ON MISSION/ ON GUARD

WATCH OUT

FOR THOSE INSIDE THE CHURCH..WE KNOW THERE ARE THOSE OUTSIDE THAT HAVE BAD INTENTIONS

THEY CAUSE DIVISIONS

SOME DIVISION IS NECESSARY…LOYALTY TO CHRIST

SMALL GROUPS ARE A FORM OF GOOD DIVISION

THEY TEACH CONTRARY AND GET YOU AGAINST THE CHURCH AND PASTOR/TEACHERS ETC

THEY CREATE OBSTACLES/PITFALLS

THERE IS A DOCTRINAL AND ETHICAL NORM WE MUST FOLLOW

THEY ADD TO SIMPLE TRUTHS…THE INTENT IS FOR YOU TO NEED THEM TO PULL YOU OUT OR RESCUE YOU OR GUIDE YOU

SERVE THEMSELVES

THEY DO NOT SERVE THE LORD...”Anyone who mars the unity or harmony of the local church does not serve the LORD JESUS CHRIST, regardless of his/her claim. Their interests are put above the interests of the church.”

THE EXPRESSION IS USED IN THE SENSE OF SERVING ONESELF, OF BEING THE WILLING SLAVE OF ONE’S EGOTISM “ CRANFIELD

THEY ARE SMOOTH TALKERS AND FLATTERING

The Bible refers to them as wolves in sheeps clothing, but they don’t look or act outwardly like a wolf…you wouldn’t say here puppy puppy if you saw a hungry aggressive wolf with blood on his lips...

AVOID

dont argue dont try and convert them AVOID THEM

YOU MAY BE THINKING Ephesians 5:11 “And do not participate in the unfruitful deeds of darkness, but rather even expose them.” SAYS TO EXPOSE THEM!! it first says not participating in their deeds

they will leave when they have no more prey

DON’T BE PREY

“ Hasten to show thyself approved to God, a workman not ashamed, accurately handling the word of truth” Berean literal Bible

GROW IN DISCERNMENT

TO OBEY

they’re faith was being talked about everywhere 1:8

be obedient to the gospel, to the word

to endure till the end....wolves can go weeks without eating

SEEK WISDOM

were reminded of what our savior said Matthew 10:16 ““Behold, I am sending you out like sheep in the midst of wolves. Therefore be wise as serpents and innocent as doves.”

be wise…lit. be an expert in what is good

be innocent of evil

PRAISE GOD

SATAN IS DEFEATED

Gen 3:15 “And I will put hostility between you and between the woman, and between your offspring and between her offspring; he will strike you on the head, and you will strike him on the heel.””

here is an illusion to the promise is soon to be fulfilled

Luke 10:18-20 “So he said to them, “I saw Satan falling like lightning from heaven. Behold, I have given you the authority to tread on snakes and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing will ever harm you. Nevertheless, do not rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to you, but rejoice that your names are inscribed in heaven.””

FOR HIS GRACE

2 Timothy 4:3–4 LEB

For there will be a time when they will not put up with sound teaching, but in accordance with their own desires, they will accumulate for themselves teachers, because they have an insatiable curiosity, and they will turn away from the hearing of the truth, but will turn to myths.