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Day 256

Luke 21 : 8-19 "MANY WILL COME IN MY NAME..." Luke 21:8"

Day 256 – Luke 21

Text: Luke 21 : 8-19

“MANY WILL COME IN MY NAME…” Luke 21:8

How do deceivers get away with it? How could they ply their trade of deception and get away with it time and time again?

Jesus warned the Disciples to beware of the fact that deceivers will not be afraid to use the Name of Jesus to propagate and perpetuate their false teachings! It is a sad fact that so many believers are duped by false teachers, who easily break down the defences put up by simple and simplistic disciples!

The word of warning by Jesus must not go unheeded! He warned His Disciples about the number of false teachers. There will be MANY who will come in His Name! The Disciples must not be so easily duped!

The Pharisees had used the name of God to practise their man-made religion. Their traditions had become just as important if not more so, than the Word of God.

The Sadducees who had rejected many portions of God’s Word, and who did not even believe in the after-life, were allowed to influence the Temple worship!

The Scribes were outright hypocrites! They abused their positions and defrauded the poor!

Some of these practices had gone undetected. If these practices were indeed recognized, they had gone unchallenged! Yet, these false teachers were nothing compared to others who would actually come in the Name of Jesus! Obviously, He was speaking of a future date when many would actually use the Name of Jesus to perpetrate their wicked deeds!

Deceivers would arise and they would even dare to utter these words…

“I am He (that is, “The Christ”)” and
“The time is near.”
Luke 21:8

These deceivers are not at all afraid to resort to blasphemous means to promote their teachings! They dare to claim that they are special servants of God. They would even dare to proclaim that they were the Messiahs sent by God.

They would use Biblical language when they speak to people. They would use appropriate language to confuse people!

Are we ready for such attacks by deceivers? Do we know how to discern people who proclaim that they come in the Name of the Lord Jesus?

AN IMPORTANT APOSTOLIC WARNING

The Apostle Paul was surely one of the most astute servants of the Lord Jesus Christ! In his many years of ministry, he had to face many who sought to take advantage of believers. In his second epistle to the Corinthian Church he wrote to warn the believers to beware of deceivers.

The warning given by the Apostle Paul echoed and amplified the words of the Lord Jesus Christ. Let us take time to read these words carefully. They are still relevant.

“But what I do, I will also continue to do,
That I may cut off the opportunity from those
Who desire an opportunity to be regarded
just as we are in the things of which they boast.”
2 Corinthians 11:12

Just as the Lord Jesus fought the false teachers vigorously, so did Paul! He said that he would always resist the work of the false teachers. He would never give them an opportunity to take advantage of believers who were very often so simple in their faith they were easily taken in.

Paul went on to instruct the Corinthian Church to be on their guard.

“For such are false apostles, deceitful workers,
transforming themselves into apostles of Christ.
And no wonder!
For Satan himself transforms himself into
And angel of light.
Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers
Also transform themselves into ministers of righteousness,
Whose end will be according to their works.”
2 Corinthians 11:13-15

The words of Jesus proved true! In Paul’s time, there were many deceivers! They disguised themselves so well that they were able to pass themselves off as “apostles” and “ministers of righteousness”!

Paul had to expose these false workers. The Church had to be alerted! This was a fierce spiritual battle that had to be fought! Too many “innocent lives” were at stake!

“THEREFORE DO NOT GO AFTER THEM…” Luke 21:8

Jesus warned His Disciples that they must not be fooled by those who proclaimed that God had sent them! Imagine saying these words to His Disciples! If they needed to be warned, how much more we?

Do we know enough not to be fooled and deceived by false prophets? Do we know enough not to follow them?

“DO NOT BELIEVE EVERY SPIRIT, BUT TEST THE SPIRITS…” 1 John 4:1

The Apostle Paul was not the only person who resisted the false prophets. The Apostle John also wrote a general epistle to warn his readers that they must not be easily deceived. Let us consider what he wrote,

“Beloved, do not believe every spirit,
but test the spirits, whether they are of God;
because many false prophets have gone into the world.”
1 John 4:1

It is our responsibility to ensure that we do not end up being deceived! Do you know how to test the spirits? Can you see through a false prophet?