Be Not Deceived

Happy Sunday!

Satan’s favorite place to take you is not Hell!  His favorite place to take you is Deception. - Dr. Matthew L. Stevenson III

The Word is full of admonishment to not be deceived.  So it must be possible for us to be deceived.   Jesus even said, "for false Christs and false prophets will arise, and they will provide signs and wonders in order to deceive, if [such a thing were] possible, even the elect [those God has chosen for Himself]."(Mark 13:22, Amplified).

Look at the following scriptures...

Take heed to yourselves, that your heart be not deceived, and ye turn aside, and serve other gods, and worship them; - Deuteronomy 11:16 (KJV)

And he said, Take heed that ye be not deceived: for many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and the time draweth near: go ye not therefore after them. - Luke 21:8 (KJV)

Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind... - 1 Corinthians 6:9 (KJV)

Be not deceived: evil communications corrupt good manners. - 1 Corinthians 15:33 (KJV)

Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. - Galatians 6:7 (KJV)

How can we keep from being deceived?  Great question!  So glad you asked.  The Psalmist gave us a hint, "Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee."(Psalm 119:11, KJV).   When I know the Word on a subject or an idea, I can compare the two and reject anything that contradicts the Word of God.  The Apostle John wrote, "Dearly loved friends, don’t always believe everything you hear just because someone says it is a message from God: test it first to see if it really is. For there are many false teachers around, and the way to find out if their message is from the Holy Spirit is to ask: Does it really agree that Jesus Christ, God’s Son, actually became man with a human body? If so, then the message is from God."(1 John 4:1-2, Living Bible).

Jesus spoke of an even greater deception.  Matthew 7:21-23 says, "Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.  Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?  And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity."(KJV).  Don't miss this!  These people were prophesying, casting out devils, and doing miracles in the Name of Jesus.  BUT they were not doing or obeying the will of the Father.  The Will of the Father is the Word of God.  What great deception to spend your life doing the works, and missing the will.  Selah.

Love and prayers, Cynthia