Treachery
There are many in the world today who are following anxiously in the footsteps of their fathers. This, in many cases, is commendable. It is not, however, at all laudable if the father in question happens to be the Devil. ("Ye are of your father the devil. The lust of your father it is your will to do," the Lord said.) The Devil's offspring arc many times accepted as faithful children of God when they are not that at all. Is it so strange that we should recognize that the Devil's followers "fashion themselves into ministers of light"? Not at all strange. Furthermore, we find that the deeds of those who are "wolves in sheep's clothing" are the deeds of treacherous men. Let us examine the scriptures and see what it is with which men of God must contend.
"His mouth is full of cursing and deceit and fraud: under his tongue is mischief and vanity." (Psa. 10:7) he is one who plots evil deeds in counsels of deceit. (Prov. 12:5) Such men are manipulators of congregations to their own glory. It is imperative "that we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive," (Eph. 4:14) but rather that we "mark them which cause divisions and offenses contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned and avoid them. For they are such (who) serve not our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly; and by good words and fair speeches deceive the hearts of the simple." (Rom. 16: 17, 18) We should join with the Psalmist and cry for the Lord to "deliver (us) from the deceitful and unjust men." (Psa. 43:1)
It would be foolish to suggest that such men are not operating among the faithful in nearly every congregation in the land. The question which now faces us is this; what will the faithful do about it?