The reason it is so difficult to be a pastor today is that
most professing “Christians” do not believe that the
doctrines and prohibitions in the word of God apply to them.
They will tell you in half a heart beat that they are “no
longer under the law”. The phrase “under the law” never
applies to the doctrine of sanctification. The phrase “under
the law” is used to apply to some aspect of the doctrine of
salvation in the New Testament. If you do not believe that
you are still under God’s moral law, then go out and rob a
bank or murder someone and see how fast you go to jail.
There are 37 verses in the New Testament that use some form
of the word deceive. At least 20 different times the man of
God is commanded to warn some individual or groups of
people. It is not an option. Hebrews 13:17 says:
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17 Obey them that have the rule over you, and submit
yourselves: for they watch for your souls, as they
that must give account, that they may do it with
joy, and not with grief: for that is unprofitable
for you. Hebrews 13:17 |
God has set pastors to be watchmen in our Scriptural New
Testament churches. The charge to those who would be
watchmen for God is stated in Jeremiah 6:10, Ezekiel
3:17-21, Ezekiel 33:1-9, Acts 20:29-31, 1 Corinthians 4:14,
Colossians 1:28, and 1 Thessalonians 5:14:
10 To whom shall I speak, and give warning, that
they may hear? behold, their ear is uncircumcised,
and they cannot hearken: behold, the word of the
LORD is unto them a reproach; they have no delight
in it. Jeremiah 6:10
17 Son of man, I have made thee a watchman unto the
house of Israel: therefore hear the word at my
mouth, and give them warning from me. 18 When I say
unto the wicked, Thou shalt surely die; and thou
givest him not warning, nor speakest to warn the
wicked from his wicked way, to save his life; the
same wicked man shall die in his iniquity; but his
blood will I require at thine hand. 19 Yet if thou
warn the wicked, and he turn not from his
wickedness, nor from his wicked way, he shall die in
his iniquity; but thou hast delivered thy soul. 20
Again, When a righteous man doth turn from his
righteousness, and commit iniquity, and I lay a
stumblingblock before him, he shall die: because
thou hast not given him warning, he shall die in his
sin, and his righteousness which he hath done shall
not be remembered; but his blood will I require at
thine hand. 21 Nevertheless if thou warn the
righteous man, that the righteous sin not, and he
doth not sin, he shall surely live, because he is
warned; also thou hast delivered thy soul. Ezekiel
3:17-21
1 Again the word of the LORD came unto me, saying, 2
Son of man, speak to the children of thy people, and
say unto them, When I bring the sword upon a land,
if the people of the land take a man of their
coasts, and set him for their watchman: 3 If when he
seeth the sword come upon the land, he blow the
trumpet, and warn the people; 4 Then whosoever
heareth the sound of the trumpet, and taketh not
warning; if the sword come, and take him away, his
blood shall be upon his own head. 5 He heard the
sound of the trumpet, and took not warning; his
blood shall be upon him. But he that taketh warning
shall deliver his soul. 6 But if the watchman see
the sword come, and blow not the trumpet, and the
people be not warned; if the sword come, and take
any person from among them, he is taken away in his
iniquity; but his blood will I require at the
watchman’s hand. 7 So thou, O son of man, I have set
thee a watchman unto the house of Israel; therefore
thou shalt hear the word at my mouth, and warn them
from me. 8 When I say unto the wicked, O wicked man,
thou shalt surely die; if thou dost not speak to
warn the wicked from his way, that wicked man shall
die in his iniquity; but his blood will I require at
thine hand. 9 Nevertheless, if thou warn the wicked
of his way to turn from it; if he do not turn from
his way, he shall die in his iniquity; but thou hast
delivered thy soul. Ezekiel 33:1-9
29 For I know this, that after my departing shall
grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the
flock. 30 Also of your own selves shall men arise,
speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples
after them. 31 Therefore watch, and remember, that
by the space of three years I ceased not to warn
every one night and day with tears. Acts 20:29-31
14 I write not these things to shame you, but as my
beloved sons I warn you. 1 Corinthians 4:14
28 Whom we preach, warning every man, and teaching
every man in all wisdom; that we may present every
man perfect in Christ Jesus: Colossians 1:28
14 Now we exhort you, brethren, warn them that are
unruly, comfort the feebleminded, support the weak,
be patient toward all men. 1 Thessalonians 5:14 |
Take note of the following 21 passages of scripture dealing
with warnings about deception:
4 And Jesus answered and said unto them, Take heed
that no man deceive you. 5 For many shall come in my
name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many.
11 And many false prophets shall rise, and shall
deceive many. Matthew 24:11
24 For there shall arise false Christs, and false
prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders;
insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall
deceive the very elect. Matthew 24:24
15 Beware of false prophets, which come to you in
sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravening
wolves. Matthew 7:15
21 Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord,
shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that
doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. 22
Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we
not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have
cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful
works? 23 And then will I profess unto them, I never
knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.
Matthew 7:21-23
17 Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which
cause divisions and offences contrary to the
doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them. 18
For they that are such serve not our Lord Jesus
Christ, but their own belly; and by good words and
fair speeches deceive the hearts of the simple.
Romans 16:17-18
3 But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent
beguiled Eve through his subtilty, so your minds
should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in
Christ. 4 For if he that cometh preacheth another
Jesus, whom we have not preached, or if ye receive
another spirit, which ye have not received, or
another gospel, which ye have not accepted, ye might
well bear with him. 2 Corinthians 11:3-4
13 For such are false apostles, deceitful workers,
transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ.
14 And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed
into an angel of light. 15 Therefore it is no great
thing if his ministers also be transformed as the
ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be
according to their works. 2 Corinthians 11:13-15
14 That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to
and fro, and carried about with every wind of
doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning
craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive;
Ephesians 4:14
11 Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be
able to stand against the wiles of the devil.
Ephesians 6:11
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; 2 Thessalonians 2:3
1 Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the
latter times some shall depart from the faith,
giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of
devils; 1 Timothy 4:1
12 Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus
shall suffer persecution. 13 But evil men and
seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and
being deceived. 2 Timothy 3:12-13
2 Preach the word; be instant in season, out of
season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all
longsuffering and doctrine. 3 For the time will come
when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after
their own lusts shall they heap to themselves
teachers, having itching ears; 4 And they shall turn
away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned
unto fables. 2 Timothy 4:2-4
9 Holding fast the faithful word as he hath been
taught, that he may be able by sound doctrine both
to exhort and to convince the gainsayers. 10 For
there are many unruly and vain talkers and
deceivers, specially they of the circumcision: 11
Whose mouths must be stopped, who subvert whole
houses, teaching things which they ought not, for
filthy lucre’s sake. Titus 1:9-11
8 Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the
devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking
whom he may devour: 1 Peter 5:8
1 But there were false prophets also among the
people, even as there shall be false teachers among
you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies,
even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring
upon themselves swift destruction. 2 Peter 2:1
7 Little children, let no man deceive you: he that
doeth righteousness is righteous, even as he is
righteous. 1 John 3:7
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 John 4:1
7 For many deceivers are entered into the world, who
confess not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh.
This is a deceiver and an antichrist. 8 Look to
yourselves, that we lose not those things which we
have wrought, but that we receive a full reward. 9
Whosoever transgresseth, and abideth not in the
doctrine of Christ, hath not God. He that abideth in
the doctrine of Christ, he hath both the Father and
the Son. 10 If there come any unto you, and bring
not this doctrine, receive him not into your house,
neither bid him God speed: 11 For he that biddeth
him God speed is partaker of his evil deeds. 2 John
7-11
4 For there are certain men crept in unawares, who
were before of old ordained to this condemnation,
ungodly men, turning the grace of our God into
lasciviousness, and denying the only Lord God, and
our Lord Jesus Christ. Jude 4 |
In conclusion, both the Old Testament and the New Testament
are full of warnings to be vigilant in looking for
deception. We are to “Be sober, be vigilant; because your
adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about,
seeking whom he may devour. The way Satan devours New
Testament churches is to corrupt them through the deception
of false prophets, false teachers, false doctrine and unholy
living.
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