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

But there were also false prophets among the people, even as there will be false teachers among you, who will secretly bring in destructive heresies, even denying the Lord who bought them, and bring on themselves swift destruction. And many will follow their destructive ways, because of whom the way of truth will be blasphemed. By covetousness they will exploit you with deceptive words ; for a long time their judgment has not been idle, and their destruction does not slumber. 2 Peter 2:2-3 But there were also false prophets in Israel, just as there will be false teachers among you. They will cleverly teach their destructive heresies about God and even turn against their Master who bought them. Theirs will be a swift and terrible end. Many will follow their evil teaching and shameful immorality. And because of them, Christ and his true way will be slandered. In their greed they will make up clever lies to get hold of your money. But God condemned them long ago, and their destruction is on the way. – NLT False ministries prey on God’s people and use them for their own self-seeking ends. However, it should be noted that they do not prey on just any sheep. Much like a wolf or other animals of prey they tend to go after the “easy picki ngs ” or the “soft targets.” One of our goals as believers is to take ourselves out of the “easy pickings” category. The Bible speaks of five different categories of people that can become fodder for these ministries. Firstly , false ministries prey on the lambs or new converts (Amos 6:4; Eph. 4:14; 1 Tim. 3:6). Then we will no longer be infants , tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of men in their deceitful scheming. Ephesians 4:14, NIV

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