By Their Fruits

A man can claim to be whatever he wants. He can call himself whatever he wants. But it is a man’s fruits that reveal his true identity. A serial killer does not appear to his victims as a cold-blooded killer. Initially, you cannot see any difference between a serial killer and a boy scout.

Acts 20:28-29
 Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost has made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which He hath purchased with His own blood. For I know this, that after My departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock.

Paul warns that these “sheep eaters” will enter in among the people. How do they do that? They put on sheep’s clothing. They look like sheep and act like sheep but inwardly they are ravenous wolves. You cannot discover their true identity by physical appearance. I have had these wolves enter my sheepfold wearing petite red dresses. On the surface they appear so sincere but they have a hidden agenda. They cannot remain undercover forever. At some point the light of God’s Word will expose them. When they get caught, the sheep costume comes off, the claws are exposed, and they bear their teeth.

Matthew 24:4  And Jesus answered and said unto them, Take heed that no man deceive you.

At some point they must introduce their scam. They are deceivers and this is what they do. They are on assignment from their father the devil and they don’t even know it. We don’t wrestle with flesh and blood, but with the rulers of darkness and spiritual wickedness in high places. Deception is so subtle that the deceivers believe they are working on behalf of the Lord Jesus. They cannot conceal their true identity forever. At some point, they must manifest as the deceivers they are.

Isaiah 14:16  They that see thee shall narrowly look upon thee, and consider thee, saying, Is this the man that made the earth to tremble, that did shake kingdoms.

Isaiah tells us that when we finally see the devil as he truly is we will be amazed at how small and feeble he is. Deception always makes a man bigger and stronger than he really is. Deception is the act of manipulating the perception of a chosen victim. The devil boasts great things, but of himself he does not have the power to back up what he threatens. The devil is a spirit, he has no body, he has to borrow one from some gullible human.

John 8:31 Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples   indeed.

The antidote for the poison of deception is truth. You don’t need a prescription for truth, you can get it over the counter if you want it.