Flee the Spirit of Deception

Matthew 24:3, 4 and 24, "Now as He sat on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to Him privately, saying, "Tell us, when will these things be? And what will be the sign of Your coming, and of the end of the age?" 4 And Jesus answered and said to them: "Take heed that no one deceives you. ... 24 "For false christs and false prophets will rise and show great signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect."  We see in verse 3 that the disciples asked Jesus what the sign of His coming and of the end of the age would be.  According to Thayer's Greek Lexicon, the phrase, "end of the age" means, the end of the age preceding Christ's return.  Jesus began His answer by issuing a warning in verse 4.  "Take heed" means to: be aware of, weigh carefully, or examine that no one 'deceives' you.  The Greek word for 'deceives' is planao, which means to lead astray or to cause to stray.  Metaphorically, it means to lead into error.  It speaks of someone who is going cross-grain against all that was once a part of his belief system.  Then in verse 24 Jesus says, "for false christs and false prophets will rise and show great signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, ever the elect."  We need to take this warning that Jesus gave very seriously.  He said that the false signs and wonders will be great and if possible His elect or chosen ones can become deceived. The word for "signs" in the Greek means unusual occurrences, transcending the common course of nature: "Wonders" means miracles. "Show" (didomi), means, with the force of, to cause, produce, give forth from oneself.   Friends, it would not bode well for us if we failed to recognize that the devil is a powerful being and is well able to produce false signs and miracles to deceive.  These false christs and prophets can come in many forms.  They can be religious leaders, even some coming from the church, political leaders, or leaders in the business world.  What they will have in common, will be the claim to have the answers for the world's problems, (many of which they themselves have caused).  I believe we are seeing this beginning to take place in our nation and the world now, in this time.

 2 Thessalonians 2:9-12, "The coming of the lawless one is according to the working of Satan, with all power, signs, and lying wonders, 10 and with all unrighteous deception among those who perish, because they did not receive the love of the truth, that they might be saved. 11 And for this reason God will send them strong delusion, that they should believe the lie, 12 that they all may be condemned who did not believe the truth but had pleasure in unrighteousness."  We need to take note of the Greek meanings for some of the words used in verse 9 which are talking about "the working of Satan."  "Power - dunamis, the power of performing miracles.  "Sign" - a supernatural miracle or wonder.  "Lying" - whatever is not what it professes to be, perverse, impious, deceitful precepts.  And "wonders" - causes the beholder to marvel, the source is supernatural and it appeals to the imagination. I like this quote from the Spirit Filled Life Bible, "Not every miracle comes from God, nor are such wonders any less miraculous because of their origin." An example of this is found in Exodus 7:11.   In 2 Thessalonians 2 verse 11, the word translated "delusion" is the word, planao (the same word used in Matthew 24:4).  This scripture reveals the involvement of satan and his kingdom.  We can easily see him at work today.  It is vital though that we are aware of what he is doing and stand against his lies and schemes.

 Ephesians 6:10-18, "Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. 11 Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. 12 For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. 13 Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. 14 Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness, 15 and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; 16 above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one. 17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God; 18 praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints."

 James 4:7 and 8, "Therefore submit 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."

 There are many modes the enemy uses to try and deceive people.  He is a conniver who uses all kinds of methods to subtly influence, sway, and form our way of thinking.  Today, he utilizes the news media, movies, TV, internet, politicians, and even some church leaders.  Our mind is being bombarded with a misrepresentation of truth.  People are told that the Word of God, the Bible, is not relevant for today.  The pervading "lie" today is that what is "right," is whatever is right in your own eyes.

 The scripture is not silent on this issue. Isaiah 5:20 and 21, "Woe to those who call evil good, and good evil; who put darkness for light, and light for darkness; who put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter! 21 Woe to those who are wise in their own eyes, and prudent in their own sight!"  Malachi 2:17, "You have wearied the Lord with your words; Yet you say, "In what way have we wearied Him?" In that you say, "Everyone who does evil is good in the sight of the Lord, and He delights in them," Or, "Where is the God of justice?"Then, Proverbs 17:15 says, "He who justifies the wicked, and he who condemns the just, both of them alike are an abomination to the Lord."  

 Another quote from the New Spirit Filled Life Bible is, "Understand that what you do not know can hurt you."  Hosea 4:6a, " My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge."

 Only God's Word reveals absolute truth. 

 Let's look at warnings against deception, which are given to us in the Scriptures. 1 Corinthians 6:9-11, " Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived. Neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor homosexuals, nor sodomites, 10 nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners will inherit the kingdom of God. 11 And such were some of you. But you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of our God."  A belief that "everybody" goes to heaven is dangerous.

 1 Corinthians 15:33 and 34, "Do not be deceived: "Evil company corrupts good habits." 34 Awake to righteousness, and do not sin; for some do not have the knowledge of God. I speak this to your shame."  Choosing the right friends does matter.

 Galatians 6:7 and 8, "Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap. 8 For he who sows to his flesh will of the flesh reap corruption, but he who sows to the Spirit will of the Spirit reap everlasting life."  Your decisions and choices of activities are important.

 Ephesians 5:5-7, "For this you know, that no fornicator, unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God. 6 Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience. 7 Therefore do not be partakers with them."  Do not buy into the words of, or become best friends with the sons of disobedience (those who do not love or follow the Lord).

 2 Thessalonians 2:1-4, "Now, brethren, concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our gathering together to Him, we ask you, 2 not to be soon shaken in mind or troubled, either by spirit or by word or by letter, as if from us, as though the day of Christ had come. 3 Let no one deceive you by any means; for that Day will not come unless the falling away comes first, and the man of sin is revealed, the son of perdition, 4 who opposes and exalts himself above all that is called God or that is worshiped, so that he sits as God in the temple of God, showing himself that he is God."  Don't be deceived about when Jesus will return.  The falling away and revelation of the man of sin (antichrist) will happen first.

 We are constantly being bombarded by deceptive lies.  The Word of God is truth!

  John 17:17, "Sanctify them by Your truth. Your word is truth."

 John 8:31and 32, "Then Jesus said to those Jews who believed Him, "If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed. 32 "And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free."

 As you watch the news or spend time on the internet every day, you are continually facing a deluge of deceptive lies.  Sadly, at this time, even some Christians are embracing the lies.  Some of this overabundance of lies we are hearing concern abortion, covid 19,  President Trump, illegal aliens, homosexuality, gender choice, conservatives and what they believe and are involved in, sexual morality, the vast unending list of things we should be offended by, racial matters, and so on...

 According to a report on metro.co.uk a new study has revealed that ""the illusory truth effect" is much stronger than we imagined.  Because it turns out that even if a person has prior knowledge disproving a lie they're being told, they'll still believe the lie if it is repeated enough."  So, when heard often enough or promoted by those that people trust (my words - celebrities, head of the cdc, governors) people will believe it."  Friends, we cannot believe everything we are told.  We must search out the truth!

 Acts 7:10 and 11, "Then the brethren immediately sent Paul and Silas away by night to Berea. When they arrived, they went into the synagogue of the Jews. 11 These were more fair-minded than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness, and searched the Scriptures daily to find out whether these things were so. "  

 How do we keep from being deceived?  Our hearts must be saturated with the Word of God.

 Proverbs 4:20-23, "My son, give attention to my words; Incline your ear to my sayings. 21 Do not let them depart from your eyes; Keep them in the midst of your heart. 22 For they are life to those who find them, and health to all their flesh. 23 Keep your heart with all diligence, for out of it spring the issues of life."

 Psalm 119:105, "Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path."

 Psalm 119:11, "Your word I have hidden in my heart, that I might not sin against You."

 Psalm 37:30 and 31, "The mouth of the righteous speaks wisdom, and his tongue talks of justice. 31 The law of his God is in his heart; None of his steps shall slide."

 Standing strong on the truth of God's Word is not going to be popular in the days to come.  However, it will be the only way to persevere through this onslaught of seemingly never ending deceitful lies and irrational thoughts that we are being pummeled with daily.

 Matthew 24:13, "But he who endures to the end shall be saved."

 Be encouraged.  Make this wonderful Word your daily confession, "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.  (Philippians 4:13)