Can You Spot the Wolf in Sheep’s Clothing?

Those of us who are true Christ-followers are under attack and have been ever since our birth. The devil is the wolf dressed as a lowly sheep and is seeking to devour us. That is, he not only lures us but then catches us in his trap. He then quickly gobbles us up so there is no more of our speaking out against him. It is so important for us in these last days to be vigilant, to be on guard, watching out for any signs that he is near and ready to pounce. He cleverly uses other people to get you. His time is running out, folks. If you’ve not been living under a rock, you’ve probably noticed that he’s on the prowl more than ever, and his sly and dirty tricks are unprecedented. It will be more difficult to recognize his tactics, so we need to be ready. Remember that the wolf is a predator. They are experts at deception. Winning and being right are their highest goals. How do we recognize these slick, street beasts the devil uses in our lives? Whether it be a false religious teacher, a person seeking a spouse, the news media, or someone trying to gain a leadership role in a company, here are some things to look out for:

1. The wolf seeks to gain power instead of empowering another person. In a meeting of your company peers, a wolf might say something like, Hey Larry, when I heard you talking to our client in the hall yesterday, you gave him some wrong information. You should get your facts right.
2. The wolf knows the power of emotions and words. He does his research. He knows what you want and need. He says and gives you just enough to lure you in. You might hear a pastor in disguise saying this, The Lord told me in a vision that he was going to perform a miracle in our church today. Come, all you who are hurting and in need. See the signs and wonders of our Lord as our friend and prophetess, Sara McKinley, ministers to us.
3. The wolf seems to be kind and generous on the outside, but in reality, his ulterior motive is to further himself. He might brag about his donations like this, I love this church so much. I gave so much money last year that I probably won’t have to give anymore for 5 more years. But I will. It’s just how I am. 
4. The wolf tells lots of stories, but they all seem to have holes. Always remember that a half-truth is a whole lie. You might hear something like, I came in late because Daphne’s car broke down and she didn’t know how to fix it. It’s true that Elaine’s friend, Daphne, doesn’t know how to fix cars. But Elaine wasn’t with Daphne when she came in late. She was with Richard.
5. The wolf appears to be interested in everything you do, but when it doesn’t line up with his needs, he’ll start feeding you his charm to make his agenda more appealing. The wolf might say something like, I heard you are an awesome skier. I’ve been skiing my whole life. Let me take you skiing next weekend. I can fly us out to Vail in my company jet, and we can spend the weekend getting to know each other. 

How do you spot one of these phonies?

1. Investigate before entering into a relationship with people you don’t really know. Doing your homework will save you a lot of pain and grief. A little investigating never hurt anyone, so before you wish you had, do some. Check out their social media. Whom do they follow? What are their likes? This is the place where you’ll discover the most. If they’re not on social media, ask around. Somebody knows…
2. Know the real so you’ll spot the phony. Bankers study dollar bills. When they want to learn to spot a counterfeit, they study the original. Jesus said by their fruits you will know them. It doesn’t take long to discover that wolves talk a good talk, but when their actions don’t line up with what they say, you say goodbye.
3. Watch out for these fakes as they’re everywhere! Know your surroundings. Don’t assume everyone is a sheep like you. Put on your armor.
4. Ask a lot of questions. Eventually, they’ll be tripped up, as the holes in their tales will start leaking. Wolves don’t like to be challenged. You’ll discover their true character when you question them. Their answers and especially their agitated reactions will tell you most everything you want to know.
5. Surround yourself with people you trust. Besides what God tells you in His Word, wise counsel from godly friends and family can be one of your greatest weapons against the wolf in sheep’s clothing.

Check out these verses Jesus wants you to know. They could save your life.

• Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves. (Matthew 7:15)
• Be on your guard; stand firm in the faith; be courageous; be strong. (I Corinthians 16:13)
• He will bring to light what is hidden in darkness and will expose the motives of the heart. (I Corinthians 4:5)
• For even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light. So it is no surprise if his servants, also, disguise themselves as servants of righteousness. Their end will correspond to their deeds. (2 Corinthians 11:14-15)
• False prophets will appear and perform great signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect. See, I have told you ahead of time. (Matthew 24:23-25)
• When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth…(John 16:13)
• Where there is no guidance, a people falls, but in an abundance of counselors there is safety. (Proverbs 11:14)