If They Only Knew About the Wolf

I like to keep things simple. Yes, simple is always best. Let’s not complicate things any more than we have to. So, today I want to offer this simple, but life changing thought…If They Only Knew About the Wolf. Let’s start there. Do you know about the wolf? Many churches don’t want to talk about the wolf. They want to talk about something more pleasant than the wolf.

The wolf is not so easy to recognize because he likes to dress up like a sheep. This wolf is a cross dresser. He likes to wear sheep clothes and pretends to be a sheep, but he’s definitely a wolf. Jesus gives us this warning about these cleverly disguised wolves.

Matthew 7:15 (NLT)

“Beware of false prophets who come disguised as harmless sheep but are really vicious wolves.

The Apostle Paul tells us that these wolves would come from within the church. Paul charged the church elders with the task of shepherding the sheep (the church flock) protecting them from the wolves. Paul understood that one of his roles was to identify the wolves and protect the sheep from being deceived by the vicious and deadly wolves.

Acts 20:28-31 (NLT)

“So guard yourselves and God’s people. Feed and shepherd God’s flock—his church, purchased with his own blood—over which the Holy Spirit has appointed you as elders. 29 I know that false teachers, like vicious wolves, will come in among you after I leave, not sparing the flock. 30 Even some men from your own group will rise up and distort the truth in order to draw a following. 31 Watch out! Remember the three years I was with you—my constant watch and care over you night and day, and my many tears for you.

If They Only Knew About the Wolf. Jesus knew about the wolf. Paul knew about the wolf. King David knew about the wolf when he wrote Psalm 23. Do you know about the wolf?

Psalm 23:1 (NLT)

The LORD is my shepherd; I have all that I need.

If you truly knew about the wolf, you would realize your need for the Shepherd. How simple is that thought? If you really knew there was a vicious and deceptive wolf trying to take your soul to hell with him…you would make the LORD you’re shepherd. Yes, it’s that simple and yes, it is also that difficult. Why? Because the wolf doesn’t look like a wolf. The wolf is Satan, and he dresses up like an angel of light (2 Corinthians 11:14). Satan is a deceiver. He is the unholy spirit of antichrist working against the Holy Spirit of Christ on the earth today. He is the wolf that comes to kill the sheep. If They Only Knew About the Wolf.

The wolf has been using deception to take people’s eyes off the Good Shepherd Jesus for a long time. The wolf wants us to believe that everyone goes to heaven, and you don’t need a Shepherd to save you. If They Only Knew About the Wolf and how the wolf story ends…they would cry out to the Good Shepherd Jesus to save them. This is the truth about the wolf. If you follow the wolf, you receive a wolf’s reward.

Revelation 14:9-12 (NLT)

Then a third angel followed them, shouting, “Anyone who worships the beast and his statue or who accepts his mark on the forehead or on the hand

10 must drink the wine of God’s anger. It has been poured full strength into God’s cup of wrath. And they will be tormented with fire and burning sulfur in the presence of the holy angels and the Lamb. 11 The smoke of their torment will rise forever and ever, and they will have no relief day or night, for they have worshiped the beast and his statue and have accepted the mark of his name.” 12 This means that God’s holy people must endure persecution patiently, obeying his commands and maintaining their faith in Jesus.

However, if you follow the Good Shepherd-Jesus, you will receive a totally different reward.

Psalm 23:1&6 (NLT)

1 The LORD is my shepherd; I have all that I need….6 Surely your goodness and unfailing love will pursue me all the days of my life, and I will live in the house of the LORD forever.

Maranatha, Hosanna, Hallelujah and Amen,

Terry Cooper