TOPIC: DO NOT BE DECEIVED.
Read James 1:13-16
MEMORISE: Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man was sows, that he will also reap. For he who sows to his flesh will of the flesh reap corruption, but he who sows to the spirit will of the spirit reap everlasting life (Galatians 6:7-8).
EXPOSITION
Deception is a real pest! Everyone has at one time o another been caught by it. Many products advertised and bought with the anticipation to remove stains have damaged people’s blouses, shirts or carpets so sadly and ridiculously. The saddest kind of deception is falling into the temptation of sin. Satan is the master of deception, using temptation to lure us into buying his false products (Jn. 8:44).
Many deceptive (but unnoticed) TV, radio, newspaper and magazine ads come like these: “If it tastes good, then it must be real!” “If it feels so right, how can it be wrong?” Obesity, diabetes, HIV-AIDS and many other terminal diseases are as a result of people being deceived into health hazard choices of eating habits and obnoxious acts.
Satan deceived Eve in the Garden of Eden (Gen. 3:13; 2 Cor. 11:3). He is referred to as the father of lies (Jn. 8:44). In the NT church at Jerusalem, Ananias and Sapphira lied about a gift they had given to the church, and Peter stated that Satan had prompted them to lie to the Holy Spirit. Every deception has grievous consequences. The couple died prematurely (Acts 5:3-5,10). *Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap (Gal. 6:7).
In clear terms, James (1:16-21) wrote how to stay away from the web of Satan’s deceptive devices: always use the ray of divine lights over all things desired (v.17); highly esteem your new birth (the life of God in you) through the word of truth (v.18); avoiding the dangerous pattern in temptation laziness, talkativeness, overriding indignation due to selfishness and moral filthiness of all kinds (v. 19-21a); and finally, humbly accept the Word of God planted in you, which can save you from all sort of deceptions (v. 21b).
PRAYER POINTS:
1. I am free from all spirits of deception and the lie of Satan through worldly enticements, in Jesus name.
2. Pray that God should deliver our churches from the claws of fake prophets/pastors/Evangelists/revivalists badly piercing them.
3. Ask God to punitively expose all so called ministers of the gospel using means to do God’s work, thereby deceiving people.
EXTRA READING FOR TODAY: Psalms 39:2 – 44:5 ; Romans 9:6 – 9:27.
