13    They will be paid back with harm for the harm they have done. Their idea of pleasure is to carouse in broad daylight. They are blots and blemishes, reveling in their pleasures while they feast with you. 14    With eyes full of adultery, they never stop sinning; they seduce the unstable; they are experts in greed-- an accursed brood! 15    They have left the straight way and wandered off to follow the way of Balaam son of Beor, who loved the wages of wickedness. 16    But he was rebuked for his wrongdoing by a donkey-- a beast without speech-- who spoke with a man's voice and restrained the prophet's madness.

As we continue to look at the character of false leaders one must ask to they say one thing and do another. Is there consistency in their living for God or living unto themselves. Does their public life match with their private life?       

Of course, there is no one who is perfect. All will have their own personalities and oddities. Peter was not an Andrew. Paul was not a Barnabas. But they sought to live for the glory of God and not for their own pleasures, lusts and wants.

Look out for subtle secretive things, or sensual and sexual immorality. We've seen too much in our churches where clergy are victimizing parishioners of various ages. Many are greedy. Most are self-willed, and some are full of dishonesty. One interesting thing is that many think they are invincible, and their status and leadership can not be challenged.       

How many times are priests brought to justice when young boys testify of their childhood abuses by a trusted spiritual leader? The apostle Peter wants his readers to know and beware of those pleasure seekers and pursue fleshly desires. An adulterer will ruin himself in bodily health, spiritual health, moral health, and even mental health. A self-indulgent person ruins his own character and peace of mind by indulging in the very things he thinks give him pleasure. The one who loves to drink finds that drunkenness destroys him, the one given to appetite in his gluttony harms his body. The lustful are fallen by sex, the money grabber find money to be his downfall. That which people seek so hard to obtain, often becomes the very thing that destroys them when they receive it.

We see how churches today debate things that would never have been thought of before, from sinful homosexuality to openly advocating alternative lifestyle. What God calls adultery our culture calls free love. Addictions are categorized as diseases. Whatever keeps people from facing and repenting of sin instead of dealing with it at the cross is a lie from Satan. So, we go to doctors and counselor to get pills and therapy when asking forgiveness for sin is a solution to some issues people refuse to look at. Is it any wonder Peter gets fed up and calls false leaders scabs, blemishes, and blots? If you translated it the way he intended in our culture it would be puss-filled pocket of despicable people.       

Many are also filled with greed. They belong to the ranks of Balaam loving the wages of wickedness. Balaam loved money. The Bible tells the story when the King of Moab wants to hire this prophet to speak against his enemy. Riches become the lure of many in the ministry and compromise their principles for profit. Balaam refused. So, the king gives him an offer he can't refuse. In route Balaam's donkey prevents him from going and miraculously speaks against him on the road. That ass had more sense than the prophet did, because of him many in Israel followed the idols and gods of Baal.       

If you want to see a Biblical manner of handling our sin read Psalm 51.       

Be on alert with the character of false teachers. They can be blasphemers, bold, arrogant, pleasure seeking, sensual and greedy people. Ask if their lives are consistent with the message they claim to preach.

Their actions speak louder than words

Prayer:   I am so prompted to pray in all of this, O Lord for Your mercy on our world.   Change hearts Father and reveal the lies of the enemy.