Building on the Foundation

Every Pastor, I’m sure, is familiar with Christ’s instructions to Peter, and the chances are good that these instructions are the guiding creed that they follow. The instructions are as follows. John 21:15-17 CSB When they had eaten breakfast, Jesus asked Simon Peter, "Simon, son of John, do you love me more than these? " "Yes, Lord," he said to him, "you know that I love you." "Feed my lambs," he told him.  16 A second time he asked him, "Simon, son of John, do you love me? " "Yes, Lord," he said to him, "you know that I love you." "Shepherd my sheep," he told him.  17 He asked him the third time, "Simon, son of John, do you love me? " Peter was grieved that he asked him the third time, "Do you love me? " He said, "Lord, you know everything; you know that I love you." "Feed my sheep," Jesus said.   These instructions should guide not only every pastor but every man ...

  The world bulges at the seams with liars, con-artists, and crooks, and the religious world is no exception. In fact, the religious can be some of the worst offenders. So when it comes to pastors and preachers, how do we avoid getting swindled and deceived? How do we determine which ones are Godly, and which are not? 1 John 4:1 cautions us, “Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits, whether they are of God; because many false prophets have gone out into the world.” 1 Thes. 5:21 adds, “Test [prove, scrutinize, examine] all things; hold fast what is good.” Our Savior Jesus Christ warned: “Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves. You will know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes from thornbushes or figs from thistles? Even so, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a bad tree bear good fruit” (Mat. 7:15-18). “You will know them by...