Good morning and welcome in. Today we’re going to take a look at a passage of scripture but before we do that I wanted to ask you a question.
When you were a child did any of you stick your fingers in your ears because you didn’t want to listen to what somebody else was saying? I get up early in the morning and many times if I’m going to take a short siesta during the day and there is a lot of talking and noise in the house, I simply put in a pair of earplugs when I lay down. During certain times there is a great need not to listen to others.
How many of you have had someone attempt to convince you to do something that you knew in your heart was absolutely wrong according to what you had been taught from scripture?
Did you plug you ears? You might not have had a pair of ear plugs to put in right at that moment but in those situations it’s best just to turn around and walk the other way.
Today the devil is seducing people in an exerted effort to get the flock of God to listen to him rather than God. He’s a usurper who wants to kick God off of his throne.
He can appear as a minister of light while the truth is, he’s the son of darkness and
a wolf in sheep’s clothing. The devil’s purpose is to turn you away from biblical truth and from becoming obedient to Christ. In the garden of Eden the devil wanted Eve to listen to him rather than God. She was seduced by him and completely believed what he said and utterly went against God’s commands. She also led her husband astray, which is the reason why a man is not suppose to listen to a wife over God. God is mans authority while man is woman’s authority. This is another reason why women are not to usurp over a man because when they do they are deceived by the devil.
1 Tim 4:1 Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils…..
This passage is meant for people who at one time professed Christianity and we’re trying to do the will of God from their hearts, but later on turned from biblical faith and slid back into the world. They are like Esau. The person that you knew then is not the person you know now. Lots wife turned away from her own husband in an attempt to return back into the world from which she had left. She turned into a pillar of salt as an example for all those who reject their faith as they have been taught. What’s that old song say,… no turning back…. no turning back.
To depart from the faith means to deviate from what you have been instructed from scripture. It means to fail to conform and to leave the past behind. Many people today are involved with heretical and false forms of Christianity. I’m not saying this so you think I’m some kind of righteous person but the truth is there are numerous people who profess Christianity who do not believe scripture anymore. That’s absolutely incredible. There’s no fear of God before their eyes. Instead of accepting what scripture clearly says, they argue and fight with it.
Did you know that approximately one third of the Earth’s population professes to practice Christianity as their faith? Jesus taught that before his return it would be as the days of Noah. This is a scripture that teaches us about a great falling away from the true Christian faith shortly before the return of Christ. I guarantee it’s not going to get better but a whole lot worse. How many people were saved in the days of Noah? People were getting married and buying and selling but eventually they were destroyed in the flood. Todays false forms of unbiblical Christianity are just a precursor for the arrival of the end time anti-christ. Instead of remaining faithful to biblical truth they will resist it and go in the complete opposite direction. They don’t want to adhere to the faith that was once given to the saints but rather maintain a very liberal Christianity. I call it feel good Christianity. They want to feel like they’re going to heaven, but wholeheartedly reject the commands and instructions that the God of heaven and earth gives us. Remember Jesus taught why call me Lord Lord and do not the things that I say? Remember that God is not mocked.
Once again I ask you, who are you listening to? Are you judging simply by appearances? Do you judge someone because they are in a high pulpit and a flowing robe or are you listening to Christ Jesus and the apostles? Are you listening to the teachings of scripture or somebody else who appears as an angel of light but is only there to seduce you and lead you away from the truth. You may need some spiritual earplugs.
Education in the scripture can help us to not be deceived. Most of us have been educated that 2 plus 2 equals 4. If someone came up to you tomorrow and told you 2 plus 2 equals 6, do you really think that you agree with them? I highly doubt it because you’ve been educated in the truth of simple mathematical equations. If somebody tried to convince you tomorrow that the earth was flat would you believe them? Obviously in this day in age we know that it is round. Someone might teach that the world is flat but we would know that isn’t true. The more biblical knowledge we have, the more we can discern between truth and fiction. Discernment is truly a gift from God. Discernment is listed as one of these gifts in scripture.
1 Cor 12:10 To another the working of miracles; to another prophecy; to another discerning of spirits; to another divers kinds of tongues; to another the interpretation of tongues.
God’s Word gives us discernment and helps us to not be deceived and seduced by false teachings and to recognize right from wrong.
Heb 5:14 But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.
Discernment is the ability to perceive differences that exist. It’s the ability to distinguish and have good judgement. Even at a very young age we are taught the differences in shapes. We probably all learned that you cannot put a square peg in a round hole because they are different shapes. As far as scripture goes, the devil will attempt to instruct you that the things that you’ve learned are wrong. This is what a seducing spirit does, they try to lead you away from biblical truth.
Many years ago someone asked me a question about Christianity. He was professing to be a Christian and asked about evolution and science that went in complete contravention to the teachings of Jesus. I told him that the Scriptures teach us to reject opposition of science. If science goes against the teachings of Jesus, you are suppose to completely reject it. I asked him who he was going to listen to, Jesus Christ or a scientist?
The apostle Paul was born and raised in Judaism but instead of listening to the those who he had originally received instruction from, he began to listen to Jesus Christ and the teachings of our faith. Truly to become a faithful follower of Jesus we each have to decide who we are going to listen to. The Apostle was so concerned about the churches not being led astray from the truth that he would send Timothy to check to see if their faith was still intact.
Christians have to be completely filled up with scriptural teaching so that we can discern between all the philosophy and anti Christian teachings that are so prevalent in the world today. A small child can be easily deceived and led astray from the truth. This is no different than those in the Christian Church. God wants us to become adults spiritually and to be able to discern the difference between what He wants us to do, and what the world decides we should do. It all comes down to who you are going to listen to, Jesus or the world.
Don’t be deceived by others who themselves have been seduced and turned away from the truth of the Christian faith. They have made their choice, and it’s time to make yours. Who are you going to listen to today? Will you believe fact or fiction?
Lets think about those things for right now and Lord willing I’ll talk to some more tomorrow. Till then, bye bye everybody. ❤️
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