The Sheep Pen of Christ
Danger, Discernment, and Hope for the Christian
The Parable of the Sheep Pen
In John, chapter 10, we see Jesus speaking to the Pharisees and painting the picture of a sheep pen and the goings on there.
He describes a character who comes in looking like a shepherd, but who is actually a thief who cares nothing for the sheep and has intentions to kill, steal, and destroy.
It is often thought that this dastardly character is the devil himself. Maybe surprisingly- that isn’t the case! Let’s take a closer look…
““Very truly I tell you Pharisees, anyone who does not enter the sheep pen by the gate, but climbs in by some other way, is a thief and a robber. The one who enters by the gate is the shepherd of the sheep. The gatekeeper opens the gate for him, and the sheep listen to his voice. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. When he has brought out all his own, he goes on ahead of them, and his sheep follow him because they know his voice. But they will never follow a stranger; in fact, they will run away from him because they do not recognize a stranger’s voice.” Jesus used this figure of speech, but the Pharisees did not understand what he was telling them.
Therefore Jesus said again, “Very truly I tell you, I am the gate for the sheep. All who have come before me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep have not listened to them. I am the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved. They will come in and go out, and find pasture. The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.
“I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. The hired hand is not the shepherd and does not own the sheep. So when he sees the wolf coming, he abandons the sheep and runs away. Then the wolf attacks the flock and scatters it. The man runs away because he is a hired hand and cares nothing for the sheep.
“I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me — just as the Father knows me and I know the Father — and I lay down my life for the sheep. I have other sheep that are not of this sheep pen. I must bring them also. They too will listen to my voice, and there shall be one flock and one shepherd. The reason my Father loves me is that I lay down my life — only to take it up again. No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have authority to lay it down and authority to take it up again. This command I received from my Father.”
The Jews who heard these words were again divided. Many of them said, “He is demon-possessed and raving mad. Why listen to him?”
But others said, “These are not the sayings of a man possessed by a demon. Can a demon open the eyes of the blind?””
John 10:1–21, NIV
False Shepherds
Although schemes of the devil are certainly at play in this scenario, the thief is described as a person (not a demon or devil).
This thief is a false shepherd who gains authority over the sheep for a time, until their true colors are shown. When trouble comes, the false shepherd runs to save himself & abandons the flock, leaving the sheep unprotected.
They may be called pastor, prophet, apostle, deacon, or teacher. They may be a volunteer or a layperson who works behind the scenes to gain influence over people. The picture painted isn’t specific, except to say that they are people with some level of leadership over the sheep.
Discerning Shepherds
“The saying is trustworthy: If anyone aspires to the office of overseer, he desires a noble task. Therefore an overseer must be above reproach, the husband of one wife, sober-minded, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, able to teach, not a drunkard, not violent but gentle, not quarrelsome, not a lover of money. He must manage his own household well, with all dignity keeping his children submissive, for if someone does not know how to manage his own household, how will he care for God’s church? He must not be a recent convert, or he may become puffed up with conceit and fall into the condemnation of the devil. Moreover, he must be well thought of by outsiders, so that he may not fall into disgrace, into a snare of the devil. Deacons likewise must be dignified, not double-tongued, not addicted to much wine, not greedy for dishonest gain. They must hold the mystery of the faith with a clear conscience. And let them also be tested first; then let them serve as deacons if they prove themselves blameless. Their wives likewise must be dignified, not slanderers, but sober-minded, faithful in all things. Let deacons each be the husband of one wife, managing their children and their own households well. For those who serve well as deacons gain a good standing for themselves and also great confidence in the faith that is in Christ Jesus.”
1 Timothy 3:1–13, ESV
Wolves in Sheep’s Clothing
During the Sermon on the Mount, sheep flock imagery as is also seen.
Jesus warns of wolves in sheep’s clothing, going on to speak in wisdom that we must have discernment and know that not all who claim to belong to the sheepfold are genuine.
“Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves. You will recognize them by their fruits. Are grapes gathered from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? So, every healthy tree bears good fruit, but the diseased tree bears bad fruit. A healthy tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a diseased tree bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. Thus you will recognize them by their fruits.
“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?’ And then will I declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.’”
Matthew 7:15–23, ESV
It is truly frightening to think of someone who is either so deceived or so self-important that they would actually try to wave their resume of good works in the face of Christ in order to enter His Kingdom on the day of Judgment.
It is also comforting to know that even if the wolves deceive many, Christ has perfect discernment. He isn’t fooled.
Discerning Sheep
False shepherds and false sheep (those who are inwardly ravenous wolves) are promised as part of the Christian experience.
As upsetting as this is, we aren’t meant to just wait to be led off a cliff by a false shepherd or torn in two by a wolf. We are warned about these characters so that we will be discerning, not blindly trusting anyone who professes to belong in the sheep fold.
After all, Christ illustrated that his sheep would develop a relationship with Him that hones their hearing. His sheep won’t follow a stranger, because they discern between His voice and all others.
The need for believers to have discernment is imperative.
The hallmarks of the Spirit are detailed in the Scriptures. Lifestyle and doctrine are both to be observed and tested when discerning the authenticity of a believer, and all the more when they are going to be installed as an overseer of any kind.
“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. If we live by the Spirit, let us also keep in step with the Spirit.”
Galatians 5:22–25, ESV
Kill, Steal, Destroy: A Closer Look
The irony in the sheep pen parable is that Jesus doesn’t name the devil as part of the danger W
within the sheep pen. The people who bring the devil into the conversation when Jesus speaks of the sheep pen are the folks who don’t believe the words of Christ.
They say that Jesus shouldn’t be listened to because He has a demon.
We see this accusation made multiple times against Jesus in the gospel accounts. Meanwhile, Jesus continues to warn the sheep to judge those who have religious power and prowess by their fruit.
In Matthew (chapter 9), after the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus travels for some time healing and delivering those afflicted by demons. At one point, Jesus delivers a man oppressed by a demon and a crowd gathers, marveling. The Pharisees accuse Jesus of “casting out demons by the prince of demons.”
When face to face with the True Shepherd, the Pharisees accuse Him of being a demoniac.
Juxtapose these passages with the supernatural gurus of our modern day.
Cultish Thought Control Tactics
“God offends the mind to reveal the heart.”
This has been a favorite mantra of the leaders at Bethel Church in Redding, California. I used to personally follow this church’s various ministers and listen to their teachings regularly. This phrase, “God offends the mind to reveal the heart” is meant to strike conviction into the hearts of people who have discernment about the practices at Bethel.
For instance, imagine you attend a church service or a conference lead by Bethel. The worship set, with its disarming, hypnotically repetitive chorus and melodies shifts your consciousness into a state where you’re more easily influenced before the teaching begins. This feels good; they tell you what you’re feeling is the Holy Spirit.
The teaching begins, and there is talk of a new generation of people who will have more power and authority than any other. Revival is prophesied. Scripture is loosely used to support an end times wave of new apostles and prophets who will bring the nations to Jesus. But, God needs everyone to speak it forth. God needs us to pick up the forgotten mantles and forge our way into this new epoch season. God needs us to unlock our spiritual gifts and become supernatural superheroes…
If you’re thinking to yourself that something doesn’t sound biblical about this, or that there is New Age or New Thought influence tainting the teachings, that’s your cue to stop and ask yourself if you’re actually just offended because your sinful, un-renewed mind doesn’t want to receive the things of God.
This moment of self-doubt and putting aside your discernment gives them a crack through which to enter. They know that the revelations they bring will challenge both Scripture and common sense, so they invalidate the importance of the rational mind in matters of spirituality.
They ask you to speak in tongues, in order to bypass your mind which is influenced by the world. They ask you to ask God for images and words, pushing your own thoughts aside, and to speak them over the person beside you, interpreting them as prophecy.
However badly these teachers may want their disciples to disregard their minds, it is the mind that actually helps us navigate our faith. The mind needs to be transformed in order to have proper discernment.
The supernatural gurus of our day will reference the renewal of the mind as if it is brain washing that we need. They say to stop listening to critics, remove yourself from the company of those who do not believe, and pay your entry fee for the upcoming conference!
If you reject the ministry, discerning something doesn’t pass the spiritual sniff test? Be prepared to be discarded and pitied for being so spiritually blind.
If you reject the ministry and also speak about your concerns, be prepared for the strong possibility someone will call you names, like Pharisee. That nickname is a favorite for people like you, and it’s code for: You don’t submit to our way of doing things because you have a religious spirit, just like the people who crucified Jesus, you pathetic wretch.
Sounds a lot like cultish thought control tactics.
Steal, Kill, Destroy, & Cry Wolf
It seems there is continually a news stream about Christian leaders exposed for having committed egregious sin against the sheep. Leaders who had hidden abuse & evaded justice for decades, like the most recently talked about men- Mike Bickle and Robert Morris.
These particular men have also brought the devil into the conversation, not admitting that they were used by the evil one to harm people, but claiming that they are victims of demonic plots.
Mike Bickle groomed his entire following by preaching about massive spiritual attack that was going to come for him in the form of accusation, claiming prophetic revelation on the matter. When the stories of his multiple victims came to light, many were primed to defend him and believe the accusations were a demonic assault.
Robert Morris claimed that he had succumbed to a Jezebel spirit, claiming his victim was manipulative and seductive- a 12 year old. Morris sexually abused this girl in secret for four years. He was in his twenties when the abuse began, in ministry, married, and a friend of the family of his victim.
If you’re not familiar with the teachings about Jezebel, I can briefly sum it up.
Hyper-Charismatics believe that one of the greatest end times demonic foes of the church is a Jezebel spirit. This demonic force influences people to act in an erotic, seductive manner and is also associated with pagan worship practices.
Because the Old Testament story of Jezebel shows her actively working against the prophet Elijah, many hyper-Charismatics also believe that the Jezebel spirit’s preferred tactic is to seduce those leaders who have a prophetic gift into falling into sexual sin. This is in order to discredit their voice to the church and the world, delaying the hyper-Charismatic’s much anticipated end time revival and the second coming of Christ.
The fruit of these people’s lives testifies against them.
They may try to claim demonic schemes have prevailed against them, but they are the thieves and wolves in the sheep pen. Any Christian with discernment can test their fruit.
Wolves and thieves prowl in the sheep pen; they steal, they kill, they destroy. Then, they cry wolf by blaming victims, whistle-blowers, and evil spirits of being the ones who drove them to their wolfish behavior.
They cannot see that they have been the arrow in the quiver of the evil one.
They cannot see their need for a Savior, because they believe they are already exalted to Christ’s right hand.
They are truly blind guides.
I sincerely hope that they can find a shred of humility within themselves to reach toward God in true repentance. I also sincerely doubt it.
The Importance of the Mind
Discernment and Spiritual Warfare
The mind is what we use to discern matters of faith. God asked us to renew our mind, not by listening to the teachings and revelations of the latest guru, but by reading and understanding His Word.
The mind is also the means by which we engage in spiritual warfare. This is not a teaching you will hear in these uber-Charismatic circles, but it is biblical.
We don’t fight our battles with songs or rebukes or prophetic acts. We fight our battles by submission to God’s wisdom and teaching, which equips us to tear down any false knowledge about God that rears its ugly head. If we discard our critical thinking and reasoning, we leave ourselves vulnerable.
“Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgments and how inscrutable his ways!
“For who has known the mind of the Lord,
or who has been his counselor?”
“Or who has given a gift to him
that he might be repaid?”For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be glory forever. Amen. I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.”
Romans 11:33–12:2, ESV
The Apostles wrote to churches about various doctrines & teachers that needed to be opposed. They implored believers to renew their minds, to test and to discern all matters of faith.
They modeled the core of spiritual warfare by exemplifying what it means to think biblically and to refute those teachings which go against the faith.
In Acts, chapter 17, we can read about the noble Bereans. These Jews, in the city of Berea, heard the teachings about Jesus and they were described as being noble because they studied the Scriptures to see if what was being told to them lined up with the prophetic writings about the coming Messiah. They utilized their minds, renewing them by the Word, in order to discern what was being presented.
Later, we see the story of the Corinthian church played out in the Scriptures. They too have the Apostle’s teaching given to them, and they believe. However, after they are left alone, other teachers come in claiming to be Super Apostles. They are more eloquent, more educated, and put on a better show than Paul. The Corinthians are influenced by them to the point that Paul writes a letter (2 Corinthians) to warn them that they are being swindled.
Paul also includes an insightful message about how to engage in spiritual warfare. This warfare is completed by way of discernment.
“The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ. And we will be ready to punish every act of disobedience, once your obedience is complete.
You are judging by appearances. If anyone is confident that they belong to Christ, they should consider again that we belong to Christ just as much as they do. So even if I boast somewhat freely about the authority the Lord gave us for building you up rather than tearing you down, I will not be ashamed of it. I do not want to seem to be trying to frighten you with my letters. For some say, “His letters are weighty and forceful, but in person he is unimpressive and his speaking amounts to nothing.” Such people should realize that what we are in our letters when we are absent, we will be in our actions when we are present.
We do not dare to classify or compare ourselves with some who commend themselves. When they measure themselves by themselves and compare themselves with themselves, they are not wise. We, however, will not boast beyond proper limits, but will confine our boasting to the sphere of service God himself has assigned to us, a sphere that also includes you.”
2 Corinthians 10:4–13, NIV
The first section of the above text points out that the weapons of our spiritual warfare are effective in demolishing arguments & teachings which set themselves against what we know about God. Outwardly, we are called to challenge false ideas about God.
Inwardly, we are called to take every thought & put it under the authority of Christ. In other words, we don’t accept teaching because we like it or it makes sense to us. We, like the Bereans, ought to search out the Scriptures for understanding.
The last section of the above text points out something regarding the character of false teachers. They compare themselves to one another and are boastful. Often, these kinds of false teachers who elevate their teachings above the Scriptures, have a circle that they run in. They boast about their exploits and their closeness to God, angels, and the spiritual realm. They also pass the microphone off to their buddies who do the same, and they speak of one another as if they aspire to reach the spiritual heights of each friend who shares a platform with them. They play a game of false humility and indulge one another’s vanity.
A true servant of Christ will not be boastful, but when their person is mentioned, they will balance any praise with a reminder to those who listen that there are no champions among Christians, but that all are equally in need of a merciful, loving Savior.
Hope, Despite Suffering
My hope and my comfort is in knowing that God is not fooled by thieves and wolves.
God heals the brokenhearted & He has promised that His judgment will be perfect and righteous in all matters.
Suffering is a present part of this life, but hope is what keeps us looking forward toward better things.
I leave you with a passage from 1 Peter that does name the devil as an adversary. Here, he is described as a lion looking for someone to devour. We resist him by holding onto our hope in Christ, despite suffering.
“Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you, casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you. Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. Resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same kinds of suffering are being experienced by your brotherhood throughout the world. And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you. To him be the dominion forever and ever. Amen.”
1 Peter 5:6–11, ESV
Links to Mentioned Stories
Below are links to journalist Julie Roys’ website regarding Mike Bickle and Robert Morris and the recent scandals surrounding them and their unsavory behavior while in ministry. Each was named in my blog, and I want to provide more context for those who may be interested.
There is also a pinned video of an interview that Julie Roys did with The Remnant Radio YouTube channel, discussing how the church should be handling scandal and protecting their congregants from harm within its walls.
These are all good places to start, if you are looking for more information on the stories and topics mentioned here.
