阅读经文 

像在自然界一样，我们生命中遇到的风暴有些也是人为造成的。是的，圣经警告我们，即使是教会里也有贪婪滥权的人，他们只为自己的益处着想。我们曾多少次听到教会领导人说谎、盗用金钱、破坏婚姻、虐待儿童或争名夺利呢？也有较为隐蔽的，例如很多事工开始时是为了要帮助有需要的人，但后来竟沦为剥削者。这个现象不是今天才有的，因为我们在彼得后书二章已看到了。

我们生命中遭遇到风暴和烦恼，可能是因为有人尝试携带我们卷入他们充满风暴的心灵中。实际上，我们必须时刻警醒自己，免得伤害那些我们宣称要去帮助的人。我们受到警戒，这种做法就像干旱季节不能带来降雨的云或是无水的井。假师傅把神的话语和应许扭曲了，目的是要控制和毁灭人。

我们应当防备那些为了自己的益处扭曲神话语的人。我们应当“试验那些灵是出于神的不是”。（参约壹 4:1）同样，我们必需求神“救我们脱离凶恶”，（参太 6:13）好叫我们和我们教会的领导人都能够忠心不渝。

In our lives, as in nature, some of the storms that we encounter are human-made. Yes, the Bible warns that even in the church there are greedy abusers who take only for themselves. How often do we hear news of church leaders lying, taking money, destroying marriages, abusing children, or seeking power and influence? Even on a smaller scale, many ministries set out to help people in need but end up exploiting them. This is not a new phenomenon, because we read about it in 2 Peter 2.

Storms and trouble in life can come to us through people who try to draw us into their stormy souls. Indeed, we must all be vigilant that we do not hurt people we claim to help. We are warned that this is like storm clouds that appear in a dry season but bring no rain, or like a spring without water. False teachers take the words and promises of God and twist them in order to control and destroy others.

We ought to be on guard against anyone who twists the Word of God for their own gain. We ought to “test the spirits to see whether they are from God” (1 John 4:1). Likewise, we must ask God to “deliver us from the evil one” (Matthew 6:13) so that we and the leaders of our churches may be faithful.