Savage Wolves

Savage Wolves

by David Brenneman 

"But I do not consider my life of any account as dear to myself, so that I may finish my course and the ministry which I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify solemnly of the gospel of the grace of God. “And now, behold, I know that all of you, among whom I went about preaching the kingdom, will no longer see my face. Therefore, I testify to you this day that I am innocent of the blood of all men. For I did not shrink from declaring to you the whole purpose of God. Be on guard for yourselves and for all the flock, among which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the church of God which He purchased with His own blood. 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 the disciples after them. Therefore be on the alert, remembering that night and day for a period of three years I did not cease to admonish each one with tears. And now I commend you to God and to the word of His grace, which is able to build you up and to give you the inheritance among all those who are sanctified. I have coveted no one’s silver or gold or clothes. You yourselves know that these hands ministered to my own needs and to the men who were with me. In everything I showed you that by working hard in this manner you must help the weak and remember the words of the Lord Jesus, that He Himself said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’" Acts 20:24-35.

To this day there's no end to the false prophets and false teachers within the Church today.  

Why speak to this this morning? The warning wasn't only for those churches that were written to several thousand years ago but rather for the duration of time until the Lord sets up His millennial Kingdom.  

Most have heard it said that there's no perfect employer. Well the same can be said of churches. Why? Because whether you believe it or not the Earth is a battlefield. A generational battlefield. Both physically and spiritually in nature.  

Paul taught the Ephesians, to whom he was speaking here, to stand firm, to suit up in the whole armor of God. That there's a war on. While Jesus sent them...they were sent out among savages to seek and save the lost in the world. People would persecute those who are about the Father’s business.  

Many times we can get the "why me?"''s. Why am I going through this? It makes no sense! Why did those people treat me like that? Why were they so uncaring towards those other people? Why is there so much suffering in the world?  

My Dear Reader...we step into the world we step into the battle. 

We can only know about and understand what's really going on by being in the Word of God daily. To be in prayer daily. Building this right relationship with Jesus as the Spirit directs each of us...daily. 

Our culture, for generations, has not struggled much in this fight. We've let things slip into our lives because we didn't think they were so bad. That we thought God wouldn't mind. We never asked Jesus nor thought to check the Bible, God's Holy Word, but He wouldn't mind. We in our own estimation, our own wisdom, didn't think anything of it. 

An that's how savages came into the church. This little group of people agrees on this thing that the Bible says isn't for Godly men and women to be involved with and so it starts. 

The Bible teaches us that we are not our own, we were bought with a price, the shed blood of Jesus Christ. We must not do as the world and be found doing whatever is right in our own eyes.  

We often attempt to apply reverse logic. If God really had a problem with this or that, He would have stopped me. I know that I shouldn't but I just can't help myself.  

We can do just as those not in Christ at providing justification for why we aren't living the Christian life as the Spirit has been trying to teach us to be living. 

The closer to Jesus that we walk the less likely we'll fall for false prophets and false teachers. Funny how that works. False teachers, false prophets do things in darkness and are exposed by the Light of Jesus Christ. The New Testament Disciples were told to expose such things. 

Satan's going to keep fighting against God until that Final Judgment Day when he is cast into the Lake of Fire.

Satan is very real and is one whom we are warned that disguises himself as an angel of light. He is called a liar and the father of lies. He's extremely active in this world. 

He is absolutely NOT more powerful than God. In the cases of Believers he must obtain permission to impact their lives. Scripture says that he is the accuser of the brethren. We see a taste of it in the book of Job. 

My Dear Reader we cannot allow ourselves to let our guard down. This training in righteousness doesn't take a time-out or a vacation.  

"All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness; so that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work." 2 Timothy 3:16-17. 

Pray on, pray over, pray through life.

Right now my truck is broke. At least that's the world's view of things as they are.

Truth is God’s truck has a problem and I prayed to Him about the fact that His truck has a problem and I need His help in fixing it.  

Perspective is everything. We cannot have an ungodly perspective and expect Godly results. 

We cannot wander through this life without realizing the dangers, toils and snares that are out there. 

We must keep the whole armor of God on at all times. Realizing that the devil DOES prowl around like a roaring lion seeking someone to devour. From within the churches and outside of the Church.

Seeking first His kingdom and His righteousness and what? All these things will be added unto you.

Make the time to be in prayer.

Make the time to be reading your Bible. 

Make the time to make whatever is important to Jesus important to you. 

The more you do the more your eyes will be open and ears will hear what God's showing you and teaching you. 

Removing things from your life that aren't at all honorable to God isn't making you weaker nor are you missing out on living life to the fullest.

Should you ask the Apostles or Timothy the first Pastor...there's nothing in this world that compares to living a life that honors God in Christ Jesus.  

You NEED to have a healthy Spiritual life that isn't taken in by Satan's minions or his schemes...but you won't know what to look for or to do without a life that's all-in with Jesus. 

All NASB 1995 and NASB Scripture Excerpts used by permission. (C) Lockman Foundation.