In How many times over have we read the part of the bible where even the elect will be deceived, if possible? (Mark 13:22). We often think “that just can’t happen to us“, and “why would anyone be sitting here in church if they’re not one of us?”. “Surely, we’re among friends here, there’s no wolves in our church”.

Sisters, remember in part two I mentioned that the Spiritual judges all things? We are in a war here-and to think that satan is not displeased with us is a lie-unless, of course, your not a threat. If you’re a complacent, carnal believer, or your church is an earthly church, then you may be right, satan has no need to visit your headquarters, he’s got you shooting pucks in your own goal!

However, if you are a spiritual believer, and attending a church focused on the Word of G-D anointed by His Holy Spirit, executing the truth in love, then, my friends, satan is probably alive and well and dwelling among you. You see, he seeks to devour you-”take heed lest ye fall” and cover each others backs. No one is immune to temptation, and no one is too holy for a fall.

We’re just going to look at some point blank scriptures that deal with the wolves among us: 

2 Cor 11:12-15 “But what I do, I will also continue to do, that I may cut off the opportunity from those who desire an opportunity to be regarded just as we are in the things of which they boast. 13For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into apostles of Christ. 14And no wonder! For Satan himself transforms himself into an angel of light. 15Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also transform themselves into ministers of righteousness, whose end will be according to their works.”

1 John 4:1-6: “Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits, whether they are of God; because many false prophets have gone out into the world. 2By this you know the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is of God, 3and every spirit that does not confess that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is not of God. And this is the spirit of the Antichrist, which you have heard was coming, and is now already in the world. 4You are of God, little children, and have overcome them, because He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world. 5They are of the world. Therefore they speak as of the world, and the world hears them. 6We are of God. He who knows God hears us; he who is not of God does not hear us. By this we know the spirit of truth and the spirit of error. “

Matt 7:15-23:15"Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves. 16You will know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes from thorn bushes or figs from thistles? 17Even so, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. 18A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a bad tree bear good fruit. 19Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. 20Therefore by their fruits you will know them. 

I’d like to comment on this last verse. Have any of you as a child been warned not to eat just any berry off of a berry bush? Some of those fruits may be poisonous. Well, just like “bad fruit” we are not aware if it is bad unless it has been tested. Be aware of “appearances” because, this may shock you, but sometimes the enemy is sent in to your churches, to rock your world.

There have been testimonies of Satanic cults and witch covens who send in folks that can “talk the talk” and “look the part” and they attend church with one agenda only: to tear it down. Satan is so threatened with our work here on earth as believers that he’s more busy among believers than he is with the non-believing community. If you don’t believe me, check out this one passage:

1 John 4:20- 20If someone says, "I love God," and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen, how can he love God whom he has not seen? “

We’ve discussed in the past that we have two enemies: sin and satan. Rest assured, sin can cause back biting, gossip, etc. but hatred-usually that is anger that has been given a foothold in the believers life, thus turning into a stronghold, which is from the strongman himself: Satan. Hatred is a demonic trait-whether it is of another person or people’s. The only thing believers are commanded to hate is evil. All others, even non-believers must be treated with respect, and the love of G-D. Even our enemies. Therefore, if we have hatred in our hearts towards brethren, we have a serious enemy in our midst. The rest of the passage states this:

21And this commandment we have from Him: that he who loves God must love his brother also.

I received a letter from a friend whom I’ve not heard from in 14 months. No “hello how are you” it went directly to the point: “Jen, I read your letter, …….you judged……..” This person was speaking in relation to a recent prayer letter I sent out asking for the saints to interceed on my behalf. I had been stricken with grief in the worst way: I was rejected by my own father, a “believer”. He has an intense hatred for Jews and can’t support our ministry in Israel. He had grown so weary of hearing about our life here (by his own choice, he ASKED for the newsletters) that it led to his disowning me, his only child. The pain is the most intense I’ve ever experienced in my life. I can’t understand a hatred for a people being so strong it supercedes a father’s love towards his only daughter, and in his case, his only child. I can’t relate to having hatred towards ANY child, whether only one or of many. Even when that child may do something wrong, and in this case my crime is loving a people he has been brought up to hate. Yet, he names himself a believer. I claimed in my prayer request that his hatred was demonic. I in return, remained under fire from a long ago friend that I’d not heard from in over a year. 

Besides the fact that I had yet one more offense now that I had to bring to the cross, choose to forgive my “friend” as well as my dad, I had learned a revelation from the whole experience. Today’s church has grown so accustomed to what I call “Jesus puppy love” that they can’t handle the “Real Jesus Love” and that is calling out what needs to be called out. 

The only way we will ever be spiritually healthy, individually as well as collectively is exposure-even at the cost of our own popularity. We have no “rights” in the sight of G-D, because our flesh is dead. We are new creations, and if we start to give into our “personal rights” we feed the flesh. Our flesh needs to go on a hunger strike, until it’s dead. When we crush sin under our feet, we have begun the first step of squeezing the head of Satan as well. Once we say “no” to our own human desires of needing to be “right” yet, really we’re being arrogant, and other human traits that are not of the L-rd, the Holy Spirit gains ground in our lives, strengthening us and weakening our advesary. Satan looses the footholds of the sins in our lives disabling his ability of turning them into strongholds. 

Ephesians 5:11
And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather expose them.

It’s a scary thing, to expose-but with exposure there is power, and that power brings forth victory! Remember perfect love casts out fear, and fear is not from the L-rd. If your afraid to stand up for something you know is incorrect, it’s quite possible you have a spirit in your church, a spirit of fear, (2 Tim 1:7 says fear is of a spirit-in Greek it means just that-spirit) trying to keep you from doing what it is you have to do. 

Remember, the Spirit of the L-rd is within you. Greater is He in you than he who is in the world. If your on G-D’s team, you have overcome the world. (1 John 4:4)

These are those who are NOT on G-D’s team:

“For you are not a G-D who takes pleasure in wickedness, nor shall evil dwell with You. The boastful shall not stand in Your sight; You hate all workers of iniquity. You shall destroy all those who speak falsehood, the L-rd abhors the bloodthirsty and deceitful man.” Psalm 5:4-6

May the L-rd have mercy on their souls. May G-D have mercy on all of us!