End Time Deception

2 Timothy 3:13-17

Paul warned Timothy of the deception that was already in the world and unfortunately in the Church as he nears the end of his ministry and life. The faithful apostle spent his whole ministry in proclaiming and defending the faith. Now he wants to make sure that he passes it own and leaves it in good hands to a young Timothy.

Deception is nothing new. It goes back to the beginning when the serpent beguiled or deceived the woman Eve in the garden. It has always been around, and it has found its place not only in the world, but also the church. There have been many instances in which heresy has had to be withstood and ultimately truth always won out in the end.

The deception in our modern world today seems to be at a greater scale and rightly so with the presence of a liberal media and a very biased social media. But nevertheless, it must be withstood against with weapon that has prevailed in the past, the Holy Scriptures. That’s why Paul told Timothy to “continue in the scriptures for they were able to make him wise unto salvation.” Unfortunately, many Christians are not equipped because they just simply don’t have a knowledge of the word. This in turn causes them to deceive and be deceived!

Many Christians talk about the deception of the politicians on the progressive/liberal side of the isle that is deceiving many Americans while as the same time don’t recognize that they too are deceived. Only they are being deceived by the devil and many compromising preachers and so-called prophets. One of the biggest deceptions in the modern church is that we don’t need Sunday School anymore. Sunday Schools are non-existent or scarcely attended in many churches today and that has resulted in a lack of true discipleship training. Small group meetings seem to be a popular today but isn’t that what Sunday School is? It’s a small group meeting. It is an environment in which the Bible is discussed and saturated into one heart.

Another deception in the church world is that you don’t have to go to church anymore or attend multiple services. This is a lie! The devil doesn’t want you to be with other believers of like faith because that is where we receive our strength and encouragement. He wants you to be alone and isolated so that he can convince you that nobody cares for you. That’s why many believers today suffer more from depression, anxiety, or despair. When a person comes to know Jesus in true faith, that person comes into a body…the body of Christ. And if you are not a part of a church then you are not a part of him.

The last form of deception that I want to share is that it’s ok to stay home and partake of services online. This is a benefit to those who may be home bound for certain situations. Not able-bodied believers! I find it fascinating that people will go to work, to the store, to a theme park, or the beach, and not church. I challenge you to enjoy a vacation spot on-line. Spend time at Carowinds on-line. Feel a nice ocean breeze on-line. Enjoy a nice steak on-line. It is impossible to experience the fullness of these on-line. And so is the Church service.

Church attendance has dropped below 50% in our country. What I don’t understand is that we are in the worse crises we have ever been in politically, economically, spiritually and are closer to the return of Jesus more than ever before. But Jesus said it would be like this. You may have at one time said I will never fall away. I will never be deceived. If you have bought into these deceptive ideas, then you have and you are.

My challenge to you is the same as Paul’s challenge to Timothy.

Read also Paul’s challenge to the Galatians in chapter 6:7-9.

Pastor Robby