Let No One Deceive You — Alan Martin

The Wrath of God and Empty Words

What is the well-pleasing? What is well-pleasing to the Lord? Well, let's look at verse 6 again. I want to list touch upon that a little bit. That's where we left off the last time. I was here verse 6.

Let no one deceive you with empty words. For because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of Eden. So a question for you who is most likely to use empty words to deceive. Who's most likely to use empty words to deceive?

Hmm. No. Think what are we warned about most? False prophets. False prophets are the ones that are most likely to use empty words to deceive and listen understand that false prophets are sincere men. Sharing what they believe that you have to look don't look for some con artist.

False prophets can be sincere men sharing what they sincerely believe, but they're wrong. You have to be careful. They they they run with their message. The Bible says God didn't send them. They have a message and they believe that message is important and they share it.

Remember what Jesus said in Matthew 24 11. Joe you and read that for us. Matthew 24 11. Get up there. Next slide. They're saying all you do is click on this slide next slide and it'll it pulls it up. Yep, Matthew 24 11.

Okay, so That's what we're to be watching. We're to watch for false prophets, which are men Speaking empty words. Now, here's the question if they're speaking empty words. The words are missing something.

They're in what are they missing? What do you think? The message of false prophets sincere men speaking their own it. What do you think is missing from their message? What do you think? Well the truth?

Yes, that's broad. There's part to the truth. They're gonna love to speak about. So there's but there's going to be parts of the truth left out. What part do you think are going to be left out kind of the weighty things?

Maybe the difficult things? How about the judgment of God and the wrath of God and What Jesus is going to do, you know? I have a very good friend of mine who no longer believes that in the eternal punishment.

It is mine that's just too hard and it's just too difficult to think about and that's just something that He can't conceive the good God doing. He's just I walk with his brother this man loved the scripture this is not some con artist.

This is the man I know personally. But it's no longer something he wants to talk about. He's got a new message. So it I know how sincere it can be now. Ask you a question if you know the scripture, how does God?

Characterize the message of false prophets in the scripture from the Old Testament. My Rudy my brain would probably know but in case the question What does God say their message is God describes their message as something.

What does he say it is? Well, it has been he has a particular way of saying it. Do you remember it's in Jeremiah and Ezekiel and both saying Peace. Peace is their message when there is no peace. That's their message peace peace when there is no peace now why is from God's perspective.

There is no peace when they're claiming there's peace. The false prophet is telling the people you're at peace be at peace and God say no, there's no peace. Why is there no peace in God's point of view because peace is the fruit?

Righteousness and Unless there's righteousness. There's no peace. There's no peace for the wicked. They're like the foaming of the sea who cannot rest. It's the fruit of righteousness that brings peace.

The Missing Weight of Judgment and Wrath

You must remember that now. Learn this. About men who speak their message and grow with their message. They'll speak freely of the love of God. The grace of God the goodness of God the peace of God the blessing of God the promise of God have God's heaven.

But they seldom speak about the wrath of God or the judgment of God or calling men to repentance from what they're doing now and That's important. We got Romans. Are we are we stuck in that Sam? Romans 11.

Rudy, can you read it for us Romans 11 22? Behold the kindness and the severity of God. Upon those who have fallen severity. But upon the kindness of God if that is you continue his kindness. Otherwise you will also be caught up.

Okay, behold is an old word. How would we say it today? Hey, watch out. Hey, look, look. Look carefully at this. Listen Saints University Park. You had better look very carefully at the severity of God.

It's who he is. It's not made up. It's he's not severe because some fundamentalist Bible thumper made him that way. He is severe towards evil. And wicked he's severe in times perfectly both and we had better not blink.

We we can create a God in our own image and kind of leave that part off. And that brings up a question. Why do you think? False prophets these sincere men who running with their message. Why do you think they they don't talk about the severity of God?

Why do you think they don't? They want to say what do people want to hear. Yeah, and. So it you're you're acknowledging. It's kind of difficult to hear about the severity of God. It's kind of difficult to hear about judgment to come.

And even though that it's in a lot of scriptures. Have you noticed how much how many of you read the Bible? It's there right. It's there. It's the the writers of the New Testament wrote about it. But it's the difficult message to hear and so in general Rudy.

You're kind of right. They're generally very positive very uplifting and. They kind of want you to get that part of the message on your own. They're not going to deny that it's there, but it's just not their focus.

Why God's Wrath Comes Upon Disobedience

Well, I don't know. Yeah, it in a sense so let's look at something and back to verse six we don't have to have it up there on the verse but. And a question from something in verse six. Let me read verse six again.

Let no one deceive you with empty words for because of such things the wrath of God comes upon sons of disobedience. So here's a question. Why does the wrath of God come? Why does it come? Listen because of such things what things?

Because of what things well the things that Paul had mentioned in verse 5 what hit what had we been talking about? Let there not even be any fornication. No covetous. No idolaters. No slanderers. Because of such things the wrath of God.

That's why he's he is so good. He is against those things. You know what those things are. They're an abuse Of what he's created. Fornication is abuse of his gift of sex to men. Drug use is an abuse of the things he has given to treat men.

They are he and the reason they they're an abomination to him Paul is because he's so good. He has to be against things that harm you he has to be. That's the reason he calls them evil. So now back to what you had said Joe.

The why is because of such things the who is. Who does it come upon? The sons of disobedience that what you notice that's who it comes upon and that's interesting. What's interesting to me about that is is the word in the original language for disobedience?

That's what your English versions have it up there what I have. Oh, it has that verse six. The disobedient but the Greek word comes from the word pytho the root word pytho which means to persuade. But they add the negative a in front of it.

Ah pytho, which means non Persuaded. The English word apathy comes from this word apathy. It literally means refusing to be Persuaded. The heavens declare the glory of God, but men refused to be persuaded.

The skies proclaim the work of his hands. But they refuse to be persuaded. The good news goes into all the world. But they refuse and the wrath of God comes upon them because they refuse the persuasion.

To call him to himself that's very important. This word was used in John 336. Tom want to read John 336. The same word for refusing to be persuaded was used by the Lord Jesus. See see whoever disobeys the Son it makes sense the reason you don't follow through because you're not convinced.

Jesus says don't do this. And if you keep doing it, you know why you're doing it because you aren't convinced yet. Oh, you can say yes, Lord. You can give lip service you can sing. But when you're convinced.

True Prophets Call People to Repentance

That's how you show that you've been persuaded in his and the and the wrath of God is on those who are refusing to be persuaded now, so Here's what a true prophet will do. A True prophet will seek to persuade you to turn from your Evil ways and turn back to the Lord.

That's a good that is a man of God. He's trying to seek you to stop doing the things that cause God's wrath to come. To believe what he says so that by faith. You can be saved through by grace through faith.

You can be saved. That's what a true prophet does and that's what we need to be a part of doing. James chapter 5 verse 20 brother David Nepper. Can you read James 5 20? You see how you save his soul from death.

You get him to stop doing the things that cause God's wrath to come. If he's an adulterer, he better stop being an adulterer or God's wrath is coming home. You persuade you seek to persuade him you better stop that the wrath of God is coming.

You're a you're a drug abuser. You better stop that the wrath of God is coming upon that. You know, so you see. Whoever saves a man from the error of his way. Turn you turn them from the error of their way you save their soul from death and you cover a multitude of sin.

The another place that that's mentioned is in 2nd Timothy chapter 4 verses 1 through 4. Let me read that we can read it together. Let me read it a little bit lengthy. In the presence of God and of Christ Jesus who will judge the living and the dead now notice this.

Who said notice what Paul calls us our attention to in the presence of God. That's what he told Timothy seek to show yourself approved. Under God, there's a difficult thing. I want you to approve of me.

I Want to be liked. But I had better seek to be approved under God. It's his word and he's gonna take issue if I doctor it up to make it sound better to you. It's gonna take you just a spoonful of sugar have some medicine go down.

That's good for Mary Poppins. But here we need the Word of God, which is living and active right? So it and notice the other thing. He's not saying I charge you in the presence of God in in in view with what he said in.

Who will judge the living and the dead. You see where Paul's looking? He's not looking back at the cross here. He's looking ahead. We love what our Lord did he died on the cross for our sins. But Paul is looking to what's ahead what's waiting us?

The one who now is the judge of the living and the dead. He's going to open the the books of judgment at the great white throne judgment and deal with every man according to their deeds. And He's looking ahead so what in light of these things what does Paul tell him he did to do preach the word.

Be prepared in season and out of season. Correct rebuke and encourage now. Why do you apply does there need to be correction and reproof and encouragement? Well, what do you when is there a need for correction?

When you're doing something wrong. What about rebuke. How about rebuke is don't you already know better than that? You step at another notch, isn't it? It's not just making sure you didn't understand.

It's like, you know better stop that that's review. That's uncomfortable, isn't it? We don't like that. With that it's not easy. But he tells Paul so he tells Paul tells Timothy do this with great patience.

Long suffering and careful instruction and then he says this the time is coming. When men are not going to endure a sound doctor. But instead it says they were they were they're going to just because they want to suit their own desires.

They will gather around themselves a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears Want to hear and they will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to me. So Paul Because he loved the people he wrote to is always reminding them of what's ahead and what's ahead for the believer it be.

Remember it's appointed unto man wants to die and after this we go to heaven, right? That what the scripture says. Oh I left out something. It's appointed unto man wants to die and after this the judgment and The judgment decides what's coming Next and that and a true servant will remind you of this.

Separation From Worldly Sin

So that now Ephesians 5 7 the next verse Ephesians 5 7 that's why because God's wrath comes on such things. Paul says therefore do not be Partakers with him. In other words don't do what they do. Don't live like they live.

Don't imitate them. We imitate the Lord Jesus. Revelation 18 for sister Yolanda de los Santos. Can you read it for us revelation 18 for? Why do you think she is receiving plagues? Because of her sins.

So if you share in her sins. But you're not going to get the plagues. Look you share in her sins. You're going to share in her punishment. This is this is this is the Lord Jesus speaking to his church.

The book of Revelation is written to the church. So I say to my church family here you participate in the sins of the world. You're going to receive the plagues of the Lord. This is just it's what the scripture says.

It's just you need we need to know these things. Sick and Paul was clear in this another place is even clearer. 2nd Corinthians chapter 5. Another lengthy passage. Let me follow with me as I read it I wrote to you in my letter not to associate with sexually immoral people.

Not at all meaning the people of the world who are immoral or the greedy or swindlers or adulterers. Because in that case you would have to leave the world. But now I am writing you that you must not associate with anyone who claims to be a brother or sister.

But is a fornicator or greedy idolater slanderer or drunkard or swindler with such? People to not even eat. What business it is mind to judge those outside the church look they're not here. They don't come to church.

They are what they are. I'm not saying you can't associate with them. It's your work. You'd be friendly. You'd be kind have dinner with them get to know them be a witness love them speak the truth to them.

But if there is somebody here who claims to be a Christian and you're a swindler or drunk or judge or an adult or a fornicator. You have no business here. We're not that's not even supposed to be among us at all.

We're not to even have fellowship with such people. That's it. That that degrades the name of the Lord Jesus. That's all saying. That it's pretty serious said that Paul is very very serious it goes on.

Walking as Children of Light

All right. Let's go to verse 8. All right verse 8 Ephesians 5 8. Raina can you read that Ephesians 5 8 your question? So you're didn't know you were darkness. None of us are anymore not if you're Christ.

You're in Christ. You're the light of the world. And so what does it mean to walk as children of the light? Well verse 9 is the key. Kathy Nepper. Can you read verse 9? Here's the key. Here's what it means to walk in in the light.

You can walk like that. Can't you? Can every single one of us walk in all goodness in all righteousness and all truth. We're to speak the truth to one another. We're not the lie. We're to put off falsehood, right and we're to do good as we have opportunity to go do good especially to the God's people and we're to seek first the kingdom of God and his Righteousness and then all things will be added.

That's what it means to live as children of the light. You make it your goal every week every day every year all the time every situation do what's good. Do what's true do what's right do it by the power of the Holy Spirit Jesus Christ living in us so and then.

Oh just a couple of things that go along with that 2nd Timothy chapter 2 verse 22 another some more calls Exhortation. Brother Ben Serta, can you read? 2nd Timothy 2 22. Okay, you imagine here's Paul.

He's writing to Timothy so it'd be like me saying to Jesse or to Nathan back there or Elijah or Samwell or some of you younger guys. Hey guys, please evil desire to you. Run don't flirt with it run and Pursue righteousness faith love and peace along with those who call on the Lord of the pure heart.

Choose your friends carefully walk with those who's serving the Lord with a pure heart. Keep yourself safe because bad company does what? It corrupts good morals. I Have to be careful who we walk with.

He who walks with the wise becomes wise but a companion of fools comes to ruin a lot of good people. Have been ruined by the association with the bad friends bad company. You need to be careful. Another way of saying this and it's just to show how common the concern was in the New Testament 2nd Peter chapter 3.

I'm gonna read this one because it's lengthy 2nd Peter chapter 3 but basically 11 through 14 and then I'm gonna read verse 17 it also. Looking ahead we know what's going to happen in the days to come.

What when the Lord Jesus returns since everything will be destroyed in this way what kind of people ought you to be? You ought to live holy and godly lives as you look forward to the day of God and speed is coming to that day excuse me will bring about the destruction of heavens by fire and The elements will melt in the heat.

But in keeping with his promise, we are looking forward to a new heaven and a new earth where righteousness dwells like now how could These apostles especially Peter how could he have known that the earth would melt with the fervent heat?

Is that even possible? Could the earth melt with the fervent heat? All the Lord has to do is to take away the magnetic field that's protecting the earth from the strong burst of the Sun's rays and One strong burst from the Sun rays without the magnetic field protecting the earth the earth would burn up.

Yeah, it's like that. Even our scientists tell us it's gonna happen someday. It's just. So don't think it's not. Peter knew this by the Spirit of the Lord. We don't know how that may be how God used to do it.

But here's what knowing that that's what awaits the earth is it's going to be milked with the fervent heat. Here's what he says in verse 17. Therefore dear friends Since you have been forewarned Be on your guard so that you may not be carried away by the error of Lawless men and fall from your secure position.

Guarding Against False Prophets

I Want to make your position very secure. I want all of us to be ready to stand before the Lord Jesus. I want is I want every single person here to hear well done thou good and faithful servant. The only problem is we have an enemy of our souls.

The same person who snuck into the garden to tempt Adam and Eve to try to Ruin their lives is still out there at work today. We have an adversary the devil and what does he do? He roams about like a roaring lion seeking whom he may devour except you won't recognize him as a lion.

He mostly appears like an angel of light like a friend. Like someone who has something flattering to say. Interesting how the scripture warns about flattering words. Empty but appealing positive. It just we have to know how to judge things.

Paul said the same thing again about the danger of company the danger of company and the reason I want to Make sure we understand this is because something could happen to me tomorrow. It's like I'm remembering I don't have this slide up here, but I remember what Peter said.

He said he did this in 2nd Peter. Even though you already know this and are already convinced in the things that you have heard and have learned I'm gonna make sure that when I leave you'll never forget it.

That's kind of the spirit. I'm in I don't want you to ever forget this. Because there's other people out there that come along with good intentions. But if they are not solid in the Word of God We're all in trouble.

Holiness and Separation From Unbelief

Okay, second Corinthians. Again, this is caution for the church. That's why Paul wrote this do not be yoked together with unbelievers. For what do righteousness and Wickedness have in common or what fellowship can light have with darkness?

What harmony is there between Christ and Belial or what does a believer have in common with an unbeliever? What agreement is there between the temple of God and idols? For we are the temple of the Living God as God has said I will live with them and walk among them and I will be their God and they will be marked my people and that's us.

The Holy Spirit is the presence of God in our midst. We are the temple of the Living God. Therefore he says come out from among men come out from them and be Separate says the Lord what's another word for separate?

What does it mean to be set apart? Holy. That's the very word come out from among them and be Holy and then he says touch no Unclean thing if you if you saw it in the original language, it'd be even more powerful.

Come out from among them and be set apart and do touch no Common thing. The word unclean is the Greek word for common. Look, I don't care if everybody does it that just makes it common. That's probably why it's unclean.

Jesus said to the Jewish leaders. You love wealth what's highly esteemed among men is an abomination to God. The things that are most common that the world does. We're not the temple. We're to be a holy people set apart and if you do this touch no common thing and I will receive and I will be a father to you and you will be my sons and daughters therefore.

Since we have these promises that God will be our father and that we can literally be sons and his daughters. Here's what we do. Cleanse yourself from everything that contaminates body and spirit perfecting holiness.

Like you said Joe in the fear of God he without the fear of God. That's what the Pope problem is with the wicked. What is it Psalm 37 or Psalm 36 an oracle is in my heart concerning the wicked there is no Fear of God in their eyes.

Therefore they flatter themselves too much in their own eyes to hate or detect their wickedness. The fear of the Lord is The beginning and it's the fear of the Lord is a fountain of life. Turning a man away from the snares of death.

The fear of the Lord is as much a part of the Christians life. I when I was a young a younger believer a pretty new in the Lord wet still wet behind the ears as they say I Had the fortune of having an old beekeeper from Michigan a bachelor who could read the Greek New Testament Without any help just he just opened and I said well we start with the fear of the Lord.

And we kind of grow out of it into love, right? You know we start with the fear. It's good like your children and then you grow up into the love of God. He just looked at me and said you got it all wrong.

He quoted the he quoted the Psalms the fear of the Lord is clean enduring. And he said he said you're talking about the verse in 1st John. Perfect love cast out fear, but that fear head is about judgment.

When we love God perfectly we don't fear the judgment because when we love God we keep his word and when we keep his word What are we gonna hear at the judgment? Well done. No good to faithful servant.

You're following the Lord. He's gonna see that your attempts to follow him and look and even in the Bible If we sin when we're walking in the light if we sin, he's faithful and just to Forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

That is if we're walking in the light as he's in the light He's merciful. He knows. We can tell the difference. It's one thing if I'm going this direction and I stumble I get up I keep going that direction.

That's the right way. I'm supposed to go. Well, what if I'm going that way even if I don't stumble it's the wrong direction. God knows the difference. He knows which direction you're going. He knows if you're following his son, you can see that There's no fear for us if we're following him.

Yes, Rudy. It is interesting that in the wrong way there are no obstacles. But you know, it says it's amazing. Well. The way of the wicked is hard, but it actually says about the about the highway of the righteous.

Yeah, Isaiah. Look, you love the prophet. He's your prophet, isn't he? What did he say about the highway of righteousness? He makes the way of the righteous smooth. Every valley is Raised up every high mountain is level.

The rough way is made Smooth. The crooked way is made straight. That's where the people of God He provides his spirit. He provides his word everything we need for life and godliness. But it provided for us in the way of the righteous.

There are many I think all there are and in the way of the on righteous. There are few or no shopping. We'll get to that in a minute. You can't get ahead of me. We're almost there. We're almost there.

Testing Everything by the Word of God

We got it. We got so. Here's what's important for us. Knowing knowing there's many false prophets out there and that Jesus said many false prophets would arise and deceive many knowing that. Knowing that we need to be secure.

So we don't we're not led astray by the error of lawless men. Here's what Paul said Ephesians 5 10. Marie Garcia. Can you read that for us Ephesians 5 10? Prove by testing tested. Tested put God's seal of approval.

Make sure it has God's seal of approval. So Question then why is it so important to prove by testing what comes to your mind? Why why can't we just up our first impression? Why is that good enough? What comes to your mind?

Why is it so important to prove everything by testing? What did Jesus say about sin? He talked about sin being something very Deceitful the deceitfulness of sin. Be very careful exhort one another daily so that no one is hardened by the deceitfulness of sin.

Sin is so deceitful That there is a way that seems right into a man. But the ends thereof are what? Ways of death. So do you trust you want to just trust how you feel about it? Especially when that taking that pill feels so good or especially when you that that that third or fourth or fifth drink begins to numb all that Anxiety you had you start to chill a little bit.

You start to feel good loosen up and sin is actually pleasurable. For a season, that's why it's important to test all things as a matter of fact, it's not in it and not in the scriptures here. Hold on for a second.

You're not a scripture here. But it says that the mature solid food is for the mature who by constant use. What have they done? They trained their senses to discern Good and evil. It's important you it's you training.

I feel that part of what my calling here is your trainer. It's to help you Train your senses to detect this good and evil. I know we have to since we're gonna have the Lord's Supper. I'm gonna leave us time.

So I'm almost I'm getting there wrap it up. But if it's so important to test You had better have the right thing to test with. So what I did the only unchangeable unfallible. The thing you want at last outlast heaven and earth is the Word of God.

And if you don't know the word, how can you test it? What are you gonna do? Call me on the phone in the middle of the night when you're in temptation a pastor. Is this okay to do this? I'd rather you do that than just make your own decision.

But actually if you will test every single thing by the Word of God. The Word of God is living and active sharper than any two-edged sword. Enabled to pierce deep dividing of soul and spirit and joints and marrows and you know what it does it Judges the thoughts and intents of the heart.

Yeah, it helps you judge What your thoughts and intents are and that's what you need to test all things by but. The problem is not that we don't have God's Word. Yes, we have the means to test everything.

Refusing the Light and Loving Darkness

But you know a lot of people don't want to test everything and That's what Paul said. They don't want to test everything. You remember what Jesus said? This is the verdict. Life has come but men love Darkness rather than light.

Why do they love darkness more than light? Their deeds are evil. And if you are your deeds are evil, you're practicing what's wrong. Do you want the light? So take the light off me turn off the lights.

What happens if you haven't had your house treated and you turn on the light? What do you see? Hmm, and what do they do when you turn on the light? And So they like the dark and and those who those who do are doing evil they don't want to be said they don't want testing and You see God knows this.

And that way and this is where we're going to finish this message and go right in and it's going to go right into our Lord Supper. Paul understood this. Romans chapter 1 verse 28 you can read that for me.

Romans 1 28. Yeah, Paul. The same word. Since they did not test to really make sure they knew God. God gave them over to a mind that wasn't tested. It's filled with ideas. Well, God is this. I believe this I believe this why I think this yeah fill with your own ideas.

But they're untested and unproven by the Word of God and that's the danger and when that happens when you don't want to really know God according to what he really says. You know what God gives you. He gives you what you want.

He lets you have your own idea of God, okay, you want to think I'm this way more power to you. That's literally what he does and the last verse that I'll actually show that is in 2nd Thessalonians. And this again, this is about this working of deception.

Perishing Through Rejection of the Truth

How do people end up in this untested mind this disapproved mind? Listen to this very carefully the coming of the lawless one will be in accordance with the work of Satan and he will use all sorts of displays of power through signs and wonders that serve the life and All the ways of wickedness that deceives those who are perishing notice who is being deceived.

Not those who are being saved. They're not being deceived because the spirit of truth is guiding them into all truth. Who's being deceived those who are perishing? Why are they perishing from there? Why are they perishing?

That's right. They refuse the love of the truth. They were Unpersuaded they heard the truth. It was presented to them and they said No, I don't want to hear it. I'm not coming to the light. Yes. It's similar.

It's the it's the it's that attitude that we already know and no one's gonna tell me. That's it we have to be have to worry about that but look what happened they perished because they refused to love the truth.

So what does God do? What does God do when they refuse to love the truth? What does he do? He actually sends them a strong delusion. All right, and here's where here's where I'm going to go with this.

He sends them something that makes them feel secure. Being completely wrong. So they have no sense of danger. They just go on with their life completely unaware of of what's coming. It's because they didn't want to hear it.

So God just lets them alone now. One last question and then I'm gonna we're gonna tie this into our Lord's Supper. What do you think God uses? To send them.