Tag: deceit
Another Jesus? A different Gospel?
Scripture reading for September 30th: Jeremiah 8-10, 2nd Corinthians 11
2nd Corinthians 11:1-4 “I wish you would bear with me in a little foolishness. Do bear with me! For I feel a divine jealousy for you, since I betrothed you to one husband, to present you as a pure virgin to Christ. But I am afraid that as the serpent deceived Eve by his cunning, your thoughts will be led astray from a sincere and pure devotion to Christ. For if someone comes and proclaims another Jesus than the One we proclaimed, or if you receive a different spirit from the One you received, or if you accept a different Gospel from the one you accepted, you put up with it readily enough.”
False teachers had followed Paul in the church at Corinth. Paul was writing to warn the believers to be watchful and beware as it seemed to him that they were not discerning the truth. Paul had carefully preached the Gospel of Jesus Christ–Jesus crucified, buried, and resurrected and coming again was the message. He proclaimed Jesus Christ, God’s only Son dying for the sins of all men and calling them to repentance and holiness. The false teachers were presenting ‘another Jesus’, not the Son of God and had ‘another spirit’, not the Holy Spirit of God. Their ‘different gospel’ was not the true Gospel and God’s call to repentance and holiness. Beware of those in the church who are the serpent’s deceiving messengers!
2nd Corinthians 11:13-15 “For such men are false apostles, deceitful workmen, disguising themselves as apostles of Christ. And no wonder, for even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light. So it is no surprise if his servants, also, disguise themselves as servants of righteousness. Their end will correspond to their deeds.”
Prayer: Father God, I often pray the prayer Jesus taught His followers to pray: “Lead me not into temptation, but deliver me from evil (the evil one).” Give Your church discernment and expose those who disguise themselves as leaders or workers in Your Church but are really Satan’s tools. Help me to proclaim the real Jesus Christ, Son of God and be empowered by the Holy Spirit to preach the Gospel.
Jeremiah 8:5-7 “Why then has this people turned away in perpetual backsliding? They hold fast to deceit: they refuse to return. I have paid attention and listened, but they have not spoken rightly; no man relents of his evil saying, ‘What have I done?’ Everyone turns to his own course, like a horse plunging headlong into battle. Even the stork in the heavens knows her times, and the turtledove, swallow and crane keep the time of their coming, but My people know not the rules of the Lord.”
Conceit can bring deception!
Scripture reading for October 1st: Jeremiah 11-13, 2nd Corinthians 12
Key Scriptures: 2nd Corinthians 12:7-10 “So to keep me from becoming conceited because of the surpassing greatness of the revelations, a thorn was given me in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to harass me, to keep me from becoming conceited. Three times I pleaded with the Lord about this, that it should leave me. But He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest on me.”
Paul carefully explained how God had given him great revelations, even catching him up to the third heaven. He heard things that he could not reveal or explain. God allowed a thorn in Paul’s flesh from Satan, to keep him from conceit. Conceit is pride that puffs up a person and allows deception. Paul sought God for deliverance, but God assured him that His power would be made perfect in weakness and His grace would be sufficient to keep him. Paul’s boast now was in his weakness so Christ’s power would flow through him.
Faith confession and prayer: Lord Jesus, thank You for Your amazing grace that can keep me from pride and deception. Help me to boast only in You and my many weaknesses that Your power may work through me to accomplish Your will.
Jeremiah 13:15-17 “Hear and give ear; be not proud, for the Lord has spoken. Give glory to the Lord your God before He brings darkness, before your feet stumble on the twilight mountains, and while you look for light He turns it into gloom and makes it deep darkness. But if you will not listen, my soul will weep in secret for your pride; my eyes will weep bitterly and run down with tears, because the Lord’s flock has been taken captive.”