Don’t Be Deceived

Are we truly following the real Christ, or are we slowly being distracted by subtle deception? Although they were spiritually gifted, faithful, and generous believers, Paul warned that even mature Christians could be led away from sincere and pure devotion to Jesus through the enemy’s subtle schemes – Don’t Be Deceived

I praise and God for this uh wonderful opportunity to stand before you and preach the word of God before you. We had a very wonderful worship session. Now, now we are going to hear uh the word of God. So let us uh sit before the presence of God with reverence and and an expectation that God will truly speak with us. Hallelujah. So for the uh today’s meditation I would like anyone to read uh 2 Corinthians chapter 11 verse 2 and three also Can anybody anybody read the verse in uh in English? Only verse three. Amen. So before enter into this uh message I would like uh tell a small story to highlight what the third verse says. I know that many of might be heard this uh story which we we could have hear when when we were studying in schools. So once upon a time there was a crow and this crow was very hungry looking for looking for food here and there. So finally this crow was able to get hold of a puri and it took the puri in its mouth and then climbed towards a tree to eat it. So that puri was in the mouth of the crow very hungry. Water was coming out from its mouth. And as it was started to eat the puri, there was a fox under the tree. The fox also was very hungry and it wanted the puri from the mouth of the crow. So suddenly the fox said that oh crow in these days you are very popular in Instagram and Tik Tok and Facebook and YouTube. Your songs are very powerful. There are so many fans of you to listen your wonderful song very melodious song you have Mr. Crow. At that time the crow forgot that it was hungry and it was completely immersed in the very sweet appreciation of the fox. The fox says I know that your time is very precious and very valuable. Can you please spare I beg you please spare few seconds for me. I want to hear the sweet voice from your throat. And the crow what it did? It was completely captured by the trick of the fox and it opened its mouth and began to sing. Ka ca ca. And then it was singing. Meanwhile, the fox took hold of that puri and then it went away and began to enjoy it. And when the crow opened its eyes, there was no one to listen the song. Then crow came to know how wonderfully, how smartly the fox cheated me, played tricks on me.

Paul’s Fear for the Corinthian Church
So I hope that what I want to say through this verse Paul is saying that I am afraid. I am scared. I’m scared about you. pastor the founder pastor who established the powerful church with all the spiritual gifts doesn’t trust the believers that’s a question Paul is telling I am afraid I am afraid that just like Satan was able to deceive Eve by putting beautiful thought in her mind. In the same way, I believe I’m afraid that you can also be tricked. The question I want to ask Paul, Paul, why are you telling about this church in this way? Do you not trust the me members of the church who have got most of the spiritual gifts mentioned in the Bible in the New Testament? Do you don’t trust your church? Now let’s see what’s the quality of the church. Superb qualities. No already we all know that they have got a lot of spiritual gifts with them. Interpretation, prophecy. Okay. So many uh speaking in tongues. Then also Paul is scared. What are the qualities of the church? The Quran church. Second don’t don’t read it but just I want to speak some references which shows the quality of the church it can be more also 2 Corinthians 1:6 patiently enduring suffering like apostles it’s not like patiently enduring suffering it’s not that what Paul says patiently enduring suffering like apostles equal to apostles so the church the believers in the church of Corinthians were equally suffering like the apostles. So that’s a quality beautiful quality. No. Second 2 Corinthians 1:24 standing firm in faith. Firm in faith. Then very great obedience is better than sacrifice. 2 Corinthians 7:15 Paul appreciating about their obedience. 2 Corinthians 8:7, excelling in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in all earnestness. The believers of Corinthians were excelling in faith. In speech, the speech also was perfectly aligned with the word of God. Excel in speech. No fault Paul found in them in knowledge, excellent in all earnest, very passionate for the Lord. And in 2 Corinthians 9:2, zeal in generosity when they give, they give with a generous heart. So so many qualities this believers had. And finally Paul says that I am afraid. Can it apply to today’s church? That’s the question. Can the church can the present church be excluded from the devil’s tricks? That’s a question.
How Satan Plants Counterfeit Thoughts
Suppose I am as I’m preaching now after for example three four believers come and say that oh your message was very super you know that it’s a good compliment but it can have a negative effect in my mind if I don’t take it positively Satan can use anything Satan can use anything how Satan putting thoughts in your mind. The word says like that. What the word says? But I’m afraid that as the serpent deceived Eve by his cunning, your thoughts will be laid astray. That is the big problem. Thoughts laying astray. Satan puts a seed in your mind. Satan putting a thought in your mind. Irrespective of gender, irrespective of race, irrespective of experience, irrespective of being either apost or a believer or a prophet or a charismatic leader or a pastor or a associate pastor or a mission pastor or a secretary or as a treasurer or as a Sunday school teacher, anyone no one is excluded from that. This is a fact we the believers should consider that Satan can put thoughts in your mind even though how much good you are or how much you are fasting or praying because Jesus fasted for 40 days and 14 nights without eating food and drinking the water. Still he was had to fa face the tricks of the devil. Then what about we? What about us? No believers, no believers is excluded from that this this particular thing. I and you all has to face this. It’s a it’s it’s it’s a it’s a lingering lingering threat for us right now when we are sitting here. You know at that time also devil can put thought in their mind. So what is my what what is my intention to say that? What what what is my intention? The my intention is what to we have to be so much smarter smarter than smarter than the Satan or we should have a strategy or we should have a way to face the cunning tricks of Satan. Now what is what is the what is Paul afraid of? counter Christrist Paul came to Corinth stayed there for uh more than one year like one year and eight months and people were brought to faith and the church was established very super was established and he said that uh I I I gave you a foundation no I I draw out Christ before you I draw a Christ before you. I narrated a Christ before you. Now I am afraid devil can trick you. How devil will trick you?
Knowledge vs. Experience of Christ
Devil will put before you a counterfeit Christ. Not the real Christ. You can see that in that if you go down there it is written for if someone comes and proclaims another Jesus. They are not preaching prosperity. [laughter] What they are preaching? They are preaching Christ. But which Christ? Another Christ. So Paul is so it was happening in the church because during those time there was not a complete Bible was not there. Don’t think that uh the believers of kurin church was every Sunday was carrying the black bible in their hands and coming to the church. Don’t believe that. Even the new testament also was not completely written. Even it was a luxury for the believers to have old testament with them because it was very expensive. So they were in more more dangerous situation than than us. Today we have Bible. Today we have New Testament. Today we have Old Testament. We can read and understand the word of God. But what about the believers during those time? They only knew Christ which was p which was preached by Paul. And also Paul gives them some traditions. It is written in Corinthians that Paul I gave you some traditions. You know that it’s very difficult to s to live a pure Christian life during those time. So after Paul went then some other people came there and they preach Christ but that was another Christ according to Paul. But for the believers that was a Christ. But for Paul that was another Christ. Today also we how we receive Christ. We receive Christ who doesn’t like mustache cleans you. There is a Christ who doesn’t like ornaments. There is a Christ who who allows ornaments. you know different interpretation about Christ. We receive Christ from our family. We receive Christ from the church. What Paul says, “For I received from the Lord and delivered to you.” Hallelujah. For I received from the Lord what the revelation and I delivered to you. Are we following a Christ based on knowledge or are we following Christ as an experience? Hallelujah. The Christ which we receive from the knowledge doesn’t doesn’t is not effective. But the Christ which you are receiving if the Christ is giving us then experience of Christ through the power of the Holy Spirit that is very much effective. So what was the problem? The problem was Paul was very scared because he had taken so much struggle to start this church.
Subduing the Devil: Paul’s Journey to Jerusalem
The Prophecy of Agabus in Acts 21
Then another question. Did Paul experience ever in his life this thing? The tricks of devil. Last Friday we heard no the message subdue the devil. subdue the devil. There was any whe where there was any time when Paul had subdued the tricks of devil because Paul is sharing everything because of his experience. So I would like to turn your attention to Acts chapter 21 verse 10-4. Acts chapter 21 verse 10-4. No. Acts 21 verse 10. Amen. Acts chapter 21 10-4. Amen. Imagine if this that that incident would have happened today. I am preaching there. I am sitting in the first row. A prophet who attended PC asked Manu pastor can I come to your church. Manu pastor come in our church and that prophet come here and then while he is preaching he’s coming to me and tell and telling me in this way you will be imprisoned you will be imprisoned you will be tied and you will be put in the jail handed toward the authorities if you go to Phoenix suddenly ly 99%age of people will say don’t go don’t go when I was studying in school like after my 12th my dad decided to buy a small bike for me it was called heruk papa sent check from Saudi Arabia mommy went to the bank. After 15 days the check was NRI check was converted and she was about to buy a bike for me. Suddenly a prophet came there in my church and then prophesies to mommy that if you will buy this bike Anil will get an accident then I never got the bike. So when a prophet will come and say this to you that your life is going to be danger if you travel from here what we will all do we what we will all do we will say no don’t go don’t go you know who said don’t go the church members Manu pastor Daniel pastor Mama pastor Thomas pastor Jojin pastor all uncles and aunties will say anil don’t go don’t go how beautiful words it is no very powerful words. I will definitely fall in that words.
Logical Arguments Against God’s Will
99% will say don’t go the person who is writing this this Luke no apostles acts of he is also there seven seven people were there seven travel companions of Paul was there four daughters of Philip was there Philillip also might be there when I counted it was like nearly 12. Everyone is saying Paul don’t go because if you will go there the Jewish people will arrest you. What was the actually purpose? What was the purpose of Paul to go to Jerusalem? If you have read Acts then you can know that it was just to donate the money which Paul had collected from all the church to give to the poor believers of Jerusalem. So so what is the proper logic? The proper logic is that okay if Paul would have said okay I I I’m taking your all opinions very seriously so I have decided that now brother Luke will uh who is the secretary of gentiles missionary movement okay I am a president so I have a lot of plans okay to do another missionary journeys in another different countries so I have to do so many missions now no Paul would have said yeah That’s right. I have to do so many missions. It’s only third missionary journey. So I have to like many missionary journeys I have to do. I have to win so many converts. People might be telling no the seven people plus all the family members of Philip might be saying Paul you can’t waste your life. You have so much ministry left. You have so many missionary journeys to be to be done. So many converts you have to gain. You have to establish so many churches. So don’t risk your life, Paul. No, imagine this would have happened. Luke has not written everything. No, you have to establish so many churches. We have just started a new missionary organization, Gentile ministry movement and you are the founder. You are the president and you are responsible of so many churches. So how can you sacrifice your life? Who will take care of the church? Who will take care of the new believers? So many arguments are very powerful arguments and all arguments are very appropriate, very correct.
Discerning Good Advice from Spiritual Interference
But Paul had a laser eyes. Paul had a laser eyes. No laser eyes. He looked at everyone. He looked at Luke and he understood in spiritual in Holy Spirit he understood this is from devil but he didn’t say like Jesus get behind me Satan know how powerful words he was able to discern this is from Satan Philip the evangelist Paul you have great responsibility for the church don’t go please don’t Go, don’t go. Luke can give that money to the church, you don’t need to go. Paul looked at Philillip and say with the laser eyes because of the Holy Spirit that is also from devil. Hallelujah. Are we able to discern the thoughts coming in our mind and considering them is it from devil or not? Hallelujah. When your brother speaks, when your brothers stand against you, devil can use that situation. He has said against you. So it’s your right to speak against them. Okay, wait a moment. Think is it from devil or it’s it is from Holy Spirit. Maybe you have to calm down your ego. Humble your ego. Humble your ego. What did Paul say? I am not only ready to just be tied up but even I am going I am ready to die for my Christ. Hallelujah. Hallelujah. I am even ready to die for my Christ. Hallelujah. Hallelujah.
The Vulnerability of Eve and Modern Distractions
You know what is the key to how we can overcome? How you can subdue the devil under your feet? It is the utmost devotion. It is the purest. Hallelujah. pure and fine devotion to Christ that only can hallelujah be able to understand the devil’s tricks. Hallelujah. Hallelujah. I think that I say that it can happen to anyone. Anyone you know that a person who has lived like 50 years or 60 or 70 years for Christ, he can also face the same situation and that person also can be completely destroyed by devil’s uh tricks. Imagine if why Paul gave the example of Eve that’s first have to understand why there are so many new old testament believers. No, but why you Paul use Eve? Eve never knew sin. Eve never knew sin. No. He had a body without sin, a mind without sin. Imagine that even that eve was tricked by the devil and we are born in sin. We live in flesh. Hallelujah. So how how vulnerable we are if we are not knowing the tricks of the devil and today’s life people say it’s inverted comma very progressive no I don’t know whether it’s progressive or not science develop so we are so much busy we are so much busy in our life we are so much busy in life that there is a 100% chance to get distracted from the devotion of Christ. Earlier during the time of Abraham, he has to take care only of sheeps and goats and camels and donkeys. Or when there was a time of David, they have to care take care of only of the cattle or the field. They have so much time to give for God. But today’s life it’s a very busy life, hectic life running here and there. Thousands of thoughts coming and going so many trends we are seeing. So many things we fascinating things are there at this time. How we can be immune or how can be so resistant against the devil’s tricks because it can happen with anyone. It’s not about to scare you. But this is a reality. It is a reality. We have to face this reality.
Paul vs. Peter: Comparing Spiritual Discipline
Satan can come before you with so many tricks, so many ideas. It came in our mind. So many ideas come in our mind. So many thoughts comes in our heart. So many desires comes. Are you able to discern that it is from the devil or is it from God? Paul was able to understand that. And you know here the same thing. No disciple just like the teacher. Paul was original disciple of Jesus. When Jesus was telling that I the son of man will be delivered in to the hands of the rulers and authorities in Jerusalem and he will die and after 3 days he will be resurrected. When he was sharing this thing to the disciples, Peter said that no guru it should not happen with you. It should not happen with you teacher. Then suddenly Jesus said get behind me Satan you are thinking about the things of the world and man but I am thinking about the matters of God. You can see the same thing is there in the life of Paul. Paul didn’t say to Luke you are thinking about the world but I am thinking about the Lord. Hallelujah. Hallelujah.
Faith Without a Promise of Deliverance
Choosing the Will of God Over Safety
Paul had faced such situations in his life. That’s why he knows that it we have to be very smart against the devil. That’s why he’s reminding the discip reminding the believers of the church. Even though they are a good church, still Paul is de reminding the the believers that have to be I’m very scared. I’m very scared. I’m very afraid that devil may trick you out. Any logical we find it we find it logical. No some proposals some proposals looks very logical. We have to be very careful. Hallelujah. Paul was a person. No, he he was only thinking about the will of God. Only thinking about the will of God. And Paul was a such a person who used to get the revelation of Christ again and again. Remember Paul was had written all most of the New Testament letters Romans. But when we see in Philippians he says that I want to know him more into I want to know Christ more. I want to know the power of his resurrection. That is what made him very much sharp against the tricks of the devil. Hallelujah. No one is excluded from that. How careful we should be in understanding the tricks of the devil. Paul said when all the proposals were put before Paul, Paul says that Paul said that I only want what Jesus wants from me. Paul said, “I only want I only want things which Jesus wants from me right now. So Jesus wants me to go to where? To Jerusalem. So I will go there. I will go there. I will sacrifice my life. I will sacrifice my life because that’s that is what Jesus wants from me. Hallelujah.
Jumping into the Fire: Radical Devotion
Last Sunday we heard can Jesus say to us thank you. This Sunday I’m repeating that.
Are you willing to be doing the things what Jesus wants from you? Hallelujah. We want a life which we define. We want a life which we define. But are we going to take the life which Jesus gives? And here it is not clear. Holy Spirit is not telling don’t go. Holy Spirit is also not telling you must go. If you read that word is very very very very beautiful words. No, Holy Spirit is not telling that you can go. You must go.
You know that very confusing but Paul was sure that [snorts] if Holy Spirit said that I have to go there. If Holy Spirit has predicted future for me that it will happen to me in this way. So let it be happen. There is no promise of deliverance. No such words. If this man will go to Jerusalem, he will be handed over to the gentile. That means he will die. That’s why Luke and all the people were crying. Why are you breaking my heart by weeping and crying? Because they know that once Paul will go there, he will die there. It’s no guarantee that he will come back. But still Paul went without any promise of deliverance. Without any promise of deliverance, Paul went there because he had already crucified his life for Christ. The world has been crucified to him and he is crucified to the world without any promise of God. He went into the fire.
God’s Presence in the Storm
But God has a character that he comes in the fire. Hallelujah. Hallelujah. Hallelujah. Hallelujah. If you are going through the fire right now, hallelujah. Hallelujah. God’s word is there. He is there in the fire even though he has not promised to you. Hallelujah. Did God came in the fire? Read Acts chapter 23 verse 11. So God didn’t forsake him in the night. God appeared. Jesus appeared before Paul and said that don’t worry nothing will happen in Jerusalem because you have to go in Rome. Hallelujah. Hallelujah. Hallelujah. Without seeing any promise, if you jump into the fire for the God, God will surely come there. Hallelujah. Put yourself in risk for God. Hallelujah. Put yourself at risk in God. For God, God will enter there. Hallelujah.
Second Assurance and Reaching Rome
Another place where uh God came. Hallelujah. Please read chapter 27 verse 23. Second time God came. Hallelujah. Second time God God came and assured him that nothing will happen in this stormy situation. Hallelujah. You will be completely safe. Time is not there. That’s why I can’t explain more. In the previous paragraph, it is written that Paul and his people completely lost hope that we will not be able to survive in the storm. But God came there and told him that you’ll be safe and you’ll be reaching Rome. Hallelujah. Hallelujah. Hallelujah.
The Fruit of Faithfulness in Malta
So Paul was able to understand the understand the plan of devil which came against him. Hallelujah. Good proposals came before Paul. But he said no to everything. Only he gave importance to the will of God. Hallelujah. And he jumped into the fire. But he was not alone. God came again and again and helped him. Hallelujah. And finally he reached Rome safely. And before that he established a very beautiful church in Malta. And the first convert publas Publus he was later on found as the bishop in the Christian history. Hallelujah. So it was not a waste. It was not a waste of time. It was not a futile futile decision which Paul made. He put always Christ first. So that’s why he never failed. H let us put Christ first in our place. We will also never fail. May God bless you all through this word of God. And let just like Corinth believers were good in giving generously for God, let us also prepare to give for God generously as today is mission Sunday. God bless you.