| Destruction by Deception |
| C4W Devotions are used by permission from Harvest Ministries with Greg Laurie P.O. Box 4000 Riverside , CA 92514 |
Destruction by Deception
For certain men have crept in unnoticed, who long ago were marked
out for this condemnation, ungodly men, who turn the grace of our God
into lewdness and deny the only Lord God and our Lord Jesus Christ.
— Jude 4
Is it possible to preach and not be a true believer, or to even do
miracles and not necessarily be saved? Absolutely.
Jesus said, "Not everyone who says to Me, 'Lord, Lord,' shall enter the
kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven.
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?' " (Matthew 7:21–22).
Notice that Jesus said, "Many will come in that day" (emphasis many).
This reminds us there will be an abundance of false miracles in the last
days. Many will say they have been doing miracles. Many will say they
have been casting out demons, allegedly. But Jesus will say, "I never
knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!" (Matthew 7:
23). The worst thing imaginable is to spread wickedness under the
veneer of true faith. Tragically, this does happen in the church today.
I wish that we could spot these people more easily. But Jude pointed
out that they come in unnoticed (see Jude 4). That is the whole idea.
Satan is a deceiver. And that is why on more than one occasion, the
Bible compares him to a snake. Having been an avid collector of
snakes as a kid, I know how easily they can get out of the tightest little
spots and escape. In the same way, Satan sneaks into the church
unnoticed.
False teachers come into the church secretly. And their numbers grow
by preying on unsuspecting believers. Beware of false teachers. And
be careful of those who say they have a message you won't hear
anywhere else.
For certain men have crept in unnoticed, who long ago were marked
out for this condemnation, ungodly men, who turn the grace of our God
into lewdness and deny the only Lord God and our Lord Jesus Christ.
— Jude 4
Is it possible to preach and not be a true believer, or to even do
miracles and not necessarily be saved? Absolutely.
Jesus said, "Not everyone who says to Me, 'Lord, Lord,' shall enter the
kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven.
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?' " (Matthew 7:21–22).
Notice that Jesus said, "Many will come in that day" (emphasis many).
This reminds us there will be an abundance of false miracles in the last
days. Many will say they have been doing miracles. Many will say they
have been casting out demons, allegedly. But Jesus will say, "I never
knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!" (Matthew 7:
23). The worst thing imaginable is to spread wickedness under the
veneer of true faith. Tragically, this does happen in the church today.
I wish that we could spot these people more easily. But Jude pointed
out that they come in unnoticed (see Jude 4). That is the whole idea.
Satan is a deceiver. And that is why on more than one occasion, the
Bible compares him to a snake. Having been an avid collector of
snakes as a kid, I know how easily they can get out of the tightest little
spots and escape. In the same way, Satan sneaks into the church
unnoticed.
False teachers come into the church secretly. And their numbers grow
by preying on unsuspecting believers. Beware of false teachers. And
be careful of those who say they have a message you won't hear
anywhere else.