True, I am at times wearing that wolf skin, to my shame.

I try to justify it by what I feel the Lord has told me, but in reality, it is what the Lord has told "me".

I get riled up unjustifiably, because I "feel" that what I received should be heard by everyone, when the one speaking often is the one that needs to hear the most, what the Lord is saying.

There are times that the Lord speaks to the body, but not in a forceful manner, because He said:

Mat 7:6  Give not that which is holy unto the dogs, neither cast ye your pearls before swine, lest they trample them under their feet, and turn again and rend you.
 

So if they don't want to hear, I can't try to force someone to hear me, because again He said:

Mat 13:15  For this people's heart is waxed gross, and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes they have closed; lest at any time they should see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and should understand with their heart, and should be converted, and I should heal them.
 

Amen, it is a narrow road to walk, but the rewards are worth the struggle.

Praise to the Lord for His rod of correction, and Yes it does hurt for a time, but the welts go away, but the memory is embedded in my spirit!

And the love and hugs He gives when we come back to Him are so wondrous.

The Lord does not need me to speak His words, but I need Him to know His Word! 

Thanks so much for this timely blog, Mike.   If you only knew how timely this is!   (God does know and I give Him all the glory for prompting you to write this, and you get credit for obeying!!) 

I encountered recently a sheep in wolf's clothing... their cancerous verbal abuse had gone undetected their entire life and they almost appeared to be a Pharisee in certain ways.   Their 'wisdom' was definitely not bearing fruit from the Word and the lesson I learned was that a Godly sheep cannot talk, or communicate, with a wolf or Pharisee.   Reminded me of when I was working for a Pastor in Japan... the language barrier was enormous and unless I spoke fluent Japanese I was literally useless in the marketplace.  Ha!    I learned a lot from what Gary said above.  Bravo Gary!

Mike, I was blessed by your points: 1 - 7.   Great points and so true, thank you!

A soft answer turns away wrath... and walking in love is a barometer for discerning the differences between a wolf vs a sheep. 

Thanks again, Mike.   I can see clearly now, my recent situation and praise God for delivering me in time.

Melanie

Amen!  I would definately say that as individuals and as HIS body should do as Gary so humbly brought out, as I have missed it in this area as well.  Sometime the Word is for "ME".  

I experienced and learned this first hand sometime ago.  In my excitement and passion to be used by GOD I thought this specific Word from the LORD was for a certain person....so I shared it with them.  Wow, did that ever backfire!  I did what I should and apologized, it was at that moment the LORD showed me that not everything He shares with me is for everyone else.   I sometimes think that maybe Joseph might have felt that way when he was in the pit, or in the jail.

It's a GREAT thing that GOD can and will use all things for good for HIS glory for those who are called according to His purpose and who love Him.

On the flip side, I have encountered those sheep in wolves clothing and the wolves in sheeps clothing, both hurt but the one on the inside usually causes much more damage because the other sheep don't see it coming.  That is when discernment comes in.  From my perspective, from both sides, FORGIVENESS is paramount to not getting caught in the teeth.

However, I will say this, that it is most likely easier for the LORD to work with a person that is excited and passionate about Him, His Word & His ways than someone that has no interest.  Do not stop listening to Him just because you made a mistake.  Always, always, always check your motive for sharing a Word in which He gave you.   Remain humble, teachable, moldable, pliable and sincere in your motives. 

We are one body, each one of us has a very important role and without each one of us the body will not operate or function to the level in which CHRIST intended.

here is an interesting fact/analogy,

when a sheep in wolf clothing bite, they grind their food

Since they eat a variety of plants, sheep have developed special adaptations for their eating habits. They have lost their canine teeth but have developed large, flat cheek teeth with raised ridges. When chewing, the teeth move side-to-side and front-to-back in a triangular motion to grind food. 

where as wolves avoid using too much energy catching their food, wolves prey on weaker members of a herd, such as old, young or sick animals. They rip and tear their food.

SOOOO, when I, as a sheep in wolves clothing bite my brother, I grind and grind until they are pulp, but a wolf in sheep clothing tears and rips the brother.

I am so sorry for grinding on you brothers/sisters, and prayerfully will keep my teeth off of you.

If you catch me grinding a brother Lord, please grab your shepherd staff and pop me in the head and nudge me back into place Lord. 

No doubt Christians behave badly.  The Bible calls the "carnal" "fleshly" etc...I have to back up and agree with you.  However, that is what struck me as I read your blog.  Those who consistentenly misbehave certainly are not true beleivers. A good tree produces good fruit and a bad tree bad fruit.  But, I do conceed that we (especially me) misbehave and dishonor His name.  

Indeed some Christians are an enigma. One minute they seem to be genuine loving brothers/sisters. But then, disagree with them or take the wrong stance on their pet doctrine, and Mr Hyde (or the wolf) appears. There are also some that just don't go very far in their walks, don't comprehend love, humility, grace. These I do wonder about, Todd. Cuz we can tell them by their fruit, as you say. Still I try to be generous and give the benefit of the doubt as much as possible.

I was fooled by a sheep in wolves clothes and understand all about that stuff now.  But where does the goat fit in?