DECEIVERS HAVE INFILTRATED THE CHURCH

The enemy of God’s children is always at hand, seeking to sneak in as a friend with utmost good intentions, yet, his heart is always filled with evil and destruction. Beware, our LORD had already warned us about those, who come as one of us, but they are actually ravenous wolves, in sheep’s clothing. How can we forget, that the sole purpose for which the thief comes is to steal, kill and destroy?
– “15 “Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves.” – Matthew 7:15
– “10 The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy…” – John 10:10a

Let us be aware of the fact that, the “DECEIVERS HAVE INFILTRATED THE CHURCH” right from the beginning. We see this from the time Christians were first persecuted by the Jews – Acts 22:4-5; Galatians 1:13, through the Roman persecution, the Roman Catholic persecution, and the Communist persecution, apart from Hitler and his likes, all through the history of the Church. It will be so even today, and in the future too.

The evil one and his agents that enter the Church, are no ugly looking men, shouting and cursing with the foulest of words. Nay, they come as the angel of light…not as the merchants of death. They come as one of us. They come, as if to help us. They will use all good and godly words from the holy Scriptures. They will appear as “saintly” figures. Do we not remember the temptation of our LORD, and how Satan, the evil one quotes scripture after scripture, in his effort to trip the LORD Jesus? 
– “18 Little children, it is the last hour; and as you have heard that the Antichrist is coming, even now many antichrists have come, by which we know that it is the last hour. 19 They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would have continued with us; but they went out that they might be made manifest, that none of them were of us.” – 1 John 2:18-19

Many anti-Christs have already infiltrated the Church. Be careful of these people. They have no intentions to be the disciples of the LORD Jesus Christ of Nazareth. They have all the outward signs. They possess powerful and convincing conversational skills. 
– “13 For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into apostles of Christ. 14 And no wonder! For Satan himself transforms himself into an angel of light. 15 Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also transform themselves into ministers of righteousness, whose end will be according to their works.” – 2 Corinthians 11:13-15

The aim and the agenda of the evil agents who infiltrate the Church, is to serve the aims and the agenda of their master, and not the Master of all creation, the LORD Jesus Christ of Nazareth. They associate with us, not to build and further the kingdom of God. They associate with the Church, to distract it, distance it, and destabilise it, from obeying the LORD, and to side-track the Church and true Christians, from walking on the Narrow Path. They will even work wonders and miracles to convince us of their “good” and “godly” credentials. Do not be deceived.
– “24 For false christs and false prophets will rise and show great signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect. 25 See, I have told you beforehand.” – Matthew 24:24-25
– “7 For the mystery of lawlessness is already at work…9 The coming of the lawless one is according to the working of Satan, with all power, signs, and lying wonders, 10 and with all unrighteous deception…” – 2 Thessalonians 2:7a,9-10a
– “21 “Not everyone who says to Me, Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven. 22 Many will say to Me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?’ 23 And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!’”* – Matthew 7:21-23

I have personally seen, over many years now, a good number of such agents of the evil one. I say this with a lot of caution, restraint and responsibility. They look, speak and behave just like real Christians. However, they leave a faint trail of their evilness. If we are alert, we can catch their “shifting colours” of these evil agents. However, we can’t do anything about them, except be vigilant and maintain distance from such people, just like the evil tares that were allowed to grow along with goodly wheat. At the right time, the LORD of the harvest will separate the wheat from the tares. Wheat would go to the barns, while the tares will be heaped together to be burnt into ashes.
– “27 So the servants of the owner came and said to him, ‘Sir, did you not sow good seed in your field? How then does it have tares?’ 28 He said to them, ‘An enemy has done this.’ The servants said to him, ‘Do you want us then to go and gather them up?’ 29 But he said, ‘No, lest while you gather up the tares you also uproot the wheat with them. 30 Let both grow together until the harvest, and at the time of harvest I will say to the reapers, “First gather together the tares and bind them in bundles to burn them, but gather the wheat into my barn.”'” – Matthew 13:27-30

The LORD has forewarned us. We are exhorted to be alert and observant. Remember the words of our LORD – “Watch and pray” – Matthew 26:41. Let us be vigilant, prayerful and wise in dealing with all such agents of the evil one.
– “15 Therefore, brethren, stand fast and hold the traditions which you were taught, whether by word or our epistle.” – 2 Thessalonians 2:15
– “13 Watch, stand fast in the faith, be brave, be strong.” – 1 Corinthians 16:13
– “8 But even if we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel to you than what we have preached to you, let him be accursed.” – Galatians 1:8
– “10 Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. 11 Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. 12 For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. 13 Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.” – Ephesians 6:10-13

Even so, the LORD help us.