THE DECEPTION AND APOSTASY OF MANY
We trust today’s message encouraged and guided you in your journey of following Jesus. These notes are meant to help you remember and reflect on the message, help you go deeper into study on the subject, or be used for a sermon group discussion.
Sermon Title: THE DECEPTION AND APOSTASY OF MANY
Main Scripture: Matthew 24:1-14 NLT
If you’re going through this discussion with a community group this week, consider reading the provided scripture to catch everyone up!
Summary:
Jesus loves His disciples and He loves us so He graciously warns us that in the last days, there would be many false messiahs, prophets, and teachers deceiving people, including believers. Unfortunately, this deception would result in many falling away from faith in Christ. This warning from Jesus makes even more sense today. Influencers and teachers by the thousands are using media platforms to speak and spread their views. This means deception is readily available and at our fingertips but so is truth, as long as we know the difference. The question is how do we identify and discern between false and genuine teachers and their teaching? And how do we spread truth in the world to save people from deception? Let’s see what scripture has to say…
Notes:
Let’s read Matthew 24:1-14 NLT
Another sign of the end and return of Christ is the increase of deception and apostasy. Religious deception will be openly practiced and taught on the earth. We’re not talking about wickedness deceiving people yet, but religious deception. This is just as insidious because deception uses partial truths to appear genuine but it’s not consistent with the whole counsel of God’s Word.
Jesus repeated this warning about deception three times in this one chapter (v. 5; v. 11; v. 24) pointing to the severity of this end times sign.
In this particular form of deception, some would claim that Christ was in a particular location (v 21). Those deceivers would perform signs and wonders to try to deceive believers.
Deception comes from the Devil
The devil is the king of deception and began his campaign in the garden (Gen. 3:1-5).
Demons have been the devil’s agent in spreading deception and false information to create counterfeits that put God’s Word for mankind in question.
1 Timothy 4:1-2 NIV: The Spirit clearly says that in later times some will abandon the faith and follow deceiving spirits and things taught by demons. 2 Such teachings come through hypocritical liars, whose consciences have been seared as with a hot iron.
Hot iron. The verb in this clause may indicate that this searing has obliterated the ability to discern truth from falsehood, or it may indicate that they have been branded as one of Satan’s own.
Deception spreads through false teachers
The Bible warns us to look out for false messiahs and false teachers/prophets (this would obviously include false disciples/believers - Matthew 24:5;11; 23-28).
False Messiahs
False messiahs are master manipulators, intelligent, and have a haughty view of themselves. They most likely are unwilling to sit under true Biblical authority and leadership. They prefer to craft their own beliefs and teaching. They have evil motives to feed their need for self-glorification and find pleasure in power and position. They prey on the vulnerable, hurting, lonely, and those who lack knowledge of authentic faith.
Scripture is clear. When Jesus returns he will come in the clouds and it will be unmistakable and visible to all (Acts 1:9-11; Matt. 24:23-28).
False Teachers/Prophets
What are false teachers/prophets?
A false prophet is a messenger falsely speaking for or on behalf of God. The false prophet or teachers was often motivated not by loyalty to God, but by the desire to please others, gain position and power, or money. An example of this is found in the book of Jeremiah and his contemporaries. While Jeremiah was foretelling destruction (Jer 4:19), the false prophets were assuring the people of peace when war was at hand (6:14; 8:11). Naturally, the people of Judah preferred the pleasant messages of the false prophets: “Don’t tell us what is right. Tell us nice things. Tell us lies” (Is 30:10 NLT).
What makes someone a false teacher?
This is important to answer because there are differences between Christians and churches on what certain scriptures mean but that doesn’t mean they are false teachers. I disagree with other pastors and teachers on their interpretation of end times but it doesn’t make them false teachers and prophets. It’s when they teach things antithetical to the core doctrines of the Bible that take it to the next level.
2 Peter 2:1-3 But there were also false prophets in Israel, just as there will be false teachers among you. They will cleverly teach destructive heresies and even deny the Master who bought them. In this way, they will bring sudden destruction on themselves. 2 Many will follow their evil teaching and shameful immorality. And because of these teachers, the way of truth will be slandered. 3 In their greed they will make up clever lies to get hold of your money. But God condemned them long ago, and their destruction will not be delayed.
False teachings of Christianity would be denying Christ as the Son of God, salvation through works, hell doesn’t exist, and everyone goes to heaven.
Gnosticism was a prevalent false teaching the apostles had to protect the early church from. The basic teaching was that the spirit is entirely good, while matter (the physical world) is entirely evil. This led to the belief that salvation was achieved through escape from the body, which came not by faith in Christ, but by special knowledge (Grk: Gnosis).
“This belief eventually led to sexual promiscuity and other physical indulgences because some people felt it did not matter what they did with their physical bodies. As long as they had the right beliefs, they felt that their physical actions did not affect them spiritually. Even today, there are people who feel that it does not matter how they behave as long as they have the right spiritual beliefs.” -Fire Bible Study Note, page 1985 (See Jude 3-4)
Example Today of the damages of false teaching: Methodist Church Split and the acceptance of LGBTQ+ Clergy
6000+ churches have disaffiliated from the Methodist denomination over the non-traditional position. https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2023/07/06/united-methodist-church-disaffiliation/70387779007/
False pastors. WARNING: Please watch the following videos with wisdom, discernment, and maturity.
https://youtube.com/shorts/u0_aB4eCMfg?si=4ae7mu7CI0HMcXld
HOW TO BE READY AND AVOID DECEPTION
I’m scratching the surface and won’t go further than this right now but here’s what we can do…
One: Submit yourself to the reading and application of God’s Word
The Bible is the safest source of truth. Church doctrines are founded in scripture.
2 Timothy 4:3-4 For a time is coming when people will no longer listen to sound and wholesome teaching. They will follow their own desires and will look for teachers who will tell them whatever their itching ears want to hear. 4 They will reject the truth and chase after myths.
As wickedness increases the demand for false teaching will increase. As false teaching increases, deception and wickedness increase. Unfortunately, those who can’t accept and submit to God’s written word keep false teachers in business. People will surround themselves with teaching that allows them to live comfortably in a sin that God explicitly condemns. This is why people will be mad and persecute genuine teachers and prophets who are correctly handling the Word of God.
False teaching disguises itself as truth and the ones who can’t tell are those who don’t know God’s Word.
Be familiar with both testaments. We need to know God is the same in the Old and New Testaments. They are the old and new covenants, but the same God and mission.
We can effectively discern because we have the Word and the Spirit of the Word living in us! John 16:13 But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all the truth… The Holy Spirit is with us as we read scripture and helps confirm the truth. The Holy Spirit will never teach or lead you to think or do something that is contrary to God. (Also see 1 John 2:18-29. Verse 27 doesn’t mean you don’t need pastors and teachers because this is a letter coming from John who is their pastor. It means don’t just receive from anyone and let scripture confirm teachings. The Holy Spirit will also help you discern).
Two: Join a church and listen to preaching, but be discerning.
Ephesians 4:11-14 So Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers, 12 to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up 13 until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ. 14 Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of people in their deceitful scheming.
Ephesians 4:14 is the result of genuine teachers and pastors
1 Timothy 4:12-16 Don’t let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith, and in purity. 13 Until I come, devote yourself to the public reading of Scripture, to preaching and to teaching. 14 Do not neglect your gift, which was given you through prophecy when the body of elders laid their hands on you. 15 Be diligent in these matters; give yourself wholly to them, so that everyone may see your progress. 16 Watch your life and doctrine closely. Persevere in them, because if you do, you will save both yourself and your hearers.
We need genuine Biblical leaders or the false ones will fill the void.
Be discerning. Which means not to take everything hook, line, and sinker. Weigh what you hear next to the Word of God, with prayer and the Spirit of God.
Matthew 7:15-20 “Beware of false prophets who come disguised as harmless sheep but are really vicious wolves. 16 You can identify them by their fruit, that is, by the way they act. Can you pick grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? 17 A good tree produces good fruit, and a bad tree produces bad fruit. 18 A good tree can’t produce bad fruit, and a bad tree can’t produce good fruit. 19 So every tree that does not produce good fruit is chopped down and thrown into the fire. 20 Yes, just as you can identify a tree by its fruit, so you can identify people by their actions.
Pay attention to the teaching and conduct of preachers, teachers, and believers.
Does the pastor teach unpopular scriptures or just the loving feel-good scriptures?
Discern the pastor's commitment to living a life of integrity.
Discern the pastor's commitment to serve and how they handle praise. Sit under those who serve and give God the glory.
Three: Surround yourself with genuine believers who will help sharpen your journey
In Jude, he warns the church about the dangers of false teachers and suggests they do this:
Jude 20-23 But you, dear friends, must build each other up in your most holy faith, pray in the power of the Holy Spirit, 21 and await the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ, who will bring you eternal life. In this way, you will keep yourselves safe in God’s love. 22 And you must show mercy to those whose faith is wavering. 23 Rescue others by snatching them from the flames of judgment. Show mercy to still others, but do so with great caution, hating the sins that contaminate their lives. (Also read v. 24)
A warning: no matter how gracious and gentle you are, not everyone will accept your attempt to help them turn away from sin. It’s one of the hardest things to see. I’ve cried over that. Don’t let that keep you from holding each other accountable in these last days.
Four: Fill the earth with truthful teachers
Be a church that knows and trains the truth to young believers in the faith (Discipleship).
2 Timothy 2:1-2 Timothy, my dear son, be strong through the grace that God gives you in Christ Jesus. 2 You have heard me teach things that have been confirmed by many reliable witnesses. Now teach these truths to other trustworthy people who will be able to pass them on to others.
We’re more ready than when we arrived. Let’s stand and pray.
For further lessons on false teachers see these articles. I really enjoyed them but chose not to use them because I don’t preach other people’s lessons.
https://www.thegospelcoalition.org/article/7-traits-of-false-teachers/
Discussion:
Pastor Ryan gave us a lot of scripture. Which one stuck out to you and why?
Why are false teachers so dangerous to the church today and especially in end times?
How will we know the difference between false messiahs and the True Messiah in the end?
What does the Bible teach us to discern when it comes to teachers and prophets?
How can we counter false teaching and how are you helping contribute to this mission?
What did God use in this sermon to speak to your heart or situation?
What other notes did you highlight or write down that you would like to share?
The most important decision you will ever make!
Are you ready to experience salvation and be transformed? We encourage you to process this decision with a strong believer and when you’re ready say a simple prayer like this from your heart: Dear God, I acknowledge and admit I have sinned. I see my need for Jesus Christ. I believe in Jesus as my Lord and Savior. I believe I am forgiven and cleansed of my sin by His death. I also believe I have eternal life because of His resurrection from the dead. I repent, I turn away from my old ways and I choose to live my life to worship you and follow Jesus, Amen!
We would love to know if you made the decision to accept this wonderful gift from God. Let us know here.
Pray Together
We hope you found this AFTER THE SERMON discussion helpful for your walk with Jesus. We pray you can find ways to apply it this week!