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There are wolves that are being raised up in the churches that are perverse and cause the sheep to be scattered everywhere. The bible says to beware of false prophets which come to you in sheep's clothing but inwardly thy are ravening wolves. They are greedy pastors and evangelists that come as angels of light to deceive even the elect. Can you recognize the wolf from the real shepherd?
As Paul was on his way to Jerusalem in Acts 20, he made a stop at Ephesus . There he called a special meeting of all the leaders of the church. He told those Ephesian believers solemnly, “This is the last time I’ll see you. And this will be my final message to you. You’re not going to see my face after this” (see Acts 20:25).
Paul then delivered his last message to the Ephesians. He told them, in essence, “I’ve been with you before, and you know what I stand for. I have served you with humility and tears. I’ve preached in your church, and from house to house. I’ve done it all under great trials and persecution. And I have kept nothing back from you.”
Then, with tears, he gave them this sober warning: “For three years now, I’ve warned you night and day with tears about what I see coming to the church after I’m gone. Now I want you to hear this warning one more time” (see 20:31).
What did Paul see coming? What so grieved him that he would spend three years weeping over this church? What coming tragedy had he warned them about so many times, both publicly and privately, in their church and in their homes? What issue could shake this praying, holy man so deeply?
Paul’s concern wasn’t an outbreak of lust, or adultery, or divorce, or drunkenness. His warnings weren’t about coming persecution from society or government restrictions on them. He didn’t warn about an outbreak of depravity, or homosexuality in the pulpit, or signs of moral decay, or unemployment and poverty, or terrorism and wars.
In short, Paul’s warnings weren’t about the chaos going on outside the church doors. No, Paul was grieved over what he saw coming inside the walls of God’s house. He warned the Ephesians about what he foresaw coming upon the ministry, upon shepherds, in particular. And those warnings were about destruction to come at the hands of deceivers who would flood into the church.
In his final message, Paul’s mind was not on church growth, or pastors’ personal struggles, or believers’ trials and temptations. No, Paul’s deep heart-cry was, “You pastors, you shepherds, take heed. Be on guard, for yourselves and for your people.”
“The Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God , which he hath purchased with his own blood” (20:28). In other words: “You overseers, you bishops, you leaders - feed your flocks, to prepare them. Fill them with God’s pure Word. Savage wolves and deceivers are coming, and they’re going to take aim at the weak sheep.”
“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. Therefore, watch” (20:29-31).
At that point, Paul pointed out to them, “Right now, you are a blessed church. You’re a faithful people, a powerful body of believers. You have a strong foundation.” Christ also would later say this about the Ephesians, in Revelation. He told them, “You’re patient and fruitful. You don’t put up with evil, and you expose all false preachers.”
Yet, according to Paul, “As blessed as you are, your church won’t be spared, unless you heed my warnings. You’re going to see an ungodly, perverse ministry arise and make merchandise of this flock.” Christ gave the Ephesians the same warning, in Revelation 2: “You’ve left your first love. Repent, lest I take away your lamp stand, your glowing witness to the world.”
How did these Ephesian believers lose their first love? How does any church become dead? Clearly, it was because their pastors and leaders weren’t guarding the sheep. They weren’t careful, and let wolves have access to the flock. When those wolves came in, they devoured the sheep, not sparing them.
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