Lies have been offered to the Church so well-crafted they sound like the truth to those who have allowed these offerings to replace biblical authority. Messages are being preached to unsuspecting congregations who now consider these erred opinions as an acceptable framework for life.

Paul wrote to Timothy about how to be a faithful leader – faithful to God, His Word, and to right teaching. He wrote, “Now the Holy Spirit tells us clearly that in the last times some will turn away from the true faith; they will follow deceptive spirits and teachings that come from demons” (I Timothy 4:1). Those who have been conditioned to dismiss this dark possibility and believe the deception being offered will roll their eyes at yet another hickish-sounding warning of what is to come.

Paul explained in the verses that followed how deception had crept into his culture using examples from the context of Timothy’s ministry to highlight his example. After explaining those examples to Timothy, Paul went on to say, “If you explain these things to the brothers and sisters, Timothy, you will be a worthy servant of Christ Jesus, one who is nourished by the message of faith and the good teaching you have followed” (I Timothy 4:6). 

Today, the Lord is appealing to those who have succumbed to these reinterpretations of truth to return to the historic truth of His Word. This is a challenging task especially when we are constantly being groomed throughout the week to believe well-crafted lies that dismantle the uniqueness of Jesus Christ as Savior, the value of the Church in culture, and the God-ordained order of creation. 

Paul said to the Ephesians once people are trained and equipped and become mature believers, “Then we will no longer be immature like children. We won’t be tossed and blown about by every wind of new teaching. We will not be influenced when people try to trick us with lies so clever, they sound like the truth” (Ephesians 4:14). We are all susceptible to this kind of spiritual trickery. That is why we must yield to God’s word, not ask God’s word to yield to us.