Christian Reflection and Prayer

Scripture:

2 Corinthians 11:3-4 (New International Version)
New International Version (NIV

3But I am afraid that just as Eve was deceived by the
serpent's cunning, your minds may somehow be led
astray from your sincere and pure devotion to Christ.
4For if someone comes to you and preaches a Jesus
other than the Jesus we preached, or if you receive a
different spirit from the one you received, or a different
gospel from the one you accepted, you put up with it
easily enough.

2 Corinthians 11:12-15 (New International Version)
New International Version (NIV)

12And I will keep on doing what I am doing in order
to cut the ground from under those who want an
opportunity to be considered equal with us in the
things they boast about. 13For such men are false
apostles, deceitful workmen, masquerading as
apostles of Christ. 14And no wonder, for Satan
himself masquerades as an angel of light.
15It is not surprising, then, if his servants masquerade
as servants of righteousness. Their end will be what
their actions deserve.

­Reflection:

There is the story of of English robber called Captain
Thunderbolt who escaped the law and moved to the
eastern US in 1818, he began practicing medicine. He
took on the name Dr. John Wilson. Often he wore three
suits of clothes to escape recognition by making himself
look larger and covering up a deformed leg.
Just before the man died, he asked his friends to bury
him without removing his clothes. But to prepare his
body for proper burial, that request could not be honored.
The mortician was surprised to find scars from ­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­wounds
and a withered leg. A search of "Dr. Wilson's" house
revealed a stash of watches, jewelry, and diamonds.
The sheriff learned that the doctor was in fact Thunderbolt,
a thief in disguise. They had been fooled.


Well the point is the devil and his followers have there
disguises too. Paul tells us in 2 Corinthians 11:15 "Satan's
ministers also transform themselves into ministers of
righteousness." And they are very good at it, you must
always stand guard. They are often very difficult to discover.
They are very deceptive. They look like you and me, they
often appear to be kind and loving, and they too often act like
they care. But they are really false teachers and they have
been around since the time of Paul. One way to tell that they
are false teachers, is that they teach false doctrine. You see
they almost always teach that your good deeds will bring you
rewards and salvation. And we know that this is not true,
because Paul warned us not to be deceived by the devil's
craftiness (v.3). The truth is: "By grace you have been saved
through faith...: it is the gift of God, not of works: *Eph. 2: 8-9);
PLEASE DON'T BE FOOLED
Remember= "Satan has many tools, but deception is the
handle that fits them all."

Prayer:

Lord I ask You for the power of the Holy Spirit so I can
recognize false teachers. Give me the strength and the
power to overcome their evil. Thank for Your love and Your
truth's. In Jesus Name Amen