For several decades grey wolves have been on the endangered species list in several states. Here in Wisconsin, because of the laws regarding endangered species, we now have an overpopulation problem. Farmers, homeowners and resort owners helped to initiate a bill in the state Congress to allow the Department of Natural Resources to create a “wolf hunting season” in an attempt to control the overpopulation problem. The bill passed. Why did the state allow them to get “out of control” to the point that now we have to kill some of them off? Maybe the DNR wasn’t knowledgeable enough about the general habits of wolves, maybe they just weren’t paying attention or possibly it was sheer foolishness not to assess the outcome of allowing the wolves to run completely free . Just a thought.
Our Great Shepherd, the Lord Jesus Christ, referred to His followers as sheep~~ John 10:22-30 “At that time the Feast of Dedication took place at Jerusalem. It was winter, and Jesus was walking in the temple, in the colonnade of Solomon. So the Jews gathered around him and said to him, “How long will you keep us in suspense? If you are the Christ, tell us plainly.” Jesus answered them, “I told you, and you do not believe. The works that I do in my Father’s name bear witness about me, but you do not believe because you are not part of my flock. My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand. My Father, who has given them to me,is greater than all, and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father’s hand. I and the Father are one.”
John 7: 15-20 Jesus said ” Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves. You will recognize them by their fruits. Are grapes gathered from thorn bushes, or figs from thistles? So, every healthy tree bears good fruit, but the diseased tree bears bad fruit. A healthy tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a diseased tree bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. Thus you will recognize them by their fruits.”
In Acts 20: 28-31 the Apostle Paul spoke these words to the Ephesian elders ” Pay careful attention to yourselves and to all the flock, in which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to care for the church of God, which he obtained with his own blood. I know that after my departure fierce wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock; and from among your own selves will arise men speaking twisted things, to draw away the disciples after them. Therefore be alert, remembering that for three years I did not cease night or day to admonish everyone with tears.”
Luke 10: 1-3 After this the Lord appointed seventy-two others and sent them on ahead of him, two by two, into every town and place where he himself was about to go. And he said to them, “The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few. Therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest. Go your way; behold, I am sending you out as lambs in the midst of wolves.”
As the Apostle John approached his later years, he wrote to the church at Ephesus
“Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, for many false prophets have gone out into the world. By this you know the Spirit of God: every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God, and every spirit that does not confess Jesus is not from God. This is the spirit of the antichrist, which you heard was coming and now is in the world already. Little children, you are from God and have overcome them, for he who is in you is greater than he who is in the world.”
John warned them in a very fatherly, pastoral way knowing there were many in the church who questioned the truth. I’ve noticed a nonchalance within churches in the past several years.
In churches today we face the same problems as the church at Ephesus~~ false prophets (wolves) are among us; those cleverly disguised to look like, talk like and even sometimes walk like a true believer (sheep). There is only one way to protect the ” true sheep of His flock” is to do as the above Scriptures tell us.
We each must: TEST the spirits, KNOW the Lord’s way and most of all are fully assured in our hearts that “we know that we know” our salvation through the Lord Jesus Christ is true and sure according to our Heavenly Father’s Holy Word.
Let’s not be like the foolish members of Wisconsin’s Department of Natural Resources.
My Prayer For All of The Body of Christ
“Make me to know your ways, O LORD; teach me your paths. Lead me in your truth and teach me, for you are the God of my salvation; for you I wait all the day long.” Psalm 25:4-5
LOVE-HOPE-PEACE In Our Changing World 
I’m afraid the ‘wolves’ population is growing in every part of the world. As you say – “cleverly disguised to look like, talk like and even sometimes walk like a true believer”
One wonders how much more the truth can be twisted. I am staggered at the number of Chrislam Churches in America (Christ+Islam – as if that could ever be remotely possible, since Islam denies that Christ is God) I don’t think it will be long before the same happens in here, since there are myriad voices calling for “tolerance” and insisting that all religions are basically the same.
I certainly wonder how much longer it can be before the age of grace comes to an end.
We are one day closer!
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I, like you, wonder just how much longer this dispensation of grace our Gracious Heavenly Father will allow. I know that ‘no man knows the day nor the hour’… but we are warned or told to heed in every book of the New Testament! It’s important to get into the Word ourselves and also to be in fervent prayer!
Thank you again for reading and I truly appreciate your comments!
Blessings Angela!
Stephanie
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