Let me repeat that last line again. "For I know this, that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock." (Acts 20:29) Therefore, the fact that there are grievous wolves among us should not come as a surprise. Still, this is critical to understand because in this context, not all churches are one and the same. Not all churches teach that we are to remain steadfast in the apostolic doctrine, and sadly, within our modern day religious culture, many don't teach from the Word of God at all. It is for this reason that we need to study the Word, to show ourselves approved unto God so that we can rightly divide the Word, and not be misled by those who want to draw away disciples after themselves. (II Timothy 2:15)
This warning against those who would "draw disciples after themselves" should serve as a clue to a person's agenda and motives but this is not the only observation we should discern from those who proclaim to preach the gospel. Certainly, when the gospel they preach is anything and everything BUT the Word, the good news gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ, we should be running in the other direction. Why? Because the Word and the Spirit must agree. "And they were all amazed, and spake among themselves, saying, "What a Word [is] this! for with authority and power He [Jesus] commands the unclean spirits, and they come out." (Luke 4:36; Colossians 3:16; John 6:63; Ephesians 6:17; Hebrews 4:12)
Yes, we are instructed not to believe every spirit, but rather to test the spirits to see if they are of God.
"Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world. Hereby know ye the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God: And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that spirit of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world ... they are of the world: therefore, speak they of the world, and the world hears them ..." (I John 4: 1-5)
But we, who believe in Jesus by faith, and obey His commandments, are of God and therefore know we the Spirit of Truth, and the spirit of error. "Thy Word is Truth." (John 17:17) Jesus said, "I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life. No man comes to the Father but by Me." (John 14:6) Jesus goes on here to tell Philip that if he has seen Jesus, he has seen the Father ... but to go in that direction today would take away from the original message intended for this day. Therefore, before digressing too much, let us determine to love one another for love is of God, and everyone that loves is born of God and knows God because -- "In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent His only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through Him." (I John 4:6-9; Titus 3:4-7)
Hear ye Him! (John 3:16) The Lamb of God! The same God who created the world and was in the world personally delivered to us His free gift of salvation. (John 1:10-11; I Timothy 3:16) His love manifest for all the world to see on that cross, wherein He shed His precious holy blood for you and I. God became our Saviour. (Titus 3:4-7) This same Jesus whom ye have crucified is both Lord and Christ. (Acts 2:36) His Name is JESUS, for He shall save His people from their sins ... Emmanuel, being interpreted, God with us! (Matthew 1:21-23; Isaiah 9:6; Revelation 1:8)
Reading further in Acts, the scriptures warn "also of your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them. Therefore watch, and remember, that by the space of three years I ceased not to warn every one night and day with tears. And now, brethren, I commend you to God, and to the Word of His grace, which is able to build you up, and to give you an inheritance among all them which are sanctified. I have coveted no man's silver, or gold, or apparel. Yea, ye yourselves know, that these hands have ministered unto my necessities, and to them that were with me. I have showed you all things, how that so labouring ye ought to support the weak, and to remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how He said, "It is more blessed to give than to receive." And when [apostle Paul] had thus spoken, he kneeled down, and prayed with them all." (Acts 20:29-38)
Please note that this is not the only time that the scriptures speak of shepherds in wolves clothing. Jesus continually warns of false prophets and teachers arising from within the flock. In another place, we see that Paul went into the synagogue, and spake boldly for the space of three months, DISPUTING AND PERSUADING THE THINGS CONCERNING THE KINGDOM OF GOD. (Acts 19:3-8) But note, according to scripture, what happens here.
"BUT when divers were hardened, and believed not, but spake evil of that way before the multitude, he departed from them, and separated disciples, disputing daily in the school of one Tyrannus. And this continued by the space of two years: so that all they which dwelt in Asia heard the Word of the Lord Jesus, both Jews and Greeks. And God wrought special miracles by the hands of Paul; so that from his body were wrought unto the sick handkerchiefs or aprons, and the diseases departed from them, and the evil spirits went out of them." (Acts 19:9-12)
What we are witnessing herein is a separation of those whose hearts were hardened and believed not and those who gladly received the Word. For the latter, when fear fell on the Jews and Greeks dwelling at Ephesus AND the Name of the Lord Jesus was being magnified in the midst, many of them also which used curious arts brought their books together and burned them before all men; and they counted the price of them, and found it fifty thousand pieces of silver ... so mightily grew the Word of God, and prevailed. (Acts 19:17-20)
The Word is JESUS.
"In the beginning was the Word and the Word was with God and the Word was God ... and the Word was made flesh and dwelt among us (and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father) full of grace and truth." (John 1:1-18)
One Lord, One Faith, One Baptism. One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all ... all those who believe in Jesus by faith, and are water baptized in the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ, as the answer of a good conscience toward God our Saviour. (I Peter 3:21-22; Acts 2:36-38; Acts 10:44-48; Acts 19:3-7; Romans 6:3-4; Acts 19:5; Acts 4:7-10)
Jesus said, "he that believes and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believes not shall be damned. And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues; they shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover." So then after the Lord had spoken unto them, He was received up into heaven, and sat on the right hand of God. And they went forth, and preached every where, the Lord working with them, and confirming the Word with signs following. Amen." (Mark 16:16-20)
Often, in the scriptures, the Jews would ask Jesus and the apostles, "By what authority do you do these things?" And the answer, always? In the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ. And as we see from the scriptures below, the authority -- in the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ -- while inclusive of water baptism, extends beyond water baptism. In fact, everything we do in both word or deed, should be in the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ.
"But Peter said, "I do not possess silver and gold, but what I do have I give to you: In the Name of Jesus Christ the Nazarene, arise and walk!" (Acts 3:6)
And she continued doing this for many days. But Paul was greatly annoyed, and turned and said to the spirit, "I command you in the Name of Jesus Christ to come out of her!" And it came out at that very moment." (Acts 16:18)
"In the Name of our Lord Jesus, when you are assembled, and I with you in Spirit, with the power of our Lord Jesus, I have decided to deliver such a one to satan for the destruction of his flesh, that his spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus." (I Corinthians 5:4-5)
"And such were some of you; but you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ, and in the Spirit of our God." (I Corinthians 6:11)
"Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the Name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost." (Acts 2:38)
" ... always giving thanks for all things in the Name of our Lord Jesus Christ to God, even the Father." (Ephesians 5:20)
And to the point of this message -- "Now we command you, brethren, in the Name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye withdraw yourselves from every brother that walketh disorderly, and not after the tradition which he received of us." (II Thessalonians 3:6)
As we who believe in Jesus by faith, pursuing His heavenly agenda over our own are reminded far too often, the devil smiles heartily when one that knows the Word of God hardens their heart against the truth, and their minds are deceived to believe a lie. Nevertheless, for those who gladly receive the Word -- JESUS -- we can be assured that God is not just with us (as in the Old Testament days) but that now God our Saviour dwells within our hearts.
And we also know that every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning. Of His own will begat He us with the Word of truth, that we should be a kind of first fruits of His creatures. (James 1:17-18)
Thus, as we press into Jesus each and every day, "let the Word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord." (Colossians 3:16)
Because there is no higher purpose than to serve the Lord God Almighty who loved us enough to become our Saviour. He is Alpha and Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the ending, King of kings and Lord of lords.
Stand in the offering plate.
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