Guarding Against Deception in the Last Days

Devotional

Day 1: Deception as a Sign of the Last Days

In Matthew 24, Jesus warns His disciples that deception will be the primary sign of the last days. This deception is particularly concerning because it often comes from within the church, with false prophets and teachings misleading people while claiming to follow Christ. The challenge is not just about recognizing outright lies but discerning subtle distortions of the truth that can lead believers astray. Being vigilant and discerning is crucial in these times, as deception can easily masquerade as truth. [01:27]

2 Peter 2:1-2 (ESV): "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."

Reflection: Consider a teaching or belief you hold that might be influenced by tradition rather than Scripture. How can you seek God's guidance to discern the truth in this area today?

Day 2: Loving the Truth to Avoid Deception

A love for the truth is essential in avoiding deception. This involves being honest about our sins and shortcomings, confessing them, and seeking God's help to change. It also means accepting the truth of Scripture, even when it challenges our long-held beliefs or personal preferences. This love for truth is a safeguard against being led astray by deceitful teachings or spirits. [06:52]

Psalm 119:29-30 (ESV): "Put false ways far from me and graciously teach me your law! I have chosen the way of faithfulness; I set your rules before me."

Reflection: Identify a sin or shortcoming in your life that you have been reluctant to confront. How can you take a step today to confess it and seek God's help for transformation?

Day 3: The Deceptive Power of Money

The love of money is a significant source of deception. Jesus taught that we cannot serve both God and money, as the love of money can subtly influence our decisions and priorities, leading us away from God. It is important to continually examine our hearts and ask God to free us from this love, striving to be as free from it as Jesus was. [14:25]

1 Timothy 6:9-10 (ESV): "But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation, into a snare, into many senseless and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evils. It is through this craving that some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many pangs."

Reflection: Reflect on a recent financial decision. Was it influenced by a love of money or a desire to serve God? How can you align your financial priorities with God's will today?

Day 4: Striving for Christ-like Purity

Our goal is to be like Christ, which involves purifying ourselves and striving for His standard of purity in every area of our lives. This ongoing process of sanctification prepares us for His return. As we purify ourselves, we become more like Him, reflecting His character and love to the world around us. [45:38]

1 John 3:2-3 (ESV): "Beloved, we are God's children now, and what we will be has not yet appeared; but we know that when he appears we shall be like him, because we shall see him as he is. And everyone who thus hopes in him purifies himself as he is pure."

Reflection: Identify one area of your life where you need to pursue greater purity. What practical steps can you take today to begin this process of sanctification?

Day 5: The Consequence of Rejecting Truth

God allows those who do not love the truth to be deceived. This is a sobering reminder that our love for truth and our desire to be saved from sin are crucial in avoiding deception. Prioritizing truth in our spiritual journey is essential to remain steadfast in faith and avoid being led astray. [23:22]

2 Thessalonians 2:10-12 (ESV): "And with all wicked deception for those who are perishing, because they refused to love the truth and so be saved. Therefore God sends them a strong delusion, so that they may believe what is false, in order that all may be condemned who did not believe the truth but had pleasure in unrighteousness."

Reflection: Reflect on a time when you ignored a truth that God was revealing to you. How can you cultivate a deeper love for truth in your life today, ensuring you remain open to God's guidance?

Sermon Summary

In Matthew 24, Jesus was asked by His disciples about the sign of His coming and the end of the age. He emphasized that deception would be the primary sign, not wars, famines, or earthquakes, which have been constant throughout history. Deception, particularly in the last days, is a significant concern. Jesus warned that many would be led astray by false prophets and false teachings, even within the church. This deception is not about denying Christ but about misleading people while claiming to follow Him.

Paul, in 1 Timothy 4:1, also warned that in later times, some would fall away from the faith, paying attention to deceitful spirits. The root of this deception lies in a lack of love for the truth and a desire to be saved from sin. In 2 Thessalonians 2, it is stated that God allows those who do not love the truth to be deceived. This is a sobering reminder that our love for truth and our desire to be saved from sin are crucial in avoiding deception.

To guard against deception, we must love the truth about ourselves. When God reveals sin or wrong attitudes in us, we should acknowledge it, confess it, and seek His help to change. This love for truth extends to our understanding of Scripture. If we encounter teachings in the Bible that challenge our long-held beliefs, we must be willing to accept God's Word over tradition or personal preference.

The love of money is another area where deception can take root. Jesus taught that we cannot serve both God and money. The love of money can subtly influence our decisions and priorities, leading us away from God. We must continually examine our hearts and ask God to free us from this love, striving to be as free from it as Jesus was.

Ultimately, our goal is to be like Christ. As 1 John 3:2-3 states, when He appears, we will be like Him. Until then, we must purify ourselves, striving for His standard of purity in every area of our lives. This ongoing process of sanctification prepares us for His return.

Key Takeaways

1. Deception is the primary sign of the last days, as emphasized by Jesus in Matthew 24. It is crucial to be vigilant and discerning, recognizing that deception can come from within the church and often involves misleading teachings that claim to follow Christ. [01:27]
2. A love for the truth is essential to avoid deception. This means being honest about our sins and shortcomings, confessing them, and seeking God's help to change. It also involves accepting the truth of Scripture, even when it challenges our beliefs. [06:52]
3. The love of money is a significant source of deception. Jesus taught that we cannot serve both God and money. We must continually examine our hearts and ask God to free us from this love, striving to be as free from it as Jesus was. [14:25]
4. Our goal is to be like Christ, and this involves purifying ourselves and striving for His standard of purity in every area of our lives. This ongoing process of sanctification prepares us for His return. [45:38]
5. God allows those who do not love the truth to be deceived. This is a sobering reminder that our love for truth and our desire to be saved from sin are crucial in avoiding deception. We must prioritize these in our spiritual journey. [23:22]
** [23:22]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[00:25] - The Sign of Christ's Coming
[01:27] - Deception in the Last Days
[02:20] - Warning from 1 Timothy
[03:56] - 2 Thessalonians on Deception
[06:03] - God's Role in Deception
[07:09] - Loving the Truth
[09:08] - Zacchaeus and Salvation
[12:09] - Lost in the Love of Money
[14:25] - Freedom from the Love of Money
[18:52] - Obeying God's Word
[20:33] - Baptism in the Holy Spirit
[23:22] - Avoiding Deception
[30:11] - The Secret of Godliness
[39:29] - Testing and Truth
[45:03] - Purifying Ourselves for His Return

Bible Study Guide

Bible Study Discussion Guide

Bible Reading:

Matthew 24:3-14
1 Timothy 4:1-2
2 Thessalonians 2:9-12

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Observation Questions:

According to Matthew 24, what did Jesus identify as the primary sign of His coming and the end of the age? How does this differ from other signs mentioned? [01:27]
In 1 Timothy 4:1, what does Paul say will happen in the later times, and what will people pay attention to? [02:20]
What does 2 Thessalonians 2:10-11 say about why some people are deceived, and what role does God play in this process? [05:14]
How does the love of money relate to deception according to the sermon, and what did Jesus teach about serving God and money? [14:25]

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Interpretation Questions:

Why might deception be a more significant sign of the last days than wars or natural disasters, according to the sermon? [01:27]
How does a lack of love for the truth contribute to deception, and what does it mean to love the truth about oneself? [06:52]
What are the implications of God allowing those who do not love the truth to be deceived? How does this challenge our understanding of God's role in our spiritual journey? [23:22]
How does the sermon suggest we can strive to be as free from the love of money as Jesus was? What practical steps are mentioned? [14:25]

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Application Questions:

Reflect on a time when you might have been misled by teachings that claimed to follow Christ. How did you discern the truth, and what steps can you take to be more vigilant in the future? [01:27]
Consider your current relationship with money. Are there areas where the love of money might be influencing your decisions? What changes can you make to align more closely with Jesus' teachings on this matter? [14:25]
When was the last time you encountered a truth about yourself that was difficult to accept? How did you respond, and what can you do to cultivate a greater love for the truth in your life? [06:52]
How can you ensure that your understanding of Scripture is based on God's Word rather than tradition or personal preference? What steps can you take to challenge and refine your beliefs? [16:28]
In what ways can you actively purify yourself and strive for Christ's standard of purity in your daily life? Identify one specific area where you can begin this process. [45:38]
How can you cultivate a deeper desire to be saved from sin in your spiritual journey? What practical actions can you take to prioritize this desire? [23:22]
Identify a specific situation where you might be serving money over God. What practical steps can you take this week to change that dynamic and serve God more fully? [42:48]

Sermon Clips

"Deception is going to be one of the primary characteristics of the last days and also when he writes inspired by the Holy Spirit to Timothy he says, in word chapter 1 Timothy 4 and verse 1, the spirit explicitly says that in later times some will fall away from the faith, paying attention to deceitful spirits." [00:02:05]

"God Himself will allow you to be deceived so you see this in 2nd Thessalonians in chapter 2 it speaks in verse 10 about Satan verse 9 coming with false wonders, power and science that means they're gonna be deception with a lot of supernatural signs and miracles which are false and this is with the deception of wickedness." [00:04:01]

"The reason they are deceived it says here in verse 10 is because they did not receive the love of the truth number one and because they didn't want to be saved from sin number two second Thessalonians chapter 2 verse 10 they did not receive the love of the truth they did not want to be saved." [00:04:38]

"God will send on them a deluding or deceiving influence so that they believe what is false can you imagine I mean the devil trying to make us believe what is false we can understand and the world tried to make us believe what is false we can understand the Bible says our flesh has got deceitful lusts and that can deceive us." [00:05:09]

"Whenever God speaks to you in your conscience in a particular situation and says you were wrong there what should you do first of all acknowledge it love the truth Lord it's true what you say and go and set it right with that person whom you hurt or whatever God shows you you did wrong." [00:09:10]

"Zacchaeus was convicted in his conscience he immediately said Lord I'm gonna repay everything four times what I took and those people whose address I don't know I don't know where they are so I'll give all that money half my goods to the poor so that my conscience is clear that I don't have any money with me which is not righteously earned." [00:09:36]

"Jesus came to seek and to save not somebody who was going to help primarily though he was going to help but he was lost in the love of money once he was being saved from hell if you're not saved from the love of money you won't be saved from hell the son of man let me expanded the son of man has come in the context of the whole ten verses." [00:12:24]

"I want to be saved from it I'm lost in it says you we came to seek and to save those who are lost in their love of money but I raised my hand and I said Laura I lost a lot of money saved me and God began to save me little by little by little by little in numerous ways." [00:13:28]

"Jesus said you cannot love God and love mine pray this prayer Lord I want to be as free from the love of money as you were Lord Jesus I prayed it and I keep praying it I'll never be satisfied till I'm completely free I love the truth about myself that's why I said that I didn't want to pretend." [00:14:31]

"God guarantees you will not be deceived all the others God Himself will deceive them and they will believe what is false first eleven but he's going to follow this the warnings given in verse 10 I will never believe what is false everything I believe will be the truth that's a wonderful comfort for me." [00:23:22]

"Beloved we are already children of God verse 2 1 John 3:2 we are born again but it is not yet but come up here and what we will be when we see him when he appears then we will be like him till now we are not like him it does not yet appear that we'll be like him but when he appears 1 John 3:2 we will be like him." [00:45:07]

"If you really have this hole you will be purifying yourself every single day until you reach this standard of purity in every area Lord I want to forgive people like you forgive I want to be free from the love of money like you are free I want to be free from dirty thoughts like you were free." [00:45:45]

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Guarding Against Deception in the Last Days

Devotional

Day 1: Deception as a Sign of the Last Days

Day 2: Loving the Truth to Avoid Deception

Day 3: The Deceptive Power of Money

Day 4: Striving for Christ-like Purity

Day 5: The Consequence of Rejecting Truth

Sermon Summary

Key Takeaways

Youtube Chapters

Bible Study Guide

Sermon Clips

Chatbot

Guarding Against Deception in the Last Days

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