, it’s starting to boil and we don’t even realize it. Just look at this chart to see what has happened since the early church in the book of Acts.
History of the Early Church until now
Present Day
37,000 Denominations
At last count there were over 37,000 denominations, those that would call themselves “Christian”. Which sect or division on this chart do you belong to? Can we even find the early church and what Jesus and the Apostles set up? Satan has done a masterful job of separating the flock and as the old saying goes “if you can’t beat-em, join-em” and that is exactly what the devil has done. He’s joined the church and infiltrated it so he can water down the Gospel so it has no power over him or his demons.
What we need to do is hold fast to all the teachings of Jesus. If your church is not following the teachings of Jesus completely, find one that does, or at least find some fellow believers that do hold to these teaching and fellowship with them. Jesus says "Come out of her, my people, so that you will not share in her sins, so that you will not receive any of her plagues” Seek the truth of Scripture and you will be given more truth.
Jump little frog, JUMP! Before it’s to Late!
Be blessed,
Mark, a servant of the Lord www.heavenshelpers.org
