MANY WILL DECEIVE MANY-3

Text: Matthew 24:5

For many will come in My name, saying, 'I am the Christ,' and will deceive many.

We have been looking at the three major parameters that will help you discern deceivers who are using the name of Christ to deceive many. 

Having looked at the first two, today we shall be talking about the third parameter:

 *Check their spirit.* 

There are many deceivers out there today whose gospel may appear to be true, and you may not be so close to them to see their fruits (lifestyles). They are wolves in sheep clothing. It will only take a believer that is strong in Faith to discern their spirit.

Apostle John wrote to believers in 1 John 4:1 that they should try all spirits.

 *"Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world"* 

Apostle John, during the first century, confirmed the predictions of our Lord Jesus Christ in Matthew 24. He said, "...many false prophets have gone into the world".

Now in this 21st century, you can safely say that multitude of false prophets and teachers are in our world. You must be careful how and who you listen to on the  internet. 

For instance, I live in a city where it looks like we have a huge presence of false prophets and teachers than the godly ones. You will see multitude trooping into their churches. They now own their TV station on cables. They are on radio day and night. 

In order to save innocent people (young believers and sinners) from these ones, every Pastor must teach their flocks these parameters: How to  discern true gospel and try the spirit of a preacher.

Note that if you are not genuinely born again, you will not be able to try the spirit at work in another man. That is the reason many deceivers are also deceiving many.

Since the Spirit of God bears witness with your own spirit that you are God's child, it is the same Spirit of God who will witness to you if a preacher is correct or not. (Rom.8:16).

Secondly, 1 John 4:3 clearly stated how you can try the spirit at work in anyone: "...every spirit that does not confess that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is not of God. And this is the [spirit] of the Antichrist, which you have heard was coming, and is now already in the world."

Note that false prophets or teachers may even use the name of Jesus, but that does not mean the spirit (of the devil) within them confess that Jesus has come in the flesh. The spirit they carry rejects the Lordship of Christ, hence, they are under the spirit of Antichrist.

 *Your mouth may say one thing, while your spirit says another, you must learn to hear the spirit speaking and not just the words of mouth.* 

You need to understand that the spirit of the devil does not like to confess that Jesus has come in the flesh. Devil is a liar and the deceiver himself, hence he is not always at ease to confess the victory that Jesus had over him as a man in the flesh like you and I. 

That actually tells the devil that you too will conquer him. *You are more than conqueror through Christ Jesus that loved us.* (Rom.8:37).

Anyway, whether the devil likes it or not, he, all his cohorts and his followers shall  finally confess that Jesus is LORD. (Philippians 2:10-11).

Apostle Peter also mentioned in 2 Peter 2:1 that there were also false prophets among the people, even as there will be false teachers among you, who will secretly bring in destructive heresies, even denying the Lord who bought them, [and] bring on themselves swift destruction.

Be on your guard, always watch out on  who and what you follow, and don't forget that God's word is always available to guide and guard your path from deceivers who have come in the name of Christ.

Bible Reading:

Mathew: 24:1-42.

 *PRAYER FOCUS* 

1.) Father Lord, give me deep understanding of the scriptures, that I may understand the times we are in, and be delivered from deceivers in Jesus name.