"Not Sparing The Flock" False teachers and prophets have plagued the Church since its beginning.  Much of the New Testament warns of the dangers of false teachers who harbor self-seeking ambition and greed in their hearts, proclaiming Jesus while their intention is to make a name for themselves.  Jesus, Paul, Peter, Jude and John taught us how to recognize preachers with selfish agendas so that we would not be ensnared by their error and follow after men rather than God.  The Bible calls them “ravenous wolves.”  Jesus warned His disciples, “Beware of false prophets who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly are ravenous wolves” (Matthew 7:15).  Paul warned pastors in the Book of Acts: “Be on guard for yourselves and for all the flock…I know that after my departure savage wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock; and from among your own selves men will arise, speaking perverse things to draw away disciples after themselves” (Acts 20: 28-30). Paul lamented that he could not find a teacher to send to the Phillipians because the teachers had impure motives and would exploit the people for their own gain: “For I have no one else of kindred spirit who will genuinely be concerned for your welfare, for they all seek after their own interests, not those of Jesus Christ” (Phillipians 2: 20-21).  Unfortunately, not much has changed today except for an increase in “wolves in sheep’s clothing,” especially in America.  The American church is wealthy and in generations past has exported the gospel to nations in spiritual darkness as well as provided food and clothing for the destitute.  Because America is a very prosperous nation and we have lived the “good life” of ease and comfort, many Christians are in love with the pleasures of this fallen world system rather than the eternal Lord (Jesus called them adulterers and adulteresses). Because the American church has given heed to “seducing spirits and doctrines of demons,” we are in want of solid, biblical, godly teachers.  Truly, the prophet Amos’ words have come to pass: “ ‘Behold, days are coming,’ declares the Lord God, ‘when I will send a famine on the land, not a famine for bread or a thirst for water, but for the hearing of the words of the Lord.  And people will stagger from sea to sea, and from north even to the east; they will go to and fro to seek the word of the Lord, but they will not find it’” (Amos 8: 11,12). False teachers can never lead congregations in holiness and righteousness because they are blinded to righteousness by their own selfish desires.  Instead of teaching their congregations to deny themselves and put the interests of others above their own, greedy teachers are hoarding riches to themselves, constructing mega-churches with all of the trappings that boast of worldly success.  Because millions of dollars are needed to keep these large ministries afloat, the message of holiness and self-denial are watered down so as not to offend church members who may leave with their tithe and offering money. Are all large ministries corrupt?  Absolutely not.  Are all preachers only after people’s money?  God forbid!  God has shepherds who are men and women who seek to please Him rather than obtain fame and fortune.  Everything that they have is on the altar before God so that the devil has no claim on their integrity.  If we truly hunger and thirst after righteousness, God has promised to give us shepherds after His own heart.  If we love ourselves more than we love God, we will fall prey to false teachers who teach “another gospel,” to our own spiritual peril. We can know false teachers by their fruit.  Here are just a few of their characteristics:  They want to be the center instead of Jesus, and please men so that they can receive praises from men rather than God.  They establish their own “righteousness” and do not submit to the righteousness of God (Romans 10:3).  They strive to build an image, and do their deeds to be noticed by others (Matthew 23: 5).  They love to be seated in places of honor at banquets and church gatherings (Matthew 23: 6) and be recognized in the marketplace, being called with respectful greetings (verse 7). Most seriously of all, they shut off the kingdom of heaven from men, for they do not go in themselves nor do they allow those who are entering to go in (Matthew 23: 13).  Jesus called them snakes and a brood of vipers. “How shall you escape the sentence of Hell?” Jesus asked them (verse 33). Satan works through false teachers and prophets to lead the congregation astray.  Deceived church members believe that they are in right standing with God while still living fleshly, sinful lives and love the things of the world more than they love God.  The holiness of God is downtrodden, and He is presented as an “understanding God” who winks at sin. Paul called this a “different spirit,” a “different gospel” and “another Jesus.”  Jude warned us that false teachers “turn the grace of our God into a license to sin and deny our only Master and Lord, Jesus Christ” (Jude 4,5). True teachers, pastors and prophets will build up the body of Christ until we attain the unity of the faith and become mature in the fullness of Christ (Ephesians 4).  We are responsible before God to seek the truth from the Bible, and then to seek out and fellowship with those who preach and believe the pure, unadulterated Word of God. “So then, you will know them by their fruits.  Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord’ will enter the kingdom of heaven; but he who does the will of My Father who is in heaven.  Many will say to Me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your name, and in Your name cast out demons, and in Your name perform many miracles?’  And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness.’” --Jesus (Matthew 7: 20-23)