Spiritual Imposters
“Woe to the shepherds who are destroying and scattering the sheep of My pasture!”
- Jeremiah 23:1 -
“Yahveh God prophesied of these spiritual imposters, “For from the least of them even to the greatest of them, everyone is greedy for gain, and from the prophet even to the priest [preachers] everyone deals falsely””
Thankfully, there are many wholehearted sincere preachers of truth and righteousness. It is praise worthy that these blessed godly ministers and teachers know and preach the full counsel of truth, the Old and New Testaments. They are truly filled and led by the Holy Spirit and have a shepherd’s heart to feed and lead the sheep to follow Yahshua [Jesus] the Good Shepherd on the “narrow path” of righteousness (Matthew 7:13-14). They love the Father and Son, they love the truth, they love the sheep, and they willingly lay down their lives for their flock to grow up to be found pure, blameless, and holy in our Savior’s sight.
Grievously, however, due to Satan’s progressive deception that has infiltrated a growing percentage of Christianity, there are an increasing number of counterfeit shepherds, teachers, and prophets who work for worldly gain and notoriety. Yahveh God prophesied of these spiritual imposters, “For from the least of them even to the greatest of them, everyone is greedy for gain, and from the prophet even to the priest [preachers] everyone deals falsely” they “… rule on their own authority [not by the power of the Spirit of truth]; and My people love it so! But what will you do when the end comes?” (Jeremiah 6:13, Jeremiah 5:31) Apostle Peter said there would be “false teachers [and prophets] among you … Many will follow their sensuality [self indulgent and worldly desires], and because of them the way of the truth will be maligned; and in their greed they will exploit you with false words.” (2 Peter 2:1-3)
“The self-nature desires to be justified in its many cravings for the things of this world, creating an open invitation for counterfeit deceptive preachers to tell them what they want to hear””
This glaring reality has become more pervasive in growing numbers of congregations due to the many preachers who are not teaching uncompromised truth. At the core of this issue is the fact that many people only want to hear what pleases their flesh and gratifies their lusts for the things of this world. Apostle Paul spoke of them saying, “For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but wanting to have their ears tickled, they will accumulate for themselves teachers in accordance to their own desires.” (2 Timothy 4:3) This is easily seen as a vicious cycle; the self-nature desires to be justified in its many cravings for the things of this world, creating an open invitation for counterfeit deceptive preachers to tell them what they want to hear. Therefore, we have an overflow of seeker friendly, flesh-pleasing churches with no conviction of sin leading to repentance, no need for the atoning blood, no requirements to deny and die to our self-flesh nature, and no real emphasis on the biblical requirements to be holy in order to walk in agreement with our righteous Savior.
“Yahshua [Jesus] proclaimed, “If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself, and take up his cross [crucifixion stake] and follow Me””
There are so many professing believers who do not have a love for biblical truth. It was foretold in the Scripture that people will “perish for a lack of knowledge” because they refused to love the truth … For this reason God sends them a powerful delusion so that they will believe the lie … all will be condemned who have not believed the truth but have delighted in wickedness [disobedience to the truth].” (Hosea 4:6, 2Thessalonians 2:10-12) In this increasing rebellion and apostasy, many ignore and dismiss the holy call to follow Yahshua [Jesus] who proclaimed, “If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself, and take up his cross [crucifixion stake] and follow Me. For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake and the gospel’s will save it.” (Mark 8:34-35). Instead of denying the flesh, they deny the truth, and Yahveh God gives them over to believe a spirit of deception, which perpetuates more lies and hypocritical lip service that defames our God and Savior. It is utterly grievous that there are many preachers who are more interested in what pleases the flesh and pleases the people, than what pleases Yahshua [Jesus] and the Holy Spirit. These senseless half hearted preachers and teachers continually reinforce a diluted gospel message and a deceptive form of religion. They do not warn the little sheep of the wolf Satan and all of His deceptive strategies. “Woe to the shepherds who are destroying and scattering the sheep of My pasture!” declares Yahveh [the Lord].” (Jeremiah 23:1)
““As I live,” declares the Lord Yahveh [God], “surely because My flock has become a prey [to Satan] … for lack of a shepherd, and My shepherds did not search for My flock, but rather the shepherds fed themselves and did not feed My flock; “Behold, I am against the shepherds …”
‘Thus says the Lord Yahveh [God], “Woe, [to the] shepherds … who have been feeding themselves! Should not the shepherds feed the flock? …“Those who are sickly you have not strengthened, the diseased you have not healed, the broken you have not bound up, the scattered you have not brought back, nor have you sought for the lost … “They were scattered for lack of a shepherd, “My flock wandered … there was no one to search or seek for them.”’” Therefore, you shepherds, hear the word of Yahveh [the Lord]: “As I live,” declares the Lord Yahveh [God], "surely because My flock has become a prey [to Satan] … for lack of a shepherd, and My shepherds did not search for My flock, but rather the shepherds fed themselves and did not feed My flock; “Behold, I am against the shepherds … !” (Ezekiel 34:2,4-10)
“We do not want to lose our secure position closely unified in the Spirit with our holy Savior, it is to be coveted and protected above all else!””
Apostle Paul clearly understood this insidious strategy of Satan, which will continue to the end of the age. He explained, “I know that after my departure savage wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock.” “No wonder, for even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light. Therefore it is not surprising if his servants also disguise themselves as servants [preachers and teachers] of righteousness, whose end will be according to their deeds”. “But the Spirit explicitly says that in later times some will fall away from the faith, paying attention to deceitful spirits and doctrines of demons.” “… Therefore, beloved, since you know this beforehand, beware lest you also fall from your own [obedient] steadfastness, being led away with the error of the wicked” (Acts 20:29, 2 Corinthians 11:14, 1Timothy 4:1, 2Peter 3:17).
Brethren, may we take to heart these biblical warnings. We do not want to lose our secure position closely unified in the Spirit with our holy Savior. Moment by moment we have to be on guard against the Tempter’s distractions and our selfish inclinations that can pull us away from walking in obedience leading to holiness, which is required to be pleasing in the sight of a holy God Who says, “without holiness no one will see Me” (Hebrews 12:14). Our secure and steadfast position with Him is to be coveted and protected above all else!
The Good Shepherd
“I am the good shepherd; the good shepherd lays down His life for the sheep.”
- John 10:11 -
The good news is, there has always been and continues to be an uncompromised righteous remnant. Yahshua (Jesus) refers to them as His little flock. He says, “My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me.” “A stranger they simply will not follow, but will flee from him, because they do not know the voice of strangers” (John 10:27, John 10:5). “I [Yahshua/Jesus] have come into the world, to testify to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth hears My voice” (John 18:37). Yahveh Almighty God says, “Behold, … I myself will search for my sheep and will seek them out. … I myself will be the shepherd of my sheep, ... I will seek the lost, and I will bring back the strayed, and I will bind up the injured, and I will strengthen the weak …” (Ezekiel 34:11,15-16) There is a remnant of dismayed, hungry, wandering sheep scattered across the earth. They are seeking their Good Shepherd and He is seeking them. They are fleeing out of deception from the ravaging wolves and will only follow their Good Shepherd who is gathering and leading them on the “narrow way” of truth. This narrow path, that very few find, is well lit by our Savior’s glorious presence, it is referred to as the “Highway of Holiness” that leads out of this world into the eternal heavenly kingdom (Matthew 7:14, Isaiah 35:8).
“The sheep who are responding to their Shepherd’s voice, recognize the urgency and they are being compelled by the power of His Spirit to wisely “redeem the time” that is left, to make haste to forsake the flesh and the world””
Those who belong to Yahshua (Jesus) are going to hear and heed the Midnight Cry of their beloved Good Shepherd and Savior. The storm clouds of prophesied judgments have become very apparent, our Savior is quickly gathering His sheep out of harm’s way. The sheep who are responding to their Shepherd’s voice, recognize the urgency and they are being compelled, by the power of His Spirit to wisely “redeem the time” that is left, to make haste to forsake the flesh and the world. (Ephesians 5:16) This holy remnant’s utmost focus is on faithfully following their Good Shepherd, who will lead them safely into His eternal righteous Kingdom. The storm clouds of judgment and tribulation have been forming, pointing to the perilous times we have already entered. Present day plagues, wars, and judgments will continue to manifest on earth as mankind continues to dramatically rebel against the knowledge and worship of the Almighty God and Savior. As the war between Yahveh and Satan rages, the judgments will increase until eventually it becomes the overflowing righteous indignation of Yahveh who is a consuming fire. His fire will consume the earth, all sinners, and all half hearted lukewarm believers. In these great tribulations and manifestations of His wrath, the Holy One in mercy, is cleansing and purifying this earth from all defilement, and all of Satan’s seeds and followers, in order to make a home of righteousness, in which He will dwell as the long awaited King of kings with His righteous redeemed referred to as “the called, chosen, and faithful.” (Revelation 17:14)
It is written, “Since all these things [the earth and its works] are to be destroyed … what sort of people ought you to be in holy conduct and godliness, looking for and hastening the coming of the day of Yahveh God, because of which the heavens will be destroyed by burning, and the elements will melt with intense heat! But according to His promise we are looking for new heavens and a new earth, in which righteousness dwells. Therefore, beloved, since you look for these things, be diligent [making every effort] to be found by Him in peace, spotless and blameless, … therefore, beloved, knowing this beforehand, be on your guard so that you are not carried away by the error [deceit] of unprincipled men and women and fall from your own steadfastness, but grow in the grace and knowledge of our Master and Savior Yahshua Messiah [Jesus Christ]. To Him be the glory, both now and to the day of eternity.” Amen (2 Peter 3:11-14,17-18).
