How to separate the sheep from the wolves? The only way is by the true discernment and wisdom the Holy Spirit can give.
And one thing we believers in Christ need more of is true discernment that only the Holy Spirit can give.
Mat 7:15 Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves. Mat 7:16 Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles? Mat 7:17 Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit.
Jesus warns us about people with whom we come in contact in the church or in our everyday lives who have a set agenda. And that agenda is to fool the Children of God to cause hurt and disruption any way they can.
The above verses are part of the famous “Sermon on the Mount” that Jesus gave to His followers in Matthew Chapters 5-7. They speak of false prophets who purposely try to lead others astray.
But I believe in these last days there is another type of person Satan will try to use. He will try to find a good religious person. This person will be steeped in legalism to the point that they think they already know the truth. So they won’t be open to hear anything new the Holy Spirit tries to tell them.
The Pharisees and Sadducees in Jesus’ day were devoutly religious and thought they knew all truth. But they totally missed the fact that Jesus was the Messiah who had come to change the world. He came in a different way than they expected, and they would not be open to hear the truth.
We all have morals and values that we live out each day. And that is a good thing. But God is always trying to grow and mature us as Believers.
God shows us a truth today that we wouldn’t have been able to understand a year ago.
Yet as we are growing and maturing in Him, He changes our minds about things we never had a clear understanding of.
We have all done things that we regret and wish we could take back. But most of us don’t sit around and think of ways we can intentionally cause hurt or disruption to others’ lives. Because of this, many of us want to overlook huge red flags in the life of another person.
The Holy Spirit tries to get our attention, but sometimes we aren’t very good at listening.
Many times we can be fooled easily by someone who says and does all the right things, no matter what their motive and spiritual condition. So how do we separate the sheep from the wolves?
It is critical for not only leaders, but for every believer in Christ to seek spiritual discernment and wisdom that only the Holy Spirit can give.
fruit – that which originates or comes from something, an effect, result
Jesus said that we will always be able to know what people really stand for by the fruit they bear. Are they kind, gentle, loving, peaceful, forgiving, and patient with others? Or are they prideful, arrogant, lose their temper easily, and love to put others down who don’t agree with them?
Proverbs 20: 11 Even a child is known by his doings, whether his work be pure, and whether it be right. In other words, look more at what others DO than what they SAY.
Even though a person’s life might look good from the outside, if they are not REAL it will eventually show. The Holy Spirit can put a “check” (uneasiness) in your Spirit about that person. You can sense something is wrong, and maybe steer clear of any hurt and pain they might cause.
Or maybe you are just supposed to pray for them.
Ask the Holy Spirit for discernment at the beginning of each day. Then when He speaks or nudges, be obedient to what He tells you to do.
Don’t try to navigate life’s rough seas with your strength alone. Let the mighty power of God be your guiding force. That is the only way you can live in victory.
