Deception - just like falling asleep at the wheel - once it happens to you it could be too late to recover from the damage...
The only remedy is to stay humble before the Lord in your daily walk and to meditate on His Holy Word prayerfully and obey It.
Psalm 119:103–104
[103] How sweet are your Words to my taste,
sweeter than honey to my mouth!
[104] Through your Precepts I get understanding;
therefore I hate every false way.
Jesus praying to our Heavenly Father before His Betrayal:
John 17:14–21
[14] I have given them your Word, and the World has hated them because they are not of the World, just as I am not of the World. [15] I do not ask that you take them out of the world, but that you keep them from the Evil One. [16] They are not of the World, just as I AM not of the World. [17] Sanctify them in the Truth; your Word is Truth. [18] As you sent me into the World, so I have sent them into the World. [19] And for their sake I consecrate myself, that they also may be sanctified in Truth.
[20] “I do not ask for these only, but also for those who will believe in me through their word, [21] that they may all be one, just as you, Father, are in me, and I in you, that they also may be in Us, so that the World may believe that you have sent me.
Jesus warned us that the Signs of the Last Days just before His coming back to Earth would be clearly marked by Great Deception!
Signs of the End of the Age
Matthew 24:24
For false christs and false prophets will arise and perform great signs and wonders, so as to lead astray, if possible, even the Elect.
Matthew 24:3-14
[3] 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 them, “See that no one leads you astray. [5] For many will come in my Name, saying, ‘I am the Christ,’ and they will lead many astray. [6] And you will hear of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not alarmed, for this must take place, but the End is not yet. [7] For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom, and there will be famines and earthquakes in various places. [8] All these are but the beginning of the birth pains.
[9] “Then they will deliver you up to tribulation and put you to death, and you will be hated by all nations for my Name's sake. [10] And then many will fall away and betray one another and hate one another. [11] And many false prophets will arise and lead many astray. [12] And because lawlessness will be increased, the love of many will grow cold. [13] But the one who endures to the End will be saved. [14] And this Gospel of the Kingdom will be proclaimed throughout the whole World as a Testimony to all Nations, and then the End will come.
Leaders in the Church of God should heed the following:
Titus 1:9–11
[9] He must hold firm to the trustworthy word as taught, so that he may be able to give instruction in sound doctrine and also to rebuke those who contradict it.
[10] For there are many who are insubordinate, empty talkers and deceivers, especially those of the circumcision party. [11] They must be silenced, since they are upsetting whole families by teaching for shameful gain what they ought not to teach.
Titus 1:13–16
[13] This testimony is true. Therefore rebuke them sharply, that they may be sound in the faith, [14] not devoting themselves to Jewish myths and the commands of people who turn away from the truth. [15] To the pure, all things are pure, but to the defiled and unbelieving, nothing is pure; but both their minds and their consciences are defiled. [16] They profess to know God, but they deny him by their works. They are detestable, disobedient, unfit for any good work.
Titus 2:1
But as for you, teach what accords with sound doctrine.
Listen and obey the Word of The Lord today and every day after that. We are to stand firm on God's victory, by His shed blood on Calvary, over all the power of The Evil One, sin and death. Declare His Word boldly every day and let the enemy know you will stand on solid ground against his attacks because you are standing on The Rock - Jesus our Redeemer. The God of Abraham, Issac and Jacob (Israel) is The King and Lord of all Creation! Bless His Holy Name forevermore!!
Read Matthew 7:24-27 and Ephesians 6
Titus 2:11–15
[11] For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people, [12] training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age, [13] waiting for our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, [14] who gave himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness and to purify for himself a people for his own possession who are zealous for good works.
[15] Declare these things; exhort and rebuke with all authority. Let no one disregard you.
Now I must declare a Biblical Mystery explained in God’s Holy Word as the reason so many fall away or never really surrender their life in living faith to The Messiah who left heaven to save all the lost (You and me included).
2 Thessalonians 2:7–12
[7] For The Mystery of Lawlessness is already at work. Only He who now restrains it will do so until He is out of the way. [8] And then The Lawless One will be revealed, whom the Lord Jesus will kill with the breath of His mouth and bring to nothing by the appearance of His Coming. [9] The Coming of The Lawless One is by the activity of Satan with all power and false signs and wonders, [10] and with all wicked deception for those who are perishing, because they refused to love The Truth and so be saved. [11] Therefore God sends them a strong delusion, so that they may believe what is false, [12] in order that all may be condemned who did not believe The Truth but had pleasure in unrighteousness.
Are you in love with this world and its fleeting and momentary pleasures?
Don’t let the enemy of your soul fool you by helping you focus on your wants and carnal desires. Resist him by calling on Jesus to save you and empower you with His Holy Spirit to live a life pleasing in all things to your Holy Creator!
1 John 2:15–17
[15] Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. [16] For all that is in the world—the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride of life—is not from the Father but is from the world. [17] And the world is passing away along with its desires, but whoever does the will of God abides forever.
1 John 3:4–10
[4] Everyone who makes a practice of sinning also practices lawlessness; sin is lawlessness. [5] You know that he appeared in order to take away sins, and in him there is no sin. [6] No one who abides in him keeps on sinning; no one who keeps on sinning has either seen him or known him. [7] Little children, let no one deceive you. Whoever practices righteousness is righteous, as he is righteous. [8] Whoever makes a practice of sinning is of the devil, for the devil has been sinning from the beginning. The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the works of the devil. [9] No one born of God makes a practice of sinning, for God's seed abides in him; and he cannot keep on sinning, because he has been born of God. [10] By this it is evident who are the children of God, and who are the children of the devil: whoever does not practice righteousness is not of God, nor is the one who does not love his brother.
The Agape Love of God in our lives will be our victory over sin and The Devil.
1 John 3:23–24
[23] And this is his commandment, that we believe in the name of his Son Jesus Christ and love one another, just as he has commanded us. [24] Whoever keeps his commandments abides in God, and God in him. And by this we know that he abides in us, by the Spirit whom he has given us.
How do we know we are walking as followers of The Way (Jesus the Messiah)?
By walking in His Eternal Love and living it out daily in our lives.
1 John 4:7–21
[7] Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God, and whoever loves has been born of God and knows God. [8] Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love. [9] In this the love of God was made manifest among us, that God sent his only Son into the world, so that we might live through him. [10] In this is love, not that we have loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins. [11] Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. [12] No one has ever seen God; if we love one another, God abides in us and his love is perfected in us.
[13] By this we know that we abide in him and he in us, because he has given us of his Spirit. [14] And we have seen and testify that the Father has sent his Son to be the Savior of The World. [15] Whoever confesses that Jesus is the Son of God, God abides in him, and he in God. [16] So we have come to know and to believe the love that God has for us. God is love, and whoever abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him. [17] By this is love perfected with us, so that we may have confidence for the day of judgment, because as he is so also are we in this world. [18] There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear. For fear has to do with punishment, and whoever fears has not been perfected in love. [19] We love because he first loved us. [20] If anyone says, “I love God,” and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen cannot love God whom he has not seen. [21] And this commandment we have from him: whoever loves God must also love his brother.
Let’s be confident that God keeps His children safe and let’s walk not according to our natural understanding but by His Holy Spirit daily guiding us! - Proverbs 3 is one of my favorite and I pray it becomes one you will meditate on today, in full faith of God’s promises to never leave you nor forsake you.
Proverbs 3:5–8
[5] Trust in the LORD with all your heart,
and do not lean on your own understanding.
[6] In all your ways acknowledge him,
and he will make straight your paths.
[7] Be not wise in your own eyes;
fear the LORD, and turn away from evil.
[8] It will be healing to your flesh
and refreshment to your bones.
Proverbs 3:23–27
[23] Then you will walk on your way securely,
and your foot will not stumble.
[24] If you lie down, you will not be afraid;
when you lie down, your sleep will be sweet.
[25] Do not be afraid of sudden terror
or of the ruin of the wicked, when it comes,
[26] for the LORD will be your confidence
and will keep your foot from being caught.
[27] Do not withhold good from those to whom it is due,
when it is in your power to do it.
John 15:5–17
[5] I am The Vine; you are The Branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing. [6] If anyone does not abide in me he is thrown away like a branch and withers; and the branches are gathered, thrown into the fire, and burned. [7] If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. [8] By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be my disciples. [9] As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Abide in my love. [10] If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commandments and abide in his love. [11] These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full.
[12] “This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. [13] Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends. [14] You are my friends if you do what I command you. [15] No longer do I call you servants, for the servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all that I have heard from my Father I have made known to you. [16] You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit and that your fruit should abide, so that whatever you ask the Father in my name, he may give it to you. [17] These things I command you, so that you will love one another.
God be with you my brothers and sisters — and make it your daily devotion to keep your heart pursuing your Savior until He calls you home to by be His side forever and ever!
Proverbs 4:23
Keep your heart with all vigilance,
for from it flow the springs of life.
Jude 24–25
[24] Now to him who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you blameless before the presence of his glory with great joy, [25] to the only God, our Savior, through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty, dominion, and authority, before all time and now and forever. Amen.
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version® (ESV®)
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