“Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves. By their fruit you will recognize them. Do people pick grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? (Matthew 7:15-16 NIV)

It is interesting to note that wolves often appear as sheep. They come in at first just like one of us, just like one of the family. In fact, they may pose as prophets (thinking in their own mind that they are speaking truth and doing God and everybody else a big favor by sharing their superior knowledge with the rest of us). But Jesus warns us against such spiritual vermin. He says to watch out for these viscious “vision vandals”. These guys will creep into the church when no one is looking and seek to bring about division – and they do it in the most deceptive ways. In fact, they will probably drag some sheep off with them – and definitely cause a lot of damage if not dealt with.

I can tell you from experience that it is not fun fighting off wolves. Not because I don’t like defending God’s church and God’s mission but because this battle doesn’t always start out with a clearly defined enemy. In fact, the enemy may be a “friend” or a fellow ministry “leader” in the church. The enemy starts out in sheep’s clothing. It is likely someone that you have shared a lot of Starbucks Coffee with, or had a lot of family meals together with. Possibly, your kids played together, you took vacations together or simply invested a lot of yourself in this person. But do not be deceived Jesus warns – they will devour your vision and subvert your gift of leadership and they will take others down with them. The sheep are to be protected at all costs – and that means putting down some wolves from time to time.

I admit that I struggle with having an agenda, not just in ministry but in all of my relationships. I am selfish and I like to get my own way – even if that means manipulating people toward my own self-centered gains. I realize nobody reading this would ever think this way, and I am probably just a bigger sinner than the rest of you – but I struggle with wanting to manipulate people into following my agenda. Whenever I successfully get people to follow my agenda I am failing at helping people follow Jesus’ agenda. My agenda has to be Jesus and Him alone.

“Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves. (Matthew 7:15 NIV)

Now, as a leader and pastor I will face those who want to invade God’s church with their own agenda. The Bible calls these people wolves. People with an agenda can often times appear like your best friend, in fact if they are really “good” at what they do they will most likely try to befriend you. They may even believe that they are doing you a favor by pushing this agenda onto you – they might even believe that God wants you to swallow this agenda. But I can assure you that God pours His vision into the pastor first – and as long as that pastor is putting Jesus first no other agenda will matter. No political agenda is bigger than Jesus. No moral agenda is bigger than Jesus. No personal agenda is bigger than Jesus.

I have come to realize the truth of Scripture in this area in a very real way.

And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it. (Matthew 16:18 NIV)

This spiritual community that Jesus started 2,000 years ago still belongs to Him. Jesus is the Senior Pastor and I am only the under Shepherd of this divine flock of God-followers. It is a sacred and humbling responsibility. Only when Jesus leads the church will we be successful and victorious.

Since the church belongs to Jesus I don’t have the right to push my own agenda (and neither do you), which I am tempted to do at times. Especially, when I feel myself being threatened (or one of my “pet” ideas or programs is being mistreated). As a pastor and leader I must let Jesus build His church by submitting to His leadership in my own life personally in every way. If there is sin, I must confront it. If there is inexperience then I must submit to seasoned mentors.

In what ways can you better submit to Jesus as your Eternal Pastor and in what ways can you better submit to your Earthly pastor? Only as we complete this cycle of submission are we letting Jesus really rule and reign in our hearts, churches, and cities. By the way, you can’t say you are submitting to Jesus and not submit to pastoral authority. Jesus gave his life for His bride, so should we. We should be lining up to honor and take bullets for the pastor that is appointed by Jesus to be the Overseer of His Bride.

Obey your spiritual leaders and do what they say. Their work is to watch over your souls, and they know they are accountable to God. Give them reason to do this joyfully and not with sorrow. That would certainly not be for your benefit. (Hebrews 13:17 nlt)