Watchout For WOLVES: Keys To Discerning Authentic Ministries & Evaluating Doctrinal Trends

The New Living Translation renders verse 15 this way,

Instead, we will hold to the truth in love, becoming more and more in every way like Christ, who is the head of his body, the church. – NLT Is it right for us to be satisfied with leading people to less than the full expression of Christ in them? Is it right for us to try too hard to make people comfortable when they have many sin issues to deal with that are keeping them from fulfilling their destiny? What kind of Christians are we satisfied with in a day when the church is challenged to touch the world? Os Guinn ess states that this modern focus “simultaneously makes evangelism easier — more people at more times in their life are more open to the Gospel — yet makes discipleship harder, because practicing the lordship of Christ runs counter to the fragmentation and specialization of modern life” (pg. 18).

3. NATURAL ABILITIES

Where does utilizing our natural abilities and strengths (arm of the flesh) begin to supplant or become an acceptable substitute for true visitation and revival (arm of the Spirit)?

Paul was clear that he did not want people’s faith to rest on human wisdom when he wrote in 1 Corinthians 2:1-5,

And I, brethren, when I came to you, did not come with excellence of speech or of wisdom declaring to you the testimony of God. 2 For I determined not to know anything among you except Jesus Christ and Him crucified. 3 I was with you in weakness, in fear, and in much trembling. 4 And my speech and my preaching were not with persuasive words of human wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power, 5 that

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