Don’t Be Deceived

“And you He made alive, who were dead in trespasses and sins, in which you once walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit who now works in the sons of disobedience, among whom also we all once conducted ourselves in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, just as the others.” EPHESIANS 2:1-3

 

PONDER THIS

What happened to Mankind? God made us to have dominion, but here Paul said, “You were dead in your sins. You’re following Satan. You’re walking according to the course of the prince of the air, the spirit that now works in disobedience.”

Satan, in the form of a serpent, which literally means “a shining one,” came into the Garden of Eden and began to tempt Adam and Eve. What was the temptation? He tempted Adam and Eve to secure for themselves what he had tried to secure in Heaven. He tempted them to desire to be like God. What Satan failed to accomplish in Heaven, he tempted Adam and Eve to accomplish on this Earth, and Adam and Eve believed a lie and chose against Almighty God. When they did, God was dethroned in their will and in their hearts. The same happens today; we so quickly neglect God’s instruction and go our own way. We are so easily deceived into thinking that our way will last in the end. God has authority over our hearts and lives. Will you submit to Him?

How have you struggled to obey God? What are some areas where you feel most tempted to go your own way?

What are some ways we try to be like God on our own? What happens when we do?

PRACTICE THIS

Confess and repent to God the ways you have chosen your way over His.

LWF Dr. Adrian Rogers 

Do You Spot the Lies?

PRAY OVER THIS

But there were also false prophets among the people, even as there will be false teachers among you, who will secretly bring in destructive heresies, even denying the Lord who bought them, and bring on themselves swift destruction.

2 Peter 2:1

 

READ THIS

In the Bible, there is no greater crime than being a false prophet. It’s bad to tell a lie, and it’s worse to teach a lie; but it is evil to teach a lie about God. Don’t let false teachers take you by surprise; when you look for the devil, never fail to look in the pulpit. We must learn how to spot a counterfeit teacher.

Scripture tells us that false teachers are among us and warns us of the dangers of their doctrine.

We can identify counterfeits by their message. There are five tests we should run in our minds as we listen to a preacher:

Source Test: What is the basis of his teaching?

Savior Test: Does he believe that Jesus Christ is the Messiah?

Subject Test: Is the primary source of his teaching the gospel of Jesus Christ?

Salvation Test: Does he teach salvation by grace, or does he try to mix works or baptism or anything else into salvation?

Sanctification Test: Does he teach, and endeavor to live, a holy life?

CONSIDER THIS

Which of the five tests for identifying a counterfeit by his message stood out to you?

How might you work to remember these measures and actively use them when listening to a new teacher?

DO THIS

Use a concordance this week to look up what the Bible says about each of these tests so that you might better prepare yourself to identify false teaching.

LWF Dr. Adrian Rogers 

Satan’s Strategy and Your Defense

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. (1 Peter 5:8–9)

The two great enemies of our souls are sin and Satan. And sin is the worst enemy, because the only way that Satan can destroy us is by getting us to sin, and keeping us from repenting. The only thing that damns us is unforgiven sin. Not Satan.

God may give him leash enough to rough us up, the way he did Job, or even to kill us, the way he did the saints in Smyrna (Revelation 2:10); but Satan cannot condemn us or rob us of eternal life. The only way he can do us ultimate harm is by influencing us to sin, and keep us from repentance. Which is exactly what he aims to do.

So, Satan’s main business is to advocate, promote, assist, titillate, and confirm our bent to sinning. And to keep us from faith and repentance.

We see this in Ephesians 2:1–2: “You were dead in your trespasses and sins, in which you formerly walked . . . according to the prince of the power of the air” (NASB). Sinning “accords” with Satan’s power in the world. When he brings about moral evil, it is through sin. When we sin, we move in his sphere. We come into accord with him. When we sin, we give place to the devil (Ephesians 4:27).

The only thing that will condemn us at the judgment day is unforgiven sin — not sickness or afflictions or persecutions or intimidation or apparitions or nightmares. Satan knows this. Therefore, his great focus is not primarily on how to scare Christians with weird phenomena (though there’s plenty of that), but on how to corrupt Christians with worthless fads and evil thoughts.

Satan wants to catch us at a time when our faith is not firm, when it is vulnerable. It makes sense that the very thing Satan wants to destroy would also be the means of our resisting his efforts. That’s why Peter says, “Resist him, firm in your faith” (1 Peter 5:9). It is also why Paul says that the “shield of faith” can “extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one” (Ephesians 6:16).

The way to thwart the devil is to strengthen the very thing he is trying most to destroy — your faith.

John Piper 

Guess who Satan is aiming his deadliest weapons at?

BIBLE MEDITATION:

“O God, Thou hast taught me from my youth: and hitherto have I declared Thy wondrous works.” Psalm 71:17

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT:

Satan is on a killing spree—he wants to kill our memory and set us awash in the sea of forgetfulness without any recollection of our Christian heritage as a nation.

Tragically, he’s aiming his artillery at our children, and particularly in the place where they used to grow in the knowledge of good things—the public school. Prayer is out. Police are in. Bibles are out. Values clarification is in. The Ten Commandments are out. Social engineering is in. Creation is out. Evolution is in. History is out. Revisionism is in. God says we need to remember the generation to come.

ACTION POINT:

You have an important job—to influence the lives of those who will come after you.In Deuteronomy 6:6-7, one of His most direct commands to parents reads, “And these words, which I command thee this day, shall be in thine heart: And thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up.”

Every time you are with them, teach them to walk in the ways of the Lord and against the tide of the world. Every day brings new opportunities to shoe them something new about God..

LWF Dr. Adrian Rogers 

Ministers Of Deception

BIBLE MEDITATION:

“For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears.” 2 Timothy 4:3

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT: 

Did you know Satan has put his ministers all across America? On Sunday, people will come down and sit in a service, and the man in the pulpit will look like a minister, but he will be a minister of Satan. Isn’t that frightening? You need to understand that Satan is not against religion. He’s always wanted to be like God. His temptation to you is not to be ungodly, but to try to be like God, but in Satan’s way. Satan is the master of deception.

Matthew 24:24 says, if it were possible, he would deceive the very elect. That’s the reason we have to be discerners of truth.

ACTION POINT:

This Sunday, don’t just sit and soak in the service. Test the message against the Word of God and apply it to your life.

LWF Dr. Adrian Rogers 

Satan Is No Joke

If you think you will not be persecuted, think again.

We are in a spiritual battle!

The prize is your eternal soul!!

Satan is an adversary who will use any means to hinder your walk!!!

The weapons you have are prayer, faith, hope and the power of God's holy word!

Many righteous have died holding onto their faith in the promises of God.

What is faith, hope in things unseen!

1 Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.

2 For by it the people of old received their commendation.

3 By faith we understand that the universe was created by the word of God, so that what is seen was not made out of things that are visible. - Hebrews 11:1-3

Worthy adversary!

7 casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you.

8 Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.

9 Resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same kinds of suffering are being experienced by your brotherhood throughout the world.

10 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.

11 To him be the dominion forever and ever. Amen. - 1 Peter 5:7-11

Flee!

7 Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.

8 Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. - James 4:7-8

Persecution!

strengthening the souls of the disciples, encouraging them to continue in the faith, and saying that through many tribulations we must enter the kingdom of God. - Acts 14:22

3 that no one be moved by these afflictions. For you yourselves know that we are destined for this.

4 For when we were with you, we kept telling you beforehand that we were to suffer affliction, just as it has come to pass, and just as you know.

5 For this reason, when I could bear it no longer, I sent to learn about your faith, for fear that somehow the tempter had tempted you and our labor would be in vain. - 1 Thessalonians 3:3-5

12 Indeed, all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted,

13 while evil people and impostors will go on from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived.

14 But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have firmly believed, knowing from whom you learned it

15 and how from childhood you have been acquainted with the sacred writings, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. - 2 Timothy 3:12-15

The question for you!!

26 For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his soul? Or what shall a man give in return for his soul?

27 For the Son of Man is going to come with his angels in the glory of his Father, and then he will repay each person according to what he has done.

28 Truly, I say to you, there are some standing here who will not taste death until they see the Son of Man coming in his kingdom." - Matthew 16:26-28

The word of God stands eternally!!

7 The grass withers, the flower fades when the breath of the LORD blows on it; surely the people are grass. 

8 The grass withers, the flower fades, but the word of our God will stand forever.  - Isaiah 40:7-8

11 For the sun rises with its scorching heat and withers the grass; its flower falls, and its beauty perishes. So also will the rich man fade away in the midst of his pursuits.

12 Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him. - James 1:11-12

Recognize the Devil’s Lies and Claim the Promises of God

BIBLE MEDITATION:

“And God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work.” 2 Corinthians 9:8

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT:

The devil wants you to live your life from an empty cup. He wants you to think that God’s cup of grace has dried up for you. He wants you to be disenchanted with God. Most especially, he wants you to feel that God is a cosmic killjoy…that God is always thinking of ways to rob you of joy and peace. Satan knows that if you start to feel negatively about God, then he can have his way with you in other areas.

Take courage. Be strong. Jesus has won the victory for you! Send those lies back to the pit where they came from and claim the promises of God.

ACTION POINT:

Wish someone the peace and joy of the Lord today.

LWF Dr. Adrian Rogers

Calling Good Evil and Evil Good

BIBLE MEDITATION:

 “Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for light, and light for darkness; that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter!” Isaiah 5:20

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT:

People can become so warped in their thinking that they don’t know the difference between right and wrong.

I was listening to the radio one morning, and they were talking about what scientists want to do with the tissue of aborted babies. They said that some women are thinking about having babies, aborting them, then selling the tissue for research. The scientific community is promoting this propaganda because of the good they say the research will have on the whole of humanity! But what about the whole of humanity that begins in the womb?

People today will play enough tricks on their minds that they will literally approve evil with a good conscience.

Where do you stand on this issue? What is right and what is wrong?

ACTION POINT:

Take some time this morning to read Psalm 139 and ask God to show you His truth.

LWF Dr. Adrian Rogers

The Greatest Lie

This blog post is a based on a sermon from Michael Youssef, Leading the Way.Org
The fall from Grace by Adam and Eve: Gen.3:12-15 The man said, "The woman whom you gave to be with me, she gave me fruit of the tree, and I ate." Then the LORD God said to the woman, "What is this that you have done?" The woman said, "The serpent deceived me, and I ate." The LORD God said to the serpent, "Because you have done this, cursed are you above all livestock and above all beasts of the field; on your belly you shall go, and dust you shall eat all the days of your life. I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and her offspring; he shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise his heel."
Now, I am sure we think we are different from Adam and Eve. We would never do what God has warned us not to do. But, God in His wisdom knew better. Even though Adam and Eve were the first humans to disobey God's commands, we are still committing the same sin of rebellion. And that brings us to the greatest lie, Jesus is not the only way to Heaven. This is the ultimate form of rebellion, our disbelief in the Grace of Christ! We have become indifferent toward God. We think Grace is boring. Amazing Grace is not boring! It is all that keeps us from going to Hell! Grace is not free or cheap! Jesus paid the price for Grace by being nailed to the cross! You and I should have been there on that cross because we are guilty! We refuse to see ourselves as fallen creatures rebelling against God. We refuse to believe in the judgement that is coming from God. Our culture teaches us that we can do all things. We view God as a politician whom we put in office and can remove. We think God owes us a favor. God can give and take at anytime with no warning! Romans 9:14-16 What shall we say then? Is there injustice on God's part? By no means! For he says to Moses, "I will have mercy on whom I have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I have compassion." So then it depends not on human will or exertion, but on God, who has mercy. God is waiting for you! He wants you! He will not hold your past sin over you. This brings to mind two parables in the Bible. The Prodigal Son: Luke 15:11-24 And he said, "There was a man who had two sons.  And the younger of them said to his father, 'Father, give me the share of property that is coming to me.' And he divided his property between them. Not many days later, the younger son gathered all he had and took a journey into a far country, and there he squandered his property in reckless living. And when he had spent everything, a severe famine arose in that country, and he began to be in need.  So he went and hired himself out to one of the citizens of that country, who sent him into his fields to feed pigs. And he was longing to be fed with the pods that the pigs ate, and no one gave him anything.  "But when he came to himself, he said, 'How many of my father's hired servants have more than enough bread, but I perish here with hunger! I will arise and go to my father, and I will say to him, "Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you. am no longer worthy to be called your son. Treat me as one of your hired servants."' And he arose and came to his father. But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and felt compassion, and ran and embraced him and kissed him. And the son said to him, 'Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.' But the father said to his servants,'Bring quickly the best robe, and put it on him, and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet.  And bring the fattened calf and kill it, and let us eat and celebrate.  For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found.' And they began to celebrate.
The Lost Sheep: Luke 15:1-7 Now the tax collectors and sinners were all drawing near to hear him. And the Pharisees and the scribes grumbled, saying, "This man receives sinners and eats with them." So he told them this parable: "What man of you, having a hundred sheep, if he has lost one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the open country, and go after the one that is lost, until he finds it? And when he has found it, he lays it on his shoulders, rejoicing.  And when he comes home, he calls together his friends and his neighbors, saying to them, 'Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep that was lost.' Just so, I tell you, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance.
Adam attempted to blame God for his sin: Gen.3:12 The woman You gave to be with me, she gave me the fruit of the tree and I ate. Eve just as good as said the devil made me do it! Neither one takes responsibility for their sin and asks for forgiveness. Take responsibility for your sin. God wants us to confess sin and to repent. Cry out to God that you are spiritually lost and in need of a Savior. His word will change the worst offender. Father God, I pray this for us. Forgive us. Let Your word cleanse our heart. Amen

False Prophets and Teachers

How do you know if you are being told the truth of the gospel? The most simple answer is to be in the word everyday and to keep it in your heart and mind.
2 Peter 2: 1-3 But false prophets also arose among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you, who will secretly bring in destructive heresies, even denying the Master who bought them, bringing upon themselves swift destruction. And many will follow their sensuality, and because of them the way of truth will be blasphemed. And in their greed they will exploit you with false words.Their condemnation from long ago is not idle, and their destruction is not asleep.
We are exposed to a lot of preaching, whether it be in church, on the television or the radio. I know that some of the teaching is not accurate. I would only ask that you know the word and test the teaching. In the end, you and you alone will stand before Holy God for judgment. Lord, keep us from false teachers. Burn Your word on our heart forever. Lord God, bless my pastor and keep him from the adversary. Amen