Sadly, we live in a world where there are a lot of wolves in sheep’s clothing. These wolves want to devour the sheep rather than serve and love them. How can we keep from being devoured by these wolves? In this message, we examine some of the elements of a wolf from 2 Peter 2 so that we might keep from being exploited by them.
How Can I Keep From Being Devoured By A Wolf?
This is going to be a very unusual message. I don’t think I have given a teaching like this since I began pastoring in 1990. But we are in a Christianity 101 series, and I think one of the basic things every Christian should learn is how to discern between a shepherd and a wolf.
You may end up leaving The Bridge, moving to another city, and getting involved in another church. Even if you don’t end up looking for another church or moving to another city, if you go online to listen to other preachers, you can become easily influenced by them. So what kind of men should you follow? What do you need to do in order to find true shepherds whose goal will be to serve you, rather than a wolf who wants to devour you? The shepherd is there to care for, serve, and give to the sheep. The wolf is there to use, abuse, and take from the sheep. And there are a lot of wolves who are preying upon God’s sheep within the body of Christ!
This has been a problem among God’s people for a very long time. It was present in the Prophet Ezekiel’s day, and God gave him a word concerning it. Ezek. 34:1-4, 8-10 “Then the word of the Lord came to me saying, 2 “Son of man, prophesy against the shepherds of Israel. Prophesy and say to [a]those shepherds, ‘Thus says the Lord [b]God, “Woe, shepherds of Israel who have been [c]feeding themselves! Should not the shepherds [d]feed the flock? 3 You eat the fat and clothe yourselves with the wool, you slaughter the fat sheep without [e]feeding the flock. 4 Those who are sickly you have not strengthened, the [f]diseased you have not healed, the broken you have not bound up, the scattered you have not brought back, nor have you sought for the lost; but with force and with severity you have dominated them… 8 “As I live,” declares the Lord God, “surely because My flock has become a prey, My flock has even become food for all the beasts of the field for lack of a shepherd, and My shepherds did not search for My flock, but rather the shepherds fed themselves and did not feed My flock; 9 therefore, you shepherds, hear the word of the Lord: 10 ‘Thus says the Lord God, “Behold, I am against the shepherds, and I will demand My [a]sheep [b]from them and make them cease from feeding [c]sheep. So the shepherds will not [d]feed themselves anymore, but I will deliver My flock from their mouth, so that they will not be food for them.”
Jesus contrasted these false, greedy, self-serving shepherds with Himself, the Good Shepherd. He said, “the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many” (Mt.20:28). The standard for leaders in the Church of Christ is Jesus Himself. Jesus didn’t come to take from us, use us, or be served by us. He came to serve us and give His life for us. When a leader in the Church of Christ stops doing that, and starts to use his position for sex, money, or power, he has forsaken his calling, and should not be supported or followed any longer.
Jesus speaks about this in Luke 12:35-48. In that passage He is teaching His disciples that they need to be like men who are waiting for their master when he returns from the wedding feast. Peter wants to know if Jesus is directing this teaching towards them, or everybody. Jesus responds by saying there are two kinds of stewards. In verse 42 He speaks about the faithful and sensible steward. If the master finds these stewards giving the rations to the servants at the proper time, they will receive a reward. But in verse 45 Jesus speaks about the false steward. This one says in his heart, “My master will be a long time in coming” and begins to beat the slaves, and to eat and drink and get drunk. What will the master do to those servants when He returns. In verse 46 Jesus said that he will cut him in pieces and assign him a place with the unbelievers. In other words, the false steward will end up in hell!
Jesus also spoke of false prophets in the Sermon on the Mount. In Mt. 7:15-20 he said these would come to them in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly are ravenous wolves. They will look like sheep, but they are not. How do you know? A sheep eats grass. These people eat sheep! Their desire is to use you to satisfy themselves. They want to use you to build their own kingdom, rather than serve with you to build Jesus’ kingdom.
So, how can a person tell who is a sheep and who is a wolf? Jesus said in Mt. 7:16 “You will know them by their fruits. Grapes are not gathered from thorn bushes nor figs from thistles, are they? So every good tree bears good fruit, but the bad tree bears bad fruit. A good tree cannot produce bad fruit, nor can a bad tree produce good fruit.” So, how do we know if this person is a wolf or a shepherd? Observe his life. What is coming forth from his life? What is his character like? What is his teaching like?
Fortunately for us, we have an entire chapter in the New Testament devoted to helping us spot false teachers. It is 2 Peter 2. So, I want us to spend some time in that chapter this morning.
As we go through 2 Peter 2, I want you to be asking the question, “How can I detect a false teacher? What are the marks of a false prophet, or a false shepherd?”
I’ll put it to you in a nutshell – Money, Sex, and Power. I remember listening to Pastor Chuck Smith speak to fellow Calvary Chapel pastors at a Pastor’s Conference. There had been several men who had fallen into sin, and Pastor Chuck was addressing that problem. He told the men that if they became disqualified for ministry, it would most likely be in the areas of Money, Sex, or Power.
1. Money
2 Peter 2:3 “and in their greed they will exploit you with false words…”
2:14 “having a heart trained in greed, accursed children”
2:15 “forsaking the right way, they have gone astray, having followed the way of Balaam, the son of Beor, who loved the wages of unrighteousness”
These wolves are greedy. And because they are greedy, they will exploit you with false words.
Before you get involved with a ministry or follow a preacher, do a little research.
- Is he constantly talking about money?
- Does he manipulate or guilt those that listen to him into giving more and more?
- Does he live a lavish lifestyle? Does he live in a mansion, and own private jets because he doesn’t want to fly commercial?
- Does he tell you that if you want God’s blessings, you need to give them money?
- Does he tell you that your miracle is locked until you sow a seed?
Two of the worst offenders in this area are Kenneth Copeland and Benny Hinn. They are constantly pressuring people to give them money. Costi Hinn is the nephew of Benny Hinn and was employed by him to work in his crusades. He talks about how they would stay in $25,000 a night hotel suites, drive the most expensive cars, and live in homes costing millions and millions of dollars.
In the 1980’s Robert Tilton had a radio program called “Success In Life.” Someone did some research on his ministry. Tilton told people to write to him and tell him what they needed prayer for, and of course include a generous donation in the envelope. They discovered a dumpster in back of the building that was full of opened envelopes. All the checks had been removed, and all of the prayer letters were dumped in the dumpster.
The list of prosperity preachers is very large. It includes Jesse Duplantis, Joel Osteen, Creflo Dollar, Paula White among others.
And then there are the Religious Scammers. Just like we have scammers trying to get access into our bank accounts to steal our money, there are religious scammers who are trying to get your money through religion.
In the 1980’s Jim Bakker was building a theme park called Heritage USA. If someone gave $1,000 they were guaranteed lifetime vacations at the park’s hotels. However, they sold tens of thousands more memberships than existing hotel rooms. Much of the money was spent on salaries and luxury living. Baker was convicted of fraud in 1989 and went to prison.
Peter Popoff tried to make his riches by selling Miracle Spring Water, telling people it cold heal illnesses and improve finances. People were told to pour the water on bills or drink it for blessings. By the way, he was also the same guy back in the 1980’s that was pretending to get supernatural knowledge from God at his crusades. However, it was discovered that his wife was feeding him information about the people in the crusades through a hidden earpiece in his ears.
There have been no end to people sending anointed prayer clothes, or special anointed oil, and then told to send back a donation (seed faith offering) which will unlock financial miracles or healings.
2. Sex
2 Peter 2:2 “many will follow their sensuality…”
2:10 “and especially those who indulge the flesh in its corrupt desires”
2:13-14 “They count it a pleasure to revel in the daytime. They are stains and blemishes, reveling in their deceptions, as they carouse with you, having eyes full of adultery that never cease from sin…”
It is astonishing to me how many religious cult leaders have lived sexually promiscuous lives.
Joseph Smith had somewhere between 30 and 40 wives. Some of those wives were already married to other men. His youngest wife was only 14 when they were “sealed.” He also kept many of his marriages hidden from his first wife, Emma. And there is evidence that he placed considerable pressure on women to accept his proposals.
David Koresh said that all the marriages in the church were dissolved, and that he could have any of the women if he wanted them. Some of his “wives” were as young as 10 years old. He reportedly had about 20 wives at the end.
David Berg was the founder of the Children of God, which was basically a sex cult. He taught the doctrine of “flirty fishing” in which women were encouraged to use sex to recruit members or raise money.
Warren Jeffs is the leader of the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. He claimed to have divine authority to tell who should marry whom in the church. He had 80 or 90 wives, some of them extremely young. He was convicted in 2011 and is serving a life sentence for sexual assault of minors.
Jim Jones, leader of the Peoples Temple, has sexual relations with many of the women in his church, and claimed that those relations with him were spiritually beneficial for his congregants.
Keith Raniere, leader of NXIVM, where women were coerced into sexual relationships. Women were branded with his initials and required to provide compromising material as leverage. He was convicted in 2019 of racketeering and sex trafficking.
Is that enough to prove my point? I hope so. But it’s not just cult leaders that do this kind of thing. The sad truth is that sexual sin and scandal has brought down multitudes of Christian pastors and leaders. Famous preachers like Jimmy Swaggart, Jim Bakker, Ravi Zacharias, Ted Haggard, Bill Hybels, Stephen Lawson, Mike Bickle, Paul Cain, Lonnie Frisbee, Bob Coy, and Carl Lentz all come to mind. Whenever a famous Christian dies without some sort of scandal associated with him, I breathe a huge sigh of relief. It seems like so many leaders fall into this trap!
Before you give your support to a preacher, find out if there are any alleged scandals surrounding him. If this man has committed adultery or been involved in homosexual relations, and then later reinstated as the pastor of a church, that’s a red flag. If he has divorced his wife as a believer and then remarried, that’s a red flag. Of course, if he used “prophecy” to groom and prey upon young girls over and over, that’s not just a red flag – it’s a huge Stop Sign! I believe that a man that has engaged in those kinds of lifestyles has disqualified themselves from leadership in the church. Of course, he can be forgiven for those sins, but he should not be entrusted with the responsibility of leading the church of Jesus Christ. 1 Tim. 3 and Titus 1 both say that an overseer must be above reproach.
3. Power
2 Peter 2:10-11 says “especially those who indulge the flesh in its corrupt desires and despise authority. Daring, self-willed, they do not tremble when they revile angelic majesties, whereas angels who are greater in might and power do not bring a reviling judgment against them before the Lord.”
2:18 “For speaking out arrogant words of vanity they entice by fleshly desires, by sensuality, those who barely escape from the ones who live in error”
Scripture says that these false teachers despise authority, are self-willed, revile angelic majesties, and speak out arrogant words of vanity. In other words they are proud and arrogant. They are power hungry. They seek unquestioning obedience from those under them. In some really toxic religious groups they actually seek to be worshiped by those under them.
My friend, if you ever find yourself in a church where you are not permitted to question the Pastor, run!
If you find yourself in a church where the leaders insist that you use honorary titles like Pastor so and so, or Minister so and so, or Reverend so and so, you are most likely in a toxic environment.
The leaders of the church of Christ are to be marked by humility, because that is what Christ was marked by. He said, “I am gentle and humble in heart…” It was the Pharisees that insisted that others refer to them as Teacher, Rabbi, Father, or Leader. That wanted respectful greetings in the market places. They did all their deeds to be noticed by men.
One of the universal practices of dangerous cults is that they insist on blind unquestioning obedience to the Leader, and at the same time cut off their people from outside influences. They screen everything their people see or hear, including TV, radio, internet, social media. They want to be the only source of Truth that their people hear. They do not want you to think objectively about what is going on in the group. And above all, they do not want you to question them. That is seen as having a rebellious spirit.
And the sad thing is that many times, these cult leaders are able to pull it off.
- Sun Yung Moon was able to convince thousands of his followers that he was Jesus Christ returned.
- Jim Jones was able to convince his followers that he was the reincarnation of Jesus Christ.
- William Branham was able to convince his followers that he was the angel of the church of Laodicea.
- Warren Jeffs claimed to be God’s prophet on earth.
- Marshall Applewhite, Leader of the Heaven’s Gate cult claimed to have exclusive knowledge about salvation and extraterrestrial ascension, Taught that only through him could followers reach the “next level”, and Required total commitment and separation from the outside world.
- David Koresh taught that he was the final prophet, the lamb of Revelation 5:2, and the only one that would open the seven seals of the book of Revelation.
That’s why Jim Jones was able to require 900 of his followers to drink the cyanide laced cool-aid so that they all committed mass suicide together. That’s why Sun Yung Moon and Warren Jeffs could tell their followers who they were going to marry, even if they had never met. That’s why Marshall Applewhite was able to get his followers to commit mass suicide so that they could supposedly be translated to by a UFO to the next level of consciousness above human.
And this lust for power, fame, and obedience does not end with cults. You can see its ugly features within genuine Christian churches.
This has become problematic with the advent of the Celebrity Pastor in America. A leader may build a personal brand bigger than the church, center sermons around their own stories and success, and cultivate a following more loyal to them than to Christ. The message subtly shifts from the message to the messenger. This has become more problematic than ever before because of social media, and the ability to gain followers from all over the world, not just the city that you live in.
Kenneth Copeland has said, “ When I read in the Bible where Jesus says ‘I AM’, I just smile and say ‘I am too.”
Conclusion
Brothers and sisters, I am giving this message today because I want to protect you from wolves who would like to use you to gain Money, Sex, or Power, and sometimes all three. The truth is that there are many men acting as Leaders in the Church who are wolves. They are doing what they are doing for the wrong reasons. And one day they will have to give an account.
The job of a shepherd is feed, guide and protect the sheep. Well, this message is about protecting the sheep from predators – men who are not interested in serving you and building you up. They are most interested in what you can do for them in terms of money, sex, and power.
Jesus said in Mt. 7:22-23, “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.”
One of the ways so-called “men of God” seek to gain money, sex, or power from other people is by tricking them into thinking they have the supernatural power of God on their lives. What do I mean? Many supposed “prophets” have been exposed.
Some of these deceivers data-mined information off of social media, and then acted like God had spoken to them. Recent examples are Shawn Bolz and Chris Reed, both famous figures in the NAR movement.
Many others like Bob Jones, Paul Cain, Mike Bickle, Todd White, and Bob Hartley have all been exposed for their shady, manipulative and failed prophecies.
There is even a man in South Africa, Alph Lukau who went viral for a resurrection stunt that was later exposed as a stage hoax.
Sadly, these things are going on all over the world. And, what’s even more tragic, is that these crooked, unscrupulous and deceptive practices were exported from America, primarily to Africa!
My friends, my exhortation to you this morning, is seek spiritual discernment! Don’t be spiritually naïve. Don’t believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God , because many false prophets have gone out into the world (1 Jn.4:1).
If you do not develop discernment, you can become prey for any evil man masquerading as a “prophet” or “apostle”, that is seeking to devour you.
Beware of the false prophets who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly are ravenous wolves. Let’s pray.
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