“And when he putteth forth his own sheep, he goeth before them, and the sheep follow him: for they know his voice. And a stranger will they not follow, but will flee from him: for they know not the voice of strangers.” (John 10:4,5)
Wolves in sheep’s clothing have always posed a danger to the flock of God. Paul knew they were making a play for the Corinthians church, and warned: “For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ.” (2 Cor. 11:13) He told the Ephesian elders: “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.” (Acts 20:29,30)
Jesus asserted that those who were His sheep would not listen to a stranger’s voice. No man would pluck them out of His hand because they were His disciples who heard His voice alone. “My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me: And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand.” (John 10:27,28)
The fatal misstep of so many is the signing off of their own personal hearing from God to another who supposedly hears better.
God expects us to put our trust in Him alone. His word to His people in every generation has been: “It is better to trust in the LORD than to put confidence in man. It is better to trust in the LORD than to put confidence in princes.” (Psalm 118:8,9) The fatal misstep of so many is the signing off of their own personal hearing from God to another who supposedly hears better. We have one Teacher though. (Mt. 23:10) We are to sit at His feet. (Lk. 10:39) If we have ears to hear, and a heart to obey, His anointing will teach us all things and guide us into all truth. (1 John 2:27) No one will have to teach us to know the Lord, we can all know Him from the least to the greatest. (Heb. 8:11)
God will hold believers responsible for those they allow to continue in power who have disqualified themselves.
Has God given gifts to the church of apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors, and teachers? Yes. (Eph. 4:11) But there are many false versions of the true. Jesus commended the church which tried those that said they were apostles, and were not. (Rev. 2:2) He rebuked those who failed to do this. (Rev. 2:20) God will hold believers responsible for those they allow to continue in power who have disqualified themselves. Jesus told us we would know false prophets by their fruits. “Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves. Ye shall know them by their fruits.” (Matt. 7:15,16) When that which has been spoken, confidently “decreed and declared” does not come to pass, God told His people to no longer “fear” such a one. “When a prophet speaketh in the name of the LORD, if the thing follow not, nor come to pass, that is the thing which the LORD hath not spoken, but the prophet hath spoken it presumptuously: thou shalt not be afraid of him.” (Deut. 18:22)
Now is the time for true disciples of Christ to show they are His by no longer listening to the voice of strangers. God is shaking His church. May any idolatrous servitude to “high and mighty” men be a thing of the past. May we no longer be 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.” (Eph. 4:14)