Acts 20:29-31 For I know this, that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock. Also of your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them. Therefore watch, and remember, that by the space of three years I ceased not to warn every one night and day with tears.

This Paul preached and prophesied before going to Jerusalem and being arrested. This he said before he gave us all those great epistles that form the framework of how the body of Christ needs to operate in unity of faith.

2 Timothy 4:3 For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears;

As he predicted in Acts 20, “by the space of three years I ceased not to warn every one”. Paul is a little more specific here in 2^nd Timothy as to the methods of the wolf. They feed the flock a steady diet which is pleasing to the ears but unhealthy for healing and unity of faith.

I will cut this short by leaving you one thought provoking comment that should help you identify the wolves in the world churches today.

Acts 20:33 I have coveted no man’s silver, or gold, or apparel.

Ephesians 6:1 Children, obey your parents in the Lord: for this is right.

My parents did not raise me in the Lord. What if they had raised me in the Lord? I have often wondered and that is the regret game. First of all it stems from a lie often whispered into our ear by Satan.

“It is their fault you turned out this way.”

Placing the blame on others is one of Satan’s favorite tricks. Heaven forbid Satan should every allow you to repent of being under his influence. The truth is that each one of us, until we accept Jesus into our hearts is under the influencing lies of Satan.

The worst kids I knew as a child were the twin sons of a preacher. I know they heard the truth and I am sure they were raised by God fearing parents. It wasn’t the parent’s fault that those two were mean, angry, bitter children.

God is all about relationship. If the parents cannot lead the child to God, perhaps the child can lead the parents to God. Satan’s approach is to cast fear, doubt and resentment in every relationship. Regret is the hangover of a live lived under Satan’s lies. Like any hangover, you need to drink water to purify your system and wash out impurities.

Ephesians 5:26 That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word,

John 4:14 But whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life.

I keep drinking in, every day, because Satan has not given up his whispering lies.