Appearances Are Deceptive

[Leafrivermac]

Matthew 7:15-23 "Beware of false prophets who come to you in sheep's clothing but inwardly are ravaging wolves. (16) You'll recognize them by their fruit. Are grapes gathered from thornbushes or figs from thistles? (17) In the same way, every good tree produces good fruit, but a bad tree produces bad fruit. (18) A good tree can't produce bad fruit; neither can a bad tree produce good fruit. (19) Every tree that doesn't produce good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. (20) So you'll recognize them by their fruit. (21) "Not everyone who says to Me, 'Lord, Lord!' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of My Father in heaven. (22) On that day many will say to Me, 'Lord, Lord, didn't we prophesy in Your name, drive out demons in Your name, and do many miracles in Your name?' (23) Then I will announce to them, 'I never knew you! Depart from Me, you lawbreakers!'

The false prophets are like the wolf in sheep's clothing and their real intent is to devour the flock. They have the appearance of sanctity but are inwardly greedy, manipulative and exploitative. Paul says that they will appear to be "œministers of righteousness"� while in fact being servants of Satan.
2 Corinthians 11:13-15 HCSB (13) For such people are false apostles, deceitful workers, disguising themselves as apostles of Christ. (14) And no wonder! For Satan himself is disguised as an angel of light. (15) So it is no great thing if his servants also disguise themselves as servants of righteousness. Their destiny will be according to their works.
2 Timothy 3:1-7 MKJV Know this also, that in the last days grievous times will be at hand. (2) For men will be self-lovers, money-lovers, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, (3) without natural affection, unyielding, false accusers, without self-control, savage, despisers of good, (4) traitors, reckless, puffed up, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, (5) having a form of godliness, but denying the power of it; even turn away from these. (6) For of these are those who creep into houses and lead captive silly women loaded with sins, led away with different kinds of lusts, (7) ever learning and never able to come to the full knowledge of the truth.
Acts 20:29-30 HCSB I know that after my departure savage wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock. (30) And men from among yourselves will rise up with deviant doctrines to lure the disciples into following them.
False teachers would not get too many followers if they told the truth such as: "œI am just after your money"� or "œI am really just a fake who wants his ego boosted"�. They have to tell lies and make false representations and some of them are very good at it.
Generally speaking if someone is "œtoo good to be true"� or "œtoo smooth"� or "œtoo perfect"� then they are hiding something. Real people have visible faults and imperfections. People like the apostle Peter or Thomas are real people with real humanity. Fake humanity is the sign of an actor or a hypocrite.
Christians have to learn the difference between character and personality. Personality is the exterior mask that people wear. It is how they project themselves to others and is not their true self. Character is the deeper self. Some people with boring personalities can have great character and some people with wonderful personalities can be charlatan's and rogues. We have to be a lot more careful about who we choose to follow.

(Jude 1:8-16 NASB) Yet in the same manner these men, also by dreaming, defile the flesh, and, reject authority and revile angelic majesties. {9} But Michael the archangel, when he disputed with the devil and argued about the body of Moses, did not dare pronounce against him a railing judgment, but said, "The Lord rebuke you." {10} But these men revile the things which they do not understand; and the things which they know by instinct, like unreasoning animals, by these things they are destroyed. {11} Woe to them! For they have gone the way of Cain, and for pay they have rushed headlong into the error of Balaam, and perished in the rebellion of Korah. {12} These men are those who are hidden reefs in your love feasts when they feast with you without fear, caring for themselves; clouds without water, carried along by winds; autumn trees without fruit, doubly dead, uprooted; {13} wild waves of the sea, casting up their own shame like foam; wandering stars,
for whom the black darkness has been reserved forever. {14} And about these also Enoch, in the seventh generation from Adam, prophesied, saying, "Behold, the Lord came with many thousands of His holy ones, {15} to execute judgment upon all, and to convict all the ungodly of all their ungodly deeds which they have done in an ungodly way, and of all the harsh things which ungodly sinners have spoken against Him." {16} These are grumblers, finding fault, following after their own lusts; they speak arrogantly, flattering people for the sake of gaining an advantage.


A Wolf found great difficulty in getting at the sheep owing to
the vigilance of the shepherd and his dogs. But one day it found
the skin of a sheep that had been flayed and thrown aside, so it
put it on over its own pelt and strolled down among the sheep.
The Lamb that belonged to the sheep, whose skin the Wolf was
wearing, began to follow the Wolf in the Sheep's clothing; so,
leading the Lamb a little apart, he soon made a meal off her, and
for some time he succeeded in deceiving the sheep, and enjoying
hearty meals.
Moral: Appearances are deceptive.

[mudhead1s wife]

Thanks for the post Leaf, appearances can be very decieving. The part where it says they will have a form of godliness, but deny it's power really touched me. I have seen this many times. They are the ones being led away from the love God. Say a prayer for my sister in-law, one of her friends has this very problem and last night her friend said some things that really shook her up. She knew Dawn didn't have faith but she never realized that she completly denounces Christianity. Angie is growing in faith and her spiritual walk and is starting to realize how important it is to pick your friends wisely.

[atcfisherman]

AMEM!!!

[Leafrivermac]

Thanks for the post Leaf, appearances can be very decieving. The part where it says they will have a form of godliness, but deny it's power really touched me. I have seen this many times. They are the ones being led away from the love God. Say a prayer for my sister in-law, one of her friends has this very problem and last night her friend said some things that really shook her up. She knew Dawn didn't have faith but she never realized that she completly denounces Christianity. Angie is growing in faith and her spiritual walk and is starting to realize how important it is to pick your friends wisely.

I will, and don't lose heart, God has dealt with many such folk. . . ."Choosing friends wisely" is an issue I'm presently dealing with my son. . .Pray for Jon.

Folks speak rashly these days and often don't say what they really mean. Often "I don't believe in God" really means I'm angry with God,someone who represents God, or I'm so deep in sin that I don't see my way out. May jesus use you guys to open her eyes.

[mudhead1s wife]

ORIGINAL: Leafrivermac

I will, and don't lose heart, God has dealt with many such folk. . . ."Choosing friends wisely" is an issue I'm presently dealing with my son. . .Pray for Jon. I have and I will continue. I used to tell Josh that he was stupid for doing some of the stuff he did and putting his parents through all that stuff. I would have loved to have parents like his or you and Lizzie growing up. I always said if I had a mom who loved me I wouldn't have been such a puke but then again if I had grown up that way I may have taken it for granted. I will be praying for you and Lizzie too. God Bless!

Folks speak rashly these days and often don't say what they really mean. Often "I don't believe in God" really means I'm angry with God,someone who represents God, or I'm so deep in sin that I don't see my way out. May jesus use you guys to open her eyes.

[Rebel Hog]

ORIGINAL: Leafrivermac

I will, and don't lose heart, God has dealt with many such folk. . . ."Choosing friends wisely" is an issue I'm presently dealing with my son. . .Pray for Jon.

You know he has them form usbrother!

[Venator1]

Choosing friends wisely" is an issue I'm presently dealing with my son. . .Pray for Jon.

Been there. I will do.

[Leafrivermac]

Thanks guys. I don't want to cast a bad light on Jon tho, he's a good kid . . .too good for his own good sometimes. He's letting folks take advantage of him and he just does'nt see it. He had a great little girlfriend that was really encouraging him spiritually, but she finally had her fill of his "friends". He will come around with the Lords help tho. He was a home schooler and I kind of let him down keeping him off in the boonies here. He's making up for lost time but as far as I can tell it does'nt include meanness, drugs, or booze.

[motor]

I will be praying for Jon. you know Mac that God works in mysterious ways and He has a plan for Jon all laid out..sometimes we have to stay in the valley awhileso God canprepare us for the mountaintop so that when we do get there we can enjoy it and realize what God has plannedfor us..God Bless you and yours..

[Snooky]

Good post,and so true.
Eph 4:14That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive;
They waitto ambush the new converts, and those who have not became rooted and grounded in the faith.
In Gen 27, Isaac is deceived. His eyes grew dim. (eyes to see and see not). He knew the voice that spoke wasn't the voice of Esau, but the smell was simular, when he touched him, it felt OK. Feelings over rode the fact that the voice wasn't right. If the word of God says it, it doesn't matter how we feel, or think. The word is truth.