Do Not Be Deceived

I Timothy 4:1
Now the Sprit expressly says that in later times some will renounce the faith by paying attention to deceitful sprits and teaching of demons.

de•ceive [ di sv ] (past and past participle de•ceived, present participle de•ceiv•ing, 3rd person present singular de•ceives)

verb

Definition:

1. transitive verb intentionally trick or mislead somebody: to mislead or deliberately hide the truth from somebody

2. de•ceive your•self vr fool yourself: to convince yourself of something that is not true

3. transitive verb be sexually unfaithful to somebody: to be sexually unfaithful to a spouse or sexual partner [13th century. Via Old French deceveir< Latin decipere "ensnare, take in" < capere "take, seize"]

More and more young people are being pulled away from their faith in Jesus Christ because of deception. The devil comes in like an angel of light to deceive believers away from the truth. We have exchanged the truth of God for a lie. Today’s deception is like false advertisement from competitive dealers. The dealer promises you the same thing you’ve been accustomed to but when you leave what is the genuine article you discover you have traded down and paid a higher cost.

We are in danger of being deceived away from the true and living God by the cultural pull of what Morpheus would call the Matrix. Morpheus: The Matrix is everywhere, it is all around us, even now in this very room. You can see it when you look out your window, or you turn on your television. You can feel it when you go to work, when you go to church, when you pay your taxes. It is the world that has been pulled over your eyes to blind you from the truth.

Neo: What truth?

Morpheus: That you are a slave, Neo. Like everyone else, you were born into bondage... born into a prison that you cannot smell or taste or touch. A prison for your mind.

The Matrix

Hip Hop is not a Religion. Yoga is not a substitute for Prayer. All Roads do not lead to Eternal Life.
Jesus said in Matthew 7:13:
[The Narrow and Wide Gates] "Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it.

As human beings, we choose the path of least resistance, the less offensive way, and the most convenient path. Many people are trading in Jesus for more “flesh” efficient religions that make you feel good and accept any lifestyle even if it goes against everything God says in His word.

We are entering the days when it will not be popular to be a Christian. Many will no longer follow because they would rather please men than please God. They would rather please their flesh than be pleasing to God. Do not allow yourselves to be deceived. Deception is subtle. It’s in our music, in our movies, in our churches, in our books, our schools. Slowly, but surely, God is being removed from the fabric of our faith and we're making ourselves and our stomachs our gods. We have got to wake up before we look around and God is gone!

This is how we avoid deception:
1. Watch what you listen to. Verse 7. Have nothing to do with profane myths and old wives tales.

2. Train yourself in godliness (verse 7b)

3. Set an example in speech, and conduct, in love, in faith, in purity (v. 12)

4. Give attention to the Public reading of Scripture (v. 13) Do not be ashamed of God before men. If you are ashamed of God before men then Jesus will be ashamed of you before the Father. God’s Word does not return void. Something happens when you read God’s Word in Public. It’s sharper than a two edge sword cutting through to the conscience of men and women.

5. Do not neglect the gift in you. (V. 14) the oracle told Neo in the movie the matrix, “You have the gift but it looks like you are waiting on something.” God has gifted you to break the matrix and to deliver other slaves from deception. Wake up Neo!

Dear God,
Keep us from falling away. Remove the wool from our eyes. Sharpen our ears to the sound of your voice so we will not follow the voice of a stranger. Keep us steadfast, unmoveable, so we will not be pulled away or deceived by the enemy. Keep us strong until you return.

In Jesus Name,
Amen.