Can You Spot A Real Wolf?

Wolf. Do we really understand the concept of the wolf?  Most of us all have heard the famous scripture that talks about beware of the wolves in sheep clothing in Matthew 7:15 “Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's  clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves.”, but are we really able to identify a wolf around us before it’s too late?  When the Lord mentioned this message to me, I had to ponder it for a few days.  The thing is, we just can’t keep crying wolf on everybody that appears to be a wolf just like the old story “The boy who cried wolf”; one day nobody will listen. Then when the real wolf does appear it will lead us into a trap. Why? Because all we hear is this person is a wolf or that person is a wolf.  We hear drama after drama and then later those reports turn out to be just rumor after  rumor and it caused me to think about this scripture Mark 13: 7 “And when ye shall hear of wars and rumours of wars, be ye not troubled: for such things must needs be; but the end shall not be yet.” The objective is that we do have to be careful that we don’t set ourselves up for a trap to be attacked by the wolf without identifying everyone that appears to be a wolf and those who aren’t. I got a reality of this concept one day as I was flipping through the channels and came across a show called “American Greed.”  I was moved by the spirit and decided to watch several episodes. These episodes began to make me realize just how much do we really know when a wolf is really around.  2 Corinthians 11:14 “And no marvel; for satan himself is transformed into an angel of light.” Yes, this show was all about the greed of  money, but as I watched it, it made me aware there are some of them looking for more than just money. It was about the mixture of money and power at times because they thought they were in control of the sin they were doing.  No, not everyone gets to this point, but some really do let it go to their head. Yes, the wolf will eventually be found out, but  until then, he is right there playing his tricks and working his schemes trying to get away with it, which, takes me to 1 Timothy 6:10 “For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.” See, not everyone is a 100 percent wolf. They just didn’t realize what they got caught up in. What we have to understand is that money isn’t evil in itself either nor is the power of a title; it’s when we begin to take on a love for money or a title above God, or should we say, when we covet after  it- “which while some coveted after.” This leads many to error and brings out problems for those who worship money and a power above others, but it also can affect many others who are associated with them.  Where can we see this wolf in action and not know it?

We know that a wolf has a hidden agenda. Let’s see it action.  Let’s take a look at someone in general that just falls into greed and wants status, power, and the wealth.  Matthew 21:33-41 “33) Hear another parable: There was a certain householder, which planted a vineyard, and hedged it round about, and digged a winepress in it, and built a tower, and let it out to husbandmen, and went into a far country: 34) And when the time of the fruit drew near, he sent his servants to the husbandmen, that they might receive the fruits of it. 35) And the husbandmen took his servants, and beat one, and killed another, and stoned another. 36) Again, he sent other servants more than the first: and they did unto them likewise. 37) But last of all he sent unto them his son, saying, They will reverence my son. 38) But when the husbandmen saw the son, they said among themselves, This is the heir; come, let us kill him, and let us seize on his  inheritance. 39) And they caught him, and cast him out of the vineyard, and slew him. 40) When the lord therefore of the vineyard cometh, what will he do unto those husbandmen? 41) They say unto him, He will miserably destroy those wicked men, and will let out his vineyard unto other husbandmen, which shall render him the fruits in their seasons.” Notice, these workers didn’t want to work the field any longer and was tired of helping someone else obtaining a status they wanted. The owner of this vineyard didn’t suspect any wolf right up front until it was too late. We also see that  Jesus was trying to tell us that God was the land owner and he will get revenge on those who come against his people and his blessings and will turn it over to a new group who wants to take care of the vineyard for him. We can also see this type of wolf in action within the church leaders as well.  Jeremiah 23:1-4 “1) Woe be unto the pastors that destroy and scatter the sheep of my pasture! saith the LORD. 2) Therefore thus saith the LORD God of Israel against the pastors that feed my people; Ye have scattered my flock, and driven them away, and have not visited them: behold, I will visit upon you the evil of your doings, saith the LORD. 3) And I will gather the remnant of my flock out of all countries whither I have driven them, and will bring them again to their folds; and they shall be fruitful and increase.   4) And I will set up shepherds over them which shall feed them: and they shall fear no more, nor be dismayed, neither shall they be lacking, saith the LORD. 5) Behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that I will raise unto David a righteous Branch, and a King shall reign and prosper, and shall execute judgment and justice in the earth.”  No matter the circumstances, the Lord almighty isn’t going to take those who harm his people or his blessing very lightly. They will have sorrows until they repent with a true and clean heart.  Until then, those sorrows will follow them throughout       eternity. What other reality could we possible need to understand about a wolf?

We need to understand wolves are all around us. Jesus even tells us we have to be very wise when we go out. Let’s look at two scriptures Matthew 10:16 “Behold, I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves: be ye therefore wise as serpents, and harmless as doves.” Now the other scripture I want to mention is Luke 10:3 “Go your ways: behold, I send you forth as lambs among wolves.”  What is the Lord telling us right here?  We still have to get out in this world and function for him and not walk in fear either. Why?  We’re to work in his field and help lead people to him and this does involve some of the wolves in the midst. Luke 10:2 “Therefore said he unto them, The harvest truly is great, but the labourers are few: pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he would send forth labourers into his harvest.” I saved this last because we’re to be working for the Lord and it’s not a pretty sight all the time.  Our object is the same as Jesus.  What did Jesus tell those who needed to turn from their wicked ways?  Mark 1:15 “and saying, The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent ye, and believe the gospel.” Now, what are we to be doing?  The very same thing as Jesus did and that is to help people to come to a place of repentance, so Jesus can forgive them just as you and I did. What I would like to point out is a very close relation to a sinner and a wolf.  Generally your sinner is someone who just sins on their own, but some of those sinners do attack.  They just wait for the right moment like what a wolf would do.  Meaning they will come right out and try to devour you out of nowhere trying to bring your up past or other things.  You have to remember they are waiting for their moment of attack. The truth is that many times we see a wolf right off the bat, but there are times we just won’t know it until it’s too late.  A real wolf is supposed to be discrete.  Meaning he is near you but won’t attack right away until you get comfortable.  What they don’t understand is that real repentance  causes the Lord not to remember any of our past anymore. Psalms 103:11-12 “11) For as the heaven is high above the earth, so great is his mercy toward them that fear him. 12) As far as the east is from the west, so far hath he removed our transgressions from us.” Now, a real wolf won’t even have a repentant heart whatsoever. That’s why we need to understand 2 Corinthians 11:14 so well.  We have to be able to be aware of the real wolf and not one that is being motivated by just some mere acts of sin and not realizing what is happening. The real wolf will not have a care in the world for anyone but for himself. The real wolf will be totally performing the first half of John 10:10 and not realizing just how well he has messed up because those who believe in Jesus will always have the victory whether it’s here on earth or when we get to go heaven. John 10:10 “The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.” Let’s look at one more final thing about the wolf.  He is not the real shepherd and will not show the proper care as a real shepherd would have. Again, the wolf is more concerned about himself and will remove anything that gets in his way or he will totally ignore the attack of   something coming against you and will let it get to you. John 10:12-13 “12) But he that is an hireling, and not the shepherd, whose own the sheep are not, seeth the wolf coming, and leaveth the sheep, and fleeth: and the wolf catcheth them, and scattereth the sheep. 13) The hireling fleeth, because he is an hireling, and careth not for the sheep.”Can you see that the hireling doesn’t care about anyone, but only cares about himself?  Jesus on the other hand will make certain that what belongs to him will be taken care of John 10:11 “Iam the good shepherd; the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep.

Let’s remind ourselves we have to have a clean heart and a right spirit when we face the wolf.  No, I won’t say this is easy at all, but we do need to bring ourselves to such a place. If, Jesus can do it, so can we. Luke 23:34 “Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do. And they parted his raiment, and cast lots.”  When I read this scripture I think about all those people who wanted him dead. Their voices calling out crucify him was the same action as a pack of wolves ready to attack a sheep, and yet he still forgave them. Now, where else can we see that we need to have that clean heart and a right spirit towards a wolf? Take a good strong look at Matthew 5:44 “44) But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you.” Don’t forget about Matthew 7:1-2 either “1) Judge not, that ye be not judged. 2) For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again.” This message goes way deeper, but it’s not time to share any deeper than what was given to me to give.
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Now, before I close, I want to make sure that you understand that just because Jesus asks us to pray for those who have done us wrong, doesn’t mean that what they did is right nor do we have to hang out with them either. We must wait until God works things out through your prayer time and then if the Lord tells us to go further with them, do so. God knows who he needs to send to help them turn around.

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