Take heed. Pay
attention. Watch out. Be wary. Be cautious.
If Jesus told us to
pay attention, it has to be important, right? Jesus IS telling us to pay
attention, He's telling us to watch out, to be wary, to be cautious because
people WILL try to deceive us. There is
no doubt about it, we have to be careful when dealing with people because any
of them can deceive us, the possibility exists.
Deception is very real. And the only way not to be deceived is to know
the truth. You can't be deceived by someone's lies if you know they are lying.
If you aren't standing firmly on God's truth then you leave yourself open to
deception. We are told this--
2Ti 3:15 And
that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make
thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.
2Ti 3:16 All
scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for
reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:
2Ti 3:17 That
the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.
Isa_8:20 To
the law and to the testimony: if they speak not according to this word, it is
because there is no light in them.
Luk 16:31 And
he said unto him, If they hear not Moses and the prophets, neither will they be
persuaded, though one rose from the dead.
Joh 5:39
Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are
they which testify of me.
Joh 5:46 For
had ye believed Moses, ye would have believed me: for he wrote of me.
Joh 5:47 But
if ye believe not his writings, how shall ye believe my words?
Act 17:11
These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the
word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether
those things were so.
Psa 119:130
The entrance of thy words giveth light; it giveth understanding unto the
simple.
Mat 22:29
Jesus answered and said unto them, Ye do err, not knowing the scriptures, nor
the power of God.
Mar 7:7
Howbeit in vain do they worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of
men.
Mar 7:8 For
laying aside the commandment of God, ye hold the tradition of men, as the
washing of pots and cups: and many other such like things ye do.
Mar 7:9 And he
said unto them, Full well ye reject the commandment of God, that ye may keep
your own tradition.
2Pe 1:19 We
have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed,
as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day
star arise in your hearts
We know that every
Christian is given a weapon to wield in the spiritual war we are born into and
live in until either we sleep death's sleep or our Savior returns. That weapon
is what? Do you know what weapon you possess as a Christian? Do you know what
weapon we have to use against the enemy? What good does it do us if we - as the
saying goes- bring a knife to a gunfight? We have to use the only weapon our
God gives to us and if we try to use anything else we will fail against any
evil spiritual onslaught in whatever shape or form it takes. Our weapon-
Eph 6:17 And take… the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of
God
Our weapon- THE WORD
OF GOD!
How do we keep from
being deceived? The Word of God!
Deception-
Mar 13:5 And
Jesus answering them began to say, Take heed lest any man deceive you
1Co 15:33 Be
not deceived: evil communications corrupt good manners.
1Co 15:34
Awake to righteousness, and sin not; for some have not the knowledge of God: I
speak this to your shame.
Eph 5:6 Let no
man deceive you with vain words: for because of these things cometh the wrath
of God upon the children of disobedience.
Col 2:8 Beware
lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition
of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ.
Heb 4:12 For
the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword,
piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and
marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.
2Th 2:3 Let no
man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a
falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition
1Jn 4:1
Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God:
because many false prophets are gone out into the world.
1Co 6:9 Know
ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not
deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate,
nor abusers of themselves with mankind,
1Co 6:10 Nor
thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall
inherit the kingdom of God.
Deu_11:16 Take
heed to yourselves, that your heart be not deceived, and ye turn aside, and
serve other gods, and worship them
Gal_6:7 Be not
deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also
reap.
1Ti_2:14 And
Adam was not deceived, but the woman being deceived was in the transgression.
2Ti_3:13 But
evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived.
Tit_3:3 For we
ourselves also were sometimes foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving divers
lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful, and hating one
another.
Rev_18:23 And
the light of a candle shall shine no more at all in thee; and the voice of the
bridegroom and of the bride shall be heard no more at all in thee: for thy
merchants were the great men of the earth; for by thy sorceries were all
nations deceived.
Rev_19:20 And
the beast was taken, and with him the false prophet that wrought miracles
before him, with which he deceived them that had received the mark of the
beast, and them that worshipped his image. These both were cast alive into a
lake of fire burning with brimstone.
Rev_20:10 And
the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone,
where the beast and the false prophet are, and shall be tormented day and night
for ever and ever.
Mat 4:4 But he
answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by
every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.