Beware of........

Phil. 3:1-3

Beware of the :

1. Dogs: Ps 22:16 “ For dogs have surrounded me; A band of evildoers has encompassed me;” Gal. 5:15, “ if you bite and devour one another take care lest you be consumed by one another.” Rev. 22:15
Matt.7:6; Lev.18:22; Deut.23:18

DOGS: When I read through many of the cross references most if not all refer to evil doers or those who live immoral lifestyles. Those who would lead you away into sin, tempting and guiding you to do things that are contrary to the Word of GOD.


2. Evil Workers: 2 Cor.11:13-14 “For such men are false apostles, deceitful workers, disguising themselves as apostles of Christ. And no wonder, for even Satan disguises himself as an angel of Light.”
* false apostles: Acts 20:30;Gal 1:7 ( Acts 15:24- Gal. 5:10) ;**Gal. 2:4; Phil 1:15; Titus 1:10f; 2 Peter 2:1;Rev. 2:2;
*deceitful workers ;Phil. 3:2

Evil Workers:
These men /women are those who are misguided themselves. They may actually believe in God but that alone isn’t enough to save them for we know that even Satan believes in God. Yet, they live a life that would seem they are true followers of Christ but their fruit is not evident of it.

Here are some characteristics:
They seek to divide the body rather than unify it, causing dissention among the believers(Acts 20:30, Gal.1:6-7); “They preach the gospel of Christ from envy and strife”. ( Phil 1:15); They teach for sordid gain or that which is contrary to who Christ is.(Titus 1:10-12)
I find it interesting that Paul writes about these individuals that they are : liars, evil beasts, lazy gluttons. – If they set a standard High in one area of their lives why not be that across the board? They secretly introduce destructive heresies; 1 Cor. 11:17-19; Gal.5:20; (2 Peter 2:1).

Rev. 2:2 – “ I know your deeds and your toil and perseverance, and that you cannot endure evil men, and you put to the test those who call themselves apostles, and they are not, and you found them to be false;”
* evil men- men who desire to make “their” ways right or chose to distort the word of God so that they may continue in sin. Men who would cause strife and envy in the body. Who secretly seek for themselves sordid gain. Men who require more from others than they do of themselves. Men who say do this but yet they are lazy and gluttons themselves.

**Put them to the Test ** ( this will be another study of it’s own)
but none the less it is an important part of this study. It is worth stating that we should all be careful how we judge and we have all been warned not to judge. But the word says, Test the fruit of believers. See that their fruit is REAL! Testing is important- Christ was tested in the Dessert. We serve overseas and it has been so important to us in our ministry to test our own fruit to ask others to come behind us to see that what we are producing is REAL. We have people in our lives who will speak truth to us and call us on SIN ISSUES and to whom we count as Dear brothers. It is in my opinion one of the lost characteristics of 'CHURCH/ Body life'.
Yet, we are told by Jesus himself to Test the fruit.......
Jesus said,"Yes, the way to identify a tree or a person is by the kind of fruit that it produced. Not all people who sound religious are really godly. They may refer to meas 'Lord', but they still won't enter the kindgom of Heaven. The decisivce issue is whether they obey my Father in Heaven."
*** How will you identify them ? By their Fruits. Matt. 7: 15-23 ***

Lord, it’s been a good study and a great reminder to me personally that I need to be alert and know the TRUTH. I need to know Your voice Lord and to know when I’m being deceived. Thank you for Your Word and how it guides us . I pray for those who are being lead astray for those who seek to destroy rather than build up. Lord, help us to not judge based on what ‘we believe’ but on what Your Word says. Help us to be wise and not follow blindly.

Lord I pray specifically for the young believers all over the world who are seeking to follow after You. I pray that Your Holy Spirit will give them wisdom and discernment to know a lie and that You would guard their hearts and minds. Lord, send laborers to the field to lead those who follow after you and to sow the seed of righteousness in the hearts of men…..

Lord I pray for greater obedience in my life and in the life of those I serve......

It is in Your name I pray,
the Name of Jesus….
Amen……………