Romans 16:17 Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them.
Out of all the chaos of 2020 with COVID and the election something good, though bad, came out of it. The good thing is that many false prophets were exposed and their followers should be walking away from them and those "prophets" should fade away into the sunset to never be heard of again.
The bad thing and sad thing is that many of their followers will accept whatever excuses these people come up with and will not leave because they lack spiritual discernment.
Many of these false prophet followers are in sound doctrine churches, but the pastors did not warn them because they did not want to name names and mostly because their people do not want him to call out the false prophets as he may name one of their favorite TV preachers and they have a great many of their books and other media.
They spend more hours listening to the flamboyant or "bold" preachers than their own pastor who is balanced in his exegesis not needing gimmicks, merch and smoke machines to fulfill his calling as a shepherd. Indeed, he only needs a rod and staff to guide the flock. Many need to use the slingshot to warn people of the danger of the wolves and to bring the wandering home before they are torn by the wolves.
Paul did not have a "religious spirit" nor was he a heretic hunter. His writings make the heretic stand out and he called names when it was necessary to defend the flock by pointing out their heresies.
Paul said that there would needs be divisions among us so that the approved would stand out. Part of the standing out would be to not tolerate the Nicolaitans, the synagogue of satan, the ones who hold the doctrine of Balaam or the Jezebel,who called herself a prophetess, that Jesus called out in Revelation.
Rev 2:2 I know thy works, and thy labour, and thy patience, and how thou canst not bear them which are evil: and thou hast tried them which say they are apostles, and are not, and hast found them liars:
3 And hast borne, and hast patience, and for my name's sake hast laboured, and hast not fainted.
Note, that Jesus praised the Ephesians for being “heretic hunters” or warn that they might be on the verge of committing the unpardonable sin because they tried the ones who claimed to be apostles finding them to be liars. He did not accuse them of a religious spirit not chastise them for “touching God’s anointed” or “going up against God’s man” because they were not His men or anointed.
Revelation 2:14 But I have a few things against thee, because thou hast there them that hold the doctrine of Balaam, who taught Balac to cast a stumblingblock before the children of Israel, to eat things sacrificed unto idols, and to commit fornication.
15 So hast thou also them that hold the doctrine of the Nicolaitans, which thing I hate.
Revelation 2:20 Notwithstanding I have a few things against thee, because thou sufferest that woman Jezebel, which calleth herself a prophetess, to teach and to seduce my servants to commit fornication, and to eat things sacrificed unto idols.
Matthew 7:21 Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.
22 Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?
23 And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.
But you might say, look at the works some of these people are doing. In Revelation, Jesus condemned the doctrines and teachings, not their experiences. Paul called out Hymenaeus and Philetus over one doctrinal error that in our day might be called, nonessential.
Experiences are deceitful, like emotions, and many can be faked or brought about by demonic power. The folks in Matthew 7 did some pretty impressive stuff in the eyes of man, but they were not of the Holy Spirit because Jesus said that He never knew them, not that they were saved and then lost or they lost their anointing. They were never His and yet pulled off some exciting things while pulling the wool over the eyes of many, maybe millions since the advent of the Internet.
2 Timothy 2:15 Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.
He does not tell us to study that we might have some experiences. He says to study the Word that we be not ashamed being cast to and fro by every sleight of hand and wind of doctrine. (Ephesians 4:11-16) He told us to rightly divide or interpret the Word. We have chaos in the Church because people are not studying the Word, but rather being enraptured with false prophets and experiences that are not in alignment with the Word.
Pastors, use your rod and staff, but you are also required to use the Word as a sling to bring the sheep back into the fold less they graze in the wrong pasture. Point out the wolves and use your sling to drive off wolves that may be in your congregation as well as driving off the ones that may be approaching the flock.
Do your due indigence as an under-shepherd, even if the sheep balk and leave the fold or throw you out. You have to answer to the Chief Shepherd and He was not very popular when he pointed out the leaven of the Pharisees, Sadducees and the Scribes. We must choose whether we will be popular with men or blessed by God as we enter into a life that will not make us treated better than Jesus.
No more compromise to keep numbers in the building. You may have far more goats than sheep than you realize and they are tareing up the flock as part of the roaring lion’s pride being wolves in sheep’s clothing. Rise up and do your duty. It is long past time due to be aware of the enemy’s devices. Maranatha!!
