This Word that we love and memorize, is profitable to bring about instruction, reproof, rebuke, and a doctrine that is sound.  Everything reverts back to the Word.  Hide it in your hearts so you won’t sin against Him.  In 1 Timothy 4:14 it says, “Children [are] carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive.”  There are people in here, sent by the devil, to bring division and strife among us.   One way is by criticizing leadership, by bringing subversion into homes, disorder like we see today in the “Women’s Lib” Movement.  Dear God!  What arrogance, what hatred of God, is in the hearts of these women as they lie in wait to deceive.  These are not people who are a little off doctrinally; these are heretics, these are antichrists, and these are people who are wolves in sheep’s clothing.  We talked about how naïve the church is today and how we think we are being loving when all we are doing is tolerating leaven and sin in our midst.  We already know what love is: “God is love” and “Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his [emotions, his intellect, and his will] for his friends.”  He will set aside everything that is personal; he will not consider what kind of flack he might receive; he will tell you the truth, praise God!  Amen?  I don’t know about you, but I like people who will speak into my life.  Do you love the light?  Do you run to the light?  Do you expose what is going on around you?  The Bible says, “Love covers the multitude of sins” (1 Peter 4:8).  It doesn’t say that it covers up your friend’s sins.  There is only one way to cover sin, and that is to get the blood of Jesus on it, praise God!

But the false church won’t accept this kind of a life.  “Don’t you get into my life.  Don’t you tell me.  I am independent; I am self‑sufficient; I am god!”  Well, the Scripture already told us about running to the light.  The Scripture already told us that there is safety in a multitude of counselors.  The Bible has already said, at the testimony of two or three witness let every word be established.  Beware!  Those that live lives that disregard the Word, are wolves in sheep’s clothing.  They appear meek, humble—look at Romans 16, verse 17: “Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned…”  Mark them.  Now watch— “…and avoid them.  For they that are such serve not our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly; and by good words and fair speeches deceive the hearts of the simple.”  That word simple doesn’t mean “ignorant”; it means “innocent and pure; naive.”  If you leave them in your midst, they will kill these innocent babies; they will lead them astray.  They are serving their own purposes. 

That word mark in the Greek just means “watch to avoid.”  We have marked people here, who have left this church because they are poison; and still are to this day, decades later, trying to bring destruction.  Mark and avoid those people.  We have nothing to say to them.  They have not repented.  If any of them ever approach you, the first thing you respond with is, “Are you here to repent?”  “No, I just…”  “I have nothing to say to you.”  Some of us here think that marking wears off because ten years have gone by.  “I heard a story that they are back serving the Lord.”  Where is the fruit of that?  My Bible says in 2 Corinthians 7 that, if I repent, there will be a vehemence, a carefulness, and a making of things right.  True repentance brings about restitution; amen?  There is nobody who repents who doesn’t go back and make things right.