Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves. Matthew 7:15
Behold, I am sending you out as sheep in the midst of wolves, so be wise as serpents and innocent as doves. Beware of men, for they will deliver you over to courts and flog you in their synagogues, and you will be dragged before governors and kings for my sake, to bear witness before them and the Gentiles. Matthew 10:16-18
Jesus said to them, “Watch and beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees.” Mathew 16:6
And in the hearing of all the people he said to his disciples, “Beware of the scribes, who like to walk around in long robes, and love greetings in the marketplaces and the best seats in the synagogues and the places of honor at feasts, who devour widows’ houses and for a pretense make long prayers. They will receive the greater condemnation.” Luke 20:45-47
Beware. This warning should make you immediately ask questions of the Holy Spirit. Where have I been misled? What have I trusted or believed that I shouldn’t have? What is the actual ‘Truth’ of things in my life? Who am I ‘following’ that is … false?
Lately I’ve been doing research on very early Christian writings. I am trying to track down and read and research on any first century Christian writings after what we have and know as the New Testament; The Didache, The Apostolic Fathers, etc. It all is very interesting to me, since I’ve ventured into historical fiction novel writing / creation. I am very interested in understanding what the first century follower of The Way lived their lives and how they interacted with God and the Holy Spirit. This research has confirmed much of what I have suspected. But it has also revealed some interesting beliefs.
The first century Christians were VERY wary of those ‘traveling ministers’ that asked for money from the local church community. In fact, The Didache calls out that practice by one who does it …as “false”. The first century Christians also didn’t have an issue with people who were called of God to be prophets and apostles, but to be very aware of those individuals by their actions. Just like today — we must actually know them (any Apostle, Prophet, Evangelist, Pastor, Teacher or elder) by their “fruit”, and if they truly actually produce the fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23) in their daily lives. In this modern and increasingly ‘screen / platform’ heavy style and system of ‘professional ministry’ it is even more difficult to actually ‘know’ these individuals on a personal level. This ‘big’ professional ministry ‘system’ is rife with hypocrisy and fraud. But this was also around at the very beginning of the Church as well, we just do it bigger now because of our technology.
What I am finding out is that Jesus has provided His ‘gifts’ (Ephesians 4:11-12) to the Church in a much bigger way than we know and experience now. They are actually much more prevalent in His Body than is recognized by the current “academically seminary ordained professional” spiritual leadership. They are in and among us … but they need connection and help to understand their calling and gifting. Unfortunately the modern American Church is not set up systemically to help them realize their place in the Body and what they are called to do for the Body. This begs the need for you to be actually connected to other members of the Body, NOT as an ‘audience participant’ but REALLY connected.. by conversations and prayer, and sharing your own weekly spiritual journey with them. In the first century church that meant actually having meals together and sharing their lives together, what we call ‘hanging out’ now.
Who do you know that is called of God to be a ‘gift’ to the Body and to you? Do you have regular conversations with them? Do you actually ‘know’ them? It truly is the gap between religion and relationship. Let’s actually encourage and build up one another ‘in the faith’, with our weekly testimonies of obedience to the Holy Spirit’s instructions to us. This means a much more involved relationship with people than just being an ‘audience’ participant. Let’s help one another grow in our relationship with the Holy Spirit and His calling in our lives.