In Matthew 24 Jesus leaves us a chilling description of
what was to come in the last days. One of the first things that Jesus
warned his disciples about, was the false Christ deception that would occur before His coming. He warned that mass deception would cause
the love of believers to wax cold and bring about a great apostasy
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. 5 For many will come in My name,
saying, ‘I am the Christ,’ and will deceive many. Matthew 24:3-5
The first sign of Jesus' imminent return isn't large earthquakes, food shortages, pandemics and wars; like described in Matthew 24:6-8. "These
things must
come to pass, but the end is not yet." The first sign of His coming would be the false christ deception that would cause many Christians to walk away from their faith. I have been saved for 30 years and I can honestly say that heresy, deception and delusion are occurring on a mass scale. These false teachers have seduced believers into thinking they could live their lives anyway they want, and God will approve of their deeds. They have cajoled the masses all the while condemning their souls to hell. The conviction of the Holy Spirit is rarely felt in church anymore because the truth has been replaced with motivational speeches, that only encourage the soul but rarely challenge people to pick up their cross, and follow Him. Worship has become a place of entertainment and has been replaced with secular music in some churches. The presence of God has been replaced by hyperactive "feel good" activities, and programs to keep the masses happy.
Then many false prophets will rise up and
deceive many. 12 And because lawlessness will
abound, the love of many will grow "wax" cold. 13 But he
who endures to the end shall be saved. 14 And this
gospel of the kingdom will be preached in all the world as a witness to all the
nations, and then the end will come. Matthew 24:11-14
Again, Jesus
warns for the second time that false prophets who would cause the deception of many people. He warned that their lawlessness would cause the hearts of others to "wax" cold. In the original Greek this word Jesus used means
psucho "wax" which means growing cold by reduction of temperature and evaporation. This is what is happening now. The hearts of men are growing colder as the church has turned down the fire level in their preaching. The presence of God has been evaporating from the church as they have turned to a counterfeit gospel. What is interesting is that
psucho "wax" also means inanimate breeze. Inanimate means not endowed with life or Spirit! This is exactly what has happened in the churches. They have become lifeless, dead, and barren. The Holy Spirit has long left that place, leaving dry bones sitting on pews, who go over dusty old pages of liturgy, and who are left with nothing more than tradition. The Holy Spirit no longer moves there. The spirit of religion will always leave behind a lifeless church.
Let's look at the word lawlessness mentioned in the above scripture. It is defined in the following
passage:
"Whoever commits sin also
commits lawlessness, and sin is lawlessness."
1 John 3:4
Sadly, the lawlessness and scandals of the church have caused people to become embittered against God. They see people who were highly anointed, falling from the high pedestals they had them on, and causing great disappointment among believers. Many people have come to feel that if their leaders can't live for God, how can they? Unfortunately, when these leaders fall, it causes Christians to become displaced, and discouraged. Some never return to church again and some walk away from God completely.
Again Jesus warns that "For false christs and false
prophets will rise and show great signs and wonders to deceive, if possible,
even the elect. 25 See, I have told you beforehand. Matthew 24:24-25
For a third time Jesus warns against false christs or false Christians. Jesus said that even the "elect" would be
deceived by the great signs and wonders performed by those who come in His
name. This word "elect" means chosen. Many people believe
once saved always saved. Jesus said that even His chosen would be deceived by
these great impostors. No one is exempt from deception. This is why we must diligently guard our hearts and minds. Paul also warns that people would depart from the
faith because they gave heed to deceiving spirits.
Now the Spirit expressly
says that in latter times some will depart from the faith, giving heed to
deceiving spirits and doctrines of demons 1 Timothy 4:1
Paul also warns of the falling away. The rapture will not come unless the
falling away comes first, followed by the Anti-Christ.
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
2 Thessalonians 2:3
How can we be deceived you may wonder? Sin is deceitful and alluring. Hebrews 3:12-13 "Beware, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief in departing from the living God; but exhort one another daily, while it is called 'Today,' lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin." Sin not only can seduce you and deceive you but over time it can cause you to become hardened. It is much easier to take the path of least resistance than to take the narrow road. Taking the narrow road means a death process, denial, and suffering. This is not something many are willing to do to inherit the kingdom of God. Our ministry and good works will not be enough to get us into heaven. Please note the following scripture.
Many will say to Me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, have we
not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many
wonders in Your name?’ 23 And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew
you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!’ Matthew 7:22-23
I want you to understand that I am not against signs and wonders. Signs and wonders will follow all those who believe! However, walking in the power of God isn't always proof that someone is from God. Remember Balaam prophesied but his heart was full of covetousness. Not all that glitters is
gold. As you can see these mightily anointed ministers called Jesus Lord but
were walking in sin and were not recognized by Jesus. He will declare to them
that He never knew them. I believe Jesus will say this because those
who claim to be His, will not look like Him. They will also have no intimacy with Him because of the sin in their life.
I would like to point out that sinning and "practicing" sin is very different. We all fall short. I'm talking about when people willfully sin, taking advantage of God's grace because they know God will forgive them but have no
intention of stopping what they are doing. The problem with this mindset is, that eventually they will no longer feel conviction because their "conscience has gotten seared." 1 Timothy 4:2 I have seen many Christians eventually become demonized because they allowed what they have been delivered from to return to their life.
"When an unclean spirit goes out of a man, he goes through dry places, seeking rest, and finds none. Then he says, 'I will return to my house from which I came.' And he comes, he finds it empty, swept, and put in order. Then he goes and takes with him seven other spirits more wicked than himself, and they enter and dwell there; and the last state of that man is worse than the first. So shall it be with this wicked generation." Matthew 12:43-45
I am convinced that demonization will be a troubling trend in the future as more people will be filled with more wickedness than before. If you have been habitually sinning, understand that you need to repent which means go and sin no more! Please don't become a casualty and lose your inheritance over enjoying temporary pleasure. If you have sinned, please know that God will forgive you.
If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just
to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 1
John 1:9
If in doubt the following scripture clarifies what sins will keep those who are supposed to be heirs out of the kingdom. Don't be deceived you can not enter the
kingdom of God willfully sinning. If you die in your sin you will
certainly not go to heaven! This means friends, if you are found dead with a
crack pipe in your hand or died of an overdose, you will not be entering into
heaven. I am amazed how we try to water this down for famous people or people
we feel should join us in God's presence. I think the reality of hell is too much for us to think about so we try to imagine that those who died in their sin, some how made it to heaven. This is deception. Not everyone will make it to heaven no matter how famous, talented, liked or popular they were. When we realize this, we will make every effort to save the lost, and help others come out of their deception. We can't fellowship with people who are lawless. Let's look at the scripture.
I wrote
to you in my epistle not to keep company with sexually immoral people. 10 Yet I certainly did not mean with the sexually immoral people of this world,
or with the covetous, or extortioners, or idolaters, since then you would need
to go out of the world. 11 But now I have written to you not to keep company
with anyone named a brother, who is sexually immoral, or covetous, or an
idolater, or a reviler, or a drunkard, or an extortioner—not even to eat with
such a person. 1 Corinthians 5:9-11
You can't live in adultery, homosexuality, drug addiction, drunkenness, expecting to get into heaven. A lot of people always tell you not to judge
them when you are exposing their sin. However, judging and discerning are
different. The kind of judging we are not allowed to do is to have a condemning and critical attitude. The bible
says in John 3:19 that loving darkness condemns people. This is how we will
know. People can say they love God all day but their lifestyle will prove it. In this the children of God and the
children of the devil are manifest: Whoever does not practice righteousness is
not of God, nor is he
who does not love his brother. 1 John 3:10 We must use the word of God to make
these distinctions to keep ourselves from being deceived.
“Beware of false prophets, who come to you in
sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves. 16 You will know
them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes from thorn bushes or figs from
thistles? 17 Even so, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree
bears bad fruit. 18 A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a bad tree
bear good fruit. 19 Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down
and thrown into the fire. 20 Therefore by their fruits you will know them.
Matthew 7:15-20
I'm amazed how many of these false teachers get away with living in sin and people still follow them. Once again we are exhorted to examine the fruit of those who are teaching us. I have
known super anointed people who live a double life. Don't be fooled! If you
think that they are in sin or compromise; stop following them immediately! God
does not want us to be in fellowship with people who are living in hypocrisy. If
you suspect that someone is living a double life the bible tells us to go to
them.
“Moreover if your brother sins against you, go and tell him his
fault between you and him alone. If he hears you, you have gained your brother. 16 But
if he will not hear, take with you one or two more, that ‘by the mouth of two
or three witnesses every word may be established.’17 And
if he refuses to hear them, tell it to the church. But if he
refuses even to hear the church, let him be to you like a heathen and a tax
collector. Matthew 18:15-17
If you are going to bring correction to a
leader make sure you have two or three witnesses. Do not receive an accusation
against an elder except from two or three witnesses. 20 Those
who are sinning rebuke in the presence of all, that the rest also may fear. 1
Timothy 5:19
Remember we need to expose sin out of right
heart motivation. Our goal is always to bring people to repentance and
reconciliation to our Father. Also, we need to protect people from ship
wrecking in a failed ministry. I think the saddest time in my life was when our
Pastor was in sin and nobody told us until it was too late. People kept leaving, including our bible school teachers but nobody bothered to make sure we would survive the disaster. As a result, we floated out there for a year or so. No one bothered to pray over us or find out if we were healing. Instead, we became subjected to damaging gossip and slander. Thankfully we were reached by the Lord through a prophetic word, that brought healing to our hearts. We found a
good church and were restored. Thank God!
Confronting sin is not always comfortable. If in doubt always side with mercy and love because if it weren't for the grace of God we too could fall into sin. Brethren, if a man is
overtaken in any trespass, you who are spiritual
restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness, considering yourself lest you
also be tempted. Galatians 6:1
Let us pray:
Father, I commit to live
for you and be careful to examine the fruit of those who claim to be your followers.
I ask that you would keep me from deception. Increase my level of
discernment between those who are leading others astray and those who just need
to mature. Jesus examine my heart and my fruit. Show me the areas that need to change and help me surrender them to you. I pray you would cleanse from all defilement and false teaching in Jesus name, amen.
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