JULY 31, 2021 CAC LIVING WATER DEVOTIONAL : TOPIC – THE HALLMARK OF THE END TIME
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LIVING WATER CAC DAILY DEVOTIONAL GUIDE
Saturday, July 31, 2021.
DECEIT: THE HALLMARK OF THE END TIME
Read: Matthew 24:3-5
Matthew 24: 3-5 While He was seated on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to Him privately and said, Tell us, when will this take place, and what will be the sign of Your coming and of the end (the completion, the consummation) of the age?
Jesus answered them, Be careful that no one misleads you [deceiving you and leading you into error].
For many will come in (on the strength of) My name [appropriating the name which belongs to Me], saying, I am the Christ (the Messiah), and they will lead many astray.
MEMORISE:
Take heed that no one deceives you (Matthew 24:4b)
EXPOSITION
In answer to His disciples question, “What will be the sign of your coming, and of the end of the age?” Jesus gives the signs which will characterise the whole course of the last days and which will intensify as the end draws nearer. The first major sign given by Jesus was that religious deception will be rampant in the world. Christ is so concerned that His followers would be aware of the worldwide deception that He repeats the warning in verse 11 and 24.
Lying has become a matter of habit and an accepted practice in this present age. In many areas, lying has become an art form. We can see this clearly in the financial world where numbers and statistics are manipulated. Recent research shows that the average person tells a lie every eight minutes! That is seven lie per hour, 112 per 16-hour day, and 40,880 per year!
Apostle Paul warns in 1 Timothy 6:20 guard and keep the deposit entrusted [to you]! Turn away from the irreverent babble and godless chatter, with the vain and empty and worldly phrases, and the subtleties and the contradictions in what is falsely called knowledge and spiritual illumination and 1 Thess.5:21, Test all things; hold fast what is good.*
The key to resisting deception is being convicted of the truth! The truth is what was first revealed to the apostles. Contend earnestly for the first which was once for all delivered to the saints (Jude v3). All the apostles warned about deceivers and urged the brethren to be certain of, and stick to the doctrines of God. It is our surest hedge against being caught up in the deceptions of the end time that are already upon us (1 Tim 6v20).
PRAYER POINTS:
1. Lord Jesus, grant me the grace to aviod the profane, vain babblings and contradictions of what is falsely called knowledge in this era of religious deception.
2. Lord Jesus, empower all Christians with the Spirit of discernment to test all things and hold fast what is good in this age of deception.
3. Holy Spirit, empower all Christians that are convicted of the truth revealed in Your Word, to contend earnestly for the faith.
EXTRA READING FOR TODAY: 24:7 – 28:1, Acts 24:18 -25:12