Sheep in Wolves Clothing
““Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves. You will recognize them by their fruits. Are grapes gathered from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? So, every healthy tree bears good fruit, but the diseased tree bears bad fruit. A healthy tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a diseased tree bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. Thus you will recognize them by their fruits.”
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How do you deal with sheep in wolves clothing? A “wolf” defined as the person whom everybody loves, appears to be the kindest, most caring individual, yet, in your heart, you know they are dangerous. In your spirit you sense something is off and you are cautioned, but you don’t know why you feel this way. What do you do? How do you handle a person like this, especially if they are in your inner-circle of friends?
There will always be wolves in sheep’s clothing and we must be able to detect wolves among us. Some times it’s hard to get away from someone like this, but even if you do get away, the devil is always lurking, prowling, and trying to devour us. I Peter 5:8
Sadly, I find most often it’s through the most unlikeliest people and that’s why they are first referred to as sheep, i.e., appearing innocent, even “dumb.” When we aren’t on our guard, it’s easy to fall prey to them. I have fallen prey many times and most often with my tongue. Proverbs 12:28; Ephesians 4:29 A warrior needs to be on guard and ready at all times. We are God’s warrior and we have an enemy and he uses men and women, people around us, to attack us in all different forms.
The Message version of Matthew 7:15-20 provides a great description of what we are dealing with: “Be wary of false preachers who smile a lot, dripping with practiced sincerity. Chances are they are out to rip you off some way or other. Don’t be impressed with charisma; look for character. Who preachers are is the main thing, not what they say. A genuine leader will never exploit your emotions or your pocketbook. These diseased trees with their bad apples are going to be chopped down and burned.”
Five things you can do to detect a “wolf” in your midst?
PRAYER AND THE WORD: Be prayed and read up or it will be difficult to discern when the enemy is near. We must have the strength of the Lord to go into battle and strength is built from prayer and feasting on the Word of God. We must be prepared for battle before we go into battle. Soldiers don’t start preparing for war when the war begins. They plan and prepare, and strategize long before a war begins. Every Christian must prepare for battle, for war, and if you don’t need to put it into practice today, you will. We don’t know what kind of war we will ultimately be fighting, but we know that our enemy is Satan. He prowls around, seeking to destroy and kill, figuratively and literally. He wants to literally kill us, but he is just as happy if he can get us to be in relational conflict and get us to fight amongst one another. Prayer is how you remain sensitivity to the leading of the Holy Spirit.
DON’T JUDGE: Let the Holy Spirit guide you. We aren’t called to judge them, but there are things we can watch for to ensure we know how close to get to someone, especially if they are new. If you have a nudge in your spirit to be guarded about someone, then don’t trust them. A person should earn your trust.
Keep an arms reach away: These types of people have a way of becoming your best friend or getting into your inner-circle even if you don’t want them to. It isn’t that you don’t want to be welcoming, but recognize if they have a tendency to cause conflict and division in. Did dynamics change within your circle once they showed up?
Do they sound positive and encouraging while talking about others? Be guarded for a reason and be careful with your words. There’s a time to have everyone included and there’s a time just for your good friends. After the crowds gathered Jesus was often seen with his closest 12 friends and the Bible highlights he also had his three best friends (James, Peter, and John).
Hold back invitations to this newbie if you see a negative shift taking place in your inner circle when someone new enters. It’s not judging, it’s being “wise as serpents.” Matthew 10:16 In time, the person’s character will shine through and as the word states, “by their fruits you will know them.” Look for their fruits. Matthew 7:16-20
THE INQUISITOR: I find “wolves,” tend to ask a lot of questions. Don’t begin divulging your deepest cares and family secrets to him or her. I always say when it comes to answering their questions, “less is best.” They seem caring, genuinely interested in me, but I’ve learned over the years that kind of individual is actually an information-seeker, or rather, a gossiper. I hate to say it, but it almost always proves true. Be careful what you tell people. Listen to what they are telling you, if anything. Less is best. Go with your instincts, or what I like to call your “Holy Spirit Instincts” or again, what the Bible calls “discernment.” Listen to that still small voice telling you to be quiet and careful.
Prophets: Discern what Christians are telling you by what you’ve told them. A prophet’s prophecy can be tested. (Predictions will come to pass, Jeremiah 28:9); Glorify God rather than themselves (John 16:13); Back up with scripture (Isaiah 8:20).
DON’T GOSSIP: If what you believe is true and you are seeing the Lord reveal what you have been praying for come into the open, don’t gossip or slander anyone, especially the individual that you are questioning. Chances are, they are doing it to themselves. Hold your tongue, even if they have begun getting you caught up in their chaos. If you are in their inner circle, chances are, you are caught in the web somehow, or so it seems. It’s best to remain silent and walk away from the conversations taking place. Do not be seen with this individuals who is stirring up the chaos. “Satan is the author of confusion.” I Corinthians 14:33 Let them operate on their own and be seen alone. Eventually, they will be caught in their own trap. Pray for self-control, protection over the enemy, and that truth will come out and prevail. Isaiah 54:17
REMOVE YOURSELF: If you can, remove yourself from this individuals social events. It may not always be possible, but when it is, do not attend events out of obligation. For example, I had begun wondering about one woman for a few years, but I didn’t have anything to truly go by. I had a caution in my spirit to not trust her, but I didn’t know why. On the surface she is very kind and welcoming. A few years later, within 24 hours of her landing from the north, chaos and confusion began surrounding her in our neighborhood. I saw a pattern year-after-year, but said nothing. She started asking questions that “appeared” to be to bring unity to the community, but I sensed more of a self-motivation behind her true intent. Nevertheless, I still didn’t want to judge her motivation. Chaos and slander began to go around the neighborhood and though I suspected she was part of the gossip and creation of this chaos, I didn’t have any evidence. I wasn’t going to ask around. Rick and I got together with this couple on a Sunday afternoon and she brought up the drama taking place and slandered two individuals for being the instigators. Rick and I did our best to listen and move on without giving an opinion one way or the other. Thankfully, it wasn’t difficult because we were out of touch from what she was doing and didn’t have insight one way or the other. We were there to have fun and knew going in should anything come up, stay focused on everything but what we knew was going on in the neighborhood. A few nights later, this woman, whom we just played with three days prior, who had brought up the “instigators”, was actually being called out as the individual who had victimized this particular individual who felt attacked a few weeks prior. He was the party who had been publicly shamed a few weeks prior, by her, though that is not what had been stated, by her. She is passive aggressive and because she is so “kind,” and charismatic, it caught him totally off guard. He wasn’t telling Rick and me this story. He was telling everybody that was within earshot who was willing to hear. He was defending his honor. Mind you, he doesn’t profess to be a Christian so in his eyes, he feels no shame in holding back his opinion in the public arena. Ultimately, what I had suspected for a few years was now proven true. I didn’t have to say or do anything, but listen to the wisdom of the Lord. The caution in my spirit was affirmed and I had actual reason not to trust her, be caution, or I too would have fallen victim to her deceptions. Like The Message states, the charisma is there, but ultimately, the character is lacking. Since that night, more has been revealed, and what I see today is truly a sheep in wolves clothing.
I will not purposefully nurture a relationship with this individual and ensure I am in groups when we are together. Any relationship with this individual will be from a distance.Live the right life, doing the right thing - walk in righteousness. Let God be your defender against wolves in sheep’s clothing. Pray that their lies and deceit will be seen by all, and that in the process the Lord will cover and protect you. Also, pray that you can easily remove yourself from the situation and/or relationship. Seek the Lord in relationships that deal with family. The Lord will guide you.
““He will make your righteous reward shine like the dawn, your vindication like the noonday sun. Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for him;do not fret when people succeed in their ways, when they carry out their wicked schemes. Refrain from anger and turn from wrath; do not fret—it leads only to evil.””
Thumbnail photo by Jeroen Bosch on Unsplash
