The Bible warns over and over about false teachers and false prophets and those who will claim to be Christ. They will deceive many with powers and signs and wonders.

Mark 13:22  “For false Christs and false prophets shall rise, and shall shew SIGNS AND WONDERS, to seduce, if it were possible, even the elect.”

It warns that the Antichrist that will come in the end times will deceive with signs and wonders.

2 Thessalonians 2:9  “Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan WITH ALL POWER AND SIGNS AND LYING WONDERS,”

It may seem hard to imagine that people will be so deceived. No one wants to be deceived, or to think of themselves as easily fooled. But just look for a moment at some of the signs and lies already being accepted by many that claim to be bible-believing Christians (inspite of clear teaching within the bible.)

DECEPTION:   Slain in the Spirit-a Christian falls down and shakes or thrashes around uncontrollably, or even  “drunken in the spirit” and these SIGNS are attributed to the Holy Spirit.

TRUTH:  The bible nowhere records any believers behaving this way and actually attributes this sort of behavior to Demon-possession. A believer is told to be sober, and of good behavior, and things within the church are to  be done decently and in order, not disorder and losing all self control. (Matthew 17:14-18, Mark 5:2-5 )

DECEPTION: Word/faith heresy- This is the claim that believers have the POWER to speak things into existence, either good or bad, as though they are little gods, thus glorifying man.

TRUTH: God ALONE has the power to speak things into existence. We are to look to him ALONE for all our needs, and to him ALONE is the glory. (John 1:1-3, Psalms 136:4, Isaiah 2:17)

DECEPTION: Female Pastors- the teaching that God ordains women to teach and have authority over men within the Church.

TRUTH: God commands women to be silent within the church, NOT to teach nor to usurp authority over a man, and even to learn from her own husband at home. (1 Timothy 2:11, 1 Timothy 2:12, 1 Corinthians 14:34-35)

DECEPTION: Physical healing of disease promised to all believers in the atonement.

TRUTH: Through the atonement, the condemnation of sin is removed, and the Holy Spirit brings new life to the  believer, but within the flesh, sin still remains, along with its effects: the corruption and vulnerability to   sickness, disease and eventually physical death. True physical healing is not promised until this corruptible  puts on incorruptions at the resurrection. Only then will we be free from sickness and disease.( 1 Corinthians 15:53 , 1 Corinthians 15:50)

DECPETION: Believers are to SEEK after an experience from God. Believers exalt the manifestations of the Holy  Spirit, elevating him above the word and above the Lord Jesus Christ.

TRUTH: The Holy Spirit will never exalt himself or speak of himself but will glorify Jesus through the word of  God.( John 16:13, Psalms 138:2  “…thou hast magnified thy word above all thy name.”)

The bible makes it painfully clear why people are deceived. It tells us that it is because “ RECEIVED NOT A LOVE OF THE TRUTH.” They didn’t love the truth of the word as much as they loved the signs and wonders of their “RELIGIOUS EXPERIENCE.”

2 Thessalonians 2:10  “And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved.”

 1 John 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.”

1 Thessalonians 5:21  “Prove all things; hold fast that which is good.”

Jeremiah 6:16  “Thus saith the LORD, Stand ye in the ways, and see, and ask for the old paths, where is the good way, and walk therein, and ye shall find rest for your souls. But they said, We will not walk therein.”

When someone begins to teach some new thing, some better way, some new or modern approach to worship, you can be certain pride is at its foundation. They are those who will “throw off” the restraints of conservative worship, labeling it as legalism. “WE WILL NOT WALK THEREIN,” is their attitude, because they believe they have become wiser than their teachers and elders having found a “better way”.

The bible is clear that “there is nothing new under the sun.” These are the same old lies of the Devil, in a different package. 

This is often the case with young people, zealous to serve the Lord, but not yet mature enough to see the wisdom of the old ways. That is why the qualifications for a Pastor include this:  1 Timothy 3:6  “Not a novice, lest being lifted up with pride he fall into the condemnation of the devil.”

The two greatest avenues of change pursued by these are generally: alternate bible versions and contemporary music. These may not seem like issues at all for many people and both are widely accepted in the “Christian” community. But these can easily be the slippery slope that leads to compromise and apostasy.

Contemporary Music and Alternate Bible versions are both widely accepted by the saved and unsaved; the Liberal churches as well as the conservative use them. Often they become the bridge to unbiblical ecumenical alliances. Common musical interests help form bonds of the false fellowship with those we should be evangelizing. This often leads to confusion of who is teaching who. The vague language and doctrinally ambiguous message of the alternate bible versions make it easy to overlook differences in beliefs smudging the lines of biblical separation. With no clear doctrine, because of the multitudes of differing interpretations within the new versions, who can say what truth is? If there is no truth, then we open ourselves up to false teaching. 

We have all seen bible believers, once strong in faith and doctrine, seduced by false teachers and led astray. Eventually, they leave the Church and in time either fall away or join themselves to a false Church. Pride and sin is always the cause, but they almost always begin with the same warning signs: Music and versions. Be careful of what you accept as a new and better way.

Romans 16:17  “Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences CONTRARY TO the DOCTRINE which ye have learned; and AVOID THEM.”

Be careful!

As Christians we are warned to avoid those who teach doctrine contrary to what we have learned from the scriptures. There are many, out there leading many astray. The Christian bookstore, TV and internet are full of these false teachers. They may even call themselves by the same name as we claim, but these are grievous wolves entered in among the flocks.

Before you run out and buy their books, or follow their teachings, find out what they actually believe. Their books may sound good, or part of their message may agree with what you believe; you may not even notice anything wrong initially, but little by little, their evil communications will corrupt. False doctrine is like leaven, it will leaven the whole lump.

Acts 20:29-31 “ For I know this, that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock.  Also of your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them.

 Therefore watch, and remember, that by the space of three years I ceased not to warn every one night and day with tears.”

Genesis 3:5  “For God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and YE SHALL BE AS GODS, knowing good and evil.”

              That lie never seems to get old, as the Devil seduces more and more. Many false teachers today, promoting  that same lie promise that you too can be “AS GODS,” having super-natural powers beyond  human limitations, if you have enough faith. They promise the power to “speak into existence” either good or bad. Yet, God’s Word alone has that power. Hebrews 11:3 “ Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God,”

               They bring railing accusations against the Devil, claiming the power to command demons and “bind Satan.” Jude 1:9  “Yet Michael the archangel, when contending with the devil he disputed about the body of Moses, durst not bring against him a railing accusation, but said, The Lord rebuke thee.”

              They promise health and wealth and freedom from restraints. 2 Peter 2:18  “For when they speak great swelling words of vanity, they allure through the lusts of the flesh, through much wantonness, those that were clean escaped from them who live in error.19  While they promise them liberty, they themselves are the servants of corruption: for of whom a man is overcome, of the same is he brought in bondage.”

              Both newly saved and unsaved alike are drawn in by the thought of being “AS GODS” and led further away from God, into error. Don’t believe everything you hear, but search the scriptures and see if these things really are so, prove all things, hold fast that which is good. The Bible warns many times about deceivers who would come promising such things. Don’t be deceived.

 2 Thessalonians 2:9-10  “Even him, whose coming is after THE WORKING OF SATAN WITH ALL POWER AND SIGNS AND LYING WONDERS, And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; BECAUSE THEY RECEIVED NOT THE LOVE OF THE TRUTH, that they might be saved.”

2 Peter 2:2  “And many shall follow their pernicious ways; by reason of whom the way of truth shall be evil spoken of.  And through covetousness shall they WITH FEIGNED WORDS MAKE MERCHANDISE OF YOU: whose judgment now of a long time lingereth not, and their damnation slumbereth not.”

I read an article a while back about a student who committed suicide after a fellow schoolmate posted a video of him kissing another young man. What a horrible tragedy, for this young man and his family. The student who filmed this incident has been prosecuted for his offense. While it is a terrible crime that someone would bully and humiliate someone else, I found it even sadder that no one seems to recognize the equally terrible crime that was committed against him.

 This young man who has been told by the modern world that homosexuality is ok, was so deeply ashamed when his relationship was uncovered that he could not go on. No matter what the world may try to convince us of and no matter how many laws we changed, or how we try to call evil good and good evil; man has within himself a knowledge of good and evil, the law being written in his heart. His conscience witnesses against him and will not allow him peace. If he had truly believed that what he was doing was ok, it would not have ever caused him such pain to be exposed. Only our own sense of guilt can cause such shame.

This young man was deceived by a culture that approves of and even encourages these destructive, and emotionally damaging relationships. Multitudes today are also buying into that lie and celebrating their alternative lifestyle with antidepressants, serious health problems and shortened lifespans. Many studies indicate that suicide, depression, mental illness, alcoholism and drug abuse rates are higher in the homosexual community than in any other- NOT because anyone SAYS it’s wrong, but because inside, they know it is and try to pretend it is not. God’s word tells us that it is wrong, and for anyone to tell someone that it is right is not being kind, and loving, it is hurtful and damaging and can carry eternal consequences.

Isaiah 5:20 “Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for light, and light for darkness; that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter!”

The loving thing to do is to warn them according to God’s word, of their destructive lifestyle, and their impending doom.

Romans 1:18  “For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness;

19  Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath shewed it unto them.

20  For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse:

21  Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened.

22  Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools,

23  And changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and fourfooted beasts, and creeping things.

24  Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonour their own bodies between themselves:

25  Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen.

26  For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections: for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature:”

t “…that in all things he might have the preeminence.” Colossians 1:18

As Christians, often our focus is self-centered- getting our needs met, answers to prayer, direction, help in times of trouble. We buy books, and self-help guides and other resources to guide us. Even within the church, we hear listener focused messages about how to behave and how to treat one another and how that we should serve. We may feel that we have received help and encouragement, and maybe even view this as worship, but if it is not focused on the Lord- who He is, and what He’s done, and knowing Him so that we might have that same mind of Chris, so that we might become more like Him, then these are only superficial band-aid fixes for our problems. True worship isn’t about us and what we can get and what we do, and how we feel or respond. The heart of true worship is this: “That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death;” Philippians 3:10  

 “He must increase, but I must decrease.” John 3:30  

“Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ,

9  And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith:” Philippians 3:8  

Matthew 5:6 “Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled.”

Born-again believers in Christ, having within themselves the Spirit of Christ, long for righteousness, being continually grieved by the wickedness they see daily in the world and even within themselves. Desiring to live righteously and pleasing to God, a constant battle rages against their own flesh and they look forward to the day when they will put off these old sinful bodies, and be delivered from a world of sin.

To them this promise is given and sealed by the Holy Spirit.

Romans 8:11 “… if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you.”

Romans 8:18  “For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.”

 21 “ Because the creature itself also shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God.

22  For we know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now.

23  And not only they, but ourselves also, which have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body.”